What a Pretty Spring – 2012

Spring Plants Full of Color

Nice combinations – and planning for the next step in the renovation.
Muscari – Grape Hyacinth and Virginia Bluebells ((Mertensia virginica; also Virginia Cowslip, Lungwort Oysterleaf, Roanoke Bells) provide  blue to purple hues to the spring garden. As a spring ephemeral, the Virginia Blue Bells will dry and disappear until next spring.
 



The Honeysuckle Vine never did go dormant this winter.  It has filled in and bloomed quite early.  Have not seen any Hummers yet – they visit regularly when they are in town.

 The Lungwort ( Pulmonaria)  really stretched out and I have moved pieces around the garden. I have several varieties including ‘Mrs. Moon. Pulmonaria 'Majeste'  is a solid silvery-gray leaves with a very narrow green margin. In late spring, light pink buds pop open to reveal darker bluish-pink flower bells.

Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Ice'  has long, frosted green leaves edged in pearl with raspberry pink flower clusters provide a stark contrast, and really seem to light this plant up. Even after the flowers fade, the unique foliage plays nicely with hosta all season.


'Sissinghurst White' is the earliest to bloom in my garden – in early March.  White flowering, the leaves are speckled with silver.

 
 

Epimedium, top, also known as Rowdy Lamb Herb, Barrenwort, Bishop's Hat,  and Bleeding Heart, (Dicentra), center,  along with the Primrose are anchored with the Creeping Jenny.  Sweet!

Variegated Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum ) and white Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis – Alba) brighten up this area. The crisp leaves of the Solomon’s Seal give some height – 12” or so – to the summer garden, even after the dangling white ‘teardrops’  fade.


 
This is  Lamium, Archangel, and Primrose Primula vulgaris .

These Forget-Me-Nots (Botanical Name: Myosotis. )  are 6 – 8” tall. - much fuller than previous years. I really like the blue flowers.


This Big Root, a hardy geranium, Geranium macrorrhizum: cranesbills  is just about to pop with magenta flowers. It stays evergreen all winter -  a real nice plant for part shade areas.

False Nettle, Lamium, Archangel, has a variegated leaf with a bright yellow bloom.  Lamium does well in the dry, shady bed. There is no sun under this Little Leaf Linden, so the Lamium is a great alternative to grass, which will not grow here.

The coral bells, ( Heuchera)  Chocolate Ruffles and Limelight are sending up buds.

The hypertufa’s overwintered nicely with just a covering a leaves. Pictured are H. Chartreuse Wiggles, and H. PoPo (top).

Japanese Painted Ferns were potted up last fall so we could start the renovation of parts of the yard from shade to sun.  They may stay in the containers for a while yet since I am still working on the layout of the beds.

These shrubs, Junipers, flank the front walk.  I’m thinking about moving them to the back.  They have been in these fiberglass containers for many years, and are almost too big.  Note: when you plant containers for year round use, use plant material that is at least hardy to one zone colder than your zone.  That way the roots don’t freeze to the killing point, and the plants will thrive.

This daylily has caught my attention!  No, it’s not blooming – it has sent up a sport!  The foliage has turned into a variegated leaf – Wow!  I’ve spoken to Barb Kedler, a knowledgeable plant person at Knollwood Garden Center near me.  I have instructions how to divide out the root section with the white striped leaves from the solid green one.  I will replant the striped leaf roots and see if I can’t cultivate a fully variegated plant.  Looking forward to this experiment.  I’ll let you know how the process is going. 
Nature is calling – it’s too nice outside to be in here – so join me again next time.  Enjoy your day!

Patios Garden - Small Space Gardening

How to Make Your Patio a Garden

No matter what size your space is, you can have an interesting, colorful, and productive garden.  My friend, Luanne has created this whimsical garden on her second floor apartment patio deck.  The space is approximately 5' x 8' and is a lovely array of plant material.

Houseplants that require low light are ideal for this small space. And a woodland setting is achieved by adding hills and dales to the landscape. 

To keep the neighbors below from having soil rain down on them, Luanne placed a waterproof sheet down.  On this, a couple of bags of potting soil were spread out. 

Several Hosta are quite happy in this patio garden.  Low light and 6"-8" of soil keep these guys showy.  This Hosta is not a dwarf or miniature, either.  I believe this is H. Guacamole paired with H. Holy Mole.  The potting soil has been dressed up with a layer of decorative moss, adding to the charm of the space.

Containers are used in this project.  The watering needs of the variety of plants is easier to control and the containers add their own color and texture. 

This lovely patio garden is more than a stage for the plants.  The limited space and proximity to the soil have not caused Luanne to forfeit her need to garden.  With the garden bench in place, Luanne and her guests can sit and enjoy the garden two stories up. 

Thanks for visiting today.  What small space have you created into a garden? 

Cool Season Veggies

With excessive heat this season in my Zone 5B garden, I almost let the time pass when I can plant late season vegetables. 

Three important needs to successful late season planting is 1) planting at the right time, 2) know the number of days till harvest, and 3) the average frost date in your area.  Here in my SW Ohio garden, that date is October 16.  You can check out your date at www.victoryseeds.com.

I picked out some lettuce, mustard greens, and spinach seed that have a harvest time of 42-45 days.

Since this is late July already, the options for late season plantings may be limited, depending on your Zone.  If you can find vegetable plants, you can get by planting a little later than starting from seeds.

I can plant carrots as late as August 1.  Produce will be small but still a treat.  

 

Cabbage and Broccoli like the cooler temperature too.  They need 6-8 weeks to mature, so I may be too late for these.

Arugula can do well in cooler temperatures, and although radishes germinate quickly, they need 60+ days to harvest.

We gardeners can benefit from the cooler fall gardening too.  Just think - no sweating in the hot, humid days like we've had this year.  No mosquitoes, and no watering cans from the rain barrel to the garden. 

Seems like a win-win for us and the plants.

Some vegetables can even withstand cold and frosty temperatures.  Kale, spinach, endive and lettuce are just a few.  Plants will grow more slowly in the cooler weather as the days get shorter.  That is one reason I have planted in containers.

The lettuce I chose this year is a Burpee Gourmet Blend.  It has five varieties of lettuce including  Prizeleaf, Royal Oak Leaf, Salad Bowl, Red Salad Bowl and Ashley.  Harvest this colorful crop in about 45 days.

Burpee Seed Starting Ultimate Growing System

Young spinach leaves are quite tasty and can be great in salad, soups, sauteed or stir-fried.

The variety I planted is Burpee Spinach Melody Hybrid.  It is ready to eat in 42 days.

Containers can be moved under cover if a cold night is expected.  This can give your fall garden an extra week or more to mature. Containers can be just about anything.  I've used 5 gal. buckets from the home improvement store, and unused containers from the shed.  Doing the containers offers me a chance to grow more sun-loving crops than my shady yard allows.  I can move the pots as the sun angle changes and get a few more hours of sun during the day.



 

The Mustard Greens I planted are from The Cook's Garden.  The various colors of the seeds is a preview of the colorful mixture of "Cook's Custom Mix'.  It has Mizuna, Osaka Purple, Florida Broadleaf, and Red Giant Indian. I always associate mustard greens with a big pot of beans and cornbread .

I am really looking forward to a great 'comfort food' dinner on a cool fall evening. 

What are some of the fall season gardening you do?
I'd love to see what you have.  Thanks for stopping by today.