January 29, 2007. 14 degrees and the gardens are a mess. We had such a mild winter until today that we have tulips and other bulbs half up and daffodils blooming here and there. The flowering quince is flowering! We went right up until today in the mid 50's to an occasional 70 degrees. Crazy weather from global warming.
Our heads are in the seed catalogs. New roses have been ordered. Gardeners are eternal optimists! We know those perennials will be coming back and we are getting ready to think out and plan and buy the seeds for wonderful annuals plus some veggies.
On February 4 I will be 72 and if I thought last year was rough on this old gardener, I know this one will be. However, that did not stop me from buying tons of seeds yesterday at Lowe's gardening center.
February 6, 2007
The seed catalogs are coming in fast and furious. I try to resist them. It is still cold here and no matter what I do my mind seems to wander back to beautiful gardens and lots of color and flowers. I succumbed the other day and went crazy in the seed department and I convinced Carl to recover the green house with new and better plastic this year. I know that my ambitions are greater than this old body can handle, but I seem to get carried away anyway. Always the eternal optimist I hope I can find the extra "bodies" I need to help with my garden.
I want to try and do everything from seed this year and start my own plants like I used to before the Munfordville tornado sidewinds took out our greenhouse. This includes not only the perennials but the annuals.
The annual bedding plant that we purchase at our local nursery or garden center likely is going to be a hybrid, meaning that the breeder has taken several varieties of the same plant, each with interesting growing habits or flashy colors and bred them together to produce a single variety. The result will be a plant that exhibits all the qualities of the several contributing varieties that were used in the process. A result of this "cross-hybridization" however, usually results in a sterile situation.
The seed companies like hybrids, they push hybrids, simply because one has to buy seeds each year. Think for a moment on the new "seedless watermelon!" Isn't it great not to have to worry about those pesky little seeds? Guess what? It's a hybrid and doesn't produce seeds, and like the seedless melon, your annual bedding plants don't reproduce either. They don't set any seed. One year is all you get.
Wildflower seed, on the other hand, is what we call "open-pollinated" meaning the seed has had no intentional cross-pollinating. Annual wildflower seeds come back true-to-form each year. For most, the thought of planting annuals means an "annual" event. Not so for wildflowers from seed or from heirloom annuals or even perennials. So try to stay away from hybrids. Unless you are in extremely cold zones, most heirloom annuals will reseed themselves or their seeds can be saved and you can be a frugal gardener and plant them the following season.
February 10, 2007
Speaking of being a frugal gardener, this year I will spend more time in my garden, especially among the hostas, which have really grown to the point that they needed to be divided last year. Look to your garden to see which perennials can be divided and put in other space to fill up the empty parts of your garden.
Also this is the time to look at your tools and see what needs to be cleaned up if you did not get them cleaned last fall. In the event you need to buy need ones, check out the thrift stores or flea markets.
Should tree and shrub planting be on your agenda, remember they grow fast, so seriously consider a bare-root seedling, which go in the price range of $5.00 to $12.00, as opposed to spending a lot more for large trees. These are usually good buys in catalogs from reputable firms. To get quick growth remember to clear around your need seedling so they do not have competition from other plants or even grasses. Mulch up to the drip line (the outer extent of the canopy) and water deeply once a week during the growth season to promote deep rooting and fertilize annually in the spring. We use the fertilizer pegs and drive them around the trees. We can get them at most gardening centers. However, before we buy them, we usually check places like Big Lots because occasionally they have the same brand for half price.
February 26, 2007
For me it is getting harder and harder to wait out winter. Hopefully we will get the greenhouse recovered within the next two weeks and get all the seeds planted so we have great plants to plant by May. This year we are looking forward to everything. We have new planters on the horizon. We are going to try to make waist high planters.
