The Non-Conforming Gardener

Rain, Rain, Flow Into My Rain Garden

2010-06-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

It has been a wild wet spring as well as the start of summer here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We have had such an abundance of rain that I can't even get in to my rain garden to weed it out and expand it. For the first time since planting my rain garden, I have standing water again in my lower yard. The garden usually remains damp throughout the summer but it has rained so much that that it can't take on anymore water. In the past water would lay in my lower yard for days. Over the past two years, I have slowly expanded this area and plan on doubling the size of the garden again this summer. Plants wait in my driveway and porch to be planted. Plants in the garden such as Joe Pye Weed and Green Eyed Coneflower look like they are on steriods because the abundance of water.

In the last seven days the garden has collected about 91 gallons of rain water. Since the completion of the garden in the fall of 2008, the garden has been estimated to have collected 2,942 gallons of water. That is pretty awesome for a 195 sq. foot garden. Thanks to a program established with Three Rivers Rain Garden Alliance, they are able to estimate the collection of rain water in each registered garden.

Learn more about rain gardens in the Pittsburgh area by going to:
http://raingardenalliance.org/ or look to lots of good resources on the internet and think about those wet areas in your yard that could benefit from a rain garden.

If You Can't Beat it Join In

2010-02-24T15:50:00.001-08:00

While visions of flowers and spring planting dance in my head....the only thing that is visible is lots of snow. Before the big snow fall of February, I actually saw some of my daffodils pushing their leaves out of the ground. At this time of the year I would be seeing the first blooms of my Witch hazels but all I see are small tress buried in snow. And before I built a snow wall, the deer decided that they would eat half of my Oakleaf Hydrangea to the ground.

So if I can't fight the snow , or the deer, I may as well have some fun with it. Pardon me as I share some fun with my furry friend. I took time from all the snow shoveling to dig a dog run around our home. It became the envy of the neighborhood. Here is my Merit enjoying her time in the snow. Time change is less then three weeks away. Hopefully Spring is not far behind.

Planting Bulbs and Garlic

2009-10-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

A special friend of mine gave a talk this past Sunday on bulb and garlic planting. As he shared some of his favorite bulbs, he reminded me of how much they can remind us of our past. He always plants yellow crocuses because they remind him of his old homestead and his mother.

I too remember my grandfather's bulbs blooming each spring. He had one area of his yard that was more of a naturalized area where he would plant crocuses, tulips, grape hyacinth and the annual hyacinth plant we would always give him each Easter. We would walk down there each spring to see if the crocuses were blooming yet because it was a sure sign that spring had finally arrived. Those bulbs are still there today, some 100 years later.

My father still lives on a piece of that property and owns that parcel of land where my grandfather always gardened. He gave up a portion of his father's estate money so he could own that bit of land. He added a huge daffodil bed that contains thousands of bulbs. Last fall we dug up many of them to thin them out and I planted some of them at my new home.

My father also has hundreds of tulip bulbs along his sidewalk and driveway. What a sensational site to see each year. The few tulips that I have planted in my garden must be encased in deer netting to help them survive any attacks from these voracious visitors. But seeing my father's daffodils bloom in my yard last spring made me feel like I had a little part of him with me.

My friend told the guests at his lecture that he tells his own sons that some day they will come back to their homestead and remember planting all the daffodil bulbs and be amazed at how they have colonized throughout their woodlands.

All his stories made me think of my own wonderful memories. Not only did I leave with the ten daffodil bulbs that were given to each attendee, but I also purchased another fifty. There was only one small detail I that I did not really think about while taking my sentimental journey. I have to get out there and plant them all of them before the ground freezes. So much for memories.....back to reality.

Buckeye Barns are wonderful!

2009-10-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

I have been searching for a good quality utility shed for over the past two years and have finally found and installed one that I am really happy with. First, most sheds that I have found consist of pressed wood, particle board or plywood. Secondly, most came prebuilt or prefabbed. And finally, the price was so high that I would have to go in debt to afford one.

I did find one company in eastern PA that will deliver these beautiful buildings but they would have cost a small fortune. My last shed was built by my dad and me. It was a salt box pattern that I found in one of my garden magazines. I was at the point of building my own shed again when I found Buckeye Barns out of Ohio.

These barns are absolutely beautiful and made from real natural solid wood. The floor is tongue and groove plank flooring that can hold an elephant or vehicles. The side walls are tongue and groove horizontal siding so that you never get water in the seams like those that are built vertically. The building is built on site from the ground up. There is nothing prefab about it. But best of all is the price is easy on the wallet. Most people have said that they could never afford a shed like this . When I priced several prefab buildings they ran several thousand dollars more than this shed cost me. So if you are near PA or Ohio, by all means consider a Buckeye Barn.

I have attached the pictures of one man constructing our 10 by 12 building with double lofts in one day.

Invincibelle Spirit Campaign

2009-07-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

I received a blog entry from Tim Woods, The Plant Hunter this week about Proven Winner Color Choice pairing up with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to raise $1,ooo,ooo.oo for breast cancer research. They are calling it the Invincibelle Spirit Campaign and we’ll be donating $1.00 for each Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea sold towards the cause.

http://plant-quest.blogspot.com/2009/07/steal-this-widget-and-save-lives.html

At the end of June, one of the women that regularly participates in discussions on The Organic Gardeners Forum shared with us that she was about to undergo her third breast cancer surgery. Two of these surgeries were in May and now the third one was a little over two weeks ago. What was truly inspiring was how important her gardens have become in her recovery. Though I have never met her in person, her incredible spirit and love for live shows through in her entries.

A number of years ago, I lost a very dear friend to breast cancer. She unfortunately went through the struggles to get one of the trial drugs that are now commonly used drugs to help people survive this horiffic disease. Through the generous donations from the people at my workplace, I designed and planted a garden at my work place in memory of her. I asked her what was her favorite flower color and she of course said pink. The bed still thrives today with lovely pink tulips and bleeding hearts in the spring and lots of pink coneflowers and bee balm throughout the summer. Whenever I put time weeding, watering or dividing plants I think of her and her courageous fight against breast cancer. She loved gardening as much as I did and even more, she loved life.

Another of our forum members said that she has found so much strength from her garden and that she was going to plant a pink flowering plant in honor of breast cancer survivors. So I found it very fitting to share this information and encourage each of you that may read this to get involved in helping breast cancer research by purchasing an Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea. This plant is due out on the market in 2010. http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/inv_spirit.html

Do it for your mother, your sister, your daughter, your grandmother and for all the women in your life. Here is the link to donate if you should so also wish to do so.

https://support.bcrfcure.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=31

Holy Hot Peppers!

2009-07-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

It is my usual daily walk through my vegetable area. The dog looks for me to take her with me. Ahh...I should put her eCollar on but figure we are only going to the backyard so she should be fine as long as I keep her near me. We walk out back to look at the plants and everything looks okay. Potatoes look great, onions need to be pulled, cucumbers are forming nicely, lettuce is going to seed and there is some garlic ready to pick. I head to my earthgrow boxes of tomatoes and cauliflower to put water in the storage well. I turn the water off and start back to the house. I take a look at the bell peppers and eggplant and reach down to touch an unidentified hot pepper just before going in. Some are about 2 to 3 inches long and are just about rip. I am tempted to sample one to see how hot it is but decide that I better not because I may regret it and head back to the house because it is starting to rain again. I get to the porch with the dog in front and I can't resist stopping to deadhead a flower on a geranium plant. My mistake.

My dog takes off ahead of me and makes a mad dash to the front street. When I round the corner I see the neighborhood bully dog walking up the street. I reach for the remote control and realize that my dog does not have her E. Collar on and my worst nightmare is coming true right in front of my very eyes. I brace for the bloodshed, fur flying and emergency room visit for the dog and for me. The woman starts screaming hysterically and is trying to drag her dog into my neighbors front yard. She is a petite feet tall, weighs all but 100 pounds and she has this massive German Shepherd in a death grip. It is taking all of her strength to hold him. I yell for my dog and she is still on the move and then one big yell to come and she suddenly turns and comes back. I give her an emergency down and she drops in the driveway. I breath a sigh of relief and thank God for attending dog obedience classes. The woman is pale white and probably thinking that she is never coming up this street again. I take my dog by the collar and haul her inside as I mumble under my breath, "Why did I not give her the dog pamphlet for our local dog training center". Unfortunately my dog has a good memory and does not forget that this dog goes on attack mode each time he walks by us when we are out walking.

