garden Archives - Page 5 of 8 - Linda Nelson

“DIVIDED WE THRIVE” AND TWO OTHER GARDEN MOTTOS

May 27, 2015

Wow, it’s been one month since I’ve been able to even consider sitting down to create a blog post. This is the busiest time of my work season, and will continue as such for the next few weeks, but I thought I’d share these three useful mottos to garden by.

Motto #1 – “DIVIDED WE THRIVE” – This one is sung about every three to five years by many perennials. The following images represent some telltale signs that it’s time to get out your shovel.

©Linda Nelson 2015

With irises and ornamental grasses, the center of the clump will begin to decline in growth, the irises

producing fewer blooms.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Hemerocallis (daylilies), on the other hand, may produce a larger mass of foliage, but send up less blooms.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) clumps will start to spread, forming a sparse, weedy looking mass.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Motto #2 – “I NEED MY SPACE” – Really. Are you guilty of instant gratification planting syndrome? Do you see how much space there is between each plant in the flower pot pictured below? That’s what yours should look like when initially planted. Looks a little sparse, right? Well, I’m going to update you on this gorgeous-to-be arrangement throughout the summer to prove to you that combination container plantings need their growing space. Stuffing your flower pots for instant gratification is simply foolish. Floral instant gratification is for magazine photo shoots or wedding decor. When it comes to planting up your patio pots, do it right. I’ll share a photo of this one’s progress in a few weeks.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Motto #3 – “DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING” – Folks, please! Plants sold in plastic hanging baskets are meant to be removed from them, then potted up or planted into more suitable containers. These baskets are for space saving purposes and shipping convenience at the nurseries and garden centers. They’re not meant for hanging, as is, along the roof line of your front porch. Good golly, stop doing that. It looks cheap, tacky and just screams, “I don’t know what I’m doing .”

©Linda Nelson 2015

There you have it.

Three mottos.

Now, get in your garden.

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NO, DON’T GO TO THE MATTRESSES……….

December 18, 2014

……..Go to the garden shed!

And grab a few of these.

©Linda Nelson 2014

Cut them up, give the pieces a light sanding, then lay them out like this.

©Linda Nelson 2014

I made a slight revision, in that I grabbed another trellis and used one long section to adhere (glue and some brads) all the cross pieces on to. Some acrylic craft paint smeared on with a sponge, a picture hanger fastened to the back, and this project was done in all of about one and a half hours. Not bad, right.

©Linda Nelson 2014

I elected to keep my tree simple, but go ahead and adorn yours in any way you like.

There you have it.

Now, get creative.

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THRICE UPON A YELLOW WING

November 2, 2014

Last weekend I made a return visit to Wing Cottage, and assisted my friend in taking down her vegetable garden and various garden beds for the season. The late October weather was glorious, some trees still clad in the celebratory hues of autumn.

©Linda Nelson 2014

Her vegetable garden harvest had proved bountiful throughout the summer, though upon my arrival this time around I was greeted with just these darling little diehard strawberry plants. And the rooster.

©Linda Nelson 2014

Upon the plants being cut back, it was apparent that the decorative treasures tucked about would now take center stage and be the sole stars of the show.

©Linda Nelson 2014

The property is lined with a few bluebird houses, something I hadn’t taken notice of during my previous two stays at Wing.

©Linda Nelson 2014

My friend’s periodic archeological property gleaning has rewarded her with numerous curiosities and props to play around with and display. She gifted me the bottles and jars, which I will add to my overabundant, yet never enough, collection of bud vases.

©Linda Nelson 2014

The pond on the property was the “it” spot for a harmonious choir of frogs and crickets during my visit back in August; though, by last weekend the performers had already packed up and left. This time around the tune was rustling leaves, and though still music to my ears, proof that fall was in full gear.

©Linda Nelson 2014

However, my friend’s boyfriend apparently still hears frogs and crickets.

©Linda Nelson 2014

I bet Wing wears a blanket of snow well, peeking out like a little yellow box of sunshine. I would love to find out.

If you are just now reading about Wing Cottage, take a peak at my posts from the past to learn more about this gem that’s nestled in the picture perfect country town of Clinton Corners, NY.

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GARDEN TRICKS MAKE FOR VISUAL TREATS

October 22, 2014

Requests from my clients for Halloween decor are infrequent, as many of their homes are not exactly situated in trick-or-treating neighborhoods. Pictured are a few entrances I designed, the focus being pretty rather than scary.

Our mid-atlantic zone 7 region is ideal for incorporating a few summer season plants into the autumn mix. And, while trusty mums and cabbages are readily available, fresh cut evergreens are great contenders, too. I think incorporating them bridges the autumn and winter look together, allowing the display to read as “current” for a longer period of time. Evergreen branches can fill pockets in your container plantings where summer annuals have succumb to frost.

With regard to what’s growing in the ground, perennials such as sedge grasses, sedum, dusty miller, yucca and euphorbia visually carry a garden further into the season. Often sold in one gallon size pots, they are ideal for nestling into container planting arrangements, too.

I hope this post has delivered a little insight on how to enjoy your potted plantings a bit longer.

There you have it.

Now, start planting.

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