I am working on a site that has river rock as their mulch. After removing two dead shrubs I have suggested replacing them with a hydrangea x paniculata 'limelight' and a hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'.
The concern I have is that the hydrangeas prefer a acid soil and the rocks provide too much alkaline along with heat. I will amend the soil with organic material and fertilizer for acidic plants, however, if given the choice I would much rather mulch them with a hardwood mulch. This would retain moisture and provide them with nutrients needed over the long run.
I use all sorts of rock as accents in my gardens to provide different textures and to stop run off, but given a choice would always lean to use of hardwood mulch for the plants.

This past week we have received over two and half inches of rain which has resulted in many shrubs drooping from water. Seems the balance of water for a landscape is a never ending concern. Too little or too much can both have a significant effect on the performance of both shrubs and perennials. I am always pleased when I see plants that can adapt to the conditions given wet or dry along with hot or cold. Thus survival tis result of adapting to environment in which placed.

My grandfather who was a farmer in Iowa once told me when I was young that we must live with the weather not to fight nor complain about the weather. Wise words which I try to live by the best I can in this ever changing environment.

Thus we must just try to retain balance on our landscape and in our life!

Today as I am planning for a garden party at our home I was reminded of effect lighting can have on a landscape.

I just hung a light over our table on our deck. The light is a soft yellow bug light that has a warm feeling as one sits to eat or chat.

This week I will be hanging party lights with cans and xmas lights... just remember that down lighting or up lighting can really highlight a landscape. The spot light that I installed to shine on the waterfall at our pond creates a mystical mood.

So keep in mind that lighting is a real bonus to any landscape feature!

The mystery to lost Koi was revealed two days ago as I was weeding and cleaning garden behind pond. Within less than ten feet a dark furry critter scampered by me into the raspberry patch. I was not sure so I looked it up in my wildlife book and on google. To my surprise it was American Mink. Since they can dive to depth of sixteen feet my poor Koi had little chance of survival.

My gardens are planted with design in mind to create a very Natural setting, and thus we attract quite the variety of wildlife. As we enjoy the interaction of life within the gardens we must remember that birds and animals live by instincts.

May you enjoy the beauty of Nature within your own gardens!!

Today I built two stone benches at a firepit lakeside. They were built to compliment a arbor and outdoor room with shrubs, perennials, and mulched path just completed. As I was finishing the mortar on benches I was once again reminded of how well different textures compliment each other.

When designing a garden never forget the importance of texture as you blend the leaves of a plant with wood and stone. A natural blend is much more pleasing to a person's eye than boring repetition.

Somehow there is more serenity to a garden or park when it is more near natural than straight lines and sterile. May you find serenity in your own gardens, for if built with spirit in mind they can be also a health benefit for mind, body, and soul.

This past week we have had about three-quarters inch of rain. Tis great for the gardens when Mother nature does the watering. As for her timing it could not have been better for gardeners such as myself, for the rain came during the night.

Our pond was ravaged during the night by some unknown predator, and thus we loss five Koi to the natural food chain. Since it is just part of nature's natural plan must accept and replace them.

In my gardens this year I have had to transplant many perennials that were into their third year, for they had multiplied. Given the right 'home' perennials thrive and multiply. So fellow gardeners relocate them or PASS the beauty on to others to plant in their gardens. This spring I shared some Monarda with a neighbor and it was a treat to see joy on her face.

Enjoy the summer blooms for weeks ahead!

I have been dead heading my perennials that have been fading to extend their bloom time. Though it takes time to dead head the perennial flowers the rewards are well worth the effort.
So reach for your clippers and proceed to extend the bloom time of your favorite early bloomers.

My rosas and roses have been given their second systemic/fertilizer to promote blooms and protect from powdery mildew/black spot. Seems roses are like teenage youth they require plenty of food for their growth and to bloom.

This time of the year it takes a good eye to know when your plants require watering. Too little is bad for plants for they may go into distress, however, too much is just as bad. So let your trees, shrubs, and flower beds speak to you ...'Water me or Not'.

May your gardens provide many blooms and joys as our season proceeds thru summer into fall.

June 21st
Today I pruned the peonies back taking off the heavy past prime blooms to allow space in the garden. The surrounding phlox paniculata will greatly appreciate my work, for they prefer air flow around them. One of the major cause for powdery mildew on phlox is the lack of air flow.

I also pruned up the Blue Muffin Viburnum to allow understory plantings enough light to bloom.
It always amazes me on how fast plants can fill in to maturity, just like children they are small young plants turn around and they are full grown.

Pruning and dead heading are two chores that reap many rewards so feel free to clip..clip!

The cooler weather has allowed me to transplant many of my perennials that have outgrown their designated place. So early mornings my shovel has divided many and gave them new homes in empty places provided by NEW garden beds. Ah the joy of perennials the multiply so readily.

Last week I helped a elderly neighbor divide Siberian iris which she then kindly gave many to me.
In return I walked home with gift only to return shortly with three varieties of Monarda 'bee balm' for her garden. Remember fellow gardeners there is much joy in sharing Nature's beauty!
Rachel

June has arrived with a slow start for my many May/June blooms. As a gardener and a designer one thing that we can never count on is the weather. This year 2009 has thus far been colder than most years. This has caused many of the plants to bloom almost two weeks behind normal bloom time. As a landscape designer this can really upset my plans for transition in the gardens.

Another unexpected weather twist is the rainfall which has been far more than our normal Spring. Which has given has many overcast cloudy days, and reducing necessary BTU's for plants to germinate.

So in essence I am saying never count on the weather in our Midwest or any where else as being a constant. We must learn to work with what ever our weather is at the given time. May your 'Blooms' whether late or on time give you many joys!
Rachel