Watering the Garden

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This year I’m trying to get through the summer without watering my garden. I’m trying to conserve water and save money.

Of course, the potted plants need to be watered. I watered some of the annuals when they drooped. New perennials need water until they are established. But, I’m talking about hours of soaker hose watering of the entire perennial garden.

I’m talking about what will live in my climate without extra water.

Fortunately, we’ve had a year with adequate rain, until now. After a few weeks of no rain, heat, and humidity the soil has turned concreteous. Mulch, free from Bethlehem’s Compost Center, is indispensable. I am amazed at what is surviving (make that looking pretty good) without any extra water.

Some of the perennials have slowed blooming but are still very alive. The purple cone flowers look a little tired.

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Roses are struggling but blooming. The Japanese anemone, asters and mums have set buds.

The ground cover lemon thyme and creeping jenny do not seem to have a problem.

The mum ‘Clara Curtis’ doesn’t seem to mind being dry at all. In fact, ‘Clara Curtis’ continues to bloom and bloom.

As I said, this has been a year with adequate rain. And I woke up this morning to a little less than half an inch of rain in the rain gauge. I’m not saying I will never turn the soakers on but I’ve learned that I can do with a lot less watering than I thought. We’ll see how brave I am during a drought.

I’m thinking about a rain barrel. Raising vegetables is another story.

What’s your strategy for watering?

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House Plants

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It’s time to bring in the houseplants for the winter. They seem to adjust better to indoor temperature and humidity if I bring them in when the nights are warm and before the heat is turned on.

The other day I rinsed the Christmas Cacti and the Amaryllis with water then sprayed them with insecticidal soap.

I put the three Christmas cactus in a window in a room that is cool in winter and gets very little artificial light. I probably won’t do anything more, except water. I may give them a weak fish emulsion water once in a while.

The four amaryllis were put in the same cool room but out of the sun under a table. I will let them dry and rest for the winter. I’ll start giving them a little water about 3 months before I want them to bloom. When I see a little green shoot appear in the pot, I’ll move them to a sunny window and water regularly. Then I’ll wait for the spectacular bloom.

I have a few more plants to bring in this week.

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Here is the picture of the lily I thought was a tuberose. I'll plant the bulbs in the garden next spring.

I plan to buy tuberose from Old House Gardens http://www.oldhousegardens.com/bulb.asp?cat=SP&page=2#doubPearl
I am determined to have a blooming tuberose.

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Tuberose

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Does this look like a tuberose to you?

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In 2004, I purchased tuberose bulbs from Meilingers and Van Dyck's on line. This is what I got. This is what I've been nurturing for 4 years.

Doesn't look like a tuberose to me. What do you think?

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Creating a Flower Garden

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I’ve always thought a best reward for growing your own flower garden is creating a satisfying design. Creating is the key word here - something truly unique and your own. I think that’s why gardeners stroll through the garden with a cup of coffee, place a bench in a shady spot or stare at plants.

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I’m not a garden designer but I design my own garden. I’ve visited many gardens and I recognize the uniqueness and beauty in each gardener’s design.

One effect that I like, I stumbled on by accident. Black-eyed Susan is a showy plant that spreads and re-seeds. It takes almost no care. It seems to thrive in any soil. The birds, butterflies, and bees love it. It blooms all summer in a bright, happy yellow.

As I filled in the garden over the years, it was easy to divide and move some of the Black-eyed Susan to bare areas.

I’ve come to love to walk through the garden to be greeted by the flowers around almost every corner – a unifying theme all its own.

What designs have you come to love you your garden?
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Return on Investment (ROI)

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Years ago, when I was naive enough to think I could understand business planning and investments, I read a lot about Return on Investment (ROI).

This morning I picked beans from the potted pole bean plants. This is about the 5th or 6th picking. Not bad for the price of 4 bean seeds. (Of course I've not factored in costs of soil, water, fish emulsion fertilizer or labor.)

