Metamorphosis In The Garden

Metamorphosis is not only something that occurs with caterpillars into butterflies, it occurs in the garden all the time.  I began with an all sun garden under my small Pagoda Dogwood tree tucked into the back corner of my yard.  It's leaf coverage was so small that I could grow Veronica Sunny Border Blue, Cone flowers and Phlox.

Well, over the last few years this lovely dogwood, even though damaged by the Cicadas a couple of years ago, has branched out considerably.  It is no longer a sun garden back there but has morphed into a shade garden.  I really did not want it to be a shade garden, but it spoke loudly as to what it would have growing under it's feet.  I finally gave in and moved the sun loving plants and began to redesign a whole new garden.

I planted Thunder Bolt Hosta, Autumn Fern, Ghost Fern and Maggie Daley (named after our mayor's wife) Astilbe last summer and fall.  I also transplanted a large Rhodie back there from the front of the house.  They have all survived beautifully so I guess it was a good move to go with the shade.

I don't know why I fought this change as I love shade plants and miss so many of them from my other homes.  I guess I am kind of gun shy because in my old old home I had nothing but shade, couldn't grow anything that required sun.  My tomatoes grew to ten feet tall without tomatoes!

Spring Observations

Some posts ago I spoke about a scale disease I had on my Euyonmous Wintercreeper and Rhus Aromatica.  I had used an oil spray several years ago with my Hudson Sprayer on some flowering crab apples.  It was a pain to use, had to be above 50 degrees, no flowers visible and not above a certain temperature..  I did find a hand held spray bottle All Seasons Oil Spray made by Bonide.  It is easy to use on shrubs and small trees can be used above 40 degrees but not above 90 degrees. 

Take a look at Itzim Daffodil still blooming almost three weeks, not affected by the heavy rains or frost, certainly outlasted Jetfire and Tete-A-Tete.  It did say in the description "long blooming."  I will certainly dedicate more space to this one next year.

I have posted a mystery daffodil.  I cannot find it on my purchase orders from Van Engelen or Scheepers.  If you know what it is I would appreciate the name.  The trumpet is whiteish with a little yellow frill. 

Those Hyacinths (City of Harlem) and Daffodils (Sagitta) are into the flops, but I keep propping them up by putting one behind the other.  I ordered a mixed grouping of Hyacinths and got Pink Pearl and City of Harlem and I had some Gypsy from last year. 

I also lamented about my rhododendrons some posts ago that my husband wanted to fill in with a cement front porch.  We had replaced them all and I had asked for a reprieve by turning off the sprinkler in that area.  Well I guess they told him where they belonged!

The mixed Emperor Tulips are beginning to bloom peeking out of my Green Velvet Boxwoods bordering the patio.  Orange Emperor and Sweetheart Emperor are a good combination this year.  Tulips in zone 5 need to be treated as annuals.  If they come back it is a bonus, and the Emperors are more likely to return.

Just look at that Chanticleer Pear!  It is much tougher than the Bradford because it's branches grow upright and are not suseptible to the winds or ice.

May I Borrow That View Please?

We many times spend a lot of time and money blocking out the views from our garden, garbage cans, messy yards, ugly buildings, alleys, etc.  I know, I put up a fence so I could have a frame for my garden and put in all of the beautiful plants I loved without distraction.

So, here I am with this six foot fence, many lovely plantings but, I have only one tree in my back garden. There was only room for my Pagoda Dogwood which sits back in the corner of my yard.  I feel it may even be a struggle to keep this smaller tree within bounds. 

Early on in this home I realized that I had a room with a view!  As I stroll through the patio door on a Spring morning I have not only a Dogwood, but a beautiful Bradford Pear that peeks over my fence in the background.  I used to have many farm lilacs in my old old house but now I just have one that frames the left side of my patio.  The scent is as wonderful in my yard as it is in my neighbor's.  As I walk around to the north side of my home there are beautifully healthy arborvitaes reminding me of my last home.

None of these trees are mine but they all impact the look of my garden.  Thankfully, they are desirable.  If you have a view next to your garden that you would like to borrow, you don't even have to ask.  Just say, thank you!

What Fertilizer Do You Use?

Do you use the same fertilizer for everything?  Do you use different fertilizers for different types of plants, i.e., perennials, annuals, vegetables, shrubs, evergreens, trees, containers,etc.?  I do not have room for a compost pile or container so I use an organic granular (Espoma) 5-3-3 and an organic granular for acid loving plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, dogwoods and evergreens.  I am sure there are some I am missing, but these are the varieties in my garden.

I do use super bloom liquid formulas in my containers which are produced by Peter's and Schultz's with a high middle number.  When you have containers that are really putting out blooms, you need to pinch and cut back every once in awhile to keep them going until fall.

Carolyn Gail of Sweet Home and Garden Chicago had some very good advice in regard to fertilizer.  Her first recommendation is to do a soil test.  I must admit I am negligent in this area having purchased a kit many years ago that I believe is still in my garage.  Carolyn also informed me that I can purchase some very good compost mixes, "Nature's Finest," and "Back to Nature," are two of the brands on the market.

I have heard from some bloggers regarding their favorites (many like the time-release products).  Let me know if you have something that works well for you because we all seem to spend a lot of money and time on fertilizers.

Vegetable Garden Memories

My vegetable garden is doing great.  It has really loved all of the rain we have had, and just about everything is up except the parsley.  It is not time yet to put in the tomatoes or peppers so I am sure the cold crops will be lush by May 1.

The radishes need to be thinned and this is always traumatic to have to throw away living plants.  But, if you do not thin them out you will not get useable radishes.  I am growing Red Emperor this year - can't remember if I have grown this variety before.  I am not always successful with radishes, sometimes pithy, eaten by insects, etc.  But, I keep trying because they are so quick to germinate and so tasty when a success.

All of my weird lettuces are up and it is a good thing that I have put down markers or I would never remember their names.  My set onions are up, no seed onions yet, spinach looks great and carrots are peeking through the soil.  It is such a small garden but it still gives me a thrill every year to see the seeds sprouting. 

Plant a garden with your children or grandchildren even if they seem disinterested.  It will make a lifetime impression!