In The Garden June 2000

June 5, 2000
Weather: Rainy and a cool 70°
We need the rain.

Things have been crazy outside lately.

I haven't done much of anything that I really wanted to get done like a trellis or digging my new perennial bed or the compost bin.

I'll get them done sometime I imagine.

The weather has been so very hot lately and with very little rain that the daylily leaves are turning yellow like it is August already. Have I mentioned that they are all blooming in every color in my in-laws garden? They have a beautiful yard.

My Rose Campion is pretty much done for the year, it has been going strong for about a month now. I love this plant.

The hollyhocks I received in a trade are single medium pinks and they have started blooming. I love these plants.

The Caryopteris is starting to bloom though it hasn't gained much in size since we planted it. It is still beautiful and I want to get at least two or three more for my mixed shrub border.

The Ornamental Pomegranate has also finished its bloom time. I'm hoping this is the year that it will really start growing some too. It is now only about 12" across and maybe 4' high.

The River Birches ( i have 3) are doing fabulous this year and I think they have all put on at least 12" of new growth just in the past few months.

The unidentified junipers down at the end of the driveway have been there for about 3 years now and this is the first year I have seen new growth on them. Junipers are great plants but it does take them a few years to get established. Once they do, they are wonderful. I also have another juniper/cedar type this that is going to be nice once it gets going right across the way from the juniper things.

The Cleyera is doing Nothing though as far as I can see. I would like it to be in a tree form and not shrub form if it can only get going. It has been in the ground for 3 years now and I think it has grown maybe 5" in that time and hasn't filled out at all. I think I need to check up on some info for this plant.

We have a maple/sycamore tree at the left edge of the front yard and it too has finally decided to look like something other than a twig that a child forgot stuck in the mud. VERY slow growing.

The two maples we planted last summer some time are filling out: Sunset Maple and a Sugar Maple.

I have to have Maples for the simple fact is I grew up with them and the fall color is something I miss very much. I'm not familiar with a Sunset Maple and I guess I'll see what kind of color it has this year since it does have more than 10 leaves.

The Yoshino Cherry tree has just absolutely filled out. It has taken a few years but it will cast a small bit of shade this summer.

Sometimes I go out and just sit down in the small amount of shade my trees are finally giving, just to be able to do it. I love my trees.

Stuart and I have given very careful thought to the placement of every single tree on the property. Since we built our house in the middle of what used to be a cotton field, we started from scratch.

Hurricane Fran went through and so many people had hundred year old trees falling and busting their houses and cars and such, it was terrible.

So after knowing where the hurricane winds usually come through, we planted our trees so that if any do fall, they should miss the house completely. The only trees we have planted on the side of the house where the kids are, are a wispy ornamental bunch that wouldn't do too much damage or harm to the kids if they did fall on the house during the day/night. One River Birch, an Ornamental Plum and a Yoshino Cherry.

The only other trees that are any where near the house are a Japanese Maple and a Red Maple that the top would hit the back of the house where Stuart and I sleep.

We only have about 3 Loblolly Pines in the yard and they are no where near the house and the only one that would threaten anything is the one that could fall across the driveway if it gets big enough.

We are really trying to see things 10 years down the road.

Back to the report:

The Japanese Maple, which is a pretty green cultivar, has been transformed this year. This is one of the very first things we ever planted in the yard and of course, Japanese Maples are notoriously slow growing. The tree shot out about 5 limbs last year that were about 12-18" above the actual canopy. I have no idea what it was doing but it looked odd to have this nicely rounded canopy with 5 limbs sticking out with a pom-pom of leaves on the very tippy tops.

Stuart cut them out about 2 months ago and you can't even tell anything was changed but it has grown and expanded some this year. It will one day provide shade for the front entrance of the house and the garden we have under it.

