Dirty Fingers Muddy Knees

Winter Garden Tasks

by Susan | Jan 13, 2017 | plants

Now that the dead trees are gone from the front of the driveway I need to put in new screening trees. Having a large space to work with gives me the opportunity to finally get some of the large trees I’ve been wishing for.

Large trees are best viewed from a distance. This gives you the opportunity to take in the total lovely shape and structure of the tree. The distance to the front of the drive from the house is about 100 feet which is perfect for the larger scale trees I have in mind.

The decision between evergreen and deciduous is always a consideration. I love the fall color of the deciduous trees along with the fresh green in the spring. The screening doesn’t necessarily need to be high because there is only one two story house nearby that doesn’t face my house. I have several large evergreen trees (conifers) on the property already. My neighbors garden is also a consideration. If I plant dense evergreen trees it will eventually shade out a corner of her garden.

This area is also very moist. There are drainage pipes throughout the area that drain excess moisture into the stream area. Trees that like a dry area (like Pine) will be unhappy there.

I will likely choose my replacement trees from the following list…

October Glory Maple – Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’

A Norway maple that matures quickly into an oval shaped 40 ft tree. The brilliant red leaves stay on for a long while. Small red flowers with fresh green leaves greet you in the spring. Not fussy about site considerations but does need full sun to have good shape and good fall color.

plantswoman design october glory plant information

Red Sunset Maple – Acer rubrum ‘Franksred’

This is another great cultivar. Growing fast to eventually reach 60 feet the spectacular fall color is in colors of orange and red. The samara, (helicopter seed pods), are red and also beautiful.

red sunset maple plantswoman design plant information

Black Gum Tree (Nyssa sylvatica)

A beautiful and fairly unknown tree is the Nyssa sylvatica or black gum tree. Hardy to zone 3 with a height of 50 feet, it likes full sun or part shade. Especially good to know is that it likes wet feet. The area by the drive entry has a lot of water from the property behind me.

black gum tree plantswoman design plant information

American Basswood (Linden)

While visiting family in the Chicago area I became enthralled with the Linden Tree or American basswood. The tilia Americana has much to recommend it. Lovely large tree smothered in fragrant small yellow flowers in the spring, I would love to try and grow it. It is hard to believe that it is considered weak and susceptible to wind damage while being one of the most used trees in the streets of Chicago, one of the windiest cities in the US. This tree reaches over 50 feet with good rounded branching structure. A good source of nectar for honey bees, and shelter for small mammals. Two things to consider are an intolerance for salt spray and need for good drainage. It does like moist soil so there is a good possibility that the area could be moist enough without being too soggy.

linden tree plantswoman design plant information

I have several other trees on the property including the Katsura, River birch, two Cornus, Ginko, several magnolias, eucalyptus, Dove Tree, and horsechestnuts. Two palm trees flank the drive for the evergreen elements there. Now I just have to decide! I welcome any suggestions from you!

*occasional water after tree is established

Natural Christmas

by Susan | Dec 31, 2016 | Natural Decor

I thought you might enjoy what I’ve been up to instead of blogging. I love blogging but these past couple of weeks the effort required to get my clients set for the holiday season has made it hard to keep up with the blog.

rose hips natural christmas plantswoman design

Each year I am love bringing the outside in. My garden is sleeping but there are still things to enjoy, so I bring them in and enjoy them during Christmas. Natural style of Christmas decorating means enjoying the fresh and dried products from your garden. Rose hips are always a part of my decorating. I have a special history with rose hips. During my time at college while studying for horticulture I collected rose hips and made wreaths to help support myself and family. Both our native Rosa nutkana and a Rosa Multiflora are available in our area and hold their hips well without turning black. Tucking them into old boxes, on top of cupboards and making wreaths out of them add a wonderful natural red accent to every room.

topiaries natural christmas plantswoman design

Olive topiary in clay pots also come inside to add a beautiful gray green leaf on top of an old white table. Accented with natural driftwood tree, lit with LED lights, it makes an interesting display that feels fresh.

