The Sound of Water

.

I love the sound of water in a garden. Our oriental garden, near the deck, seemed like a perfect place for the sound of water.

In 2000 we put in a small bubbler fountain. This year we needed to replace it. The stainless steel mesh we used to support the rocks disintegrated.

Originally we dug a hole and inserted a 2’ diameter container made for water gardens and a small pump. In a do-it-yourself, learn-as-you-go mode we used the mesh supported by an old plastic milk crate to hold the weight of the rocks. I purchased river rocks from a local Landscape Products Company and arranged them to look like a dry stream bed.

All went well for nine years. Then the bottom dropped out, literally.

So, this year, we removed all the rocks, bought a grate made for bubbler fountains and put all the rocks back in place.

Once again we have the tranquil sound of running water in the garden. Once again the birds are bathing happily.

.

Patience and the Garden

.

It has been raining for three days – temperatures in the high 40’s or low 50’s. More rain is forecast for the rest of the week.

The cuttings are waiting. I counted 42 coleus and other annuals in the house. They need to get out to harden off. The peppers are under lights. The newly purchased annuals (96 of them) are sitting around. I have seeds to plant and fencing to put up around the vegetable garden. There is a pile of mulch in the driveway. And, I know the weeds are growing.

.

Don’t get me wrong. I really wanted rain. The ground was dry and hard after unseasonably hot and windy week. But now I want to get out in the garden. As Carol at May Dreams Garden said in a recent blog post, “Embrace patience for a happier life in the garden.” It’s hard.

.

Dutchman's Breeches

.

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)


The dark green, feathery foliage is a delicate counterpoint to the small white flower. This pretty little plant has a fascinating story.

Dutchman’s Breeches were named because the flower looks like an upside down pair of baggy pants.

The seeds are spread by ants. From what I understand the seeds are taken back to the ant’s nest. The outside of the seed is eaten or fed to the ant’s larvae. The seed is then discarded to grow another plant.

This plant is said to have medicinal properties. Native Americans were purported to use it to treat skin and blood conditions as well as syphilis.

Lore says that it was used as a love charm. A man chewed the roots and breathed on his intended paramour. The fragrance of his breath caused her to follow his lead, even against her will.

I love a good plant story.

.

Deadheading Bulb Flowers

.

The last several days I’ve been deadheading daffodils, hyacinths and tulips.

As the flowers fade I snip the stalk. I don’t want seeds to develop. You can see the seed head beginning to form on the daffodil as a bulge behind the flower. Ripe seeds could grow into a new daffodil. But, it takes 5 to 7 years to bloom – if you do everything right. Much better to buy bulbs or divide existing clumps.

.

Making seed saps the bulb's energy. I want the energy to go into the bulb so it can produce blooms next year. The leaves remain to nourish the bulbs. One year I folded and rubber banded all the leaves. Not only was it time consuming but I think it looked worse than yellowing leaves. I’m also not sure how much nourishment the bulbs got from those little knots. I don’t think anyone recommends that method today.

I planted perennials near some bulbs to camouflage the fading leaves. Lilies, asters, cone flowers, black-eyed susans, hosta and daylilies do a good job hiding the fading bulb foliage. Sometimes I plant annuals in front of the clump. I add a little bone meal or Bulb Tone.

I snip the cuttings into two to four inch pieces and compost them. They make colorful compost, don’t they?


.
(More information on growing bulbs from Ohio State University Extension, Purdue University Extension “Flowering Bulbs” .)

.

PJM Rhododendron

.

PJM Rhododendrons are blooming all over town.

Named after Peter J. Mezitt, founder of Weston Nurseries, Massachusetts, this shrub has become wildly popular. And with good reason. It is easy to grow, winter hardy, the dark green foliage turns plum colored in fall and the spring blooms are a marvelous magenta.

.

.
I planted a small bush in 2002 in part shade. Now it is at least 6 feet tall and about 4 or 5 feet wide. It has never had any disease or insect problems. I sprinkle Holly Tone fertilizer around its roots after it blooms and lightly hoe it in. The bloom is a show stopper every spring.
.

Dividing Perennials

.

I divide perennials and pot volunteers in spring. It’s a spring ritual that is a little time consuming but very gratifying.

