tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24907976958418567372024-03-08T03:34:11.492-08:00Daffodils & Daydreamsmusings in the garden: a journal and other garden-related miscellanyKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-34442790272053193782016-06-17T18:35:00.000-07:002016-06-17T18:44:37.412-07:00My Gardens in February<h3>
The Flower Garden</h3>
Winter is NOT my favorite time of the year. I become kind of hermit-like. I wrap myself in layers and cozy up to a fire in the fireplace as much as possible when home. I do spend time looking out the window at the garden. This is the view from one of the family room windows. <br />
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The same window affords a view of the wisteria on the greenhouse, which is a resting place for birds. One day I spotted this Black-eyed Junco.<br />
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And through the bay window in the family room, I also saw this cowbird taking shelter in one of the bird feeders.<br />
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Yet, despite the winter weather, I still have to venture out to the garden just to make sure I’m not missing anything. <br />
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As mentioned in my previous post, I love to see the pods, dried flowers and cones in the garden. This is a dried passion flower pod. Should have clipped this off and placed the seeds where I wanted them. Instead I left it on there and seeds scattered everywhere. Now I have passion flower vines popping up all over the flower garden!<br />
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And even though it was cold to me, it was still in general a mild winter for us. The daffodil leaves popping out in February were a sure sign of that. <br />
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This dove enjoyed the warm winter sunshine on a birdbath that I had gotten from a friend of mine. <br />
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It was even warm enough for Molly to make a few appearances on the screened-in back porch. She is like me and hates the cold weather. Her sister, Izzy, on the other hand, could be found snoozing on her chair on the porch in the bitter cold. <br />
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<h3>
The Kitchen Garden</h3>
Obviously, not much went on in the kitchen garden in February. Just some wilted leeks and kale.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-29563235931501376332016-06-17T18:15:00.000-07:002016-06-17T18:40:23.014-07:00The Flower Garden in January 2016I have to admit that I find dried flowers, pods and cones fascinating. They are just as interesting as flowers in full bloom, just in a different way. During the winter, I would bundle up and trek out to see what was happening in the garden.<br />
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The paper-like flowers of dried hydrangeas look like they could blow away with the slightest breeze...and sometimes they do. <br />
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I had Japanese Irises for years before I noticed the dried pods. Now they are probably my favorite pod in the garden. <br />
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The pods hold onto snow as if they are saving it up for a snowball fight. <br />
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Dried coneflowers can look very different depending on if they have lost all of their needle-like bits or not. Here they are without them. <br />
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Here they are with them, capped in snow.<br />
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Dried aster flowers in the flower garden. <br />
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And dried aster flowers in a pot on the front porch, topped with snow.<br />
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There is something sad, yet beautiful, in finding bits of dried plants here and there in the yard in winter. <br />
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As mentioned in my previous post, there was some snow in January, although not as much as in some previous years.<br />
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And then there was this...<br />
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Had to make sure to take care of my bird friends during the winter. People find this surprising, but the squirrels never try to climb to my feeders. They hang out under them and wait for the birds to drop seeds. I also make sure to leave them a few on the ground just to keep them happy.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-2914955938531085822016-06-17T17:55:00.001-07:002016-06-17T17:55:27.234-07:00The Kitchen Garden in January 2016January was so long ago, so I have to try to remember here...but there wasn’t much going on in the Kitchen Garden in January at that time anyway. What I do remember is that we were really late getting a killing frost. It finally came late December of 2015 or early January 2016. Not much snow to speak of compared to other years in January, but there was some.<br />
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Before the snow...<br />
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Then after the snow...<br />
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Another angle before the snow...<br />
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Then a similar angle after the snow...<br />
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Mr. Wiggles wasn’t too happy about the snow, but at least his head wasn’t buried. <br />
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Well, at least not until later...<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-13469084201671169142016-05-01T16:15:00.000-07:002016-05-01T16:15:05.655-07:00Greenhouse in JanuaryWell, at least I am finally on 2016, even though I am still behind with my posts. It’s progress, right?<br />
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My Candelabra Aloe (Aloe arborescens) blooms in the winter every year. It is something I look forward to. <br />
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I have been talking about needing to repot it for at least a year now. It is way too big and unwieldy for the pot it is in. It actually fell on top of me when I was in the greenhouse watering one day. <br />
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I am ashamed to admit that I bought this hanging basket of succulents from Home Depot, or maybe it was Lowe’s, about two years ago. It still looks great!<br />
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Jade and succulents in a vertical planter. <br />
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Kokedamas that I made last year are still looking nice. I have these in the window by the door so that I can see them from the family room.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-8703922347994851282016-05-01T15:28:00.002-07:002016-05-01T16:30:15.978-07:00Up-To-Date Photos On My InstagramI may be seriously behind with my garden posts on my blog, however, I post about a photo a day to Instagram, which gives a real-time view of what is going on in my garden. You don’t have to be on Instagram to see the photos, you can just click on the link below and view the photos on your computer if you prefer. Or if you’re on Instagram, follow me! I am also on Twitter. Anything I post to Instagram I also post to Twitter with a link to the Instagram page. So if you prefer Twitter, you can follow me there. <br />
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My Instagram page: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/daffodilsanddaydreams/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/daffodilsanddaydreams/</a><br />
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My Twitter page: <a href="https://twitter.com/krbower" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/krbower</a> <br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-85416496245800179252016-05-01T14:57:00.001-07:002016-05-01T14:57:41.267-07:00My Gardens in December 2015December was warm considering it was supposed to be winter. We still hadn’t had a really big killing frost.<br />
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<h3>
The Kitchen Garden in December 2015</h3>
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Sparse, but still a few things were growing in the kitchen garden in December, due to the warm weather. I have never had as much growing this late in the season before.<br />
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Arugula, Rainbow Chard, and Leeks.<br />
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Kale ‘Redbor.’<br />
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Rainbow Chard and Dill.<br />
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Parsley...thriving!<br />
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More Parsley, Sorrel, and Garlic Chives.<br />
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Garlic Chives and Sorrel.<br />
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<h3>
The Flower Garden in December 2015</h3>
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Foggy mornings were somewhat common in the garden in the warmth of December.<br />
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It was warm enough for a yellow rose or two to still be blooming!<br />
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And daffodils thought it was already spring.<br />
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There was even mint still growing outside the back door – enough to make a couple mojitos. <br />
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Also outside the back door, Oregano, Thyme, and Sage, were still green – barely touched by frost at all.<br />
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But no mistake, it WAS December.<br />
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The Christmas Ferns had their fine greenery for Christmas, hence the name.<br />
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Winnie watched over the garden, as always.<br />
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I put the leftover pumpkins from Halloween and Easter out in the garden for the squirrels to munch on. Usually they devour them, but this time they really weren’t interested.<br />
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The neighbor’s cats continued to take advantage of the warmer weather. <br />
