Green Thumb Momma

There are several things I've been working on this fall.

1. I'm removing all the plants from the bed closest to the house . . . to start a veggie garden. I've interplanted some vegetables there, but have decided to clear the whole thing out for vegetables.  I've transplanted some perennials, and dug up callas and gladiolas. I have several varieties of lavender and sage that I will move in the springtime to strategic places within the bed to use an animal deterrents. I've still got to dig up cannas, japanese anemones, an agastache, a climbing rose, and a type 2 clematis.

2. I've cleaned out all the terracotta (and other temperature sensitive) containers. The annuals have petered out from the colder weather, so I tossed them in the compost pile. The pots have been cleaned and stored in the garage.

3. Just this week we've had the sprinkler system guys come out to winterize (or blow the water out of the pipes) the system. The folks we use are wonderful - always on time, return calls promptly, professional, reasonably priced, and capable. If you live in the Richmond, VA area and need the name of a sprinker company, I'd be happy to recommend these folks to you. Just let me know. 

4. I've sprayed once for winter growing annual weeds, but I will have to continue this battle all during the colder seasons. I'll use hand pulling, Preen, and sprays (but only on warmer days). Some weed sprays only work at a minimum temperature of 70 degrees - check your labels!

5. The leaves haven't started falling in any serious way, but the acorns are downright dangerous. A walk to the mailbox requires a hard hat! I'll get the blower out this weekend. I have to say that oaks are my least favorite trees - lots of deadwood, the leaves drop all winter long (extending the clean up season), and the acorns cause Daughter to slip on the driveway and sidewalks.

Soon the leaves will be down, so I'll have to rake up. The hard frosts will kill the perennials which will have to be cleaned up. The tools will need cleaning and sharpening. And the mowers will have to be winterized also. Lots to do still. . . I'm grinning. It's all good!

Arum italicum 'marmoratum' (commonly named "Lords and Ladies") is by far the strangest plant in my garden. It's backwards, and beautiful.

arum italicum 'marmoratum'

My arums are growing in full to part shade on the north side of my zone 7 home. The soil is fairly dry as it is lives under the eaves of the house. It has rhizome-like roots, buried very deep in the soil. It's height and spread: about 12" tall and forms large clumps with time. It's leaves resemble caladiums or elephant ears in appearance (heart-shaped and attractive) . . . but, they aren't as colorful; only green with light green veins. The leaves produce paper-thin white spathes which both die back. The leaves are followed by rattle-like green spikes lined with green berries. The berries turn blaze-orange with time.

Pretty plant, but why is it backwards and strange? Timing. The leaves appear in early fall and stay green all winter long. The white spathes appear in spring and the orange berries in late spring. The plant dies with the beginning of summer.

Different and wonderful. Try it out in your garden for winter interest. By the way, I plant summer shade annuals (like impatiens and coleus) over the arum for the summer.

[Two words of warning here. 1. If you leave the orange berries to die back the plant will multiply and spread. 2. Removing the orange berries requires care - the plant "juices" are very irritating/burning to the skin. Wear gloves. Wash hands and arms immediately after handling the plant.]

Here are several updates from previous posts . . .

1. I have finished preparing my new island bed in the back yard . . . new plants will be going in from mail order, transplants from elsewhere in the garden, or from plant division. I'm very excited. Hubby and I finished removing sod, tilled the ground, added amendments (gypsum, greensand, and all purpose fertilizer), then added twelve 40lbs bags of organic topsoil, two 40 bags of organic humus, and eight 20lbs bags of compost. All of these amendments were mixed thoroughly by hand with a garden fork. I topped it all of with some Preen - a weed preventer. This product is not organic, but I think it's necessary. There is an organic version that uses cornmeal . . . when I can find it in the stores, I will try it. On the backbreaking scale this project has ranged pretty high, so I'm hoping what they say about hard work is true.

2. My order from Bluestone Perennials arrived yesterday. It was accurate, on time and the plants look pretty good. All are larger than I expected.

3. My cool season veggies are looking pretty okay. Some of the lettuces are going to be harvested for tonight's dinner, the broccoli is looking good, but no heads yet. The beans have had a disease which I think I've fixed for the time being. The beans have blossoms too. The Swiss chard looks yummy, colorful and vibrant. The critters still seem to be avoiding the garden. I've still got Irish Spring Bar Soap scattered everywhere, but I am out of the Liquid Fence. Let's hope I don't need it. My garden is small enough that one "unwelcomed visitor" would finish it off and be looking for an entre.

4. Water restrictions have been lifted in my area, because of a couple of major storms that have come through, and temperatures have steadily dropped. It was 57 degrees last night for a low. No leaves changing yet, but I've been forced to wear a coat to the bus stop in the mornings.

Gotta get those new plants in the ground . . . hope the sandbox isn't too wet for the kiddos to play in while I work. Planning on getting my hands dirty tonight.

Remembering 9/11/01. . .

I've started a new perennial bed. I've never done this before, start to finish. It will be a 30' x 5' island in the middle of the back yard. I've been following Andre Viette's recommendations as outlined in his books and on his website www.inthegardenradio.com (check out "Preparing the Bed" in the tips & advice section.)

Hubby sprayed the grass with a turf killer. We've worked on removing the sod slowly - it is a serious workout in the heat and humidity. I hope to get the last bit of sod up, edge with bricks, and loosen/till the soil this weekend (going to call Ms. Utility today!). I've got the recommended amendments already (Plant Tone, gypsum, greensand, Osmocote.) This weekend I hope to get some topsoil and compost in the trailer. The edging bricks are leftovers from Hubby's parents. They had some walkways installed -- lucky me! Thanks Grandmom, PopPop and G.G.

Hubby will have to help, because it's beefy manly work (wink, wink). Besides I love to see (not smell) him working hard with his work boots and shorts - it's fabulous. Hauling the bricks, the topsoil (for 8-10" deep) and the compost . . . I'd rather have someone else do that.  Then, there's the mixing too. Everywhere you read the gardening guru's tell you, "Make sure the soil is healthy. It's by far the most important aspect of gardening." I agree. Get it right the first time.

It's the planting I love . . . the creativity and imagination realized. Such satisfaction and enjoyment in the end product . . . my pastors will see a sermon there!

Almost all the plants in this new bed will be transplants and divisions from elsewhere in the yard. I will buy more of the same plants to fill in where there's an empty spot. I don't forsee any other plants needing to be added. The bed will be greens, purples and light pinks. . . so imagine a dogwood and a pink crape myrtle as bookends. Caryopteris, miscanthus, and russian sage for height and winter interest. Also peonies, tall and creeping sedums, heucheras, catmint, mazus, veronica, stachys, echinops, and phlox.

Can't wait for next spring . . . Inspired to get your hands dirty? I am.