Category Archives: Uncategorized

August 19, 2011 · 9:20 pm

PLANNING AHEAD

One of the things I love about gardening is planning.

Thinking ahead.

OK…dreaming.

After all, the soul of gardening is that you always get another chance.

It’s forgiving.

There will be another new season.

Giving me a new beginning.

That’s where the planning comes in.

Late summer’s planning ritual is actually for spring.

Spring Flowering Bulbs!

What kind?

What colors?

Repeat last years?

Do something totally new?

Where to begin?

For me I begin with a review of last year.

And hopefully some notes I took on what worked and what didn’t.

But…not this year – not a single word about last spring can be found.

That leaves my memory – HA!

I do remember thinking I loved the mix of colors last year.

But I wanted the tulips in front to be an earlier blooming variety.

This is the only bed where I pant annuals for consistent summer color.

It’s a small bed so I’m OK with only annuals – otherwise I’m a perennial girl you know.

I want the tulips there to bloom early and be gone by mid April so I can get the annuals going.

Last year I planted a Darwin Hybrid Impression Mix that my friend Mary spotted in the catalog.

Darwin Hybrid Impression Tulip Mix

They have the great huge blooms I’ve love, but they lingered longer than I would like.

So this year I’m switching to a earlier blooming Triumph Tulip Mix for the front only.

I know the blooms will be smaller but I’m going to give it a try.

Since building the garden house I have focused my tulips in the back on the path leading up to it.

Tip toe through the tulips!

For years I planted what I called “the Easter Egg” tulips.

Pink Impression, Golden Impression, Menton, Ivory Floradale and Negrita.

Darwin Hybrids Impression Tulips Golden Apeldoorn, Pink Impression, Negrita, Ivory Floradale

Pink, Yellow, Salmon Pink, White and Purple.

Most of these are Darwin Hybrid Tulips.

More than 2 feet tall with huge blooms and clear solid colors.

But last year I strayed from this pattern.

I planted a mix of bi-colors and solids.

They also had staggered bloom times which meant they bloomed off and on for a month.

So this year I have ordered a few of each of the following tulips:

Pastel Mayflowering Mix, Scheeper’s Sports Mix, Lefeber Hybrid El Nino, Darwin Hybrid Jaap Groot, Ollioules and Pink Impression – in my opinion the best tulip God and Holland created!

I’m also trying a lime green Triumph Tulip called Evergreen.

And I always plant a few Parrot Tulips in another location.

They bloom later and their ruffled petals feel like leather.

Parrot Tulip Blumex - try a few

Different – dramatic – wonderful!

Why so much tulip talk?

They are after all in most places an annual.

They rot easily in beds that get watered all summer.

For me they are the good news.

Though Hellebores, Crocus and Daffodils all proceed them

Their appearance tells me that gardening season is on its way.

And that makes me happy – deep down inside happy.

If I’ve learned anything over these decades it’s to treat yourself to things that make you truly happy.

Family…friends…nature…good conversation…the ocean…tulips.

Next week we’ll cover the rest, but for now…dream tulips!

Gail

2 Comments

Filed under Garden House, Gardening, spring, tulips, Uncategorized

August 13, 2011 · 6:54 pm

THE LATE SUMMER GARDEN

The late summer garden.

There comes a time in summer

When you have to decide.

Let the blossoms linger

Or…cut them back so that they can bloom again in fall.

That’s what I’ve spent much of the last week doing.

Cutting back.

Deadheads from this week's efforts.

I may be a bit late.

It’s always hard to tell.

After all we don’t know when the first freeze will come.

At this point we can hardly imagine a freeze at all.

But before we know it we’ll be looking back at this summer.

We get a lot of bad press in this part of the country about weather

Much of it self-inflicted

Some people gripe about gardening here.

But for me the truth is this is a great place to garden.

We have 4 distinct seasons.

Granted they get a little confused some years.

And occasionally we miss one all together.

But almost every year I can garden for 9 months.

Sometimes 10.

What more can you ask for.

When one of my first gardening clients, Liz, died on New Year’s Eve.

I remember going into my yard to cut a few flowers to add to an arrangement to take to her home.

Liz loved arranging flowers.

She was an artist.

She knew color and scale.

