Monthly Archives: July 2011

July 29, 2011 · 11:27 am

HYDRANGEA – SUMMER OF THEIR DISCONTENT

Hydrangeas in happier days.

FOR A LONG TIME I’VE KNOWN THAT THE HYDRANGEAS IN MY FRONT YARD ARE IN WAY TOO MUCH SUN.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT ORIGINALLY THERE WAS SHADE PROVIDED BY A PINE TREE…THAT DIED.

NOW WE ARE IN THAT IN-BETWEEN TIME

WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT TREES TO GROW.

AND FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS IT WAS OK

BUT LAST YEAR AND AGAIN THIS YEAR WE’RE EXPERIENCING

HOW SHALL I PUT THIS

HEAT

AND LOTS OF IT.

SUNSHINE IN ABUNDANCE – WHICH I LOVE

BUT THIS IS A BIT EXTREME.

MY FRONT HYDRANGEAS ARE NOT GOING TO DIE

BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT HAPPY.

A sadder version

I AM THANKFUL FOR THE DRIP SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE PUT IT.

I’VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE BUT YOU MAY BE MORE INTERESTEDAT THIS POINT.

WWW.DRIPWORKS.COM IS THE ANSWER TO THIS KIND OF WEATHER.

IN A NORMAL YEAR I TURN IT ON ONCE A WEEK.

NOW IT’S MORE LIKE EVERY 3 OR 4 DAYS.

ACTUALLY THAT STILL ISN’T TOO BAD

BUT IT’S ENOUGH THAT I AM LEACHING NITROGEN AWAY

THAT MEANS THAT THE FOLIAGE IS TURNING

WELL…YELLOW IF NOT WHITE.

Anemic Hydrangeas

IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THIS TIME OF THE YEAR

BUT IT’S DEFINITELY MORE THAN USUAL

A FEW WEEKS BACK I SWUNG INTO ACTION

ORGANIC MATTER IS WHAT THEY NEED

SO I DUG OUT THE PEAT MOSS AND SPREAD IT AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANTS

THIS ALSO HELPS WITH MOISTURE RETENTION

NEXT I ADDED A LAYER OF LEAVES FROM THE PILE OF LEFTOVER LEAVES IN THE BACK

THEN JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE I POURED A COUPLE OF GALLONS OF ALUMINUM SULPHATE OVER EACH PLANT

I EVEN TRIED AN OLD WIVES TALE THAT PAM TOLD ME ABOUT.

PUT BALLS OF ALUMINUM FOIL UNDER THE PLANTS.

ALUMINUM – GET IT.

THE PROBLEM IS THE BALLS KEEP MOVING AROUND THE GARDEN.

I THINK THE SQUIRELS ARE USING THEM FOR BALLS FOR THEIR SUMMER BASEBALL LEAGUE.

IT REMINDS ME OF HOW ELLIOTT AND HIS COUSINS MADE WRAPPING PAPER BALLS AND PLAYED “BALL” IN MY MOTHER’S LIVING ROOM EACH CHRISTMAS.

I DIGRESS.

I WISH I COULD SAY THE HYDANGEAS ARE NOW A RICH DEEP GREEN

THEY ARE NOT

BUT NEITHER HAVE THEY LOST ANY MORE GROUND

SO AT THIS POINT I’M HAPPY

HOLDING YOUR OWN ISN’T BAD.

NORMALLY AT THIS TIME OF THE SUMMER I WOULD ALSO ADD A LAYER OF MANURE AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANTS AGAIN.

I USUALLY DO IT THREE TIMES A YEAR

SPRING WHEN THEY ARE GREENING UP

MID-SUMMER

AND AS WINTER PROTECTION.

I USE 15 – 40 LBS BAGS.

THAT’S 600 LBS

I HAVE A SYSTEM WORKED OUT WHERE I NEVER ACTUALLY LIFT A BAG.

