The Monarch Trail

http://www.themonarchtrail.org/

We continue to have a few Monarchs in the garden.

Dogs and Gardens

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/garden/26garden.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1

Very pessimistic story about dogs and gardens.

Monarch Waystations

http://monarchwatch.org/waystations/

We have a few monarch-friendly plants, but we could do more.

Soil Munsell Colors

http://www.munsellstore.com/

Munsell colors are a standardized terminology for describing the color of soils.

Very interesting.

Bug of the Week

http://www.raupplab.umd.edu/?bow

Tons of information.

Physarum polycephalum

http://genomeold.wustl.edu/genome.cgi?GENOME=Physarum%20polycephalum

I would love to have some in my garden.

I have a damp shady area in a temperate forest, so I am not sure what the problem is.

Restricted Slime Molds

http://www.connecticutvalleybiological.com/slime-mold-organism-set-p-11232.html?zenid=b27706450c30a92395cc6890cacffa51

Unfortunately, they only sell fungal cultures to institutions.

Connecticut Biological Supply

http://www.connecticutvalleybiological.com/milkweed-bug-assortment-p-10824.html?zenid=b27706450c30a92395cc6890cacffa51

For those of you not fortunate enough to have your own Large Milkweed Bugs, you can buy them from Connecticut Biological Supply.

Dead chickadee in the garden

There was a dead chickadee in the maple garden yesterday.

No signs of trauma, died of natural causes, I guess.

Large Milkweed Bug

Oncopeltus fasciatus

http://bugguide.net/node/view/504

http://www.life.illinois.edu/ib/109/Insect%20rearing/milkweedbug.html

We have a nice crop of these bugs on our swamp milkweed plant.

Bug Guide

http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740

I need massive amounts of help identifying all of the strange creepy crawlies in the garden.

What is that bug?

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/

I wish I had taken more insect biology classes at Michigan State University.

Crayon-Bright Self-Watering Pots

http://www.gardeners.com/Colorful-Pot/PotsPlanters_SelfWateringPlanters,39-145,default,cp.html

These pots would add an element of fun to the garden.

And the self-watering feature might be very practical.

Four Arm Plant Hangar

http://www.gardeners.com/Four-Arm-Plant-Hanger/38-920,default,pd.html

I would like to try one of these.

I am sceptical due my past experience with sturdy looking metalware that bends under a load.

Buckthorn

Rhamnus 'Fine Line'

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=138

I am always amazed when I see this ferny buckthorn that is so very different than our Die Buckthorn Scum! varieties.

Rain: 1"

One inch of rain last night, which was the forecast.

Blood Flower

Asclepias curassavica

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=C376

We bought two small pots of blood flower at Hawks' Nursery last weekend.

Not sure what I should do with them after reading the above link.

Maybe repot them for use as houseplants.

Dragonflies

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/100278344.html

We need more dragonflies to eat all the mosquitoes.

We have a few dragonflies in the garden, but they are very territorial.

Birch Bark Cherry

Prunus serrula

http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pd_58b6.html

Striking bark but a very narrow hardiness range (6-8).

Wisconsin Granite

http://www.wisconsingranitedepot.com/

This might be a source for a few accent pieces for the garden.

I particularly like how they say granite forms deep within the earth's core.

Maybe they meant crust.

Rain: Trace

Only a trace of rain last night.

Life Finds A Way

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/garden/19garden.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1

Out of a flood, a new garden rises.

I particularly liked the part about how she does not miss her late husband.

Garden Spider

There was a beautiful garden spider at Gus' Green Thumb Garden today.

It was probably a black & yellow argiope.

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wihort/landscape/gardenspiders.htm

Catchfly

Silene armeria

http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/Wildflower.asp?ID=66

One of the neighbors is a huge fan of Catchfly, so I am going to have to try it.

Three Frogs in the Garden Pool

Three frogs in the garden pool today.

How do they survive the nightly visits by raccoons?

Fawns in and around the garden

On Saturday, we saw several fawns with spots as we drove through Whitnall Park.

Then Sunday morning, we saw a doe and a small fawn with spots in the back yard.

Hot Hungarian from the garden

Last night, I ate a Hot Hungarian pepper from the garden.

So spicy it was right at the limit of what I could eat.

It was from a plant that I bought at the New Berlin Farmers Market.

Rain: 0.25"

1/4" rain last night.

Dog vomit

I have never had slime molds growing in my garden but would dearly love to have some.

There are several fine specimens at Gus' Green Thumb Garden.

According to the following link, many people do not enjoy their slime molds.

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/june99.html

Variegated Kiwi Vine

Actinidia kolomikta

http://www.heronswood.com/drought-resistant-perennials/actinidia-kolomikta-djh-398/

Would love to have one.

Variegated Northern Sea Oats

Chasmanthium 'River Mist'

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=958

Would love to have some.

New for 2010.

Wild Boar Farms

http://www.wildboarfarms.com/index_1.html

Home of tomato inventor Brad Gates.

Drought-tolerant Groundcovers

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

I would like to try the bearberry (Zone 3) and the creeping lily-turf (Zone 4).

False sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

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

Zone 3, drought tolerant.

A lot to like about this plant.

Shrimp plant

http://www.floridata.com/ref/j/just_bra.cfm

We saw some outstanding examples at State Fair today.

Zone 8, so obviously has to be grown as an annual or a houseplant.

Rain: 7/8"

7/8" rain Sunday night.

Rain: 0.5"

Half an inch of rain Saturday night.

Late summer garden projects

http://www.rodale.com/summer-backyard-garden-projects

I like the idea of:

1) plant garlic
2) plant garlic
3) plant garlic

On Bats

http://www.heronswoodvoice.com/2010/08/batman-h-c-heg-on-bats/

Interesting little essay on bats.

Reinforces my belief that I should put up one or more bat houses in the garden.

Blithewold Arboretum

http://www.blithewold.org/

Maybe I can visit this destination if I ever find myself in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Rain: 3/4"

3/4" rain here Friday night while I was in Michigan.