To me this is a great ROI - especially since the labor is free.

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Tuberose

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Well here it is! The first buds on my 4 year old Double Flowering Tuberose (Polianthea tuberosa). (see posts December 29, 2006 and February 2, 2008.)

I’ve been trying to get a bloom for 4 years. Every year I’m tempted to add them to the compost pile. What did I do differently this year?

On advice from Doug Green at http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/ , “the deal with this plant is that is LOVES warmth. If you try to grow it cold (like early in the season) it is not going to be a happy camper. It is Mexican. Think warmth. Think long season of warmth because it is essentially an Agave plant. Think mature bulbs that may take several seasons of growing under great conditions until they reach blooming size (many inexpensive seed companies sell the tiny babies rather than established blooming size).”

The last few years I put the pot out on the deck in the middle of May. This year I didn’t put the pot outside until June. I kept it in the house in my sunniest spot until the nights were warm.

I purchased a 4 fl. oz bottle of Hawaiian Flower Magic (9-18-9) from Roberta's, Inc. at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The woman selling the fertilizer practically guaranteed it would get the tuberose to bloom (8 drops to a quart of water). I watered every time with the fertilizer mix. I filled a spray bottle with the fertilizer mix and sprayed the leaves often. I never let the pot dry completely.

I’m not sure if the bulbs were simply mature enough to bloom this year or if my adjustments in care allowed the buds to form. Whatever the reason, I’m delighted to see buds.

I’ll bring the tuberose into the house towards the end of August when the nights begin to cool. When it finishes blooming, I’ll put it in a cool place and discontinue watering for the winter. I’ll add a little soil in February and begin to water sparingly until I see some growth. They will need to be divided some day. Hopefully, next year there will be more blooms.

I’ll be sure to post a picture when the buds open. If you’ve had success with tuberose, please let me know.

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More information on tuberose bulbs at Easy to Grow Bulbs http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=79 and GardenWeb Forum http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bulbs/msg0606505130183.html
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Watering Container Plants

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Drip-it Pro Waterer (see May 11, 2008 post) was designed for house plants. I tried it with my vegetable container plants this summer. I have one in a pot of pole beans and one in a pot of cucumbers.

I filled the water containers about once a week. The 8” water bottle holds about 4 cups of water. It is simple to fill and use. The T-shaped “wick” sometimes fell out as I put the pronged cap on. But, they were easy to put back in place.

I still had to water once or twice a day in the summer heat. The water bottle may have helped keep the pots from completely drying out.

I think they will work for my large house plants while I’m on a 2-week vacation this winter.

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Gardener’s Supply “2-Week Plant Sitters” http://www.gardeners.com/Drip-It%20Waterer/17519,default,pd.html
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Katydid

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We had a visitor near our back door the other day. A katydid, most likely Microcentrum rhombifolium according to Karen Bernhard, Entomologist at Lehigh County Extension.

I never saw a katydid and I thought it was rather pretty. The kids thought it looked like a leaf. They were right on. The leaf appearance is a clever camouflage for these insects.

The katydid is a destructive insect with chewing mouth parts. It is also a tasty meal for birds, bats and frogs.

Some interesting katydid facts here http://www.zoo.org/factsheets/katydid/Katydid.html and here http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1INSECTS/katydid.html You can listen to its “song” here http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/031a.htm
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July Garden

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I’ll be at Musikfest most of this week doing garden maintenance and just having fun. Since I won’t have much time in my garden, I thought I would it would be fun to compare a section of my garden over the last 3 years.

First, let me explain. I have a new camera this year. The 2008 pictures are not as good as 2006 or 2007. But I’ll keep practicing. The biggest problem with this camera – there is no view finder. Taking pictures outdoors with only a LCD screen is difficult (like aiming a gun when you can't see the target.) All I can see on the screen is a reflection of myself. Great for putting on lipstick but not taking pictures. OK, enough excuses.

