Mulch time!!

Mulch is exciting in its own special way...instant gratification for the gardener. Mulch makes everything look bright, neat, clean and so pin perfect in most cases. and we know this as people drive past our newly mulched lawns they smile and nod at its chipped perfection. We stand in front looking like some sort of mid- century farmer and pitch fork picture.
But there are suggested limits and ways to mulch. As I prepare my work boots and gather my gloves I go over these rules with my husband who I firmly believe has been issued the rules that non gardeners get as they load the bags into their sagging trunks or pay policeman/director with the truck carrying 10 yards of mulch not  realizing that 10 yards in husband language adds up to usually one of two things...a big bottle of pain reliever or a large pile of fading wood mulch on your driveway in your spot two months from now.
Quick suggested rules of Mulching.
1. Weed and rake up loose leaves and other yard debris and pull weeds. Mulching can encourage weed growth and loose old leaves can cause fungus and disease on otherwise healthy plants.
2. Mulch only 2 to 4 inches deep
3. Don't build mulch volcanoes at the base of trees, if there is one there pull it back to the crown. Mulch piled high at the base of a tree leads to tree stress and sometimes rodent damage.
4. Spread mulch out to the drip line of a tree. A drip line is the furthermost tip of the tree branches, ie..where the rain would drip off would be a quick way to figure out the drip line.

Remember mulch is for keeping plants and trees warm in the winter and cool in the summer as well as for making your lawns and yards look attractive.

Mason Bees the Super Garden pollinators
by Tammy Weiss - posted 03/29/12

Mason Bees Osmia lingaria

How to increase garden productivity without getting stung.
After visiting the grocery store last week I am not afraid to admit I am still reeling from the sticker shock of $3.99 for a simple Red Pepper. After coming to grips with the ever increasing food costs I left the grocery store, yes I had the Red Pepper, however I vowed not to have to buy anymore Red Peppers (unless a special occasion) again until mine ripen. I realized at that point although that I am going to need many more Red Peppers and squash and other delicious veggies if I am going to take on the grocery stores. I could buy from the local farmers market but I still thought I have the soil, water and lots of the same sun. I am even more charged with becoming a self sustaining family to my best ability. I can do this. I am a gardener.
I do have regular Honey Bee hives and I am excited about their prospects however this afternoon I read an article that Mason Bees are less likely to swarm or sting and their pollinating abilities are unmatched. Could it be true even more happy pollinating in my garden?
 Since this project requires very little from me other then carrying out my drill, and extension cord I am presently heading out to drill some holes in a log. Once the task is completed I will securely place it in a tree close by a second garden I am planning. A note should be made that Mason Bees need mud and if you do not have a water source nearby you will need to supply some area where mud can be acquired by the bees.
Although all of  this should make for an interesting science experiment and theory I am not sure my results will be notable the first season, although I look happily for ward to the results.
Since the Mason Bees have already started their mating and nesting leaving me  a bit behind in the condo building department. I must act quickly and probably into the night, I will post pictures with An update shortly regarding any success  I might incur.
The positive aspects of the Mason Bee are fairly simple, their nests; Mason Bees do not have hives, they are inexpensive to construct as a simple piece of untreated lumber 4 inches by 4 inches by 6 inches or more in length with holes drilled 1 inch apart with a 5/16 inch drill bit is all that is required for their nesting demands. It has been recommend to me by a number of sources that like with my Honey Bee hives painting a brightly colored design on the outside is helpful for the bee so that it can more easily locate their particular hive.
Well off to build my Mason Bee Condos. You can find many different site which offer information and helpful project plans, but I am going with the simplest and easiest this time. Next week Bluebird House

Plants that are harmful to pets

I am getting ready to make my final seed and planting choices for my garden. However as an pet owner I take the time to make sure that the plants I choose are not toxic to my animals. If I do decide on any plants that might be toxic I will plant them in an area that my pets will not have access to.
There are any number of lists that are out on the internet or available from your Veterinarian or your local plant nursery. However the Humane Society puts out a fairly concise and easy to use chart. Remember to take the time to check to make sure you are not endangering your pets or small children. Although a garden is a place of great beauty ad peace it can also be very dangerous.
below is a list of common plants and their toxic parts:

