Cosmos

http://www.kitchengardenseeds.com/cgi-bin/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=79

I love Cosmos.

Save the Monarchs

http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/

Save the Monarchs by planting milkweeds.

And I love Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) anyway.

Tulips

Various tulips from around the garden.

Trillium

Too few blooms impoverish the view.

This clump has a long way to go, but it has been steadily increasing, even though it still only has one blossom.

If you want trilliums, you have to plant trilliums.

A lot of trilliums.

Hyacinths

Planted Fall 2009.

Purchased from Shady Acres Nursery.

Excellent fragrance.

Crabapple

The crabapple trees were in full bloom when Elizabeth was born (April 26) and have never bloomed that early since.

They are only a few days behind this year, which is way ahead of average.

Skunk Cabbage

Symplocarpus foetidus

http://www.natureinstitute.org/pub/ic/ic4/skunkcabbage.htm

Good article by a fan of the skunk cabbage.

I would love to have some.

Maule's Quince

http://healthyhomegardening.com/Flower.php?pid=316

Tastes like a cross between a pear and a lemon, and with more Vitamin C than a lemon.

Sounds like a winner to me.

Quince

Quince is a complicated topic with both Cydonia and Chaenomeles species.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-385.html

This is an interesting article on the potential of Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese quince) as a fruit crop.

Cottage Gardens

"Cottage gardens evolve when untrained gardeners gather plants they admire...Often a well-adapted garden results, with a sense of charm found missing in many designed plantings."

- Scott Ogden and Lauren Springer Ogden, 2008, Plant-Driven Design: Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit (page 30)

I love cottage gardens.

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria

Available from van Bourgondien (link here)

We love our Lily of the Valley.

Crimson Fans

Mukdenia 'Crimson Fans'

Available from Great Garden Plants (link here)

Recommended as an alternative to Pachysandra.

Worth a try.

Arbor Day goodies

Yesterday, we got 4 small, bareroot sugar maple trees from the Village of Hales Corners at Cobb Park (behind the Ben Hunt Summer Kitchen).

Today, we got 2 arborvitae trees (1 gallon pots) and 1 small bareroot swamp white oak at Boerner Botanical Gardens.

Today, we also got 2 small bareroot trees at Wehr Nature Center: one each of serviceberry and witch hazel.

All of the above trees were free as part of the Arbor Day celebrations.

Rain

We got 0.5" rain Friday night.

We got 1.0" rain Saturday night.

Mann Lake

http://www.mannlakeltd.com/

Beekeeping supplies.

A hive body (as garden art) is inexpensive.

No Mow Grass

http://nomowgrass.com/index.htm

The original no-mow grass is 99% supine bent.

Worm Tubes

http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3430

Very clever idea.

I want to try this.

Might have to adjust the design a little.

11 Best Shade Plants

List from Great Garden Plants (link here)

Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Actaea (Bugbane)
Athyrium 'Pictum' (Fern)
Brunnera
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass)
Helleborus
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Hosta
Pulmoniara (Lungwort)
Tiarealla (Foamflower)

Wild Goose Plum

Prunus munsoniana 'Wild Goose'

Available from Oikos Tree Crops (link here)

A hunter found seed in the stomach of a goose and planted it.

Hence the name.

Heronswood Yellow Bonnet

Lysimachia paridiformis

Available from Heronswood (link here)

Extremely rare.

Niobe

Clematis 'Niobe'

Available from Wayside Gardens (link here)

Stunning.

Would love to have one.

Wildflower identification

http://www.realtimerendering.com/flowers/flowers.html

This is a lot of fun.

Deer in the garden

Three deer in the garden today, just before dusk.

Looked like that same doe and two fawns that are regular visitors.

There were only two deer in the garden yesterday, so maybe we did not see the third deer, or maybe it was different deer.

Mountain Phlox

Phlox pulchra

http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=1.410.950

Native to the Appalachian Mountains.

A favorite food of rabbits.

Fragrant Delight

Heliotropium arborescens 'Fragrant Delight'

Available from White Flower Farm (link here)

Support your local pollinators.

Rex Begonia Vine

Cissus discolor

http://www.finegardening.com/item/14135/a-great-vine-for-shady-containers

Interesting looking plant.

