The Greatest Spectacle in Gardening

In May, two things are certain in Indiana, The Indianapolis 500 and the blooming of our state flower, the Peony. As a child, our family planted acres of tomatoes on our farm while listening to the race on a portable radio. Though we were only 35 miles away, it seemed as though we were in another universe listening to the AM broadcast. As if it weren’t exciting enough, the carefully choreographed start of the race always brought chills. Jim Nabors singing “Back Home Again in Indiana,” the “Gentleman start your engines!” from Mari Hulman George, followed by the unusual but instantly familiar sound of the cars revving their engines. It always lived up to its billing, “The greatest spectacle in racing.”

In our yard, a very different spectacle also coincided with the month of May– the blooming of the Peonies. My mom had very few perennials around the house when I was growing up. As a youngster, I found these magical ‘reappearing’ plants exquisite. It was recently that I learned our farmhouse had many established perennials when my parents purchased it in 1965. My dad found them a nuisance when mowing the lawn and “removed” nearly all of them. Only 5 were spared the fatal slash of the whirling metal blades: Yellow Bearded Iris, Tiger Lilies (probably Lilium lancifolium), a Hosta similar to H. Lancifolia, Lilly of the Valley (Convallaria majelis) and Peonies (Paeonia Festiva Maxima). This quintet taunted my inner gardener for decades, and despite a stolen moment of fascination and appreciation, my attention was often redirected back to farm work.

Today, I revel in the splendor of perennials and nothing warms my heart more than Peonies in spring. This year their display is especially glorious. I even got a bloom from the plant I accidently sprayed with Roundup three years ago. I love that it refused to die– just like my intrigue and fascination of perennials.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - May 2013

Spring is finally here and so are the blooms. In central Indiana, it’s been a long time coming but so worth the wait.  Above: The first Peony blooms have opened. Many more herbaceous varieties will follow in the coming weeks.

Winter King Hawthorn Tree

Foxglove ‘Goldcrest’

Heuchera ‘Circus’

Dwarf Red Pincushion Flower ‘Mars Midget’

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is a Meme created by May Dreams Gardens. Gardeners post images of what’s blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. All are welcome to participate.

Rediscovering My Garden

There has not been much time for the garden since I began working at Sundown Gardens just over a year ago. My enthusiasm is no match for my exhaustion. I liken it to being a chef or housekeeper. Most likely, they do not delight in cooking dinner or cleaning house after a long day at work. Yet the distance between myself and my garden has brought on something of interest– a new perspective. I see it through new eyes now. On a recent journey into the backyard, this is what I saw.

The delicate yellow blooms of Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten.’ Tiny, but quite cheery. Low to the ground– as in groundcover. Delicate red mottling in spring.

Pretty shades of mauve on the candles of Pinus parviflora v. ‘Glauca’ or Blue Japanese White Pine.

The short bottlebrush blooms on Fothergilla x gardenii ‘Blue Shadow’ (Blue Shadow Fothergilla) are a delight. I love white blooms and I’m inspired to create a White Garden out of annuals for the patio this year.

As the various Hostas emerge, I am struck by how intense the coloration is on the yellow plants. They seem to emit light from within, especially in the morning and early evening. Hosta ‘Paradise Island.’

The wavy edge on a Hosta leaf is referred to as a ‘piecrust edge’, and who doesn’t love pie? Hosta ‘Dancing Queen.’

This Acer palmatum ‘Kiyohime’ is a tree I regularly visit and stop to ponder. Far wider than it will be tall, the new growth stretches and pushes out farther and farther every year. I always feel as though it’s trying to tell me something. 

The flowering of Aesculus hippocastanum or Horse Chestnut Tree is always a noteworthy event. The showy white flowers are quite elaborate with just a touch of pink. 

The Horse Chestnut’s foliage is large and reminds me of tropical plants.

Not my favorite tree, but I was impressed with how many samaras (helicopters) were hanging from the branches of Acer negundo or Boxelder Tree. The tree can handle higher moisture levels and perhaps that is why it seeded itself near the banks of the creek.

Two things strike me about Acer palmatum ‘Emperor 1’: First, how lateral the older branching has become and the extreme horizontal position the leaves hold on the branches. This is my one and only red tree.

I feel exuberant when I see Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’. The whimsical coloration and form of the bracts always lift my spirits.

