#felder rushing

[kemetic-dreams]

Hoodoo is linked to a popular tradition of bottle trees in the United States. According to gardener and glass bottle researcher Felder Rushing, the use of bottle trees came to the Old South from Africa with the slave trade. The use of blue bottles is linked to the "haint blue" spirit specifically. Glass bottle trees have become a popular garden decoration throughout the South and Southwest

[romantichippie]

The perfect garden read

{felder rushing}

Last weekend my wonderful mother-in-law-to-be gave me a big box of plant starts! There is everything in there from Columbine to my personal favorite- Russian Sage. I am so excited to put them in the ground this weekend and as luck would have it- this is the week that the famous Felder Rushing is at the Indianapolis Museum of Art for the IMA Horticultural Society's Perennial Premiere (this Saturday from 10-5 if you're local!).

I was also lucky enough to have the opportunity to run the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful booth at his lecture on Thursday night where two of his books were on sale. It was there that the stars aligned and I found Rushing's "Tough Plants for Northern Gardens". It was a great find and something that I dove into as soon as I got home.  I totally geeked out and have already put sticky tabs on all the plants that are in my hand-me-down plant box. The book gives a photo as well as a well-written and entertaining description of each plant, the type of sun it needs, how to care for it and even a list of good plants for beginners and master gardeners. He also breaks down the book into chapters on annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, tropicals and vines which makes it really easy to read and a great quick-reference when you need it. I can't wait to get outside this weekend with my new plants and figure out where to put them thanks to my new book. Hopefully the weather cooperates! And if it doesn't I'll just hunker down and peruse through Felder Rushing's website, which I find highly charming and informative. One disclaimer: if you are going to his website because you want tips on a highly manicured, clean-cut yard you are looking in the wrong place. His stuff is creative, quirky, and lets plants grow and thrive in their naturally wonderful state. I personally find him to be one awesome and far-out dude. 

[nybg]

Green side up, that’s the big deal. If you can dig a fairly wide hole, put something in it green side up, chances are it will grow.

Words of wisdom from irreverent gardening sage Felder Rushing. More here.

[mauricesmall]

food not lawns 7 "the proof of a sustainable city"

The world according to Felder Rushing

First take a gander at the front yard of garden writer/popular speaker/urban horticulturist Felder Rushing - surely a regional landmark in Jackson, Mississippi. There are 450 different species of plants and lots of "yard art". There's no turfgrass at all, but lots of "people places." The photo above is the view from the street and below is the view from in Felder's home looking out toward the street.  

I heard Felder speak at Lewis Ginter Botanic Garden recently and took furious notes about his gardening style and philosophy.  Some highlights:

We're a nation not of gardeners but of lawn-mowers...and that's work, not fun.  He learned back in the '70s to "Just say no to grass."

i spent some time back in 2002 or 2003 with felder.  he was in cleveland to do a workshop at the cleveland botanical garden and i was the only "urban" manager at CBG.  so he and i set out for 24 or hours of fun, hood rat style.  he had nothing to lose and what he saw in clevelands urban landscape gave him pause to chat up the people that he met. just so you are aware, he likes to reuse found objects. tires, bikes, bottles, sinks.  you get the idea.

his influence on me was profound.  he showed me that it was ok to be me and not have grass on the property.  along with will allen, who i met the following year, these two men of urban agriculture have shared with the world their vision of another way in which harmony can be achieved.

i look forward to getting them in the same room or lawn free yard one day soon.