The gardens at Clover Hill are coming into their own now that warm weather has arrived. Would you like to see them? Grab a stiff drink (or just a cup of coffee) and take leisurely walk with me:
Thanks for watching! Please let me know how your own garden is progressing. If you are already harvesting tomatoes, please know that I am jealous of you!
xKevin
Toni O'Brien says
Good morning Kevin. Thanks for sharing your garden. I have enjoyed your tours in the past but I have a request. I get motion sick very quickly and by the time you began to show us your 200 year old beech tree, I began to feel it coming on so by the time you opened your garden gate, I had to shut it off. There were some tours in the past that you also posted in pictures and print. I understand that that is more work but if you can find the time, can you occasionally do a “still life” virtual tour for those of us who can’t walk with you? I do enjoy watching and learning and sharing your appreciation of nature.
I live in NB, Canada, and yes, we are happy to finally have warmer weather as well. Lawns and flower gardens are newly mulched and looking glorious. My cooler veggies are up and doing well – the peas are starting to climb the trellis. The rest of my veggie garden is a very new experiment for me. All of our property, around our house and around our camp at the lake has only short (2-3 hours) bursts of sunshine throughout the day because of the trees. So this year I have 30 pails sitting on the beach at the lake and I planted everything in seed – tomatoes and peppers included just last week. I have cukes, squashes, pumpkins, onions, carrots, beets, turnips, tomatoes, a variety of sweet and hot peppers and green and yellow beans. I am very anxious to see how they all turn out. If successful, I will grow it bigger next year.
Love your recipes and gardening advice.
Toni
Pam says
Oh, Kevin! Such a great garden video and am so jealous! I laughed at the comment of the crabs-wedding gift and would love to see those in bloom. You really have a vast knowledge of plants. I do have cherry tomatoes already here in far north east Linden,Texas,wish I could share! Love you !!!! 🙂
Ellen Hanson says
Your home is beautiful and enjoyed your garden tour so much. My goodness you are a busy man. I hope you have others to help you maintain all this.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Pam – Cherry tomatoes already? Yes, I’M JEALOUS.
Hi Ellen – I have help from one person a couple of times a month. Mercifully we have a short growing season here!
Linda says
I always love your garden tours and this one did not disappoint! Thank you for sharing with us. Always a treat. Take care.
Gail says
All lives matter. We must stop thinking of the color of our skin and unite as one people!
Grandma Bev says
Hi Kevin, Really like the garden tour, so fun to follow a garden unfolding. Great job, thanks.
Meghan Girroir says
Kevin,
Thank you. Everything is beautiful and I watched it twice. I am also making the chicken.
Take Care,
Meg
Sandra Payette says
Oh what a beautiful tour on a Sunday morning. I loved seeing your beloved gardens. So much love and effort has gone into all your work. Many thanks for showing us around. Look forward to the harvest. xoxo
Dona says
Nice to see yr garden… But I’m wondering the age of some of yr plants. How long did it take for the boxwood cuttings to become a bush? Because of yr past blog on it, I started some last year but most didn’t make it through the winter.
Wonderful garden
Carole says
Love your garden with all the native trees. You are such a terrific gardener that I wish you had an interest in native plants. Here’s a little enticement: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/?fbclid=IwAR34k5jOnkeKKw1JnxgLc-5UbK5kqHuvBAzbCWz6UhMYZuvptr2EaD45D4o
Rita says
I absolutely loved your garden video. You have such a beautiful place.
Judy Hines says
Kevin I look forward to your videos every Sunday!!! The garden tour is spectacular! About the critters eating some of your plants, MOTHER NATURE RULES! We have lots of gingko trees including several interesting cultivars obtained bare root from Mr. Maple, a Gnome, a little guy in the patio garden, 3 BrightonCity along one side of the drive way which get no wider than 6′ and 20′ tall and thus are called “columnar”. Then purchased here 2 regular guys, which Ed decided I needed when we tilled in the prairie garden (it became invested with giant fox-tail). Bottom line: We had several days of freezing temps when the trees were putting out teensey leaf growth – shazam! All turned brown! They are coming back, but slowly. One more thing…..our first gingko called a Saratoga planted in 2006 is quite large and escaped the wrath of MOTHER NATURE. Enough….