Dandelions

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/the-dandelion-king/?scp=1&sq=dandelions&st=cse

Great bee plants.

Creepy Buttercup

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00001229.html

Ranunculus repens

Creeping Buttercup

May become invasive.

Botanical Interests

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/store/index_index.php

They have an interesting iPhone app.

Night crawlers

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/attract-night-crawlers-to-your-garden.aspx

They do not mention that night crawlers are non-native and invasive.

But I love them anyway.

The night crawlers, I mean.

Mother Earth News

http://www.motherearthnews.com/

I need to learn to live more wisely.

Earth Box

http://www.earthbox.com/index.php

Garden without a garden.

Melinda Myers

http://www.melindamyers.com/

Nationally known gardening expert Melinda Myers.

Dirt!: The Movie

I watched Dirt!: The Movie on PBS tonight.

Worth watching but not enough about dirt for my tastes.

Preachy. Shamelessly manipulative.

But still worth watching.

Raccoon in the garden

There was a raccoon in the backyard around 6pm today.

Elfin Treasure Door

Available from Plow & Hearth (link here)

Combines whimsy and functionality.

Might have to get one.

Fireball

Monarda didyma 'Fireball'

Available from Heronswood (link here)

I like the mildew resistance.

Oriole in the Garden

There was a Baltimore Oriole in the woodland garden this afternoon.

Median Last Frost Date

http://www.wisconline.com/counties/milwaukee/climate.html

April 29 is the median last frost date for Milwaukee County, WI.

Jane

Magnolia 'Jane'

Was available from White Flower Farm, but sold out (link here)

There is a lot to like about this Magnolia.

Would make a good companion for 'Leonard Messel.'

Renee's Blog

http://reneesgardenseeds.blogspot.com/

Rumex acetosa

Common Sorrel or Garden Sorrel

http://www.gardenguides.com/431-common-sorrel-rumex-acetosa.html

I am always looking for more perennial herbs for the garden.

More on ramps

Ramps or Wild Leeks

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-449.html

I really should try to grow some in my woodland garden.

Today's Weeds

I was pulling weeds today.

Many of the perps were out today: dandelions, dock, curly dock, thistle, garlic mustard, and buckthorn.

Critical measurements

Northwest corner stake of the lot

18' 10' south of the edge of Parkview Lane

15' 8" west of the thorny locust tree

Wild Quinine

Parthenium integrifolium

AKA American Feverfew

http://www.mobot.org/GARDENINGHELP/PLANTFINDER/plant.asp?code=G580

Another possible alternative to ox-eye daisy.

Ox-Eye Daisy

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Leucanthemum vulgare

http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=5937

Suggested alternatives include coneflower and mountainmint.

First dandelion blossom 2010

Many of our neighbors have had dandelions blooming in their yards for several days but we had our first one today.

Sweet Tea

Heucherella 'Sweet Tea'

Available from Great Garden Plants (link here)

Would make a stunning ground cover.

Twinspur

http://www.plant-biology.com/Diascia-twinspur.php

The last two years, our Diascia bloomed for a very long time.

Need to grow more of them.

Million Bells Yellow

Calibrachoa

Available from Park Seed (link here)

Have to make an effort to plant Million Bells of some kind this year.

Black Mondo Grass

Ophiopogon nigrescens

Available from Great Garden Plants (link here)

Maybe when global warming raises us to Zone 6, we can grow this in our garden.

Bat near the garden

We saw a bat as we were walking in the neighborhood at dusk.

Frog in the garden pool

I saw the frog in the garden pool today, several times.

Hansen's Bush Cherry

Prunus besseyi

AKA Western Sand Cherry

Available from Oikos Tree Crops (link here)

This would be a welcome addition to the garden.

Prairie Larkspur

http://www.hortmag.com/article/prairielarkspur

Would love to try it.

Shrub removal

http://www.hortmag.com/article/shrubremoval

I have done plenty of this through the years.

Tons of work, but a tremendous feeling of accomplishment when you are finished.

Lawn Alternatives

http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-4-75-144-1-1X2-3,00.html

Features an excellent plant list for Midwest states that includes many of my favorites.

