Focus on Foliage

http://www.finegardening.com/item/18259/foliage-foundations-and-gnasty-gnomes-the-gs-are-silent

Beware misfloropic pranksters.

Pruning Japanese Maples

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/pruning-japanese-maples.aspx

The best time to prune is when the shears are sharp.

Shenandoah

Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'

http://www.santarosagardens.com/Panicum-virgatum-Shenandoah-p/pan-she.htm

A switch grass with good coloring and cold hardiness.

Fox on the driveway

There was a fresh fox track on the driveway this morning.

Dragon Heart

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/48471/

Hardy Geranium 'Dragon Heart'

Would be a welcome addition to the garden.

Melinda Myers

http://www.melindamyers.com/

All Melinda Myers All The Time.

Black Mondo Grass

http://www.npr.org/programs/talkingplants/profiles/oplaniscapus.html

I would dearly love to have a cultivar that is hardy in zone 5.

Or maybe if global warming changes my conditions to zone 6.

Coralberry

http://www.heronswood.com/shop/20328?cid=2011_02_10_ElegantShrubsfortheClassicGarden&

I like the "perfectly outrageous" nature of the fruit.

Gourmet Mushrooms

http://www.gmushrooms.com/

Would be a ton of fun to try some of these kits for growing your own mushrooms.

The Wisconsin Gardener

http://wpt2.org/gardener/index.cfm

PBS gardening show sponsored by UW-Extension.

Praying Hands

http://wimastergardener.org/?q=Hosta11PrayingHands

Hosta of the Year 2011

Horticultural Tips

http://www.kitchengardenseeds.com/tips.html

A comprehensive list of tips.

Seed Starting

http://www.adn.com/2011/02/23/1719407/getting-your-seeds-off-to-a-good.html

Some good advice.

More Horticulture Therapy

Lots of additional information at the following link:

http://rock.uwex.edu/category/agriculture/horticulture/education-opportunity/horticulture-therapy/

Horticulture Therapy

I attended the monthly MGV Brown Bag today at the Milwaukee County UW-Extension Offices.

The topic was Horticulture Therapy.

The presenter was Mike Maddox, Horticulture Educator for Rock County.

We heard about the benefits for jail inmates, youths with cognitive disabilities, patients recovering from surgery, people recovering from drug/alcohol addiction, etc.

There was a good turnout (ten including myself) and lots of interest statewide in the Q& A session at the end.

Minnesota vs. TCD

http://www.startribune.com/local/116917293.html

Thousand cankers disease threatens black walnut trees.

Prevent Damping Off

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/preventing-damping-off?et_mid=101331&rid=2093016

Good advice for seed starting.

Coffee Grounds

http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3700

Compost, mulch, soil amendment, etc.

Dirt

http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1601.htm

Dirt is one of my favorite subjects.

IPM

http://ppp.missouri.edu/ipm/index.htm

Integrated Pest Management.

Twisty Shrubs

http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=10734

Some good choices include Harry Lauder's Walking Stick and Flowering Quince 'Contorta.'

Too bad that 'Flying Dragon' bitter orange is not hardy in Zone 5. I would love to have it for those nasty thorns.

Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/caulophyllumthal.html

Would be a welcome addition to the woodland garden.

Coco One-Steps

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/96619/

I would like to try these coir mini-pots.

12 Best Shade Plants

http://www.greatgardenplantsblog.com/2011/02/22/12-best-shade-loving-plants-for-your-garden/

We have all of these except Pulmonaria.

I have tried and failed with Pulmonaria several times.

"Not for the dry garden."

And our garden gets very dry during the later summer drought time.

Crimson Fans

Mukdenia 'Crimson Fans'

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=294

I would like to try this ground cover for shade.

Shade Garden Success

http://www.greatgardenplantsblog.com/2011/02/20/7-expert-tips-for-shade-garden-success/

I like the idea of using containers in tough spots.

Driftwood

http://www.finegardening.com/item/18411/a-humble-garden-ornament

Clever use of a fallen tree branch to imitate the effect of driftwood in the garden.

Just Dandy

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/48603/

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Just Dandy'

Would be a welcome addition both in the ground and in a pot.

Bottle Rocket

Ligularia 'Bottle Rocket'

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=1162

This would be good along the edge of the garden pool.

Cottage Garden Plants

http://www.gardening-tips-perennials.com/cottage-garden-plants.html

I like the list, but I have had no end of trouble with delphiniums and hollyhocks.

Try, try again.

Support Your Friendly Neighborhood Pollinator

http://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/public-outreach/cert

I am in favor of it.

Permaculture

http://patternliteracy.com/

Gaia's Garden (2009) by Toby Hemenway

I have the 3rd hold on the MCFLS copy.

Magnetic Water Conditioning

http://www.dripworksusa.com/store/magnets.php?utm_source=email&utm_medium=em1106&utm_campaign=em1106

Magnets are amazingly useful.

Clean Rain Ultra

http://www.dripworksusa.com/store/rooftop.php?utm_source=email&utm_medium=em1106&utm_campaign=em1106

Good design but a little expensive.

Dirt

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/articles/view/9/The-Secret-is-in-the-Soil

Dirt is one of my favorite subjects.

Your Backyard Herb Garden

http://www.gardenershub.com/product/your-backyard-herb-garden-9780875969947/books/?r=HTWB91&p=NEW11&et_mid=141948&rid=2093016

Looks like a good book.

I requested it from the MCFLS.

Cold-Weather Compost

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/cold-weather-compost?cm_mmc=OGNews-_-2011_02_16-_-learnandgrow-_-cold_weather_compost

Good advice on compost.

Mint Mocha

Coleus 'Mint Mocha'

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/71337-product.html

I like the duckfoot-type foliage.

Hairy Bittercress

Cardamine hirsuta

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2839/

I am not familiar with this weed.

Maybe it cannot compete with dandelions and garlic mustard.

Red Racer

Helleborus 'Red Racer'

http://www.deerxlandscape.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=87983&p_catid=47

Would be a welcome addition to our Hellebore collection.

Yes, We Can Trust Burpee Seeds

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-garden/2011/02/can-you-trust-burpee-seeds.html

Internet rumors can be a problem.

Burpee Rumors Put To Rest

http://www.heronswoodvoice.com/2011/02/burpee-gmo-and-monsanto-rumors-put-to-rest/?utm_source=02222011-Burpee-GMO-And-Monsanto-Rumors-Put-To-Rest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Hvoice

Some very interesting seed company history.

Mow Less, Grow More

http://www.timberpress.com/books/edible_front_yard/soler/9781604691993?s=edibles11&pr=edibles11&a=1

I am in favor of it.

Cool-Season Annuals

http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/cool-season-annuals.aspx

Some of my favorite flowers are cool-season annuals: Calendula, California Poppy, Cornflower, Nasturtium, Pansy, Snapdragon.

Raccoon in the garden

There is a raccoon in the garden, vandalizing the bird feeder in the maple tree on the west side of the house.

Bird Count

Thanks to Elizabeth for sending me this link.

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Alliums

http://fyi.uwex.edu/brownbag/2010/12/16/growing-alliums/

MGV Brown Bag from 12-17-2010

Dr. Robert Tomesh

Mostly about edible onions, garlic, chives, leeks, etc. but there were a couple of questions about ornamental alliums.

Currants and Gooseberries

http://fyi.uwex.edu/brownbag/2010/11/17/growing-currants-and-gooseberries/

Original date 11-12-2010.

Dr. Robert Tomesh.

Black Krim

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/store/search_results_detail.php?seedtype=V&seedid=615

I would like to try this Russian heirloom tomato with earthy flavor.

Covey

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=1122

Weepy Redbud.

Would love to have one.

