This morning starts off the way most saturdays start. Kids driving me crazy and demanding food. Today, I wake to a ringing doorbell. My son has slept next door and is coming back home with the crack of dawn.
Once we are up and moving around, our gardening day starts. Gracie (4) and I head out to get some fresh air and survey the land. Most of the flowers are spent at this point, and we are down to deadheading instead of bouquets. One shining star is the Limelight Hydrangea in full bloom at the top of the arbor. We bought it from Bluestone Nurseries by mail two years ago, and it is one of my favorites. So much so, we have bought and planted another ten down by the woods.
I feed the fish in the pond and Grace works on her rabbit garden- her cast iron rabbit garden. Bought at the Garden Show when she was just 2. They have been buried, found, moved, lost, washed, ponded... everything. And they are her friends.
Today, she has picked more flowers to decorate their home. She knows they don't last. And she couldn't care less. She'll just decorate again tomorrow. She picks out a few things to bring with her to Pike's. Today, she is bringing water iris seeds.
We head out to the nursery at 10:00 to see what is on sale. Years ago, we had made friends with a woman who works weekends there. Gracie and I saw her every sunday when we went out after dropping Aaron off at Hebrew school. We stopped at Starbucks and got drinks, then headed on to one of the garden centers (usually Pike's) to shop the bargain bin. That's how we met Caroline.
Today, Pike's has Miss Huff on sale for $4.99 and Oakleaf Hydrangea for $8.99. I grab 4 of the lantanna and 3 of the hydrangea. Meanwhile, Caroline is showing Grace the newest surprise. A small nest of wrens is in one of the shrubs. Caroline has been amazing in convincing the managers to let wildlife take up residence, even if it damages some goods. She usually has a stand with caterpillars going. It makes the whole experience richer. She is 80%of the reason we go to Pike's. And we are done... Next stop, Starbucks.
You can't use too much grounds!
Once we are up and moving around, our gardening day starts. Gracie (4) and I head out to get some fresh air and survey the land. Most of the flowers are spent at this point, and we are down to deadheading instead of bouquets. One shining star is the Limelight Hydrangea in full bloom at the top of the arbor. We bought it from Bluestone Nurseries by mail two years ago, and it is one of my favorites. So much so, we have bought and planted another ten down by the woods.
I feed the fish in the pond and Grace works on her rabbit garden- her cast iron rabbit garden. Bought at the Garden Show when she was just 2. They have been buried, found, moved, lost, washed, ponded... everything. And they are her friends.Today, she has picked more flowers to decorate their home. She knows they don't last. And she couldn't care less. She'll just decorate again tomorrow. She picks out a few things to bring with her to Pike's. Today, she is bringing water iris seeds.
We head out to the nursery at 10:00 to see what is on sale. Years ago, we had made friends with a woman who works weekends there. Gracie and I saw her every sunday when we went out after dropping Aaron off at Hebrew school. We stopped at Starbucks and got drinks, then headed on to one of the garden centers (usually Pike's) to shop the bargain bin. That's how we met Caroline.
Today, Pike's has Miss Huff on sale for $4.99 and Oakleaf Hydrangea for $8.99. I grab 4 of the lantanna and 3 of the hydrangea. Meanwhile, Caroline is showing Grace the newest surprise. A small nest of wrens is in one of the shrubs. Caroline has been amazing in convincing the managers to let wildlife take up residence, even if it damages some goods. She usually has a stand with caterpillars going. It makes the whole experience richer. She is 80%of the reason we go to Pike's. And we are done... Next stop, Starbucks.You can't use too much grounds!
Not for coffee, but for the free grounds. This has been an amazing discovery. Turns out, you can't overuse coffee grounds when planting. I would have thought they were too acidic, but they aren't at all. In fact, they do a great job at breaking up our Georgia clay into something that almost looks like soil. Almost. We get 3 bags plus what they have behind the counter. A savings of about $20 equivelent soil amendment (bulk organic and slow release fertilizer).
Working the compost
Next project today will be turning and mixing the compost. Last week, we used it all up and we sorta need more. Best solution... see what has finished cooking. So we go to the cooking bin (1 of 3 composters) and start pulling out the uncooked material. I've found the best thing to do is chop up the unfinished matter with a machete and just start a new bin.
When i think of it, I chop it as it goes in. This time, I had forgotten. So, slowly I sift out the big chunks and reduce them to smaller chunks. What I am left with is perfect, moist compost. About 8 buckets worth. Enough to plant the plants.
We have also turned our organic matter and started that on the way to compost. More stuff will get added today as we weed. And the machete is already out.
Planting
Off to plant the lantana. We had been waiting for Pike's to get a new shipment for weeks. The five plants we had planted in the spring are doing great and are home to butterflies all day. So, we will be adding another four to spread our butterfly garden out further. There are tons of Lantana out there. Only Miss Huff is hardy in Georga. And annuals suck.
Working the compost
Next project today will be turning and mixing the compost. Last week, we used it all up and we sorta need more. Best solution... see what has finished cooking. So we go to the cooking bin (1 of 3 composters) and start pulling out the uncooked material. I've found the best thing to do is chop up the unfinished matter with a machete and just start a new bin.
When i think of it, I chop it as it goes in. This time, I had forgotten. So, slowly I sift out the big chunks and reduce them to smaller chunks. What I am left with is perfect, moist compost. About 8 buckets worth. Enough to plant the plants.
We have also turned our organic matter and started that on the way to compost. More stuff will get added today as we weed. And the machete is already out.
PlantingOff to plant the lantana. We had been waiting for Pike's to get a new shipment for weeks. The five plants we had planted in the spring are doing great and are home to butterflies all day. So, we will be adding another four to spread our butterfly garden out further. There are tons of Lantana out there. Only Miss Huff is hardy in Georga. And annuals suck.
Between the coffee grounds and the compost, we have no need to buy more soil amendments. Just mix them really, really well into the soil until the clay looks pulverized. Most perrenials appreciate wider more than deep. After the hole is dug, I chop up the clay in a two foot perimeter and mix the grounds and compost into it. When done, I top dress it with yet more compost and some decayed pine needles lying around.
It's 2:30, and storms are rolling in while I am finishing. If you ever want to see a grown man run like a girl, catch him with a shovel in hand when lightning strikes close. Gardening is done. Time for a shower and some lunch.
Elapsed Garden Time: 4:30.
Weed-O-Rating: 3 on a scale of 5. Rain called the day early.
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