MACRO MONDAY - weathered tree

I love this pic.  

Grey on grey though it may be...it has just the right curve-appeal.

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LASAGNA GARDEN - part 1

Digging up sod is hard.  Really hard in fact, when you also include the effort to make this compacted soil into something more usable.  Lasagna gardening is a way to avoid digging up the sod, though it still means bringing in soil amendments.

I started some lasagna gardens last week at our new Tuxedo place.  Sure there are already plenty of garden beds that need attention, but I if am going to eventually expand the gardens I may as well do it sooner than later-- and fall it the optimal time for getting started so the beds can compost all winter.

BEFORE

There is nothing wrong with a lawn, but I have always been a shade gardener and am willing to put in a great deal of work to create a sunny garden, expand my learning and give me more choices for bright summer colours.

This south-facing garden is already planned to be bright summer colours: oranges, red and yellows in plentiful combination.

Having just moved cross-country we had plenty of cardboard boxes at hand.  I put these down first to kill the grass and keep in the moisture which will help with decomposition and bring more earthworms into the mix.  I dug the leaves up from the gutter where they were nice and moist and partly decomposed already rather than raking dry leaves into a pile.  It looked like great stuff for this purpose, and all free for the taking.

It was about this point that I began to realize how much work this was and how ambitious my goals were.

 It takes a lot of mulch to cover this, a lot of wheelbarrows full. I cleaned in front of my house and many neighbours' houses in both directions.  

Of course they all think I am crazy.

At this point I changed my mind from turning this all into garden and decided to leave a strip of lawn down the middle so the garden can be walked through.  I decided based on how much work it was (I am making a second one out front!) and how much material it would take, but in the end I think it turned out to be the right aesthetic decision as well.

Shortly after taking this picture I pulled back the material from the far end so the lawn/path would loop back to the driveway.  It has now all been covered with a brown layer, a green layer and a bit of soil, but I need to purchase some compost and peat to layer in.  

There just isn't enough grass clippings around for the space I am staking out.

Tomorrow I will be back at it bright and early, even with a bit of snow on the ground.

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2 of 3

3 of 3
Original lasagna garden

NEIGHBOURS THINK I AM CRAZY

I am in the midst of creating two new garden beds at our Tuxedo home.

While there are plenty of existing beds that need attention, I

wanted a garden outside the south-facing living room window, and thought that grass between the sidewalk and front of the house seemed...well, unnecessary.  

I also wanted to try making them via the "lasagna garden"method vs. digging up the sod, which can be back-breaking work.  And the lasagna method is best done in the fall, so despite the mad rush I am taking on the challenge.

The beds I am making are big and require a lot of organic matter.  This means that I am putting on my rubber boots, grabbing my wheelbarrow & snow shovel and taking to the streets.

Before dropping their leaves the trees form a gorgeous connected arch over the road.

There are loads of wet, mushy leaves in the gutter at the side of the road and I am taking all I can get.  They may not be that rich in nutrients but they are plentiful and allow me to started.  

 I have "cleaned the streets" in front of my own house and those of my neighbours up and down the block.

And that is why they must think I am crazy.

Did I mention that by the time I am home from work and had dinner that I am "cleaning the streets" in the dark?  I know that if I didn't have the context and saw my neighbour doing the same, I would think they were obsessive-compulsive.  

Whereas I am just enthusiastic ;)

***

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CROCOSMIA - the three year wait

When I planted the Lucifer Crocosmia in the fall of 2009, I had not yet bothered to check what zone the Ontario cottage was, I just figured it was close to zone 6 (Toronto), so it was probably zone 5.  

Silly me.

The Crocosmia are not the only thing I planted at the cottage that was not meant for zone 4, but it is one of the few things out of its zone that has managed to not just survive, but to take off - it just took time.  Funnily enough  my neighbour in the city had a similar experience with his Crocs taking 3 years to really bloom well, and that was in zone 6.  

So maybe it is just the nature of the plant?

For the first 3 years the leaves came up with no blooms, (from about half of the bulbs I had planted). Since I like the foliage so much, I left it and let it grow up around the base of the tree with the hammock attached.  

It was interesting even if it didn't bloom.