Aconite - roots, foliage and seeds - garden flower
Apple(culitvated Trees) - the seeds - tree
Arrowgrasses - leaves - marsh plant
Atropa belladonna - entire plant - garden herb
Autumn Crocus - entire plant - garden flower
Azeleas - entire plant - shrub
Baneberry - berries and roots - wildflower
Bird-of-paradise - pods-garden flower
Black Locust - entire plant - tress
Bloodroot - entire plant - wildflower, herb
Box - entire plant - ornamental shrub
Buckeye - sprouts, nuts,seeds - tree
Buttercup- entire plant - wildflower, garden herb
Caladium - entire plant - house plant
Carolina jessamine - flower/leaves - ornamental plant
Castor Bean - entire plant - house plant
China berry Trees - berries - tree
Chockcherries - leaves/sherries/pit - wild shrub
Christmas Berry - leaves - shrub
Christmas Rose - rootstock, leaves - garden flower
Common Privet - leaves berries- ornamental shrub
Corn Cockle - seeds - wildflower, weed
Cowbane - entire plant - wildflower,herb
Cow cockle - seeds - wildflower weed
Cowslip - entire plant - wildflower herb
Daffodil - bulbs - garden flower
Daphne - bark, berried, leaves - ornamental shrub
Day lily - entire plant - garden/wild flower
Death Camas - leaves, seeds, stems.flowers - field herb
Delphinium/larspur - entire plant - wild flower
Dumbcane - entire plant - house plant
Dutchmans Breeches - roots, foliage - garden
Easter Lily - entire plant - flowering house plant
elderberry - leaves, bark, roots, buds - tree
Elephants ears. entire plant - garden house plant
English ivy - entire plant - ornamental vine
European bittersweet - entire plant - ornamental vine
False Flax - seeds - wild herb
False Hellebore - roots, seeds, leaves, - ornamental flower
Fan Weed - seeds - wildflower herb
Field Peppergrass - seeds - wildflower, herb
Foxglove - leaves- wildflower garden
Holly - berries - tree
Horsechestnut - nuts, sprouts - tree
Horse Nettle - entire plant - wildflower, herb
Hyacinth - bulbs - wild and house plant
Iris - leaves, roots - wild and garden flower
Jack-in-the-pulpit- entire plant - wildflower
Jatropha - seeds - tree, shrub
Jerusalem Cherry - unripe fruit, foliage - ornamental plant
Jimson Weed - entire plant - field plant
Laburum - foliage - house plant
Lantaa - foliage-house plant
Larspur - young plants - wildflower
Laurels - leaves -shrub
Lily of the Valley - leaves flowers - garden flower
Lupines - seeds, pods - shrub
Manchinel Tree - sap, fruit - tree
Matrimony Vine - leaves. shoot, - ornamental vine
Mayapple - unripe fruit, roots, foliage - field flower
Milk Fetch - entire plant - wildflower
Mistletoe - entire plants - wildflower
Monkshood - entire plant - wildflower
Moonseed - fruit, roots - vine
Morning Glory - seeds, roots - wildflower
Mountain mahogany - leaves- shrub
Mustards - seeds - wildflower
Narcissus - bulbs - garden flower
Nicotiana - leaves - garden flower
Nightshade - leaves, berries - wildflower, vine
Oaks - shoots, leaves - tree
Oleander - leaves - ornamental shrub
Philodendrons - entire plant - house plant
Pokeweed - roots, seeds, berries - field plant
Poinsettia - leaves, stem, flowers - house plant
Poison Hemlock - leaves, stem, fruit - field plant
Potato - shoots, sprouts - wildflower
Rhodendron - leaves - ornamental shrub
Rhubarb - leaves - garden plant
Sago Palm - entire plant - ornamental plant
Skunk cabbage - entire plant - marsh plant
Smartweeds - sap - wildflower
Snow-On-The-Mountain - sap - wildflower
Sorghum - leaves - grass
Star of Bethlehem - entire plant - wildflower
Velvet Grass - leaves - grass
Wild Black Cherry - leaves, pit - tree
Wild Radis - seeds - wildflower
Wisteria - pods, seeds - ornamental plant
Woody Aster - entire plant - wildflower
Yellow Jessamine - entire plant - ornamental vine
Yellow Oleander - entire plant - garden plant
Yellow Pine Flax - entire - plant wildflower
Yew - bark, leaves, seeds - ornamental tree