This is the way the cottage garden looked in 2006 before our tall pussy willow fell in a storm on Memorial Day weekend 2007. That dramatically changed the garden from shade to sun. Actually, much better for a cottage garden.

In the second set of photos, you can see the pussy willow in the center of the picture (left photo 2007). The right photo (2008) shows the pussy willow has about doubled in size this year. The new growth is coming out of the near side of the stump.

The pink mum (Chrysanthemum ‘Clara Curtis’) blooms almost all summer front and center on both pictures. Yellow Cosmos in the left 2007 photo will be replaced with pink tones (Burpee Sensation Mix) in 2008. I planted the seeds in May and they are now forming buds.

Snapdragons, cleome, snow on the mountain, coleus, sweet alyssum all have returned this year.

As the pussy willow continues to grow, it will again change the light in this garden. I’ll have all winter to decide if I want to do something differently next year.

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Musikfest

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(Picture above: Lyre of Wax Begonias at Blumenplatz)

Musikfest starts Friday and activity is poppin’ at the Downtown Bethlehem sites. http://www.musikfest.org/ The second week of set up is hectic, to say the least. There is activity everywhere as this amazing event comes together.

Finishing touches on the summer-long job of planting and maintaining Blumenplatz (behind Bethlehem Public Library) started last night. The final trimming, deadheading, mulching, watering, got underway. The next step adds lights to the display for an attractive nighttime show next to Americaplatz.

Americaplatz setup is moving along as vendors begin to stock the booths.

The recycling bins are stacked near Plaza Tropical and ready for distribution around the fest.

The Plaza Tropical tent is up and tables and chairs are being set up as are all the other tents.

Blumenplatz Committee workers finish the mum-filled MUSIKFEST sign near Spring Street.

It’s a hive of activity. Everything will be ready on Friday at 5 PM for the 25th year. Volunteers, workers and vendors are laboring their hearts out. I can’t wait for the music to begin.

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Phlox

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Here’s a plant I get excited about every year.

The tall garden Phlox paniculata started blooming about a week ago. They bloom all summer. I cut the spent flowers of from time to time and they happily send out more shoots with flowers.

Phlox ‘David’ – Perennial Plant Association’s 2002 Perennial Plant of the Year. ‘David’ is my very favorite. Planted in the scented garden, ‘David’ releases a pleasant fragrance. Sitting on the garden bench with sweet ‘David’ nearby is heavenly.

'David’ is mildew resistant but not mildew proof. All the phlox in my garden are mildew resistant but the lower leaves usually show a little mildew later in the summer. I should dig and separate the plants to assure better air flow. But, I probably won’t. They are so pretty in a clump. After a week, I don’t notice the mildew – sort of like the dust on the coffee table.

Phlox ‘Katherine’ planted in 2004 in my “Mother’s Garden” section may be a little more mildew resistant than ‘David’. I don’t think the perfume is quite as strong. I had a little trouble getting this one established. I bought 3 from Bluestone Perennials lost 2 and bought 3 more. Now that they are established, they are growing well. I don’t think I paid enough attention at the beginning and didn’t keep them watered.

I don’t know the variety of the deep pink phlox. This sturdy plant was a gift from my friend Myra’s garden. It was a great addition to my garden and probably the most mildew resistant of all my phlox. It does very well in the hot summer sun.

Phlox takes almost no care once established. It reminds me of the energizer rabbit - it keeps blooming and blooming.
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Garden Homecoming

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I was on vacation last week – a very relaxing time away from home. The garden is looking only a little neglected. Fortunately, my friend Cindie watered the pots for me. Without her, they would have been toast!

The hydrangea (Hydrangea ‘Venice’) is blooming. The color this year goes from pink through lilac to purple. I never know what color it will be. Last year it was a bright pink. (see July 25, 2007 post) It is full of blooms. I mean FULL of blooms. The leaves are barely visible.

