Need Garden Inspiration?

As an aspiring master gardener, I look forward to the Michigan State University/Kent County Extension Master Gardener Tour every summer.

If you are so inclined, join me Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, as I tour and explore private gardens of certified master gardeners within Kent County. I've done this tour for about 3 or 4 years now, and it never disappoints. Beginners and well-versed gardeners will be inspired by the variety of garden designs including shade, full sun, containers, rose, perennials and the list goes on. Master gardener, as well as MSU extension staff are also on site at every tour stop to answer questions and provide advice.

Tickets are $10 and are available at any of the garden tour stops. Visit the Stuck on Gardening page for tour stops descriptions and maps, or call 616.336.3265 for more information.

Good for the Soul, Good for Your Neighbor

A few weeks ago, as I was diligently cleaning up an overgrown bed in my backyard, I spotted my neighbor, Betsy. I invited her and her lab, Moses, to come over and choose from my selection of evening primrose and black eyed Susan, as I was happy to dig up some and give the rest a little breathing room. For the next hour or so, Betsy and I happily exchanged tidbits about gardening, yard work, pets and other small talk. It was really great to share flowers and conversation.

That same night, I read an article in Real Simple magazine about a group of six friends who called themselves the Wonder Weeders. Every Friday, they would get together at each others homes and use their collective labor to garden as team, rotating houses each week. In short, the article discussed how the group got started--through a simple neighborly gesture--and how it grew into eight years of friendships, not only sharing gardening labor, but also personal triumphs, joys and set backs, and learning from each other as well as learning about themselves.

It was a really inspiring and emotional article (if I could find it online, I'd surely link to it), and it really got me thinking about how powerful gardening can be. It is no wonder why there is a such a strong movement with community gardens, corporate gardens and the like. It doesn't matter if the garden is flowers or vegetables, communities, neighbors and friends are getting together to reap the rewards and enjoy the outcomes, whatever they may be.

The Peony Report

Peonies, I miss you already ...

Earlier this season, I wrote about my peonies and my goal for extending their blooms by using tomato-cage style plant supports. I think my efforts did help extend their lifespan, but maybe only marginally. This past week of rain and storms seemed to wash them out pretty quickly. I'll try again next year with better and taller grow-through supports.

Posted are pics when they were in their prime. Also nestled in the south side of my house, adjacent to the peonies, is a giant rosebush. So you can imagine the delicious scent that filtered in and around the house. So sweet and short-lived.

Don't Ditch the Ditch Lily

As you can imagine, I love nothing more than easy going, low maintenance flowers in my garden. Which is why it pains me when other fellow gardeners mock the ditch lily, or rather the tiger lily or orange day lily.

Every gardener has that space--a place where the soil is not quite right or difficult, weeds are prevalent and hard to control, or it's either too shady and/or too sunny. Or, all of the above. My soil happens to be a lovely mixture of clay, so sometimes it's about as easy as digging into concrete. It's these type of spaces where ditch lilies are perfect.

The tiger lily actually comes in two forms--Asian and wildflower. I'm referring to the wildflower variety that propagates through tuberous roots, requiring little to no attention at all. They prefer wet soil and don't mind overcrowding. I've also seem them work great on slopes and hillsides, and of course on roadsides and in ditches. Because they are so prolific, they can really work almost like a ground cover. Some call ditch lilies aggressive, but I wouldn't call them invasive.

It's a tough plant and tolerates just about any type of abuse. And, although its name would suggest otherwise, I think their long stems give them a rather elegant appearance, much taller than other day lily varieties.

Need some, want some? Rather than buying from a greenhouse or retailer, just ask around. You probably already have a group of friends who would love to dig up some and share. You'll be amazed how one small plant or two will fill quickly fill in a space the following year.

My collection of ditch lilies will be my end of summer/fall project, where I'll be moving them from the space they have outgrown in the front yard to a large, hard-to-grow area along the back yard fence (see pics).

