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| I make the coffee each morning and just switched to de-caff. But we have regular coffee for back-up. |
I planted a small White Profusion Butterfly Bush to serve as a screen or shade for the kitchen window. That means, if all goes well, the birds and butterflies and bees will flutter around the plant while we use the kitchen sink.
Mrs. Ichabod asked, "Will it grow during the fall and winter?"
Fall planting is one of the economic and beneficial jobs of gardening. For instance, fall bulbs (also called hardy bulbs) will send out their roots and grow up to the surface of the soil, only to breach the surface and bloom when the temperature is right. The right bulbs, like Daffodils, will multiply and create large drifts in time, if they are divided before they crowd themselves. Grape Hyacinths are another that will beautify the yard and multiply.
I bought a few Lily-of-the-Valley plants for under the Crepe Myrtle bush and the maple tree. They need shade and spread through their root system. Like the roses, which tolerate a fair amount of cold weather, the new plants are enjoying the fall rains and building strength for the spring.
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| Beautyberry is well named, but it looks much better close up in the garden. |
Time Conflicts
If I waited to plant the Butterfly Bush in the spring, getting one would push planting into later in the spring. The vendors have to provide stock and Almost Eden does not handle those bushes. Everyone wants to plant in the spring, if they have a shovel and wheelbarrow, but relatively few plant in the fall. Getting plants and equipment at bargain prices is much easier in October than in April. I bought a solid concrete birdbath for $7 last fall.
This is also a good time to move plants. I have a Beautyberry in the wrong place, so I can move that to the rose garden, off to the side, or perhaps up front where people can admire it in the fall.
I have several Bee Balms that could move up front or over to the rose row in the back. Some roots are going to be left behind in the move, but they will grow back by spring.
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| This clumping Bee Balm has good manners and attracts bees and Hummnigbirds. |
The Big Rain and Severe Weather Watch
Rain was supposed to fall, after a little bit yesterday. Sassy and I had a long, enjoyable walk with a stop at John and Pat's. The clouds were barely dripping, even though we heard distant thunder. Sassy suddenly began sniffing the air and processing the data. Soon, a BOOM! went off over our heads, and we went home.
All day we have had surges of pounding rain and light rain, finally a severe storm watch that did not fulfill its dire promises of damaging winds and hail.
I looked at all the new cardboard being soaked and soggy, waiting for its layer of leaves or needles. A thick layer of cardboard and leaves will give the soil creatures, especially the noble red wiggler earthworm, time to burrow up and down, moving organic matter into the soil to lighten and fertilize it. Their numbers increase vastly when conditions are right, and they lock usable plant nutrition in the root zone.
The soil creatures will slow down during the winter, but a large population ready to work in the spring - and feed the birds - will do a lot for gardening.
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| Lily-of-the-Valley: plant it once, divide it forever. |