tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75766930209541176252024-03-19T23:54:06.219-04:00The Stubborn GardenerTSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-80307746642775228092014-04-28T15:10:00.000-04:002014-04-28T15:10:15.273-04:00Aliens in the Nest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJo8__KdlcG-VV9DkVkCHfo-OUz9gDXniWo5NiTbGlg-4-fuPJO4N3fCice4DQI-zj6ie3r67tzJI_EiemsbDmGca8f21HAhz7nqsto34Fa03nHT5SRWRHqMbpAoTFznVWBEOLGGd8S0/s1600/IMG_1260+Cropped+comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJo8__KdlcG-VV9DkVkCHfo-OUz9gDXniWo5NiTbGlg-4-fuPJO4N3fCice4DQI-zj6ie3r67tzJI_EiemsbDmGca8f21HAhz7nqsto34Fa03nHT5SRWRHqMbpAoTFznVWBEOLGGd8S0/s1600/IMG_1260+Cropped+comp.JPG" height="326" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my all-time favorite small birds is the song sparrow
(Melospiza melodia). They’re not much to look at, though a little fancier than
the average sparrow, with all their stripes, but their voices are absolutely
<a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/sounds">charming</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A pair of song sparrows have made their home somewhere on
our property for several years now. I have never been able to find their nest.
Not too surprising as they build their nests out of grass and site them in
grassy areas. It’s a bit like looking for the needle in the haystack, except
the needle is hay-colored!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite their reticence in nesting, the birds are relatively
unphased by human presence. I don’t know how many wonderful mornings I've spent
on my patio being serenaded by a bold little song sparrow. They are also
frequent visitors to our feeders, happy to either perch in the feeder or poke
around on the ground. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IV8sqAYFu-pFrYZneSVCoRL5ePHacfcxRhx4L66S1Aa9EERbiHQuKt9_W5PA2nDenKQ0QCUtR9XkfF7Aoqy5I3ho4N873pymbVN-LOUfwElps4rmTO_q0euQ0z9X2FrQxq3wkYfMewg/s1600/IMG_0247+Cropped+comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IV8sqAYFu-pFrYZneSVCoRL5ePHacfcxRhx4L66S1Aa9EERbiHQuKt9_W5PA2nDenKQ0QCUtR9XkfF7Aoqy5I3ho4N873pymbVN-LOUfwElps4rmTO_q0euQ0z9X2FrQxq3wkYfMewg/s1600/IMG_0247+Cropped+comp.JPG" height="340" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWEU-tvljuzO1_GbsmV7xU5Q2QPR9_6VTWDuYGwpMZ47w6yWItgEyYigL8f3iDkhdzJwscbzWxE48Jc0lMeo4MEjJMzHDEMJkNF1G_aD862XEK_n7Mr1JRsh_ZeebXPaHA39-m4xyyPE/s1600/IMG_3257+Cropped+Comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWEU-tvljuzO1_GbsmV7xU5Q2QPR9_6VTWDuYGwpMZ47w6yWItgEyYigL8f3iDkhdzJwscbzWxE48Jc0lMeo4MEjJMzHDEMJkNF1G_aD862XEK_n7Mr1JRsh_ZeebXPaHA39-m4xyyPE/s1600/IMG_3257+Cropped+Comp.JPG" height="400" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to never finding their nests, I had never seen
them with young until last year. Of course, I’m sure they had them, but with so
many little brown birds around, I probably just missed them. Or perhaps the
parents simply never brought them to our feeders. Last year, though, it was
unmistakable. A pair of tiny birds started chasing the two song sparrows
everywhere they went.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever they landed, they would shake their little wings
and utter heart-rending cries. I was ready to dig them some worms myself! The
parents were on top of things, though, and were constantly ferrying some tidbit
to one or the other’s gaping maws. It might have been quite touching, domestic
bliss and all, if the little ingrates didn't immediately demand more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the season progressed, we kept a vague eye on the family
but other issues were more pressing and we lost track of them until the
beginning of June when we realized something was massively askew. Hubby spotted
it first.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What the hell have they been feeding those things??”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It took me a minute to figure out who he was talking about then
I saw them in the feeder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr1PXci3umI8jd_SKsDFVFVsxr6mbf6oJhTG8I9vm_SlU3OHYYCktwlzvV5HV967oZsDYRnUJRaVfZc3HQw3EiDGrVBHxeNyeibXIo7b02wVsmJPp1flQFZ_BGVxlksWMHuuytimY-TY/s1600/IMG_2230+Cropped+comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr1PXci3umI8jd_SKsDFVFVsxr6mbf6oJhTG8I9vm_SlU3OHYYCktwlzvV5HV967oZsDYRnUJRaVfZc3HQw3EiDGrVBHxeNyeibXIo7b02wVsmJPp1flQFZ_BGVxlksWMHuuytimY-TY/s1600/IMG_2230+Cropped+comp.JPG" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG7CPqYCNIxxaFq9TXN5pL1S-szhotBKIxPlSqlYTtULc3V93QNjv_2-PPNS1epdckS2Avsk-N19B0EvyMfnyffnbUva9zlETesjI3uqkc72GbV3PMb_owNoQlnEWCDeVvoR-5DOyQzI/s1600/IMG_2246+Cropped+comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG7CPqYCNIxxaFq9TXN5pL1S-szhotBKIxPlSqlYTtULc3V93QNjv_2-PPNS1epdckS2Avsk-N19B0EvyMfnyffnbUva9zlETesjI3uqkc72GbV3PMb_owNoQlnEWCDeVvoR-5DOyQzI/s1600/IMG_2246+Cropped+comp.JPG" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The tiny little birds that had followed their parents around
so cutely were now twice as big as the parents and looked nothing like them!
What the heck had happened? At first, we were afraid it was something we had
done. Perhaps by putting out feeders, the parents had overfed the youngsters
with disastrous results. Maybe there was something malignant in the feed? Maybe
there was a radioactive barrel of toxic sludge under our property! Given our
knowledge of the previous owners, this was not something we dismissed
immediately.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fortunately, the wonder of the modern age, the Internet,
came to our rescue. After a quick search of song sparrows, all our questions
were answered. No, we had not ruined two perfectly good chicks by providing
extra food. Nor had the feed been tampered with. The parents had, in fact, been
visited by an alien.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrbT0XHxsUqCOez8RBtd-QrZJNA5LaQUnK_l63RpgPLcf91noRMTAJgG5pkLS4q1XZxC_rlbwFsSHeIdyv8IMhe_RrlNbyRxEhx3cALXVoDKvo-SpyrsMMVTj21cfNkRQ0AAY-KrNzCQ/s1600/Alien+comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrbT0XHxsUqCOez8RBtd-QrZJNA5LaQUnK_l63RpgPLcf91noRMTAJgG5pkLS4q1XZxC_rlbwFsSHeIdyv8IMhe_RrlNbyRxEhx3cALXVoDKvo-SpyrsMMVTj21cfNkRQ0AAY-KrNzCQ/s1600/Alien+comp.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No, not that kind of alien.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The alien in question was a brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus
ater), a bird a little smaller than a robin. The male has beautiful iridescent
black plumage and a brown head, while the female couldn't possibly be more
non-descript; a dull brown, black beak, and no particular markings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jl40nBJPq9roiha9bv6Z9C8YB7xi0tz16SHtADkZiJPcC-GEc3e5J3c8CsjK4b53oeyOFABHzg82wnmGKvWlYGaHdu_ziaLvBe5uK5yJiMpgPOtH5cCO8AKMHq6QJwJS62v2iW5gbxE/s1600/IMG_0230+Cropped+comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jl40nBJPq9roiha9bv6Z9C8YB7xi0tz16SHtADkZiJPcC-GEc3e5J3c8CsjK4b53oeyOFABHzg82wnmGKvWlYGaHdu_ziaLvBe5uK5yJiMpgPOtH5cCO8AKMHq6QJwJS62v2iW5gbxE/s1600/IMG_0230+Cropped+comp.JPG" height="345" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Cowbird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJUR7avQ3i0et4nw0hIA-oC1SCbRUCD6AAUiNhmcdZwSlptqkwZr8DEIzbQHSAm2CNEhnlcJ6blUh_KMUs5C1-45VmIUiO955tbvYP8_OTEpPkKy1VcmRd4CrBJZ5pI2g-ceIkxgzZ7g/s1600/IMG_1598+Cropped+comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJUR7avQ3i0et4nw0hIA-oC1SCbRUCD6AAUiNhmcdZwSlptqkwZr8DEIzbQHSAm2CNEhnlcJ6blUh_KMUs5C1-45VmIUiO955tbvYP8_OTEpPkKy1VcmRd4CrBJZ5pI2g-ceIkxgzZ7g/s1600/IMG_1598+Cropped+comp.JPG" height="243" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Cowbird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At some point in evolutionary history, cowbirds, once also
called bison birds, took to following around herds of grazing animals and
living off the insects that infested them. None of these herding animals could
afford to stay in one place for any length of time, simply because they ate
everything available. So they were constantly on the move and the birds with
them. How, then, could the birds successfully reproduce when they couldn't stay
in one place long enough to build a nest, much less care for chicks?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simple. They got someone else to do it for them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brood_parasite">Brood parasitism</a> is the practice of certain birds to leave their offspring with another bird to
raise as its own. The parasite bird will leave one, or several, of its own eggs
in the nest of some other bird, the host. Sometimes it will also destroy the
existing eggs. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuckoo">cuckoo bird</a> (scroll
down a little for a truly weird picture of a cuckoo chick in a smaller bird’s
nest) is one of the most well-known brood parasites, but brown-headed cowbirds
also make a practice of it, parasitizing over 200 different kinds of bird.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some birds are able to detect the difference between their
own eggs and those of the interloper. Robins, catbirds and blue jays will
reliably recognize and <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Brood_Parasitism.html">eject</a> eggs not their own. For song sparrows, the difference between their eggs and cowbird eggs is not
too great. They have similar spotting patterns and the eggs are only slightly
bigger than their own, though the <a href="http://www.sialis.org/picturecowbirdegg.htm">difference</a> is noticeable. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You might think the difference would be enough to boot the intruder
out, yes? Are the song sparrows not bright enough to notice the difference? It
turns out there may be an entirely reasonable explanation as to why the song
sparrows would allow the cowbird egg to remain. You see, cowbirds watch television
and apparently they have been watching The Sopranos – nice nest, there; shame
if something happened to it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A pair of researchers <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1838626/">discovered</a> that cowbirds will actively
retaliate against birds that reject their eggs. Since song sparrows don’t reject
the cowbird eggs, the scientists did it for them in experiments, removing the imposter
eggs from a certain percentage of nests and leaving others alone. The
scientists were also very careful to exclude any other possible predators,
allowing access to the nest only to the host bird in some cases and to the host
bird AND cowbirds in others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the cases where cowbirds were allowed access to the
nests, they wrecked 56% of the nests where their eggs had been removed, while
only 6% of nests left alone had any damage. In the nests where only the host
bird had access there were no depredations at all. The paper also included a
discussion of an activity called “farming”, where the cowbird female finds and
destroys a nest with eggs then, when the parents rebuild, sneaks her egg into
the new nest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since the cowbird chick does not destroy the host’s existing
eggs or chicks, it is possible for the host to raise both their own chicks and
the parasite successfully. True, parasite chicks tend to hatch sooner and grow
faster than the host’s chicks but, with a little luck, the host may be able to
fledge them all. Beats losing the lot, as they say.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our pair of cowbirds apparently out-competed the rest of the
song sparrow’s brood last year. We never have seen baby song sparrows. Perhaps
they’ll have better luck this year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKrlAXSp5JPATg22q1k0_NKkBGCcDR7qzjUKNCDsW9p5sLDI8fASMDog-PXCInmTmKxCe9FlhC1BcZIqFL_C4m1f46TQAa21pIhrbE70S9AkiscLL5ih8-92Ofmh-Rrxfhn3y7Ha0zKk/s1600/DSC_0959+Cropped+comp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKrlAXSp5JPATg22q1k0_NKkBGCcDR7qzjUKNCDsW9p5sLDI8fASMDog-PXCInmTmKxCe9FlhC1BcZIqFL_C4m1f46TQAa21pIhrbE70S9AkiscLL5ih8-92Ofmh-Rrxfhn3y7Ha0zKk/s1600/DSC_0959+Cropped+comp.JPG" height="400" width="328" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-31524977228813306042014-03-29T18:47:00.000-04:002014-03-29T18:50:22.184-04:00The Amateur Naturalist and Citizen Science<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my greatest pleasures is spending mornings on the
patio in front of my little garden pond. I usually go out between 8 to 9 AM,
when the dew is still heavy and not much is moving around, except a few birds. I
bring a towel because the patio chairs are not immune to dew.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first order of business is to count the frogs in the
pond. I've had as many as 15 at once, though 8 to 10 is more normal. There are mostly
green frogs, with one or two bullfrogs. Occasionally, a toad stops by and, if
I’m really lucky, a wood frog. Fortunately, frogs are mostly ambush hunters, so
they stay still while you count them. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hPNYMgyjfT5d7VNbesud37b-k-RjsnAsn2ddwWauDEZw2DtkAtcpsmhoUwJJ_874VdDytKXPBjKYngysqOJTL4lDCkIOr_tVsuRBvmUQQO3AUQafDDyvuWSb2jeTU_YAovWowtdtYbM/s1600/Frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hPNYMgyjfT5d7VNbesud37b-k-RjsnAsn2ddwWauDEZw2DtkAtcpsmhoUwJJ_874VdDytKXPBjKYngysqOJTL4lDCkIOr_tVsuRBvmUQQO3AUQafDDyvuWSb2jeTU_YAovWowtdtYbM/s1600/Frog.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bull frog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFwYuObSBaR97YckLgf889EtQws6Zok31yzbsQafOYx9JWNRuqWA7a6I0io06YLjbeCKYcLH23870tTq-zZXm8TIVZvbi4PnuCii9zpARK_HW2vgfOT71CUXgNhMK9ATYxbR9nOVxKUM/s1600/Wood+Frog+2+cmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFwYuObSBaR97YckLgf889EtQws6Zok31yzbsQafOYx9JWNRuqWA7a6I0io06YLjbeCKYcLH23870tTq-zZXm8TIVZvbi4PnuCii9zpARK_HW2vgfOT71CUXgNhMK9ATYxbR9nOVxKUM/s1600/Wood+Frog+2+cmp.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Frog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time I've taken the frog inventory, the birds start
showing up. Mostly little brown birds with the odd rock star, a blue jay perhaps,
or a rose-breasted grosbeak. Chickadees are always flitting between the feeders
and whatever shrubs are closest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DfMRd1i6sLxNmV8naJguN48hcBLGiGG54ow6pN5vaZZVFEDn23bcoHi_4QlIDAmVG-hSG-X8_d4ngrnev0jerYS-n5qKvRc2un2b0keuYbhp3oWH3A8srzeW80Swo-1U3XSNN7PjmOI/s1600/IMG_0798+crop+cmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DfMRd1i6sLxNmV8naJguN48hcBLGiGG54ow6pN5vaZZVFEDn23bcoHi_4QlIDAmVG-hSG-X8_d4ngrnev0jerYS-n5qKvRc2un2b0keuYbhp3oWH3A8srzeW80Swo-1U3XSNN7PjmOI/s1600/IMG_0798+crop+cmp.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bscY4g4t58DjbHrUu8ekkvnupggfUd6sug2IvcNi787J09Tk24SsNV7i7FxGpmLkBF3j4LqKdWXJZD3danxRFmhst-c1EekqK3L38EUdL8RGwJGyMQR4umh6IPyMClTX4smrgJ9K3sQ/s1600/IMG_2471crop+cmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bscY4g4t58DjbHrUu8ekkvnupggfUd6sug2IvcNi787J09Tk24SsNV7i7FxGpmLkBF3j4LqKdWXJZD3danxRFmhst-c1EekqK3L38EUdL8RGwJGyMQR4umh6IPyMClTX4smrgJ9K3sQ/s1600/IMG_2471crop+cmp.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not unusual to see a dew-covered bumblebee still dozing
on a flower when I first come out, but once the birds have started their
shenanigans, other flying critters have warmed up enough to begin searching out
nectar and pollen for their breakfasts. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are
up and buzzing around between 9 and 10 on warm, sunny days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gjzKHkFT2GHfqJDWpZoFUEUdRbd3aSg4ETGbgaeDtXoI48DrFfekvWCH5yvlz2CwVMDPxzbCNJOnhDaPPNf2BUs07HxS8bWKYQVa5qRI72_d7nB47IiustP7UltO7hKlSa2RVxp2mik/s1600/DSC_4957+crop+cmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gjzKHkFT2GHfqJDWpZoFUEUdRbd3aSg4ETGbgaeDtXoI48DrFfekvWCH5yvlz2CwVMDPxzbCNJOnhDaPPNf2BUs07HxS8bWKYQVa5qRI72_d7nB47IiustP7UltO7hKlSa2RVxp2mik/s1600/DSC_4957+crop+cmp.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started keeping track of all the critters that stopped by
while I was lounging, just for my own enjoyment. First, I made a note in the
text of the journal – “saw a bluebird today!” After a while, I started leaving
space at the top of the entries to list off everything I saw. The next logical
step was a separate notebook just for listing assorted beasties.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naturally, all this observing led to sightings of things I
couldn't identify, especially birds. Off to the intertubes for assistance and
the first site that popped up was <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189">All About Birds</a></span>, a Cornell University treasure trove of all
things avian. After 3 minutes, I answered my identification question. After 3
hours, I became aware of the outside world again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One feature which caught my eye somewhere in the second hour
was a link to something called <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://ebird.org/content/ebird/">eBird</a></span>. Being the curious sort, I clicked and discovered there
are people out there who actually want to know what birds I've seen on any
given day. For science. Who knew?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After reading through their requirements and going through a
very simple registration process, I can now provide data for on-going bird
research and generally be a boon to science. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eBird
led me to other reporting efforts hosted by Cornell University. <a href="http://feederwatch.org/">FeederWatch</a> was the next
logical step, especially during the winter when all the other creatures are
gone. This year, I also intend to participate in <a href="http://nestwatch.org/">NestWatch</a>, if the Eastern Bluebirds decide to
setup housekeeping in one of my boxes again. Several other bird-related
projects run by Cornell are listed at this <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/citsci/projects">site</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This effort to involve the public in scientific endeavors is
known by the term “citizen science”. One of the earliest organized efforts is
the famous <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count">Christmas BirdCount</a></span> (</span>CBC), sponsored by the National Audubon Society. The CBC has been
held since 1900, making it the longest running citizen science project.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Researchers, usually associated with an educational or
scientific research institute,<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count-bibliography-scientific-articles">use the data</a> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">to </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/publications/">investigate</a> </span>th</span>ings they would not normally have the funds or personnel
to try. Can you imagine the cost of trying to replicate the collection of data
received by eBird or the CBC? It couldn't be done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily, birders tend to be a curious and generous mob and
data for this project comes in from around the world. This is allowing
scientists to track bird migrations in far greater detail than ever before,
seeing in real time shifts that previously might have taken years to notice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s not just birds, either. Many other nature-related
citizen science efforts are underway. National Geographic sponso<span style="background-color: white;">rs <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://frogwatch.fieldscope.org/v3/">FrogWatch USA</a></span> under its <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/program/fieldscope/?ar_a=1">FieldScope</a></span></span> projects. FrogWatch
is exactly what it sounds like; a place to record frogs and toads, viewed or
just heard. One of the great things about this site is the amount of
information available about these amphibians. Even if you don’t want to record
your sightings (or hearings), you can use the site to learn about them. Each
species has a page of information, complete with a recording of their song.</span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook">Nature’sNotebook</a></span> is a place to record observations of phenology, “the study of
periodic plant and animal life cycle events” (per <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenology">Wikipedia</a></span>).</span> Pick the plants and animals you want
to observe out of their lists and note the dates of certain events, like the
first flowering of a plant or the return of certain migratory birds. While I
have made notes of the flowering of plants in my journal, this will be the
first year I will be keeping a deliberate record of specific <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://www.usanpn.org/files/shared/files/USA-NPN_Phenophase_defs-report_FINAL.pdf">phenophases</a> (pdf warning)</span> </span>of my garden
plants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the decline of the honeybee, pollinating insects are
also of great interest to scientists. Numerous citizen science projects can be
found to report sightings. <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="http://www.bumblebeewatch.org/">BumblebeeWatch</a></span>
is a collaborative project aimed at identifying populations of bumblebees
across the country. It does require the participant to have a digital camera
and the ability to upload photos. It even gives you tips on the best methods of
photographing bees. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
we move further and further into the unknown realms of global climate change,
this information is more important than ever. For example, bird <a href="http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/climate/climate-change-shifts-bird-migration-one-generation-time" style="background-color: white;">migration schedules</a> are
changing </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">and other animals and plants are moving t<span style="background-color: white;">o </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span id="goog_2146462585"></span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/up-and-up-plants-and-animals-migrating-as-climate-changes/2011/08/18/gIQAzlTxNJ_story.html">higher latitudes</a> </span><span id="goog_2146462586" style="background-color: yellow;"></span></span>in response to climate change. These changes are yardsticks
scientists use in order to gauge the effects of climatic shifts. More data
points mean more usable and reliable data. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’re like me and keep lists of everything and anything
that catches your eye while you’re outdoors, there is almost certainly someone
out there who would like to see your data and put it to good use. I've included
a list below of other citizen science projects that you might find interesting.