The Lace Cap is also blooming profusely. They are both happy in their spot – shaded from the hot afternoon sun.

The potted zinnias (Burpee Giant Flowering Mix and Magic Carpet Mix) look good on the patio. It’s too early for mildew.

The ('BrandyBoy') tomatoes are getting round and plump. I picked beans. The cucumbers are growing from their pot. I made cucumber salad. The 2 "Drip-Pro Waterer"s that I bought from Gardener's Supply seem to keep the potted vegetables from completely drying out.

Not everything looks as good. Japanese beetles are feasting on canna leaves, roses and pole beans. Dead looking, lace-leaved cannas are not a pretty sight. I haven’t found a way to get rid of those armored chewers. I never seem to have time to knock them in a bucket of soapy water. Karen Bernhard, Entomologist, Lehigh Co. Cooperative Extension, published Japanese Beetle information in “Penn State Master Gardeners” blog in the Morning Call July 10. http://blogs.mcall.com/master_gardeners/

Weeds that were tiny when I left are now large enough to have seed heads. Crabgrass, ever the opportunist, has sprouted in every unplanted inch of ground. I pulled one clump as big as a head of cabbage. The lilies are finished blooming and seed heads need to be cut off. Same with the hostas. The sweet alyssum needs a trim. Garden paths are overgrown. There’s compost tea to make. Annuals need to be fertilized.

Lots of work to do to catch up but it’s good to be back in the garden.

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Snapdragon

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As a child, I picked snapdragon flowers and gently squeezed the sides to open and close the “mouth”. Several years ago I bought some snapdragon plants for my garden.

This year I have a bumper crop. I left the seed heads on the dried stalk over the winter. I cut back any dead stalks in spring. A few plants survived the winter and seedlings were everywhere in May. I moved a quite a few. I even potted a bunch for friends.

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And wow! Talk about prolific. These beauties take up a large space in my cottage garden. I think it was a good investment years ago. Almost as good as a perennial.

Do you have any favorites that re-seed and grow year after year?
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Heavenly Angel’s Poppy

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We’re on the road again so my posts may be a bit sporadic. I want to share the annual poppy in my garden.

The seeds were given to me by my friend, Vi, last year. She said, “put them in the ground in the winter.” I scratched them lightly into the soil last December. They are spectacular this summer and have been blooming for 2 or 3 weeks. I don’t know the variety but Heavenly Angel’s Poppy is a great name, isn’t it?

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Although the pictures look a little pink they are really a deep, soft orange. Burnt Orange Peony Poppy is closest I could find at One Stop Poppy Shoppe http://www.onestoppoppyshoppe.com/servlet/the-15/Peony-Poppies-Poppy-Seeds/Detail

I plan to collect seeds for next year’s garden and to share with friends. According to Vi, “As the seed pod is drying, cut it off and lay it on a plate to finish drying. Then the little holes around the top will open and you can shake out the seeds.” I should be able to do that.

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Fourth of July

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I try to post every Saturday and Wednesday. But, we’ll be away for a few days so I thought I would post some views of my garden in patriotic finery. (That may be a tiny exaggeration.) See you next Wednesday.

HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

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Old Roses

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I seem to be going on about roses lately. But, I decided to replace the red rose (a hybrid tea) taken over by rootstock rose. (The shoot from below the graft is visible in the photo above.)

My friend, Cindie, offered me a ride to visit Ruth Flounders at “Roses In Thyme” in Sculps Hill, Pa. http://rosesinthyme.com/ Click on the website for an idea of the nursery’s philosophy. And check out the 2008 rose list for an idea of the profusion of old roses.

Masses of old roses filled seemingly endless beds. Soft pinks draped over rustic fences and ascended tree-limb fashioned arbors. Lilac, white, peach, red filled the garden in a secluded spot near the Blue Mountain.

