I've Got a New Blog! Come on over!

Hello, gardening friends.

With the start of a new year, I have decided to combine two of my passions into one blog: gardening and reading. My new blog is called "Of Books and Blooms," and I invite you stop by for a visit.

In addition to my gardening posts, I will be reviewing books, talking about weeding (books and plants!) and discovering where the 2 worlds intersect.

 

As not a whole lot is going on in my garden right now, most of the posts have been about books so far. But never fear--May is coming! I'm sure the balance will tip the other way once those spring bulbs start peeking out of the ground. :)

 

One last beautiful picture before I go.

 

I hope you'll join me!

 

See you soon!

 

Of Books and Blooms

Garden Evaluation: Herbs & Veggies

 

This year my garden was actually all built from the beginning of the season.

It was amazing!

 

Overall, it was a decent year for the garden.

Like usual, some things were winners and some...not so much.

We'll talk about that as we go.

 

youngest son's plot, mid-June

 

The biggest change was allowing my kiddos to have space for gardens of their own.

Although it cut into some of my prime real estate (especially since I gave them the spots on the bottom terrace), it was great fun to see their little plots prospering through the summer.

They seemed to enjoy picking their own veggies and flowers, too.

 

I also tried pea sticks! And pole beans on bamboo supports.

 

So, for a little recap:

 

I got the spring veggies put in late April (4-23), and planted potatoes (including a random sweet potato that was growing leaves in my potato bin), peas, swiss chard, beets, and spinach.

 Onions went in about a month later.

 

Summer veggies were planted earlier than usual, by May 24.

We put in tomatoes, thyme, basil, marigolds, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and three colors of beans. Also, some zinnias.

 

Challenges and Successes:

Bring on the Heat

 

Cukes and zucchini loved the hot weather!

 

We had hot weather come early this year. Where usually it's stays fairly cool until July (temps in the 60's and 70's), it was already blazing hot by mid-June.

All of the spring veggies, with the exception of the potatoes, really suffered from the heat.

Peas did the worst: they were spindly, and didn't even start producing until mid-July. When they did, it was a few pitiful (but delicious) handfuls. They simply wilted!

Beets did better than last year, but still not great. We had some grow bigger this year than before, and had enough for some meals inside, as well as some for making canned pickled beets.

The kids got some spinach and swiss chard from their plots. Mine were only about 3 inches high when they bolted, so I yanked them out and replanted with beans.

 

Also due to the heat, the basil went to seed way early, before I could get out there to harvest it for drying. Surprisingly, the sweet potato didn't do as well as I thought it would, even with the high temps.

 

 

On the plus side: With the heat we had a great year for cucumbers and zucchini, as the picture above can attest. Also, every time I pulled out struggling spring vegetables, I replanted with beans. The beans did great! We harvested enough to eat at meals, and even were able to freeze several quart bags worth.

 

 

The marigolds apparently couldn't get enough of the heat either, as they were vibrantly bushy and gorgeous all summer long, as well.

 

The Great Cosmos Takeover

 

Yup, this is about right.

Be afraid, little pumpkin vine, be very afraid.

 

So, I had all of these volunteer cosmos come up, bless their feathery little hearts.

They pretty much took over the middle terrace. They crowded and shaded the poor pumpkin vines, so that our production was very low: 2 small pumpkins, and about 3 minis.

 

On the plus side: they were so darn beautiful, that I just sighed happily every time I saw them. What pumpkins?  Perhaps next year they could be transplanted to the cutting garden early on...

 

Poor Soil in the Top Bed

 

tomatoes, basil, marigolds

 

I'm blaming it on the newer soil in the top bed, where we planted the tomatoes, basil, and marigolds. When I rototilled in the spring, the layer of clay soil was much closer to the surface than in the other beds. The tomatoes didn't grow very tall, and the fruit was quite small, as well.

Extra compost and rototilling probably need to go onto the top bed next spring.

On the plus side: we did have enough tomatoes to eat fresh, once they started producing

Not enough for salsa or other kinds of processing, though.

 

Trellises and Staking

Okay,  let's talk about trellises and staking for a moment. I had all kinds of variety going on with that this year, some much more successful than others.

I loved the pea sticks. Far easier than stakes and string, and bonus! the aspens shoots I used really were dead, so I did not end up with an aspen grove in my vegetable patch. Also, they just looked pretty darn cool.

 

The stakes and netting for the cucumbers worked okay. There were so many vines, that many of them still ended up running along the ground, but I guess at least some were growing vertically.

 

The bamboo poles for the pole beans were a bust. The beans had absolutely zero interest in climbing them, even when I tried to wrap them [gently] around. I should have just used twine and tied them to it a couple of times, perhaps. Anyway, unsupported, the beans proceeded to take over the tomato cages nearby and make a big tangled mess on the ground. Not awesome.

 

Speaking of tomato cages, they worked fine this year, though it was due to all the plants being so small, rather than any innate goodness.

 

The smaller tomato cages were also helpful around the pepper plants we grew.

Win some, lose some.

 

Best and Worst

 

Best:

 

Onions!

 My reluctance was overcome by this success! Having planted them further apart (more like 6 inches), they grew into big beautiful slicing onions with little to no effort on my part. Even the cosmo jungle didn't seem to effect them. Win!

 

Beans--they sprang up happily wherever I plunked them in, which this year was in any open space I could find.

 

Cucumbers also did quite well this year, with consistent production for a couple of months.

 

Honorable mention: bell peppers

I have never had success with peppers turned red before frost, except for this year. The kids' plants did the best, and we harvested some sweet red peppers to eat fresh.

 

Middle of the road:

Carrots. We got enough to process some for winter, but I kept feeling like for as much seed as we put out there, we should have had a whole lot more carrots to show for it. We did the 'Rainbow Blend' again this year, and mostly got yellows and oranges.

 

Oregano. About what it has been the past several years--we dried about a quart and a half from the trimmings.

 

Potatoes. Seemed healthy, didn't harvest as much as I expected. Hardly any Yukon Golds, which are my favorite kind. Again, maybe the hot summer to blame?

 

Worst:

Peas (as mentioned above). Hardly any harvest.

Spinach. Bolted way early.

Pumpkins (blame it on the cosmos, as discussed)

Sweet potato--we ended up with fingers, not potatoes, though they sure tasted good roasted in the oven.

 

What I want to change for next year: 

 

1. Get the spring vegetables in end of March, beginning of April. It's usually super wet around that time, but find a dry spell somewhere in there, rototill, and get to work! I think my spring stuff would have done fine, had they been already producing in June, rather than still getting going.

 

2. Perhaps not let the volunteer cosmos (if there are some again) take over the whole world. Transplant most down to the cutting garden.

 

3. Heavily amend top bed. [I wonder how onions would do up there?...]

 

4. Perhaps try for corn or lettuce. No pole beans or swiss chard. More onions and tomatoes. Perhaps more cucumbers for pickling.



First Snowfall

Thursday, November 5

I guess it's official: winter is here!

Back Flowerbed Renovations

Our long fall has helped me get some gardening chores done that ordinarily would have been put off until spring. Case in point: the renovation of this back flowerbed.

 

Clear back in August, I bemoaned the lack of attention this bed had gotten.

It was in dire need of help.

So, I first tackled the obvious stuff:

cut back or cleared out the dead plants

and

weeded it all thoroughly--twice

 

Then I turned my attention to the aesthetics of the bed.

 

It was seriously lacking in fall color, so I purchased these 2 mums to fill in on either side of the mockorange. In order for the mums to fit, I had to move some other plants:

namely, the 'Bubbles' dwarf iris and the hardy geraniums on the left and geum 'Prairie Smoke' on the right. Oh yes, there was another plant on the right, at the base of the mockorange, but I can't for the life of me remember what it's called right now. Anyway, that one got moved as well.

'Bubbles' was transplanted amongst the irises out front.