In my haste I forget that I was going in to wash my hands. Now there is sweat rolling off my brow partly from the humidity, partly from the stress of the situation and most likely from the surge of hormones that leads to a hot flash. I wipe my forehead and mouth. Suddenly my skin lights up on fire. My lip and throat start burning, my temples are throbbing and my left nostril is stinging. I remember that I touched the hot pepper and never washed my hands.

Going back to the end of May, I went plant shopping for my annual vegetables. I came to the bell peppers and selected a nice three pack. I planted them and in a matter of a few weeks realized that I did not have bell peppers but that someone moved a hot pepper into the section of bells and I end up getting the wrong plant. I don't have the heart to throw them out and figure I will give them to this nice older gentleman in my church and my brother who love hot peppers.

Now I am basically thinking lots of nasty thoughts in my head. I am mad at the dog for taking off and now have her in a down stay. She does not move and she dare not look at me. I am splashing water on my face with no success. I get the Dawn dish detergent and put it on my hands. After all Dawn is boasted as the degreaser they used to clean wildlife in the Valdez oil spills. Everytime I think I am fine and touch another spot, the burn starts again. I go and scrub my face again and again. Three hours later and my lips are still tingling and my skin feels like I got into a batch of Stinging Neetle.

Do I rip the peppers out, ask my new neighbors from Brazil if they are in to hot peppers, or print a disclosure warning and make everyone sign a waiver that does not hold me personally responsible for their injury or death? I dare not give them to the older gentleman at church for fear he will need to call 911 after eating them.

There is one bright moment in all this pandemonium. I can not wait to go to dog obedience class this week and thank all the trainers for teaching me an emergency down and a good recall. And to boot, my dog never moved from her downstay for 20 minutes which is a new record time for her. Now what to do with those darn hot peppers?

You say Tomato and I say Tomahto. First it was Salmonella and now it is Late Blight..Now what do you do?

2009-07-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

It wouldn't be summer without an annual vegetable scare. Last year it was the Salmonella scare. Was it tainted tomatoes or tainted onions? I wasn't worried because I grew my own. Now this summer it is Late Blight. It is the same strain that caused the Irish Potato famine. Read what the Pittsburgh Post Gazette had to say about Late Blight hitting the eastern US.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Late blight can also affect potatoes and eggplants. This one more reason why gardeners need to support their locally grown nurseries. Most of mine start their plants on site and sell them to their consumers. I also find that big box stores may sell them cheaply but they do not have the variety that can be found from the locals. In our area, we have a place that specializes in heirlooms. Heirlooms can often be found to have better durability to disease then some of the common hybrid that everyone seeks. Better yet,...there is no greater satisfaction then starting plants from seed. It is a fun process and a great learning experience for young and old alike.

There are some organic treatments that can help supress late blight spread such as copper sprays and compost tea foilage spraying. But proper planting, watering and mulching can make all the difference in growing a healthy plant.

So please Mr. Late Blight, don't come stocking my plants....because "No tomatoes!" is fightin' words. There is nothing better than the taste of fresh off the vine rippened tomatoes. Ask anyone and they will tell you there is no comparison.

I think that I shall never see.......

2009-06-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

I am sure many of you have read the poem, "Trees" by Alfred Joyce Kilmer. 'But let me refresh those of you who may have forgotten or may never have had the opportunity to read it during your poetry portion of high school English class. It reads as follows:

I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed, Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.

As much as I love this poem I believe there should be another version that reads as follows.

I think the poem should really read like this....

I wish that I would never see volcano mulch around a tree.
A tree whose lovely trunk would sigh because it has mulch piled two feet high,
A tree that beseeches someone to please ; Remove the dirt or mulch below its knees:
A tree that in Summer wears this pile that only makes a landscaper smile,
Upon whose roots much dirt is lain; Who live is choked out before next season's rain.
Poems are made by fools like me, But most self proclaimed landscrapers can kill a tree.

Each year I have the deep desire to place tree planting instructions in the mailboxes of those homes that have newly planted trees. I know you have seen them. These are the trees that have lots of dirt or mulch piled up around the trunk. Sometimes they are the trees that are actually planted on a mound of dirt. I would love to know what idiot came up with this idea. And like the Pied Piper, everyone seems to follow suit.

When I moved into my home almost six years ago, every large species tree had about 20 inches of dirt piled up around its trunk. And to make it all better, pachysandra was planted on top to make it look oh so pretty. My husband and I spent weeks carefully removing the dirt around the tree and exposing the flare again.

A landscaper hired by the school district that I work for came in and started mounding mulch around every tree on the school campus where I work. I asked him why he was doing such a practice and he said that he has been landscaping for twenty years and he has been doing this procedure without any harm. I told him that he probably never came back twenty years later to see the damage. He basically told me were to go and it was not back to work. I figured the next best step was to educate the buildings and grounds people about the practice. Armed with lots of literature, I was able to get my point across. Several days later the landscapers were back cursing and kicking the piles off the trees.

A person in my neighborhood planted a large oak tree last summer after losing a big tree to a strong wind storm. He planted the tree about a foot above ground level and on a two by two foot mound. On that he loaded lots of mulch. This spring the tree had total die back and is now putting out epicormic branching or lower level sprouts in a last ditch effort to survive. This tree will most likely not be here next year.

A few years ago I watched a beautiful Japanese maple in the yard across the street from dad's home suddenly leaf out only to have all the leaves shrivel up and die. Upon further inspection I found dirt and ivy piled up around the base of the trunk. The bark was chewed off around the entire circumference of the trunk. The tree was done. No nutrients or water were being supplied to the upper parts of the tree. I told the homeowner to remove it. Later that day her sister came over and placed netting around the base to protect it from the future attach of critters. The tree sat the entire summer in hopes that it would revive. One day while visiting my dad I noticed the tree had been removed. His neighbor finally accepted the fact that the tree had died. Unfortunately neither of these trees should have died had the homeowner or landscaper followed correct planting and maintenance procedures.

Here are some tips to help your trees survive.
1. Be aware of the size and location. Quite often homeowners do not take in consideration the location, size or needs of a tree. Be aware of water requirements, planting too close to home foundations or overhead power lines. I have a beautiful white dogwood that was planted by a former owner about three feet from my house. Although it is surviving, it has to be carefully pruned each year and given proper watering and nutrients to help stay healthy. I am sure that it will eventually die because it is in a bad location.

2. Plant your tree's flare at ground level. The flare is where the roots meet the trunk of the tree. You should see the flare when planting. Planting above or below ground level can cause the tree to die.

3. Never add more than two or three inches of mulch around the perimeter of your tree annually. Tree roots are usually grow in the top foot or two of ground. Too much extra dirt or mulch can stress the tree and limit water to get to roots.

4. Never pile mulch against the trunk of a tree. This allows a place for insects and rodents to harbor and cause structural damage to the bark. Also excessive moisture against the bark can cause it to rot and decay.

Here are some additional sites about proper tree care:
http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/extension/documents/2006/volcanomulch.pdf
http://www.gdnctr.com/ads/volcano_mulch.pdf
http://forestry.georgetown.org/mulching-101/

Reduce, Reuse and Recyle in a Different Way.

2008-08-01T12:40:00.001-07:00

After planting my new Pinky Winky hydrangea, I decided to come in out of the heat on the first day of August and write about something that is totally removed from gardening. So please bare with me while I share my recent recycling project.

Late in May, I started looking locally to adopt a dog from one of our local shelters. Chance, my beloved dog passed away mid May of 2007. (See my May 2007 tribute). He was a wonderful dog, with a love and zest for life. And through the cancer, diabetes, pneumonia, daily medicines and shots, he never gave up his will to live. For one year, my husband, father and I mourned his passing. The emptiness was overwhelming. For the first time in our lives, we were without a dog. I felt that it was now time to honor his memory and give another animal the kind of life he experienced. I started searching for a full pedigree Rhodesian Ridgeback because Chance was mostly Rhody and a superb dog. But after much rethinking, I decided that many of these dogs always get homes, while so many other dogs are in need of homes. I found that a good majority of the dogs are listed on http://petfinder.com/. Many are full pedigree dogs and many are mixed breeds. Thus began my hours upon hours of early morning and late night searching for my new dog.

My experience was an eye opener to the tragedy that is going on in America today. Pets being discarded as if they were nothing more than a piece of worn out furniture that is tossed to the curb for the local waste management vehicle to come along and haul it to the dump. I wish I could have adopted a dozen, but in reality I can only have one and hopefully two. The stories are basically the same. No time, moving and can’t take it with us;...too big, ....too loud, not good with kids, in foreclosure, etc. Some give no reason for surrendering the dog. The really sad cases aside from those that are dumped or abused, are the older pets. How heartbreaking to see an 11 or 12 year old dog being sent to a shelter after living out most of its life with one family. Their only fault is the fact that they are old.

During my search I attempted to adopt several dogs, three were under adoption agreements, three suffered some serious issues with separation and socialization, and the last one was kept by the foster because she became attached to her after having her in her care for a few weeks. One shelter almost seemed like it did not care if her dogs were adopted or not. But most of the rescue organizations were very helpful and caring. I understand now why they scrutinize their perspective owners. They want these already fragile creatures to go to a home that will no longer put them through more turmoil and stress.

Although I applied for adoption at several different rescue groups throughout Ohio and PA, I kept coming back to a group in central Ohio called “Stop the Suffering”. I found that they always went out of their way to help a person find the right pet. Lynn Aronson, a rescue worker that find homes for these animals, told me about a dog she was getting from another shelter. I kept hearing wonderful things about a sweet black fur ball.

Java landed up in the Fulton County Pound. She was picked up as a stray. When Nancy Wolfe a rescuer from Northwest Ohio Siberian Rescue went in to save a husky; the warden told her that he had a dog that he thought had a wonderful temperament. (Just the word "warden" sends shivers up my spine. It conjures up visions of a person overseeing a cell block of cats and dogs waiting on death row for their unknowing execution.) The warden went on and on about how he picked up this dog and that she rode all day in the front seat of his truck while he went around and picked up strays. He showed the dog to Nancy and said that if she did not take her, he was going to put her down at 3 PM because he did not want to come back in over the weekend to feed her. So Nancy, going on her instincts, pulled Java from the hands of death one short hour before her execution and took her and a husky back to her home.

Java spent the next few weeks living in a sled dog house with Nancy’s own Huskies and other rescue dogs. It was apparent to Nancy that this dog must have been someone’s house pet because of the characteristics and behaviors she exhibited. Did the owner fail to look in the right place for her or did they truly not care what happened to her? From there, Java went to Stop the Suffering, where she was placed in the care of Shelly, another volunteer. Shelly owns a farm and also shelters many dogs and cats. In fact she houses most of the cats that are rescued by Stop the Suffering, as well as some of the older dogs that no one seems to want. Shelly has a soft spot for the seniors. Java went to live on Shelly’s farm for a little over the week and she continued to display a wonderful disposition.

On Monday, July 28, Deb McDonald, another volunteer at S.T.S., picked up Java for us and drove her an hour from Columbus to Cambridge, Ohio so that my husband and I could cut our drive time down to two hours both ways. Java slept the entire ride back to Pittsburgh and had immediately settled into life at our home. One would never know that she has only been with a few days because she has adapted very well. Surprisely, resiliency is one of the attributes of rescue dogs.

Although Java was a very appropriate name for our dog because of her coffee colored coat, we decided that it was a more of a masculine name for a girl. After much consideration and debating, I attempted to come up with what I felt would be a good name for her. Java is now called “Merit” because she is one worthy of being saved. Her name suits her well because this is a dog that should never have ended up in a county pound waiting for her execution. She was someone’s pet, a house dog that was taught numerous commands, housebroken, obedient and apparently loved.

Merit has brought so much love to our home in the short while she has been with us. We are getting to know her quirks and she is getting the feel for her new home. She loves to ride in a car…no wonder she was good for the warden. She enjoys giving kisses and loves to be scratched or her belly rubbed. She can sit, lay down, sit up, give paw, stay, guess which hand has a hidden treat by tapping it with her paw and snatch a dog treat off of her nose. She does not beg food, jump up or get on the furniture. She loves going for her walks and she wants to be where her people are going to be. She is a gift from heaven…the perfect dog. She loves everyone she meets and she is the sparkle in my 84 year old dad’s eye. I watch how she makes him light up when she is in his presence. I shutter to think that such a sweet creature almost had her life taken from her. She is now in her fifth location in over two months and through it all she is a trusting and loving creature. I am so blessed to have her be a part of our family. She is currently dealing with separation anxiety. This is a common issue with rescue dogs…particularly those that have been abandoned, surrendered or lost. But with time, I am sure that Merit will realize that she is safe, and that she is now in her forever home. And after only a few days, we can not imagine life without her.

So forgive me as Iveer far left from my gardening thoughts and encourage each one that reads this story, to think carefully before taking on a pet. It is not one that should be taken lightly and it one that should be made with the intent of a life long commitment. Having your pet spayed or neutered is the second most important step you take when adopting a new dog or cat. Every single day, thousands of dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are being put to sleep. If you don't believe me, read the true story about Sam. Make sure you have a tissue or two before you start. http://www.lyonsdenrescue.com/id38.html

May I encourage you to find it in your heart to consider adopting a dog from a shelter. They are so deserving of a second, third or even fourth chance. By doing so, you reduce the chance of wonderful cat or dog like Merit being put to death. By doing so you are giving an animal new purpose and recycling it for better life. My thanks to all those that aided in the rescue of Merit and all those that have dedicated their lives to rescue work. They spend endless hours volunteering their time, services and money to seeing that these animals find forever homes.

One of the volunteer rescuers that I worked with at S.T.S., signs off on all her emails with the following quote. I think it says it all.

“If you save one dog, you won’t change the world;

but you will change the world for that one dog.”

Reduce, reuse and recycle....a rescue animal. The rewards are unmeasurable!

For more information about pets and the mentioned shelters, please visit these sites.
Petfinder http://petfinder.com/
Northwest Ohio Siberian Rescue http://members.petfinder.org/~OH94/
Stop the Suffering http://www.stopthesuffering.org/

Animal Friends of Pittsburgh www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org/

It's raining lilies!

2008-07-12T08:22:00.001-07:00

It's raining lilies, thanks to cooler temps and an abundant amount of rain fall. The lilies have been putting off a spectacular show.

Deer Loving Planters

2008-07-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

When I removed chubby a few weeks ago, I started preparing a new garden bed in his place. I observed an opportunity to show off my curving stairway which in the past was hidden from view. I dug out some pots in my work area and filled them with a good mix of soil, leaf compost and well rotted manure; headed off to the local nurseries to find some interesting selections. I planted a number of different plants but I found out that the deer seem to be passing on most species and chowing down on the new flowers on the Gerbera. They like both cultivars. Out comes scarecrow number five. Tonight they will be getting a surprise when they go to feast on the last remaining flower.

"Chance of rain; no punch backs!"

2008-07-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

Like many parts of the country, Pittsburgh is getting its fair share of rainfall this year. It has rained at least five out of seven days for the past several weeks. Needless to say, it has severely hindered my efforts to complete one new garden bed that I started weeks ago. And the location for my new rain garden is currently under water.

My husband and I have a new game we play, like the one my students and I play while wait for their bus to arrive. (I am one of the bus monitors at my school, and like the post man goes outside each morning and afternoon to make sure our precious cargo gets home safely.) My motto: "Neither sleet, hail, rain or snow, will stop us from getting those buses loaded." And of course my partner in crime and I must be out making sure that it happens. Without fail, we arm ourselves for whatever the elements are throwing at us.

My teammate, was like a green gardener; eager to be a part of the action, but lacking much of the necessary equipment. So, me being the more experienced one, took her under my wing. She now wears silk, long underwear under her slacks in the winter. I've introduced her to 180's and ear bags...gifts of the holidays. She now has a face shield, insulated gloves and goretex jacket. She wears waterproof muckers and is understands the thermal qualities of a down jacket.

