Perennials in Pots in Winter

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/qa/perennials-pots.aspx

Two zones colder, so for us, it would be Zone 3 plants.

Plants for Winter Interest

http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/stretching-the-seasons.aspx

Interesting suggestions.

We already have some of these, like joe pye, culver's root, queen of the prairie, etc.

Deer in the garden

The two fawns were back around 9am this morning.

One was up close and the other was behind the back line.

North American Native Plant Society

http://www.nanps.org/

Native bees love native plants.

Mohican

Viburnum lantana 'Mohican'

http://www.soonerplantfarm.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=408

Viburnum lantana is considered an invasive in Wisconsin.

Deer in the garden

One of the fawns was eating off the picnic table at 6:40am this morning.

Too dark to take a picture from inside.

Gossler Farms Nursery

https://secure.gosslerfarms.com/home.php

Good selection of woodies and a book on hardy shrubs.

Deer in the garden

At 4:15pm, I inadvertently jumped the two fawns out of the woodland garden.

At 4:30pm, the doe and two fawns were back.

Unfortunately, I was inside, it was getting dark, and I still do not know how to use the phone camera.

One of the fawns is in this picture.

I guess you have to take my word for it.

Master gardeners vs. voles

http://www.mastergardeners.org/resources/animals/voles.html

The master gardeners are completely outnumbered.

They haven't got a chance.

Dead vole in the garden

There was a dead vole in the woodland garden this afternoon.

I am always curious about what would kill a vole and not eat it.

Maybe it just died of natural causes.

As per the following link, we should all be wary of The Vole Menace:

http://www.unitedwildlife.com/AnimalsVoles.html

Particularly the part about how the odor of dead voles can cause headaches and nausea.

Roy Davidson

Pulmonaria 'Roy Davidson'

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/43632/

I have had terrible luck with Pulmonaria but maybe I should try this one.

Cinnamon Flakes

Betula chinensis 'Cinnamon Flakes'

http://www.songsparrow.com/2010/plantdetails.cfm?ID=3273&type=WOODY,&pagetype=plantdetails

Makes me want to try growing a birch.

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

http://www.hortmag.com/featured/foamflower-2

Alternative to garlic mustard.

Creepy Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens 'Very Berry'

http://www.heronswood.com/special-offer/gaultheria-procumbens-%27very-berry%27/

I have fond memories of eating wild wintergreen berries as a child.

I have tried to grow wintergreen and failed.

Maybe I should try again.

Rooguchi

Clematis 'Rooguchi'

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/46428

Zone 4 and tolerates part shade.

This would make a great addition to the vine collection.

Snow Storm

Hakonechloa macra 'Fubuki'

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=1146

New shade ornamental grass.

I want to try this.

Mail Order Natives

http://www.mailordernatives.com/servlet/StoreFront

Excellent selection of vines, trees, shrubs, etc.

Dwarf Chestnut Oak

Quercus prinoides

http://www.treetrail.net/quercus_prinoides.html

The dwarf habit and good fall color make this a great tree.

Paper Potter

http://www.tmseeds.com/product/Paper-Potter/Tools_and_Accessories?p=2403299&r=111710TM&utm_source=em&utm_medium=spec&lm=tmus

This could be a fun item.

Common Polypody

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/cm_polypody.htm

This would make a welcome addition to our fern collection.

Its preference for sandstone habitats might be a problem in our heavy clay.

Gardening Allies

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/4826/raising-animals-as-gardening-allies

This is great for those who are lucky enough to live in enlightened municipalities.

Those of us who live in ignorant medieval villages have to do without gardening allies.

Winter Compost

http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-3-79-1655,00.html?cm_mmc=OGNews-_-2010_11_10-_-compostandsoil-_-underground_compost_weathers_winter

Would make an interesting experiment.

Growing Herbs Indoors

http://www.organicgardening.com/10_herbs/index.html

I have tried this for many years and it is not a trivial undertaking.

Wild Ginger

Asarum canadense

http://www.hortmag.com/featured/wild-ginger

We love our wild ginger and have several clumps in the garden.

I did not know that it served as a host plant for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly.

Harry Lauder

http://www.paghat.com/hazelcatkins.html

Interesting information about Harry Lauder and the contorted filbert that is named for him.

Unfortunate that the twisted variety is a poor producer of nuts.