The hardy geranium was likewise moved to the front beds.

 

The 'Prairie Smoke' geum got transplanted down further, next to the A/C unit: the feathery green in front here. I dug up the iris that had landed in front of the rose somehow, and after dividing, had enough rhizomes to put some on each side of this bed and the new flowerbed by the shed, as well.

 

The yellow rose got cut way back. With half of its stems completely dead, I didn't really have a choice. I'm not sure it's going to survive. Only time will tell on that one. 

 

So this is on the other end of the bed, now.

This little spot was getting very overcrowded.

The flowering almond had put on some growth this year, and the rest were doing very well also. So I chopped the geum in half, and moved it further down from the poppy and flowering almond. I also divided the daylily. I wanted more symmetry in this bed, anyway, so I was able to put the other half of the daylily down at the other end of the bed, which put my mind at ease.

The poppy did so well this year that I didn't want to touch it.

From what I've read they can be quite finicky about being moved.

As mentioned, I added a couple of irises along the back wall as well, for height and a pop of purple in the spring. 

 

This corner needed some serious weeding, which I did.

 

I also moved the penstemon with more purple flowers--on the right-- (shown here in June of this year) up to the front flowerbed, leaving the one that was more peachy pink.

 

What else did I do?

Oh yeah.

I spread out the 'Autumn Joy' sedums that were the only thing giving color to this bed this late in the season. There was a big clump right behind the flowering almond. As I mentioned, that shrub has started to fill in, so it was time for those sedums to move.

I planted several in the bare space behind the mockorange.

They'll have to compete with the tulips in the spring, but about July on, they'll have it all to themselves back there.

 

Several bulbs were excavated in the process of all this shuffling around, so I ended up dividing several daffodils and a few tulips and replanting them, as well.

 

I'm happy with how it turned out.

I think I'll be even more happy next year.

 

There's always something to work on in gardening.

I think that's one thing that keeps me coming back to it: playing with the arrangement, the colors and forms, then standing back and watching what happens. Then tinkering with it some more.

Last of the cutting garden

The cutting garden was definitely a mixed success this year.

The sunflowers were great, but rather too big for my arrangements, the bachelor's buttons were pretty but very floppy, and most of the rest either didn't come up at all or smelled like poop (daisies, I'm looking at you!)

 

But let's remember some successes.

The volunteer cosmo patch up in the vegetable garden was gorgeous, and brightened up a few bouquets.

 

Bunny tail grass, or Lagarus ovatus, planted in my daughter's garden, was a favorite of us all.

Those little seedheads were every bit as soft and fuzzy as they look.

With their long arching stems, they added a bit of whimsy and touchability to several bouquets this summer.

Since I generally rototill the garden every year, this clump got dug up, divided, and replanted in 3 different spots out in the front flowerbeds. I hope it thrives up there!

 

Bless the zinnias.

They came through splendidly, wherever I planted them.

These were in the cutting garden proper, but the ones in the garden did great, as well.

Hardy, long-lasting in the vase, and bright cheerful colors.

That's a combination that's hard to beat!

Beautifully floppy bachelor's buttons.

If I replant these next year, they'll have to go in a spot that get a little more sun.

Maybe the vegetable garden.

[What? I do have actual vegetables in there, too, you know...mostly.]

Looking down toward the cutting garden.

The daisies have since been divided and planted between the lilacs and ninebark, all the way down the terrace.

 

As for next year's cutting garden, I may try starting some seeds inside in the spring, so that I have more young plants to put in. Also, not sure I'll do sunflowers again, though they were fun to look at. That is, unless I can find a variety with smaller blooms that I actually know what to do with in a vase.

 

It was a good experiment that I feel like I learned from.

(Like everything I do in gardening.)

New Flowerbed (the last?)

 

Just when we thought all wall building was done forever, there remained one more wall to build. Fortunately, this one was short, and (comparatively) easy to finish.

And now I have a little flowerbed along the side of the shed.

Hooray for more flowers!

