Googly eye gardening

This is way too hysterical not to share....Happy Monday!

Okay, now this is way cool....

Now this is one of two publishing opportunities that have presented themselves this fall. I won't talk about the other one until it's written in stone because I don't want to jinx it because it's huge. I'm not writing a book and I'll leave it at that. But this is the September's issue of Lawn and Landscape Magazine which is a national publication. I was contacted by one of the editors to discuss what I do for Intergrated Pest Management in my business....and there's the outcome. :) I think if you click on the image you can see it enlarged. But it's pretty legible as is.

I'm still on cloud 9! WHOO HOO!!

This year's Oh My God Project

Just when I thought 2008 might be the year where I didn't come home and say "OH MY GOD. What are you doing???" I was sorely wrong. One Saturday afternoon I received a phone call from Eric while I was at a client's house and I KNEW he was up to something" I even said something to my client that he was ripping apart something at the house but I wasn't sure. So, I came home to the deck remodel in the infancy stages.

I didn't really say Oh My God until he got the beams and framing done and saw how big it was. The deck is now known as Deckzilla....just look for yourself. It's as big as my living room and kitchen area together!


There it is from the slider door...please disregard the agility equipment in the back or you can just imagine it as some garden feature. Below is the master mind behind Deckzilla! I give Eric credit were credit is due...he designed the deck himself and he did a wonderful job. He's planning a hot tub (some day...far down the road) for the deck and that was one of the reasons it was so big. Plus, he built the stairs going to the patio near Lake Larson to frame the views of the pond. It's very cool and it really does make our large backyard seem like the little backyards I love to design in the point section of Newport and the East Side of Providence. He done good I say. He's working on the finish work right now and has to build the railing. Next year, he's going to build seating into the railing but I think he's started to get burned out on this project.

Now, I can also start planning the rest of the backyard planting wise. I really hadn't done much around the back because I was waiting on this project to be finished so I can see where stairs were going, and stuff like that. I can start to think of things myself. I doubt I will do a lot this fall but will be ready to hit the ground digging in the spring.




There's nothing earth shattering going on in the garden here...the veggie garden has definitely appreciated all of the rain we have been getting. We've been picking watermelons, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, cukes, green squash, and various herbs. I just planted the peas and the lettuces and have to get my broccoli and tatsoi in the ground. Maybe this weekend I may get a chance to get to that. Here's a photo of Lake Larson from the steps that come out on the patio....it looks pretty good for the end of the season. The fish are big, fat, and happy which is great! That thing down in the left hand corner is a filter for the chlorine in the city water. We have a little leak by that little waterfall which Eric has to fix.


Lastly, I'll share some autumn photos of the project that won last year's excellence awards. The Jones had sold the house and I had a chance to meet with the new owners and look forward to helping them learn how to maintain the landscape. Thankfully, they are gardeners and they said the landscape was one of the reasons they bought the house. I am so thrilled at how well this landscape matured. I think it's pretty awesome if I say so myself. :)

Holy Crap! Asian Long Horned Beetle seen in New England!

I have caught wind through the local news and RINLA that this devestating beetle has been seen in Worcester, MA. Apparently, it got here the same way it reached other parts of the country...wooden packing pallets. These guys don't fool around and they kill trees. They prey on Maple, Birch, Horse Chestnut, Sycamores, Popular, Willow, and Elms. They have issued an alert for Worcester, Boylston, Holden, Shrewsbury, and West Boylston in MA.

Here's a very informative link on all things Asian Long Horned Beetle. This is a very serious pest and we need to keep an eye out and report it to the Extension Agencies in your area if you see it.

http://www.massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/asianlonghorned.html

August Garden Ramblings

Since I have made my last post about gardens and such, we have had rain and lots of it! It's actually been a good rain, unlike the never ending torrents that have plagued other parts of New England. For the most part, it's been raining every couple of days if not a little bit every day. It has been a complete relief not having to water constantly. I had to water the veggie garden this afternoon because it's been a couple of days since we have had some rain and they aren't used to it being a little bit drier.

The bounty of the veggie garden continues with tomatoes, herbs, summer squash, and cukes. I just made Zucchini-Basil bread tonight with a zucchini that had been left out there a little too long and achieved baseball bat status. It really smells delightful and I can't wait to try it! I also figured out what the heck to do with the Lemon Balm I planted for the heck of it this spring. I've been enjoying Lemon Balm Tea on a regular basis and man, is it good! I was over at Ocean State Job Lot this afternoon and picked up a ton of seed packets for this fall and this coming spring. I know that the packets are dated for this year but I have always had good yields from using last year's seeds. Speaking of seeds, I just started peas, lettuce, mesculin mix, and broccoli in the little greenhouse and will seed a bunch of white asian radishes in the garden once the carrots are harvested.

