knowing your plants, understanding balance

Canadian Botanical Conservation Network is a registered Canadian charitable organization aiding botanical gardens, arboreta and related organizations, individuals and others to increase their participation in plant conservation and biodiversity programs. Their site boasts (I think) the best children's information page called Botanists in Training which provides an opportunity for kids to dig a little deeper into the science of gardening and plants.

I'm thinking about this in response to my recent wanderings through the Agora, where The Food Security Research Network is holding their Second Annual Food Security Forum today. Displays are set up wth poster presentations on organic gardening in Thunder Bay (and surrounding area), and studies on the effects of various factors (human and otherwise) on environmental conditions relating to food production in northwestern Ontario.

Gardening with native plants and heritage varieties rewards the gardener, the garden, and the wildlife within. Sadly, naturalized gardening has been frowned upon by those uninformed, with the misconception that these gardens are "untamed" or have "gone wild" when in actuality they are beautiful contributors to our environment, keeping peace with the earth. I believe it was sometime just last year, or the year before when I read an article from a Toronto area paper wherein complaints were filed against a homeowner for a garden "gone wild" and considered an eyesore by neighbors, when in fact it was a garden full of natural species providing an oasis for wildlife within the bizarre urban subdivision. It was startling to read, considering.
Gardening with native plants is often easier (less maintenance because you're not trying to force something to grow where it wouldn't normally) and can use less water, pesticides and fertilizers than with nonnative plants - for obvious reasons. It's the smrt way to go.

Native plants are suited to this environment and provide a variety colours and textures in winter. Something not considered often enough here in TBay - thinking winter is for reading in bathtubs, rather than admiring foliage....and thinking about how beautiful the hydrangeas outside the Regional Center are right now, buried in ice and snow as they are, I can not disagree.

Another notable site: The Organic Gardener

Unless

"I speak for the Trees" - the Lorax
The Lorax by Dr. Suess
Random House 1971
978-0394823379
"The now remorseful Once-ler--our faceless, bodiless narrator--tells the story himself. Long ago this enterprising villain chances upon a place filled with wondrous Truffula Trees, Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba- loots, and Humming-Fishes. Bewitched by the beauty of the Truffula Tree tufts, he greedily chops them down to produce and mass-market Thneeds. As the trees swiftly disappear and the denizens leave for greener pastures, the fuzzy yellow Lorax who speaks for the trees repeatedly warns the Once-ler, but his words of wisdom are for naught. Finally the Lorax extricates himself from the scorched earth, leaving only a rock engraved "UNLESS."
With his own colorful version of a compelling morality play, Dr. Seuss teaches readers not to fool with Mother Nature. But as you might expect from Seuss, all hope is not lost--the Once-ler has saved a single Truffula Tree seed! Our fate now rests in the hands of a caring child, who becomes our last chance for a clean, green future." - Amazon.ca

Little Magical One

A member of the family Rosaceae, Alchemilla mollis or Lady's Mantle and A. xanthochlora, (which is much smaller with deeply lobed leaves), is one of two plants I'm considering planting in memory of Lisa.
Since she passed away I have been deeply affected by the condolences filtered through me. I'm in awe of countless, countless hearts broken and missing her friendship. She was a true healer to many. For this reason I've been drawn toward plants that heal, figuratively and otherwise.

Alchemilla has long been associated with healing and alchemists. From an Arabic word, alchemelych, meaning alchemy; the plant is named so for its "magical healing powers", with folklore suggesting that even dew collected from alchemilla leaves has healing properties.

Young leaves, raw or cooked, have a dry, bitter flavour. They can be mixed with the leaves of Polygonum bistorta (Common Bistort) and Polygonum persicaria (Spotted Ladysthumb / Redshank) then used in making a bitter herb pudding called 'Easter ledger' which is eaten during Lent.
The root is also edible; and the leaves are often used in tea.

