Tucked In For Winter

The sunshine persists and although part of me is glad for it, the gardens need some snow. I have been dragging hoses around for the past two weeks watering trees, shrubs, and perennials and will continue to do so until surface roots get some "natural" moisture. On another topic...despite the complaining I hear about plastic in this industry, it certainly holds up over the years. The dozens of plastic pots on our deck have been with us for well over a decade and show no signs of wear. I reuse them (and the container mix in the bigger ones) every spring when I plant them up with annuals. Even the smaller plastic colorbowls and 12" hanging garden pots are emptied, scrubbed out, and stored for next season. We buy the same plastic trays/flats from the same supplier every year, so we can keep about 95% of the plastic used for growing "in house". Over a thousand get rinsed, stacked, and stored at the end of every season. We are unable to take trays/flats from other stores because they come in such a range of shapes and sizes, they cannot be stacked and stored. So, hopefully, you'll have a chance to clean and store your plastic containers this winter. We will have plenty of beatiful flowers to fill them with this spring.  

Sunny, But Cold

Managed to spend some time last week trimming some overgrown shrubs. Pruners, loppers, and even the chainsaw were needed on a willow that had lost some inner branches. One more willow to go, and since tomorow is forecast to be sunny (but cold), looks like my best bet to get out and finish this early winter chore. All of my plant orders; including shrubs, trees, perennials, and annuals, are in for the 2012 season. The trees and shrubs are sitting in a bunker somewhere in Minnesotta and will arrive in late March. The rest of the perennials will be transplanted by the end of February and then I'll start in on the annuals. Have placed a large order for decorative containers and am looking forward to offering some upscale container gardens in 2012. Pansies have always been a favorite of mine and so have Wave Petunias, so I was excited about a new Pansy variety called Cool Wave which is suppose to have a spreading rather than an upright/mounding habit. Am looking forward to trying it. Despite the cold, I have been spending as much time as possible outside soaking up the rays that nurture my psyche. Northern Nevada has some outstanding sunshine and I'll enjoy it while it's here.  

Blustery Weather On The Way

Doing what it's suppose to do...the wind is getting the leaves off the trees and onto the ground where they belong as snowy weather arrives. Hit and miss with fall color this season; mostly beautiful, but the leaves on some trees and shrubs froze before they had a chance to change color then fall. Mostly off now, good thing. We started feeding and providing water for the birds a few years back and they provide us lots of entertainment. I especially like to watch them splashing around in the birdbath. Cedar Waxwings were feeding on the Sorbus (Mountain Ash) berries yesterday. They gobble them up whole as they prepare to head off to warmer weather...somewhere. Several years ago a friend of mine asked me if have started feeding the birds yet and I replied that I hadn't. Her simple response was "you will", and she was right. Trees and shrubs that include fruit or berries for the birds are a mainstay in our landscape. The feeders and saucers of water are placed in the garden we can see from the kitchen table. Better than anything on TV. Heading out into the gardens this morning for perhaps the last time this year. Snow is on the way and I'll be looking out from my warm spot by the fire. 

Favorite Season Of The Year

I could spend the entire day outside when it's like this. And it's a good thing I feel this way since that's about how it goes. Outstanding blue skies and temps in the sixties...it just doesn't get better than this. Know it won't last, so I'm making the most out of it "working" in the gardens to get them ready for, no not winter, spring. The bulbs are in, the lawn is done, and now it's just cutback, cutback, and then some more cutting back. My idea of spring is walking through the gardens with a cuppa joe in hand and seeing the new growth emerge. There's much to be done and I can't think of a single thing I would rather be doing or a better place to spend the day. This really is my comfort zone. So, with pruners in hand, I'm out to enjoy the day. Hopeful that others out there are also able to spend at least part of their day being outdoors.

BURRRR!

I never get used to the weather here...one day sunny and 85 degrees, the next, snowy and 35. I've come to think of it as "Extreme Gardening". Lugged the cherry toms into the greenhouse on Sunday, just can't say goodbye to them yet. At a full 7' and in a 24" pot, this was no easy task. Otherwise, the annuals in container gardens were cut back and tossed, knew they would not get through the next several nights in the twenties; except for the Hot Lips Salvia, Violas, and Nemesia Opal Innocence that have sloughed off the cold and snow to carry on through fall. The best way for me to keep up with seasonal changes is to list out my chores. Just seeing them on paper makes them less overwhelming. I don't "prioritise", I just jot them down as I think of them and then have that feeling of satisfaction when I cross them off. It's a long list and even though I already know I will not get to cutting back all of the thousands of perennials in the gardens this year, it's on the list anyway. Besides, if it wasn't for these can't-garden-today days, the house would never get a going over. Time to stoke up the fire and scrub down the stove.  

