pruning in the Mid West

pruning

spring
bluebeard,
russian sage

Juniper- tip pruning natural shape- fall and winter are good for spring growth

HOW TO PRUNE
The best method for pruning junipers is in the spring with
selective thinning of the crown.  A branch is
cut off at its point of origin on the parent
stem or back to a "Y" of a
branch junction.  The remaining
stem then becomes the new section for growth.
The selective thinning method produces a more
natural-looking plant.  In selective thinning,
emphasis should be placed on removing
broken, diseased, dead, weak and interior,
shaded branches.  No crossed or rubbing
branches.  Such removal should not leave
large holes in the shape.  The size of
the plant can be reduced without changing
it natural appearance.


boxwood- anytime but not when first planted

euonymus moonshadow

Pruning Veronica and Salvia

when to prune
Prune when trees and shrubs are dormant
and for flowering plants,
Pruning is best after blooming.
An excellent guide visit
http://www.freeplants.com/pruning-when-to.htm

deadheading.
Salvia, veronica- deadhead spent blooms

1

Prune taller varieties of Veronica in mid-June. Use sharp gardening shears to cut 6 inches off the mature plant from the first to the middle of June.

2

Cut the perennial Veronica that grows low to the ground in mounds. After the flower blooms a second time, cut it back to the foliage growing near the ground. Shear low-growing types back to foliage growing on soil after the second flush of bloom.
Prune Russian Sage after the last hard frost (May)

3

Pinch the faded flowers on all varieties of Veronica, during the blooming season. Pinching encourages reblooming. The University of Minnesota recommends using only fingertips for pinching the part of the stem below the blossom and above the node or where the point on the stem where the leaf is inserted.

Read more: How to Prune Veronica | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/75806-prune-veronica.html#ixzz1vQvtmr00

Spring 2012 Started Out So Well.....

Sigh *

Dear Spring, 

we started out so well. 

 Everything was green, vibrant and healthy.

I looked forward to you, Spring, all winter long

and I gave you the gift of 50 new plantings.

Green, you did not stay with me

but left me for Brown. 

And Now, your freshly planted youth are dying 

 though I watered and tended.

Still... Spring, I long to spend time with you again.   

Let's try it again Next Year.

 Sigh *

It started out so well...

To Post or not to post....

To Post or not to post....

...?

I wanted to  post about my garden.

But, it has been a difficult year of drought in Kansas   

Sadness  

Pestilence even ladybugs can not endure

Rabbit, deer and groundhog nibbling at anything green.

I'm impatient with my impatiens.  My favorite neon pearl spirea is down to one tiny leaf peeking out of the earth, struggling to survive.  Black eyed daisies (drought resistant), are only leaves, not a flower to be seen.  The tomato plant we water every day, once bearing full ripe red tomatoes is brown and withered.  Horned caterpillars enjoy the remains.
Something has been chomping off the tender tops.

Watching, a squirrel balances on a wire above me.  He struggles to balance the weight of the last red tomato in his mouth, to make it across the wire to take his prize home.  As I say goodbye to my harvest, at least one squirrel found water within the fruit.

During a recent visit, my cousin (from New York) visited my Studio.  Gazing out the window upon the acres behind us, he remarked about how inspirational it was.... about how I could look out the window from my art studio and see the gardens and the beautiful …. flow.....e........rs.  Sadly, we both looked at my garden, which was not.  I was too upset to explain it was because of the drought, I knew NY was not having this drought and wondered if he knew... how could he know I had a beautiful garden, spent hours planning, watering, weeding, feeding and mulching.  It looked so sad and anything I could say sounded like an excuse.....

I had been away for the  prior month due to a family emergency….

nothing had been watered.

So there you have it, my garden was dried up and withering, dormant and eaten by rabbits. 

I was too downcast to explain. 

Today, I walked around watering the sole survivors.  The early morning coolness gave me hope, remembering how it used to look.    (see other posts and pictures)

The only plant to survive in the middle island is poison ivy, thriving.  
Are my plants dead, or are they sleeping.

Next week, next month, next year, there may be rain, a needed quench. 

So Sorry to be gloomy.   This is Kansas in the hot 2012 August sun.

Continue to pray for the farmers, drought stricken crops, their animals with no food nor water.

A Silver Lining!

as I write, I look out the window to see dozens of birds sitting around the sprinkler. 

They are taking showers and playing.

They remind me of how God cares for the sparrow....

Oh, how He cares for us.

more

 dreamy hosta gardens from pinterest
NOT my garden, yet ; )
inspiration in color selections

more 2

This is my garden...it is a work in progress. 

This year I've added...

3 phlox 

1 white daisy by rudabekia

5 beautiful vibrant Veronica purples (since snacked upon by my bunny friends)

several sweet potato vine (again, part of the rabbit buffet)

several hosta, divided from the front

dozens of impatiens- eaten to the stump by those *&%$# bunnys

coreopsis- gone- was Rabbits favorite

sterile purple loostrife

DH planted a huge viburnum and a green fern like evergreen 

a pearl spirea (love it), and a 

not sure about...barberry

On the other side 

Salvia

4 blanket flowers,

multiple coreopsis- eaten by bunnies

A bowl of herbs make cooking so much better

herbs- 

Veronica- eaten by bunnies

stevia- yum! love the flavor

Big pots of tomatoes

liriope and sedum Autumn Joy 

I'd like to add some more rudabekia and another blushing bride Hydrangia

yellow coreopsis- hardier- bunnies are eating away- yum

replanted rabbit ears and a Loosestrife

little lime viburnum at the edge- near the edge really threw but off the balance

is huge!

I'm not sure if DH likes it there or filled a hole ; )

it is not proportionate and drives me absolutely crazy

I've planted a boomerang butterfly bush, some

Doug and son gave me three red rose bushes 

we've added more 

daylillies, some more veronica

4 blanket flowers, dianthus and 

transplanted more rabbit ears, lavender and catmint

whew!  we did much more than I thought

will add new photo when things are looking more robust.

oh- and tons of poison ivy...I wish rabbits liked to eat this- on no!

oops!

( my dream garden-*sigh*
not my garden)

beautiful potted plants-
 P Allen smith

organic fertilizer
in a terracotta pot
angelonia blue - 3
fillers  Sweet Caroline - bushy- 3
Calibrichobra- chiffon yellow 3
Macedonia - gold dust

full half day sun
stays moist with a saucer

Outside my window 2012

I love orange lilies and purple loosestrife ( non- reproduce)

loosestrife, lilies and a blue pine

lillies and hydrangias, mugo pine

inspirational photo- not from my garden