It tolerates most soils densities, although requires it to be well-drained, and prefers it in the range of neutral to alkaline. It can grow in semi-shade to sun, and is drought tolerant.

There's a certain photographic side of me that, like many, adores this plant very much for how the water and dew collects like pearls.


books to read in the bathtub:

Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959

Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169

Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

and The Book of Herbal Wisdom: Using Plants as Medicines by Matthew Wood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

---

The other plant I'm considering for Lisa is

• Althea officinalis Marsh Mallow

The generic name, Althaea, is derived from the Greek, altho (to cure), from its healing properties. The name of the order, Malvaceae, is also derived from the Greek, malake (soft), for the special qualities of the Mallows in softening and healing. Theophrastus (c. 372-286 BC) reported that it was taken in sweet wine for coughs, and Hippocrates cites althea in the treatment of wounds.
Leaving Greece, Mallow was considered a vegetable among the Romans.
...and oddly (but not), The Grateful Dead song Althea comes to mind, being one of Judith's favorites, and reminds me of conversations in the department office, and Lisa.

The leaves, flowers and the root of Althaea officinalis all have medicinal properties.

"Bot. [L. althaea, a marsh mallow, f. [the Greek] to heal.] A genus of the plants of which the Marsh Mallow and Hollyhockare species; by florists often extended to the genus Hibiscus. - Oxford English Dictionary

Flowering from July to September, it tolerates almost any soil type, ..but doesn't grow well in the shade.

"Whosoever shall take a spoonful of the Mallows shall that day be free from all diseases that may come to him." — Pliny the Elder

more books for the bathtub:

Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202

Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982 ISBN 0442222009

Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148

My May Day

Amy's garden has a new home on a hill in PA. There will be a new shady nook, under my new tree (which I haven't identified yet). I imagine it already, lush and private; viewing it from my new dining room window. A new old home for this old soul, with all the character I adore. Amy's garden is going to be quite lovely there.
:D

forget-me-not , ne-m'oubliez-pas

Myosotis is from the Greek mus meaning 'mouse' and otos meaning 'ear' in reference to the small 'mouse ear' leaves.

Spring's messenger indeed, they used to pop up in every spot under and around my apple tree. The one pictured here is growing in my office, today with a tear drop droplet.

"I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,

Little flower - but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is."
- Tennyson

Aching for my garden lately,
I miss this space. sigh

The picture is deceiving, there are actually two chairs, comfortably snug in a lush nook of balloon flowers, pumpkin plants, bergenia, those pretty peach day lilies, phlox, and herbs. Tucked behind the apple tree, it was my secluded room with a view. Aaah, and where little green bottles grew!

I have to be grateful for this journal; what an asset it is for planning the move.

PLANTS BEING MOVED:
roses
John Davis
Morden Fireglow
Morden Blush
Winnipeg Parks
Morden Sunrise
J.P. Connell
George Vancouver
shrubs
blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Globosa') x 2
Weigela 'Red Prince'
Hydrangea 'Annabelle'
Elder Sambucus racemosa 'Sutherland Gold'
day lilies
Double River Wye
Raspberry Parfait
little peach one in front
Fairytale
Strawberry Swirl
other little peach one
random perennials
spiderwort Tradescantia 'Caerulea Plena'
Thymus praecox 'Nutmeg Thyme'
Viola labradorica 'Purple Labrador Violet'
Phlox subulata 'creeping phlox' (Emerald Blue)
lungwort x 3
goat's beard
adjuga
bergenia pig squeak
Stachys byzantina 'Lamb's Ears'
Heuchera micrantha (Coral Bells) 'Purple Palace'
Echinacea ' Big Sky Sunrise'
Hosta 'Tokudama Flavocircinalis'
Hosta 'Paradigm'
hostas x 3 more unidentified
fern
astilbe x 2
irises
chives
sedum(s)
lavender
that pink peony by the shed
sunflower
thank goodness I didn't plant much last year

Incidently, as I write this I'm listening to In the Key of Charles on CBC Radio 2. His theme this morning is ANGELS. All angelic playlist: good angels, dark angels, evil angels, and more good angels. Fantastic!

I will need at least twelve very large pots, sixteen to twenty 24-26" pots and another dozen or more 16-20"ers. I'm doubting very much that I would be able to transplant directly on May1st, so I think it'll be less worrisome to plan for the pots; keeping in mind that the plants may spend a considerable period of time in their pots. If I'm lucky enough to be able to transplant a few things directly, it would be a relief at the time - but it's just not something I can realistically count on.
I'm sure I can borrow some temporary pots from the greenhouse while I collect great pots like these pictured, work for dirt *er* soil, and I'm starting to dream up ways of training John Davis in a pot with a trellis - which I think will be beautiful. :)

• 
  The sixth day of February is the feast of St. Dorothy of Italy, who survived being thrown into boiling animal fat, but who was beheaded in ca. 313 CE. She returned to earth as an angel child, bringing three apples and three roses from the garden of paradise to the lawyer and cynic Theophilus, who had mocked her on her way to death. He was astonished at the sight and was instantly converted by the miracle. Theophilus was himself later beheaded, cut up into little pieces, and fed to the birds. Saint Dorothy is depicted with apples, either in her hand or in a basket, and with roses.
  

Ward, Bobby J.. "A Contemplation Upon Flowers: Garden Plants in Myth and Literature." Saints of the Spade. Timber Press, Oregon. 1999.

You can learn a lot of things from flowers...

Outdoor Daffodil Tip
Allow the leaves to wilt down naturally after the blooms fade. These yellowing leaves are not attractive, so it's tempting to cut them down, but it's essential that all the nourishment in the leaves return to the bulb before it goes dormant for summer. Though you can hide yellowing foliage with flowering annuals, keep in mind that daffodil bulbs need a dry summer to remain healthy while they are dormant. Choose plants that like dry spells and won't need constant watering to hide unattractive bulb foliage

I couldn't speak better for the Grape Hyacinth than theplantexpert.com does here. If I could only return to the Keukenhof Gardens in Holland, where I once tip-toed through the tulips, with the eyes and mind of the gardener I am now...if only if only.





















I absorbed it well enough, but more in awe than inspiration. I suppose that was part of the process, of course. I would still be in awe standing there today - but at 18 I didn't have the experience as a gardener that I do now - to know what it takes to create such a garden. I'll go back someday...;)
This little guy lives on my desk in my office, and is admired by many. They're so delicate - even a student commented today that she'd never seen such petite bells on a hyacinth. They reach upward and dangle just below the daffodils that have made this week much brighter, in spite of winter's fickle forecasts.


The daffodil, March's flower, a mark of spring, associated with Hades and Narcissus, the muse of poets, and too many mythologies to cover in such a post - have been blooming on my desk since Monday. I was listening to Tonic (on CBC 101.7, with Katie Malloch) recently when she posed the question (paraphrased) what do you do to help get through the long winter months? I spoke directly to the radio and replied: I keep a pot of bulbs on my desk - watch them grow and bloom all week, Katie!


It makes such a difference. These daffodils have stopped enough people in their tracks this week to assure me that I am not alone in thinking that seeing such a thing when real spring seems so far away really is quite nice. For that reason, they sit right in front of me all day. They're utterly cheerful, spilling their fresh scent out their trumpets to remind us of what's to come. Their yellow makes up for the lack of sunshine.
I moved them into the beams to take these pictures, for the short time the sun was allowed to come out yesterday. These are certainly not bowing their heads in sorrow, rather joyous and hopeful. A good sign for the up coming months :)

