garden notes

Some other year we’ll forgive ourselves for the complete and utter lack of attention to everything this year. I would also like to point out, it was right now, a year ago I completely lost interest in gardening. I am completely aware of that now this year and it is easy to see why. Things are dying. It is hot. The heat, while great for my precious day lilies, lilies and dahlias, is not great for much else. Once the heat comes on I am not in the yard (too uncomfortable). I am praying, praying for privacy- I can not even remotely tolerate working in the front year, so things do suffer, and it looks like hell.

So I hope I can keep it up for a bit this year. We need to put some hard scape in and time just marches on and it doesn’t get done. I am broke as hell this summer (and in denial of that as well) so not as much has happened. Pickles has also brought down some of my lovely plants, broken garden ornaments and generally caused havoc which is depressing some days. The heap is still there. There is not much to tell.

Actually I should do a post about June and the loveliness that it was. The poppies were magnificent and the Lupines were fantastic and out of control. The rain was still here, so everything was lush (literally in one week’s time the grass has died). The clematis was nice, but we seem to be having trouble with them.

Yes, and I should document more carefully what is going on right now. It would be good to figure out what to use to fill in things right now, it is bleak season. I still have not forgotten my promise to turn the whole yard over to bulbs this fall.

More soon, or in the near future I hope.

This weekend was chore riddled.
I spent most of the three day weekend just doing maintenance to the yard. Mowing both front and back, weed wacking and my new favorite, cutting grass by hand between all the plants I put into both slopes and there is not enough room to weed wack but too much room where that nasty grass with seeds at the end completely took over the yard and obscured everything.

Ben started taking over the deck which is lovely, there is so much else to do.
The best things in bloom this week are the alliums , which are glorious and the Russell Lupines are out of control. Kind of a let down in this interim between tulips and the next round, I am not sure what I could plant to be in bloom the last two weeks of May.

I finally got some of the dahlias into the ground that I bought from tuber this last February. I wish I had been savvy enough to have started the whole lot in pots six or eight weeks ago. Next year I hope I have soil dug out and pots started for many things at this point in the year.

Having a potting shelf on the side of the house to stack soil and empty pots would be really handy. There is much trash to be hauled away.
Also having a nice gravel path back there would be nice too.

At the end of the day I sat in the secret garden and felt satisfied, it’s just hard at this time of year to be able to really relax and enjoy all the fruits of your labor.

Next year I hope not so much f-ing sod digging.

The first of the spiderwort blooms appeared today. Also, the clematis in the secret garden bloomed- a beautiful pink flower.

Last weekend I started losing it. No more pulling up sod. I can’t take it any more.
The weeds now after a week of rain are thigh high.

garden 5.18.08 -afternoon

Originally uploaded by carolyn’s

What is disappointing is the energy I am extending into the garden is so pedestrian. I am so sick of pulling up sod, pulling weeds and all the other stuff that takes forever and is definitely not what I am in this for.

I wonder if I will be sick of snapdragons next year.

Things I should have done if I had had the energy this year:
*Started dahlias in pots six weeks ahead of so I actually plant them
*Dig out as much turf as possible when it is cool out because it is impossible in the heat.
*Clean out all the beds and pots so when it’s time to plant stuff it is not an overwhelming chore.
*Get rid of all the sod I have piled all over the place.

garden 5.18.08

Originally uploaded by carolyn’s

We’re taking a coffee break as it is now to hot to be outside.
I hate gardening in the front yard, it seems a public space.
The lilacs are in full force this week, the tulips are on their way out. The alliums are arriving, but something is missing.

I wish I had spent more time hacking up the lawn this spring as it is not too hot to want to do that at all. I would like to remind myself it has been too damn cold and rainy.

We had a drink last night in the Secret Garden and it was nice.
And finally, the pollinators are back!

Considering the fact I loudly proclaim dahlias my favorite flowers, I treat them poorly.

The ones I pulled up from the yard rotted in my shed this winter.

I still have yet to plant the ones I obtained at the Feb. Flower and Garden show. And I lose my steam dealing with the front yard. We basically have an entire weekend coming our way.

Today, the lilacs are finally about to burst and it is the first time since last fall I can say,”I can’t see the neighbors”.

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Last year this week:

(Things we need like a hole in head) It is so wrong that I find out about these things. I guess it is that time of year for plant sales.

Although spring it still is having a hard time making a case for its self. I actually was so overwhelmed by the choices at this event I exhibited moderate restraint today. The MGs are incredibly gracious, friendly people and one woman tipped me off to some new plants to try in my shady yard. Then another asked me if I wanted to know how to take care of them. Then another told me she can never buy less than 8 of those.

I am finding myself more and more pissed/impatient that I do not know my latin names. Or actually about much it seems. The good and the bad is there appears to be a bottomless pit of knowledge to be had in this game. I am supposed to also be patient that my garden has not grown into the beautiful habitat in one years time I was hoping for. Patience?

