I found a few nice ones at Costco recently, and having planted them up a couple of weeks ago they're looking good enough to show you.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Deck pots: paying attention
I'm paying more attention to the containers I place on my deck this year. I've also been keeping an eye out for pots that are decent size but won't take up too much real estate -- something that can be tucked against the wall or railing for instance.
I found a few nice ones at Costco recently, and having planted them up a couple of weeks ago they're looking good enough to show you.
I found a few nice ones at Costco recently, and having planted them up a couple of weeks ago they're looking good enough to show you.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Side path project
I'm whipping through my list of garden projects: first the trellis, now the path that runs next to that trellis. If you remember, this path is on the south side of the house and turns into a stream whenever it rains.
I somehow managed to keep wood chip mulch here all of last season, but this spring we had a heavy rain that cleared it all away, leaving a compacted muddy slope.
I somehow managed to keep wood chip mulch here all of last season, but this spring we had a heavy rain that cleared it all away, leaving a compacted muddy slope.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Small bed no longer ignored
Saturday morning I went to visit my gardener friend Mike. He had some clay pots that he wanted to give to a "good home", and had a few plants that he wanted help digging and dividing. So after loading about two dozen pots of various sizes into the truck cab I started digging ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) which he wanted to reduce and relocate. With Mike's generosity I ended up with ten or eleven good-sized ferns -- more than I expected -- so I had to look for another place to plant some.
I had been thinking about planting ostrich ferns here next to the patio, and had even purchased a small specimen earlier this year (in the black pot). I'm glad I never planted that one, as it's still so young compared to what I dug. This bed is just weeds right now, so seems perfect for a makeover.
I had been thinking about planting ostrich ferns here next to the patio, and had even purchased a small specimen earlier this year (in the black pot). I'm glad I never planted that one, as it's still so young compared to what I dug. This bed is just weeds right now, so seems perfect for a makeover.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Trellis project, completed?
The other day when I listed my planned garden projects for the summer, doing something with this trellis...
...was on the list. It originally contained a climbing rose and was therefore not very visible -- just a glimpse of tarnished copper pipe through the rose canes and foliage was perfect. Since that rose was removed (RRV) this trellis just looks too insubstantial...
...was on the list. It originally contained a climbing rose and was therefore not very visible -- just a glimpse of tarnished copper pipe through the rose canes and foliage was perfect. Since that rose was removed (RRV) this trellis just looks too insubstantial...
Monday, May 25, 2015
Cactus bed update
I haven't been talking about the cactus beds as much as I normally do in spring. Last year I posted about them several times, as I was curious about which survived the brutal winter. Since this past winter wasn't as harsh and probably also because the cactus bed isn't as new, I haven't been as concerned.
As you can see in the first couple of images, the bed is looking quite nice right now...
As you can see in the first couple of images, the bed is looking quite nice right now...
Friday, May 22, 2015
A couple of tools
Do you keep on using old tools that you've had for years, even though you may have newer ones that were supposed to be "better"? I have that situation with my main trowel -- I use a no-name one that I probably bought at a big box store 15 years or more ago. It's got a better shape than the newer branded trowel that I received as a gift several years back, so I just keep using the old one.
I've recently discovered that I had a couple of new tools in the basement that wouldn't replace anything that I currently use, so I thought I'd give them a try and let you know what I think of them.
I've recently discovered that I had a couple of new tools in the basement that wouldn't replace anything that I currently use, so I thought I'd give them a try and let you know what I think of them.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Projects Planned
Mid-to-late Spring is the best time to tackle the larger projects in the garden here, as the heat and humidity of the summer haven't arrived yet (on most days). With a holiday weekend approaching for us in the US, my thoughts turn to completing some of these projects.
Which means it's time to make a list for you of what I have planned! This is not only to help me remember what exactly I wanted to do in the garden this year, but to also motivate me to get as many of them done as possible. Announcing my attentions creates a bit more pressure to actually follow through, at least in my mind.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
A new approach to watering strawberry pots
I'm finally getting to some projects that don't involve cleaning or digging! I've had a couple of strawberry pots for several years, and always have trouble keeping them hydrated during the heat of the summer. Because of this they've sat unused for a couple of seasons now...
...but I've had an idea of how to solve this problem and am finally putting it to the test! I thought of this last year or the year before but other (bigger) projects were always higher priority. I still have a few big projects that I'll start on any day now, but with just an hour or so available last night this smaller one seemed the perfect size to tackle.
...but I've had an idea of how to solve this problem and am finally putting it to the test! I thought of this last year or the year before but other (bigger) projects were always higher priority. I still have a few big projects that I'll start on any day now, but with just an hour or so available last night this smaller one seemed the perfect size to tackle.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
Lafayette Park
Out and about in St. Louis city yesterday morning, my wife said "I know something you'd like! How about a walk in Lafayette Park?" I'd never been before, and since it was a very nice but windy day I agreed.
