Transplanted Trillium

This morning I transplanted 40 trillium to a new woodland garden in midst of viburnum. Now I just wait patiently for them to multiply and naturalize. Saved from the lawnmower and I feel like a successful rescue was completed.

Cutting Back Ornamental Grasses

Today I went to do maintenance on a rather large prairie garden I installed which takes some hands on time. While I was cutting down the prairie grasses I was thinking of homeowners who have installed ornamental grasses.

Thus I recommend NOW is the time to cut back if you have not already done so, and then you will not cut new growth. As you cut them back you will note green for the grasses are emerging with our warmer weather. If you are like me I enjoy the grasses through out the entire winter as they wave in the winter wind.

Gooseberries & Garlic Mustard

This morning I mulched all nine new viburnums from Fall 08 plantings, and also mulched/fertilized 7 gooseberries. The gooseberries are a excellent food source for the birds. However, I remember my Aunt Edith on her Iowa farm gathering gooseberries to make a pie.

As I have been for the past two days continued the task of removing garlic mustard from beds that have needed tending. At this point this morning alone I reached number 600 pulled/dug, and I never ever put them in the compost pile. Instead they are placed in a plastic bag to be disposed of with trash.

Spring cleaning of the gardens is a joy for me, for that is when I see my shrubs & perennials coming alive for the season ahead. May your gardens also be finding rejuvenation so that they may give you blooms that provide many days of joy.

Pond Waterfall Cleaned & Running

Got the pond waterfall going today so it's all set for migrating birds to arrive. There was still ice on top, so got stepson Blake to use a sledgehammer and break it up so we could remove some of the debris that had fallen in.
We also cleared dead trees from the new lot and prepared the campfire area for future bonfires and marshmallow roasts. Raked leaves out of the beds and broke an "unbreakable" rake in the process! Piles of leaves and branches await to be chipped when our chipper comes back from repair. The hammer inside broke, and the vibrations caused pieces to break off inside and come flying off at me! A frightful experience! Luckily I was able to shut it off with only a minor injury on my shoulder.
Tomorrow I'll work on the compost bins. Need to enlarge them with new fencing and stabilize the supports.

Scattering Snow

This morning I have thus put 42 wheelbarrows full of snow around the hydrangeas and viburnums planted Fall 2008. This will give them the moisture they so need to start the Spring season. Still more snow to scatter. The compost & snow will provide a good organic bed for future understory perennials.

Winter Reflections

Well, November was a busy month putting my many gardens to rest. Along with laying out & preparing new beds on our outlying lots, I planted ten (10) new viburnums which were generously fed last years compost. Then logs with character placed to age & decompose. All this so transplants & new woodland perennials have a Spring home to move into.

The idea on both lots is to preserve native trillium, cranesbill, mertensia, ferns & so much more.

It took my new shredder hours to make big piles of leaves into chomped down bits which were mixed with perennials shredded. Then many a branch from dead trees & shrubs shredded & added to compost. So sitting in two large 10'x10' framed bins are future Black Gold for gardens of 2009.

Lastly now comes time in January & February to do the planning. Plan for transplants and plan for any new material. Picture in your mind bloom times as your gardens transition the seasons.

With our home being listed as a habit for wildlife I consider two other factors being food source & protection for nesting.

Take time now to reflect likes & dislikes of your gardens / landscape of 2008. Enjoy now the icy & frosty magic of winter that put our landscapes here in Illinois in a deep sleep.

Happy Composting!

Today is a good start on my compost pile. Sixteen wheelbarrow loads of leaves and cuttings from the garden beds added to recent grass clippings. The push lawnmower then did its job cutting them into very fine pieces to speed up decomposition. My recent baking of cookies had many egg shells to add with the mix.

As leaves continue to fall and I clean garden beds, my Compost Gold for 2009 will continue to grow. Whenever town, villages and cities have pick-up service of fall's leaves which are hauled to a farmer's field, I am please. For what better way to recycle Mother Nature's fertilizer!

A little TLC goes a long way!

Today I fertilized all of our hydrangea's with a 5 gal mix of fertilizer (Miracle-gro acid loving plant food). Then I started mulching and using our compost to prepare our hydrangea macrophylla for winter. A little tender car goes a long way to enjoy next year's blooms!

Hauling rocks!

New garden along the front side of our property.


We gathered flagstone for a bench in the new garden.


New flagstone viewing ledge at the pond.


Tucker checking out the new ledge.

This past week I went to the quarry with Janet to get flagstone for the pond to create a ledge for children to stand on safely to feed our koi. First I removed a larger juniper and replaced it with a smaller cedar so the fish are more visible and there is easier access to the new flagstone ledge. I am reminded that when designing, I must take in mind the many aspects of function and view when choosing plantings.

I also created a new bed in our front so as to lead the eye down our side yard. Janet had the idea of adding a stone bench in our new bed. I, physically and mentally, found a way to get the mass of rock home and in place, and it was worth the effort as it adds charm and character to the bed. I’ve also started a rustic curved fence as a backdrop to the new garden.

All I have left to do is mulch the new plantings for moisture retention. Then I’ll continue cleaning up the existing beds. I feel like gardening is caring for toddlers — they both have needs of care so they can grow to flourish! :)

Weather and Blooms

This year has been a hard year to predict bloom time as in a "normal" year.

I had a Garden Party June 29th this year and Spring Blooms were two weeks behind because lack of heat (BTU's).

On top of that we followed now with record rainfalls (7 inches over norm for month). This has caused many plants to curl as if swimming in a pool way tool long. The only thing we as gardeners can do is provide plants with excellent drainage.

This week I had to replace a rose that had its feet soaking in water. After I removed the rose from site I used pea gravel & peat to provide a proper home. Then fertilized with Bayer Rose Fertilizer with a systemic to prevent disease.

As my grandfather once told me, "We can not change the weather, so we must learn to work with it!"