Urban Gardener: Container Gardens
Leonard Moorehead: GoLocalProv Garden Expert
Urban Gardener: Container Gardens
Gardeners of every stripe find themselves container gardeners. Who hasn’t kept a flower pot on the window sill to nurse along a Phalanopsis orchid? Or treasured petite African violets when winter prevails? It’s outside we go, the great migration into sunlight for carefree days in the summer sun. Surely those spider plants need trimming back. Certainly, urban gardeners are enterprising folk and there is a container garden limited only by imagination and opportunity for you.
A successful container needs only good soil and very important drainage. Sometimes plants do best in containers and are useful for those with a bit more room than the front steps. Let’s start with soil.
I gardened in a community garden with marvelous soil. An established garden, it was created from a vacant lot surrounded by Victorian houses. After the demolition of a fire gutted house, the Sanchez family bought the lot at a tax sale and invited the neighborhood in. The plots are not regimented. One early gardener spoke up. “I grew up in a communist country and everything was regimented, like the army. Let’s divide the lot up with different shapes and sizes.” Earnest and sincere people brought in bags of potting soil from their apartments and on the handle bars of bicycles. Eventually, a compost heap and shared loads of compost grew above the rubble and the soil grew with each successive gardener. A garden plot is a container, the only difference in this metaphor is size. Many herbs, vegetables, fruits and berries thrive in containers. You decide which size suits your needs.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTItalian terracotta pots have long traditions for good reasons. They are affordable. Their gentle color is universally acceptable or if you like, are fun to paint. This container breaths easily and in a short while, informs whether moist or dry. I have grown potted culinary herbs for convenience, by the back door, or because some herbs, such as bay laurel or rosemary, do best in direct sunlight for nine months of the year. Rosemary is a strong handsome shrub fussy about poor soil, yes, there are some, and is grown in pots in its native regions. Each thoughtful snip of foliage encourages branching. Topiary is easy with rosemary. Consider wiring the plant to guide shape and form. Yes, it is possible to root the large sprigs sold in markets for skewering. The scent is an end within itself, the subtle color and diminuative blooms pleasing.
Red clay pots too traditional for you? How about baskets? Nearly every yard sale I’ve visited has old baskets, some of very high quality, for bargain prices. Available in a huge array of shape and size, baskets make for great containers. I flatten out brown paper bags. Then fold the paper in at least 3 layers to conform to the basket’s shape. Line the basket and fill with the best soil you can lay your hands upon. I like to mix in perlite, peat, compost and loam in my wheelbarrow. The perlite and peat absorb moisture for those days when the beach or work demands time. Once filled, gently tuck the edge of the paper under the soil for a finished look. The paper will prevent any soil from leaking out of the wickerwork and lasts for entire growing season. This is recycling at its most basic. Brown paper biodegrades and will protect the wickerwork from composting. Wicker baskets can also be painted. Like clay pots, baskets can be moved without much difficulty and in the case of often free bushel baskets, often have handles.
Containers bring gardening into scale. I have containers on long legs. This brings the growing space much closer to the gardener’s height. Save your back. Endive, roquette, and multi colored lettuces are planted into my 4x4x4 foot container made of scavenged lumber. The height protects these delectable salad plants from maurading woodchucks and rabbits who also share our city.
Be creative. I mix colors, shapes and forms for effect. Enjoy yourself. Mixed types of plants are a natural deterrent to insects as well as animals. One or two seedlings might fall to damping off rather than all. There is strength in diversity. Flowers and herbs are good companions. Parsley, chives, and basil do well in containers. Concoct a stew of fish emulsion and water. This organic fertilizer endures as a convenient power house of nutrients.
I have wonderful luck with nasturtiums in pots. Children of all ages are enchanted by nasturtium. The foliage has the wonderful ability to concentrate diamonds of water in suspenseful pearls after rain. The strong summer colors of red and golden yellow blooms uplift the spirit. Nasturtium has deep roots in our culture as a snappy addition to salads. You can enjoy your flowers in the pot or in a salad. The seed pods are also edible. You probably will save the seeds for year after year. Nasturtiums will spill out of the container and spread across sidewalks and down stairs. Their long growing season keeps them major players in your container efforts.
Other familiar plants do well in containers. Tomatoes are classic. Place a support trellis in the pot when filling with soil. Tamp down and gently guide the tomato up the support. I rip up old burlap or tshirts for this duty. Pick a color tshirt you like and color coordinate. Jute twine is essential to all gardeners and here is where it is most useful. The jute can be but must not, be tightened. Jute composts in one season if not quicker if in touch with the soil. The soft brown color blends right in or purchase green colored jute for instant disappearance. Cherry tomatoes give the largest crop for the punch. They are just right for popping into the mouth for a treat certain to please any palette.
