In Marilyn's Garden

Jack Frost

2012-01-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

As we in Winnipeg and surrounding areas are experiencing record breaking warm temperatures with little snow, we gardeners are still concerned about our plants. We know the colder temps. will arrive soon and with no snow to insulate them we could be in for a big plant loss in the spring.

Normally I only cover my Rodgersia pinnata and tender Heuchera with flax straw. But recently I gathered some oak leaves as all my flax was used, and covered one of my favourite perennials, Brunnera 'Jack Frost'. The plants I have were planted this spring to replace ones that I had for over 7 years which I lost 2 years ago to a very harsh, high plant loss winter/spring. It is one of my favourite perennials in my shade garden. Its electric blue flowers brighten the early springtime garden. The remainder of the summer is featured with 'Jack Frosts' silver variegated leaves....a great asset in a shade garden.

I am enjoying this weeks temperatures between 0C and 7C, but not without thinking of my perennials without their winter insulation to keep them warm and still here to enjoy this summer.

Final Harvest

2011-09-24T18:06:00.000-07:00

The final harvest of lettuce and Dahlia 'Park Princess'...my favourite that does extremely well in containers at the lake. I suspect they love the extra humidity offered in this location.

As the cottage is closed before the frost strikes the dahlias, I cut off the flowers to enjoy and then cut the stems about six inches above the soil. The tuber is dug out, soil hosed off and then set in the sun for a few days to dry off before storing. The tuber is placed in a closed paper bag with peat moss and placed in an open plastic bag and stored for the winter in my cold room which hovers at about 40c. I periodically check the moisture in the bag making sure that it is not becoming too damp. If that occurs open the bags up a bit more. On the other hand if the tuber looks to be drying, sprinkle some water onto the peat moss and close the bag a bit more.

Mache

2011-09-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

The 'in' lettuce to grow in one's garden. I brought the seed from France, although it is now available in North America. Some might know it as lamb's quarters. I love it because it is a late season lettuce crop so when the mesclun is waning, Mache is in its prime.

I always wash and spin my lettuces immediately after picking. I use Ziploc reusable sealable plastic vegatable bags and find all lettuces keep in them very well. Bonus is that they are always ready to use. Mache keeps extremely well in these, up to a week.

Summer Harvest

2011-09-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

Today was a wonderful summer harvest from the garden. The tomatoes I grew from seed inside under lights until planted in the garden. Lettuce planted directly into the garden. My favourite Park's Whopper tomatoes, Sungold, and a new variety this year that I tried, Black Cherry. They are a bit larger that Sungold, but very tasty, juicy and a fun colour. The lettuce is mesclun and the red frilly leafed is Lolla Rossa from seed that I brought back from Italy. All this makes for a very colourful gourmet salad.

Vegetables at Last

2011-08-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

Well I have finally harvested some vegetables from the 'varmint' garden. I did harvest one meal of lettuce early on but guess I bragged too much and the varmint said...'I'll fix her!'

Last week I harvested the first of the french filet beans....my favourite. Seed came straight from France....thank you daughter. Although OSC seeds now has the variety and have heard they are very good too. And again more regrown lettuce. Thank heaven for 'cut and come again' variety by Renee's Gardens. Yesterday another season first...the sugary taste of Sungold cherry tomatoes...my absolute favourite. Sooo sweet and tender skinned and a fun colour, orange.

The Sungold tomato plants are gigantic this summer....a hot one, perfect for them. They do get watered every day. I severely pruned them yesterday as they would grow to heaven if not done and would never ripen before winter. Besides my dear deer friends are now leaning over said garden and nibbling on the tall plants. Two bucks are calling the cottage area home and I am suspecting them.

Woodchucks and Gardens

2011-07-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Mesclun mix was enjoyed once before our unfriendly local woodchuck chewed through two layers of chicken wire on my raised bed vegetable garden at the lake. Next night he chowed down on some lovely French filet bean plants.
Now the beautiful 'Martha- like' garden has boards around the base of the chicken wire in hopes of deterring said varmint. Temporary for now as the next plan is to use some heavier landscape wire (at least that is what they call it here). Or Annie Oakley could appear from nowhere.....oops did I say that?!

