Garden.True.North - Blog

My 2020 Annual Flower Experiment

8/18/2020

This arrangement includes: Nigella, Dahlia, Zinnia, and Borage.

Every year I try to grow something new. This year's experiment included Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) and Borage. Both have proven to be winners for putting in flower arrangements. I've also added a few new varieties of dahlias (“Park Princess”, Bush ‘Cancun’, and “Melody Dora”) that have been producing blooms since mid-July. All are represented in this bouquet.

Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) is an old fashioned annual. It's common name comes from the ‘misty’ foliage. It's easily grown from seed and if the seed pods are left, they will readily self-seed. In my opinion the seed pods are more attractive than the flowers for arrangements. Deadheading will prolong flowering but will eliminate the attractive seedpods and any potential for volunteer seedlings.

Borage, also known as starflower is a medicinal herb with edible leaves and flowers. I use it as a filler in my flower arrangements. The soft texture of the leaves and stems along with a delicate blue flower are a perfect compliment for other bright flowers. It is easy to grow from seed and will also self-seed if not deadheaded.

Both of these flowers attract pollinators so they are good additions to a garden insectary. See this blog post from the North Country Master Gardener Volunteers on what is an insectary. For more information on Love-in-a-Mist; the University of Wisconsin has a Garden Fact Sheet.

I have left some of both of these plants to go to seed and am looking forward to seeing how readily they both self-seed. However, I'm not going to take a chance; both will be on next year's seed order.

Decoration Day and Red Geraniums

5/30/2020

Grandma Minnie rides shotgun; Mom is behind the wheel of our 1960 pale blue Mercury Monterey. Four kids are jostling like snakes in a pit for the coveted window positions on the back bench seat. The trunk is filled with red geraniums. It’s Decoration Day and we are on our annual pilgrimage to the grave yards in southwest Wisconsin’s Driftless area to honor our ancestors. I am reminded of this every time I look at red geraniums.

May 1 - Woodland Gardens Program

4/21/2020

On May 1, Noon to 2:oo pm online.
Registration & Fees for this course through WITC - see below.

Discover plants suitable to the forest edge or under a shady tree in your yard. Sue Reinardy, a UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, will guide you through various topics, including how to add bulbs, ferns, perennials, grasses, sedges, trees and shrubs for three seasons of color. If you have light to medium shade, this program will give you ideas on how to incorporate these plants in your garden.

Class # is 24553 Registration for this online course is through WITC. Register online at courses.witc.edu; Search for and choose your course; add it to your cart. Should you need assistance with registration, call the number provided on the WITC web page for the campus closest to you and leave a message. Your call will be returned. This class is online using the free BlueJeans software. Sign up, receive your log-in information, and attend from the comfort of your space. You will need reliable internet service, a camera and microphone on your device. To learn how easy it is to use our BlueJeans software to take classes from your home or work computer, view the free video tutorial at http://learningcommons.witc.edu/bluejeans

Note: On May 29, Noon to 2:00 pm will be another gardening program online through WITC. You can register for both at the same time.
Class # 24464 Create a Potager Garden -
Potager is a French term for a kitchen garden. These gardens can include not only vegetables but herbs, fruit, berries and cutting flowers. The program will cover where to site your potager, plants to include and how to maintain it through the growing season. These gardens can be an attractive addition to your yard and provide your family with food and flowers throughout the growing season.

April 23 "Going Native" Program

4/16/2020

Going Native –
On April 23 – 10:30 am to Noon, the Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library-Hayward in partnership with the UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program is providing an online gardening program via Zoom, as part of National Library Week, "Find your Library at your place".
This program will cover what, when and where to cultivate native plants that provide food for butterflies, song birds, hummingbirds and beneficial insects. Also learn about phenology: the study of the development of plants and animals as affected by our climate and weather. By using your observations you can know the best time for planting, the blooming cycles of plants, and the emergence of insect pests. All will help you become a more natural gardener. The presenter will be Sue Reinardy- UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://uwextension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvcO-hrTouG9YSWNKCXExwjkDrGV5XA-q4 in order to receive handout materials, the Zoom link and password.