Even on days when she wasn’t feeling well I would find her out in her cutting garden when I came by for the weekly maintenance.

Frequently there will be daffodils and hellebores on Valentine’s Day.

But in order to do this you have to plan and…

You have to be ruthless this time of year.

It also means that you’ll have less color for a few weeks.

Unless, of course, you planted zinnias during late June.

The purple wedding zinnias are starting to bloom.

Then, they will pick up the slack when it comes to garden color.

My friends Martie and Cheri have both reported the first zinnia blooms in the last few weeks.

The Monarch Butterflies will be grateful to them.

Soon they’ll begin their flight to their winter home in Mexico.

The sunny flat faced blossoms of zinnias give them all the food they need for the trip.

Zinnias awaiting visitors

There have been years where they absolutely come in flocks to dine on late summer zinnias.

So what you may ask am I whacking away at.

Tall garden phlox.

Too tall phlox

This year it’s been really tall since I didn’t get it cut back in the spring.

And for some reason I haven’t cut much of it for arrangements.

Along with phlox other hot summer staples Gloriosa Daisies and Purple Coneflower have gotten harsh hair cuts.

Pladycodan (Balloon Flower) also got whacked severely.

Shasta Daisies are still blooming.

Just deadhead them to keep them going.

No severe treatment here.

Though I do need to dig and divide them come fall.

Basically this time of year there’s not much else to do but deadhead and weed.

Or in simpler terms putter.

And enjoy!

Gail

P.S. I know I’m repeating myself, but I’m seeing more and more trees around town in
severe stress. Drag a hose to any tree or shrub at your house and let it trickle.
Move it in concentric circles for a day or two. Soak it slowly to go deeply. You’ll actually hear them thank you!

6 Comments

Filed under Dead Heading, Gloriosa Daisy - Rudbeckia, late summer garden, Purple Coneflower - Echinacea, Shasta Daisy, Tall Garden Phlox, Uncategorized, Zinnia

August 5, 2011 · 2:40 pm

THE MAKING OF THE GARDEN HOUSE

A Spring view of the Garden House

When I was growing up my sisters, cousins and I spent lots of time with our maternal grandparents.

They were the only grandparents we ever really knew.

What wonderful memories.

While my great-grandmother was living with my grandmother

There were four generations of women

Doing what women and girls did in the 50’s.

Standing over the floor furnace flannel night gowns filled with warm air.

Six of us sitting on the living room floor playing solitaire on everyone’s aces.

But perhaps my favorite memories are of Grandma’s wash house.

Whenever we would gather at her house in the summer

Grandma would turn her wash house into our play house.

There were trunks of old clothes.

A window converted in our minds into a drive up window where we happily served our “customers”.

And, of course, our “swimming pool”.

Grandpa would pull a cattle tank up to the house and fill it with water for our summer swims.

Ann, Gloria and me in our "swimming pool".

It was our place.

We were indulged.

We were loved.

I’ve carried those days in my head and heart for decades.

I dreamed of a garden version of the wash house.

So…one winter a few years back when it was too cold for golf

John needed a project.

What’s next he asked?

Master Bath or Garden House?

Being my boring practical self

Master Bath I answered.

Thankfully, John’s more fun.

So we spent the winter designing the garden house.

We had been talking about it since we moved here

Collecting pictures of structures we liked.

But…none were exactly what we wanted.

In time it simply came from John’s imagination.

He wanted it to fit into our backyard.

To look like it had always been there.

To get the scale and slope of the roof right

He built a foam board-model.

Weekend after golf-less weekend he tweaked away.

I’ve learned the process after 35+ years of projects and marriage.

I know exactly when to enter into that process

And when to bow out.

It’s an interesting rhythm we have mastered.

While John proportioned the outside

He and I negotiated the inside space.

John’s best idea was to build a partial wall well into the space.

Behind it we could stash the lawn mower, leaf blower and other unsightly things.

My contribution was to panel the entire space in peg board.

By spring we were ready to begin.

But first we had to remove the wall of arborvitae and small shed that inhabited that side of the yard.

Taking down a "wall" of Arborvitae

It was ….well….alarmingly bare.

But exciting at the same time.

All through the spring and early summer we watched as it rose from the bare spot.

