Hummingbirds

http://www.finegardening.com/item/19757/reader-photos-more-baby-hummingbirds

We have hummingbirds in the garden every year, but I have never found a nest.

Hinnomaki Red

http://www.cherrygal.com/cherrygalheirloomgooseberryhinnomakiredlivenew-p-12624.html

We bought one at Monches Farm.

I planted it by the variegated elderberry.

Carol Mackie

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

Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie'

Would love to have one.

Black Ace

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=L560

Chelone glabra 'Black Ace'

Turtlehead

Worth a try in wet shade.

Available at Monches.

Dickson's Gold

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=V370

Spreading low-growing bellflower.

Was not included in the Chicago Botanic Garden trials.

Available at Monches.

Neosulfureum

http://www.joycreek.com/Epimedium-versicolor-Neosulfureum-322-030.htm

One of the best Epimediums in the Chicago Botanic Garden trials.

Epimediums

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no20_barrenworts.pdf

Great plants for the shade garden.

Little King

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=J520

Dwarf river birch tolerates part shade and heavy clay.

Worth trying.

Sarastro

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/731/sarastro-bellflower.php

The only bellflower to receive 5 stars in the Chicago Botanic Garden evaluation.

Bellflowers

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no31_bellflower.pdf

Comprehensive testing of bellflowers by the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Depressing number of winter losses in moisture retentive soils.

Chameleon

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?pageId=976

Houttuynia cordata

I need to transplant some around the yard.

Blue Star Creeper

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?pageId=631

Isotoma fluviatilis

Would like to try it as a ground cover.

Glory of the Snow

http://www.santarosagardens.com/Chionodoxa-forbesii-p/chi-for.htm

Have to make an effort to plant MANY this fall.

Gaura

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=C840

Gaura lindheimeri

Beware heavy, poorly-drained soils.

Bloody Dock

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/rumex-sanguineus-bloody-dock.aspx

Rumex sanguineus

Bloody Dock AKA Red Veined Sorrel

Zone 6 but may self-seed.

We bought one at the Boerner Herb Faire from Cook With Herbs.

Marquis

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/49170

Seedless white grape introduced by Cornell.

Good cold hardiness.

Echium russicum

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/search/lst.srch.asp?prodid=381

Excellent winter hardiness, but we do not have full sun or well-drained soil.

Purple Rooster

http://www.romencegardens.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=2619

Monarda didyma 'Purple Rooster'

We have lots of bee balm in the garden, but none of this color.

Trace of rain

Only a trace of rain last night.

Flowering Tobacco and Tomatoes

http://www.garden.org/searchqa/index.php?q=show&id=1090&ps=57&keyword=tomato&adv=0

The key is keeping everything virus-free.

Only the Lonely

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=730

Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only the Lonely'

Great for a moon garden.

Gooseberries

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

Lists cultivars Poorman, Hinnomaki Red, Invicta, Pixwell, etc.

Apartment Gardening with Herbs

http://www.herbcompanion.com/gardening/from-our-bookshelf-apartment-gardening-with-herbs.aspx

We grow a lot of Agastache outside in the garden, but I have not tried to grow it inside in pots.

Biodynamic Gardening

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/create-biodynamic-back-yard

Interesting ideas, but I am not ready to try it yet.

Top Flowering Herbs

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/flowering-herb-garden

We grow several of the listed herbs, like Agastache, Bee Balm, Joe Pye, Feverfew, Purple Coneflower, and Yarrow.

The WI DNR discourages growing Queen of the Meadow.

Quicksilver

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/974/quicksilver-chinese-wild-ginger.php

Asarum splendens 'Quicksilver'

Would love to have some but that Zone 6 hardiness is going to be a problem until we get more global warming.

Some other sources claim Zone 5.

Jerry Nelson's Garden

http://mzientek.blogspot.com/2011/05/jerry-nelsons-garden.html

Marcia Zientek went on the MGV tour of Jerry Nelson's garden in inhospitable weather.

False Spirea

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=F630

Sorbaria sorbifolia

Might be an interesting experiment.