This list is limited mostly to things I personally found interesting but there
are literally hundreds of projects out there - SciStarter is a great place to
start. Please add your favorites in the comments and, if you haven't yet,
participate in a project this year!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lists of Projects:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://scistarter.com/">SciStarter</a> (you could explore this for days; hundreds of
projects)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.zooniverse.org/">Zooniverse</a> (many astronomical projects)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Specific Nature Topics:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org/index/dragonflyPondWatch">PondWatch</a> (The Xerces Society – dragonfly migration; has
a really cool 3-D imager of dragonflies)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lostladybug.org/">Lost Lady Bug Project</a> (a collaborative project, kid
oriented)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org/">Hummingbirds at Home</a> (The National Audubon Society)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.e-butterfly.org/contents/?portal=ebutterfly">eButterfly</a> (a Canada-based project, open to everyone)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.budburst.org/">Project BudBurst</a> (another site sponsored by Nat Geo -
phenology) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greatsunflower.org/">The Great Sunflower Project</a> (pollinator sightings)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other Citizen
Science Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.oldweather.org/">Old Weather</a> (review of WW1 naval records for weather
tidbits)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cocorahs.org/">CoCoRaHS</a> (weather watchers across the country)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.notesfromnature.org/?utm_source=Zooniverse%20Home&utm_medium=Web&utm_campaign=Homepage%20Catalogue#/">Notes from Nature</a> (transcribe museum records)</span></div>
TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-37468231465404601152014-03-09T19:53:00.001-04:002014-03-09T19:53:51.989-04:00Small Worlds<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of summers ago, I spent a lot of time wandering
around my yard, making notes of things to do, checking up on certain plants and
generally wasting time. I usually spent most of this time in the garden beds
but, once in a while, I’d wander around the edges of the yard where semi-meadow
met forest just to see what was going on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little patch of wild grass and weeds has quite a
variety of plants, including a selection of goldenrod species. These are, no
doubt, the source of the goldenrod plants now trying to take over some of my
garden beds. Goldenrod has roots that go down to hell, some kinds send runners
out in all directions and most seed prolifically. It is insultingly healthy and
can be very difficult to eradicate. Needless to say, I have not been happy they
invaded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhV-ffmCH7n7T7VFuOCQxhosUrdaDlnheVIpB7IHc76DEs1VRLO4jvMrouadsvSeeudsCqZPBW15g-SAluNEMUuUnZK9s7HnoJSTf0FUH4Kqhb_yIpEt8rjwaRQ3bW0faHnGf3x05nVY/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhV-ffmCH7n7T7VFuOCQxhosUrdaDlnheVIpB7IHc76DEs1VRLO4jvMrouadsvSeeudsCqZPBW15g-SAluNEMUuUnZK9s7HnoJSTf0FUH4Kqhb_yIpEt8rjwaRQ3bW0faHnGf3x05nVY/s1600/IMG_0249.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, since I couldn't get rid of the stuff, I tried to
appreciate its rude good health and admittedly beautiful flowers, with limited
success. Over time, however, I started to become interested in all the activity
I saw around these ogres. Bees, butterflies, even birds, seemed irresistibly
drawn to the goldenrod stands. I started noticing individuals, like this
bizarre and beautiful beetle scurrying around on the flowers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYWgJyVVqQ6cixfK1QPc_EDo1hmsHyFRXwmVj9TJ_kPboL8SErbY60ePyvhmK6eu6Rnj7-DhO93n5WPBzgFRKVKRblm6mGl-Aq5G2n2gAu9AFYSkLWARDX1bGRR-yNs4RaMCP3q-nPso/s1600/IMG_0153+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYWgJyVVqQ6cixfK1QPc_EDo1hmsHyFRXwmVj9TJ_kPboL8SErbY60ePyvhmK6eu6Rnj7-DhO93n5WPBzgFRKVKRblm6mGl-Aq5G2n2gAu9AFYSkLWARDX1bGRR-yNs4RaMCP3q-nPso/s1600/IMG_0153+Cropped.jpg" height="320" width="311" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a little research, I found this beetle was called a
locust borer. The larvae of these beetles feed on locust
trees while the adults favor goldenrod pollen. Makes sense, as we
have a large stand of black locust bordering our property.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another little beetle, the Pennsylvania Leatherwing, also called the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle, was
also a common visitor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2s-Fl4f78bVJ6wF28j1bGfd6wpzfAodjekzpOmHl6CiYENGF9e24VgyxEuMz60S5OznswMFVHLk-PXcjHGznM6qM44W7IZ02D3pRfaKioZCyugUkURVC7I5dMHF8yZ04cf5TDu0TyMg/s1600/IMG_0180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2s-Fl4f78bVJ6wF28j1bGfd6wpzfAodjekzpOmHl6CiYENGF9e24VgyxEuMz60S5OznswMFVHLk-PXcjHGznM6qM44W7IZ02D3pRfaKioZCyugUkURVC7I5dMHF8yZ04cf5TDu0TyMg/s1600/IMG_0180.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other, smaller bugs caught my eye, hordes of them. Shining Flower Beetles are common on flowers in the aster family, feeding on pollen in their adult forms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz93F9Utu29go75I1O2VEYPx3XVQ-SvwUV8MEs0zGWYKo3sw-UqSYYV52cQTwCijecfUjnXE1-EzMs65O8AiBK61UT_PRhyphenhyphen0bIrpbkoBvT8sGQnVIeME53sKhjoGw_4Mfn2RaF20iIqzc/s1600/IMG_0279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz93F9Utu29go75I1O2VEYPx3XVQ-SvwUV8MEs0zGWYKo3sw-UqSYYV52cQTwCijecfUjnXE1-EzMs65O8AiBK61UT_PRhyphenhyphen0bIrpbkoBvT8sGQnVIeME53sKhjoGw_4Mfn2RaF20iIqzc/s1600/IMG_0279.jpg" height="222" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goldenrod flowers have a great deal of nectar and are very attractive to bees. I spotted the usual honeybees,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K2NzPm0QDhjebaA6t8e9r3qghwCgCyYOqimmZ1FCsfg0kpyMnrA6Bm9dPK-AhU0AMqxO2v5F4i36IANKM1v3RPal8oXrNxkm9nMUq4G8zzQy-kaLZeQsLGG5tdm4rkix61GE9T_V_YE/s1600/IMG_0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K2NzPm0QDhjebaA6t8e9r3qghwCgCyYOqimmZ1FCsfg0kpyMnrA6Bm9dPK-AhU0AMqxO2v5F4i36IANKM1v3RPal8oXrNxkm9nMUq4G8zzQy-kaLZeQsLGG5tdm4rkix61GE9T_V_YE/s1600/IMG_0263.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and several kinds of wasps, only one of which was polite enough to hold still to have its portrait taken.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9PY-BXQrHdZlmFPgqwGBLn8CEHeoAzNxkFVGgrIyswTwcAWJLuZe4_m_q7YmPCmjE1qaYXNySC6XX85IJLfcoTE-QFjraOgtrw6xolz62Dkt68eeehTupd99jzuQXGq1-1_L37aOS3E/s1600/IMG_0171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9PY-BXQrHdZlmFPgqwGBLn8CEHeoAzNxkFVGgrIyswTwcAWJLuZe4_m_q7YmPCmjE1qaYXNySC6XX85IJLfcoTE-QFjraOgtrw6xolz62Dkt68eeehTupd99jzuQXGq1-1_L37aOS3E/s1600/IMG_0171.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I started noticing the weird stuff. First, the spiders. Little jumping spiders are probably my favorites. They are usually black with a white smiley face on their back end. Here was a variety I had never seen, though. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUTd7qcu6uoXVZYaqOP3prK24Upuxij3-2EnRl73GZ3rqTESeiIkdPCFRijFtWACug30oJ6J8x3Hi-CpxL_kO54lxaNrYbEbL1qXK-QpveGwAMRjb6ZW7xVEPkQEcPjMOfaGjwMqz9mQ/s1600/IMG_0159+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUTd7qcu6uoXVZYaqOP3prK24Upuxij3-2EnRl73GZ3rqTESeiIkdPCFRijFtWACug30oJ6J8x3Hi-CpxL_kO54lxaNrYbEbL1qXK-QpveGwAMRjb6ZW7xVEPkQEcPjMOfaGjwMqz9mQ/s1600/IMG_0159+crop.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another interesting spider was a yellow crab spider. These fellows are extremely hard to see unless you happen to catch them moving. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSrzrzqda4yQvKy0LF3MpunviU66lu40m1uMTrJJStGcmq_l8oZHkRQ640h_aKHlA86YhYTlcRxegIsHlwMnCxibQKiELn3P7VyHx87AUTenniH_d4tOBBV7AjJp9PN8bmUUcMRylWwE/s1600/IMG_0176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSrzrzqda4yQvKy0LF3MpunviU66lu40m1uMTrJJStGcmq_l8oZHkRQ640h_aKHlA86YhYTlcRxegIsHlwMnCxibQKiELn3P7VyHx87AUTenniH_d4tOBBV7AjJp9PN8bmUUcMRylWwE/s1600/IMG_0176.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While this picture is not on goldenrod nor the same variety, it is a much better shot of a crab spider with its prey. The flying bug above it is not a bee. It is a flower fly that is a rather amazing bee mimic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S2GZOSbDL9bLTWeiPlhLTs8HgW5haiCl-RqgIugWTWlnadN1OLlsYHGjzqVPG0fOT4ujLO1LW8pT3xp38QSkQH04gM79E90DzIQRnwK26OC2_fggLPx-g5uLYY8aiAgwfx5riEQ6D7I/s1600/Spider+with+Moth_2+2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S2GZOSbDL9bLTWeiPlhLTs8HgW5haiCl-RqgIugWTWlnadN1OLlsYHGjzqVPG0fOT4ujLO1LW8pT3xp38QSkQH04gM79E90DzIQRnwK26OC2_fggLPx-g5uLYY8aiAgwfx5riEQ6D7I/s1600/Spider+with+Moth_2+2003.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One last bizarre bug made itself known to me that summer - the ambush bug. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a good shot of it in its natural habitat. It just blended in too well and my camera refused to focus on it. So here it is, prancing around on my hand. Check out the little praying mantis-like front feet! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi1RqNJZNxMzM-2mzrP7ty6THip_JxZzGmYsEA4fBzfehulXArN5KAKq9kCUmQN_mj8nS-A8eDqZIeV0XMRCZbTfmTiAOnsUNT7ruUdYwd2dn2p_eTLyot3d64dxp813ZrgWzIzoDxR4/s1600/IMG_0506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi1RqNJZNxMzM-2mzrP7ty6THip_JxZzGmYsEA4fBzfehulXArN5KAKq9kCUmQN_mj8nS-A8eDqZIeV0XMRCZbTfmTiAOnsUNT7ruUdYwd2dn2p_eTLyot3d64dxp813ZrgWzIzoDxR4/s1600/IMG_0506.jpg" height="395" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to providing pollen for some insects and prey for others, goldenrod is also an vital source of nectar for monarch butterflies when very few other things are blooming. You always hear how important milkweed is for their caterpillars (and it is!) but late blooming, high energy sources of nectar are also critical before their long flight south.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6swFIPh4MUCq8ICtpCOgCFDDZNBJnMl2tx7ZKK2KJHbNfdcezYD9qXJ1alnUNo2aez1Bz1jWj6s3cpJZOqlUW-tvVuhYeZkuWJBc4fr91xjo8B588Ev3Ld2jLEJJ-anet3CVytZDbS-o/s1600/IMG_9812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6swFIPh4MUCq8ICtpCOgCFDDZNBJnMl2tx7ZKK2KJHbNfdcezYD9qXJ1alnUNo2aez1Bz1jWj6s3cpJZOqlUW-tvVuhYeZkuWJBc4fr91xjo8B588Ev3Ld2jLEJJ-anet3CVytZDbS-o/s1600/IMG_9812.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll mention one last critter which I've never actually seen on goldenrod but I've read about them and seen the evidence. Have you ever noticed the round swellings on the stems? These are caused by a variety of flies, midges and moths that <span style="line-height: 115%;">deposit their eggs on the stems. When the egg hatches,
the larvae burrows into the stem, releasing chemicals that cause the stems to
blow up like little balloons and providing a nifty home for the critter, called a gall.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsk_345rYwIpQC6SDfi3T1TvryQAdj5bXdOX5P9qRjDL5He0JofJ4wzGLbNFNRzfA921YXHrUWUbP6Xdd6Y6xXXQs5Z3z-8V_0_Y5C8AVhMzz9RBZtAXG8UM0HTXNeBjNeFG509Hjao4o/s1600/IMG_0100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsk_345rYwIpQC6SDfi3T1TvryQAdj5bXdOX5P9qRjDL5He0JofJ4wzGLbNFNRzfA921YXHrUWUbP6Xdd6Y6xXXQs5Z3z-8V_0_Y5C8AVhMzz9RBZtAXG8UM0HTXNeBjNeFG509Hjao4o/s1600/IMG_0100.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the winter, at least two types of bird pull the galls
apart and eat the larvae, chickadees and downy woodpeckers. Downies drill a small hole in the gall and
pull the larvae out with their barbed tongues. Chickadees take the barbaric
route and pull the gall to pieces to reach the tasty morsel within.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CafYIwBnAy4wy_f_jPd12eOKFVNZf_ldrhZIqo7G1pU7KkYv7BacRl_8UFJWpHqUVsu0zfED-adX4NGGFsC8y3fY0LlUb48k17zMWjI6-0-o9MuH-52ZF3SiHg-ukzzku5iixgvWPPg/s1600/IMG_0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CafYIwBnAy4wy_f_jPd12eOKFVNZf_ldrhZIqo7G1pU7KkYv7BacRl_8UFJWpHqUVsu0zfED-adX4NGGFsC8y3fY0LlUb48k17zMWjI6-0-o9MuH-52ZF3SiHg-ukzzku5iixgvWPPg/s1600/IMG_0103.jpg" height="362" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here was an entire little world, a microcosm of the bigger
world, being played out on this one wild plant. The whole food chain in
miniature. How many other critters are dependent on goldenrod for their entire
existence? How many more insects were there that I didn't see? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I now spend quite a bit of time during the summer with the
goldenrod, checking out all the cool bugs and birds that make up this little
ecosystem. And I'm thinking I may leave a few more patches for the wild critters.</span></div>
TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-48336090808093604982014-03-03T21:32:00.001-05:002014-03-03T21:51:39.975-05:00New Directions<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I’m back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Much has happened in the 2 years since I last posted. My
entire attitude on gardening has changed, with my focus now on welcoming and
nurturing the wildlife which has given me so much education and entertainment
since my back surgery. The recovery from the surgery was much worse than I
anticipated, though my doctors told me I did very well. It was a solid year
before I could even agree that maybe it had been a good idea. As of today, I
can say I’m not glad I had to go through it but the final product was worth it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During that time of recovery, when lifting a gallon of milk
was a struggle, the sheer frustration of physical limitations made me
unbearable. I was angry a lot. I had no interest in anything, including my
blog. My last post, about the <a href="http://stubborngardener.blogspot.com/2012/03/bluebird-blitz.html">bluebirds</a>, was a struggle to write. I simply
couldn't get excited about writing when I wanted to be out working in my
garden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent a great deal on the summer of 2012 sitting on my
patio in front of the pond. I stared at nothing for hours. Occasionally, I
would notice movement around me. Eventually, I even paid attention. I started
keeping a small journal with me and noting down the critters that joined me for
the day. A lot of them were ones I had never seen before, not because they were
new but because I hadn't paid attention. Stacks of field guides started making
the trip outside with me, giving me names for these strangers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An interesting thing happened at that point. I discovered
that knowing the name of a critter increased its importance to me. I was
intrigued by it. Now I could say “I know your name! I read about you in a book!