Hairy Potter's Walking Stick

http://www.hortmag.com/headline/harry-potters-walking-stick

Disrespecting Harry Lauder.

Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

We want one for the garden.

Coralberry

Symphoricarpos Xdoorenbos II
'Kordes' Amethyst TM

http://www.heronswood.com/shop/20328?cid=2010_11_12_ExceptionalPlantsforWinterColor&

Stunning show of fruit.

Raspberry Daiquiri

Agastache aurantiaca 'Raspberry Daiquiri'

http://www.tmseeds.com/product/Agastache-Aurantiaca-Raspberry-Daiquiri/Shop_New_Garden_Seed

I never met an Agastache I didn't like.

Cranes over the garden

Several flights of cranes over the garden again today, going south.

The largest group was about 100.

Wild Cucumber

Echinocystis lobata

http://wimastergardener.org/?q=WildCucumber

http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/echinocystis-lobata-wild-cucumber/?cat=272

I have had such poor luck with wild cucumber that I am ready to give up on it.

Mason Hollow Nursery

https://server12.lfchosting.com/Sandersen/index.asp

http://www.masonhollow.com/

Good selection of woodies including American Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus).

Lady In Red

Athyrium filix-femina

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/AS/genus/Athyrium

We have one Lady in Red, but I would definitely like more.

Snow in the other garden

Paul sent this picture from the mansion today.

They obviously have more snow in that garden than we do in ours.

Very cold here (16 degrees this morning), but no snow.

Black Gum

Nyssa sylvatica

http://www.hort.net/profile/nys/nyssy/

Good fall color.

Ironwood

Ostrya virginiana

http://www.hortmag.com/featured/hop-hornbeam-ostrya-virginiana

Another good choice for the understory.

Mountain Maple

Acer spicatum

http://www.borealforest.org/shrubs/shrub1.htm

Would be a welcome addition to the understory.

Alternatives to Invasives

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/alternatives-to-invasives

Some interesting suggestions.

Wahoo

Euonymus atropurpureus

http://www.hortmag.com/plants/plant-profiles/the-wahoo-plant

Native alternative to burning bush.

Worm Power

http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/c-120-worm-power-harris-seeds.aspx?_cr=email|HGnews|monthly|10Nov

State-of-the-art worm compost.

Edible Forest Gardens

http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/

Edible Forest Gardens and Coppice Agroforestry.

What is next?

Hudson

Apios americana 'Hudson'

http://www.oikostreecrops.com/store/product.asp?cookiecheck=yes&P_ID=282&PT_ID=137&strPageHistory=cat

Interesting experiment for an edible forest garden.

Lil Miss Sunshine

Caryopteris 'Janice'

http://colorchoiceplants.com/lil_miss_sunshine.htm

Stunning combination of yellow leaves and blue flowers.

Scarlet Runner Pole Beans

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/beans/runner/bean-scarlet-runner-pole-prod000599.html?catId=cat30004

Excellent red flowers.

Ruby Moon

Hyacinth Bean Vine 'Ruby Moon'

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/store/search_results_detail.php?seedtype=F&seedid=85

One of those wicked plants where the beans can be poisonous if not prepared correctly.

Definitely on my vine wish list for 2011.

Ladybug Loft

http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/ladybug-loft/garden-decor

Not sure if this is practical, but it would make great garden art.

Cardinal Climber

Ipomoea x multifida

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/3309/

On my vine wish list for 2011.

Czakor

Geranium macrorrhizum 'Czakor'

Available from Heronswood (link here)

I am always looking for another perennial Geranium.

Oak chair

http://www.finegardening.com/item/17128/reader-photo-lemonade-from-lemons

Very clever use of an oak stump.

Rain: 0.25"

We got 1/4" rain Wednesday night, just as predicted.

Garden art

http://www.finegardening.com/item/17067/paint-the-garden-red-or-greenor-blue

I never thought of spray painting dead trees.

Flaming Squirrel

http://www.gardengatestore.com/flaming-squirrel-sauce.html

Might be interesting to try Cole's Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce.

Cranes over the garden

Several flights of cranes have flown over the garden today, heading south for winter.

The largest flight had about 50 birds in it.

I might not have noticed them if they were not making so much noise.

I could hear them before I could see them.