Solar Fountain

http://www.gardeners.com/Solar-Pineapple-Fountain/NewProducts_Dept,39-640,default,cp.html

Would be fun to have one.

3/4 " Rain

We got 3/4" rain this morning.

University Display Gardens

http://universitydisplaygardens.com/

West Madison Agricultural Research Station

Burnout

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/burnout-weed-killer.html

Organic herbicide.

Plant Pairs

http://www.midwestliving.com/garden/design/10-top-summer-plant-pairs/

Excellent companions.

It would be hard for me to pick a favorite pair.

Alliums for Shade

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1082/is_n5_v39/ai_17618773/

I want them all.

Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects

http://www.farmerfred.com/plants_that_attract_benefi.html

We grow some of the listed plants.

Like dandelions, for example.

40 Gardening Tips

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-tips-zm0z11zsto.aspx

Lots of good ideas.

Fish Meal Organic Fertilizer

http://www.organicgardeninfo.com/fish-meal.html

Strong odor.

Organic Fertilizers

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/organic-fertilizers

Many choices.

Plants for Pollinators

http://www.herbcompanion.com/gardening/attract-pollinators-to-your-garden.aspx

We grow many (but not all) of the plants listed.

Blackhaw

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=G240

Viburnum prunifolium

Would like to try one.

Clove Currant

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=m110

Ribes odoratum

My kind of plant.

On my wish list.

Tamarind

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/tamarind.html

Tamarindus indica

Can reach a height of 100'.

I might have to transplant ours to a bigger pot.

Cook With Herbs

http://www.cookwithherbs.com/index.html

They were selling herb plants at the Boerner Herb Faire on Saturday.

We bought:

(1) Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

(1) Red-Leaf Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus)

(1) Red Veined Sorrel (Rumex sanguineus)

(2) Vietnamese Coriander (Polygonum odoratum)

Hoppe Tree Service

http://www.hoppetreeservice.com/

Hoppe Tree Service was selling tree seedlings at the Wauwatosa Farmers Market on Saturday.

We bought an Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana, AKA American Hophornbeam) and I planted it in the woodland garden.

We bought a red oak (Quercus rubra) and I planted it on the west side of the maple garden.

Rain Garden Plants

http://www.rainkc.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.main/index.htm

A great many choices.

The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Thumb-Guide-Raingardens/dp/B0015ZN510

Self-published and no ISBN.

Blue Ash

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/treeselector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=212

Fraxinus quadrangulata

Not recommended due to Emerald Ash Borer.

3/4" Rain

We got 3/4" rain last night (1" according to weather.com).

Reasons to Raise Chickens

http://www.organicgardening.com/living/5-reasons-raise-chickens

Someone should tell government officials in backward medieval villages.

Sweetbay Magnolia

http://hcs.osu.edu/hcs/tmi/plantlist/ma_niana.html

Magnolia virginiana

The native Magnolia.

Would be interesting to try one.

Sea Magic

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/9261

Seaweed with 17 amino acids.

Reading Fairy

http://www.plowhearth.com/Reading-Fairy_p11607.html

On my wish list.

Madame Galen

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/60910-product.html

Campsis x tagliabuana 'Madame Galen'

Would love to have one.

True Green Elm Tree

http://gurneys.com/product.asp?pn=08775&sid=0515535&eid=051911GU

Resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.

Dwarf Madness

http://blog.anniesannuals.com/2011/05/20/dwarf-madness/

Interesting rant.

U.S. Drought Monitor

http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

Map of drought conditions.

White Lady

http://springhillnursery.com/product.asp?pn=66752&sid=0425176&eid=052011SH

Helleborus 'White Lady'

Would be a welcome addition to our Hellebore collection.

Tree Roots

http://www.finegardening.com/item/19727/a-trees-root-system-revealed

This is no revelation to anyone who has tried to garden around tree roots.

Rex Begonia Vine

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/cissus-discolor-rex-begonia-vine.aspx

Cissus discolor

Great foliage, likes shade, but not hardy.

Here is would be an annual or a houseplant.

1/8" Rain

1/8" rain yesterday.

