May Photos!!

What does Cris + mulching + moving the full compost bin equal?? Cris falling asleep on the couch last night. So I have to make good on my promise of photos this morning before I'm off and about today. :)

Starting the seeds....I doubt I will get all of those packs started...maybe for fall annuals or veggies

Lilac 'Palibin's

Iris 'Persian Night' which has since opened and I have to get some photos of it.

The "Wet Pets!"

House garden photos

(This looks a million times better after weeding and mulching yesterday)

Allium 'Purple Sensation

Columbine

Fringed Bleeding Hearts 'King of Hearts'

I have to fly as I have some meetings today. I have a couple more to post...maybe later today.

Late May Photos and updates

Life at the Garden Consultant HQ has been busy, busy, busy with work and other stuff. I'm still trying to get caught up in the garden...this normal New England spring has me behind still by a couple of weeks. I did get the window box planted and I'll post some photos of that as it matures. I went with some smaller, more cost effective plants this spring so it may be a while before I will post some pics.


I did start a bunch of annual and veggie seeds in my little greenhouse. I know it's a little late to start things in 6 packs and pots but they stand a better chance in there than being subjected to the critters and the elements being planted directly in the soil as I learned last year. I'm going to start another wave today of some more annuals to use in pots and around Lake Larson.


We're harvesting our lettuces and radishes Eric planted this spring and man are they good! We've decided to plant lettuces as long as the weather will support it. I've got to start thinking about getting another crop of radishes seeded too.


Lake Larson has been gearing up slowly with the slowly rising temperatures. The water chemistry has been shockingly good despite the never ending shower of oak debris into the pond. I did do a huge water change last weekend and filled the rain barrels with the water. The pond isn't anywhere as clear as it was last season and I'm okay with it. I need to find my water lettuce for a cover soon and that will help with the murkiness. I'm so of liking the murk because it's keeping the fish safe from heron eyes from over head and it looks really natural. I would rather have an ecosystem versus artificially maintained crystal clear water.


I haven't been planting much in my yard this year and that's okay. I'm sort of at a stale mate that the moment with parts of the back yard because Eric needs to put up the fence and build the new deck. So I'm going to play with annuals and maybe look on Ebay for some cool plants. I will get some more hardy plants for the pond from ebay and that will hold over my plant buying addiction for now. But the main reason I haven't been as into building more gardens in the yard are the dogs. Sam hasn't been doing well at all and despite the meds working for his Cushings, he's not getting better. He hasn't been eating much at all these past several weeks and now we're on to force feeding him. He's been at the vet once a week for the past month and she doesn't have any answers for why he's not eating. He has to go back tomorrow and I'm going to ask her to really examine his head, mouth, and nose to make sure it's nothing stupid like a sinus infection or a busted tooth for why he's not eating. It's really hard to watch him waste away like this but it is what it is.


Lars is going to be 6 months tomorrow! He is doing wonderfully and growing like mad. He's done with puppy classes and is moving on to Rally and pre agility classes now. I teach rally classes where we train so his rally classes happen in the back yard here. We took him to the beach last weekend so see if the boy likes water (which is a must in this retired Coast Guard house.) You be the judge -

Bravo zulu Lars! I think we found something to do with him in the heat of the summer...retrieving bumpers and going swimming. I may see if I do Dock Dogs with him when he gets older. The pup defies gravity I tell you!

I've got a ton of photos I have to post...but I'll do that tonight. I have to quit shirking on spreading mulch around Lake Larson.

Early May Photos

Am I ever behind the 8 ball with getting these up...

Sargents Crabapple

Rhododendron 'PJM'

Hosta 'Aureo-marginata' (one of my faves in my garden)

Hens and Chicks by Lake Larson

Pulmonaria 'Gaelic Magic'

Who knew peach blossoms are so pretty!

Japanese Painted Fern

Today's edition of "Less is More"

Yeah, you can tell spring is here...I'm MIA. :) I have been taking photos around the yard for the blog but haven't had much time to get on here to post.

I have to make this PSA about mulching to educate my readers about the perils of "Mulch Volcanoes." Every year it seems like we have a lecture on this at the RINLA Winter Meeting because it seems like landscapers are the primary offenders. I don't know if it's them who are making them or if they are being instructed by their clients to do this.