I learned a lot about the care and feeding of old roses. Ruth’s attitude belies all the work that goes into her nursery. Some will get black spot. Some will be breakfast, lunch and dinner for Japanese beetles. Relax and enjoy them in June when they’re at their best. Ruth’s narrative also brought the roses to life - roses found in cemeteries, on estates and farms.

I brought home ‘Mrs. Baker’ a hybrid perpetual medium red. According to Ruth’s information sheet –

‘Mrs. Baker’- Not found in the literature, Rev. Seidel (Rev. Douglas T. Seidel, consultant for the rose collection at the Thomas Jefferson Center) believes this to be the “true Rose du Roi’”. Mrs. Keays (Mrs. Frederick Love Keays, author of Old Roses) lists several Hybrid Perpetuals that were found growing at the farm of Mr. & Mrs. John Baker, in Great Neck New York. Named ‘Mrs. Baker’s Deep-Pink,’ it is easy to see how the name evolved.”

I came away from “Roses In Thyme” with a sense of the romance and history in old roses and, of course, my ‘Mrs. Baker’.

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(My friend, Cindie, is a professional photographer. Visit her website at http://www.mypointofview-photo.com/-/mypointofview-photo/default.asp for a look at her work.)

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Evening Primrose

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Mexican Evening Primrose, Showy Evening Primrose 'Siskiyou'

Oenothera speciosa

This plant is a showy but a fairly aggressive spreader in my garden. There are people that say it could take over the world. I continually tell it not to go past the brick edge. (I don’t talk to my plants very often. Ah, maybe I do.) I pull, dig, and hoe the plants that get on the wrong side of the tracks - I mean bricks.

The blooms started in the beginning of June. They still look good today. The pretty pink profusion of blooms has found a way into my heart.
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New York Botanical Garden

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New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY - 250 acres of trees, gardens and every manner of plant and shrub. I can’t shake the image - green oasis in a concrete jungle - trite but true. http://www.nybg.org/

My view of the gardens:

Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – A Victorian-style greenhouse filled with plants from 11 distinct habitats. The rain forests’ gentle mist only rarely reached our skin. The flora is well marked and signs explain each environment. It was hard not to bump into people while looking open-mouthed at the overwhelming amount of plants. Moss covered rock walls and never-seen-before cacti stand out in my memory. It is a great place to linger as you try to take in the all the extraordinary plants. The outdoor water lily pond is full of koi and other fish. Tour guides are available. Our guide was a personable volunteer but not a knowledgeable plantsman.

Everett Children's Adventure Garden – This large area includes winding paths, mazes, clever topiaries, and delightful surprises. We followed a short winding path and found a wooden and glass display of seeds. Questions printed on the display were answered by opening wooden doors. I wonder what secrets are on the paths we didn’t follow. The colorful caterpillar topiaries surprised us in several areas.

Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden – An excellent flower and vegetable garden planted by children and adults grows in well-tended rows. In a children’s area, bright, colorful hand-painted signs with each child’s name demonstrated pride of ownership in the healthy tomatoes, lettuce, beans and corn.

Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden – Over 3000 roses arranged by color created a spectacular show. Hybrid teas, floribunda, antique roses, and shrub roses crafted into a profusion of color in a formal setting. Lots of oohs and ahs from me. It’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer number of roses.

In the Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden, there were many examples of plants that go well together. Plants for sun with complimentary colors. Shade plants with different textures and heights. It’s a good thing there wasn’t a plant sale nearby. My Visa would have been as tired as my feet.

The formal herb garden was not in the best shape when we visited but we got the idea. I missed the rock garden, but I heard it was spectacular with lots of small plants and evergreens.

250 acres requires a lot of walking and energy. A tram runs every 20 minutes but is sometimes full and not always on time.

It was an exhausting but fun day – hot in the sun, cool in the shade. I could have spent days there. I would love to sneak into the plant-science labs and greenhouses for a closer look.


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(Photo credit. My camera died before I ever got to take a picture. Many thanks to my friend and fellow visitor, Gretchen, for the pictures here.)

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