Our Little Acre

2009 - The Year in Review at Our Little Acre

2009-12-31T23:25:00.005-05:00

They say that time flies when you're having fun and we must have had a ball in 2009, because here we are, paying our last respects to it before moving on to new adventures in 2010. It's always fun for me to look back on the current year to see where we've been, which many times explains just where we're going.

January was just one month in The Winter That Would Not End, but we had our Amaryllises to keep our green thumbs warm. We also reflected on why we garden and what our garden and home means to us. I think that post may be the best one I wrote this year. It certainly was one of the most personal.

February brought respite from the cold in the form of a trip to Florida, where Jenna and I visited my aunt and uncle and reveled in the warmth of the sun and the loveliness of tropical blooms. We all went to Fort Myers, where we toured the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Estates and Gardens, home of the world's largest Banyan tree.

Banyan (Ficus benghalensis)

I got to meet Meems of Hoe and Shovel, who lives near Tampa - definitely a highlight of the trip.

February is also the beginning of the garden show season, and Mom and I attended the Ft. Wayne Home & Garden Show at the end of the month.

March was fairly uneventful, other than acquiring a beautiful blooming Clivia miniata. I'm happy to report that it's thriving and has even sprouted a baby at its base.

April is one of my favorite months because spring bulbs erupt and let us know that there is another glorious season of flowery goodness beginning. It's also the month where we begin to visit garden centers and decide which new plants will join our gardens. The end of the month brings the annual Cincinnati Flower Show.

I got to meet yet another garden blogger - Lisa of Greenbow - when she and her husband stopped for a visit on their way home from Michigan.

May consisted of unseasonably warm weather and became one of the busiest months of our gardening season. Besides all the spring work that is usual for May, Mom and I did some garden-related traveling, first to Cleveland, where we visited the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, as well as Schedel Arboretum and Gardens near Elmore, on the way home.

Schedel Arboretum and Gardens

A week later, we spent three days in Chicago at Spring Fling Chicago 2009, which was a wonderful gathering of garden bloggers from all over the country. Our hosts did a marvelous job of planning visits to the best gardening sites Chicago has to offer, but it was even more fun meeting and getting to know fellow bloggers whose voices we'd only previously heard online through their writings and photography. I did a series of several blog posts about it all.

Lurie Garden, Chicago

In June, I got together with another garden blogger that lived not all that far away from me, but we'd never met. Bren of BG_Garden and I spent a fun day in her gardens and emptying our purses at a local greenhouse.

Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly at Hidden Lake Gardens

At the end of the month, Mom, Sue and I took a couple of days to travel north to Michigan, where we visited Hidden Lake Gardens, Michigan State University Gardens, and Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. The latter just blew me away with the size and beauty of it all and I'm sure I'll make a return visit or two.

July took a cool turn and we all wondered where summer went. It was the coldest July on record for our area. That took its toll on most of the annuals and a few vegetables that needed both heat and rain to grow, and we had neither. The sunflowers didn't seem to mind, however.

In August , our gardens were part of the Van Wert County Master Gardeners Garden Walk. Over 100 visitors drove out to look at our flowers on the hottest day of the year. (Yeah, I know...crazy weather couldn't make up its mind!) One visitor drove 4½ hours (one way!) to see our gardens. Wow!

Also in August, we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary in Chicago, where we'd gone to cheer daughter Kara on as she ran the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. (Go, Kara!) While there we visited friends and Cantigny Gardens. No, I haven't blogged about those gardens yet, but will do so in the next month.

September provided a bit of a breather in the garden and by the end of the month, we were flirting with frost. The annual Blotanical Awards were presented and Our Little Acre was honored to have been voted "Best Ohio Blog." Thank you to faithful readers and those that gave us their vote!

Two new kittens found their way to our place, bringing the kitty population to 11. By the next month, however, two of our crew had been adopted out, so we're now at seven outside cats and two inside.

Lily and Cocoa

In October, Our Little Acre got its own Facebook fan page, so if you're a Facebook user, I'd love it if you'd click on over and become a fan!

November proved to be exciting for two reasons. First, Mom and I were asked to do a short video about the Smiley Park Children's Garden for Shirley Bovshow's Garden World Report. Shirley is great to work with and we had fun doing it. You can view the video here. Our segment is towards the end of the 15-minute video.

Then I decided to launch another website, Gardening by the Book, which is a site devoted to reviews of gardening books. This site also has its own Facebook fan page. (Yeah, becoming a fan of this one would make me smile, too. *wink*) As you can guess, the two blogs keep me quite busy, in addition to working my usual job in dental research!

December had a warm start and I got the last of the bulbs planted. Then winter decided to show up and we got snow in time for a white Christmas.

12.19.09

Christmas brought a new orchid table, made with love by my dad, which made me very happy and the orchids are pretty darned pleased about it, too. Now they're getting the light and humidity they need.

As you can see, it's been a good and busy year. 2010 will start off with a bang, too, because Mom and I leave in two weeks for New York City, where we'll be attending The Martha Stewart Show for a special audience event on blogging. It will be the first time in NYC for each of us and we're looking forward to making great memories together in The Big Apple. Stay tuned for that!

I want to thank the readers of this blog for doing so and for the lovely comments some of you leave. I've not always been the best at answering comments, but I read each and every one and appreciate that you've taken the time to leave them. As I start my fourth year (!!!!) of writing this blog, I still love doing it and I'm glad to have met so many great people as a result of it. I wish you all only the best for 2010!

Special Gifts at Christmas

2009-12-27T23:29:00.005-05:00

Our Christmas days were filled with good times spent with family and friends and I hope yours were the same. Our family excels at giving gifts that have a special meaning and those that take a great deal of time and thought regarding the recipient, and this year was no different. I received several things that reflect my love of gardening.

Kara gave me a set of ornaments that only a gardener could love. And I do!

Jenna gave me a book I've been wanting for a long time and can't wait to read.

While I love the ornaments and the book, one very special person gave a very special gift to me.

My dad, as many of you already know, possesses killer woodcrafting skills. He has made a bedroom suite for both Romie and me, as well as for Jenna and her husband Joe. Our home contains numerous pieces created by him and they will be his legacy - those, and the love he put into them as he made them.

My new orchid table resides in the living room, where the orchids are now kept happy and healthy with a gro-light and humidity trays.

"Thanks, Dad," seems like such a trivial way to express my gratitude. I hope you know how very much I love you and the orchid table, and all the other wonderful things you've made for us throughout the years. I'm a very blessed little girl.

Oh, and the rest of you should know he also made an orchid table for both Kara and Jenna. They're very lucky little girls, too.

Merry Christmas from Our Little Acre

2009-12-24T15:06:00.002-05:00

When I was younger - much younger - my love of receiving mail went off on a tangent and I enjoyed collecting postcards. I've got many old ones in that collection, some of them being charming and ornate. I scanned one of the holiday cards to share with you today.

Merry Christmas

from

Our Little Acre

As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. To our Jewish friends, we wish you a Happy Hanukkah. To those of you who celebrate this season in other ways, we wish you happy days and all good things for the future.

Romie and Kylee

Simon, Baby, Luna, Boo, Max, Sunny, Jack, Jilly, and Lily

Keeping the Azalea Under Wraps

2009-12-23T10:05:00.002-05:00

Azaleas are somewhat of an iffy sort here in Zone 5b, meaning they are supposed to survive our cold winters and bloom beautifully in the spring, but sometimes they do neither. I've lost a couple of them to the cold and while the lone shrub we have now has made it through a couple of tough winters, it didn't bloom much this past spring.

Knowing it is a marginal shrub for me, I've always mulched well, but there are other outside forces that conspire to bring it down from its potential glory. Freezing and thawing, drying cold winds, and scalding winter sun can do a number on trees and shrubs, so a little extra protection may be needed.

This year, I decided to wrap the azalea in burlap. Our local Walmart had plenty of it in their fabric department for $2.49 a yard, so I bought 1½ yards, which was plenty to lay over the shrub and wrap it loosely.

I secured the burlap at the bottom with a hooked bungee cord, so the winds wouldn't blow it away. Other ways of keeping it in place are with ground staples or stakes.

And just for fun, because it's Christmas...

Picture Perfect Snow

2009-12-19T12:29:00.000-05:00

We awoke to a winter wonderland this morning! Later today, we'll be celebrating a family Christmas and the snow is perfect for putting us in the holiday mood. It's a busy day, but I took a few minutes to go walkabout and capture a few images of the snowy beauty.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' by the gazebo

Garden girl dances in the garden by the snow-covered Hellebores and the Dwarf Alberta Spruces (Picea glauca).

The Christmas ball clusters that hang from the pergola never look so pretty as when they're laden with snow.

Max keeps watch over "his" garden. The Autumn Moor Grass (Sesleria autumnalis) is a four-season ornamental that's one of my favorites. Strangely, it's one of the few grasses that the cats don't munch.

The annual Marguerite Daisies (Argyranthemum frutescens 'Madeira Cherry Red') collect puffballs of snow, making them attractive, even in death. The Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Cardinal') has put on its red coat, while Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' glows.

The photo above is featured on Susan Reimer's blog, "Garden Variety," which she writes for The Baltimore Sun. Thank you for asking to use it, Susan! I'm honored! But God really did the artwork. :-)

Martha Stewart Has My Number!

2009-12-18T20:41:00.003-05:00

Four days ago, I was hanging out in Twitter, when someone tweeted that The Martha Stewart Show was "calling all bloggers" to apply for tickets to attend the taping of a special show she was doing in January on blogging. Having never been to New York City and being a blogger, I gave some brief thought to this and filled out the form for tickets.

No date was given for the show; it was only stated that it would be in January. It was required that you give an explanation as to what your blogging passion was, in as much detail as possible. Only two tickets would be given for this show, instead of the usual four-ticket limit and you had to tell who was accompanying you to the show and why.

Of course, my mom was the person I wanted to go with me. We've actually half-heartedly talked about going to New York someday, since neither of us had ever been there. Of all the people in the world, my mom is the one I most enjoy traveling with. She's always up for any adventure and we have such similar interests that it's like we're one person when it comes to making decisions about what to do and where to do it.

This afternoon, after I returned from spending the day with my mom, I checked my e-mail and found this:

OMG. How cool is that?? I called Mom immediately and after sharing the excitement of getting to visit The Martha Stewart Show, a little bit of reality set in. Living the entire width of Ohio and Pennsylvania away from New York City meant we'd have to fly there. ($) And then there's the matter of ground transportation. ($) And hotel accommodations. ($) I'm pretty good at creative financing, but I'm not sure this is doable.

I've got until December 23rd to confirm our attendance, so between now and then, I've got to figure this out. I've just GOT to. How often does an opportunity such as this come along? Sure, I might be able to secure tickets to the taping of a show, but this one is special. All in attendance will be bloggers. Blogging. On the show. Just too much FUN!

There are strict dress guidelines to be followed. Solid colors recommended and no black, gray, tan or any muted colors, T-shirts, prints, logos, hats, or sleeveless tops. We are to bring our laptop, iPhone or Blackberry and must let them know which of these we'll be bringing. We are to be prepared to be photographed and since Martha likes audience participation, there is the possibility that any of us could be chosen to be an active part of the show. There are questions to answer about our blogging that must accompany our confirmation.

Whew. This is all somewhat overwhelming, because by next Wednesday, we need to figure out if we can make this happen on our end. It's not only a monetary issue, but I'm scheduled to work the day of the show and the day before. I've got great employers, but I work at a research facility and when a study is to be done and you have a specific role to play in that study, you have to be there.

So...a lot has to happen between now and then for this to become a reality. I've always said that I never want to let an opportunity go by if I can help it at all. If it's meant to be, it will be. If it's not, well, it was nice to dream about how fun it would have been.

UPDATE: Just one more hurdle to jump before this happens! I'll find out on Monday if the work situation will be resolved. If so, NYC here we come!

A Double Bogey Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

2009-12-17T20:02:00.002-05:00

Each month, gardeners the world over celebrate the blooms in their gardens on the 15th. Two days late, I'm posting my meager offerings for December. Regardless of what was still in bloom two weeks ago, and even just one week ago, we're now down to three plants with blooms. That's what temps in the single digits and wind chills below zero (F) will do for ya. I really was surprised to find these today:

The Cyclamen coum may take the prize as the most persistent bloomer, but on second thought, maybe that's why it's called 'Something Magic.' Wonder what it will look like come January?

Out in Max's Garden, the annual Xeranthemum annuum is technically still in bloom, but in actuality is probably just frozen in time. Its more common name is Everlasting, though.

The one that made me smile however, was this lone Viola. It isn't even planted in the ground. For three years, it has resided in a hypertufa pot my mom made and for three years it has delighted us with its delicate blooms, even deep in December.

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See what other gardeners have blooming now on May Dreams Gardens blog. Thanks to Carol for playing host!

Guess Who Won the EasyBloom Plant Sensor?

2009-12-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

Someone is going to be very happy to learn that they have won the EasyBloom Plant Sensor! As of midnight last night, there were 24 comments left on the qualifying post, but one of those was by me, in response to other comments. So when I used the Random.org random number generator, I threw my comment out and entered a range of 1-23 for it to choose a winner.

Here's what it came up with:

So, counting backwards from the bottom (it was easier that way), that means the winner is...

Muum!

Now what you need to do, Ms. Muum, is to e-mail me through my profile and give me your mailing address so I can send it to those fine folks over at PlantSense. They will then send you your prize!