But anyway, I was at the Bank of America in Middletown getting read to get out of my jeep to hit the ATM. I look up and saw this -





Oh my god....that has to be at least 8" high. Being a commercial property, that was the ghastly work of a "Pro." Gee, I can't imagine why the center of the tree died out ?(I'm sure my sarcasm dripping from that sentence is obvious) If one wonders what the outcome of utilizing mulch volcanoes in the landscape is...you only have to look down to the next tree in this planting.

I'll tell you what...this is one of my biggest pet peeves in landscaping. What purpose does all of that mulch serve other than rot the bark off the tree? That is exactly what happens, the bark rots and with it so does the tissue that moves food and water between the leaves and the roots. So, don't let this happen in your landscape! If you see your landscape professional building "Mount St. Mulch" around the bases of trees, let them know not to do that ever.

Various Garden Tours and Fun stuff

Blithewold’s Intimate Garden Tour Series:

In cooperation with local growers, Blithewold invites you beyond the garden gate to tour some charming local properties. As part of a small and informal group, discover each garden’s story and distinct collection of plants. See the landscape through the eyes of the owner or a garden professional and come away with new ideas and a fresh perspective. Each garden tour is unique, but all afford the opportunity to explore and ask questions. Light refreshments will be available at each tour. In the case of heavy rain, participants will be notified of cancellations by phone. If you are not contacted a few hours before the program start, the program will run as scheduled.

Directions to the site will be mailed a few weeks prior to the tour. Blithewold will try to coordinate carpooling when possible. When registering, please indicate your interest in carpooling and if you are willing to drive.

Pre-registration is required and registration limited; $18 Members, $23 Non-members. Please register online (www.blithewold.org) or call 401-253-2707 Ext. 21.

An Intimate Tour: “The Garden” Experiment of Little Compton

Thursday, May 29 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

This residential garden featuring a rare and diverse collection of plants is a highly experimental and long-term project that tests the limits of what can be grown in coastal Rhode Island. Known only as “The Garden,” work on this site began in the 1970’s with the removal of a wild tangle of invasives. Since that time, the design of The Garden has grown organically as a group of dedicated gardeners have added plants from around the world. Garden hosts Julie Morris (Director of Horticulture at Blithewold) and Gary Koller (Landscape Designer and Horticulturist) will provide insight into the plants and features of The Garden. You will visit the garden’s series of outdoor rooms, each protected by stone and hedge walls that create a slightly different micro-climate for the plants within. Visitors will delight in the several hundred plants that grow on site including semi-hardy rhododendrons, southern plants such as palmettos, Himalayan specimens and those propagated by a local grower.


An Intimate Tour: Singing Stones Nursery

Saturday, June 7 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Treat yourself to a unique excursion to Singing Stones, a home-based nursery located in Saunderstown, RI that specializes in herbaceous perennials. This open house will give visitors the rich experience of touring exquisite display gardens, a 30-foot solar-powered cedar greenhouse, a fine nursery collection, a chicken coop and aviary, and a kitchen/cutting garden. Proprietor Lisa Gibson McMahon will give visitors an all-inclusive tour at 11:00 a.m., discussing her unique plant palette, the site’s decorative water features, and how her greenhouse captures heat in the winter and cools in the summer. Singing Stones Nursery is usually open by appointment only, so seize this opportunity to explore the picturesque grounds, linger with a picnic lunch, and purchase some exciting new plants (10% of sales will be generously donated to Blithewold). Highlights of your visit will include a jaunty dooryard garden and 1916 Shingle Style cottage, gardens of mixed plantings for both sun and shade flanked by a bluestone clad reflecting pool, fountains, and a dry river creek garden. Sharing a wealth of horticultural and ecological knowledge, Lisa will be on hand to answer all your questions and show you all that Singing Stones has to offer.

An Intimate Tour: Integrating the Past and Present along the Westport River
Saturday, June 27 5: 00 – 7:00 p.m.

Beginning in 2000, and over a three year period, landscape architect Douglas Reed and William Makris acquired property along the east branch of the Westport River, some 42 acres containing meadow, lowland woods and wetlands, to develop a sanctuary for home life. This process gave rise to discoveries about the site’s destructive history, lessons of careful landscape editing, and the challenges of seamlessly integrating the organic landscape with the built environment. Doug will discuss his battle with rampant invasive plants, the collaboration between designers and architects, and to explain how a landscape once used as a sand and gravel pit was transformed into a place of solace and beauty. Seize this rare opportunity to hear this site’s complex story, experience stunning residential architecture, and ramble through a landscape of stone walls, hedgerows, boulder-strewn woods, and sweeping vistas of river and sky.