AFTER HAVING THEM LOADED AT THE STORE

I PULL MY WHEEL BARROW UP TO THE BACK OF THE CAR AND DRAG THE BAGS INTO IT.

THEN I SCOOP IT OUT IN MANAGEABLE AMOUNTS.

THE PROBLEM THIS YEAR IS THE HEAT.

NOT FOR THE PLANTS

BUT FOR ME

IT TAKES AWHILE TO SCOOP OUT 600 LBS. OF MANURE

SO I LIKELY CAN’T GET IT ALL DONE IN ONE MORNING

WHICH MEANS I’LL HAVE MANURE IN MY CAR OVERNIGHT.

IN A RATHER TOASTY GARAGE

SO FAR I’M WAITING FOR A COOLER MORNING.

I HAVE CUT BACK THE “FRIED BLOSSOMS”

TONS OF THEM

Trusty wheel barrow full of blossoms - off to the composter.

AND THE NEW LEAVES FOR THE FALL CROP OF BLOSSOMS ARE COMING ON.

NORMALLY THIS WOULD LEAD TO LATE SUMMER BLOSSOMS

THAT TURN THE MOST WONDERFUL GREEN IN THE FALL.

LAST FALL'S BOUNTY

THIS YEAR….

WE’LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

THE HYDRANGEAS IN THE BACK ARE IN MORE SHADE

THEY ARE MUCH HAPPIER THOUGH STILL A BIT ANEMIC

UNFORTUNATELY MOST IN THE BACK ARE AN OLD VARIETY THAT ONLY BLOOMS ON OLD WOOD.

SO THE DILEMMA IS DO I LEAVE THEM WITH THEIR MEAGER BLOOMS

OR…DO I DIG THEM UP AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEWER MORE PROLIFIC BLOOMERS.

I KEEP GETTING EMAILS FROM WHITE FLOWER FARMS ABOUT ALL THE NEW VARIETIES THAT THEY HAVE.

IT’S AS IF THEY KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN MY GARDENS

SOMETHING TO PONDER ON THOSE COLD WINTER DAYS THAT WILL COME

I PROMISE

I GUESS WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A CLUE FROM THE HYDRANGEAS

AND HANG IN THERE.

ENJOY THE WEEK.

GAIL

HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS THAT SEEM TO LOVE THE HEAT!

HELIANTHUS - FALSE SUNFLOWER

THE COCKSCOMB ARE COMING!

2 Comments

Filed under cockscomb, HELIANTHUS, Hydrangea, Uncategorized

July 22, 2011 · 4:17 pm

MYSTERY SOLVED

WHEN LAST WE SPOKE I THOUGHT TWO THINGS

I HAD AN INVASION OF MEXICAN BEEN BEETLES

AND…

I HAD THEM LICKED.

HOW WRONG I WAS

BUT THROUGH THE POWER OF THE BLOGASPHERE

AND A DILLIGENT FELLOW GARDENER

MYSTERY SOLVED!

KRISTINA’S MOTHER MARY IS A GIFTED GARDENER

Mary - Bug Detective

SHE LIVES IN A MUCH COOLER CLIMATE

WITH A SHORTER GROWING SEASON

SO SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE SEASON

WHEN I SPOKE TO HER THIS WEEK SHE WAS OFF TO PICK BLUEBERRIES

HOW FUN

SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERS AT THE LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE

ANSWERING QUESTIONS

IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS

THANKFULLY HER CURIOSITY GOT THE BEST OF HER

SHE GOOGLED ONCE AND GOT AN ANSWER

HARLEQUIN BUGS

BINGO

HERE’S THE LINK SHE SENT ME IN CASE YOU HAVE THEM

http://www.growit.umd.edu/PlantandPestProblems/Harlequin%20Bug.cfm

TORRY, NEXT DOOR, IS A LITTLE CONCERNED I’VE CHASED THEM TO HER HOUSE

BASICALLY, UNLESS I WANT TO PULL OUT THE SPRAY GUN

I’VE DONE ABOUT ALL I CAN DO.