Rain: 5/8"

We got 5/8" rain yesterday.

Landscape Pesticide Registry

http://wimastergardener.org/?q=LandscapePesticideRegistry2009

Reminder to self: A renewal notice should arrive late November or early December.

Stink bugs

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/109920954.html?elr=KArksUUUezH_MDC7DaaDy_vDEh7P:DiU

Yet another invasive species.

Frogs in the Garden Pool

Three frogs in the garden pool today.

The forecast is for 23 degrees tonight.

Not seeing how this is going to work.

Douglas Maple

Acer glabrum

http://www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/ace_gla.html

Small, shade tolerant.

Northernmost maple?

Ceramic Stone Birdhouse

http://www.santarosagardens.com/Ceramic-Stone-Birdhouse-p/ag-210c.htm

This would be an interesting novelty item in the garden.

Bird House Dimensions

http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Building_Bird_Houses.html

A good chart of birdhouse dimensions.

Ivory Prince

Helleborus 'Walhelivor'

http://www.heronswood.com/perennials-helleborus-hellebores/helleborus-ivory-prince/

Always interested in more hellebores.

Mason Bee Lodge

http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/mason-bee-lodge/garden-decor

Always good to provide cover for those important native pollinators.

Split Second

Ipomoea nil 'Split Second'

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/51464/

Impressive double-flowered morning glory.

Persian Ivy

Hedera colchica

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/44686/

Worth a try.

Bonsai moss

http://www.adn.com/2010/11/17/1560260/bonsai-moss-is-easy-to-cultivate.html

Another clever idea I never thought of.

Deer in the garden

Yesterday, there was one fawn in the garden in the morning (picture in a previous post).

Around noon, while I was out running errands, a neighbor called my cell phone to tell me that there was a doe and two fawns in the garden.

In the afternoon, I was working in the woodland garden. I went into the house for just a minute and when I went back outside, I inadvertently jumped two fawns out of the woodland garden.

Unprecedented to have three deer sightings in one day.

Deer in the garden

Look closely.

There is a small deer standing directly behind the picnic table.

Deer in the garden

There was a deer in the garden this morning, eating sunflower seeds off the picnic bench and table.

No pictures?

I grabbed the cell phone and could not get the camera to work (I have used it before).

I grabbed the scout camera, and at first I thought the batteries were dead but it turns out to be a more serious problem than that.

I grabbed the cell phone again and suddenly it worked and I took a couple of pictures.

Now I can't find a USB cable so I can transfer the pictures to the computer as per the following link:

http://www.technipages.com/copy-pictures-from-droid-x-to-computer.html

The USB cable for the scout camera does not fit the cell phone.

Oak Hickory vs. Beech Maple

http://www.longforestry.com/ManageOakHickory.html

Interesting observations on how an oak hickory forest can be replaced by a beech maple forest.

American Beech

Fagus grandifolia

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/american_beech.htm

Shallow roots and dense shade make it hard for the understory.

Ecoregional Planting Guides

http://www.pollinator.org/zip-map.test.htm?zipcode=53130

As per the above link, we are in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest (Continental) Province.

Nana Lutea

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea'

Golden Dwarf Hinoki Cypress

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/743/golden-dwarf-hinoki-cypress.php

Would make an interesting addition to the garden.

Hawk over the garden

One of the small hawks (Cooper's Hawk or Sharp-Shinned Hawk) flew over the garden this afternoon.

Snow Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera

http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_b9f9.html

Gray green foliage tipped with white could be interesting.

Yellow Ribbon

Thuja occidentalis 'Yellow Ribbon'

Yellow Ribbon Arborvitae

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2161/yellow-ribbon-arborvitae.php

Can handle wet and some shade.

Would be an interesting addition to a woodland garden.

Hawk in the garden

There was a small hawk perched in the crabapple tree by the driveway this afternoon.

Cooper's Hawk or Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

Owl near the garden

We first heard and then saw an owl during our walk through the neighborhood last night.

Rain: 1/8"

1/8" rain last night.

Ancient Herbs

http://www.herbcompanion.com/growing/ancient-herbs-modern-uses.aspx

Seven ancient herbs:

Aloe
Flax
Frankincense
Garlic
Myrrh
Milk Thistle
Turmeric

Common Rue

Ruta graveolens

http://www.herbcompanion.com/in-the-herb-garden/ruta-graveolens-growing-common-rue.aspx

We could all use a little extra protection from evil.

Fall Fireworks

http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/fall-fireworks.aspx

Excellent combos featuring some of my favorites such as ornamental grasses, chrysanthemums and sedums.

Unfortunately, since the author is in the Pacific Northwest, several of the plants are not hardy here in Zone 5.

Arizona Compacta

Abies lasiocarpa 'Arizona Compacta'

http://www.qscaping.com/NetPS-Engine.asp?CCID=20000010&page=pdp&PID=50

Good choice for a small garden.

Blue conifers

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1755/

The article at the above link is actually about choices for Christmas trees, but it also serves as an excellent summary of blue conifers for the garden.

Gold Lace

Juniperus chinensis 'Gold Lace'

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/230/gold-lace-juniper.php

Provides a good color contrast against greens.

Evergreen Nursery

http://www.evergreenplantnursery.com/

Tennessee.

Big selection of evergreen trees and shrubs.

Frogs in the Garden Pool

There were three frogs in the garden pool this afternoon.

I guess they did not get the memo about burrowing down into the mud for winter.

But it is around 50 degrees, so maybe they are waiting for colder weather.

Ground Nut

Apios americana

http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/other-species-9/apios-americana-24.html

Native vine, Zone 4.

Wild Yam

Dioscorea villosa

http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/other-species-9/dioscorea-villosa-242.html

Zone 4, shade.

John Clayton

Lonicera 'John Clayton'

http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/lonicera-honeysuckle-6/lonicera-john-clayton-277.html

Native honeysuckle vine, Zone 4, partial shade.

Blue Moon

Wisteria 'Blue Moon'

http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/other-species-9/wisteria-blue-moon-365.html

From a selection found in Minnesota.

Zone 5, tolerates partial shade.

Tangerine Beauty

Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'

Cross Vine

http://www.sunlightgardens.com/pages/1335.html

Tolerates some shade.

Native Vines

http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/native-vines-1/?zenid=578bdc341dd1fc1e1c8f4b6847f5e3ef

Interesting list of vines native to the US.

Clematis in dappled shade

http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/shrubs-perennials-support-clematis-vines.aspx

Describes how some clematis thrive in dappled shade.

Consider Clematis 'Silver Moon' as a possibility.

Elegans

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata 'Elegans'

AKA Variegated Porcelain Berry Vine

http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=463

"Likes shade."

Zepherine Drouhin

Rosa 'Zepherine Drouhin'

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1203/

A shade tolerant climbing rose is definitely worth a try.

Vines for Wisconsin Shade

http://horticulturetalk.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/vines-for-shade/

The recommendations at the above link:

Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)
Clematis
Climbing Hydrangea

Welcome

Ribes 'Welcome' (Gooseberry)

http://www.eat-it.com/plants.php?func=view&id=439

Grows well in shade.

Pink Gooseberry

http://www.millernurseries.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=305

Shade tolerant.

Jostaberry

http://www.millernurseries.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=303

A cross between a black currant and a gooseberry.

Hinnomaki Red

Ribes 'Hinnomaki Red' (Gooseberry)

http://www.naturehills.com/product/hinnomaki_red_gooseberry.aspx

Some sources mention that this cultivar is somewhat thorny.

Colossal

Ribes 'Colossal' (Gooseberry)

http://www.cyfernet.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1122.html

Fruit up to 1.5" in diameter.

Selected in Mankato, Minnesota.

Invicta

Ribes 'Invicta' (Gooseberry)

http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/mfruit/gooseberries.html

Invicta may be the best gooseberry cultivar.

Poorman

http://tanyasgarden.blogspot.com/2010/03/poorman-rejuvenated.html

Interesting account of one gardener's adventures with Ribes 'Poorman' (Gooseberry).

Rain: 0.25"

1/4 inch rain today, just as predicted.

Raintree Nursery

http://www.raintreenursery.com/

Good source for gooseberries.

Black Gooseberry

http://www.fourthcornernurseries.com/PlantDetail.asp?Symbol=RIDI

Heavily thorned.

Currants and Gooseberries

http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=26

Currants and gooseberries are listed as plant pests in the state of Michigan.

Ribes divaricatum

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/ribes-divaricatum

The thorniest of the gooseberries.

