Welcome to my Garden: chelone

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

April Gardening

Welcome Dominican Republic and Bhutan - 51 countries and counting!

Well, finally got into my own garden this last couple of weeks. Been very busy with the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in Frederick, MD. Had A LOT of weeding to do. Didn't have too much damage to my native garden. I think I may have lost 2 perennial plants. Ouch.

My native garden overrun with weeds

Very easy to pull weeds with uncompacted soil

Penstemon in front, Shasta daises in the back

Achillea on left, Monarda on right

I have decided to make more pathways that don't need any mowing. My daughter has been collecting cardboard boxes for me over the winter. (diaper boxes) I laid those first to block and kill the grass and then spread weed block cloth over it. It will hold down the cardboard pieces and give another layer to block weeds. I used just cardboard and newspaper on the other paths and had just a few weeds last year. No big problem. I want to experiment and see if the weed block does a better job.

From the vegetable beds:

turnips

garlic

I have planted potatoes, lettuce and sugar snap peas. I am sure I will have pretty pictures in few weeks.

On the home front, I found a cute perennial at Southern States for $4. Bitterroot. Never have seen it before, but it is very cute.

Bitterroot

Carolina allspice- Calycanthus floridus

Small dogwood with rabbit damage. Just the lower area is showing life. We'll see.

Front yard rock garden. Has Siberian iris, bugleweed, dahlias, liatris , contorted filbert, New England asters,and false turtlehead - Chelone lyonii

dogwood in bloom in demonstration garden

Friday, March 30, 2012

COLD SNAP AND SPRING PERENNIALS

Wow, so many new countries have signed on! Up to 47. Welcome to Jordan, Bahrain, Mauritius, Pakistan, New Zealand, Chile, Qatar, Jamaica, France, Slovakia, South Africa, and Gabon (Western Africa - I had to look it up.)

pieris - Japanese Andromeda

We were teased terribly by an early spring heat wave. People wearing shorts and sandals, air conditioners turned on and plants and trees forced into early bloom. Heaven!!!!

zinnias

I have been burned in the past and I have learned from my mistakes. I have to restrain myself. I waited to start seeds indoors. How many years have I had a jungle growing in my basement because I couldn't wait to start my tomato plants? Most gardeners know that tomatoes grow like weeds when the temperature soars.

The stores already have tomato plants for sale. You know some poor soul is going to put that in the ground and lose it to frost. Last night and tonight we have frost and freeze warnings. I will wait til Mother's day to set my summer plants and seeds out.

I have planted some perennials. Siberian Iris, Liatris - blazing star, and bugle weed.

home to new perennials (and a few weeds still) Just wait a few months

Ready to go into the ground is Chelone lyonii - false turtlehead and Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum. Culver's root is a native beneficial to butterflies and other pollinators. Chelone glabra is the host plant for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly. I will add this as well when I can find it (cheap and on sale.)

The critters have not been kind to the small shrubs I planted last fall. No deer. Bunnies. Saw it with my own eyes or I wouldn't have believed it. If they survive, great. If not, I may replant and protect them in the fall with wire. My dogwoods and paw paw look great, but they were larger plants and could tolerate more trauma.

My little dogwood - rabbit food

I haven't been to the farm garden recently. I know I have root crops and greens I can harvest. Got sidetracked by a trip to Florida for a birthday party, (Happy Birthday Aunt Shirley 100!!!) and the UMD Extension service Demonstration Garden. And last but not least - the flu.

I did take a walk around the yard to see what is happening: