I have a love-hate relationship with hummingbirds. They are brilliant and quick, tiny and bold. They are also territorial, dive-bombing murderers. Yes they have chased birds into windows. So it was with this new that I told my neighbor the cheery demons were all hers. Sho she great plants and feeders. But today I happened… Continue reading Hummingbird visits the Monarda
Natural barriers for keeping insects at bay
Kaolin Clay – a natural powder barrier to coat leaves and fruit to repel pests. Spray the leaves, goes on wet and dries. Japanese beetles damage is lessened by using this barrier.
Monarch nursery in my garden
A few years ago I received milkweed seed from a plant nursery giving it away for free. I spread some of the seed in various areas of my yard with no luck. But a year later – up pops one where none were spread in a place outside any garden bed. Nature is funny that… Continue reading Monarch nursery in my garden
Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, Beebalm (Sf,DM,A,N) 2 – 4 ft H x 2 – 3 ft W. Spider-like lavender blooms in late summer on single flowering stocks. Great plant to bring in wildlife. Blooms: Late Summer to early fall (Sf) Moisture: Dry to Medium (DM) Soil Type: All soil types when local ecotype is available… Continue reading Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot
Using bone meal based vegetable and tomato fertilizer.
This year I am testing a bone meal based vegetable and tomato fertilizer. This is a natural fertilizer that provides not only phosphorus but calcium. Calcium helps avoid blossom end rot that can ruin a tomato. If you have pups you may want to follow the wet directions**. **Note these are not the product directions… Continue reading Using bone meal based vegetable and tomato fertilizer.
A patio by the pond
Where better to sit than next to a pond? With the drum of spilling water drowning the drone of man’s machinery. The original plan for the patio included a dark gray breeze (small rock chip) base material next to a dry, white boulder pond. A contrast of dark and light, a modified Taijitu. ☯ Using… Continue reading A patio by the pond
Elymus trachycaulus -Slender wheatgrass
Elymus trachycaulus – Slender wheatgrass (Su,DM,A,N) 12-40″ Tall x 12″ Spread, light blue-green wide leaves. Slender wheatgrass is a perennial, cool-season, short-lived, coarse, tufted bunchgrass. Leaves are from 3 to 13 inches long and upto a half inch wide, with basal leaves longer than upper leaves. The culms are erect, ranging from 6 to 48… Continue reading Elymus trachycaulus -Slender wheatgrass
Catching up on long overdue chores – mulch
This week two yards of mulch will fill in various beds. At one point all my flower beds had a good couple inch layer of mulch to keep weeds down. The last time I posted about mulching was in 2009. So you can imagine its not high on the list. Though it should be! After… Continue reading Catching up on long overdue chores – mulch
What’s blooming week of June 21st
Roses, Penstemon, delphinium, viola. Mint has reappeared in the flower bed, obscuring a Campanula(?) In the prairie, dill starting to bud, black eyed susans starting to bud, prairie coneflower blooming. The pink lemonade honeysuckle smells lovely. Koeleria Macanthra (June grass), Dianthus gratianopolitanus, Cerastium tomentosum ( Snow in Summer ) all mid bloom. In the shade… Continue reading What’s blooming week of June 21st
Spot the Rose Pests
What might look like a fungus on a rose is actually tiny pests. Every year I have a single rose that seems to get eaten alive by these bugs. Rose Leafhopper Edwardsiana rosae (Linnaeus) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). This guy will cause damage to bottom of rose leaves and can attack a variety of trees like apple,… Continue reading Spot the Rose Pests