LAND DESIGNS UNLIMITED LLC

A Patient Craftsman Creating Exceptional Landscapes

Author: John Holden

Don’t Let Past Affect Present

Yesterday I found this quote, and it invigorated me.

Don’t let your past affect your present; let it motivate your future.
Unknown

If you know who said this, please let me know.

A New Blog

One of my goals this year is to start a blog about the topics in this post and more.

I can see the new site as clear as day. I need to accept that everything has to start somewhere. The most important thing is to get started, not to be perfect.

If you enjoy posts like this, please know I hope to create more on the new site.

If you don’t enjoy posts like this, I hear you and am working on separating the content.

The Dark Night of the Soul

The last few years have been quite interesting. Not to say that life isn’t always enjoyable. For me, life seems to cycle between ups and downs. I suspect I’m not the only one.

Upon entering my fifth decade, I’ve begun to put the pieces of my life together.

I endured the Dark Night of the Soul last year. I look at life differently now. To put it more in context, I no longer question how I look at life.

I believe nature is the most beautiful and inspirational thing I will ever see. I believe in kindness toward each other. I believe in people’s actions, not their words.

I look forward to sharing more in the new blog.

Spiritual Enlightenment | Being Present

I’ve been learning about spiritual enlightenment and spirituality. Taking that first step wasn’t easy, but I’m glad to be learning the concept.

My first book about spiritual enlightenment was The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle.

When you’re present, you don’t react reflexively to most situations. You are in the moment with no assumptions or expectations.

You don’t think about the past or the future unless there is a reason. You deliberately distract yourself when you catch yourself ruminating, a favorite hobby of mine. If you can’t stop ruminating, you show forgiveness toward yourself, not anger.

When you are present, you watch your thoughts like clouds in the sky. Just because there’s a cloud in the sky doesn’t mean it will rain or snow. It just means there’s a cloud in the sky.

Radical Acceptance

My current read is Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach. It’s brought me to the edge of tears several times. I can only read 5 to 10 pages at a time, and then I must put the book down to absorb the concepts.

I’m learning that acceptance doesn’t come from others. Acceptance comes from within. Once we accept who we are, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or says. We don’t need the approval of others to feel complete.

Thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing.

March 24, 2023
Snow Crocus: Unstoppable Early Spring Bloom

It’s mid-March, and my snow crocus has bloomed for a few weeks. What’s the secret to such early spring flowers? How do I pull off such a fantastic feat every year?

Simple. I do nothing!

Snow crocus is one of the first bulbs, technically, it’s a corm, to bloom in the landscape.

Crocus is extremely easy to care for. They showed up in the lawn about ten years ago and return a little thicker yearly. I neither planted the crocus nor did a thing to care for them.

In particular, the crocus I have are Crocus tommasinianus, commonly called the snow crocus or early crocus. Snow crocus has lavender flowers and is the first bloom in the spring.

In fact, Snow crocus often blooms while snow is on the ground. Another identifying factor of snow crocus, Crocus tommasinianus, is white stems.

Snow crocus or early crocus grow as far north as USDA Hardiness Zone 3 and south to USDA Hardiness Zone 8. Snow crocus is not a native plant.

Moreover, the snow crocus was covered in snow last week. They were in bloom before the snow fell and are still in color after the snow has melted.

It should be noted that Snow crocus grow three to four inches tall. I mow at a minimum of three inches, so there is plenty of foliage left to feed the corms after bloom.

Consider planting snow crocus in your lawn or garden if you want early spring bloom. You won’t regret it.

March 22, 2023
First Daffodil of The Season

Today, March 19, 2023, I just returned from a walk. It’s been in the high 30’s F with winds gusting to a little over 10 mph. The sun makes it look warm, but you better be bundled up if you head outside.

While walking, I noticed several Daffodils groupings and anticipated they would be in bloom in another week or two. The Daffodils closest to bloom grew in front of or along stone walls.

When a little over halfway through my walk, what did I see? A daffodil flower smiling at me on a blustery New England day.

The daffodil asked me if I would share its smile with you!

I am in USDA Hardiness Zone 6, right between 6a and 6b.

March 19, 2023
Spring Flowers for Early Bloom in the Landscape

We all want to see color after a long dreary winter. However, what can we plant to get spring flowers sooner?

Yesterday, I looked out the kitchen window and the Arnold Promise Witch Hazel was on fire. It’s mid-march and I’ve already got a flowering tree in full bloom.

