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?
This morning I hadn't been out there for ten minutes when the neighbor boy came out still in jammies, to help. Then another five neighbor kids came and helped for a bit. That brought over one of the mom's and helped me for two hours got that area done. So sweet of her. Now in have two neighborhood mom's looking out for me and very willing to help.
One of the real estate companies in town had a contest last week. To enter you were to write about something nice you had done for others. I thought that kind of strange looking for people to pat themselves on the back. So, I broke the rules and nominated next door neighbor that when she found out I was under quarantine she did my grocery shopping for me, even searched for the elusive thermometer. She won one of the $100.00 Amazon gift cards, the neighbor that helpful me weed one of the winners too.
Very thankful for helpful neighbors! Have a pleasant mom's day everyone.
I've seen people posting pictures of wildflowers they've spotted on
their woodland hikes - lucky buggers, we're still forbidden to use the
trails 🙁. The summer birds arrived on schedule around the beginning of the month, today despite the cold an oriole has been piping nearby all morning, it's hard to stay melancholy when hearing that.
Not to gloat but we have another beautiful sunny day, today. It is expected to be 20 this afternoon 🌞😎 but, near E'ton, snow is forecast. 😕
Golden - if you are reading here I WANT MY WEATHER BACK. 🤣
... cucumber, zucchini,pod peas,mixed greens,bush beans,tomatoes,peppers,broccoli,chard,potatoes,sweet potatoes,parsnips...
I would need at least 28 containers (minimum 5 gallon size) and optimally more, that's double what I have now. Plus planter mix. And of course I need some pots for a few ornamentals as well. Dream on (sigh).
I would love to have citrus fruits in my garden, but they'd never survive in Michigan. There's something special about picking your own fruits, from your own backyard, but I think citrus fruits are special in a way that apples, plums and other northern crops aren't.
When I moved in, a cherry tree was still producing, but in decline as there were insect infestations that hadn't been addressed. Still, for several years I was able to get sour cherries for jam. One year I picked 12 quarts - that was the most the tree ever yielded. I really got tired of pitting cherries!
I like the idea of rocks in fountain for bees.
Sounds like you're a dedicated gardener, with a lot of experience.
I've been thinking about this more seriously now. I could grow bamboo, as I believe there is one variety that isn't invasive.
But right now I can't even get into the garage to get access to my gardening equipment. The darned lock is stuck; I was able to get it to turn, but can't get it into the open position. I have a few more things I can try before hiring a locksmith to change it.
Daughterof1930, lilac and purple flowers, especially in clematis, are such lovely colors. They can be intense, but yet so soft and comforting.
Another thought: buy an already made trellis and insert it into a good sized container pot.
Or make your own trellis:
https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/make-simple-garden-fences-and-trellises-zmaz07amzsel
Click on the photo of the woman and the sweet peas, the left side photos, for larger sized photos of the trellises used.
And the good part is that you can use up sticks from your yard. You would need very flexible sticks for the horizontal members though. I would probably use fall grapevines, as they're just the right flexibility for winding at that time. I haven't tried spring grapevines though...or just not yet.
Honeysuckle is another vine that could be used, before it reaches older vine hardness.
I've never known morning glories to be invasive, every year I try to replicate my grandmother's beautiful show of Heavenly Blue but they just don't like it here.
I start wilting at 87 or 88. I hope you have a good air conditioner!
I've never grown clematis; my sister did, on a trellis which she just placed up against the inside wall of her patio.
Another thought is to grow them on the sides or end of the deck, assuming the trellis would be open at the ground.
Alternately, if you have too much shade, morning glories (probably my favorite flowers) would grow well and bloom longer if they get shade during the day. I know many people consider them invasive, but we grew them as a child, and I've grown them in adulthood and never found them invasive, certainly not like vinca or other plants.
Bindweed, a form of wild morning glory, apparently is, and to my dismay, I discovered some in the garden last year.
Another thought: I don't know how deep clematis roots are, but could you grow them in a pot placed on the deck, perhaps with casters on the bottom so you could roll it around?
Oh it is going to be a loooong summer. 😓
-11 in Laramie this morning. Yes, minus eleven.
As happens every year, the lovely Siberian Squills are spreading again, across the entire 51' wide lot, and equally as deep. They've even moved into the lot next door and created about 50 x 50 foot beds toward the more forested type areas. Good thing my neighbors are also gardeners.
Daffodils are blooming, daylilies are up about 6 -7", peonies about 4", trilliums only about 1.5 - 2". Last year I had around 70 trillium blooms; I stopped counting when I reach that number.
When I was out today, I heard a bird chirping, but couldn't remember which bird made that song. It was almost like an aria!
I saw a stunning male cardinal sitting on the fence, observing the garden. And of course the squirrels were romping around. One I've seen periodically is a black squirrel with a fox squirrel's tale. I think the two species have been getting together and interacting over the last few years.
Yes, there is something special about Springtime. It represents new beginnings and we pick up on that energy. I love how ‘life’ literally springs forward out of the ground this time of year.
Animals are born. We do feel rejuvenated in the spring.
I find the older I get, I am 64, the less maintenance I want. I like an attractive but easy to care for garden. I am not up for the challenge of temperamental plants. What about you? Enjoy the challenge or prefer low maintenance?
Looks like and I are the only ones that screwed up the mini roses 🌹. They are so sweet. I bet they would be pretty in a widow box but the location would be key because they need a fair amount of sun.
I love window boxes. Always have. Have always wanted to put them outside of my breakfast area windows. I have corner windows there.
Six feet by six feet with window seating, cushions on top that has storage built in. I need to go through it. I think it’s mainly stuff I kept from the kids, their school art projects that I liked.
One of those windows face the driveway, full sun. The other faces my patio that is under roof, so complete shade.
Do any of you have window boxes? Drainage would be important. We get a lot of rain.