March 6, 2000
Monday Evening
High Today: 71 degrees
Sunny and very spring-like.
What an absolutely beautific, wondrous, fantastical day weather-wise. I curse my hurt foot that it kept me from getting outside at all. It was really gorgeous. Days like these you treasure because you know the killing heat is coming soon.
It is supposed to be 77degrees tomorrow. Wow.
Everyone's Daffodils have been blooming their little butts off for about 2 weeks now. The Tulip Tress are in full, full bloom. There is a tree in the back of my inlaws yard is so pretty. About 15-20' tall and has little pink blooms on it. It looks like it is shrouded in a pink cloud from my kitchen window but it isn't a Crape Myrtle, Tulip Tree, or Cherry. I'll have to ask.
My Lady Banks Rose has started sending ou the little leaflet clusters and the Maple tree out back is covered in the red that signals the buds breaking into leaves.
I am worried about my White Pine though. The needles have all turned brown this past winter. And so far there isn't any change. It is about 7' tall now and I would just hate to lose it after this long. So I'm hoping spring pulls it out. The limbs are still green wood so I know it isn't completely dead.
My Quince has scale. YUCK. I hate that stuff. When the crawlers get active I need to spray them. I also need to keep an eye out for Lacewings on my George Tabor Azalea. I don't want that to lose all it's leaves and get the funky spotting on the remaining ones.
Spring has Sprung!
March 7, 2000
Tuesday Evening
High Today: 76 degrees
Sunny and very spring-like.
Now I know it was a bit warmer here. I used the readings from wral's site and they are 40 minutes north of where I'm at. It is usually 5-10 degrees warmer here. It was incredible today. I kept the window open about 6" and that swept fresh air into the stinkhole I work in. (smokers) Someone even had the AUDACITY to complain that it was cold in that room. Too bad buddy. I kept it open.
The Bradford Pears are all starting to open up their flowers. They are a hazy white on the gray of the limbs from a distance. The Crape Myrtles STILL have no leaves but that is normal. They are one of the last trees to get their leaves.
I did a walk around the yard and everything is just going crazy! My Rosemary is blooming, as is the Ornamental Plum, the Forsythia and the Quince. My iris's are pushing up leaves and some even have buds folding up out of the leaves. The Daffodils are about over. The Sedum is setting out its much welcomed rosettes of leaves. I love this stuff and must get more of it this spring.
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March 13, 2000
Monday
High Today: 53 degrees
Flat-out windy. The sun is really warm but the wind bites.
The weather is calling for freezing weather tonight, down to 29 degrees. I am so not happy. My Lady Banks has started forming the flower clusters. While right now they are tiny green balls, in about 3 weeks the thing will be one cloud of yellow. This rose has to be my favorite even though is blooms but once a year and has absolutely no scent.
One thing that draws me to a plant is the smell. Most of the plants that I adore have a smell. The lilac, the old english rose, all herbs, freesias. Most of them smell wonderful. I do have some purely because I love them: because they are old-fashioned; spiderwort and rose campion, because they are just beautiful to look at: forsythia, quince, leylands. Because they are functional: compactas, dwarf yaupons and the maple trees.
Did you know that the word iris means rainbow? How very apt. Here is a neat site with the legend of the iris (and others): http://www.sfheart.com/iris.html
One thing that has always amazed me: go into the woods and dig about 5 inches down into the leaves on the ground. Isn't it amazing how the leaves are compacted and starting to compost? I read about someone writing this somewhere and I can't remember where but that is just the coolest thing because I had noticed it myself.
I told Stuart that I would be going out this weekend and making my own compost bin. I've only been asking him for 2 years to do it now. grrr. I am sort of excited about this. I've never thought about composting but I know it would be so good for my plants since I live on a sandy ant hill basically. I will be putting it on the back property line by the swamp.
