Taming the wild garden

LOL! If only!!

No kidding - if only . . . nasty little varmints . . . I wish I had stock in Sluggo. I've been re-potting a lot of things for my plant sale over Memorial Day weekend and I'm finding them everywhere. Gross. Disgusting. Sickening. Illegal. Well, okay, they're not illegal, but they should be.

ROFLOL!! Yes, I will vote to outlaw slugs!! Don't forget my favorite slug mortality game: a bottle of ammonia water, 2 parts ammonia/1 part water. Gets them every time.

Still laughing.

You have sluggo, I have escar-go must be the same thing? haven't tried the "pixiedish" woosh yet, but have not seen them. Hate the little ####.

I have a problem, A friend of mine gave me a orchid, in very sad shape, she said it needed tender loving care, and she thinks I'm really good with plants, I have save some of hers allready. But I know nothing about them. Does anyone know about them.
Tilly

I know that they are hard to grow up here! LOL!! Do you know what kind it is? The moth orchids do okay on a bright windowsill, as do the slipper orchids. Someone on the NW forum grows orchids successfully - is it you murmur?
You can take a photo of it and post it on the orchid forum.

I have been accidentally growing one for over a year . . . my cousins wanted me to take it when their mom passed away (it had been her roommate's at the nursing home, the roommate's family gave it to my aunt).

Normally it's in my greenhouse window - I moved it for this picture - and do nothing but water it when I think of it. I know zero about orchids, but sure have enjoyed this one. I think my auntie must be helping me.

Yes, that's a phalenopsis orchid (if I spelled that correctly), otherwise known as the moth orchid. Those can be grown in low light and cool conditions so they are successful here. Is this what you have, Tillysrat?

Beautiful, Murmur!!

Thanks, Pixy! It's actually growing in a west greenhouse window, but up towards the sink so not really in the direct sun. I can't say that it's 'cool,' though, so again I just figure my auntie is helping me out.

The tag is very faded, but I can read parts of it.
Phal. Ta?s?oo Kochdian "NFS" X Yukimi Has White flowers
But it looks so sad I'm not sure if I can save it. I'll take a pic in a sec. and send.
Tilly

I can't tell if its over watered or under watered. She did say maybe roots, does it need to be transplanted ? I'm thinking it might be to much stress on it know to do that ?
Or maybe take that chance anyway, whats to lose it looks like it might die anyway.
I'm not sure.
You have yours in a west facing greenhouse, Mine is south/west it gets way to hot sometimes, and very small. My He Man and I built it off my old horse barn. Doesnt have much in it. I have to carry water to it, some day we are going to make it bigger.
I don't think the orchid will like it there, and the house that's another issue as far as lighting and humidity. Very confused.
Tilly

Okay, so it's a phalenopsis hybrid. It desperately needs potting in clean fresh orchid mix. These plants are epiphytes, meaning the do not have roots that take in nutrients from the soil. Rather they get them from the air. They grow in a soil less mix that drains freely. You can get orchid mix at any of the big box stores in the garden section. There will be course mix and fine mix. Look for the mix that is appropriate for phalenopsis. It can likely use a smaller pot. You really should go to the orchid forum and post this there. I have no expertise in orchids at all and feel lucky that mine have survived thus far.

edited: also wanted to say that the pot is part of the problem. Orchid pots actually will have holes in the sides of them so that air can get to the roots. These are not like plants that grow in the ground. When I visited Hawaii I saw orchids growing on the bark of trees, like they do in their native habitat. They get drenched with water when it rains, but the water runs freely away from the roots. That's how it needs to be for them to grow easily.

This message was edited May 18, 2007 9:00 PM

Laurie, you have so much space! I am green with envy, and there is so much that you can do with it. Many of the ladies have give excellent suggestions about what to plant. Rhododendrons - I have five different coloured ones, several reds, one mauve and one the most brilliant orange you have ever seen. Don't forget the shorter azalias as they do very well in the dappled shade.

Ferns -- I have many ferns, including three, very tall Polystichum manitum - Western Sword Ferns. Even though these grow from Alaska right down the Pacific Coast to California, I think they will do well at the border with your grassed (meadow?) area. The ferns I love the best though are the Athyrium niponicum - Japanese Painted Ferns. I have two of these. It does look like a very good abstract artist has filled his brush and has painted on a variety of very subtle metalic colours, the main one being silver, on each leaf of this black stemmed plant. I also love the Polystichum tsus-simense - Korean Rock Fern. All ferns love cool roots. This one is a dark green and it is located behind a medium-sized honey colour rock. Eventually it will form a mound (it is just a baby) and I am hoping it will form it over the rock.

All ferns need acidic soil, which I think I remember you said you have. Amend the soil so it is rich in humus and small stone. Bet you didn't think you would ever be adding stones TO your soil but that is how they maintain cool roots on hot summer days. They don't appreciate too much heat or too much dryness. In summer they have to be kept moist and that is why you add peat-moss to which hot water has been added. This is done so it will absorb moisture once it is in the ground. good leaf compost should also be added to your soil mix for ferns. This will help them retain moisture.

I love the idea of sweet scents in winter and Sarcococca reminds me of sweet vanilla. I have seen Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis at the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and have attached a picture of it. It is a treat to go there in winter and just stand there and breath in the scent of this plant. I would like to get Sarcoccoca hookerana var. digyna (Purple Stem) and put it in a large urn on my front porch so that everyone who goes in or out during the winter months can enjoy its beautiful scent, when few other things are blooming. This is a low growing variety which can spread 3 to 5 feet wide. Sorry, I convert by using a small tape measure I use for sewing so can only convert the smaller numbers. You could use this plant to line a path through your wooded area as it is a shade plant.

Another fragrant plant (which I don't have yet) is Skimmia japonica. It is fragrant and blooms in late March - early April. I have not had time to look it up to see whether it is a sun or shade plant.

Viburnum is another shrub or small tree which has a beautiful scent from about February on. I have one planted in the garden in front of my house

Hostas are very popular right now and all varieties like light dappled shade to full shade. The ones I have are "Brim Cup" - green cup-shaped leaves with pale yellow to white margins; Hosta x fortunei "Francee" - deep green and white leaves; "Gold Drop" - gold with green margins; Gold Tiara - green heart-shaped leaves edged with gold; Hosta tardiana "Blue Wedgewood" - a very blue hosta with wedge-shaped leaves.

Helleborus are nice too in partial shade. I have the Helleborus orientalis with white flowers, Helleborus "Atrorubens" with purple flowers and a new one which is not on my garden list yet so I can't tell you its name but it has white speckled green leaves which are attractive all by themselves but it has a lovely flower too. Just like the Hostas, these are popular plants so you will not have any difficulty finding ones you like at your local nursery.

There are many fragrant violets that bloom in April and May and would love to spred themselves with their various coloured flowers in the shade among your trees. I had Labrador violets in a fan shaped bed fenced in by edgers in a vain attempt to keep them from spreading. These are purple violets which have been put at the end of the garden bed on the east side of my house under the golden cedar tree. There is a paler mauve variety which is the bane of my poor DH's existance as it insists it needs to grow all over the back lawn. He mows it down, he digs it up but it never disappears completely My friend Rita has lovely white violets in her "White" garden. Just think what you could do with these colourful little beauties. I haven't been looking for violets for some time but I'm sure there are even more colours now for you to choose from.

Please keep writing about your progress and pictures help to allow us to follow right along with you. You know we will offer plenty of advice as it is enjoyable to be an "armchair gardener" and not have to do any of the hard work that creating a garden takes.

Pixy
I thought it had the wrong pot. but have never seen one with holes in the side. what do I know, hubby went to the nursery that's close by and got a bag of orchid bark and she called me on the phone to see if she could help and told me what to try to do we'll see what happens. I did get on the orchid forum, I'll I can do is try. will let you know how it goes.

Have new babies for happy place, they are to cute and just jumped in my car. to take them home. could not say no!!!!
tilly

Philsflowers - great suggestions - do you have more photos to share?

