Plants of the Wild

http://www.plantsofthewild.com/default.aspx

A potential source of kinnickinnick.

Stargazer Perennials

http://www.stargazerperennials.com/

Located in Zone 5 Oregon.

Impressive selection.

Center for Forest Nursery and Seedling Research

University of Idaho

http://seedlings.uidaho.com/default.asp?PageID=1

Lots of information on how to grow tree seedlings.

However, not all of the information is available without jumping through a series of hoops.

Berberis temolaica

http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=767

There seems to be some confusion about the winter hardiness.

Forest Farm lists it as 6 and Dan Hinkley lists it as (4)5.

Five Classic Weed Killers

From www.rodale.com (link here).

Clever ideas.

Virginia Snakeroot

Aristolochia serpentaria

http://www.georgiavines.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=379

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARSE3

Interesting that it is in Illinois and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan but not in Wisconsin.

How does it know where the political boundaries are?

Rainfall: 1/4"

Only 1/4" in the rain gauge after a 10-day absence.

Maybe a lot of it evaporated but the neighbors say we did not get much rain.

And the wilted plants confirmed that lack of rain.

Toad sighting

When I was a kid, seeing a toad was no big deal.

Today, a toad sighting is a rare event.

There was a healthy looking specimen in the briar patch when I was picking berries.

Daylily Season at Monches Farm

Over 300 varieties at Monches Farm (link here).

Makes me think I should replace my outhouse lilies with modern hybrids.

Five Summer All-Stars

Five perennials recommended by Jeff Cox on the Organic Gardening web site (link here).

I grow blanket flower, but it is not the 'Goblin' cultivar.

I am trying to grow Red Valerian again. So far, it grows great during the summer, but does not survive the winter. That poorly drained heavy clay is a killer.

I have had good luck with Threadleaf Coreopsis.

I have the native fleabanes, which are not as showy as the 'Pink Jewel.'

I have had trouble with Lavender not surviving the winter. Again, the heavy clay.

Demetra Saloutos

Demetra Saloutos, Metalsmith
245 West Main St.
Stoughton WI 53589

I have never been to her shop in Stoughton, but I have bought garden art (metal sculptures) from her at several different art fairs.

Wild Cucumber

Echinocystis lobata

http://www.uwgb.edu/BIODIVERSITY/herbarium/Vascular_plants/echlob01.htm

I lost another vine today. Broken off near the ground.

It was a windy day, but the vine was well supported.

Probably squirrels running and jumping on stuff, which they love to do.

I treasure the squirrels more than I do the vines, but it would be nice to have both.

Maybe next year I will grow morning glory vines.

Rainfall: 1/2"

1/2" overnight.

Ghost Chili

Bhut Jolokia

http://www.bananaplants.net/bhjoseandpl.html

I saw some Bhut Jolokia plants growing at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

I might try growing these sometime.

Of course, I will have to handle them with gloves.

Clarkia

http://lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=1329

Not familiar with Clarkia. Might have to try it next year.

Thompson & Morgan blog

http://tmseeds.blogspot.com/

Entertaining.

Rosemary

http://www.island.wsu.edu/CROPS/ROSEMARY.htm

Good article on Rosemary.

Creepers & Climbers

Good article on creepers & climbers from The Herb Companion (link here).

Includes some of my favorites like sweet woodruff and hops.

Recent plantings

(1) Pelargonium (variety unknown, red flower, variegated foliage)
(1) Heliopsis helianthoides 'Loraine Sunshine'
(1) Aristolochia durior (Dutchman's Pipe) [hoping for the stench of rotten meat]
(1) Persicaria affinis 'Border Jewel' (Himalayan Fleece Flower)
(1) Coreopsis 'Tequila Sunrise'
(1) Filipendula ulmaria 'Variegata' (Meadowsweet)
(1) Ampelopsis brevipedunculata 'Elegans' (Porcelain Berry)
(1) Angelica gigas (Garden Angelica)
(1) Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree) [praying for a female]
(1) Sweet Potato Vine w/ companion plant [New Berlin Farmers Market]
(8) Crocosmia crocosmiflora (Monbretia, Falling Stars)
(1) Pelargonium tomentosum (Peppermint Geranium)
(2) Harmony Light Coral New Guinea Impatiens
(moved) Oxeye Daisy [from near Chinese Chestnut to near Nikko Blue]

Cotoneaster taoensis

"Cotoneaster taoensis used to be frequently found in cultivation in botanic gardens and private collections as C. 'Hessei', sometimes labeled Rock 13535. This is a good, garden-worthy dwarf shrub. Recently reintroduced into cultivation.

- Jeanette Fryer &b Bertil Hylmo (2009) Cotoneasters: A Comprehensive Guide to Shrubs for Flowers, Fruit, And Foliage

I saw a great many specimens labeled Cotoneaster 'Hessei' at the Chicago Botanic Garden. They obviously have a great fondness for this particular cultivar.

On the Origins of Superstition

Maybe this should be on The Secret Blog instead of the From the Garden blog. Heh.

There was a vole (yes, a vole, not a mole) living under one of my Astilbe plants. Every time I watered the Astilbe, I flushed it out but I was never quick enough to kill it. (Unlike my brother, with his lightning fast reflexes. I saw him kill a mouse at Eleven Mile reservoir a couple of years ago and I am still amazed bordering on stupification.)

Anyway, one day last week, I said aloud in the garden, "Why can't I get some help with this vole problem?"

The very next day, someone had excavated around the Astilbe and killed the vole and left it lying in plain sight. It was a sizeable excavation. If a fox had done this, why would the fox not have eaten the vole?

Of course, this recalls the Lovecraftian prohibition regarding, "Call up not that which you cannot put down again lest it call up in turn against you."

Art On and Off the Square

Today we drove to Madison for the Art Fair on the Square and the Art Fair Off the Square.

We bought a metal trellis/sculpture for the garden from Demetra of Stoughton (she has no web page).

We have bought metal sculptures from her before.

Madison Garden Expo

Feb 12 2010

http://www.wpt.org/gardenexpo/index.cfm?body=exhibit_list&side=exhibit_list_side

Looks like an impressive list of exhibitors.

Rainfall

1/4" overnight.

Chicago Botanic Garden

I spent most of today at the Chicago Botanic Garden (link here).

Saw some fabulous landscapes, many interesting plants, and some wildlife (toads, turtles, birds, chipmunks, butterflies).

I did not even come close to seeing it all.

Well worth many return visits.

Praying Mantids

Tenodera aridifolia sinensis

http://www.arbico-organics.com/1121101.html

I place ten (10) egg cases around the yard today.

As per the instructions, I placed them high off the ground to prevent them from becoming easy prey for ants.

It will be interesting to see what results obtain.

Demonic Clipper Bug

(Thanks to Elizabeth for taking this photo.)

Garden art (local artist) in the Woodland Garden.

Flower Fly

(Thanks to Elizabeth for calling my attention to this photograph.)

http://blogs.america.gov/science/2009/07/01/pollinator-photography/

Quarter-inch shoulder bolt

One of the bolts that hold the muffler onto the lawn mower dropped out a couple of days ago and I could not find it.

Today, I stepped on it (it was lying flat, so it was a subtle feel), which alerted me to its presence. I did not see it before I stepped on it.

Lucky find.

Rainfall

Less than 1/8' overnight.

Flowering Herbs

List of flowering herbs from Organic Gardening (link here).

Includes some of my favorites like bee balm, Agastache, feverfew, Joe Pye, purple coneflower, etc.