inside tree natural christmas plantswoman design

In Washington State we are so lucky to have an amazing variety of Christmas trees that can be cut just down the road from us. The inside tree is a lovely fragrant nobel fir tree that is native to our mountains. The formal tiers of branches grow naturally and are perfect for hanging Christmas ornaments.

outside tree natural christmas plantswoman design

The outside tree is a natural douglas fir. I find one that is untrimmed and loose. I used to put rose hips, suet, nuts, and popcorn to feed the birds. This house with its strong winds make it really hard to keep anything but lights on the tree. Even the lights are clipped on and the tree is tied to fencing posts to keep it upright. It is so cool to see it by the water in the dark and when snow and frost highlight it. Somehow as the days wind down to the shortest day of the year the bright lights in the darkness remind me that soon days will lengthen and daylight will come sooner.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Wishing you a natural and beautiful holiday and beautiful growing New Year.

The Building Season

by Susan | Nov 26, 2016 | gardening

It has been warm still in the Pacific Northwest, last week still in the upper sixties and warm at night too. Two days of light frost had no effect on the garden except the tomatoes. Leaves are still on trees and things are not completely dormant yet. But Winter is coming and winter is the best time to work on the bigger projects in the garden.

My list this winter includes removing dead and dying alder trees, rebuilding the larger shed at the top of the property, and moving the big greenhouse and getting it ready for moving plants inside. The koi pond needs some re-plumbing work and a more UV filters installed to keep algae down next year. The stone is waiting to be installed on it with more stone ready to be installed on the greenhouse foundation.

Wow, that seems like a lot!

OH yeah, and get the winter Veg garden better hoops for protection, moving some plants that need more room, put in a pump to pump water out of the stream for irrigation next year, and create a new bed for screening from upper neighbors.

Looks like a busy winter.

This week I had 6 trees downed next to the driveway. They were mostly dead with very little branching left and few leaves. After every windstorm the ground was littered with debris and big limbs. The stream runs through this area and was constantly clogged with debris. It is much more open now and ready for some trees. A craving for Katsura trees was satisfied this year in the upper pond garden but the craving for an October Glory Maple could be satisfied here. Look for an upcoming post on trees.

Inside projects include a new mosaic water dish for birds, labels for new plants that went in this year with only nursery tags. These usually get lost quickly in my garden so I use a galvanized metal tag in the ground with a plastic tape on it from a label maker. Both the botanical and common name go on it along with date of planting and nursery where it was purchased. Many times when writing a blog post, taking pictures, or looking for a specific plant for a customer the tag is so vital. Even though I have a garden journal that has all the same information it is by date so I have to remember when I planted it in to narrow down the many pages to find the information.

Mulch is also needed in several areas to combat weeds. This is the best time to do a big garden clean up, weeding and mulching for the year. Some plants will need extra protection that mulch can help with. Agapanthus, crinum, and leonitis are such plants in my garden.

What do you have on your winter projects list?

2016 Gardener’s Wish List

by Susan | Nov 19, 2016 | gardening

Yep already it is that time of year. Gardeners like me are still running out and working in the garden when we can. We are planning for the spring, looking at seed catalogs, and wondering what changes we are going to make next year. Help a gardener out this year with these great gift ideas.

Sometimes we find that one great book to help plan our edibles for next year. A great book for our area is the ‘Growing vegetables West of the Cascades’. This is a comprehensive book that gives suggestions for growing our cool, wet climate, and shade. We don’t always have the most opportune growing conditions and this book helps with great suggestions for growing plants well.

A fun way to spend the winter is working on garden art. I have so many plans for my garden. Often in the gardening year, when things are growing like crazy and tasks in the garden are piling on, I just have time to keep up with the everyday tasks. In the winter, though, when things are dormant in the garden, there is a chance to work on things that aren’t growing but make the garden beautiful. Inside and out there are chances to create great hardscape in the garden. Mosaic Garden Projects is a book that gives great ideas for embellishing your existing features as well as creating new ones.

While shopping at my local nursery Bainbridge Gardens, I found these great earrings. I tried them on and they are so very fun. I also think they would make great Christmas tree ornaments. Can’t you just see them hanging on a little Christmas tree? Fun stuff! Air plants need some good moisture 2 – 3 times a week. The first time I had one I never watered it thinking it was an ‘air plant’. It did not survive. Yep, turns out it really did need water too. So, if you get these, don’t forget to water your earrings.

Fun in the garden can come inside with some great garden sayings. Great quotes from gardeners, poets, and writers remind you why you do it. This great sign from Ravenna Gardens reminds me why I garden in my pajamas before breakfast.

Of course the gift list wouldn’t be complete without plants and I have two suggestions for you. Experienced gardeners will enjoy a little bonsai plant. Fun to experiment with and learn to grow, it can inspire gardeners to try something new. They grow outside but can be enjoyed indoors when blooming or fruiting. Then put them back outside for the rest of the year. They are easy to grow in sheltered area outside with water. For the bonsai lover there are many tools and books that can be given with the new plant.

New gardeners, or people you want to share the love of gardening with can start out with a grow pot from Urban Agriculture. These stylish pots can grow herbs, flowers, and vegetables inside on a window sill. They can be grow almost all year inside, or brought out in the spring to be in the garden. Few things are more magical than planting a seed and seeing it grow for the first time.

Share the magic or grow your own.

Plants I Dig: Pumpkin Season!

by Susan | Nov 13, 2016 | Plants I Dig

My yearly pumpkin experiments have developed as my garden develops. In previous gardens the pumpkins did not do that well. I was lucky to get one or two medium sized pumpkins. My current garden has much more space and a good place for the vines to rambling. Rambling is really what pumpkins need. They like to be wild and free not confined, kind of like unruly children that get into places that they shouldn’t be. Last year one grew between the rungs of a ladder. This year one grew into a nursery pot and came out looking like the pot!

They also produce male flowers first then the female flowers. Research into why no pumpkins are produced indicates that water is a big factor. If they are too dry they will produce male flowers but no female flowers. AND you know you need both!

Not content with regular pumpkins the heirloom ones are for me! Fairytale Pumpkins or Cucurbita moschata have deeply cut ribs so the lush color really stands out. A soft blush of white frost and blue frost overlay the orange for a beautiful subtle fall feel. It is similar to a Cinderella pumpkin but with deeper ribs. This makes good pies and can be used in other cooking.

Pumpkin Jarrahdale, Cucurbita maxima or Blue Pumpkin has a shiny slate gray color. These are so beautiful in the moonlight and mixed with other pumpkins. Sometimes they start out dark green and age to gray. This is also good for eating after displaying. You can bake them like a squash and use it in recipes the same way.

The more well know ‘Ghost’ pumpkin or Cucurbita maxima Lumina is also lovely white. Truly glow in the dark. This is edible too so enjoy it.

One of my pumpkins is lovely gray with a great ‘netting’ pattern on the skin. I’m not sure about the variety it may just be a variation of the Jarrahdale or another random seed that got in the packet by accident. I will save the seeds this year for replanting next year.

All of these can be harvested and kept for several weeks to a couple of months if not damaged. Keep them as dry as you can outside and don’t allow to get nicked or have the skin broken. When I’m ready to change out decorations outside I bring them into dry storage in the garage. You could also can them in a pressure caner or give excess away to friends or a food bank.

