Naturally March/April 2018

P. Allen Smith's

NATURALLY March/April 2018

Guerrilla gardening with

SEED BOMBS

Not even potted: BARE-ROOT PLANTS

Top 10 aromatic flowers 1

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Wildness of Spring As much as we may love to plan our neat garden rows, sometimes it’s best to take our cues from Mother Nature in the early days of spring when she lets her hair down.

Her joy practically leaps from the ground with delicate wildflowers, surprise daffodils, lush green clover and other wild grasses.

These bursts of life are unplanned, unexpected and inspirational in every way. The never-ending rain and slush of spring finally gives way to the greenery we yearned for in the winter months. The dogwoods, tulip trees, and other early flowering shrubs are a most welcome sight.

Spring is about taking chances; about shedding those winter layers and trying something new. In homage to that theme, this issue is devoted to the sensual delights of spring — from fresh fields of wildflowers to the first fragrant blooms outside your door.

Welcome to another growing season. May it bless you with bounty.

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P. Allen Smith's

NATURALLY PUBLISHER

P. Allen Smith EDITOR

Melissa Tucker DESIGNER

Katherine Laughlin SOCIAL MEDIA

Sam May PHOTOGRAPHERS

Beth Hall Mark Fonville Jason Masters Steven Veach STYLIST

Lori Wenger

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table of contents

Top 10 fragrant plants 12

Bare-root essentials 28

DIY room freshener 18

Acai smoothie bowl 24

Seed bombs away 32

Spotify playlist 38

CONTACT For advertising inquiries, email cfreeman@pallensmith.com.

For editorial and general feedback, email smay@pallensmith.com.

“It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want—oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”

— Mark Twain

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GARDEN HOME

marathon

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On A pri l 1 4 , sp end an enti re Satu rday w ith Garde n Home on Create TV.

inspired

Watch 12 e pi s o de s f rom s ea s on s 14- 16 and b e inspired to st art proj ec ts i n you r ow n g arden home.

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P. Allen Smith's M O S S M O U N TA I N FA R M

collection shop now

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Heaven Scent

TO P 1 0 F R A G R A N T P L A N TS TO A D D TO YO U R G A R D E N When planning your garden’s annual performance, you take note of color, texture or shape, but the most overlooked player might be fragrance. This oft-forgotten character adds an unseen, but much appreciated, layer of enjoyment to your outdoor space.

Strategically placed flowers or herbs will give you a reason to pause and enjoy your garden. Place them near seating areas where you will rest or near windows to perfume the air in your home with every breeze.

But be warned, you can go overboard here. Some plants -- such as evening primrose, moonflower vine, angel’s trumpet and August lily — will “awaken” in the moonlight, so keep that in mind. And I’ve heard some homeowners complain of flowers being too fragrant, especially when they’re trying to sleep.

Generally speaking, deciding which fragrances you prefer is a very personal decision, so to start you on the journey, here are 10 of my favorite fragrant flowers and herbs for the garden.

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E NGLISH L AVE NDER –

PEONIES -

LE MON BALM -

I always visualize this aromatic herb in

They may seem old-fashioned, but the

This herb lives in the mint family and

large, romantic garden swaths, but in

faithful peony has earned its lasting

has a lemon flavor with a hint of mint.

reality, it grows best for me in containers.

reputation. Prized for their form,

It’s a practical choice, as it’s delightful

There are several species of lavender,

stunning range of colors, and exceptional

in teas, on salads or even in bouquets.

with the most popular being English,

hardiness, few other plants, once

Keep it contained, though, because like

Spanish, French and the lavandins. In

established, bloom so reliably year after

mint, this herb can get out of hand and

my humid, mid-south garden, I have had

year with such little care. Their large,

quickly overrun your garden. Unlike mint,

the most success with a lavandin called

glorious flowers and their intoxicating

the roots are not the problem here. It’s

‘Provence.’ Lavender prefers moist, cool

fragrance make them a wonderful cut

the seeds. The best course of action to

winters and hot, dry summers. A soil

flower.

prevent lemon balm from taking over the

mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 topsoil and 1/3

garden is to remove its flowers as soon as

compost works well, and if you place

you notice them.

a few pieces of broken terra cotta in the bottom of the container before you add the soil, it will further improve the drainage.