Congratulations to Muum, and thank you to all who entered the giveaway. A very special thank you goes to PlantSense for sponsoring the giveaway in the first place.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - A Summer Visit

2009-12-14T14:06:00.003-05:00

Now we are truly in winter mode in our gardens, which to us northern gardeners means we look back fondly on summer and forward to spring. One thing I also like to do is remember the fabulous gardens I've been fortunate to visit during the past year. One of those is Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

At the end of June, Mom and I, along with friend Sue, spent about four hours there one glorious, although somewhat rainy afternoon. The good thing about going to a place like Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is that someone like me takes a boatload of pictures that I have to go through when I get home. The bad thing about going to a place like Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is that someone like me takes a boatload of pictures that I have to go through when I get home. If you've never visited these unbelievable gardens, your life as a gardener isn't complete. From their website:

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened in April 1995 after 13 years of planning and fundraising by the West Michigan Horticultural Society. In 1990, Frederik and Lena Meijer were asked for their support, and they embraced the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture and sculpture. The original vision has turned into a top cultural destination within the Midwest region, known internationally for the quality of its art and gardens.

I'm not sure I can adequately describe in words or pictures the scope and beauty of this place. As Michigan's second most-visited tourist attraction (Mackinac Island is the first), in May 2009 it was named on of the "Top 30 Must-See Museums" of the world. I had a very hard time choosing what to tell and what to show here in one blog post. That's why it has taken me so long to finally post this. For every photo you see here, there are five more on my hard drive. I just couldn't stop taking them.

As Mom, Sue and I roamed around the 132 acres of beauty and inspiration, there was just one ooh and ahh moment after another. I could have spent all day and then some, exploring the gardens, conservatory, and sculpture park. It is recommended that you spend at least four hours to see everything and state on their website that it can take up to eight. For me, it could take eighteen.

Here we go...

You don't have to go outside to see beautiful plant life...

The welcome center itself is a work of art. Those are bronze insets in the floor.

Note the Chihuly "chandelier."

The cafeteria ceiling features Chihuly glass in shades of orange...

...as well as gorgeous blues and greens.

I love this!

Wish I could remember what these fabulous lavender flowers are.

As you enter the gardens from the welcome center, you are greeted by this beautiful water feature.

There are many areas left to be decorated by nature.

I saw my first Cedar Waxwing, up close and personal here!

This smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) caught the attention of everyone who passed by it.

Why can't I grow my Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra) lush and full like this? Oh yeah...seven cats who think it's delicious.

Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens 'Butterfly Yellow')

Unidentified Clematis

Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana)

Michigan's Farm Garden

There is a 1930s style farmstead, with a home that is a three-quarter scale 1880s reproduction of Lena Meijer's childhood farm home.

The garden grows many heirloom vegetables and flowers - open-pollinated for over 50 years.

Asiatic Lily

The barn is original (moved to this location) and over one hundred years old. The windmill is the original from Lena Meijer's family farm.

Scenes from the Conservatory

Frederick Meijer Gardens is home to the largest tropical conservatory in the state of Michigan.

The Tropical Conservatory has colorful birds flying about. In March and April, they are home to the largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibit in the nation.

The Arid House

Five Meerkats by Tom Hillis

The Children's Garden

Sculptures in the Children's Garden

Pennisetum glaucum 'Jester '

Here's one annual I'll be growing next year! (Salpiglossis sinuata)

This scarecrow was about a foot tall.

Beautiful (and fragrant!) flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)

These are the five great lakes and children can start a boat floating from Lake Superior and watch it make its way through all the lakes.

Great use was made of Allium sphaerocephalon. Because of this, I added even more of these to our gardens this fall.

Another fabulous Allium - Allium sphaerocephalon 'Hair'

The Sculpture Park

There are over 160 sculptures on the grounds of Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. I've identified those that I can. Other identifications are welcomed and will be added as received.

Male/Female by Jonathan Borofsky
When viewed from a 90-degree angle in either direction, this sculpture appears to be a male.

I, You, She or He by Jaume Plensa

Listening to History by Bill Woodrow

Spider by Louise Bourgeois

Aria by Alexander Liberman

Disc in the Form of a Desert Rose by Arnaldo Pomodoro

"The American Horse" by Nina Akamu

For the best description of what the gardens and sculpture park have to offer, I'll refer you to their website.

Fellow blogger, Monica (Garden Faerie), has also posted about her visit to the gardens during this holiday season. Be sure to have a look!

Not Just Another List of Gifts For Gardeners (There's a Giveaway, Too!)

2009-12-11T23:07:00.003-05:00

Okay, it IS another list of gifts for gardeners, but I tried to find a few things that I haven't seen on other lists. A few are on other lists because they're just great gifts. I personally own some of these and others I wouldn't mind having. Santa, are you listening?

Have a look at the list and then be sure to enter the giveaway!

Copper Hose Pot

I've long been an admirer of these, but have never been able to part with the money it takes to buy one. Still, a girl can dream, can't she? Yardiac has a few nice ones on their site, and while I couldn't make up my mind between a couple of them, I decided the one with the verdigris finish would fit in best with our garden decor. It has a hole in the side, allowing you to keep the hose hooked up to the spigot, or if you want to use the pot as a planter, they include a plug for the hole.
Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle

While we're talking about hoses, let me tell you about the hose nozzle I bought earlier this year. I've used many, many nozzles, mainly because they either didn't hold up, they got stiff and hard to squeeze, or they just stopped working altogether. But I love the Bon-Aire Ultimate Hose Nozzle!

You can control the water flow to be as light or as strong as you want (five different spray patterns) and after an entire dry summer of giving it a workout, it worked just as well at the end of the summer as it did at the beginning. But even if it hadn't, it's got a lifetime warranty.
Garden Plant Tags

aHa! Modern Living has the. coolest. gifts. evah. I always like browsing their online store, because their offerings are unusual and chic. I particularly like their reusable plant tags. They come in sets of six (6 tags + 6 steel stakes) in either floral or herbal patterns. The herbal ones are my favorites. They recommend you use a gel ballpoint pen to write on the tags, then when you want to change the name you've written, just use soap and water to clean them and start over.
Kombi Garden Shovel

I received a Kombi Garden Shovel this week, along with a Kombi Trowel. Believe me, I was itching to go outside and use them, but winter decided to show up. The ground is frozen, so I'll have to wait until spring to give them a workout. Still, I can tell I'm going to LOVE these tools.

They have a wickedly dangerous look to them, but their sharpened forked edges are what make them such a workhorse in the garden. I could have really used these when I was planting my bulbs out in the cold, semi-frozen ground a couple of weekends ago! More on these tools in the spring!
"Glitz Bee" Necklace by Fossil

There's plenty of jewelry out there that has a special appeal to gardeners. When I recently came across this "Glitz Bee" necklace by Fossil, I had to have it. We all know what an important part the bees play in the success of our gardens, so why not wear it proudly, close to your heart?

