Bluebird Blitz!

I was the fortunate recipient of a visit from three male Eastern Bluebirds last Tuesday (February 28). While they have passed through my yard in prior years, I usually only caught a glimpse of them as they hi-tailed it for parts unknown. This time, they stayed for hours!

I felt so lucky to have these little guys hang out and keep me company! It seems quite early for them to be here, but as I've never had them before, I'm not sure. Anyone out there know?



This guy decided to take a break from insect hunting and get a drink from our pond.

It was defintiely a red-letter day in the old birding journal! There were many other birds around as well, perhaps in anticipation of the snow storm we got on Thursday. I counted 2 tufted titmice, multitudes of chickadees, 1 white breasted nuthatch, 25 crows on the neighbors lawn, 9 goldfinches, 2 purplefinches and 2 woodpeckers, one downy and one red-bellied. Quite a day!

Strangely, since the snow, I haven't seen one single bird at the feeders. Probably still sleeping off their pre-storm glut, the hogs!

Low Maintenance Plants

Plant Name: Agastache spp.

Common Name: Hummingbird Mint, Anise Hyssop, Sunset Hyssop

Overall Low Maintenance Rating:                            4.8 Stars

Overview

In keeping with my resolution to grow more critter friendly plants this year, I am purchasing several more plants of Agastache. These plants provide nectar-filled flowers that benefit a variety of garden beasties, including the much desired hummingbird. There are many species of Agastache and I’ve found that only a few do well here in zone 5, though I will admit that our damp winters may have more to do with my success rate (or lack of) than the temperature.

Agastache rupestris is my hands down favorite. It is a delicate looking, wonderful smelling, care free plant I would not be without. I grew it from seed many years ago and, while the original plant is long gone, it provided several seedlings which I scattered throughout the garden. The long wands of flowers are a mix of salmon, rose and pink and the leaves are long and thin, smelling of root beer.

 

Agastache rupestris

This is not a bullet-proof plant. It requires excellent drainage and full sun. I have lost several plants when our winters were especially wet. During the season, though, it is totally carefree and a delight.

The other species I have had good luck with is Agastache foeniculum, especially the variety ‘Golden Jubilee’. The plain species is a beautiful herb grown for tea, with large, rough green leaves and spikes of blue flowers. ‘Golden Jubilee’ is a variety with golden leaves, very showy. Both seed quite a bit and it’s best to deadhead them. I have little gold seedlings coming up all around my patio after planting only two plants!



Agastache 'Golden Jubilee', guarding the entrance to the patio

Another gorgeous Agastache is A. cana which has many named varieties. I have had no luck overwintering any of them but they make fantastic pot plants and draw the hummingbirds like a dinner bell.

My favorite place to find Agastaches is High Country Gardens (http://www.highcountrygardens.com) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have a great selection and excellent advice on planting.

Disease                                                                                5 Stars

Very rarely, I have seen powdery mildew on an Agastache, usually when the weather was particularly cool and damp. I figure what the hell; EVERYTHING has powdery mildew when the weather is like that, including me, so why fuss? No problems other than that.

Pests – Insects                                                                  5 Stars

Unless you count too many pollinators, I’ve never seen insects damaging these plants. The bumblebees can get a little over-enthusiastic and occasionally snap a flower stem, but that’s about it.

Pests – Animal                                                                  5 Stars

None that I’ve seen. Many plants in my garden are troubled by voles but they won’t touch this plant.

Invasiveness                                                                      4.5 Stars

While some hummingbird mints reseed vigorously (yes, I’m talking to you, ‘Golden Jubilee’!), most are actually quite polite about it and don’t overwhelm the gardener. I actually search out and protect seedlings of Agastache rupestris, since they are not overly common and it is my very favorite. Your mileage may vary, as they say, but generally, the seedlings are modest or at least easily removed. They make great gifts to other gardeners!

General Maintenance – Water                                 5 Stars

Agastache is considered a xeric plant, meaning it doesn’t require lots of extra water. In my experience, it will do quite well in the main part of the garden with regular watering and even better over in the gravel pile with very little water. It will die a miserable death, though, if it gets too much water so don’t plant it in a bog garden. It is also touchy about winter moisture so make sure it gets better than average drainage.

General Maintenance – Fertilizing                          5 Stars

No extra fertilizer required. Agastache actually prefers a lean soil, though it will do just fine in regular garden soil, provided the drainage is excellent.

General Maintenance – Pruning/Cleaning             4.5 Stars

Agastache is best left alone until spring clean up. Pruning it down in the fall can result in dead plants by spring. Once the temperatures have warmed up, you will be able to see where the plant is resprouting and prune off everything above that.

I'm Back! With a new back! Sort of . . .