Hardy Advice for Those Ready to Dig In

After a couple of weeks now of talking flowers, I was finally able to spend the last few days making real progress in my own gardens. Within my front yard, I had one particular patch that was starting to become a problem because of crowding and overgrowth among some mums, day lilies and the surrounding evergreen shrubs. (Sidebar: That experience alone really illustrated the importance of dividing your perennials every couple of years or so to prevent this from occurring. The best part about dividing is I now have great perennials to add to other locations in my garden or new beds, as I have a lot of projects in mind.)

It was admittedly a little hard to get started. Many of my perennials grew in so fast and so thick this year, I missed out on opportunities to divide, transplant, clean out old growth, pull weeds and other invaders, and the like. So, I'm now turning my attention to those areas that I do have more control over. As you get going in your own gardens this spring and summer, here is a little bit of advice based on my own experiences.

First and foremost, try not to get overwhelmed. My yard is a fairly good size with lots of space and beds that surround the house. I'm always adding new beds, and I never know where to begin. This year, I'm really trying to focus on one area at a time, and think through what I like about it, what I don't like about it, what doesn't look or feel right. It's not always as apparent as you think it would be. Sometimes I just start by pulling weeds and just see where that takes me. I'm definitely trying be a little more intentional with my gardens this year. I have a lot of "grandiose" ideas and I am trying to exercise more self control when I'm roaming the greenhouses.

Secondly, when you are adding new perennials, or dividing and moving things around, there will be some "casualties of war." Transplants will go through a little bit of "shock" in their new location, but just keep them watered thoroughly until they have had time to adjust. I have also experienced the disappointment of planting a perennial and not having it grow back the following year, or worse, having it grow in diseased. It's easy to get discouraged, but just keep trying new things. If you have flowers that are in good shape, but just don't seem to work in your garden, rather than kicking them to the curb, swap them with a friend or neighbor.

Gardening isn't rocket science, but it kind of is, in a way. There are a lot of factors that contribute to a plant's success such as the condition of the plant itself when it is purchased, your soil type, sun/shade and water requirements, pests, and I could go on. If you really want a maintenance-free garden, you'll definitely want to stick to some of the hardy favorites such as hosta, shasta daisy, black eyed Susan, coneflower (pictured) and day lilies.

Lastly, experiment and allow your tastes to change. Just like fashion trends, my style preferences for color, texture and silhouette change every season. Whereas last year, I wouldn't have even dreamed of adding begonias to my annual collection, this year, I can't wait to fill containers with their bright hues. Annuals are a great way to experiment with shape and color. If you find something you really adore, you might be able to find a perennial to mimic the look and feel. There are many flowers that I am excited to experiment with and welcome to my garden this year including hydrangea, Russian sage, begonia, clematis, hardy geranium, fountain grass and dahlia. And, I'm kind of wondering, what took me so long?

I Smell a Great Mother's Day Gift

What mom doesn't love getting flowers for Mother's Day? Sure an arrangement in a vase or hanging basket is great, but a colorful perennial will be the gift that keeps on giving for years to come. Even better, break out the shovel and plant it together.

My top pick is the Invincibelle Spirit hydrangea, another admirable flowering shrub by Proven Winners. In addition to being hardy and a repeat bloomer from spring until frost, for every Invincibelle Spirit purchased, $1 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

P.S. The Invincibelle Spirit stays pink regardless of your soil pH.

Lovely is the Lilac

My favorite part of spring is the scent of fresh rain combined with lilac blooms. Unfortunately, that sweet aroma does not linger for very long. Lilacs are another one of those short-lived spring beauties that seems to fade as equally fast as it blooms ... Until now.

Proven Winners, known for their high-performing flowering plants, has introduced Bloomerang, a new variety of lilac that flowers in the spring, takes a quick break in the summer heat, then blooms repeatedly up until the fall frost. Lilac enthusiasts, such as myself, will appreciate the continuous fragrance, a more compact shape that lends itself well to perennial beds and borders, and an abundance of blooms that are perfect for cutting. Bloomerang is also resistant to powdery mildew, root rot and deer.

Visit Proven Winners to learn more about Bloomerang. They are just starting to arrive at greenhouses and garden retailers. However, I have a feeling these will sell out quickly.