tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287557432024-03-12T20:15:23.567-04:00the back quarter acreDoctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.comBlogger359125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-36179173468337436572018-04-17T10:42:00.001-04:002018-04-23T14:51:23.091-04:00Garden goal roll, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My blog may have withered away to a single annual posting, but at least it's one that serves me well. Every year, I pull together a post detailing what needs doing when, what worked and what didn't, and what I want to do in the future. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1Y0VvVKp7k/Ws-ZIhBfkhI/AAAAAAAAFRk/XSHasfW4sk03-cXcmHxtSCwXkE7arx2WACEwYBhgL/s1600/p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1132" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U1Y0VvVKp7k/Ws-ZIhBfkhI/AAAAAAAAFRk/XSHasfW4sk03-cXcmHxtSCwXkE7arx2WACEwYBhgL/s400/p1.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allium "Gladiator"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><u><br /></u></strong></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><u>April</u></strong> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dust peonies with copper fungicide to limit blight. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Done 4/21/2017. Re-apply in June.</span></strong></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PD5MrAYUJpo/WQdukM-1u_I/AAAAAAAAFIA/StiXcJQXYXID5ICSTTNQjau2e29mPF8KgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></strong></span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top-dress spring-flowering bulbs with 3-5-3 when the leaf-tips emerge. </span><strong style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> <span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;">Started 4/7/2018; completed 4/1/2018.</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prune and clean up shrubs damaged by winter snows. <span style="color: purple;"><strong>On-going!</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Treat daylilies infected by <em>Aurebasidium microsictum</em> fungus with Daconil (chlorothalonil) every two <span style="color: black;">weeks. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Done 4/21/2017. </span></strong> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Sprinkle with a little HollyTone to counteract lime leached from house foundation into flower bed around daylilies and evening primrose. </span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: purple;">Done 4/19/2018</span></b><b style="background-color: white; color: black;">.</b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Hw9fss6m4c/WtYHKVDIKfI/AAAAAAAAFSg/-7oB4lMb9HUl4tMjLPVSOTUZO9XvnrW1wCLcBGAs/s1600/seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Hw9fss6m4c/WtYHKVDIKfI/AAAAAAAAFSg/-7oB4lMb9HUl4tMjLPVSOTUZO9XvnrW1wCLcBGAs/s400/seeds.jpg" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larkspur seeds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Winter-sow larkspur seeds from Monticello. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Done 4/14/2018.</span></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shape "New Dawn" rose canes. And figure out a support structure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone. <span style="color: purple;"><b>Spread with 8 lbs. 4/19/2018.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dose "New Dawn" rose with 1/2 cup of Epsom salts in 2 cups water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shape "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle slightly but hold off until after blooming to prune back hard to 50%. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgYQQv6nZHo/Ws-ahCStAQI/AAAAAAAAFRw/B2lFroUveNoMJNMeiXZGKN5HYm7mrvYfQCLcBGAs/s1600/p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DgYQQv6nZHo/Ws-ahCStAQI/AAAAAAAAFRw/B2lFroUveNoMJNMeiXZGKN5HYm7mrvYfQCLcBGAs/s400/p2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SWS' surplus irises</td></tr>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></u>
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">May</span></b></u><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></b></u><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">Plant dahlias.<span style="color: red;"> </span><b><span style="color: purple;">Dahlias arrived 4/19/2018!</span></b><span style="color: purple;"><strong></strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="color: black;">Top-dress beds with composted cow manure throughout month. <strong><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">Started 4/21/2018.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Review spring bulb performance. What needs to be replaced or amplified? </span></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="color: black;">Set up front porch and garden table containers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";">That stuff that you didn't get to last month? Do it now.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="color: black;">Plant 3 Cathedral white salvia in bed at back of house.</span></span><br /><br /> Edge garden beds. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>Mid-June:</strong> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">S<span style="color: black;">pray Pachysandra, periwinkle and rhododendron with Four Seasons horticultural oil to combat scale infestation. Spray again 10 days later.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cut out deadwood from and thin spirea hedge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Scratch 1 1/4 cups of RoseTone around the roots of "New Dawn" climbing rose now monthly through the summer; be sure to stop feeding by August 15 in order to prevent developing new growth that will not have time to harden off before fall temperatures drop. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After flowering, shear <i>Amsonia hubrichtii</i> by 1/3 of its height to promote better form. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When it is 3 feet tall, cut Joe pye weed "Gateway" back to half its height to encourage dense growth. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stake dahlias when the tubers are planted and again and again as they grow. Stop dahlias by pinching stem back to four pairs of leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinch back shasta daisies to 6". Or just get rid of them?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And stake, stake, stake!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_ZIcTwm_aE/Ws-cYAKQxmI/AAAAAAAAFR8/hQOzt6PTf8cvT0vxDLP6abU9KwwQooQtwCLcBGAs/s1600/p3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1196" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_ZIcTwm_aE/Ws-cYAKQxmI/AAAAAAAAFR8/hQOzt6PTf8cvT0vxDLP6abU9KwwQooQtwCLcBGAs/s400/p3.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daylilies</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">July</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After flowering, prune the "New Dawn" climbing rose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prune back 50-80% of "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle after bloom is over.</span><br />
<b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Late August/Early September</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Separate Siberian irises along bed at back of house as needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time to order spring bulbs! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Indoor at least 25 paperwhite narcissus bulbs and 2 amaryllis bulbs </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Outdoor: 25 Gladiator allium</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br /></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzsa22jxWiI/WTbrcCq1PhI/AAAAAAAAFKA/IIorg3faWacicupq_tQ15EIeHnsmjbBQACLcB/s1600/peony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CYL6OH6_6Y/Ws-cljiOPFI/AAAAAAAAFSE/MGB12T7WJVQEI5tcHBBBQDNDBNepMVqvwCLcBGAs/s1600/p4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="879" height="361" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CYL6OH6_6Y/Ws-cljiOPFI/AAAAAAAAFSE/MGB12T7WJVQEI5tcHBBBQDNDBNepMVqvwCLcBGAs/s400/p4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Columbus Day</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Plant spring bulbs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dig in bone meal around peonies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lightly feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="color: black;">Start forcing paperwhites indoors for Thanksgiving bloom.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Veterans Day</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top-dress beds with composted cow manure.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Late December</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Start planning plant purchases for 2018.</span></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-29555822511246015622017-06-05T07:00:00.000-04:002017-06-06T13:51:13.549-04:00Siberian irises, desparate remedies, and cultivating the art of renunciation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In order not to impact flowering, gardeners are typically advised to transplant Siberian irises in the fall. But what if your Siberian irises have very little impact anyway? What if that dense mat of knotted, fibrous plants is only yielding one or two blooms? Wait to see if more appear? Or plunge in with shovel and knife to carve out new divisions? That was the dilemma yesterday. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oq13U_587Mc/WTWGi1wakoI/AAAAAAAAFJs/GS9g-I_trK0QS9ftRC7hQo7tUoyvMhqrgCLcB/s1600/irises.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oq13U_587Mc/WTWGi1wakoI/AAAAAAAAFJs/GS9g-I_trK0QS9ftRC7hQo7tUoyvMhqrgCLcB/s400/irises.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I opted for spring transplanting. The week ahead promises to be rainy and cool, so the weather is on my side. After shoveling up a mound, I pulled off groups of two or three outer, younger plants and briefly soaked their roots in water. I added a little composted cow manure and 10-10-10 fertilizer to the soil and poked these divisions back into the ground. Because it takes a year or two for transplanted divisions to flower, I limited myself to a single clump. Now that I see how desperately these irises need to be separated, I know that I have to continue to cycle through the garden clump by clump.<br />
