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FOR GARDENERS, SATURDAY WAS A DAY TO REMEMBER
I didn't write a column last week. I was too busy gardening. You probably didn't miss it for the same reason.
If weather came out of a catalog, you couldn't have ordered a better day for gardening and yard work than last Saturday. After months of enduring weird weather, Saturday was like a gift. My guess is that more Minnesota lawns were mowed Saturday than on any previous single day in the state's history.
For a gardener, the day was like being a kid in a candy store with a fistful of quarters. Where should I begin? How can I sample some of everything? Should I mow the lawn first, or pot annuals, or transplant tomatoes?
I decided to begin my day by transplanting petunias, which I had nurtured in my basement under fluorescent lights since March. I started two 1995 All-America Selections - Purple Wave and Celebrity Chiffon Morn. I haven't seen either variety in garden centers so I'm glad I went to the effort of ordering the seed and getting it started. I planted Purple Wave last year and was impressed with this cascading, prolific bloomer. This will be my first experience with Chiffon Morn, a "unique, soft pink with a delicate topping of cream and white in the center...that blends with most all garden colors."
As Saturday morning's stiff southwest breeze dried the grass, I got out the lawnmower and was pleased when it started. Unlike many conscientious gardeners, I did not winterize my Toro last fall so the sound of the engine was reassuring.
Later in the morning, a quick trip to town yielded a tray of annuals to fill in spaces among the perennials. I brought home yellow marigolds to line the driveway in front of Stella de Oro daylilies, and white alyssum for the front of another perennial bed.
I also replenished my supply of soil for container plants. Lots of folks ask about the best soil mixture for pots and containers. Expert gardeners have their favorite mixtures, but I have found that a many mixtures get the job done. This year I'm mixing bags of top soil and humus and adding compost from my bins. I probably should have mixed in some peat because it helps containers retain water. I use sterilized soil to minimize competition from weeds.
One of the great delights of spring is watching perennials emerge from the earth. Most of my hostas are in shady areas in ground covered with wood chips. This means that the soil warms very slowly and some of my hostas are only now making their appearance.
I also think some plants just plain refused to venture forth this crazy spring until they felt some serious heat. When the air temperature finally hit 80 degrees, they let out a shout and said it's time to "strut out stuff." In a matter of days, plants seemed to make up for lost time. I swear some of my hostas and other perennials (as well as the weeds!) grew an inch or more between walk-bys Saturday.
The same growth spurt was evident in the trees. Suddenly, trees we've been looking through for the past six months have formed a beautiful green curtain that blocks the more distant vista. From our picture window, May to October is like a telephoto view while the cold weather months provide a more panoramic view.
If farmers still followed the old adage of planting corn when oak leaves are the size of squirrel's ears, corn would just be going into the ground this week. Quite a few farmers had corn in the ground in late April this year. Of course, today's corn hybrids are bred to go in a lot earlier than the seed planted back when the old codger coined the "squirrel's ears" rule.
Like many Minnesotans, I arose early Sunday to survey the damage from Saturday night's storm. No downed trees or house damage, fortunately, but plenty of scattered twigs and debris. The tulips were flattened but had picked themselves partially up by late afternoon.
Good luck with your gardening adventures - try not to let the storms, weeds, insects, rabbits, deer and other obstacles get you down.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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