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As did my cats!<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-46240511609944299422016-05-01T13:35:00.003-07:002016-05-01T14:59:39.945-07:00My Gardens in November of 2015I am determined to get caught up with my garden posts!<br />
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<h3>
My Kitchen Garden in November of 2015</h3>
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The gravel path gets covered in leaves by November. I swear it is under there somewhere. <br />
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Puss, one of my neighbor’s cats, was still enjoying sitting on the garden bench in November since it was a warm fall. <br />
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The Alaska Nasturtium crawled its way toward the garden bench, as well.<br />
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Despite the increasingly cold weather, the flowers of the red Gift Zinnias hung on!<br />
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Kale ‘Redbor,’ with its ruffled, dark purple leaves. This is an edible kale, however it requires massaging to get it to soften up a bit before cooking.<br />
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Leaks, Rainbow Chard, Merlot Lettuce, and Arugula still looking good in November?! Was true!<br />
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</h3>
<h3>
My Flower Garden in November of 2015</h3>
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The garden chair was still a pleasant place to sit, even this late in fall.<br />
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In this shot, the hostas were devastated by the first frost.<br />
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Behind the chair, Mr. Gnome guzzled down some fall cider outside his house.<br />
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The flower garden was a mix of browns, greens, and yellows.<br />
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Those roses, oh those roses. They just weren’t willing to give up quite yet.<br />
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The wisteria leaves put on their fall color on top of the shed.<br />
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The grass was surprisingly green for this time of the year, again due to it being warmer than usual. The silver of the sage shows we were still able to enjoy some herbs even this late in the year.<br />
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The leaves coated most of the moss in the Secret Garden.<br />
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The angel slept in a blanket of leaves in this same area.<br />
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Also in the Secret Garden, the flowers on this hydrangea turned a bright pinkish red.<br />
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Colorful leaves in front of the shed / workshop in November.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-56915503979458895802016-05-01T13:09:00.004-07:002016-05-01T13:09:51.562-07:00My Gardens in October of 2015I am so behind with my garden posts that I debated on whether or not I should just leave out the rest of my photos from the end of last year. I decided that since I use this blog as a garden journal, I wanted to include them, even though they are months old at this point. So here goes it...<br />
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<h3>
My Kitchen Garden in October of 2015</h3>
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The garden was definitely winding down in October. The Gift Zinnias were still blooming their glorious red color, though, in the kitchen garden. I started to loose hope on my Brussels Sprouts, but I still thought the sweet potatoes might turn out ok. <br />
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I did manage to get a few Garden Salsa Peppers.<br />
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Indigo Ruby Tomatoes, at last!<br />
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A few nasturtiums hanging on. <br />
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A fall bounty of asters, Gift Zinnias, mint, Rainbow Chard, yellow Tumbling Tom Tomatoes, Doe Peppers, and Garden Salsa peppers.<br />
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The grass in the kitchen garden took on a fall glow.<br />
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Fall colors in the kitchen garden. <br />
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<h3>
My Flower Garden in October of 2015</h3>
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Roses were hanging on in October. Colorblaze Lime Time Coleus added a pop of brightness to the increasingly drab-colored garden this time of the year. <br />
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Bright magenta roses with Joe Pye Weed and white Butterfly Bush.<br />
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More roses put on a last minute show.<br />
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Sedum with dried Purple Coneflower seed-heads. <br />
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Dried Joe Pye Weed with Purple Coneflower seed-heads and the white-blooming Butterfly Bush a few weeks later.<br />
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Winnie was framed by dried Joe Pye Weed.<br />
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Pretty Aster.<br />
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These hydrangea flowers take on a pink hue in the fall.<br />
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This variety does, too.<br />
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A few weeks later they were drying up.<br />
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The other side of the back yard, basking in the warm glow of the fall sun.<br />
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The Secret Garden area in the fall.<br />
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Herbs were still at the ready by the back door - Sage and Thyme.<br />
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My bog pots, which contain my carnivorous Pitcher Plants, always look great just as it is getting too cold to leave them outside.<br />
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When I heard of our first chance of frost, I brought in all of the exposed potted plants. This is always a bit of a chore. I put them on the screened-in back porch, then have to trek them all through the house into the greenhouse, since there is no outside access to it.<br />
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My Front Porch in October of 2015</h3>
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The front porch plants lasted much longer than usual last year, due to warmer weather. I still had some blooms when I decorated for Christmas! I had moved my Dragon Wing Begonias to the fern stand because they got so leggy in the hanging baskets. I replaced the baskets with yellow mums. <br />
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The giant-leafed plants are Gryphon Begonias. They got so big and dramatic by fall.<br />
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In the basket above the Gryphons – Silverdust and a red-blooming Begonia.<br />
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No fall decorations are complete without mums.<br />
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Other Begonias and a Maindenhair Fern. I wish I could find the tag for the green Begonia with the dark red marks in the center because that one is still thriving in my greenhouse right now.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-60835590307647173082016-03-19T13:58:00.001-07:002016-04-09T12:08:45.182-07:00My Flower Garden in September 2015After months of living in a Philadelphia Flower Show bubble, I am finally coming up for air. I will post my reflections on my first year working as a PHS employee at the show, but in the meantime, I will try to catch up a bit on reflections of my garden from last year. September in the flower garden, for instance...<br />
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My flower garden is at it’s best in spring and summer, but not so much as fall approaches. However, here are some of the highlights.<br />
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I love anemone. Given that, you would think I would have tons of it in my garden, yet I don’t. I never seem to be able to find the room for more. This one is Anemone tomentosa Robustissima. I love the dark, almost black, stems with the pink flowers and fluffy-looking, yellow centers. Unfortunately, this anemone is fairly hidden in a corner of what I call my “secret garden,” so it is not often seen. <br />
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Purple Morning Glory vines cover the arbor in late summer. The hummingbirds enjoy the flowers before they migrate away.<br />
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The pink roses in the flower garden were still hanging in there off and on until winter came. Same with the bright red Cardinal Climber vine, another hummingbird favorite. <br />
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A new addition to the late summer / early fall garden in 2015 was Ironweed. I wish I could remember if this was Vernonia noveboracensis or Vernonia gigantea, though. I can't seem to find the tag. Nevertheless, Ironweed is a native plant and a favorite of our valuable pollinators. I planted it specifically for all of my bumble bee and butterfly friends who visit my garden on a regular basis spring through fall.<br />
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Blooming in September near the Ironweed was Phlox paniculata 'David's Lavender' (which actually looks more pink here), and light pink Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana).<br />
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The white Phlox paniculata David was still blooming, as well, in September. <br />
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I don’t buy a lot of annuals for the flower garden, but when I do, they have to be long-lasting, solid performers. These two fit the bill – Melampodium Million Gold with its yellow flowers and Colorblaze Lime Time Coleus. I plant Melampodium every year. It starts out slow, but by late summer it looks full and fantastic. The key is to make sure it gets enough water. This is my first year planting the Lime Time Coleus and it flourished in this hot, sunny spot. I love the combination of these two plants together. Don’t be surprised if you see this combination pop up again in my garden. <br />