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So, in foregoing a strong turn-out of Siberian irises this year and perhaps even next, I am reminded of Thomas Hardy's advice from his lesser novel, <em>Desperate Remedies</em>: “Cultivate the art of renunciation.” And patience. </div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-5290087024440699642017-05-01T17:00:00.000-04:002017-06-10T11:04:33.786-04:00Garden goal roll, 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My garden goal roll is more than just a "To Do" list. Yes, this checklist is very definitely the way that I remember what needs doing when, but it also serves as my electronic diary, where I can record what worked and what didn't. Sometimes that thing that didn't work is me: my personal rate of success in meeting my tasks is about 40%. Thankfully, Mother Nature performs to a higher standard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><u>April</u></strong> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dust peonies with copper fungicide to limit blight.<strong> <span style="color: purple;">Done 4/15/2017. Re-apply in June.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PD5MrAYUJpo/WQdukM-1u_I/AAAAAAAAFIA/StiXcJQXYXID5ICSTTNQjau2e29mPF8KgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PD5MrAYUJpo/WQdukM-1u_I/AAAAAAAAFIA/StiXcJQXYXID5ICSTTNQjau2e29mPF8KgCLcB/s400/IMG_7453.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></strong></span></span></div>
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top-dress spring-flowering bulbs with 3-5-3 when the leaf-tips emerge. <strong> <span style="color: purple;"><span style="background-color: white;">Done</span> 4/5/2017.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prune and clean up shrubs damaged by winter snows. <span style="color: purple;"><strong>On-going!</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Treat daylilies infected by <em>Aurebasidium microsictum</em> fungus with Daconil (chlorothalonil) every two weeks. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Sprayed 4/18/2017, 5/3/2017, and 5/20/2017 (yellow leaves starting to appear).</span></strong> R</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";">eplenish the bed with <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">six plantings of Winsome Lady, a fungus-resistant variety from Oakes Dayliles. <strong><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">Planted 4/30/2017. Sprinkled with a little HollyTone to counteract lime leached from house foundation into flower bed.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shape "New Dawn" rose canes. And figure out a support structure.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone. <strong><span style="color: purple;">A little bit applied 4/30/2017.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dose "New Dawn" rose with 1/2 cup of Epsom salts in 2 cups water. <b><span style="color: purple;">Applied 5/3/2017.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trim "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Move sprigs of "Autumn Joy" sedum to front of bed by side of house. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Done 4/30/2017.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">May</span></b></u><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></b></u><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">Plant dahlias.<span style="color: purple;"><strong> (Along bed at back of house planted 1 x Touche<span style="color: purple;"> (<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">BBSC) </span>3.5'</span> salmon/lavender, 2 x Ivanetti (BA) 3.5' purple ball, 2 x Totally Tangerine (AN)</strong><strong>3.5' anemone orange, and 2 x Giggles (CO) 3.5' collarette orange/lilac, all from Swan Island 5/20/2017)</strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><strong>Top-dress beds with composted cow manure throughout month.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Review spring bulb performance. What needs to be replaced or amplified? <strong><span style="color: purple;">Add +/- 50 bulbs of tete-a-tete for front beds. Rotate in another batch of <span style="color: purple;">25 "Gladiator" alliums in back bed against house.</span></span></strong></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";">Planted 6 Victoria blue salvia along bed at back of house.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";">Set up front porch and garden table containers.</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;"><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";">That stuff that you didn't get to last month? Do it now.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";">Planted 3 Cathedral white salvia in bed at back of house.</span></strong><br />
<br />
Edge garden beds. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mid-June: spray groundcover with horticultural oil to combat scale infestation. Spray again 10 days later. <span style="color: purple;"><b>Pachysandra, periwinkle and rhododendron sprayed with Four Seasons horticultural oil 6/10/2017.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cut out deadwood from and thin spirea hedge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Yellowing leaves of evening primrose treated with handful of garden iron applied to soil and leaves drenched with Miralcid acid-loving fertilizer 6/9/2017. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Scratch 1 1/4 cups of RoseTone around the roots of "New Dawn" climbing rose now monthly through the summer; be sure to stop feeding by August 15 in order to prevent developing new growth that will not have time to harden off before fall temperatures drop. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After flowering, shear <i>Amsonia hubrichtii</i> by 1/3 of its height to promote better form. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When it is 3 feet tall, cut Joe pye weed "Gateway" back to half its height to encourage dense growth. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stake dahlias when the tubers are planted and again and again as they grow. Stop dahlias by pinching stem back to four pairs of leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinch back shasta daisies to 6". Or just get rid of them?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And stake, stake, stake!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">July</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After flowering, prune the "New Dawn" climbing rose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prune back 50-80% of "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle after bloom is over.</span><br />
<b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Late August/Early September</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Separate Siberian irises along bed at back of house as needed. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Group at center separated 6/4/2017.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time to order spring bulbs! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Indoor at least 25 paperwhite narcissus bulbs and 2 amaryllis bulbs </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Outdoor: 25 Gladiator allium</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Transplant peony in shaded old side bed to sunny spot at back of house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzsa22jxWiI/WTbrcCq1PhI/AAAAAAAAFKA/IIorg3faWacicupq_tQ15EIeHnsmjbBQACLcB/s1600/peony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzsa22jxWiI/WTbrcCq1PhI/AAAAAAAAFKA/IIorg3faWacicupq_tQ15EIeHnsmjbBQACLcB/s400/peony.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Columbus Day</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Plant spring bulbs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dig in bone meal around peonies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lightly feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><span style="color: black;">Start forcing paperwhites indoors for Thanksgiving bloom.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Veterans Day</span></b></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top-dress beds with composted cow manure.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2a_luhdSVQY/WQjLwb9G1QI/AAAAAAAAFIc/qyFN5Z2a09gYucrvDRe8zj0XSgzGBcIVQCLcB/s1600/iris.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2a_luhdSVQY/WQjLwb9G1QI/AAAAAAAAFIc/qyFN5Z2a09gYucrvDRe8zj0XSgzGBcIVQCLcB/s400/iris.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Late December</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Start planning plant purchases for 2018.</span></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-516133770667973922016-11-07T19:00:00.000-05:002016-11-08T13:07:57.435-05:00Fall reckoning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few Indian summer flowers have been finally harvested. This last bouquet offers a reckoning of the season's successes and failures, starting with the blooms arranged in a recycled Tianjin <span lang="zh" xml:lang="zh">天津冬菜</span> jar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Teur_pmZGGQ/WA-RyC7PBdI/AAAAAAAAFEI/IwTmQbUdeiIdN5dooqt4BKOj_l5lJMCHgCEw/s1600/IMG_6159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Teur_pmZGGQ/WA-RyC7PBdI/AAAAAAAAFEI/IwTmQbUdeiIdN5dooqt4BKOj_l5lJMCHgCEw/s400/IMG_6159.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pickle-pot posy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Dahlias</u>: of several planted, only Kelsey Radiance bloomed. The others suffered insufficient sunlight, uneven watering, the predations of rabbits. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Next year: just stick to low dahlias in the old side yard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Salvia farinacea</u>: "Victoria Blue" deserves strong representation in the garden. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Next year: what about adding a white-flowering annual variety, such as "Evolution," "Victoria White Series" or "Jewel White"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><u>Day lilies:</u> For several--well, for several several--years, the daylilies have been infected by leaf streak caused by <em>Aurebasidium microsictum</em> fungus. At the end of the summer, I sprayed the foliage with Daconil (chlorothalonil) both after cutting down and again when re-growth appeared. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Next year: continue with the Daconil treatments every two weeks and replenish the bed with <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">new fungus-resistant daylilies ( Betty Bennet, Edna Spalding, Ella Pettigrew, Globe Trotter, Nancy Hicks, Pink Superior, Ron Rousseau, Sudie, Tropical Tones, Upper Room, or Winsome Lady).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-UB5VYdIB0/WBEWXgn0p0I/AAAAAAAAFEc/3Wq-7vTgvXYOoMMJtwcHsUboujkA-ZWAwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-UB5VYdIB0/WBEWXgn0p0I/AAAAAAAAFEc/3Wq-7vTgvXYOoMMJtwcHsUboujkA-ZWAwCLcB/s400/IMG_6257.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streak, blight, fungus . . . </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><u>Sedum</u>: Pinching and trimming back is better than not doing either, but that luxuriously full and rounded mound remains elusive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Next year: no reason not to shift stragglers lurking around the compost area into real beds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxG6IQIqXs4/WBEWXshtBEI/AAAAAAAAFEg/z5ZA6R28c8cn_kjVKw5h91IDssvWE7xfgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxG6IQIqXs4/WBEWXshtBEI/AAAAAAAAFEg/z5ZA6R28c8cn_kjVKw5h91IDssvWE7xfgCLcB/s400/IMG_6256.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compost pile kabocha?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And speaking of the <u>compost pile</u>: despite the <a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2016/06/compost-challenges-and-cures.html">continuing challenge of balancing</a> dry/wet, green/brown, kitchen scraps/everything else, one discarded seed sprouted out between the bin openings, flowered, and set a cute kabocha squash. Success!</span><br />
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-83117211730423942592016-06-21T08:00:00.000-04:002016-06-21T14:30:04.775-04:00Good morning, evening primrose!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What is better than a serendipitous plant discovery? Maybe receiving a gift of that serendipitous plant discovery! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nFf5oYlPrk0/V2Qwkhx0W3I/AAAAAAAAFBM/Jvc5P-f29046E1858OLw2_3sbi-BD5RGgCLcB/s1600/primrose%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nFf5oYlPrk0/V2Qwkhx0W3I/AAAAAAAAFBM/Jvc5P-f29046E1858OLw2_3sbi-BD5RGgCLcB/s400/primrose%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Evening primrose (<em>Oenothera sp</em>.) in the morning</span></td></tr>
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<br />
Common evening primrose (<em>Oenothera biennis</em>) has been on <a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2011/08/evening-primrose.html">my wish list</a> for years. Although this American native appears variously as plants tall and short, lovers of damp or dry soils, and with blooms of white, pink, and even blue, my heart was set on a finding a well-behaved specimen that approximated the wild yellow-flowering version.<br />
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So how happy was I that last Independence Day weekend my sister-in-law offered a few seedlings of the sunny yellow specimens from her Maine coastal cottage garden in gratitude for a morning of weeding?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-hi906ZQOI/V2mHeW1lCjI/AAAAAAAAFCI/6LrnA7COJEQ5JuYPLZMGZiki5VuMT1jVgCLcB/s1600/IMG_3509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-hi906ZQOI/V2mHeW1lCjI/AAAAAAAAFCI/6LrnA7COJEQ5JuYPLZMGZiki5VuMT1jVgCLcB/s400/IMG_3509.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pulling weeds, Harpswell, July 2015</span></td></tr>
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Of the four seedlings that I transplanted, only the one best situated survived our winter. In bloom, it lights up a semi-sunny, well-drained bed.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RgfYpOTlw0/V2mAfUOdZEI/AAAAAAAAFB4/yWRMS3wVRaM_RisJEP-DnZrwNOgXem7awCLcB/s1600/IMG_3508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RgfYpOTlw0/V2mAfUOdZEI/AAAAAAAAFB4/yWRMS3wVRaM_RisJEP-DnZrwNOgXem7awCLcB/s400/IMG_3508.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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While this nameless charmer might be a member of the genus <em>Oenothera, </em>I'm not sure of either species or variety. I'm guessing <em>Oenothera fruticosa </em>by reference to its size, leaf shape, soil preference, and sunny disposition. My only regret is that, despite the name, this evening primrose's yellow flowers are usually folding up by the time that I get home. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9A0JWAWZzg/V2mAfOd506I/AAAAAAAAFB0/37xv22kA8GsCOxIzHQuvt78Qv6ERdrlUQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9A0JWAWZzg/V2mAfOd506I/AAAAAAAAFB0/37xv22kA8GsCOxIzHQuvt78Qv6ERdrlUQCLcB/s400/IMG_3495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Closing up for the night</span></td></tr>
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</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-33211619720154703722016-06-13T20:39:00.002-04:002016-06-13T20:39:22.996-04:00Compost challenges and cures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throughout the winter and spring, we've dumped banana peels, kohlrabi parings, and melon rinds into our compost bin. What's the result of such environmentally-friendly diligence? Have we been rewarded with the gardener's black gold: crumbly, fine-textured, and earth-scented compost? Sadly, no. Instead, I have a pile of slimy, wet, malodorous muck. It looks and smells like . . . yes, that's right. You don't want this stinky, sticky stuff on your skin, on your clothes, or in your garden.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What to do? The solution is simple. The green/brown or nitrogen/carbon balance of my compost pile is out of whack. The recipe should be 1/3 nitrogen to 2/3 carbon but, during the cold months </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">when green nitrogen-rich kitchen scraps rapidly accumulate</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, that ratio is difficult to meet. To redress the situation, I need to </span><strong style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">add carbon-rich, absorbent materials</strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I use whatever I have at hand:</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shredded paper towels and newspaper (no glossy inserts or magazines!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dried grass clippings or lawn thatch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fireplace ashes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shredded leaves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pine needles</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dryer lint</span></li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isMxOMyXJ3g/V19MQZ1fcRI/AAAAAAAAFAg/NidxrfBac3037EBLUsopG3awf6JCUzoiACLcB/s1600/IMG_3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isMxOMyXJ3g/V19MQZ1fcRI/AAAAAAAAFAg/NidxrfBac3037EBLUsopG3awf6JCUzoiACLcB/s400/IMG_3446.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Shredded paper towels</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To re-charge the process of decay, it's important to <strong>aerate the compost</strong>. A handled edging tool is great for slicing down into the pile, twisting, and lifting. Once lightened up, a spading fork does the job just fine. Turning over the pile mixes up the carbon and nitrogen components, encourages the growth of bacteria, and provides a good upper body work-out. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0EqpgyoSYI/V19NVGd0VtI/AAAAAAAAFAs/I7quToHtWR0ZyNhCWv66kkr-3_ETgeqGgCLcB/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0EqpgyoSYI/V19NVGd0VtI/AAAAAAAAFAs/I7quToHtWR0ZyNhCWv66kkr-3_ETgeqGgCLcB/s400/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well-mixed and warming up</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not a big fan of dumping unfinished household compost on garden beds--why have the smell of raw sewage compete with that of roses and lilacs?--but it can be done. Since adding a few loads of carbon materials last week, this pile is percolating. I'm hoping that by the time that fall top-dressing rolls around, my compost will be cured.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XY3M-8cPwsU/V19OFd6aWUI/AAAAAAAAFA4/OUnGqcQ2hcgrYxHr8tGiBxrAjc-o8oWvgCLcB/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XY3M-8cPwsU/V19OFd6aWUI/AAAAAAAAFA4/OUnGqcQ2hcgrYxHr8tGiBxrAjc-o8oWvgCLcB/s400/unnamed-2.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Self-sowing cantaloupe seedling peaking out of the bin.<br /></span></td></tr>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-79765283494531744052016-06-07T12:51:00.006-04:002016-10-25T13:31:39.510-04:00Garden goal roll 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My garden goal roll is more than just a "To Do" list. Yes, this checklist is very definitely the way that I remember what needs doing when, but it also serves as my electronic diary, where I can record what worked and what didn't. Sometimes that thing that didn't work is me: my personal rate of success in meeting my tasks is about 40%. Thankfully, Mother Nature performs to a higher standard.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi9i2D18byw/V1cc6fKayXI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/w5q2hdLdn78oWyKjFqPjKBJGSFOKHcTrgCLcB/s1600/rhody.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi9i2D18byw/V1cc6fKayXI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/w5q2hdLdn78oWyKjFqPjKBJGSFOKHcTrgCLcB/s400/rhody.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhododendon "Lodestar"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><u>April</u></strong> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dust peonies with copper fungicide to limit blight.<strong> <span style="color: purple;">Done 3/31/2016. Re-apply in June.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top-dress spring-flowering bulbs with 3-5-3 when the leaf-tips emerge. <strong> <span style="color: purple;">Done 3/27/2016.