Framing

John oversaw every detail

It was clear this was not your average backyard shed when the cupola arrived from Maine.

Almost done

It is for me a peaceful hub of my passion.

Sunday evenings find me stretched out on the little antique French settee

Sore to the bone

And listening to Krista Tippett’s “On Being” on NPR.

(The best program on radio or television.)

It has served as the bar for parties

The "potting bench bar"

The backdrop for bridal showers.

And the heart of the small luncheons Debra and I host as we interview “Wise Women”.

Lunch with Debra and Wise Women

The master bathroom is still circa 1947.

It’s day will come.

I am oh so thankful to John for that golf-less winter

And the gift it brought me.

I look forward to playing in it with my own grandchildren someday.

Creating memories with them.

For them.

Gail

P.S. A few years after we completed the garden house we ran across this newly published book.

Look familiar?

2 Comments

Filed under Garden House, Uncategorized

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

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.

Enjoy,

Gail

P.S. the Dahlias are coming!!!

4 Comments

Filed under Orienpet Lilies, Oriental Lilies, Uncategorized

June 24, 2011 · 12:43 pm

TRANSITIONS

There comes a time in the garden

When things change.

It’s a subtle change most years.

But you know it’s coming.

With this week came the transition from spring to summer.

(Although the heat dome seems to have confused us a bit.)

Nature is so wise.

Spring flowers can survive cool or even cold weather.

But not heat.

A hotter than usual spring means the flowers come and go quickly.

I don’t like it when that happens.

Summer flowers can take the heat.

They bask in it.

So nature in her wisdom gave us summer flowers for those hot days.

They begin their reign around the first day of summer.

The work horses of the summer garden are

Gloriosa Daisies (Rudbeckia)

Gloriosa Daisies - Rudbeckia

Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Purple Coneflowers courtesy of Debra

Shasta Daisies

Shasta Daisy - I think this variety is "Alaska"

Tall Garden Phlox –Daylilies – Zinnias – Cosmos

We’ll visit each of these over the summer

But this week let’s begin at the top of the list.

Gloriosa Daisies (Rudbeckia) are like sunshine.

Glorious Gloriosa Daisy

Their bright sunny faces start appearing in June and will continue till fall if deadheaded.

As with most flowers the first blush of the season is the biggest and boldest.

You can start them in your garden with seeds or with plants.

There are many varieties – some solid yellow some with brown centers.

The only variety I’m not crazy about is Goldstrum Rudbeckia.

I like the flower OK, but it’s growth habit is a problem for me.

Within the first year or two it will form a large dense clump.

Th kind of clump you think of with major shrubs.

It’s a big too aggressive for the average backyard garden.

If you have a field to cover then be my guest.

Gloriosa patches have planted themselves here and there throughout my garden.

Some are short with small blooms.

Others are bigger and bolder.

Since many of my garden plants are pass along plants I don’t know many variety names.

Sorry.

My first Gloriosa’s came from my friend Sally early one December.

A backhoe was in her garden and she lifted plants as quickly as she could rescue them.

I was the lucky recipient.

She had gotten them from her mother’s garden.

Gloriosas are especially pretty in early June next to purple Larkspur.

Gloriosas and Larkspur

Nature has a wonderful sense of color that way – arranging for complementary colors to bloom at the same time – such wisdom.

So plant them in full sun and they’ll reward you each year.

They’ll even make babies if the last seed heads are left on in the fall.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) has much in common with Gloriosas.

They both have a daisy like flower.

They like sun – though Echinacea will also do well in part shade.

They will rebloom if deadheaded through the summer.

And make babies from seed pods left alone late in the season.

They also make patches of color in the June garden.

The petals of Echinacea begin life standing straight out.

Newly opened Echinacea blossoms

After a day or two they begin to droop.

Just a fun addition to their personality.

Shasta Daisies belong in this group.

Bright open flowers.

Straight stems.

Same self seeding habit.

Lover of sun.

Debra captured this bee visiting a sunny Shasta Daisy

You can divide Shastas by dividing the clump in spring or fall.

Or from deadheads dropped along the way.

Because these flowers produce lots of blooms they are great for cutting.

Buckets of flowers cut from my garden waiting to be arranged.

Flower arrangements summer 2010 - ready to party!