Best Bang for Your Buck

http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/il/newsletter-stories/best_bang_for_your_buck/

I like plants that self-seed or spread by suckers.

All Kinds of Basil

http://statebystategardening.com/il/newsletter-stories/all_kinds_of_basil/

We grow several pots of basil every year.

Foster and Smith Aquatics

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/

Lots of cool stuff for ponds.

The solar-powered pumps are interesting.

Dwarf Vegetables

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/10658/have-a-small-space-garden-try-dwarf-vegetable-varieties/

Good for containers.

Tree Stump

http://www.finegardening.com/item/19666/from-eyesore-to-eye-catching

Creative use of a tree stump.

Porcelain Berry

http://www.romencegardens.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=7

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata 'Elegans'

Terrible reputation as an invasive.

Shooting Star Nursery

http://shootingstarnursery.com/catalog/index.php

They offer a good selection of trees, shrubs, vines, wildflowers, etc.

1/2" Rain in the garden

We got 1/2" rain over the weekend as follows:

1/8" Friday night

1/8" Saturday

1/4" Saturday night

Far short of the 1.25" that was predicted.

Invicta Gooseberry

http://www.jungseed.com/dp.asp?pID=30184&c=229&p=Invicta+Gooseberry

I want a thorny gooseberry.

Invicta is described as "spiny."

Other possible thorny varieties would be Downing or Glenndale.

Pink-flowered Dianthus

http://www.plant-pictures.net/3263-dianthus-picture.aspx

We bought a Dianthus with silvery foliage and pink flowers at Shady Acres.

It looks very similar to the 'Cobham Beauty' pictured in the link above.

I planted it next to the Prairie Smoke just south of the Chinese Chestnut.

Earliest of All

http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=4624

Trollius cultorum 'Earliest of All'

Globe Flower

We bought one at Monches Farm.

I planted it near the Trollius on the east side of the driveway.

The moisture requirements described at the link above are interesting, because last year I planted one next to the garden pool, and it did not survive.

Valerian

http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=VALOFF

Valeriana officinalis

We bought one at Monches Farm.

I planted it by the valerian near the old eastern crabapple tree.

This gives us a total of four with the one in the maple forest and the one in the daylilies on the west side of the house.

Jupiter's Beard

http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene2d02.html

Centranthus ruber

We bought one today at Luxembourg Gardens.

Would love to reach a point someday where it actually does self-seed.

Blackberry Punch

http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=9547

Calibrachoa 'Blackberry Punch'

We bought a hanging basket today at Luxembourg Gardens.

It contained several plants.

Dandelions

http://www.herbcompanion.com/in-the-herb-garden/three-reasons-to-love-dandelions.aspx

Good bee plants.

Big Herbs

http://www.herbcompanion.com/in-the-herb-garden/growing-big-herbs-angelica-borage-and-tansy.aspx

We grow angelica, borage, and tansy.

Three of my favorites.

Silverlace Vine

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/47366

We have two, and the younger one is doing much better than the older one.

Sophia

http://www.monchesfarm.com/FEATUREthermopsis.htm

Thermopsis chinensis 'Sophia'

False Lupine

We bought one today at Monches.

Dwarf Blackberry Lily

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/43500/

Belamcanda chinensis

Would love to try some.

The Blues

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/173/the-blues-little-bluestem.php

I love Little Bluestem.

Best Ornamental Grasses

http://www.midwestliving.com/garden/design/ornamental-grass/

Features some beautiful grasses.

Wild Cucumber

http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/echinocystis-lobata-wild-cucumber/

Echinocystis lobata

I have seven seedlings so far this spring from the previous year's seeds.

Midnight Ruffles

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?pageId=1150

Helleborus 'Midnight Ruffles'

Gorgeous blossoms.

Sweet Kate

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=a737

Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate"

Spiderwort

We bought one today at Shady Acres.

Ornamental Bush Pea

http://www.monchesfarm.com/FEATURElathyrusvernus.htm

Lathyrus vernus

Stunning flowers, tolerates significant shade.

Amethyst Falls

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?pageId=1119

Cultivar of American Wisteria.