Summer Garden Tour

2011-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I toured the gardens of the Steinbach area. What a beautiful selection of gardens! The Friends of Gardens Manitoba who organized this garden tour, arranged for a bus to transport any who wanted not to drive themselves.

One forgets how beautiful Manitoba is in the summertime. Travelling on the back roads finding the gardens, I loved the brilliant yellow canola fields as far as the eye could see. One garden had a canola field as its backdrop. Not many gardeners can boast having such planted beauty.

This same garden had the best examples of interspersing vegetables amongst the annuals and perennials. So often touted as the 'in' way to plant I can see why it is becoming so popular. We forget what beauty through colour and texture vegetables can bring to a garden. Plus, the added benefit of harvesting said plants for our eating enjoyment. Nothing compares to your own homegrown vegetables.

At the lake I have finally planted curly kale in two of my ornamental planting combinations. I love its look! A few months to decide how I will prepare to savour it.

On the Hunt

2011-06-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

Still checking out my garden Asiatic lily plants everyday. Today an entomologist from the University of Manitoba came for the second time to collect any lurking red lily beetles and the larvae. Lots of larvae this time and last, but only two beetles. If I don't squish those larvae....more beetles on the way!
The entomology department is doing a study and dna testing on these samples with hopes of discovering a parasitic insect somewhere in this world that would devour these beetles/larvae. They also note exactly which genus,species and variety of lily they are discovered on. Fortunately, every time I plant any lilies I use a metal plant marker with the variety and planting date. I like to do this particularly when I must dig and separate/thin the lilies and replant or giveaway.

Succulent Living Wall

2011-06-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

Planted a succulent living wall today--my first attempt. I am using succulents hardy to Zone 3, planting them in an old wooden box with a back and landscape wire covering the top. I mixed the soil myself using approximately 1/3 soil,1/3 perlite and 1/3 coarse sand. I tore apart the succulents and took off all the soil and left a little stem to poke into the wire squares. Made this process easier by using a pair of scissors to move the soil back to where I had put in the succulent stem.
I am leaving my 'wall' laying flat for 3 to 4 weeks until the succulents root and then will be hung without fear....hopefully...of any falling out.
The pictures tell the story.

Gardener's Challenges

2011-06-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

The challenges with gardeners are never ending. Even being a Master Gardener I am not without many failures and this picture points to this spring season in Winnipeg....cool and wet. Coleus plants hate this kind of weather and it will maybe teach me to not plant them so early.

Have a succulent summer - Winnipeg Free Press Homes

2011-06-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

Have a succulent summer - Winnipeg Free Press Homes

Planting Time

2011-06-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

With the oodles of seedlings and plugs that I have been growing it was now time to plant this past week both at home and at the cottage.
The picture shows my 'cold frame' when it is warm enough to put them outside and subject them to higher light and humidity. The inside grow lights just do not work as well.
I have had two of these in spring operation for a number of years. The benefit is that they disassemble readily and can be easily stored. One I set up on my back deck and this one is 'portable' placed on a wagon so that it can be wheeled inside the garage when temps. dip too low. Both have worked beautifully for me.

Awesome

2011-05-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

So how do these grow so beautifully and prolifically at the lake with absolutely no attention other than enjoying their pure beauty at this time of year?! These do a hundred times better than the ones I have at home and they continue to naturalize. There is something to be said to nature's pure fertilizer from the forest floor and heaven's rain offerings. What is also wonderful is that deer don't eat them....and we do have a few families of them here. Cute to look at but not when they eat my plants.

Monte Don's Italian Gardens

2011-05-10T23:36:00.000-07:00

Monty Don conducts his personal 'grand garden tour' around Italy, including the retreats of the affluent north and horticultural gems of the south.

Mother's Day Joy

2011-05-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

Along with talking to my adult 'children' and two grandchildren, nature gave me some lovely gifts....a goldfinch (first sighting for this spring), a Blackburnian warbler and a Merlin for Mother's Day.
Also, had a wonderful time volunteering at the Friends of Gardens Manitoba(previously Friends of the Assiniboine Park Conservatory) annual Mother's Day plant sale. Always a large crowd seeking unusual and difficult plants to buy. Good to see many gardening friends and exchange garden thoughts and hints. The Friends website is www.friendsconservatory.com

Succulents

2011-05-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Fun at work today as a new shipment of succulents arrived at the greenhouse. I was in my glory! Wonderful to have carte blanche and design whatever my heart desires! Readying the shelves for Mother's Day.
A big change for me from my normal job at Schriemer's at the service desk interacting with customers. Planting by myself in a back greenhouse puts me in the zone and readies me for tweaking my overwintered succulent containers which have now been introduced to the outdoors after their winter home under lights in the coldroom.