Tilly, you are a gal right after my own heart - I just cannot resist cute little babies like that!!

Phil, nice suggestions and beautiful photo!! I'd love to see the whole thing.
BTW, Skimmia japonica is a very nice shrub for shade. It stays on the small side. But you do need a male and a female to get the lovely red berries. I have a couple of skimmia shrubs in my hydrangea/mixed shrub border. They do add a nice bit of color in the winter with those big red berries. I rooted a branch on one of them and now have a third shrub that's fast catching up to its parent plant. For years I had these shrubs in large pots on either side of my front door, because the door never sees sunshine. I probably had them in pots for close to 7 years. They finally protested and I put them in the ground.
I keep running into people singing the praises of sarcococca. (Did I spell that correctly?) I believe I need to do a bit more research on these plants. Maybe I need some.
Laurie grows hellebores from seed, if you can believe it!! She has much patience as a gardener.
You made the understatement of the year when you said that hostas are popular right now. I belong to a wholesale buying group on another forum and I now have coming to me about 30 new kinds of hostas! I believe I have a bit of a problem.

Tilly, you can use a clay pot if you don't have an orchid pot. Nice that the nursery gal called to see if she could help you out! That's service! That poor little orchid is going to be much happier now, I'm sure!

Pixy :
When I took it out of the clay pot it was in another plastic pot. the problem I think is all the roots where outside the pot had none inside it, took it and soak it and the white things sticking out turned green, maybe there's hope!!!!! new bark , new pot , new home
hope for the best is all I can do. It's up to the plant God now.
Thanks for your help Tilly

A few sacrifices to the gods never hurt.....:)

New pics on Happy Place going to change name to Happy trails, I think it fits.
with the animals and all, I have a carving of a peg leg captain we but in the entrance to the garden and both my dogs had a hissy fit, so me removed it and but in the Hi bear. I never thought they would react that way, its has been here for many years, And I have never seen my black lab so upset about it, She is a big sissy most of the time. But I have more respect for her now, The puppy was just reacting to her; I think!!!! He does think he is macho man, he is only 12" high and maybe 15 Lbs. and 7 mos. old.
Added lots of new plants still more in the green house, not big enought yet.
Laurie: how is the the wild garden going. Would like to see some pics.
Tilly
oH' by the way I don't think the orchid is going to make it but I tryed.

Thie is macho man "Tyler"

A Tricolour corgi? He's looking rather intense, uh, Macho!
Pretty eyes.
Lucky you - able to work outside today - hope you accomplished much!

Tyler is adorable - that's a pretty hefty weight for a "short" guy! How much bigger will he get?

I think they get to 30 or 40 lbs never had one before, He's Just to cute sometimes loves to chase the lawn mower, Thinks he going catch it or something.
Got allot done, but would of done more If Tyler wouldn't steal my things, plant tags, pen, gloves etc. always looking for something. But he is a puppy, my Lab knows better she stays in the house, such a softy.
Tilly

You have a Lab that doesn't hyperfocus on the ball? Mine has her collection at the ready no matter where I am in the garden - she bops themwith her nose towards me until I toss one of them for her. She is very persistant, and if i don't play, she will take the ball & pop it off her paw into the air. dog games...

And I have two cats that try to climb in my lap while I am gardening - or they will lay in the spot where I am digging. As my oldest daughter chants, "We love our pets, they bring us joy."

LOL! Murmur, my cats do the same thing! My crookshanks comes and mews at me constantly and butts his head against my hand until I pet him. He crawls under my arm as I'm digging and pushes at my hand with his face. What a monster cat he is!! Here are Cleocatra and Crookshanks taking advantage of a warm car hood. Don't they look like they are entitled to be there??

I had to share this one with you. This is Skipperdee, otherwise known as 'the baby dog'. He is NOT a baby, I assure you. But you can see, can't you, why I am unable to use my own living room? What a lounge lizard!

Great pets you have, Pixy! Those cats are glorious (great names!) - and it's so funny when they push their faces into our hands! Oh, yes, we give up our homes for our darlings!