Which has been mightily added to in the past few months. We have added to this small space: A Perennial Cornflower, a Variegated Weigelia, Goldflame Spirea, a Princess Spirea, some Calla Lilies in a dusky pink color, some 4 o'clocks, one terra cotta pot with basil, two with Mexican Heather, 2 VERY large ones that contain Angelonia and 4 O'clocks and the other that holds 3 Wilhelm Languth Geraniums and more 4 O'clocks. Oh and some Louisiana Iris and the 'Siskiyou Pink' Gaura.

This sections focal points are the pond and the Japanese Maple. We are planning on extending it out to meet the driveway in a curve. I'll have to get some pictures to describe it better.

This also contains my small shade garden up against the wall in which I added a blood red trillium this year. The dicentra is done blooming but the foliage is still beautiful and the blooms lasted for almost 2 months for me. The Calla Lily I planted in it last year has its leaves up and it is going to be BIG, but no blooms yet. It isn't supposed to bloom until mid June. (i think)

The Polygonum variegateum was gorgeous this year and I really wished that it lasted longer but I'll take what I can get.

The vinca minor has taken on a life of its own and I have no more shade to put it in so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the extras I have to take out.

The Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is getting huge this year but the landscape fabric Stuart has down under the mulch is restricting it from spreading....maybe not. I have two plants and the one out back isn't doing as well as the one out front. I have no idea why.

Stuart clipped back the Pee Gee Hydrangea so it looks like a ball. I was not pleased but used that opportunity to move it since it wasn't in a good location. Hopefully it will get established soon so I can quit hauling water out to the property line to water it.

The Crape Myrtle's already have buds on them. WAH! I don't want them to bloom yet...they aren't supposed to bloom until at least the end of June. They have grown by leaps and bounds in he past year and I have to get some pictures of them.

The iris bed back there in the Purple/Pink/Silver/White corner has become overgrown and I need to divide them but haven't make another bed yet.

I have some Pink Yarrow that Tennielle gave me that is going gangbusters this year. It did fall over once it bloomed so maybe it is time to divide that too.

What else: oh yes The Rosemary that has pink blooms and the one solitary Echinacea (from my wonderful Tennielle also) that I have back there are doing wonderful too. I had some Confederate Jasmine but most of it died back after it was iced over this past winter.

We added that bed awhile back that contains the grape arbor thing. I have Sasanqua Camellia's across the back of the bed and 'Green Giant' Thujas; one on each end. I don't like grapes but the kids do and I am trying to get one of those Muscadine vines going but every single one has died that has been planted. I had a Niagara Grape out there also to the side of the grape arbor but it isn't doing so great either.

The Henry's Garnet Itea is doing so much better. I did lose one after the cows stepped all over it. Dumb things. But the other one is finally caught on and had such pretty blooms on it. I love it most for its foliage though. The most vivid and solid purple you have ever seen in fall Even the stems turn purple. Beautiful.

I have a Henryi Clematis that is on one post of the arbor. The post is made of an old telephone pole and clematis hates that stuff so Stuart had to make a mini trellis of regular wood behind it for it to climb. I just planted it last fall so hopefully it will start doing something this year. At least some green back there would be nice.

I also have a 7 Sisters Rose situated on the pole opposite the Clematis. I received two in a trade and just that one is doing but it is doing WELL. I can't wait to see if it really is the 7 Sisters I was thinking of.

I planted some Crinum lilies back there in that bed this spring also. I may move them but I'm not sure where yet. Maybe if I get that perennial bed dug up and ready.

My wonderful father-in-law divided his Sweet Autumn Clematis this spring and gave me a chunk. I planted it next to the well house and it is actually growing!

See the dirt by the well house is the nastiest, most polluted dirt I've ever seen. Tires used to be burnt on that spot before it become illegal and the dirt is crusted black layered with trash. We planted a few things by it and they all died until I put a native Wax Myrtle in front of it and though it isn't growing in leaps and bounds, it isn't dying either. So. That is the secret: grow plants that grow in neglect on roadsides and in dumps. (ie: native plants)

Now over to where the basketball hoop is. Stuart and Mikey keep the grass killed under that thing for sure but I've been trying to fix some shade out there for them since the sun just beats down on that section all day.