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prune and clean up shrubs damaged by winter snows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shape "New Dawn" rose canes. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Done 5/15/2015.</span></strong> And figure out a support structure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2016/04/weeding-weather.html">Weed</a> and move lambs ear to new back bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dose "New Dawn" rose with 1/2 cup of Epsom salts in 2 cups water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trim "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">May</span></b></u><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></b></u><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">Plant dahlias. </span><strong><span style="color: purple;">Three Rose Toscano tubers planted at back bed against house on 6/5/2016. Three Kelsey <span style="color: purple;">Radiance and one Kelsey Kristie dahlias planted in old side bed on 6/5/2016. </span></span><span style="color: purple;"> Two Uptown Girl tubers planted together at back bed against house on 6/12/2016. One Lights Out tuber planted in old side bed on 6/12/2016.</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That stuff that you didn't get to last month? Do it now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><strong>Top-dress beds with composted cow manure throughout month.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Review spring bulb performance. What needs to be replaced or amplified? <strong><span style="color: purple;">Need +/- 20 tall purple alliums for back bed against house and +/- 200 miniature fuchsia alliums for beds along front walk.</span></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong><strong><u></u></strong></span></span><br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June</span></b></u><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Move potted amaryllis bulbs outdoors and feed regularly with liquid fertilizer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "georgia";"><strong>Broadcast 5-10-5 fertilizer over flower beds and toss Holly-Tone on pachysandra and front foundation plantings on 6/12/2016.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Edge garden beds. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prune into shape front foundation plantings and yews along side property line. <span style="color: purple;"><strong>Yews will be pruned by neighbor's landscaper. Privet hedge along property line cut back hard to 1' on 6/4/2016.</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Scratch 1 1/4 cups of RoseTone around the roots of "New Dawn" climbing rose now monthly through the summer; be sure to stop feeding by August 15 in order to prevent developing new growth that will not have time to harden off before fall temperatures drop. <span style="color: purple;"><strong>First feeding 6/5/2016.</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After flowering, shear <i>Amsonia hubrichtii</i> by 1/3 of its height to promote better form. <strong><span style="color: purple;">Done.</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When it is 3 feet tall, cut Joe pye weed "Gateway" back to half its height to encourage dense growth. <strong><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">Done 6/5/2016.</span></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stake dahlias when the tubers are planted and again and again as they grow. Stop dahlias by pinching stem back to four pairs of leaves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinch back shasta daisies to 6". Or just get rid of them?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And stake, stake, stake!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">July</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After flowering, prune the "New Dawn" climbing rose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prune back 50-80% of "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle after bloom is over.</span><br />
<b><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Late August/Early September</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Separate Siberian irises to left of kitchen door (Eric the Red). <span style="color: purple;"><strong>Done August 27.</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time to order spring bulbs! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Indoor at least 25 paperwhite narcissus bulbs and 2 amaryllis bulbs </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Outdoor: <strong><span style="color: purple;">See above!</span></strong></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Columbus Day</span></strong></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Plant spring bulbs. Done October 23: <strong><span style="color: purple;">25 "Gladiator" alliums in back bed against house and 100 fuchsia oreophilum alliums and 10 "Katherine Hodgkin" miniature irises along front walk.</span></strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi9i2D18byw/V1cc6fKayXI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/w5q2hdLdn78oWyKjFqPjKBJGSFOKHcTrgCLcB/s1600/rhody.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dig in bone meal around peonies.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lightly feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strike>Move potted amaryllis bulbs indoors and chill in refrigerator.</strike> <strong><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">Abandoned this effort.</span></strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">Start forcing paperwhites indoors for Thanksgiving bloom.</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Veterans Day</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top-dress beds with composted cow manure.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Late December</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Start planning plant purchases for 2017.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wwmwy8LsnNw/Vv7ZfkO2_OI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/qsWgDrwMkZElOcJxHWdcgfEGHe7Z6_P0w/s1600/IMG_7241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wwmwy8LsnNw/Vv7ZfkO2_OI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/qsWgDrwMkZElOcJxHWdcgfEGHe7Z6_P0w/s400/IMG_7241.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-48056597572702128452016-04-04T12:48:00.004-04:002016-04-04T12:48:47.844-04:00Spring uncertainties<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm thinking of Robert Frost's "A Prayer for Spring" on this early April day:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And give us not to think so far away</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As the uncertain harvest; keep us here</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">All simply in the springing of the year.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DZ5gumpeSI/VwKVPS-boJI/AAAAAAAAE-0/Xt7ytFe27_YiDYkenlDX9iuL7CmGmyfag/s1600/tulips%2Blast%2Bweek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DZ5gumpeSI/VwKVPS-boJI/AAAAAAAAE-0/Xt7ytFe27_YiDYkenlDX9iuL7CmGmyfag/s400/tulips%2Blast%2Bweek.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pansies and tulips last week . . .</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Because with the uncertainties of a New England spring, it's difficult to look beyond what blows in with the next change of weather. Thoughts of harvest are very far away on this snowy day.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Fbo8HjBFXU/VwKVPR58uwI/AAAAAAAAE-w/_2RD2dvpwDQIsK67wgkVn24niPGEahXWQ/s1600/tulips%2Bthis%2Bweek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Fbo8HjBFXU/VwKVPR58uwI/AAAAAAAAE-w/_2RD2dvpwDQIsK67wgkVn24niPGEahXWQ/s400/tulips%2Bthis%2Bweek.jpg" width="307" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The same, today</span></td></tr>
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</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-19856729951690949432016-04-01T16:10:00.001-04:002016-04-01T16:10:42.523-04:00Weeding weather<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When spring starts to shift gears, the siren song of the garden becomes irresistible. The temperature rises, the days lengthen, and dirt finds its way under one's fingernails. I think that the scent of turned earth--<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/03/25/science/spring-science.html?_r=0">petrichor</a> perfume--is just as hard-wired to happiness as the smell of baking bread, Chanel No. 5, or freshly-mown grass.<br />
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As soon as the soil warms, early spring is a great time to weed. The plants that need to be removed can be easily pulled, and the ones that need to stay haven't yet ensnared weeds in their roots or secreted them in their foliage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xhrC-A3VqZ0/Vv5_-ZIE2nI/AAAAAAAAE98/0cn0-72TyAcdjqEeKOyhDrs8UVC_JMiBw/s1600/weeding%2Bweather.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xhrC-A3VqZ0/Vv5_-ZIE2nI/AAAAAAAAE98/0cn0-72TyAcdjqEeKOyhDrs8UVC_JMiBw/s400/weeding%2Bweather.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprouts from left to right, top to bottom: sedum, monarda, stachya, marsh marigold/moss/grass, dicentra, lovage, mystery, sedum, iris reticulata</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This spring, I have two major weeding campaigns to conduct: (1) a recently added beebalm (<em>Monarda </em>"Pink Lace") has exposed its mint family breeding by aggressively and indiscriminately spreading the heck all over the place and, (2) over the years, numerous lambs' ears plants (<em>Stachys byzantina</em>) have quietly colonized older stands of Siberian irises. I have new homes staked out for these runaways. As they say, a weed is just a plant in the wrong place, and I look forward to magically transforming these beebalm and lambs' ears plants from bad to good.<br />