Squill

We love our squill.

Need to plant more.

Oriole Feeder

Note the lack of a Baltimore Oriole on this feeder.

Traditionally, Tax Day is the start of Oriole season.

Leonard Messel

If all goes well, this should be the first of many years of fabulous blooms.

Hyacinths

Too few blooms impoverish the view.

These soldiers need reinforcements.

Daffodils

Some very nice daffodils this year.

Hellebores

These are both from the Royal Heritage strain.

They have a reputation for being self-seeders, so I am hoping for that.

Shorewood gardening guidleines

Thanks to Nancy for calling my attention to this story.

http://www.shorewoodnow.com/news/90069312.html

Shorewood struggles with the weighty issues of the day.

This will probably encourage Hales Corners to dream up similar restrictions.

Mallards on the garden pool

There were three male mallards on the garden pool this morning.

Trace of rain

There was a trace of rain last night.

Anacyclus depressus

Available from Great Garden Plants (link here)

I would love to try this but we do not have full sun and we do not have well-drained soil.

Fiskars UpRoot

http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-78706935-UpRoot-Weeder-7870/dp/B000F99IGI

We bought a Fiskars UpRoot Weed & Root Remover.

Nancy got a lot of enjoyment experimenting with it.

Some of the negative reviews suggest that the tool might not stand up to a lot of abuse.

Flame Thrower

Echinacea 'Flame Thrower'

Available from Heronswood (link here)

I love coneflowers in all their varieties.

Gaura

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/GASPS.html?mv_pc=dgar

Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink'

also known as Wild Honeysuckle or Wand Flower

Might be worth trying if it is a furious self-seeder.

http://www.santarosagardens.com/Gaura-Wand-Flower-Perennial-Plants-s/75.htm

Phragmites australis aurea

http://www.blueiriswatergardens.com/prod781.html

Variegated Dwarf Common Reed

Golden Reed

We got one from the water garden vendor at Monches Farm last summer.

Planted it by the garden pool, and it survived the winter.

It will be interesting to see how large it gets and how much it spreads.

Shady Bog Gardens

http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/bog4.htm

Interesting plant list for shady bog gardens.

Understory Trees

http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/pruvir01.htm

Prunus virginiana (chokecherry)

http://www.uwgb.edu/BIODIVERSITY/herbarium/trees/prupen01.htm

Prunus pensylvanica (pin cherry)

http://www.uwgb.edu/BIODIVERSITY/herbarium/trees/ostvir01.htm

Ostrya virginiana (ironwood)

London Fog

Available from Great Garden Plants (link here)

I would love to add this gorgeous Hellebore to our collection.

The Hummingbrd Project

http://www.rubythroat.org/

Very much looking forward to the return of hummingbirds to the garden.

Maryland Pinkroot

Spigelia marilandica

Indian Pink or Maryland Pinkroot

Available from Wayside Gardens (link here)

This would be a fun plant to try out in different spots in the garden.

Creeping Bellflower

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/cr_bellflower.htm

I suppose that I should eventually replace all the creeping bellflower with other bellflowers.

Leonard Messel

Buds of Magnolia 'Leonard Messel' just starting to show color.

Rustic trellis

I built this rustic hop trellis from pruned maple scraps.

Forsythia pictures

I need a better camera for taking these kinds of pictures.

They do not do justice to just how really spectacular the forsythia are this year.

Good companions

http://www.daytonnursery.com/Encyclopedia/Perennials/Centaurea.htm

Suggested companions for Centaurea montana include Coreopsis, Gayfeather, Lady's Mantle, Red Valerian, etc.

0.25" rain

0.25" rain yesterday

Black Plants

Some interesting ideas on the Great Garden Plants blog (link here).

Harris Seeds blog

http://harrisseeds.blogspot.com/

Japanese Beetles

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/jb/index.shtml

Terrible problem.

Ironweed

Vernonia fasciculata

Available from Forestfarm (link here)

Prairie Dream

Paper Birch 'Prairie Dream'

Available from Nature Hills Nursery (link here)

Would love to have a birch, either a paper birch or a river birch.

Hauling mulch

I hauled approximately 500 gallons of chipped hardwood mulch from Village Hall today.

