End of August. Knees Iced. Let the Planting Begin (Again).

It's been a tough summer. The hot and humid weather has not only been tough for the plants, it's taken a toll on this gardener.  After a night camping on Lake Superior that included some physical therapy (cooling knees in lake and with beer bottles), I'm back in town and ready hit the gardens.




Beach & beer time makes a gardener tan and spry.
Freckles & wrinkles on knees are from the same.



 

At the end of summer the gardening pace slows and work is more enjoyable. Gone is the rush to get every client set for the season, getting home at 9 p.m. and being too exhausted to eat or shower.

Customers benefit from this seasonal renewal too. I've had time to work with their gardens, to get to know the space, and how they'd like it to look and feel. By this time my endurance has increased and they get more bang for their hourly buck. Plus plants are on sale and there is plenty of time for them to establish a strong root system before winter.

May 2011, waiting for inspiration (and time)

This week's project is 'The Sunken Garden'. http://amyablegardens.blogspot.com/2011/08/too-busy-to-blog.html Most of the plants are bought (at an end-of-season discount) and waiting for installation.



Tempted to keep these on my deck, love the colors.



The galvanized container holds the Japaense Hokone Grass (25% off at Lotus Gardens) http://www.lotuslawn.com/ and 'Lady in Red' ferns. Below that from Bachman's Garden Center in Minneapolis (25-40% off) http://www.bachmans.com/divHomePage.ep?categoryCode=02

Left to right:

• 'Caramel' Corals Bells, 6" x 12"
• 'Lady in Red' Lady Fern, 30-36" x 24." Hate the song but love the burgundy stem.
• The shorter fern in front is, 'Brilliance' Autumn Fern, 18-24" x 18," the fronds emerge red/orange.
• Hosta, 'Sum and Substance' 24-36" x 24-30" (mine is about 4' wide), more are needed for this space, should I share?
• Ligularia, 'Midnight Lady' 40" x 36" purple/bronze foliage, golden flowers in late summer.
• On the bench is Joe Pye Weed that will go in a sunny spot in different garden bed.

I wanted to include some sort of evergreen shrub for winter interest however that idea was nixed. I am open to any suggestions and if I don't come up with something it'll be time for another therapy trip to Lake Superior.

Too Busy to Blog!

The summer has been non-stop work. 

 


"Line 'em up Sunny."

 
Whoops, here's the right image.

Busy weeding.

What a gardening season. After a cold, wet May we had a cool, wet June and then a hell-like July. Now it's August.

The last two days remind me why I garden. The temperatures are in the 80s and the dew point isn't making the news. That means it's the perfect time to put in new gardens!

I started working for a new client this season and there's an area itching for a design and installation.



Almost empty pallette, soon to be known as "The Sunken Garden."


The established plantings are finally shaping up so it's on to the fun stuff - the Sunken Garden! I like to work around an area before digging in. I get a feel for what plants perform well in the yard, the amount of sun it gets (or doesn't get), and the owner's tastes.

This picture posted below was taken at The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in July, and is an inspiration for "The Sunken Garden."

In the front is Japanese Hakone Grass, this will brighten the area. Behind it with the yellow flower is Ligularia, it blooms mid-to-end of summer. Behind the Ligularia is an upright fern. These plants are in the running along with evergreen shrubs and evergreen groundcovers for year-round interest.