On the Third Day of Christmas, Mother Nature Gave to Me ...

a truly glorious day!

I keep telling you that if you do not like the weather in Central Virginia ... just wait five days.  And this time it was really worth the wait.  It's the kind of day when the 18-year old next door has the top down on his car and people wanting to stroll around the neighborhood are having to get starting times to control the crowd.  68 degrees in the garden - right now!  Glorious.

Finally got the last of the fall clean up done and put the garden to sleep today.  

The sun is so low in the south, that at just past noon, there is already shadow nearly across the whole yard.

It's not as pretty as in June, but it has a calm stillness that I enjoy.  Nothing left standing today except grasses and evergreens.

But if you look closely there's lots going on....

Remember my obsession with ranunculus?  It's all the fault of my blog friends who also are floral designers [you know who you are].  I didn't know anything about ranuncs until i started seeing them in your lovely arrangements, and then my quest to grow them began.  Have planted them year after year hoping for a bloom.  One year I planted four dozen and actually got - drum roll here! - one, yes one, blossom.

Last March Big Blue Box store had them in planters.  I bought many pots and used them in lots of my big planters - a full two months before the normal time to set out planters in these parts.  Thoroughly enjoyed them for about a month and then they went dormant, and i put new things in the planters.  So imagine the thrill I had this morning when I saw this:

and this:

Cannot imagine that they will survive the cold to come into bloom, but i've been hoping for a lot of years and don't plan to stop now. 

Mother Nature didn't stop there, either.  The mini-rose that has struggled for years [until i replanted it in organic potting soil and started a regular feeding schedule - duh!] has a dozen tiny buds opening.

The blueberry is covered with buds for a bumper crop next spring.  [Remember that the most i have ever gotten is half a handful, so "bumper" is a matter of perspective!]

And, would you like a bit of arugula!  It seems to love the cold weather, and tastes just fine.

Or, how about a bit of cilantro?

So far, no signs of the camellia blooming this year.  We had a hard freeze right after the buds came out and they don't seem to have ripened at all since then.  The helebores are late, as well, but i see lots of new growth coming up, so maybe they will adjust, too.  One can hope!

October Abundance

The dahlias languished all summer.  I was really disappointed, since i had hoped to use them to supplement my other cuttings.  I planted six different types - ranging from white to a very dark burgundy and in different flower types.  Sadly, they struggled and only three of six even made it far enough to set buds.

Three weeks ago they suddenly decided to bloom and they have been gorgeous.

This may be the prettiest one i ever grew.  It looks like a lotus and is about five inches wide.

A chrysanthemum type, with the 'Double Scoop Cranberry' cone flower. 

Another chrysanthemum type in a rich pink.

Am planning to put them in a slightly sunnier spot next year and look for another source.  Anyone got a dahlia supplier that you can recommend?   I prefer the smaller ones, so that I can add them to arrangements. 

An Old Friend Returns to Work

Mitchell likes to tell of a day - about 20 years ago - when he came home from work and I announced that I had purchased a tool.  He was thinking screwdriver or wrench. 

I was thinking Mantis tiller!

Having watched too many infomercials i decided it was exactly what i wanted.  You know ... he was always willing to dig me a hole, but often not really available when I needed it dug.  And, little projects just pop up unexpectedly when one would like to move a little dirt....  and a girl needs a small tiller. 

Best purchase I ever made!  Light, easy to start and maintain.  Perfect for me!  [Mantis has in no way paid me to say these nice things - i really do love my Mantis!]

Main back "garden" pre-tilling.  Bird bath has not moved.  2002

Bird bath is just to the right of the statue. 2014

She - this is such a hard working tiller that she is clearly female - dug beds at our old house for several years, and then moved here with us more than 14 years ago.  She dug all my beds, except the cutting garden. 

Side of back yard.  Same bird bath.  2002

The beds continue on to the right.  2014

About three years ago I couldn't start her.  Just couldn't.  When I finished up whatever I was doing, I put her in the shed and ... well, forgot about her.  This summer I really wanted to re-do a bed and really needed the tiller, so I finally took her in for a bit of TLC and she returned to me last week with a brand new carburetor and all ready to tackle whatever I could throw at her.  