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And then, there is just the garden-variety weeding: cleaning out mosses, grass, and ground ivy from the rain garden, edging beds, and yanking clumps of oxalis, purslane, and celandine. No redemption there.</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-10396446916758055502016-03-23T12:48:00.002-04:002016-03-23T12:52:05.415-04:00Spring blues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Welcome to spring in New England. To ring in the equinox, last week, </span><a href="http://www.craigslandscapinginc.com/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the professionals</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> cleared out a winter's worth of lawn thatch, leaves and twigs. Over the weekend, I sprinkled about 10 lbs. of fertilizer over the spreads of naturalized and bedded bulbs. And, then, the next day, it snowed.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evfjXoI9ePI/VvLEsXG0NsI/AAAAAAAAE9U/3mGCbBeqnPIt_KXzS2jJmu4_C7Gc10LRQ/s1600/icy%2Biris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evfjXoI9ePI/VvLEsXG0NsI/AAAAAAAAE9U/3mGCbBeqnPIt_KXzS2jJmu4_C7Gc10LRQ/s400/icy%2Biris.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Iced irises: Iris reticulata "Katherine Hodgkin"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While the daffodil foliage is about six inches high and a few varieties are even starting to bloom, most of the bulbs are still a few weeks away from hitting their stride. Thank you, global warming: the garden thinks that it's April in March. Until it's February in March. And back again.</span></div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-2743820465074043182016-03-05T11:24:00.001-05:002016-03-05T11:25:40.172-05:00Re-booting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Please tell me that spring is just around the corner, and it's okay to hit the button on a garden re-boot: plants to order, spaces to plan, and the smell of warming earth to anticipate. Pay no attention to the snow squalls swirling and spinning today.</div>
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One of the first spring start-up efforts has to go towards overhauling my dahlia situation. After several years of <a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2011/11/over-wintering-dahlias-extreme-edition.html">the lazy person's approach to tuber overwintering</a>, these plants are simply not flowering as heavily as they should. The glory of dahlias is their shameless, perhaps vulgar, garishness--blooms ranked as "dinner plate" size and sparking neon bright--but even those varieties more restrained in appearance bring a much needed energy to the late summer garden. </div>
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Because I primarily cut dahlias for indoors arrangements, I'm casting about for a color palette in shades of apricot, fuschia, and maroon and a flower size that fits comfortably into a table-top vase.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NkqXOpnUHUk/VtTOV7vCw-I/AAAAAAAAE8E/dhCNMIXRYN4/s1600/DahliaBrightsH%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NkqXOpnUHUk/VtTOV7vCw-I/AAAAAAAAE8E/dhCNMIXRYN4/s400/DahliaBrightsH%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dahlia palette (<a href="http://www.design-seeds.com/">www.design-seeds.com</a>)</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://www.dahlia.org/guide/dahlmain.html">American Dahlia Society</a> has classified flowers by size, shape, and color, so it's possible to sort through the vertiginous array of varieties. Because the most popular types sellout quickly and no nurseries carry an encyclopedic selection, I typically end up placing orders with a number of suppliers: this year, Arrowhead, Swan Island, and Ferncliff Gardens.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-60FjfgKVi2s/VtsFZvGa52I/AAAAAAAAE8w/M5NX8IRMIG8/s1600/Kelsey-Radiance%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-60FjfgKVi2s/VtsFZvGa52I/AAAAAAAAE8w/M5NX8IRMIG8/s400/Kelsey-Radiance%2Bcropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelsey Radiance (CO DB = collarette, dark blend) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Al7L23TTsCQ/VtTOe_RLfnI/AAAAAAAAE8M/NAj07_DoSf4/s1600/rosetoscano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Al7L23TTsCQ/VtTOe_RLfnI/AAAAAAAAE8M/NAj07_DoSf4/s400/rosetoscano.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose Toscano (M FD OR = less than 4", formal decorative, orange)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mb5PSyPYMU/VtTOkxC4W1I/AAAAAAAAE8Q/dPCrWGaVw10/s1600/lights%2Bout%2Bdahlia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mb5PSyPYMU/VtTOkxC4W1I/AAAAAAAAE8Q/dPCrWGaVw10/s400/lights%2Bout%2Bdahlia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lights Out (M FD DR = less than 4", formal decorative, dark red)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHO-axHFMhk/VtSgwFUp8mI/AAAAAAAAE6k/6k1AUe9Ipnw/s1600/uptown%2Bgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHO-axHFMhk/VtSgwFUp8mI/AAAAAAAAE6k/6k1AUe9Ipnw/s400/uptown%2Bgirl.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uptown Girl (BB FD DP = 4"-6", formal decorative, dark pink)<br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Can't wait for the deliveries, along with warm weather and sunshine, to arrive in April. Can planting time be so very far away?</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-53436468601053795682016-02-29T17:59:00.000-05:002016-02-29T17:59:10.734-05:00Deal sealed (or about Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum "Varigatum")<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lykzzto_K64/VWPSfFNJrpI/AAAAAAAAEyQ/iZzI64l1oz0/s640/blogger-image--271437585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lykzzto_K64/VWPSfFNJrpI/AAAAAAAAEyQ/iZzI64l1oz0/s640/blogger-image--271437585.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">L<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ast summer, I wrote about scavenging a clump of </span></span><a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2014/07/re-location-re-location-re-location.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Variegated Solomon's Seal</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> from a construction site near work. Once home, these bedraggled, tattered, debris-coated plants were tucked in a shady bed populated by hostas, sweet woodruff, and various shade-loving weeds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This spring, the Solomon's Seals came up with bells on. Well, at least they boasted small white pendant blossoms that look a bit like bells. The "odoratum" and "pluriflorum" portions of its Latin name are a tip to the sweet scent of its many flowers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qaTgjK6HyeI/VWPSg7l1ckI/AAAAAAAAEyY/gk-P1bKBAY0/s640/blogger-image--223105601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qaTgjK6HyeI/VWPSg7l1ckI/AAAAAAAAEyY/gk-P1bKBAY0/s640/blogger-image--223105601.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's great when plantings that look this great cost absolutely nothing. I'll try to remember that dash of kismet when I'm moaning over the sad remains of some costly specimen. Because dead plants are definitely part of the gardening deal.</span></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-523140096180889882015-04-28T22:50:00.001-04:002015-04-28T22:56:29.620-04:00I've got sunshine on a cloudy day<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TQAeSi9Puko/VUBG46OTgEI/AAAAAAAAExI/N2bC_aBTlPE/s640/blogger-image--2081277254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TQAeSi9Puko/VUBG46OTgEI/AAAAAAAAExI/N2bC_aBTlPE/s640/blogger-image--2081277254.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Even on an overcast, raw, why-are-we-still-wearing-mittens kind of day, these patches of yellow make their own sunny weather. In the foreground is the daffodil "Yellow Cheerfulness," the middle ground is covered with"Wisley," and f<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">orsythia "Lynwood Gold" rules the b</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ackground. </span></div>Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-74930928390536039552015-04-26T16:41:00.000-04:002015-04-26T16:41:14.617-04:00Why the sunken garden makes me feel unsinkable<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Visiting someone else's garden is always liberating: you're free of any responsibilities for unfinished seasonal chores, unblinkered of the eyesores of your garden design failures, and unburdened of battling nature's imperfections, your poor choices, or chance's victims. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znUntqXDtxc/VT1HZxvvMvI/AAAAAAAAEwk/voYV1Ks6lsM/s1600/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znUntqXDtxc/VT1HZxvvMvI/AAAAAAAAEwk/voYV1Ks6lsM/s1600/FullSizeRender-3.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm always glad to have an excuse to pop into the <a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2011/10/sunken-surprise.html">Sunken</a> <a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2012/04/bookending-visits-to-sunken-surprise.html">Garden</a> at Radcliffe Institute. A tall brick wall encloses the street sides, so passersby are likely to miss this serene site unless they peek through the Radcliffe Yard gates. Once inside, sounds of a fountain and weathered memorial benches offer a respite from the daily grind.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7q77dZ7A1CA/VT1HZzN8w5I/AAAAAAAAEwo/ZJxTUPALUAI/s1600/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7q77dZ7A1CA/VT1HZzN8w5I/AAAAAAAAEwo/ZJxTUPALUAI/s1600/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></div>
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Despite today's breezy, sunny weather, chilly temperatures continue to hold a full flowering spring at a distance. Nevertheless, the fern fiddleheads are stretching through their netted coats, white-flowering magnolias (<em>Magnolia x stellata</em>) are flicking in the wind, and Siberian squills (<i>Scilla siberica</i>) circle the base of a massive beech tree.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJY3HXBJwsE/VT1HZkeG2nI/AAAAAAAAEwg/itxjAT2PA40/s1600/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJY3HXBJwsE/VT1HZkeG2nI/AAAAAAAAEwg/itxjAT2PA40/s1600/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-75653222738655327442015-04-20T13:41:00.005-04:002015-04-20T13:41:45.267-04:00Garden goal roll, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's spring now, so all things horticultural are possible. Cue the cock-eyed optimist: I'm preparing my annual garden goal roll: what needs to be done, when it should be done, and where it's all happening. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipXOjfezMKw/VHTHqQPVTZI/AAAAAAAAEoI/uPfh5ozn-uI/s1600/peony2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipXOjfezMKw/VHTHqQPVTZI/AAAAAAAAEoI/uPfh5ozn-uI/s1600/peony2.jpg" height="327" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<u><b>April</b></u><br />