Seeing that our school is on top of a hill, we can count on wind chills and rain that blows horizontally. It is important to make sure that the derriere has sufficient coverage or else our students will think we didn't make to the bathroom in time. She is now armed with the biggest dang umbrella money can buy. It covers all body parts and is resistant to gail force winds up to 65 mph. (If we get higher winds than that, we won't be standing there to find out if it works.) "Ah grasshopper, you have learned well." She asked me how I learned so much about the weather and I told her that I was a girl scout and I am a gardener. "Be prepared or be miserable." But I digress.

Back to the game. Aside from the weather, we often must find ways to entertain our students in order to keep them from getting restless. Sometimes I raffle off a pencil or gel pen to the person who comes closest to guessing when their bus will arrive. Some times we spy a parent driving a VW bug. When a person spies a VW bug, that person must yell out the color of the VW and say "(color of vehicle) punch buggy, no punch backs", and immediately punch the closest person in arm. If you don't yell, no punch backs, you will get punched over and over again. Honest, it is not child abuse. (I am the one who is usually abused.)

My husband and I are playing the rain version of the game with our neighbors and family. We call out "Chance of rain, no punch backs!" and hit the person softly in the arm. It is helping me keep my sanity and have fun in the process. So arm yourself for the elements because a little rain (or a lot for that matter), never stopped a gardener from gardening. When you are out there dodging rain drops, remember; "Chance of rain" and don't punch your significant other too hard.
Have a happy Fourth of July!

Sorry, my lawn is not perfect and I am proud of it!

2008-06-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

I moved into my current address five years ago. It is small lot by some standards. But for me it is feels down right spacious compared to where I lived most of my life. When I moved in, I saw it as a vacant canvas. I could see the potential in the too few garden beds and the lack there of any existing plant life. And of course there was the issue of the lawn. I can still hear the home inspector saying that with a year or two of lawn care treatments, the lawn would look as good as my neighbors. A few years later and my lawn still does not look as good as my neighbors.

I never was obsessive compulsive about my lawn care as some people tend to be. After all, grass is just another form of ground cover. I have always set my sites on establishing my garden beds. I figured I would be cutting out much of the lawn, so why spend time trying to improve something that would eventually disappear. But as time went on, I found myself apologizing to people every time they complimented me on my yard. Deep down, I wondered if they were saying, "Now if only she could get her lawn looking good". Was I being sucked into "the perfect lawn" vortex that so many men and some women have been caught up in? I had to take a step back and re-examine my increased fixation about having a better looking lawn.

I have no one to blame but myself and the former owners for the way my lawn looks. I did not run out to the big box store and grab a boat load of pesticides and fertilizers. The former neighbors had young children and did not want to put chemicals down on the lawn. I honestly can not blame them for it. But they did little or nothing to help the lawn survive. The first year, my lawn was made up of mostly moss. I can say that had it not been for the green color of the moss, my lawn would have looked like the fenced in area of a dog run. It was obvious that it was hurting in the desired pH department. The second year, I started putting compost tea on the grass. I knew of all the wonderful benefits of compost tea and started reading into the real science behind making it. So I got me a compost tea brewer and started brewing up the stuff. I did that for the next two years. I also started removing the dandelions and other noxious weeds when they appeared. Last summer I spent an hour each day, tediously removing ground ivy as I watched it making a bee line for my neighbors lush and perfectly weedless lawn. The results are still out on this issue because much of my efforts have been reduced due to an extremely wet spring. I am still making a stand at the borders.

Despite the fact that my lawn still looked pathetic, I refused to dump fertilizers and weed killing chemicals on it. Instead I started two years ago by applying corn gluten. Now corn gluten is not 100 percent full proof but it does work to halt the production of new weed seeds from developing . You do have to wait at least six weeks before putting down new grass seed or for that matter any kind of seed. Corn gluten should also be applied in early spring to prevent crab grass. A good rule of thumb is to put it down when the forsythia blooms. I saw little results the first year, but there was definitely a decrease in weeds the second year. One also needs to remove weeds that are already established because corn gluten does not work on existing weeds.

I got a chance to talk to author and organic lawn care guru, Paul Tukey at a garden symposium and he told me that unless I had a good four to six inches of organic material built up on the lawn, all the compost tea in the world was not going to help because there was nothing for all the beneficial microbes to attach to and grow. (You can go to the Safe Lawn site listed below to see how he renovated the National Mall lawn in Washington, D.C. )

So last fall, I started flinging compost on the lawn, at the rate of about a one inch thickness. I am sure that my neighbors were saying ,"That crazy garden lady had flipped her lid. Now she is out there flinging dirt across her lawn." Guess what? I did it again this spring and I can honestly say that my lawn is looking better. I still have some weeds but I continue to mulch in my lawn clippings when I mow. My moss is gone, which probably means that my lawn pH is improving, and because I have been cutting higher, the grass is coming in thicker.

All this has taken me four years. I am sure some of you are thinking that four years is a long time to wait for good results, and you are correct in thinking so. But I can honestly say.... I like my not so perfect lawn and here are seven reasons why.

1. My yard has been certified as a wildlife habitat. I know that birds, bees and critters are not going to be harmed by pesticides. They can enjoy eating the clover and pollinating my flowers without any residual effects. Statistics shows that approximately 7 million birds die annually from pesticide exposure. Where pesticides are used, 60 - 90% of earthworms are killed. Earthworms are important for soil health. I am doing my part to protect and provide a safe habitat for lots of species of birds, beneficial insects and animals.

2. I can allow my niece, nephew and pets to roam on the grass without worrying that they are going to be exposed to all those chemicals. Did you know that a report by the National Academy of Sciences shows that the health of 1 in 7 people is negatively impacted in some form by lawn pesticides. Numerous studies link lawn chemicals to cancers and other long-term diseases. Several studies also link exposure to artificial lawn chemicals to an increased risk of cancer and other health problems in pets. Children are especially at risk for negative health consequences due to their size, physiological development and proximity to the ground. Studies from Yale University, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and several others point to children’s health risks associated with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The average suburban lawn receives 10 times as much chemical pesticide per acre as farmland. Over 70 million tons of fertilizers and pesticides are applied to residential lawns and gardens annually.

3. I am helping to save the environment. All those chemicals flush out of the lawn, into the water tables and sewage systems and flow into our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. According to a Long Island study, lawn run-off contributes to about 60 percent of contaminated ground water. And synthetic pesticides destroy beneficial organisms in a lawn's ecosystem. By deceasing the number of times I cut my lawn, I am helping to reduce greenhouse gases being produced from my mower exhaust fumes. Per hour of operation, a gas lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. A weed eater emits 21 times more and a leaf blower 34 times more.
Mulching your lawn clippings instead of bagging adds nitrogen to the soil and reduces yard waste in landfills. Eighteen percent of municipal solid waste is composed of yard waste.

4. My lawn is not becoming addicted...yes, a fertilizer junkie. The more synthetic chemicals that are applied, the more chemicals are required to maintain the lawn. Organic lawn care increases the build up of nutrients and beneficial organisms in the soil while reducing the need for lawn fertilizers. The lawn is better able to withstand drought, pest and other lawn problems. Synthetic fertilizers are a quick rush of nutrients to the lawn. They make the grass greener and grow faster. Faster growing lawns means more frequent cuttings. Organic products break down slower into the lawn, last longer and reduces the rapid lawn growth experienced by the use of synthetic products.

5. Reduced mowing means reducing risk of injury. NBC's Today show did a special piece on The Danger of Lawn Mowers. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25453506#25453506 Every year 8300 children under the age of 15 go to emergency rooms for lawn mower injuries. One quarter of them are under the age of five. Many years ago, my aunt got some of her shrubs caught in the blade of her gas powered mower. She did not shut off the machine, but instead reached down and attempted to pull them out. She permanently lost several fingers on one of her hands.
A John Hopkins Bloomsburg School of Health study found that nearly 80,000 people are treated each year for lawn mower injuries. The most common were strikes from debris, such as rocks or and branches being propelled by the lawn mower blades.