Weird yet again to be watching sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) explode up the tube; they seem to be growing much faster than the last two attempts. The backdrop out the window often of snowflakes blustering about makes for some great pictures that I apparently don't take. (reminding myself I am there to work not take pictures of the office garden tee hee) I have however been trying desperately to set my camera up for some interval shots but again, work keeps getting in the way(haha).. so I'll catch the next batch as they germinate and these, maybe next week as they reach for the top. By "attempts" I mean attempts to get sweet peas to bloom in my office. They grow amazingly well and tall; but haven't bloomed yet. I have them in, I think, the best possible environment in the tube (which is actually a large cylindrical glass vase) with about 3/4 ' of soil at the base. The first attempts had rocks then the soil, the second had no rocks, this - the third I didn't change much other than deepen the soil and have been keeping the whole environment a lot drier. I should have deepened the soil a lot more than I did - which is why I predict a fourth attempt. I want to see them bloom, but this is one of those processes that is as interesting and beautiful to watch grow.

I've planted basil again. Too many. The Lit. Mag needs fundraising ideas and I think I just thunk one up. Bake and Basil sale in the Agora! ;D
I look forward to summer lunch time grazing again. The basil does surprisingly well in the dry, unpredictable temperatures of the building.
Basil can bounce back after a bad dry wilt, but I always think such an event alters the flavor of that growth. If that happened in the office I simply cut it back a few times - and, at the rate it grows it wouldn't take long before the plants were bushy again.

(Incidentally, the other great thing about the office garden: no cats.)

dizzy daffodils in the golden afternoon

Books I recommend reading in the bathtub:

Greenaway, Kate (illus), Marsh, Jean (text). The Illuminated Language of Flowers. Balance House, Ltd, 1978.
Heilmeyer, Marina. The Language of Flowers: Symbols and Myths. Prestel Verlag, 2001.
Wells, Diana. 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1997

amy's roaming potted garden

It'll go in pots. Moved in pots, possibly remain in pots. A solution to where amy's garden will go...

Potted roses, potted shrubs, potted herbs an hostas, potted tomatoes, even potted lilies. I can already think of some very nice arrangements with my existing plants, and I can still get excited about new plants...potted.
Sometimes things just don't go as planned, so you ride the wave, go with the flow...and that is what I'm doing. I can daydream about the future all I want - picturing myself mature in my mature garden, somewhere. That time will come. This time right now, I have enough gardening projects to keep busy, plans to make all to make me happy - and, let me not forget: who's to say that I won't find a home where I can plant, so I may have no need to mourn amy's garden again anyway....
I feel quite confident about the coming months, summer and what I'll end up with. So - for that reason I think this journal should keep on keepin' on. I can doodle pots just as happily as backyards.

I've always enjoyed putting together pots and planters. My front steps used to be covered in them - not to mention my window box designs year after year. I miss that.
This will be a new challenge - not so much in designing, but planning the soils - because if I know me (which I do) I know that I am good at putting these things together, not so good at remembering to water correctly....
Indoor gardening in my office has been teaching me a lot more about that, so maybe I've learned something since. Though, as I write this I think, and think and I think that most of the pots that were disasters were pots in my backyard at 606. That southwest facing deck was hell on earth for plants sizzle sizzle so I shouldn't be so hard on myself. What I should have done was set up a soaker hose from a rain barrel.
I will put that one into practice this year.

These are going to be some really cool pots. grin.

good-bye.....

...and so it's done.

I decided to leave 1421 today, and will move as of May 1st back to PA.

I feel good with this decision. The weight of indecision has been suffocating; the release is relief.

This journal will roam with amy's roaming garden :)

so long,
Gardenerd

Being Backyardovich 2008

test

Rohan's Birthday

Blazing Garden

I want to see reds, oranges and yellows consume the back lane fence. Currently the Red Prince (Weigela) stands alone.
Bee Balm, Clematis 'Niobe' *swoon*, red sunflowers, coneflowers (which one?), sneezeweed, flaming day lilies, oranges and yellows, red mums in pots, flicks of salvia in reds and purples...
To the west, climbing up the shed 'Mandarin' Honeysuckle.

