The Garden Guide

Newsy Tuesday - The Victory Garden Movement

The passage of time has proven again and again that the world works in rounds.  Popular today, gone tomorrow only to be brought back again at a later date by a different generation.  Sometimes this is a good thing and, if you've ever seen yourself in old pictures and wondered "What was I thinking?", sometimes a trend should just go away and stay away.

Lately I've been hearing more and more about the revival of the Victory Garden (and I think this is a good thing!).  Victory Gardens started in the WWI and WWII era as a matter of necessity.

Poster Image Courtesy of Northwestern University Library

A campaign that encouraged folks to plant gardens in an effort to reduce the strain on the public food supply brought on by the war and ensure that enough canned goods were available to be shipped to the troops.

 Poster Courtesy of Northwestern University Library

I think it was a genius idea since those who participated got to show their patriotism by helping out on the homefront, use fresh produce to stretch their rations and learn new skills like planting, growing, harvesting and preserving.

 Poster Image Courtesy of Northwestern University Library

Overall, a staggeringly large number of families and communities joined in and pulled together to make the movement a huge success.

Interestingly enough, Victory Gardens never really went away.  I didn't know that PBS has a show called "The Victory Garden" that has been on the air for over 30 years or that one of the original public victory gardens called Fenway Victory Gardens is still going strong and, according to their site, they are "America's Oldest Victory Gardens, est. 1942".

Just this spring I personally have witnessed a growing interest in vegetable gardening where people who used to see our vegetable garden or our canned goods and ask "why" would we do that are more and more asking "how". They take greater interest and actually walk out into the garden and look at it instead of viewing it from a distance like it was a UFO.

These days I honestly don't see how anyone who watches the news can't help but get an uneasy feeling about the state of our economy.  Not to mention the rash of contaminated food products and recalls.  And with the price of fuel affecting the price of all consumer goods, it is hitting everyone in their pocketbooks!  And what about protecting the environment?  Do you know how far your food traveled to reach your grocery store? 

I don't know about you, but when I start taking all of that into consideration, I get the urge to be even more frugal and self-sufficient! So maybe the time is ripe for a revival of the old Victory Garden movement with a new purpose!

 

Introducing.....Newsy Tuesday

I think gardeners are all alike in that their garden is a place to "lose" themselves.   There is absolutely no place else they would rather be.

I know I get so completely caught up in what I'm doing in my garden that the real world ceases to exist for a time.

And, I'll admit that I would be perfectly content to "play in the dirt" pretty much all day everyday and not work or pay bills or shop or cook or clean or whatever mundane tasks make up a large part of my day.

But, the truth is, whether we like it or not, a lot goes on beyond our garden gates.  There are events and issues that gardeners should know about.

So, when I got the bright idea to try and keep an eye out for interesting tidbits to share..."Newsy Tuesday" was born.  (Kinda corny I know, but the best I could do on short notice!)

If you have anything interesting you would like for me to know about please email TheGardenGuide@yahoo.com ....It doesn't matter if it is something that made you laugh out loud or made you hoppin' mad or is an announcement or an achievement...its ALL news!

The Last Day of Summer...The First Day of Fall!

It seems like it was just yesterday that it was the dog days of summer.  The time of the year when the heat wilts my enthusiasm along with all but the hardiest of my plants. 

One minute I was enjoying the return of cooler mornings and evenings and the next minute I went into panic mode!

Yikes!  September is almost over!  The last day of summer has arrived with fall hot on its heels!  Don't get me wrong 'cause I love glorious fall!  It is just that there is so much to do!  Pruning, weeding, dividing, re-working beds, planting my winter garden, my list of fall chores goes on and on...

So, I got busy!  Well, right after I paused to take a picture of this young Silver Maple showing off the beginnings of its fall colors....

WARNING:    THE FOLLOWING SCENES ARE NOT PRETTY!!

Of course I get started on my to-do list by tackling the "easiest" stuff first.

Here are some of my agave pups dug up and ready for new homes.  Seemed like I got more pups than I actually did after looking at this picture.  Seven down and who knows how many more to go!

I've been letting my elephant ears die off, because I wanted to divide some more out and re-work their home this fall.  Here are a few of them looking pathetically displaced while their division wounds heal...

I see one new leaf thinking about going ahead and unfurling and a few sprouts still poking up, so maybe they'll be all right.

Should I tell them this home is temporary or just let them be happy in their ignorance...not knowing I'm going to uproot them again real soon?

A bunch of aloe vera babies thinned out and waiting to be re-potted.

My poor spider plant is so little and insignificant now that I've divided it out.  I should've gotten a "before" picture too!

I bought these pots when I was looking for something cheap but decent looking to get new plants started in.  They are a very lightweight plastic but grooved to look like clay pots with rolled rims (12" Toscana Planter).  I think they look nicer than what I paid for them at Amazon.com.