It’s not spring in my book without Dicentra spectabilis (Old-fashioned Bleedingheart) and Peonies. Both hold special places in my heart and memory. There is something so sumptuous about a Peony bud breaking open.

There is a threat of frost this evening and I’m not too concerned about it. Just as the individual plants have grown, so too has the garden in my mind’s eye. I hold the images of lovely springs past and present there. Come what may. Nothing lasts forever.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - April 2013

What a difference a year makes! This time last year I had Peonies and Dicentra blooming. We are nowhere near that this year. Spring has sprung, and only the true spring bloomers have come out to play.

Hellebore Ivory Prince. The last blooms are slowly turning to green and will soon become indiscernible from the plant’s foliage.

An interior detail shot of the Hellebore Ivory Prince flower.

Hellebore White Spotted Lady presents a dynamic color contrast. Hellebores are great in the shade garden.

The maples are also begining to bloom. This is the early bloom stage of O isami Japanese Maple. Maple tree blossoms are fleeting.

I love the color combination of the Star Magnolia Tree buds. The softest shades of pink and light grey green are so sophisticated.

Before the bloom turns snow white, diffused pink shades appear on the petals. 

This flamboyant bloom is Bloom-A-Thon® Lavender Reblooming Azalea. I was given two plants so I could observe their bloom cycles and test their hardiness. This azalea’s flowers should last for 4-6 weeks in spring, and then another 12-16 weeks in summer and fall. 

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is a Meme created by May Dreams Gardens. Gardeners post images of what’s blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. All are welcome to participate.

Lawn Mowing Guidelines

Mowing season is here again. Follow these guidelines for a great looking lawn. This is a repost from 2011.

The secret to a great looking lawn lies in the mowing. Sure, you may need to fertilize or use a herbicide from time to time, but proper mowing can help your lawn look lush and healthy all season long while reducing the need for frequent chemical applications. Follow my mowing guidelines (riding or pushing) to stay on the cutting edge: 

  • Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches
  • Mow frequently
  • Return the clippings to the lawn
  • Fertilize in the fall

Let’s break it down…

Mowing Height

There are many benefits to keeping your mowing height between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. Chief among them is weed control.

It may seem counterintuitive, but mowing too short will increase weeds in the lawn. Like most plants, weeds want and need sun to grow. If you mow your lawn really short, you’re just giving them what they want. Consequently, weeds such as crabgrass and dandelions will proliferate. So set your mower at the preferred height and leave it there all season. It will minimize weed population.

Most species of grass do well with a mowing height anywhere between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. I think 3 inches looks great and is easy to remember. If you have a play area for children, I recommend you mow at 3.5 inches. It will feel luxurious and help soften their fall.

Lawns that are mowed at the recommended height will have deeper, stronger root systems and better color overall.

Mow Frequently

Mow frequently and follow the “One-Third Rule”– never remove more than one-third of the leaf blades at once. Removing more than one-third may cause root growth to cease while the leaves and shoots are regrowing. When growth is most active (spring), you may need to mow up to twice a week, but only once every 2 to 3 weeks when growth is less vigorous (summer).

Return the Clippings

It’s ok to let the clippings fall back onto the lawn as long as you aren’t leaving a dense layer. And, it doesn’t matter if you have a mulching mower or not, a discharge mower returns clippings just fine.

You return up to 25% of fertilizer nutrients back to the lawn in the clippings. And contrary to popular belief, clippings do NOT cause thatch build-up. See thatch note below. You will also help reduce water evaporation by returning the clippings. Bagging the grass takes a third more time to complete the job. Who wants that? 

Note on Thatch from University of Illinois Extension “The primary component of thatch is turfgrass stems and roots. It accumulates as these plant parts buildup faster than they breakdown. Thatch problems are due to a combination of biological, cultural, and environmental factors. Cultural practices can have a big impact on thatch. For example, heavy nitrogen fertilizer applications or overwatering frequently contribute to thatch, because they cause the lawn to grow excessively fast. Avoid overfertilizing and overwatering. Despite popular belief, short clippings dropped on the lawn after mowing are not the cause of thatch buildup. Clippings are very high in water content and breakdown rapidly when returned to lawns after mowing, assuming lawns are mowed on a regular basis (not removing more than one-third of the leaf blade).”

One final point: if you must bag your clippings, please do not throw them in the trash. This can increase your trash by up to 10% and take up unnecessary space in landfills. A better option is to use the clippings as a mulch.