The pond is good and the batting is clearing the water pretty well in the bigger part closer to the house because that's where the skimmer and the pumps are. The back deeper section is clearer but not like the front pond. Once we could see the fish fairly well and took a head count, we did learn the heron took some fish, Petey (Eric's favorite) was one of them as well as a couple smaller flashy looking koi. That's a complete bummer. So, maybe later this fall or next spring we'll replace them. Those water lilies are still blooming their heads off and my singing frog is out there croaking away. So, life at Lake Larson is good.

Work wise things are good and busy...not stupidly busy, but good busy. I'm starting the design for 2009's flower show and I think it will be great. We're going to do an Italian/Tuscan theme this year because the overall show theme is "Gardens of the World. " I have the building and hardscape layouts figured out and have to wait on the plant material until I get the list from the garden center that forces a lot of our material. Jim, one of my longest term clients and the owner of the 2006 RINLA Excellence Award Design winner, sent me a photo of his "Back 40" garden this summer.

His yard is one of my favorite projects...and this year with all of this rain, it is nothing short of spectactular! I was over there yesterday to discuss some new trees for an undeveloped part (and there aren't many of them left) of his yard. There are parts of his garden that take my breath away! Jim's yard is soon to get some national exposure with Lawn and Landscape Magazine. They had contacted me through email earlier this summer regarding Intergrated Pest Management (IPM) asking me how I do IPM in my business. I guess they had found me on The Underground. Since I don't do pest control myself for my clients but give advice on how to control problems, I didn't think I was going to be very helpful. But the fact that I design with less pest prone plants and use native/sustainable plant material was extremely interesting to them. So, I talked with one of the editors for some length about how I design with lower maintenance plants and my information will be used in the article. He also asked me to send some photos of my work using sustainable plants. So, Jim's yard and the 2007 RINLA Excellence Design Award winner's yard were sent along. Just this week, they asked me to send more photos...so I sent a couple more of Jim's place and one photo of my yard. I guess the issue with my input will be coming out next month. I'll keep you all posted on that article.

Let's see...dog front - Sam continues to improve which is almost along the same lines as a miracle. He's gone back to his Wednesday afternoons at the assisted living home and I think he missed the residents as much as they did him. We went to the vet on this past Monday for tests and a weigh in - 74 pounds. Oh my...I think he looks much heavier now, I can only imagine what he did weigh at his worst. I would like to get him up around 100 pounds at some point. His blood work was good as were the other tests. So, he doesn't need any meds and we have to go back in 3 - 4 months for more tests just to monitor him. The monkey is now 8 months old and is working in a bunch of different things - pre-agility, rally, obedience, and breed ring handling. Needless to say, he keeps me busy. I'm so thrilled how well he's taken to the pre-agility class we've been doing this summer. I wanted to see if the drive to do agility was there and boy is it ever! He's a machine tackling the obstacles even at 8 months. If I can get my act together and he learns to watch and follow me, I think we may be pretty good at this. I'll close this entry with a photo I took earlier this week...tug of war complete with knocking over furniture!

Plants that bite!

The 6th Annual Fall Carnivorous Plant Show

Sponsored by the New England Carnivorous Plant Society

Narragansett RI: The award winning New England Carnivorous Plant Society (NECPS) will again be hosting the Fall Carnivorous Plant Show at the greenhouses of the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, Providence RI.

Plant lovers and all those who enjoy something different will be able to get up close to hundreds of carnivorous plants exhibited by the members of the NECPS. Pitcher plants from Malaysia the size of softballs, capable of eating lizards and mice, Sundews from Australia the size of a dime to 12+ inches high, Venus Fly traps of all sizes, and Carnivorous Plants that grow locally in New England and Rhode island are just some of the plants that were displayed at past years shows, and will be on display again with even more plants added.

This is the largest collection of Carnivorous Plants on the east coast on display every year !

Over 300 plants scheduled to be on display !

There will be a Venus Fly Trap feeding area where the public can watch close up how these plants devour insects. Vendors will be on hand with plants and accessories for sale, along with plants offered by the NECPS. Plants will be available for purchase for both novice and experienced growers. The Permanent Carnivorous Plant Bog exhibit will also be available for viewing. Society members will be available both days to explain how the plants feed, what they eat, where they live, and how they can be grown and enjoyed at home.