Fairy Gardens

http://bicreativeinspirations.com/becreative/natureinspired-fairy-garden/

Clever.

Red-headed Woodpecker in the garden

There was a red-headed woodpecker in the woodland garden today.

We get red-bellied woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers regularly, but it is very unusual to see a red-headed woodpecker.

Celandine Poppy

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

Stylophorum diphyllum

We bought one at Northwind Perennial Farm.

I planted it near the ford with the bleeding hearts.

Swedish Ivy

http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/swedish-ivy.html

I bought one at the Boerner Botanical Gardens gift shop.

It was on consignment from Shady Lane Greenhouses.

Red Twig Dogwood

http://www.ecoterralandscape.com/cgi-bin/ViewTopic.pl?Topic=00-020509cp

Some interesting choices for companion plants like Clethra alnifolia (summersweet).

Beware Phytophotodermatitis

http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/hogweed.htm

We have angelica and cow parsnip.

Best to use caution.

Always.

Cow Parsnip

http://www.oikostreecrops.com/store/product.asp?cookiecheck=yes&P_ID=513&PT_ID=90&strPageHistory=cat

The Scotty People also gave us a Cow Parsnip.

I planted it west of the apple trees, north of the arborvitae.

Barbarea spp.

http://www.all-creatures.org/picb/wfshl-wintercress-early.html

The Scotty People (cherished neighbors) gave us a plant that they called "Wintercress."

I am pretty sure that it is one of the Barbarea species but I am not sure which one.

I planted it west of the apple trees, north of the arborvitae.

1/8" Rain

1/8" rain yesterday.

Bring Back the Monarchs

http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/

We planted some other milkweeds, but finding a local source for common milkweed is proving difficult.

Might have to grow it from seed.

Blue-joint Grass

http://www.borealforest.org/grasses/grass1.htm

Calamagrostis canadensis

A native alternative to Common Reed (Phragmites).

Indian Grass

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

Sorghastrum nutans

We bought one at the Native Plant Sale at Wehr Nature Center.

I planted it by the garden pool.

Skunk Cabbage

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

Symplocarpus foetidus

We bought two at the Native Plant Sale at Wehr Nature Center.

I planted one on the edge of the garden pool and one in the northeast corner where water often collects after a rain.

Flowering Quince

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaenomeles_japonica

We bought one from Heritage Flower Farm.

I planted it on the northeast side between the variegated elderberry and the dutchman's pipe vine.

Nice thorns.

Ornamental Millet

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

Would love to grow some.

'Jade Princess' looks particularly interesting.

Ironweed

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/sm_ironweedx.htm

Vernonia fasciculata

We bought one at the Native Plant Sale at Wehr Nature Center.

I planted it west of Dr. O'Grady's dogwoods.

Urban Tree of the Year 2011

http://www.gardendesignonline.com/gardendesignonline/2011/04/urban-tree-of-the-year-2011.html

Goldenrain Tree.

Koelreuteria paniculata

We do not have one (yet).

Planting Spear

http://www.gardenershub.com/product/planting-spear-w1384/weeders/

I would like to try one.

Variegated Purple Fountain Grass

http://www.santarosagardens.com/Pennisetum-Fireworks-p/pen-fire.htm

Pennisetum 'Fireworks'

Gorgeous ornamental grass, but would have to be grown as an annual here.

Perilla

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5795

"Re-seeds freely" but not yet in our garden.

Swamp Currant

http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=3912

Ribes lacustre

Likes shade and has thorns.

Save the Bees Mix

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/view/7020/Save-the-Bees-Mix-Seed/srch:bees

Support your local bees.

Trace of rain

We got a trace of rain last night.

Urban Gardening

http://www.rodale.com/small-space-vegetable-gardening?page=0%2C1&cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-05052011-_-Top5-_-NA

Tips on how to get more out of limited space, which is important to many of us.

Birds in the Garden

There is a gray catbird in the garden this evening. I have been seeing it the last couple of days.

There was a rose-breasted grosbeak in the garden yesterday.