I'll probably plant more than one 'Niobe', wanting it to be predominant along the fence. I mooned over it in the greenhouse last season.

Speculative Non-GardenFiction

So - during October things happened and did not happen in Amy's Garden. In brief: no new boulevard tree (because the TSP planters can't plant the tree where the Ash was, or a bit to the left or a bit to the right because of water and hydro underground stuff but only pretty much exactly not in front of 1421 but next door - and that just won't do.) I don't know what I will do, or decide. But, grin. That's what winter is for: reading in bathtubs, learning and planning - and by spring I will know what to do about a lofty tree in front of this lovely house.


There's also been a decision on the greenhouse idea in the backyardovich.
.dedicednu eb t'nac snoiosiced taht yas ot ton si sihT

I could think of a greenhouse as structural element in my garden, but not to much being used as a greenhouse, thinking practically - and realistically. A fancy-schmancy gardening storage shed for my tools and odd pots and things perhaps ...(and being glass, therefore see-through, this would have to be a very tidy gardening storage shed to not be an eyesore).
I don't know how I feel about that so I'm considering my options, sans small backyard greenhouse.

I can see it in my mind's eye, a tree, smallish, deciduous, bearing preferably edible (not necessarily tasty to humans, bonus if so). I think of the tree (I've forgotten what kind of tree it is), a tree Les grows - a beautiful specimen in the kitchen garden at the cottage. I've been meaning to call and ask....

New native plant gardeners to town, D & A, have been the first to round up the winter season's garden talk around the office. Ever since I've been focusing my research in native plant directories, keeping a watchful eye on the fine print of the invasive species reports. I'm discovering new things, each a post of it's own (yet to be written).

There are changes in my garden plan that have come from new influences and information. I'm glad I'm more aware of invasive species, and soil, and the trees than I was a year ago. go me.

*blink*

I must cut this short now, goodnight journal - I can't keep my eyes open any longer.

Oops, October

Somehow, October came and went and not one post was wrote. I'm sorry I missed you October. In place, this short note ~after a day absorbed in Victorian Lit.; I'll cite you in recollection.

...So, the year's done with
(_Love me for ever!_)
All March begun with,
April's endeavor;
May-wreaths that bound me
June needs must sever;
Now snows fall round me,
Quenching June's fever---
(_Love me for ever!_)

Robert Browning

Maple and Birches

The trees are changing.
Birches to Maples.
I hope a few Birches will stay around
a while longer, a couple of years or more.
I think they can stick it out.
They might feel intimidated by youth
being planted around them.
The new ones are colorful;
brilliant, sure - but will never compare,
or provide
the inspiration of the Birch with their shining white armor
lining the streets.

A.Y. Jackson, Maple and Birches

A Northwood Maple will stand in front of 1421 40-60 feet feet tall.
Acer Rubrum, only male leaves turn red, females flame orange.
That's the way they change.

It will look really nice to have two, framing the house.
I imagine the house's porch painted in lighter tones, cream white with beige, cranberry accents with ocean gray blue. Hardware in black. Very sharp. Framed with Maples on either side of the walkway, imagining what that would look like - makes me feel very positive.


Thoughts and prayers tonight for Lisa.

Who's to say
What's impossible
Well they forgot
This world keeps spinning
And with each new day
I can feel a change in everything
And as the surface breaks reflections fade
But in some ways they remain the same
And as my mind begins to spread its wings
There's no stoppin' curiosity

I wanna turn the whole thing upside down
I'll find the things they say just can't be found
I'll share this love I find with everyone
We'll sing and dance to Mother Nature's song
I don't want this feeling to go away

Who's to say
I can't do everything
Well I can try
And as I roll along I begin to find
Things aren't always just what they seem

This world keeps spinning and there's no time to waste
Will it all keep spinning and spinning round and round and

Upside down
Who's to say whats impossible and can't be found
I don't want this feeling to go away

Please Don't go away
is this how it's supposed to be

Jack Johnson

autumnal

It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn. I'll blink and tomorrow and it'll be over, but before it is a new tree will be growing in front of 1421.
Two now, apparently the west-neighbors are on board to have twins planted - to frame the house. Grin.