2 years ago there were some blooms, but not many and they were scraggly, not like the vibrant ones above.

But this past summer they were there in all their glory.

Crocosmia is something I will miss now that I am in a zone 3, but I have a feeling that I may just try them one day here anyway, afterall people here say it is not so hard to push to zone 4...

***

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OOPS I DID IT AGAIN - AGAIN

The other weekend I went to the Manitoba Lily Society's annual fall sale despite 'trying' not to spend more on plants this year.  Oops.
I am liking attending these local plant sales.  Sorry Vesey's and Becks, but I do not need to order anything from you this fall!

That was after I had already returned to Costco's for more Bulbs to Blooms bulbs.  After all, I had to buy some stuff to plant at the cottage - as opposed to our new city home.

I purchased 17 assorted lilies from the bulk bin at the sale, so it will be a surprise to see what comes up.

I inter-planted them with 'Split Coronoa' daffodils of mixed colour.

In the city I do not want pinks, but at the cottage there is more leeway.  Bulk purchase gives up control of the colours but gives a great discount - and Winnipeggers, including me, love a good deal. so if there are pink lilies, so be it.

The bulbs looked very healthy and large and many of them ready to divide and multiply already.

At this point I am done buying plants or bulbs and just need to spend on some compost / soil mix and have a few yards delivered to the new house in the next few weeks.
I will be glad I did come spring.

Do any of you freshen up your soil in the fall?

YARD ART - The Shady Lady

We bought the Shady Lady a few years back at a going out of business sale at a garden centre - a good bargain since statuary can be expensive.

In Toronto we had her in the far back corner, so one really had to be out seated at the table to see her in all her glory.

The brown spots at her neck and near her hand are from a failed attempt at encouraging moss to cover her using a beer slurry.

But I have not given up yet.  

Once we find her a home in Tuxedo I will be back at it and try again, this time covering her with plastic and keeping her warm and damp indoors while the initial moss takes root.

While she will lose some of the finer details I definitely want to see her covered from head to toe

in fuzzy green.  Well, maybe I will leave her eyes uncovered so she can see...

***

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MACRO MONDAY - between a rock and a hard place

Such hope, a tree deciding to grow in this tiny crevice. 

Will it prevail, grow large and healthy roots and eventually split open its host?

Boulder or a stone?
Without context one can only guess the tree's chances...

***

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TUXEDO OVERVIEW - front yard

Front Yard

75' Wide Lot

Planning the landscaping for Tuxedo is very different from creating the Ontario Cottage Garden.  That garden almost seemed to create itself once I decided to use the whole property and take my cue from the woodland environment. The Tuxedo yard has more opportunity to hold distinct gardens vs. being one large garden itself.  

It is a bit daunting to be honest.   

One day when I was wondering where to start, I picked up a copy of Canadian Gardening from 2006 and came across an article called "Demystifying Design" offering advice from Thomas Sparling on how to approach planning.
Perfect timing and good advice.

As per his advice I have taken photos and measurements so I can map the whole thing out on graph paper to ensure proportions while I plan different options over the winter.

Below is a photo overview of the front yard.

12.5' between gardens

 I am not sure about why the Globe Cedars are here, but I wonder if the they get progressively  more sun from left to right.  Assuming they were planted at the same time, it is not a bad hypothesis.  Otherwise I can not understand why one would want to draw the eyes from smallest to largest in this configuration.

South Front Garden

The potentially invasive Bishop's weed is well contained.  I do not know what the shrubs are. Check out the pictures below to see if you recognize them.

Pruning out the dead material will be a priority for the fall, nothing particular, just what will have accumulated over the years.  It will breathe more easily come spring.  [editor's note Dec. 30th, it will have to wait until spring]

Any ideas what this plant is?

If it blooms, great, if not, it's days may be numbered - or I may add Clematis to it.

[thanks the Master Gardeners of Manitoba for letting me know this is a Weigela which should have long lasting deep rose coloured blooms in spring]

Once again the Goutweed is remarkably well contained, the edging must go down fairly deep.  I have actually noticed well contained Goutweed at more than a few neighbours on the block.

