Glasshouse Works

http://www.glasshouseworks.com/

Interesting section on Glasshouse Works in the book Paradise Under Glass (2010) by Ruth Kassinger.

Neptune's Harvest

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

They feature some interesting products like fish and seaweed fertilizers, kelp meal, and crab shell.

Roy Davidson

Pulmonaria 'Roy Davidson'

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/43632/

I have tried and failed with Pulmonaria for years, but maybe this is the one that would work.

Lady In Red

Athyrium 'Lady in Red'

http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/AS/genus/Athyrium

We have one Lady in Red, but I would like to have more.

Ros Creasy

http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/?page=201011-ros-creasy-interview

The Guru of Edible Landscaping.

I want to read her book Edible Landscaping (2010).

Hawk in the garden

The Cooper's Hawk flew through the garden today.

It would be nice if it would do something about all the voles.

Owl near the garden

We saw an owl in the neighborhood on our walk last night.

I think it might have been a barn owl, but they have become somewhat rare in the area in recent years.

Vietnamese Coriander

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

Polygonum odoratum

I have a pot that grew outside all summer.

I have brought it into the kitchen for the winter but it probably needs repotted.

Maybe I can grow some cutting as per the following link.

http://joes-garden.blogspot.com/2010/01/laksa-leaf-polygonum-odoratum.html

Runaway Gardens

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/garden/28garden.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1

An interesting story, but it ends abruptly like they inadvertently omitted the rest of it.

Switch grass

Panicum virgatum

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=L460

Was an important constituent of the tallgrass prairie.

Manchurian Violet

Viola mandshurica

Available from Oikos Tree Crops (link here)

I would like to try a few, both growing and eating.

Amur Silvergrass

Miscanthus sacchariflorus

Available from Oikos Tree Crops (link here)

Aptly named, those silvery plumes are striking.

As per the following link, may be invasive.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/grasses/amursilvergrass.html

Trees for fall color

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/home/stories/DN-nhg_falltrees_1106gd.State.Edition1.11eb74e.html

The above article was written for a Texas audience, but some of the recommendations are hardy in Zone 5.

Orangeola

http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/shrubs/Acer_palmatumOrangeola.html

Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'

Weeping Japanese maple with gorgeous fall color.

Shumard Red Oak

http://www.arborday.org/Shopping/Trees/TreeDetail.cfm?id=215

Mainly a southern oak in terms of range, but hardy to zone 5.

Great fall color.

Tree Transplanters

http://www.treetransplanters.org/index.html

Milwaukee area tree nursery.

Woolybear

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3742

Several woolybear caterpillars in the garden this autumn, as usual.

Bulb Planting Depths

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/bulb-planting-depths

Some general guidelines.

Rain: 0.5"

Half an inch of rain last night.

Rain: 1.25"

We got 1.25" rain while we were in Baltimore, much more than was predicted.

Good for the frogs because the garden pool did not go dry while we were gone.

Grapevine cuttings

http://ohioline.osu.edu/b919/0006.html

This would be an interesting experiment to try some time.

Rain: Trace

It sounded like it rained hard for a few seconds last night, but it only amounted to a trace.

Globe Cage Birdfeeder

Available from Gardener's Supply Company (link here)

"Especially effective against gray squirrels."

There are not many feeders that are actually effective against gray squirrels.

Peat Moss

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/view_question/id/1800/

I am a big user of peat moss in the garden.

I might have to re-think this.

Roosting boxes

http://yardener.com/YardenersPlantHelper/MakingForAHealthyYardEcology/AttractingBirdsToTheYard/HousingForSongbirds/DontForgetRoostingBoxes

An important element of cover that is lacking in our garden.

Sudden Oak Death

http://www.backyardnature.net/n/w/tanoak.htm

Not good.

Pulverulentum

Acer campestre 'Pulverulentum'

AKA Speckled Hedge Maple

http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=71

Would make a nice small tree.

Creepy Veronica

http://www.marthastewart.com/plant/veronica-repens

Veronica repens

AKA Creeping Speedwell

I planted one between the big ash and the front sidewalk today.

Job's Tears

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1714/

Coix lacryma-jobi

Not hardy here, but could be grown as an annual.

Survivalist Seeds

http://www.survivalistseeds.com/

Interesting website.

They have no love for Monsanto.

Buried Treasure

http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-5-16-1929,00.html?cm_mmc=OGNews-_-2010_10_13-_-growingatoz-_-garlic_buried_treasure

Growing garlic is on my long list of things to do.

Butterfly Weed

http://www.hortmag.com/headline/butterfly-weed

We have one nice clump next to the front sidewalk but I would love to have more.

It requires full sun and sandy soil and we have neither.

Soil Perfector

http://www.espoma.com/p_consumer/perfector_overview.html

I could make great use of a product that permanently improves heavy clay soils.

Indian Pink

Spigelia marilandica

http://www.finegardening.com/item/16439/a-stunning-underused-native-plant

Zone 5.

I really should try some in the woodland garden.

Soil Fertility

Soil Fertility, Second Edition

1997

Henry D. Foth
Boyd G. Ellis

http://books.google.com/books?id=URT1qVstE0kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=soil+and+fertility&source=bll&ots=csirTT7Usu&sig=LtaMNBLyTZX-lHPxUd-sB1HlNoc&hl=en&ei=uw21TKTAF8T6lwfnoqmVCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12&sqi=2&ved=0CEsQ6AEwCw#v=onepage&q&f=false

This looks like an excellent book.