Arnold Promise Witch Hazel doesn’t have the showiest flowers but it does one thing very well. It is in full bloom when nothing else is, except for perhaps Crocus and Lenten Rose.

I enjoy the pre-spring flowers or Arnold Promise Witch Hazel. How could you not?

My nature-planted crocus are in full bloom. Crocus and Arnold Promise Witch Hazel are in the same time frame for succession of bloom. I’m in awe of Crocus every time I see them. The flowers may be covered by six inches of snow tomorrow.

The daffodils won’t be in bloom for another couple of weeks, give or take. I need to remove some of the shredded leaves I put on the plants last fall.

I have poppies emerging or simply growing. I don’t think poppies die back in the winter. They simply turn a little brown but maintain their vigor in the center of the foliage.

As dainty as poppy flowers appear they’re tough-as-nails plant that thrives in hot and dry locations. The photo below was taken in May or June.

My tulips are just beginning to emerge.

Here we are two days later and the temperature is in the low 30s F with two to five inches of heavy, wet snow forecast for today. Have I mentioned what a wonderful addition to the garden Arnold Promise Witch Hazel is?

March 14, 2023
Winter Wonderland

Today, February 28, 2023, we received our FIRST accumulating snow this winter in Connecticut. Once again, mother nature did not let me down with the photo opportunities.

Barn Wood Bird House

Last weekend I visited the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show and purchased a barn wood birdhouse. It gives the garden an instant old-timey feel. I hope to purchase another larger birdhouse for the fence in my backyard. Visit Birdhouse Brokerage for more information.

Last year, I built a platform to put bird seed on and found a sign that says “This is our Happy Place” for it. When I saw the birdhouse at the flower show I immediately knew where to place it. The birdhouse looks great looking out the kitchen window.

Arnold Promise Witch Hazel

My Arnold Promise Witch Hazel is in full bloom. I first noticed flowers on this small tree on February 16. That is ridiculously early because it has been a ridiculously mild winter.

Arnold Promise Witch Hazel isn’t a show-stopper. However, in late February with 5 inches of snow on the ground, there’s not much competition for the best tree in bloom.

The sunnier and warmer the weather the more witch hazel flowers become noticeable. Once the temperature goes above freezing and the sun shines Arnold Promise Witch Hazel looks like a different tree.

Heated Bird Bath in Snow

I like the contrast between the heated birdbath and the pile of snow on the unheated birdbath. A bird bath heater is a great service to the local avian population in addition to possums, raccoons and stray cats as a water source through the winter.

I use the Farm Innovators Model C-50 Premium Cast Aluminum Birdbath De-Icer, 150-Watt for my bird bath. I’ve had it for two years without an issue.

If you heat your bird bath keep in mind the colder the temperature the quicker the water will evaporate. When the temperature is below 20 degrees you can see a mist coming off the water.

America the Beautiful

The boxwood provides a green and white backdrop for the flag. I need to power wash the house this year!

Winter Wonderland

The depth of this picture excites me! Dragon Lady Holly in the foreground on the right, a tongue and groove cedar fence in the middle, and Emerald Green Arborvitae in the background.

Stray Cat in Snow

If you run your eye along the siding you’ll see Phantom watching me from a window well. I started feeding Phantom, and Snowball, last summer.

When we first met Phantom would hide in shadows or be within feet of me without me knowing it. He can be quite stealthy when he wants to be.

When I began feeding Phantom he wouldn’t eat until I was at least 50 feet away. Phantom now rolls on the ground in front of me hoping for pets and lives in our three-season room.

Thanks for viewing my snow day pictures!

Which picture is your favorite and why?

February 28, 2023
Oakleaf Hydrangea Glowing in the Morning Sun

This morning I stepped outside for a breath of air and caught an Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) glowing in the warmth of the morning sun.

Oakleaf Hydrangeas are one of my favorite plants for several reasons.

First, the oak-shaped leaves create interest in the landscape all year.

Second, mid-summer blooms light up the landscape and persist until frost.

Third, the fall color of Oakleaf Hydrangeas is outstanding with glowing shades of oranges and reds.

Fourth, Oakleaf Hydrangeas are reasonably slow growers and seldom outgrow their space.

Fifth, Oakleaf Hydrangeas thrive in both sun and partial shade and tolerate dry conditions. If you need a 3-5 foot tall shrub for the shade garden think Oakleaf Hydrangea.