There were many plants to be had to day at the Center for Urban Horticulture. I also talked with the guy at the Bats NW booth, cursed myself for not having cash on me for a raffle ticket and even passed up a very reasonably priced rugosa rose. I told myself if I couldn’t carry the load out of there I couldn’t have it.

Thinking this was just going to be a few tables with assorted plants, the KC Master Gardener Sale is quite the event. Perhaps a county fair specifically for gardeners.

I’ve lost my enthusiasm for gardening in the rain. Really.

A few things to note- it’s March and ever since a week ago the daffodils starting appearing and by about 5 days ago suddenly the Freesia is in bloom.
I had been worried after my incredible lack of interest in gardening that over took me last August that I wouldn’t care ever again, but I have spent the last two weekends in the yard, Sundays anyway, and have to rip myself in for dinner. I planted bulbs on the hill that I started in boxes late January, so we’ll see if cheating works. I have again spent hours digging up grass. Ben has been bringing me presents- black mondo grass, English daisies and pansies to plant- so suddenly we are rich in flowers and botanicals. Also heathers, which out of the blue, when I saw them in bloom this week I have fallen in love with for the first time in my life. I love this time of year.

A robin was keeping me company yesterday, nibbling on the berries that grow out of some bush that is climbing the fence from our back side neighbors. There is something so inherently peaceful about working in the yard, it is necessary. And it has been nice weather, not really rainy at all which might be problematic.
I was wondering if I should take a pruning class for next year- to nab the lilac trees and I am certain there is one big dead plum tree that should be taken out.

So all yee, do not abandon hope for the winter is almost out of the clear. I report it was a rough winter and wonder for the future how does one get on with things in January and February? I do believe this is why they invented Mexico. I do believe my sense of hope is hinged directly on available daylight and ability to not have to wear five sweaters to sit in comfort. I am sitting in the studio with out the need to plug it in.

So how to survive the interim seasons? January and February felt as if they had no end in sight. The darkness really got to me this year, adding to the troubles I was having with the family. And from July 14th until probably mid September, when bulbs go on sale, I get that summer ennui . So what can I do to get through those 4 months. How about some light therapy for the winter?

This next weekend I have many day lilies to plant, and I think I need to go get some soil and add some amendments. To make all the plants happy. The straw helped immensely this year, another thing I did late in the season. I haven’t removed too much of it as we still have fear of frost for another month, actually April 15 is the date. The peanut butter plant is actually sporting new growth.
I forgot about those little sappling leaves that take hold all over the yard that make a weeder almost lose their mind when you unearth raw soil. And the damn dandelions are what prompted me to furiously go hacking about these past two weekends.

It has been incredibly nice to see things that I planted last year come back to life. The hellebores, only half of them survived, but the two that are doing well are getting big. I need some summer flowers that like shade to go there as well. None of the purple hellebores survived this year, which was very disappointing (so I actually lost at least 3 plants).
The witch hazel is absolutely necessary. It could be the most important plant in the yard- the blooms and the smell are so incredible, literally lifting me out of depression.

And the tulips and the bulbs that Ben gave me the first winter we were here are all coming up. I have no idea how many years you can rely on tulips to come back, but what a joy! We have many back yard projects to execute this summer so I will document them all in this journal.

Today is also the first day of daylight savings time. I tried to go to bed early last night, but with not much luck. It is very dark outside at 7:12 am, but tonight there will be longer hours.

Now what to do about those cutworms.

Good bye for now to you too garden site. I’m sure I will be back once the unbearable nature of the winter goes on for too long. At least we got some of the dahlias up and moved the geraniums to a safe place for the cold weather.

I am dragging my heels on the bulbs. What at first seemed a joyous activity soon turned treacherous, every inch of our yard is hard, hard clay. It is hateful. And I never moved the huge dirt pile that was to be the iris bed. So we are ending here with a shrug. Maybe they will go in if we get a rain free weekend before the holidays. Putting them in containers is sounding more and more rewarding all the time.

Good bye garden.

PS And for the record, it was Ben who took down all the tomato plants and tomatillas (or however you spell them) and everything else that was rotting from neglect.  Sigh. I have been hugely distracted.

I know it isn’t fall for a few more days, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s here.

The rainy weather of last weekend kind of sealed the deal. And I am fine with this.

I am ready for fat socks and five cups of coffee to be nursed while reading books under comforters or what ever we do here in the bad seasons. I’m ready to let the ground do its thing and regenerate its batteries.

With the exception of bulb planting and Yvette’s kind visit this coming weekend, I can’t image we will be visiting here to much more until spring. Or maybe I will lose my mind in January, like I did last year. Who knows.

Out of the blue, the witchhazel tree has started turning, and it is beautiful.