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New Moon Magic Means Planting Time!
News You Can Use From
Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch Native Plant Emporium
May 17, 2023
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What's Happening at the Emporium? | |
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What fun we've had getting to see so many of you these last few weeks! For the next two weeks we will continue to be open:
Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00pm
Friday, Saturday from 11:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday from 11:00am - 4:00pm
Or by appointment other days and times
Note that we will be closed on May 31st and our hours will be shifting for the month of June (stay tuned for updates)
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We've said it before and if you have visited this year or last you know first hand that inventory at the Emporium is ever changing, just like the New England weather. We do not have a live online inventory or ordering system. In the Amazon era we know this can be frustrating to some, but, view it with an entirely different spin. Our vibe is the Emporium of yesteryear where you would drive somewhere, explore the offerings and enjoy the experience along the way. In the process you discover things you never even knew you needed until you saw them. Stop by often and join in the fun! And, here is what you can be assured of;
- We have a remarkably wide variety of lush and healthy straight species Northeast Native Plants available at all times including perennials, shrubs and small trees
- We carry an array of unusual, dramatic, stunning, designer flowering annuals selected for their uncanny ability to draw butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard
- We offer a wide selection of certified organic herb and veggie plants with varieties selected for their proven ability to grow well in our climate, we have just restocked and have so many great offerings, be sure to stop by and #GrowFoodNotLawn!
- We even have complimentary products including Earth Care Farms Compost and Buckwheat Hulls Mulch along with garden gifts including fantastic books
- We never use pesticides of any kind here on site and holes in leaves and hitchhiking caterpillars and lady bugs are offered at no extra charge :-)!
An important note that we are winding down our always popular plug sized plant sales for the spring season. We will continue to have just a few varieties available, including some fantastic sedges, but most varieties have sold out and won't be restocked until late summer. If you need plugs by the full tray (50 of a variety) we can still order those for you. At the same time, the variety of our gallon sized perennials is growing by leaps and bounds and we have also begun offering some fabulous perennials in quart sizes, including swamp milkweed. We also have a growing array of native shrubs and small trees to bring needed structure to your spaces.
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Embrace the Magic of Moon Gardening (from our "Life In the Garden Column" in the local Barrington Times Newspaper)
For millions of years there has been a night shift at work pollinating plants and trees, yet until recently little was known about these nocturnal visitors. Emerging science shows moths are the unsung heroes of pollination. In a study conducted at the University of Arkansas, moths pollinated apple trees just as efficiently as bees. Other research uncovered that the hairy underbellies of moths make great vessels for carrying pollen from one flower to another. So, what does any of this have to do with your garden? In the same way that many neighbors are focusing on creating pollinator gardens for buzzing daytime visitors like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, so too can great spaces be created for wonderous winged creatures of the night in the form of magnificent moon gardens.
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We Are A Fair Weather Establishment!
The Roadside Stand operates entirely outdoors and entirely without cover. Our parking area is largely dirt and grass. When heavy rains and winds come through it becomes pretty miserable and sometimes not even very safe pretty quickly. On gray and drizzly days we will stay open for those diehard plant shoppers, but at times may need to close if conditions become unsafe for visitors. Any changes to operating hours or other details will be posted to our social media channels right away. So be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram so that you will always have the latest intel.
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 | This week is providing an important lesson for new gardeners that indeed, New England weather is wildly unpredictable! Overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning temps will dip down into the 30s for some of you, particularly friends to the North and West. Any newly planted perennials and shrubs you purchased from us will be just fine, no need to do anything at all. The majority of annuals purchased from us have been well hardened and should also be a-ok, though if you haven’t planted them yet it sure won’t hurt to put them in a garage for one night. And if they are in pots that can be covered or moved into a garage or shed why not, better safe… It’s mostly warm season veggies like tomatoes, squash and peppers and sensitive herbs like basil that need protection. If you’ve planted them use a frost cloth, if not bring them inside the garage / porch for the night. After we make it through this one night the New Moon will be upon us and for eons the May New Moon has signaled safe planting in our area. Apparently the moon knows best! | | |
Recognizing Two of Our Remarkable Growers/Suppliers
We have been working day and night to keep the shelves stocked with outstanding plants for your gardens! How amazing to see the demand for beneficial plants growing by the minute. All of these native plants going into area landscapes will benefit your own yards tremendously but equally importantly the seeds from these plants, carried around our area will help restore essential native plant life to our natural areas as well. We are really picky about our plants and about the companies we do business with. We want to know that our customers are getting the very best products but we also want to know that our dollars and yours are going to companies who share our values. And we are especially fortunate to have two suppliers who check those buckets and who have really come through this spring season, going the extra mile, literally, to keep us stocked up with an amazing supply of plants. Learn more about them at the links below.
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Victory Gardeners Rejoice!