Mason Bee Harvest: 2016

by Susan | Oct 21, 2016 | LB Tutorial: Garden Critters

This has been a good year for my mason bees and they were fabulous in my garden. The apple trees were loaded with fruit and the veg garden did well. Now It is time to harvest the bees again this year. One of things I did different this year was to use cardboard tubes along with the wooden trays. The tubes were added next to the tray in the house. They were a little hard to get out because they were wet and swollen with rain. The little bees also went behind the nesting block and built quite a metropolis out of mud. Not having seen this before I was a little worried about the possibility of mud houses being wasps instead of bees. A quick call to Crown Bees assured me that these were industrious bees that created a little adobe home because they ran out of room in the tubes. The solution? More tubes of course. I had already tripled the number from last year!

mason bee harvesting paper tubes plantswoman design

A few little known facts about mason bees (or maybe they aren’t): Yes, you should harvest the bees every year. Pollen mites will eat pollen then attach themselves to the bee and be reintroduced to the tubes when they come back to lay eggs. Harvesting them assures clean tubes and no mites on the cocoons. Yes, you can have two harvests each year. When the tubes fill up in the summer you can pull them out and put in clean ones. It won’t be quite time to actually harvest them so Crown Bees recommends hanging them outside in a Bee Guardian Bag so they have the warmth to mature but are protected from predators. No, don’t use drilled wood, plastic straws, or bamboo straws. These are hard to clean and harvest the bees. If you have some already there is a special technique using a paper bag that allows them to leave the nesting material and not be able to come back to it. Providing the new tubes nearby will insure that they will move into the new accommodations instead of old nesting material. No, one size does not fit all. Crown Bees is now selling different sized tubes to encourage small native bees to nest with the other bees. They are hearing from other gardeners about the bees that are nesting in smaller holes and now provide good nesting material to encourage native bees to hang out with the ones you bought or the community that you are fostering each year. Mason Bees: bee keeping made easy, and stingless. Everyone should get involved.

Design Tips: Falling for Grasses

by Susan | Oct 16, 2016 | Plantswoman Design

Fall is one of the best times to enjoy grasses. In our climate it sometimes takes a while for the grasses (sometimes warm climate plants) to come into their glory. The late sun with its golden diffused light also plays up the colors and blooms of grasses. Grasses can be used in sweeps with many of the same variety but can also be used singularly as an accent in a larger bed. They have the ability to stay out of the limelight until the fall when they suddenly come into their own.

Sesleria shown above between boulders with Astilbe looks amazing. The vertical repetition with soft complementary colors contrasts with the soft shape of the boulders. It makes you want to sit, and reach out and touch.

Here the same grass is used in sweeps with the boulders. The sesleria stays in the same color pallet echoed by the Alchemilla alpina and contrast with the color of the boulders. Same grass two different ways.

Here various heights help play up the drama in the Stipa Gigantea along the drive. The low growing Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’ spreads and creeps along the grass. There is repetition in the bed with accents of upright Agapanthus. The same wind that moves the inflorescences moves the heads of the agapanthus. Colors of gray and blue offset the buff and green of the grasses.

pennisetum-orientalis-plantswoman-design

Here grasses are used to lead the eye down the entire planting bed. The Pennisetum orientalis is hardly noticed until August when the flowers (inflorescences) spear into the sky and become the movement in the bed and main focus.

A thick planting of Pennisetum Red head creates a bold statement and provides a wind break to a hidden sitting area.

Putting art into Pennisetum Orientalis adds another dimension to a planting.

Punctuation marks of Miscanthus give height and movement to this driveway bed.

Playing With Grasses

Cultivation of grasses can be very different. Pay attention to water needs and exposure. Some are great on the beach and with very little water while some need regular water and more protection.

Don’t be afraid to plant a grass between larger plants and in the front of a bed. The sense of surprise and contrast in texture is fun.

The same types of grasses used in different ways in the same garden is also fun to play with. Often they look like completely different grasses.

Plants I Dig: Autumn Color

by Susan | Oct 1, 2016 | Plants I Dig

I’m again being drug into fall kicking and screaming. Slowly the soft colors start to beguile me and convince me that its just another lovely color change. But, I know in my head that winter isn’t far behind with color gone except for gray and green outside the window, very seldom is it white. This, the beginning of autumn sees pinks, burgundy, and soft crushed purple starting to show. The leaves haven’t had enough cold to turn yet and apples are trying to hold on to their branches. If you look up images of fall colors you usually see the future progression of fall. Brilliant reds, vibrant orange, shocking yellow caused by cold temps and sometimes frost. But right now, in the ‘inbetween’, soft colors abound. Blue of Caryopteris with the red purple of Panicum Shannondoah holds its own in the lowering autumn light. Coleus seem more vibrant as the summer flowers start to fade. Hydrangeas in amazing variations sing every color of the rainbow. Blue, Purple, dark green, soft pink, soft red, and buff colors all intermingle, sometimes even on the same plant.

Hydrangea Zebra with black stems is lovely with fading flowers.

Trycirtus – Toad Lily stays dormant until early fall. The out of this world flowers are not to be missed.

plantswoman-design-pennistetum-first-knight

Pennisetum ‘First Knight’ – A hardy Pennisetum with vibrant deep purple and great structure.

Lusicious Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ – Deep Raspberry blooms that continue to color to deep red.

plantswoman-design-chocolate-silk-mimosa-tree

Summer Chocolate Mimosa Tree – Leaves, always deep purple, contrast with the lighter purple Agastaches Blue Boa. The Albizia Julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’ leaf takes on a deeper hue then turns brilliant orange before dropping off.

Cercis ‘Rising Sun’ – Amazing bright green leaves color apricot gold. New growth is touched with burgundy before turning bright green

Impatiens omeiana – Variegated leaves sprout in spring and are attractive. The real show starts in fall with bright yellow flowers. It’s a hardy must have for fall flowers.

Hydrangea Panniculata

Variegated Beauty Berry

Hydrangea Little Lime

Crimson Fans

Traveling Plantswoman: Zion National Park

by Susan | Sep 16, 2016 | Traveling Plantswoman

A long awaited vacation always provides opportunity for exploration of other types of scenery. I’m always look for new types of plants or in this case a new type of gardening.

This week I find myself at Zion National Park which has a diverse
collection of plant communities. I was surprised by the relative
lushness found in Zion Canyon. The riparian area of the Virgin River
supports enormous cottonwood trees and a diverse collection of
herbaceous plants and grasses. Nearby, saturated wetlands make nice
habitat for cattails, willows, aquatic plants, and rushes. Water seeping
out of the Navajo sandstone creates tranquil springs and the unique
“hanging gardens” for which Zion is famous, full of ferns, wildflowers,
and mosses.

Here I found many of the same species of wildflowers that I see in Washington forests. It was so amazing to see maidenhair ferns, columbine, and Indian paintbrush clinging to little crevices in the rocks with seemingly no soil just the nutrients from the water seeping from the rocks. It felt like it was raining but looking up into the clear blue sky it was obvious that the water was falling from the rock hundreds of feet above my head. The water in the Virgin River is a cloudy milky colored blue. Probably from the high mineral content of the water as the erosion of the cliffs continues.

Near the north end of the park on the Taylor Creek Trail I could see ponderosa pines high on the sandstone cliffs clinging to cracks and ledges. These massive trees push their powerful roots into the Navajo Sandstone, adding to the slow process of erosion that is constantly changing the face of Zion. The dusty trail lead through juniper and creosote brush interspersed with tiny wildflowers. Dropping into the river and walking through the water filled slot canyons kept us cool.

One of the most amazing things was to see Datura wrightii, or Devils Trumpet, growing wild. The large white flowers and blue green leaves look like the non-hardy tropical variety I overwinter each year in the green house. This one however is a Utah native that grows in the roadside ditches. The hardiness map says that the St George Area is 8a. It seems hard to believe it can grow here. Maybe a small thorny seed will find its way into my bag for the return trip. Don’t worry I’ll get it outside the park as taking any plant material from a National Park is illegal.