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Dust peonies with copper fungicide to limit blight.<strong> <span style="color: purple;">Done 4/19/2015</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong><br />
Top-dress spring-flowering bulbs with 3-5-3 when the leaf-tips emerge. <strong> <span style="color: purple;">Except for small front walk bed, done 4/19/2015</span></strong><br />
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Place plant orders. <br />
* From Swan Island or other dahlia nursery: some small yellow dahlias, like "Baby Yellow," for old side bed? <br />
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Prune and clean up shrubs damaged by winter snows.<br />
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Shape "New Dawn" rose canes. And figure out a support structure.<br />
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Start renovation of back property line bed<br />
* Remove some lilies of the valley.<br />
* Consider what else would improve this space. Something low and chartreuse? Or grassy?<br />
* Move Japanese painted fern to more visible location. Again, clear out lilies of the valley?<br />
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Assess perennials in the dry bed along the northeast side of the house. Maybe cut this bed a bit bigger? <br />
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Feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.<br />
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Dose "New Dawn" rose with 1/2 cup of Epsom salts in 2 cups water. <br />
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Trim "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle back. <br />
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<u><b>May</b></u><br />
<u><b></b></u><br />
That stuff that you didn't get to last month? Do it now.<br />
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Review spring bulb performance. What needs to be replaced or amplified? <br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong><strong><u></u></strong><br />
<u><b>June</b></u></div>
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Move potted amaryllis bulbs outdoors and feed regularly with liquid fertilizer.<br />
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Edge garden beds.</div>
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Prune into shape front foundation plantings and yews along side property line.<br />
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Scratch 1 1/4 cups of RoseTone around the roots of "New Dawn" climbing rose now monthly through the summer; be sure to stop feeding by August 15 in order to prevent developing new growth that will not have time to harden off before fall temperatures drop. <br />
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After flowering, shear <i>Amsonia hubrichtii</i> by 1/3 of its height to promote better form. </div>
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When it is 3 feet tall, cut Joe pye weed "Gateway" back to half its height to encourage dense growth. </div>
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Stake dahlias when the tubers are planted and again and again as they grow. Stop dahlias by pinching stem back to four pairs of leaves. </div>
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Pinch back shasta daisies to 6".</div>
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And stake, stake, stake!</div>
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<b>July</b><br />
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After flowering, prune the "New Dawn" climbing rose. <br />
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Prune back 50-80% of "Major Wheeler" honeysuckle after bloom is over.<br />
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Separate Siberian irises to left of kitchen door (Eric the Red).<br />
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Time to order spring bulbs! <br />
* Indoor at least 25 paperwhite narcissus bulbs and 2 amaryllis bulbs <br />
* Outdoor: 200 Iris reticulata "Katherine Hodgkin"</div>
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<strong>Columbus Day</strong></div>
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Plant spring bulbs.<br />
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Dig in bone meal around peonies.</div>
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Lightly feed evergreens along front of house with Holly-Tone.<br />
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Move potted amaryllis bulbs indoors and chill in refrigerator.</div>
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<b>Veterans Day</b></div>
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While daytime temperatures are still above 40 degrees, spray an anti-transpirant, like Wilt-Pruf or Wilt Stop, on "Sky Needle" hollies to prevent winter kill.</div>
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Top-dress beds with composted cow manure.</div>
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<b>Thanksgiving</b></div>
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Winter-sow seeds.</div>
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<b>Late December</b></div>
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Start planning plant purchases for 2016.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSpTOh9zBo4/VHTHqSq2I4I/AAAAAAAAEoM/vQeyWYnzeic/s1600/peony1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSpTOh9zBo4/VHTHqSq2I4I/AAAAAAAAEoM/vQeyWYnzeic/s1600/peony1.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-52969277525137363042015-04-19T16:52:00.001-04:002015-04-19T16:52:38.918-04:00Boston Strong (and small and slow)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
According to yesterday's news broadcast, this year's harsh winter has stalled us several weeks' behind our usual seasonal spring schedule. So the blue and yellow markings of these little Iris reticulata "Katherine Hodgkin" typically don't unfurl in synchrony with the colorful celebration of the Boston Marathon.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDyuSvLOm5w/VTOrOHBLehI/AAAAAAAAEvo/CShI1dwWgK4/s1600/iris%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDyuSvLOm5w/VTOrOHBLehI/AAAAAAAAEvo/CShI1dwWgK4/s1600/iris%2B3.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris reticulata "Katherine Hodgkin" looking up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rE_Jy9faW4I/VTOuUvndu_I/AAAAAAAAEwA/Dyqeg-NB8gU/s1600/IMG_6514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rE_Jy9faW4I/VTOuUvndu_I/AAAAAAAAEwA/Dyqeg-NB8gU/s1600/IMG_6514.JPG" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finish Line, Old North Church, looking up</td></tr>
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Welcome signs of spring! Several clutches of "Katherine Hodgkin" have survived for years in the beds along our front walk. Their tiny blooms are the perfect size for passers-by to appreciate as they go up or down the street. Surrounded by darker myrtle plants, these irises' pale petals and spattering of yellow and blue visually pop--but pop delicately and without the hard garishness of some other spring starters.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5fpzpE5bAk/VTOrSdv1nKI/AAAAAAAAEv0/e5Lz_pQjiQY/s1600/iris%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L5fpzpE5bAk/VTOrSdv1nKI/AAAAAAAAEv0/e5Lz_pQjiQY/s1600/iris%2B1.jpg" height="315" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris reticulata "Katherine Hodgkin" from above</td></tr>
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Some years these irises flourish better than others. This spring, I've prepped for next year by freely feeding the beds with a 3-5-3 fertilizer. But I'm thinking that the best way to hasten my yield would simply be to plant another 200 or so bulbs. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-26G3A1xz-FI/VTOrN5HQ5OI/AAAAAAAAEvk/qLU4rsZ7XTc/s1600/iris%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-26G3A1xz-FI/VTOrN5HQ5OI/AAAAAAAAEvk/qLU4rsZ7XTc/s1600/iris%2B2.jpg" height="400" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris reticulata "Katherine Hodgkin" </td></tr>
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And godspeed to all the runners tomorrow!</div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-91614177676799536092014-11-24T14:31:00.001-05:002014-11-24T14:34:46.122-05:00Hoarders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not to get too personal, but certain members of my family have a hoarding issue. Well, one in particular. So, yesterday, when I saw an apple caught up high in the canes of climbing rose, I figured that our family hoarder had just parked a piece of fruit so that he could enjoy a snack later after completing his outside chores. Our family hoarder likes to collect windfalls from a neighbor's apple tree, and this fruit looked just banged and bruised enough to be from that harvest.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhNJTSDRFys/VHOAlf3E0SI/AAAAAAAAEnU/FVUOApRnaaA/s1600/2FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhNJTSDRFys/VHOAlf3E0SI/AAAAAAAAEnU/FVUOApRnaaA/s1600/2FullSizeRender.jpg" height="400" width="357" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But after our hoarder denied all knowledge, I thought back to the </span><a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2008/09/nutty-nest.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">other caches of food</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> that I've found in the boughs of this rose bush. I think that this apple must be an example of hoarding from another branch of the animal family. My hunch is that this apple represented a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding_(animal_behavior)">grey squirrel's scatter hoard</a>. The rose bush served as the perfect larder: the apple could be secured on a thorn, it was out of reach of hungry competitors, and the wrapping of prickly canes served as effective protection. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sorry to spoil some creature's seasonal feast, but after pruning back the rose bush yesterday, the larder is no more. And, myself, I've hoarded the last few red rose hips for a fall arrangement.</span></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-27893484034990984962014-10-16T21:00:00.000-04:002014-10-17T15:24:48.636-04:00Daffodil inventory<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that, after several years of blithely shovelling dozens and dozens of daffodil bulbs into every available garden bed, when it came to placing this fall's bulb order, I had less than a total recollection of what had been planted where. I knew that there were lots of different varieties of daffodils and that some have petered out over the years while others are going strong. Great. A few beds sport a single variety of daffodil--"Mount Hood" skirts the back property line and pheasant's eye "Poeticus" hugs the side of the house--but other beds are an absolute jumble.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cvtNDIRt9vg/VEFn96doA3I/AAAAAAAAEcA/MWj0KxPVNB0/s1600/daffodil%2Binventory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cvtNDIRt9vg/VEFn96doA3I/AAAAAAAAEcA/MWj0KxPVNB0/s1600/daffodil%2Binventory.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></div>
