September 9, 2011 · 2:14 pm

AAAAAAHHHH!!!

There is something about fall

Cool

Crisp

Refreshing

It’s an almost indescribable feeling

The end of summer

The beginning of fall

Here on the plains I’ve known fall to arrive anytime from mid-August until October.

This year it came right on schedule.

Sunday morning of Labor Day Weekend.

Put away white clothes – check !

Turn on the cool – check !

It was as if someone finally found the switch on that blast furnace known as the Summer of 2011.

And they mercifully turned it off.

Every day since has been pure delight.

Cool crisp mornings

Sunny delightful afternoons.

So….what do we do in the garden now.

Prepare

Observe

Re-think

Enjoy

First I discovered that the sugar snap peas I planted a few weeks ago weren’t doing so good.

Some had sprouted

But not many

Something was eating on some.

Likely grasshoppers.

So I re-planted.

Remember to soak the seed a few hours or overnight.

Then since I was filling in I used a dandelion digger.

Stab it into the ground where there is a blank space

And drop the seed in the hole.

Water well and keep moist till they sprout

Which shouldn’t take long this time of year.

Hopefully there is still time for them to grow and produce Peg’s favorite veggie.

Then I began to think lettuce.

 

I seem to plant things in the same place.

I know with vegetables you need to rotate.

But since mine are inter-planted with my flowers that’s a little tricky.

So I’m doing the next best thing.

Keep enriching the soil.

The edge of the hydrangea bed by the gate is one of my favorite spots.

The impatiens mostly just fried there this summer.

So I pulled what was left up – way ahead of the usual time.

Next I worked up the soil

Pitchforks are great for this job

Added compost – lots of compost.

Compost from summer leaf pile

Work it all up and

Invite Cassidy and Sloan to help plant.

The theory is if they grow it they will eat it!

Once we’ve sprinkled lots of Encore Mix from Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

We pat them in and give them a drink.

I’m working on a couple of other lettuce beds.

Won’t plant them for a week or two.

Hopefully this will spread out the season and we’ll have tons of lettuce

To eat and to share.

For the re-thinking I engaged Elliott

He’s here for a working vacation.

It’s amazing how you can ponder your garden for weeks trying to solve a problem

And solve it in a 10 minute conversation with a kindred soul fellow gardener.

The problem is that my wonderful Dahlia area is losing it’s sun.

It’s going to shade.

All ready the ends are not producing

The middle can’t be far behind.

Yet a solo Dahlia in the sunny part of the garden is blooming its head off.

Elliott’s idea.

Add a Dahlia area on the northeast corner of the garden house.

Great idea.

This area looks like it will always be sunny.

It’s will require some fall and spring transplanting

Before I can plant the area to Dahlias next spring.

I’ll keep you posted along the way.

As for observing

We’ve spent lots of time watching and feeding orb spiders this week.

An orb spider "preparing" lunch

But….that’s a story all its own

I’ll share it next time.

Till then

Glory in these days

Walk your neighborhood

Look at it through the eyes of a child

Take it all in.

Gail

Cassidy in front of the sunflower she planted last spring.

2 Comments

Filed under Compost, Fall, Garden Planning, Lettuce, Orb Spider, sugar snap peas, Sunflowers, Uncategorized

September 2, 2011 · 12:20 am

SEEING

Recently I bought a new camera.

Just a simple point and shoot that hopefully will give better color to the pictures I share.

I’ve noticed something since I got it.

I see differently

more, actually.

Can’t wait for the sun to come up to go into my garden and take pictures.

Pictures of the same flowers and bugs that I’ve known for years.

Decades really.

Late summer visitor - Orb spider

But I’m seeing them differently through this new lens.

Veronica spicata, for instance.

Veronica Spicata

It’s not a terribly showy flower.

I’ve called it a “filler flower” for years.

Probably not politically correct to cast it in such a subservient role.

I’ve even threatened to dig it all up from time to time.

But…the truth is it’s a great flower

now that I see it through a new lens.

And cockscomb

Sure, I’ve marveled over the big “brainy” blooms

Now I’m fascinated by the clusters of feathery blossoms as they rustle in the breeze.

I’m suddenly drawn to the things that have been right in front of me.

Things I walk past each day

Yet don’t truly see.

Like this short but mighty Gloriosa Daisy that just begged me to take its picture.

Seeing

It’s so important.

Critical really in much of life.

Perhaps seeing is the thing that ties the varied parts of my life together.

Because I garden

I observe.

My mind keeps going to another of my passions.

Hunger

How to solve it.

It, like veronica spicata, is right in front of us.

Everyday.

We may not see it.

We likely don’t realize it’s even there.

But it is

Everywhere

Close at home

And far away

If we look – choose to see.

Recently we opened a food pantry at the high school.

It will provide food for kids who have none on weekends.

It has refrigeration so kids can have access to fresh food

A staple for so many of us.

A luxury for so many more.

Kelly is planning to plant another “field” of lettuce this fall.

Harvesting last spring's lettuce

I’ll have a row or two.

We’ve made arrangements to have volunteers come and cut and take it to the high school.