D. my FIL dug up a Crape Myrtle that was about 6' tall and I planted it on the corner and it was looking like it was going to die. Stuart re-dug the hole and cut it back about 3' feet and it started putting out new leaves and it may just live yet!

Right behind the basketball board sits what I think is a Leyland. Or at least thought it was. It really doesn't have the look or the feel of a Leyland Cypress, one of which I have right beside it in a bed of Oranges and Yellows. So I guess we will see.

The Orange/Yellow Bed (All Plant Descriptions)

My Leyland is so pretty though. I bought that thing when I was still married to Nathan and kept it planted in a barrel until I married and moved to my house. And through all that, it lived for me and the Hurricane that came through last year...Dennis I think? Pushed it over. I was bummed out but Stuart or my FIL...I can't remember who now, pulled it back up and staked it and it is fine now. It is also about 15' tall and I just love that tree. I have some Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne' that is planted along the back of this bed...I think I have like 3 clumps and the one is going to be taken over by the Leyland but I'm going to move it to the upcoming perennial bed.

I planted a sport of The Fairy in here by the utility pole that rests at the very Southern end of the bed.

Stuart and I had bought FIL a tree form 'The Fairy' a few years back and it is throwing off runners that are rooting and I dug up two and put one in that bed. It is trying to get established. We did have two 'Sunrise' Abelias in this bed but one is definitely dead. The other one may do something this year or not. We'll have to wait and see.

I also pulled up a dead forsythia and replaced it with an itty bitty Oakleaf Hydrangea that my MIL gave me. We'll see if it does all right.

The Quince 'Texas Scarlet' has scale on it...the big fat soft white scale and I need to spray it. It isn't suffering though. It had a nice show of flowers this spring and it is just full as can be now.

I bought a Lily last year in Wilmington and the tag has disappeared and I want to call it a 'Candy Lily' but I am not sure that is what it is. Beautiful though with oranges and yellows and purples in the bloom. It threw off a bunch of seeds and a few have actually sprouted in the mulch. Way cool.

I have some Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum' (Perennial Plant of the Year for 1999) in here and some Tansy also. The Tansy is about 3 1/2' feet now and getting buds. The Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum' is moving much slower. I wish it would hurry! I love this plant!

So on to my beloved Herb Garden.

The Herb Garden

Isn't really full of herbs but it has: my big Rosemary and my Chives, Garlic Chives, Lemon Thyme, Valerian, Lemon Grass, Southernwood, Spearmint, Tarragon, Anise Hyssop, Sage, Monarda, Black Peppermint and Greek Oregano so I call it my herb Garden.

I usually have some Basil in here I really need to sow some seed. The only Basil I have right now is in a pot by the pond out front. I love that stuff.

I would also love to get some Italian Oregano, Purple Basil, Mother of Thyme, Cilantro, Parsley and Dill. Hopefully I'll get time to find some this year before summer is too over.

I also have my Big River Birch in this garden. I love that tree. It sits at the far northern end. Also: Daylilies, Lantana, Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', my Caryopteris, a little Red Bud Hollyhocks, an unidentified plant which I think is a phlox, some Asiatic lilies which I desperately want more of, some Spiderwort (Transcendentia), some kind of ground cover Sedum which is a really pretty bluish color.

I also have some old fashioned violets in there and a few Obedience plants that I wish were larger, some Columbine that may or may not make it, some grass that someone traded to me and told me it was the "Ribbon Grass" but Ribbon Grass gets big and this thing is only 5" high and looks like the Variegated White Liriope I have a clump of right next to.

I even bought some annuals this year to help fill it out: Some Cleome 'Violet Queen' (I love these things), some Zinnia's 'Cherry' and some Gomphrena's.

I'm trying to just completely pack this bed full of plants because there is no landscape fabric or mulch down on it. Herbs can spread and self seed very well with mulch and fabric so the weeds just love this bed. I want to get some more purples/reds for this bed. This is my baby and Stuart has no say as to what happens with it.

