GARDENING

Maintenance type pruning done for the season. Lowered a cherry bush
and lilac, and gave some cosmetic attention to an apple, shown to
rear in these shots, in addition to doing the the pine. The place is gradually
taking on a refined look.

Taken two weeks ago:




After, as of today:


It's been dark all day, as the picture shows. Click photos for a clearer look, and come back this spring to see the results. The trees and bushes are loaded with flower buds.

Winter has arrived here today.

Wow, it certainly looks like winter, neko!

So dark!

And now to the other side, where I'd hoped to lower the privet hedge,
shown to the right here,by about a foot, but gardening weather is definitely past
now. Early this spring, maybe.




One of the lilacs is ready to bloom. A couple of flowers appeared last May.





Judging from its buds here, I look forward to a good show.



Now only that one bush shows flower buds, possibly because
the others were trimmed back too hard last year in evening them out
to get a tall flowering hedge along the fence. The privet
also blooms about the same time, so in a couple of years we'll
have flowers galore in the back yard.

Msolga, it's been days since we've had sunshine. But my digital pictures tend to
exaggerate the darkness at times.

Hello neko nomad.
The rescued rhododendrons. When they mature, they should make the walkway to my front door a bit more enclosed.

For comparison, most of the buds shown here on a lilac pruned
last year, in 2007, are not flower buds. A couple of twigs
showing a purple bud just may, though.



Do rhododendrons grow well in your neighborhood, Alex? I had poor luck with the hardiest variety, the PJM, and yet the local
nurseries still stock them. Lucky you if yours turn out well. They do give a beautiful show in a mass planting.

Hello neko nomad.
Haven't grown any rhododendrons where I currently live. I had one at my last house, and it did well for five or six years, then, went kaput. I know they have a shallow root base, and need lots of water. I'll keep you filled in.

I wanted to wish you, and your family a very merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy new year.
Have a nice day.

happy holidays to you, too, Alex.

The year 2008 in review:


April



May




June



November




December

Spring. Spring, where are you.

The snowdodendrons

I know the feeling, Alex.

This is a fern I picked up at Home Depot last summer
and nursed indoors to attain more size before setting
out. It wasn't identified, but I'm guessing it's Dryopteris bissetiana,
a native, the Beaded Woodfern. I'm sort of into creating a fernery under
the flowering crab out back.





Take it from me: it's a slow grower...

That woodfern will most likely fit in -- hope, hope--at the back by the sidewalk
click photo to enlarge
between that hosta and those crocuses that were set out in September, as seen in this view.

That last link was supposed to show this. I'll place that dryopsis between
that large hosta and an established clump of tulips:



I.S.'s URL for the photo had changed for whatever reason. This shot
links to a view as of today.

Other additions will be setting more irises for the border, to round out this year's
objective, and will go on the other side of the lawn.

should read"I'll place that dryopteris"

or some time now I've been undecided as to what to do
with these irises -Name still unknown to me- and am presently
considering placing them in the border opposite those shown here. As of now,
though, I'd rather not, preferring to stick with the original plan to use Spanish Coins.



I have until July to decide on this one.

Now this woodfern should be ready to harden off outside in about a week if the weather continues its
present mild spell..



after searching the internet, I've determined this is a dryopteris carthusiana,Buckler Fern,judging
by its similarity to fronds at the lower left side of the photo in this link.

The yellow of an iris border against a green backdrop
provided by the shrubs on this side should provide a pleasing
play of colors,IMO. A bright yellow is what I really want here,
and those solid yellow MTBs would be the best choice.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull it off this year, but a 3- foot iris
bed will be made along the edge of these wild rose canes, and a
Nanking Cherry bush, down the length of the yard. Obviously
some of that growth will have to be rooted out and that constuction
residue from past projects removed. That's my garden
objective for 2009.

Always interesting to catch up with your plans!

I cannot believe it. I should be getting ready to plant my peas (We plant peas by St Paddy's day). This year tghe ground is like cement and its covered with 6" of fresh snow. We had a break like 2 weeks ago when it reached 60 for several days . Then it just froze up again and the "permafrost layer" wasnt even affected. Im getting panicky that I may have to plant peas late (they dont do as well if its too warm when they produce). I know of some AMish who actually spread their peas right in the snow and let the melting promote their germination. The Amish always prepare their garden areas in the previous Fall , so they can get right at planting their early crops.


ALso, has anyone seen the new (I guess its an IRIS cultivar) its called the "Egret Flower" Habenaria radiata. Damn its a killer flower. It looks like the Ghost Orchid and is a pale ghostly white. Spring Hill is selling em (I dont like Spring Hill because they charge a lot and their varieties nec=ver last long like some others)
Weve got a huge collection of Iris that we got from the old Iris association and from several relatives whod bred and competed in Iris shows. Weve got them all over and , because they divide so readily, we are always "regifting" our neighbors and relatives with offspring. Iris are so easy to maintain and propogate . However, the only problem is that, in unusually wet years , the floral displays are kind of "washed out" and the colors (and fragrances) are wimpy. SO, we like a moderately dry spring wit warm weather at Iris and Peony bloom time.

Here's how I'm going to place that iris bed.
Its width is staked as shown. Couldn't do much else
today because of the rain. Otherwise, I'd liked to have done some
pruning back of those rose canes.

Work is now underway. Now is the best time for growth
removal; freezing temperatures won't permit much else
today: