Gardening Buzzkill

If you have gardens, you most likely have pests of some sort such as slugs, aphids and the dreaded Japanese beetle (among several other types of beetles.) Believe it or not, there are several bugs that are extremely beneficial to the garden including ladybugs, soldier bugs and lacewing bugs.

This year, the bane of my existence has been the four lined bug. While this pest is typically attracted to herbs, I have found it feasting on my daisies, Russian sage and in my containers. Four lined bugs suck the life out of leaves, but not the blooms, leaving brown/black spots and often holes that make the plant look more diseased than pest ridden.

Aside from physically witnessing a pest in action, how do you know which are good and which are bad?

Unfortunately, chemical pesticides don't distinguish the beneficial insects from the destructive ones. And although it is tempting to reach for the bottle, there is much you can do control the bad pests long term by encouraging the good bugs through the flowers and plants you choose. Beneficial Insects 101 has some good advice for attracting and even buying good bugs for your garden.

I haven't picked it up yet, but I've also heard good things about Jessica Walliser's "Good Bug, Bad Bug," a gardener's complete guide to garden pests and how to manage them organically.

Great Finds: Vintage Garden Decor

The best finds are always the ones you weren't even looking for.
With a quick weekend stop to your local antique boutique, neighbor's garage sale, or if you fancy, a dumpster dive, you can find a variety vintage items that are both practical and inventive in the garden.

I'm not talking about gazing balls and garden gnomes. Think rustic, yet elegant pieces that can be repurposed to make creative containers, plant stands, window boxes, trellises, garden markers and more. Be on the lookout for items such as old bedframes, ladders, watering cans and pitchers, and my personal favorite, simple aluminum buckets.

Now, I haven't quite gotten into herb and vegetable gardening (yet), but stumbling upon these vintage garden markers from Anthropologie makes me want to start.

At the very least, I'm now intrigued at the idea of treasure hunting for antique silverware and making my own garden markers.

Silverware photo credit: Anthropologie.com.

Master Gardener Tour Wrap Up

I'm a little behind, but didn't want to forget about my stint 2 Saturdays ago, touring the yards of Master Gardeners, thanks to the Michigan State University/Kent County Extension.

This year's tour featured about 7 different homes, mostly on the north side, near Rockford, Belmont and Cedar Springs--large homes with even larger yards, and an abundance of space to prep, grow and maintain. My two favorites both featured garden sheds and benches, providing perfect little places for potting, storage, organization and reprieve from the sun.

I find that the pictures I take each year, really don't do the gardens much justice. Some are so vast and filled to the brim with blooming perennials and annuals, it's definitely best to experience the juxtaposition of plants for yourself. I saw several brilliant combinations that I would have never thought to place together.

I'd like to say that I learned a lot, but the tour was really just about witnessing what others have built over 5, 10, 15+ years. If anything, it validated that garden maintenance is a constant job. If you want your gardens
to continue to look fresh, unspoiled and tidy, your work is never really done. This includes weeding, pest control and dividing perennials. It was also refreshing to know that even masters continue to face the same issues as us amateurs.

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).