Fertilize in the Fall

This is an easy one. Like most people, I’m mowing very frequently in the spring and don’t need to increase mowing by stimulating growth with fertilizers. Fall fertilization promotes a healthy turf without stimulating excessive leaf growth.

If you’re inclined to fertilize only once a year, do it in September. If you would like to fertilize twice a year, do it in September and early November. And as always, read all fertilizer labels and follow the instructions.

Final Mowing Guidelines

  • Use a different mowing pattern each time you mow
  • DO NOT bump trees
  • Do not mow when there is drought stress
  • Do not mow when it is excessively wet

Be Safe

  • Pick up all debris before mowing
  • Keep hands and feet away from the blades

Be Environmentally Friendly

  • DO NOT discharge clippings into the street
  • Follow ozone alerts 

Mower Maintenance

  • Keep mowing equipment in good working condition
  • Have mower serviced prior to the heavy spring mowing period
  • Keep mower blades sharp for a clean crisp cut

TIP: A dull mower blade frays the ends of the blades and results in brown tips which are unsightly. Have mower blades sharpened prior to the heavy mowing season.

Behind-the-scenes at a Nursery and Garden Shop

Garden centers all over the US are starting to burst into a frenzy of activity and Sundown Gardens (where I work) is no exception. Shipments of merchandise for the The Garden Shop have trickled in over winter, but now the plant material begins to arrive. The first balled & burlapped trees arrived on March 20th and it’s been non-stop ever since. To put it in perspective, we’ve already gone through 500 Liriope and just last week we ordered 1000 more. The kickoff of the growing season is very physical, very intense, and always exciting! 

Here’s an inside peak at the ‘goings on’ at Sundown Gardens in very early spring. 

A Birthday, A Blizzard, and A Ball

Saturday, March 23rd was my birthday. I now have 48 trips around the sun logged in. There ought to be frequent flyer miles!! It was a pretty uneventful day as I’m trying to get over a nasty sinus infection. Still, I couldn’t help but go outdoors and enjoy the bright sunshine and 50° temps. A perfect early spring day, right? Who knows anymore. The weather forecasters are predicting heavy snow fall in the next 24 hours. Since all storms need nomenclature these days, the media has bestowed “The Palm Sunday Blizzard” on it.

It’s so gorgeous today. A blizzard tomorrow. Really?

As a gardener and employee of a nursery and landscape company, I always have an eye on the weather. I don’t remember being like this (kind of obsessed) until firmly planting my gardening stalk into the ground and my roots taking hold. As a child, my interest was limited to the possibility of a school snow day (far and few) or rain to get out of farm work. That was a big deal. Today, I’m not so sure why I follow it so closely. Must be a combination of several things: how to dress, how it affects my garden, how it will affect business, and so on.

After my 1965 birth date, my mother brought me home from the hospital just before Palm Sunday. I guess you used to stay in the hospital after birth much longer than you do today. I hadn’t been home long when Indiana experienced its worst tornado outbreak. There’s even a Wikipedia page about this. All my life I’ve heard stories about how my family rode out the storm– even saw one of the major tornados tear across the county from the upstairs window. What a sight that must have been- power out and the ghostly eerie image of the tornado gliding across the landscape visible only against the sky’s random electrical charges or lightning bolts shooting directly into the vicious funnel. Although the path was miles from the house, my brothers and sisters said they missed several days of school because it was ‘all hands on deck’ for cleanup.

Picture of the “double tornado” that hit the Midway Trailer Park in Indiana, killing 14.

Fast forward 48 years and here I am again, at the center of another Palm Sunday storm. This one promises snow and high winds sans the spinning funnels. What will the emerging peonies think? Yes, I worry about stuff like that.

My question to you is this: What is your relationship with the weather, and do you think gardening has influenced that relationship? Love to hear your answers in the comment section below.

Now a little plug for a friend.

Opera is not for everybody. That’s just a fact. But when a local friend of mine sent me the press release for the Indianapolis Opera Ball titled Divinely Dutch: Celebrating the Art & Beauty of the Netherlands, I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the visual aesthetic tie to their upcoming opera, The Flying Dutchman.