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Next to this planting was lavender and another small annual with lavender, aster-like flowers called 'Toucan Tango' Brachyscome. Toucan Tango flowered all season, however it never got very full-looking. I had temporarily moved my strainer of succulents to this pot in the garden and ended up liking it there.<br />
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Sedums are a staple of the fall garden. I have a few varieties that I planted years ago and can’t recall all of the names. <br />
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Sedums are a favorite of the bumble bees in September.<br />
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Blue Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) is a reliable ground cover that gets pretty blue flowers in the late summer and fall. <br />
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Winding down in September is this white hydrangea that borders the kitchen garden. It has arching branches. I inherited this from the previous owner, but it seems to be some sort of Hydrangea paniculata. The flowers turn pinkish before they brown up for the winter. <br />
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Another highlight of the late summer garden is...hey, wait a minute, that's not a plant, it’s a cat. Yes, another one of my neighbor’s cats. This one is Puss. Puss loves to find different areas of the garden to nap. <br />
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Mr. Thaddeous Gnome was still tending to his sheep under the Christmas Ferns in the flower garden in September. I took some of the rotting wood with moss from my cedar trash bin and put it on Thaddeous’ roof. Never met a gnome named Thaddeous? Well there’s a first time for everything. <br />
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Not actually IN the flower garden, but near it, were my bog pots. The carnivorous Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia leucophylla) always seem happiest in September. They are still thriving when the air gets crisp and I have to bring in the pots to protect the Venus Flytraps that also call these pots home. <br />
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Many, many birds inhabit my garden. These doves decided perching on the bird feeder was a good idea during a rain shower. I personally can’t see how that was a good idea.<br />
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In order to watch the birds of the garden more closely, I moved some of the feeders to be next to the screened-in back porch. Hummingbirds and goldfinches came to visit, but only after they realized that me and my two kitties were no threat to them in our screened room. I look forward to seeing these feathery friends again this year. <br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-20412029072685090662016-01-29T17:32:00.002-08:002016-01-29T17:32:45.507-08:00Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – Get Outside! 5 Things To Do at the Arboretum This WinterI really can’t stand winter. I get cold so easily and have to wear longjohns just to keep warm even at work. I become like a hermit when the cold weather hits. I also tend to get the winter doldrums. I got spoiled this year with the warm start to winter. Now the cold weather and snow is here and it’s time to toughen up. With my new job I have a commute that involves walking almost two miles a day in the city – one mile there and one mile home, plus the train and driving. It has forced me to try to get used to the colder weather and I have found that getting out there and walking, even in the chilly wind and snow, helps to make me feel better. Breathing in the fresh air and getting my heart rate going invigorates me. A great place to get outside and cure your cabin fever is the Morris Arboretum. Check out my latest post called “<a href="http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum-blog/235-get-outside-5-things-to-do-at-the-arboretum-this-winter.html" target="_blank">Get Outside! 5 Things To Do at the Arboretum This Winter</a>.”<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-13205885291728792322016-01-25T10:51:00.003-08:002016-01-25T10:58:17.111-08:00My Kitchen Garden in September 2015I swear I’ll catch up eventually with my posts about my garden last year! I don’t have a lot of photos of my kitchen garden in September, so at least that helps.<br />
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In the photo below you will noticed that my basil started going to seed in September. I had planted lots of Nufar Basil in 2015 because that seemed to be the only variety that wasn’t dying on me. Nufar Basil is similar to Genovese Basil in the sense that it is a type of Sweet Basil, but Nufar is resistant to Fasarium Disease. Fasarium Disease is actually a fungus that spreads via contaminated seeds and can last in the soil for years. In 2014, all of my basil succumbed to this disease. All other varieties of basil that I saw in nurseries in the area seemed to have it, except for Nufar. So this will be my go-to basil until I can find another variety that is resistant.<br />
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Another observation from the photo below is the one boxwood that is dying in the circular bed. It is pretty much completely dead now, but the other three in this same bed look fine. I am a bit concerned that this could be boxwood blight, and if that’s the case, that could be very bad for the many other boxwoods that I have. Boxwood blight is a fungus that causes severe die-back and spreads by spores that are carried by wind, rain, animal, or human. Maybe I’ll get lucky and that isn’t the issue.<br />
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In the same u-shaped beds are Garlic Chives, which come back every year. You can kind of see them in the photo below.<br />
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I love the flavor of the Garlic Chives, however you have to dead-head them after they bloom or they will set seed everywhere. The flower-heads are clusters of tiny flowers and every single one of them has seeds. That’s s lot of seeds.<br />
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The sweet potato vines that I planted in late summer were looking good in September, and those <a href="http://www.seedlibrary.org/gift-zinnia.html" target="_blank">Gift Zinnias</a> from <a href="http://www.seedlibrary.org/" target="_blank">Hudson Valley Seed Library </a>were still going strong. Man, I loved those. The approximately 3 foot tall stems were self-supporting and the red flowers lasted until the first hard frost. <br />
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The Gift Zinnias, as well as the Garlic Chive flowers, were often part of my centerpiece on the table on the screened-in back porch.<br />
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I have two of these grasses along the border of the kitchen garden and I just love them in the late summer and early fall. The green leaves get tints of orange and red and the plumes are cottony soft and sway in the wind. For a long time I thought this was Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah,’ but the plumes don’t look right at all to be that. It looks more like Miscanthus Purpurascens. <br />
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Texas Sage ‘Lady in Red’ was a favorite of mine, and the hummingbirds, in 2015. It is an annual. I planted it in the flower garden, as well as in one of the big blue pots in the kitchen garden. The hummingbirds had left by September, but the flowers were still blooming profusely. <br />
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Speaking of the big blue pots, the Solanum quitoense (Naranjilla) that I overwintered in my greenhouse last year produced an abundant amount of fruit in 2015. Check out my <a href="http://daffodils-and-daydreams.blogspot.com/2014/11/solanum-quitoense-aka-naranjilla.html" target="_blank">post from 2014</a> to read more about this fascinating plant. <br />
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That appears to be the only photos that I took of the kitchen garden in September. So until next time...<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-47107277974114039672016-01-19T18:27:00.002-08:002016-01-19T18:27:30.845-08:00Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – Red Isn’t Just For Valentine’s Day AnymoreMy first guest blog post of the new year for Morris Arboretum is about red berries. It is called “<a href="http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum-blog/232-red-isn-t-just-for-valentine-s-day-anymore.html" target="_blank">Red Isn’t Just For Valentine’s Day Anymore</a>.” If you are looking to add some pizzazz to your winter landscape, check out some of the red-berried beauties mentioned in the <a href="http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum-blog/232-red-isn-t-just-for-valentine-s-day-anymore.html" target="_blank">post</a>! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlsGGRUCDpX_t1jYEen6PzLykf-Xue3hedRztWd3lYSGQa0k7c0HtBPW1-sfqwjBH-8rSNfDycZ12w-SpPbjdwpZf8RP9C1rS0-CXqnE0TcflkZJgeFsAKBXyCH56G5BaFlSNdA6vugTj/s1600/IMG_2936-Lassie-Koehne-Holly_Ilex-x-koehneana-%2527Lassie%2527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlsGGRUCDpX_t1jYEen6PzLykf-Xue3hedRztWd3lYSGQa0k7c0HtBPW1-sfqwjBH-8rSNfDycZ12w-SpPbjdwpZf8RP9C1rS0-CXqnE0TcflkZJgeFsAKBXyCH56G5BaFlSNdA6vugTj/s640/IMG_2936-Lassie-Koehne-Holly_Ilex-x-koehneana-%2527Lassie%2527.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lassie Koehne Holly (Ilex x koehneana ‘Lassie’) at Morris Arboretum</td></tr>
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-62079158547243585242016-01-03T09:46:00.002-08:002016-01-03T09:46:49.133-08:00Brewing With Our Own Hops<h3>
This is a belated post about brewing with our own hops. I started this post in September 2015, but never quite finished it. Here it is finally done... </h3>
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Hop vines have been a part of the garden for about 4-5 years. The first ones were planted against the shed/workshop and then another vine is in the back of the kitchen garden, behind the garden bench. The rhizomes came from friends and we think that both are Cascade hops. Brian is a homebrewer, however he had never brewed with our hops before.<br />
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Every year we talk about how the hops should be tied up to grow vertically. We finally had done that this spring. The hops LOVED it and really went to town. We had a plethora of hops, at least on the vines against the shed. Brian decided this was the year to brew with them and made a wet-hopped Harvest Ale.<br />