Red lily beetle

2011-05-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

I had heard a few days ago that these lily beetles were out already and I did have my doubts. But no longer, as a customer who came into Schriemer's greenhouse brought me in two to verify....fortunately in a nice closed sandwich bag! Watch out for these! Even this early with the lily plants barely 6 inches tall they are in your lily bed. So far there is no perfect way to rid your garden of these pests other than hand picking and squishing. I tried to put them in water to drown them but they float very well and then crawl out.
Neem oil sprayed on the lily plant is touted to be somewhat of a deterrent. I am toying with drenching the soil with cabaryl or btk on the lily leaves in hopes that I can kill the larvae.
Fortunately their bright red colour are a sure giveaway alerting you to their presence.

May Day

2011-05-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

What an awakening this morning out our windows! Poor daffodils and sulking to show it, but hopefully they will revive.

Came home from work with more plugs to plant. Papyrus 'Baby Tut', Carex 'Toffee Twist', Fusion impatiens 'Heat Coral' and many new varieties of petunias. Now to get busy but in the basement today not outdoors, sadly.

Spring Again!

2011-04-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

So much to blog about with spring in all its full glory! A glorious wedding day for William and Catherine in England and time for us to celebrate with friends for an almost all nighter.

Here in Winnipeg an unusual bird sighting for us....a brilliant red male cardinal. It was enjoying our feeding stations as much as our resident mallard duck couple.

Time spent today outside planting up all varieties of annual plugs from Schriemer's greenhouse. This is the bonus of working there......having ready access to the selection as they are placed on the tables. Now where oh where to keep them all?!

My three tier light fixture is still in use for my overwintering succulents. Although I have taken my large variegated agave and one echeveria container out from under them. The weather has been in the upper teens and to the mid 20's. A perfect reintroduction time for them to come outside and acclimatize. I am still always closely watching the overnight thermometer and if there is any risk of close to zero, they come back inside.

The crocuses were blooming gloriously in the front flower bed and untouched for 2 weeks by the bunnies. Alas, I guess they couldn't resist anymore and voila!.....they were gone. I must be more vigilant in sprinkling on blood meal.

2010-01-17T13:52:00.000-08:00

Garden Visitors

As we were hanging up some fresh suet for our garden visitors, I captured one of them.....this red breasted nuthatch. The yard is a flurry of red and white breasted nuthatch, chickadees, pine siskin, downy and hairy woodpecker and ever watching for the northern cardinal which the last couple of years have been appearing. Usually this is a very rare sighting for us this far north so we are always thrilled to see any of them, but particularly the brilliant red of the male in the stark winter white.

Our winter continues to be glorious and 'warm' for us and still not much more than 6 inches of snow on the ground....highly unusual. Good for all creatures including us humans!

2009-12-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

Leaves and Snow

Walking in the park adjacent to us this afternoon, wonder of wonders, the sound of leaves underfoot was a first. Still very little snow, hence not enough to offer any cover for the fallen leaves. We had some very cold temps, in the minus 20's celsius, and I am quite concerned for some of my perennials. Or rather those that I am pushing the envelope on, such as Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', which I have covered with flax straw and Epimedium rubrum, which I have not covered. Tomorrow I will be gathering up some of those oak leaves and blanketing the Epimedium. I would dearly miss those bobbing little Bishops Hats in the spring.

We have 'warmed up' by our standards to a very pleasant -8c today with still no sign of snow. Every year my husband and I build a snowman in our backyard but not this year. The only one to look at will be in this message of Happy Wishes to All!

2009-12-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

Gardening under the Full Moon

This was a December 1st to remember! I have never gardened at night and enjoyed doing it so much. If anyone knows what our 'typical' winter weather is like I would have been bundled up and working in mid-day under sunshine. But I couldn't resist having just arrived home with my fresh seasonal greens for my outdoor containers. The moon was brilliant and along with our Christmas lights, plenty of light shone on my gardening areas. What pleasure at zero degrees celsius as I was relishing working in my light garden gloves, not shivering and having to come inside to warm up the frozen fingers from winter gloves. Plus wearing no winter boots as no snow has arrived. I remained outside for 2 hours relishing how beautiful and warm....by our standards....it was. November broke all time high records with it being the warmest November in history.