It took several trips (obviously).

Awful nice of the Village to provide free mulch to the residents.

It does not compensate for not allowing us beehives or chickens, but it is still nice of them.

Forest Prince

Amelanchier 'Forest Prince'

Available from Klehm's Sonmg Sparrow Farm (link here)

Lots of serviceberries to choose from.

Metallic Blue Lady

Helleborus 'Metallic Blue Lady'

Available from Klehm's Song Sparrow Farm (link here)

Yet another beautiful Hellebore.

Would love to have this one.

Forsythia

Some years the Forsythia bloom is mediocre, but not this year.

The Forsythia in the neighborhood are at their peak of bloom, and they are spectacular.

Diatomaceous Earth

http://www.jungseed.com/dp.asp?pID=50090

Supposed to work against slugs.

Slug stoppers

Several possible solutions from Organic Gardening (link here).

Slugs are a huge problem in our garden.

I hand pick hundreds over the gardening season.

Grape Galaxy

Helleborus 'Grape Galaxy'

Available from Great Garden Plants (link here)

Would make a worth addition to out Hellebore collection.

Viking

Campanula 'Vikiing'

Available from Wayside Gardens (link here)

Gorgeous new bellflower.

If the new bellflowers will grow anywhere that the old weedy creepy bellflower grows, then I should replace the old with the new.

If.

Woodbine

Parthenocissus inserta

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00002007.html

Very disappointing that the blue fruits are not particularly ornamental.

Japanese Forest Grass

According to Heronswood (link here), Hakonechloa macra is only hardy to Zone 6.

I planted two last year, and new growth has not yet started, so I am a little concerned about that.

Pesche-Lieder Garden

https://www.lawnandlandscape.com/lawn-landscape-pesche-leider-luxembourg-royal-020810.aspx

In Belgium, WI

We should visit it sometime.

Best of the Local Nurseries

Heritage Flower Farm
Mukwonago, WI
http://www.heritageflowerfarm.com/

Johnson's Nursery
Menomonee Falls, WI
http://www.johnsonsnursery.com/Home.aspx

Luxembourg Gardens
Franklin, WI
no website, but listed at http://www.northernsunset.com/Milwaukee.htm

Monches Farm
Colgate, WI
http://www.monchesfarm.com/

Shady Acres Perennial Nursery
New Berlin, WI
http://www.shadyacresnursery.com/

Keeyla Meadows

http://www.keeylameadows.net/home/home.html

Fearless Color Gardens

http://www.timberpress.com/books/fearless_color_gardens/meadows/9780881929409

New book by the aptly named garden artist Keeyla Meadows.

There is only one copy in the County Cat, it is currently checked out, and I put a hold on it.

Sugar Creek Gardens

http://www.sugarcreekgardens.com/Plant%20Listings%20and%20Photos%20Files%20and%20Images/Perennials/Perennials%20D/Perennials%20D.htm

They offer over a dozen varieties of Dicentra.

I would love to have them all.

Burning Hearts

Dicentra 'Burning Hearts'

Available from Great Garden Plants (link here)

Zone 3, likes shade.

But according to

http://www.perennialresource.com/plants/general-perennial/1908_dicentra-burning-hearts-pp20797.aspx

it will not do well in heavy clay soils, which is what I have

Chatting with Sharon

http://www.jsonline.com/features/homeandgarden/87016567.html

Transcript of Sharon Morrisey's monthly Home & Garden chat.

Some interesting Q & A.

Yes rain, no pictures

0.5" rain since yesterday.

And the camera is inside where it can stay warm & dry.

Trout Lilies

http://www.hortmag.com/article/troutlilies

I remember all too well how my neighbor Jim went on the warpath when the chipmunks ate a $20 trout lily bulb.

Monocarpic

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

Botanical term for plants that flower, set seed, and die.

Kiss My Aster

http://hortmag.com/kissmyaster

Huge entertainment value.

Botanical Terms

http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/botanicalterms.html

Chocolate Vine

http://michiganbulb.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_81493_A_Chocolate+Vine_E_

Geocoris punctipes

http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/selhome/gbu/geocoris.html

One of the good guys.