My friend Jamie Gibbs is a horticulturist and landscape architect. It comes as no surprise that he would co-chair this event and put a botanical twist on it. “Where possible the decorations for the glamorous setting will be recyclable live plants and biodegradable materials in honor of earth day. Thousands of potted Dutch Tulips will grace the dining tables and silent auction areas. These tulips will be planted on the grounds of the Basile Opera Center after the ball. Other “green” components will include reusable backdrops, LED lighting effects and projected images rather than constructing décor only to be discarded. The innovative approach to charity ball decorations is a departure from the often wasteful, and expensive, one-time décor common on such events.”

Sounds like a pretty inspiring Black Tie event, but more importantly an environmentally responsible one. To learn more, Click Here.

Weather Update: It just started snowing. Kinda hard. :/

Why Boxwood Bronze in Winter

It used to bother me that my boxwood would change color from green to bronze in winter. Over time, I’ve come to enjoy the change somewhat. Some years, the change is very dramatic. Here’s why.

The color change of the foliage is really quite common and nothing to be alarmed about. The bronzing occurs mostly in plants that have eastern or southern exposure. Plants with this exposure will typically receive full morning or afternoon sun on bright winter days. When combined with prevailing winds and fluctuating high and low temps, rapid changes in the leaf tissue cause the leaf to change color.

Boxwood in protected environments may remain green except on top where there is more exposure. The profile image (above) provides some evidence that the bronzing occurs as a result of the environmental effects of the sun and wind. Note that the right side of the plant, which faces north and the front porch, remains green. The left side and top is completely exposed all winter and has changed color.

If you prefer your boxwood to remain evergreen, ask your local nursery what varieties hold their green color best. Otherwise, embrace the change and extra winter interest as your plants transform from green to bronzy-orange during the winter months. The green foliage returns once temps warm and stabilize.

Make Way for Hellebores

One of the very sure signals of winter’s departure is the emergence of Hellebore buds in my garden. Although some species can bloom as early as Christmas, mine are late winter bloomers, hence the common name Lenten Rose.

I grow Hellebores for their evergreen foliage, but the bonus is the very early blooms. They are relatively care-free and make great companion plants to my Hostas. Hellebores are typically sold as shade plants and that indeed is one of the benefits of this plant, but many Hellebores can receive a fair amount of sun all year long and do just fine.

When the weather cooperates, I jump outdoors and remove the old tattered foliage to reveal the emerging flower stalks beneath. This practice known as “deadleafing” shows off the flowers much better than leaving them to compete against the old battered foliage.

To begin, I inspect the plants to check how high the buds are. This is my cue for how close to let the pruners come to the plant’s interior. Note: On old leaves its normal to see browning and blackening of tissues as the individual leaves go through their natural life cycles. If you see this in otherwise active and healthy tissue, it could be a sign of a fatal disease known as “Black Death”.

Next, I snip away at the plant removing the old stems and leaves. This technique need not be precise. The new growth will eventually cover the snipped stems.

I collect the spent foliage and discard it away from the garden. This will reduce the spread of any harbored disease to other plants.

There, all nice and trim. Over the next week or so, the plant will fill out and hide the recent cuts. When blooms are spent, simply remove them and enjoy the lovely evergreen foliage all year long.

Although Hellebores will grow in a variety of soil conditions, adequate soil preparation is the key to long-term health and vigor. This is true for many ornamental perennials. Welcome Spring!

Binge Gardening

For me, working in a garden center and nursery is like being an alcoholic who works in a liquor store. The sauce is all around me and I can’t get enough!

Last summer, one of the enablers - ahem - associates that I work with set some scraggly looking hydrangeas near the area I work in. Right away I noticed them and inquired why they were placed there and not among all the other shrubs. “Well, we’re trying to move them. They’re on sale.” he said. Ahhh the “S” word, music to my ears… wait, doesn’t this guy know I have a problem? It was too late. Into a euphoric state I slipped and like a giddy coy teenager asked, “uh, how much?” He paused for a moment. “Twenty bucks, you can have them all for…” I don’t think he’d finished his answer before I was pulling up one of those little heavy duty garden carts, you know, the metal ones with the fat little tires. I got them all onto one cart and off we went. “Put ‘em on my house account!” I shouted as I wheeled them away, high on my latest fix.