And I was blessed to take advantage of this special first day of December, doing what I love to do.....garden.....no matter where or when.

2009-10-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

Pruning in Arizona

From my previous blog about my stay in France to now being in Arizona. Yes, I am very blessed. Son, daughter in law and two young grandsons to visit in a new home and a wonderful newly planted yard.

It is a requirement in their area to plant native plants in the front yard. There I was this morning pruning desert plants and being somewhat ruthless as I was shown by a local landscape worker. One stipulation.....no pruning when the temperature reaches 28f. No problem here with that very often. At this time of year the temps. are glorious....not so in the summer months. They live in summer as we do in winter in Winnipeg.....inside. Air conditioning versus heating.

2009-10-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

Gardening in France

Lost a long time from blogging here and I have missed doing so. Since my previous message I have put a lot of miles on viewing many different gardens in Europe. This trip was planned 6 months previous to my Mom's passing away. In the big picture I felt this was all meant to be, visiting far away family not seen very often. Our daughter lives in Villefranche sur Mer which is just east of Nice right on the Mediterranean. How great is that?!

Hence, very special to spend 7 weeks living with her in the non-vehicular village. Anyone who wants to lose weight or become very fit, this is the place.....many steep steps. I loved it! Plus the spectacular views, wonderful food, little shops, friendly people, markets and just enjoying walking the grand dog meandering along the narrow sidewalks and streets with a destination of a quaint coffee bar or patisserie.

No vehicles allowed? That does not stop these residents from gardening. As I watched them trudge in soil, huge containers and plants, I realized how easy our gardening is in comparison. Then the watering. Good if they live on the ground floor but if not more steps or the water fountain in the 'place'. The wonders of their hard work is shown in the pictures. The balcony one is the village winner with the most beautiful balcony.

Over our time away we travelled to the many cities along the Cote d'Azur---Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Juan les Pins, St. Tropez, Menton, Ventimiglia and also some in Provence. Further afield we went on a driving trip to northern Italy and Austria. What absolutely spectacular scenery and history! Throughout all these travels many gardens fit into our tour schedule of which I will continue to share.

2009-04-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

Dedication to Mom

Maybe some of the fellow gardeners who follow my blog have been wondering where I have been. As the previous message told you I was visiting family.

Since my return sadness has visited me as my Mom passed away two weeks ago. She was the first gardener I knew in my life. For 63 years she lived in the North End of Winnipeg where all yards had large gardens, and hers was no exception. Although she was born in Winnipeg, this area was largely composed of immigrants and of course they brought their gardening knowledge and traits of sustaining themselves with them. Mom's garden flourished with tomatoes, peas, yellow and green beans, zucchini, lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, garlic, green onion and annually was seasoned with self- seeded dill. Being Ukrainian flowers abounded. Sprinkled from saved seed zinnias and marigolds coloured the summer. Batchelor buttons, bells of Ireland and poppies annually scattered their colour with only the aid of the wind. Along her house one always found snapdragons to play with by opening and closing their 'mouths'.

She moved into an apartment two years ago and I planted two containers for her on her balcony....one with flowers dominated by red ones, her favourite colour and the other planted with green onions. Guess which one she favoured? She loved her green onion sandwiches. Maybe we can all learn from this, she died 3 days after she turned 93 and very good her entire path. She will always be missed and loved.

2009-04-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

Chihuly in Phoenix Arizona

A month ago I returned from a vacation to Scottsdale, AZ where my son, daughter in law and grandson live. Always a wonderful time! This is like a second home to us now as we visit them twice a year. They are building a house and I have been helping them with their landscape plan. Wow! what a change for my plant knowledge from my Zone 3 garden. Love exercising the brain! We all came away with an extreme amount of knowledge. Have you ever seen an Ironwood tree, a native to the Sonoran desert? Unbelievable thorns covering all parts of it and to think that it was recommended for the yard with a toddler. Not to mention this said gardener who helps them with the gardening while I am visiting. Bougainvillea thorns are nothing compared to this tree.