Maple, Morden Sunrise at sunset September 24, 2007

• I decided today that if I were ever to animate leaves blowing about on a blustery day I would put them to the music of The Black Widow Blues by Buckshot LeFonque. Perhaps my camera and I can put something together when the little Maple out front sheds 2007.

• I butchered a pumpkin last night, baked him too - next I'll be the candlestick maker and jack-o-lantern another!

Lovely Lavender

Lavender and strawberries, lavender lemonade, lavender and white wine, lavender ice cream. Also known for it's calming, therapeutic effects and analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, insecticide, and sedative properties...Lavender is more than lovely.

The English variety - Lavendula angustifolia (also known as L. officinalis, L. Vera and L. spica) is what I have planted between the roses on the west side. Last night, after harvesting the pumpkins and removing the tremedous vines, the lavender I planted in the Spring was revealed - with blooms noless! Lovely.

There are other cultivars such as Hidcote (dark purple), Jean Davis (pink), Nana Alba (white), and Lavandin which is a cross between lavender and spike ( Lavandula latifolia ) can only be grown from cuttings.

Lavender thrives in full sun and prefers sandy, sweet soil with good drainage. In soil that has had a generous amount of compost or manure, lavender will bloom perfusely.



The essential oils are at their peak just when the flower starts to open up.

Dear Great Pumpkin,

We harvested eight funky looking pumpkins last night. They're all medium-small in size, but good in color. Misshapen because I didn't adjust or level their positions as they grew, allowing them to roam freely across the yard.

From the family of plants called cucurbits, pumpkins are closely related to squash, gourds, melons, and cucumbers.
They can be planted from seed in the field from the last week of May to the middle of June, or like mine - earlier, in the greenhouse and brought home as small plants. :)

Germinating in 7 to 10 days, they then send up their first seed leaves; next, the true leaves will appear. As the leaves develop, and the vines spread, an extensive root network develops in the top 12 inches of soil. These shallow roots can be found as branching offshoots all along the vine. They gather most of the food, moisture, and air for the plant's growth, in addition to a strong tap root, which can grow as deep as 2 to 3 feet. Twirling tendrils develop along the vines to anchor the plant, which always entertain me.

Yellow blossoms appear after the first three weeks of growth. Male blossoms, which produce pollen, come first, followed by female blossoms about a week later. Female blossoms are easy to spot, because they have tiny pumpkin at their base. Blossoms live for only half a day, and will not open in cold, rainy weather. When both male and female blossoms appear on the vine, pollination occurs. The fruit at the base of the female blossom develops into a pumpkin. :)



Pumpkins require a lot of water to develop




(I've heard many interesting pumpkin-watering stories this summer *grin*), taking 90-120 days (depending on the variety) and are ready to harvest in October, when orange). Sure, it's September - but these pumpkins were ready to be harvested.

Next year: a few varieties (large for fun, medium likes these, and some small ornamental gourds)...and more water, lots of water..perhaps a rain-barrel-drain...hmmmmmmmmm.

Thank you

I would like to thank the rain for arriving at such an optimal time.

Labor days, indeed

My Claw and I have been busy.

Yesterday we took on the back, today the front; I've got the blistered palms to prove it.

After my initial creating of the back beds, I hadn't done much to them (other than let the weeds roam free). I hadn't intended on planting them this season, so really - my work was done. Okay yeah, so - I say that to myself to make me feel better for neglecting it for the whole month of August, but we do what we do to save face: this is mine to my garden, my sad, dry garden.

It's very dry. Something to think about when amending soils. It's also very shallow; I hit hard sediment and shale just a few inches down in some places.