6. I am saving money. Who wouldn't want to save money. Especially if you knew that you were literally flushing all your efforts down the storm drain. Organic lawn products may be a bit more expensive, but you use less of them than the conventional fertilizers. Reduced mowing and watering means more money in your pocket. Thirty percent of water used on the East coast goes to watering lawns.

7. Green is in and I don't mean lawn. Going green is on a rise and more and more people are jumping on the green wagon. Doing something that is good for the environment, your health and your wallet is a good thing. Reduce, reuse and recycle never looked better for lawn care.

I probably could state lots of facts and statistics for establishing an organically grown lawn, but have provides some helpful and informative sites and books for you to read for yourself. Perhaps they will make you look at your lawn in a whole different way.

http://www.safelawns.org/index.cfm
http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_lawn_care.htm
http://www.organiclawncaretips.com/
http://www.neutonpower.com/ (Battery powered lawn mowers)

"Teaming with Microbes" by Jeff Lowenfels
"Organic Lawn Care Manual" by Paul Tukey
"Second Nature" by Michael Pollan
"American Green: The American Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn" by Ted Steinberg
"Grow Organic" by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser

Yippee...I did it!

2008-06-19T05:24:00.000-07:00

Yippee, I finally did it! I grew my first delphinium. Now, some of you out there are probably saying, big deal, so she grew her first delphinium. But, for me, it is a really big deal. You see, my sister has grown prize delphiniums for years. You could say that she has the delphinium green thumb. Her delphiniums are down right gorgeous. She can manage to keep them blooming right through our first frost and into November.

I don't have a particular fascination with delphiniums. I think delphiniums are a beautiful flowering plant, but I am not the type of gardener that wants to spend time protecting, nurturing and fussing over a single plant. I have far too many plants to care for. On the other hand, I have tried growing delphiniums from time to time, only to have them succumb. I finally came to the realization that delphiniums were not to be a staple in my garden, so I put the thoughts of growing them to rest,....until last year. Yes I did it again. I got sucked into buying three plants. They sat on my deck most of last summer. I guess I had some deep seated vision of their immediate death upon planting them. In the meantime, one of them did pass on to delphinium heaven. Ah, proof that the curse was still there. But as summer started to fade, two plants had managed to hang on in their original pots. Feeling bad that they survived the entire summer and guilty for not planting them, I marched off to my trellis garden and found two well protected spots. I watered and watched these two scrawny plants make it through the fall. I even put markers in to show where they were placed just to prove that they would not be there come spring.

Spring arrived and I walked around inspecting my beds to see what had and had not survived the winter. To my surprise, there appeared to be the two surviving delphiniums. But still, I did not get my hopes up. After all, I have been here before. But, this has been a great spring for plants. And the plants have been flourishing.

Last week I went away for the weekend and noted that one of the plants had a nice form of buds. But again, I still did not set myself up for disappointment because it had not yet opened. As I took my evening walk through my gardens last night to look for problems or see what was in bloom, there shining brightly was a beautiful pale blue delphinium. It even looked like it was well placed and belonged there. As I looked at that plant, I had to confess, it was a special moment for me to see something that had evaded me for so long, finally come into fruition. I was no longer a delphinium failure.

So why my fixation on delphiniums? I am sure every gardener has a story of some plant they really liked but for some reason, they had little or no success at growing it while a friend, relative or neighbor had it in fruitful abundance. So for me, you could say it was a case of plant envy. The more I saw my sister's delphiniums, the more I wanted to have one for myself. Well now, that I no longer feel like I am a delphinium failure, will I ever grow another delphinium? Who knows? For now, I am over my delphinium envy. At this point, I will just enjoy the victory and email these pictures to my sister.

Longwood Gardens

2008-06-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my husband and I went back East for a family wedding. After arriving at our hotel early Friday afternoon, we decided to take an late day tour of Longwood Gardens in Kenneth Square, PA. This was certainly not my first trip to Longwood, but rather my fourth in the past eight years. In fact, Longwood holds special sentimental memories for me, because it is where I met my husband for our first official date.

I have tried to get to Longwood at different times of the year to see how it looks throughout different growing seasons. But this trip was the first one that allowed me to enjoy the play of evening shadows in the garden. It also was one where I actually got to see the night fountain display. In the past the fountains had been limited or shut down due to drought conditions in the area.

If you have not been to Longwood, it is well worth the trip. Longwood is steeped in history. Over 200 hundred years ago, the land was once inhabited by Indians. In the 1700's, a Quaker family named Pierce (thus the name of Pierce Woods), purchased the property from William Penn. The farm was purchased in 1906 by Pierre du Pont, founders of the DuPont Chemical Company. DuPont purchased the farm to preserve the large trees. He had pretty much made it into what you see today. He had no real garden plan, but built the site piecemeal. (Sounds like my garden design method.)

As I walked among the woodland paths and the magnificent gardens with fountains and open air theatres, I tried to envision the lovely evening entertainment that took place during that era. It must have been a pretty spectacular site to see.You can learn more about Longwood Gardens by visiting: http://www.longwoodgardens.org/ (Note: Longwood is currently exhibiting Nature 's Tree Houses along with Tyler Arboretum in Media, PA, where you can see 17 structures. Learn more about Tyler Arboretum: http://www.tylerarboretum.org/totally_terrific_treehouses.htm

Watching Planting Beds Evolve

2008-06-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

It's true what they say about plants. The first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap. That is exactly what has happened with many of beds that are now three years old or older. I also credit good soil amendments and adding lots of compost each year in place of fertilizers. It is obviously paying off. I live on an open corner lot and have been trying to plant shrubs and trees to give me some privacy in my large side yard lot. Three summers ago, I planted three Physocarpus opulifolius(Nine bark) Diablo and Coppertina, as well as a Sambucus Black Lace and Deutzia Chardonnay Pearls. They were pretty small specimens but this year, they are finally starting to fill out the bed. They will give me some nice privacy for my corner cove garden where I try to catch a quick break on my swing. It is gratifying to look back and see how much plants have grown and how the outcome can exceed ones expectations.

Farewell to Chubby

2008-06-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

While trying to find something to do last Sunday, I finally decided to remove my chubby Pillsbury Dough boy conifer. When we bought our property five years ago, there in our front yard was a sheered conifer. Now don't get me wrong, if sheering is your thing, so be it. But it definitely is not my first choice. Personally, I don't like things sheered. I like plants in their natural form. I have inherited sheered plantings and it goes against everything I know to sheer them into a conformed shape so that they will fit their location.

When I first moved in, I tried shaping Chubby. And I tried to convince myself that I would learn to like the look. Right? Wrong! I finally stopped sheering the second year in our house, because I hated the look. Each year, I watched Chubby start to develop new branches and he even started growing a new top to replace the one that had been chopped for years. Each year I watched Chubby expand and grow wider till he finally encroached the driveway and sidewalk. Each year I watched, knowing that his fate for finally looking good again would be his death. So, I debated. Do I let him encroach and eventually limb him up? No, I like conifers with branches to the ground. Besides, every conifer that we owned that had its lower limbs removed, eventually lost more because of the lack of lower support. So, I did the deed. I got my big loppers and started to whack. When I opened the tree up, I found that the dense center was nothing more than a mass of old dead growth and only the tips had any green. It made my choice a little easier.

When I finished, I took a moment to mourn the loss. I even felt bad when I overheard two neighbors passing by, share their disgust in the loss of a perfectly good tree. They can not feel as bad as me. I hate removing established plants. Chubby would have looked great planted in another area of my yard where it could have been given more room to grow. While this is a farewell tribute to Chubby, it is also to remind me and others that it takes thought when planting a tree. What starts out small will someday grow large. So take time to select a plant that is appropriate for a space. Look for smaller or slower growing specimens so you won't have to sign execution papers for an overgrown misplaced shrub or tree. Farewell Chubby. At least you got to look like your old self again, if even for a short while.

Raising Vegetables

2008-06-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

My raised vegetable beds look funny in their coverings. So far, so good. The vegetables are staying insect free under their pop up tents. My onions and lettuce continue to produce too.

The weather has been fabulous in my gardens this spring. My three Yaku Prince rhodedendrons finally bloomed after three years of waiting. My roses that I transplanted out of a refurbished garden bed looked like they were on steriods. The clematis are doing great too. It has been a perfect spring, lots of rain. But the first weeks of June are more like the hot steamy nights of August. I hope we get a break in the weather real soon so I can get out and work in the gardens.