Any ideas what this plant is?
[Thanks to the Master Gardeners of Manitoba for letting me know that this may be Amur Maple]

North Front Garden

Daylilies, some sort of mini-Solomon's Seal and Goutweed under the Blue Spruce.

Daylilies have likely not been divided in years and years.

Only a couple of bloom stalks lead me to believe these either have a) not been divided so long they are terribly overcrowded, b) they do not get enough sun here, or c) a combination of both.

How high I trim up the tree is a big decision.  Just the dead ones, or more?

The lawn extends beyond the gardens out to the street.  I may push the globe cedars out there.

Goutweed and a couple of small cedars are not particularly exciting, but the peony seems to have bloomed and that gives me hope for how much sun it gets here, after all, despite the mature elms around it is south facing after all.

I am seriously thinking about undertaking the very big project of using these cedars to create a hedge between our driveway and our backyard.

There are so many white flowers that I might be able to have this entire long garden white.  

Or as they say, a night garden.

Spring, summer and fall.

Hostas all in a row in front of the hedge would be nice, but this is one of the sunnier places and I have no shortage of shadier spots for them.  This will better serve as an opportunity to explore more sun-loving plants after my shady Toronto gardens. [editor's note, Dec. 30th, the hostas have been moved into the north garden]

Any idea on what this hedge is?

Very tall Asiatic Lilies are growing south of the entrance as well as some Lamuim.  Interesting mix since the former prefers full sun and the latter part shade or more.

I'm not crazy about the red mulch but eventually it will break down.

There is no question for me that the first thing I am going to do is to create a "Lasagna" garden (one that does not require removing the grass first) in order to get rid of that grass between the sidewalk and the current garden.

Those big shrubs casting shadow shade will need some serious pruning. 

Are they even needed at all?

Any idea what these shrubs are?

I have decided that this is where I will learn about Alpine gardening.  I already bought of Sempervivum and assorted succulents at the local plant society fall sale. And I will be able to gather stones of decent size from the side of the road on the way home from the cottage.

These daylilies have likely not been divided for years.  I will have lots of material for Guerilla Gardening.

***

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WINNIPEG COTTAGE - Asters

Since it was getting close to fall a few weeks ago I thought I would do some harvesting.  

Of wild plants of course...

Okay, so I never need an excuse, fall or not, but there are so many wild Asters growing at the side of the road on the way to the cottage that I just had to stop and harvest a bunch.
The same kind of Asters I planted last fall at the Ontario cottage.

They create a soft mauve wash as per above and when grouped even more densely, they have an even greater impact.

I planted them around the base of this birch right beside the deck and outdoor shower where they will be sure to be seen next year.

If there is any doubt if it is proper to be taking these plants from the wild, picture this: last week the entire expanse where I had gathered the plants had been mowed down and looked just like a grassy field.
No more gentle wash of mauve swaying in the breeze.
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Planting plants in full bloom is not recommended, but honestly I find it hard to avoid because a) one must think of it in advance (while it is much easier to be distracted by flowers in bloom), and b) one must recognize them without their flowers.

Next year I will try and remember.
If I put it in my calendar now my phone should remind me in 11 months...

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HOT & CHILLI

Okay, so these are not from my own garden, but I love this shot of dried chilies I took once while in Mexico.

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PRETTY VOLUNTEER - Iris

 I just love the term "volunteer" to describe plants that have shown up unexpectedly in the garden, it has such a great ring to it.

I took these pics last Spring of a volunteer Iris that appeared in my front garden in Toronto.

One lone Iris.

For all the damage the squirrels there did and all the bulbs they ate, at least they appeared to have left me something in return.

Thanks squirrel, wherever you are.

***

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MACRO MONDAY - coneflower & bee

The camera on my Windows Phone is really great, but one place it could be better is macro work.  

I am going to be getting an iPhone 5 so let's hope I can get an app that will help with the macro, or maybe even another lens...  

We will see.

These shots were taken in July before we left Toronto.

They are just so ever out-of-focus.

But the bee does not mind.  Much like the honey badger.

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OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN

I have gone and bought a lot of plants again. 

$231 worth to be exact, from the Friends of Gardens Manitoba annual fall perennial sale, and man does money go far in this sale.