We'll share the results in a couple of days, but it's nice to have my partner back.  She's raring to go turn over the cutting garden.  I think next weekend ...

Mary, Mary Awards - the Jury is Still Out ...

It's often difficult to judge how a plant, or an area, is doing for several  years.  And, that is certainly true this year.

A good illustration is the David Austin rose - 'Sister Elizabeth'.  It did so well the first year and started off so well this year, but then a mob of caterpillars moved in and completely stripped it.  By the time I realized that I had a problem ... it was too late.  Upon good advice I cut it way back and kept feeding it on a regular schedule and it did come back a lot.  Then the black spot struck.  So, it struggles on and I will try the new Bayer all-in-one product next year that feeds as well as fighting disease - and, I will spray for the caterpillars early.  I love this rose, so am willing to work hard to make it healthy again. 

Another question mark is the 'Vanilla Strawberry' hydrangea.  Am delighted at how well it has grown and how healthy it appears to be, but the flower were disappointing. 

The blooms are initially the whitest white in the garden, fading to a lovely cream and then blushing pink.

This year the pink went immediately to brown, without darkening to strawberry.  

It starts off white-white and then fades to cream and then is supposed to go strawberry.  The best I got was a pale pink that was sort of coral, but it turned brown instead of strawberry.  I hope it was just an immature plant and bad weather.  Am hopeful enough that I plan to add a 'Limelight' hydrangea to the collection this fall. 

Both of these plants are well worth another year and some TLC as they need it. 

Mary, Mary - the Losers

Sadly the weather has played a big role this year - a harder than normal winter (way more snowfall than normal and lots of rain, a hotter than normal spring (90's in May) and a dry, dry, dry summer  (cooler than usual, but no rain to speak of).  All have wreaked havoc with the garden.  The only thing that I could influence was the rain, which I tried to mimic with plenty of sprinklers.  But despite my best effort, there were problems. 

The biggest loser was definitely this 'Emerald' arborvitae.

I had such plans for it, but to no avail.  It was dead by early spring.  I still want one, so will try again later this month.  I have taken my tiller in for an overhaul and plan to till up the entire area and then add both webb-dirt and organic compost to try to provide a better environment this time.   And, perhaps a small surprise for groundcover around it. 

Two other shrubs that were badly damaged by the harsh conditions were this miniature Alberta spruce and the viburnum. 

 I think the latter will be fine once I trim out the dead.  The spruce will probably not produce new growth to fill in all that has died.

 Can you even see the hibiscus?  They are just right of the sprinkler - those spindly green things with the pretty red stems.  Not at all their glory days.

And, finally, the hibiscus has given up.   There were originally four - two red, one white and one purple - standing more than six feet tall.  They bloomed prolifically for six or seven years, but have fallen into decline the past few years.  This year we had almost no blooms at all.  Definitely need to dig out this whole area and start over next year.

Next week:  The Jury is Still Out ...

The Mary Mary Awards ... and the Winners Are...

Mary Mary and I were sitting on the bench a few days ago just looking around and thinking about the 2014 garden season - you know ... what worked and what needs work for next year.   

There were definitely some winners this year, some losers and the jury is still out on a few things.   Today the winners. 

The oak stump is rotting away under the not-at-all-level planter and will will soon be gone - replaced with a few more azaleas - hopefully re-bloomers.

In first place is certainly the front bed.  Have been working on this one for at least five years - since we had to cut down a big oak tree.  The dogwood seems to have survived some awful attack on its bark.  I unwrapped it a few weeks ago to see how it was doing, and it seems to be growing a thicker layer under the damaged bark, but more importantly it bloomed and now has many berries, so water is definitely making it up the trunk to all parts of the tree.  It will still bear some watching, but I think we may have made it.  And the grasses I planted are doing well, as are the azaleas in the spring and chrysanthemums in the fall.  Need to add more grass and more 'mums, as well as working on the irrigation for next year. 

Another winner was the "old" miniature rose I revived.  After too many years of neglect, a monthly deep feeding combined with a weekly shot of fish emulsion has brought it back to life - full of new growth and covered with flowers most of the summer.  It was a grocery store purchase at least 10 years ago, but has been a joy this summer.   

