The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

My love of Spaghetti (Italian)Western movies is quiet evident by inserting a video clip from the Sergio Leone film, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Clint Eastwood became famous starring in many of these films. I'm using the film name as a theme for this blog post.

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?

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

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!

My new Oudolf/Kingsbury inspired Hellstrip

Yes, inspiration comes less frequently in my middle to late age. However, after reading 'Planting a New Perspective" by Noel Kingsbury and Piet Outdolf , I've been "blown up" with inspiration. The information in this book is very informative for those who have wanted more conceptual information on the "New Perennial Movement". I'm interested to see how all this pans out. I'm sure most of you have read reviews about this book as well as seen many Oudolfs/Kingsbury designed gardens so I won't bore you with more details.
This inspiration has powered me enough to design the unfinished west side hell strip which currently is mostly a Fescue lawn area, a few perennials and last but not least a large Silver Maple (which the wood borers are devouring and will be removed). I got the old canary tracing paper out (yellow dog) and began to sketch over the CAD created base plan. So much fun, it brought back old memories from college and my early professional career, installations during the day and designs at night.

View looking West

View looking East, below.

As you can see soil preparation has began with gravely soil, compost and native fill soil added from all my unfinished garden projects. Yes, I will admit my propensity to start many projects at once, it's just that when you start one project details arise which create new projects. Evidently my perfectionism and artistic mind leads me to many different avenues (rabbit holes). 

These are photos of my sketches of the planting plan: first one is the planting plan

Second one is a rendering of flower and foliage color:

So now the next step is to scour the internet for plants and transplant many from existing inventory on hand. Looks like a busy time ahead, hope to have it completed by my 60th birthday this August. Shalom.

Bougainvillea goes to Town

 Over the past three summers in Kansas I've planted these Texas purchased bougainvilleas in the garden. Two are five years old, one is red and the other orange flowered. Another was given to me by my mother last fall. When I lived in San Antonio they were some of my favorite container plants but were somewhat persnickety when it comes to producing blooms. I researched many different methods to produce blooms and discovered a few rules of thumbs for my particular growing zone in Kansas. They bloom more often when they are pot bound. Many landscape contractors will transplant the growing pot into the new pot and slit the growing pot down the sides to allow some root escape. They are heavy feeders , but  heavy nitrogen amounts will create more foliage than blooms (kinda like tomatoes). They seem to do very well in my compost enriched soil with no additional feeding. When moved from one growing condition to another they often take 3-4 weeks to recover and resume healthy growth. They must have full sun to bloom. They will do fine in partial shade but will not bloom as well if at all. And of course good drainage is important.

 The above photo is the orange flowering variety purchased at a Home Depot in Corpus Christi, Texas over five years ago in a #1 pot. Planted in the hell strip, it gets full sun surrounded by asphalt and concrete on two sides. These photos were taken November 13th before the big freeze. The tallest vines are 5-6' tall.

Here I am pruning the vines before transplanting and moving indoors. What a shame I suppose to cut those blooms.

Are you nuts, thinks my wife?

Many branch vines.

Time to root prune. Not much left there.

Pulled from soil in original pot from the spring planting, a 10-12" plastic one.

Surprised to see such small roots?

 Pruning roots before taking inside.

Looks like a bonsai doesn't it? This was three weeks ago and today the plant which is set in a west facing window is producing  a flush of new growth. I'll create a new post during planting time in the spring.  Which I wish was closer than it is. 

-Greg

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder-GBBD 11/11

Asclepias tuberosa-Butterly Weed

As preparations for the Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post for November began, I began to reflect about the past year. These reflections had been influenced recently by my loss of internet technology, and how I've responded to this drought. Or more importantly how do we as bloggers make this blogging world take precedent over our daily lifestyle. I suppose everyone has their own answer to that question.

 Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem with Salvia 'Mystic Spires

Initially my thoughts were focused on comparisons of a year ago, and how this blogosphere has influenced my everyday life since then. When my shoulder was injured in January along with the subsequent surgery, all my time was spent indoors or at physical therapy. Blogging became a real passion for me. Enjoyment was spending days reading, blogging, and pickin' on blotanical. (Does that mean I get a star now,since I mentioned it on my blog?).

Salvia fairnacea, Artemesia 'Powis Castle', and Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem

Along the way I met many garden blogging "friends" which are very encouraging and provide great fellowship. It's been great. My artistic side has resurfaced, knowledge gleaned, and have had a renewed interest in photography. Thank you all!

 Last of the Gallardia.

However, after getting over the withdrawals after a week, (my video memory in my laptop was gone, my warranty was up along with my soul after dealing with Tech Support in India), I became "used" to being in the "real" world. More time spent outside, more time with family, and of course more time with my wife. She mentioned a few times she thought I was spending too much time online, and she was probably correct. It's kind of like food. Food is alright but too much of it can cause problems. Anyway, the biggest time constraint occurred when I went back to work in August. Seven months not working, what an adjustment. So, it's good to "see" all of you again! In conclusion the loss of technology has brought perspective for this blogger, gardener, husband, dad, follower of Christ and last but not least "grandpa". And I'm pleased to be back in a more limited role. Greg.

Salvia leucanthus-Mexican Bush Sage, Miscanthus 'Dixieland', and Salvia guaranitica 'black and blue' before the great freeze two weeks ago. Mex.Bush is smoked bush now.

Taken yesterday "Grandpa Fred" - Red Admiral. Last of the butterflies. Noticed a Monarch flying three days ago. Didn't quite understand that one.

Volunteer Alyssum "Golf" seedlings

Panicum "Heavy Metal"

Kalamagrostis "Karl", Achillea. and Annual Salvia.

Achillea, Artemisia "powis"

Mums

Basil seeds

Salvia fairnacea and Panicum Dewey Blue
I have linked to Carol(May Dreams Gardens) @ GBBD, Donna(Garden Walk, Garden Talk) W4W which is texture and Foliage Follow up with Pam @ Digging