Prunus spinosa

Also known as sloe or blackthorn.

http://www.imageenvision.com/free_picture/0003-0705-1519-0141.html

Amara dulcis

The scientific name is Solanum dulcamara.

It has many common names, including deadly nightshade.

According to Culpeper's Complete Herbal it is "excellent to remove witchcraft" (link here)

According to the Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium at UW-Stevens Point, it is "potentially invasive" (link here).

We have it here in the garden.

Attracting butterflies

Good article on attracting butterflies from The Herb Companion (link here).

Some of the recommended plants that I grow in the garden include: viburnum, butterfly bush, pineapple sage, lemon balm, sedum, lilac, coreopsis, echinacea, feverfew, goldenrod, chrysanthemum, and bee balm.

Lavender

Interesting article on growing lavender from The Herb Companion (link here).

Two of the keys are plenty of sun and good drainage.

Of course, in my yard, with mature trees and heavy clay soil, growing lavender is difficult.

But I will keep trying.

Rustic twig tower

Adirondack-style tower from White Flower Farm (link here)

I need to try to make one of these myself.

Corpse flower

The Titan Arum emits the stench of rotting flesh, an odour so stomach-churning that it is colloquially known as 'the corpse flower.'

- Telegraph (link here)

I sure wish I was able to grow these flowers in my garden.

Maybe a mature female ginkgo tree would be just as pungent.

Monches Farm

Monches Farm is the subject of a very gushy article in the current issue of Milwaukee Home & Fine Living (link here).

Monches Farm is also featured in the book In Search of Great Plants: The Insider's Guide to the Best Plants in the Midwest (2004) by Betty Earl.

Fantasy Garden

Fantasy Monarda from Dutch Gardens (link here)

An unusual bee balm, very different from the old-fashioned red-flowered varieties.

Brilliance

One of the showiest Ferns in recent years, Autumn Fern 'Brilliance' is a dazzling display of color for every season. The fronds turn from bright copper to soft green to russet-orange again, all on an evergreen habit that looks great in the partly shaded bed or border!

- Wayside (link here)

I am always in the market for another fern.

Pam's Choice

A tall and stately Foxglove for the late spring garden. Spikes of bright white flowers have throats speckled in deep maroon. Allow it to go to seed and you'll have Foxgloves throughout your garden next year.

- van Bourgondien (link here)

We have had poor luck with foxgloves, but maybe persistence pays off.

Patty's Plum

This Oriental Poppy has swept all others from consideration in Europe, where it has been available for several years. Brand new over here, it is certain to create an equal sensation, especially in the far north, where it proves very cold hardy. I first ran across it in the garden of Dan Hinkley, master plantsman and great discoverer of good things. Visible from 100 feet away, 'Patty's Plum' was not so much eyecatching as demanding of my attention! I don't think I've really looked away since!

- Wayside (link here)

We have had very poor luck with poppies, but I would be inclined to try this one.

Free trees

This morning, we attended the Arbor Day celebration in Hales Corners.

We watched them plant a swamp white oak at Schoetz Park.

And they passed out free white pines and cranberry viburnums (we got one of each).

Then we went to the Arbor Day celebration at Wehr Nature Center. They passed out a variety of free trees. We got a bur oak.

Not enough hours in the day

I did not get much gardening done today because Gil & I biked down to the Harley Museum via a very indirect but scenic route.

We stopped at the Humane Society and looked at dogs, but there were no beagles.

We saw a guy fly fishing the Menomonee River but he said he did not catch anything.

36 miles round trip.

Garden pool udate

I looked for the fatheads this morning and did not see a single one. They are very stealthy. They can change their coloration to match the bottom of the pool, so if they remain motionless, they are practically invisible.

I built a small shelter for them out of black PVC pipe, so maybe they were in the shelter.

I also put the floating crocodile head in the pool, so maybe they were hiding under that. MaryAnn gave me the croc head for Christmas. She got it on our trip to Australia.

Scavenged containers

http://www.hortmag.com/article/inexpensivegardencontainers

Interesting article on container gardening.

I will never think the same way about tin cans and old colanders again.

Chicken underground

A "chicken underground," as it is called, has existed for years in Milwaukee and suburbs where some residents keep hens quietly.

- jsonline (link here)

It would be nice to have a few chickens in the garden.

Chickens are legal in Madison.

http://www.madcitychickens.com/

Fathead experiment

The fathead experiment continues.

I added two dozen minnows to the garden pool today.

And since the vendor ladled them out generously, it was really more like four dozen.

