Toad House Gardening

03/27/2022

Hey folks!

I am opening up my client list for the season. It's still a bit too early to really dig into the ground (despite me being ready for outdoor activities...) but I am ready to get your name down. It's best to ask for help BEFORE I get knee-deep into several jobs.

My rate is $30 an hour - I do w**ding, planting, plotting, and general maintenance for flower and vegetable gardens. I'm willing to work with you or alone. If you are outside of the 20 mile radius I add a mileage/gas charge just to keep the car running. If you need me to buy supplies or plants, I add on 10%. More information is available here under Services.

Send me a message with any questions you have and let's see what we can grow!

03/02/2022

It's March! If you live in VT, now is the time to get those veggie starts going, and give your houseplants a much needed boost.

Give your indoor plants a trim (small new growth and leaves that are browning) and then tuck some fertilizer into them. I've adopted a philodendron (it's over 40 years old) and I've got a coffee tree that I'm looking to coax into flowering this year.

Start looking at your yard - I know it's probably under several feet of snow but visualizing projects and even drafting some ideas/sketches really helps once the frost is gone.

But since that's a ways off for the northeast take care of your indoor plants. Give your plants a spa day!

(NOTE: some houseplants, even if they aren't toxic to pets, can cause irritation, blisters, and a rash. Please wear gloves!)

01/29/2022

It's been a cold one this winter. I miss being out in the dirt and the rain but like any good toad, I've been hunkered down in preparation for the coming spring.

What's been going on here? Well I recently moved out of Waterbury which I miss dearly. I've been able to give my indoor plants and aquarium plants the love and light they deserve. Watching them flourish brings me much-needed joy in these cold days. Don't neglect your indoor plants! If you're overwintering some pots, don't forget to water them occasionally.

I am lowering my rates to $30 an hour based on the area I am currently residing (Williamstown). I am willing to travel outside of the 15 mile radius if people are willing to pay for mileage.

If you're interested in my services this coming spring (clean out, raking, plotting, trimming, etc) please let me know so I can schedule you in! Consultations are free and a good idea so I can get to know your garden(s)'s needs.

Stay warm, take care of each other, and watch the days grow longer - spring IS coming and soon we can all complain about the heat!

10/24/2021

A frost! It's happening - winter is creeping in. Sadly, I am pretty well out of commission. I cleaned out my own two very small gardens and it was almost too much. I will be contacting folks shortly with updates but here's some general maintenance you can do:
- Cutback phlox, peonies, joe pye w**d, all the tall woody stems. You can leave some length of the stems to let native bees overwinter safely or cut them back and leave them on the ground where they fall.
- You can cut back hostas now or in the spring when you do clean up. It depends on if you suspect infestation or infection. Overwintered foliage protects pests.
- If you had rose slugs this year, cut your roses back and do not cover them. Eggs can overwinter in your mulch. Roses are tough, they'll be okay.
- You CAN plant mums. However, you should plant them in the spring (when they aren't on sale) so if you can overwinter your mums in a shed or garage hold onto them. Putting them in the ground now risks them not being able to get established before a deep freeze. But you can always try if you're planning on dumping them anyway. Just dig em deep.
- It's too late to do any shrub/tree trimming. Lots of trees have different trimming needs (spring, midsummer, fall, etc) so do your research. Just know that most of the time trimming may encourage growth but risk a year's loss of flowers. Depends on what you prioritize.

10/18/2021

Hi folks! I have loved working in your gardens and getting to know your flowers, but I have injured my back and need to take a break to recover. I am so sorry for the inconvenience, what with frost and winter approaching so soon, but I will post again when I'm ready!

09/25/2021

🍂I ADORE AUTUMN🍁
Going for a walk and seeing what's gone to seed, what's still blooming and feeding the monarch butterflies and bees to prepare them for winter, appreciating how they work together in this marvelous ecosystem!
Native wild asters are some of the most important pollinator flowers you can leave right now. They aren't too bad to look at either. (Yes, roadside chicory - Chicorium intybus- is an aster too, although it is a naturalized non-native. You wouldn't believe how many flowers are in Asteraceae.)
What are your favorite fall flowers?

09/24/2021

🍂Thanks to Front Porch Forum, I am getting so many inquiries for work! Thank you SO much!
Due to the sudden influx of jobs, I may not get to your garden right away. I work quickly and I want to get into your gardens, but I am only one person.
Consultations are still being scheduled so feel free to message me and we'll work something out to the best of my ability (and availability). 🐸

09/16/2021

🍁Fall (and, inevitably, winter) is coming and vegetable gardens and flower beds are ready to get cleared and sheared. I am for hire! $35 an hour. Message me today to schedule a consultation!🍂

(Please note: I'll need somewhere to toss the trimmings/w**ds, I don't work during thunderstorms/when it's 90F, and I need you to remove any bees/hornets from nearby the work area)

09/11/2021

Examples of my w**ding service. $35 an hour, just DM me (~20 miles out of Waterbury, VT, please)

09/08/2021

Got some leggy plants that need to be cut back for fall? Ready to clean up your veggie garden? Perhaps you want w**ds out of your flowerbeds before they seed for next year? I am for hire! $35 an hour. Message me today to schedule a consultation!

(Please note: I'll need somewhere to toss the browns, I don't work during thunderstorms/when it's 90F, and I need you to remove any bees/hornets from nearby the work area)

09/06/2021