Hellebores are just the thing to beat the winter grays...........I gifted Daddy with these last year so he could look forward to getting back in the garden.....without going to far into the yard. Sometimes our Elders need a bit of prodding to get active and outdoors!
There is a project that I have worked on for the past five plus years. I call it my Sacred Place. It has been simply amazing to see it evolve ....almost like having a baby and watching it grow slowly. I remember thinking that the stone mason was fortunate to be able to look at the all beauty that surrounded him daily. Learning what a cairn was (a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark, typically on a hilltop or a skyline) and actually wondering why? Why this spot, what signifigance would it have in the landscape, to the skyline...as it was not on a hilltop....what was my client thinking?
As the years past...yes two plus summers, the cairn and the wall along the river, evolved from a pile of irregular stones -dry stacked, a skill that is rare these days. I had to come up with a design that would simply show off the wall and not detract from it. It had to complement the colors of the stone, it would have to embrace the spirit of the site and the natural surroundings already in place. Simple, not busy..something that would flow, calming to the eye, xeric and preferably at least three seasons of interest. I knew that I could accomplish this feel, by sitting with the site on a summer evening, as I listened to the river speak.
My favorite plant (I call it my boyfriend, as it has yet to fail me with it's dependability), an awesome perennial, a plant that I was advised to NOT try as it was not dependable in this zone. Plant zone pusher that I am, I even told my client that THIS was the plant. I observe this plant almost daily as I drive past the United States Botanical Gardens. I have watched it for three or four years as it starts out the season with a buzz cut, grows into an almost irridescent mound of fine foliage dancing in the breeze, to a luminescent clump of golden waves of grain in the fall. Finally, it becomes a mound of super fine foilage that glows in the midst of winters gray.
My favorite ornamental grass, my boyfriend -ever dependable and always at his best....Stipa Teunissima....... I would have to say that this ornamnetal grass deserves more attention than it gets...but that is okay. I initially saw this ornamental grass at the USBG andwondered what it was. I would pass it daily and thought that it was perhaps an annual grass, filler, fluff. However, since it captured my attention, I observed it as the seasons and years evolved. I had to see for myself what it was called. I now had a reason to pause on my way home from work and as I was walking for wellness. The way Stipa moves in the breeze, the calm of it's presence, the gentleness in the touch of it's foliage, is such a contrast to the concrete and hectic pace that surrounds it. I have watched as the staff of the USBG placed a few perennials in the midst of this awesome perennial - Echinacea, Salvia and other grasses. I however like my Stipa simple, straight up, no chaser. Stipa Teunissima, in the right setting can stand alone...four season interest, xeric and visually calming to the landscape. I was pleasantly surprised that even after two polar vortexes, my Stipa has not failed me.....how awesome is that?
I urge you to stop, pause and visit some of the places that feature plants that capture your attention. Get to know what specific plants provide in the landscape, be a zone pusher, learn something new and perhaps it is something that you would consider for your personal landscape. You just might find a new love as I did a few years ago......Stipa Teunissima...I love you......
The Garden Coalition and The District Heights Community Garden sponsored a joint trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show 2014. 32 avid gardeners took the bus trip to one of the most famous horticultural treats of the Spring. We had awesome goodie bags, raffle tickets with awesome prizes, watched two movies - A Man Called Pearl and Magnolia Plantations and Gardens. This placed us in a mental state of gardening. One of our guests on the bus was Nikita Floyd, Green Forever Landscaping and host of the Friday morning gardening talk show, Nature Boy on WOL radio.
What a time we had. Cultivating friendships in an environment of like minded folks is a wonderful thing! Here are a few photos of the day......I will share more on tomorrow......yes I am returning tomorrow.......ah Spring......it's ok. You can come now.......
This was one of those weekends where I was at the mercy of the weather. The snowstorm buried my truck, I had a class that I had to cancel as the weather forecast called for more snow on Saturday morning ....which meant that I would have to dig out and deal with the nasty greig stuff - treated snow. So I wimped out and instead explored all the opportunities to garden more creatively this season. From pallet gardens to upcycling a shower rack to more creatively potted edible gardens....I could not contain my excitement as I read and absorbed the positive energy ooozing from the articles I was reading.
