Turtles!

Or, rather, Turtlehead a great fall perennial!

At last I am enjoying some Turtlehead blooms!  I've had a problem in the past with this plant not growing for me.  Maybe I found it's happy spot this time!  It is definitely part shade along the fence in back of the house!  It gets a bit of sun maybe early morning from the East and then again in  the afternoon  from the west. It snuggles up near a favorite climetis so maybe it likes its neighbor?  Whatever, I've really enjoyed the gentle pink blooms now for about 4 weeks in Sept. when most of my perennials have made their annual visit and said "goodbye until next year".  This one is just outside the bedroom window so I get to visit it twice a day when I am opening or closing the blinds!

I recall picking this one up at our annual garden club plant sale in the spring and it was only marked "pink turtlehead" so I do not know the variety.  I am hoping the same person donates a few more plants of it this coming spring so I can get a few more to sprinkle in along that fence.

For more information about Turtlehead CLICK HERE!

A Day of Gardening Enrichment!

Yep, one this fall even!  Our garden club arranged one and it was a lovely Saturday spent networking and learning some new gardening tricks and information!  Although I am not "into Herbs" the keynote speaker was inspiring and the most interesting speaker I've experienced on this topic!

Then three breakout sessions followed with lunch tucked in there and time to visit the vendors that were there!  One of the speakers shared some exciting tips on creating outdoor planters for the fall season which can extend to Thanksgiving!  So, that's 2 1/2 months to change up our tired summer displays out there!  I was scheduled to help Ginni do a "make and take" Kokedama breakout session, which we did two sessions of!  That was  fun adventure!  Ginni is such a talented artist so her creative arrangement and planters are so inspiring!  Oh, I also won a nice door prize, a full grown Purple Fountain Grass, perfect to pop into a planter that was holding some tired looking petunias!

Yep, I ended up getting reinspired to do Kokedama gardening so have several gift ones to put together now to share the fun with friends, etc!  I guess the 5 I made ahead to display ideas at the class will find homes in my indoor garden beds, etc. Some I designed to hang so they won't take up much space!   But, I couldn't resist buying myself a lovely new fern to "ball up"!  (more about that one later)

My winter garden bed for the West Window!

WOW!

It sure didn't take long for me to start filling in this garden bed!  The lowest shelf holds two succulent fairy gardens that should enjoy a longer life this year!  Usually I've just had to compost these in the fall, growing them as annuals, due to snowbirding south for three months!  So, they will make the transition to indoors quite well and I did a good job of killing any critters that had been visiting them outdoors.  I noticed last year that even without care while I was gone several cactus plants survived the winter, so... I am looking forward to keeping these growing and saving a bit more $ in the spring!   

I've discovered Home Depot and WalMart have been stocking up their house plant departments with tons of fresh and nicely priced plants!  When I can buy a nice size indoor plant for only $2.93 I just couldn't pass them up!  I only have one African Violet so far, because I had just found a bargain container for only $3 and the perfect color violet for it for only $3.98 at Home Depot!  I still have room to add a variety of African Violets yet!  I found two unusual ferns, variety is the spice of life!  Also I've selected a variety of plant shapes to keep it interesting. 

And I can have the fun of swapping out the different varieties throughout the house all winter!  I already shifted two indoor fairy gardens from the kitchen table into here and some new plants (one coffee plants in an adorable coffee cup) into the kitchen for a change!

Now I need to find some bargain containers also! Maybe I should pick out a variety of violet flowers colors and then look for the containers to compliment the plants?  Need to add some color!    I tried a few mini rose plants but they were not happy right away so ended up in the garbage can within 10 days!  Seems like that is a familiar experience from the past?   

One of my winter indoor garden beds!

This is the garden bed in the south window of "my dressing room"!

Well, it didn't take long to pull out 20 of the annual plants in my Fairy Gardens that I want to winter over indoors this winter!  This rack held some of my fairy gardens on my deck and fit just right by this south window!  I've had plants growing well in this spot in the past, so..... I will  see if I have to add a grow light or two as time goes on.  Meanwhile the indoor temp is about what the outdoor temp is right now and they were growing in a part shade environment so my theory is they would adjust quickly.  Time will tell!  They are all indoor plants normally or lower zone plants that won't survive the MN winter even in the garage.

Most of them are ferns, a few low growing ground cover type plants, a vine I usually use on a miniature garden size trellis, and a lower zone one that I manipulate into a flowering tree.  All of these were split into smaller plants, placed into fresh new potting soil and debugged with insecticide!  

I used some of these plants for the Kokedomas I made also.  This would sure save me some $ in the spring if this works as well and give me a fun project for winter!  Gee, I think I can even hang a few small Kokedamas on this!

Kokedama!

What's a Kokedama?    Fun is what it is!

