String Gardens

The European plant/flower market seems to always be the forerunner in great plant ideas.  This spring my daughter sent me a link about String Gardens.  I instantly became fascinated with this new idea and wanted to try making some for myself.  The plants I used were a variegated ivy and a big leaf wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris).  These are my first two attempts for my own 'String Garden'.  For more visual temptation try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stringgardens.com%2F&h=wAQHJwsgf

Merlebleu

Yesterday I visited a wonderful Canadian Iris Display Garden, Merlebleu.  I belong to the East Kildonan Garden Club and this was the location of our June meeting.  Actually not a meeting but rather a get together at a great destination.  It is located just outside of Winnipeg along the River Road to Lockport, a nice easy drive.

This garden has also been designated with the Historic Iris Preservation Society and the Dwarf Iris Society.  It is comprised of gardens on 3 acres with 500 different cultivars.  The gardens hold not only iris but also lilies, daylilies and a variety of perennials.

Although most iris were finished blooming due to the early spring, with her first iris blooming on April 30, a record,  there were still some looking glorious and along with many perennials in bloom the garden is more than well worth a visit.  The striking Peony'Prima Vere' with its beautiful perfume welcomed us along with the owner Sandy. 

Sandy gave us a very informative presentation on iris and the history of her gardens and showed us her real passion for these spectacular plants.  Who knew about the heels and toes of iris and that the toes should be planted to the outside.   Her website is:  www.merlebleu.net   This garden is well worth a visit and we thank Sandy for catching the iris bug.

Succulent Vertical Garden

My love for succulents led me to a wonderful succulent nursery/grower many years ago.  As I am preparing to give a presentation on succulents to the East Kildonan Garden Club I wanted to show the members the photos I had taken at the time of this spectacular nursery.  The nursery is Succulent Gardens in California.  Here is a great vertical planting youtube at the nursery:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u4QksnFKPc0

The tasteful garden - Winnipeg Free Press Homes

The tasteful garden - Winnipeg Free Press Homes

April Fool's Day

This was no April Fool's trick. Today I was planting up my overwintered canna rhizomes and dahlia tubers outside. At this time of year we would still have snow on the ground and temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. Not this year!!

Winnipeg had a very mild winter and this spring continues that trend and hence a first in my gardening career. Normally I am restling with the peat moss and deteriorated paper bags that have kept them in my cold room over the winter with dirt and dust all over my basement potting area. Today this planting was blissful....no mess anywhere except where it belongs, outside.

Still taking advantage of this gorgeous spring day, I pruned my Virginia creeper. I do this every few years and make a huge vine wreath with the trimmings. Now or in autumn is a good time to do so as the plant is very pliable and there are no leaves on it. After cutting I stretch the stems out on the lawn and then start making the circular wreath form. I begin with the thick stem portion and then near the end I take the thin stems and wind them around the circle to keep the wreath together. I leave it 'au naturel' but it can be decorated.

Jack Frost

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

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.