Here is a quick list of what I got for my cash.  It is a lot!

I have most of it planted in my parents' garden - in their pots still - for over wintering.

2" pots were 2 for $3, what a bargain!

2" pots

Leopard's Bane x6

Digitalis Grandiflora x2 

Goats Beard x5

'White Swan' Rudbeckia x5

Panorama Bergamot bee balm x3

Primula x5

Iceland Poppy 'Wonderland Orange' x4

Lady Stratheden Grim Chiloense x4

"mystery plant" x6

Hens & Chicks x8

Mixed sedum ground cover x5

Blanket Flower x 5

Asclepias x4

Rudbeckia Goldstein x5

Heliopsis Helianthoides 'Summer Sun' x1

Clematis 

Viticella Blue Angel

Integreforia Blueboy

 (1 gallon pots)

Leucanthemum Broadway Lights x2 (daisy)

Large Peony
'Red Charm' x2
'Mother's Choice' x2
'Bowl of Cream' x1

 Bag of Blue & Purple Iris x2

Big Blue Hosta x2

You can bet I will be back each fall and also be at their Mother's Day sale in May.the great deals

PERENNIAL WINTER STORAGE

Earlier I wrote about the plants I bought for my new house, even though I had initially thought I might wait to fully understand the environment before buying anything.  

Yeah right.

So what does one do with plants they buy but cannot plant in their own garden?  

They certainly can't stay in the box.

I planted them - still in the pots - in my parents' garden where I will overwinter them and then transplant them again in the spring.  

These maps will be key to understanding what is coming up in the spring, both to ensure I have all of mine and so I don't dig up any of the hostas that aren't mine.

The Friends of Gardens Manitoba is having its Fall Perennial sale this Saturday.  Instead of going to the cottage we will stay in the city Friday just so I can check it out.

I may need to make more guest room in the beds.

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INSPIRATION STRIKES - hosta fountain

There are times when I am working in the garden when things just come together. 

When I am on a roll.  

When I am feeling particularly creative and inspired.

Last night was one of those times.

You can judge if you think what I did s inspiring or not, but it felt that way.

Oh, and if you are willing to give feedback, let me know what you think the Allium should go when we get to that part.

The Hostas and Peonies in my parents back yard garden are grouped closely together, but not in any particular pattern - yet close to one.

The large peony in the centre is almost fully surrounded by the variegated hostas.

And wouldn't you know it, there happens to be a spare matching hosta elsewhere in the same garden!

So I decided to encircle the peony and mimic the shape of a garden fountain.

Can you see the potential?

In order to do that I had to remove the Daisies in the red circle and the Allium in the blue circle. I am going to group the daisies in the garden on the west side of the backyard.  

(Grouping like-plants to increase their impact is one of my favourite tricks for making your garden have more impact without spending a dime.)

But I am not sure of the Allium, and they remain planted in a box for now, I picture them around the hostas, and a bit in and out of them as well - or around the trunk of the Oak tree.

In the purple circle is the 'extra' hosta from the other side of the peony.  All by itself.  Lonely.

Behind that  in the blue and red circles we have daylilies, and while they repeat elsewhere in the garden which is important, these two in particular  feel a bit lost to me there.

They will not have been divided in years so I am going to break them up and use them to flesh out  around the hostas - in the red (and teal) circles.  

In the purple circle, another daylily clump is already partially covered and ready for a break up.

And finally, I discovered some very small, very unhealthy looking Iris.  You can just see them in the yellow circle.  I doubt they get enough sun here and will look for another spot for them as well.

Oh, and the hosta in teal?  It is getting moved to the opposite side of the yard to join a few others I planted last week to create some colour near the patio, under a large oak.

Phew.

So I split the 'extra' hosta in two and even though the two newbies are drooping a bit from the effort,  I can see how it will all work together to create quite a centerpiece over time.  

Heck it may look great as early as next spring.  

I will report back.

Now on to the Allium, which I have split into 7.  They will have to get planted tomorrow.  

Will having them interspersed amongst the hostas put this over the top like I think it will (i.e. in a good way)? 

Or will it make it too cluttered?

I'd love your thoughts.

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