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(Most hops used in brewing are dried, either whole cones or compressed into pellets. Wet-hopping refers to using fresh hops right off of the vines, preferably at their peak of freshness.)<br />
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Hops are sometimes grown just as ornamental vines. They start out as tendrils sprouting from the rhizomes, then grow quickly,
produce lovely cones, then die back in the fall. You can cut the vines in late fall
or early spring and they will sprout again in spring.<br />
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Now, don’t be thinking this will be a blog post about how to brew beer, because I’m not the homebrewer. But I can give you a general idea of what we did. This is also probably a good time to mention that I can’t actually drink beer! I have celiac disease and am on a life-long, gluten-free diet. However, Brian brews with something called <a href="http://www.whitelabs.com/other-products/wln4000-clarity-ferm-brewers-clarex" target="_blank">Clarity Ferm</a>, which strips out the gluten to below 20 parts per million, which is what is considered safe for those on gluten-free diets. Clarity Ferm is still controversial in celiac communities and my own nutritionist is even apprehensive about it, but I have had no issues drinking small amounts of gluten-reduced beer from time to time. <br />
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The first thing that Brian does when brewing is a yeast starter. There is a magnet inside the liquid and it spins around stirring the liquid. Those bits are yeast particles spinning around. <br />
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My part in the brewing process was to gather the hops. That required
getting out the ladder and plucking off hop cones. (I promised myself I would never have photos of me on this blog, but Brian took some photos that I am in, so I am doing my best to crop myself out!)<br />
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Some of the hop cones were small and some were pretty large. <br />
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The next thing that I did was to weigh the hops. Brian wanted about one pound of hop cones, and we ended up with a little less than thirteen ounces.<br />
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Brian is showing the interior of a hop cone here.<br />
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My final contribution to the brewing process was to stuff the hops into two mesh bags, about 6 oz. each. <br />
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Brian brews in the shed (well, we often call it a shed, but it is more like a workshop with a loft). He keeps the door open while brewing for ventilation. This photo shows his brewing rig.<br />
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The recipe and some of Brian’s mad-scientist brewing stuff.<br />
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At the end of the brewing process, Brian added the mesh bags of hops to the boil.<br />
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The thing about brewing beer is you can’t drink it right away. It has to ferment. The Harvest Ale fermented about 4 weeks. I can honestly say, the finished product is delicious. An excellent beer. And it tastes even better if you’re drinking it in the garden!<br />
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Brian is talking about doing a dry-hopped beer with our hops next year. Something to look forward to! <br />
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This is the recipe that Brian used for the wet-hopped Harvest Ale:<br />
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<b>Wet Hop Ale 2015 </b><br />
8-B American Pale Ale (BJCP 2015 Guidelines)<br />
<br />
Size: 5.25 gal<br />
Efficiency: 73.5%<br />
Attenuation: 80%<br />
Calories: 221.92 kcal per 16.0 fl oz<br />
<br />
Original Gravity: 12.49°P / 1.050<br />
Terminal Gravity: 2.58°P / 1.010<br />
Color: 11.63 SRM<br />
Alcohol: 5.29% ABV<br />
Bitterness: 47.3 (Tinseth) <br />
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INGREDIENTS<br />
82.5% Pale Ale (8.7 lb)**<br />
9.5% Rye Malt (1 lb)**<br />
6.8% Vienna Malt (11.5 oz.)**<br />
2 oz Roasted Barley (added @ vorlauf for color only)<br />
.5 oz Centennial (9.3%) @ 60m<br />
.5 oz Chinook (13.1%) @ 60 m<br />
1 tsp Wyeast Nutrient @ 10 m<br />
1 ea Whirlfloc Tablets (Irish moss) @ 10 m<br />
1 ea Servomyces @ 10 m<br />
6.25 oz Cascade WET HOPS (1%) @ 5 m<br />
6.25 oz Cascade WET HOPS (1%) @ 0 m (flameout)<br />
<br />
Clarity-Ferm (10ml) - added dry to primary fermenter<br />
White Labs WLP007 Dry English Ale<br />
<br />
Single-infusion mash @ 149ºF<br />
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MASH WATER TARGETS<br />
Ca 120 ppm<br />
Mg 3 ppm<br />
Na 8 ppm<br />
SO4 239.2 ppm<br />
Cl 52 ppm<br />
HCO3 19 ppm<br />
SO4/Cl Ratio 5.6<br />
Target Mash pH: 5.4<br />
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FERMENTATION PROTOCOL<br />
2L starter / target 185 billion cells<br />
202g DME<br />
<br />
Pitch: 65ºF (probe ON fermenter)<br />
Day 5: 75ºF (probe OFF fermenter)<br />
Day 10: 40ºF<br />
Day 12+: fine w/ gelatin (beer must be < 50ºF)<br />
Day 16+: rack<br />
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** The amounts in parenthesis are the amounts Brian used, based on his mashtun
efficiency (73.5). He says that you can use the percentages and OG to scale the recipe to your
specific brewing system.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-22788786987941705102016-01-03T09:29:00.002-08:002016-01-03T09:29:17.117-08:00My Kitchen Garden in August (yes, August)Wow, I don’t think I have ever been THIS far behind with my garden posts. Major home repairs due to a roof leak, transitioning to a new job, and the holidays are my excuses this time. At least I have the winter to get caught up!<br />
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What the heck WAS happening in the kitchen garden in August? It seems so long ago.<br />
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From purely a visual standpoint, the kitchen garden was looking lush, green, and full in August. The Gift Zinnias, which I had planted from seed in spring (from <a href="http://www.seedlibrary.org/" target="_blank">Hudson Valley Seed Library</a>), added a pop of red to the raised beds, as did the Lady in Red Texas Sage in the blue pot.<br />
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The white hydrangeas and yellow Black Eyed Susans in the flower garden made for a nice border to the kitchen garden.<br />
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I had planted a Japanese Maple in the blue pot, along with the Lady in Red Texas Sage, which is an annual. I hate to say it, but I don’t think the Maple survived the dry heat that we had later, but I could be wrong. I am trying to remain hopeful that it will surprise me in the spring.<br />
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Speaking of the blue pots, in my other blue pot I still had my Solanum quitoense (Naranjilla), which I had bought in 2014 and overwintered in my greenhouse. It did even better in 2015 and formed tons of fruit. The leaves were as fuzzy and spiky as ever.<br />
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The u-shaped beds contained orange Zinnias, Alaska Nasturtium, Garlic Chives (a perennial), Nufar Sweet Basil (this variety did best for me in 2015 and managed to avoid the Downy Mildew that has plagued a lot of basil varieties the past couple of years), and curly-leafed Parsley (which does better for me than the flat-leafed variety).<br />
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This photo was taken later in August when the Garlic Chives started to bloom.<br />
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I do love the look of the Garlic Chives in bloom, but you have to be careful and try to cut them off before they drop seed. They reseed literally EVERYWHERE, including in the gravel path. I never seem to get them trimmed in time.<br />
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A new and exciting addition to the kitchen garden in 2015 was the <a href="http://www.seedlibrary.org/red-noodle-bean.html" target="_blank">Red Noodle Bean from Hudson Valley Seed Library</a>. This started to take off just before I went away for a long weekend in the Poconos and I never managed to harvest any of the beans to actually eat! It looked so cool, though. I want to try again in 2016 and actually eat them this time. A friend had given me these seeds and the magenta-colored, foot-long, bean pods were really thrilling to see.<br />
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There was some new seeds that I planted in 2015 that I was really stoked about, but they never took off. One of them was <a href="http://www.seedsofchange.com/quickfacts.aspx?c=9878&cat=195#ad-image-ProductDetail1_aFirstImage" target="_blank">Hopi Red Dye Amaranth from Seeds of Change</a>. I was really looking forward to seeing a cluster of 4-6 feet tall plants with dark red leaves and fuscia flowers, but only got about two of them and they were no more than a foot or two tall. This is a tender annual, so I’m doubtful they will come back.<br />
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Another crop I was looking forward to was <a href="http://www.seedsofchange.com/quickfacts.aspx?c=9794&cat=183#ad-image-ProductDetail1_aFirstImage" target="_blank">Gold Nugget Winter Squash</a>, also from Seeds of Change. I got one. Yes one.<br />
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One thing that did really well was the <a href="http://www.seedlibrary.org/merlot-lettuce.html" target="_blank">Merlot Lettuce from Hudson Valley Seed Library</a>. This was a tasty addition to salads and I planted at least two crops of it. The leaves were pretty both in salads and in the garden!<br />
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My Cilantro always bolts before I have a chance to use it, so I tried <a href="http://www.thegrowers-exchange.com/Cilantro_p/her-cil02.htm" target="_blank">Cilantro Papalo</a> this time, from Grower’s Exchange. It is popular in Hispanic communities. This ended up forming a tall plant. I liked it, but I do love the regular Cilantro that I’m used to and it just wasn’t the same. This plant certainly did well in the garden, though.<br />
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Parts of the kitchen garden started to look a bit overgrown later in the month, as the Nasturtium creeped along the gravel paths, the Hop Vine took over the garden bench, and the Beautyberry bush blocked the back path.<br />