Do you do the things the book says you should do? Why don’t you look like the
other ones I saw pictures of?” It was
along the lines of learning a person’s name. Suddenly, they’re not just a face
in a crowd; they have a name. They are unique and not strangers anymore. And I
wanted to get to know them better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I started paying
attention, I was amazed at how diverse a population could be found on my little
plot of land. I had always known what a wasp looked like but I began
discovering just how many different types of wasps inhabited the garden and
surroundings. Some were gentle giants, like the golden digger wasp, while
others were little terrors, like yellow jackets. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTONCeXF3Z5K5IzCH8VwTzQG7m_X2a9IGwx1Iu5m0hPU9XCrUpaL-prW2j5toQ6tO_UTUx-Ybl4B1btyj2eDwWPitSkEAjqQgMyxKTHkf-kmTmqKYBDS0SZUo_77QuxHjTlq5LmIiJGLo/s1600/IMG_2394+Comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTONCeXF3Z5K5IzCH8VwTzQG7m_X2a9IGwx1Iu5m0hPU9XCrUpaL-prW2j5toQ6tO_UTUx-Ybl4B1btyj2eDwWPitSkEAjqQgMyxKTHkf-kmTmqKYBDS0SZUo_77QuxHjTlq5LmIiJGLo/s1600/IMG_2394+Comp.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Digger Wasp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One little black wasp would land on the dead daylily stems I
hadn't removed and scrape away fibers, presumably to build a nest. I could
actually hear the scraping from 10 feet away! It occurred to me while watching,
if I had been in top gardening form that year, I’d have cleared out all those
old stems and never seen that wonderful, noisy little wasp. Hmmmm. Perhaps I
could leave a few stems for them in the future. Maybe a little chaos would be
OK. Maybe it was even a good idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I've <a href="http://stubborngardener.blogspot.com/2011/08/tenacious-tip-tuesday-stop-and-admire.html">written</a> about this before, when I first started
realizing my days of gardening like a maniac were over. Up to this point,
though, I think I didn't really believe it. Not having a real connection to the
critters around me, I couldn't see an upside to allowing chaos into my realm,
other than preventing further injury to yours truly. A worthy goal, but somehow
not sufficient.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I began to really understand why I would <i>want</i> to ease up and let nature have a more
of a say. All the little beasties and birds and bugs that fascinated me during
my recovery needed to have some wild places to live. If, by some miracle, I was
suddenly able to return my garden to its prior glory, much of the habitat they are
using would disappear. And so would my new friends. I decided that was not
going to happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since then, I've continued the renovations as much as my
limitations allow but with a different emphasis. I still clear out the noxious
weeds. I don’t care how much the little birds like quack grass seed, that one
is a goner. The black-eyed susans, on the other hand, are allowed to seed in
greater profusion. Goldfinches flock to the dead plants all winter, pulling the
seeds out with their sharp little beaks. Goldenrod is allowed in limited
numbers both for seeds and also for all the fascinating insects that rely on
its pollen, a topic I will cover in some detail in a later post.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBtbwwzrR9vj5fjD21vGsCcWxqsswPcag1ytnAqNx71w-l8DBU_eUUYYdIYQZUz-0BvxuNi60-4C0RAdYNzs9ANOs5cSwsWZNN3Fq24kfCa2vRkenEjwiVc7WzPghxCUJG0yWqW32duo/s1600/IMG_0679+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBtbwwzrR9vj5fjD21vGsCcWxqsswPcag1ytnAqNx71w-l8DBU_eUUYYdIYQZUz-0BvxuNi60-4C0RAdYNzs9ANOs5cSwsWZNN3Fq24kfCa2vRkenEjwiVc7WzPghxCUJG0yWqW32duo/s1600/IMG_0679+Cropped.jpg" height="320" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch and seed heads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some areas are being abandoned to nature. Domesticated
plants are being relocated into the newly cleared terrain closer to the house
and replaced with native shrubs and trees. The only maintenance that will go
into the “wilderness” will be removal of invasives, if any show up, and occasional
mowing of paths so we can enjoy whatever develops.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Closer to the house, the gardens will, eventually, resemble
traditional gardens. The plants, though, will be wildlife friendly with as many
natives as I can squeeze in. I’m not a purist, though, so there will still be
room for my hybrid daylilies and a few roses, butterfly bushes and weigela. Any
new plants will have to have some critter welcoming feature; flowers full of
nectar, fruit to feed the multitudes or housing possibilities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxMKelCCOsuVLRkYAOCrLgduXJYTysaXaav4ahmuEdAYbmB5xLCYOwo-tO7R9INxB4xzCzePEgJGZPDQGufTN8F0qr2orDrmF7aGthkU3i0ILNxt-J7wo8kyK0F1Bj5cHyz9dlnd7T6U/s1600/DSC_9462+comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxMKelCCOsuVLRkYAOCrLgduXJYTysaXaav4ahmuEdAYbmB5xLCYOwo-tO7R9INxB4xzCzePEgJGZPDQGufTN8F0qr2orDrmF7aGthkU3i0ILNxt-J7wo8kyK0F1Bj5cHyz9dlnd7T6U/s1600/DSC_9462+comp.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Area near house that will remain "domesticated"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This blog will be changing, too. I expect to be writing a
lot more about the creatures I share space with; what they are, how to identify
them, even how to attract them to your own gardens. Under the Tenacious Tips
title, I’ll still be putting up suggestions on how to work around limitations
as I discover them. The Low Maintenance Plants feature will have some
additional categories added, providing information about any wildlife benefits
the plant may have.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is so much more to be stubborn about now! I hope you
enjoy the changes and continue to follow my backyard odyssey. It should be a
good ride.</div>
TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-48946799219968250512012-03-03T10:43:00.000-05:002012-03-03T10:43:31.691-05:00Bluebird 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!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNLhgJnRuBulcaqV0RKP_EdroobsKWTDHJ8i1GBxf1mVdxc-DIoATFkHDGQTHDtoGZXg81_jH7j6Y6jnz6tOVS8mvzViQ5NiWl3zPsx3UJrxwPXlz60_14fGOYWSL55IudHQ4lYWn0KM/s1600/BB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNLhgJnRuBulcaqV0RKP_EdroobsKWTDHJ8i1GBxf1mVdxc-DIoATFkHDGQTHDtoGZXg81_jH7j6Y6jnz6tOVS8mvzViQ5NiWl3zPsx3UJrxwPXlz60_14fGOYWSL55IudHQ4lYWn0KM/s400/BB1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-1MwVuSbHZT664b1Aexmcvyr-UHCbhEITfJk8DR53kGyGDorYdbY-RHCgN3y3NpRj0pzU2t4RlkOHQbBU5AitgOZKVQTsWlP-Wlnwp4BJNNcwcI_KFYX6CU5Ue18Cp0bBWG-00qfg10/s1600/BB2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-1MwVuSbHZT664b1Aexmcvyr-UHCbhEITfJk8DR53kGyGDorYdbY-RHCgN3y3NpRj0pzU2t4RlkOHQbBU5AitgOZKVQTsWlP-Wlnwp4BJNNcwcI_KFYX6CU5Ue18Cp0bBWG-00qfg10/s400/BB2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>This guy decided to take a break from insect hunting and get a drink from our pond.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFHSjD5Yl0uAQz-vN8-edlX8Src4JcEo9Np1p22odyr9vwPJeTI3aIiwn6jbKsO43pX-xs__RLm3bflZMOTZwRQ5lLLiUF48Rf9B1yt4GFAxVYKeD7L4tBpsqc1ZjTGs5oTboBYVcy_Q/s1600/BB3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFHSjD5Yl0uAQz-vN8-edlX8Src4JcEo9Np1p22odyr9vwPJeTI3aIiwn6jbKsO43pX-xs__RLm3bflZMOTZwRQ5lLLiUF48Rf9B1yt4GFAxVYKeD7L4tBpsqc1ZjTGs5oTboBYVcy_Q/s400/BB3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbLMMtSYv8DE8Yp-feNUo3knQlxivzuRLgSH9phf0omIgwdF4hElv_9IVySkL9IIPs3Ev-EVvuzijoU7L8LdxkDWUqajMGn8k1GFM96ykAOiUQhyphenhyphen4rIFG55oXOVF5dj9bXlwH9rq6bKQ/s1600/BB4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbLMMtSYv8DE8Yp-feNUo3knQlxivzuRLgSH9phf0omIgwdF4hElv_9IVySkL9IIPs3Ev-EVvuzijoU7L8LdxkDWUqajMGn8k1GFM96ykAOiUQhyphenhyphen4rIFG55oXOVF5dj9bXlwH9rq6bKQ/s400/BB4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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!<br />
<br />
Strangely, since the snow, I haven't seen one single bird at the feeders. Probably still sleeping off their pre-storm glut, the hogs!TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-42456431841004065532012-02-24T11:07:00.000-05:002012-02-24T11:07:52.261-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Low Maintenance Plants</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant Name: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Agastache spp.</i></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Common Name: Hummingbird Mint, Anise Hyssop, Sunset Hyssop</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Low Maintenance Rating: <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4.8 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overview</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb2txneqpMWIDdhyOAntruD5qzpRoKKgkYZKL2PUMjCKx7geSp2D2oJJzjQpowNiqDhyphenhyphenoOoA8jPtg8S1g4wIm02TRml8YWhJjNeyi-Vc1S06JYsgXoSbSFn3wiyM9nefLx6tnS-mhglY/s1600/A+rup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb2txneqpMWIDdhyOAntruD5qzpRoKKgkYZKL2PUMjCKx7geSp2D2oJJzjQpowNiqDhyphenhyphenoOoA8jPtg8S1g4wIm02TRml8YWhJjNeyi-Vc1S06JYsgXoSbSFn3wiyM9nefLx6tnS-mhglY/s400/A+rup.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agastache rupestris</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilteSNw0g5ogUs63fIPXWGEo-AkpQGemabzudtIjKSZEDtYNPr2HDr7eG3GkzC0UZwqV2fa_XHlM-FZ6hpgcgl1kNuEhscMIXR_fRlFYz1OkUhQ8QCt3Gj2VoXRPWcq-VEaHvm0_YOhKs/s1600/A+foe+GJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilteSNw0g5ogUs63fIPXWGEo-AkpQGemabzudtIjKSZEDtYNPr2HDr7eG3GkzC0UZwqV2fa_XHlM-FZ6hpgcgl1kNuEhscMIXR_fRlFYz1OkUhQ8QCt3Gj2VoXRPWcq-VEaHvm0_YOhKs/s400/A+foe+GJ.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agastache 'Golden Jubilee', guarding the entrance to the patio</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My favorite place to find Agastaches is High Country Gardens (</span><a href="http://www.highcountrygardens.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.highcountrygardens.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have a great selection and excellent advice on planting.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Disease</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Insects</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Animal</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">None that I’ve seen. Many plants in my garden are troubled by voles but they won’t touch this plant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Invasiveness</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>4.5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Water</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Fertilizing</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Pruning/Cleaning</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4.5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-48544761175613238892012-02-14T13:18:00.000-05:002014-03-03T21:53:24.320-05:00I'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!<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
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! <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
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.<br />
<br />
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 - <u>Bringing Nature Home</u>, by Douglas Tallamy.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-31821947845805402102011-12-11T11:16:00.000-05:002011-12-11T11:16:34.917-05:00A Gardener's ChristmasHi, 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!<br />
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">A Gardener’s Christmas</span></span></span></h1><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Twas the night before Christmas and all through the garden</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not a damn thing was happening (begging your pardon.)</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bulbs were all planted, the shrubs all were trimmed</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing remained for the gardener’s whim.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gifts for her spouse neatly were wrapped</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A book and some music had seemed quite apt.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With no garden work to brighten her day,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She said “Goodnight!” and quit the Christmas fray.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what of said spouse who still had no clue</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What to get his gardener? He knew not what to do.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So there he sat, alone with his quandary,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Disconsolately folding the laundry.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When out on the deck there arose such a clatter</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He threw down the socks to see what was the matter.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And there he stood, a man we all know</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dressed in white fur and red velvet and snow.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“My good man,” Santa exclaimed, “Whatever is wrong? </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s the day before Christmas; why is your face so long?”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It’s my wife, Santa, sir, I’ve found her no gift.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come morning, I’m afraid she’s going to be miffed.”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“That’s a serious problem,” Santa agreed.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“But we can solve this dilemma, guaranteed.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You merely must tell me what is her passion</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the answer will come to us in a timely fashion.”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Her passion is plants, in all shapes and sizes</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flowers and shrubs and trees that win prizes.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve no idea what to get this mad gardening wench!”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Why, nothing could be better than a new potting bench!”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With this exclamation, Santa shook out his bag</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And out flew a table with hardly a snag.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It’s large and quite roomy and has many shelves.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s also very sturdy – it was made by my elves!”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What an idea, Santa! It’s just what she needs!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’ll be so excited to start some new seeds!”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And,” Santa said, “until seed season is nigh</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can keep her busy with this pair of bonsai!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“They’re just the thing for gardeners who itch</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For lovely green things about which to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. . . complain.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why, Mrs. Klaus herself, who finds winter grim,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Relaxes most blissfully while giving the ficus a trim.”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Now, here are a few things, just to round it all out;</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A new pair of knee pads, a watering can with a spout</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waterproof gloves and a pair of bright boots</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will put a happy smile on the face of your patoots!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“One last thing, now, and then I’m away</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A gift card to a plant nursery will finish the day!”</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Out the door he sprang, in his brilliant red suit</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leaving a grateful husband to wrap all the loot.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was heard to exclaim, as the sled hit his bum</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Merry Christmas to all and to all a green thumb!”</span></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-24337064477818271192011-09-28T21:01:00.002-04:002011-09-28T21:03:24.202-04:00Tenacious Tip - It's Just One Plant<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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:</span></div><ul><li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (aptly named) and other sedums</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Golden Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’)</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some self-seeded phlox</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Black-eyed Susans</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three-leaved Coneflower (Rudbeckia triloba)</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Echinacea ‘Pica Bella’</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Canna</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Butterfly bush, multiple varieties</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coreopsis</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Geranium ‘Rozanne’</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gaillardia</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunflowers</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chrysanthemum ‘Matchsticks’</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Roses</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Balloon Flower</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A very few re-blooming daylilies</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Colchicum ‘Waterlily’</span></div></li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several annuals, such as marigolds, celosia and salvia</span></div></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What some of these fall flowers look like (because what is a garden blog without pictures?):</span></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv34G1XChKZlyNv-LACQuTVjdEGxqml4Ht3BWCcV_fig-1KttZ9YgQMVqHrESMUgu1rzLNDDlkaFcKy9IxaJywxrgXE2E71R8GRwd_L-ccQy_tfMiSaqPST83R5SvBarpbqYmdAjR9y0o/s1600/Monarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv34G1XChKZlyNv-LACQuTVjdEGxqml4Ht3BWCcV_fig-1KttZ9YgQMVqHrESMUgu1rzLNDDlkaFcKy9IxaJywxrgXE2E71R8GRwd_L-ccQy_tfMiSaqPST83R5SvBarpbqYmdAjR9y0o/s400/Monarch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly Bush with companion</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7z5bs4bnmkUtCTK0GyA2DyzlZzSMhclrWpVQzIxznBU7S6bdsHpThfimLAMLG1iM27aZF-3XolWqU2pcCnI0HhO-0vKI_HOiBwbCasdS2iwK9zP5Q4KRMKV2PPCl28ztZDh6WXsXrLg/s1600/Sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7z5bs4bnmkUtCTK0GyA2DyzlZzSMhclrWpVQzIxznBU7S6bdsHpThfimLAMLG1iM27aZF-3XolWqU2pcCnI0HhO-0vKI_HOiBwbCasdS2iwK9zP5Q4KRMKV2PPCl28ztZDh6WXsXrLg/s400/Sunflower.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflower</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KQtj7fDFAj0eX79EQA1OdVmVmVmeYzr5x6IQVvigkL9Bwz9jfjmio3p5qVK5ZZ9qe2bjxiSdKolBV6y72nV_uU1yv6b456GdL4lAqABZl21bfj4uYx3rVa5dbykaUZi3HupLELFqkUA/s1600/Geranium+Rozanne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KQtj7fDFAj0eX79EQA1OdVmVmVmeYzr5x6IQVvigkL9Bwz9jfjmio3p5qVK5ZZ9qe2bjxiSdKolBV6y72nV_uU1yv6b456GdL4lAqABZl21bfj4uYx3rVa5dbykaUZi3HupLELFqkUA/s400/Geranium+Rozanne.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geranium 'Rozanne'</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Tlqfv2BbWhGF8IaRR41BVI2GirGqlb15R6xQrfj5GgD_ESMmRC87PhjWMp7vMQF0DXJ6yWeAlgeXj5QeXYnFcOTownTbttIHUTkZhqjdiid4Vhao349Gx6rwXJ-uau4j66ByiwEEOFg/s1600/New+Path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Tlqfv2BbWhGF8IaRR41BVI2GirGqlb15R6xQrfj5GgD_ESMmRC87PhjWMp7vMQF0DXJ6yWeAlgeXj5QeXYnFcOTownTbttIHUTkZhqjdiid4Vhao349Gx6rwXJ-uau4j66ByiwEEOFg/s400/New+Path.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Garden Path (sorry about the shadow!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That quite a list! So what’s wrong?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s just one plant</b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">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! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMng9j97iuMImhVVBpEpFDu53WzW2WomC6-tz0u7T0iWVo3X1elVeXdPDqpzCJn8nRJkrTvxFNDqhgdp4Y24-kJRlqCR0s7Z3n4sqCtXOVCAHgjT-Sh6pmNlmMumZn1hd8ep0mesvoUzE/s1600/DL+Strawberry+Candy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMng9j97iuMImhVVBpEpFDu53WzW2WomC6-tz0u7T0iWVo3X1elVeXdPDqpzCJn8nRJkrTvxFNDqhgdp4Y24-kJRlqCR0s7Z3n4sqCtXOVCAHgjT-Sh6pmNlmMumZn1hd8ep0mesvoUzE/s400/DL+Strawberry+Candy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daylily 'Strawberry Candy'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">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!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">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!</div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-40614761879585854562011-09-13T20:33:00.000-04:002011-09-13T20:33:46.255-04:00Tenacious Tip Tuesday - Nobody Cares Like You DoA non-gardening tip this week, folks, and a bit of a rant. As I've mentioned in a <a href="http://stubborngardener.blogspot.com/2011/07/cortisone-shots-for-unitiated.html">previous post</a>, 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. <br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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-<span style="font-size: xx-small;">mumble</span>) is a last resort.<br />