Herbs can play a large part in any garden and they do in mine. Herbs have been used for centuries and look very pretty as well as often having a delightful scent. You can plant them in pots and containers or amongst your cottage garden perennials
The rose catalogs are coming fast and furious right now. Using climbers is a good way to get more vertical interest in your garden and what can look more lovely than honeysuckle or your favourite climber draped over a pergola, tree or trellis. It will give you more color in your garden. You can also use your supports for 2 or 3 different types of climbers – choose ones that flower at different times of the year. Try recyling your old ladders as trellises for your climbers. When thinking of recycling try adding things you find - such as chimney pots, sinks, old buckets or pots, old wheelbarrows or gardening boots you create features that add to the character of your garden as well as becoming a good recycler! Often you can find items at yard sales, garage sales etc.
This year we will try to rework some of our planters and containers. There are so many lovely and unusual containers you can choose from. We have our annuals all picked out for our planters since annuals look great in containers. They need to be put somewhere you can tend and water them easily. They add color and scent around entrances, patios, seats or anywhere you think needs an extra splash of color.
Unplanted areas.
A good cottage garden is full of plants. Hard landscaping or the unplanted areas – for example paths, patios, graveled seating areas and containers, serve the purpose of giving you access and the ability to look and smell the plants. You need to plan these areas first and build your plants around them. The romantic idea of a Cottage Garden has a garden full of roses, hollyhocks, pinks and lavender.
March 9, 2007
Carl was able to get the greenhouse ready for the new cover. Now all we need is some extra pairs of hands to help us get it on.
I was asked how to control garden diseases and here is my findings. It’s almost always best to plant in raised beds since they allow excess water to move out of the root area, thus preventing many root diseases and fruit rots. When possible train vegetables to grow upright using cages or trellises to prevent contact with the soil.
Fertilize and water plants properly to keep them strong and resistant to disease. The best method to irrigate a garden is to run water between the rows or use trickle irrigation. Do not sprinkle leaves -- this can encourage disease problems. If sprinkling is your only option, do it before 10 a.m.
Another important practice in the vegetable garden is to avoid planting varieties in areas where the same vegetable or vegetable from the same plant family were grown in the last 24 months. Avoid the following rotations: tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes squash, cucumber, pumpkin and melons cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, turnips and collards
March 12, 2007
A great, bright sunshine day in the low 70's and the first day I really felt like getting out into the garden and cleaning up. The problem is a 45 minute job took me almost 4 hours because my handy helper didn't show up. I got all the wood from the Garden Cottage repairs left by the contractors picked up and burned up plus all the wood and debris from Carl getting the greenhouse ready to put the new covering on. It was a full day of burning.
March 13, 2007
Another grand day and I got all the dead Canna stalks cut and burned. Lots of other dead stuff cut and burned. Carl spent another day getting the greenhouse ready for the new covering.
March 20, 2007
We planted two trees the other day in the memory of Fred and Jeff. A Gala Apple for Fred and a Cherry Tree for Jeff.
March 22, 2007
I have been going nuts trying to get garden helpers, but no one wants to work. I got one guy who helped plant 20 roses and another who helped me plant 8 more and then cleared out some of the gardens. Neither showed up the next day for work. I guess the pay at the end of each day gets them to where they want to be. Carl and I planted the remaining 40 roses that were left this past weekend and then I planted 2 more and finally got the last 2 planted .
March 24, 2007
Carl and Glynis got the new "skin" on the greenhouse and I spend a little time in there each morning and spend about 2 hours in the gardens weeding, weeding, weeding and planting.
The Japanese Weeping Cherry trees in the back are in full bloom right now and the Bleeding Hearts are popping out.
Matter of fact we are experiencing the glory of spring all around the countryside this past week. Everything that can pop out and flower... has!
March 26, 2007
I started cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, a variety of petunias and some nasturiums in the greenshouse.
March 27, 2007
We got a soft gentle all night rain last night and it brought out the dogwoods and all the red buds. Since it was an overcast day we decided to take "French leave" and ride around the back roads following what is considered KY's red bud trail. It was beautiful.
March 28, 2007
We are enjoying many, many spring violets in various parts of the gardens. This morning I was able to get another section cleared out and get the following perennial seeds sown: Painted Daisy, Rock Soapwort, Delphinium and Cornflowers. I was also able to get several packages of various kinds of Zinnia seeds sown. These are one of my most favorite annual flowers.
