Recent plantings

136 Daffodil bulbs

48 Grape Hyacinth bulbs

A total of 184, far short of the 395 bulbs I planted last fall, but there is a lot of planting time remaining.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Chinese Chestnut

The odor given off by the flowers may be considered offensive to some people.

- http://www.treehelp.com/trees/chestnut/chestnut-types-chinese.asp

Excellent.

I did not know this when I planted mine.

A bonus feature.

Whatcom Seed Company

http://seedrack.com/index.html

Offer rare and unusual seeds, including datura and ginkgo.

Helianthus divaricatus

Woodland sunflower

Kemper Center for Home Gardening (link here)

Connecticut Botanical Society (link here)

http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H284.htm

Added to my wish list.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Beauty of Cobham

Interesting new bee balm available from Dutch Gardens (link here).

Worms spread weeds

Scientists have discovered that “underground gardening” by earthworms is contributing to the spread of giant ragweed, a plant that causes sneezes and sniffles and is one of the nation’s most irritating weeds.

- Weed Science Society of America (link here)

Bizarre.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Invasive species and diversity

Exotic species receive lots of attention and create lots of worry. Some scientists consider biological invasions among the top two or three forces driving species into extinction. But Dr. Sax, Dr. Gaines and several other researchers argue that attitudes about exotic species are too simplistic. While some invasions are indeed devastating, they often do not set off extinctions. They can even spur the evolution of new diversity.

- NY Times (link here)

Interesting article on invasive species and diversity.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Garden Muck

During the drought time, when it was empty of water, I excavated the garden pool. I hauled 21 loads (8 gallons per load using large Tubtrugs (link here)) for a total of 168 gallons of muck, which I spread around the garden.

Hopefully, this is like that annual flooding of the Nile, and will enrich the soil accordingly.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Best quote of the Labor Day weekend

"We could not possibly have invited anyone over because we didn't know anyone up here."

Priceless.

Seven Sons

Available from Park Seed (link here)

On my wish list.

Carpenter Weed

http://www.hort.net/profile/ast/silpe/

On my wish list.

Saw one out by the Oconomowoc Art Fair this summer, and it was spectacular.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Sharks in Lake Mighigan

There's no telling what might turn up in Lake Michigan.

Rich Fasi of Traverse City says he found a dead 2-foot shark in the water while fishing on West Grand Traverse Bay on Wednesday.

The saltwater fish was a juvenile blacktip shark, said Mark Tonello, a fisheries biologist from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

- AP/azcentral (link here)