Oh and the pink tree that is blooming in my inlaws backyard is a Kwanza Cherry Tree. I asked D. about it the other day and he is (right off the bat) "oh yeah. that is a Yoshino Cherry Tree." I was like, "No Way!" He said "Yeah, just like up there in Washington."
pshew. I told him those were the other Ornamental Cherries. I HAVE a Yoshino Cherry and it isn't even shaped like the one in his backyard. I mean, I want one but I know that the one I have IS a Yoshino.
On a garden plant trade forum, a man posted that they wanted some Kudzu. One of the people supplied a link ( http://www.cptr.ua.edu/kudzu/ http://www.alltel.net/~janthony/kudzu/houses.html ) and the others were just having a FIT. but I think it's funny because Mary and I schemed for a long time to get some kudzu. We never did manage it but boy would she be in a mess now if we had! LOL!
Kudzu was actually introduced to control soil erosion. Nowadays it is also controlling house (http://www.alltel.net/~janthony/kudzu/) , tree and soil erosion. Once you are in the kudzu, you STAY in the kudzu. It was actually declared a weed in 1972 (my birth year) by the USDA. You can find this info and more at that link.
On the trading thing. I have actually done that with excellent results. I was sent a handful of vinca minor which I had been wanting forever and I also ended up with some Artemesia....I think it is Silver King that is just filling in Perfectly where I had it. I will even have enough to move this spring to my back corner garden.
What would I have to trade back at this time though??? .... Old fashioned Iris's, Old fashioned Daffodils, Daylilies (and Spearmint) out the WAZOO in bunches of colors, some Alaska (shasta) Daisies, vinca minor (which is blooming right now and is just lovely), Artemesia 'Silver King', black peppermint and I think that is it for now.
Anyone want to trade?
I want: The Fairy Rose Bush, two blackberry bushes (preferebly the new ones like Kiowa and Arapaho), some tiger lilies, asiatic lilies of all colors, some CasaBlanca and Stargazer Lilies, some more Iris's (yellows, oranges, pinks and whites), ANY kind of vine but really would love some Climbing Hydrangea and wisteria. What else? I have a regular bleeding heart but would like a white one and the fringed leaf one. ANY old fashioned english roses but especially a 'Thomas Graham'. Any ornamental shrub especially spireas and weigelias. A Johnson Blue Geranium (the hardy variety), some sages (herb), some more varieties of Sedum. I do have the 'Autumn Joy'. Some more varieties of Hosta. Some Ornamental grasses, especially any of the Miscanthus sp., lily of the valley, any old fashioned cottage plants, the phlox variety called "David".
That is one plant that I miss VERY much from Pennsylvania: Phlox. Most of it will not grow down here because of heat and humidity. Phlox is very susceptible to powdery mildew and David is one that is resistant and can withstand southern summers. Upright phlox is just so very bold and beautiful with its height of up to 4' and heads of bloom 4" wide and 8" high. They are lovely in the back of the perennial border and that is what I want them for.
Oh do I have plans for my perennial border bed. Mwhahahah! (you can picture me rubbing my hands together now)
Seriously. This is a plan but it will take me about 2-3 years to finish it. I want it done right.
I do have some trades that will be taking place this weekend. Iris, daylilies and artemesia being what most wanted.
Just saw a link for info on sub-arctic gardening. Now THERE is a challenge. But then again, getting things to grow in heat and humidity can be quite the challenge also. I think we have some really great climates here though.
This is the year that alot of the stuff we planted 2-3 years ago is going to TAKE OFF. I know the compactas and the ligustrums and the river birches are going to get much larger this year. I am just praying that my little maples we planted last fall will make it: A Sugar Maple and a Sunset Maple.
The day lilies are going crazy and the vinca minor is just crawling its' merry way up and down the wall in the shade part. I have a gardenia that lives there also that was quite damaged by the ice we had in January. I just cut off the injured which ended up being the upper half of the shrub so I hope that regenerates itself enough to bloom for me this year. I have it placed to the right of the front steps and there is nothing like smelling these as you come home of a day.
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March 15, 2000
Wednesday
High Today: 70 degrees
It was beautiful out today.
It was gorgeous out today and I actually went outside and did some weeding!
Too bad it doesn't look like I accomplished much! I will look at it again tomorrow and it will look like something then.
One thing I hate: when you are weeding some kind of dang mondo huge spider jumps out of the dirt at you. I actually jumped up with a squeal when it happend the first time. But it was a BIG spider. *shiver* I HATE spiders.
I think that stupid Monarda is already getting powdery mildew. I think I'm going to yank that stuff up. I planted some seeds for annual vines by the kitchen steps and the back steps. I hope those will come on up.
Happy Birthday to you Mikey. My oldest is 11 years old today. HooYA!
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Is everyone done cleaning out your beds?
I did but there is still that one bed that I have to go out and de-weed again. The weeds are just popping up like crazy now! I refuse to get the weeds out of the lawn though.
Good Lord I'd be out there for awhile. Besides, we have an all centipede grass thing going on and the weeds will end up being choked out by this tough grass.
I think my Camellia's are in trouble. I have 3 planted on the south side of the house to hide the kitchen steps. We had actual winter weather this year and the leaves are all copper and scratched and diseased looking. Maybe it is just cold damage as Stuart thinks but man, do they look bad. If they don't jump up soon, they are going into the plant hospital. My White Pine is still showing NO signs of improvement. I will be so very sad if this one doesn't make it. I can always get camellia's very easily. Not so with White Pines in this area.
Any plant that I want to save but don't want to keep out where it is at or can't keep out where it is at because of the exposure to the sun, I plant at the very back of my property line by the swamp. It is nice and shaded but with some sun and the ground doesn't ever get droughty and dirt dry. I save a few leylands like that until my father in law mowed them down when he didn't realize they were there. Pretty bad when the weeds are bigger than the actual tree. The back lot of our property isn't lawn, it is still claimed by the Weed Associate of Easy Street. RazzleFrazzles.
Zone: Lower South Zone 8 to 7b. "Lower South: lower region of zone 7 and upper region of zone 8 (5 to 15 degrees minimum)"
Pesticides and Fungicides: Only when absolutely completely necessary. Most of the time I let it go. If the plant can't survive then right now, I don't need it.
The Monthly To Do List at http://www.vg.com tells me that I should do the following for March in Zone 8 and 7:
Zone 8
*Prune winter-flowering shrubs and vines after bloom
* Plant summer- and fall-flowering bulbs
* Spray for peach leaf curl, peach leaf blight, and canker
* Plant permanent ground covers
* Plant or repair lawns
* Plant ornamental grasses
* Plant bare-root and container roses
* Plant or transplant warm-season annuals
* Plant fruit trees
* Feed houseplants that are growing or blooming
* Plant heat-loving perennials
* Plant ornamental and evergreen trees, shrubs, and vines
* Prune spring-flowering or tender shrubs and vines during or just after
bloom
* Plant warm-seasoned vegetable seedlings
Zone 7
Sow seeds of warm-season annuals
* Set out summer-flowering bulbs
* Plant fall-blooming bulbs
*Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root fruit trees
* Apply dormant spray to fruit trees before buds swell
* Spray apples, peaches, and pears that have been affected with canker
problems
* Plant bare-root perennial vegetables
* Plant seedlings of cool-weather vegetables
* Sow fast-growing warm-season vegetables
* Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials
* Sow seeds for tender perennials
* Plant container and bare-root roses
* Plant balled-and-burlapped, container, and bare-root trees, shrubs, and
vines
* Plant summer-blooming shrubs and vines
* Plant frost-tolerant trees
* Plant conifers and broad-leaf evergreens
They also tell me my last frost day is: 4/29 And first frost: 10/16
Not acceptable! :)
They do say that this is the average.
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March 16, 2000
Thursday
High Today:
Go away cold!
I love days like today. Cloudy and cool. Not cold cool but cool cool.
Great link I swiped from Beth: Compost Resource Page
http://www.gardenweb.com/members/renee_d
TRADES:
SS in Mo: Daylilies for hollyhock plants and some seeds. I think they are a deep red color.