March 30, 2007
Carl is in the process of making me waist high planters. Here is the first one he just finished for me and he has ordered the lumber for the next two which will each be twice the size. I have just planted 4 rows of romaine lettuce in this one.
April 9, 2007
I was finally able to get two Amish sisters to come over and work 7 hours today and they did a splendid job. What great work ethics and no goofing off. They were worth the 8 dollars an hour each. They got tons of garden areas weeded.
April 10, 2007
The weather looks like the freeze has past and we will have regular spring weather so I took a chance and planted some marigolds, lots of zinnia, some sunflowers, glads, asian lillies, moonflower, sweet peas, Hyacinth Bean Vine, Girasol, English Daisy, For-get-me-nots, Bells of Ireland, Canterbury Bells, Maiden Pinks, Cockscomb, Clarkie and Foxglove. Now hopefully we will get the rain that is predicted and these things will set in.
April 17, 2007
The sun is finally shining today and we are heading for 30 degrees and snow via an airplane tomorrow. There has got to be something wrong with our thinking. Regardless, I was able to get about 18 perennials planted this am. They have been taking a beating in the greenhouse with the cold that set in unexpectly, so I figured it could not do them any harm to be planted while I am gone for a week.
When I get back the first thing I am going to do is buy some new gardening hoses.
April 18, 2007
Its Lettuce growing time and I have just written the following article on How to Grow Lettuce and Other Salad Greens Read More
May 2, 2007
Carl finished the planters for me and I love them.
I planted many containers and Glynis planted lovely colorful flowers out by the post box. I was able to get some nice geraniums and other plants at the Munfordville Farmers Market for only $2.00 each. Then Glynis bought 3 big trays of some really colorful purple flowers that I have totally lost the name on. However, we put them all over the place and they look lovely.
My lily order came in from Brecks and I have planted some Lily Trees that are waist high and stems so tall, strong and vigourous you can actually lean a bicycle against them! So seeing is believing.
One is called Garden Pleasure Lily Tree
The other is called Lavon Lily Tree
Then one is called Satisfaction Lily Tree
I planted two of each.
May 7, 2007
The 3 days of rain have let up and I was able to get another one planted that is called Boggie Woggie Lily Tree
Then I was able to find an early morning time slot and plant my new collection of phlox which consists of Flamingo, Blue Boy, Tenor, Orange Perfection and Mt. Fujiyama Phlox.
I had ordered some lilies from Brecks that they ran out of so they sent me a double collection of Lily Starlight Express.
May 11, 2007
I finished planting the rest of the annual seeds. All types of SunFlowers and marigolds. I also finished planting the rest of the Shasta Daisy and the perennial wildflower seeds.
May 12, 2007
We are getting overcast days quite often, a sprinkle here and there, but no big rains and that means I am out watering every day.
I finally got the majority of the roses pruned that were burned from those 5 nights of freeze. I believe all will come back except 3 which are really gone. As to the 60 living hedge roses we planted, who knows. Glynis is doing a lot of work in that area as part of my mother's day present.
The lilac bush between the bunk house and the garden cottage just impregnates that path with a glorious fragrance.
Also the bleeding hearts that were froze out from that late freeze are coming back.
Never, never plant primroses in your garden. They are so evasive and since they spread via their root system they come up even in hairline cracks in the cement and in parts of the beds they were never planted. Here you see the pathway leading down to the back of Glynis' home and they are spouting up through the cracks.
And here you see them taking over the sweet william beds. They are impossible to control even when we pull out bushel baskets full of them by the roots.
Carl got the fish ponds going again last week and it is great to hear that lovely water sound.
The Iris are starting to open up in various parts of the gardens.
The Peonies are open in all their glory all over the place and even one big azalea survived the 5 night freeze and is blooming. The others will come back, but they did not bloom.
The small carnations and the batchlor buttons are in bloom. Even some poppies have reared their lovely heads.