<br />
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 <strong>your</strong> knee? A torn meniscus, she says.<br />
<br />
No shit.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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 <strong>2 PAGES</strong> of results. <br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
So we come to my tip for the day. My apologies for shouting, but I'm a bit riled up at the moment.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AS MUCH AS YOU DO! BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE!</span></strong><br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Nobody cares like you do. Take charge of your own care if you feel your doctors are not paying enough attention.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>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.</em>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-45627632269725577272011-09-08T09:00:00.010-04:002011-09-08T09:00:11.225-04:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63E3ccEPGv48qopS6WJy_5hsa7vYbOwnVhcIIkDpFyY7vGoGTEvBjsz1oPhqrwI04WXqzJtugBY3KSvLQeV2mYMclrMUtBMWA76HF5BTBesi3wK-tIHthfRdBIy81e-PFXP2rIW90fhI/s1600/BF+Bud+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63E3ccEPGv48qopS6WJy_5hsa7vYbOwnVhcIIkDpFyY7vGoGTEvBjsz1oPhqrwI04WXqzJtugBY3KSvLQeV2mYMclrMUtBMWA76HF5BTBesi3wK-tIHthfRdBIy81e-PFXP2rIW90fhI/s320/BF+Bud+2.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to pop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Low Maintenance Plants</span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant Name: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Platycodon grandiflorus</i></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Common Name: Balloon Flower </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Low Maintenance Rating: <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4.7 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overview</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhstTwp98exiUImYGtEfEEyYLej5-We6Sh8bgrfWjL7MLa2G1aYZOm6SY4VAJSjUzygqZJSdqcVH1YR7S1Nr79UFtpuahUWYB1CEZXv96mdUrwlH8RpPL4vBC35o9IHUPVhJJ0Fsu8R7s/s1600/BF+Bud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhstTwp98exiUImYGtEfEEyYLej5-We6Sh8bgrfWjL7MLa2G1aYZOm6SY4VAJSjUzygqZJSdqcVH1YR7S1Nr79UFtpuahUWYB1CEZXv96mdUrwlH8RpPL4vBC35o9IHUPVhJJ0Fsu8R7s/s400/BF+Bud.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platycodon, flower and bud</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They begin flowering in early July and continue until frost. Their soft colors mix well with most other garden flowers and foliage.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVJGR-imrDlnNdSsx_8mM2r5VTQDNcJ42q6tsVYYJgiRGKahEVK98UNzDF3rkHdfcbh3Zj2-LWfD86vyWJI77WNrZP_0LJp3-bhB_umJfABVsqxvT-siDRBbxwxbOuYgacxNRDQeVCxg/s1600/BF+Foliage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVJGR-imrDlnNdSsx_8mM2r5VTQDNcJ42q6tsVYYJgiRGKahEVK98UNzDF3rkHdfcbh3Zj2-LWfD86vyWJI77WNrZP_0LJp3-bhB_umJfABVsqxvT-siDRBbxwxbOuYgacxNRDQeVCxg/s400/BF+Foliage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balloon flower with Heuchera</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">They also are wonderful flowers for drawing different insects and pollinators. Bumblebees are constant visitors, as are hummingbird moths.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK9tYqMi_Bi-gsiLdcfvJK8SnTJIYQVYIhi5VwTM3UUY80MqDlt_ESXkJaIntebw4wbPsTvmMEVcS5865SbFRtSuSOasy7Vkznd8aZ2-Vk_6NWTP_hJ6vxCBZiwRIMJRdb_MwVDKktZk/s1600/BF+Bumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZK9tYqMi_Bi-gsiLdcfvJK8SnTJIYQVYIhi5VwTM3UUY80MqDlt_ESXkJaIntebw4wbPsTvmMEVcS5865SbFRtSuSOasy7Vkznd8aZ2-Vk_6NWTP_hJ6vxCBZiwRIMJRdb_MwVDKktZk/s400/BF+Bumble.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumblebee on Balloon Flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUS8cOX022mM_a8_H185X72u9GatDEMFxhQZSwW0FF6KahRPeNPjo1VchDof9xZ6PvL2k7UnbKT8uLOyo_ySMK6dAqurxBnOia-l1Es0r6YEqcB_Z4bYMMExDtvLhW3tvA4dyycNqfYHo/s1600/Hummingbird+Moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUS8cOX022mM_a8_H185X72u9GatDEMFxhQZSwW0FF6KahRPeNPjo1VchDof9xZ6PvL2k7UnbKT8uLOyo_ySMK6dAqurxBnOia-l1Es0r6YEqcB_Z4bYMMExDtvLhW3tvA4dyycNqfYHo/s400/Hummingbird+Moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hummingbird Moth on Balloon Flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>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. </span><br />
<br />
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.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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. </span><br />
<br />
The taller variety is also hardy to zone 4.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Disease</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Planting balloon flower in wet, boggy soil can lead to fungal diseases and root rot. They prefer average to dry soil.<u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Insects</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">None, unless you don't like a constant flow of bumblebees!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Animal</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Animals avoid this plant due to the bitter, milky sap. You won’t have a problem with Bambie or Thumper!<u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Invasiveness</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>4 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.<u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Water</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Fertilizing</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No extra fertilizer required.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Pruning/Cleaning</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0U1Lh0VVV7VEykLbwk0y0rkHRtVfA3SgZIZz57dyWfumQSIudOc1h3VPM6Mch66z7oUMVCXAnrJBvTbkjzx3CVnrGRkFy9EuRila7Ecj8kI6gM1LKtOv4g8WVVl2LcfK11_La0sTO7Y/s1600/BF+Dead+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0U1Lh0VVV7VEykLbwk0y0rkHRtVfA3SgZIZz57dyWfumQSIudOc1h3VPM6Mch66z7oUMVCXAnrJBvTbkjzx3CVnrGRkFy9EuRila7Ecj8kI6gM1LKtOv4g8WVVl2LcfK11_La0sTO7Y/s400/BF+Dead+Flowers.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platycodon with both current and past flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>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.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-80850463070544148642011-09-07T09:00:00.005-04:002011-09-07T09:00:22.677-04:00Beauty in Odd Places, or Fun on Labor Day WeekendOne thing I find about gardeners is their willingness to see beauty in odd places. How many normal people, for example, would look at a well-built compost heap and exclaim in awe and delight? Or look at the caterpillar merrily chewing on their tomatoes and admire the markings before pitching it in the woods?<br />
<br />
We've had quite a bit of rain lately, what with Hurricane Irene passing by, and all the moisture has brought out a plethora of fungus. This past weekend, Brian noticed a lovely yellow mushroom on the edge of our spruces so out we tramped to check it out. Here's what we saw.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8sv_eH-JF8yuHbg15EGzntjWq5DwgZPZaj0SWPWMlIuO8zJsCfNy1lPgcaV-0zC0zNzn5gM7THopA8Qvl0DNIy7HiXvu1hi_P_S6ElUUyecFi16N9YapYz15IPYj5C18OlxTOLjiWrg/s1600/Mush+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8sv_eH-JF8yuHbg15EGzntjWq5DwgZPZaj0SWPWMlIuO8zJsCfNy1lPgcaV-0zC0zNzn5gM7THopA8Qvl0DNIy7HiXvu1hi_P_S6ElUUyecFi16N9YapYz15IPYj5C18OlxTOLjiWrg/s400/Mush+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPHw23dEicU_SywbNRKhKkiufkuZnjcL-pVtouIe9oC7j4jBMp5wJ3rAEiO2uUtdm2bf_rzi7yMH4kmEk_UHTB5T_61rUpVUdZhUnxe_YEdC9FswKHu5oP_lFEjBM775hL6L2KgUr8NU/s1600/Mush+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPHw23dEicU_SywbNRKhKkiufkuZnjcL-pVtouIe9oC7j4jBMp5wJ3rAEiO2uUtdm2bf_rzi7yMH4kmEk_UHTB5T_61rUpVUdZhUnxe_YEdC9FswKHu5oP_lFEjBM775hL6L2KgUr8NU/s400/Mush+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdNRWjdh-F0ByIMlWK_lHw9qqLz8Tg_3Jbz92a5FMdlzK5VQheD7jq-qTv97hPQZ4b_Ah3AGzXPdJWXHtmCVaMCMaOLCEoyGtUfk9whO0q2j1GZWKp5sYRfyvC4CvLzaKTi5k7jn7wtw/s1600/Mush+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdNRWjdh-F0ByIMlWK_lHw9qqLz8Tg_3Jbz92a5FMdlzK5VQheD7jq-qTv97hPQZ4b_Ah3AGzXPdJWXHtmCVaMCMaOLCEoyGtUfk9whO0q2j1GZWKp5sYRfyvC4CvLzaKTi5k7jn7wtw/s400/Mush+3.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br />
After consulting with the Audubon guide, we concluded this mushroom is a Yellow-Orange Fly Agaric (<em>Amanita muscaria var. formosa</em>). Not deadly, but definitely poisonous. According to the guide, this mushroom may cause sweating, deep sleep and disorientation. Hubby looked at me, shrugged and said "Sounds like a normal Sunday around here."<br />
<br />
We had also found a large puffball mushroom a few days before this and took a few shots. The puffball is one of the few wild mushrooms that is both easily identifiable and edible.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3PGTRsgMr_OyREXwPKQSObDKfjY7vxnsV4n5okvEPnhb41aFPQM1Krhe1QBISoqvB6ibbWyxpgyJxgy5Etm6Lz2yjLCmKAyrXHy3sOP3tcIEI5lf2pDW3y6EQhAvSOH22UfpWvyaWfw/s1600/Mush+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3PGTRsgMr_OyREXwPKQSObDKfjY7vxnsV4n5okvEPnhb41aFPQM1Krhe1QBISoqvB6ibbWyxpgyJxgy5Etm6Lz2yjLCmKAyrXHy3sOP3tcIEI5lf2pDW3y6EQhAvSOH22UfpWvyaWfw/s400/Mush+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffball growing next to Paperbark Maple sapling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After our adventure with the Amanita, we wandered over to see how the puffball was doing and found this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5wIWOgOLkWp0s0bByxZxqhrVUQC8S0a9ZaoQ7Sg5wd8NruOhs9UwFr8xvlAxk96o-i5B4eaaYC-fSgm8N1VwYUQOM4wjWBg1BfZcNPIY-aTSyRPLIby8hIxevmIxTdAUjV23Xx9dlp4/s1600/Mush+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5wIWOgOLkWp0s0bByxZxqhrVUQC8S0a9ZaoQ7Sg5wd8NruOhs9UwFr8xvlAxk96o-i5B4eaaYC-fSgm8N1VwYUQOM4wjWBg1BfZcNPIY-aTSyRPLIby8hIxevmIxTdAUjV23Xx9dlp4/s400/Mush+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Good grief! The thing looked like a burnt souffle! Presumably at some point in the near future, the top will split open and allow the spores to escape. I think this one is a Purple-spored Puffball (<em>Calvatia cyathiformis</em>), based on the fact that, when Brian hit one with the lawn mower, he got a cloud of purple spores. <br />
<br />
We try to take Gracie the House Monster for a good long walk on the weekends and fortunately there is a great park not too far from our place. Lots of nature trails and it borders the river for a beautiful view. We even found a few shrooms on our walk!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighzocZcDejTgzT3NHgB1g0ncCc35GjdzgyS35NuLniYwR78D4ra4u705fX0OQXQ4Mw8FPlNEO7gJOEci0yj1PQh-2ENWdUeCdHA0yvcOo6t4Zd3PUcWWRhuobPE6NoXp07n5o0T8BVCc/s1600/Mush+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighzocZcDejTgzT3NHgB1g0ncCc35GjdzgyS35NuLniYwR78D4ra4u705fX0OQXQ4Mw8FPlNEO7gJOEci0yj1PQh-2ENWdUeCdHA0yvcOo6t4Zd3PUcWWRhuobPE6NoXp07n5o0T8BVCc/s400/Mush+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3ON5cc-LGiIhAiU8S_00zN-jwmvCJQy59CFnvkrqaCevrMej6ggrA7v0Hm-cUSKN1SCD0ob1zMQSPe2w5xZW0EfX6goxrXR-8kohvjX7TTSaSaPRXH-n9oF5ZTOszxx8qAd09KwFyts/s1600/Mush+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3ON5cc-LGiIhAiU8S_00zN-jwmvCJQy59CFnvkrqaCevrMej6ggrA7v0Hm-cUSKN1SCD0ob1zMQSPe2w5xZW0EfX6goxrXR-8kohvjX7TTSaSaPRXH-n9oF5ZTOszxx8qAd09KwFyts/s400/Mush+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBJaVBuhoMtpx6_Og6sV8x7qhqtYkvKCjRdBgKc_PWf8aOU4aPKd-BQ8xWtWV44-Kn7ysqb-IJUW0iXw1k5osTiRsbMj-0wVxtP0BKtYLIQoN1Vt-goJ65kulCznSdyn77RL3sSmvGvc/s1600/Mush+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBJaVBuhoMtpx6_Og6sV8x7qhqtYkvKCjRdBgKc_PWf8aOU4aPKd-BQ8xWtWV44-Kn7ysqb-IJUW0iXw1k5osTiRsbMj-0wVxtP0BKtYLIQoN1Vt-goJ65kulCznSdyn77RL3sSmvGvc/s400/Mush+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Not sure what any of them were, so we assumed they were all poisonous. Gracie took one sniff then backed away with a look of disgust. Personally, I think all mushrooms should be admired but not eaten, even the ones in the grocery store, so I completely sympathised with her.<br />
<br />
In addition to mushrooms, we found some other local wildlife.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HKyvhkZCQpry54ZSRgdG24rjpzITXSjHoJMjba46tsuKMudFNDsN8E1D6oaWiIOiv0jCoCpRlAM2f528ZNFJeXlqPQz3-JYmI_Um2WKAJ1AzwAcE4n32om0laEFWqeGFMNyalKxmKuk/s1600/Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HKyvhkZCQpry54ZSRgdG24rjpzITXSjHoJMjba46tsuKMudFNDsN8E1D6oaWiIOiv0jCoCpRlAM2f528ZNFJeXlqPQz3-JYmI_Um2WKAJ1AzwAcE4n32om0laEFWqeGFMNyalKxmKuk/s400/Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Turtle</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I haven't seen a turtle in the wild around here since I was a child. He was a little shy but agreed to have his photo taken. Gracie could not understand the fuss over a moving rock. She was much more interested in reaching the river for a cool off!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hq_-sn4RqHQazNeqA3K63nzmHT18JPC0666_fdH8tP-WZNCnQfBBusCjuJYCYqIfpsnz3F2CGSERL_XJzA5FOdp4mn2I-s9g4BcWME2f9T6OyGjD6cqt_Nt-1XqoJ58XicQjUgIbnig/s1600/Gracie+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hq_-sn4RqHQazNeqA3K63nzmHT18JPC0666_fdH8tP-WZNCnQfBBusCjuJYCYqIfpsnz3F2CGSERL_XJzA5FOdp4mn2I-s9g4BcWME2f9T6OyGjD6cqt_Nt-1XqoJ58XicQjUgIbnig/s400/Gracie+River.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Monster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While she was splashing around, Brian took this shot which shows just how high the river flooded when Hurricane Irene came to town.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvd5CjB9fiARCVtUs5Rw0oFjvoLXc6yYaww9L6r_QeZ55Fjy9_4pBfU9_lDgRqcnlngBDSJFTFmQYB95mtJocIJ9Xw5Ype5h0ubyOhW0J5YhGfDQr69U9sdOfSuIDyKHVYCM7stWVyFY/s1600/Flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvd5CjB9fiARCVtUs5Rw0oFjvoLXc6yYaww9L6r_QeZ55Fjy9_4pBfU9_lDgRqcnlngBDSJFTFmQYB95mtJocIJ9Xw5Ype5h0ubyOhW0J5YhGfDQr69U9sdOfSuIDyKHVYCM7stWVyFY/s400/Flood.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flood waters coated everything with mud!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>All in all, an interesting time was had by all. The last thing we found was the stump of a tree, about 5.5 feet tall by the side of the trail. It was a perfect perch for Gracie! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHTy_YqtK7nKanCgkWb_wDp0fRUI1BB5kugRnlwGpW7kLLzudiUg_B6SywoO_eNQl7vnI-GMSpHGtx462x4ZSxGmvxOVkqrp2twf1va3TapNhduptUUsyHnf6QFQsUu4OBXPUWwJtMSs/s1600/Post+Monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHTy_YqtK7nKanCgkWb_wDp0fRUI1BB5kugRnlwGpW7kLLzudiUg_B6SywoO_eNQl7vnI-GMSpHGtx462x4ZSxGmvxOVkqrp2twf1va3TapNhduptUUsyHnf6QFQsUu4OBXPUWwJtMSs/s400/Post+Monster.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie and me</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpAmtSmZkLZILW9ltbFXdbh95hIJJhTISBJGxGRodfXavaLTg8mLQLY86s2lkwKgdh8pr0DBuNV4Xj0BpYkNmIH220Vie5b7bW5J42EASZkHu8u_6GsJheH7qQV3yWBULZzPj3F_BNKM/s1600/Post+Monster+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpAmtSmZkLZILW9ltbFXdbh95hIJJhTISBJGxGRodfXavaLTg8mLQLY86s2lkwKgdh8pr0DBuNV4Xj0BpYkNmIH220Vie5b7bW5J42EASZkHu8u_6GsJheH7qQV3yWBULZzPj3F_BNKM/s400/Post+Monster+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, Mom, let me down now!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hope everyone had a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(thanks, Indie, from <a href="http://www.redhousegarden.com/">Red House Garden</a>, for inspiring this post!)</div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-43155257306011062352011-09-06T09:00:00.002-04:002011-09-06T09:00:02.096-04:00Tenacious Tip Tuesday - The Roses of AutumnI seem to be on a philosophical kick with my Tips the last few weeks. As the season ends, I have a tendancy toward melancholy and introspection. I hope you can bear with me. Today's tip is simple - be true to your gardening self, no matter what.<br />
<br />
As you know, I've been trying to simplify my gardens to better care for myself. Many plants are being re-evaluated and some are hitting the compost heap. If I'm being honest with myself, most of my roses should be shovel pruned. Many of them are hybrid tea roses, which are notorious for disease problems and generally are the prima donnas of the garden. <br />
<br />
This year, they have gotten no love whatsoever. No fertilizer, no spraying; they were lucky to have gotten pruned this spring (in fact, some didn't). I wrote in an <a href="http://stubborngardener.blogspot.com/2011/05/garden-and-life-renovations.html">earlier post</a> that I would have to toughen up and get rid of the worst of them. The ones that survived my new Darwinian care program would stay; all others would be banished forever. I really meant it, too. <br />
<br />
Then they go and do this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Z8x9YDTcM00T0luzaJIYKvGrnjYIuqNFjQ1u-mHGyaJxZR7IFKMcAHeUW1jbzSf7HbKSLy5ImhuDdxLr6AdLk7X08Ibd8n5JlYtqrhqfThxOi4ZA3chAYuXF21OKrw5Y5saM4FuvqmM/s1600/Rose+Playboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Z8x9YDTcM00T0luzaJIYKvGrnjYIuqNFjQ1u-mHGyaJxZR7IFKMcAHeUW1jbzSf7HbKSLy5ImhuDdxLr6AdLk7X08Ibd8n5JlYtqrhqfThxOi4ZA3chAYuXF21OKrw5Y5saM4FuvqmM/s400/Rose+Playboy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose 'Playboy'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>'Playboy' is one of those roses that looks fabulous when well cared for. It gets covered with those orange/yellow flowers, has glossy green leaves and stays a reasonable size. It's a blackspot nightmare when not sprayed, at least in my garden. I thought it had died over the winter and spared me the necessity of digging it out. But no, it not only recovered, it started sending out little clusters of its beautiful flowers.<br />
<br />
Or how about this one?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmy9tC4quul1Pbu7kY6kj0fIWh_PbIQdOOIKWu6HgywMqzhRWHRqPYRYJBv1t3jGIxMAq14VYxwjkIiSBlm-8VC7I_a9PvU71qULbWMdWL-Czr0VmKFUF56BsaNyZn6x1HSG10PFHdG0/s1600/Rose+Sunstruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmy9tC4quul1Pbu7kY6kj0fIWh_PbIQdOOIKWu6HgywMqzhRWHRqPYRYJBv1t3jGIxMAq14VYxwjkIiSBlm-8VC7I_a9PvU71qULbWMdWL-Czr0VmKFUF56BsaNyZn6x1HSG10PFHdG0/s400/Rose+Sunstruck.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose 'Sunstruck'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This rose is what we who grow roses call a "one-cane wonder". It literally has only one cane coming up out of the dirt. Excuse me, out of the <em>soil</em>. Yet, it has still managed to have at least one gorgeous flower and a few buds on it all summer. How can I rip it out when it's giving me presents like this?<br />