Pix, your grey is the spit of the cat we had when we were growing up - and what did we call her - so creative, Smokey.

Till - the wild garden is taking a bit of a back seat right now while we get the veg patches settled and catch up on the weeding of the rest of the garden, but I will try and get some happy snaps taken IF the rain stops this weekend. My word have we had it wet.

Now, all you little happy gardeners - can I tempt any of you with some very fresh Hellebore seeds? I have been harvesting - have sown as much as I need for this year, and have left overs of my white with red speckles and of my excellent excellent Slatey Blue. (Both grown at a distance from each other, but these are open pollinated, so there is no guarantee they will come up those colours). (hellebores are notoriously cross pollinating) but there is a good chance you will get some/several of the parent colour. Any takers? Complete germination instructions provided (step one: patience. Step two: a little more patience. Step 3: put it somewhere where you can stop checking them every day.)

Yes, please. I'll d-mail you my address - let me know the best way to reimburse you for postage. And thanks for the instructions - patience is NOT one of my virtues!!

Pixy - the reason they look entitled to be on the hood of the car is that they own it - they didn't bother to tell you because it was insignificant: they hadn't seen YOU lounging on top of the hood!
As far as Skipperdee is concerned - he's just tired. So much to think about in a dog's day: so many smells & the possibility of treats would easily tax the brain. Smart one - not only did he find a comfy & safe place to lay, he also trained you in the art of proper blanket placement. He must have gone to the same school as my Ridgeback....

Oh yes, they've got us all trained to be sure!! Thanks for the explanation re: the cats on the hood. :) I knew there had to be a good reason why they were making themselves quite at home!

Has your spring been extra wet, Laurie? Our spring was extra wet and cold until just this week. We've had LOVELY weather! Temps in the hi 70's and low 80's, blue skies with little tufts of clouds... I've been outside all week (please do not ask how the inside of my house is looking). I spent a fabulous day in the yard of my office manager pruning her japanese maples, which have been badly neglected. There is nothing quite like being underneath a weeping japanese maple whose leaves come all the way down to the ground. It's like a little hidey hole, especially on a warm day!

It has been slightly odd spring - we had glorious glorious weather at Easter - really early summerish. But one evening we were sitting out in 25C, and the next it was 7C - then the heavens opened and the winds blew for 3 solid weeks. Today was glorious, just right - and I have toiled, weeded, seeded, and pooped out. Time for a glass, and a feeling of smug satisfaction.

Oh, that day sounds divine! A well deserved glass and 'sit down' at the end of a busy, productive day!! We had dinner by the pond tonight and lit the citronella torches for the first time this year. I spent the day IN the pond working on the edges and the wall between the bog filter and the pond proper.

Katye, My lab only hyper-focuses on her babies ( stuffed toys ) she always has one in her mouth. She will chase a ball once in a will but more of the big house dog more like big sissy. We got Tyler for her as a play mate more for exercise, She has gotten a little chunky. sending pic

Laurie, Would love to have some seeds will send you a d-mail and postage, but I don't know much to send haven't done this before, still waiting on the Blue columbine
to see if they are good or not. will send as soon as I know.

Cats.....Cats>>> I love them, I have four If I am digging they are digging but never where I want them too.
This is the pic where I came up with my DG name, Its also my screen saver
Rat is on the left and Tilly is on the right with her tongue out

Yesterday was Hosta planting day
this is the spot

I have 9 of them still working on their ids got a grab bag they have been waiting in the greenhouse to get big enough to plant outside, also planted some peacock orchids and 3 more astbilles.

"The finish"
While doing all this work, Tyler was at work also digging a hole in the lawn caught in the act "bad boy" well not so bad after all, a wild chase with Sassy ( my white cat) and him where after a mole he had dug out of the hole. And the chase was on mole, Sassy, Tyler and me with a flower pot to get it before it got into the soft dirt
where I was working. It was very funny. But I caught it, Hubby took it way out in the woods and turn it loose. have pics will send later

Wow, Tilly, That's looking great!

Now, wouldn't it be great to train the dog to dig where you wanted to plant something? lol...

Can't wait to see more pics!