Frog in the Garden Pool

There was a frog in the garden pool today, first one I have seen in a long time.

River Mist

http://www.waysidegardens.com/river-mist-northern-sea-oats/p/30694/

A variegated Northern Sea Oats.

On my wish list.

Lynnhaven Carpet

http://www.waysidegardens.com/lynnhaven-carpet-erigeron/p/34756/

Would like to try it, though the good drainage requirement could be a problem.

Arrowhead Blog

Interesting blog but he does not post very often.

http://blog.arrowheadalpines.com/

Petunia exserta

http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/04/science/petunias-rare-and-red/

An exceedingly rare species petunia pollinated by hummingbirds.

St. John's Day

Monday June 24 2013 was St. John's Day.

As I usually do, on that day I burned St. John's Wort cut from our own garden to grant us good luck during the coming year.

Michaux's Bellflower

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=2814

Would be OK if it actually did reseed itself.

More rain

Only 1/8 inch rain yesterday.

Rose Walk

Yesterday, we attended the Rose Walk "Fabulous Roses" at Boerner Botanical Garden.

The guide was Bruce Barr, who is passionate about roses (he has over 250 roses in his own garden).

The roses at Boerner were in the peak of bloom, so it was stunning.

Counts as one hour continuing MGV education.

And we won the door prize, a two gallon pot of Grandma's Blessing rose.

Toad in the Garden

Yesterday, there was a big black toad under the bayberry.

Flooded Garden

Another 1/4 inch of rain yesterday, and the garden is flooded, front and back.

No-lawn Yard

http://www.finegardening.com/item/28349/kristins-no-lawn-yard-in-minnesota

Excellent.

Rain and more rain

1 3/8 inches rain overnight.

An additional 1/2 inch this morning.

Chocolate Vine

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/chocolate-vine.pdf

If it grows to 40 feet, the pole I have it growing on is not going to be tall enough.

Lemon Mint

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOCI

An annual Monarda.

We have grown it in the past, but it does not reseed itself for us.

Virginia Silk

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=3487

The most fragrant milkweed.

Davis Showy Milkweed

http://www.butterflyencounters.com/davis-showy-milkweed.html

Very attractive, hardy to zone 3 (some other sites say 4).

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

http://shootingstarnursery.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=668

On my wish list.

No More 10-10-10

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/tools-materials/when-to-skip-using-balanced-fertilizer-on-plants

Too much phosphorus is not good.

Hostas at Boerner

We attended the hosta walk at Boerner Botanical Garden today.

The guide was Chuck Steele of the local Hosta society.

Informative and entertaining on a beautiful evening in the gardens.

Counts as two hours of continuing MGV education.

If you could grow anything you wanted?

When we moved to our small farm in Minnesota in 1994, we told our son, who was five at the time, that he could grow anything he wanted in our garden. "I want to grow bacon," he responded.

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/13756/the-best-heirloom-vegetables

Mourning Cloak

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

I saw one in the garden yesterday.

Prairie Petunia

http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/hw_petuniax.htm

We bought one from Betty Adelman, a very nice plant.

Ours has pinker flowers than most of the online photos, which tend more towards light purple.

Bill Wallis

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/search/lst.srch.asp?prodid=440

We love perennial geraniums.

Chomley Farran

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/search/lst.srch.asp?prodid=2214

A real stunner.

Purple Angelica

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/search/lst.srch.asp?prodid=1618

None of our purples reseeded, but we have a million greens.

Weedy Goat's Beard

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

Have not seen this one in the garden.

Arctic Iris

http://www.doug-greens-perennials.com/arctic-iris.html

Zone 2.

Torenia

http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/torenia.html

Beautiful flowers.

Beni Shichihenge

http://www.mikesbackyardnursery.com/2013/06/beni-shichihenge-japanese-maple-acer-palmatum-beni-shichihenge/

Would love to have one.

Edible Flowers

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/best-edible-flowers

We grow nasturtium, calendula, viola, and borage, but we rarely eat the flowers.

Kitchen Herb Garden

http://www.motherearthliving.com/herb-gardening/10-easy-to-grow-herbs-simple-kitchen-herb-garden.aspx#axzz2W6GI3ybo

We have all the herbs listed except Cilantro.

Have to look for "Santo" or "Delfino."

Shortwood

http://hoosiergardener.com/?p=6910

Features a list of garden phlox highly rated by the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Reusing Potting Soil

http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/qa/reusing-potting-soil-from-year-to-year

Complicated issues.

Globe Amaranth

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a115/gomphrena-globosa.aspx

I planted four today.

Aristolochia

http://monchesfarm.com/FEATUREaristolochia.htm

We have two Dutchman's Pipe Vines.

Birthwort is on my wish list.

Shady Combos

http://www.gardengatenotes.com/2013/06/11/shade-combo/

Our lady's mantle does not reseed like crazy.

In fact, ours does not reseed at all.

Black Adder

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/d555/agastache-black-adder.aspx

Would be a nice addition to the garden but for two problems:

Zone 6

Intolerant of wet winter clay.

Blue Poppy

http://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/M/Meconopsis_X_Sheldonii.htm

Gorgeous flower, but it would not survive here since it cannot tolerate cold winters or hot summers.

Clethra

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a340/clethra-alnifolia-hummingbird.aspx

On my wish list.

Gutter Gardens

http://gardenmash.com/gutter-gardens-gardening-made-comfortable/

Very clever.

Spice Bush

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/d890/lindera-benzoin.aspx

None of the local vendors have this native shrub.

Down the Garden Path with Lawanda

http://books.google.com/books/about/Down_the_Garden_Path_with_Lawanda.html?id=wuWkpwAACAAJ

Odd that this book is not on Goodreads nor is it in the MCFLS.