Well, that’s only half the story. The damage was done. How could I keep this a secret? You can’t exactly hide eight hydrangeas or slip them into the garden without ‘anyone’ noticing. I would endure the wrath, again. I had no idea where they were going to go. In fact, I knew nothing going into this. Endless Summer? I’ve seen the ads but have never tried them. I know Michael Dirr and I know he has something to do with this line of plants. Couldn’t be all that bad right? I began to second guess my purchase while justifing that a $20 gamble wouldn’t be such a big loss. See a pattern here??

Into the backyard they went. Resigned to the fact that no matter how many trees I planted on the East side, it was going to be decades before there was any constant shade for my shade gardening passion. That side of the yard is plagued with nomadic shade. Maybe I needed to plant sun loving beds and borders until the canopies mature. That might hold me over. Yes, a dual addiction. That’s what I need. And so, into the sunny side they went.

Time will tell whether the $20 wager of this developing plantoholic will pay off or not. To hinge my bet, the plants were cut back hard so they could focus on root development, not endless blooming as they proclaim to do. I like to think that I hit rock bottom with these hydrangeas. The ill-considered transaction left me feeling uneasy. I’m working on restraining my compulsive plant purchasing behavior and limiting myself to specific plants for specific places. The good news is this; for now, I will forego the twelve-step program.

About these plants. Pink Annabelle Hydrangea, Bella Anna®

Garden Mishaps (and Parables)

It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t include my garden failures on this blog. Hard as I try, from time to time things just don’t work out as planned. Take for instance the photo above. This was Buxus microphylla var. japonica ‘Morris Dwarf’, common name: Morris Dwarf Boxwood. Known for its compact form and sun tolerance, I thought it would be the perfect solution for this spot beside the port cochere.

I acquired the plants in the spring of 2011. By late spring the following year, they were showing signs of stress. And one by one, starting from left to right, they declined. One slow painful death followed by another, then another, and so on. As I witnessed their demise, I couldn’t help wonder if it was something I had done. Well planted? Check. Well watered? Check. I cross-examined myself to the point of aggravation. Was I overzealous in my amendment of the soil? Possibly. Perhaps too much organic material.

Well, what’s done is done. No sense in fretting about it. A new season awaits and with it new challenges and plants to try. I’m really enjoying the winter downtime, but there is a little part of me that is excited by the few minutes of daylight that are added to every passing day. Mishaps or triumphs- bring it on!  

And speaking of bringing it on, head on over to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Man’s blog this Wednesday for an exclusive interview with one of gardening’s greats- Margaret Roach. Her new book The Backyard Parables has just been released and she will be stopping by Kevin’s on her blog tour to talk about this and that, and gardening of course.

A Winter Walk

A little snowy slide show and some of my new plants. Just click the arrows to begin.

Stop Stealing Dreams

I don’t have kids, but I think an awful lot about those who do and what lives those children will lead- especially with our current education system in the US. Can we do anything about it? I believe we can. Click the arrow below to watch a brief video of Seth Godin, then read my challenge at the bottom of the post.

Here’s a 2013 challenge for all you gardeners out there. Teach something to someone about gardening this coming year. Do it by “showing” them, rather then telling them. Partner with a preschool, or any school to share your expertise (you know you have it). Whether it’s a single individual or a classroom, the seeds you sow could germinate in the mind of a young person and bear fruit for years to come.

P.S.  We’re in the middle of our first snow storm in Indiana. Very exciting!

A View on Winter

In anticipation of our first snow, I surveyed the garden to see what I would see. Camera in tow, I headed down the stairs in the blustery wind and rain. What would possess me? Not exactly sure, but this I know for sure: I am driven by a strange desire to visit my plants– no matter what time of year. I have developed a profound connection with the plants. 

Most perennials have been cut back to the ground and the trees and shrubs are now in complete focus. What do I see? Decline. Decay. Deterioration. Yet in the midst of this seasonal decomposition, a bit of steadfast determination has caught my eye. Possibility. Optimism. Is this a metaphor for hope?

Tiny buds wait patiently.

Cones cling tightly.

Green is ever so green.

The seasons of one’s life are really no different than those of the garden. Some seasons transition beautifully from one to another. Others are harsh and relentless. Like a garden, one must have a little expectation of better days to come. A stoic bud ready to open when inclement seasons have passed– a garden is life, filled with patience and hope.

Despite the dreary cold day which brought rain, thunder and lighting, the sun also shown near the afternoon’s final hours. Tonight will bring snow and a whole new crystallized palette for the garden.

And I, I will wait patiently.