Although excited about the possibilities, I also know that any good gardener knows that it all starts with the soil. Soil - good or bad can make or break your garden vision. Potted gardens need a lighter soil mix, like potting soil. Garden soil in a pot will only compact and suffocate the roots....leaving you with either a dead or problematic container planting. Check with your local garden center for a quality potting soil specifically made for containers. Once you have found the right quality mix, put your containers inside the garden to add height and added interest with shape as well as color combinations. Decide whether you want to draw attention to the container, to the plant in the container or if you want the surrounding plantings to simply skirt the container and enhance its beauty. I have a vision of some of the white datura seeds skirting a bodacious planter of stunning high drama plants....with the sound of water in the background....on my terrace....COME ON SPRING!
Did you compost last years garden debris? Have you turned it over this winter or are you slow composting? Will you remember to add it into your garden....specifically where you are adding plants or where you noticed plants struggling last year. A boost of good food, natural food always helps. Heard of lasagna gardening, victory gardens, square foot gardening...or gardening in small spaces??? I urge you to explore the possibilities of how you can creatively garden this year. It will add excitement and anticipation of the possibilities that are available.
For those who know me, the last thing I needed was yet another book. However, this one really called my name....and I am so glad that it did! Explore the new and alternative ways to garden. Afterall, gardening should be not only good for the soul, but an adventure for the mind......now back to my latest read.......
Not exactly sure about what happened to the snowy forecast for this weekend, but this passionate gardener wasted no time. Spring is closer than we think. I spent a bit of time checking out my existing stash of seeds and of course....went and acquired additional resources. I know I have seed in my garden room....a lot of seed. Most passionate gardeners I know always have seed. Saved from prior years, gifted, from a seed exchange, mail order, the little pieces of life that get you through the coldest of winters...seeds are the candy of life, at least to me. Something about those little packets, that with a little potting mix, water, warmth, light and love allows a little granules come to life .......that is simply amazing. old seed can of course be used in garden projects......I will share those ideas later.
What am I going to grow this year one might ask?? In addition to tomato's (heirloom...of course), hot peppers (heirloom....of course) and assorted lettuce, I finally got my hands on some Datura seeds (Thanks to the Washington Gardener Seed Exchange). I am a big bloom girl. The bigger the better, the more brilliant the better and if it gives me some fragrance, I am so much better!! Datura has been on my list for quite awhile. It grows about 3 feet tall and wide, although sprawling, is bodacious with it's large blooms. The first time I saw it in the flesh was in a tree box on F Street, NE, on Capitol Hill cross from my Uncle's old house. It was brillant and stood out amongst the other tree box plantings. This is not a plant that you want around small children however. It is a bit toxic and is considered a sacred plant. Some cultures have used this plant for astral travel (hmmmm) and some have used it for medicinal purposes. After reading up on these uses...I only want it for horticultural reasons. I just want to grow it for the large white blooms that emit a wonderfully enchanting fragrant scent at dusk .
I am taking cuttings from its sister plant, brugmansia, this week to see if I can make some babies to fill more pots on my terrace. I can just imagine a few large pots overflowing with the Datura and a few pots with Brugmansia trees, with a hot pink Lantana underskirt......mmm come on Spring.....I am so waiting....and reading more catalogs .......you never know what else I
NEED to get me through......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qle74vMe8_Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player.....
So, bored with the topsy turvy season we are experiencing already? Take some of your seeds from last season and get busy making some seed balls. Take a look at this video and watch nature happen.
Think about early season seeds like poppies, calendula and of course winter lettuce. Sprinkle some mini seed balls atop your potted bulbs. This will add some interactive excitement while the bulb foliage silently creeps upward, reaching towards the sky. Simply use 4 to 5 parts native clay to 1 part seeds and compost mix (I like to use worm castings), mix together and imagine you are a child again. It will get messy, but it is just pure fun...so release that inner child, roll those seedballs, then set aside to dry. While drying, imagine all the places that one could drop some seed balls that would simply and quietly add a smile to an unexpected persons journey.
So if you see some unexpected blooms in unexpected places....just think, someone contributed some seedballs to brighten the day.
No leftover seeds? Don't worry, the seed catalogs and garden magazines are on their way! In the meantime dream, plan and lets get through this winter together!