I have an additional reason for buying this one. A co-worker calls me "Kylee Bumblebee" because people always try to slip an extra "B" into my last name and it sounds a bit like "bumblebee" when you pronounce it.

Fossil offers "Glitz Bee" earrings as well, but I thought those to be a bit much when worn with the necklace, so I opted for the "Glitz Daisy" earrings. Flowers for my bee. :-)
American Horticultural Society Membership

I have touted the benefits of membership in the American Horticultural Society before. I've been a member for four years now and have more than gotten my membership dues in return, while benefiting this non-profit organization.

For $35 a year, you receive a subscription to their excellent magazine, The American Gardener (6 issues, published bi-monthly). Showing your membership card will also get you into many botanical gardens across the country for free, as well as into many home and garden shows. You'll also receive a discount on purchases made in many of the gardens' gift shops.
Velcro Plant Ties

I use quite a bit of this every summer. I use it inside with my house plants, too. Velcro Plant Ties are such a great idea for twining plants, plants that tend to fall over, tying up tomato plants, and any number of other uses. You can tear off a section without using scissors and they're reusable. I'm amazed at just how long they last, being exposed to the elements, especially the sun.

They're readily available in packages of varying lengths at your local garden centers and big box stores for under $10, so they would make a great stocking stuffer. (I received some in my stocking last year.)
Copper Saucers

Oh where were these when I was looking for square and rectangle saucers for under my houseplants? Garden Room has round ones in varying sizes, too. They're copper-plated steel and gorgeous.
Garden Tree Ornaments

Our Christmas tree has several blown glass ornaments, many of them garden related. I found this tomato ornament at Bronner's of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Hallmark usually has at least one gardening type ornament each year. I like the ones by Marjolein Bastin.
Magnets by Brighton

Brighton is one of my favorite stores. I proceed with caution when I choose to pass through their doors, because I know my bank account will suffer some degree of loss before I leave. They have so many beautiful things there that it's more than my willpower can handle. I found the cutest magnets that any gardener would love. A few are shown here:
Woolly Vagabond Plant Purse

Yes, it's a leather purse with plants. The Woolly Pocket Garden Company actually pictures their product in the hands of a woman, carrying it as a purse. A novel idea, but I like how it looks on this shelf. You can also get it with a reclaimed wooden pulley for hanging. An inquiry to the company about these tells me they're not in stock, so I can't tell you firsthand about the quality nor show you how I would use it, but I can imagine it in a certain location in my family room...
EasyBloom Plant Sensor by PlantSense

I reviewed this last year and used it for a couple of plants that I wanted to overwinter. Mostly, I used it for the large pot of Coleus that I overwintered last year and what do you know - I was not only successful, I had to keep pruning them back throughout the winter, they did so well. It was especially helpful in letting me know when I should water them. That's what always gets me - that frequency of watering thing.

You can use the sensor for outdoor plants as well, but I personally think it's more helpful for houseplants. Not only will it tell you what you need to do to help your existing plants grow better, it will tell you what plants are best to grow in your particular environment. The geek in me loves how it collects information from your plant and its location and then interacts with your computer to give you recommendations.

PlantSense has generously provided an EasyBloom Plant Sensor for me to give away! The suggested retail price for this is $59.95 ($38.49 at Amazon), but one lucky reader will win one just by leaving a comment here, giving their own gardener gift suggestion.

I'll keep the contest open until Monday night, when I'll use a random number chooser to pick a winner from all the comments received by midnight EST. The EasyBloom will be shipped directly from the company to the winner, hopefully arriving in time for Christmas.

So tell me, what garden related item would you add to my gift list?

EDIT: For a list of great gardening books (always a good gift!), please visit my other blog, Gardening by the Book.

Surprise in the Morning

2009-12-07T22:46:00.003-05:00

I don't know how I missed the forecast, but the weather guys are saying they told us it was going to happen. When I awoke this morning and opened the blinds, I was surprised to find that we've got snow! Not a lot, mind you, but enough to whitewash the landscape and produce a smile on my face. I've always said, if it has to be winter, then let there be snow.

The thermometer said 26° F. but if I was going to get any photos, the outside wasn't coming inside to me, so I bundled up and headed out. Snow was still falling lightly and I was aware of how snow hushes everything. It's a special kind of quiet that allows even the smallest sounds of nature to be heard.

Cyclamen coum 'Something Magic'

A woodpecker was hard at work off in the distance, and a nuthatch much closer, chattering away. As I walked across the lawn, my boots produced that familiar squeak that only snow can make. Though the air was cold, it was crisp and fresh and it felt good to breathe it in.

Gaillardia 'Oranges and Lemons'

Any of the flowers that were still blooming before the snow - roses, gaillardia, xeranthemum, dianthus, mums, petunias - had breathed their last. The succulent-type vining plant in the flower boxes that I couldn't decide if I wanted to overwinter or not, made that decision for me as they hung limply over the sides of the boxes.

There are things to love about winter, but a few weeks of it are enough for me. By the time Christmas and New Year's are over and January has set in, I'm ready for spring and the appearance of those bulbs I planted just this past weekend.

In the meantime, I'll try to focus on the good things and in just three short months, the snowdrops and crocus will be pushing their way out of the ground and the promise of warm weather will be a reality.

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Fellow blogger Nancy Bond, of Soliloquy (Nova Scotia, Canada) is hosting the First Snow Project, which features blog posts about first snows of the season from all over the world. Check it out!

Orchids Love Ice?

2009-12-05T23:40:00.003-05:00

I've seen the "Just Add Ice" orchids in the stores before and thought to myself, "Yeah, sure." I even bought one awhile back and discarded the ice information, because everything in me says that putting ice on orchids just has to be wrong.

Tonight, we made our weekly trip to Van Wert for groceries and a little Christmas shopping and while in Walmart, there they were again. Lots of them. Looking lovely as orchids are wont to do and what's this? They're marked down to $10. Oh why, Walmart? Why must you tempt me so?

I walked past them and down a couple of aisles, but the yellow and pink one that caught my eye was stuck in my brain and just wouldn't get out. I walked back to look at it again and noticed it was the only one like it among the whites, magentas, and pale greens. It had two flowering spikes, with auxiliary shoots on each one. Big, fat, frosted green roots touted its health.

So I, possessing a gardener's mind and no willpower, picked it up and put it in my shopping cart, right next to the shampoo and cat food, which we actually needed. Sure, that's $10 that I could better spend elsewhere, but I have a super duper system of cutting corners in one place so I can spend it in another. I'll figure something out that negates that $10 so the orchid will end up being free! I'm really good at this - trust me.

But about this ice thing... Now that I'd bought my second one, I decided to check this out and try doing what they recommend, which is to add three ice cubes to the top of the pot once a week. They'll even e-mail you to remind you that it's time to ice your orchid.