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LIL AC -

NOISET TE ROSES -

MO CK OR ANGE -

This beautiful and delicate flowering

You will find this historic variety

Growing citrus trees can be a hassle, so

plant has fragrant lavender blooms. It

throughout the rose garden at Moss

adding mock orange to your garden is one

blooms best when planted in full sun

Mountain Farm, as they were the first

of my favorite ways to get that wonderful

and well-drained, alkaline soil. Plants

class of American roses. I plant the

citrus fragrance without having to care

should be fertilized with a general

Champneys’ Pink Cluster, and the

for fruit trees. While the name suggests

fertilizer in early spring and then again

clusters of pale pink blossoms have an

something deceiving – especially with the

after the bloom cycle. To encourage

intoxicating fragrance. Champneys’ Pink

absence of color on the petals – the scent

blooms, substitute the general fertilizer

Cluster can be trained to climb with the

is real, light and enchanting. For the best

with super phosphate, or a fertilizer high

right support. Pruning will allow you to

results, plant mock orange in full sun or

in phosphorous, for your early spring

grow it as a shrub as well.

partial shade, make sure the soil is moist

feeding.

and place in a well-drained area of your garden or yard.

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HYACI NTH -

GARDE NIA -

With a little love and patience, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous,

A favorite among the older generation, very few plants can top

fragrant hyacinth blooms in the spring. Many people grow them

the sweet smell of gardenias! And those gorgeous white blooms

indoors by forcing the bulbs. To grow outdoors, plant the bulbs

pop against the glossy, deep green foliage. Grow gardenias in a

in early fall in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Growing hyacinths in

protected area that gets full sun to part shade. The plant thrives

containers is another option, and it gives you more control over

in consistently moist, well-drained soil. Feed the plant in the

the soil conditions.

spring before new growth starts using an all-purpose fertilizer.

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HONEYSUCKLE -

PI NEAPPLE SAGE -

Nothing says spring in the south like honeysuckle. Its sweet,

A magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, pineapple

bright scent is always welcome, and it thrives along fences and

sage is named for the pineapple scent of its foliage. The bold

gazebos. It’s not too picky about growing conditions and is a

red blooms make an appearance in late summer/early fall. Grow

perfect choice for attracting wildlife to the garden. Honeysuckle

pineapple sage in a sunny spot that has a bit of afternoon shade.

grows best in full sun but can take a bit of shade. Plant in well-

Soil should be well drained, but the plant needs moisture to

drained soil amended with organic matter for best results.

support it as it grows quickly. Once established, pineapple sage is drought tolerant.

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photo credit: stephanie pollard, helloglow.co

Spring is in the Air C H A M O M I L E BL E N D RO O M S P R A Y

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click here for how-to It’s finally spring, and as much as you’d like to spend all day outdoors, it’s not always possible. So, I like to bring the outdoors inside with a fresh, homemade room spray. Try infusing fresh herbs or citrus peels or other favorite aromas in water and spritz it around for an instant mood booster. Spring is in the air, at long last.

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spring

LUNCH TOURS

get tickets Moss Mountain Farm in roland, arkansas 21

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cranberry pecan Rice salad view recipe

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'lilliput' acai Smoothie bowl smoothie ingredients 1 pack frozen acai (3½ ounces/100g) 1 banana, frozen 1/2 cup fresh blueberries 1 cup Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon chia seeds

topping ingredients ¼ cup granola Berries, to taste Sliced ‘Lilliput’ cantaloupe Optional: Banana slices, to taste 1/4 cup shaved almonds Mint, for garnish

directions 1. Place all smoothie ingredients (acai, banana, blueberries, Greek yogurt, and chia seeds) in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Pour blended mixture into a bowl and top with favorite toppings.

3. Serve immediately.

Note: 'Lilliput' is a personal-size melon that you can use as a bowl.

You may add whatever fresh toppings suit your fancy, but granola and cantaloupe are MUSTS for me!

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“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.”

–Marty Rubin

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The Bare Essentials HOW TO GET STARTED WITH BARE ROOT FLOWERING PLANTS Somewhere between seeds and seedlings is the bareroot plant starter.

It may not look as pretty as the potted plants you get in the nursery, or as promising as a fresh packet of seeds, but it's every bit as viable.

The bare-root starter is a live plant in a dormant state.

It will arrive when it’s ready to go in the ground and it’s essentially the root system of a plant with the dirt removed. The roots will converge into a “crown,” which is the top of the plant and faces up towards the sky.

I’ve always had success with bare-root bulbs, which can be planted in spring or fall. Much like with seeds, you must be patient with these plants as it can take anywhere from six to eight weeks before you start to see obvious growth.