Several years ago I attended a class on making a Kokedama, with 2 other gardening friends, using a mini orchid plant!  It was fun, mine didn't live long but the others did for quite awhile!   Kokedama is a interesting way to grow and display a plant using a Japanese method.  Kokedama is a method of growing a plant in a moss ball and can be hung or displayed on a platform/container. Very attractive and interesting!

Recently, Ginni, one of our trio, decided to do a "Make and Take Kokedama Event" for a workshop put on by our garden club!  Ginni has continued to make these and even has earned some ribbons at the MN State Fair!  So when Ginni asked me to assist her,  I agreed!  It is getting close to the time to do this so I decided I'd better brush up on how to make one!  While I was potting up some Fairy Garden plants to bring in for my winter garden project, it seemed a good opportunity to experiment and see what I remembered!  I stopped at a florist to get some Sheet Moss and looked up a recipe for the soil to use!  Denny has a handy supply of fishing line to use....and presto!

What fun I had!  In no time at all I had made three of them and became pretty excited about this upcoming workshop!  Here are two of my quick creations:

I decided to just do a display with these!

Now I can't wait to help out at the workshop!  These would make some awesome gifts!  Check this video out and consider having some fun!  It is quick to do and fairly inexpensive!  We figure the cost for this workshop will be less than $10 a Kokedoma!

Video on how to make a Kokedama CLICK HERE

What does a front door plant container tell about the home owner?

Interesting question?   

Well, this planter is at the front door of a very friendly gardener who is always willing to share excitement and information about the fun she has gardening!  She has an awesome fun sense of humor and enthusiasm for exploring and enjoying the wonderful world of growing plants and trees!

Lucky is the person who gets acquainted with her and experiences her gardening world!  I met Mary Ann many years ago while searching for some gardens for our Annual Garden Tour!  We visit frequently on Facebook sharing pictures, humor and friendship! We even visit each others gardens on occasion!

This visit included the gardening friend who introduced us, a truly wonderful visit!

Welcome to "Figgy", "Polly's" new companion!

"Figgy" came home with me today from Home Depot!

The boys gave him a welcome sniff and strolled away calmly accepting him to our family!  Polly actually cuddle up nicely and together they are making a nifty looking team! 

I was shopping for some insecticide when I noticed this huge display of new large plants and just had to stop to explore them!  As I was considering if a Fiddle-leaf Fig would be happy in my living room window next to Polly, a nice younger woman was also giving them some examinations.  So, as usual for me, I asked her if she was familiar with them and she responded she has 5 and is being tempted by these to add another one to her home!  So, as we continued our conversation she agreed to help me pick out a good specimen while she was doing the same thing!  Needless to say, I left with lots of confidence with "Figgy" in my cart!  Nice big plant for only $19!  (Well, I also picked up a beautiful african violet, but more about that in another post!)  And, my new friend left with my personal business card with the garden club website listed on it because our conversation drifted to that subject also!  ahem.....

  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FIDDLE-LEAF FIG PLANTS

Fire and Ice!!

Nothing like August and Sept. to bring on the Hydrangea blooms!

So carefree, so beautiful, so reliable for spectacular sights!

We were visiting a gardening friend, Mary Ann, recently, and I fell in love with her "Fire and Ice"!  It is in the turning pink stage in this picture.

'Fire & Ice'

Click here for more information on 'Fire and Ice'

Moving a plant to a better home is a good solution some times!

I was so excited a few years ago when I purchased little "Bobo" hydrangea but disappointed in it's performance.  So, last fall I decided to move it to a spot where it would get more sun and look what happened this summer!  It is soooo happy in its new home!  And, I am sooo happy also!

A visit to K Mart.....

looking for clear saucers for my new garden bed in the guest bedroom....  turned out to be a nice adventure!  A brand new display of orchids was so attractive!  And so healthy looking!  I looked at the prices and they were very attractive also!  So, one miniature (for $6.93) and one full size (for $10.93) just hopped right into my cart because they liked the invitation to a brand new growing location without much competition right now!

I am thinking the miniature looks a bit lonely and might need a companion?  She is sooo adorable!

And then when I got home, I checked the little succulent fairy garden that I had sprayed with "kill any varmints" bug spray to prepare it to come indoors and decided it could move inside and onto the "new garden bed" in the guest room also!

So, the adventure has begun...…       hmmmm I recall seeing mini rose bushes for $5 at HyVee recently!

Polly moved in to live with us!

I was in Home Depot recently, in the indoor plant area, just in time to hear a sales person explaining to a customer about this distinctive looking plant,  I stopped to listen as the plant had caught my attention right away!  I was thinking of my two pots for the living room that were waiting for plants and decided this was just right for the smaller pot.  So Polly jumped right into my cart and came home with me!  She was only $7, which was a bonus that made me happy!