Hearts Ease

Welcome to my garden. Hearts Ease is a secret garden located in an average neighborhood, hidden and protected by a large non descriptive stockade fence where Ivy of different colors merge and entwine with a climbing Pink Mary Rose, as miniature roses bushes, Pink Fairy grow along the base of the fence. From the top of the eight foot fence hangs a decades growth of Climbing Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora).

One day as I tended my private sanctuary a place all creatures are at peace with each other. A garden where butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds fill the air, rabbits make their warrens and ducklings swim and played with my dogs. A friend stopped by unexpectedly. This friend had recently suffered a heart breaking loss and seemed to be lost as her heart was broken.

As her foot first touched the gravel path a smile slowly came across her tired face as she embraced the view. I stood busy at my garden table making tussie mussie for gifts from my daily collection of rose blooms and naturals. I went to my friend only stopping quickly to shoo a mother mallard who was leading her new ducklings past a sleeping cocker spaniel as I did this I noticed in another area of the garden my old yellow Labrador was busy watching butterflies hover between my butterfly bush Black Knight Butterfly Bush - Buddleia - and the tip of his pink wet nose.

A warm feeling of peace washed over me as I thought how lucky I was. Each step deeper into the garden the tired worn friend went, she visibly became a younger version of the women who had just opened the gate. I thought to myself as I witnesses the effects of the peace on her that this garden was sort of natural Botox. I moved towards her greeting her with a hug and a beribboned tussie mussie. She shook both of them off in a kind way, her eyes roaming the garden taking in every color and texture, she said "Your garden brings me so much peace, it eases my heart, you should call this hearts ease garden." My friend smiled back at me. It was then I could see in her eyes that she was free from the recent pain if only for a few minutes, I felt lucky to have been able to give her those moments no matter how brief.

Flattered by her words I decided then to honor her by naming my garden, "Hearts Ease Garden".

Summer Lingers Still

The snow has been piling up outside these past few days but I hardly notice it with the heavy wonderful fragrance of my Meyer Trees lemon flowers filling the air of my home. My garden is still producing even after the official garden season has ended. The fruits from the Meyers Lemon Tree is heavy causing the branches to slightly bend under their weight. I have spent these cold snowy nights thinking of what I will make with my beautiful smooth skinned lemons, pie? Curd? Teabread with fresh blueberries? Glaze for Salmon? No I think this time I will make and bottle my homemade Limoncello. How wonderful will it be to give a small dose of summertime to be shared with my friends and neighbors during the coldest and roughest part of the late winter.

Limoncello is a Italian based Liquor which can be easily made at home. I get my bottling supplies from a nearby Beer and Wine supplier. When making my Limoncello I will purchase the smallest bottles available with matching fitted corks as well as sanitizer for the bottles. The directions are simple and direct

1. Zest the lemons, and place zest into a large glass bottle or jar, I use a covered pitcher. Add in vodka. Cover and let steep for one week at room temperature.
2. At the end of one week prepare simple syrup(this can be done ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator until needed, combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. DO NOT STIR. Boil for 15 minutes. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature.
3. Add the vodka mixture into syrup and stir. Strain into glass bottles (a cheese cloth is a great strainer), and seal each bottle with a cork. At this point set the bottles aside to rest for 2 more weeks. This beverage is served best straight from the freezer

The liquor can also be used for flavoring and making Limoncello cookies!