Children are often good container gardeners. Give your child a container to care for. Large seeds are good for small learner hands. Or select transplants and demonstrate to your child how to handle transplants, loosening the roots, dusting with rooting hormone, forming a good hole and planting at just the right height, stem and roots remaining at the same depth as in the small six pack. Offer children plants with distinctive fragrance. Scent is our most primitive sense. Happy memories of a nurtured plant will endure forever. Whenever I smell Lilies of the Valley I am brought to early childhood where mother was nearby, naming the plant and linking us together for decades.
Geraniums are a container classic. New colors and choices are endless. Geraniums like to be pot bound, they thrive when they’re crowded, a true virtue. Grow rose scented geraniums for their remarkable fragrances. Lemon and nutmeg scented geraniums are wonderful too. Scented geraniums dry well for winter potpourri or when steeped in hot water make a soothing tea.
Urban gardeners demonstrate their endless creativity growing container gardens. I urge you to consider the wide spread variety of shapes, forms, affordable, containers. Enjoy, explore your sense of adventure, plant seeds with youngsters and grow healthy bodies, minds and most importantly, the heart. Give love a chance.
Spring and Summer Music Festivals
Boston Calling Music Festival
May 23-25
City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
Boston Calling Music Festival is a three-day, two-stage festival featuring some of the biggest and best acts in live music. The event will be one big party with easy access to both stages, food, services and more. All ages are welcome and children under 10 are free.
Lineup Features:
Jack Johnson
Modest Mouse
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
The Decembrists
Bastille
Death Cab for Cutie
Tegan & Sara
Brand New
The Neighborhood
Built to Spill
Magic Man
Maximo Park
Walk Off The Earth
The Districts
Warpaint
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Jenny Lewis
Plus More...
Strange Creek Campout
May 23-26
Camp Kee-Wanee
Greenfield, MA
Presented by the Wormtown Trading Company, the Strange Creek Campout features live music, on-site camping, disc golf, yoga, a holistic village, and the Strangers Helping Strangers Food Drive.
Lineup Features:
Rusted Root
Max Creek (2 Shows)
Zach Deputy (2 Shows)
Donna the Buffalo
Ryan Montbleau
Turkuaz
Goosepimp
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
Fungus Amungus
Consider the Source
Plus more…
Roots on the River
June 5-8
Bellows Falls, VT
Roots on the River is an annual roots music festival featuring 23 sets, 7 shows, 6 venues over 4 days.
Lineup Features:
James McMurtry
Curtis McMurtry
Mary Gauthier
Carolyn Wonderland
JD McPherson
Sean Rowe
Poor Old Shine
Heather Maloney Band
Caitlyn Canty
Hayley Reardon
The Meadows Brothers
Leominster Starburst Festival
June 14 (Rain Date June 15)
Various Locations
Leominster, MA
For a free music festival in Central Massachusetts, check out Leominster’s Starburst, hosted by the Leominster Cultural Council. Everyone in your family will enjoy this day of music and fun, topped off with a firework show in the evening.
Paulie's New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival
June 20-22
Canal District
Worcester, MA
Now entering its seventh year, the mission of Paulie's New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival is to provide quality New Orleans & Louisiana jazz, blues, country, funk & zydeco music & food within an urban setting.
Lineup Features:
Roomful of Blues
Honey Island Swamp Band
Marcia Ball
Little Freddie King
Mem Shannon & The Membership
Bobby Patlauf Band
Big Al Carson & The Blues Masters
Eric Lindell & The Sunliners
Plus more…
New Bedford Folk Festival
July 5-6
New Bedford Whaling National Park
New Bedford, MA
The New Bedford Folk Festival brings together over 70 renowned and emerging folk performers and 90 juried arts and crafts vendors in New Bedford's authentic historic district during the first weekend in July.
Lineup Features:
Chris Smither
Christine Lavin with Don White
John Gorka
Poor Old Shine
Jonathan Edwards
RUNA
Vance Gilbert
Bill Harley
Green River Festival
July 12-13
Greenfield Community College
Greenfield, MA
The Green River Festival is a premier Pioneer Valley Music event that takes place every July. The event attracts national talent, the great local food and fine crafts, and even hot air balloons.
Lineup Features:
Puss'N'Boots Featuring Norah Jones
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Trampled by Turtles
Lucius
Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin & The Guilty Ones
The Lone Bellow
Ana Tijoux
James Hunter Six
The Iguanas
Poor Old Shine
Barnstar!
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Plus More...
North Atlantic Blues Festival
July 12-13
Public Landing
Rockland, ME
The North Atlantic Blues Festival is an annual two-day blues music festival featuring national blues performers and considered one of the most prestigious on the East Coast.