This bed sits very close to the house and there is probably only about 6-8 feet between the inside edge and the house. There are stairs from the kitchen right here too and I have my most beauteous rose planted right on the side of the steps: Mme. Isaac Pierre. Daisies and some Iris's also. I planted some Nasturtium seeds and they are coming along also. It is sort of bare here even with all the shrubs and such.

June 7, 2000
Weather: Sunny and a cool 77°
Less Humid

It is right temperate out here in Humid/Hot North Carolina this past week. It started raining on Sunday and stopped Monday evening and it has been cool, cool, cool this week.

I've been all over the web reading garden stuff again. We had the satellite hooked back up and I've been glorying in my HGTV. I love most all of the garden shows on this station but Paul James's 'Gardening By The Yard' is THE BEST. He is hilarious.

June 8, 2000
Weather: Sunny and a high predicted of 88·

I have decided on the shape to my new bed that needs to be dug up. Now I just need to get Stuart motivated.

I've been trying to get this part of my site fleshed out. I really need to keep track of all this. I WANT to keep track of all of it.

June 9 2000
Weather: Sunny and a high predicted of 90·
Currently 85 at 2 p.m.

I have two plants in my Herb Garden that are in containers that I sunk into the ground. The Valerian is that way because I didn't want it to take over the little bed.

Valerian can but up to 6' or higher and it spreads quickly. This year it bloomed and now I want it to go crazy. I love the small white blooms that are so fragrant.

The other one is the Lemon Grass and I was planning on taking it to the green house in winter.

*ahem*

With no greenhouse to put it in this past winter I didn't think it would survive but it is putting up nice long green leaves. So maybe I can plant it here safely. (yeah right!)

I did have my Southernwood in a container but I think I planted it right into the ground last year.

June 15 2000
Weather: Sunny and a high predicted of 90·
Very muggy outside

I planned on spending some time outside in the yard this week but these stupid gallstones are having none of it. I did sneak off and buy a few plants yesterday though.

I picked up a Lamb's Ear that is big enough that I will be able to split it up into at least 3 plants. A 4 pack each of Italian Parsley and Fennel and a Golden Oregano.

I think I want to plant either some Fennel or Lamb's Ears at the base of my Mme. Isaac Pierre rose by the kitchen door. The Italian Parsley and one or two of the fennel plants will go into my Herb Garden.

I don't have any silver or gray accents out in the front entry way garden so a split may end up in there somewhere. I have the Golden Oregano situated on one of the edges of the pond. I really like how it looks so I will probably take it out of the pot and plant it right into the ground.

I need to find out if that is just an ornamental annual or if it is an ornamental perennial. I've not heard of anyone cooking with Golden Oregano.

The Tansy is starting its bloom which should last a good long time. The plant is huge this year and I will be dividing it this winter to put some in the new bed (which isn't dug yet but will be by hook or by crook). The Gaura 'Siskiyou Pink' is just outstanding. It is filling out nicely an makes a nice touch in the Front Entry Way garden.

Also in the Front Entry Way Garden, the Trailing Gardenia is blooming. It was severely damaged by the ice storm we had this past winter but seems to be recovering nicely. It is lovely this year and I have found that though it will live in the full sun, it struggles and doesn't do the flower justice. In the shade the leaves are a beautiful glossy green and the flowers are a pure white with a fragrance that will knock you off your feet. Which is why I planted it right at my front steps.

It did rain yesterday evening, I had planned to spend the evening in the yard so of course it rained. I am NOT complaining because we needed it desperately.

I have been watering my beds that I can reach but the back beds and the grass were lacking sorely in the water department. We probably got at least an inch.

Maybe I can get some time to get out in the yard tonight.

June 19 2000
Weather: Sunny and a high predicted of 90·
Very muggy outside

It was hot and muggy this weekend too. Though around 7pm or so last night there was a cool breeze and it was rather nice.

I bought Stuart some landscaping rocks for Father's Day and he went out and rearranged the rocks he had already around the little pond. He has been wanting some because you could still see the lip of the black pond form and it was driving him crazy. So he was really happy with that.