<br />
So I've decided to modify my earlier, tough-love stance on my roses. They still get no special care, but if they keep blooming, I'll keep enjoying them, even if all their leaves fall off. My true gardening self simply isn't as hard-hearted as my renovation self. And I don't care! The joy I get from a single rose blossom is worth a few weeks of blackspot or Japanese beetles. <br />
<br />
Here are some more roses currently blooming in my garden. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTMxZsMT-bcXR_-punRe3-1xi8215X6xwx1Tq38-6TpO0mWuW8dhUuV1Ej2bs0HHYTsveAW9iJr0WX_V8GFpjVtO-u2A06cFI2Q9HnYKyiC_aKZabsxjKTYj4FhjRfN6B14i194UHfIA/s1600/Rose+About+Face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTMxZsMT-bcXR_-punRe3-1xi8215X6xwx1Tq38-6TpO0mWuW8dhUuV1Ej2bs0HHYTsveAW9iJr0WX_V8GFpjVtO-u2A06cFI2Q9HnYKyiC_aKZabsxjKTYj4FhjRfN6B14i194UHfIA/s400/Rose+About+Face.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose 'About Face'</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY-4igFxVOP35SGK2AhpQFfYtFXSCnUbdegIlLaUyy9iRTYyD9Ep08RZ_xmGIP-hhFo3ngp47p-S3SqvARsNv_KemKS4J6jbYlTercfRbTA__XoVEcWNJpx-GqeK1u11Xrdal10Ad_TA/s1600/Rose+Autumn+Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY-4igFxVOP35SGK2AhpQFfYtFXSCnUbdegIlLaUyy9iRTYyD9Ep08RZ_xmGIP-hhFo3ngp47p-S3SqvARsNv_KemKS4J6jbYlTercfRbTA__XoVEcWNJpx-GqeK1u11Xrdal10Ad_TA/s400/Rose+Autumn+Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose 'Autumn Sunset'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMxSmVxI7kQJBnpgPKawb2Kw-GUZU8zZKokbHXVpa0wEdw8ISdP6jQBVipkpTeBmhqhvnXkefMeR7kQpRf318P0iSxERoToQoyqh98frHkNFH_jj4l9Q9Ms_fbGHNL7ff0fSJshQJNNY/s1600/Rose+Chrysler+Imperial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMxSmVxI7kQJBnpgPKawb2Kw-GUZU8zZKokbHXVpa0wEdw8ISdP6jQBVipkpTeBmhqhvnXkefMeR7kQpRf318P0iSxERoToQoyqh98frHkNFH_jj4l9Q9Ms_fbGHNL7ff0fSJshQJNNY/s400/Rose+Chrysler+Imperial.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose 'Chrysler Imperial'</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCPAg3qrdwvTBXglNsUyH7TbiRx0V4SL5E3gf6aeQWAvNtxidqN3YjjbR6OK4Dhk_noJ_RnUg1cklRnXe04ghSJUaP2aoDaZyUvI_hyTD8z2K6I3Qc4_2SvMfuwNidSdjYGuPLLWqInU/s1600/Rose+Cinnamon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCPAg3qrdwvTBXglNsUyH7TbiRx0V4SL5E3gf6aeQWAvNtxidqN3YjjbR6OK4Dhk_noJ_RnUg1cklRnXe04ghSJUaP2aoDaZyUvI_hyTD8z2K6I3Qc4_2SvMfuwNidSdjYGuPLLWqInU/s400/Rose+Cinnamon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose 'Cinnamon Spice'</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzx_K9S6WaD7ENpgzRjMe_MZueIntSOszNlxMnY1A0p9vLUb1CIQyBi582m-f6pZdJ3rRJtRIu1Qes6mWiJtq-dk55olVXAd_-lNwu2MD0T2Pg-XSXymjwxWOarz9nl_T2d06sgJAFUI/s1600/Rose+Falstaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzx_K9S6WaD7ENpgzRjMe_MZueIntSOszNlxMnY1A0p9vLUb1CIQyBi582m-f6pZdJ3rRJtRIu1Qes6mWiJtq-dk55olVXAd_-lNwu2MD0T2Pg-XSXymjwxWOarz9nl_T2d06sgJAFUI/s400/Rose+Falstaff.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose 'Falstaff'</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlA0mw3kmbhw12-3f2nlhpwN5YG7cDmL3_fZE97HrSEswCv-GfruFhXWlVfT0IrH2SIyYKjIsguZj2NKYoS5bClHHslPv_C24YOQjSoVBsuC5IWWR3sO1gsfcv8ZfZxTk2oR6cc6kezQ/s1600/Rose+MOP+Buds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlA0mw3kmbhw12-3f2nlhpwN5YG7cDmL3_fZE97HrSEswCv-GfruFhXWlVfT0IrH2SIyYKjIsguZj2NKYoS5bClHHslPv_C24YOQjSoVBsuC5IWWR3sO1gsfcv8ZfZxTk2oR6cc6kezQ/s400/Rose+MOP+Buds.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buds on Rose 'Mother of Pearl'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-46859522973378691562011-08-31T20:15:00.000-04:002011-08-31T20:15:12.445-04:00Tenacious Tip Tuesday - Stop and Admire the Bugs!As I mentioned in my last post, I spent most of last Saturday pruning a ninebark shrub into shape. I finished up with plenty of daylight left, so I spent a little time wandering around to see what I could see. We've had quite the menagerie of critters this year as the flowers in the new area have really taken hold and are blooming their fool heads off. <br />
<br />
Butterflies are one of my favorite critters to watch and photograph. There are usually 3 or 4 cabbage whites dancing around at any given moment and the odd monarch will sail grandly in and eventually wander off, in their slightly tipsy manner. Once in a while, though, the garden is graced with unusual visitors like the red-spotted purple.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0LuSQPD35GBDA77Al8rWrqnmKPhodRjUz81yok0UzJ2zROHo-9X-csaDDeXXzs2dVg-DJ69p3DB4WXNrl6nedDzwlQMf7DMsmNfhWa9REAEveOy7a8OKWY9paqfe3-RLkR9_Bm_Nsr8/s1600/Red-Spotted+Purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0LuSQPD35GBDA77Al8rWrqnmKPhodRjUz81yok0UzJ2zROHo-9X-csaDDeXXzs2dVg-DJ69p3DB4WXNrl6nedDzwlQMf7DMsmNfhWa9REAEveOy7a8OKWY9paqfe3-RLkR9_Bm_Nsr8/s400/Red-Spotted+Purple.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-spotted Purple drinking from a muddy spot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Other butterflies have wandered through that I can't identify, like the 2 below. If anyone knows what they are, I'd appreciate the info! Also, if you recommend a good identification book, I'd be grateful. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RNvCOVAgVXAp4Jnf1mqn8zI0hvmjVJJs-WYlB-ID8uxkUuaYex4QePM7x7X3NxVQIzW5Xc66AqPL3ZfNfhRDBUFKXlSJ9aW-V0CAOU-qHWA_O_QGemF_n6qFvlWEVFa-PhkeQxAS4p0/s1600/Black+Butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RNvCOVAgVXAp4Jnf1mqn8zI0hvmjVJJs-WYlB-ID8uxkUuaYex4QePM7x7X3NxVQIzW5Xc66AqPL3ZfNfhRDBUFKXlSJ9aW-V0CAOU-qHWA_O_QGemF_n6qFvlWEVFa-PhkeQxAS4p0/s400/Black+Butterfly.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown black with white spots on hydrangea</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVXtfnX4CDEpY1aQOzRbYlvENRDPtpQrHPG3qVmgyF9C3VGgrAl26COJQkk6rUccotBzXUqYh_pKzP92HmB3XkWj46lWK1ABMb9yf4rn5sZGgsGg6mIlMoxvw2p4kSvBIWo_DQG4pnzU/s1600/Unknown+Butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVXtfnX4CDEpY1aQOzRbYlvENRDPtpQrHPG3qVmgyF9C3VGgrAl26COJQkk6rUccotBzXUqYh_pKzP92HmB3XkWj46lWK1ABMb9yf4rn5sZGgsGg6mIlMoxvw2p4kSvBIWo_DQG4pnzU/s400/Unknown+Butterfly.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly a Fritallary of some sort? It was visiting the butterfly bush.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Certain plants seem to draw some insects more than others. Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), in addition to butterflies, also attracts its fair share of bumblebees and hummingbird moths. One odd herb I grow, mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), only seems to attract bees and HUGE wasps. Of the wasps, 2 are particularly beautiful and, thankfully, completely non-aggressive.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-PI21V2esAOQ4TWE-Y27hh0TG07g4wVzoz7u-77Q-wx6EuY1AmatDiuanI5Ee8JPa2hs0eiCP2sx5CBZygUEKHYCPn72l0xJOm2vrkxTD8pWPzOU6eLWnzbYCAcoYW98d2yYVkD-u20/s1600/Black+Wasp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-PI21V2esAOQ4TWE-Y27hh0TG07g4wVzoz7u-77Q-wx6EuY1AmatDiuanI5Ee8JPa2hs0eiCP2sx5CBZygUEKHYCPn72l0xJOm2vrkxTD8pWPzOU6eLWnzbYCAcoYW98d2yYVkD-u20/s400/Black+Wasp.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large, black wasp - it has a gorgeous blue sheen when seen in the right light</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWOZHgD3fB-N99C6Mb-SVKttP75pQtgqDhT0V2AW_vw5yK-cu0Gbl2pExEQEfhaLfERWLP0GBXlYOfRhtOvOUwHIbLxJwhxo1IJ_g9AAnPqygLxlgJjIKvQRRRE_2D7IF9UMw4gYuToo/s1600/Orange+Wasp+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWOZHgD3fB-N99C6Mb-SVKttP75pQtgqDhT0V2AW_vw5yK-cu0Gbl2pExEQEfhaLfERWLP0GBXlYOfRhtOvOUwHIbLxJwhxo1IJ_g9AAnPqygLxlgJjIKvQRRRE_2D7IF9UMw4gYuToo/s400/Orange+Wasp+2.jpg" width="371" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This wasp must be 3 inches long!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
If you're tempted to grow this herb to attract these insects, be aware that it IS a kind of mint, with all that implies. I find it spreads more by seed than runners, but it can be a handful to contain.<br />
<br />
Insects aren't the only flyers visiting the flowers. This year we have been blessed with not one, but 3 hummingbirds! Here in the east, we only have ruby-throated hummingbirds. They are iridescent green and the male has a magenta patch on his throat. As far as we can tell, all 3 of ours are females.<br />
<br />
They are ridiculously difficult to photograph. The shots below were taken at a distance by either me or Brian and have been blown up and cropped to get the best view. Apologies for the blur, but you can blame the hummers!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyel_anrGltEExOwQ1CtOUhI3hbgeCc9osjvnrpDKKcIxpik51JSfXuGBy2yTBdaqQzYN2WKeK1_-COzMqhae2tiAEh_di1pCISdLRwLqmgBs9F_ywegC5qgMhsEtPyM9s_USxGxv4wIA/s1600/Hummer+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyel_anrGltEExOwQ1CtOUhI3hbgeCc9osjvnrpDKKcIxpik51JSfXuGBy2yTBdaqQzYN2WKeK1_-COzMqhae2tiAEh_di1pCISdLRwLqmgBs9F_ywegC5qgMhsEtPyM9s_USxGxv4wIA/s400/Hummer+1.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My shot - hummer feeding on a canna lily</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNaJb2whDzGoH8JgyZkq6FaKzgCpEtK5V8JHiUUlu8ZhZ8WzzwTyPeGkGxCztAgdMeY8om5CcTGJJNyC37W26PE_fLIa90lFezcgJlEBoWHtY3ybGsCvvkrfeq9hA0xZa_zGbEolHG3o/s1600/Hummer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNaJb2whDzGoH8JgyZkq6FaKzgCpEtK5V8JHiUUlu8ZhZ8WzzwTyPeGkGxCztAgdMeY8om5CcTGJJNyC37W26PE_fLIa90lFezcgJlEBoWHtY3ybGsCvvkrfeq9hA0xZa_zGbEolHG3o/s400/Hummer+2.jpg" width="400" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another of mine</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBXtfGYPliAaRAiZVc-NqFMnSIxbV3SyqNfrnEyLNQU0V_G334ZaC2sxxvYkv58bt8nWptR9qciV7o37NZfVRIBDZCHVPKKeI8usr87Iv0NramZ9ew1_9O7dP2lqMSC_Hdfkrfjmm_sY/s1600/Hummer+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBXtfGYPliAaRAiZVc-NqFMnSIxbV3SyqNfrnEyLNQU0V_G334ZaC2sxxvYkv58bt8nWptR9qciV7o37NZfVRIBDZCHVPKKeI8usr87Iv0NramZ9ew1_9O7dP2lqMSC_Hdfkrfjmm_sY/s400/Hummer+3.jpg" width="390" xaa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian's shot - he has a much better camera and was able to get the wings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So my tip for today? Don't sweat the small stuff, like getting your Tuesday Tip posted on time! Sometimes enjoying the now is way more important to your sanity and a lot more fun!<br />
<br />
TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-19010329435219382572011-08-28T18:54:00.000-04:002011-08-28T18:54:36.459-04:00A Productive Saturday and Wasted SundayIt's certainly been a mixed bag this weekend. Yesterday was lovely and I was able to get one major project completed. Behind the pond is a large ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius'Summer Wine'). A 10 foot tall, 12 foot wide shrub with purple leaves, 'Summer Wine' is supposed to be a more compact variety of ninebark. It certainly is a dense variety and quite beautiful. <br />
<br />
In the midst of my renovations, however, I find having foliage all the way to the ground to be more of a nuisance than anything. It is hard to weed at the edges and several plants were being shaded out entirely. Reshaping this shrub was definitely on my list of projects, so when my darling spouse, Brian, decided to go to the Saratoga track for the Travers race, I pulled out all my implements of destruction and went to town on it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzHuusVLzSzOWmrMbfdG1BiRs-6jseeqhbw7F9DWFHkB8WEbZ9bE54uNfp36oJ6qnbzkNckZJl6cYmEkhqXfcli-FkOz43thWe6Q522P51dg7S9M9IvMvzpVMkegZ5AtlA3WpTfdCbIs/s1600/Shrub+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTzHuusVLzSzOWmrMbfdG1BiRs-6jseeqhbw7F9DWFHkB8WEbZ9bE54uNfp36oJ6qnbzkNckZJl6cYmEkhqXfcli-FkOz43thWe6Q522P51dg7S9M9IvMvzpVMkegZ5AtlA3WpTfdCbIs/s400/Shrub+Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Shrub Surgery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As you can see, there is a cleared area in front of the bush where we removed the sod to stop the encroachment of the lawn. The thickness of the foliage at the intersection of lawn and shrub made weeding a scratchy proposition. Believe it or not, there were actually 3 daylilies hiding under the branches. Poor planning on my part, but I believed them when they said this shrub was compact.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFuptymRfOGW5fEuDoxOGRhyZxgzv-Xck7Y5iODnikQTJwSjVfnlAffMAL9uXLRETmZxezLxCmJDaxryemKZCM0ruHNVTLwbL8rfdBgZMpB9rezTlH8F_WuAUj9-daRuREreoMD3p6W4/s1600/Shrub+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFuptymRfOGW5fEuDoxOGRhyZxgzv-Xck7Y5iODnikQTJwSjVfnlAffMAL9uXLRETmZxezLxCmJDaxryemKZCM0ruHNVTLwbL8rfdBgZMpB9rezTlH8F_WuAUj9-daRuREreoMD3p6W4/s400/Shrub+After.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Shrub Surgery</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpZpdCA3PnHuVdQHAMFfjfveIueZPooIGYbAENlFGxsNiWyIj_SwnrH-AJu3pVXVrXG1g3YQbSd1rUq7X9lhdwEoVyUoTJNdjR7uBfEpL4IVcTQwCnof7JJTW3wdZgG1slnizilckEic/s1600/Shrub+After+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpZpdCA3PnHuVdQHAMFfjfveIueZPooIGYbAENlFGxsNiWyIj_SwnrH-AJu3pVXVrXG1g3YQbSd1rUq7X9lhdwEoVyUoTJNdjR7uBfEpL4IVcTQwCnof7JJTW3wdZgG1slnizilckEic/s400/Shrub+After+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another View</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I really like the shape of the shrub after the trim. The arching of the upper branches can be seen and there is now room for some shade plants. The weeding and trimming of the plants around the shrub was accomplished for the first time in 3 years! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f3A-nsTdtsXwC1Jlt8c8EdtxviG08Re9ONRG8rPxVvIoicqzoKY8-6KZycx1zejiLczahlREywdzGfGni0mKvWiIXLMH2uAqxIVLV03kXdH4P6Pec6FeunSKTPJcJ27ogUWUWUt5RnM/s1600/Shrub+and+Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f3A-nsTdtsXwC1Jlt8c8EdtxviG08Re9ONRG8rPxVvIoicqzoKY8-6KZycx1zejiLczahlREywdzGfGni0mKvWiIXLMH2uAqxIVLV03kXdH4P6Pec6FeunSKTPJcJ27ogUWUWUt5RnM/s400/Shrub+and+Pond.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrub and Pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The 3 daylilies, what was left of them anyway, were relocated to sunnier homes. In the course of removing them, I had to climb around the top of the pond and managed to annoy our resident pond monster. He/She scared the crap out of me by leaping from the top of the waterfall into the main pond with a resounding splash. I almost fell in after it!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYUbHq8dhEFmPLIIrKcsAPmuSweRHtbZzfLSlMqDhKlQ77J8u37ZNabxkB12FwYNVYk7_GrDGA_ITn8tyWk3pq6aEVDE7GBU1VrE58yCftckN_jDI68CXL4ikocYGHo3jK5NKY56SoKY/s1600/Frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYUbHq8dhEFmPLIIrKcsAPmuSweRHtbZzfLSlMqDhKlQ77J8u37ZNabxkB12FwYNVYk7_GrDGA_ITn8tyWk3pq6aEVDE7GBU1VrE58yCftckN_jDI68CXL4ikocYGHo3jK5NKY56SoKY/s400/Frog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pond Monster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The last bit of wildlife I have to report for the day was a tiny tree frog I found earlier in the morning while weeding over by the woods. We looked him up in the Peterson's guide and he appears to be a <strong>grey tree frog</strong>. He was absolutely adorable! After admiring him and inflicting an impromtu photo shoot on him, I brought him back to the weeds from whence he came.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcjNLzNmYPaubrTuTO6cSVeDHhWwmijoAYu7AiKvfIQa0p8kodU5sHpETHPgdRn5wGn0eWye28YzdHqrrEsR869FK3vUEWC18l52fehtbRAFQCa7DjmDpE8JF-xbl-W0RmECA4q64_9c/s1600/Tree+Frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcjNLzNmYPaubrTuTO6cSVeDHhWwmijoAYu7AiKvfIQa0p8kodU5sHpETHPgdRn5wGn0eWye28YzdHqrrEsR869FK3vUEWC18l52fehtbRAFQCa7DjmDpE8JF-xbl-W0RmECA4q64_9c/s400/Tree+Frog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree monster<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">The rest of the day was spent lounging on the couch until Brian came home. </span><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">Today, on the other hand, has been a spectacular waste of a day. The remnants of Hurricane Irene arrived in the night and it has been nothing but wind and rain all day. We did the only thing we could do - slept in and watched TV. And played with our computers, of course.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">We've been lucky and had no damage from the storm. There are reports of a mudslide which took out a few houses in a neighboring town, but thankfully there were no injuries. Wherever you are out there, please take care and be safe!</span></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-231922319052354662011-08-25T19:48:00.000-04:002011-08-25T19:48:57.253-04:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Low Maintenance Plants</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr_Z0CqYBBHm17Gn3a7d6gAP_TD4YSPZeOE4vFoM9pIIDhtYBqee4-kvKZaqAeKkorRgQGxmTPm4vuTAvI_KuabbwakgjwB2QRh0f59WcZZRf6xLzyh8AtRZLFQZ_04Y63fbbNuORn04/s1600/Rhamnus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr_Z0CqYBBHm17Gn3a7d6gAP_TD4YSPZeOE4vFoM9pIIDhtYBqee4-kvKZaqAeKkorRgQGxmTPm4vuTAvI_KuabbwakgjwB2QRh0f59WcZZRf6xLzyh8AtRZLFQZ_04Y63fbbNuORn04/s320/Rhamnus.jpg" width="191" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant Name: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rhamnus frangula ‘Ron Williams’ aka ‘Fine Line’</i></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Low Maintenance Rating: <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 Stars out of 5</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overview</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rhamnus frangula ‘Fine Line’, also known as buckthorn, was introduced in 2003 and is slowly gaining the recognition it deserves. I purchased a small specimen in 2006 at an end-of-season sale and it is now a gorgeous, 6 foot tall accent in an otherwise low height area of the garden. The foliage is a lovely, ferny texture and turns a bright yellow in the fall. The flowers are insignificant; I have to really be paying attention to notice them at all in the spring. It is hardy to -50 degrees (cold zone 2) and has had no problem handling temperatures in the high 90’s during the summer (heat zone 4).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This buckthorn is not fussy about soil type, but I have it planted in good soil and, considering its origins as an invader of wetlands, I doubt it would do well in sandy, dry soil without some amendments.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">OK, enough with the statistics. This has quickly become my absolute favorite shrub. I like it so much, in fact, that I bought 4 more this spring, two of which I’ve even planted! This is what I call a genuine no-maintenance plant.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqiFJflC-3yJPP-bbXDBAXTXjyv4a9fNLuSLtHfNMot6j8Er4YPS6Brl_LGXUDGeEobylYR4weEpPJSw7yqBDcJm4xeFCYh6-GaRZN2R9sjckl-SpLA3GGDmRK5jSMCv53eV1U-8450I/s1600/Rhamnus+Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqiFJflC-3yJPP-bbXDBAXTXjyv4a9fNLuSLtHfNMot6j8Er4YPS6Brl_LGXUDGeEobylYR4weEpPJSw7yqBDcJm4xeFCYh6-GaRZN2R9sjckl-SpLA3GGDmRK5jSMCv53eV1U-8450I/s400/Rhamnus+Leaves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferny foliage of 'Fine Line'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Disease</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have never had a disease affect this small tree. I’ve read reports that the wild varieties can get stem cankers from certain fungus, but I’ve not seen it on my tree.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Insects</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Japanese beetles can be a nuisance, but rarely more.</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxHZnNXN8dbQHYFlc0j2N9dNxm-iLhOIKqq76b1VygRqiLG7zXC5e4YKUezGaygMtgGFzu_vUqpZDTo8inCrn6Ts0kj8vARodHOXzpkIssgVhcZXSiAjbrAWLtGP95UzZrcaO7f22cdc/s1600/Rhamnus+JBs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxHZnNXN8dbQHYFlc0j2N9dNxm-iLhOIKqq76b1VygRqiLG7zXC5e4YKUezGaygMtgGFzu_vUqpZDTo8inCrn6Ts0kj8vARodHOXzpkIssgVhcZXSiAjbrAWLtGP95UzZrcaO7f22cdc/s400/Rhamnus+JBs.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese beetles rarely do serious damage to 'Fine Line'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Animal</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">None, unless you count birds pooping on it.<u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Invasiveness</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many varieties of Rhamnus are invasive pests. The wild varieties produce prodigious quantities of seed and can spread rapidly through wetlands. The linked <a href="http://nyis.info/PDF/Buckthorn_Converse.pdf">report</a> will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the invasiveness of buckthorn.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fortunately, the cultivated variety ‘Fine Line’ has shown no inclination towards world domination. In my garden it rarely produces more than a very few fruits and, in 5 years, I’ve seen no seedlings at all. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Water</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Watering is among my least favorite garden chores and if a plant has survived here as long as this one has, you may assume it is not a water hog. Rhamnus is no exception. I have read that its water requirements are “medium” but mine gets by on whatever Mom Nature is pleased to send.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The usual caveat applies to newly planted greenery. All baby plants require extra care till they are established.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Fertilizing</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have never fertilized my Rhamnus tree (are you noticing a trend here? About the only things I have EVER fertilized are my roses!).<u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Pruning/Cleaning</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The form of this tree is vase-shaped and so far there have been no rogue branches needing correcting. I’m rather surprised as the wild varieties have a tendency to get weedy with age. As my tree is only 5 years old, I will withhold judgment until it is older. At this stage, I can say it has not required any extra care in the pruning department.</span></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-45589770803135801372011-08-23T20:49:00.001-04:002011-08-24T09:06:48.318-04:00Tenacious Tip Tuesday - Be the AntsToday was not a day I felt like doing anything much. Just coming back from a week-long vacation has done nothing for my ambition or attitude. Work seems more tedious, the people more annoying and the atmosphere more suffocating. By the time I got home, the only thing that sounded enticing was the couch.<br />