Admission to the show is FREE with the purchase of regular admission to the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center Admission to the RWP Botanical Center is $3 for adults
$1 Children 6 to 12, under 6 FREE

Date and time: Saturday, September 27, 2008
11:00 AM till 4:00 PM
Sunday, September 28, 2008
10:00 AM till 3:00 PM
Location: Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, Roger Williams Park, Providence RI


For additional information about this exciting upcoming event, please visit www.NECPS.org
Or email to johnatthebeach@cox.net
(Please note that this event is not located at the Zoo. The Botanical Center Greenhouses are located across from the Providence Police Mounted Command station in the Park. Follow directional signs located throughout the park or visit www.NECPS.org for directions.)

The New England Carnivorous Plant Society PO box 606 Saunderstown, RI 02874

Water garden photos & apocalyptic thunderstorms..whoo hoo!

After gushing about my new lotus, I had to run out and get some photos of it! This is the first flower it threw right after it moved into its new home. I love how it turned out...complete with little dragonfly. *grin* It had a couple more buds that have since come and gone, leaving their really cool seed pods. It seems healthy and happy still which is great and I couldn't be more pleased.



The pond is looking pretty good despite the murky water. I think I'm going to go back to the polyester batting again to remove the sentiment and junk that is suspended in the water. I have enough coverage with the water lettuce, lotus, and waterlilies that I can clear the water a little more. Until this week, it had been really windy and dry for the past several weeks and the regular gardens became drought stressed. But the water garden boosted my gardening ego with the consistent water lilies blooms.

At night, we have one bullfrog who goes nuts at night and sings all night long. I'm usually up late and I hear him chugging away out there. But even when I get up in the middle of the night for a drink or whatever, he's still out there booming his head off. I think I saw my serenader tonight when I took Lars outside. I would like to get some more tadpoles next spring now that I know they do hang out around the following year after they mature.

Like I mentioned earlier, it's been dry, hot and windy which doesn't mix with my sandy soil. So, the soaker hoses I laid all over the gardens have been working overtime. I am so glad I put them out this spring because it has made my life much easier. Our veggie garden hadn't been doing as well as I had thought it should have been....but I had been stingy with the water. When I finally figured out that it wasn't going to rain for a while, I started to water every couple of days and saw a big difference in the plants and the yields. We've been harvesting green squash, tomatoes, and beans. The lettuce, radishes, and peas have already gone by...but I'll be starting another crop for the fall. I miss having lettuce. I did pick up some heat tolerant lettuce a couple of weeks ago and maybe I'll try that this summer. Eric's got peaches and tons of hops coming which he uses in his home brewed beer.

But the news this week was those insane thunderstorms that have been coming through these past several days. They started on Wednesday and we've had rain Thursday and today. Wednesday storms were nothing short of incredible. I was home working and had been watching the Weather Channel in the office for Hurricane Dolly coverage (I'm a TOTAL weather geek.) When the severe thunderstorm warnings started to pop up I had gone upstairs with the boys since I didn't want to have all of my computer stuff on and if we lose power, I can't see to draft. When I came up, the sky was black with eerie green highlights...and that no exaggeration. Right before the storm hit, it got dark, like 8:30 at night dark at 4:30 pm. Then the winds started followed by torrents of rain, thunder and lightening. After that front edge of the storm blew over us and hit the bay...right across the bay from us, a waterspout grew and hit the bay. When it hit the land, it turned into a F1 tornado. That was all over the news down here. But, at that time, Eric was driving home around the path of the tornado! He said that he had never seen wind like that before even in his Coast Guard days...they were about 50 -60 knots and were spinning around 195 as he was driving. Thank god he had his big turf truck which was heavy enough to drive through that. But he got home okay which was the most important thing. Later that night, one of the weather nerds on local TV said that thunderstorm was the biggest cell he had seen in the 21 years forecasting weather here in Southern New England. All righty then!

Thursday, the heavy rains continued in the afternoon with thunder and lightening. By this point, the rain barrel I had emptied the week before was brimming with water. I had walked by a little cooler Eric had left on the deck with the top open and noticed it was almost 3/4 of the way full. I had to check the rain gauge over by the garage. Eric said it was empty before the storms...and Friday morning, it had 5.5 inches of water in it. That was excellent! We needed a good rain like that so badly. It rained heavily again off and on today and I'll check the rain gauge tomorrow morning again to check the amounts. So, we're good for a while for watering and I expect things to explode in the flower gardens and veggie gardens. The weather patterns look like we're supposed to get rain every couple of days for the next week....let's hope that sticks around for a while.

