Let's Keep Things Interesting

Hunterdon County Library

It's that time of year again with autumn's arrival and winter lurking in the background, all of us must take advantage of any nice days still remaining to clean up the garden beds and prepare them for their long nap until their spring awakening.

Besides cleaning up at Pittsgrove, we've been cutting back perennials, cleaning beds and putting down some mulch at The Hunterdon County Library. We got involved there after being contacted by a member of The Friends of the Library who is also belongs to the Community Garden Club that visited Pittsgrove in May.

As you can see in the photo above, although we pruned many of the perennials (some all the way to the ground) we left the ornamental grasses alone until spring and have done the same at home. They add a dramatic focal point to an otherwise drab winter landscape.

Variegated Boxwood
Next spring when you contemplate what plants to incorporate in your existing gardens, consider what your yard looks like in winter. Some grasses could liven things up. Other plants to think about are helleborus, holly, winterberry, and variegated boxwood. With a little homework on your part and a few additions in the spring, next year's landscape can have much more appeal over the long winter months.

Happy gardening!
Cheryl

Thank a Vet Today

On a personal note today, I would like to give thanks to my husband, John, an army veteran of the Viet Nam War and our son, Garrett who served our country in the air force and flew missions to both Afganistan and Iraq. My heartfelt appreciation also goes out to all who served our great nation in the past and all those currently serving, both at home and abroad. I ask that all who read this do the same.
With sincere thanks,
Cheryl

Don't Pass Me By

Cardinal Flower Lobelia


Something we have heard time and again here at the farm and years ago at the garden center are people being amazed at plants in display beds that are so beautiful. Most recently a number of folks commented on the Cardinal Flowers growing in various locations throughout the property.
"That's gorgeous! What is it? Do you have any for sale?"
"No, we had it in the spring."
"You did-I don't remember seeing any. I definitely would have bought it if I knew how beautiful it would be." Cardinal Flower Lobelia

Cardinal Flower, or Lobelia, is a late season perennial that comes in red, lavender, and blue stays in bloom for weeks at a time when there isn't much color in the garden. It is vigorous and the brilliant red variety knocks your socks off.

Annual Cleome, or Spider Flower is another late season bloomer standing up to 6' with pink, white, rose, or mixed shade blossoms. In early spring it looks like barely anything coming out of the ground, but sure makes its presence known at its prime.

Cleome
So let that be a lesson to you. Many plants, be they perennials, annuals, or shrubs may not look very impressive in their young stages, but quite stunning at maturity. If you aren't sure what something will look like, or come across a plant you never heard of, ask. Any knowledgeable nursery person will be happy to give you a detailed description. Don't pass up the opportunity to add a great specimen to your landscape through lack of knowledge. Then you too can hear people say-"That's gorgeous! What is it?"

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

I'm Not As Reliable As Immortality

Immortality

Yikes---how could so much time go by since my last post!!! Some of you must have thought we left the country or something. Won't make excuses, that never goes over well with the husband. Let's just say when we worked outside the last couple of months we worked hard and when we played outdoors, we played hard! Then I was either too fried or too lazy to try to put words together in any meaningful fashion. I wish I was as reliable a blogger as Immortality is a rebloomer, seen flowering in various parts of the farm as it does every year. I'll try to hit the keyboard in a more timely fashion.

I hope the summer brought as many great times with family and friends as it did for us and that you were as ready as I to boldly move forward and tackle all the garden chores left by the wayside over the summer months.

It's always a disappointment to return from vacation to the realization that weeds always grow much better than anything you deliberately plant. We also wonder why deer love our perennials but never touch a weed! How do they recognize the difference and how can we get them to see how tasty crab grass is compared to hosta! If anyone comes up with a great solution, let me know.

Much of our fall work is complete with iris divided, peonies potted, and beds cleaned up and fertilized. As one of our visitors said today, having as much of your garden cleanup done in the fall leaves springtime for planting. She then headed home to do her own yard cleanup before the great weather we've been having disappears. I'll be back on my knees finishing up the weeding and hopefully back at the keyboard in a much more timely fashion.

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Dig It-Malaysian Monarch

Today's "Dig It" is a tip of the hat to Autumn Belle, who was kind enough to leave a comment on last week's post. Check out her blog which comes to us from Malaysia-thus Malaysian Monarch (Munson 1986) is my choice for today.

This early to mid-season daylily reaches a height of 18-24" and has semi-evergreen foliage. A 1993 Award of Merit winner, Malaysian Monarch has stunning 6" blossoms of purple with cream-white throats. It may lack fragrance, but certainly provides a visual impact in the garden bed.

Happy gardening!
Cheryl

Dig It-Slovak Prince

Usually we post our "Dig It" on a Monday and also try to feature a plant that is currently or soon to be in bloom. Today's feature is neither.

Slovak Prince (Mego 2003) is a tall bearded iris Slovakian import and so were my grandparents on my dad's side of the family. This 33" stately iris has a one of a kind appearance with its white standards finely edged with a gold rim, along with rich grape-purple falls containing white veining. Add to this an appealing light scent and you know why it has become one of my favorites.

Today would have been my dad's 97th birthday which is why I'm posting on Tuesday. Like this iris, my dad was a prince of a man, taking over parenting duties for three children at a time when it was almost unheard of for a father to do so. He had a ready smile, crazy sense of humor, and warm heart felt by all who knew him. I feel his presence daily. He was and always will be my Slovak Prince.

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Happy Birthday, Jeremy!!!

Jeremy-as hard working in the field as he is on the computer

On a personal note today, I would like to wish my son, Jeremy, a most wonderful birthday. Without him there would be no Pittsgrove web site and no blog. It was with his encouragement that the blog was started. "Go ahead, Mom. Once you start blogging, you'll really enjoy it!" Well he was right---I do. He has also tried to get me to twitter, but for now I'll leave that up to the birds.