The following list of potted plants contains - plants that have spread too far:

- 4 ‘Sheffield Pink’ mum
- 3 'Clara Curtis' mum
- 1 Lily of the valley
- 10 black-eyed Susan
- 6 purple cone flower
- 1 tiger lily
- 3 rhubarb
- 4 periwinkle

plants that have produced too many seedlings:

- 5 Lenten Rose
- 5 Johnny Jump-ups

and a plant in the wrong place (too much sun):

- 2 large hosta

The plants that have spread too far were dug out from the edges of the main plant and potted. The seedlings were dug up and potted. The large hosta was completely dug out and chopped in quarters with a hatchet. Two pieces were planted in the shade in my garden. Two were potted.

I put the plants in pots with extra soil. I water them well – I mean really soak them until water runs out of the pot. I want to make sure the soil gets around the roots. I started dividing at the beginning of April. By now they all look good and are ready to be planted.

Except for the two hostas that I planted in my shade garden, all the plants are promised to other gardeners. I love being able to share plants with friends.

.
(More information on “Dividing Perennials” from Clemson University Extension.)

.

Mulch

.

Can you guess what I’ve been up to?

I like to spread all the mulch by the end of March. It’s not that March is a better time for the garden. It is a better time for this gardener.

The spring load of mulch arrived just this week. Perennials and bulbs are growing everywhere now. It takes more time to spread mulch carefully so plants are not smothered.

By the middle of April, I always feel rushed. This year I have vegetable area to turn over, edging to re-do, cool weather veggies to plant, soil to mix for pots, seedlings and cuttings to tend, supplies and annuals to buy, rocks and stones to move so we can re-build the bubbler fountain, several more perennials to divide and weeds to pull. Every gardener I know is in high gear right now.

This weekend I’ll be working at local public gardens. Rain is forecast for early next week. April is slipping away too fast.

("Mulching for a Healthy Landscape" from Virginia Cooperative Extension.)

BUT, it’s great to be outside working in the garden again. I’m trying to enjoy the spring garden between chores. If your eyes haven’t glazed over from all the great shots of April flowers linked to Carol's Bloom Day post, here are a few more from my garden.

.

Hyacinths and Brunnera.

.

Red tulips by the front steps.

.

White and purple hyacinths.

.

Daffodills

.

PJM rhododendron

.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day – April 2009

.

I’ve been posting pictures of flowers blooming in my garden lately. Here’s one that I haven’t posted.

Daphnie x burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’

I ordered the shrub from Bluestone Perennials. It arrived in a 4-inch pot holding the promise of heavenly scent. There was a slight aroma from the few blooms. (Do all gardeners go batty over the arrival of a new plant?)

.
I saw, or should I say smelled, one in a friend's garden last spring. According to Bluestone’s plant description, “Garland flowers are prized for their early spring bloom of exquisitely fragrant palest pink flowers in profusion.” It was an immediate addition to my “must have list”.

I did internet searches and found that this shrub sometimes succumbs to Sudden Daphne Death Syndrome. It also requires well drained soil. It may become infested with aphids, mealybugs, scale or fungal disease.

I bought it anyway. I can’t wait to plant it in the scented garden. The aroma is enough to make me try it more than once.

.

GBBD thanks to Carol at May Dreams Garden. Have a look at what is happening in other gardens around the country and around the world.

.

Happy Easter

.

Spring bulbs are blooming.

.

.

.
Happy Easter everyone.

.

Lenten Rose

.

Lenten Rose Helleborus orientalis ‘Royal Heritage’

.
In 2002, I planted two Helleborus orientalis ‘Royal Heritage’. I tried to pick a spot in the garden so I wouldn’t have to move them. I was more careful than usual selecting a place in the garden because I read that they are slow to recover when moved.

I chose a mostly shaded spot next to a garden path. The evergreen leaves show up well near the path during the brown winter months. The area is well drained and the soil is probably average. A little gardening luck and they have been happy there.

There is a difference in color between the two ‘Royal Heritage’ plants. One is a light pinkey/lilac the other is a darker purple. I’ve read that this color variation is not unusual. So if you plan to buy one it may be good idea to buy a plant in bloom.

The plants are not hard to care for. I haven’t watered or fed them since the first year.