KEEP PICKING THEM OFF AND SQUISHING THEM.

IT IS SLOWING REDUCING THE POPULATION.

I’M NOT SURE WHAT BROUGHT THEM MY WAY

I’M GUESSING THE LEAVES THAT I USED AS MULCH

FOR A BIT TOO LONG

BUT NOW I KNOW

THANKS MARY

SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ABOUT KEEPING POTS ALIVE DURING OUR SUMMER FROM @#$%$#@#

BIG POT ON PATIO IS PRETTY HAPPY

SO HERE ARE A FEW SURVIVAL THOUGHTS

IF POSSIBLE MOVE THEM INTO AFTERNOON SHADE

IF THERE ARE SITTING ON CONCRETE TRY TO FIND THEM A MORE HOSPITABLE FOUNDATION

IF YOU CAN’T MOVE THEM INTO SHADE

TRY BRINGING THE SHADE TO THEM

MARKET UMBRELLAS ARE GREAT FOR THIS

MY MARKET UMBRELLA

CLUSTER YOUR POTS TOGETHER

PUT THE UMBRELLA STAND IN THE MIDDLE

AND WHEN YOU STAND THE UMBRELLA UP

YOU HAVE INSTANT SHADE

AND YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST FOR COOK OUTS!

I’M USING MINE TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG DOGWOOD TREES.

WE PLANTED THEM AS UNDERSTORY TREES.

LAST FALL THE UTILITY COMPANY CAME THROUGH AND TRIMMED AWAY THE “UPPER STORY” SHADE

MARKET UMBRELLA PROVIDING DOGWOODS SHADE

SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT MARKET UMBRELLAS WITH STANDS IS THEIR PORTABILITY.

LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT IN YOUR YARD MIGHT LIKE A LITTLE AFTERNOON BREAK.

THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO FOR POTS IS TO ADD MOISTURE RETENTION GRANULES.

I KNOW – IT’S BEST DONE BACK IN THE SPRING

BEFORE YOU PLANTED THEM

BUT IN CASE YOU FORGOT

OR THOUGHT YOU WERE LIVING ON CAPE COD

YOU CAN STILL ADD THEM

TAKE A SCREW DRIVER OR PENCIL AND MAKE A DEEP HOLE

FILL THE HOLE WITH THE GRANULES

AND WATER

THEY WILL SWELL UP AND HELP TO KEEP THE SOIL MOIST

YOU CAN DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES

DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE POT

AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR MY BIG POTS

I THINK I’VE FINALLY FIGURED THEM OUT

THE VARIEGATED PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS IS GREAT IN THE CENTER OF THE POT

HAPPY VARIEGETED PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS

GOOD HEIGHT AND IT CAN TAKE THE HEAT

SEEMS TO THRIVE ON IT

YELLOW LANTANA INTER-PLANTED WITH PURPLE NIEREMBERGIA

GOLDEN LANTANA AND PURPLE NIEREMBERGIA DRAPING OVER THE EDGE

IS HAPPY ALONG THE EDGES

THIS, OF COURSE, MEANS I’M DONE WITH PETUNIAS

I KNOW – IT’S HARSH

BUT REALLY…

THEY BUILD YOU UP IN SPRING

JUST TO DIE

AND LET YOU DOWN COME JULY

HELP ME REMEMBER

I’VE SWORN OFF PETUNIAS

FOREVER

PROBABLY

STAY COOL AND ENJOY

GAIL

HERE ARE A FEW FLOWERS THAT SEEM TO THRIVE ON SUNSHINE.

TALL GARDEN PHLOX AND GLORIOSA DAISIES

THE SEASON'S FIRST SUNFLOWER

BEETLE JUICE

WARNING: This blog entry is not for the squeamish!

Cleome in happier days.

Things in my garden have been clicking along pretty well.

At least considering this dastardly heat that is sweeping the plains.

Then about a week ago I noticed my cleome weren’t looking too good.

