Seedlings breaking thru!

I was out for a walk in the garden today and my gardening spirits where renewed at the site of the new seedlings breaking through the ground. Oh, the site of Sweet Pea vines, Calendula, Dill, Bupleurum, and Larkspur coming up reminded me why I love to garden. My transplanted plants are going gang busters also–Snapdragons and Green Mist.

I have done things a little differently this year with my fall garden because I have a new Golden Retriever named Babs who needs to learn the ropes of a working flower garden.  Normally I would have floating row covers laying flat on my fall plantings of seeds and plants to give some moisture retention and added protection. However because “big foot” as I affectionately call her, would just walk on the covers I decided to use hoops to make miniature green houses over the beds so she can see to walk around the beds and not on them. This worked really well, until she started jumping over them kinda like the cow over the moon! Anyway, I have the whole winter to work with her on staying off of the beds!  I will add some photos soon of these beds hooped and also an example of the row cover laying flat on plants. Floating row covers revolutionized our gardening success. It is a tool you use in your garden for 10-14 days or up to several weeks or months depending on what your use is.  Learn more about floating row covers.

The summer garden is still standing–dead from the frost but the birds and other wildlife are enjoying the seeds and left over insects to snack on. I will remove the annuals that make up about 90% of our working cutting garden before winter really gets started and will top the beds with a couple of inches of compost to keep the weeds down and to be ready to be turn in when planting time comes.

I was reminded of the large bed of Peonies that need attention on my walk today. Peonies should be cut back to about 6 “and the foliage thrown away, it is said to help control Peony Blight. Do not put the foliage in a compost pile as it may have disease issues- put in a trash can. I like to cut mine back, mulch with compost and sprinkle some larkspur seeds throughout the bed- they are gorgeous together!

Lisa Z—