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I had filled in a bare spot late in August with sweet potatoes (left bed) – my first year trying them. The <a href="http://www.seedsofchange.com/quickfacts.aspx?c=11815&cat=135#ad-image-ProductDetail1_aFirstImage" target="_blank">Nautic F-1 Brussels Sprouts from Seeds of Change</a> (right bed) were getting taller, but not really forming sprouts.<br />
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A better shot of the Brussels Sprouts. Something was eating the leaves, however I was trying to remain hopeful that the sprouts would form.<br />
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Tomatoes were a disappointment in the garden again this year. They don’t seem to like the raised beds too well. In fact, with the other issues I had in 2015, I think I need to do a soil test and amend accordingly. I may try my tomatoes in pots this year. I had a hanging pot of tomatoes that did great on my back porch. In the garden, I got only a couple of Rutgers tomatoes.<br />
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It was enough for some caprese salad, though, a summer favorite of mine. I do mine with balsamic vinegar. Click <a href="http://daffodils-and-daydreams.blogspot.com/2012/08/recipe-from-garden-caprese-salad.html" target="_blank">here</a> for my recipe.<br />
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The Indigo Ruby cherry-sized tomatoes in the garden grew a total of maybe 8 fruits. They were very tasty in salads, though. This salad contained greens, cucumbers, and parsley from garden, along with the Indigo Ruby tomatoes, and local corn and mozzarella. I put just a tad of extra virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar as dressing. Delicious!<br />
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The hanging tomato plant was called Tumbling Tom Yellow and I had gotten it at an Amish market in Maryland in the spring. I had tons of grape-sized tomatoes all summer long. They were great in this <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/344876/roasted-tomato-and-ricotta-crostini" target="_blank">Roasted Tomato and Ricotta Crostini recipe from Martha Stewart</a>. I added fresh basil from the garden to the recipe.<br />
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So yeh, that was the kitchen garden in August, yes August. Sheesh. It is fun looking back on the gardening season from 2015, though, as it is quite cold and winter-like outside right now. Time to start dreaming about what I will plant in the kitchen garden this coming spring!<br />
<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-9754753254181624692015-12-31T11:10:00.002-08:002015-12-31T11:10:43.599-08:00My New Job at Pennsylvania Horticultural SocietyI finally did it. I found a way to combine my graphic design skills with my passion for gardening. I started working as a graphic designer for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society on November 16th, 2015. This move was a long time in the making, however, once the wheels were moving, they moved fast.<br />
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I spent 21 years working for a company that designs and manufactures CDs and DVDs for independent musicians and filmmakers. I had moved up the ladder quickly there – was training new hires after only 6 months on the job, then was made an art director a little over a year after starting my job there. I spent 16 years developing the Design Studio, training new hires, establishing best practices, and more. The company restructured about 4-5 years ago, laying off many people and eliminating middle management jobs. My art director job was eliminated and I went back to being a graphic designer. I counted myself lucky to still have a job, but it wasn’t easy watching the Design Studio go from 25 designers to a mere 6, and it was even harder no longer having a say in how the department was being run. I had started to look for a new job then, however, I learned quickly that most companies were looking for graphic designers who also knew web design. So after an unsuccessful job search, I decided to go back to University of the Arts (my alma mater) to get a certificate in web design. I spent three years working on that, got straight As, and graduated in April 2015.<br />
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I was still working on updating my design portfolio and website when I started looking at places that interested me – <a href="http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml" target="_blank">Morris Arboretum</a>, <a href="http://longwoodgardens.org/" target="_blank">Longwood Gardens</a>, <a href="http://www.winterthur.org/" target="_blank">Winterthur</a>, <a href="http://bartramsgarden.org/" target="_blank">Bartram’s Garden</a>, <a href="http://phsonline.org/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Horticultural Society</a>, anything that was garden-related (I also happen to be a member of all of these places, and have been for many years). In August I noticed that <a href="http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml" target="_blank">Morris Arboretum</a> was looking for volunteer guest bloggers and that seemed like a good start for combining my skills and interests. I sent them some examples of my own blog and they were interested. I started out writing about some topics that they provided, although now they let me come up with my own topics. I have loved writing articles for them and they seem pleased with my work, so it has been a mutually beneficial situation. Plus, it gives me an excuse to visit the arboretum more often! It is beautiful, especially spring through fall. I briefly entertained a part time graphic design there, however I decided that I really needed a full time job with benefits. That’s when I spotted the graphic design position at <a href="http://phsonline.org/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Horticultural Society</a>. They were also looking for someone with web design skills. I applied, and about a week later went for an interview, then a second interview, then a phone interview, then got a job offer. Once it happened, it happened fast, and before I knew it, I had a new job!<br />
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The commute into Philadelphia via public transportation, then 15-20 minute walk from there, has been a change to the 5-10 minute drive I was used to, but I knew I was at the right place when the Director of Marketing gave me flowers on my first day. She said, “Every new hire at PHS should have flowers on their desk.”<br />
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What is the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) all about, you ask? Most people think of the annual <a href="http://theflowershow.com/" target="_blank">Philadelphia Flower Show</a> when they think of PHS. Or you may know of the flower show, but don’t realize that PHS is the non-profit organization behind it and that the proceeds go to funding their various community greening and gardening programs. I have been going to the flower show every year since I graduated college and I have been a PHS member just as long.<br />
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<b>Quick Stats about the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and their programs:</b></h3>
<i>(Taken from their website and printed materials)</i><br />
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<b>PHS</b><br />
• The mission: PHS connect people to horticulture and together we create beautiful, healthy and sustainable communities<br />
• has 64,000 members and 5,000 volunteers annually<br />
• has an operating budget of $23.8 million for FY 2015<br />
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<b>PHS Philadelphia Flower Show</b><br />
• attracts approximately 250,000 visitors annually<br />
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• started in 1829 and is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event</div>
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• has been honored as the best event in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association, competing with events such as the Kentucky Derby Festival, Tournament of Roses Parade, and other international celebrations.</div>
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<b>Plant One Million</b></div>
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• has planted 500,000 trees as part of the P1M Regional Partnership since 2011, in an effort to restore the tree canopy in the Greater Philadelphia region</div>
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• the 500,000 tree (the halfway mark) was planted in honor of the visit of Pope Francis.</div>
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<b>Tree Tenders</b></div>
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• has graduated 4,278 people since 1993, teaching them horticultural skills and about tree care maintenance</div>
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• has planted over 2,000 trees throughout the Philadelphia region in 2014</div>
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<b>The Rain Check Program</b></div>
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• has worked with Philadelphia residents to control excess storm water by providing workshops and tools, such as rain barrels, downspout planters, depaving, permeable pavers and rain gardens</div>
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• has installed 237 rain barrels since September 2014, under contract by Philadelphia Water Department</div>
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<b>Garden Programs</b></div>
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• have graduated 2,075 people as Garden Tenders since 1995, providing them with hands-on gardening experience and teaching them how to establish successful, self-sustaining community gardens</div>
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• have graduated 628 people as Green City Teachers since 2006, helping them to bring school garden projects to life</div>
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• have preserved 35 gardens through the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, a land trust dedicated to the preservation of community gardens and shared open spaces to enhance the quality of life in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods</div>
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<b>City Harvest</b></div>
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• makes fresh, nutritions produce more widely available to underserved neighborhoods</div>