O Christmas Tree!

If you’re planning to purchase a live Christmas Tree to plant in your yard later, do yourself a huge favor and dig the hole now. You’ll be glad you did, especially if the weather turns and freezes the ground solid. Keep the loose soil in a garage, barn, or protected from the elements so it will remain loose and dry.

You’re welcome!

Addendum

It’s probably best to only have that potted tree indoors for 3-4 days. Much longer would have it break dormancy and begin to bud. Too many new tender buds on that little tree could lead to disaster when moved outdoors and the temperature falls below freezing.

When you’re ready to plant your tree. Gradually acclimate it to the outdoors. Again, you want to avoid shocking it! One of the biggest shocks to plants going outdoors is light intensity. The second is wind. Plants that have been indoors are not used to wind which can cause them to dry up very quickly. Last is temperature. To avoid temperature shock, introduce your plant to the outdoors a few hours a day, then gradually increasing the time outside. After a week or two, your plants should be fully acclimated to the outdoors.

Last, if you can’t plant it right away, try to place the potted tree in a protected area. Potted plants don’t do well when left above ground in freezing temps.

Autumn's Closing Door

As winter knocks on the garden door, I sieze every moment to survey the back lawn and take in the lingering autumn view. No fall is ever the same, and this year we are surprised to see several leaves still clinging on to the Chestnut Tree (upper left). Not so long ago, the heat was unbearable and droughty conditions threatened to wreak havoc. But now, the morning air is biting and often accompanied by frost crystals. The few hours of sunlight draw elongated shadows upon the terrain. The deciduous trees are but mere skeletons of their former voluminous selves. The time has come to wrap things up, and each day presents itself with all sorts of necessary tasks to be accomplished before the snow begins to fly.

Mid November and we are still planting. A practice that I am more comfortable with having worked at the nursery this year. As long as the earth is tillable, I’m game for planting trees, shrubs, even a few select perennials like Peonies.

These Peonies were given to me by a customer of Sundown Gardens, the garden center and nursery where I work. She indicated they had been purchased several years ago at Sundown when it was a peony farm. That was decades ago. I found it enchanting that they had come full circle- back to Sundown and now on to a new gardener’s home. This particular plant is Paeonia lactiflora ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’.


Other areas of the garden are getting cleaned up for the winter months. Leaves are raked out, branches and brambles pruned. Every year, I cut back my Limelight Hydrangeas and take out any branches that are growing into the plant. Limelights bloom on new growth, so there is no risk of cutting off next year’s blooms. I also take time to loosen and rake the mulch which has formed a hard crust over the top. I want to be sure that any moisture from rain or melting snow penetrates the mulch instead of running off.

Terra Cotta pots have been emptied and scrubbed to remove salt buildup from fertilizer and hard water deposits. They are ready for a dip in a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) which will rid them of any lingering diseases and chemical residue that may have set in during the growing season.

While some plants are taking up residence in the garden, others will have to wait until next season. My Acer palmatum ‘Beni hime’ or ‘Beni hime’ Japanese Maple is one that shall remain homeless this winter. I simply can’t decide whether to plant him in the ground, or in a container.

I purchased the very small maple from Dannaher Landscaping & Nursery. They specialize in rare and unusual plants, especially conifers. This little Japanese maple was grafted by David Dannaher several years ago. It’s a dwarf grower whose annual growth rarely exceeds 1-2 inches per year. Because they are difficult to propagate, there aren’t many available for purchase. I just love the tiny leaves which are about the size of a penny.

And so, another Thanksgiving comes and goes. This is a time of year that is typically melancholy. But instead of feeling sadness for autumn’s closing door, I’m actually looking forward to winter’s arrival. I have worked hard to turn my gardening obsession into a full time career and more than ever, I welcome a little downtime.

Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Yep. It’s that time again, and I got an extra early start. As many of you know, I began a stint as a garden center/nursery worker last spring.  So what goes on in the off season? A lot actually. 

At Sundown Gardens, we have a large Landscape division that stays very busy up until the ground freezes. Planting and hardscape continues until the soil cannot be worked anymore. The place is bustling by 6:30AM as crews warm up their trucks and load them with the day’s equipment and plants. Even the mowing crews are still working.