The Johnny Jump-Ups are gracing our gardens in various places.
Some of the Foxgloves have survived the late freeze and we are enjoying several of them. You can see part of one of the freeze burned large azalea that is back on that side of the gardens.
May 19, 2007
Wonderful cool morning with clear blue skies and a great day to get out into the gardens. I was able to prune that huge antique Albetine Rose bush and the other one that was planted the same time 6 years ago. I cannot remember the name of that one and it looked dead, but there is a wonderful new shoot coming off of that big root stock.
I was able to get some seed geraniums at a reasonable price yesterday and planted the big window box under the dining room window and the one out front outside of Carl's bedroom.
I planted the rest of the sun flower seeds, some icelandic poppies, Shasta Daisies, Crego Giant Mix asters, some double mix clarkia, several packages of straw flowers, calandras and some other things I had around here. Did some weeding as I went along. It never ends.
Something has gotten into my waist high container of cucumbers and really raised havoc with it. Perhaps one of Linda's cats. I de-leafed all the lower leaves on the tomato plants and put about another 4 inches of soil around them. This should cause them to send out roots and strengthen them as they grow.
Continued with the watering since it has been day 3 since we had that good rain. When one has a lot of containers in their gardens, then daily watering is a must and also when one has small pots of seeds started.
May 20, 2007
Another bright and beautiful day. I had purchased 4 big Rosndorf mix primrose and 4 big Golden Fleece Yarrow from Lowes at 25 cents each on their distressed plants counter. They looked like they just needed a drink of water. At any rate I got them planted today and I planted some more cucumber seeds where I do believe Linda's cats dug up. They sure do love new dirt spots. Everytime I plant some new seeds some place they manage to scratch in them.
I need to get at the walkways. Lots of things trying to grow up through the cracks.
May 22, 2007
I didn't plant any potatoes this year and I regret not doing a dozen or so under straw just so it would be nice to have a meal or two of fresh potatoes. There is nothing like fresh potatoes just harvested and cooked. Here are some good tips about potato planting.
Today looks like another rainless day so I was out watering everything very early this morning, especially the containers which take more watering than anything in the ground.
The waist high planters are filling up with good stuff.
June 2, 2007
We need 2 or 3 days of good rainfall. We keep getting overcast and reports of thundershowers, but nothing. We are getting about one third of the roses which is nice since we thought after those 5 nights of frost in early April, we thought we would get nothing.
The clematis is trying its best to be brave this year. However, the newer plants are not doing anything and the two older ones are struggling and are about half of what they usually are.
June 3, 2007
The primroses, regardless of the fact they take over one's garden, are very showy this year and seem to love the heat.
The hanging pots need constant attention in this hot dry weather, but they are lovely to look at.
The postbox at the end of the driveway is about 1000 ft from the house so it is hard to keep watered, plus it is under an old shade tree that helps or hurts depending on what we plant there. We run down in the drought times and give it a couple of gallons of water. This year we stuck a saddle of flowers on it to perk it up.
June 17 2007
The drought continues and there is not one piece of fruit in the orchard this year. No pears, no cherries, no peaches, no apples, no plums! The grapes are just about done in on the pergola, however the ones in the arbor seem to be hanging in.
The watering is getting to be a major chore and now needs to be done daily especially in the hanging baskets and the containers. The ponds need to be filled up more frequently.
The only things that are hanging in there are the drought resistant plants such as the coreopsis.
The clematis in the front gardens are not doing well, but the one at the Garden Cottage is taking a stand for showmanship.
The sun flowers are going nowhere fast as are many of the flowers that normally do very well.
Now available
The Impractical Gardener by Arlene Wright-Correll
14 great chapters on easy gardening. Click here for a preview.
Welcome to my garden. We are in Zone 6. This pictorial garden diary will be added to from time to time, so for those of you who are interested, just scroll down to see the latest of what is happening in and at Home Farm Herbery in Munfordville, KY. Also as you scroll down, you will discover links to gardening articles I have written that may help you as a gardener.