Spring Blooms

2008-05-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

I always liked summers as a kid. I guess it was because it meant long lazy days of fun and no school. And I still like summer, because it means time to spend in my garden. But I think that I love spring the best. The sites and sounds are almost over stimulating to the eyes and ears after being cooped inside all winter.

This spring seemed to be an exceptional one for spring blooms. We escaped lots of late frosts and the tulips survived as well as the magnolia blossoms. The crabapples and dogwood blooms were spectacular this year. And the azaleas are still putting off blooms as the rhodedendrons and viburnums are getting ready for their flowering. Yes, I think I love spring the best. Everyday, plants leaf out more and more, and flower beds are coming to life again.

Surprise Visits are the Best

2008-05-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

As I looked out the window today, hoping to get a peak of the new baby rabbit living in my woodpile, I observed a strange looking bird in the upper portion of my yard. I yelled to my hubby to get his camera, and laughed when he told me that he had no film in it. This from a man who is always taking pictures of the birds in at his feeder. I frantically ran for my digital camera to see if I could get a few shots before it disappeared. I creeped up closer to get a better view.

The bird moved to the back side of my neighbors house. I thought it had flown away but to my surprise, it had hidden itself in some shrubs and I walked right by it. When I started back, it came out and waddled across the lawn. I later found it to be an American Bittern. It was not even listed in our PA bird books as one that is known to migrate through the area. Its neck and head was shaped like a young zucchini. (Sorry, but being a gardener, that was the first thing that came to mind.) It has wings that span about 45 inches and it puts its head straight up in the air and freezes in hopes that no one will notice it. Now, how do you not notice a 28 inch bird with a head and neck the shape of a zucchini. The bird is now on the protected species list because it is losing much of the marshes that it uses as its habitat in the south.

Needless to say, the sighting made my husband and my day. We snaped some photos and added this rare viewing to the list of birds that have paid visits to our backyard. I also would like to think that because we do not use pestacides and harmful chemicals, our yard becomes a safe and desireable place for wildlife to visit. I hope that I will have many more wonderful visits such as this one.

Keeping the Veggies Close

2008-04-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

I decided to take my annual vegetable plantings from my pots to raised beds this year. I live in a new home and it has something my childhood homestead does not;....deer. Yes, I have spent a good many years never dealing with four legged creatures. But when I moved here five years ago, the dropings I spotted throughout my lawn that first fall were good indicators that I would soon be experiencing what my friends have complained about for years.

I try to plant those things that are more deer resistant but I can not resist having a few things that I love, like tulips. Each year, my husband and I put up the deer netting in the fall to protect plants we know will become choice morsels for the deer. I learned the hard way the first year, when they took out one of my newly planted witch hazels, only to leave the main stem. But this year, while I thought I had covered all my tracks, I did not count on them eating my newly planted viburnums as they leafed out and I forgot to net the pink tulips in my back. One day there were dozens of buds and the next they looked liked like sticks.

So this year I am putting in three raised beds of veggies. And I hope I out smart the deer. I put them close to the house and I even bought little pop up netted tents to cover them. Now if the deer eat through the tents, I will have to come up with more drastic measures, like building a fortress. For now this should work for what I need. I will still help put in a big vegetable garden at my dad's house.

What has worked for me, is netting in prize flower beds or special plants throughout the winter and spring. Once the weather has warmed up, I put out Smart Grow mats that are made of human hair. I cut the mats in strips and than into short 3 inch sections and attach them to plants or stacks around the plants. I occassionally spray with a deer repelent too. But what has been successful over the past four years, has been putting up Scarecrows. No not the kind the farmers put in the field, but the kind that attach to a garden hose and shoot a spray of water and make a racheting sound. I started with one and will be installing my fifth one this spring.
They have worked wonderfully in keeping deer away from my planting beds. Actually it keeps them out of the yard all together. The Scarecrows have motion detectors that pick up movement and cause them to fire. On a side note, they have even kept teenagers from cutting through the yard and dog walkings from stopping to deposit their goodies.

Spring is Coming!

2008-03-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Spring is coming! It is teasing and enticing me outside. The birds are singing, the sun is coming up sooner, and I can see see buds swelling and beginning to break open.

Gardens are the Memories of Our Souls

2008-02-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

A gardening aquaintance of mine recently shared that a gardening friend of his past away. It made me think of the people in my life who are still alive or those who have passed on. As I think about these people, I realized that their lives are like our gardens. Each one is as colorful and as interesting as the plants we put in them. Many of us are probably reminded of a certain person whenever we come across a certain plant. Or perhaps like me, your love for gardening was due to a parent or grandparent.

Whenever I see or grow certain plants, I am often reminded of someone I have known.
I have common Bleeding Heart (dicentra spectabillis) in my garden because as a child, I remember their stems creeping into our backyard through the fence that bordered my grandmother's garden. She use to tell me that fairies would pull the heart shaped flower petals apart and wear them as slippers. I can still see my grandmother sitting in the sun outside her backporch, tending her very tidy small flower garden.

A sniff of fragance and I see my grandfather tending his beautiful hybrid rose garden. It was his one luxury he allowed himself when gardening. Most of my yard and his was consumed with fruit trees, grape vines, rubbarb and vegetables. In the evening when he came home from work, he would take my sister and me to his rose bed to hand pick the Japanese beetles that would consume the petals. We had so much fun dumping them into his small jars of used motor oil and watching them try to swim, only to sink to the bottom. It was such fun to see how many we could collect in one evening. He always surrounded his bed with Peonies, Hybiscus, Oriental Poppies. Whenever I see beautiful rose gardens I am reminded of him.

When I moved into my new home, I tried to salvage an overgrown flowerbed that was covered with roses, privet and ivy. While digging up plants, I managed to save some irises, roses and one barely surviving rubbarb plant. It reminded me of the great rubbarb bed that still exists at my childhood home. That rubbarb bed has to be over 100 years old and it has been moved several times, but the plants still flourish. I took that one scraggy plant and replanted it at the end of one my perennial beds. Since then, it has taken off and flourished. It always reminds me of home.

My dad helped me plant my first flower bed of annuals when I was a young child. The first year, I scattered seeds and watched marigolds and zinnias come to life. After several years, he allowed me to go to a nursery to buy some plants. From there I carved out our yard with borders of annuals and eventually perennials. To this day, I still need to scatter some annuals in his and my flower beds and planters, so that is always provides a touch of color throughout the growing season.

My father and I have planted many a vegetable garden together. The first year we grew tomatoes from seed, we and planted nearly 8 dozen plants because he did not have the heart to throw them away. He said they looked better than the nursery grown ones. His vegetable garden was awesome. It was a Saturday ritual to head to the nursery in early spring to pick up our vegetable plants. He always pushed the envelope when it came to planting his tomatoes. One year he put them in on May 3rd. In our area, Memorial Day is usually the safe bet for planting them. He must have known something I did not, for a few days later he landed in the hospital with heart problems. It was a month long stay, but his tomatoes survived and produced a bumper crop that summer.

So many plants remind me of my dad. His love for daliahs, zinnias, strawberries,fruit trees, tulips, daffodils and tomatoes always make me think of him. Though our years together are drawing to a close, and each of us move a lot slower than we once did, I continue to create garden memories with him. And though we live a few miles apart, I plant a few of these plants in my own garden to keep him close to me in my heart. A daily walk through the garden always reminds me of those I love. I hope that your garden holds some special memories too.

Who is Playing Tricks on Us?

2008-01-08T18:11:00.000-08:00

Its January 8th and it's 69 degrees outside today. I went to work wearing my regular work garb and a fleece jacket. I only wore the jacket so I would not look totally insane,running around with no coat on. The weather for the past few days have been a bitter sweet tease of my long desire for it to be spring again. Okay, I know that there is a purpose for winter, hybernation, dormancy and all that good stuff,....but really, I am okay with skipping the cold stuff. I would be happy with, say, 48 to 55 degree days from now till spring.