I finally broke down and had the back surgery I needed at the beginning of January and I'm just now starting to feel human again. For those interested, I had what's called a lumbar fusion at the base of my spine. Essentially, they pull the disc out and fuse the bones together so they can't slip anymore. They tell me I'll feel like a new person when the bones fully heal . . . in 6 months to a year. Gah!

So I have spent much time, some of it in a narcotics induced stupor, laying in bed and planning my next blog post. Thanks to said narcotics, I can't remember diddly about those posts I wrote in my mind. I'm sure they were much more insightful and entertaining than what you will actually read here.

I also spent a goodly chunk of time catching up on my backlog of books to be read. Last fall, I decided to add some new courses to my usual repertoir of continuing education classes for the spring of 2012. Over the summer, when my back had me side-lined from gardening, I developed an interest in all the critters I had never taken the time to observe - birds, bugs, butterflies, bullfrogs; you name it. Even a few that didn't begin with the letter B!

My new list of courses includes Growing Daylilies, Growing Iris, Attracting Birds and Attracting Other Critters. I will also do Growing Roses, which I do every year. The daylilies and iris classes will be easy and fun, but I've never taught about the critters before, even though I've always enjoyed them.

Naturally, the very first thing I did was order a bunch of books on the subject. I now have over a dozen new books on everything from attracting birds to garden ecology to insect identification (God truly loves beetles, just FYI.) A couple of them were duds, but one book was awesome and I keep referring back to it - Bringing Nature Home, by Douglas Tallamy.

He is a native plant advocate and explains in very clear language why you should be, too. I found his arguments persuasive, though a little on the fanatic side. He strongly discouraged non-natives, even to the point of dissing the butterfly bush because no caterpillars host on it. I see his point (no caterpillars = no butterflies), but most butterflies have to eat, too, and as long as you also plant the native stuff caterpillars like, where's the harm in a few non-natives for the adults? Just my opinion, of course. Do read the book - it was very thought-provoking.

I have a feeling my blog will be turning more towards gardening for the critters, in addition to gardening with limitations. I hope everyone will enjoy it! I know I will.

Hi, all! If you're still watching for updates, thank you! The last couple of months has been a little nuts and I decided to drop out for a while. I hope to be blogging again during the new year. I couldn't let Christmas go by without a shout out to my garden peeps, though, so here's a little poem I wrote for those of you starting to feel the winter blahs!

A Gardener’s Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the garden

Not a damn thing was happening (begging your pardon.)

The bulbs were all planted, the shrubs all were trimmed

Nothing remained for the gardener’s whim.

The gifts for her spouse neatly were wrapped

A book and some music had seemed quite apt.

With no garden work to brighten her day,

She said “Goodnight!” and quit the Christmas fray.

But what of said spouse who still had no clue

What to get his gardener? He knew not what to do.

So there he sat, alone with his quandary,

Disconsolately folding the laundry.

When out on the deck there arose such a clatter

He threw down the socks to see what was the matter.

And there he stood, a man we all know

Dressed in white fur and red velvet and snow.

“My good man,” Santa exclaimed, “Whatever is wrong?

It’s the day before Christmas; why is your face so long?”

“It’s my wife, Santa, sir, I’ve found her no gift.

Come morning, I’m afraid she’s going to be miffed.”

“That’s a serious problem,” Santa agreed.

“But we can solve this dilemma, guaranteed.

You merely must tell me what is her passion

And the answer will come to us in a timely fashion.”

“Her passion is plants, in all shapes and sizes

Flowers and shrubs and trees that win prizes.

I’ve no idea what to get this mad gardening wench!”

“Why, nothing could be better than a new potting bench!”

With this exclamation, Santa shook out his bag

And out flew a table with hardly a snag.

“It’s large and quite roomy and has many shelves.

It’s also very sturdy – it was made by my elves!”

“What an idea, Santa! It’s just what she needs!

She’ll be so excited to start some new seeds!”

“And,” Santa said, “until seed season is nigh

You can keep her busy with this pair of bonsai!

“They’re just the thing for gardeners who itch

For lovely green things about which to  . . . complain.

Why, Mrs. Klaus herself, who finds winter grim,

Relaxes most blissfully while giving the ficus a trim.”

“Now, here are a few things, just to round it all out;

A new pair of knee pads, a watering can with a spout

Waterproof gloves and a pair of bright boots

Will put a happy smile on the face of your patoots!

“One last thing, now, and then I’m away

A gift card to a plant nursery will finish the day!”

Out the door he sprang, in his brilliant red suit

Leaving a grateful husband to wrap all the loot.

He was heard to exclaim, as the sled hit his bum

“Merry Christmas to all and to all a green thumb!”

Tenacious Tip - It's Just One Plant

I’m finally calling it quits in the garden for the season. It’s too late to dig things up and move them and all the easy weeding and mulching is done. All that’s left is to wait for the dreaded first freeze to dig up the dahlias, glads and cannas and close up the pond.