AH in Fl: Some pink yarrow and daylilies for hot pink 4'oclock tubers, seedlings and seeds and some salvia greggi
DV in Ca for Daylilies and Iris in trade for Louisiana Iris..and I can't remember I'll have to look.
LS in Montana to be send in Mid May: Daylilies and pinks in trade for red twigged dogwood and lilac shrub starts.
LH in Tn: Daylilies for asiatic or tiger lilies. I can't remember what I asked for now!
DV in CA: Daylilies and Iris for La Iris and Narcissus
BB in ?: Trade when I know exact colors of daylilies a lavender daylily for some coral columbine.
LB in TN: Artemesia, Daffs and pinks for Two Kousa Dogwoods and some Japanese Bloodgrass.
ML in Tx: Artemesia for Mixed Iris
JH in NC: artemesia for 4 o'clocks tubers, seeds and seedlings
DB in NC: artemisia for creeping phlox
KH in ?: Old fashioned Garden Phlox for Daylilies
DR in TX: Seven Sisters Rose for Daylilies
MH in TX: Crinums for Daylilies
L in ?: Star of Bethlehem and Ribbon Grass for Black Peppermint.
SM in OK: Blue Sedum for Daylilies
Dionne: The Fairy for Artemisia and Black Peppermint
Sending plants through the mail is really easy. With Iris: dig up tubers one day in advance so they can dry a bit. cut foliage back to within 2" of tuber. shred some newspaper, stick in box. You don't want to send any soil.
For other plants than bulbs or tubers: hose off (gently!) most dirt from roots. Shred newspaper or use papertowels, dampen the newspaper or paper towels and wrap roots. Then put wrapped roots in plastic baggie or wrap with plastic wrap. Ship. Priority mail.
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Now that is a good site. I found out that the plant I thought was like a wild wandering jew, is actually a wildflower some consider a weed.
This is sort of what I want my site to be only on a smaller level, like what is in my yard and not an entire area.
And God knows we went after this plant when I was a kid growing up in North Western Pennsylvania: Jewelweed. I am surprised we never got bit by a snake of any kind. I very clearly remember going into some pretty swampy places to get to this plant.
Good to know it helps with poison ivy. I have to get me some of that, Stuart is forever getting eaten up by that stuff.
And how many of us children added this to our daily diet? I know I sure did. I loved this stuff!
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March 17, 2000
Friday
High Today: 67 degrees at 11am and then just got colder!
Go away cold!
Sometimes people and situations in my life make me want to scream. Then I go outside and the site of my iris pushing to the sky with buds thicker than my finger and I can smile.
This gardening thing isn't just a hobby. I think it keeps me sane at times. It forces me to slow down and plan in the course of a life that has never planned a week let alone 5 years down the road.
I never once thought that I would have the patience for this. Patience to wait 20 years to see a tree at its glory. Patience to actually try my hand at composting.
I love my plants.
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March 18, 2000
Saturday
High Today: 47 degrees
Go away cold!
I am now getting a cold. I just love it when the weather goes from 70's to the 50's in the space of a week. Ugh.
I received some iris in the mail today from ML. Now I need to get up off my butt and get her artemisia sent out.
I planted the iris ( i don't know what colors) under the red maple with the double daffodils.
Threw some seeds down around the base of both the back steps and the kitchen steps. Annual climbers. We'll see if anything comes up. I rarely mess around with seeds except once in awhile some morning glories and always sweet basil.
Talked to D. (father in law) and he has some stuff I need to go dig up and some he will get for me. Lets see:
1 Watermelon Crape Myrtle
Copious amounts of 'Bridal Wreath' Spirea
Some Quince that isn't a 'Texas Scarlet'
Cannas if I want them both yellow and red. One has bronze foliage but can't remember which one now.
Some Sweet Autumn Clematis
Some whitish colored daffodils
All the daylilies that I could want in all colors available.
'Taylortown' Red perennial verbena.
A sport off of a tree rose that Stuart and I bought him for his birthday or Father's Day a few years ago.
So GO AWAY RAIN!!!! I have to get busy!
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March , 2000
Saturday
High Today: 47 degrees
Go away cold!