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• has 140 growing sites in its network of urban gardens and farms</div>
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• distributed 250,000 seedlings in 2014</div>
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• helps over 1,200 families get fresh produce every week during the growing season</div>
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<b>Roots to Re-Entry</b></div>
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• Since 2010, the recidivism rate for R2R graduates has been 30 percent, as compared to the average rate of 65 percent for the entire population of Philadelphia ex-offenders</div>
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• has offered workforce readiness and horticultural programming to 850 inmates</div>
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• has broken previous year’s records by growing 12,000 pounds of produce in 2015, which was donated to a food cupboard in the city</div>
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<b>Philadelphia LandCare</b></div>
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• collaborates with the city of Philadelphia to clean, green and stabilize vacant lots to help return them to productive use</div>
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• maintains 6,000 vacant parcels throughout the city</div>
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• maintains 2,100 additional parcels through Community LandCare</div>
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<b>Civic Landscapes and Landscape Management</b></div>
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• Civic Landscapes has reinvented seven public landscapes so that they can be enjoyed by all, including South, Central, and North Broad Street, the Northeast Corridor, Girard Avenue, and the Airport.</div>
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• Landscape Management manages more than 50 acres, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Azalea Garden, Logan Square Swann Memorial Fountain, and Rodin Museum.</div>
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<b>Pop Up Gardens</b></div>
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• has turned a vacant lot into an urban oasis for the past 5 years, providing food, drinks, workshops, and entertainment</div>
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• has welcomed more than 75,000 guests at its two Pop Up Gardens in 2015</div>
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<b>Education</b></div>
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• PHS hosts lectures and workshops at the PHS McLean Library, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and in collaboration with partners in the city</div>
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• The PHS McLean Library is the nation’s oldest horticultural library with 18,000 titles on gardening, plant care, botany, landscape architecture and urban greening, as well as 5,000 e-books</div>
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That is just a brief overview of the many worthwhile programs that PHS manages. Can you see why I wanted to work for this amazing non-profit? Their mission and goals are right up my alley and I feel great being even just a small part of this wonderful organization. </div>
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During my first month at PHS, new hires were treated to a tour of some of the PHS managed gardens and green spaces. It was great to see these first-hand. </div>
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One of the stops on the tour was the community garden at Bartram’s Garden. In this mild November, there was still some crops growing, such as broccoli and cauliflower.</div>
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Another stop on the tour was the Big Green Block, where PHS partnered with the Philadelphia Water Department and others to create stormwater management, as well as green space and a dog park for residents. This site includes tree trenches and rain gardens to help manage stormwater runoff. </div>
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PHS is funded mainly through membership. One of the perks of being a member is a free subscription to their beautifully designed GROW magazine. GROW features articles on gardening, with a focus on the Pennsylvania area.</div>
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A fun thing that PHS did was to partner with <a href="http://www.wyndridge.com/" target="_blank">Wyndridge Farm </a>to create the PHS Cider, which is available at the Pop Up Gardens and the Philadelphia Flower Show. I managed to pick up a bottle on a recent visit to Wyndridge Farm.<br />
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It has been odd starting a new job after many years of working for the same company, but the mission and people at PHS has made for a smooth transition. I feel great about the organization I work for and its goals and accomplishments. I look forward to being a part of it all in the coming years, even in my small way as a graphic designer. <br />
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P.S. I am still guest-blogging for the <a href="http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum-blog/" target="_blank">Morris Arboretum blog</a> when I can. (Some of my posts are also on their <a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">older blog website</a>.) Some people have been confused and think that this is related to my job at PHS, but it is not. I love Morris Arboretum, have been a long-time member, and I do the guest-blogging on a volunteer basis. I really enjoy my partnership with them and I will continue to help them as long as I can and as long as they are willing to have me.<br />
<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-75515233443335835572015-12-19T13:17:00.002-08:002015-12-19T13:17:46.359-08:00Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – Decorating with Fresh GreensFor years I have loved decorating with fresh-cut greens for the holidays. It started out with just making my own wreath, then I moved onto topiaries, vases, outdoor containers, hanging baskets, and the fireplace mantle. My mom and I have a tradition of going to Bartram’s Garden for their annual greens sale every year. They have various cut greens that they pruned from their trees and you fill as much as you can into a grocery bag for $10. Can’t beat that! I also use cut greens from my own yard (as well as any of my neighbor’s evergreens that hang onto my property! Shhhh, don’t tell them!) So when Morris Arboretum was looking for a new blog post, I of course thought of writing about decorating with fresh-cut greens. <a href="http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum-blog/227-decorating-with-fresh-greens.html" target="_blank">Check out my “Decorating With Fresh Greens” post and photos</a>!<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-60075212660782802082015-12-10T16:46:00.000-08:002015-12-10T16:48:21.606-08:00Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – Beautiful BarkSo much has gotten in the way of my blog this past month or so – mostly some major home repairs and getting a new job! I finally found a way to combine my passion for gardening with my career. More about that later, though.<br />
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In the meantime, check out my latest guest blog post (with my own photos, too) for Morris Arboretum. It is called “<a href="http://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum-blog/223-a-beautiful-bark-treasure-hunt.html" target="_blank">A Beautiful Bark Treasure Hunt.</a>” When the trees have shed their leaves and you think they have nothing else to offer, take a closer look...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperbark Maple at Morris Arboretum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flatspine Prickly-Ash at Morris Arboretum</td></tr>
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-33973424900763537782015-11-07T18:21:00.001-08:002015-11-07T18:23:38.961-08:00The Flower Garden in AugustWoah, August, really??? I sure am behind with my garden updates. Although I have to say, it is kind of fun looking back at August in November, when the garden is winding down. Seriously, look at what it looked like...<br />
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It looks nothing like that now! The two white hydrangeas would be better off not right next to each other, but I sure do love them in the summer. I thought my Black Eyed Susans had died last year from a disease, but they came back. They have been a staple in my flower garden since the very first year I planted the garden.<br />
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The one white hydrangea starts to take on pinkish hues here and there as summer progresses towards fall. That’s a Christmas Fern with it.<br />
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I really liked how the annual Limelight Coleus looked with the darker, maroon-ish leaves of the Weigela and the dark green leaves of the pink rose bush. I may have to plant more of these coleuses next year. You can see the lavender and white David Phlox in the background, as well as Purple Coneflowers.<br />
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This sweet, little, lavender-colored annual bloomed all spring and summer. The flowers almost look like asters. I don’t buy a lot of annuals, but when I do, they have to be long performers like this one. This little guy may be a new must-buy each spring. <br />
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Speaking of must-haves, Cardinal Climber vine will definitely make a showing in my garden again. A friend recommended I plant this annual in order to attract more hummingbirds. My male and female hummingbirds loved the red flowers of this vine that bloomed all summer. I am hoping it reseeds, but if it doesn’t I will be sure to plant it again.<br />
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I also saw the hummingbirds at the lavender Obedient Plants in August.<br />
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While on the subject of pollinators, August was definitely a good month for bees. They adore the Joe Pye Weed. Look at those fat, fuzzy bumbles! I just love them.<br />
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The Joe Pye Weed is in the back of my flower garden and tolerates a certain amount of shade there.<br />
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A lush, pale pink bloom of Abraham Darby, a David Austin rose, in the sunshine.<br />