I hope to have a few loads of manure and soil/compost brought in late this fall - I'm looking into the details now, though as I watch my compost heap along the backside of the house thicken I realize I will need some(I mean lots of) soil to cover this for the first snow. The heap has great potential - I've been saving newspapers, add that to the incoming soil/manure, some moisture and a long winter - this heap could become some fine dark soil come springtime. Lasagna gardening at its best.

The back was cleaned yesterday. I removed all the sturdy weeds easily (I think there's something to be said for 'letting it go' - they're easier to pull up when they've got bulk), and enjoyed rolling my arms through the soil to remove all the little ones.
It's true - the therapeutic stimulation that comes from listening to the wind ~ and the church bells ~ feeling clay and sand fall through my fingers gently, one moment later attacking it with five daggers twirling.
It took the day, it felt great, and I felt prepared to do moving today from the time I lay my head down - I woke up ambitiously at 8:21 am, pondered my day in the porch over coffee, and was at it as soon as I heard another lawn mower running within the neighborhood. I never want to be the first. I cut the grass, then carefully cut around the pumpkins with scissors (yes, scissors) - it looks great, worth the effort.
The rest of the day was spent weeding the backyard beds. I feel like I've taken something back. In control again. grin.

Today's heat was a great compliment to the sun: who chose to shine upon me all day today. I'm crispy to prove it but damn do I feel good. I reclaimed the front yard, transplanting the Day Lilies who were so surprisingly co-planted this spring (always meant to be temporary) (I really enojoyed how the bed turned out, and could have left them all as is, but...).
Fairytale went to the back yard in front of the peony near the shed. One of those pretty peach lilies went to the west side, pathway entrance, opposite Strawberry Candy. The deep orange-peach one was moved to the east side, near the blue spruce, for now. The one that didn't bloom went to the back, at the back lane, near the Weigela...*shrug*.


Left in front are Double River Wye, brought over to to the east, near the walkway to the back door. It's tall, and the yellow lilies will look striking against both Mordens, Fireglow and Blush when looking onto the yard.


For the time being I've left Raspberry Parfait where it is, at the corner near the steps. I'll probably move it eastward, south a bit...I want to plant some Rudbeckia around that area, either at the corner in place of RP or beside. I moved the purple Veronica to be along the walkway, in anticipation of the Rudbeckia.
Blue Irises were moved from their direful state in the desert known as Amy's Garden 2007 to the front, divided, planted with pleas to establish and flourish among the coming daffodils.


Once they've passed, the Day Lilies, Double River Wye, Raspberry parfait, and Melon Balls will greet the front entrance. Along the walkway, before the Melon Balls, is the Bergenia Pig Squeak; to the left I transplanted the Lamb's Ear. Oh yes, I did that purposely. Hannah giggled.


I roughly transplanted some forget-me-nots along the border of the new front bed. I grabbed (literally) some Ajuga (it's mint for cryin' out loud) and plugged it in between the Lilies, along the walkways. It'll fill in nicely and onw't mind being walked on, heh.




The second blue spruce shrub was planted in line with the steps, if looking towards the house. Off-center to the west, it'll add that blue-grey balance I'm hoping for - especially once I plant the Lady's Mantle before it, and a dark red peony behind it. I'm still looking for one more significant player for the front - it's stumping me today. It'll be lime in foliage, but what?


It was so dry I had to soak it, spray it, Claw it over and over again while I amended it. What a great result though! Woot! I just need a few things:

• Lady's Mantle
• Peony - reddish
• lime-foliaged shrub-like perennial.
• Daffodils
• Things that come along in time... :)

After tidying, sweeping, catching up I feel ready for autumn. Perhaps it's the pumpkins, the only yield of the season (next year: I'll get those grrgrrgrr squirrels!), that have me in the mood for harvest (or that Hannah already has her Halloween costume) but I'm relishing it. I like the back-to-school feel in the air,both at home and at work, and I like seeing the looks on peoples faces as they walk past our house, smiling.
A comment today: you'll be the best dressed house on the block come Halloween! Yes, I thought - we have nine and counting, all claimed by the carver to be carvees. Home grown, I'm pleased.

garden images, August 18th

Campanula capatica (Blue Bells)

Hosta, Browallia

inside a pumpkin plant

pollinator

pumpkin, August 18th

things to eat

Tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, pumpkins and peppers, and more peppers. Yeaaahh.