Historic Wickford Presents Wickford in Bloom: A Walking Garden Tour of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Village Homes
Saturday, July 19 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15

Themes of the gardens vary…from a cottage-inspired garden to a formal English Garden, from small hidden gardens, to a richly landscaped garden with lush potted plants. The 2008 garden tour will feature 15 gardens on the properties of 18th and 19th Century homes and buildings…some on the picturesque harbor and others on the tree-lined village streets. Advance tickets may be purchased at The Book Garden located at 99 Brown Street in Wickford. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the tour at Updike Park in the center of the village. Proceeds from the tour will support the Landscaping of Wickford Traffic Islands.

Newport Restoration Foundation Workshops
Gallery Night at Rough Point
Second Thursday of every month, April – October 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets $10

Interested in just seeing the 2008 special exhibit Zoo in the House: Animals in the Doris Duke Art Collection? Enjoy an opportunity to tour the exhibition at your own pace. Study beautiful objects such as a Tang dynasty earthenware horse and camel, a bronze lion by Barye, a painting by Julien Dupre, and several Audubon prints. No house tours are available on gallery night. Read more about the exhibit at http://www.newportrestoration.com/roughPOINT/rough.html

Location: Rough Point, 680 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island
Tickets sold at the door; no reservations needed.Questions? Call 401-849-7300.

Rhode Island Rose Society's 10th Annual Rose Show
Saturday, June 21 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.

The theme this year is "A Symphony of Roses." As the theme suggests, different roses from Old Garden Roses to the Modern Roses to the Knocks Outs to Easy Elegance roses will be brought together like an orchestra and blended in harmony to produce beautiful visual music. Rose Show 2008 will feature “A Symphony of Roses” specific Challenge Class for all types of roses named for a song, singer, or any musical term. The Rose Show provides an opportunity to observe the progression in rose breeding advances in form, fragrance, and disease resistance. To introduce young people to the joy of growing roses, the show will highlight a new “Children’s Challenge Class” featuring roses grown by anyone 15 years old or younger. The show also includes two talks that are open to the public. At 1:30 p.m., Mike Chute, Master Rosarian, will present “Rose Growing Basics.”
In addition to free admission and free parking, exhibiting is also free. Anyone with roses grown in their own garden may exhibit in the show. Members of the Rhode Island Rose Society will assist new exhibitors in getting their roses to the show table. Exhibitors should arrive by 7:00 a.m. and plan to have their roses on the table by 9:45 a.m. Visitors may join a guided tour of the show tables to learn the fine points of rose judging and see why one specimen wins a blue ribbon, while others win red, green, or white ribbons at 2:00 p.m.

Location: Cold Spring Community Center, located at 30 Beach Street, Wickford, Rhode Island...right on the water. Admission is free, and there is plenty of free parking.

Succulent Wreath Workshop
Saturday, July 26 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $45 Members, $55 Non-members

Make your own living wreath! Come for an informative and fun succulent wreath-making workshop in Blithewold’s air conditioned Carriage House. Blithewold’s Director of Horticulture, Julie Morris, will lead you through all the steps needed to create a lovely living wreath you can enjoy year-round in a sunny location. This workshop is designed for beginners. All materials provided. Space is limited.Location: The Carriage House

Garden Soirées: Wine & Music at Blithewold
Wednesdays, June – September 5:00 p.m.
DuskSingle soirée: $25 per person/$35 per couple. Package of four soirées: $60 per person/$100 per couple. Blithewold Members Package of Four: $50 per individual / $80 per couple.

Upon arrival, please check in at the Visitor's Center. Enjoy wine, music, and flowers at Blithewold. As the boats race by savor warm afternoon breezes and leisurely explore each garden at its peak. Take a sojourn from the mundane and indulge yourself; each soirée showcases wines from a different geographic region, music by local musicians, local food and spectacular scenery. Enjoy the company of old friends and new, chat with staff horticulturists, stroll the grounds, and bring a picnic dinner to celebrate the season with us in high style. Rock Garden Soirée Wednesday, June 18 Spanish Wine; Marjorie Jeffries on flute. The Rock Garden’s delightful sweeps of color are intense but fleeting. Enjoy this hidden gem in all its glory in a charming setting by the bay. North Garden Soirée IWednesday, July 16 Portuguese wine; Jeffery Thomas on keyboard and vocals. Elegant, sophisticated, and bold, the North Garden will transport you to another place and time, one that encourages a change of pace, quiet appreciation, and opportunities for reflection. North Garden Soirée IIWednesday, August 20 New Zealand wine; Folk and Celtic music by Barnacle. Display Garden Soirée Wednesday, September 10Oregon Wine; Mark and Beverly Davis Guitar Duo. The Display Garden is contagious with energy and new ideas; a flurry of discovery and wonderment accompany its peak explosion of color, texture, and scent. In the event of rain, the soiree will be held indoors and you will be contacted by phone. Please bring picnic blankets or chairs. Soirées sell out quickly: register in advance for an individual soirée or all four. Price includes 2 glasses of wine per person.