You’ll still have many left even after making the biggest arrangement imaginable.

Summer arrangement June 2010

Cutting instructions are almost the same for all three.

Cut when the petals are open, but the center disk is tight.

Condition for several hours or overnight beginning with slightly warm water.

Strip the foliage off Echinacea and Shasta’s.

Leave it on for Gloriosas and also split the bottom of these stems about an inch or two.

You can do the same to the others if the stems are old and woody.

Gloriosa’s can be a bit picky and wilt down easily.

I find that it’s best to cut them at the joint rather than cutting so long with several branches jointing out.

I don’t remember this every time and have killed a few along the way.

So there you have it.

Three great choices for the “dog days of summer”.

Enjoy!

Gail

Summer's "Dog Days" flowers in full bloom

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Filed under Gloriosa Daisy - Rudbeckia, Purple Coneflower - Echinacea, Shasta Daisy, Uncategorized

June 17, 2011 · 9:13 pm

WEDDING ZINNIAS

Kelly's field of Wedding Zinnias

There’s a small “tradition” in this neighborhood.

Wedding zinnias.

We grow them for wedding amongst other things.

It started seven years ago

Elliott and Kristina were marrying that June.

We wanted to grow as many wedding flowers as possible.

Kristina’s mother Mary brought cut hosta leaves from her Wisconsin garden.

Mary's hosta leave in Kristina's bouquet

A dozen friends gave the florist “cutting rights” the week of the wedding.

My friend Kelly had a few empty beds in her orchard.

She offered to plant them to zinnias.

I ordered zinnia seeds.

In bulk.

Waaaaay to many seeds.

Since the wedding was mid June we started planting early – mid April.

Kelly tilled up the soil and we sprinkled seeds.

Everywhere.

Soon we had a great crop of baby zinnias.

They would grow into a small field.

The perfect backdrop for Kristina and friends at her bridesmaid luncheon.

For their intended use at the rehearsal dinner.

Rehearsal Dinner Arrangement

And back up flowers when the wedding was moved into the church after lots of rain.

Last minuet pew arrangement - thank you Ryan!!

They continued to bloom throughout the season.

By the end of the summer Kelly had cut buckets and buckets of zinnias.

She had done an entire wedding of zinnias for another friend.

Florists, neighbors and anyone with scissors and a bucket of water took home zinnias.

It was a splendid summer.

Now it’s my turn.

My friend Cheri’s daughter Anne is getting married late summer.

She wants purple zinnias.

So Cheri ordered in bulk.

She’s planting lots at her house.

I’m planting at my house too.

Remember last week when I talked about weeding and thinning my way through the garden.

I’ve been working on that process.

Removing and cutting back early spring flowers that are spent.

This makes little empty places all through my garden.

Once they are cleared I work up the soil and sprinkle in zinnia seeds.

I’ll use my favorite mix and add Cheri’s purple seeds.

Spread soil back over the area.

Tamp it down.

Give it a drink with a soft spray

There you have it.

In a week or two you’ll begin to see summer’s glory.

Just remember to keep the area moist so the seeds can sprout.

Now since my garden is mostly perennials I can’t plant a field of zinnia.

But I can find lots of little spots for a few seeds.

Zinnias love the heat

They’ll give you patches of color all over the place.

Bright color.

The kind that will take the summer heat.

I’ve also planted cosmos in the same way.

At the same time.

But I must confess.

I can’t seem to grow Cosmos in this garden.

Don’t ask me why.

A mystery.

But…I keep trying.

So, I’ll sprinkle cosmos along with the zinnia.

A little planning and planting this month will give you flowers well into the fall.

You have a big window of planting opportunity.

Actually you can plant these seeds as early as mid April and continue on through the 4^th of July.

I never seem to have the time or space until about now.

I clip packages of seeds to my calendar every week or so to remind me to keep planting.

This plan will give you color and cut flowers throughout most of the growing season.

Zinnias just seem to make people smile.

What more could we ask for.

Happy Anniversary Elliott and Kristina.

Gail

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Filed under Cosmos, Uncategorized, Wedding Flowers, Zinnia

June 10, 2011 · 6:53 pm

OLD SOLES

My original red garden clogs

Twenty plus years ago my friend Debra gave me a pair of garden clogs.