Christine Edwards says
Is it the quality of my shears that my trimmed boxwood always turn yellow leaves at the tips of the sheared areas? Too dull?
Fern says
Hello Kevin,
What a wonderful retreat and refuge – a haven one might say – about the bucolic grounds you have created around your home. Your love of nature and it’s creatures are apparent. Thankyou for this peaceful walk through the woods and into your gardens. I’m going to share this video with my sisters – to whom I have extolled your virtues of gardening and culinary skills. Now “they can meet you in person”.
Fern
DJ Todd says
My choice of beverage for your tour was a tall glass of your cold brew iced coffee which lasted just long enough to make it through all the gardens! I completely appreciate your realistic view of gardening–not everything perfect, not everything blooming, no everything in straight rows. I even appreciate your casual “I’m a true gardener” persona complete with plaid shirt. Gardens should be about nature and her laid back approach; we could all learn from her.
Ardelle F Tuxen says
Good morning Kevin, I had planned to go out to weed this morning since we’ve had a substantial soaking rain – best time to weed. However, it’s aready noonish so I just may grab my Sunday paper, a glass of wine and take a rest after your extensive tour of your gardens. I have decided to find some Lovage – haven’t grown it for years but know it makes wonderful potato soup. My garden is coming into it’s own now with blooming peppers, green bush beans, and lots of lettuce, radishes and spinach to eat. Did not plant Swiss chard or kale this year – just tired of it and not entirely fond of it – so. Tomatoes looking wonderful – needing trimming and tying up some more. I’ve been trimming lots of shrubbery areas, dividing hostas, moved a Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea because it was crowding other shrubs. How does one control a garden hibiscus? I love the flowers, but the plant itself is a true annoyance, flopping all over the place. I’ve tied, propped, cajoled and trimmed it – offered it to a wonderful neighbor who has done some heavy work for me this spring but she’s not convinced to take it yet and it’s getting too late to move I’m sure. Oh, my Weigela is blooming the best ever – and it is 40 years old! All the neighborhood weigela are looking wonderful as well – the right weather??? Need to go, the wine is calling… Thanks for the tour – glad I didn’t have to do all that work.
Adrian says
Just curious, Kevin- you have such a beautiful yard…how many acres are there?
Melissa says
Hi Kevin! I look so forward to your Sunday emails. Your garden is just devine. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
SarahBeth says
After enjoying your garden, I always wish I could send you a pix of one of mine. Ah, well….Michigan in June is so lovely….
Diane Luther Silvia says
Kevin, I really needed exactly what you provided this Sunday morning. A wonderful tour of your gardens which whisked me away from the chaos in the world right now and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’re the best!
Susan Sheridan says
Thank you Kevin for this wonderful tour. I love the feeling of welcome your house and garden, and you, always give me. You are my favorite garden blogger and a source of inspiration in all my gardening and cooking adventures. Please keep filming your videos and I would love to see a bit of the surrounding neighborhood/landscape of your neck of the woods in the Hudson River Valley, one of the loveliest, and most historic, places in the USA.
Kathleen says
Kevin,
Whenever you show a video of Clover Hill, inside or out, I’m there! Thank you for sharing. Kathleen
Peggy says
I so enjoy your garden videos each year although this year I miss seeing a dog come along. Your gardens are so varied and numerous, also. I know how much work they must be to keep up. That entrance to the herb garden was one of my favorite parts of this tour. What a pretty clematis to bloom right on cue. I so enjoy seeing that pool every year and am glad that you use it frequently you friendly Polar Bear.
Out here in the Pacific Northwest we have our garden planted but it is not as far along as yours. I am jealous of all the variety of greens you have and understand that tastes can change. When I was young I used to hate dried beans but now I like them so much I have started to grow them along with lots of snap beans.
Each year we have oodles of dill volunteers that we let grow and clip as a snack.