Bamboo Trellis Workshop
Saturday, May 17 10:00 – 12:00 a.m.
Fee: $20 Members, $25 Non-members

With massive canes that sway in the wind, Blithewold’s spectacular Bamboo Grove (Phyllostachys aureosulcata) has long fascinated visitors. But beyond its ornamental and aesthetic value, bamboo is a highly functional, strong and environmentally sustainable building material. With years of experience harvesting and constructing unique bamboo vine supports, trellises, and pergolas for the gardens, Blithewold Grounds Manager, Fred Perry, will give a brief history of bamboo, discuss its creative applications in the garden, and highlight popular trellis and support designs. After Fred demonstrates stalk preparation, fastening techniques and the trellis building process, you will get the opportunity to build your own trellis out of bamboo harvested from Blithewold. All materials will be provided.Location: The Carriage House

Yoga in the Garden
(All-levels)Thursdays, June 19, 26; July 10, 17, 24, 31 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Price for six weeks: $ 60 Members, $68 Non-members

Did you know that the practice of yoga can alleviate stress and hypertension, while increasing your flexibility and sense of well-being? Put an end to your aches and pains and help start a new tradition of wellness at Blithewold! The Bristol Yoga Studio and Blithewold invite you to enjoy the benefits of yoga while soaking in the sights, smells, and sounds of the beautiful early morning landscape. This six week class is appropriate for all experience levels, from newcomers who can’t touch their toes, to those seeking to continue their practice in a new atmosphere. Experienced instructor Christine Reed will introduce Hatha yoga styles using a warm and welcoming approach. Classes will be held in Blithewold’s lovely North Garden overlooking the Great Lawn and Narragansett Bay. Each session will teach yoga postures, alignment, breath-work and build core strength. Finish the class feeling your best and enjoy a light snack and a refreshing walk through the gardens. Check in at the visitor center next to Blithewold’s main parking lot before each class. In the event of rain, yoga class will meet in the wedding tent. Please wear layers of comfortable clothes and bring a large beach towel or blanket. Registering for all six sessions is recommended, though individual drop-in sessions will be available for those who call to confirm one day prior to the class meeting time. Price per drop-in session: $12 Please register by June 13.

I also have some good garden photos I have to get up...maybe this evening or weekend. :)

A sad tidbit of news...

from behind the scenes of Garden Consultant HQ. We unexpectedly lost one of our kitties yesterday. Boats was only 8 years old and had been acting fine as of Monday. Eric found him in the basement and he looked like he was sleeping. So, we don't really know what killed him but we're spectulating it may have been heart failure. Apparently after doing some research today, Maine Coon cats are susceptible to some pretty serious heart problems. So, we sadly and with a broken heart bid farewell to Mr. Boats and wish him fair winds and following seas.

Good Bye Boats....you were a great kitty.

Got Deer??

"We've got a little bit of a deer problem...."

Really! What makes you think that?? :)~

From gray to summer...

But, the weather these past two weeks are much more June like than late April. So, all of my perennials have gone from barely popping out of the ground to overdrive. My Pulmonaria 'Gaelic Magic' definitely appreciated the super spring weather! Isn't that cute? I love it....I need MORE!!!

The Front it looking a little sparse and I have to start thinking about filling the window box. I had bought a little cold frame to start annuals for the window box but it was used in the veggie garden to start lettuce, radishes, carrots, tatsoi, and peas.
Lake Larson is gearing up and we finally got most of the leaves from the fall out of there. The waterfalls are up and running again and the water lilies are pushing new leaves. We didn't have any casulties other than a dead frog I found in the leaves. That was nasty. That's the part of water gardening books or HGTV doesn't tell you about...gross, dead frogs in the rotting, stinky leaves you have to scoop out of the pond. Glamorous, indeed.