Advanced Master Gardeners

http://www.advancedmastergardener.org/

When the efforts of Master Gardeners are not sufficient, go to the Advanced Master Gardeners.

MSU MGV

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/mastergardener/

Tons of information.

Tixia

Gooseberry 'Tixia'

http://www.noursefarms.com/catalog/Product/Gooseberries/RI-TX/Tixia%E2%84%A2.aspx

Described as semi-thornless at the above link.

Currants and Gooseberries

I attended the monthly MGV Brown Bag yesterday at the Milwaukee County Extension offices.

Dr. Robert Tomesh discussed currants and gooseberries.

He described them as underutilized and with great potential.

Judging from the number of questions at the end of the talk, there is a lot of interest in the topic.

Very informative and well worth attending.

Rotary Botanical Gardens

http://rotarygardens.blogspot.com/

Horticulture Blog.

Wandering Jew

Tradescantia zebrina

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=D681

Easily grown as a houseplant.

Rain: Trace

Only a trace of rain last night.

Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/shrubs/cornuscan.html

I have tried and failed to grow bunchberry.

Soils that dry out and heat up in summer are a killer.

Maybe I should try again.

Hawk in the garden

A hawk the size of an eagle dropped onto the garden this morning.

It might have been a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

It missed its target, which I think was a junco.

Addendum/Correction: It could not have been a Sharp-Shinned Hawk which is a small hawk.

Maybe it was a Ferruginous Hawk, which sometimes grows so large that it is mistaken for an eagle.

St. Clare Heirloom Seeds

http://www.stclareseeds.com/

They offer a good selection of seeds plus worm castings!

Caraway

http://www.everwilde.com/store/Caraway-Herb-Seeds.html

May be invasive, so I want to try some.

Biennial.

Chinese Lanterns

Physalis alkekengi

http://www.tmseeds.com/product/Physalis-Alkekengi/Shop_Perennial_Flower_Seed

I would like to try this one.

Jewels of Opar

Talinum paniculatum

AKA Fameflower

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/talinum-paniculatum-jewels-of-opar.aspx

Not hardy here but could be grown as an annual.

Would be great if it self-seeded.

Bulbs

Only a few bulbs planted this year compared to previous years.

The weather was good but other factors conspired against me.

(40) Leucojum aestivum
(40) Scilla siberica
(20) Daffodils 'Bell Song'
(20) Daffodils 'Ice Follies'
(40) Ornithogalum umbellatum
(1) Frittilaria 'Rubra Maxima'
(10) Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Excelsior'
(20) Daffodils (yellow from Hales Corners Farmers Market)
(10) Tulipa 'Renown'
(10) Allium moly
(10) Nectaroscordum silicum ssp. bulgaricum
(10) Tulipa 'White Dream'

231 bulbs total.

I am embarrassed by the small number.

Musser Forests

http://www.musserforests.com/default.htm

Interesting Nut Tree Special.

Not sure I have room for 25 nut trees.

But maybe they would not all survive.

Happiness Farms

http://www.happinessfarms.com/

Caladiums.

Chickens Make Great Neighbors

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/4/4-2/chickens_make_great_neighbors.html

This story makes me wish that I lived in an enlightened community.

Backyard Poultry

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/

For those lucky persons who live in a community that has emerged from The Dark Ages.

Screech Owl Nest Box

http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/owl/construction.html

Yet another feature that I should add to the garden.

Alleghany Pachysandra

Pachysandra procumbens

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/pacpro/pacpro1.html

"Avoid heavy clay soils" makes it problematic here.

Algoflash fertilizer

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/9221/

Probably worth trying.

Winter Roost

http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=0337&sid=0150683&eid=110810GA&utm_source=em&utm_medium=spec&lm=gard&b1&bhcd2=1289223218

We need a winter roosting box to provide cover for songbirds.

Hawks over the garden

This afternoon a Cooper's Hawk and a Sharp-Shinned Hawk flew over the garden.

Winter Aconite

http://www.dutchbulbs.com/store/specialtybulbs/26072

I have to make more of an effort next year to get some Winter Aconite.

Landscaping for Life

http://www.landscapeforlife.org/

Work with nature in your garden.

Frost Grass

Spodiopogon sibiricus

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/48910/

Maybe I can try some next year.

