Plants!!!!

 Plants that have really stolen my heart this summer.

Ball Landscape days in West Chicago, New Petunia Colors!

Asclepias incarnata butterfly milkweed, a great plant that helps monarchs in all phases of their life.

Asclepias tuberoas another butterfly favorite that adds a wow factor to the garden

Digitalis foxglove 'foxlight ruby glow'

I would love to hear some of your summer favorites!

Exploring the different kinds of Hydrangeas!

Let’s get exploring 2 of  main types of Hydrangeas used in the landscapes. 

First is….

Hydrangea anomala subsp. Petiolaris climbing hydrangea

This is a great choice for shade areas but beware that once it gets to growing it will attach itself to anything with its rootlike feelers. 

 Also this plant is very self-sufficient once established.

Bloom time is in midsummer, with delicate white flowers and oval shaped leaves. Also grows well in containers just less vigorous.

Hydrangea arborescence ‘Annabelle’

The Annabelle variety is a real show stopper with its green/white blooms which can be the size of a basketball. The leaves are a beautiful dark green with a silver underside and small hairs. 

 

Bloom time is midsummer to late summer. When it rains the flower heads do get pushed down so you may be out in the gardening propping it up, but I think it is well worth it.

Next week we will be discovering 3 more   

Hydrangea quercifolia

Hydrangea paniculata

Hydrangea macrophylla

If you have any questions for me, I would love to hear from you!

How the greenhouse structure has improved my gardening

So, I was given a small collapsible greenhouse that my grandpa wasn't using. I have had the structure for about three months and I cant believe the growth of the vegetables which are all in pots due to the clay soil I have at my apartment. The crops I am growing are sweet corn, swiss chard, golden beets, cucumber, purple majestic potatoes, zucchini and lemon grass.

Also, I had an aphid problem that was affecting my tomatoes with leaf curl and my Aunt Ruby tomato, leaves were turning soft and limp as well as some blooms dropping off. I am not sure what is going on, but I do have some ladybug friends which has cut down on the problem. I also have the wondrous black slugs that feast when the sun goes down. I found that the best method is to hand pick them off which is also a recommendation in the Horticulture magazine. Well, I would love to share some photos and get any feed back.

I find this summer has ignited my desire to grow as I enjoy being a plant detective when insects or diseases arise it is my job to solve the mystery.

Ruby's got some fruit growing

Golden beet, I love beets

just another angle of the zucchini

Decorative pots outside the greenhouse to jazz it up. Calla lilly, lobelia, petunia and potato vine

Borage, oregano, with osemary in the back along with sorrel in the clay pot.

Fun by the front door with Buddha as the peace greeter a fern and sedum bloomin

golden beets with some lemon grass, love that as a tea

rainbow swiss chard

cucumber being grown in a topsy turvy, haha

I am so happy to see multiple cucumbers on the vine, yeah

Aunt Ruby, lookin good girl

Sweet corn, my first time growing corn so excited.

Zucchini there are five on this plant and they are sharing the pot with some beets.

Swiss chard, beets, green zebra, zucchini

My gardening life

I have been absent due to transitioning into a new job which was a big adjustment with a 45 min commute and the new position is very physical. Well, on to sharing what I have been doing since my last post. I have been going on hikes around Darrington and Granite Falls which have been so beautiful to see the new sites.

Also, I recently got a greenhouse from my grandpa it is 5ft by 5ft by 6ft. So, I am so excited because I put my tomatoes, potatoes, swiss chard, golden beets and french sorrel. Well, I will be taking more pics to see if the greenhouse is helping the veggies grow.

Fushia called hazel

so beautiful, Hazel

My front entrance with buddha as a peaceful greeting

The greenhouse with my goodwill flower baskets

Inside the greenhouse beets, zucchini, swiss chard, lemon grass

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My swiss chard, looking good

My german butter ball and purple majestic potatoes. This is my first time and I am so excited

Tomatoes 'green zebra' and Brandywine' also 'husky rose' which is not looking to great but I am thinking good thoughts.