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These blue Plumbago flowers make for a nice ground cover in summer.<br />
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The variegated Liriope blooms this time of the year in the gnome garden. Don’t be messin’ with those gnomes, they’re trouble.<br />
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Closer to the house, by the screened-in back porch, is where I have a lot of herbs. Two different thymes, rosemary, sage, and oregano are always within easy reach when doing some summer cooking with herbs.<br />
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The white Ladies Tresses were blooming in my bog container by the steps of the back porch in August.<br />
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The trough container that I made in the early spring was doing extremely well as summer went on.<br />
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The sedum was especially colorful in this container later in August. Look at the awesome magenta color. It was screaming “look at me!”<br />
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It was a warm, dry summer, so seeing the garden hoses out, like in the photo below, was a common sight. You would think I would have a better way of watering than dragging a hose or sprinkler around.<br />
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So that was August in the flower garden. Let’s see if I can get August photos of the kitchen garden posted before December!!!!<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-3831901189667103442015-11-07T17:18:00.000-08:002015-11-07T18:23:11.368-08:00Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – The Miniature World of Mosses and LichensMy latest guest blog post for Morris Arboretum is called “<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-miniature-world-of-mosses-and.html" target="_blank">The Miniature World of Mosses and Lichens</a>.”<br />
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I first got really into mosses and lichens when I noticed a bunch growing on the cedar-shingled roof of our trashcan bin. There seemed to be many different kinds all growing in this same space. I started to look at them through macro extension tubes on my camera – and wow! What a curious, alien-like world. I have been trying to learn more about mosses and lichens and even took a class on moss about a year ago at Morris Arboretum. Now I always make sure to take a closer look at these miniature, non-vascular plants whenever I see them.<br />
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<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-miniature-world-of-mosses-and.html" target="_blank">Check out my guest blog post and photos!</a><br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-87289098843351805662015-10-03T18:35:00.001-07:002015-10-03T18:35:26.428-07:00Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – Visiting the Arboretum on a Drizzly DayIt has been such a thrill doing the guest blog posts for Morris Arboretum. I really love doing it. The latest one to be posted is called “<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/09/visiting-arboretum-on-drizzly-day.html" target="_blank">Visiting the Arboretum on a Drizzly Day</a>.” I was going to visit the arboretum to work on some future blog posts, one on mosses and lichens and another on tree bark, but the weather forecast was ominous. I was debating on whether or not I should venture over there when Brian suggested I go. He said that if it rained I could write an article about being at the arboretum on a rainy day. So this particular post was actually his idea, not mine. It ended up being an interesting day and gave me a chance to appreciate different areas of the arboretum. The post features photos that I took while there that day, as well. <a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/09/visiting-arboretum-on-drizzly-day.html" target="_blank">Check it out</a>!<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-397766144735777112015-09-28T18:23:00.000-07:002015-09-28T18:23:30.997-07:00Creatures of the GardenAs we transition to fall, I find myself reflecting back on the summer. The garden is always full of life in the summer. Insects, birds, and the neighbor’s cats, plus some evening visitors like bats, possums and raccoons. I managed to capture a few on candid camera.<br />
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Some of my favorite summertime garden visitors are the hummingbirds. I had at least one male and one female that I would see constantly in the garden, flying from flower to flower. They especially loved the red Cardinal Climber and red Texas Sage this year. They never seemed to visit the hummingbird feeder that was in the flower garden, so I decided to move it close to the back porch where there are less flowers and where I could see them better if they decided to visit. It worked! They would visit several times a day. It took them a little while to get used to me and my two cats on the back porch, but they warmed up to us. I spent a lot of time sitting out there with my zoom lens on my camera and finally got an ok shot of the male hummingbird.<br />
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Butterflies are a constant presence in the garden during summer days. Usually it’s Cabbage Whites and Tiger Swallowtails. I sometimes get others, such as Skippers, Eastern Black Swallowtails, Monarchs, and recently a Fritillary. I found myself wishing this particular Tiger Swallowtail could tell me his story. He looked like he had been through the ringer with frayed wing edges and that big missing piece.<br />
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The past couple of years I have found Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars on my Parsley. Parsley is a host plant for these swallowtails. The butterflies lay their eggs on the plants, then the caterpillars eat and eat until they are ready to make chrysalises and become butterflies themselves. I had at least two of the caterpillars this year. It has gotten to the point that I don’t cut parsley to use it until I look under the leaves for eggs first! I have definitely found them.<br />
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Bees are my friends. I found myself going out into the garden every day just to check on my bees. I get a lot of native bumble bees. This year I actually saw some honey bees, which is not as common.<br />
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Another buzzing visitor this year was Digger Wasps. I don’t recall having seen them before. I think it might mean I have grubs, which I actually already knew. Females burrow into the ground looking for white grubs, stings them, and lays eggs on the them. The larvae pupates and overwinters in a cocoon within the host’s body. Gross, huh?<br />
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I see praying mantises every year, however, this year they have been particularly plentiful. I often see them near the back door, so I think they must live in the mint or other herb beds that I have there.<br />
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They are so alien-like. Such fascinating creatures.<br />
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I get many different birds in the garden. My favorite birds are the goldfinches. They are happiest when the purple coneflowers are loosing their petals. That is when the finches get the seeds. This year I tried hanging a finch sock near the back porch to see if I could watch the finches like I get to watch the hummingbirds. It worked! I get to see lots of finches up close now, as long as I sit still and as long as the cats behave and don’t try to jump at the screen. I get lots of females, but have only seen two males this year.<br />
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If you look carefully, you will spot a bluejay in the next photo. There were more bluejays than usual this summer. For awhile each morning I would witness two bluejay parents teaching their fledglings to fly. They would go from tree to shrub to tree, following each other. They were a noisy bunch.<br />
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Hard to see in this shot, but there is the bluejay on the left by the bird feeder and one of the neighbor’s cats, Tiger, on the right. My neighbor has at least four cats that visit the garden, three of them more regularly. It is rare for me to be out there and NOT see a cat. The three regular visitors are all orange and white.<br />
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Here Tiger has spotted one of the Tiger Swallowtails. Hmmmm, maybe that is how the one lost part of his wing.<br />
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Puss loves to nap in the garden. I have to be careful because there have been times when I have almost stepped on her or almost weeded her! Somehow she finds the gravel path comfortable. Not sure what that is all about.<br />
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There are many other creatures of the garden, these are just the ones that I happened to have gotten close enough to take pictures of! I love that my garden is welcoming to other creatures. After all, it is just as much for them as it is for me.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-92057453498594500542015-09-26T16:23:00.002-07:002015-09-26T16:23:34.005-07:002015 Philadelphia Honey FestivalThe Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild held the first <a href="http://phillyhoneyfest.com/about/" target="_blank">Philadelphia Honey Festival</a> in 2010. It was to celebrate the placing of a historic marker honoring Lorenzo L. Langstroth, who was born in Philadelphia. Langstroth is famous for inventing the first movable frame bee hive based on the principle of “bee space.” According to their website, the mission of the Philadelphia Honey Festival is “to raise awareness about the importance of honey bees to our environment, our food supply and our economy, and to promote urban beekeeping and gardening.” I had never been to the honey fest before, so decided to check it out this year and see what it was all about.<br />
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The honey festival runs for three days at three different locations: <a href="http://www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org/" target="_blank">Wagner Free Institute of Science</a>, <a href="http://wyck.org/" target="_blank">Wyck Historic House/Garden/Farm</a>, and historic <a href="http://bartramsgarden.org/" target="_blank">Bartram’s Garden</a>. I attended the events at Bartram’s Garden. Here are some fun highlights.<br />