Closer inspection revealed what at first seemed to be a lady bug.

But lady bugs don’t suck the life out of plants.

Just aphids.

Looking again I found a beetle all right

But what kind?

It’s bigger than a lady bug.

Kind of mellow yellow in color

Ragged splotches and a shield at both its front and back.

Never seen this one before.

And there weren’t one or two.

There were dozens

On several plants.

So I began a morning and evening routine of picking them off and squashing them.

But…they were relentless.

Soon it was more than a dozen per plant.

It’s obvious I’m on the losing team here.

Time to do a little research.

Out comes Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.

I’m of a generation that still likes books!

From my reading I determined that they are likely Mexican Bean Beatles.

New one on me.

They come for a number of reasons.

They’re attracted to beans.

None here.

They like piles of leaves.

Ooops never did get them all picked up.

And weeds.

Well, who doesn’t have some weeds?

Rodale’s listed a number of earth friendly sprays to try.

Not sure that I want to spray anything on plants in this heat.

So, I tried the last suggestion.

Fill a bucket with soapy water

Pick off the beetles.

Drop them in.

For the next several days I continued my twice daily massacre.

I just kept adding to the same bucket.

Got a little curious as to how many there were.

By the end of the week the bucket was solid floating beetles.

It was also beginning to smell.

So now how do I get rid of them?

Ann had told me about a bug that was decimating her garden.

She read that if you would take a few bugs.

Put them in a blender with water.

Whirl them into juice

Spray it on the infested plants.

No more bugs.

She tried it – it worked.

Now she had a couple of old blenders.

I have one and use it everyday .

So I decided just to pour my bucket of water laced with beetle carcasses at the base of the plants.

And guess what?

The beetles are almost gone.

A few have hung around but I can deal with them.

Hopefully we’ll have cleome this year after all.

After further research, ie. the internet, I don’t think they are Mexican bean beetles.

But…I can’t figure out what they are.

So if you know let me know – just curious.

Since this little tale does not lend itself to pretty picture

Dying plants and dead beetles and all.

Thought I’d jut throw in a few to make up for it!!!!

Caladiums and Impatiens

One more thing.

This heat is beginning to take a toll on trees and shrubs.

Do them a favor and slowly drip a hose on them for a day or two depending on the size of the tree.

I mean very slooooowly so that the water can run to the deepest roots.

They will love you for it!

And keep your self cool to the roots as well.

Gail

Garden view from my office.

3 Comments

Filed under Bugs, cleome

July 8, 2011 · 5:31 pm

GOING TO SEED

In his later years my dad was concerned about “going to seed”.

Well into his 80’s he was trying to keep the same pace of his busy life.

His theory was if ” I sit down I’ll go to seed.”

Not something a farmer was interested in doing.

Parkinson’s disease slowed his pace but it never
stopped him.

The truth is his mind was a fertile seed bed.

Ideas grew there for almost 9 decades.

On a Thursday in September he called a meeting of long time trusted associates.

He traveled out-of-town to attend.

The topic was his latest idea to improve his beloved state.

He reminded them that he wouldn’t be around forever and that someone needed to take charge of this project.

A seed planted.

He died early the next Tuesday morning.

Having never gone to seed!

What a gift to him – to us.

But going to seed is in some ways a good thing.

A way forward.

A continuation.

Of ideas.

Of plants.

And that’s how it is in my garden.

Much of it goes to seed this time of year.

As I walk through the path the soft fern like leaves of spring’s Larkspur

Now rattle like a morocco.

Dried Larkspur

It’s time.

Pull them up.

Cut them down.

Shake a few into the garden for next year.

Think forward.

“To everything there is a season.”

The 3 day 4^th of July weekend was spent doing just this.

Rising early I pulled up a mountain of Larkspur plants.

Next I cut the tall stems of Hollyhock to the ground.

Separating the pink from the red – I hope.

Then a little aggressive cutting back of purple Veronica Spicata.

Followed by the Purple Coneflower.