During the past few days, I got a chance to empty some more of the mulch I had covered in my utility trailer and spread it around the garden beds. Yes, my neighbors think I am nuts. But, I do not care. It felt wonderful walking around and seeing how things were doing. Amazingly, the dandelion flowers are sprouting already and believe it or not, I found a Wada's Promise Clematis flower blooming on my trellis. I wish I had taken a photo. Maybe it was a little reminder and a promise that spring is not far away.

P.S. Don't forget to check your plants that may have heaved in these thawing warm ups such as this one. You will want to go and gently tamp them back down so that the roots do not become exposed to the cold, harsh weather.

New Year and New Ways to Garden

2007-12-29T14:00:00.001-08:00

As the 2007 year draws to a close and the new year is about to begin, it is a good time to reflect on the ways we have been gardening. As an educator for approximately 33 years, I find it interesting how teaching methods seem to come full circle. Each year, new methods are introduced, but time has proven that some of the old methods are still the best methods.

It is the same with gardening. Some of the best tried and true methods were those practices used by our grandparents and great grandparents. They did not have the benefit of pesticides, fertilizers and fancy garden equipment. They used simple methods and products that were readily available and affordable.

Many gardeners are now realizing that new is not always better. For instance, I still use what some might call a honey hoe to cultivate with. It was my grandparents and I have never come across one like it anywhere, yet it is the tool I grab first and foremost, whenever I head out to weed or cultivate my garden.

As our world experiences global warming, pollution, increasing rates of cancer and autism, it would benefit all of us to rethink our methods of gardening. Consider including drought tolerant plants to reduce water consumption. Plant an extra tree to help reduce pollution, provide a habitat for wildlife and reduce consumption of energy for air conditioning. Grow more native plants and less invasive species. You will find that they do better in your locale and are more resistant to disease and pests. Cut back on the fertilizers and pesticides. Consider I.P.M. (Integrated Pest Management) or better yet go organic. Start using products that are better for our environment and healthier for you.

Take time and join a garden forum where ideas and practices can be shared. I would highly recommend The Organic Gardeners Forum run by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. Both are knowledgeable professionals that are happy to help each of us to garden in a more earth friendly way. You may just find that your methods of gardening lead you full circle to those of your ancestors.

How lovely are the sites of the holidays..I wonder what the critters think?

2007-12-12T10:38:00.001-08:00

As I look around at the lights and holiday decorations at each home, I wonder what the critters think about this annual ritual. Do the deer think how nice man is to light up the outside so they can find their way to that tasty rhododendron? Or do they wonder if their under seige by the giant inflatibles? And what must they think when the lights suddenly go out? Do birds wish that someone would shut out the lights in their favorite pine tree so they can get some shut eye? I am sure they think that humans have some pretty bizarre practices.

Where did time go?

2007-12-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

I spent most of Saturday cleaning up the last of leaves. Even though winter is officially three weeks away, it seems like fall decided to hang in there forever. It took until the last few days for the last of my dogwood and oak leaves to depart from their branches. I managed to collect the last of the leaves and deposit them into my compost bin while my husband started to put holiday decorations up on the house.

My husband and I hauled 7 trailer loads of compost home from the local municipality site this past May and June, and I finally used the last of it yesterday to put down on two of my perennial beds. As evening closed in, the temperatures started to plummet. My husband called it a day as I cleaned up the tarps and swept the walks before heading in. As I turned to put my the broom in the garage, I heard a familiar sound off in horizon. I waited and the sound grew louder. There up high in the clouds was a flock of geese looking for a place to bed down for the night. It was a wonderful way to say farewell to another growing season.

Tonight the wind is gusting and snow is falling. It seems like it was fall one day and winter the next. I just finished cleaning up my work area. There were canna and cala bulbs to store, the thawed hoses to wind up, tools to clean and pots to store. My husband was thrilled to see my area look organized again and ready for spring. I did not have the heart to tell him that I found two pots of hyacinth bulbs that need to be planted. I hope I can get them in before Christmas.

First Snow

2007-11-16T04:04:00.000-08:00

The last couple of weeks have been daily leaf pickup and getting a few last minute perrenials and bulbs planted. As I watched the temperature drop while cleaning up my lawn last night in the dark, I am grateful for getting that new layer of leaves composted. This morning there is a good inch of snow on the lawns. I am sure it is the first of many to come. In the months of head, I will be longing for Spring, but today there is a special beauty to this first dusting of snow.

Fall Planting Marathon

2007-10-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been a blur. My husband and I had our property resurveyed three weeks ago and then had the 30+ year old silver maple removed from our backyard. Our weekend plan of attack was to put in a split rail fence along the border of our property and our neighbors, plant six columnar junipers and four viburnums along the fence line and transplant several shrubs and trees. Of course we picked the one weekend in October where our area set a new weather record of 90 degrees. My husband rented a power auger for the weekend. We figured we would drill all the holes for the posts along with three to four holes for every tree and shrub we planned on planting. I was eternally grateful that we got the auger. Our soil was like concrete and full of rocks and tree roots. I now realize why my grass is in such horrible condition. There was not one ounce of evidence that there was any decent top soil under our grass. Apparently the top soil was removed when the house was built and nothing was ever added after the completion.

Amazingly, we got all the fence posts in, along with three junipers. The next day we finished getting the last of the junipers in along with the four viburnums. I lost four pounds during those two days. Although I was grateful for the loss of a few pounds, it is not the way I would recommend losing weight.

Each evening I would come home from work and plant one or two more shrubs before it got too dark to see. One evening, I actually put on the little head light my husband gave me for Christmas, just so I could get finished. I managed to get a new tree planted and another relocated. I also relocated one viburnum that got flooded for days after a severe summer storm that dumped several inches of rain in a couple hours.

The end results are fabulous. I can only imagine what everything will look like in a few years when the plants mature. It will be fun watching them grow. Seeing the fruits of ones labor is so rewarding.

Open Sky and Open Space

2007-09-28T05:26:00.001-07:00

It is amazing what a difference one large tree removal can make in a landscape. For the past two weeks, I would look out of my guest bedroom window at the large silver maple that stood before my eyes. There I tried to imagine what that space would look like without that tree. I knew that it would look bare but you never really know until it is actually gone.

Opening up that space was like turning on a light bulb. The property beside me and behind me suddenly opened up. My husband said that our property suddenly looked much larger, and he was correct. Not only did the ground surface seem larger, but the air space was wide open. A smaller sugar maple that had been situated nearby suddenly looked deformed. For years the silver maple had grown toward the sun light and directly into this little guy, and because of that, the tree appears to be cut in half. My only hope is, that with the new space, its limbs will grow out into the space that originally should have been his.

Farewell Big Guy

2007-09-26T19:34:00.001-07:00

Today my husband and I had a seventy foot silver maple removed from our small backyard. Even though we have a nice size lot, we have a small backyard. One of the things that we loved most about our home when we purchased it, was the mature trees on the property. We had four trees that were in questionable state. The first was a sugar maple that had the most spectacular fall color. This tree had lost most of its bark due to construction of the new addition on the house by a previous owner. We knew it would have to be removed because it was slowly losing limbs and dying back. Nearby, I planted a Serviceberry.

Then there was a silver maple bordering the neighbor's and our property. It had developed a serious lean toward our house and was becoming extremely close. We felt that while it was fairly small, it needed to come out. Our neighbor agreed that we could remove it because the property line was not clearly defined and neither of us knew which of us was the legal owner. Besides, they were moving, so it was no big loss to them. In its place I planted a red bud and a varigated cornellian cherry.

We also have a lovely white oak near the front corner of our house. I guess I should correct myself and say it is a white oak but lovely would not be the best adjective to describe it. When we first looked at the house, most of the leaves were shriveled up and falling off of it. We dismissed it as a result of a drought. In reality it had Jumping Oak Gall. Not only did it occur that summer, but it returned again the following summer too. We had an arborist look at it and found that it was extremely deficient and needed lots of ammendments to its soil. This summer the tree began oozing at that flares and we were told that it had some type of bacteria infecting it. So it appears that this tree is not long for our yard.

Some time, several owners ago, a silver maple was planted in our back yard. I guess it was probably put there because it was inexpensive and a fast grower. One of the previous owners had removed a huge limb that was heading toward the house. It never collared over, and had been rotting back into the main trunk. It was only a matter of time before the tree would need to be removed, so we decided that sooner was better then later.