Timing Tools for Planting

3/21/2020

Spring started this week which gets gardeners excited like kids anticipating Christmas. Except it is still way too early to start gardening. Even starting seeds is at most about 6 weeks before planting and we usually can not plant until late May.

I’ve always thought the astrological seasons were off kilter; even meteorological seasons are too early for those in Zone 3. Yesterday we received about an inch of snow which is now melting on top of the foot of snowpack left from our winter that started before Thanksgiving (i.e. “fall”).

What can a gardener rely on to determine the proper planting time?

Save the Dates for these early 2020 Events

1/17/2020

Update: Programs in April - May, 2020 have been cancelled.

Garden catalogs can only provide so much inspiration. Plan to come to local events to connect with fellow gardeners while learning more about gardening. Scheduling is underway and these early dates are confirmed.

January 31 - "How to Read Garden Catalogs", Offered at WITC locations: Hayward, Superior, Ashland, Balsam Lake, Rice Lake, Shell Lake. Register for this free program at WITC, registration information.
April 8, Grape Pruning Workshop at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station, 10-1:00 pm, registration required - call the Station at 715-635-3735
April 9 - Apple Grafting Workshop at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station, 6:30-8:30 pm, registration required - call the Station 715-635-3735
April 17- "Create a Potager Garden", offered at WITC locations: Hayward, Superior, Ashland, Balsam Lake, Rice Lake, Shell Lake. Register for this program at WITC, registration information.
April 23 - "Going Native", 10:30-Noon offered at the Hayward Library - Free program

Bonsai Envy

1/1/2020

A few weeks ago, I received a gift from a neighbor of a bonsai plant that she passed along from her brother's collection. I looked over the seven she had, and picked one that I found out later is a Ficus benjamina. Good choice because it is considered one of the best for a novice. It was like taking home a puppy – love the cute little guy -- but don’t know the first thing about how to take care of it.

Above: Ficus benjaminia that is now mine!

Rosemary is Sage

11/29/2019

This year I managed to bring my Rosemary plant in before it succumbed to the elements and it is now thriving. When I’m feeling the need for the fresh smell of plants, Rosemary is there and just brushing my hand across the leaves produces that wonderful fragrance.

This summer the entire nursery pot was put into the container with other herbs. When it came time to bring it inside, I just popped the pot out and brought it in. Rosemary doesn’t like its roots disturbed. By keeping it in the same pot on the move from outside to inside, those roots remained happy. I also cut back the tops by one-third before bringing it inside. Now it is adding new growth.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

11/6/2019

This fall we took a trip to Seattle since we had never visited that city except as a way-point through the airport on our way somewhere else. We took in all the sights a tourist could want: the Space Needle, a harbor cruise, Pike Place Market, a Wine & Waterfalls tour to Woodinville, museums, the aquarium, and many fine meals. There is so much to do in this city.

What I didn't expect was the enjoyable hours we spent at the Chihuly Garden and Glass right under the Space Needle. I was familiar with Dale Chihuly's work since it is featured on the Mendota Wall in the Kohl Center at UW-Madison.

The tour begins in a room that shows the early objects that influenced Mr. Chihuly and showcases just a few of his many collections with Native American blankets and baskets.

The remaining rooms highlight dramatic displays of glass.

And then the gardens are a true inspiration of color, plant combinations, and glass shapes.

Even the gift shop was inspirational and an easy place to get carried away with all the wonderful items. Luckily I had no more room in my suitcase.

Last Chance to Order Spring Bulbs

9/25/2019

Scene from the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands.

There is still time to order, receive and plant bulbs for next spring. I doubt that how your garden looks next April or May is on your mind as the leaves begin to change color and start dropping. However, if you take a few moments now there will be a reward next year.