Recent plantings

(5) Filbert shrubs (from the Arbor Day Foundation)

(48) Pansy 'Acquarelle Gelato' (from Luxembourg Gardens)

Arp Rosemary

Arp Rosemary is listed as hardy to Zone 6 by Mountain Valley Growers (link here)

Gardening with Fairies

Excellent article on gardening with fairies at The Herb Companion website (link here).

Gus' Green Thumb Garden

This morning, I went out to Gus' Green Thumb Garden for the regularly scheduled work/air time.

I assembled a new garden cart and pruned the hop vine back to the ground.

I heard later that I was prominently featured on the TV coverage.

Then I went back out this afternoon for the planning meeting. Reminds me of the good old days when I drove to University School twice a day.

Lots of ambitious plans for grapes, raspberries, fruit trees, ornamental grasses, etc.

It is going to be very interesting.

Fumewort

Corydalis solida

http://www.mobot.org/GARDENINGHELP/PLANTFINDER/Plant.asp?code=S700

http://www.monchesfarm.com/CORYDALISSOLIDA.htm

Prefers shade. On my wish list.

Japanese Forest Grass

PPA 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year

http://www.perennials.com/perennialyear.html

Hellebore

http://blog.douggreensgarden.com/

I forgot to mention that our Lenten Rose actually did bloom for Lent.

Ours has cream-colored flowers, unlike this more maroon or burgundy example from Doug Green's Garden.

Addendum: We actually have two hellebores, one is cream and the other is burgundy like the one shown.

Albostriata

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/26787-product.html

Must be popular because it is already sold out for this spring.

Cole's Prostrate

A nice little hemlock available from Heronswood (link here)

Iris ensata

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/41752?cid=pem001587

http://www.mobot.org/GARDENINGHELP/PLANTFINDER/Plant.asp?Code=A641

The "somewhat unusual seasonal cultural requirements" discourage me from trying this iris.

My Monet

One of the most magnificent sights in the spring garden, this new cultivar is the finest dwarf variegated Weigela we have ever seen. It deserves a place of honor in your sunny to partly shaded garden, as well as in containers for up-close enjoyment.

- Wayside (link here)

Would love to have one in my garden.

Josephine

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/44859?cid=wem001167

My plan is to plant one named Clematis every year, and Josephine looks like a good candidate for this year.

Old World Wisconsin

This morning, I did volunteer work at Old World Wisconsin.

It was clean-up day, and the weather was warm and sunny.

In addition to the master gardener volunteers, there were a great many 4-H volunteers.

It was a lot of fun.

And I saw a couple of wild turkeys.

Glossy buckthorn

http://www.songsparrow.com/2009/plantdetails.cfm?ID=534&type=WOODY,&pagetype=plantdetails

UW-Extension is asking us not to plant any kind of glossy buckthorn, not even snobby cultivars like this one.

Die, Buckthorn Scum!

Heritage Flower Farm

http://www.heritageflowerfarm.com/

Heritage Flower Farm
33725 County Road L
Mukwonago, WI 53149

They sell Rattlesnake Master, used by the ancient Potawatomi for good luck in gambling.

Ostrya virginiana

Ironwood or eastern hop-hornbeam

http://www.uwgb.edu/BIODIVERSITY/herbarium/trees/ostvir01.htm

Might be a good native understory tree for the garden.

Garden History

On Wednesday April 15 2009, I attended a garden history educational program for master gardeners at the Milwaukee County UWEX offices.

The talk was "Beautifying the Home Grounds: The 19th Century Wisconsin Garden" by Lee Sommerville.

The talk was based on her work for a master's degree at UW-Madison.

Fascinating subject presented with enthusiasm.

Well worth attending.

Wil-O-Way Underwood

On Tuesday April 14 2009, I attended the MGV dig at Wil-O-Way Underwood.

It involved excavating and cleaning up flats of perennials that had been buried under mulch last fall.

The poppies looked very robust after the rough treatment.

Some of the other species did not fare as well.

Gus' Green Thumb Garden

On Monday April 13 2009, I attended the volunteer orientation meeting at Gus' Green Thumb Garden at the Fox 6 Studio (Brown Deer Rd. at Green Bay Ave.).

Lots of possibilities, lots of space, lots of full sun.

Shady Acres Perennial Nursery

http://www.shadyacresnursery.com/

Shady Acres Perennial Nursery is one of my favorite local nurseries.

They do not do mail order.

Some of the ground covers that I bought from them 20 years ago are still going strong.

April 18 is opening day, but I am signed up to work at Old World Wisconsin that day.

Infosource

http://infosource.uwex.edu/

Lots of information about gardens and other subjects.

In the old days, infosource was a telephone recorded message system.

Wood poppy

Stylophorum diphyllum

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/PlantFinder/Plant.asp?code=M450

Recent plantings

One large (about two gallon root ball) clump of hostas, variety unknown.