I'm going to attempt to post some video of the wet pets...I took this with my new phone and the quality it's a little bad. But, at least you can see them swimming around!

Last but not least...Lars photos. I can't believe how big he's gotten! We went for a 2 mile trek up to the bank and back tonight. He trotted 80% of the walk, came home and zoomed around the living room for another 30 minutes. I am going to get back into nursery manager shape with this pup!

Lars acutally has been coming with me a lot on my meeting days and a bunch of clients have had the pleasure of meeting him (and helping me socialize him.) He's a trooper on those long meeting days as he is so good in the jeep. So who knows, maybe Lars will come and visit you too!

Bye Stumps!

Eric's back in action as you can see with his trusted friend "Stumpy"!

I took this photo below about two weeks ago and it's amazing how dormant the landscape is in comparison to now. The fog adds a nice touch to the grayness of this spring.

Okay...the winged visitors just got weirder

Not that parrots are weird enough....now I have turkeys. What the hell is going on??? She was hanging out right by my office window yesterday. I thought Eric was yanking my chain when he yells into my office there's a female turkey in our yard. Wow....just wow.

Shout out for organic lawn care

Eric asked me to mention to my clients that he is starting to offer organic lawn care with All Island Landscape out of Portsmouth. He is their Turf supervisor and this is something he's wanted to do for some time. I really do think he's on to something here with the organics. So, if you are interested and live in the East Bay area and the Providence/Cranston/Warwick/East Greenwich/ North Kingstown areas, give him at shout. At this point, he's not servicing the western and northern parts of Rhode Island. He wants to as he hires fertilizing minions.

Eric Larson
All Island Landscape, Inc.
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
(401) 683-1588
http://www.allislandlandscape.com/home.html

Margaritaville, Rhode Island

The tropics seem to have taken over Garden Consultant HQ this week! Orchids in full bloom and parrots...yes parrots outside near Bird Central. I know I have mentioned the parrots that fly over our house at least a couple times a day. I'm usually met with looks of "Yeah, sure Cris...you have parrots flying over your house. Whatever." I have photographic evidence of said parrots now. They were camped out in the oak by my front door and then the oak where my bird feeders are. I have been trying since we moved here to get them to come down and feed. This was the closest they have been to the feeders. Maybe someday they will come and dine.

See, I'm not 10 pounds of crazy stuffed into a 5 pound bag. Those look an awful lot like parrots to me. :) After doing some research of them...I discovered they are called Monk Parrots (or Parakeets) and flocks have been seen in Providence, Riverside, and Warwick. That's pretty freakin' cool.

Inside tropical reports are of the orchids which have been blooming for a while!

My Walking Iris which I took the photo too soon. (Above)

Here's the latest update on the Pooch Front. We finally have some answers to Sam's extreme weight loss and a bunch of other odd things which have been going on with him for the past several months. He's got Cushings Disease and we've started treatment for it. Hopefully, we can help him out and make him more comfortable. He probably be on meds for the rest of his life but hey, if it makes him feel better...that's what we're going to do. Lars is growing like a weed (pun intended!) He's started puppy classes and is already showing glimmers of working dog greatness. Here's the monkey in an explosion of naughtiness!

Rhode Island Flower Show 2008!

Well, I survived the flower show again! LOL It was a long, crazy, and fun week! I had designed the RINLA exhibit for the third year in a row and I do believe this year's was the best and I was very pleased with it. The theme this year was "Fairy Tales" and I wanted to design up something that people could take ideas from and use in their landscape. So, I chose to design a garden that would attract fairies and elves. Most of the plants I used in the garden had some sort of use to the fairies. The guys started to build the hardscape of the garden on Sunday and I came on Monday to start placing plant material.

Tuesday the flowers came and we worked feverishly to get everything placed and basically finished. Wednesday, we tweaked things and had little detail things to do like placing moss around rocks and making sure that pots were hidden.

I am pleased to say that the judges liked the exhibit too! We placed second place in the non profit catagory! Hooray!!

Here are a bunch of photos of the completed garden -

For the fourth year in a row, I've also had my booth in the markplace part of the flower show. It was a good show despite the snowy weather on Friday. Saturday and Sunday were jammin' and I got to see a lot of clients of mine who I had met at previous shows. I met a ton of nice, new people who I may look forward in helping them achieve their landscaping wishes.