Sunday Scribblings: Second Chances at Gardening

The topic this week for Sunday Scribblings is Second Chances. I wish I could have a second chance at gardening to redo some of the mistakes I have made.

This first mistake I made was planting Bishop’s Weed (aegopodium podagraria). It is a lovely green and white variegated plant that starts out as a helpful ground cover. It then spreads and becomes invasive. I have it everywhere now and find it impossible to get rid of. A friend of mine tried getting rid of this ground cover by spending hours one year pulling every little root out of the bed. I could try that since I hate to use chemicals in my garden. I can kill a clematis and delphiniums, but not these. (also known as Gout Weed).

Starting mint was the second mistake I made. I was thrilled to begin an herb garden and found mint in different flavors. I also added lemon balm to the mix. Now I have both herbs everywhere and none of it really tastes like lemon or mint. If you want to do mint I was advised much later, always put it in a pot and keep it out of the garden. At least the cats enjoy these plants!

Calendulas (calendula officianalis) are a lovely annual flower that are edible and many people use to make soap. They provide a lovely border of bright yellow and orange blossoms, but then they self- sow everywhere. One year I had one whole raised bed taken over by calendulas. I think the dogs carried the seeds on their pads. When the stems and leaves first popped up the plant looked like many others I wanted. By the time I could identify the self-seeder, the calendulas had taken over again. If you have a place that you want to fill up with self-seeders, calendulas are a good choice. It is also called pot marigold. If these are kept in a pot like mint, they would have probably worked beautifully.

I love variegated plants and a couple of years Mom and I found a new variety of green and yellow Artemisia (asteraceae) at a plant sale. They were beautiful the first year. They added color and glowed as the sun shone on them. Now the plants have moved everywhere. They now have grown taller, taken over beds, and look gangly later in the summer. I saw one had popped up way across the yard by the gate. I need to get these under control this year!
We had a farmer friend bring manure in when we were trying to amend our soil. I think the manure helped the soil, but quack grass is not a good choice as a cover crop. We had quack grass everywhere and JEJ aggressively pulled grass for months so beware of manure and what it may bring into your garden.

Here is a short list of perennial plants that haven’t needed a second chance in my gardens. They have always been successful and I would recommend them for a first chance or a second chance garden:
Columbine (Aguilegia) grow well for me. They do spread, but then I can move them. These flowers grows in well drained soil and bloom in late spring. (this is in my sister's garden)
Violets are one of the first bloomers in the spring garden with their beautiful purple flowers. I also love the freckled species that blooms a bit later.
Chrysanthemum (asteraceae) is a standard favorite in my fall garden. With good soil amendments and water these carry the gardens from summer into fall with a beautiful variety of colors.
In another post I will share other favorite plants. What are your perennial favorites ?

Spring Bouquet #6: Lilac Time at Mom's

This is for you Raymond Pert.

Today I was able to enjoy a bouquet of lilacs at my Mom's house. The vase is a special gift she received from my brother Raymond Pert. He painted the beautiful design on it. Below gives you an idea of why lilacs were such an important part of my childhood. This is the back fence of Mom's yard in Kellogg in the morning light with the now green hills in the background. You can just smell the wonderful scent.

A Treasure: A Child's Garden of Verses

After writing about this book in an earlier post here I dug through the shelves at my mom's house in April and found the original copy. She let me take it home. I love the tattered cover, the illustrations, and the themes in the rhymes. This poem ends the book:

To Any Reader

As from the house your mother sees

You playing round the garden trees,

So you may see, if you will look

Through the windows of this book,

Another child, far,far away,

And in another garden, play.

But do not think you can at all,

By knocking on the window, call

That child to hear you. He intent

Is all on his play-business bent.

He does not hear; he will not look,

Nor yet be lured out of this book.

For, long ago, the truth to say,

He has grown up and gone away,

And it is but a child of air

That lingers in the garden air.