A couple of Split Leaf Philodendron selloum dug up and ready for new homes.

Three of them potted up for now.

We have an area that we like to hang out at.  Outside of this area, I just wanted a few random splashes of woodsy color peaking out of the grass beneath a few trees.

And Coleus seemed like the obvious answer.

However, each year I plant them and each year they just do O.K.  Each year I'm convinced that if I just move them to different sides of the trees or dig the holes a little bigger or whatever, that they'll like it there.

Why I keep doing essentially the same thing and expecting different results is anybody's guess.

Taking a break from the shovel, I wander over and look at them. (And this is where I got off track from my original task). 

Looking at them I'm thinking about how I'm tired of spending money on these plants...

So I found some jars, went to the creek and filled a jug with good water, located my never used bonsai scissors and went to work....

Here are a few of my cuttings.

I think these are 'Cinnamon Tea'.  Pretty boring as far as Coleus go, but they are the first of my many  intended victims.

A pretty productive first day of fall tasks!  And, now I should probably get back at it!

Creekside Gardening - Part II

To the left of the first waterfall is the rock planter that I excitedly wrote about before in "Gimme, Fetch Me, Bring Me".  

I FINALLY got to plant it! Yay!

On the upper level are two Asparagus ferns (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri') I stole from some containers at the house.  You just gotta love a plant that lets you cut out what you need of it anytime you want.  Plus, it is a great filler since it gets really full but still has a light airiness to it! It will cascade beautifully over the rocks.

On the bottom outer edge are two Purslane ('Portulaca oleracea'), but somehow only one made it in the picture.  The plan is for this succulent ground cover to spread and weave in and around the Kimberley Queen ferns, and maybe drape a little over the front to soften up the rock edge also.  I need to add a couple more Purslane, but keep forgetting to break pieces off and get them started! 

The Purslane's smooth tear-dropped shaped leaves are a good foliage contrast to the rougher more jagged look of the ferns.  The small apricot flowers will add a little color. Anything more than that would probably stick out like a sore thumb!

The day we were planning on planting this planter, my husband showed up with one GIANT Kimberley Queen fern ('Nephrolepis obliterata').  He occasionally surprises me with a random gift....Usually a tree or some other "manly" type of plant...no flowers!

We decided to edge the inner semi-circle on the lower level with ferns. To do that, however, one Kimberley Queen just wasn't going to cut it.....we needed seven.  I glanced at the tag - $12.99! Quick math - this idea was going to cost about $100! On the ferns alone - I don't think so!!  My solution?  I grabbed a hand saw that was laying nearby and cut this plant into fourths.  Closer, but still 3 short....

Just so happens that our neighbors (Robert and Mindy) came down to visit and they had some Kimberley Queens growing up at their house.  So, Mindy dug some up and brought them down.  We also got it mulched.  Done!

Pictured below is the long curved rock wall we built to enclose the pond area.  It "ties" everything together and holds back the dirt used to level the area.  Which makes me realize that I left a large part of this area out when taking pictures!  Too busy showing off the planters, I guess!

So, let me explain...off to the left you can just barely see the beginning of a flat area.  The part where we can now sit, enjoy and admire our little paradise (more like take a break to avoid heatstroke from working our @#$**& off)! 

In the beginning this area was very overgrown, uneven (understatement of the year probably!) and swampy.  To make an area large enough and flat enough to use/enjoy, we had to make a huge cut in the hillside that left probably a 12 foot tall sheer wall and then installed a trench drain prior to getting it to where you see it now.

I gained this lower level planter out of the deal....which is actually the original ground level.

Trying to maintain some continuity and not clash with Mother Nature too much, we put more of the same plants we used in previous areas.  I think the only new one in this picture is Orange African Bulbine ('Bulbine frutescens').  The trunk in the middle belongs to a native willow tree we managed to work around without damaging it.

The water level should rise up to the base of the planter's rocks.  That will get rid of the ugly mud edging.  However, if it doesn't then we'll just hide the mud with some more water plants.  I've already ordered some to help keep the water clear and give the fish, crawdads, turtles, etc... more cover.

That's it for now...stayed tuned for Part III!

Batten Down the Hatches?

I battened down the hatches as advised by the weather people to prepare for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Ike.  I put up the lawn chairs, moved all of my plants in containers to protected areas, etc.  But, guess what!  No rain....not a single drop!  A little wind and that was it.  I would like to complain about the lack of rain, but cannot when thinking of all those people who did end up in Ike's path.  We've got friends who lost so much and my heart goes out to them, as well as the ones we still wait to hear from.

