Soil Improvement in Xeriscaping
The owner of MCH Floral Studio in New York, Mary Catesby Halsey has extensive experience working for local florists. Alongside providing flowers for a diverse range of events, Mary Catesby Halsey has an interest in landscape design, especially for xeriscaping.
Originally conceived in response to drought conditions in Denver, xeriscaping offers the opportunity to save on water and create beautiful landscapes that require less maintenance. An important piece of successful xeriscaping involves adequate preparation of the soil.
The best soil for xeriscaping will hold water without draining too quickly like sand. Often during building of a new home, the rich layer of topsoil will be lost. In order to restore the soil, add organic matter such as peat moss, aged manure, or compost. Organic matter will help plants flourish by bringing balance regardless of whether existing soil has too much clay or too much sand.
Healthy soil also renders chemical supplements and artificial fertilizers unnecessary. Additional organic matter may be added each year to help maintain soil health. Another way to ensure the continuing health of the soil consists of protecting it with a thick layer of mulch such as wood chips, shredded bark, or pine needles.
New York City’s Elite Women Meet at the Colony Club
Mary Catesby Halsey provides artistic flower displays as the owner of HCB Floral Studio in New York City. In her social life, Mary Catesby Halsey maintains membership in the city’s exclusive club for women, the Colony Club.
The Colony Club was founded in 1903 by Florence Harriman, whose accomplishments ranged from taking part in the Versailles Peace Conference to winning a Citation of Merit for Distinguished Public Service from President John F. Kennedy. The club’s first members came from the wealthy Whitney, Astor, Vanderbilt, and Morgan families. The Colony Club now boasts 2,500 members.
Its first facility on Madison Avenue catered to athleticism, with a swimming pool, a track, and a gymnasium. It later moved to its current home on 564 Park Avenue, prompted in part by a desire to obtain a liquor license, which was prohibited by the first clubhouse’s proximity to a church.
Known for its plush interior design, the club features three spas, mud and sulfur baths, a squash court, and 25 guest bedrooms, as well as a pool and three dining rooms. Male visitors are allowed only in the pool and dining rooms.
The club follows a strict dress code, which includes suits, sweaters, blouses, skirts, dresses, or slacks. Capri pants, cargo pants, and others made from denim are prohibited. The dress code for male visitors includes collared shirts, ties, and jackets, although in the summer they may go tie-less in the rooftop dining area.
What You Should Know about Xeriscaping
For over a decade, Mary Catesby Halsey has worked as a gardener and floral designer in the New York City area. Today, Mary Catesby Halsey owns and operates MCH Floral Studio, where she specializes in helping clients create environmentally conscious urban gardens and landscapes using techniques such as xeriscaping.
As more people look to preserve natural resources and lessen their overall environmental impact, the practice of xeriscaping continues to build in popularity worldwide. Xeriscaped gardens and landscapes are specifically designed to conserve water, but they also offer other benefits, such as less required maintenance.
Although water-conscious gardening and landscaping have likely been around for as long as people have been practicing agriculture, the Colorado-based water utility Denver Water first coined the term “xeriscape” in the early 1980s. Today’s xeriscaping techniques were born out of a desire to create water-wise, aesthetically appealing landscapes in areas prone to drought. While common misconceptions hold that xeriscaping simply means replacing your lawn with rocks and cacti, there is much more to the practice.
Xeriscaping is based on seven principles that include the use of efficient plants and irrigation, thoughtful landscape planning and design, and appropriate maintenance. The use of grass is limited but not entirely forbidden, and native plants are preferred over nonnative options because the former are better adapted to regional climate variations.
It’s also important to note that xeriscaping is not only for those in arid climates. Regardless of location, those who use this technique can enjoy fewer weeds, less yard maintenance, minimized reliance on pesticides and fertilizers, and reduced spending on yard care, all while having peace of mind in knowing that they are doing something good for the environment.
Using Container Gardens in Small Spaces
Following close to 7 years as manager of Iroko Hudson River Flowers in New York City, Mary Catesby Halsey established MCH Floral Studio, also in New York. As manager and owner of MCH Floral Studio, Mary Catesby Halsey provides information and services in various areas of gardening, including container gardens.
Container gardens are perfect for those who enjoy growing flowers or vegetables but do not have the requisite outdoor space for a proper garden. In some cases, container gardens can be utilized for aesthetic purposes, such as pots, tubs, or overturned half barrels spilling flowers onto the soil. However, container gardens also have a practical appeal, beginning with a gardener’s ability to concentrate growing efforts into one or several confined spaces.
Similarly, container gardening allows for greater diversity in limited spaces, as highly dissimilar plants can be placed side by side without worrying about intermingling root systems or soil needs. It should be noted that these advantages can apply to larger gardens as well. Basil, chives, and thyme are just a few examples of herbs that thrive in container situations.
Mary Catesby Halsey 