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So to bring some order to this horticultural chaos, I quickly pulled together an inventory of daffodils by location with bloom periods, order history, and remarks noted. (For a slightly better view, click on the image above.) My goal is to use this reference to better insure coverage in a range of shapes, heights, and colors (well, the latter, perhaps not so much) over the spring months. And I've already started to think about next year's order!</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-44134543686208820922014-09-24T13:09:00.003-04:002014-09-24T13:09:51.308-04:00Lobelia: les liaisons dangereuses <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Maybe I didn't know this? Or I didn't care? Or I thought that I could make it all be different? Oh, the stories that we tell ourselves!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFIR5pkFMw4/VCL2oaLPy6I/AAAAAAAAEbI/A0ihi9Tx1fw/s1600/lobelia%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OFIR5pkFMw4/VCL2oaLPy6I/AAAAAAAAEbI/A0ihi9Tx1fw/s1600/lobelia%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Great Blue Lobelia <em>Lobelia siphilitica </em>that I tucked several years ago into the crook of the rain garden has adapted marvelously well. The parent plant is healthy and, this time of year, heavy-blooming. All it seems to need is moist soil, a cool corner, and a measure of sun and shade. For these favors, I have been generously repaid. Thanks, right?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-05c7VvYYw9o/VCL0brSbvGI/AAAAAAAAEa8/nwzIWkoEZ-Q/s1600/lobelia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-05c7VvYYw9o/VCL0brSbvGI/AAAAAAAAEa8/nwzIWkoEZ-Q/s1600/lobelia.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, gratitude has not yet tipped to grievance, but I can see gasping out a curse or two in the future as I am buried under this bounty of riches. Seedlings of various ages have colonized this bed. At present, I am happy to see their blue spires inhabiting a difficult space that is otherwise pretty rough and tumble. I am weeding out all the other interlopers in order to make room just for these privileged upstarts . . . and at the same time wondering what dangers I'll be facing by my lobelia infatuation.</div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-11964574822195201252014-09-02T17:04:00.001-04:002014-09-02T17:06:56.160-04:00I love living in a blue state . . . <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
. . . and I'm not limiting myself to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. No, I mean the blue--or almost blue--tones of late summer flowers. Sadly, I've got the blues this year from some of my favorites' failure to thrive: the larkspur has been effectively eliminated by rabbit predation and the blue flag iris sent up only a single flower. But other cultivars have fared fair better.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rso2yEj7Pds/VAYpD1dwIkI/AAAAAAAAEaM/rFheLiNtJfw/s1600/cloudy%2Bsalvia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rso2yEj7Pds/VAYpD1dwIkI/AAAAAAAAEaM/rFheLiNtJfw/s1600/cloudy%2Bsalvia.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong> <em> </em></strong><em>Salvia farinacea</em> "<em>Victoria Blue"</em></td></tr>
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Spiky clumps of annual blue salvia flourish just about anywhere they are planted. They look great--even when menaced by storm clouds--at the front of a mixed bed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Etxc99TjqJk/VAYpD0kfo1I/AAAAAAAAEaA/erSNrbqJfWk/s1600/phlox%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Etxc99TjqJk/VAYpD0kfo1I/AAAAAAAAEaA/erSNrbqJfWk/s1600/phlox%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><em>Phlox paniculata "</em>Blue Paradise"</span></td></tr>
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This garden phlox, "Blue Paradise," continues to bloom into September. The individual flowers change color depending upon light conditions: a deeply saturated blue violet at dawn and dusk, a paler purple at midday. The petals stripe and blotch and cloud with different tones.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2pMNL7pThUg/VAYpOBhtV4I/AAAAAAAAEaY/pACxG8HcAQM/s1600/lobelia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2pMNL7pThUg/VAYpOBhtV4I/AAAAAAAAEaY/pACxG8HcAQM/s1600/lobelia.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Lobelia <em>Lobelia siphilitica</em></td></tr>
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I need to cleave out more space for this Great Blue Lobelia <em>Lobelia siphilitica,</em><em> </em>which is busily colonizing the inner angle of the rain garden. The fellow was picked up two years ago from<a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/2012/09/bartrams-garden-redux.html"> Bartram's Garden</a> outside of Philadelphia. Yes, its growing habit is uncouth and its flower heads are large and coarse--but, oh, that color!</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-81193774215260717962014-08-25T22:27:00.001-04:002014-09-02T17:08:10.929-04:00Sweet end of summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Cool temperatures this past week have stirred up conversations about an early fall. The plant world, too, seems to be pushing the seasons forward.<br />
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The end of summer is sweetened by the sight and scent of the appropriately named Summer Sweet <em>Clethra alnifolia</em> "September Beauty." Because these natives flourish in damp, acidic soils, several are sited adjacent to the rain garden and another next to a down spout. This time of year, they are over-loaded with intoxicating pure white racemes. Bees and butterflies flit, land, and sip like reeling, happy drunks. No complaints from that corner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jRLN5dI3BLc/U_ZiyES0v8I/AAAAAAAAEY8/bEztFPEdFss/s1600/summersweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jRLN5dI3BLc/U_ZiyES0v8I/AAAAAAAAEY8/bEztFPEdFss/s1600/summersweet.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Clethra alnifolia </em>'September Beauty'</td></tr>
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Even though they are hardy to Zone 3, I don't see Summer Sweet growing in gardens around here. Local gardeners may be put off by the <a href="http://thebackquarteracre.blogspot.com/search?q=late+breaking">late leafing out</a> of these plants--in New England, a habit that translates into bare branches until well into May. But what handsome leaves to wait for: deeply colored, glossy, and neatly serrated.<br />
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Because Summer Sweet blooms on new wood, I wait until spring to prune. The seed capsules, which look like little peppercorns--and give the plant its other moniker, Pepperbush--are also best tidied away in the spring. I've read that over-wintering birds enjoy these seeds but can't say that I've ever noticed any avian diners. After a harsh winter, Summer Sweet definitely needs to be cleaned of broken and frost-killed twigs. This clipping clean-up and a good tailoring of the bushes' expansive, sloppy style are on my spring agenda.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r8ND94V96nU/U_vqDdtVX2I/AAAAAAAAEZs/Y7LPSaoP0cM/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r8ND94V96nU/U_vqDdtVX2I/AAAAAAAAEZs/Y7LPSaoP0cM/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peppercorn-like seed capsules</td></tr>
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Last week, I figured that the perfume of these flowers would fill a room, so I cut a handful of racemes, added some stalks of northern sea oats, and plonked the whole handful into a ceramic vase. Immediately, the air was saturated with their sweet, sweet scent. No complaints from this corner, either!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohOk80BPww0/U_vm2vG3ncI/AAAAAAAAEZg/O5cXfZ4kpAA/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohOk80BPww0/U_vm2vG3ncI/AAAAAAAAEZg/O5cXfZ4kpAA/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural air freshener</td></tr>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-79420336072665969062014-08-08T13:41:00.003-04:002014-08-08T14:08:20.200-04:00Geraniums: celebrating the commonplace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Until a couple of years ago, I had always lumped geraniums into that group of trailer trash flowers--carnations, impatiens, petunias--that Big Box stores and uninspired landscapers inflict upon horticulturally sensitive souls. With such diversity of plant life available, why bother with geraniums? They are boring and clichéd. And they smell funny.</div>
