Thursday, June 30, 2011

Salsa Garden

http://www.rodale.com/salsa-garden

I need to get into the successive cilantro plantings.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Foxglove

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

This explains why I have had so much trouble trying to grow the biennnial foxgloves.

St. John's Wort

http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbStJohnsWortMag.htm

I am going to place some sprigs in a jar on the windowsill.

Just in case.

Herbal Magic

http://www.examiner.com/wicca-witchcraft-in-nashville/magickal-herbs-the-kitchen-and-garden

More reasons to grow herbs.

For example, the scent of the flowers of St. John's Wort drives away evil spirits.

St. John's Day

Today was St. John's Day, so I dutifully burned some St. John's Wort to ensure good luck during the coming year.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Deer in the Garden

There were two deer in the backyard about 730pm this evening.

Kintzley's Ghost

http://www.rarefindnursery.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/4691.htm

Lonicera reticulata 'Kintzley's Ghost'

On my wish list.

Was also featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Entree section 6-19-11.

Phlox buckleyi


We bought one from Heritage Flower Farm.

This is the information that was included:

Phlox buckleyi

Sword leaf Phlox

Z. 4-8

Sprays of mauve, pink or purple in May-June

Size: 8- 18” x 12”

Care: sun to part shade in any soil

Native: Virginia & West Virginia

Described and named by Edgar Theodore Wherry (1885-1982), unflagging naturalist in the finest tradition of wide interests in the natural world. After getting his Ph.D in 1909 in geology-mineralogy he became Asst. Curator of Minerals for the Smithsonian. In 8 years he transferred to the USDA Bureau of Chemistry, becoming its principal chemist. He left in 1930 to accept an appointment as botany professor at U. Penn., where he taught botany and ecology for 25 years.

Pole Beans

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/7148/pole-beans/

The author does not plant until mid-July to avoid pest problems.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Companion Shrubs for Japanese Maples

http://www.ehow.com/info_8574511_japanese-maple-companion-shrubs.html

shamrock inkberry
sheep laurel
smooth hydrangea
mapleleaf viburnum
Nana fetterbush
Arthur Burkwood daphne
Spreg alpine currant
black jetbead

1 5/8"

We got 1 5/8' rain yesterday in a 20-minute downpour.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Castor Bean Plant

http://www.library.illinois.edu/vex/toxic/castor/castor.htm

All parts of the plant are toxic but the seeds are the most poisonous.

Backyard Hives

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18284172

A thriving cottage industry in Colorado and many other places, but not in ignorant medieval villages like Hales Corners.

1/4" Rain

We got another 1/4" rain overnight.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Amethyst Falls

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

Annoying that they repeatedly misspell 'Amethyst Falls' as 'Amythest Falls.'

No editor?

1/8" Rain

We got 1/8" rain early this morning.

Scented Geraniums

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/qa/scented-geraniums

Technically, they are pelargoniums and I never met one that I did not like.

Lone Deer in the Garden

There was a lone deer eating birdseed off the picnic table about 830pm.

Deer in the Garden

The same three deer ran through the woodland garden today just before 3pm.

Monrovia's Tiny Tots

http://www.steingg.com/junemonroviapick11.asp

Some good choices.

I am particularly interested in the Triumph Aster.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Showy Milkweed

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/search/lst.srch.asp?prodid=125

Asclepias speciosa

Would love to have some to go with our other Asclepias species.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Organic Lawn Care

http://www.rodale.com/organic-lawn-care-tips

Useful advice.

I am particularly fond of the idea of replacing the lawn with something more interesting.

Roundup

http://www.rodale.com/roundup-dangers

I do not use Roundup in the garden, but my neighbors do.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Lack of Snakes in the Garden

We saw a big red coach whip snake leaving Penrose.

I sure wish we could have snakes in our garden.

Fox in the Garden

A fox ran through the woodland garden about 7am this morning.

It was carrying something in its mouth, too big for a chipmunk, maybe a squirrel.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Bigfoot

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

Geranium macrorrhizum AKA Bigfoot Geranium

Has been on my wish list for several years.

We were just at Monches and I did not see them.