<br />
Days like this make me want to give up on my renovations. Every time I look at my gardens, all I can see is what still needs to be done. The weeds continue to rampage unchecked. The groundhog still thumbs his little nose at us. The pond needs cleaning and the lilies never did get fertilized. It's enough to make anyone feel discouraged and it sure makes that couch look like nirvana.<br />
<br />
Since I hurt my back this past spring, my darling, and long-suffering, spouse has taken it upon himself to load wheelbarrows with mulch for me whenever I need them. No matter what he's in the middle of, if he sees an empty wheelbarrow, he runs for the shovel, perhaps thinking I'll try it again myself if he doesn't. I tell him he needn't worry, I really did learn my lesson this time. He just rolls his eyes.<br />
<br />
So I come home tonight, in my mood, and my Sweetie has the big wheelbarrow all loaded up and parked near the area I last cleared out and he has a big grin on his face. What could I do? I thanked him lavishly, changed my clothes and spent the evening spreading mulch.<br />
<br />
When I started, I was just going through the motions. It seemed so little compared to the big picture. And, of course, the dandelions and oxalis had started to pop back up as we had some rain since my last foray into the weed patch. <br />
<br />
A funny thought came to my head, though, while I was working. If you stood back a bit, it looked as though a black tide (the mulch) was sweeping through the garden. Much the way the weeds had swept through it when I was distracted by the new area. It sounds goofy, putting it down here, but it felt like I really was making headway, albeit slowly. <br />
<br />
Did you ever read the short story "<a href="http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lvta.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leiningen</span> versus the Ants</a>" in high school? A really whacked out story about a plantation owner who tries to prevent army ants from destroying his land. I was feeling a little like the ants by the end of the evening. (I am gardener, hear me roar!)<br />
<br />
So my tip tonight? Just do it. Every little bit helps, even if you don't see it at first. <br />
<br />
Be the ants.TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-4979744826828853832011-08-21T19:51:00.000-04:002011-08-21T19:51:55.710-04:00Pissarro, Efts and Gardens – Oh, my!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, I’m back from vacation with a few stories to tell! Brian and I travelled over to western Massachusetts and visited the <a href="http://www.clarkart.edu/">Clark Art Institute</a>, the <a href="http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/">Berkshire Botanical Garden</a> and the <a href="http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Pleasant_Valley/index.php">Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary</a>. The first two were planned but the wildlife sanctuary was a happy accident. It just happened to be less than a mile from the hotel we stayed at. Just goes to show, when you’re travelling by car, keep your eyes open; you never know what you might run across!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My husband is a fan of the artist, Camille Pissarro, especially his landscapes, so it was a high priority to go to the Clark and view the Pissarro display. Entitled “The People of Pissarro”, there were only a few landscapes on exhibit, but we got to see another side of a great artist.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I won’t go into a detailed review of the show, but I will say we spent most of the day there and enjoyed every minute. There was an unbelievable amount of finished pieces, many on loan from distant museums. In addition to these, there were also sketches and preparatory works. If you’re a fan of Pissarro and you’re in the area, it is worth going. The café at the Clark makes a mean ham and Swiss sandwich, too, and their chocolate chip cookies should not be missed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the Clark, we travelled south to Lenox where our hotel awaited us. A Days Inn on a hillside, it was nothing special except for the desk clerk, a young woman named Allison. She directed two tired and hungry travelers to a local restaurant and gave us a coupon for 15% off our meal. After a tex-mex meal that couldn’t be beat, we brought her back a strawberry lemonade and many thanks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had spotted a small sign for the wildlife sanctuary on the way to the restaurant and decided to check it out in the morning before heading for the botanical garden. Good move on our part! It doesn’t look like much when you first arrive – a small wood-sided building for checking in and buying souvenirs or snacks and a path leading off into the trees. First impressions are deceiving, though. The Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is comprised of over 1300 acres, including several ponds and trails throughout. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1P9GlkJKeH8R0dE_0uacTQ19mMZ81_AJ3zvmWAzLdVXvKlg2_Wq6rQUU6x2B9MyPcrGW8mniikAcf8ZuDNMqhczT_a5Njy1t_dBMig6MQmrH_hPOnCC3-fuf1z-oOgESPt7TG0lMqqo/s1600/IMG_2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1P9GlkJKeH8R0dE_0uacTQ19mMZ81_AJ3zvmWAzLdVXvKlg2_Wq6rQUU6x2B9MyPcrGW8mniikAcf8ZuDNMqhczT_a5Njy1t_dBMig6MQmrH_hPOnCC3-fuf1z-oOgESPt7TG0lMqqo/s400/IMG_2556.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pike's Pond</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The diversity of the plant life was amazing. I consider myself fairly well schooled in identifying wild plants and I saw some things that I had only seen in guide books. Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), used in natural medicine to induce or aid in labor, was a welcome check on my plant life list. We also saw white bane berry (Actaea pachypoda), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) and sharp-leafed hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9w_Qix-XSDZ_-cakKhFPBwgJ5NHuGSWXzDKi5tNCJ3JKfOs_QHfsIejRcXBQ2ZNh3kzARS-DkRhuEu_6Boo7P_4xqzJeCYGTB7zV7soRozGwDNI_veNGaUVA5WfnIGXyYhKvsnh3KUw/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9w_Qix-XSDZ_-cakKhFPBwgJ5NHuGSWXzDKi5tNCJ3JKfOs_QHfsIejRcXBQ2ZNh3kzARS-DkRhuEu_6Boo7P_4xqzJeCYGTB7zV7soRozGwDNI_veNGaUVA5WfnIGXyYhKvsnh3KUw/s320/IMG_2509.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Autumn Clematis</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWORLqrsw0MC6tn3FtlgR9r6bamHsVC5_u_HqaBq3wV01SzKidxDImn1vQRuRdxPHpHUm01seoB0jwvTR8SAy1eCnqkDBjday1IbmByZMjQyXbK1eQq0fcdI-3FThmnKv-utqLV6DURc/s1600/IMG_2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWORLqrsw0MC6tn3FtlgR9r6bamHsVC5_u_HqaBq3wV01SzKidxDImn1vQRuRdxPHpHUm01seoB0jwvTR8SAy1eCnqkDBjday1IbmByZMjQyXbK1eQq0fcdI-3FThmnKv-utqLV6DURc/s320/IMG_2521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian Pipe</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a name='more'></a> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wildlife was a bit spotty, mostly because there was a group of kids from the summer camp raising a ruckus. We did spot some beautiful cedar waxwings eating honeysuckle berries and more dragonflies than we could count. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBVcbC-3JG1iL-5ITLS3I_yJ2Fzd6EHKQeWvs6X5i1SW6UF_zpQxRsGLOhtgday4MWTEv2Bp_vHgcO6sK5f-Pue6bSKyJK3CAu8J22ENwtaqzZsNpLuWwACApi4bfbX_tY9TImJngq2s/s1600/CedarWW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBVcbC-3JG1iL-5ITLS3I_yJ2Fzd6EHKQeWvs6X5i1SW6UF_zpQxRsGLOhtgday4MWTEv2Bp_vHgcO6sK5f-Pue6bSKyJK3CAu8J22ENwtaqzZsNpLuWwACApi4bfbX_tY9TImJngq2s/s400/CedarWW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cedar Waxwing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw_kP_ku1oBxhNU1dVl2UdyUM7qojzYRRhwAx6g8LlzG82XpZH8HnUWolla2gVLUjlbId7u3J6eZ8Zn4DKbFcLIwKMY964w9r3UhSHrN25lM4tyqh5xQVhCrW_DVdkr1LwqUU3tdtXTM/s1600/IMG_2560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrw_kP_ku1oBxhNU1dVl2UdyUM7qojzYRRhwAx6g8LlzG82XpZH8HnUWolla2gVLUjlbId7u3J6eZ8Zn4DKbFcLIwKMY964w9r3UhSHrN25lM4tyqh5xQVhCrW_DVdkr1LwqUU3tdtXTM/s400/IMG_2560.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragonfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Red efts, the juvenile form of Eastern salamanders, were everywhere and we had to be careful where we stepped while we were in the forest. The woman at the sign-in place said they were inundated with efts this year, much the way we were with baby toads. Brian got some particularly good shots of the little buggers.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheZoVUyA817Pkh17Jc9_IUfGq8Kr4-lKgV6xAu7kjuuK2nN6Lri3H4mNakXZ7zShGbiV9WUmoowv0cmgftd8YHenvltc5tOyLuHfstl1pKWfJId7oxC6Tm-AAT9zoaTomtN0hhMs5lEg/s1600/DSC_4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheZoVUyA817Pkh17Jc9_IUfGq8Kr4-lKgV6xAu7kjuuK2nN6Lri3H4mNakXZ7zShGbiV9WUmoowv0cmgftd8YHenvltc5tOyLuHfstl1pKWfJId7oxC6Tm-AAT9zoaTomtN0hhMs5lEg/s400/DSC_4175.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Eft</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We came very close to remaining there all day and probably would have if our stomachs hadn’t made certain demands. So off we went, further south, to the town of Stockbridge and the Main Street Café. Their Cajun Chicken Sandwich should be on your Bucket List, along with the potato salad. They serve tea in a big, honking mug, too, not those silly little tea cups you have to refill five times to get a drink. When they found out how much Brian loves his coffee, they threatened to give him a soup bowl for a coffee mug.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last stop on our epic journey was to the Berkshire Botanical Garden, located just outside of Stockbridge on route 102. Not to be confused with two other roads which branch out from Stockbridge, which we took first. Eventually, we found the correct road and arrived at the Place.</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUQH6vRckdojwcqgIAqnvyz9DNf0kVnA2EvEzzGa2Xuk5TMiyIE8w7ne7L369v1btBCNgTtYmRcQhZGhhovrHlQvLAxHrEoBoW7DyfqLJc80xzS-NwaEkUBlhZCi-_JtmS8TGA-0Hx2I/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUQH6vRckdojwcqgIAqnvyz9DNf0kVnA2EvEzzGa2Xuk5TMiyIE8w7ne7L369v1btBCNgTtYmRcQhZGhhovrHlQvLAxHrEoBoW7DyfqLJc80xzS-NwaEkUBlhZCi-_JtmS8TGA-0Hx2I/s400/IMG_2572.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian at Berkshire Botanical Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are 26 different garden areas to explore and each one has its own theme. Our favorite was the pond garden. Set among tall trees, the pond has a huge boulder sitting right in the middle of it and is surrounded by moisture-loving plants. A huge stand of cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) grew on one side and a lovely lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) in front of the lobelia. There is also a resident snapping turtle, the size of a laptop computer.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYoPTbLhFfAYNlGzKZ-NptPUYZhTtAgQkv789wcVNnIDGEX8rz-JbsZK-loiea6f_18eqxcpqtUe7TKFQHlV91eKiCjUFNBeeXIZCgtHQAOq0pZ0gQdomc6Sjn1cNfj4gXVRvD6kQ-nI/s1600/DSC_4300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYoPTbLhFfAYNlGzKZ-NptPUYZhTtAgQkv789wcVNnIDGEX8rz-JbsZK-loiea6f_18eqxcpqtUe7TKFQHlV91eKiCjUFNBeeXIZCgtHQAOq0pZ0gQdomc6Sjn1cNfj4gXVRvD6kQ-nI/s400/DSC_4300.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dbNfY0LoVCHL-qMTTE-FL__Zgqz_1vo_-ZaQWldErbUguyUnLnB8slUHSn8sZCA0eqhVp1yTkjCyoScalMjk3q1aRU8pmhxYouDb7P6uwEBQNPxIZ_tvJXDfXNm2w-3x9jTMTuRggNA/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dbNfY0LoVCHL-qMTTE-FL__Zgqz_1vo_-ZaQWldErbUguyUnLnB8slUHSn8sZCA0eqhVp1yTkjCyoScalMjk3q1aRU8pmhxYouDb7P6uwEBQNPxIZ_tvJXDfXNm2w-3x9jTMTuRggNA/s400/IMG_2630.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snapping Turtle</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAb-SuxDEXGXeHV7E2G6nyDI8EvOrWPHWhazN8aWb0zWkho_h_CPUDH9D1zYw-t9z5pELfYCBNpmvYYWmyc_bdCVEiRq2wvfmIVaAyg9Fi1J2fqwsIURktUWB7nUe2FIH5GPjDkE4ggc/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAb-SuxDEXGXeHV7E2G6nyDI8EvOrWPHWhazN8aWb0zWkho_h_CPUDH9D1zYw-t9z5pELfYCBNpmvYYWmyc_bdCVEiRq2wvfmIVaAyg9Fi1J2fqwsIURktUWB7nUe2FIH5GPjDkE4ggc/s400/IMG_2633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The variety of garden plants was fantastic. One plant growing there was one I had never seen in person - the pineapple lily (Eucomis comosa). They had both the purple and white varieties and they are just as weird in person as in pictures. Just as beautiful, too. These lilies are grown from bulbs which are only hardy to zone 7, or 6 with good protection, but can be lifted in the fall like dahlia bulbs.</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW3-MLIyMi9KzR5PXDgTe2EupMrI0nrVQjOTJyPm7m3Zny7QYldjvIhKKpT5DQKo_eMiPmGBOBnFfXwUl_bLqFOmYYm7zpen1bw7LtsCVgG-2v0o7A-FmgoQt14a_efq3arsu56wwxzw/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW3-MLIyMi9KzR5PXDgTe2EupMrI0nrVQjOTJyPm7m3Zny7QYldjvIhKKpT5DQKo_eMiPmGBOBnFfXwUl_bLqFOmYYm7zpen1bw7LtsCVgG-2v0o7A-FmgoQt14a_efq3arsu56wwxzw/s400/IMG_2576.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Pineapple Lily (Eucomis comosa)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16FqrXM7xW_vL4WbWi86vVcog9js8wb6RMzS7yrGO5ifK_MrjsXVo9Fiv-_YTTpLjFNt9JYCfcGViQPO0QZBThzzaF4WXNCq536sFSvyneigP0MvNX7WNHIEFa8C0YwDBqBvGRJTqVlY/s1600/IMG_2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16FqrXM7xW_vL4WbWi86vVcog9js8wb6RMzS7yrGO5ifK_MrjsXVo9Fiv-_YTTpLjFNt9JYCfcGViQPO0QZBThzzaF4WXNCq536sFSvyneigP0MvNX7WNHIEFa8C0YwDBqBvGRJTqVlY/s400/IMG_2597.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Pineapple Lily (Eucomis comosa)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They also had a lovely hedge of hydrangea ‘Little Lamb’. The plants at the Garden were only about 4 feet tall and loaded with flowers. </span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F2hKp20Qyw8ZLw7AHf51NwFEX22966Wlaj86dyXq1LceMlmh6Gx6Vx9sMZT1XSpl6vJ0v2FprFNC9lErDQz0UzzrUNhStYXUlNkzLHSKQQ6ZmgCY6cjJy-us0RaoMd9wgyTxaVEGEKk/s1600/IMG_2592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F2hKp20Qyw8ZLw7AHf51NwFEX22966Wlaj86dyXq1LceMlmh6Gx6Vx9sMZT1XSpl6vJ0v2FprFNC9lErDQz0UzzrUNhStYXUlNkzLHSKQQ6ZmgCY6cjJy-us0RaoMd9wgyTxaVEGEKk/s400/IMG_2592.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hydrangea 'Little Lamb'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0hhAsk1QzH8bBafbLJ4aRtoIAvncHD6sTgmd8Nttuv8BUHdpX7pTQ6CpSPjTPtYA1i9PXJvA1j8tYWLL2edVoxmIC5zJTiZ1vVq9clvl8LZAljAjjAQUTih9was2WUDmdQ6jhiOMUaE/s1600/IMG_2594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0hhAsk1QzH8bBafbLJ4aRtoIAvncHD6sTgmd8Nttuv8BUHdpX7pTQ6CpSPjTPtYA1i9PXJvA1j8tYWLL2edVoxmIC5zJTiZ1vVq9clvl8LZAljAjjAQUTih9was2WUDmdQ6jhiOMUaE/s400/IMG_2594.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s not even mentioning the hosta garden, daylily walk, the edible gardens, the kids’ garden and the new rose garden. I could go on for quite a while about the neat stuff to see at the BBG, but your best bet is to go yourself and enjoy it! Here are some more pictures to tempt you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TXyXyG1mNX71aVTQJdwkS1Uf59yM9jcEdyN0O10FuiFAy5bH00qBVcHSWroBtoWRc2IFJ2uYtQXQKbJ4Es3yGq2oDvOGq6beBwPZ4ljBTW_jrVu0o9RXX_AjaRLUIEJMwDOLgnFSR7c/s1600/DSC_4272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TXyXyG1mNX71aVTQJdwkS1Uf59yM9jcEdyN0O10FuiFAy5bH00qBVcHSWroBtoWRc2IFJ2uYtQXQKbJ4Es3yGq2oDvOGq6beBwPZ4ljBTW_jrVu0o9RXX_AjaRLUIEJMwDOLgnFSR7c/s400/DSC_4272.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhzxjKIK-wowoH9x1RiZHB5DWig9JHHAHAkoPs6iqmijLQNRMPWt5yThhyzdjRer-IFx3LFPpWg0Q22VdVDslC_WaL2mp_zrE4QvjG89rGAzsmV-eziCPj_2lpz1AmLIf5v5ux6I2X4I/s1600/DSC_4343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhzxjKIK-wowoH9x1RiZHB5DWig9JHHAHAkoPs6iqmijLQNRMPWt5yThhyzdjRer-IFx3LFPpWg0Q22VdVDslC_WaL2mp_zrE4QvjG89rGAzsmV-eziCPj_2lpz1AmLIf5v5ux6I2X4I/s400/DSC_4343.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgGrna-R33yQz_SFj-u5JnXMUmseyw9bSSGRtK5KLWamxDBbvlmxzcNfhs10wp0C4B-QjHjqxPB6UeOGhjVb0H1lWJdOjVHg-jdIXZ-kX3z95ZC_stVqAbObaXb0E0lz1IeWmiqUB61U/s1600/DSC_4344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgGrna-R33yQz_SFj-u5JnXMUmseyw9bSSGRtK5KLWamxDBbvlmxzcNfhs10wp0C4B-QjHjqxPB6UeOGhjVb0H1lWJdOjVHg-jdIXZ-kX3z95ZC_stVqAbObaXb0E0lz1IeWmiqUB61U/s400/DSC_4344.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6TeLYYCb-VvklC26xB7TrPccoCbIJOBYsMMH6uQsFOYEkyYlMXGVklflNGsNIebUldY24R4YmIVVGApt7cvRmoaWBDw-cpG281RT8jBk9nfdAePbnYU5d2-w6W03oZQ-6pT9LrhtNB8/s1600/IMG_2606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6TeLYYCb-VvklC26xB7TrPccoCbIJOBYsMMH6uQsFOYEkyYlMXGVklflNGsNIebUldY24R4YmIVVGApt7cvRmoaWBDw-cpG281RT8jBk9nfdAePbnYU5d2-w6W03oZQ-6pT9LrhtNB8/s400/IMG_2606.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic56s_zGB_4XlY0jncWh5up5AwByKDaNnGbxLsGCJ0T8L4x_QpeMF9bKdMLGk27L9luoJjJJHm9JJPVXj7C8zQ0KfeBAOq6vKze19Mdk_TG9hv5HIGKLjHC3A3iWamvIKBQGyiYN8W8eM/s1600/IMG_2638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic56s_zGB_4XlY0jncWh5up5AwByKDaNnGbxLsGCJ0T8L4x_QpeMF9bKdMLGk27L9luoJjJJHm9JJPVXj7C8zQ0KfeBAOq6vKze19Mdk_TG9hv5HIGKLjHC3A3iWamvIKBQGyiYN8W8eM/s400/IMG_2638.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLIICaWX0UYMd4cmiwPT2jp6MDAX3QqfXkenuHjjs_ihcUJSZS9SwvgItjwZ9mCLFlfs8TUFYnWCbBqdxsiBxgM5QfB5PGlCk4UC9ugDEERfCihx-YZHtPtYRli8DBLgfq2I1L6RGbxs/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLIICaWX0UYMd4cmiwPT2jp6MDAX3QqfXkenuHjjs_ihcUJSZS9SwvgItjwZ9mCLFlfs8TUFYnWCbBqdxsiBxgM5QfB5PGlCk4UC9ugDEERfCihx-YZHtPtYRli8DBLgfq2I1L6RGbxs/s400/IMG_2650.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It only took us about an hour to get home. We picked up Gracie, the house monster, from the vet where we boarded her. Apparently she had a great time while we were gone. She played with every dog and person in the joint and got a (much needed) bath. </span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhj_9gq54ZwhJ_f7Dao9MoFHHSAfnJI0gNyoWlrOw8t_A7M9K_VIPHBD8vngs9h-4pbLciGm2K13R9kVPTRBoRMzCw4d4FmLCfeX3YGGAP5NFK8my9W9mVR655Ja0YU_mq3cVw3aRJXk/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhj_9gq54ZwhJ_f7Dao9MoFHHSAfnJI0gNyoWlrOw8t_A7M9K_VIPHBD8vngs9h-4pbLciGm2K13R9kVPTRBoRMzCw4d4FmLCfeX3YGGAP5NFK8my9W9mVR655Ja0YU_mq3cVw3aRJXk/s400/IMG_1921.