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But then I went to France. Specifically, I went to Alsace, the eastern region of France that borders the river Rhine. This is the country of geraniums, half-timbered buildings, and Riesling wine. Geraniums could be found in every window box: sometimes the classic red flowers, other times shades of pink, coral, or white. There were grand blossom-loaded shows as well as more modest displays.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lbeBXlFsWWk/U-KbUy_8HxI/AAAAAAAAEYU/QzwKtssBhcA/s640/blogger-image--2053876794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lbeBXlFsWWk/U-KbUy_8HxI/AAAAAAAAEYU/QzwKtssBhcA/s400/blogger-image--2053876794.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from upper left: Colmar, Abbey Mont St. Odile, Riquewihr, Abbey Mont St. Odile, Colmar, Hunspach, Colmar; Center: Colmar</td></tr>
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And the bounty was not limited to private houses. In the Alsatian countryside, even farm wagons, cemetery crosses, and memorial chapels deserved a decking out.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rvyu2fFpZV4/U-KbXB48EkI/AAAAAAAAEYc/wzN3gSe7_mU/s640/blogger-image-1322867497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rvyu2fFpZV4/U-KbXB48EkI/AAAAAAAAEYc/wzN3gSe7_mU/s400/blogger-image-1322867497.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from upper left: Aschbach wagon, Oberroedern cross, Aschbach chapel </td></tr>
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So I kept this celebration of the commonplace in mind when I was setting up my containers this summer. By the back door--the private area that's just for friends and family--I tucked together a big pot of zonal geraniums. A deep red glazed planter now holds a load of Tango Salmon geraniums. Somehow, this tidy, hard-working, and proudly unimaginative display feels right (and, dare I say, stereotypically Alsatian).<br>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxqZFOBgtEQ/U9anbxNj9DI/AAAAAAAAEXI/3j7DL-WschQ/s1600/photo+1+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cxqZFOBgtEQ/U9anbxNj9DI/AAAAAAAAEXI/3j7DL-WschQ/s1600/photo+1+(4).JPG" height="400" width="371"></a></div>
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-64889984817109601272014-07-28T18:00:00.000-04:002014-07-29T09:22:54.268-04:00Re-location, re-location, re-location!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Summer construction is underway across campus: parking lots are being torn up, buildings knocked down, and new foundations dug. Yes, here we're partying like it's early 2008! In the midst of all of this activity, a few weeks ago I noticed a mournful clump of Variegated Solomon's Seal wedged between an asphalt roadbed and a chain-link fence. I asked folks working in the area if I could help myself to these orphans. "No problem" was the response. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gpCxZzWJLUs/U9Z3kRDa5bI/AAAAAAAAEWo/acSiIMnj6ps/s1600/ss+on+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gpCxZzWJLUs/U9Z3kRDa5bI/AAAAAAAAEWo/acSiIMnj6ps/s1600/ss+on+site.jpg" height="400" width="350"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On site: Variegated Solomon's Seal (<em>Polygonatum falcatum "Variegatum")</em> </td></tr>
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Last week, I pulled up a half dozen stems of Solomon's Seal. The leaves were tattered, yellowed, and coated with construction debris. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BxyHFjq03uc/U9Z3kUgx6UI/AAAAAAAAEWc/VvI8hmnm3RY/s1600/ss+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BxyHFjq03uc/U9Z3kUgx6UI/AAAAAAAAEWc/VvI8hmnm3RY/s1600/ss+leaves.jpg" height="400" width="333"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaves coated with construction debris</td></tr>
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Although the rhizomes attached at the end of the stalks were firm and well-colored, the roots were desperately dessicated--they looked like old twine. So I stuck the rhizomes in a big bowl of water for a day, hoping to rehydrate all those parched parts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2-MuN6eGrQ/U9Z4IcbU5NI/AAAAAAAAEW4/yZ_0nvFtkBc/s1600/ss+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2-MuN6eGrQ/U9Z4IcbU5NI/AAAAAAAAEW4/yZ_0nvFtkBc/s1600/ss+bowl.jpg" height="400" width="397"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soaking the rhizomes</td></tr>
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I'm not sure what effect, if any, that bath might have had, as the plants appeared the same after their spa treatment as they had before. But at least they didn't look any worse.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-REyCZ3lpMf4/U9Z3kuVzPnI/AAAAAAAAEWs/4T5S7IY3J4w/s1600/ss+soaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-REyCZ3lpMf4/U9Z3kuVzPnI/AAAAAAAAEWs/4T5S7IY3J4w/s1600/ss+soaking.jpg" height="400" width="377"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under water</td></tr>
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I had been looking for some shade-loving plants to join a jumble of hostas under a spreading yew, so I knew just the bed for these Solomon Seals. After digging in forty pounds of composted cow manure, the rhizomes were planted to three inches depth and watered in.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sbw-FGilAP4/U9Z3k8c9B0I/AAAAAAAAEWk/Km_IabzChig/s1600/ss.planted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sbw-FGilAP4/U9Z3k8c9B0I/AAAAAAAAEWk/Km_IabzChig/s1600/ss.planted.jpg" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-located</td></tr>
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Right now they look pretty scrappy and not at all like the elegant cultivar they're touted to be. I'm hoping that spring will bring a crop of fresh foliage and dangling flowers. Just imagine those white bordered leaves waving hello from this shadowy spot.</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-44949893371141399122014-05-19T18:00:00.000-04:002014-05-19T21:43:11.408-04:00Boundary issues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have boundary issues. Not as in a lack of any boundaries--quite the opposite. I like boundaries. I like clearly marked property. I like name tags, monogrammed stationary, and signet rings. I like knowing what belongs to me and what doesn't. Don't even think about asking me to share my dessert. It's not going to happen.<br />
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Garden boundaries not only mark off your bit of turf from your neighbor's, but they also organize all that green stuff into visually comprehensible blocks of lawn, bed, and hedge. <br />
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A line of privet separates one portion of the front yard from our neighbor's lot. This hedge is homely, dead boring, and purely utilitarian, as all privet is. Every few years the privet needs to be cut back hard in the spring in order to keep it from becoming tall and leggy. Last weekend, it was snipped down to about a foot high. Fertilizing, top-dressing, and edging are needed before it looks presentable. Some new shoots and leaves would be helpful, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afz-9FP2pmM/U3l_UExQv4I/AAAAAAAAET8/dFKMAqg7jAE/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afz-9FP2pmM/U3l_UExQv4I/AAAAAAAAET8/dFKMAqg7jAE/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="348" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pruned back privet</td></tr>
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Yes, about edging. Using a half-moon edger, I try to border beds twice a year. Nothing makes a garden look better tended (particularly if it is not) or eases the challenge of mowing along the border of a bed more successfully than a clean cut edge. And, visually, a bit of tidy edging brings into focus the break between a lawn's green even roll and the patterning of a flower bed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VNW1F7GbFc/U3l-weP9-sI/AAAAAAAAETs/30fA1Kvh2wk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VNW1F7GbFc/U3l-weP9-sI/AAAAAAAAETs/30fA1Kvh2wk/s1600/photo.JPG" height="370" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curving border along front walk</td></tr>
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Received wisdom suggests that plants should sit anywhere from a few inches to a foot back from the edge of the bed. I have found adherence to this rule to be a secret weapon in my mission to continually expand the size of the flower beds. The plants grow larger so, hey, what can I do but cut a wider bed? And, so, ugly patches of lawn are gobbled up. In other words, not only will I refuse to share my dessert, but I'm likely to sneak a bite of yours!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edging creep: the secret to silently expanding your flower beds</td></tr>
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Sometimes a plain cut edge isn't enough, and the boundary needs to be marked more forcefully. My parents used to call upon metal hoops and aluminum sheeting for this task--and I well remember the snarl of rusted junk to which those accoutrements inevitably decayed. I've nevertheless considered resorting to sheet metal edging in order to stem the march of lilies of the valley from the back bed, but I'm not quite that desperate yet. In the meantime, I limit myself to natural materials. Granite cobblestones, picked up at a local stone yard, add a line of contrasting color and texture to this bed of Siberian irises.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granite cobblestone border</td></tr>
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Good fences may make good neighbors, but they also make a person feel good herself. Dessert helps, too.</div>
Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755743.post-34254537333777092432014-05-14T12:40:00.002-04:002014-05-14T12:40:45.469-04:00More May daffodils<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The yellow-citron-cream-white-gold-chiffon-canary color carnival continues into mid-May!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5yPyv5COQc/U3OZaeJZqLI/AAAAAAAAETI/Q072ooSXBnw/s1600/may+daffodils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5yPyv5COQc/U3OZaeJZqLI/AAAAAAAAETI/Q072ooSXBnw/s1600/may+daffodils.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from upper left: "Hawera," "Thalia," "Pheasant's eye" (<em>Narcissus poeticus</em>), "Ceylon"<br />
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Doctor Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17228482895645818453noreply@blogger.com0