Lettuce bagged and ready to deliver

Seeing a need right in front of us.

Planting a way to meet that need.

Seeing the world connected.

Is it any wonder I love to garden!!!

Gail

P.S.  If you have extra fruit and vegetables you’d like to share, just let me know.

A potential fall tomato crop?

3 Comments

Filed under cockscomb, Gloriosa Daisy - Rudbeckia, Hunger, Lettuce, Orb Spider, Tomato, Veronica Spicata

August 26, 2011 · 12:51 pm

PLANTING HOPE

Last week we talked tulips

Glorious tulips

Now lets see what else we can find to bury this fall.

Daffodils are just about the happiest flower there is.

They will often begin poking their noses out of the ground  before Christmas.

Some years they even bloom by Valentines – more often in early March.

My favorite is a solid yellow called King Alfred.

It’s the traditional large cupped solid yellow.

There are hundreds of varieties, but I must confess to only planting this one kind.

Don’t let that stop you from finding your own favorite.

Daffodils are more perennial than tulips.

King Alfred edging the garden in late winter

Which is good since they cost more.

Another standard for me is Dutch Iris. 

You might recognize them as a standard in florist bouquets.

Dutch Iris "Delft Blue"

They are a smaller bulb, don’t require much space and easy to plant.

One of my real favorites is the tiny bulb and bloom of the Grape Hyacinths.

They bloom early and long. 

They are wonderful at edges.

I’ve lined much of the path of my garden with them.

Grape Hyacinths along the brick path

I’ve also scattered them on my one little “hill” and let them roll down to the edge.

Grape Hyacinths and vinca minor on the "hill".

And best of all they are pretty cheap!

The other bulbs I order this time of year are lilies.

Asiatic, Oriental and Trumpet

I love them all.

This year I’ve found a semi-shady place to add lots of Oriental lilies.

So I’m buying a mix of pinks and creams and whites.

Stargazer - a staple Oriental Lily

Mixes generally save you a little money, but you don’t get to pick the colors.

I’m also adding Oriental Lily Golden Star to the yellow Orientals I all ready have.

I’ve also found Trumpet Lily African Queen.

I saw this melon colored beauty in a magazine and tracked it down.

Now…no bulb order would be complete without Amaryllis.

You will know them as the fantastic flowers forced into bloom at Christmas.

My favorite is the  Hybrid Dutch Amaryllis.

The pink and white Apple Blossom is glorious.

Apple Blossom Amaryllis

A fairly new Black Pearl is a most dramatic dark red.

Black Pearly Amaryllis

Actually, there isn’t a bad color of Amaryllis.

They are monster bulbs fitting snuggly into a 6 ” pot.

Forcing Amaryllis for Christmas in the garden house.

OK

Where do these bulbs come from?

How many do you order?

How do you know a good bulb?

How do you plant all of this stuff?

We’ll save the last question till time to plant.

Which for me is in November.

Suffice it to say it’s good to have friends in November.

Let’s tackle the rest.

Where to get bulbs?

You’ll find them at garden centers, nurseries and stores that add seasonal greenhouses.

Along with all kinds of catalogs and websites.

I find them well…everywhere.

I will tell you though I don’t like the pre-packaged bags of bulbs.

Though my friend Debra literally grabbed a bunch of these last fall

Through them into the ground.

And had glorious bulbs.

But, I like to pick out each one to make sure that it is firm, has no sign of mold, and most importantly, big.

The bigger the bulb the bigger the bloom.

It’s just that simple.

Though I do my best to support local merchants I do have to confess to being a little picky about the colors I want.

So for that reason I do order from catalogs.

My long time favorite is a company called k. van Bourgondien.

I have found their selection to be very good – to the point it takes me a week to figure it all out.

I also think their quality is excellent and reliable.

Their prices are fair.

As for quantities.

Well…this is my weak point

I always over buy

But I always get them planted

With Megan’s help.

Here are a few guidelines

But remember – it’s just my own opinion

Which is worth exactly what you are paying for it here in the blogosphere!

With the exception of grape hyacinths and other tiny bulbs I never plant in rows.

I dig  – rather Megan digs – big oval-shaped holes.

In them we plant odd numbers of bulbs

Daffodils & Dutch Iris – 5 or 7 or 9

Tulips  – 9 or 11 or 15

Lily bulbs are bigger and need a bit more space 3 or 5 per hole.

So…that gives you a guideline.

You can measure and multiply and see how much trouble you can get into.

We’ll cover more planting information come fall.

OK

This should get you in over your head.

But come spring you’ll be so glad you took the time to plan ahead

I think of it as planting hope!

Gail

Hope !

 

3 Comments

Filed under Amaryllis, Daffodils, Dutch Iris, Grape Hyacinths, Oriental Lilies, spring, Spring Flowering Bulbs, tulips

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

 

 

 

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Filed under Harlequin Bugs, Lantana, Nierembergia, Uncategorized, Variegated Purple Fountain Grass

July 14, 2011 · 7:09 pm

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.

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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 4th 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 4th!

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

 

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