 

Overview

It was quite late in the season, but due to a delayed onset of frosty nights, I was able to get these plants in with time to spare. Also, there were some great sales going on at the nurseries. Dangerous territory, that. 

 

So, starting on the left side, this floppy wonder is half of my beautiful orange geum 'Totally Tangerine' from the other flowerbed. It was crowding its neighbors over there, anyway, and was due for a chopping. (I also moved it down some while I had it out of the ground.)

 

Remember this loveliness?

(picture from May of this year.)

Oh yes, this is the treat I will be in for on both sides of my yard, now.

 

Moving down:

We've got Gaillardia 'Commotion Moxie' on the left, Rudbeckia 'Chocolate Orange' in the middle, and a couple of purple irises transplanted from the back flowerbed.

This bed will mostly have hot colors, chosen by my daughter. I'm hoping the purple iris doesn't clash.

(Though if it does, it will be easy to move elsewhere.)

 

The star of the show: Little Lime Hydrangea

The dwarf form of 'Limelight,' this one should get to be 3-5' tall and wide.

Perfect for this narrow bed.

 

I have discovered that I really crave symmetrical plantings. This time I just went with it, so that's why I only took pictures of the first half of the flowerbed. The next half is exactly the same.

I also put some bulbs in here and there that were dug up in my renovations of the back flowerbed.

So I really have no idea what they are. I mean, they are likely either tulips or daffodils, I know that much, but as to form and color? I guess I'll be surprised come spring.

Could be interesting.

Once we turned the corner, the plan was to extend the raspberry patch, so that's what I did.

Awkward angle here, sorry about that.

 

The one and only 'Fall Gold' raspberry plant that I could find.

The rest I put in are black raspberries.

A little variety should be good, I hope.

 

 

The trellis' were all on sale, so we got 3 and actually use wire to make some sturdy raspberry supports, that should be a lot longer-lasting and more effective than the string variety we had up before.  Yay raspberries!

 

Now I think we are really done creating flowerbeds.

At least for this year!

Fall Colors out Front

My front flowerbeds are filled with delightful colors, even once the flowers have gone.

 

The front porch bed.

Oakleaf hydrangea, I knew I could count on you for some gorgeous fall leaves!

Snowball bush, with peony and Echinacea seedheads in the background.

Love it!

Boxwood, rose, and other foliage

Barberry

The guillardia are hanging on, and those lovely red tones blend in just fine.

Catmint seedheads, with purple ninebark in the background.

 

 

Plus a bonus: strawberry foliage up in the garden

 

If our winter is as mild as the weatherman claims it will be, we will be enjoying these colors for a few more months!

October vegetable garden

 

We're about done out there.

Pulled out all the rest of the beans and tomatoes, got the tomato cages put away.

 

A few flowers lingering on in my daughter's garden.

2 small pumpkins turning orange.

(Now that the beans and cosmos are gone, they'll get a lot more sunlight.)

Marigolds still hanging in, but they'll probably be done soon.

  

bare bean poles

 

I can't believe how long we've waited until first frost this year.

Canning & Processing Tally

I'm feeling pretty good about my harvesting, processing, and canning this year. We entered summer almost completely out of home-canned fruit and now our shelves are overflowing!

 

I didn't do so hot taking pictures of garden harvest or what I canned this year. I want to do better on that next year.

The oregano and vegetables were all from our garden.

We had 3 different friends offer free cherry picking in July, and I took them all up on the offers!

2 had sweet cherries, and 1 had a pie cherry tree.

Peaches, pears, and apples were purchased.

 

We ended up with:

 

1 1/2 quarts dried oregano

 

23 quarts sweet cherries

2 quart bags chopped frozen sweet cherries

15 cups pie filling (frozen)

12 pints? a bunch of cherry-berry syrup (jam that didn't set--oops!)

 

5 cups raspberry freezer jam--home-picked fruit

 

8 quarts sliced carrots, frozen

 

39 quarts peaches

 

5 quarts green beans, frozen

 

9 pints plum jam

Free plums from behind the elementary school!

