So, the Butcher is as enthusiastic as I am about devoting the whole garden to a ridiculous amount of sunflowers. I also like it because the planning for that is taken care of. We’ll just go in, pull up the dried up marigolds, till the whole thing lightly, and plant the sunflowers. I’m contemplating putting the French marigolds in among the sunflowers, just because they ended up being really handy for shading out the weeds. But maybe not. Some of those French marigolds are bound to come back. And the sunflowers will be pretty weed-shading, too, I’d imagine.
Don’t tell the Butcher, but I’ve found some that grow like 15′ tall. He’s going to fall over about those.
We are going to do some vegetables, which we’re trying to decide on now, but we’re going to do them in a small bed between the house and the shed. So far we’ve settled on okra and bell peppers. We might try corn again. But I’m talking about packing all these motherfuckers into a space that’s like 3′ x 5′. So, I’m going to have to think very carefully about how to arrange everything. Oh and some basil. We made good use of the basil last year (though, as I recall, only the cinnamon came up). Maybe one tomato. I think I’ve still got some seeds. But the point is, I’m not going to do a bunch of stuff that just gets crazy and we end up not eating it all and it’s way out in back where we can’t enjoy it.
Even from the house, we’ll be able to enjoy some 15′ sunflowers way back there.
And we’ll eat more vegetables if we can keep a closer eye on the garden.
As for flowers, the daffodils are already poking up. Even the ones I bought with nm have broken the surface. The last time we talked about it, hers had not, but then I remembered, mine are right by the house. That soil is warm.
I think someone ate all my crocuses in the small bed by the creek. I saw them starting to sprout last week, but didn’t see any in there this week. Well, fuck that then. I may put some daffodils in there next year, but I’m giving up on crocuses. I also have half a mind to go into the squirrel nests and take bites out of things they like.
I’d also like to try foxglove again this year. It didn’t work on the south side of the house, even though that stays pretty shady thanks to the holly tree. But I’m thinking of trying it at the shady end of the perennial bed. I’ve also got some room between the edge of the bed and the peonies, which is very sunny, where I’d like to stick something. I’m thinking maybe Columbine?
The big question remains the wet spot to the north of the driveway. I’d like to get some plants in there that would help soak up that water. As I’ve said, it’s a mess. You can’t mow in there (at least not very often, because it’s so wet), but it’s usually so muddy you can’t get over there to weed. So, whatever goes in there is going to have to be hardy. It’s going to have to be able to fight its way through weeds. And it’s going to have to be able to withstand being mowed down in the fall.
I’m honestly wondering if I can go over to Bates and ask for help. I’d think some decorative grasses and some plain old coneflowers and black-eyed susans might do me. I also read that hollyhocks will do well in those circumstances. But I wonder what y’all think?
And is anyone else garden planning already? If so, what exciting things do you have going on?
Filed under: Gardening
Columbine is a pretty good choice. It self seeds reliably , is heat tolerant, and I think it’s poisonous (a poke in the eye to squirrels). The little buggers probably did eat your crocus – they will eat nearly anything.
Inspired by you, I went out and did some weeding, and I find that of the bulbs you and I bought there is one little tip of a stalk peeking out. However, something that doesn’t look at all daffodilish is coming up where I planted the new stuff, so it might be some of the bluebells.
I agree that putting hollyhocks in that wet area would be a good idea. Also, they’ll reseed themselves, so it’s a low maintenance deal with a bigger return on your effort each year.
I have a shit-ton of moulin rouge sunflower seeds. Remind me and I’ll bring them when I see you this week.
Ooo, nm, what do your bluebells look like? I’m wondering when I should start to look for mine. I do think my new daffodils are ahead of the curve because they’re so close to the house.
Beth, that would be awesome. I’m getting so excited about this sunflower nonsense, I can’t even tell you.
They are just tips of stalks/leaves right now. But they look more complex (nested, sort of, is the closest I can come to describing it) than daffodil stalks, which is why I’m supposing that they’re not daffodils.
Ooo, now I want to go look for mine! But it’s raining. I still may go look when I run the dog out.
I did go look and there they are! Very small, but definitely green and definitely right where I planted them. I do hope they spread, because otherwise, it’s going to be very obvious for years and years that I did not buy enough!
Even though I am not always the best indoor gardener I enjoy it and do an ok job of not killing my plants. Today though, I read about a new product that takes all the fun and challenge out of gardening by adding an electric plug and a computer program. This article on the Click and Grow shows that newer is not always better. http://thegreenertruth.com/2010/02/click-and-grow/
*sigh* I still have a foot of snow in my backyard. Only garden planning right now is on paper.