Just Add Ice Orchids is a business located in Oberlin, Ohio (hey, I've been there!). They get their orchids from Green Circle Growers and Mid-American Growers, two of the largest greenhouse operations in the Midwest. They have partnered with P. Allen Smith to bring a plant with a reputation for being fussy to the general public, to get them to try their hand at growing an orchid as easily as possible.

Not everyone is a believer. Read the comments following an article published in August by Greenhouse Grower, and you'll see what I mean. Experienced orchid growers say watering with ice is a no-no. Consumers who have given it a try have had success. I tend to ask the same thing of the experienced as the consumers do: "Have you tried it?" My guess is that the naysayers have not, because it would never occur to them to do so.

Well, I'm trying it this time. I've killed orchids doing it "the right way," so if I kill it with ice, who's to say the ice would be to blame? And for $10, I'll still have this lovely orchid sitting on the plant stand beside me for at least as long as a fresh bouquet costing the same amount of money or more, probably longer. For me, it's a win either way.

Procrastination Pays Off in Bulbs

2009-12-03T21:35:00.005-05:00

Just polishing my crown here. As The Queen of Procrastination, I can tell you all the advantages to waiting to the last minute to do things while acknowledging that there are also disadvantages. However, I'm also a positive thinker, so I tend to dismiss the latter.

The latest triumph in my career of putting things off was delivered by The Man in Brown just a little while ago. Bulbs. Big and little bulbs, full of the promise of spring. Every fall I tell myself I'm not going to plant any more of them, then I think about how it feels in spring when these rays of light burst through the winter-weary landscape and make my spirits soar. That gets me every time.

This year, I was hanging out in Twitter when Brent and Becky's Bulbs announced their 50% off sale and I beat a path to their cyber-door. What's great about Brent and Becky's is that you know you'll get the same great quality product at the end of the season that you do during the rest of the year.

Another plus is you'll find all kinds of goodies that aren't readily available just anywhere. I mean, how many places do you think I've seen a Narcissus called 'Romy?' For those of you who don't know, my husband's name is Roman and everyone calls him Romie, just as they did his grandfather, for whom he was named. You know I just HAD to buy that one.

I've got the perfect place to plant a drift of spring crocus, so I bought several different crocuses, including more of one I already have and love, Crocus sieberi ssp. sublimis 'Tricolor.'

Crocus sieberi subsp. sublimis 'Tricolor' in the garden - 27 March 2009

'Advance' is aptly named, because it's one of the earliest to break ground and bloom. I really like the two-tone color combination of yellow and lavender on its petals.

I bought 50 of these, which might sound like a lot, but crocus are small and it takes a lot to make any kind of impact. I could have used about four times that many. Next year!

I gravitate towards stripes when I'm shopping for clothing and I guess I do the same thing when it comes to flowers. That's why I bought Crocus 'King of the Striped.'

This spring, Romie and I went to our younger daughter's house to help her with some clean-up around the yard of the home that she and her husband had purchased the summer before.

I was thrilled when she told me I could take a few of the "really pretty pink flowers" that had come up in various locations at the back of her house. Upon looking them up, I identified them as Tulipa 'Little Beauty.' Though she gave me a few, I wanted more, and now I have them.

'Little Beauty' is a species-type tulip, originating in the mountains of central and western Asia. I like their petite and delicate form and they're reliably perennial. I bought a couple of other species tulips that I didn't already have.

I bought some hybrid tulips, too.

And finally, a few bulbs of those little works of art called Iris reticulata. We've got 'Harmony' in a few locations and some native wild Iris cristata we found in Arkansas several years ago.

The new ones are called 'Spring Time' and look as though they'll be a little more blue than 'Harmony,' which is a definite purple. Brent and Becky's describes them as "bluebird-blue with white tipped violet falls, purple spots and yellow midrib."

So, you see, procrastination can be a good thing. When spring arrives in just over three months (yay!), there will be twice as many colorful new blooms than there would have been had I not waited until snow was in the forecast to order them.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

___________
*With the exception of Crocus sieberi subsp. sublimis 'Tricolor,' all photos are courtesy of Brent & Becky's Bulbs, used with their permission.

Still Blooming...

2009-12-02T16:47:00.005-05:00

You've got to love it when fall spills over into winter. The local weathercasters told me today that November was the fifth warmest on record for our area.

Yesterday's high was 53°. But tomorrow's is to be only 38° and snow flurries are predicted - the first of the season. Someone said we had a few a couple of weeks ago, but somehow I missed them, so it doesn't count.

The 'Stars and Stripes' Pelargoniums are still blooming, amazingly enough. They are in baskets that are attached to the brick chimney and I figure the brick holds the heat of the day, even if it's just a little bit, and this is helping to keep the plants alive and blooming. They also are on the east side of the house, which gives them protection from cold winds.

Don't you think the small flower bud looks like a rose?

These aren't the only things still blooming. As I was doing some mulching over the weekend, I noticed the Knautia macedonica 'Red Knight' had several blooms and other new buds forming. I've had this particular plant for four years. I've moved it a few times and it hasn't really gotten as large as I'd hoped it would, but it's been hardy and a reliable bloomer.

11.29.09

The hardy cyclamen (Cyclamen coum 'Something Magic') has several blooms whose hot pink color contrasts nicely with the dramatically marked foliage. I purchased it this summer at The Planter's Palette in Chicago and while I paid a little more than I usually do for a perennial, this one has been worth it.

Our nice weather has brought out the procrastinator in me and I was late to buy more bulbs for fall planting. Over the weekend, I ordered some crocuses, daffodils, and tulips from Brent and Becky's 50% off sale and I got notice from UPS that they're to be delivered tomorrow - just in time to dig holes in the snow!

Maybe if I whine enough about the impending flurries, they won't happen. Hey, we've gone this long without snow - why not a few days more?

Reporting for Shirley Bovshow's "Garden World Report"

2009-11-30T21:49:00.006-05:00

I first met Shirley Bovshow through blogging, then ran into her again on Facebook, and eventually we chatted with each other on Twitter. In case you've not had the pleasure of getting to know her, let me introduce you!

Shirley is well known in gardening circles as a member of the "Garden Police" (on Discovery Home Channel), and appears regularly on HGTV as a guest designer on "Outer Spaces." She is the author of Eden Makers Blog and is a speaker at home and garden shows around the country. Recently, Shirley has been creator and host of the Garden World Report, which features the latest news in the gardening world of the U.S. and other countries.

A couple of weeks ago, Shirley asked if I would submit a video about the Smiley Park Children's Garden in Van Wert. Shirley knew my mom was a driving force behind the gardens and she wanted to share the garden's story with the rest of the gardening world through Garden World Report. I spoke at length on the phone with Shirley, who is in Los Angeles, and after receiving my instructions on what to "show and tell," Mom and I spent some time in the Children's Garden last Monday with the video camera.