Unfortunately, there is no copy in the MCFLS.

Oehme

Carex muskingumensis 'Oehme'

AKA Palm Sedge

http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/360/index.htm

I planted one on the south side of the garden pool today.

It is interesting to note that several web sites list it as Zone 5 but the tag in the pot said Zone 4.

Wood's Purple

Aster dumosus 'Wood's Purple'

http://www.daytonnursery.com/encyclopedia/perennials/aster.htm

Compact habit and hardy to Zone 3.

I planted one today out by Andrew's tree.

Threadleaf Bluestars

Amsonia hubrichtii

AKA Arkansas Blue Star

http://www.romencegardens.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=119

Also recommended by Monches Farm for its fall color.

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

Annual Clary Sage

Salvia viridis

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/salvia-viridis-annual-clary-sage.aspx

Would love to grow this but we do not have full sun.

Viburnum Leaf Beetle

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/VLB/

Another invasive, non-native species.

Goldenrod

http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3585

Glorious fall blooms.

Autumn Containers

http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/planting-autumn-containers.aspx

Use plants hardy to two zones colder.

Invasive barberries

Berberis thunbergii

http://www.finegardening.com/item/16334/invasive-barberries-to-be-phased-out-by-connecticut-nurseries

I should try to buy a few before they totally disappear.

Borage

Borago officinalis

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/0337/

We had borage volunteers this year for the first time.

Peppermint

Mentha x piperita

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/1347/

We love our peppermint.

Matrona

Sedum 'Matrona'

http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/perennials/SedumMatrona.html

I planted a Sedum 'Matrona' today.

Toad in the garden

There was a very light colored toad in the garden yesterday, back near Elizabeth's trees.

Had not seen a toad in quite a while.

American Chestnut

Seeds available from Oikos Tree Crops (link here)

A chance to bring back the fabled American Chestnut.

Well, sort of....

Tremetol

http://iowagarden.blogspot.com/2006/08/wildflower-that-killed-lincolns-mother.html

The milk sickness killed Lincoln's mother.

Eupatorium rugosum (white snakeroot)

Tree Selector

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/treeselector/

A lot of fun to play around with.

Trees Are The Answer

http://www.jfschmidt.com/treesaretheanswer/

Tons of information on trees.

Feed the Birds

http://www.rodale.com/backyard-bird-food?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_10_07-_-Top5-_-NA

Tips on feeding the birds.

Earthworms Fact Sheet

http://www.heyne.com.au/gardencentre/factsheets/factsheet.php/Earthworms.htm

Fascinating.

Suburban Earthworms

http://earthworm.blat.co.za/

Interesting blog that appears to be inactive.

Earth Worm Digest

http://www.wormdigest.org/

Earthworm information.

Seed Libraries

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/garden/07seed.html?emc=eta1

Small groups of dedicated individuals pathetically struggle to preserve heirloom seeds.

Chicken Sanitation

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/business/07eggfarm.html?th&emc=th

If I had chickens, I would want their droppings to smell sweet, like chocolate.

Like those of Robert L. Krouse.

Granite

http://www.finegardening.com/item/16539/reader-photo-small-lot-big-garden

Gorgeous granite stone pario.

Homemade Outhouse

http://www.ehow.com/how_5941224_make-homemade-outhouse.html

Would be a fun project for a garden shed.

Beware Consternation

"I will try my best to be forthright and informative, but to do so I will leave out many of the finer details that would otherwise cause consternation on both our parts."

- Insects and Gardens (2001) by Eric Grissell, writing about Parasitoids on page 192.

Parasitoids can have that effect on some people.

Excellent book.

Chickens, or lack thereof

http://www.ajc.com/news/cherokee/commissioners-approve-backyard-chickens-662067.html

This proves that Cherokee County, Georgia is more enlightened than Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

Grow Japanese Maples from Seed

http://www.freeplants.com/free-article-japanese-maples-from-seed.htm

Interesting idea.

Many snobby Japanese Maples are grafted.

Waterperry

Veronica 'Waterperry'

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/VEWBS.html

I planted one in the front yard this afternoon.

Rabbit in the garden

There was a large rabbit in the Maple Garden this morning.

Morning Light

Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/miscanthus-sinensis-morning-light-eulalia-grass.aspx

The limiting factor is going to be wet clay in winter.

Fall Pruning

http://www.rodale.com/fall-pruning?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2010_10_01-_-Top5-_-NA

Good idea to wait until trees and shrubs are truly dormant.

Flame Grass

Miscanthus sinensis purpurascens

http://www.directgardening.com/detail.asp?ProductID=7444

We see quite a bit of this in the Milwaukee area.

Stunning ornamental grass.

Graziella Maiden Grass

Miscanthus sinensis 'Graziella'

http://www.bluestem.ca/miscanthus-graziella.htm

Sounds a little iffy for our garden, but it might still be worth a try.

Frost Grass

Spodiopogon sibiricus

http://hcs.osu.edu/hort/plantlisting/s/Spodiopogon12705.html

There is a nice clump at Gus' Green Thumb Garden.

It will be interesting to see if it develops the good fall color.