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The events included a fall native plant sale, honey related vendors, children’s costume making and bee parade, free Schuylkill River kayak paddling, a honey cooking contest, a bee-bearding demo, open hive talks, and a demonstration of honey extraction.<br />
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The open hive demo was in the meadow at Bartram’s Garden, where they have community bee hives. These hives are attended to by various people who live in the area. This is an example of a Langstroth bee hive. This is the most widely used hive design today. (These aren’t the greatest photos because they were taken zoomed in using my phone.)<br />
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Another type of bee hive is a top-bar hive. Some members of the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild showed us what this style of hive looks like. Unfortunately, this particular hive had not been properly taken care of and was falling apart when they tried to pull out the frames.<br />
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There is a really great view of center city Philadelphia from the meadow at Bartram’s Garden.<br />
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I always wondered how you get honey out of bee hive frames. Now I know after attending the honey extraction demo! The frame is removed from the bee hive and the outer layer of wax that the bees made is scraped off the honeycombs with a knife.<br />
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After the wax is removed, you see glorious, liquid honey.<br />
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The frames are then placed in a honey extractor, which is basically a stainless steel tank with a spigot valve at the bottom and a crank at the top.<br />
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You crank the handle as fast as you can and it rotates the bee hive frames so that the honey comes out of the honeycombs.<br />
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When you turn the valve open, out pours magical, golden honey.<br />
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Next time you get honey, think about what an amazing thing it is and the many bees that worked hard to make it.<br />
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The <a href="http://phillyhoneyfest.com/about/" target="_blank">Philadelphia Honey Festival</a> happens in September every year. Check it out next year!<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-4803350718351051272015-09-23T19:17:00.001-07:002015-09-23T19:18:10.106-07:00Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – Eye Spy: 6 Birds to Spot at the Arboretum NowMy most recent guest blog post for Morris Arboretum is about birds that you can see there at this time of the year. It’s called “<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/09/eye-spy-6-birds-to-spot-at-arboretum-now.html" target="_blank">Eye Spy: 6 Birds to Spot at the Arboretum Now</a>.” I had fun “researching” for this one. I am not an expert birder by any means, but I am an enthusiastic amateur. I watch the birds in my own yard all the time. This year I moved both my hummingbird feeder and finch sock close to the back porch so that I could get a better look at my visiting feathered friends. It’s been fun watching. Take a peak of what I saw over the last month or so...<br />
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Here are several female goldfinches and one lonely (or not so lonely!) male at my finch sock.<br />
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I had regular visits from both a male and female hummingbird. This is a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at my feeder.<br />
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This small video shows the hummingbird and goldfinches having a picnic together.<br />
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So be sure to check out my blog post for the Morris Arboretum about birds: “<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/09/eye-spy-6-birds-to-spot-at-arboretum-now.html" target="_blank">Eye Spy: 6 Birds to Spot at the Arboretum Now</a>.”<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-21242313754016841792015-09-17T18:56:00.000-07:002015-09-17T18:56:00.874-07:00My 4th Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – 10 Tips Every Visitor Should KnowMy latest contribution to Morris Arboretum’s blog, “<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/09/10-tips-every-visitor-should-know.html" target="_blank">10 Tips Every Visitor Should Know Before You Go</a>,” is a list of things to bring when you are setting out for a visit to the arboretum. I like to plan ahead when I visit since I tend to be there for 2 1/2 - 3 hours walking around!<br />
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Below are some photos that I took when I visited the arboretum last weekend.<br />
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Morris Arboretum has some really interesting <a href="http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/visit_tours.shtml" target="_blank">self-guided tours</a> that you can download from their website. I was recently reading the Sculpture Tour. This is American Bull, which has always been one of my favorites. <br />
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A recent addition to the sculptures is A Waltz In The Woods, a group of 30 feet high stick creations. I love these because they look like they are being blown by the wind and could topple over at any moment. <br />
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I can’t seem to resist a visit to the Rose Garden every time I go. There’s more than just roses here. <br />
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Love this Nicotiana (flowering tobacco) in the Rose Garden. I couldn’t find a marker to identify this particular one, however, I do believe this is called Only The Lonely. It is one I have been wanting to plant in my own garden. <br />
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Fall is on its way – you can tell from the grasses and sedum that are in bloom here.<br />
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So check out my post on “<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/09/10-tips-every-visitor-should-know.html" target="_blank">10 Tips Every Visitor Should Know</a>” and consider a visit to the arboretum!<br />
<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2490797695841856737.post-29559521472400453822015-09-11T18:12:00.003-07:002015-09-11T18:19:24.801-07:00My 3rd Guest Blog Post for Morris Arboretum – Beneficial BeesIf you follow me on <a href="https://instagram.com/daffodilsanddaydreams/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, you know what a huge bee fan I am. I actually go into my garden specifically to visit my bees. I participate in a citizen science project called <a href="http://www.bumblebeewatch.org/" target="_blank">Bumble Bee Watch</a>. My garden is an official Pollinator Garden (as well as a Monarch Waystation). I love pollinators and bees are the most important pollinators that we have. Our pollinators are in decline and it is vitally important that we do what we can to help them or else many of the foods we enjoy today won’t exist. My 3rd guest blog post for the Morris Arboretum is called “<a href="http://morrisarboretum.blogspot.com/2015/09/beneficial-bees-how-to-help-our.html" target="_blank">Beneficial Bees: How to Help Our Essential Pollinators</a>.”<br />
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I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t post the photos that I sent along for the article, so I’m posting them here. These are photos that I took in the Rose Garden at the Morris Arboretum just a few weeks ago.<br />
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This is my favorite photo of the bunch I took that day. This bumble bee is literally COVERED in pollen from this purple thistle. Look at him, head to toe in pollen!<br />
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Here is a happy honey bee on verbena.<br />
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And wow, look at the size of this carpenter bee. They are seriously big bees and may appear scary, but they are actually very gentle and rarely sting. They do nest in wood and can even chew their own tunnels, so they are one that most people would consider a nuisance, especially if you find they made a nest out of part of your house. Keeping wood or tree stumps in your yard may help them find an alternative home. Remember, they are pollinators, too!<br />
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I love a show called <a href="http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/" target="_blank">Growing a Greener World</a> that I watch online all the time. They have some great episodes on bees. <a href="http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/bringing-bees-back/" target="_blank">Episode 610: Bringing Bees Back</a> is an excellent show on the importance of pollinators, especially bees. Definitely check that one out to fully understand and appreciate the role that bees play in our agricultural industry. <a href="http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/backyard-beekeeping-101/" target="_blank">Episode 601: Beginning Backyard Beekeeper </a>follows the host, Joe Lamp’l, on his first year of beekeeping and provides a realistic view of what it takes to keep bees.<br />
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I hope you will read my post on bees on the Morris Arboretum’s blog, as well as the other ones I have written. There are at least two more that haven’t been posted yet and two more I am still working on. It has been tons of fun to be part of the arboretum’s blog. I would love to see some comments on there. And hopefully my posts will help encourage people to visit the arboretum. It truly is a beautiful place and is a lot more than just trees. They offer some really good classes, too. They were one of my first sources for learning more about gardening when I first started out, and continue to be a source to this day.<br />
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P.S. The <a href="http://phillyhoneyfest.com/" target="_blank">Philadelphia Honey Festival</a> is this weekend! Lots of great bee and honey related activities going on at three different locations. Check out the <a href="http://phillyhoneyfest.com/" target="_blank">website </a>for more info.<br />
<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00308240413929384777noreply@blogger.com2