 Echinacea 'Double Scoop Cranberry' PPAF

The cone flower I put in this big pot has been spectacular!  I want to get some more interesting colors going in the planting bed next year. 

The new bed under the elm appears to be a winner, altho it's probably too soon to really tell.

Friday - the losers. 

Hydrangea Love

Having bemoaned the lack of hydrangea blooms this summer - and I have truly missed them!  - now comes the newest addition to the yard.

 June 30th.

A 'Vanilla Strawberry' hydrangea that I planted last fall, and frankly had not counted on its blooming this year. 

July 2nd.

Although it's a "panical" hydrangea and so new to me, it blooms on new wood and therefore escaped the last freeze of the winter that killed all the buds on the mopheads and lacecaps.  Even in its first year, it is blooming.  This variety typically grows 6-10 feet in height and diameter, so I put it where it can serve as a "barrier plant" between our yard and our neighbor's.

July 4th 

When fully mature, the panicals should open white and then "age" to darker shades of pink to strawberry - eventually producing a shrub full of multi-colored flowers. 

What's not to love about that?

Feeding the Masses

Well, perhaps not the masses, but at least the two people who live in our house. 

Mitchell's new raised beds have certainly lived up to their potential this summer.  We planted several types of tomato, broccoli, cauliflower, several peppers and okra in early May, and now are reaping the benefits. 

The tomatoes are awesome!  We will soon be those people who break into their neighbors' homes and leave produce on the kitchen counter!

We started getting 'Cherokee Purple' more than a week ago and then harvested the first 'Brandywine' last night.  Both are heritage varieties and very tasty!  There are a zillion green Roma's just waiting to ripen up and become roasted tomato sauce for freezing. 

The broccoli are nearly done - we are well into the second cutting of side shoots.  Hard to beat the taste of broccoli that was cut 30 minutes ago. 

Even the okra are cooperating this year.  Only planted about half the usual number, since last year we got really, really tired of them.  So far, I've cut 3-6 every night, so we only have a meal's worth every three to four days and that works well for us. 

There are mystery peppers, too.  Mystery, because I have lost the little tags and can't remember what I planted.  One is Cubanelle, but have no idea about the others!

The herbs are flourishing as well, and providing basil and cilantro on a daily basis.  Life is good!

Heaven in the Garden

It's that wonderful time of the summer when all you really have to do is sit back and enjoy.  Well, perhaps add a bit of water now and then and a bit of deadheading, but mostly it's time to enjoy all the hard work of fall and spring. 

The lilies are in full bloom.  This one is a mystery.  I do not remember planting it, altho this is at least the third year it has bloomed - each year more spectacular than the last. 

It is more than six feet tall and has three separate stalks this year - after only one for the past two years.

The flowers are lovely, but it's the whole THING that is so striking.

The gate is 36 inches tall.

Dayliles are coming along, too.

As well as the calla lilies.

What's not to love?

Changes at the Pond, too

We were fairly lucky to not lose a lot over the past winter - damage on a couple of trees and some shrubs, and the loss of a season of hydrangeas, but over all nothing too bad.  Except for the Clethera [Clethera alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'].  

Fully leafed out and beginning to bloom in 2011, it was a beautiful, big shrub.

It was always the last shrub to leaf out, so I didn't pay a lot of attention when it seemed a bit slower than usual this year, and then suddenly last week I realized that absolutely everything else was fully leafed out - even the crepe myrtles.  Something was definitely wrong.  

Last weekend it looked like this:

Closer inspection showed that the trunks were in very bad shape - so bad that the entire older part was very dead.  Over the long weekend I cut it out, leaving the side shoots that had leafed out and hoping that time will help it fill out into a shrub again. 

See the damage on the bark?  All the major stems showed this.  I fear it's a disease and not just the bad winter weather.

That left a huge hole in the "landscape" next to the pond, so I spent the rest of the morning re-doing that whole area.  

The side stems are leafing out and I hope that they will thrive now that there is no competition.

 I moved iris, yarrow and ajuga to fill in the space and mulched it all in.  A bit of TLC and I hope it will look good - and healthy - in a few weeks.