Polly is an 'alocasia' who needs indirect light in indoor settings.  Average home temperatures 62-82 degrees and grows 12-24" tall.  She will  fit right in to our environment and is looking pretty attractive and is almost her mature height!  Now to find just the right partner for her for the larger pot!

I am so lucky that our new fur family members (Reggie and Redford") welcomed her by just snuffing at her and walking away!  So far the boys have won me over with their disinterest in any plants and flowers I have brought into the house!  They get extra petting for being so compatible with the rest of my growing family who are moving in with us!

Repotting Time?

Time to consider repotting me for Minnesota Winters!

I am surviving Spring and Summer in MN without lake time at the cabin quite well!  Adding some containers and hanging baskets along with more time to spend in the flower and hosta beds has been rewarding!  

But rolling into Sept. has had me thinking about what I am going to do about the long MN Winter and missing my Jan. thru March container gardening in AZ without snowbirding there!  I've been recalling prior to 13 years ago when I had house plants and success with African Violets in the guest bedroom window!  

So, I got rid of the queen size bed in the guest room by replacing it with an adorable loveseat and end table... creating space for some indoor gardening by the windows with a brand new shelving unit at Home Depot on sale!  Then I found a pair of containers I wasn't using and a spot for them in the living room!  (guests will get a blow up  bed now if they show up)

Doesn't this look exciting?     Stay tuned for the next chapters of this adventure!

P.S.  I have "been there...done that.." with grow lights in the basement.  There are stairs between upstairs and basement that just don't work for me any more!  And, 3 years of that was enough when I had big crop failure with dampening off happen!  

Drying hydrangea blooms!

Time to do this if you want to enjoy them for awhile!

I noticed this morning that my Lime Light blooms are huge this year and at their peak!  Time to bring some in the house!

On Facebook today I watched a video on how to pick and dry them so decided to share it with you,

Proven Winners video....how to dry hydrangeas CLICK HERE!

Jumping worms!

In case you are not aware of this threat to our garden beds!

We learned about 'Jumping Worms" a year ago but were not too concerned.  But, this summer we became concerned when two gardening friends discovered them in their garden beds!  Also they have been discovered near our local county compost site, which we use!

Yep, we figure it is time to become cautious and take action to lower our risk!  The best way to tell you about this special worm invasion is to advise you to check out this web site:  CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT JUMPING WORMS

I’ve not been too concerned but recently two major hosta gardening friends here have found them and are busy combating them.   (One has 1,000 varieties of hostas and one several hundred!)   How they got the jumping worms  was from eggs that were in the bagged mulch they purchased in box stores this year.  They don’t mulch their hostas but do use it in some areas on paths thru and near their beds filled with hostas as well as some perennial beds.   The recommendation is to purchase bulk mulch from local sources.  But, like many of us, we like the convenience of bagged mulch as it is easier to transport to where you want it instead of shoveling and wheeling bulk stuff!  Thus, these gardeners had elected to continue to do the convenient thing and find it brought these worms into their garden beds.  Luckily they discovered them quickly and are tackling getting rid of them before they spread, hopefully.

Just thought you should be aware of this issue as we have them found near our county compost site.  But, being heat kills them they are not in the finished compost here at this point in time anyhow.   Our compost site is posted to alert people to be watchful when picking up the compost and using it and to let them know if any of them are found!     So, it is a problem that is close to home.

Needless to say, we have purchased our last bag of shredded mulch!  I don’t use this kind of mulch much, mostly around shrubs and some perennial areas.

I do not mulch my hostas as I don't like how it works its way into the hosta crowns.

Recently I have experimented with a tiny pine wood chips mulch and am anxious to see how it worked thru the winter this year.  I find I don't need it as deep and it stays in place thru rain and looks great!  It is not easy to find, but I found Gerten's in Apple Valley has it in stock and it is priced the same as other mulches!

Is your front door in shade?

How's this for an eye catching combination to welcome people to your shady front door?

It sure caught my attention when I arrived at my gardening friend Barb's front door recently!

Love that unusual variety of fern in the middle!  And then I discovered I was with her when she purchased it this spring!  Needless to say, it is going on my shopping list for Spring 2020 when I go with her again as we will both be looking for it!  (she lost the tag so we don't have the variety name!)

If you've got space for this....it is awesome!

So love seeing plants that are new to me on Garden Tours! 

This time it was a "WOW, what is that!" being asked by a group of us gathering around it!

The answer was "Vertigo" an annual grass here in MN!  Full sun!  It was over 4 ft tall and still not it's mature height in late July!  It is expected to reach up to 96" tall!  Definitely dramatic!  If only we still  had the cabin, this would get planted next spring for sure!  Two of them!   I'll have to see how creative I can get next spring in my minimal sun spots!  I understand Sargeant's in Rochester had it available this year!


For more information CLICK HERE!

"Vertigo"  Proven Winners