- Robert Louis Stevenson

Seven Random Facts/Habits About Me

I was tagged by Silver Valley Girl to do this meme. I am a bit behind tonight and am trying to organize myself for a community clean-up at school tomorrow ( let’s see… leather gloves, sunscreen, shoes for my student that only owns flip flops and they are not allowed, and a hat), and trying to get the makings for a Mother’s Day dinner packed up to take with me tomorrow to Kellogg. I also need to create a list of plants I may still need just in case Mom and I decide we need a garden center fix. I won't be able to tag people, so If you want to participate in this meme, get the rules and info here.
The Seven Random Facts/ Habits About Me
1. I love to read books that are in a series. I go all the way back to the beginning and I love to see how the writer develops the plots and characters as the books move through the series. I hate picking up in the middle. I think this started when I read through the Happy Hollisters, Nancy Drew mysteries, and some Hardy Boys as a child. I have traveled through The Mitford series by Jan Karon, the Harry Bosch detective series by Michael Connelly, and the Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani just to name a few.

2. I hate hot (as in spicy) food and get a weird reaction to raw onions. This seemed to have come on in more recent years. I can’t even have some of those hot peppers in the room! I go overboard with the crying thing with onions.

3. Since I finished college with a degree in teaching from the University of Idaho in 1977 I have taught school and sometimes also gone back to school every year since. I have worked with students from kindergarten to graduate level. My favorite thing to teach is writing, especially with adults. After twenty-nine years I still look forward to teaching and learning each day.

4. I love to go camping, but my idea of a perfect get-away spot is one that is far from crowds, away from bodies of water with loud boats, and isn't blistering hot. I like a cool spot in the trees by a creek with the birds singing.

5. I don’t own fifty pair of flip flops in every color and design. They are not comfortable for me to wear. I am also concerned that some student will accidentally drop his fifty pound backpack on my toe or my foot will be left in the door when it is lunch time. I have one plain pair of black ones for when I go to a body of water.

6. One thing I always carry with me is my Book Lover’s Diary. It is filled with titles I have heard about, books I have read, authors I want to explore,and recommendations from friends. Actually I am on my second one. I spend hours in bookstores, but it gives me some guidance!

7. I love to learn more about our beautiful Inland Northwest. We do road trips around eastern Washington and northern Idaho and visit local cafes, feed stores, drugstores, and hardware stores. We also try to learn about the history of that area. We are blessed to live in such a scenic, historical part of the Pacific Northwest.

That is it about me. Now I better get back to my "love to do" list. Please feel free to pass this on to others.

The Weather Is Warming Up at Our House

The thermometer has hit eighty around Lake Roosevelt this week . Here are some signs the weather is warming up at our place. The greenhouse has been emptied of many plants that had wintered over and now are ready to make the transition outside again.The crab apple tree began blooming in front of the lilacs. Annie has been given her summer cut. We found freckles we forgot she had. She is now cool and happy! The cats found their beds returned to the empty greenhouse for the summer.For some odd reason Annie decided she wanted to try a cat bed in the greenhouse. She leaped on the shelf, twirled around to try it out, then realized she was too big. Her friend Sweet William was relieved when she leaped down.
A geranium is back on the fence waiting for the new buds to bloom into late spring color. Other signs the weather is warming are observing the early vegetables sprouting up, the scent of lilacs greeting me as I arrive inside the gate, and JEJ calling me at school just to double check which flower seeds go where in the raised beds.
Spring has sprung!

Where Our Hearts Find Peace

Today I taught my students a poetry form called Prepositional Poetry. It is an excellent format for modeling the purpose of prepositions in a more creative way, plus students use the simple words to create beautiful poems. A year ago I practiced one myself to give to JEJ as a gift. I used the prepositions to tour through the seasons in our gardens- a place we find peace.

Where Our Hearts Find Peace
To JEJ

Through the greenhouse
During early spring,
Near the vegetable garden
Toward hot, dry summer,
Inside the gazebo
Throughout the unfolding of fall,
Beside the driveway,
Within the cold, bleak winter.
Past the blooming America roses,
In front of the scarlet geraniums,
Between the blossoms in the cutting garden
Despite the dogs and cats. Among the budding of the Livin’ Easy,
Near the lavender and sedum,
Within the Lucy Garden
Except in the cold of winter.

In front of the climbing roses,
Between the vibrant colors from the hanging blossoms,
Along the path of fragrant alyssum,
Before the frost beckons fall.

Outside we built this quiet retreat
Near a place of natural beauty,
By glorious sunrise and fading sunset
Since our hearts have now found peace.