It is not an easy decision for me to have a tree removed, especially one that is as large as this one. And so I comtemplated for several years as to what to do about this tree. Even on the suggestion of our arborist, it was with reluctance that I gave the orders to have it removed. I know that some people have little regard about trees. I found that they either love them or hate them. Its easy to tell who these folks are by taking a look in their yards.

But I believe these stately giants deserve a place in our world. With so many new developments going in, the tree is losing ground in our landscapes. Their benefits are numerous. They provide a home for various wildlife and shade on a hot summer's day. If planted in an appropriate location, they can be a natural form of air conditioning for our homes. They add value to ones property whether we like them or not. And lets not forget they remove air polution and provide us with oxygen. So it is with regrets that I remove this gentle giant. I do however, promise to replace this tree with a new one,; for my yard would not be the same without one.

And so I say goodbye to a my big old tree.

Fall's Second Wind

2007-09-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how the heat of summer seems to take the steam out of one's desire to garden. Now that fall has sent cooler nights, lower humidity and a decrease in daylight, the sudden urge to work in the garden has stirred the gardening bug in me. Perhaps it is knowing that it will soon be time to put the garden to bed or the fact that I will be shut in during those cold days ahead and wishing I could be outside. Either way, I feel like I have been given a second wind to garden.

Now is the time to plant all those items that have been sitting in pots patiently waiting for a new place in the garden. This past spring, I promised myself that I was not going to impulse buy and then rush to get them planted before frost. I did not impulse buy, but I am rushing to get things planted.

I am also trying to get those fall tasks done. I put down the milky spores and limed the lawn. Now I am trying to get a layer of compost on my sad looking lawn. The lawn is the one part of gardening that does not appeal to me and I am trying to make what lawn I have, resemble something vaguely similar to those of my neighbors. I have always tried to practice a more organic approach to gardening. If my plants did not survive, then they had no business in my garden. And if my lawn looked bad, it was because I did not want to dump harmful chemicals on it just to make it look green and weed free. Besides, grass is just a ground cover.....right? But now I live in a new neighborhood and lawns are a coveted commodity. One neighbor cuts the lawn as soon as it grows a quarter of an inch. That could mean three cuttings a week. Another removes every leaf or twig that lands in the grass. And here I am with dandelions, violas and ground ivy. I can only hope that all my efforts will show an improved lawn come spring. I can hope, but I am not going to hold my breath.

Photo Walk

2007-08-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Today, I talked my husband into going on a photo walk. He likes taking photos and I wanted to see if I could capture some nice photos of morning sunlight. What started out to be a half hour walk ended two hours later with us exploring a well kept secret in our area. During an earlier walk, I discovered a well secluded park in my community. It has no signs indicating its existance except for the one posted sign at the entrance. The park is located on a long dirt road where only those that reside there dare wonder. What we found was a charming track of land that was purchased by a local doctor and donated to our township. The park appears to be maintained by some local boy scout troops. There is about a one mile trail loop that circles around a natural pond and then meanders through a woodland and meadow. What a wonderful surprise to see such a natural preserve tucked away in a residential neighborhood. Apparently the scouts are attempting to plant lots of native species in the wetland area.
As we left, I can say that I look forward to a return to this natural area to explore the local wildlife and plants species.

Loss of a Special Friend

2007-06-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Last month I lost a special companion and friend. I had my sweet mutt of 14 years, put to sleep. Chance was like a well weathered tree that had suffered many battle scars from many wicked storms. At age 3 1/2, I discovered a lump on his rear leg. The biopsy showed that it was cancerous. My option was to do nothing and remove the tumor when it returned and risk the cancer spreading to his lungs, amputate his leg or take him to Cleveland, Ohio for fifteen days of radiation treatment at an outpatient clinic. We opted for number three.

During the last week of treatment, Chance had to stay over night because the radiation machine broke down. He had to be taken to a human lab to be radiated. When he returned to the dog clinic, he backed out of his collar and took off. We returned to Ohio and spent 10 1/2 hours searching some of the wealthiest and most dangerous sections of Cleveland. In the morning, Chance was spotted by a technician, who came early to help search for him. After another hour of looking, I found Chance at the intersection of two fences in an industrial park. One fence backed a major interstate and another backed a major highway. There, laying in some dried grass was my dog. The reunion was like a scene from a Lassie movie. Tears flowing and lots of licks on the face. It really was a miracle that we found him at all. Chance beat the odds of being found again and he beat his cancer.

Years past and Chance spent many lazy summer hours laying by my side as I weeded, planted and brought in the harvest in my garden. He chased the neighboring cats out of our yard whenever the squirrels sounded their alarm. It was almost an duty and obsession of his to protect these critters.

Six years ago, Chance was diagnosed with diabetes. He began two daily injections of insulin. During the first year, he received too much insulin and was taken to an emergency clinic. Despite our mistakes and our probing for a good injection site, he always sat like a perfect gentleman until receiving his shot.

Five years ago, his eyesight began to fail as he developed cataracts in both eyes. We were told he would most likely be blind within the first year of his diabetes. Chance defied the odds and took two years before his cataracts needed to be removed. He had undergone surgery to have them removed and the doctor was able to put in one artificial lens. He underwent lots of doctor visits and received lots of eye drops.

Two years ago, he developed an ulcer in one eye and needed a tissue plug placed on it to help it heal. More surgery and he still persevered.
Then in the fall of 2006, he developed a slight cough. It was treated and had returned. In January, it turned into full blown pneumonia. His prognosis was not good. He was not expected to survive a week. But again, he defied the odds, and rebounded. The doctors were amazed. But as we weaned him off antibiotics, the condition returned and eventually the antibiotics no longer worked. I came home from work to find that he was having difficulty breathing. This was his final stand.He had gone through so much but his immune system was finally failing him. That night we put him to sleep.

Whenever I see a weathered tree I will always think of this sweet creature and all the storms that he battled throughout his life. There is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded about him. Maybe, it is because the older I get, the more I realize just how fragile life really is.

In Loving Memory of Chance

Today is a beautiful day! The rays of light filtered through the sentinels of trees this morning. I sat by the creek and contemplated. I missed classes, but somehow it didn't matter. The serenity and beauty of my feelings and surroundings completely captivated me.................

I thought of you. I discovered you tucked away in the shadows of the trees. Then rediscovered you on the smiles of the flowers as the sun penetrated the petals ........ in the rhythm of the leaves falling upon the stream ........... in the freedom of the robin as he flew searching as you do.

I'm very happy to have found you again. Now, you will never leave me, for I will always find you in the beauty of life.

Ah......If Trees Could Talk

2007-05-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

Late last fall, a wind storm took down the old apple tree at my childhood home. All that held it to the ground was one massive root. The entire inside base was completely decayed. I spent 8 hours cutting up branches so that my 83 year old father would not be burdened with the mess.
The tree was the last apple tree to stand on my great grandparents home sites. The land was filled with fruit trees, grapes, raspberries, flower and veggie gardens before my father built our home on the site.
On Monday, my husband, father and I cut down the remains of what I did not get done in November. Amazingly, those branches that remained were covered in apple blossoms. In its last moments of life , the tree was decked out in such a lovely and sweet smelling bloom. The bees were busy pollinating as we removed the last limbs.
As I turned to check on my father to make sure that he was not over doing it, I could see a tear trickling down his face. I knew that memories were flashing through his mind. I sat down next to him on his cedar swing to share some memories. As a child, I use to climb up that tree and let my imagination soar. My sister and I had many a tea party under its canopy. My dad hung a big old rope on one of the big limbs and we swung on it. I would chase my dogs around it.
My dad told me that he remembered the tree as a small whip when he was just a boy. Five generations had emcompassed their lives. The woodpeckers drilled lots of holes in it looking for insects. A section of our locust tree blew off and hit a big limb off of it. The wrens faithfully returned each year to build a nest in the birdhouse that hung on one of the branches. The squirrel would sit in one of the decaying branch cavities and eat sunflower seeds that my father would place in it each day during the winter months. Now it sat in neatly stacked piles, waiting to be transported to my house to be burned in my fireplace. Ah,.....if trees could talk, what stories they would tell.