This was my first experience shooting a video like this, and Mom's, too. After several outtakes, due to passing cars, noisy motorcycles, our "assistant" speaking while the camera was on (We still love you, Dad!), and tripping over our own tongues, we finally got some acceptable footage to send on to Shirley. That afternoon, I e-mailed the video to her, along with some summer photos of scenes from the Children's Garden.

Garden World Report airs the current weekly episode as a continual loop, beginning late Monday night and playing through the following Monday night when a new episode becomes available. At that time, all previous episodes can be played on demand from this page.

This week's episode is entitled, "Plant it Forward," featuring the kindness of gardeners on behalf of others, plus "Shirley's Favorite Things for the Garden." Be sure to tune in this week to see Mom and me in the Children's Garden!

"Garden World Report"

Flora Mirabilis - A Book Review

2009-11-28T23:05:00.002-05:00

Flora Mirabilis: How Plants Have Shaped World Knowledge, Health, Wealth, and Beauty
by Catherine Herbert Howell

256 pages
National Geographic, October 2009
List price: $35.00

When National Geographic joins with the Missouri Botanical Garden to produce a book about the history of plants, you know it's going to be something exceptional. Flora Mirabilis: How Plants Have Shaped World Knowledge, Health, Wealth, and Beauty is an intriguing look at the history of plants and how they've occupied places of distinction as their value and beauty were discovered.

Catherine H. Howell has created a time line of history, coupled with reproductions of more than 200 exquisite botanical illustrations, taking us from prehistory to the present:

Origins

Discovery

Exploration

Enlightenment

Empire

Science

There have been those plants that influenced the course of history, such as cotton, coffee, and cinchona, the latter from which we get quinine, used to treat malaria. Many others are highlighted and by the time you come to the end of the book, it leaves no doubt as to the invaluable part plants have played and continue to play in our lives.

Flora Mirabilis comes along just in time for gift-giving, not only for the gardener on your list, but for those who love history and want to know "the rest of the story."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catherine Herbert Howell has authored a number of natural history books for National Geographic, including Backyard Wilderness, Mountain Life, and four volumes in the Nature Library series, and has contributed to dozens of other books, among them National Geographic's Book of Peoples of the World, Expeditions Atlas, and The Curious Naturalist. She holds a master's degree in anthropology from the University of Virginia and is an enthusiastic - though very amateur - gardener.

_________________
The product or merchandise being reviewed in this blog post was the sole compensation for testing and reviewing the product. All opinions expressed here are mine, with no suggestions whatsoever by the manufacturer or distributor. If I like it, I'll say so. If I don't, I'll say that, too.

Brave New World of Schlumbergera

2009-11-27T16:45:00.007-05:00

For someone who has overwintered 175+ plants in her house, you'd think one of them would be a Christmas Cactus. But as you wade through the jungle of Brugmansias, Begonias, Kalanchoes, and Hibiscus, there's nary a Schlumbergera to be found.

Until now.

I've never been a big fan of these succulents, which probably explains why I've been able to pass them by multiple times whenever I've seen them in the garden centers and grocery stores. But I never used to eat broccoli either.

We spent Thanksgiving at our younger daughter and son-in-law's house yesterday. I went up the night before to help out, and had to stop at Meijer to pick up a couple of things we needed. There they were again - those colorful Christmas cacti - in all sizes and colors. And they actually looked good.

These are technically not Christmas cacti, but Thanksgiving cacti, as Elizabeth Licata brought to my attention. She provided a great link to a blog post that explains the difference: Thanksgiving Cactus vs. Christmas Cactus by Troy Marden. (Thanks, Elizabeth!)

In the past, my objections to Schlumbergeras was that no matter how pretty the flowers were, the foliage looked ugly. Most of the time it was damaged or droopy. These were neither. The other thing that turned me off was that most of them were either pink or something like it. I'm kind of fussy about pink flowers in that I don't like some varieties in pink, and this was one of those.

Meijer had healthy-looking plants in shades of pink, but also the purest white and a lovely shade of red. It was the red ones that caught my eye. There were three different sizes and for a moment, I considered just sticking my toes into the world of Schlumbergeras by purchasing a small one for $3.49. But when I saw the lush larger ones, loaded with buds, for $13.99, I decided to jump in all the way.

So now I have a beauty called 'Caribbean Dancer' sitting on the coffee table in my family room. I've had to do some research on how to care for it, since I'm new to this one. Here's what I learned:

Schlumbergeras are an epiphytic cactus, growing on trees in their native Brazil.

They are thermo-photoperiodic, meaning they are sensitive to both temperature and light in regards to producing blooms. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, they are stimulated to flower.

They don't have high light requirements, which is why they make good houseplants.

Keep the soil moist, but don't overwater. Don't let it dry out either.

Fertilize them four times a year and prune them after they finish blooming.

Propagate them by taking the pruned sections and lay them on potting medium after allowing them to form a callous on the pruned end. You can put them in the potting medium a little ways too, if you'd like.

Keep them in temperatures above 40 degrees F. They don't like it colder than that. (Zone 10b-11 suits them best for growing outdoors.)

Is This Really November?

2009-11-25T16:19:00.001-05:00

It's ten days past Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and only one month until Christmas. Who would have ever thought so much would be blooming outside around here?

An earlier commenter to this blog advised me to "squeeze as much out of fall as I could" and I'm doing just that. Each warmer-than-normal day sends me to the garden to see just what's hanging in there.

The fall season has been exceptional, as far as leaf color is concerned, and we're still marveling at the palette still being displayed in the gardens, even after all the leaves have fallen from the trees.

One of the most colorful has been the hardy geraniums.

Who needs flowers when the Geranium sanguineum var. striatum is blushing like this? Well, okay, if you insist...

Geranium sanguineum (unknown cultivar)

The self-sown Calendulas continue to provide sunshine in the garden when we can't see it in the sky.

Dianthus chinensis 'Telstar Scarlet'

Still going... Gaillardia 'Lemons and Oranges'

I mentioned in an earlier post that I'd neglected to take a photo of my Primula capitata 'Salvana' for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Here it is! (Still blooming.)

None of the full-sized roses are blooming anymore, but several of the minis are still going, such as this red one.

Two years ago, I planted seeds for Petunia x hybrida 'Alladin Nautical Mix.' It has self-seeded ever since and keeps blooming late into the season, even in chilly weather! This is one of the lighter shades in the mix.

Various foliage continues to evolve into beautiful works of art, such as this Hydrangea macrophylla 'Variegata':

One of the joys of autumn is the seedheads formed by so many plants. This Clematis terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis) is a 'star' in my book!

The Scabiosa ochroleuca continues to bloom profusely and the seedheads produced are another of my favorites.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I'm giving thanks for the lovely warm weather we've been enjoying this month. We've only had one killing frost so far, and just a handful of light frosts. But if the weather forecasters are correct, this autumn utopia is about to leave us. We're to have snow and rain mixed tomorrow. Even so, it's sure to be warm and cozy inside as we celebrate the holiday with family.

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you will find much to be thankful for this year, as we have.

Good Dirt on Dirt!

2009-11-21T23:04:00.000-05:00

This is likely going to be old news for some of you, but for those who haven't yet heard the good word on dirt, listen up. It turns out that dirt is good for your mental health. I'm not going to tell you to flush the anti-depressants just yet, but it might be worth a try, depending on how down you are.

It's always been a belief of mine that God provides for "what ails ya" somewhere in nature. We may not have discovered the natural remedies just yet, but I'm convinced they're out there. Now lest you think I'm some sort of earth mother that doesn't believe in modern pharmaceuticals, I can assure you that is not the case. Those have been a godsend to many, including me. I just think that for minor illnesses that everyone is touched by, there are natural things out there that could be just the ticket.

So about this dirt thing...

Those of us that are gardeners, know that we receive benefits other than providing for Sunday's noon dinner when we till the soil. There is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when we see the results of our labor. We appreciate the beauty that a garden brings. But guess what? There is a very tangible and direct benefit from playing in the dirt.

Soil contains a "friendly" bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae. When we dig in the dirt, it releases the bacteria into the air, which we then breathe in. Once in the body, the bacteria acts on the part of the brain affecting mood, by causing more seratonin to be released. Seratonin is what puts us in a good mood.

For years, all the way back to when I was a kid, I have extolled the wonderful aromatic scent of dirt. Before the days of no-till farming, you could ride your bike down a country road, go by a plowed field and breathe in the fragrance of earth. It always made me smile and it still does when we till the garden in the spring, turning the soil over and over, as we get it ready for planting, and later as we hoe the weeds and once again when we till the garden in the fall

So you see, a little dirt never hurt anyone. In fact, it could be good for you!

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* For the original article published by Medical News Today and a link to the abstract, click here.

November Blooms at Our Little Acre

2009-11-16T19:54:00.001-05:00

In spite of our extremely mild November weather - almost record-setting warmth, in fact - there is relatively little blooming here at Our Little Acre for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. But in November, you never know what you're going to get, so we enjoy each and every bloom, because we know it will be some time before we see these again.

The ornamental strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa 'Pink Panda') has never stopped blooming since early summer.

This Viola has been in this hypertufa planter for three years now and blooms faithfully all summer long, into fall.

Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Oranges and Lemons' is one of my favorite Gaillardias and one of the longest-blooming. The one I bought last year didn't survive the winter, so I replaced it. Let's hope this one is still around next spring.

I got a late start planting these Xeranthemum annuum seeds, but they eventually bloomed and I want to be sure to get some seeds for next year. They're extremely easy to grow from seed. I even saw a few volunteers come up in last year's location.

The Ivy Geraniums (Pelargonium x peltatum), both this 'Global Stars & Stripes' and the solid 'Global Red,' are still blooming, probably because they are in baskets up against the brick, which absorbs the heat of the day and keeps them warmer through the nights.

No need for me to plant Calendula seeds this year. Enough volunteers came up to brighten one little corner of the garden.

This Scabiosa ochroleuca is a very strong grower and I shared some plants this spring with other gardeners. They've got beautiful seed heads, too.

The Larkspur that I planted from old seed that Mom found in a drawer came up just fine and is blooming right through the frosts.

This annual, Osteospermum ecklonis 'Sunset Purple,' is one of my very favorites of the summer. The coloring and striping are just luscious! It's the only thing left after a couple of frosts from a container planting.

It was planted with Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie') and Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'), with a Cordyline australis 'Red Star' that I'd overwintered last year. I wish I'd taken a photo of the container when it was in its prime, because the color combination was fabulous.

Speaking of Sweet Potato Vines, when I pulled the frost-damaged vines, I also dug up the roots to try and save them over the winter. I've done this successfully once before and with roots like these, I'm hoping to do it again this year. LOOK at these! (I think they look like stomachs.)

For size reference, that is a normal-sized Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) nut laying to the left. These are from Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita.' Those from 'Blackie' look the same, except they're a very dark burgundy.

I forgot to take a photo of it, but the Asiatic Primrose (Primula capitata 'Salvana') has put out another bloom. I've also got a few roses blooming smaller, distorted blooms, as well as some mums enjoying a second flush of color after deadheading earlier, such as these 'Camina Red.'

Chrysanthemum 'Camina Red'

As I said earlier, the dandelions are blooming, too. There was one exceptionally warm fall (and into winter) when I remember hanging clothes out to dry on December 1st. The dandelions were blooming then, too. Among those clothes I hung out were those of a certain adorable 2½-month-old little girl. The year? 1982. My, how time flies...

Autumn Hangs On

2009-11-15T21:30:00.001-05:00

I've got a death grip on autumn this year. Maybe it's because last year we had the winter that Would. Not. End. I don't look forward to what happens after Christmas, but perhaps we'll be pleasantly surprised with a mild and short winter. In the meantime, we're enjoying extended warm weather and one of the most colorful autumns I can remember in recent years.

We've got flowers still blooming, including the dandelions, and I'll show you those in a bit (sans dandelions), but for now, let's enjoy the fall color of the trees, shrubs and plants from the garden.

I can't hardly wait until my Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen') is larger, because in its infancy, it really stands out in the garden in fall.

I have lost the tag for this Sedum that grows in the sedum bed by our front door, but it catches fire in fall. It may be Sedum rupestre 'Blue Spruce.' I've had this awhile and that name sounds familiar.

An unnamed Heuchera glows when backlit by the sun.

New to the garden this year, Ajuga reptans 'Golden Glow' turns pinkish in fall.

Geranium sanguinium var. striatum has beautiful foliage all during the growing season, but never more so than in autumn.

Hylotelephium 'Purple Emperor' with yellowing foliage of Hylotelephium 'Autumn Fire' in the background.

Tiarella cordifolia 'Brandywine' competes for attention with its cousin, Heuchera 'Southern Comfort.'

I'm not sure if this Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' belongs here in autumn foliage or November's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Another new perennial to the garden this summer is Heuchera villosa 'Christa.' This is a somewhat drastic color change from summer, where it is more golden.

Fallen Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum'Emperor I') leaves turn even the most mundane objects into works of art.

At our front door, the bird fountain enjoys the final days of unfrozen water underneath the Snow Fountain Weeping Japanese Cherry tree (Prunus 'Snow Fountain').

Two Cleveland Pear (Pyrus calleryana 'Cleveland Select') trees line our drive and are illuminated by late day sun against a crystal clear blue sky.

And the view is just as lovely as we watch the setting sun shine through the same tree...