I cut off last year’s leaves on February 23. I could see buds forming. The plants were full of buds by the beginning of March and in full bloom by the end of March. Flowers will last at least into May. This year I’ve potted some re-seeded plants for friends.

I’m delighted that I really got the right plant in the right place this time.

.
(More information from Cornell University.)

.

Compost

.

Marvelous spring weather between rainy days, gave me a chance to spread compost this week.

I have a small compost bin and a pile of shredded leaves.

I removed the top layer of un-composted material from the bin. Then I shoveled the beautiful black gold into a wheelbarrow and spread it around the lilac/shade garden and pussy willow/sun garden.

When the spreading was done, I put the top layer of un-composted material back in the compost bin to start another pile. I’ll add kitchen scraps, garden waste, and coffee grounds throughout the summer. Last fall’s shredded leaves will be added when I need “brown” material. I’ll turn it with a pitch fork from time to time. I’ll add water when it looks dry.

Five wheelbarrows of compost didn’t go far. I’ll spread mulch next week. I put mulch and compost on the garden every year. The mulch also decomposes and improves the soil making it dark and loamy. I have reduced the need for fertilizer.

The plants are happy. The gardener is happy.

.

(Planet Natural’s “Composting 101” contains a lot of information on composting. This site also has organic supplies for sale. I have never ordered from them. If you have placed an order with Planet Natural, please comment and share your experience. )

.

Cottage Garden

.

Cottage gardens are full of plants with a look of unplanned chaos. They give off an aura of natural profusion. The simple lack of design is deceptive.

Masses of color, plants tightly packed, season-long succession of blooms, plant height and light requirements, create a puzzle whose parts need to be carefully orchestrated. I love the challenge.

I have perennials next to evergreens, next to annuals, next to shrubs, next to vegetables. Some years the effect is better than others. Each year is different.

Two years ago part of the garden included cleome, liatris, coneflower, ornamental grass, coleus, holly, salvia, zinnia, canna, mums, pussy willow, hosta, dianthus, bleeding heart, dogwood, lilies, calendula, baby’s breath, hydrangea, snow-on-the-mountain, coral bells and a tomato.

Last year marigolds, asparagus and a profusion of snapdragons were added to the mix.

As the re-seeding annuals pop through the soil this year the work will begin. All the plants that come up in the paths will have to be moved or pulled. In order to get groupings of similar plants together, plants in the wrong place will have to be moved to a central location. Too many seedlings of a single plant will have to be potted and given away or composted. Empty spaces will have to be filled.

I plan to remove the ornamental grass and add sweet peppers, wax beans, parsley, radishes to the mix this year.

It’s an exciting gardening journey.

.

(More information on cottage garden design from Doug Green at Simple Gifts Farm.)

.

Coleus

.

Mariposa, Freckles, Mama Mia, Velvet Lime (free), Rustic Orange

.

I ordered coleus on March 13 from Rosy Dawn Gardens. They arrived March 25.

They arrived neatly packed in cardboard tubes in a USPS mail box. The plants, roots and all, were about 5 or 6 inches - large healthy plants. The shipment included a free plant.

.

The little rootballs were wrapped in cellophane and taped shut. When I unwrapped them, the rootballs were moist. It was one of the best packaging from an online nursery that I’ve received.

To me it felt like Christmas morning. I am an admitted coleac. You can search this blog by typing “coleus” in the search box to see how I’ve used them in the garden. And how many times I’ve written about them. It’s a little embarrassing.

As with a lot of addicts, I had a pusher. My friend Myra started the addiction with her large collection of coleus. She extolled the virtues of this plant – easy to propagate, easy to grow, gorgeous colors. She gave me a few cuttings and a few plants.

And, the rest is history as they say.

.

Wicked Weed

.

Here’s another one I pursue. I don’t know the name so I hope someone can identify it. If you know its name (or even its alias), please leave a comment.

It looks like yellow rocket (Barbara vulgaris) – winter cress.

.

But the flowers are white not yellow as in the description. “. . .bright yellow flowers clustered at the tips of the uppermost branches can be observed around fence posts or other structures. . .” (See page 15 in Weed Management in Turf.) The mature height is about 6 inches.

Those pretty little flowers will grow into not so pretty seed stalks. If you come anywhere near them they will violently shoot tiny seeds in all directions.

.

Pulling them out after they have seeds is almost useless. They live to grow again

Gotta get them before they go to seed!

.

Herbs

.
This week I attended the Master Gardener talk “Herbs to Use and Grow”. The presentation was part of Penn State Extension’s “Spring Garden Series” in Lehigh and Northampton County.

The class was super. It included information for growing herbs in full sun, some shade or full shade. Easy to grow herbs and their uses as well as herbal tea, herbal vinegar and household cleaner recipes completed the talk.

A bonus tip:

I have always had trouble drying parsley. I think the temperature in my oven doesn’t stay low enough. The dried parsley ends up brownish and loses some of its flavor.

Here’s the tip. Spread the cut parsley leaves on a tray and put it in the trunk of your car. The heat is supposed to be a perfect drying oven for parsley. I don’t know how long it takes but I plan to give it a try.

The Master Gardener “Spring Garden Series” continues through April. Sessions are filling up fast in both Lehigh and Northampton Counties. If you’re interested, call the Lehigh County Extension office 610-391-9840. Future talks include: “Starting Your Vegetable Garden,” “Rain Gardens,” “Small Space Gardening.”

.
(The above picture has nothing to do with herbs. I have had these crocuses in my garden for many years. They are 5 or 6 inches tall with large purple flowers. They are the prettiest of all my crocuses. I don’t know the variety. If anyone has an idea what they might be, please let me know.)

.

Wild Garlic War

.

(Allium vineale)

The Wild Garlic War has gone on for years. Every spring I prowl the garden like a maniacal secret agent. With my weeder in hand, I’m ready to pounce on any wild garlic covertly hidden in the lilac roots or brazenly positioned in the middle of the lawn.

Wild garlic is a clever, sneaky and sinister plant. In the plot to procreate, it produces bulblets attached to the main bulb. These tiny bulblets (near the tip of the weeder in photo - click to enlarge) slide off when you pull the plant. They stay in the soil. Each one will grow another plant. Getting the entire plant is a thrill better than … well never mind.

Wild garlic will also flower and produce seeds. I am proud to say I have never let one flower in my garden.

Spring, when the soil is soft, is the only time it’s possible to pull them out. Once the ground gets a little dry and hard the stubborn bulbs will hold tight to the soil. Often the main plant will break off at soil level.

I can’t say I’m winning the war. But, I have managed to keep the population under control.

So, I’m off again today to stalk the evil plant. I wonder if I need a disguise?

.

(Information on wild garlic and other weeds in Penn State's College of Agriculture Publication, "Weed Management in Turf Grass.")

.

Flower Show Plants

.
Every year I come home with a few plants from the vendors at the Philadelphia Flower Show. It’s a tradition.

.

This year I brought home 2 fuchsia plants and 6 tuberose bulbs. I was very frugal. Some years I had to leave the show because I couldn’t carry any more plants.

Fuchsia - ‘Swingtime’ and ‘Lena’

Philadelphia Flower Show is the only place I have found 3 inch pots of fuchsia. Local nurseries sell huge hanging baskets full of monster plants. I need small plants. (There’s that need word again.)

.

I’ll transplant them into 4 inch pots when they get a little bigger. (At least 2 weeks before I put them outside). The 4 inch pots will fit in the wrought iron pot hangers on the shepherd’s hook at the entrance to our deck.

Right now I have these little plants under lights. I’ll feed them every two weeks. Pinch back every second set of leaves. I’ve already taken two cuttings to root. The rooted cuttings will be planted in other porch pot planters.

Flower World USA details fuchsia care.


‘Hawaiian Double Pearl’ Tuberose

We all know how much I need Tuberose. I’ll plant the six bulbs in pots at the end of March. The pots will move to our sunny deck when the nights are reliably at least 60 degrees.

.

Hopefully, at the end of summer heavenly aroma will surround us.

I received a free bottle of “Hawaiian Flower Magic” (9-18-9) fertilizer and two free bulbs with the tuberoses. I don’t know what the free bulbs are. It will be fun to plant them and see what happens.

Old House Gardens has information on growing Tuberoses.

So, plants are growing, cuttings are rooting, seeds are planted and I'm a happy gardener again.

.