As we pulled up to one of the oldest city parks west of the Mississippi (set aside from the St. Louis Common in 1836 and dedicated in 1851), I didn't expect much. I could see lots of mature trees and lawn, a playground, some gazebos, but nothing to get too excited about. Just a nice city park.
As we pulled up to one of the oldest city parks west of the Mississippi (set aside from the St. Louis Common in 1836 and dedicated in 1851), I didn't expect much. I could see lots of mature trees and lawn, a playground, some gazebos, but nothing to get too excited about. Just a nice city park.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
It gets exciting
Spring in the garden is a busy time for most gardeners. If you're like me there is planting, weeding, mulching, raking, bamboo rhizome pruning -- okay, maybe not that last one. There's a load of work to do though.
At some point in the spring a change occurs, and things go from "there's so much to do!" to "wow, the garden in spring is so exciting!". The work* is still there, but you've gotten enough of it done that you can start enjoying what's going on around you. At least that's how I feel, and I think I've just passed that point. There's time to enjoy a peony bloom for instance.
At some point in the spring a change occurs, and things go from "there's so much to do!" to "wow, the garden in spring is so exciting!". The work* is still there, but you've gotten enough of it done that you can start enjoying what's going on around you. At least that's how I feel, and I think I've just passed that point. There's time to enjoy a peony bloom for instance.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
More nursery visits: SummerWinds Ellisville
The local nursery visits continue... Remember when I showed you Zick's Great Outdoors? That was a one-of-a-kind place, and on that same trip I stopped at what is probably the polar opposite: SummerWinds Nursery in Ellisville.
A few years ago this nursery joined the SummerWinds family of nurseries (who have a nationwide presence) and they became much less attractive to me -- so I don't visit too often anymore. Let's take a look though, as they do have something to offer...
A few years ago this nursery joined the SummerWinds family of nurseries (who have a nationwide presence) and they became much less attractive to me -- so I don't visit too often anymore. Let's take a look though, as they do have something to offer...
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Clematis unknown
Did you know that it is Tuesday already? A bit of travel over the weekend and I completely lost track of the calendar, forgetting that yesterday was Monday and therefore not posting anything. Kind of glad I wasn't around on Sunday as an intense band of storms quickly moved through the area, dropping up to 4" (10cm) of rain in less than an hour in some places. I hate seeing strong weather pound the garden -- I'd rather wait until everything has a little time to bounce back.
Monday started out rainy and cloudy too, but ended up being a beautiful sunny day, and the early evening sun lit my unidentified clematis too nicely to ignore.
Monday started out rainy and cloudy too, but ended up being a beautiful sunny day, and the early evening sun lit my unidentified clematis too nicely to ignore.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Another unique turtle encounter
Last year I saw box turtles all the time in my garden, or at least the same turtle multiple times. The most unique was when I saw a female laying eggs in one of my planting beds! Yesterday I had another unique encounter with turtles -- well two actually.
The first happened in the morning when I saw a turtle at the edge of my pond. I suppose it was trying to get a drink, but it was up on a rock so I'm unsure how that went. The second and more interesting encounter was in the evening, as I was walking to my neighbor's to dig a couple of her ferns out (pictured above) which she graciously said I could have.
The first happened in the morning when I saw a turtle at the edge of my pond. I suppose it was trying to get a drink, but it was up on a rock so I'm unsure how that went. The second and more interesting encounter was in the evening, as I was walking to my neighbor's to dig a couple of her ferns out (pictured above) which she graciously said I could have.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Zick's Great Outdoors!
Today I continue my series on St. Louis area nursery visits, with a look at a place that is unlike any other around here: Zick's Great Outdoors. This was only my second visit ever to Zick's with the first being at least five years ago. I'm not sure how we ever found this place back then, but I think it was from an interesting and creative ad in a local paper.
Whereas the other nurseries that I've visited before were either close to my house (Wiethop, Sherwoods, Greenscape) or a bit to the east (Sugar Creek), Zick's is out west in Wildwood. Remember when I visited Rockwoods Reservation earlier this year? That's in Wildwood too -- it really is quite "wild" out there. So do you want to see why I added an exclamation point to the title of this post? Keep reading...
Monday, May 4, 2015
Common Milkweed
For those of you who are thinking about the Monarch butterflies and want to plant milkweed (something in the Asclepias genus) and are thinking big, think Asclepias syriaca, or common milkweed. A volunteer showed up in my garden two years ago.
Since this plant spreads not only by seed but also from its roots, it's reported to form large colonies. Being a gardener who likes not only big plants but plants that spread, I left it alone to see what would happen. What happened was that I had a clump of about 10 stalks last year -- not really the thug I had read about.
Since this plant spreads not only by seed but also from its roots, it's reported to form large colonies. Being a gardener who likes not only big plants but plants that spread, I left it alone to see what would happen. What happened was that I had a clump of about 10 stalks last year -- not really the thug I had read about.