Thanks for the fun tour. By the way, the video of you putting up the cattle panel was hilarious. I want to put some of those in, too.
Joanne in Zone 6b says
Thank you, Kevin, for all of the gardening advice you have provided over the years. My garden has been my solace in these sad times. Thank you, also, for acknowledging our need to address our nation’s long history of systemic racism. I pray that people who are offended by the phrase Black Lives Matter will put effort to understanding what those words mean.
Pam R. says
Totally enjoyed your tour, Kevin! Thank you!!
Jacqueline says
Thanks for the lovely tour. I’m amazed at how mature the plants are. Here, I am hoping the very last of the snow will be gone this week. 🙁
Stay well and I look forward to your next tour de jour.
Debbie says
It was so nice to have a complete tour of all the gardens. They’re beautiful!
MaryEllen Warkentin says
I have had Ajuga / Bugleweed in Hunterdon County, NJ which always bloomed in April. I moved 2 years ago to Mercer County (South of my old house) and Ajuga was here!! What joy!!! This year essentially was quite cold for April but I do see the leaves coming along. One thought I have is that since it is already June 8th, the yard may not be getting enough sunlight as all the trees are fully leafed out. Your thoughts??
Rebecca says
Thank you for the tour! I enjoyed it. I wish I could have talked with you during the walk.
I was so impressed with the boxwood garden. What a project!
Have you any old photos that might show American Chestnuts once growing on the property?
I’m going to scout around for witch hazel and the Fuja Green Giant at the nursery. I live in Zone 4, so I don’t know if they’ll survive. Thanks for the idea.
Happy gardening!
Gina Bruehl says
This was the best!!! I love love love your gardens and house and property! You have very green thumbs! I just want you to know that you brighten my day… in this strange time in life of “sheltering in place” thank God for you! I, too, was a cilantro hater BTW! Now I love it but I can’t grow it! I’m in Northern California in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains and you’d think it would be easy… not for me! And just an fyi – I still have yet to harvest a tomato… although there will be lots pretty soon! Yay! Big hugs to you and yours Kevin. Thank you again for all you do. And now, I’m going make your white sandwich bread! In a few days my sourdough bread starter should be ready! Can’t wait or that! My first attempt and it’s looking really good! Named her Sammie…. LOL! LOVE YOU!!!!
patrice says
Hi Kevin. Loved the tour. I’m curious….how much property do you have developed? Maintaining those beautiful gardens is a full time job. I’ve enjoyed all the recipes you’ve posted as well. Take care and thanks for brightening my day with that beautiful garden tour.
Nancy says
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful garden. I especially appreciated your comment about building steps to accommodate your future. Every time I have outdoor work done, I have to demand low-rise steps be built. Vindication at last! I look forward to next postings, especially recipes using your garden efforts. Thanks.
Carol says
Kevin, this tour transported me–a gentle reminder of the truth that gardening goes on no matter the state of the world; that the plant world is rife with comfort and hope; that brilliant nature feeds and fulfills us both literally and figuratively. Bless you!
Lynda says
Hi Kevin, spent earlier part of day cleaning house and then sat down with a lovely cup of tea to watch your garden video. Thank you for a lovely stroll and tour through your grounds. And for the little tips along the way. Gardening during the pandemic, or any time (!), has been wonderfully therapeutic. Here on the southern coast of British Columbia, we have been working outside since mid-March, and the gardens are flourishing beautifully thanks to some early warm weather in April and May. Cool and wet for a couple of weeks now, so we’d be happy to share some of the rain with you! Cheers!
Edie says
Thanks for the tour Kevin. Love the stone walls and steps…such a beautiful place. I can not imagine maintaining all that fabulous hedge! We have had very hot and very cool this Spring in SC. This year our tomato plants are loaded with fruit! A bit slow and still green, but wow…I see canning in my future! This past winter we visited a turkey farm and brought home manure to mix with our compost. It’s either the manure or the cooler weather that have made for more vegetables than I have had in several years. Will be making your tomato pie soon!