Purple Coneflower at peak bloom

And presto!

More open spaces for the last of the zinnia seeds.

And just in time for my self imposed deadline of the 4^th!

Life is good!

So now the question of what to do with all those seed bearing plants.

Can’t compost them because it doesn’t get hot enough to actually kill the seed.

And too much of a good thing in the garden is well….a mess.

I’ll first let them finish drying.

On the floor of my garden house.

Pink Hollyhocks drying on the garden house floor

Outside on my old potting bench tucked into a shady corner.

Then, I’ll harvest some.

This year the rest are going to my sister Ann.

She’s just finished lots of work on the dam of the “big pond”.

It’s totally bare.

After a little ground work she’s going to spread them out and see what happens.

A wild idea.

The kind Daddy would like.

Gail

6 Comments

Filed under hollyhocks, Larkspur, Purple Coneflower - Echinacea, Seeds, self seeding annuals, Uncategorized

July 1, 2011 · 5:37 pm

IT’S LILY TIME

Conca d'Or Orienpet Lily Bud & Bloom

It happens every year.

Just like clockwork.

About the time the sky fills with fireworks

Oriental lilies light up my garden.

They should nick name them 4^th of July lilies!

Oriental lilies are tall

5’ – 7 ‘ tall

And fragrant.

Intoxicatingly fragrant.

You’ll notice the scent just by walking near them.

And beautiful.

You will recognize two as florist favorites.

The pure white Casa Blanca

Casa Blanca Lily

And hot pink Stargazer are frequent visitors in bouquets and arrangement.

Stargazer Lily

Showing off in my garden this year is a lily of unknown lineage.

I know – I planted it.

But I’m not good at record keeping.

I’ve looked in the catalog and can’t seem to figure out what I ordered.

My best guess is that it’s actually an Orienpet Lily.

That’s a cross between Oriental Lilies and Chinese Trumpet Lilies.

Possibly it’s named Conca d’Or

It’s a lemon yellow.

One catalog described it as lemon-meringue pie.

Sounds good to me!

Since Orientals bloom in the heat of the summer they like to live in the shade.

You can give them some morning sunshine but please not in the afternoon.

I learned this the hard way.

The first time I planted Stargazers I ended up covering them with a tea towel every afternoon to keep them blooming a few days longer.

Can’t believe I actually just admitted doing that!

Stems can have up to a dozen or so buds.

Buds will open from the bottom to the top of the stem over a couple of weeks.

It’s not a long bloom period but it’s worth it.

Years ago we took Elliott on an “urban vacation”.

Boston was our destination.

I’d always wanted to see the Boston Pops on the banks of the Charles River on the 4^th.

The trip was great – a memorable family lore kind of trip.

But..all the Stargazers bloomed and finished while we were gone.

So sad.

Another great feature of these beauties is that they don’t take up much space.

They grow straight up so you can fit them in anywhere.

But since they will have completely disappeared by the time you get ready to plant bulbs in the fall it’s important that you mark the empty places now.

I use bricks.

Just place a brick or two any place you think would make a good home for lilies.

That way you won’t have to guess or try to remember.

The worst sound in the garden is the sound of a lily bulb being sliced in half by a shovel.

I know.

So this year when the bulb catalogs start arriving – I’ve actually already gotten one – look at Oriental lilies and their cousin the Orienpets.

I have 4 Aloha Rose bushes.

They are a hybrid.

I knew better but got sucked in by the glorious peachy pink blooms.

For the past three years they have been plagued by a tiny bug that sucks the life out of the blooms – thrips – I think.

I’ve tried everything – to no avail.

Last week at the Farmers Market I was spinning my tale of woe to Kate who is an excellent gardener.

She said a friend tried “blue sticky traps”.

Found them and installed them this week.

Hope they work since they are not the prettiest addition to my garden.

Another great reason to go to your local farmers market this weekend.

Advise!

As you garden in this tough heat remember to drink tons of water and most importantly…..follow the shade.