Tomorrow Sunrize and I are trekking up Vancouver Island, then ferrying over to Denman Island. Saturday is the Denman Island Garden Tour. Des Kennedy's garden is on Denman so we're very much looking forward to it.
Sunrize travelled to England to do the gardens there with Des and his wife last year.
Brugcrazy is putting us up at her place, thank you Jeanne.
Charging up the camera batteries.
Going to Vancouver Island
Sounds like a great gardeners getaway. Have a wonderful weekend. Looks like God might take care of the watering this weekend so I am going to take a trip into grasshopper land where things are so bad you can actually hear a chorus of munching as everything green disappears. Poor ranchers - drought, grasshoppers and border closures. Talk about the apocolypse!
How was the weekend? Do you have pics. Have to say the prairie was looking mighty wonderful this past weekend. There has been rain and chill to kill those pesky grasshopper babies and the grasses look like there will be a hay crop this year. The wild flowers are gorgeous.
The weekend was fun, we had terrific hosts and the weather was lovely, not too hot. We saw a few lovely gardens, they sure grow beautiful roses up there. Des and his wife are very nice, and they obviously spend a lot of time tending their garden.
I remembered to charge the camera batteries, then I forgot the camera. LOL
I had a few brugs to send up to Jeanne with you Liz, I totally forgot the date. Sorry Jeanne!
Dennis, if you still want the tree fern, it needs a better home than the side stairs of my house. Yes, after vowing to to take better care of it, it's still there.
LOL Liz. Why don't you give it a try first. Great foliage. I do have 5 already.
I know, for the first few years it was really something. Then I got lazy.
well........if no one wants it,,,,,,,, I'll take it!!!! E.
How about we arm wrestle for it? That's more fun. Or see who can name it in latin fist! Dicksonia antarctica. I WIN!!!! YEAH HAW!! Just kidding. WAY too much coffee.
Going once, going twice, to whoever can tell me where to find a Westerland.
Right now Elaine, it doesn't look impressive, to say the least. but the good news is that it's most of the way up the side stairs. When can you come get it?
soon!!!!!!!!!!!! E.
Liz I don't know what a westerland is. I think Elaine is the lucky winner. I think that would be best anyways!
Dennis......Westerland is a marvellous, fruity-scented popsicle-orange rose, so very healthy and dynamic! There, I got that out!.....and Liz saw mine so now it's an emergency to find one!!!! E. I'll look in to it tomorrow..tonight I'm a gonna watch a movie with Kris Kristofferson, "A perfect murder....da.da.da......
Dennis, the tree fern has a home now...mine...Liz and I kind of arm-wrestled, only when climbing her multitude of stairs....she carried it most of the way. He, the fern, is planted in a huge container, nicely sitting beside my indoor pond.....what fun! thanks Liz and Dennis,....E.
Good luck with it Elaine! I find they yellow quickly without enough fert, and in the sun. Other than that they are very very easy, like any other fern. I bring mine in, but you probably won't need to. Well, hard to say. A cold winter will kill it, same with a wet one. Have fun with it!
Good stuff Elaine! You managed to get it out of your car. It is better with you. I was a bad caregiver.
The banter about the tree fern reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you long time gardeners. I planted a japanese painted fern 2 years ago; came back fine the first year but failed to return this spring. Since I am not the speediest cleaner upper in the garden that area didn't get dug over for new stuff. Then on the longest day of the year my painted fern poked its first frond out of the soil. It now has several small fronds but in comparison to my other ferns looks very tiny. Is this normal? Should I ever expect it to be a large specimen? I know I am pushing the boundaries of its hardiness. Could this be the reason for its diminutive stature and retiring ways.
They are really late to appear I find in our cooler Zones. I am in Zone 5 and I too thought I had lost mine this spring but up it came with a 'bird donated ' Columbine over top of it.
Ummmm thanks for reminding me I have to move one or the other LOL.
I also find them not to be as vigerous as other ferns, at least not here for me.
Wow you're 6a there???!!! I would have thought 4-5. It's funny how zones are so localized. I suppose elevation effects it largely also. Here the coast Z8a is less than 2 hours drive from Z5.
About the painted fern, I have seen some really nice ones here where it is temperate. But all of the ones I have dealt with in residential gardens, aside from one, are scrawny and always looking like they're on their last year. I planted one and it died after 2-3 years. Although I am amazed they survive your low zones, I think in many cases it isn't the most vigorous fern. As I said, there are some really nice ones out there too, which I just don't get.
Thanks for the info. I will coax it along for the next year or so. I am beginning to think the advice to grow only those things which are proven to do well in this area isn't a bad idea. The struggle to push the envelope may not be worth the effort.
My employee is from Alberta, and says Black Mondo grass will actually thrive there. I find it hard to believe, but he knows his stuff.
I bought my first Painted fern this year..do you think if I mulched it well it would have a better chance of surviving?
I didn't realize it wasn't very hardy here in Zone 5a..
I saw a photo of one that a man in Hamilton had, and just had to get one. I have it in with my Hostas.
Cheers,
Carol
Edited for my bad typing..LOL
This message was edited Thursday, Jul 17th 7:42 AM
Well Starzz if it manages to survive for me (zone 3b) and a notorious killer of a gardener you have a very good chance I would say. I do mulch everything in the fall.
Thanks JJ