It's become clear to me through posts and PMs that there are some gardeners here just waiting for the chance to discuss gardening!
So, I was thinking... how do you use gardening, or how does it affect you if you need a break, need some respite, need to relax, need inspiration....how do you use it as a therapy tool in caregiving?
What are your activities: Do you go out and pull weeds, read a magazine, design new beds? Look through garden catalogues? Go to garden stores?
And what interests have you added to your gardening? Visit estate or garden displays? Do you go to garden shows?
Does anyone design and plant Knot Gardens? Raised bed planters? Assistive gardens? Pollinator gardens (and have you thought of ways to help the bees and butterflies?)
Are your gardens primarily for pleasure or food, or a mix of both? Do you grow plants for medicinal purposes? Which ones, how do you harvest and process them? Any suggestions?
Do you grow plants that can be used in crafts, such as grapevines for wreaths and lavender for lavender wands? Do you make herbal products such as creams, lotions, chapstick?
What else can you share about gardening and the means in which it nurtures your soul?
I've been doing a little reading trying to figure out what kind of yellow jackets are most common here, it would most likely be vespula germanica (german wasp) or vespula vulgaris (common wasp). The ones I have dealt with are always either nesting in the ground or in a crack in a wall and can be aggressive to anyone just passing by, which is a problem because usually you have no idea they are there (until you do, ouch!).
"Freezing weather kills yellow jackets.
In winter, a nest will only survive if it is in a temperature-controlled environment, like an attic space, garage, heated shed, or a wall void. When a yellow jacket nest survives the winter, the nest continues to grow."
Unless the nest is inside the garden shed....
One thing I realized later is that they attack in formation. There was a large "V" on my arm, created by their stings. Crafty little buggers, they are (as Yoda might say).
In California, my sister was stung around 17 times after putting the water hose in the flower bed for jasmine plants. They were in the soil. She had to take an antibiotic and Benedrill (sp?). Take care of yourself first.
Are you okay Cwillie?
You know that this is traumatic and you should rest, which means that any housework that might otherwise need to be done must now be put off until you feel better.
I've been stung too, once by a nest that left 26 stings!
Sending healing wishes your way. Hope you feel better by tomorrow.
Ouch!
Thanks, I would have never thought of using newspaper. Makes sense though. It’s a good way to recycle the paper and would save money too.
She had a window box filled with blooms. I complimented her flowers as she was watering some of her evergreens.
She looked up at me with the biggest smile on her face and said thank you. I asked if those were her favorite flowers. Her response made me giggle so hard. She says, “Yes, they are artificial. They take care of themselves!” She was so cute!
She was pretty old and I thought, well why not? I don’t like fake flowers but they made her happy. No maintenance! LOL
From a distance people can’t tell that they aren’t real. It was a really cute flower box blooming with fake flowers!
I am watching the thermometer closely the next few days as our nighttime temps are predicted to drop below freezing...ever the optimist, I'm still trying to extend the life of my hanging baskets. Torn-up bedsheets, here I come! Last year I used large, pretty pillow cases on the smaller baskets (pulling them up from the bottom and tying with a loose, cheerful bow at the top) and was quite pleased with the effect. LOL - Husband (non-gardening, baffled): Uhm...this is not a permanent thing, right?
I wonder if he has visions of me using all the bedding out in the garden!?!
Great info on mulch. Okay, leaves sounds practical. I have used straw and hay. I detest plastic! I will not use it. Do you have an opinion on rocks or pebbles?
I don’t want to attract rats! Nature is fascinating, isn’t it?
Depending on the area you could use straw or hay - one has too many seeds which can cause invasive weeds to sprout and grow, but I don't remember which. I also used dried grass clippings (until I got cited by code enforcement b/c grass clippings allegedly attract rats).
This is a good article on the virtues of hay and mulch:
https://thegrownetwork.com/straw-vs-hay-which-makes-a-better-mulch/
What I would never use is plastic; it gets torn up and leaves bits of plastic, which you don't want in your garden. I've also used wood chips, but made the mistake of using them fresh after a tree had been cut down and shredded. There's disagreement on this, but I stand firm on my experience.
After spreading fresh wood chips (b/c the city code enforcement claimed that a pile of wood chips attracted rats and I needed to get rid of the chips), I noticed that some of the vegetation turned yellow and failed to thrive. Only the daylilies managed to stay alive. I lost irises and other flowers during this learning curve.
Some gardeners insist that fresh wood does not cause yellowing vegetation. I disagreed, and saw it happen in my garden.
One thing I would never use is pebbles or small stones. Unless you use an underlayment like thick plastic, weeds grow right through the pebbles, and it's a real chore to remove them b/c at that point they need to be hand picked.
I started planting ground a cover such as Asian jasmine. It’s fairly aggressive though and needs trimming fairly often. I have to watch it because it can climb. So, if not trimmed it will climb into my shrubs.
The thing that I like though is that it doesn’t have to be replaced as often as bark.
I also thought of using pebbles or small rocks. Have any of you tried that?
Also what kind of ornamental objects can withstand the hash sun and lots of rain?
TDub - It couldn't be an honest to god American Elm, could it? There was a huge beauty in the town where I used to live (on elm street appropriately) but some sleazy developer cut it down 😭 As for the leaves, I find they tend to blow away unless they are chopped up, it makes it easier for the plants to come through in the spring too.
In the south it’s totally different. We have plants that bloom longer due to our warm climate.
I am a big fan of US gardening guru, Melinda Myers, and she advises to leave perennials standing through the winter and cut them back in spring. However, here in the Pacific NW our winters have so much rain that I kinda go half & half on that -- I do worry about some turning to mush so cut them back, and try to leave a few for the insects and pollinators to overwinter in.
We have an elm of unknown origin or parentage in our backyard (several arborists have been mystified as to what it exactly is -- our guess is some sort of slippery elm) and every year the leaves hold on, hold on...until one day when they just all drop in one majestic display of golden glory.
I have heard/read differing opinions on whether to chops leaves up if I'm using them as mulch, or leave them whole. I know I have to keep them pulled back from the crowns of plants. Other than that, I think this year I will try a blanket of whole leaves and hope it doesn't turn into an interwoven leafy mat of smothering doom for my bulbs.
This year we are also leaving (leaf-ing - LOL) more on the ground in our yards, as recommended by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. They have a great PSA/promo/contest on right now under "Small Acts of Conservation".
There is something so satisfying about being outside in the crisp (or damp) fall air and then coming back in to a rewarding hot beverage. Basically, I just like being outside in the company of plants. And occasionally my kitty, if he has nothing better to do.
Every year this gives me a mixture of sadness and joy -- at saying a final goodbye to summer, but knowing that spring will bring a whole new round of happiness with my "green therapy".
And let us not forget the months ahead of planning and researching plants and garden design!
Wishing everyone a peaceful, productive day.