There are only two minor downsides to Oakleaf Hydrangeas I can think of.

First, Oakleaf Hydrangeas can be finicky when it comes to pruning.

Oakleaf Hydrangeas bloom on the previous season’s growth. If you prune them too early you risk removing the current year’s blooms and if you prune them too late you risk removing the next year’s blooms.

The winter habit of an Oakleaf Hydrangea below reveals you don’t have a lot to work with when it comes to pruning.

I’ve tried pruning Oakleaf Hydrangea both early and late with limited success.

I accept that if I prune more than a branch or two on an Oakleaf Hydrangea I may not get blooms this season or next season.

If I need to do a major pruning on an Oakleaf Hydrangea I prune immediately after bloom and still, I often lose out on most flowers the next year.

Second, some Oakleaf Hydrangeas, survive but don’t thrive. Like the one in this picture.

Admittedly, this plant is in dry, deep shade and that the shrub is growing at all is a miracle. However, I’m lucky to have a flower or two on this four-foot-tall shrub.

The interesting foliage, fall color and survivability are worth tolerating an Oakleaf Hydrangea with few or no flowers in my book.

My favorite cultivar of Oakleaf Hydrangea is Ruby Slippers. Watch the video below starting at 25:35 for why I love Ruby Slipper Oakleaf Hydrangea. I haven’t pruned this Ruby Slippers Hydrangea besides deadheading and the occasional branch or two for years.

Less is more when it comes to pruning Oakleaf Hydrangeas. Consider if you need to prune at all besides dead heading.

Below is a high-resolution image of my oakleaf hydrangea glowing in the morning sun. Click on the image to open it in a new tab.

November 3, 2022
Nurse Log, Trees Growing Out of a Tree

The other day while eating at my favorite lunch spot I noticed a decaying hemlock with deciduous seedlings growing out of it, a nurse log.

Nurse logs are rotting logs that support tree seedlings. As the old tree decays it creates a seedbed for tree seedlings. The decomposing wood stays moist and provides organic matter for seedlings to grow.

There were Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) seedlings growing out of a Hemlock log (Tsuga canadensis).

Look through the opening in the brush to find the hemlock trunk on the right behind the stump.

The yellow birch parent grows about 80 feet away.

This nurse log is resting on a rocky ledge while we are in the middle of a drought. The yellow birch seedlings are thriving and show no signs of stress.

Below is a great video about nurse logs for more information.

Next time you’re walking through the forest and see a tree growing on a tree, or a nurse log, take a moment to appreciate the glory of nature.

August 23, 2022
My New Favorite Lunch Spot

Today I visited my new favorite lunch spot.

No, it’s not an eatery, though if I had to choose one it would be Newtown Deli and Catering. The food is great but more than that the folks that work there give a sense of warmth and kindness.

I’m a big fan of the Fiesta Salad with Hard Boiled Eggs and Blue Cheese Dressing. I also enjoy their Italian Combo. I bring lunch to a local park which will remain nameless to preserve the peaceful spot.

About a quarter mile into the woods there is a slow, bubbling stream that fills the forest with the ever-so-gentle sound of running water.

There are a few glacial boulders at just the right height to sit on. I have a favorite spot, though today I moved to a different spot to get out of the sun. A ten-foot move gave a completely different perspective of the area.

While sitting on a boulder listening to the gentle stream I heard a symphony of bird calls through the forest. The bird calls were random yet rhythmic and you didn’t even notice them unless you listened.

After eating I took some photos to hone my skills. It took me twenty attempts to get the two photos in this post.

If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again.

Lunch lasted a couple of hours. When I left the forest the world was at peace and all concerns were washed away by the stream.

August 19, 2022
Blustery New England Spring

This morning the temperature is in the low 50s and the wind is howling. It feels like the low to mid-40s.

Last night was in the mid-30s, just barely above frost. I built a fire to take the chill out of the house.

Two days ago we had rain in the morning, overcast in the afternoon, and then more rain at night.

This weather is getting old. I’m getting tired of it.

I can’t say springtime in New England has ever been constant sun and temperatures in the 60s. However, this year has been one of the worst I can remember.

In the last month, we’ve had hail mixed with rain three separate times. The blustery days are non-stop.

I’ve picked up my potted plants almost daily.

I’d love one day in the low to mid-60s with the sun shining and no wind!

Wouldn’t you?

May 9, 2022