Hawk in the garden

The Cooper's Hawk was perched in the back yard for a few minutes this afternoon.

Rain: Trace

There was only a trace of precipitation yesterday.

It was a mix pf rain, sleet, and hail.

Lyme Disease

http://www.rodale.com/tick-prevention?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_11_05-_-Top5-_-NA

Deer are an interesting link between the invasive Asian bush honeysuckles and the ticks that carry Lyme disease.

I have already removed the Asian bush honeysuckles from our yard, but they remain numerous in the neighborhood.

Teaming with Microbes

http://teamingwithmicrobes.com/

Excellent book.

Jeff Lowenfels is garden columnist for the Anchorage Daily News.

Gardening In Winter

http://www.adn.com/2010/11/03/1535477/invest-in-lights-to-keep-gardening.html

Sounds like a good diea.

Leaf Mulch

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/videos/fall-leaves-make-great-natural-mulch.aspx

Sydney Eddison evangelizes leaves as mulch.

Betty Corning

Clematis 'Betty Corning'

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/69288/

In the above link, note the comment that one person has it growing in mostly mottled shade.

The following link describes the origins of the vine and the person it was named for:

http://areasonedlandscape.com/?p=927

And last but not least note that there is a lot of variation in the descriptions of hardiness, some as cold as 3 and some as warm as 6.

Anemonin in Clematis

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cloco

Note the presence of the toxic principle Anemonin.

Native Vines

http://www.gardening-for-wildlife.com/vines-of-the-northeast.html

A number of interesting choices, more than I thought.

Bull's Blood

http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/beets/beet-bull-s-blood-prod000606.html

An heirloom beet.

It would be worth growing both as an ornamental and an edible.

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/1348?utm_source=lyris&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=101103-Seeds-from-Santa&utm_content=zone

I have never grown Spearmint from seed.

It might be fun to try it.

Superweeds

http://www.rodale.com/monsanto?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_11_03-_-Top5-_-NA

The sad saga of Monsanto and the creation of superweeds.

Garden at MSU

http://www.finegardening.com/item/16842/pink-and-burgundy-for-fall

We grew some of that Japanese Blood Grass in a pot this year.

Next year, we should plant some in the ground.

Cat in the garden

There was a gray/white cat hunting along the back line this morning.

The squirrels were having apoplectic fits.

My regular cat is a tabby cat, which also gives the squirrels fits.

Herbs vs. Colds

http://www.rodale.com/cold-and-flu-remedies?page=0%2C0&cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_11_01-_-Top5-_-NA

I might have to stop sharing my elderberry fruit with the birds and selfishly hoard it for myself.

And maybe I am allergic to Echinacea. I have been blaming ragweed but we have a lot more coneflowers than ragweed in the garden.

Black Dragon

Coleus 'Black Dragon'

Available from Park Seed (link here)

Worth trying as a houseplant.

Prairie Moon Nursery

http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/echinocystis-lobata-wild-cucumber/?cat=251

As per the link, they even offer Echinocystis lobata seeds.

So it is a tough choice.

Give up on the wild cucumbers or order a hundred seeds?

Echinocystis lobata

I am amazed bordering on stupification that there is an entire book devoted to Echinocystis lobata.

Available through Amazon.com (link here).

Wild Cucumber

Echinocystis lobata

http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?Spcode=ECHLOB

I am ready to give up on this plant.

Again.

We had only one volunteer this year, and the stem got broken off before the fruit matured.

The stems are so fragile, and the germination rate is so poor that we cannot keep them going.

Brent and Becky

http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/

A great source for bulbs.

Chocolate Vine

Akebia quinata

"An excellent ground cover for shady areas and woodland gardens."

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=A149

I am even more convinced that I have to try this vine.

Vines for Shade

http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/climbing-vines-for-shade.html

Unfortunately, a limited selection.

We have Virginia Creeper (in spite of the name, it is a Wisconsin native).

I would like to try the Akebia.

Victorian Peach

Clivia 'Victorian Peach'

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/26685-product.html

If I had a greenhouse and a lot more experience, maybe I could go $475 for a single plant.

But probably not.

Pole Mount for Bat House

http://www.batmanagement.com/Batcentral/boxbuild/Polemount.html

Sounds simple enough.

But the first casualty of any battle is the plan.