Recently, after we finished up one last project (mulching a new path), we were lounging in the sun by the pond and it struck me. There was no color left in my garden. Oh, a few late cannas are still out there, with their bright red spikes, and a few black-eyed Susans, but nothing that really jumps out. It was so surprising that I walked around and took inventory to see if my eyes were deceiving me. Here’s what I found blooming, in no particular order:

• Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (aptly named) and other sedums
• Golden Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’)
• Some self-seeded phlox
• Black-eyed Susans
• Three-leaved Coneflower (Rudbeckia triloba)
• Echinacea ‘Pica Bella’
• Canna
• Butterfly bush, multiple varieties
• Coreopsis
• Geranium ‘Rozanne’
• Gaillardia
• Sunflowers
• Chrysanthemum ‘Matchsticks’
• Roses
• Balloon Flower
• A very few re-blooming daylilies
• Colchicum ‘Waterlily’
• Several annuals, such as marigolds, celosia and salvia

What some of these fall flowers look like (because what is a garden blog without pictures?):



Butterfly Bush with companion



Sunflower



Geranium 'Rozanne'



New Garden Path (sorry about the shadow!)

That quite a list! So what’s wrong?  It seems I have finally reaped the results of being a plant collector. My philosophy for plant purchases is usually to check my database; if the plant isn’t listed, I must have it immediately. Does it matter whether it fits in my scheme? Not in the slightest. Do I even have room for it? Who cares? It’s just one plant.

It’s just one plant.

Perhaps you’ve heard/said/thought those words. These words are the downfall of many a gardener for a couple of reasons. If you have a small garden, those words signal the beginning of a more and more desperate search for space. Before long, every available surface is covered and the gardener is resorting to step-ladders and old bookcases to pile pots on. Every vertical post has plant hangers attached in all directions. Trust me, I’ve been there!

If you have a large garden, like me, these words mean real trouble. Trouble with your garden design, trouble with maintenance and trouble in your wallet.

Regarding design, I’ve noticed a lack of coherence, a certain air of chaos, even mayhem, in some places. Now I’m also seeing spotty seasonal color. Why? Too many individual plants and not enough unity. Yes, the singular plants and flowers are very beautiful, but can I appreciate them when they are only individuals spotted around the garden? Not so much. As the designers like to harp on, they would look much better in drifts and clusters, repeated throughout the whole plot.

So my project for the winter will be to pick out some favorites that I can use to make a theme and repeat them as I am renovating other areas. They needn’t even be fall-specific flowers; every season could use a bit of harmony. For example, many of my daylilies need dividing. Instead of replanting just one clump, I could plant several; just think what a statement a large mass of Strawberry Candy would make!

Daylily 'Strawberry Candy'

I’ll have to be careful to save space for onesies and twosies, though. I don’t think I could give up my collector impulses without therapy!

Just FYI, with the season closing in, the Tuesday Tip feature is moving to a more generic When-I-Feel-Like-It Tip feature, though I'll try to keep it weekly. Sorry for the lack of entries for the past few weeks - hubby and I both came down with colds! We're both feeling much better now and back to our usual foolishness!

Tenacious Tip Tuesday - Nobody Cares Like You Do

A non-gardening tip this week, folks, and a bit of a rant. As I've mentioned in a previous post, I've been receiving cortisone shots for lower back pain. I have also been getting these shots for my left knee. The knee requires a little explanation so bear with me.

Long, long ago, when I was a little blondie of 4 years old, the doctors discovered a cyst on the back of my knee that was bad enough to require surgery. You can imagine the fun and excitement enduring knee surgery was for a four-year-old. Or for my poor mother who was a single working parent at the time, bless her. I had a grudge against doctors and a fear of needles for years.

So. These things happen. I got over it, but my knee was never right. (Yeah, I know, it was LEFT, yuk, yuk, yuk.) Other doctors said it was early on-set arthritis, take these anti-inflammatories, go easy on it, blah,blah, blah. So I did what any young person would do. Ignored it completely and played volleyball, racket ball and rock climbed. You know, ran about with tail aflame like any normal young person.

Fast forward to not very long ago. Gardening, as we all can attest, is not easy on your knees, any more than playing sports and more so in some ways. My left knee held up for a while, then went into complete revolt. About 2 years ago, a new doctor ordered x-rays and confirms, yes, your knee is very arthritic and I think you would benefit from cortisone therapy. Hence the shots. Based on x-rays as the only diagnostic - remember that.

The cortisone shots helped for a while but over this summer started wearing off after only 5 or 6 weeks, instead of 10 to 12. The doctor tells me there is not much else to be done as the shots can only be given every 3 months or they will start to damage the joint even further. Knee replacement at my relatively young age (I'm only 40-mumble) is a last resort.