The Dirty, Decaying Detritus of My Garden

2009-11-13T12:18:00.004-05:00

Ever since I saw the compost bins at the Gene Stratton Porter gardens at Rome City, Indiana, shown to me by Earth Girl, I had compost bin envy. I knew this was something I wanted, something I needed for Our Little Acre.

It began quite simply. I picked a spot a little ways from the gardens and started throwing the results of deadheading, mowing, failed plant experiments, leaves, etc., on a pile.

Birth of a Compost Pile

By the time fall came, a large pile had accumulated. I worried that some of it might blow away over the winter, so I stretched some netting over it to hold it in place (garden staples worked great) and began planning a more permanent way to contain it. In the spring of 2008, my ever-so-handy-and-helpful husband constructed a wood bin for the compost.

It has two doors that open outward so we can get to the compost easily when it's time to harvest it. I actually do that when it's not entirely broken down and work it into the ground in the fall. By spring, it has finished decomposing and the soil is all the better for it.

Currently, I've got some potted Irises sitting in the bin for overwintering. The compost will help keep the pots warm until spring, when I'll plant them in the gardens somewhere. I potted them up earlier this summer when I cleaned out the Irises and got rid of the Iris borers. These are in pots as replacements, if needed, for the replanted Irises. If all the others make it through the winter, I'll replant these in other locations yet to be determined.

Composting has been one of the best things we've ever done for the gardens here. I wrote previously about our compost bin in December 2008. You can read about it here: "The Circle of Life in a Compost Bin" and be sure to see what we found in the compost when we transferred it to the bin!

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Want to see some compost solutions from other gardeners? Visit May Dreams Gardens and follow the links listed in the comments section there.

Remember The Korean Violet?

2009-11-11T10:21:00.004-05:00

Remember the Korean Violet (Viola koreana 'Sylettas') I was so thrilled to find after its long absence from my garden? I transplanted the tiny thing to a safer location, surrounded it with small rocks so it wouldn't get lost among its larger neighbors and crossed my fingers that it would thrive and reproduce.

Amazingly enough, shortly after that I found yet another seedling growing between the bricks of the patio. How that got there is an even bigger miracle than finding the first one, since it was nowhere near the original location of the plants that had originally grown in the garden and disappeared several years ago. I transplanted that one next to the first one and hoped for the best.

September 14, 2009

Sadly, the second seedling did not make it. I had to remove a brick from the patio to get it out and likely it was too much trauma for the little guy. But all is well with the first one! Not only did it thrive, but it had bloomed at some point. I missed the actual bloom, but I sure noticed the open seed pod.

If all continues going in this direction, I may have a nice colony of Korean Violets again someday!

The Night Shift

2009-11-10T08:06:00.002-05:00

The first time I noticed that some plants are more fragrant at night than during the day was when I first had to bring the Brugmansias inside for the winter. Being in a small enclosed space, you just couldn't miss the fresh exuberant scent reminiscent of lemon soap. A single plant with just two blooms can scent the entire main floor of our two-story house. Sometimes you can even catch a whiff of it at the top of the stairs.

There are other plants that have some scent during the day, but become noticeably more fragrant at night:

Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana sp.)
Hosta
Dianthus
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Night-blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)
Evening Stock (Matthiola incana)
Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)
Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora)
Evening Primrose (Oenothera)
Night Phlox
Petunia
Four O'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
Gardenia
Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)

This list is by no means exhaustive, but contains some of the more commonly grown night-fragrant blooms.

Flowers are fragrant in the first place because of scent glands in their blooms called osmophores. Not every flower smells good to humans, but the scent isn't really there for us. A flower's unique odor is meant to attract a particular group of pollinators. Some of those pollinators are most active at night, so the plant accommodates them. It's simply a matter of perpetuating the species.

We're attracted to some of these same scents, many of which are used in perfumes and colognes. If Brugmansia came bottled, I'd buy it.

Return to the Woods

2009-11-09T10:12:00.009-05:00

“But I remember more dearly autumn afternoons in bottoms that lay intensely silent under old great trees."
~ C.S. Lewis

We're enjoying Indian Summer, Version 2.0, and the high temperature yesterday was officially 72° F. The record high for the date is 73° F, which was set in 1915, nearly 100 years ago! (Picturing my grandma, who was born in 1914, toddling around in the fall warmth...)

There are all kinds of things to be done in weather like this, and all of them are an attempt to make the most of it, because you never know when reality will come to stay. I can recall some pretty snowy Novembers.

Earlier this summer, Romie and I made our first visit to the Flat Rock Nature Preserve, located just a few miles from us. We made a hasty retreat on that trip, after just a few minutes in the woods, due to the clouds of mosquitoes that insisted on accompanying our foray. Yesterday, we returned and while there were no mosquitoes, the Asian Lady Beetles were out en force, but we can live with that.

Join us as we walk through the woods:

As we began our walk, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The teasel stood tall in a great expanse as we approached the trail head from the parking area.

Good-looking goldenrod (Solidago sp.) fuzz going on here, between the teasel field and the woods.

Here's a closer look.

There are some larger trees than this one, but this is typical of the larger ones in this woods.

Oh, a Shagbark Hickory! (Carya ovata) That means there must be...

...nuts!
Actually, we saw the nuts first, then we looked up.

I'm thinking this is a Heath Aster (Aster ericoides) still in bloom.

It's a matter of life and death on the woods' floor...

Mud-covered leaves and berries of I-don't-know-what. ID help appreciated!
*Tom Arbour had ID'ed this as Carrion Flower (Smilax herbacea).

Trails are marked, but there's no way to get to the one at the back of the preserve except for crossing water. Romie has MUCH better balance than I do. I got wet feet crossing at a different spot. I knew better than to try walking across a log!

Sadly, we came upon this 8-point buck that had died recently. We couldn't really determine how it died, but we suspected it had been hit by a hunter and retreated to the woods to die.

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) leaves are gigantic! They can be up to nine inches across. I love the tree's mottled bark.

A dead tree had fallen over into the crotch of another tree and it had become decorated with lichens.

I love Gray's Sedge (Carex grayi) as much in fall as I do in summer, when they're green.

I was surprised to see some green Rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium), since all mine has turned yellow and dropped its leaves. Perhaps this is a seedling from seed dropped earlier in the season.

One of my very favorite photos of the day. This pretty much sums up the ambience of the walk through the woods - peaceful and beautiful.

Some seed heads look great silhouetted against a blue sky. Clouds started moving in as we made our way back to the car.

While we thought we were alone in the woods, the drying vegetation provided auditory clues that we weren't. As we passed by several spots, rustling leaves told us the woods was full of creatures. Thankfully, we didn't see any snakes, even though as part of the former Great Black Swamp, they're pretty common in areas such as this. That would have ruined Romie's good time.

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** Many thanks to Tom Arbour, of Ohio Nature Blog, for help in identifying some of these native Ohio plants.