The Everblooming Primrose
This primrose was one of the first plants I planted in the garden, a few months after we moved in over nine years ago. I saw a basket of primroses on clearance at the grocery store, bought them, brought them home, and planted them in the garden. Most of them didn’t make it through the first winter, except for this one. It’s generally the first thing to bloom in the spring, usually while there’s still snow around. It will also bloom again in the fall and the flowers will hang on until the first snowfall. So it’s usually one of the last plants blooming in my garden as well.
This spring I moved it because it was being shaded out by a ‘Limelight’ hydrangea. Ever since it was replanted it’s been blooming – all summer long – which is kind of strange. I hope it isn’t wasting all of it’s energy and will still survive the winter as I’d hate to lose it.
Do you have any plants that have surprised you this year?
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A Helping Hand
I talked about my love of watering in the evenings last Friday, mostly because we’ve had a really dry June/July here at Chiot’s Run. From my records we’ve had less than an inch of rain over the last 6 weeks. As a result things are dry, dry, dry (at least it’s raining while I’m writing this post so that’s a welcome change). Most of the time I don’t worry too much about my gardens, with the leaf mulch and the soil improvement I have to water less and less each year. This spring however I planted 350 shrubs for a hedge around the perimeter of the property, I’ve also added 15 new hydrangeas, 50 crowns of asparagus, 17 new boxwoods, and 20-30 perennials. These plants are not established and need a good dose of water each week to make sure they get well rooted in to be drought tolerant in the coming years. That means I’ve been spending a lot of time hauling watering cans and using the hose to make sure I don’t lose any of these new plants.
Since I’m a busy person, I have come up with a few ways to maximize my time watering. Beside some of the new plants, I added small garden hooks that used to have hanging solar lanterns on them (I have 8 of them). I hang the hose over the hook pointing at the plant and turn the hose nozzel on a low spray. While the plant is being watered I can use my watering cans on other plants that need watered. This way I can be watering two different things at once. I usually wear a stop watch and set the timer for 10 minutes, then I switch the hose to the next plant.
This works like a charm if you have specific plants or small garden areas that are in need of more water than other areas and you don’t want to set up the sprinkler to water large portions. This does a better job at spot watering to save water, and is especially handy because you can weed, or do other garden tasks while the plants are being watered.
Do you have any great time saving gardening tips?
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Quote of the Day: Kristin Kimball
Food is the first wealth. Grow it right, and you feel insanely rich, no matter what you own. A frenchman once told me.
Kristin Kimball from The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love
I’m feeling exceedingly rich today as I stroll through my edible garden looking at all the bounty that will be in my harvest basket this summer. The golden peas are at their end, only a few more remain to harvest, the rest will be left for seed. The tomatoes are hanging heavy on the vines, promising a bounty of tomato soup and BLT’s later this summer. I harvested the potato onions and am happy once again to have homegrown onions in the pantry, they will be joined by a variety of other onions as summer goes along.
It’s very true that growing your own isn’t just about the good food that you provide for yourself, although that is the greatest reward. You truly feel rich knowing that you don’t have to spend money on fresh vegetables. Growing your own food gives you a sense of freedom, a sense of security knowing that you can provide for yourself should it ever be a necessity.
How does growing some of your own food make you feel? secure? happy? rich?
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Future Butterflies
Last week I was at my mom’s and she mentioned that she had some yellow swallowtail caterpillars on her fennel. I had seen a few tiny caterpillars on my dill, but they were too small to tell what they were yet. I’ve been keeping my eye on them, and sure enough – they’re going to become yellow swallowtails. These caterpillars are quite striking with their lined and bright colors. They’ve been munching away on a bronze fennel plant I have growing in my front flowerbed. It’s amazing how quickly they grow!
This is one reason to include a wide variety of plants in your gardens. Fennel seems to be attractive to a lot of insects, as does milkweed. My mom has been working on establishing a nice stand of milkweed for the last 15 years and last year she was finally rewarded with monarch caterpillars on hers.
Do you have any herbs or plants that seem to attract certain insects?
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Friday Favorite: Evening Watering
I really love watering right before dusk. It’s quiet and peaceful, the perfect way to unwind after a long day. I usually water by hand because it’s good exercise and it helps me keep on top of how all the plants are doing. This time of year however, if it’s as dry as it’s been, I’ll set up a sprinkler in one zone every night. While the sprinkler is going I spend my time watering things that can’t be reached by the hose or by the sprinkler.
I also like to spend mornings in the garden, but generally I weed and do other garden chores in the morning. For some reason I really enjoy watering in the evening!
Do you have certain times of the day you like to do certain garden chores?
