Transplanting trees & shrubs

http://www.freeplants.com/how_to_ball_and_burlap_dig_plant.htm

With photos.

Milwaukee County Winter Farmers Market

http://www.mcwfm.org/index.html

As recommended by our friend Nancy at the New Berlin Farmers' Market.

We have attended the first two dates, and will probably go again tomorrow.

Tons of good things from the garden.

The image is from their email to me.

Hawk

There was a sharp-shinned hawk in the front yard this morning.

I haven't seen one in a long time.

I see a Cooper's hawk almost every day.

More deer in the garden

One of the neighbors (Ken) told me that there was an 8-point whitetail in the yard on Saturday morning (we were at the farmers market).

Yesterday, a doe ran through the backyard in the afternoon.

Emerald Ash Borer

On Friday (11-6-2009), I attended the Emerald Ash Borer workshop at Boerner Botanical Gardens.

Kristin Krokowski (UW-Extension) was the facilitator.

The speakers were Dr. R. Chris Williamson (UW-Madison) and Dr.Robert Dahl (Department of Agriculture).

There were about 45 people in the audience.

A lot of interesting information was provided. There were samples of the insects and damaged pieces of ash trees for us to examine.

Dr. Williamson is a very enthusiastic and charismatic speaker. I agreed with his comment that ash trees are very crappy trees. There was an audible gasp from the numerous little old ladies in the audience when he said it.

Well worth attending.

Mirabel Osler

"The very soul of a garden is shrivelled by zealous regimentation."

- Mirabel Osler, A Gentle Plea for Chaos, page 13.

One of the all-time great quotes about gardening.

Heated Hose

Available from Charley's Greenhouse (link here)

For when you absolutely have to water when it is freezing?

Honeybees, or lack thereof

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/white-house-abuzz-with-first-honey/?emc=eta1

They can have honeybees at the White House, but we can't have them in Hales Corners?

I am becoming more and more disillusioned with the low-watts in local government.

Die Buckthorn Scum!

In celebration of my birthday, it was Die Buckthorn Scum! day in the garden.

I did not get them all (I never do), but I sure cut a swath down through them.

There is something very satisfying about pulling out a large buckthorn scum by the roots.

Unfortunately, the largest size "Die Buckthorn Scum!" t-shirt continues to be an XL at

http://www.for-wild.org/store/

What? Only little people hate buckthorn?

Deer in the garden

A doe and two fawns ran through the garden yesterday just before dark (around 4:45 pm).

Recent plantings

(100) Daffodils (mixed)

(40) Scilla siberica

(3) Allium 'Mt. Everest'

This brings the fall bulb total to 1073.

Gladiolus

I lifted 86 gladiolus from the garden.

I had planted 101, and 86/101 was a better return than I expected.

There were only about a dozen blooms though.

No more buying bulbs from big-box stores.

Zahara

Zinnia Zahara Starlight Rose

http://www.panamseed.com/plant_info.aspx?phid=065705333022973

I had some poor luck with zinnias last year.

Maybe I should try this one.

Top Seeds

http://www.grit.com/Garden/Top-Seeds-for-New-Gardeners.aspx

I want to grow some morning glories next year, so maybe that 'Heavenly Blue' is the one for me.