OOOOOOO....Gardening Gifts!

Oh my, that hubby of mine is pretty awesome! He got me some "gardening gifts" last week. I was off at pre-agility with Lars Friday night and left Eric to his own devices for the evening. I came back and he asked me to go out and mess with the pumps in the pond. I knew something was up because I know he would have just gone out there and cleaned them out himself. So I called him out on it!

He was a busy guy while I was gone...he re-did the pond lights and made a great hiding place for the fish with some big stones. (I didn't ask how Capt. Back Surgery got those rocks in the pond....don't think I want to know.) But he picked me up another water lily (which is a nice pale yellow), some more floating plants, and A BIG PINK LOTUS!!!! I've been eyeing lotus for a while and I haven't gotten one yet. It's got a bunch of buds on it and one is swelling like it's going to pop soon!. That will definitely be captured on the camera for you all here.

The latest on the heron and June photos!

Well, after a couple of days of having the pond netted, we haven't seen the heron back or even in the area. Apparently, they do get a clue on if they are unable to catch fish, they will move on. Right now the pond is still netted but we're going to take it off and use it on the blueberries. I think Eric's going to use filament are the edges to help deter any more. If we have a new heron come back, we'll use the nets again. The fish are still pretty spooked and from I can see, I think everyone is still in there which is good. **phew** I did by a couple of little goodies for around Lake Larson. I picked up Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies', a Variegated Armeria, and a wicked cool little ground cover, Acaena inermis 'Purpurea'.

I have finally gotten some time to work out in the yard and get it looking like something. I think I figured out what part of my 'garden apathy' is too this year...Eric and I went crazy for the past 3.5 years outside and I think we both need a break from ripping things apart. He's spent most of this summer on his boat and I have been occupied with the boys. So it's all good. Next year we'll be into it more. Speaking of the boys, Sam's doing much, much better since we've taken him off of all the meds and he's back to eating. We're going to go another 6 weeks with no meds and do more blood work...the vet's wondering if we beat his Cushings into a sort of remission. He's skinny and his coat looks horrible...but he's starting to put some weight on.

On to the flowers!!!

It's not summer without Tiger Lilies (Hemerocallis fulva.)

Coneflower 'Mango Meadowbrite'

An astilbe seedling I had gotten from a client

Daylily 'Lady Eva' who I picked up in honor of my neice Eva!

Asiatic lilies I don't know the variety...another gift from a client's house

Geranium 'Rozanne' - if you get a design done by me, you get this plant. It's awesome, blooms all summer, and is this year's Perennial of the year. Who can go wrong!

The lavender and creeping thyme path leading to Lake Larson

The Monkey

The hot side of the house in heat and color....

Oh, what the #$@*....Blue Herons!

The way this season has been going...that's about the LAST thing I needed to see flying away from Lake Larson. I had noticed him flying around a couple of weeks ago and our neighbor behind us saw him in the trees last week. Well the brazen flying fish eater was back yesterday. I had come up from the office around noon to throw something in the recycling bins and I see him flying up and away from the pond. I don't know if he was in the pond or on the garage but, I promptly moved our fake heron to a different spot. I called Eric and asked him to get some netting or something we can use to deter the heron.

I was out last night playing with Lars in the backyard and our neighbor said that the Heron was in the pond poking his head around in the water at about 4 pm. That's all I needed to hear...Eric had some nets with him and we put them out all over the pond. I fed the wet pets and we saw some of them emerge and eat. They were clearly freaked out. The water is still pretty murky and I have no idea if he ate anyone or how many are left. I came out and fed them this morning and most of the food is still on the top of the pond. The nets are still like we left them and I did see the heron flying away from the pond area this morning when I popped outside. I'm going to be spying on him these next couple of days before I pop out the back door. I need to see exactly what this dude is doing in our pond.

I saw him flying over head when I turned onto our street this morning when coming back from errands. They are such cool looking birds but man, I think I hate him. I know Eric hates him now...he was pretty ripped last night when we were putting out the net. It's a good thing they are federally protected because I think there would be a certain someone up in the trees with his deer hunting tree stand waiting for Mr. Heron with a shot gun.

I'll tell you...if any of my clients want to put in a water garden...this will be added to my ever growing pond "caveat emptor" list.

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