Double Duty

If I can use something over again in my garden, I do. This saves me a bit of money and makes me think that I am smart (ha ha). After doing some bathroom remodeling I put the old mirror into the garden so the birds could enjoy looking at themselves.

Old cottage cheese containers have a hole cut out in the bottom and get used as collars to protect my pepper plants from cutworms.

And even the alliums get extra life after the flowers are spent. I take a can of spray paint and have instant garden adornment. This is a cheap way to keep your garden interesting, and as I am always looking for ways to be frugal, a can of spray paint fits the bill.

Monet's Gardens at Giverny

Several years ago (when I was somewhat young) I had the opportunity to visit Monet's Gardens at Giverny with my mother. For an avid gardener this was a trip of a lifetime and as we were there in May an iris lover's delight. The irises were in full bloom and couldn't have been lovelier.

I took many photographs while we were there, none of them digital nor did they do justice to what the garden feels like when you are standing in the middle of it. Only Monet could do it justice in my opinion, but here are a few of the photos I took.

The place to go for Monet of course is the d'Orsay Museum assuming you can make a trip to France. There are several museums a bit closer to home that have some of his work though if France is a bit too far. Every time I have been in Washington DC I have made a point to visit the National Gallery just to see the impressionists.

Best of all though is to go to France and visit both the museum and the garden. That is what my mother and I did.

I returned home with every intention of trying to recreate what I saw with the irises.Needless to say, I failed. Last year I dug up the purple irises and planted some yellow irises instead in hopes of defeating the iris borer that has been plaguing me for years. The yellow irises I have seem to be more resistant to the borer so I think I may be on to something, even if it doesn't recreate what I saw at Giverny.

Giverny is divided into two parts, a flower garden called Clos Normand in front of the house and a Japanese inspired water garden. These two parts of Monet's garden contrast and complement one another, sort of like my mother and me. My mother takes her time at things and does them right. Me, well I am always anxious to get stuff done.

We do get along and had a wonderful time on this trip. And I currently always keep myrtle in my garden as it is my mother's favorite plant. Mom's memory is not what it used to be so it is nice to reminisce about this happy time I had with her. I didn't have a bucket list back in 1998 when we made this trip, but I am pretty sure I can still add this garden to it. If you ever get the chance, I suggest you add it to yours.

Move it or Lose it

When I visit my parents one of my goals is to get them walking so they exercise their muscles. If we don't use the muscles in our body they tend to get weaker, making it harder to do the things we need to do in this life.

The move it or lose it axiom also stands true for the plants in my garden. I planted this tiny campanula in a spot that was plenty big enough for it -- between the lamium and the lady's mantle. Well, most gardeners might tell you that probably wasn't the best spot for it as the lamium spread out from the south and the lady's mantle spread out from the north and I was constantly cutting both plants back to give my poor little campanula room to breath. This year I decided enough was enough. so I dug up the campanula and placed it in a spot all it's own between these two columnar apple trees I have. What a pleasant surprise! It is blooming and doing just fine in its new home.

The lamium and lady's mantle now get to duke it out with each other. And the campanula is still living because I decided to move it rather than lose it. Definitely a win for me!

Seeds Seeds Seeds

When the seed catalogs come out in winter they are seductive to the dedicated gardener. I always order too many and never all the ones I want to order. I like to get seeds that I have never planted before. This year I started purple tomatillo and eggplant tomato seeds inside. The seedlings are doing just fine out in the garden.

Today I planted these Chinese red noodle bean seeds directly into the garden, mostly because I wanted to see how long they would actually get. And if they reach 18 inches like they are supposed to get, then I will certainly have a plant in the garden to talk about this summer. I got the seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds a great place to get rare and unusual seeds.

I also planted birdhouse gourd seeds today so I can make some more birdhouses next spring. I am also looking forward to the pattypan squash.

All in all, it was a good day to plant seeds and as we have had plenty of rain they are already well watered.