Deer in the garden

Three deer in the garden just before dusk today.

I think it was the same doe and two fawns that we have been seeing for many months, and the fawns are almost as big as the doe.

Henry Field's

http://henryfields.com/product.asp?pn=10211&bhcd2=1270596253

Henry Field's offers 1-year vines of Valiant grapes

Nature Hills Gardening Blog

http://naturehills.com/gardening/blogs/featured_plants/default.aspx

Valiant better than Beta?

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/askext/fruits/133.htm

According to this information, "Valiant is higher in quality than Beta."

Valiant

http://www.springvalleyroses.com/catalog/valiant-grape.html

One of the hardiest grapes, even hardier than Beta according to UW-Extension.

Maybe this is the one for me.

Yes rain, no pictures

1.5" rain since yesterday.

And no pictures, since I did not leave the camera out due to the forecast for torrential rains (which we got) and hail (which we did not get, thankfully).

Mallards on the garden pool

There was a pair of mallard ducks on the garden pool today.

Grape Varieties for the Upper Midwest

http://viticulture.hort.iastate.edu/wsfeb01/varieties.html

A lot of information to consider.

Stop Oppressive Gardening

http://www.freethegnomes.com/

French vs. Russian

http://www.bhia.org/articles/herbs/tarragon.html

Interesting article on the difference between French and Russian tarragon.

Dill

Anethum graveolens

http://www.gardenguides.com/455-dill-anethum-graveolens.html

Easy to grow but gets rather large.

Herb of the Year 2010

Tree pollen

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/opinion/06ogren.html?th&emc=th

Interesting op-ed piece on tree pollen.

I am in favor of planting more tulip trees.

Frog and Toad

Frog in the garden pool again today.

Toad in the garden near Dr. O'Grady's red-twig dogwoods.

The Flower Factory

http://www.theflowerfactorynursery.com/index.asp

I have never been there but I really must go to see if they really have the midwest's largest selection.

And maybe make it a tw0-fer by stopping by Demetra's for gyros.

I brake for plants

http://www.midwestliving.com/garden/featured-mwl/garden-center-road-trip-in-wisconsin/

Monches Farm is prominently featured.

Musclewood

Carpinus caroliniana

http://www.johnsonsnursery.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=25541&mname=Article&rpid=2841

Would make a good understory tree.

Edelweiss Perennials

http://www.edelweissperennials.com/index.aspx

Small nursery specializing in choice perennials.

Canby, Oregon

Growing Grape Vines

http://urbansustainableliving.com/growing-grapes-for-vines.html

The hardest part is deciding which of the 10,000 varieties to grow.

Baltimore garden blog

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/gardening/

Old House Gardens

http://www.oldhousegardens.com/index.asp

Heirloom bulbs from Ann Arbor, MI

Stump Farm

http://www.stumpfarm.com/

Yet another blogger that apparently bit the big one.

He headed off to his first master gardener class and was never heard from again.

Maybe I am more fortunate that I survived MGV training than I appreciated at the time.

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

http://www.pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=280

Caesar's Brother

Siberian Iris 'Caesar's Brother'

Available from van Bourgondien (link here)

I love Siberian Iris in all its forms.

Bloomerang

http://www.slate.com/id/2218661/

Interesting spin on the 'Bloomerang' re-blooming lilac.

Camina

Last fall, I put 3 Chrysanthemum 'Camina' in the front yard near Dr. O'Grady's red-twig dogwoods.

2 of the 3 have already put forward new growth.

Cranes over the garden

A pair of cranes flew over the garden this morning, high up and making a lot of noise.

Frog in the garden pool

Once again, alerted by a distinctive "plop" noise, we saw the frog in the garden pool.

It would be truly excellent to have a perennial population of frogs in the garden.

St. Barbara's Herb

Barbarea vulgaris

Garden Yellow Rocket

Named for St. Barbara, the patron saint of artillerymen.

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

It is an honor to have this fine plant in my yard, even though many consider it a noxious weed.

Star Gazer

http://www.dutchbulbs.com/store/lilies/64827

Lilium 'Star Gazer'

Oriental Lily

I should plant more lilies.

Trailing arbutus

Epigaea repens

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