Water Wise Gardening

With thousands of plants including trees, shrubs, and perennials tucked into twelve gardens, the key to keeping them adequately watered is scheduling. I use the Excel program to keep the gardens on an every-fourth-day schedule; the gardens are labeled by their predominant planting. All but two gardens are on soaker hoses, so by just barely having the water on, I can leave it to run overnight, and the garden is thoroughly watered by the next morning. Regardless of windy conditions, the water is delivered right to the soil where it's needed. This system also keeps water off the flowers which keeps them happier and blooming much longer. The back lawn is on a programmable timer to run with two-twenty minute cycles at night. The three-tiered design includes flat surfaces with two short transitions. We installed a water meter to measure water use from the well and typically use 25,000 gallons through July and again in August. While newly planted (this season) plants require more frequent watering to succeed, we feel a thorough soaking, applied on a regular schedule through the heat of summer works best.

Summer Thyme

I have started harvesting the fruits and veggies planted this season and last; the raspberries are a special treat. I am watering the tomatoes and peppers everyday right along with the other container gardens and the plants are doing much better this year than last when they were on an every-other-day watering schedule. I have been trying to remember to use herbs as often as possible in salads and other recipes to add a little zing to the flavor. Lemon thyme is great on chicken and fish. Chopped mint, lemon balm, or basil is great for salads. I bought a basil plant at Raleys the other day...at $3.99 for a plant in a 6" pot!!! Yahoo! I don't care too much for dried herbs and have found that freezing works out much better. I chop up the herbs in the processor, add a little olive oil, and spoon the mixture into an ice cube tray. Freeze, then lower the tray down into warm water for a few seconds, just low enough to warm the cubes so they release, then pop the cubes into a freezer bag. When I'm making a sauce or marinade, a cube is usually just the right amount needed. Fresh or frozen, herbs are a great garden plant. Enjoy! 

Rainy Days

I'm always surprised by summer rains after weeks of dry, hot weather. And not just a few light showers, but a downpour that lasted for a while. Nice break from the heat and daily watering. Know it won't last, so I'm enjoying it while it's here. Will be staying out of the gardens a few days since we have fairly heavy soils (clay) and mucking around in them will cause damage from compaction. Perfect time for weeding along the edges though and walkways/areas with gravel or bark mulch. A few years ago we offered and planted a Geranium call 'Johnson's Blue' not knowing that the plants are prolific re-seeders, and now we have "baby blues" popping up everywhere. I've learned to cut the plants back before they set seed, and pull seedlings while they're small. I can't get myself to pull the Viola popups though...they're just too cute! I've also started stocking up on bagged mulch, compost, and manure. Next month I'll start cutting back the gardens...even though it's just now starting to feel like summer. I mix and toss organic matter over the cutback gardens to "feed" the soil for next spring. Bagged products cost more, but are easier to work with and store than bulk. Enjoy the cool and rain...while it lasts!    

"Working" in the Gardens

Soooo glad it's cool in the mornings here in Northern Nevada. A cuppa joe and I'm ready to take on the grasses that are trying to swallow my perennials. I try to get into every garden at least 2-3 times every season. Once to weed/cut back grasses, another time to "deadhead" spent perennials, and lastly in the fall when I do my final cutback. I have conversations with the birds and bugs, so I'm in good company while I work. Haven't seen any mantis's yet, but don't expect it to be too soon from now when they begin to emerge from their winter casings. They're so tiny when they emerge, it's amazing that they grow to be so big by September. Lots of ladybugs & dragonflies since we stopped spraying chemicals, and the honeybees are thriving. It was simply not worth spraying for grasshoppers when the chemicals were are killing the beneficials too. We've planted so many fruiting trees and shrubs over the years that the birds are fed, sheltered, and keeping those pesky hoppers in check. Enjoying the summer? I am!!!  

Summer's Finally Here

After a cool beginning, summer is finally here and I've moved out into the gardens during those cool, calm hours of the morning. The grasses have certainly thrived (that's what I get for moving onto what was formerly range land) and my biggest challenge is trimming it away from the perennials so they can get some much needed light and water. I have abandoned the idea of digging out these tough perennial grasses and am content with keeping it at bay. Gardening on an acre lot has taught me  to pick my battles and settle for a "naturalized" landscape. I have started pulling some gotta haves from the nursery and am already looking forward to planting after the nursery is closed for the season at the end of July. I sat down and figured out a watering schedule for July yesterday; it's the only way I can get water to each of the 12 gardens on a schedule. There's no way I would remember in my head when I last watered an area, so this takes away the guess work and the trees, shrubs, and perennials will benefit from my taking time to schedule it out. Am loving being out in the gardens and know I will eventually get to the all. I remind myself that gardening is intended to relieve, not create stress. 

Warming Up

Hard to believe that it's been just over a month since my last post. May buzzed by in a blur as I scrambled to keep the plants warm and through some very cold temps. June has been slightly better, but here we are at June 10th and temps were again in the low thirties. I am heading out this morning to get my deck containers planted with plants that have been patiently sitting out there for the past few weeks. The veggie starts will get planted too and seeds started for peas and beans. The peppers and tomatoes will go into large containers in the sunniest location on the deck...they should take off as temps warm up. The gardens have been loving the rain, but it's warming up and time to start watering. Well into June and the sprinklers will go on today for the first time this season! Will put down some fertilizer on the lawn first and then water. Warming up...Finally! Time for the perennials to start their delayed but inevitable show of color.