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.

Pass it Along

This past week the Saginaw Valley Master Gardener Association held their annual plant exchange. This is one of the perks of being a member as you can bring along some of your plant divisions and exchange them for some plants you don't have and are anxious to try. I have many nice plants in my garden courtesy of the plant exchange. And hopefully some of my divisions have found good homes with other members. This year I took Angelica to the exchange. Angelica is a biennial, a plant that grows the first year, then flowers and sets seed the following year before dying. The seeds germinate and you have more new plants. It also has a stunning green flower, not something you see too often.

 

 Irises of many varieties are easy to dig up and divide and pass along. I tend to wait until after they have flowered, then split them and ensure that no plant borers are hiding in the rhizomes before passing them along.

Columbine self seeds easily in my garden, plants that are easily dug up and then passed along. There are so many beautiful colors to be had with this plant and they are always misbehaving with each other, creating a more colorful garden.

Being a gardener means being generous and sharing your lovely plants with others. And in return, they share with you. Everyone wins!



Eastern Market 2012

Yesterday I went with some friends on our annual pilgrimage to Eastern Market, truly the mecca of plant and food lovers in the southeastern Michigan region. I am walking in the footsteps of my grandmother, Mary Cassidy Birkam, as she was a frequent visitor many years ago. When my father was growing up back in the 1920s and 1930s she used to take the bus to the market to do some Saturday shopping.

We got to the market about 7:15 in the morning yesterday and already it was teeming with people. Fortunately, getting there early meant we did not have to wait to rent a cart. And a cart was definitely needed as the four of us made many purchases that we trucked to our cars. Walking 10,000 steps came easily this day for me. I was amazed after our first trip back to the car how many more people had arrived at the market during that time period. Getting there early is definitely a good idea!

One of my favorite vendors, Hampshire Farms, was there and I bought two packages of black beans, along with navy beans, red beans, eggs and the best bread ever. The farm is located in the thumb in a town called Kingston and well worth of visit if you are ever in the area.

We also made the obligatory stop at Rocky's for dried fruit, nuts and other goodies and then it was on to DeVries to shop for cheese. DeVries used to be the R. Hirt Jr. store but the retail operation at Eastern Market is now operated by David DeVries, a third generation family member and has a new name this year. The R. Hirt store was opened by David's grandfather Rudolf Hirt Jr., a Swiss immigrant who started the family business back in the late 1800s. 

After a very successful morning of shopping (i.e. I spent lots of money) we had a pleasant and delicious lunch at the Sala Thai Restaurant located a couple blocks north of the market. All in all, yesterday was a grand day spent with good friends doing two things I really like to do, shop for plants and eat good food.

Up Close and Personal

Last Saturday I braved a bit of rain and went to the Lavender Fleece Farm in Midland which was celebrating farm day and selling lavender plants. The farm is home to a variety of different four footed creatures including Icelandic sheep, Leicester Longwood sheep, a variety of dairy goats and may other animal friends. If you like to knit you can get some pretty special yarn, and if you are like me and not at all crafty you can get some lavender soap. If I looked good in hats I would probably buy one of the hand knitted/felted hats they have for sale. They are just beautiful.  

Of course the incentive for me to go is the variety of lavender plants available for sale. This year I bought one called Lodden blue as it is a hardy lavender and compact. Without a lot of space to plant small is always good.

This farm is a treasure for those of us living in the Saginaw valley area so check out the website and give her a call if you want to visit.