We Are All Stocked Up With An Amazing Array of Certified Organic Herb and Vegetable Plants for Your Gardens.
Frost warnings for later this week remind us of the importance of not jumping too quickly to put warm season veggie plants into the ground. But, are old garden wisdom dictates that safe planting for our area occurs after the May New Moon which will occur this Friday, May 20th. And lucky for you we have what you need to get your veggie garden underway. From traditional favorites like Big Boy Tomatoes, Basil, Eggplant and Zucchini to heirloom wonders like Purple Cherokee Tomatoes and Wild Arugula to unique offerings like Husk Cherries, Okra and Bay Trees we've got what you are looking for - and more! Our certified organic vegetables come to us from two fabulous growers, Long Lane Farm right in Warren, RI and Gilbertie's Organics in Westport, Connecticut.
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"Green Gardening" as featured in "The Bay" Magazine
We were delighted to be featured as a resource in this wonderful article that shares lots of great information about green gardening practices and highlights a number of wonderful individuals and initiatives. Click the photo below to read the article online.
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Martha Stewart Living Highlights Wildlife Friendly Lawns in "Are Picture-Perfect Grass Lawns On Their Way Our? Why Natural Is The New Beautiful"
It is fascinating to see articles describing the issues with turf grass and extoling the benefits of nature-based plantings in mainstream publications. Click the photo below to read the article and be sure to share it with neighbors and friends.
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Join Us On May 31, 2023 at Blithewold in Bristol, RI for a Riveting ;-) Program Titled
"Bring More Life To Your Garden"
From the Program Description:
"Join Cindy and Ed Moura from Prickly Ed’s Cactus Patch Native Plant Emporium to dig in to the practical fundamentals of nature-centered gardening. Using a foundation of native plants and embracing ecological principles, your landscape can become a buzzing birdscape and pollinator paradise! Through inspirational presentations and lively discussions, participants will explore ways to garden with nature instead of battling against it. Minds and hearts will opened to new ways to think about beauty in our gardens as participants examine ways to manage properties with biodiversity, sustainability, and resiliency at the root."
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Our Month of May Top Picks for Ways to Dig In On Nature-Centered Gardening | |
Do You Currently Subscribe to "Dear Avant Gardener?" If not, you are missing out. This weekly newsletter is full of wonderful information and the latest research. It is written by Bristol resident Heather Evans and we are confident you will enjoy it. Click below to visit the Dear Avant Gardener page and sign up to receive the newsletter. Keep a close eye out when reading some of her columns and you might just catch mention of your favorite Cactus Patch Roadside Stand Native Plant Emporium! | |
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What's the Rush?
Grab a cup of coffee or a cocktail and set aside an hour to watch the video linked below, just click on the image. In this video, entomologist Doug Tallamy clearly describes the looming biodiversity crisis and the rush to avert it. But this video is not all doom and gloom, it also clearly articulates the steps each of you can take to help right from home!
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Are you On the Map?
If not, click on the image below to learn more about how you can join together with others all across the nation in the largest grassroots conservation project ever attempted.
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Our May Featured Plant Picks
Click On the Images to Learn More!
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Northeast Pollinator Pathway Initiative
Ready to join together with neighbors to create a buzz? Be sure to join the Northeast Pollinator Pathway. Fragmentation of habitat makes it difficult - sometimes even impossible - for bees, butterflies, birds (even our beloved hummingbirds) to find enough life supporting habitat. By creating corridors of connected habitat - private and public spaces - we give them a chance to survive and even thrive. To be most effective though, lots of connected properties are needed. So get involved, and encourage neighbors to do the same. If you are in or near Barrington, mark your calendars for an upcoming presentation by Barrington Land Conservation Trust Pollinator Committee Volunteers happening May 23rd at the Barrington Public Library. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the Pathway Project and how you can get involved.
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Help Us Bring More Life to Our Region | |
We are on a mission to bring life back to area yards and gardens but we can't do it without all of you. Share this message with others using the links below. Invite friends to follow our Facebook Page. Use our newly updated website to share out helpful resources and information to friends and neighbors who are ready to grow habitat outside their own doors. With your support positive change is within reach.
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Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch
6 Barneyville Road,
Barrington, RI 02806-2715
(401) 248-4785
Please note, use the address above for mailing or for GPS but the Roadside Stand/Native Plant Emporium is located in Swansea, MA directly next door to the address listed above. Just look for the sign and for the big red barn.
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Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch, Roadside Stand, Apothecary and Native Plant Emporium is a super small, hyperlocal, roadside stand located directly on the border of Barrington, RI and Swansea, MA focused on making the area a little bit wilder one yard at a time! Offering great native plants, prickly pear cactus, magic dirt, unusual pollinator friendly annuals, organic herb and vegetable plants, lots of solicited and unsolicited advice & random curiosities designed to get your yard really buzzing. You can read all about us on our website, including the story of where the name Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch came from. | | | | |