They have red soles.

Not the red soles that a certain designer now temps us with.

No these were red plastic from their turned up toes to their elevated heels.

Molded plastic.

Not very stylish.

But oh so practical.

They were platforms before we knew platforms.

Keeping my feet high and dry.

Transporting me through the wet grass on my early morning walks to see what’s new in the garden.

They are among the first “garden tools” I owned and have graced the back door at both homes where I have gardened.

Various dogs have chewed on them along the way.

Their cork and burlap insoles were molded to fit the shoe.

Over time they have simply disintegrated.

I’ve looked for replacement soles to no avail.

So now it is time for them to retire.

They have been replaced with a sunny pair of lime green clogs.

Old "sole" friends and new.

Softer

Not as tall

But comfy

On to the next quarter century!

This week has been hot.

Unusually so for the first week of June.

This is when a healthy perennial garden really shines.

First of all it’s June.

And like the old song says “June is bustin out all over”.

Stella d' Ora Daylillies, Larkspur and the Garden House

The larkspur is the color backdrop in my garden these days.

With its self-seeding nature it lays curtains for small vignettes of color play.

Gloriosa Daisies and Larkspur

My before mentioned friend Debra visited this week and brought along her trusty camera.

You’ll notice an improved quality to many of the pictures this week.

They are hers.

Poppy pods and Asiatic Lilies

The truth is my garden is a little out of control.

For some reason I’m behind where I usually am.

No real reason.

No excuse.

Just behind.

My normal ritual once all the planting is complete is to begin at one end of the garden and weed and thin my way to the other.

Not this year.

No focus.

I go into the garden and just flit about.

A little staking here

A little pruning there.

Then there were all those evening spent picking strawberries and snap peas.

So…I must get back to my routine.

To begin this sweep of the garden I usually take along my wheelbarrow, pruners, wicked EZ digger, and a bucket of some sort for weeds.

Pruners and EZ Digger

Then I start at the west end and

Deadhead

Pull weeds

Thin volunteer plants

Clean out around the rose bushes

And generally whack away at anything that is too big or having problems.

This week it was two Aloha rose bushes.

They have had some bug on them every year for the past several years.

This nasty little guy eats the center of each and every bud.

From my reading I think it’s thrip.

I’ve tried organic control.

And I must confess some not so organic controls

Nothing works for very long.

So I just decided I’d cut it back to a foot or two from the ground and see what happens.

I’m not getting any roses from it now so how can it hurt.

I did this earlier in the spring with the rose on the arbor to the garden house.

It’s coming back nicely.

Arbor rose revived.

So far disease free.

As long as I’m confessing to using a few chemicals I might as well come completely clean.

There are two problems that I have read simply cannot be fixed organically.

Bind weed grows roots so deep that it cannot be dug out.

Bind weed growing through the deck!!!

It comes back from the center of the earth every time.

I’ve tried spraying it with vinegar .

No luck.

Nut grass is the other.

No such thing as a pretty picture of nutgrass.

If you pull it out – even in very loose soil – there is a little bulb underground that explodes with the force of being pulled up.

When it explodes it makes babies.

More nut grass appears within what seems like seconds.

Sometimes nature really tries my patience.

So in these two instances I am now confessing to using Round Up.

I’m not proud of it.

It’s the only control I’ve found.

Even then it can take more than one round to kill it out.

And…chances are both of these little demons will appear again.

Let’s end on a positive note.

Three years ago I planted Bressingham Blue hosta in my front bed.

Bressingham Blue Hosta and Impatiens

They have loved it there.

This year they have gotten so big that they are shading out the Impatiens planted along the edge of the bed.

So…a little pruning was required.

I cut off the front leaves to let in a little sunlight.

They were simply too gorgeous to compost.

So I brought them inside and put them in a vase that had belonged to my mother in law.

We’ve been enjoying this unusual and breathtaking arrangement all week.

Hosta leaves in Geraldine's vase.

It will likely last another.

Remember to drop by your local farmers market this weekend.

Enjoy the week in your garden.

Gail

1 Comment

Filed under bind weed, Gloriosa Daisy, Hosta, Larkspur, nutgrass, tools, Uncategorized

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