 

33 quarts pears

 

41 quarts applesauce

 

6 pints pickled beets

 

I think that will do it for this year, unless I decide to make some more jam--which is tempting.

I want to make some more lemon-ginger marmalade.

 

My care for the vegetable garden and flowers really dropped off in September...along with my blogging. This list is helping me realize why--I was canning everything in sight! Everything from the carrots on down has been done since the last week of August.

(Not to mention school starting, soccer practice, etc., etc.)

 

Let me just say it again.

It's a good feeling to have all that done for the year.

Containers This Year

These have filled out nicely.

I never did fill up my other 2 pots.

With our kitchen remodel, the back deck was full of cabinets for most of the summer, so I didn't put any back there.

Maybe it was a good thing.

With the hot summer we've had, I have had a hard time keeping these three watered!

They really need it every day.

They get it...every 2nd or 3rd day, depending on when I notice the wilting.

Terrible! 

 

Those red petunias were a fluke!

I certainly didn't think I was buying any red petunias!

I really like the way the sweet potato vine has been spilling over the sides.

 

As predicted, the osteospermum has gone dormant in the heat.

The dahlias still bloom, as long as I'm consistent with the water.

These make a welcome bit of color and texture as you go up the stairs to our front door.

I think as far as design, these are the best I've put together so far.

I love the mix of textures, with the feathery asparagus fern juxtaposed with the bold sweet potato vine. The flower colors complement each other as well.

 

Maybe next year I'll assign a child to water them every day.

 

The Cutting Garden

After perusing some flower farmer blogs and visiting our local u-pick flower farm again, I decided to make a dedicated cutting garden on the end of our side terrace.

 

In May I pulled out all my flower seeds--varying ages, most at least 1 year old.

I weeded like crazy, (it had already been rototilled earlier), then planted my little seeds.

I waited, tried to remember to water, and waited.

 

And....not much came up.

These are the first pictures, because most of the summer has seen only very small struggling plants surrounded by (yes) more weeds.

 

So, to begin:

These daisies were a gift from a friend, and after taking a month or two to recover from transplanting, they're actually blooming again!

 

Funny story about them:

I was making a bouquet to give to a friend, and came over for some daisies.

As I was snipping them, I thought, "Wow, you can really smell the compost in this bed!"

Then later, in the car, I really thought I had stepped in something.

I checked my shoes, I was looking for the source of THAT smell.

Oh yes. It wasn't the compost, my friends.

So, fortunately, I have some pretty white daisies.

UNfortunately, those daisies smell like poop.

Therefore, they will have to be moved elsewhere in my garden, because flowers in my cutting garden aren't allowed to stink that bad!

 

My current plan is possibly moving them down the terrace, between each of my new lilac bushes.

Ever-loving zinnias.

These are the best!

They're the 'Cut and Come Again' variety, and they have all sorts of fun and different forms in the same seed packet. As you can see, most were pink this year, but that's okay, too.

 

These bachelor buttons grew from 4 year-old seed!

They sure are pretty, but also are super floppy, which made them hard to use in arrangements.

They must not get enough sun right here.

 

Sunflower mix.

Tall, stately, and beautiful.

I'm still figuring out how to use them in a mixed bouquet.

 

So out of maybe 10 varieties of seeds planted this year, so far I have 3 things growing.

I've got some work to do!

August in the Kids' Gardens

As they had mostly spring vegetables in their gardens, it's not too surprising that they haven't had as much to harvest these days.

 

My daughter's garden:

 

She's still got a few peppers coming, and a few carrots, but mostly it is flowers.

She loves the flowers, so that's okay too.

(A girl after my own heart.)

 

My oldest son's garden:

His potatoes have about died off completely in the far back.

He also has a couple of peppers starting to turn red.

He been picking beans off his bean plant (not pictured), and has a few carrots here and there, along with those beautiful snapdragons right in front.

 

 

Littlest guy's garden is still going, but about to be all harvested.

Carrots and beets are hanging on, but will be picked within the week.