plants Archives - Linda Nelson

GARDEN WOES

Good golly, it’s been over two months since my last post, a hiatus I just couldn’t skirt. It’s been an exceptionally busy work season for me, and the only thing happening in front of the computer screen has been email correspondence with clients, family and friends.

I thought I would take a moment to share with you just another thing on my plate that I must fit into my schedule – lifting up an entire garden bed on the side of my house. See the photo just below? That’s my collapsing cesspool. And, the photo below that one…. under that view runs the waste line from the house that empties into the cesspool.

©Linda Nelson 2016

It even runs thru my vegetable garden – constructed raised beds and deer fencing installed less than two years ago.

So, I’ve elected to have a whole new septic system installed on the opposite end of my property, where I’ll only have to lift this garden bed, the gorgeous Dwarf Hinoki Cypress, and remove the rock wall, pine tree and smoke bush just behind it…… so that heavy equipment can have access to the site and also make deep ruts in my lawn. Ugh.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Lifting plants and deconstructing my garden bed at the onset of summer…… I am both overwhelmed and heartsick.

On a lighter note, look at the lovely poppies that reseeded themselves from last year…..

©Linda Nelson 2016

my favorite, big leafy hosta which has set some nice, strong flower buds………

©Linda Nelson 2016

and my trusty-faithful Nikko Blue hydrangea, who never fails me with regard to flower production.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Did I mention that I’m in the middle of having new windows installed in my home, and that I will be hosting a guest for a week come next Friday? This blogging hiatus may continue a little while longer.

Until next post…………

“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.

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

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.

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 .”

There you have it.

Three mottos.

Now, get in your garden.

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