Our oldest daughter chose to stay in Nacogdoches and ride out the storm as opposed to paying a premium for fuel and joining the long lines of cars on the highway.  Her and some friends gathered up non-perishable food, flashlights, camping lanterns, water (and, of course, the requisite bottle of wine needed for any natural disaster).  They charged their cell phones and laptops and any other gadget that needed charging and then hunkered down and waited. 

When I talked to her afterwards, she said it was "pretty scary".  She hasn't had electricity since Saturday and had to abandon her apartment and head for higher ground when her roof started leaking and her dining area began to flood.  Boredom has now set in with no electricity (read all batteries on electronics dead), work is closed and classes canceled, but things should be looking up for her soon.

Our youngest daughter evacuated from her home on the outskirts of Houston and showed up at 1:30 in the morning (with a kitten of all things).  She left to go home yesterday, but turned around and came back before she even got out of town as reports came flooding in about no electricity at work, no electricity at her house, gas stations out of fuel, grocery stores closed, etc...  She does have class tomorrow though, so I guess she'll have to head out soon and tough it out as best she can.

Now I thought I was going to get a canning buddy out of all of this.  It didn't take me long to realize that her idea of helping me can consisted of her sitting at the kitchen table talking non-stop while I measured, chopped and boiled.  That is until the jalapeno smell got so strong that a deep breath could burn your throat and leave you coughing.  She escaped and I forged on...

Pictured here are my first batches of "Jalapeno Pickle Relish" and "Jalapeno Jelly". My first time ever to make jelly.  I tried it because my best friend, Robin, made some and loved it.  It doesn't seem like the words jalapeno and jelly should even be in the same sentence!  But, she was right!  It is a sweet/hot that isn't really even hot.  It is supposed to be excellent served on top of cream cheese and crackers.  I bet it is!

Vegetable Garden Update (2)

Several weeks ago I posted about the near end of my spring garden.  I have to tell you that I was just a little hasty when I said I was going to rip out my okra that very day! 

I always forget how big and sturdy okra plants really are....

   

Look at the size of this 'Clemson Spineless' okra trunk!  Is it large enough to give me braggin' rights?  I don't know... I do know that I had to dig these guys out one by one with a shovel!   

All 16 of my pepper plants are blooming and producing again.  Yay!   I should be sick and tired of canning peppers, but I think I'm good for one more round. 

The pepper plants in the containers are quite a bit bigger than the ones in the ground....

These are about 3 feet tall!

The 'Bush Early Girl' tomatoes I planted September 1st are coming along.

Day 8 - peeking out over the sides of their pots.

Day 12 - Probably grew 6 inches in a matter of days!

With the rest of the garden gone, I am probably babying them way too much!  But...so far, so good! 

Creekside Gardening - Part I

This is the beginning of a 3...hmmm...maybe 4 part series (I've got a lot of ground to cover!) to show what's been going on at the creek.

My husband got the majority of the hardscape work completed.  Yay!  Talk about an ongoing project!

We'll start the "tour" at the upper most end.  We could drive in the other way, but I wanted to take you down the steps where you can see the original creek in the background.

 

I probably should of swept the steps off before I photographed them!  If I remember correctly there are 52 steps altogether interspersed with flat walking trails.

We began working where there was a natural pool and built the first dam just after it.  The natural pool is probably about 8 inches deep.  And, you guessed it, we named it "the baby pool".  Our biggest dogs are scared of water and only on the hottest of summer days will they gingerly make their way into this shallow pool to cool off.

You can see the "baby pool" in the background and our first dam and waterfall in front of it.

After the rock work was done, it was time to start re-vegetating.  Trying to keep it as natural looking as possible, we decided to transplant some woody ferns growing elsewhere along the creek.

Picture this!  After actually locating a fern, it required my balancing precariously on a slope with shoes sticking in the muck trying to get enough leverage to dig without taking a tumble in the creek.  Once my mission was accomplished I have to admit the cool creek water was looking pretty enticing.

The trees and brush are so thick that it is one way in, same way out.  I managed to get turned around with my fern still intact.  However, all 4 dogs were standing nose to tail down the "path" like a bunch of kindergarteners lined up to go on a field trip.  I get them turned around and headed back with my finely honed herding skills. "Willis, don't stop", "Partner, can you please scratch later", "Jester, be nice", "Go, Gus!"

Finally, we got to the cleared area!  Whew!  Then I made my way through the swirling mass of dogs, crossed the creek, walked up the other side and climbed down on the rocks near the dam..all to plant a fern. (Which was still intact, thank you very much!)  Of course, man's best friends all crowd onto the dam with me and stand around curious as to what I'm going to do next.

When I got tired of the Pied Piper act, I decided to cheat and get plants elsewhere that hopefully would look pretty natural.   Our creek neighbors, Robert and Mindy, had put a bunch of water plants in the creek years before and they had multiplied like crazy.  So Mindy and I separated them and randomly planted them up and down the creek.