Lineup Features:
Mr. Sipp
Joe Louis Walker
Jarkeus Singleton
Teeny Tucker
Joanna Connor
Victor Wainwright
Melvin Taylor
C.J. Chener
Jimmy Thackery
In Layman Terms
The Mannish Boys
The Golden State lone Star Review
Lowell Folk Festival
July 25-27
Various Locations
Lowell, MA
One of the largest free folk festivals in the country, the Lowell Folk Festival attracts thousands of people over three days. The event features traditional music, food, crafts and good vibes.
The Pine Leaf Boys – Cajun
Bud Hundenski & the Corsairs – Polka
James Kelly, Donna Long, & Sean Keane – Irish
Kevin Doyle – Irish Step Dance
Marquise Knox – Blues
Seichi Tanaka & the San Francisco Taiko Dojo – Taiko Dojo Drums
Nikki D & the Browns – Sacred Steel Gospel
Sonny Burgess & the Legendary Pacers – Rockabilly
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers – Bluegrass
Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga – East African Rumba
E.U. – Go Go
Hassan Hakmoun – Moroccan Gnawa
Seizmos Band – Greek
Thomas Maupin, Daniel Rothwell, & Overall Creek with Kory Posey – Appalchian Buck
Plus More...
Gathering of the Vibes
July 31 - August 3
Seaside Park
Bridgeport, CT
Gathering of the Vibes is an annual music, arts and camping festival now in its 19th year. Vibes has grown into a four-day festival that has featured such world-class talent as Crosby, Stills and Nash; all original members of the Grateful Dead; the Allman Brothers Band; Jane's Addiction; James Brown; the Black Crowes; Buddy Guy; Elvis Costello; George Clinton and P-Funk; Bruce Hornsby; Les Claypool; and many, many more big names, while continuing to showcase extraordinarily talented, young, up-and-coming bands to the 20 thousand people who attend each year.
Lineup Features:
John Fogerty
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rusted Root
Widespread Panic
Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros
moe.
Slightly Stoopid
Maceo Parker
Deep Banana Blackout
Plus more…
Newport Folk Festival
July 25- 27
Fort Adams State Park
Newport, RI
Folk music has been a presence in Newport since 1959, when the Newport Folk Festival was founded by George Wein. Backed by board members Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, Oscar Brand, and Albert Grossman, the Festival became renowned for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars, most notably Joan Baez (who appeared as an unannounced guest of Bob Gibson in 1959), and Bob Dylan, whose first Newport appearance, as a guest of Joan Baez in 1963, is generally regarded as his premiere national performance.
Lineup Features:
Deer Tick
Ryan Adams
Nickel Creek
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Jimmy Cliff
Mavis Staples
Band of Horses
Jeff Tweedy
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Conor Oberst
Sun Kill Moon
The Devil Makes Three
Puss N Boots
Plus more...
Newport Jazz Festival
August 1-3
Fort Adams State Park
Newport, RI
Established in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival begins its 60th year this August, one week after its sister event, the Newport Folk Festival, takes place. The first event was originally billed as "First Annual American Jazz Festival" and featured many notable jazz musicians, including Billie Holiday.
Lineup Features:
Bobby McFerrin
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
David Sanborn & Joey DeFrancesco
George Wein & Newport All-Stars
Dee Dee Bridgewater - To Billie With Love
Dave Holland
Dr. John
Gregory Porter
Gary Burton
Robert Glasper
Vijay Iyer
SFJAZZ Collective
Danilo Pérez
Ravi Coltrane
Plus more...
Peacham Acoustic Music Festival
August 15-16
Various Locations
Peacham, VT
The Peacham Acoustic Music Festival is also a blend of the old and the new - roots music from the Celtic traditions, old time fiddle tunes, and a touch of blues and bluegrass - not to mention The Dance. Smoke and alcohol free.
Lineup Features:
Jonathan Edwards
Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing
Carl Jones
Alan Greenleaf & The Doctor
The Bayley-Hazen Boys
Plus many more to be announced…
The White Mountain Boogie & Blues Festival
August 15-17
Sugar Shack Campground
Thornton, NH
Entering it's 18th year, the Boogie and Blues Festival features award-winning blues artists, food vendors, craft vendors, a climbing wall, and many fun activities for children --including Saturday night fireworks.
Lineup Features:
Brandon Santini
Moreland & Arbuckle
Southern Hospitality
Samantha Fish
Jeremiah Johnson
Gracie Curran
Plus many more to be announced…
Rhythm&Roots Festival
August 29-31
Ninigret Park
Charlestown, RI
The 17th Annual Rythym&Roots Festival features award-winning roots music artists on the Main Stage and at two big tented dance floors, plus intimate one-of-a-kind workshops and kids activities.
Featuring The Duhks as the featured host band
2014 Artist Lineup Announcements Coming Soon