I mentioned it to a co-worker recently and we start comparing knee pain. She has the exact same pain in the exact same place on the exact same knee. Huh, how strange. So what, I ask, is wrong with your knee? A torn meniscus, she says.

No shit.

Now, I'm emphatically NOT one of those people who constantly second-guesses their doctors. I trust that their training and experience are sufficiently greater than mine that any guess of mine will be just that, a guess. It occurred to me, though, upon hearing my co-worker's reply, that she has just had an MRI on her knee, a test that was never performed on mine. Well, I think, why the hell not and tell my doctor I want one.

Today I got the results of that test I insisted on. Guess what? In addition to arthritis, I have a torn meniscus, a chronically sprained ligament and no cartilage left in the joint. Oh, and another cyst. And other stuff I didn't understand and couldn't pronounce. There were 2 PAGES of results.

All of a sudden, it's not just arthritis. I realized if it had been discovered sooner, there might have been therapies that could have helped. It's so bad at this point, my doctor offered to refer me to a surgeon to make an assessment for replacement immediately.

So we come to my tip for the day. My apologies for shouting, but I'm a bit riled up at the moment.

NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AS MUCH AS YOU DO! BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE!

There are a million reasons why the MRI wasn't ordered till I asked for it. I'm not interested in discussing those in this forum, but allow me to say I don't entirely blame my doctor. He could have been more thorough, true. When it comes down to it, though, I could have been a more aggressive advocate for myself and made sure all avenues were explored.

I've seen this time and again when relatives have been in the hospital. My late father-in-law was over-medicated once when he had a stroke and we only discovered it when we insisted something was wrong to the nurses. They went over his chart more carefully and, sure enough, 2 meds were prescribed that interacted and caused his symptoms.

Nobody cares like you do. Take charge of your own care if you feel your doctors are not paying enough attention.




Author's Note: I am not looking for sympathy with this post. While the news was bad, I've lived with a bad knee all my life and this was truly no more than I expected. I only hope someone out there is inspired to take charge of their own care sooner that I did and has a better result. Be good to yourselves.

Ready to pop!

Low Maintenance Plants

Plant Name: Platycodon grandiflorus

Common Name: Balloon Flower

Overall Low Maintenance Rating:  4.7 Stars

Overview

Balloon flower is one of those plants that should be found in every garden. The delicate star-shaped flowers open from balloon shaped buds and both stages are quite beautiful.

Platycodon, flower and bud



They begin flowering in early July and continue until frost. Their soft colors mix well with most other garden flowers and foliage.

Balloon flower with Heuchera

They also are wonderful flowers for drawing different insects and pollinators. Bumblebees are constant visitors, as are hummingbird moths.



Bumblebee on Balloon Flower

Hummingbird Moth on Balloon Flower

Platycodon requires very little care, performs well in most soils and comes in both a tall and short variety. The colors include blue, purple, pink and white.  In all honesty, while the breeders list the blue and purple colors as separate, I have never been able to see a difference between them. It’s a fine, bluish purple, whatever they call it.

There is also a short variety called 'Fairy Snow' which is white with blue lines radiating from the center. It is shorter than most balloon flowers, only getting 12 inches tall, so put it up front! It can be a little hard to find, but well worth it.

The shorter variety only gets between 18 and 24 inches and is reliably hardy up to zone 4. One exception to that is a variety called ‘Miss Tilly’, a short blue variety, which is only hardy to zone 6. Look for the Astra series or ‘Sentimental Blue’ for colder zones.

The taller variety is also hardy to zone 4.

Disease                                                                         5 Stars

Planting balloon flower in wet, boggy soil can lead to fungal diseases and root rot. They prefer average to dry soil.

Pests – Insects                                                              5 Stars

None, unless you don't like a constant flow of bumblebees!

Pests – Animal                                                              5 Stars

Animals avoid this plant due to the bitter, milky sap. You won’t have a problem with Bambie or Thumper!

Invasiveness                                                                 4 Stars

Balloon flower only gets 4 stars for invasiveness because it can seed like crazy. I don’t find this to be a huge problem, first, because I love this flower and welcome it wherever it might sprout and, second, because the sprouts are very easy to pull if they hit an area I don’t want them.

General Maintenance – Water                                   5 Stars

With its large tap root, platycodon has its own water supply for drier times and doesn’t require extra watering. As noted above, too much water can cause rot and fungal problems.

General Maintenance – Fertilizing                             5 Stars

No extra fertilizer required.

General Maintenance – Pruning/Cleaning                4 Stars

Balloon flower loses a point on maintenance because it has a tendency to hold on to dead flowers and look a bit ratty as time goes on. There’s no real way to prune the plant either as it blooms all over the stem at once. 

Platycodon with both current and past flowers

One other problem is the tall variety often requires staking. I find it easier to encourage the plant to grow near shorter plants which can support it.