To see some of these native desert plants we toured the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix....my second visit to it. But this time we were treated to 'Chihuly: The Nature of Glass'. Dale Chihuly is a glass artist and very influential within the Studio Glass movement. He is continually revolutionizing the art of handblown glass. A spectacular exhibit! Don't miss it if you are in the area.

2009-02-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

Bunnies and Bran

What do rabbits eat in the dead of winter when there is lots of snow cover? There my 'pet' neighbourhood rabbit was munching on the dead crisp frozen leaves of my 'winter interest' plant.....Eupatorium! Now these plants grew ginormous this summer, close to 7 feet. Bunnie would have lots of food if only he was taller. And there I was having my breakfast watching this while munching on my bran buds.....hmmmmm similar crunchy dry food......except mine lasts all year! Lucky rabbit when the new shoots of grass.....who am I kidding?!....noses of tulips is more likely......begin to sprout for his change of diet.

2009-02-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

Spring rain in February.

Unbelievable weather we are experiencing! Rain in February occurs approximately once every 20 years and this is one of them. Not so good for us humans as the rain has now frozen and the sidewalks, driveways and streets are skating rinks. But the beaver in our creek must have known spring was arriving. He/she was out of its hut....which is in the creek bank unlike a mounded up hut.....and walking about trimming branches and carrying them back in for its dinner. Something I have never seen. I went for a walk today along the creek and it is now filled with street drainage water on top of the ice. I am hoping the beaver is alright and has built its 'living room' high enough to withstand this very unusual occurence.

2009-02-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

Gardens of Australia

Yesterday was a perfect evening to give a presentation on the Gardens of Australia to the Friends of the Conservatory here in Winnipeg. Going to the event my car temperature was -23c! It was a wonderful 'escape' for all the hardy souls who attended. My pictures included ones from community, private, Royal Botanical and my ultimate favourite one Cloudehill Gardens. It is in the Arts and Crafts style as those gardens of Sissinghurst or Hidcote in England. This style of garden has been also influenced by the Italian Renaissance gardens. Cloudehill is on 5 acres and comprised of 22 garden rooms. Wherever one walks or turns there is another beautiful vista to embrace. Any gardener who visits Melbourne should definitely put this one on their to do list. It compares with if not better than those gardens of England and Europe.

2009-02-01T15:15:00.000-08:00

Strong Winds

Very strong winds ...up to 100km/hr yesterday so lots of oak branches and twigs waiting to be cleaned up in the spring....maybe two more months?! What I was really hoping for was that a few of the large squirrel nests would be blown down....oops did I say that? .....the nature lover I am! Truly I like to watch their antics but I could do with less of them to eat my Christmas lights....have to buy new ones every year....or to dig out and fling the soil out of my large patio containers. Mesh on top of the soil just does not add to the beauty. Although I found I do rather like the look of large flat stones on top too heavy for said critters to disturb.

2009-01-31T11:50:00.000-08:00

Northern Prairie Gardener

Hopefully, I can become as dedicated a blogger as I am gardener. Recently, I have been reading some gardener blogs and they are truly amazing and wonderful. As this title says, I garden in the prairies of Canada. While it is challenging, I know that there are always challenges for gardeners wherever we garden. We, in the north always want to 'push the envelope' and try growing plants in warmer zones. But, then those gardeners in hot regions cannot grow what we can....amazing peonies, lilacs, etc. Our snow covering is a blessing for us at this time of year. Right now my perennials are snuggled down under a foot and a half of this insulation. It is a quiet time of the year where we look out at the winter garden in its beauty with snow artistically piled on the tops of the obelisks or the snow falling like a ribbon on the tree branches or fences....truly a beautiful sight!

Gardening in February

2008-02-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

Gardening in February in Winnipeg you ask?? I have just returned from attending a Gardening Saturday in Fargo, ND. A fabulous day long learning experience with like-minded people! Some of the sessions were fun ones others were more educational....although always learning something from either choice. If you have a chance to attend a Gardening Saturday do so.....it is a great day! Have any of you done so?

Welcome to my gardening web blog.

2008-01-26T01:10:00.000-08:00

This is an online journal for my gardens. Let me know if you have any gardening questions, I will be happy to answer them as best I can.