the Good
Tulips, spreading phlox, and the Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) tree are the only plants in full bloom presently. I definitely need to add more tulips in the coming years as I have been extremely pleased with the performance of this variety of tulip. I have used a different planting method to increase performance.
the Bad
You may ask what is bad about this area of the garden. Everything is green and growing, right? Yes, the Allium and Verbascum are doing well. But what is the green vine going gang busters during this cool and late spring? Yes, you probably guessed it, Convolvulus arvensis, Field Bindweed.
I swear if there ever is evil in the plant world, this one is it. I'm curious how these new Perennial Movement gardens keep these noxious weeds and tree seedlings under control.
The plant in the lower area resembling chrysanthemum leaves is a Kansas native, Ambrosia psilostachya, Western Ragweed. This one snuck in with some native Delphinums I planted. Spreads by rhizomes, very prolific. This one I should be able to dig out with time.
The cool season grass above reminds me a lot of yellow nutsedge in appearance. However its a little early for that lovely weed. I believe this to be an Eragrostis that I planted from seed, and it has spread by rhizomes throughout this part of the garden and into the middle of plants.
the Ugly
Ulmus amercana-American Elm. Whats so ugly you may ask. Those are not new leaves developing on the limbs but clusters of seedheads. Thousands of seeds, there may be a few seedlings coming up in the mulch this year. Pure ugliness.
Former variegated Yucca. Fifteen below temperatures take care of zone envy dreams quickly. Mush ugly.
Big gopher holes?
April 16, 2014
No they are not gopher holes, but transplant excavations. I moved a 8' crape myrtle in the first photo. The second photo involved moving Panicum to the photo above (bottom corner). The new construction creates quite a bit of ugliness. Soon the beds will be full of new native plants and everyone will be happy. Lawn Gone as Pam Penick @ Digging would say!
This post coincides with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day where you can view blooms from all over the world.
Happy gardening!
the Ugly
This photo above shows the movement of six tall grass species in the corner hell strip to increase visibility on that traffic corner.
Before-January 2014
No they are not gopher holes, but transplant excavations. I moved a 8' crape myrtle in the first photo. The second photo involved moving Panicum to the photo above (bottom corner). The new construction creates quite a bit of ugliness. Soon the beds will be full of new native plants and everyone will be happy. Lawn Gone as Pam Penick @ Digging would say!
This post coincides with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day where you can view blooms from all over the world.
Happy gardening!
I do enjoy your blog up here in Wichita. Yes, if there is evil, it is personified in the person of the bindweed. I have seen more bindweed in my garden this year than in years past, and the leaves seem larger. It never stops.
ReplyDeleteThis is the time when one has to differentiate flowers from weeds. Not always easy. I have raised some pretty tall weeds in the past before recognizing them as weed; and, alas, pulled out some flowers, too.
Fred Wolfe
Precisely Fred, the bindweed is huge this year. I'm afraid drastic measures are to be done. he he. Thanks for reading.
DeleteSorry about the bad and the ugly. You have much more good going on. Aren't those grasses pretty tough to move around? I love them, but that was one of the reasons I started removing my big prairie grasses. They were just too happy here.
ReplyDeleteYes the Panicum were huge, probably 80# at least. You have to roll them into the "barrow'. And yes they probably are a little to large for my small corner lot. But alas I had to move them for increased visibility on the corner, and I can't throw anything away.
DeleteWe had one of those prolific elm seed seasons here, a year ago. Was NOT fun.
ReplyDeleteI don't know bindweed, but sounds like that's a good thing.
Seems you've been very busy. Looking forward to more pix.
There's nothing good about bindweed Linda that I know about. Kind of like its cousin plant morning glory.
DeleteIt looks like it will be a good year for maple seedlings. Thousands of seeds are falling all over the garden. I have a funny feeling I will be pulling these up all summer long.
ReplyDeleteI had 3 large (1 huge) Silver Maples on this property. No more. I could only imagine what they would of been like.
DeleteI like the approach of this post, showing the three aspects of your garden. While I don't have a lot of it in my current garden, Field Bindweed has been a challenge for me in other gardens. Nice work with the hellstrip--I'll look forward to posts about your progress with it.
ReplyDeleteYeah....I lost some zone envy palms this year at the 24F mark....a very cold number for my metro Houston tropical garden. Sorry about your zone envy yucca. About bindweed...it would be one of three or so plants that would be here after a nuclear holocaust (kudzu and nutgrass(nut sedge) would be the other 2).
ReplyDeleteDavid/:0)
Fun post Greggo. Sorry about the bad and the ugly but there is good there in those beautiful tulips. It looks like you have a lot going on their already this gardening season-looking forward to seeing the finished product!
ReplyDeleteIt's a safe bet your hard work will be reaping many rewards towards the end of the summer. Bindweed is a scourge but worst experience was the year I bought a load of topsoil full of henbit seeds. They never seemed to stop coming for years.
ReplyDeleteGreat carrying out of just about my favorite movie theme, too. Clint would be proud, including of your tenacity. As to bindweed or Ulmus pumila, evil...your comment on how these new American perennial gardens will take over with such weeds, it will take people effort!
ReplyDeleteI would try some of those soft-leafed prairie yuccas again, but this time be ready to cover until they've been in a couple years...they were young to take that. All those take Denver which is at least as cold as you, sometimes with much more snow.
How do you cover them? With plastic, as a dome?
DeleteYou could use plastic if it's wet before the onset of arctic cold, but plastic can transmit cold,. Just a light blanket with some rocks at the sides to keep them down. Planted in a group, you might be able to cover a few with one blanket. but plant on a berm for drainage.
DeleteIf you follow Panayoti Kelaidis on Facebook, you might see what he does with young agaves in Denver - siting, planting, and protection of young plants.
Oh, and, "Boomer"!
Funny, I taught a tree and shrub ID class to a new group of master gardeners and used the same title for my talk.
ReplyDeleteGreggo, I don't know where to start. I don't envy you moving the grasses. Panicums are easier than Miscanthus, but still....I burn them, Roundup them, and then plant beside the decaying root balls :) Your Yucca croaked? Mine is okay, sure it was the temps? I find them tempermental to site selection and drainage. And, pray tell, what is the secret in the tulip planting?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the giant Hesperaloe died from winter kill. The Yucca I'm not sure, the plant was from a clearance area of Home Depot. I'm pretty sure it was Yucca gloriosa 'variegated' which according to Plant Delights is a zone 7a.
DeleteCongratulations on planting natives in the Hell Strip! Those holes are a thing of beauty, indicating good work being done. By the way, the theme tune from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly has been a favorite of mine for many years; it is on my iPod and is in my computer. I listen to it often!
ReplyDeleteIt's exciting to move plants around and rearrange the garden. At least I think so. :-) Have fun de-lawning!
ReplyDeleteBueno.
DeleteAh, not so ugly. I hope you can get rid of the bind weed. I had it for years in one portion of my garden. I believe it was lack of summer water that finally killed it. But I'm knocking on wood, lest I jinx it and see it coming up next time I'm out there. Your hellstrip looks great. By mid-summer this is going to be spectacular. Nice going!
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