“Find gratitude in the little things and your well of gratitude will never run dry.”

~ Antonia Montoya

It’s true! Since 2011, when a friend blessed me with the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, I have been recording daily “grace gifts” in my day-timer. As a result, my “well” of blessings continues to overflow!!!

I hope that as you look around and perhaps gather with family and friends on this special day, you will find much for which to give thanks….

James and I and our entire team at Hanselman Landscape are thankful for your trust, friendship, and continued support. We wish you and your loved ones a joyous Thanksgiving–today and everyday!

~ Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& daily grace-gifts recipient)

One of the best ways to learn about trees is to visit and spend time with them in beautiful settings. In these “classrooms”, you can observe the shape, growth habit, size, bark texture and color, and–depending on the season–leaf shape and leaf colors of various species of mature trees.

On sweltering summer days, you can refresh in the shade of leafy canopies; on blustery winter days, you can take in the structures of leafless branches and their silhouettes against the sky. And in any season, you can appreciate the beauty, grandeur, and value of mature trees in the landscape. In fact, you may even begin to imagine the possibilities and benefits of adding one or several to your own garden. We certainly hope so, and look forward to hearing from you and learning together which trees are best suited to your particular situation. (Call us at 717-653-1273 to get started!)

Some of our favorite “tree classrooms” are the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum, Swarthmore College’s Scott Arboretum, Mount Cuba, Winterthur, Longwood Gardens, and old growth forests everywhere.

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& perpetual learner of all things lovely)

“Oh that I could bottle fall
And make the magic last
Too rapidly the colors fade
The leaves depart too fast

But then, the winter snows will come
And afterward, the green
And so I’ll treasure every step
And each breath in-between.”

~ Laura Jaworski (contemporary American word and crochet artist)

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& all-season garden savorer)

Let’s start with a pop quiz: Which of the following is a “ground cover”?

1. Pachysandra
2. Rhododendron shrubs
3. White Pines
4. All of the above

If you chose “4. All of the above”, you would be right. Although we usually think of ground covers as being close to the soil (Pachysandra and Liriope, for example), anything that covers or shades the ground serves the same function: the prevention of weed germination by keeping sunlight from reaching the soil. Essentially, any plant that shades the ground–no matter its height–is a ground cover. This idea is especially evident in a dense forest where the tight tree canopy prevents sunlight from penetrating, thus limiting the growth of understory plants and weeds.

Understanding this concept enables a greater selection of garden plants than you might have thought possible. Although it will take a while for shrubs or trees to grow large or close enough to cover the ground beneath them, given time they will eventually shade the soil below. When this happens, you won’t have to weed as often and you will benefit visually from the interest of varying plant species, heights, and textures.

For help planning and planting a garden with layered ground covers (see client garden below), give us a call (717-653-1273)! We’d love to help add garden interest to your garden while reducing weed removal over time.

Contributed by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& beneficiary of a multistoried ground cover garden)

“I have loved the feel of the grass under my feet, and the sound of the running streams by my side. The hum of the wind in the tree-tops has always been good music to me, and the face of the fields has often comforted me . . . .”

~ John Burroughs (American naturalist and writer; 1837 – 1921)

Regardless of today’s weather or the to-do list you are rushing to finish, take a moment to step outside, catch your breath, be inspired, and breathe a quick prayer of thanksgiving for the beauty and wonder all around you! And if your immediate surroundings are less than inspiring, pick up your phone and give us a call (717-653-1273). We thrive on bringing all-season beauty and joy to our clients’ properties!

Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& daily recipient of garden inspiration)

“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.”

~ John Burroughs (American naturalist and writer; 1837 – 1921)

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& ever enthralled by autumn’s glory!)