Sanguineum Album

Hardy Geranium

http://www.dutchbulbs.com/store/perennials/geranium/64745

Low maintenance and grows anywhere.

How can you beat that?

Fossilized Bat Guano

http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/archipelago-fossilized-bat-guano/Organic-Fertilizer

Would love to try some but the application sounds difficult.

Tree Terrorist Suspect Arrested

http://www.ajc.com/sports/alleged-auburn-tree-poisoners-841586.html

In the parts of ancient Europe controlled by druids, killing an oak was a death penalty offense.

Terrorism vs. Oak Trees

http://www.ajc.com/sports/radio-show-caller-said-841586.html

An act of domestic terrorism.

Best All-Around Herb

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/2514/how-to-grow-parsley

I need to grow more parsley.

We had a couple of volunteers in the garden last year.

Hypertufa Troughs

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/make-hypertufa-trough.aspx

On my list of projects for the garden.

First chipmunk of the season

I saw the first chipmunk of the season this afternoon.

48 and sunny, but with a lot of snow cover.

How did it burrow up out of all that snow?

Giant Hawk in the Garden

The giant hawk was perched in the woodland garden this afternoon.

And of course all the squirrels were going crazy.

Mushrooms

I attended the MGV program this morning at the Milwaukee County UW-Extension Offices.

The topic was "Mushrooms for the Home Garden."

The presenters were Keene and Cindy from http://www.keeneorganics.com/home.

Very interesting and well worth attending.

They made it sound fun and easy to grow your own mushrooms.

According to them, the quality difference between a home-grown mushroom and a store-bought mushroom is similar to that of tomatoes.

Gold Medal Perennials

Today, I attended Horticulture magazine's free online workshop.

The topic was "All-Season Gold-Medal Perennials."

The presenter was Kerri Ann Mendez of Perennially Yours.

Ms. Mendez is very enthusiastic about perennials.

Very educational and well worth the time.

The Faithful Gardener

The Faithful Gardener: A Wise Tale About That Which Can Never Die

1995

by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D

I particularly liked the part where the village inspector warned that planting trees might be illegal.

Fairy Tale

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5136/

Eggplant 'Fairy Tale'

Would be interesting to grow this dwarf variety in a pot.

Blue Moon

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/36004-product.html

Phlox divaricata 'Blue Moon'

Would be a welcome fragrant addition to the woodland garden.

Soil Amendments

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/soil-amendments.aspx

The soybean meal sounds interesting.

Gives your garden the aroma of a dead animal.

Field of Dreams

http://www.santarosagardens.com/ornamental-corn-p/zea-mays.htm

Interesting variegated ornamental corn.

Bleeding Heart

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=C480

Difficult to keep going because we have wet soil in winter and dry soil in summer.

Hubricht's Blue Star

http://www.santarosagardens.com/Amsonia-hubrichtii-p/ams-hub.htm

On my wish list.

Houseplants

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/smartgardener/february11.php

Reduce indoor air pollution.

Soil Activator

http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=2612

Always looking for ways to make better soil.

Emerald

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?pageId=732

Thuja 'Emerald'

Would make a great hedge plant.

Skeeter's Broom

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?pageId=946

I like the compact habit of this Japanese Maple.

Chocolate Cherry

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5437/

Tomato 'Chocolate Cherry'

I never see the plants available locally.

I might have to grow some from seeds.

Hawk in the garden

One of the small hawks (Cooper's Hawk or Sharp-Shinned Hawk) made a pass through the front yard this morning. It flushed out a lot of small songbirds but did not get anything.

Fox in the garden

There were fresh fox tracks in the front yard this morning.

Houseplants vs. Formaldehyde

http://www.rodale.com/plants-clean-air?page=0%2C0&cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2011_02_08-_-Top5-_-NA

We have a couple of these but should get more.

Snow in the garden

According to weather.com, we got 21.8" of snow in the last 24 hours.