What''s Growing in PSer''s Garden

[Gailey]

Mochi, Mochi, Mochi, you''ve got to stop with the orchid pictures! I''m only just managing not to dive into orchids because I fear they would fast become an obsession.

Seriously, your orchids are awesome - just love that orange one.

Hold on Gailey, hold on - think how many gems you could buy if you don''t get into orchids.

BTW, I think I have a picture of the brothers and sisters of that butterfly you posted. Here they all are on a Sedum "Autumn Joy"

 

[Gailey]

Last one tonight, gotta go to bed, I''m aching from head to toe from hauling home made potting soil and containers all day.

This is one of the daylily shots I knew I had somewhere but couldn''t find. I really do need to file my photos properly! The plant behind it is Achillea millefolium "Paprika"

 

[Linda W]

Skippy, Gailey and Mochi. Your plants are GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS.

What do you ladies fertilize with? Please do not tell me horse poop. Mochi your flowers are so green!!!!!

 

[klewis]

This is my front garden at sunset- well some of it is although I can only lay claim to some land on this side of the river but I get to enjoy the whole vista from almost every room and there''s very little gardening needed. This garden has loads of birds of all kinds visit.

 

[klewis]

And the same with a low sun and grey sky

 

[klewis]

And at the rear of our home we have an enclosed garden. This was taken in the summer ( it''s late Autumn now). Just some impatiens, heliconia and if you squint you can see fushia too. I''d love to show you more but I can only do one pic per post.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Mochi ~ Talk to me about this desert rose! Is it a tropical? It''s gorgeous! I''ve never seen one before. I don''t need another plant that I have to winter inside . . . but I''d consider it for that one. How long does it bloom and when?

 

[Gailey]

Date: 5/26/2009 1:00:45 AM
Author: Linda W
Skippy, Gailey and Mochi. Your plants are GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS.

What do you ladies fertilize with? Please do not tell me horse poop. Mochi your flowers are so green!!!!!

Morning Linda

I don''t fertilize my perennials that are in the ground - ever! The only thing I do is top dress the soil with compost every couple of years.

Annuals in containers are different. I make up a custom potting mix which includes worm castings, and an organic granulated fertilizer (8-4-5 NPK). After that they get a weak (half recommended strength) tomato fertilizer. This year, I''ve added in microbial tea to the mix and I may cut down on the tomato fertilizer - I''ll see how they do.

 

[Gailey]

Date: 5/26/2009 6:10:36 AM
Author: klewis
This is my front garden at sunset- well some of it is although I can only lay claim to some land on this side of the river but I get to enjoy the whole vista from almost every room and there''s very little gardening needed. This garden has loads of birds of all kinds visit.

Klewis, wow what a wonderful view! Mine is similar. I love living on a lake! Why on earth would a gardener put up with a condo otherwise! When I get in tonight, I will try and post some pictures.

You must be in the southern hemisphere somewhere?

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 5/26/2009 1:00:45 AM
Author: Linda W
Skippy, Gailey and Mochi. Your plants are GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS.

What do you ladies fertilize with? Please do not tell me horse poop. Mochi your flowers are so green!!!!!

thanks, I just use Miracle grow soil moisture control they sell at Costco. I want to know Mochi and Gailey''s tips especially on roses! My roses are NOT BLOOMING

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 5/25/2009 7:01:24 PM
Author: mochi
I love that orange daylilly...its a asiatic lilly?? Very pretty!

Your pictures are so pretty. I also have that mystery cobalt blue flower..!

hehe I love those little blue flowers; they are so cute!!!!!

what state do you live in?? Your garden and flowers are gorgeous!!! I love geraniums because they are so easy to take care of. It hink you are right on the lilly! I will post more when more bloom; I like this yellow one we have. great thread!!!


LostSapphire please send me some bulbs you are splitting. hehe

 

[klewis]

Date: 5/26/2009 9:41:40 AM
Author: Gailey

Date: 5/26/2009 6:10:36 AM

Author: klewis

This is my front garden at sunset- well some of it is although I can only lay claim to some land on this side of the river but I get to enjoy the whole vista from almost every room and there''s very little gardening needed. This garden has loads of birds of all kinds visit.

Klewis, wow what a wonderful view! Mine is similar. I love living on a lake! Why on earth would a gardener put up with a condo otherwise! When I get in tonight, I will try and post some pictures.


You must be in the southern hemisphere somewhere?

I look forward to seeing your lake view pics. I do live in the southern Hemisphere- in New Zealand. There''s not too much blooming in the garden right now although the Hibiscus still have a few blooms.

 

[Ara Ann]

Date: 5/26/2009 12:28:20 AM
Author: Gailey

Date: 5/25/2009 7:57:06 PM

you need lots of sunshine, at least 6 hours per day. Good organic compost mixed in with your soil or just top-dressed around your plants. I''m ashamed to say that I''ve only ever grown tomatoes (and I call myself a gardener!). I live in a condo, so I don''t have a lot of room for veg unfortunately. My dream garden would be an old English kitchen garden potager. Let us know how things work out for you.