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TIPS FOR GROWI NG BARE-RO OT PL ANTS : - Your bare-root plant will arrive in a plastic bag, and should be damp, but not too moldy. Your new plant should go in the ground as soon as possible, but if you need a few days, you can store them in a cool dry place, like a cool garage or a basement. Warmth and moisture will signal them to start growing so check on them occasionally to be sure they aren’t getting moldy or soft.

They can be kept this way for about 5 days.

- Sometimes bare root plants can dry out during transit so it is a good idea to soak them in a bucket of water for 2 to 4 hours to rehydrate them before planting.

- Follow the instructions for planting, and take care not to plant too deep. Many times bare-root plants won’t thrive or bloom if the crown is too far below the surface.

- Once planted, give them a bit of water, but not too much. The roots will need time to adjust to their new home, and you don’t want to add more stress.

- Wait to fertilize until your plant is about 6 inches tall.

You can also add a bit of mulch at this time.

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s ho p n ow

l a rg e st g row e r o f day l i l i e s , p 30

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p e o n i e s , a n d i r i s i n t h e wo r l d 31

Seed Bombs Away

r e ca p t ure neglec ted pl anting areas of your commu nit y wit h guerrill a g ardenin g tac tic s.

Move over bath bombs, the latest trend in earthy, self-indulgence is the seed bomb. Often called guerrilla gardening, seed bombs are made for areas where you’d like to add color but can’t easily cultivate because of fences or other blockages. These bombs would be best employed — or deployed — in the neglected flowerbeds and street planters of your community. You could also attack a forgotten section of your neighborhood with one, but you didn’t hear that from us.

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h ow to make seed bom bs 3 parts of natural clay; can be found at art stores 5 parts compost 1 part wildflower seeds - you can use a pre-made wildflower seed mix water

Start with 1 handful of seeds. Add the 5 parts of compost and mix well.

Add the 3 parts of clay and mix thoroughly.

Add small amounts of water, mix until consistency is similar to biscuit dough.

Grab a chunk, and roll in your hand until round and smooth, and truffle sized. Air dry in a warm dry place; preferably overnight. Once dry they can be stored for a few weeks in a cool, dark place.

The idea is to pack an array of seeds into a ball with all the things they’d need to get started on their journey. The casing of clay will protect the seeds from birds and insects. It also soaks up rain and dew, allowing the seeds to germinate and prepare for their transformation into seedlings. The compost gives them the nutrients they need to grow. Seed bombs work best when “planted” — tossed somewhere casually — in early spring or fall, so the April showers can help them do their work.

They’re perfect for your newbie gardeners, as it gives them a sense of accomplishment and might even encourage them to progress to the next level of gardening. Creating seed bombs is simple and easy. And if you’ve ever made truffles or cake balls, this may feel eerily similar.

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p. allen smith’s

poultry workshop -

S at u r day

-

4.07.18 GET TICKETS

m o s s m o u n ta i n fa r m Roland, Ar $96.75 per person (All applicable taxes included)

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Be sure to support your local 4-H/FFA chapters and to visit your county, state and regional livestock and poultry shows to help further the cause. heritagepoultry.org

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Photographer: Lyndsey Sullivan Photography

plan your wedding, rehearsal dinner or bridal photography at p. allen smith's private garden home retreat

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Click here to listen.

1.

FLOWERS IN YOUR HAIR The Lumineers

2. ISLAND IN THE SUN Weezer 3.

HERE COMES THE SUN The Beatles

4.

MORNING LIGHT Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys

5.

THE ROCK DOC Fruit Bats

6. GOLDEN

My Morning Jacket 7.

13 Allan Rayman

8. WILDFLOWERS

Miley Cyrus 9.

SUN GIANT Fleet Foxes

10. 5 YEARS TIME

Noah and the Whale 11. SUN IS SHINING

Bob Marley & The Wailers 12. THE WARMTH OF THE SUN

The Beach Boys 13. AIN'T NO SUNSHINE

Bill Withers 14. SUNRISE

Norah Jones

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cluckstin timberlake

Watch out, spring chickens. Cluckstin Timberlake is bringing sexy bock. Like his musical counterpart, Cluckstin is talented, charming and popular at Moss Mountain Farm. When it comes to turning heads, he can’t stop the feeling. If you visit, you’ll typically hear this show-stopping Buff Orpington crowing about something and strutting around like he owns the place.

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