Purpurea

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/search/lst.srch.asp?prodid=1618

Angelica stricta 'Purpurea'

I would sure like to reach a tipping point where our angelicas self-seed.

Pest Fighting Flowers

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/10805/pest-fighting-flowers

We need to grow more Borage.

Homemade Trellises

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/4464/learn-lashing-and-make-your-own-garden-trellises

Some good advice on knots.

But I personally prefer a hatchet knot.

The Garden Professors

https://sharepoint.cahnrs.wsu.edu/blogs/urbanhort/default.aspx

This looks like a very informational and entertaining blog.

Organic Matter

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/organic-matter

Never enough composted organic matter to go around.

Crop Rotation

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/crop-rotation

Good idea for several reasons.

Elfin Treasure Door

http://www.plowhearth.com/Elfin-Treasure-Door_p11312_S2010_D3010_C3072.html

Very clever.

Filiformis

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/2156/weeping-threadleaf-arborvitae.php

A striking specimen.

Variegated Virginia Creeper

http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/other-species-9/parthenocissus-quinquefolia-variegata-344.html

I love our Virginia Creeper and we have quite a bit of it.

Would be nice to have this less vigorous variegated version as a contrast.

Midnight Oasis

http://www.herbcompanion.com/gardening/down-to-earth-planting-a-moonlight-garden.aspx

I love white flowers because they glow at dusk.

Perennials for Hummingbirds

http://www.santarosagardens.com/Perennials-to-Attract-Hummingbirds-s/224.htm

We try to grow a mix of flowers for hummingbirds.

Lucerne

http://www.romencegardens.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=1497

Sisyrinchium augustifolium 'Lucerne'

Blue Eyed Grass

We have one small clump and need many more.

Mt. Atlas Daisy

http://www.greatgardenplants.com/index.php?pageId=620

Anacyclus depressus

Requires well-drained soil.

Pagoda

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/230323-product.html

Erythronium 'Pagoda'

Avoiding the dry summers and wet winters is very tough here.

Big Effects from Small Bulbs

http://gardennews.biz/?id=5569

Best in large numbers.

Solar Angel

http://www.plowhearth.com/Garden-Angel-with-Solar-Lantern_p12580_S2008_D3063_C2009.html

Would love to have one.

Bluestem Farm

http://www.bluestemfarm.com/

Maybe we can visit them at the Dane County Farmers Market some time.

Southern Wisconsin Butterflies

http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabawba/

Maybe they can help me identify butterflies in the garden.

Slug Wars!

http://www.monchesfarm.com/SLUGWARS.htm

I am a little worried about collateral damage inflicted by an ammonia solution.

Karasuba

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=C964

Mukdenia 'Karasuba'

We bought one at Shady Acres.

I planted it in the woodland garden near where the deer destroyed the Rhododendron.

Boerner Craft Fair

On Sunday, we attended the Craft Fair at Boerner Botanical Gardens.

We bought several plants from Shady Lane Greenhouses:

2 scented geraniums (pelargoniums)

2 black petunias

1 sweet basil

1 cilantro

1 parsley

And we bought a demonic shovel bug from Jeff's Garden Accents.

Northern Lights

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/164/northern-lights-tufted-hair-grass.php

Tufted Hair Grass 'Northern Lights'

We bought one at Shady Acres and I planted it by the garden pool.

Prairie Cordgrass

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

We bought one at Shady Acres and I planted it by the garden pool.

It is going to be interesting to see if it will be as successful as the Golden Reed.

Ascot Rainbow

http://www.deerxlandscape.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=87945&p_catid=37

Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow'

Listed as Zone 6 so it might have a tough time here in Zone 5.

We bought one at Shady Acres.

I planted it by the fireplace chimney so it will get the benefit of the heat radiating off the brick wall.

Virginia Bluebells

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/bluebells.htm

We bought one at Shady Acres and I planted it in the northwestern shade border.

Osaka Mix

http://www.sunnygardens.com/garden_plants/brassica/brassica_0494.php

Flowering Cabbage

We bought a four-pack at Luxembourg Gardens.

As per the Flowering Kale, I planted two in the ground and two in pots.