A gift from my friend Joanne in the Master Gardener class.

She dug it up because she was moving her air conditioner and it was in the way.

Vermicomposting

http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/Vermicompost107.shtml

Excellent worm composting website as recommended by the National Gardening Association.

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica

http://www.hortmag.com/article/virginiabluebells

Chamomile

Anthemis nobilis

http://www.tmseeds.com/product/856.html/?OC=N3208

Great Garden Plants

http://www.greatgardenplants.com

Enormous selection.

Grit

http://www.grit.com/home.aspx

Celebrating Rural America Since 1882

Some interesting articles on beekeeping.

Knox Cellars

http://www.knoxcellars.com/

Information and products related to native pollinators.

Past issues of The Urban Farmer magazine.

The Herb Companion

http://www.herbcompanion.com/

Offers a lot of information on herbs.

For example, good article on "7 Herbs that Grow in Shade."

Chiwaukee Prairie

http://www.chiwaukee.org/

Splish Splash

Stunning cranesbill available at Heronswood (link here)

Willow Garden Gardens

http://www.willowcreekgardens.com/

They offer an enormous selection of plants.

Fish emulsion

http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1094/PHYTO-99-3-0274

Recent research documents the benefits of organic acids in fish emulsion.

Impatiends puberula

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=3079&account=none

Which is a better deal for $20?

This plant or that 4,800-calorie burger at the Grand Rapids ballpark?

Monches Farm

http://www.monchesfarm.com/index.html

We went to Monches Farm this morning.

Great place, very arty and interesting.

A little early in the season for plants, but tons of other cool stuff.

Well worth the drive.

IPAW

http://www.ipaw.org/index.htm

Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin

They rate Reed Canary Grass as the worst weed in Wisconsin.

Santa Rosa Gardens

http://www.santarosagardens.com/

Huge selection of ornamental grasses.

Master Gardener Week 12

April 9, 2009 was the Week 12 meeting of the master gardener class at Boerner.

The topics were native plants, natural landscaping, invasive species, and rain gardens.

It was obviously more about breadth than depth of coverage.

Very interesting and very informative.

There was no laboratory exercise.

This was the final class. Now I have to pass the test (take home, open book, 50 multiple choice questions). And fulfill the volunteer hours requirement (24 hours before September 15).

Garter snake

Yesterday, while biking with Gil, we saw a garter snake in New Berlin, just across the border from Hales Corners.

First one I have seen in the vicinity in 25 years of living in Hales Corners.

I was totally unprepared. If I had been carrying some kind of container, I would have poached it and released it unharmed into the garden.

Gil says there will be plenty of future opportunities, but one event in 25 years does not give me much confidence.

Art in Bloom

On Saturday April 4, 2009, we attended Art in Bloom at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Gorgeous floral displays throughout the museum, each one attempting to harmonize with the art around it.

Monches Farm had a nice display.

A lot of garden clubs had displays. Why is there no Hales Corners Garden Club?

Demetra (from Stoughton) was there selling her garden hooks. We have bought from her before, but she was sold out by the time we got there.

Lots of fun, and well worth attending.

Kneeland Walker House

On Wednesday April 1, 2009, I attended the MGV orientation meeting at the Kneeland Walker House in Wauwatosa.

There were some nice crocuses and squill in bloom.

I have seen the gardens many times at the Firefly Art Fair (July) when they were in the peak of bloom.

I sure hope I can fit some time into my schedule for working in these gardens.

Pruning Workshop

On Wednesday April 1, 2009, I attended at pruning workshop at Fox Brook Park in Brookfield from 9am to noon.

The instructors were Ann Wied and Sharon Morrissey (the master gardener instructors for Waukesha and Milwaukee counties respectively).

The first half was classroom learning and the second half was hands-on pruning experience working with the crabapple trees surrounding the parking lot.

It was fun and educational.

Definitely worth the time invested.

Master Gardener Week 11

April 2, 2009 was the Week 11 meeting of the master gardener class at Boerner.

The topic was "Living with Wildlife."

We watched a wildlife video. I was particularly impressed with the contribution of Jim Pease from Iowa State University.

We talked about wildlife both in the context of attracting wildlife into your garden, but also in the context of preventing damage to your garden.

There was no laboratory exercise.

Master Gardener Week 10

March 26, 2009 was the Week 10 meeting of the master gardener class at Boerner.

The topic was trees and shrubs.

We spent a lot of time talking about woody landscape plants: planting, pruning, etc.

The presentation included a lot of tips on how NOT to do things.

There was no laboratory exercise.

Northern Gardening

http://www.northerngardening.com/

The website of a Minnesota Master Gardener.

http://www.northerngardener.org/

The magazine of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society.