Cranes over the garden

Lots of sandhill cranes flying over the garden yesterday.

Stragglers or later than normal?

Bulbs and grubs

Over the past weekend, I planted the last few bulbs (squill and allium).

I found no Japanese beetle grubs.  I hope this is a good forecast for next year.

Japanese beetles were particularly bad in our garden this year, but statewide, they were reported to be below normal.

Underused Plants

http://www.joecomer.com/2/post/2011/10/8-underused-plants-for-the-upper-midwest.html

I planted the Autumn Revolution Bittersweet yesterday.

We have 4 Baptisia plants.

Would love to try those Maple trees.

Herbs Indoors

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/10-best-herbs-indoors

I have no end of trouble with herbs indoors, but try, try again.

3/8" Rain

We got 3/8" rain this morning and desperately need more.

Worst drought since we moved here in 1984.

The Garden's Smallest Toad

Today, I saw the smallest toad I have ever seen in the garden.  It was near the southernmost river birch.

It was about 1/3 the size of the fingernail on my little finger.

I have been wondering why I never see tadpoles in the garden pool.  If that is how small they are, it explains why I never see them.

St. John's Day

Sunday was St. John's Day (6-24-12).

As is traditional, I burned St. John's Wort on St. John's Day to ensure good luck for the coming year.

Cedarburg Strawberry Festival 2012

Attended the Cedarburg Strawberry Festival on Saturday (6-23-12).

Saw some nice Delphiniums at the festival, which reinforces my belief that we should grow more Delphiniums.

Japanese Beetles

Killed 25 Japanese beetles in the garden on Friday (6-22-12).

Did not kill any Saturday because we were gone most of the day.

Killed 32 on Sunday.

Killed 17 yesterday (Monday).

Killed 5 so far today, but the day is far from over.

MGV Volunteer Hours

On Thursday (6-21-2012), I went to Gus's Green Thumb Garden (or whatever it is formally called these days) to perform MGV volunteer hours.

I got credit for 4 hours (includes driving time).

I spent most of the time watering but also did some weeding (bindweed in bloom!).

I also mixed up an aluminum sulfate solution to make the hydrangea bloom blue instead of pink.  Just to demonstrate how to do it was the official reason given.

Urban Gardening

http://urbangardencasual.com/

Garden tips for all gardeners, not just the urban.

American Lady

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/90-american-lady

We saw an American Lady butterfly at the Wehr Nature Center on Saturday.

We have not yet seen one in our own garden this year.

Red Admiral

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-atalanta

Swarms of red admiral butterflies in the garden today.

Of the host plants listed at the above link, the only one we have is hops.

Wildlife in the Garden

The past several days there have been deer and ducks in the garden.

Wood ducks and mallards.

One of the neighbors saw a fox a couple days ago.

Red Admiral

We saw several Red Admiral butterflies at Boerner Botanical Gardens yesterday, and also saw one in our own garden.

http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/92-red-admiral

Asparagus Fern

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

We should get one as a houseplant.

Deadman's Fingers

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2004/1031/plant.html

Decaisnea fargesii AKA Blue Sausage Fruit

Would love to have one.

Owl near the garden

I just heard an owl outside, not in the garden, but close.

First one in a long time.

Maybe it can do somethings about the voles.

Deer in the Garden

There were two small deer in the garden this morning around 10am.

I think they were last year's fawns.

One had a badly injured right rear leg.

First Duck 2012

There was a lone male mallard on the original garden pool yesterday.

This is the first duck sighting in the garden for 2012.

I could not find the first date for 2011.

March 8 was the date for 2010.

March 19 was the date for 2009.

First Chipmunk 2012

First chipmunk sighting of 2012 today.

43 degrees and overcast.

First sighting last year was Feb. 16.

NECO

http://www.networkedneighbors.org/

Information on rain barrels, rain gardens, etc. with the goal of improving water quality.

On a personal note, our yard is one of the most Great Lakes-friendly yards in the village.

Deer in the Garden

There were three deer in the garden today at dusk.

Pelargoniums

http://wimastergardener.org/?q=Geranium2012

NGB's Annual of the Year 2012

We love pelargoniums and always have a few in the garden.

Hugelkultur

http://lifehacker.com/5880237/hugelkultur-can-create-irrigation+free-garden-beds

I want to try this.

I have plenty of old firewood that could be used.

New USDA Hardiness Zone Map

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

We are still 5b.

Recycled Wood

http://www.makeitmissoula.com/2012/01/how-to-recycle-wood/

Some interesting ideas on how to incorporate twigs, branches, logs, etc. into the garden.

Compost Tea Substitute

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Orchid-Fertilizing-Newsletter_vq4596.htm

Interesting idea to use old diluted coffee as a substitute for compost tea.

I am going to try this.

Hairy Woodpecker in the Garden

There was a hairy woodpecker in the garden this morning.

We get downy woodpeckers and red-bellied woodpeckers every day, but very unusual to see a hairy woodpecker in the garden.

Clyde Wallenfang, RIP

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?n=clyde-g-wallenfang&pid=155529039

He was one of the original Wisconsin MGVs.

Botanophilia

http://www.botanophilia.blogspot.com/

Based in Oostburg, WI.

Second Garden Pool

The second garden pool, which has no liner.

First Garden Pool

The revamped original garden pool, complete with pond liner and Rube Goldberg plumbing from the sump pump.

Note the impressive amount of algae, none of which was present when we left for Christmas.

Rustic Arbor

A rustic arbor in the eastern maple garden, another work in progress.

Rustic Garden Gate

Two views of the rustic garden gate, a work in progress.

Chris Tyrrell at Wehr

A plaque on the board walk at Wehr Nature Center.

More on the Warnimont Bluff Fens

http://www.wisconsinwetlands.org/Gems/SC6_Warnimont_Bluff_Fens.pdf

We saw the bird burrows but not the birds themselves.

SNA 352

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/sna/index.asp?SNA=352

We visited the Warnimont Bluff Fens (State Natural Area 352) this morning.

Technically, we did not walk on the fens themselves, which are restricted access.

But there is an excellent view of the seeping cliff face from the beach below.

It will be interesting to visit the fens in different seasons to appreciate how they change throughout the year.

Hops

http://www.sandmountainherbs.com/hops.html

Would be an interesting experiment to grow hops from seeds.

Expert Plant Picks

http://www.finegardening.com/item/21567/expert-plant-picks-midwest-and-plains

Many interesting choices, and some were already on my wish list.

Robin in the garden

There was  robin in the garden today.

The continuing mild weather seems to be bird-friendly.

Blue Dune

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=611&PlantTypeID=3

Elymus arenarius 'Blue Dune'

This looks like my kind of grass.

Purpurea Pendula

http://www.richsfoxwillowpines.com/catalog/?product=470

An interesting dwarf weeping beech.

Roy Piala, RIP

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?n=roy-piala&pid=155267278&fhid=8541

A terrible tragedy, and a terrible loss for his family, and a significant loss for the gardening community.

Holistic Agriculture Library

http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html

Contains various e-books.

Beginning Farmers

http://www.beginningfarmers.org/

Information on chickens, compost, permaculture, mushrooms, etc.

Korean Fir

http://springhillnursery.com/product.asp?pn=77212&sid=0425810&eid=123011SH

Abies koreana

I like the decorative blue cones.

Split Second

http://parkseed.com/product.aspx?p=51464-PK-P1

Morning Glory 'Split Second'

We have never grown a double-flowered morning glory.

Ground Nut

http://www.sandmountainherbs.com/ground_nut.html

Apios americana

Would like to try some.