Flowering Kale

http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/specific_crops/cabbkale.html

We bought a four-pack of 'Red Peacock' Flowering Kale at Luxembourg Gardens.

I planted them today, 2 in the ground and 2 in pots.

Spinach Growing Guide

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/spinach-growing-guide

Spinach can be ornamental in the garden.

Edible landscaping.

Viburnums

http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/viburnums-are-versatile-shrubs.aspx

They are versatile and there are a lot of choices.

Six Herbs for Containers

http://www.finegardening.com/plants/six-superb-herbs-for-containers.aspx

Excellent ideas.

Burgundy Hellebore in the Garden

The second of the two original Hellebores in the garden.

Pansies and Daffodils in the Garden

Fizzy Lemonberry Pansies

More Squill in the Garden

In a good location, Squill will increase in number year after year.

Squill in the Garden

Squill are great minor bulbs.

Daffodils in the Garden

Getting some nice clumps of daffodils in the garden.

Violets in the Garden

Hard to see in this picture, but this is the best area of Violet flowers in the garden.

This is the state flower in Wisconsin.

Marsh Marigold in the Garden

This clump was planted last year.

It has buds but no flowers yet.

Marsh Marigold in the Garden

This clump was planted a few days ago.

We bought this from Heritage Flower Farm

Hyacinths in the Garden

Cannot appreciate the heavenly fragrance from the picture.

Cream Hellebore in the Garden

One of the first Hellebores we planted.

Squill and Daffodils in the Garden

I like the combination.

Ornamental Rhubarb in the Garden

We bought this one from Heritage Flower Farm.

The Backyard

The garden is trying to wake up.

Bloodroot in the Garden

Too few blooms impoverish the view.

Maybe someday there will be a nice clump.

Mayapple in the Garden

This Mayapple was planted in 2010.

Costmary

http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/tanbalsamita.htm

At one time I had more than anybody, but it is all gone.

Medicinal Plants

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/

In search of scientific information.

Organic Garden Info

http://www.organicgardeninfo.com/

Dirt, compost, fertilizers, etc.

American Fern Society

http://amerfernsoc.org/

Established in 1893.

White Feather

http://www.dutchbulbs.com/store/hostas/62241

Hosta 'White Feather'

Very white leaves.

Little Honey

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/41839/

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey'

Very ornamental.

Chickity Doo Doo

http://chickitydoodoo.com/

100% chicken manure.

I want to try it.

Professor A. Kippenberg

http://springhillnursery.com/professor-a.-kippenberg-dwarf-aster/p/82058/

Aster dumosus

Compact stature, Zone 4, and deer-resistant.

Sip of Spring

Yesterday, we attended a workshop at Shady Acres Perennial Nursery in New Berlin.

The presenter was Jim Garbe.

The topic was "Sip of Spring."

Jim talked about some of the great new cultivars of perennials like Achillea, Astilbe, Echinacea, Geranium, Hemerocallis, Heuchera, Heucherella, Mukdenia, Salvia, and Vernonia.

He also talked about maintenance, fertilizer, pest control, watering, containers, rain gardens, native plants, and sustainability.

Great program.

Growing Low-Maintenance Perennials

On Thursday, I attended the Horticulture magazine online workshop (webinar).

The presenter was Kerry Mendez from Perennially Yours (pyours.com).

The topic was "Growing Low-Maintenance Perennials."

The sponsor was Osmocote.

We learned about a great many perennials, including some of my own favorites like Pig Squeak, Siberian Iris, Epimedium, Hellebore, Solomon's Seal, Echinacea, Yarrow, Agastache, Sneezeweed, Butterfly Weed, Swamp Milkweed, Rudbeckia, Culver's Root, Clematis, Miscanthus, and Sedum.

There was Q&A at the end, with questions about intersectional peonies, plants for wet shade, coral bells, Amsonia, plants that should not be fertilized, Solomon's Seal, Sweet Autumn Clematis, and Hellebores.

Informational and well-worth attending.

1/8" Rain

We got 1/8" rain last night according to the rain gauge.