I LOVE the idea/plans for a potager, but how can I keep bunnies away from the plants? Our neighborhood is ''fence free'' and we can''t even use ''varmint'' fencing...

My dad always had a beautiful vegetable garden when I was growing up, but I''ve never attempted to start one for fear of the bunnies/deer eating all of my efforts before we could!

Any suggestions?

 

[Gailey]

Date: 5/26/2009 1:33:39 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 5/26/2009 1:00:45 AM
Author: Linda W
Skippy, Gailey and Mochi. Your plants are GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS.

What do you ladies fertilize with? Please do not tell me horse poop. Mochi your flowers are so green!!!!!

thanks, I just use Miracle grow soil moisture control they sell at Costco. I want to know Mochi and Gailey''s tips especially on roses! My roses are NOT BLOOMING

Need to know a bit more Skippy. Can you post a picture. Roses need a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine for a start. How long have they been planted in their current location? Have they ever bloomed since you planted them? Do you know which varieties you have.

 

[Gailey]

Date: 5/26/2009 3:30:06 PM
Author: Ara Ann

Date: 5/26/2009 12:28:20 AM
Author: Gailey

Date: 5/25/2009 7:57:06 PM

you need lots of sunshine, at least 6 hours per day. Good organic compost mixed in with your soil or just top-dressed around your plants. I''m ashamed to say that I''ve only ever grown tomatoes (and I call myself a gardener!). I live in a condo, so I don''t have a lot of room for veg unfortunately. My dream garden would be an old English kitchen garden potager. Let us know how things work out for you.

I LOVE the idea/plans for a potager, but how can I keep bunnies away from the plants? Our neighborhood is ''fence free'' and we can''t even use ''varmint'' fencing...

My dad always had a beautiful vegetable garden when I was growing up, but I''ve never attempted to start one for fear of the bunnies/deer eating all of my efforts before we could!

Any suggestions?

No easy answer Ara Ann I''m afraid. Here are some suggestions I found:
Bannish bunnies
Bannish bunnies 02

I think if I was starting from scratch I would build raised beds and edge them with a rosemary hedge that I would keep clipped. This would add to the classic potager look and deter the bunnies at the same time.

Good luck - let us know your progress

 

[Gailey]

Here''s a couple of pictures of the view from my bedroom window. I woke up really early one morning a few years ago. Goodness knows what made me wake up but the sky was scarlet - these pictures, taken pre-digital, don''t do it justice. I''ve never seen it quite the same since.

 

[Gailey]

Sorry the pictures are so big. I''d play around with them some more, but I gotta go to bed while my legs are still capable of carrying me up the stairs!

 

[Linda W]

OMG Gailey, what a view

. I would love to wake up to that every morning.

Absolutely gorgeous!!!!!! How lucky you are.

In fact, I would just love staring out the window all the time

 

[klewis]

Gailey that''s a beautiful outlook!

 

[Ara Ann]

Date: 5/26/2009 11:15:57 PM
Author: Gailey

Date: 5/26/2009 3:30:06 PM

Author: Ara Ann

Date: 5/26/2009 12:28:20 AM

Author: Gailey

Date: 5/25/2009 7:57:06 PM

you need lots of sunshine, at least 6 hours per day. Good organic compost mixed in with your soil or just top-dressed around your plants. I''m ashamed to say that I''ve only ever grown tomatoes (and I call myself a gardener!). I live in a condo, so I don''t have a lot of room for veg unfortunately. My dream garden would be an old English kitchen garden potager. Let us know how things work out for you.

I LOVE the idea/plans for a potager, but how can I keep bunnies away from the plants? Our neighborhood is ''fence free'' and we can''t even use ''varmint'' fencing...

My dad always had a beautiful vegetable garden when I was growing up, but I''ve never attempted to start one for fear of the bunnies/deer eating all of my efforts before we could!

Any suggestions?

No easy answer Ara Ann I''m afraid. Here are some suggestions I found:

Bannish bunnies

Bannish bunnies 02


I think if I was starting from scratch I would build raised beds and edge them with a rosemary hedge that I would keep clipped. This would add to the classic potager look and deter the bunnies at the same time.


Good luck - let us know your progress

Thank you Gailey!! I am thinking I could attach some chicken wire around the potager? It may look terrible, lol...but I might be able to grow something that way! We haven''t had too much of a deer problem the last couple of years, but the bunnies are relentless...there is a bunny family living under our neighbor''s deck. Maybe I can make a deal with the bunnies, I''ll feed them carrots if they leave my veges alone!

I''ll probably have to try this project next year, this spring is already busy with other projects, but I LOVE the plans! Thanks again for your help!

 

[mochi]

Date: 5/26/2009 9:27:01 AM
Author: hoofbeats95
Mochi ~ Talk to me about this desert rose! Is it a tropical? It''s gorgeous! I''ve never seen one before. I don''t need another plant that I have to winter inside . . . but I''d consider it for that one. How long does it bloom and when?

HB....desert rose (adenium obesum) are more a warm weathered plant. During the winter they ''hibernate'', droop all their leaves and I put them away in a dark area in the garage (along with my plumerias). No watering or anything until sping time. I have 5 of these plants, the one pictured is the oldest and the biggest, other 4 is a new addition from last year.