 

Here is some tucked in between some boulders at the baby pool.

Also, I went and robbed some plants from my flowerbeds and containers.  The caladiums are really starting to stand out against the white boulders and the asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers') should be spreading its airy fronds soon.  The dwarf mexican petunia (Ruella brittoniana) was literally squeezed into cracks between the rocks with little or no soil, but will eventually fill most of the cracks and flourish where most plants won't grow at all.  I planted an elephant ear down below in the boggy soil and you can just see a leaf starting to show in the bottom left.  In no time at all that corner will be filled with huge elephant ears.

Truthfully though, neither pictures nor words can do this area justice.  You have to be there...to soak in the musty woodsiness of it all...to feel how still the air is while leaves rustle faintly in the trees high above you...to sit quietly and listen to the lyrical fall of water over the rocks and into the pond below.

Watering Plants in Containers

I was flipping through a gardening magazine the other day and had to laugh at the instructions (I use the term "instructions" loosely) on how to water your plants in containers!  The instructions consisted of "Water until water runs out the drainage holes".

Technically, I guess this "method" is correct, but probably needs a tad more explanation, especially if the growing medium has pulled away from the sides of the container!  Common sense will tell you that the water will run straight off the top, down the sides of the container and out the drainage holes without ever giving the poor plants a drink!

So, let's back up and talk about the growing medium.  The correct soil is the most important part.  It is what ensures that your plants have adequate air, nutrition and proper drainage/moisture retention.

There are many different "recipes" for growing mediums.  I simply use potting mix (not potting soil), and add in some builders sand and compost until it "feels" right.  Whatever mix you prefer, just remember it is essential that the water drain through quickly (so as to not drown your plants), but enough moisture be retained for plant use at the same time.

When planting, I leave probably a 2-inch gap from the top of the soil to the rim of the container.  And then, when I water, I fill each container up to the rim.  If the water starts running out of the drainage holes too quickly, I keep on watering until the water gets to the rim.  This ensures that water gets to the root ball!

I have found that watering my containers in this way reduces how often I have to water.  However, no matter how thoroughly you water, frequency of watering still depends on the size and type of container, location of container, the actual plant's water requirements and whether or not the plants are new or established.

But if you want to reduce watering chores and have happy hydrated plants, start with the correct growing medium, monitor the moisture content in the soil and then water as described above as needed.  It is as simple as that and your plants will love you for it!

The Agave scabra

Years ago we found an Agave growing wild on our property and transplanted it to the area we call "the desert".

(I know...I know...we name everything!)

The "desert" was born out of necessity, since back then we had eight acres of raw land to clear, level and plant, and had only gotten around to running two measly water faucets (compared to the ten or so we have now).  Xeriscaping wasn't even really that popular of a trend, but it beat the heck out of lugging miles (slight exaggeration) of water hose around.

After some research I decided that we had discovered an Agave scabra.  Which apparently hails from the Chihuahuan Desert in Northeastern Mexico.  Our guy was a long way from home, but we thought, as a cactus, he might like to stay in our "desert".  Well, the joke was on us, because I later learned that the agave is not even a cactus and is actually related to the lily family (hard to imagine, I know).  Atleast we got the "desert" part right!

Judging by the number of offspring, the "desert" was a good choice!

The Agave scabra has a strong upright stature combined with bold lines, unusual detail, and a kind of toughness that demands admiration (and lots of photos).

Especially when a new leaf is unfurling.

I love the scalloped edging which actually leaves random imprints on the backs of the leaves also.

But...I have to warn you....

The Agave scabra is a stickler for proper mowing etiquette.  Back into one while mowing and it will let you know!

Plant Pick - Plumbago

I was admiring this Plumbago at a good friend of mines house the other day.  I have wanted some Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata) for quite a while now, and I've vowed to add this Texas Superstar to my garden soon.

I mean really...who can resist reveling in the coolness of this tender perennial's blue clusters when its over a hundred degrees outside?   (I felt refreshed just looking at them!)

The plant itself gets quite large at about 2 to 3 feet tall and a good 3 to 4 feet wide.  It is suggested that you keep them trimmed to encourage blooming and to keep this fast growing plant (with regular watering) in check. 

Plumbago loves the Texas heat and humidity and flourishes in full sun with non-stop blooming action from spring until the first cold snap. An added bonus is that butterflies love it!

I think the Plumbago would be great as a mass planting...just imagine a sea of cool blue in the Texas heat!  There is a white variety also.  Maybe alternate the blue and white as a border of a large area.  Or let it spill over some rocks as pictured below.

The possibilities are great....so, where are you going to plant your Plumbago?