Nick.

Nicola Squartecchia

March 6, 1941 - August 12, 2007

Rest in peace my gardener friend;

I will remember you fondly, always.

Very Hungry Caterpillars

Monarch Caterpillars at work on my neighbor's Butterfly Bush:

images taken July 7th, 2007

Dear Garden, how have you been?

A neighbor, who has lived on Moodie Street for more than 40 years, told me that she has never seen so many plants & flowers at 1421 as she has this year. grin. This house needed Amy's Garden as much as Amy's Garden is pleased to indulge.

I've been unable to accomplish what I wanted by this time (being mid-August already). All things considered, I didn't do too bad... but, it - along with everything else to do with this house - is different again; turning a new leaf. I will regain composure. My neighbor's comment is good motivation for me now: it deepens my feelings for this house - this house should be decorated, and should have a garden adorning.

In the past (I've been told) there have been rows of annuals along the walkway, and I've heard of a giant garage that once stood where my kitchen garden area is planned/is growing (oddly and unkempt but growing nonetheless), and surely someone had planted more than alyssum in the lock-stoned container-beds in front of the front porch. I don't know much more than that...other than *shivers* that tree-haters lived at this address, and were responsible for the ignorant removal of a matching Maple to the one southwest of the front porch, and the destruction of an Ash on the boulevard (a partner to my petitioned-to-be-replaced Ash) - a new truth which saddens me more because they obviously gave this tree no initial care, rendering it hopeless. *sigh*

All the more reason to give a little extra heart to Amy's Garden at 1421.

Plump pumpkins are appearing in the front yard. grin. For a while there I thought we'd see nothing but giant pumpkin leaves; each morning finding another loss to the thieving skunks. The pumpkins are finally starting to fight back, growing a small army - all of which to be carved as jack-o-lanterns (to scare the damn skunks away?)! It's actually become quite a scene out there, plantsthe are huge.

The roses all seem to be adjusting well, considering my recent neglect.

The backyard, from what I've watching through the kitchen window, is a playground for giant squirrels, cats, and of course skunks. Um. I haven't had this severe a problem with "wildlife" in my gardening past, and haven't quite figured out how to tackle it - other than patience. Sweet Caroline ordered some squirrel repellent "bags" of some sort for me, something I can dangle around to shoo them all away. We'll see if it works.
Birdhouses. Birdhouse projects have jumped up the priority list. I'd like to have a few installed before it gets much cooler. More birds = less rodents.

Not too many tomatoes (see above) but I have managed to rescue a few, ate them with feta - they were delicious. There were some cucumbers a couple weeks ago. None yesterday. The kitchen garden aspect may not be as easily commingled into my new garden as it could in my former garden. There, I thought the chipmunks were a nuisance. :-\ I miss those little guys now.


Everything else is settling in well. I've tried not to poke at anyone too much, leaving them to their own devices as they bloomed. The Elder is stunning. The best though, by far - the day lilies which I moved late in the spring from the various 'holding beds' to one small temporary bed (to add color to the front walkway), losing track of who was who in the process (clumsiness on my part)...they all bloomed, and beautifully. Double River Wye, Melon Balls, Raspberry Parfait, Fairytale, and Strawberry Swirl all showed up for the summer. Thanks guys. ;)
Also, two mystery peach day lilies. Lovely, but unidentified.

I have a lot to keep myself busy. ...but that's just keeping busy. The garden is growing it's own quirky personality (wildlife and all) like all things do when you let them go. ...

current music: Regina Spektor - Fidelity