It really blooms first thing in the spring. After the bloom, I give it a really good haircut and give the cuttings away to friends and co-workers. It''s really easy to propagate from cuttings, but, unfortunately, it will not have the obesum (fat bottom). Ones grown from seeds tend to have the best looking bottoms..hehehe. It doesn''t like wet feet (it will get ''rot'' if it stays wet too long), can take full sun.

After each haircut, they will regrow the leaves with another flush of blooms. I usually give mine a couple of haircuts per year. I have never had pod of seeds from my big plants, unfortunately.

It''s a wonderful showy plant. I have it in the front of the house and people always comment on it.

 

[mochi]

Oh Gailey...collecting orchids can be such a expensive hobby! I was sick when I came back from vacation and most of them were dying. I don''t know what the care taker did to my plants. I had over 100 orchids and I think she was just overwhelmed...After seeing my poor plant, my heart just wasn''t into it anymore. When I retire, I think I will go back into collecting orchids, but only a few, I don''t want it to be a burden...

I know I said it before, I love the view from your home, it''s breathtaking!!

 

[mochi]

Date: 5/26/2009 6:10:36 AM
Author: klewis
This is my front garden at sunset- well some of it is although I can only lay claim to some land on this side of the river but I get to enjoy the whole vista from almost every room and there''s very little gardening needed. This garden has loads of birds of all kinds visit.

Your backyard is just beautiful! My DH and I was thinking about moving to NZ a few months ago and looking at properties on the internet. It looks like such a beautiful country!

 

[mochi]

Linda... I just won some plants (orchid cactus) from ebay. They are so easy to grow from cuttings and look really lovely in hanging pots. They have beautiful flowers.....comming to me from California...

 

[mochi]

Date: 5/26/2009 1:35:27 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 5/25/2009 7:01:24 PM
Author: mochi
I love that orange daylilly...its a asiatic lilly?? Very pretty!

Your pictures are so pretty. I also have that mystery cobalt blue flower..!

hehe I love those little blue flowers; they are so cute!!!!!

what state do you live in?? Your garden and flowers are gorgeous!!! I love geraniums because they are so easy to take care of. It hink you are right on the lilly! I will post more when more bloom; I like this yellow one we have. great thread!!!


LostSapphire please send me some bulbs you are splitting. hehe

Isn't it a lovely blue?? I love them. I don't recall growing them but I think it was in a plant that I bought. I love geranium and as you said, so easy to grow. The ones with verigated leaves are very pretty.

I live in central Florida...humid and buggy. We have an acrea land in a equestrian estate, so I get all the hose poop that I want, which really helps. LOL!

 

[Mara]

re: bunnies away from the plants, i''d google it but a lot of times they recommend things like dog urine or similar because a lot of animals don''t like that smell. not sure i want to be collecting portia''s pee but who knows. we have cats that come into our yard and leave fleas and pee...i hate it. i have yet to google it and look into natural methods of repellent but i know they are out there. also sometimes you can plant things that are poisonous to animals interspersed between what you want to protect, not to hurt them but a lot of animals KNOW what not to eat and therefore will leave your other stuff alone (aka they say to plant daffodils amongst your tulips if you have deer probs because deer will not eat daffs as they are poisonous and therefore won''t eat the tulips either).

now that i finally have a yard after years of container gardening, i am going crazy!! no pictures just yet but i have planted about 20 roses, a bouganvaillea, a red leaf maple, a meyer lemon tree, a bearss lime tree, countless perennials, a star jasmine, and just got a wisteria i am figuring out what to do with.

we already have a huge orange tree where we squeeze oranges every weekend for juice, yummy.

 

[Linda W]

Date: 5/27/2009 10:12:45 AM
Author: mochi
Linda... I just won some plants (orchid cactus) from ebay. They are so easy to grow from cuttings and look really lovely in hanging pots. They have beautiful flowers.....comming to me from California...

Oh I bet they will be beautiful Mochi. You sure have the green thumb for growing plants and flowers too. Please post pictures OK??? I will be looking forward to seeing them.

 

[klewis]

Date: 5/27/2009 10:08:36 AM
Author: mochi

Date: 5/26/2009 6:10:36 AM

Author: klewis

This is my front garden at sunset- well some of it is although I can only lay claim to some land on this side of the river but I get to enjoy the whole vista from almost every room and there''s very little gardening needed. This garden has loads of birds of all kinds visit.

Your backyard is just beautiful! My DH and I was thinking about moving to NZ a few months ago and looking at properties on the internet. It looks like such a beautiful country!

Hey Mochi, do move here with your DH and bring your great collection of gems.

 

[Gailey]

Time for a bit more garden **** I think!

This is Clematis florida sieboldii. It''s my absolute favourite and very hard to obtain in Calgary. Mochi, it''s probably a weed where you are!

If you think I am passionate about day lillies, I am absolutely fanatical about Clematis. Last time I counted I had over 70 varieties in my own little garden! The picture is from a few years ago and I lost that plant, but I found one this week. so I snapped it up in a heartbeat!

Anyone else like Clematis?

 

[Gailey]

And here''s her close-up .....