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie, the House Monster</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall, a great vacation! </span></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-58967270922192813522011-08-16T09:00:00.009-04:002011-09-06T14:19:02.833-04:00Tenacious Tips Tuesday - The Curmudgeon's Season<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Author's note: Sorry this is late, folks! Been on vacation!</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing drives me crazier than finding a plant I love at a price I can’t afford. It’s not that I necessarily think the growers or nursery people are overcharging, either. No, growers have my complete sympathy. Introducing a new plant to the public is the result of years, literally, of work. Making the crosses, growing the seedlings and discarding the majority of them for one flaw or another, propagating enough to sell and then hoping the public agrees with your choices. Given all that, it’s a wonder anyone bothers!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, though, what is comes down to is I am a cheapskate at heart. I have heart palpitations at the thought of paying more than $10 for a plant. A seed pack priced at $3.50 sends me fleeing in panic. My husband says I pinch a penny so hard, Abe Lincoln is eating wheat toast (if you’re too young to remember wheat pennies, my apologies). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what’s a curmudgeon to do?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are, of course, a million ways to save money on plants; I’ll discuss others in future Tips. For today, let’s talk about my absolute favorite, end of season sales. Yes, yes, I know; most places are picked over or the good stuff isn’t put on sale or the plants are in hideous shape or etc. All of that is true. However, there are still some factors that make these sales worth checking out. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, it’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shopping</i>, for pity’s sake, for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">garden plants</i>. Isn’t that enough?? At any time of year? What else is your patio for except to hold a pot ghetto? Good grief, people, I shouldn’t have to spell this one out!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, if you like odd stuff, really odd stuff, you’re likely to find it at a steep discount at this time of year. Certain plants may not have sold in the main season because they were too weird for the general public, whose tastes run toward marigolds and geraniums. (Are these people really gardeners, by the way? I like those plants, too, but give me some quirky sedums, fall-blooming heleniums or at the very least a few gazanias! Don’t people get bored with the same old bedding plants year after year?)</span></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaL_qrH5Ll9oDSkAvXRm6FoPQTRw2JGNdF8MVcb-8qh1zbhmF08M92emLcbVBJs116BMkYv5-_xYojK8wAGM1WCNQe2AGUH-2fy7cL6yz7g-ytqhBhLxTXQmtZJ6MtMvaaSjSm2Wl5rjI/s1600/IMG_2420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaL_qrH5Ll9oDSkAvXRm6FoPQTRw2JGNdF8MVcb-8qh1zbhmF08M92emLcbVBJs116BMkYv5-_xYojK8wAGM1WCNQe2AGUH-2fy7cL6yz7g-ytqhBhLxTXQmtZJ6MtMvaaSjSm2Wl5rjI/s200/IMG_2420.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helenium 'Double Trouble'</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5ZJ47AXorjuKew0_Ky5scF9vUK6DfHBjV41J0IGDjyQUcj3dA5QRK4quM3Zr9qclq2FGiIRLhLdDAnMP6CIdhCS2tG7HKCNZrJd5ac7GB3cH-7KNKdFHrSXSjJADg1kY0c0cARjhGfQ/s1600/IMG_2386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5ZJ47AXorjuKew0_Ky5scF9vUK6DfHBjV41J0IGDjyQUcj3dA5QRK4quM3Zr9qclq2FGiIRLhLdDAnMP6CIdhCS2tG7HKCNZrJd5ac7GB3cH-7KNKdFHrSXSjJADg1kY0c0cARjhGfQ/s200/IMG_2386.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helenium 'Rubinzwerg'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third, some of the bigger nurseries will indeed pull popular extras and store them in greenhouses for the next year. Smaller places may not have that luxury, though, and would prefer to get rid of all their stock and start over next spring. Watch for the mom and pop places and smaller nurseries. One local nursery I’ve gone to for years will often throw in a few freebies of perennials they were going to throw out. Your luck may vary, but it’s worth a shot, especially if you have good relations with them.</span></div> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can hear you saying “But if they were going to throw them out, they must have been awful plants! Why would I bring a plant like that into my garden?” That’s a valid concern and brings up the question of what constitutes a “bad” plant. I have a few criteria. A plant is bad if:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is infested with bugs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has some sort of visible disease</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If it’s a tree or shrub, it has severe structural damage (broken limbs, badly formed trunks, etc.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is dead</span></li>
</ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those ones stay at the nursery and my money stays in my pocket. However, I’ve brought almost every other type of problem home. Pot bound? Yep. Stunted growth? Yep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over grown? Yep. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plants are actually unbelievably tough and can recover from almost anything given proper care. Yes, they will look like hell for the rest of this season, but if you tease those roots out, give it a trim, plant it in good soil in plenty of time for it to get established and give it a little TLC in the spring, you’ll end up with a fantastic plant for a fraction of the original cost. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my favorite plant rescues is a brunnera I received as a freebie from my buddies at the above-mentioned nursery. I didn’t especially want it but my friend insisted I would love it and threw it in the box with my other stuff. It didn’t look good. Every leaf, all 3 them, was scorched from sitting out in the sun. The tiny pot was almost dried out. I held little hope for it, but I planted it in a moist, shady area and forgot it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next spring, my darling spouse asked me what that gorgeous, silver leafed plant was. It is now a healthy, beautiful addition to my shade garden and didn’t cost me anything but a little time digging.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Use caution, of course. Check the plant carefully for the things I mentioned. If it looks like more than you want to deal with as a reclamation project, pass it up. Some things are beyond earthly help and there is no point aggravating yourself with a plant you can’t save. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of you in my area, I strongly recommend <a href="http://www.valozesgreenhouse.com/">Valoze’s Greenhouse</a> and <a href="http://www.faddegons.com/gardencenter.htm">Faddegon’s Garden Center</a> in general and for end of season sales. I was at Faddegon’s last week and their 50% off sale has begun. Valoze’s always has good prices and I believe their sale has started as well, though I haven’t been by lately. Another one to watch is <a href="http://www.hewitts.com/">Hewitt’s</a>. Over the space of a few weeks, they drop their prices down to $15 for any tree or shrub and I have gotten some great stuff from them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoy the Curmudgeon’s Season!</span></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-51319083659788571982011-08-11T09:00:00.001-04:002011-08-11T09:00:09.954-04:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Low Maintenance Plants</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant Name: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Baptisia australis</i></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Low Maintenance Rating: <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overview</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My preference is for plants a little out of the ordinary, ones that not everybody may have seen, and one of my favorites is baptisia (Baptisia australis), also known as false indigo. Baptisia forms a huge mound of blue-green foliage topped with blue spires of pea-like flowers in the spring, looking a bit like a gigantic lupine. It can get 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide and is quite hardy in our area. Full sun is must as it can get sort of floppy in the shade.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the common variety is blue, other selections have different flower colors. ‘Carolina Moonlight’ is a lovely pale yellow while another species, Baptisia alba, has white flowers. There is even one named ‘Screaming Yellow’ and the name is entirely apt! I added one this year called ‘Solar Flare Prairieblues’ which has bright yellow flowers that fade to orange. The Prairieblues line also includes some different shades of blue including a rich midnight blue named, appropriately, ‘Midnight Prairieblues’. I have not yet seen this one in person, but I’m told it looks like a large, bushy delphinium. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTelO35U8rrqpGS_upLW8lDlK8Q_TU8a0vA_6XFiz1aHSWqAGXYNG55oTM9KzQNtjxLJLwg7GehSPFhINLIIu27U27HjrYGVtYXELc_XLq5KpjmdJqxf5_1lW1ccavwJpOfDPoKKQKgw/s1600/New+Pics+5+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTelO35U8rrqpGS_upLW8lDlK8Q_TU8a0vA_6XFiz1aHSWqAGXYNG55oTM9KzQNtjxLJLwg7GehSPFhINLIIu27U27HjrYGVtYXELc_XLq5KpjmdJqxf5_1lW1ccavwJpOfDPoKKQKgw/s400/New+Pics+5+102.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptisia 'Carolina Moonlight' with Iris 'Sultan's Palace'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is also a dwarf form (Baptisia australis var. minor) which is a bit harder to find, but well worth it if you have limited space, as it only gets around 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. I’ve only seen it available in 2 places, both online – <a href="http://www.wellsweep.com/">Well Sweep Herb Farm</a> in New Jersey and <a href="http://www.highcountrygardens.com/">High Country Gardens</a> in New Mexico. Both companies are ones I’ve ordered from in the past and been very happy with.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXD_zYhAe0GhUdCD14uvZ1Kd6MDVn9IMMNwWrJ1FMBcgP8Bh253R6lQncF1iwlc8tqvHj6BtIW4tri2tiriaaXH1a4qoFB5A6UWJ_AKpdH1FDsGwhGq2kLpCY4LRPn773_NUHioMoa68/s1600/Baptisia+minor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXD_zYhAe0GhUdCD14uvZ1Kd6MDVn9IMMNwWrJ1FMBcgP8Bh253R6lQncF1iwlc8tqvHj6BtIW4tri2tiriaaXH1a4qoFB5A6UWJ_AKpdH1FDsGwhGq2kLpCY4LRPn773_NUHioMoa68/s400/Baptisia+minor.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baptisia australis var. minor</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I had to give baptisia any negative points it would have to be for permanence. The root system on baptisia is impressive. You’ve probably heard that they have a tap root (a single root reaching down anywhere from 2 feet to hell)? Well, these plants don’t have just one tap root, they have many that go to hell and part way back. And if you damage them, the plant will die. It makes them nearly impossible to transplant. Once it’s full grown, you’re pretty much stuck with it where you planted it so site it carefully.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Disease</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have never experienced or heard of a disease affecting baptisia.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Insects</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ditto</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Animal</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only animal pests that have affected my baptisia have been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">voles</b> and they don’t do any permanent damage. In the winter, the little varmints gnaw off the stems, sending the dried plant tumbling across the garden like a huge tumbleweed. I would have cut them off in the spring anyway and the plant always re-sprouts, so no harm is done. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kind of weird seeing it roll across the snow in January, though.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Invasiveness</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baptisia is not invasive, but it can get large. Treat it as you would a medium sized shrub.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Water</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baptisia has an extremely long and deep root system, allowing it to search near and far for water if none is forthcoming from the skies or the gardener. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The usual caveat applies to newly planted baptisias. All baby plants require extra care till they are established.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Fertilizing</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another plant I would be afraid of fertilizing; baptisia does just fine on its own!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Pruning/Cleaning</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baptisias are actually better if you don’t mess with them. The flowers are self-cleaning, meaning the dead ones fall off without any help, and the seed pods it forms are quite attractive and last the rest of the season.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-81102616152692336632011-08-09T09:00:00.002-04:002011-08-09T09:00:28.056-04:00Tenacious Tip Tuesday - WeedingWell, yesterday's laziness met up with Monday's busy-ness and I'm afraid this is going to be a short Tip. Since tonight's busy-ness involved weeding, let me make a few points on that activity. <br />
<br />
First, while stubborness is a wonderful trait in gardeners, patience is also a virtue. If you have a large weeding project, wait for a soaking rain to begin it. The rain we were blessed with over the weekend ensured that the offending weeds popped right out, with the exception of some really stubborn ones (I'm looking at you, dandelions!). The ground gets nice and soft and the plants don't break off right at ground level the second you touch them.<br />
<br />
I usually sit on the ground and dig at obnoxious weeds with my bare hands until it occurs to me that several weapons of weed destruction are sitting in a bucket not 10 feet away. I'm blond, what can I say? Which leads to my second point - use the right tools! There are 2 that I particularly like. The first is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-CobraHead-Weeder-and-Cultivator/dp/B000JKONAO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312851632&sr=8-1">CobraHead</a> weeder. The thing is billed as being a large, steel fingernail and that is as good a description as any. Since they increased the handle length, you can get a really good swing behind it, increasing your destructive power. The spade shaped head is small enough to get onto tight spots and sharp enough to cut through tough roots. <br />
<br />
The second weapon of choice is a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flexrake-CLA105-Classic-Flower-Vegetable/dp/B001IKYV7Y/ref=sr_1_26?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1312851864&sr=1-26">garden cultivator</a> I found at one of the big box hardware stores ages ago and never discovered an adequate name for. The link to Amazon calls it a Flexrake, hubby and I alternate between calling it an adze and garden whacker. It is a 2 sided hand tool; one side is a 3-pronged digging tool and the other side is like a hoe. <br />
<br />
You <strong>cannot</strong> beat this tool for versatility and toughness. We beat the crap out of the 2 we have and not just in the garden. We took them with us to the <a href="http://www.herkimerdiamond.com/">Herkimer Diamond Mines</a> and used them to pry apart boulders. (Great place, by the way. If you're out in the Herkimer area, check it out.) That trip we managed to bend a prong on one of them; nothing else has made a dent.<br />
<br />
Lastly, and I've mentioned this before, alternate your technique. If you're like me, you enjoy bending over and pulling out weeds by the handful. It is easier to move around, you have more leverage and it's probably a habit. Unfortunately, it is a bad habit and can lead to back problems, especially if your enthusiastic in your tugging. Do yourself a favor and alternate standing with sitting.<br />
<br />
I plonk right down on my butt and scoot along the ground when I'm too lazy to trot over to the garage and fetch my Scoot-n-Do. After that position becomes uncomfortable, I stand up, take a water break, then start again from a standing position. Your back will last much longer this way, though your pants might not!<br />
<br />
OK, enough for now. Take care of yourself when you're out there!TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-50658222006599266302011-08-07T19:45:00.000-04:002011-08-07T19:45:08.110-04:00Lazy Sunday<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here I sit, staring out at the garden, a million things to do and no ambition to do any of it. With the rain yesterday, the weeds would pop out like magic, but I’m content to leave them for the moment. I can see half a dozen plants that need to be moved and this overcast, damp day would be perfect to do it and I just can't bring myself to care.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve all had days like this, where our brain decides to stop and have a “me day”. Unfortunately, it usually chooses a day when you really have things to do! Sunday is laundry and bill paying day, garbage and cat box cleaning day. I still have to write my Tenacious Tip for Tuesday! I don’t have time to take a “me day”!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I can’t seem to be bothered to do any real work today, here are some photos of the garden from this morning. First, a few daylilies:</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1phRQTJfKLYuGc-XRDUU_dBxMwwZ9KSPOGsvkCW__xi1DA963KGYiWvVNxg0gBro3JZSrEFR14bt3dqMaYjW0RrdRUJTrTSqIV5jmbDlWJzTR5WM_KUw4-GRp1qLC2e1k80SX4Q__2Y/s1600/Daylily+Final+Touch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1phRQTJfKLYuGc-XRDUU_dBxMwwZ9KSPOGsvkCW__xi1DA963KGYiWvVNxg0gBro3JZSrEFR14bt3dqMaYjW0RrdRUJTrTSqIV5jmbDlWJzTR5WM_KUw4-GRp1qLC2e1k80SX4Q__2Y/s400/Daylily+Final+Touch.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final Touch</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZlaLwuouNWC_i7Lq1-8Oci1jLEm1PvA-a6bFQZTFJEN1yGJapxGOx8lbKWDjdZhy1BJLLR78gnTPeTK1-tz6M7ylBF8Ze7KJxxFrSz-cAD9NvhG4PF8R33IbBHhkRnukcN4lAcVaqKk/s1600/Daylily+Scatterbrain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZlaLwuouNWC_i7Lq1-8Oci1jLEm1PvA-a6bFQZTFJEN1yGJapxGOx8lbKWDjdZhy1BJLLR78gnTPeTK1-tz6M7ylBF8Ze7KJxxFrSz-cAD9NvhG4PF8R33IbBHhkRnukcN4lAcVaqKk/s400/Daylily+Scatterbrain.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scatterbrain</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSQA3WSxtzeKkm_TYB9P0CjYsRVSRIM6ZLy2wld8rTVNb_RH4QmO9ywRayx_9_iIairs3zDOBX9fei_zgGOyJEazZS1EK8cfRosvClFn_pXoB4cCz5QgJLE5f9mOB0dR_YQeq8Jlc6YU/s1600/Daylily+Watermelon+Moon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSQA3WSxtzeKkm_TYB9P0CjYsRVSRIM6ZLy2wld8rTVNb_RH4QmO9ywRayx_9_iIairs3zDOBX9fei_zgGOyJEazZS1EK8cfRosvClFn_pXoB4cCz5QgJLE5f9mOB0dR_YQeq8Jlc6YU/s400/Daylily+Watermelon+Moon.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watermelon Moon, still loaded with buds</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, an overview of the garden:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsuREX-ZJyQltrKpxd-I6J8mGAWkbsBfyK6Nf0MLY_rBze853DIl6QRCQze03x8QSCwgxRnMDejx2HV7o2xjLrFKMLKjG59QNgM8ZCkkDLXOac85qfGi7s6OlhmT59Lu0z_cMtRrsq1k/s1600/Overview.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsuREX-ZJyQltrKpxd-I6J8mGAWkbsBfyK6Nf0MLY_rBze853DIl6QRCQze03x8QSCwgxRnMDejx2HV7o2xjLrFKMLKjG59QNgM8ZCkkDLXOac85qfGi7s6OlhmT59Lu0z_cMtRrsq1k/s400/Overview.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The new patio is finished!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1l4MgakBwB7I01NKZrL-yMieLeMw07xOrsPOgMqcjOM_E3El6pNaRA5teJUm26CKz39XqdDt-Um1rQoK_77ZqypuHlPSq-zkGLJ64KnNvWU19bWx0e7sGDgiEhEgxc1yv96UUTLeUzY/s1600/New+Patio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1l4MgakBwB7I01NKZrL-yMieLeMw07xOrsPOgMqcjOM_E3El6pNaRA5teJUm26CKz39XqdDt-Um1rQoK_77ZqypuHlPSq-zkGLJ64KnNvWU19bWx0e7sGDgiEhEgxc1yv96UUTLeUzY/s400/New+Patio.JPG" t$="true" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And some generic garden stuff:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98RAZJGIeU2QMAi1MlKdYYbG7AnS4fT5K8s4W_x8kpEFTIES46A7xonR8u2taknxCIa85bDzqyLU4k334mFS4Eoy3KZISn6rDcgEvliu284WkvlTnV6Z0dkMbZh7XzROqbw8Q7-njDT4/s1600/Frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98RAZJGIeU2QMAi1MlKdYYbG7AnS4fT5K8s4W_x8kpEFTIES46A7xonR8u2taknxCIa85bDzqyLU4k334mFS4Eoy3KZISn6rDcgEvliu284WkvlTnV6Z0dkMbZh7XzROqbw8Q7-njDT4/s400/Frog.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pond Monster</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTICVIPmjquE2ri2N5-sWCDP5QC5EuQscT_n9NZm2zf1cPdQyceB8wREuqVtAkMQkGL0wypx8TU9jG6roPzLrIZReEKSg-efKjdAIuzOlovpZSKICwbswL2uaQs9lr0-1phT1ikF_k2E/s1600/Glads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTICVIPmjquE2ri2N5-sWCDP5QC5EuQscT_n9NZm2zf1cPdQyceB8wREuqVtAkMQkGL0wypx8TU9jG6roPzLrIZReEKSg-efKjdAIuzOlovpZSKICwbswL2uaQs9lr0-1phT1ikF_k2E/s400/Glads.JPG" t$="true" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gladiolus 'Celebration'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETGSnCYTjq3kMGMmg5rQd8q6SZ_ZytvoNBk7BuOBgdm_byQU8KGegAARU_0-_3OOB146LjbYNRP8HnTIjFU-nkzacXOuLGkbkDUQ2-QWe04Mpxh5KRx32JqFwL0B5Zkn0kbe7j_I-65s/s1600/Scabiosa+Fama.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETGSnCYTjq3kMGMmg5rQd8q6SZ_ZytvoNBk7BuOBgdm_byQU8KGegAARU_0-_3OOB146LjbYNRP8HnTIjFU-nkzacXOuLGkbkDUQ2-QWe04Mpxh5KRx32JqFwL0B5Zkn0kbe7j_I-65s/s400/Scabiosa+Fama.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scabiosa 'Fama'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for looking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Author's Note - I did actually do some work today. Really.</div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-37315710920555882122011-08-04T09:00:00.005-04:002011-08-08T21:44:44.262-04:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Low Maintenance Plants</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant Name: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hemerocallis hybrida</i></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall Low Maintenance Rating: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4.5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overview</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One low maintenance perennial I couldn’t manage without is the Hemerocallis, or daylily. When they think of daylilies, many people think only of the bright orange ditch lilies found along every roadside or the interminable gold-colored ‘Stella D’Oro’, usually surrounded by a sea of red mulch. I have to admit that if these were the only choices available, I would banish them without ceremony from my garden. In the first instance, ditch lilies can actually become an invasive nuisance as they spread enthusiastically by root and seed. In the second instance, well, red mulch really SHOULD be banned; ‘Stella’ is OK but much overused.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daylilies actually come in almost every color except blue and true black, and in a variety of sizes, from delicate dwarfs to towering giants. They can go years without division and are untouched by disease or pests in most areas. Bloom starts in late June and usually runs through July and into the early part of August. When not in bloom, they do a wonderful impression of a decorative grass.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Disease</u> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>4.5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the Northeast, daylilies are relatively unaffected by disease. As you move south, however, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">daylily rust</b> becomes an issue. Rust is a disfiguring fungus that has only recently been reported in the US. If you live in zone 7 or warmer, you may want to check out the information available at the American Hemerocallis Society’s (AHS) <a href="http://www.daylilies.org/ahs_dictionary/daylily_rust.html">website</a> on prevention and control. Rust looks like raised, orange bumps on the undersides of leaves and can result in the death of the leaf. While it does not seem to kill the plant outright, rust could weaken the plant and leave it susceptible to other problems.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spring sickness</b> is a disorder I have seen in my garden and, while it is disconcerting, my plants have always outgrown it and take no lasting damage. When the plants first start sprouting in the spring, the leaves can twist and turn brown on the edges. It looks a bit like your plant is trying to fold itself into a ball! There is no known cause, though some theorize it may have to do with changing temperatures. The AHS <a href="http://www.daylilies.org/ahs_dictionary/spring_sickness.html">website</a> also shows pictures of this disorder.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Insects</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>4.5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insects generally leave daylilies alone or at least don’t do lasting damage. There are, however, bugs which do cosmetic damage to the flowers. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thrips</b> cause white splotches and streaks on daylily flowers. Good luck spotting them as they are all but microscopic. Dark colored daylily flowers, reds and purples, show the damage the worst. I don’t find the damage sufficient to resort to sprays, but I’m told they can be controlled by products containing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinosad">spinosad</a>. </span> </div></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UH_xYW0FjyXDdf3Ufb43chepSCxz0eNoJa50AjB4MIqim5NLoffKrUGVhKXYUIq0eTgiedYq4I44NXILsfzurbJwniJcTY41Mms9WGbkl0sEgCoo8zH6hyQh_zZkl2jHJxjHLCGVKYw/s1600/IMG_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UH_xYW0FjyXDdf3Ufb43chepSCxz0eNoJa50AjB4MIqim5NLoffKrUGVhKXYUIq0eTgiedYq4I44NXILsfzurbJwniJcTY41Mms9WGbkl0sEgCoo8zH6hyQh_zZkl2jHJxjHLCGVKYw/s200/IMG_2262.JPG" t$="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Startle' showing thrip damage</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG2PFnoxyrR1UE8wIKWYllHSfn9QtjTheKDAhg6P2hYJJENd4sJ2l9YReG0X65C3wOCugwCOpo4DqJN_bKjWsvztA-OQcDbaftlu07ZORIORGMep1GRFbV_zSw5Zi4isEfuRwe-OF2Ps/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG2PFnoxyrR1UE8wIKWYllHSfn9QtjTheKDAhg6P2hYJJENd4sJ2l9YReG0X65C3wOCugwCOpo4DqJN_bKjWsvztA-OQcDbaftlu07ZORIORGMep1GRFbV_zSw5Zi4isEfuRwe-OF2Ps/s200/IMG_2263.JPG" t$="true" width="200" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Startle' undamaged</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are other insects which can affect daylilies, but I cannot comment on them as I have not had problems with them (knock wood).</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Pests – Animal</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only animal pests that have affected my daylilies have been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">voles</b>. Horrible critters. Voles generally eat the roots of any garden plant you currently love. For some reason, though, they don’t like daylily roots. Instead, they undermine the plant and make little vole living rooms under them. The whole center of the plant will die since its roots are not touching soil. If you notice this happening, dig the plant up, destroy the tunnels and replant it, packing the dirt down firmly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, get a cat. They help a lot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72_aDPI_nyKoKz7q-NiAOzIDPF9pL7G1eKEmniKBy1QCgg0hVGnJUFsYL_bjDye0OV82HnAkniaiULvye09__G3qthyphenhyphenaPHFSJfUitWiLYlXBT7elkS_F1MC1BU6SgQSgFmaJKeWESMAM/s1600/DSC_3697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72_aDPI_nyKoKz7q-NiAOzIDPF9pL7G1eKEmniKBy1QCgg0hVGnJUFsYL_bjDye0OV82HnAkniaiULvye09__G3qthyphenhyphenaPHFSJfUitWiLYlXBT7elkS_F1MC1BU6SgQSgFmaJKeWESMAM/s400/DSC_3697.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not as lazy as I look!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Invasiveness</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Domesticated daylilies are not invasive. The clumps expand politely and usually only need division every 3 to 4 years. The wild orange ditch lilies (hemerocallis fulva), on the other hand, can become quite the nuisance. They seed readily and expand wildly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Water</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>5 Stars</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m about as lazy as it gets about watering. Unless a plant is in a pot and gasping its last breath, I am not likely to break out the hose. The daylilies absolutely don’t care. During the 3 weeks without rain and temps in the 90s, they were about the only plants which shrugged it off. This was during peak bloom time, too. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please note that does not include newly planted daylilies; or any other baby plants, for that matter. Newly planted greenery should always be treated with extra care which includes making sure they never dry out. Once they’re established, they’re on their own.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Fertilizing</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not once in the years I’ve been growing daylilies have I fertilized them. In theory, they might do better if I did, but I can’t see how!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>General Maintenance – Pruning/Cleaning</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>4 Stars<u></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daylilies do require a little clean up on a regular basis to look their best, especially when they are flowering. Each flower only lasts one day and nothing is more disgusting than daylily flowers the day AFTER they flower. They turn to mush and then dry up and stick to the buds waiting to open. Picking the spent flowers off keeps it looking neat and the remains can be added to the compost heap. It’s not absolutely necessary, though, especially if you have lots of them!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some of my favorites:</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvFlU6jgpK7C9MZwXdrT8nuygrG0aN9A4bwM1zR9BTwu_9zSFtRbrUxZ_V36Jq6uj6GU-b1-xZyncUMIzK2sSXpJib8s4nWntqdXjhkaHn2njDktWxPSUowyWPo2r00FpIZGbinzAp4M/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvFlU6jgpK7C9MZwXdrT8nuygrG0aN9A4bwM1zR9BTwu_9zSFtRbrUxZ_V36Jq6uj6GU-b1-xZyncUMIzK2sSXpJib8s4nWntqdXjhkaHn2njDktWxPSUowyWPo2r00FpIZGbinzAp4M/s320/IMG_2204.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armenian Haberdashery</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNzpvyBa8nYbuNloLG_tKvS6BPHG_Sa3oo2nG0I-soPO9-f2u5hAt7dEpOivNiI54sgHBIeoWPnarlphziCxQC9Pl35L3G7__BomrbbbsPtAlFiJHNZRriBJmY3aHR9-1YpNaUyctE3I/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNzpvyBa8nYbuNloLG_tKvS6BPHG_Sa3oo2nG0I-soPO9-f2u5hAt7dEpOivNiI54sgHBIeoWPnarlphziCxQC9Pl35L3G7__BomrbbbsPtAlFiJHNZRriBJmY3aHR9-1YpNaUyctE3I/s320/IMG_2209.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Horses</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc65DdlWMm5i03wsKeSEZTyPpa2ioNga1PD9NNOGdVhGrU7dfzlWnn6BeT8VyKdQkgJOX8zWX8vkouMo59Pj2LJtoVKh9exXglQucy5xQn90e1y9YImi25rYkHo0vhNfKyJ3w0O8YIoho/s1600/IMG_2299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc65DdlWMm5i03wsKeSEZTyPpa2ioNga1PD9NNOGdVhGrU7dfzlWnn6BeT8VyKdQkgJOX8zWX8vkouMo59Pj2LJtoVKh9exXglQucy5xQn90e1y9YImi25rYkHo0vhNfKyJ3w0O8YIoho/s320/IMG_2299.JPG" t$="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frans Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCJ2xsKKrhCfwiajo1p0qeeOwECafkkL_wbTFfv0xlMSfomlBQ1MgZim3d3_ZM4APSqGw_bTH3CKSEZyz1dFGjiFuffBCgH3ii0V8sCZHi0FuPOdqpIM94gUY0UmL9fP9XnksSwKHeyM/s1600/IMG_2246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCJ2xsKKrhCfwiajo1p0qeeOwECafkkL_wbTFfv0xlMSfomlBQ1MgZim3d3_ZM4APSqGw_bTH3CKSEZyz1dFGjiFuffBCgH3ii0V8sCZHi0FuPOdqpIM94gUY0UmL9fP9XnksSwKHeyM/s320/IMG_2246.JPG" t$="true" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monterey Jack</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-OSOFCG5ULfuBu38zI-wPqtOCsnft4iWsUEg9NdvEl4Niz04G5VxuO6B1hTb2iUq813I6CBIoegk_tuNEHEKK2n7mJPhvj5oOyXz_r6CSqmy2dOVpc7-gTcuIe0uWWGCxwho-i060aU/s1600/IMG_2239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-OSOFCG5ULfuBu38zI-wPqtOCsnft4iWsUEg9NdvEl4Niz04G5VxuO6B1hTb2iUq813I6CBIoegk_tuNEHEKK2n7mJPhvj5oOyXz_r6CSqmy2dOVpc7-gTcuIe0uWWGCxwho-i060aU/s320/IMG_2239.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scatterbrain</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-41462623579783302732011-08-02T09:00:00.001-04:002011-08-02T09:00:09.671-04:00In Memoriam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjTWkNv5995htVNCAe28n5s4KBcgT6yU-bhboZLqKrDvSlUESTb57mhnZzbFVvJowZt668yzok3TUm20wj7HflZGvtmQvrCVUJOS0jjhW30kUT53Pe1P0AjX8Az7HJcJ7UmPQX0-9GJo/s1600/Picture14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjTWkNv5995htVNCAe28n5s4KBcgT6yU-bhboZLqKrDvSlUESTb57mhnZzbFVvJowZt668yzok3TUm20wj7HflZGvtmQvrCVUJOS0jjhW30kUT53Pe1P0AjX8Az7HJcJ7UmPQX0-9GJo/s400/Picture14.jpg" t$="true" width="255px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dr. Edmond J. FitzGibbon</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>March 24, 1924 to July 30, 2011</strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A wonderful husband, father and father-in-law</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Tenacious Tips Tuesday will return next week</span>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7576693020954117625.post-40642421919023691712011-07-26T09:00:00.004-04:002011-09-06T14:19:44.024-04:00Tenacious Tip Tuesday - Use Low Maintenance Plants<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first year I grew bee balm (Monarda didyma), a variety called ‘Raspberry Wine’, it was a fantastic success. The tiny, little plant I started with expanded politely to about a foot and a half across and stood 3 feet tall, with many lovely flowers. The leaves had a minty, spicy scent and not a speck of disease. It was a hummingbird magnet, too; every evening we could count on watching a couple of the little birds squabbling for control of the flowers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcez2kglPffrkubIkO1-DXjfA8TSfxmdy31-Dnyuv1veYxVqRmA2_FnL4-l9x-dInwY_3PK8D_e0rx5CJgffoylmqCkkcvqB85e6GAzMUUblyLc_2cfFlMpyLGxDOTh-_WW7cZyz2DD4/s1600/Hummingbird+Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcez2kglPffrkubIkO1-DXjfA8TSfxmdy31-Dnyuv1veYxVqRmA2_FnL4-l9x-dInwY_3PK8D_e0rx5CJgffoylmqCkkcvqB85e6GAzMUUblyLc_2cfFlMpyLGxDOTh-_WW7cZyz2DD4/s320/Hummingbird+Edit.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following year, the polite expansion continued, a little less politely. By the end of that season, the patch was four feet across and barreling over a rose and 2 daylilies. The flower stalks had grown to 4 feet tall and the nightly battle among the hummingbirds had taken on tones of a World War 2 dogfight. Scrappy little critters, those hummingbirds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The third year began my annual battle to keep bee balm under control. After a few experiments, I decided the only way to control it was to lift the entire patch every other year first thing in the spring, cut out the old, woody growth and replant a piece from the expanding edge. This got to be a somewhat brutal affair as there was a great deal of viable plant material left at the end. I tried giving the pieces away for a while but people began to avoid me; you’d have thought I was giving away excess summer squash. I wouldn’t get around to that till August.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I couldn’t give away got composted or at least hit the pile. There’s now a lovely patch of bee balm surrounding the compost bins and Brian mows it down when it gets too rowdy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every gardener has their own way of dealing with thugs. Some enjoy their rampancy, giving them their own space to pillage, some limit them to pots, and others refuse to grow them at all. A lot depends on the particular plant, too. Is it worth the effort to accommodate? Is it a major thug or just a minor hooligan? If you do let it loose in the garden, can you get it out again without high explosives?</span></div><a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once physical limitations begin to take their toll on your activities, you may need to review your definition of a garden thug. Bee balm is not a thug to me but it has been upgraded to a major hooligan. I still enjoy it, but it has been banished to a wilder part of the garden where it can frolic without restriction. The question now becomes what will I replace it with? What plants are far enough down the thug scale to be acceptable in my renovated garden? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hooligan test is just one of several criteria a plant should meet to gain entrance to the demesnes. Other low maintenance criteria include frequency of watering, feeding and pruning, resistance to insect and animal damage, and disease resistance. All of these are at least somewhat subjective. What is intolerable insect damage to one gardener may be perfectly acceptable to another. Some gardeners enjoy pruning more than breathing, while others find it tortuous, especially those with arthritic fingers. Watering plants can be Zen-like, if you don’t find it painful to haul heavy hoses from one end of the garden to the other, as I do.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only you can decide what constitutes high maintenance in garden plants. Ask yourself these questions:</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What tasks have become difficult for me? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What plants require these tasks as part of their regular care?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are the plants worth keeping despite the care required?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If not, can you identify other plants to replace them?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Roses are a good example of a rethinking a plant in my garden. At the height of my rose growing mania, I had over 250. Most were hybrid teas, floribundas and grandifloras; all “modern” roses and known to be prima donnas. Feeding, spraying and pruning had to follow strict schedules if I wanted the bushes to be fully leafed with healthy flowers. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VCqZsdFbAHHk0Y1XCwQ7nRB0ZRvx-q2m1Zld3ZLc4G4U39vktPda7rUsA3ESj8aiLZLOXgD5ea5gS9boHvArTt39Y5nCpQIY1Kr86XC-jX-pbaC5joaobaOzzKhjaALlqI-nCA9dw7c/s1600/New+Pics+5+183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VCqZsdFbAHHk0Y1XCwQ7nRB0ZRvx-q2m1Zld3ZLc4G4U39vktPda7rUsA3ESj8aiLZLOXgD5ea5gS9boHvArTt39Y5nCpQIY1Kr86XC-jX-pbaC5joaobaOzzKhjaALlqI-nCA9dw7c/s400/New+Pics+5+183.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolly's Forever Rose with geranium 'Rozanne'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No more. Now, I am down to less than 100 and none of them get more than minimal care. No spraying at all, feeding when I think of it and pruning when I’m near one with the clippers. The ones left either do OK or get shovel pruned. I’ve also discovered the “old” roses, heirloom varieties developed before 1900, which only require pruning to keep them from taking over. That makes them minor hooligans but they’re worth it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll be posting reviews of plants in my garden that have proven themselves to be low maintenance starting next week. I hope you find them helpful!</span></div>TSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734795130434572096noreply@blogger.com2