Hot, Dry Summer

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It has been a hot, dry summer here in eastern Pennsylvania. Several years ago, in an effort to conserve water, I decided to water only new plants, vegetables, plants in pots and a few annuals. I’ve been lucky the last few years. Summer temperatures have been mostly mild and rain has been adequate.

This year we have had several heat waves (temperature above 90 degrees for at least three days). Rainfall was at least 28% below normal in August.

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It was hard to keep my resolve as I watched the astilbe dry up and fade away. The Sedums are fine as expected. Many plants survive (almost thrive) in the August heat without supplemental watering.

Annuals in the sun:

(Above) Snow on the Mountain (Euphorbia marginata) with a few cosmos sprinkled in.

Dusty Miller doesn’t seem to mind the heat or dry.

Snapdragons hide in the herb garden.

Cosmos and Cleome sometime look a little droopy in the hot afternoon sun but nod prettily every morning.

Perennials in the sun:

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).

Yellow Coneflower Rudbeckia ‘Autumn Sun’ and ‘Sweet Autumn’ Clematis
Mums are in bud.

Perennials in shade or part shade in the afternoon

Lily Turf (Liriope muscari) – one tough plant.

Lavender 'Grosso’ planted in 2004 seems to thrive on neglect
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperator cylindrical) in a sea of Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) and Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa Siskiyou) ground covers.


There are many more survivors. The plants that don’t make it will have to be replaced with a tougher plant. My garden is no place for sissies.

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Philadelphia Flower Show

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Bella Italia

As usual for me, the most interesting exhibits were off the main theme gardens.

Temple University Ambler’s “Green Renaissance – The Revival of Sustainable Living”. According to student Denise Wood the main goal is to “help homeowners implement the ideas . . . how to start a home garden, eat locally, use native trees, conserve water.”

The three parterre Italian garden included:

- Xeriscape – (foreground in photo) plants that require little water, recycled porous paving materials – emerald sentinel red cedar, yarrow, sage, silver foliaged plants

- Kitchen Garden (in background in photo) - cool season vegetables, lettuce, leafy herbs and sweet peas.

- Orchard – high bush blueberries, serviceberry, trees and ornamental grasses.

Each garden had its own water feature. Copper aqueducts to harvest rainwater skirted the top of the exhibit (top of photo). It was a spectacular achievement in sustainability, creatively displayed.

According to Dr. Baldev Lambda, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture the students set out to “educate visitors on so many levels that ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ can be presented aesthetically and artistically.”

Philadelphia’s W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences ”South Philly Courtyard Garden” included container plants and use of vertical space with climbing plants. The small garden inside the fence was filled with herbs, vegetables and flowers. The garden illustrated first-rate use of a small space with South Philly’s “Little Italy” nostalgia.

PECO (Philadelphia Electric) drew some attention from the crowd with a model of the 45,000 square foot green roof headquarters in Philadelphia.

PA Parks and Forests foundation encouraged viewers to “bring home the natives.”

Philadelphia Water Department’s “Trivoli, South Philadelphia Style” displayed porous paths, a rain garden and some classy rain barrels.

It was good to see large organizations turn out creative environmentally friendly displays.

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Every year I’m amazed at the scale of this show. The time and money spent to produce acres of displays inside the Convention Center is just mind boggling. But, what a great way to spend a spring-like day.
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Eco-gardening

(I apologize – the sidebar “About Me”, “Previous Posts” and “Archives” has moved to the bottom of this blog. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get it back to the top. I haven’t been able to get an answer from Blog Spot. If anyone out there has the answer, please let me know.)
Eco-gardening

Eco-gardening, sustainable landscape, xeriscape, organic gardening, native plants, bio-diversity – words that elicit strong opinions but are not easy to define. There is controversy at every turn. Experts don’t agree on what organic means. How much organic fertilizer is too much?

Brian Higgins review of Jeff Gillman’s recent book Truth about Organic Gardening http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022000952.html

‘”…if you are simply replacing synthetic products with organic ones, you are missing the point. The aim is to reduce the need for fertilizers and, especially, pesticides. How do you do that?
You build the soil with correct amounts of compost and mulch, choose plants that do well and place them in their optimum locations. These are the true parts of organic gardening," says Gillman, a professor of horticultural science at the University of Minnesota.’

Here’s a British article on Eco-gardening:
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article1289066.ecerticle1289066.ece The comments are especially enlightening and outline some of the problems and differences of opinion with sustainable landscaping. The controversies, large and small, are not exclusive to England.

As we all try to be eco-friendly, it’s not easy to follow the many differing viewpoints. And some experts are very opinionated.

Doug Green’s Gardening Blog February 24 “Gardening as a Religion” illustrates just how opinionated some gardeners can be http://blog.douggreensgarden.com/

‘“…I see this extreme attitude in individuals in a huge variety of gardening groups. From the native “plant nazi’s” (yes, that’s how they’re referred to in the trade) who reject any plant that isn’t “native”. (whatever that is)…’

Native plants are good, right? IPM Choosing Healthy Landscapes http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uj238.pdf has tips for choosing plants well adapted to your site.

“Sometimes, exotic plants are more resistant to pests than are their native relatives. For example, Cornus kousa, an exotic dogwood that was introduced from the Far East, is less susceptible to infestation by the dogwood borer than is Cornus florida, the flowering dogwood, one of our native species.”

I chose the Cornis florida for my garden because I think it’s prettier. Even if it may be shorter lived, the squirrels continue to plant replacements. That’s sustainable enough for me.

Marianne Ophardt Master Gardener, Central Washington Editor, Extension Area Educator, Washington State University recommends trying some unusual weeping trees. ‘. . . the discriminating gardener that “takes the road less traveled” should consider some less familiar, more unusual weeping specimens.’ Well, who wouldn’t want to be known as a “discriminating gardener”?

Rhododendron is an acid soil loving plant. Does it have a place in our limestone soil gardens? . Do we need to add Holly Tone or Mir-Acid? Is that sustainable? New construction changes the natural soil. Most experts seem to agree that soil testing is a good idea. (See September 29, 2007 post)

Bee Colony collapse, white nose syndrome in bats, fish abnormalities, frog and toad deaths, air pollution, water pollution, carbon footprint – we all want to do the right thing. The problem - what is the right thing to do?

Here’s my starter list:
- Don’t spray indiscriminately
- Don’t fertilize indiscriminately
- Read and follow all label directions

Most important
- Make compost
- Use mulch
- Do the research
- Be patient