The Garden Center is gearing up for the holiday season too as we stock up with houseplants, ornaments and lots of giant red bows. All the containerized evergreen shrubs and small trees have been pulled next to the shop. Several will be lit and decorated with bows. They make great Holiday presents or decorations for entryways and porches, and can go directly into the ground come spring. The main greenhouse is being prepared for the first shipment of holiday greenery, including: Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Swags, and Garlands.

As for me, I’m on the Holiday decorating team. Sounds fun, right? Well, not really… unless your idea of fun is balancing on really tall ladders and extending your arms out for hours with heavy extenstion poles trying to artfully arrange strands of lights on all sorts of trees and shrubs. I’m not talking cute little trees, I’m talking really, really tall ones. We started Nov. 1st and will work furiously through the first week of Dec.

We began “cleaning” lights (removing all tags, labels, and twist ties) in Oct. Some clients prefer to use their own lights, so we clean them onsite in the back of our box van.

Here’s how it works. We start with running electrical from the power source to all the light points. We hang lights on trees, make sure it all works, then wind up and hide every cord so they are not visible. When the weather cools and the greenery is in, we will incorporate that into the scheme. You don’t want to hang it too soon or it will dry out. Greenery that is to be lit will also have lights added to it. This ranges from garlands and wreaths, to containers filled with decorative arrangements. When it’s showtime, we pull out the hidden cords, add timers, and plug in. Some clients prefer to stay dark till Dec. 1. Others like the switch flipped on Thanksgiving.

So there you have it. That’s how I’ve been spending my days at Sundown Gardens. It’s Nov. 12th, and we are exactly half way through all the jobs. It’s a great feeling to know that we are on schedule and an even better feeling to know that it’s almost over. I am not an early riser and working out in the cold is not my favorite thing either. Still, I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn about the many facets of this business. Dust off those holiday decorations. Thanksgiving is a little over a week away, then it’s full-on Christmas time!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October 2012

So, here we are. It’s officially fall and not much is blooming, at least not in my garden. I do have a couple of things to share though. We’ve had two frosts and temps in the lower 30s already, but despite these two occurrences, the Geraniums (annual and perennial) are still blooming. Above, the pink flower is an annual from the Caliente Geranium series (Geranium Pelargonium). What I love about this variety, aside from its blooming power, is the semi-trailing habit. It’s perfect for containers where you need a little ‘spill’ action over the sides. I’ve deconstructed my summer pots already, but could not bring myself to get rid of these beauties.

Pictured above, Rozanne Geranium was a plant I kept my eye on all season at the garden center. I was told that this particular plant was a prolific bloomer and would bloom till a hard killing frost. As the season went on, the plants in pots indeed kept blooming. We sold them by the hundreds and my curiosity got the best of me. In late September, I finally took the plunge and purchased five plants to try in my own garden. True to form, they have kept blooming. Wayside Gardens calls this plant “The Geranium of the Millennium!”  The blooms are brilliant and seem to glow in the garden beds. I plan to line the sunny area below the Juniper (pictured below) if the plants survive our Zone 5 & 6 winter.

Even from a distance, the five small Rozanne Geranium have a presence. Imagine what they’ll look like when they mature. If all goes well, I will add up to six more plants to this area.

Earlier this spring I planted one Heptacodium miconioides– a large fountain-shaped, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub. The common name of this shrub is Seven-Son Flower. The blooms are actually white (in September), but more interesting than that are the small purplish-red fruits that follow. They are crowned by five showy, sepal-like pink calyces that elongate after the bloom. They last into late fall. In winter, this shrub’s tan bark will exfoliate and reveal an attractive brown inner bark. It was only recently that I learned this plant is native to China. Unknowingly, I somehow always gravitate to plants whose origins are Asian.

Ok, technically not a bloom, the foliage of Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow is so showy that I had to include it in this post. I have a couple of favorite plants this year, and this one ranks right up there. As the temperatures have cooled, the tips of the foliage have taken on reddish-pink tones. I’m making it a point to learn more about Euphorbia this winter.

Sedum Autumn Joy is always a fall favorite. The large mass by the creek bank is always beautiful this time of year. The blooms have started turning their tell tale color of deep bronzy-red.

Looking back at the house from the creek, it’s hard to believe that summer is finally over. The fall rains have created a verdant lawn which compliments the onset of autumnal tones in the trees.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day is a Meme created by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Gardeners post images of what’s blooming in their garden on the 15th day of every month. To see what’s blooming all over the world today, visit Carol’s blog.