I also bought him a new shovel because that is what he told me he needed but he says "Yeah, you bought me a new shovel so I could go dig you some new beds."

But of course honey!

So we actually have the trench dug, the actual out line of the new bed and it is huge. Stuart is spraying the inside of the bed with Round Up to kill the lovely thick mat of Centipede that is currently living there. Trying to cut the grass into sections and pulling out is just too brutal of an activity. And he know s because he tried it on one corner. Maybe in the winter we better plan on at least cutting out the beds and filling them in the spring.

He will spray it until the grass is completely dead and then we will till it and some manure, under. This isn't the way I wanted to do it but he says it will work. I just hope he knows he will be helping me pull out the centipede that comes back. Because some will no matter how many times you spray it.

I have the barter system going on with my old job. I do their web work, I get plants in pay. Very nice for both of us.

So what plants did we get this weekend:

3 Peonies that had no tags so I'm not sure of the colors   (2' to 3')
3 Penstemon 'Husker Red'      (2' to 3')
3 Perovskia 'Russian Sage'         (2' to 4')
1 Clematis 'Madame de Bouchard'
3 Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'               (1.6 to 2')
1 Butterfly Bush 'Black Knight'    ( up to 8' in one season)
2 Heuchera 'Palace Purple'          (     to )
2 Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'         (1' to 1.5')
1 Astilbe 'Sprite' (This is going in the Shade Garden)
1 Liatris 'Kobold'                     (1.5' to 2')
3 Echinacea 'Magnus'             (3' to 4')
2 Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue' (1.6' to 2')

From Lowes in Smithfield:

1 Caryopteris 'Heavenly Blue'      (5' to 7')
1 Miscanthus 'Morning Light'        (4' to 6')
1 Rosa rugosa 'Nearly Wild'         (3' to 4')
1 Phlox 'David'                                  (2' to 4')

I think that is it.

I also have 2 roses from D. that I need to get and transplant that are going in this bed, some Tansy, Daylilies, Yarrow (pink), Iris, Sedum 'Blue Spruce' and a few others to divide and put pieces in it.

And all that won't even begin to fill that bed in, that is how big it is.

my pitiful representation of my large perennial bed

The Sedum ' Blue Spruce', Cottage Pinks, Pink Ice Plant, an unknown sedum type of plant, a bit of candytuft, creeping phlox and maybe some oregano are the plants that I have right now that will fill in the very front of the border that will be under the 8" mark.

Now this bed is right at the edge of our property on the Eastern side that still has the cotton growing thing going on. There is about 2 feet between the field and the bed. Big enough for Stuart to ride one swipe behind it with the lawnmower. He insisted.

3:30 p.m.

It is raining quite heavily here at work and I heard a little rumble. I have a mild breeze blowing in clean smelling air. Too bad this office can't always smell this good.

June 20, 2000
Weather: Cloudy in morning to clear up by afternoon with a high of 86° predicted
Humid but with a light breeze

Last night at about 11:15 p.m., the biggest thunderstorm that I've heard since we moved into that house, arrived. And stayed until after midnight.

There are puddles of rain standing in the fields. We needed it though even if I didn't get much sleep.

I am very pleased to report that Stuart and I actually saw the first Hummingbird in our yard. We also have a resident Toad that lives by the back steps and a bird next in the Nelly Holly on the West side of the house.

Stuart went out and collected a bunch of different blooms to arrange and he said that the Hummingbird was very loud. He was visiting the Caryopteris out in The Herb Garden.

I am not so very pleased to report that the Japanese Beetle population is outrageous this year. I didn't' see very many last year but they are really making up for it this year.

I have taken great pleasure in shaking the plants and stomping on any I can get before they fly away.

How gross!

June 22, 2000
Weather: Cloudy in morning to clear up by afternoon with a high of 90° predicted
Humid

The Japanese Beetles are ravaging all my plants so badly I may have no choice but to try a bit of Sevin Dust.