Jack and His Bean Stalk

A few gourd seeds sprouted at the base of my metal tree. Photo taken June 26, 2010.

The rain aided the gourds. Photo taken July 12, 2010.

Photo of "gourd tree" taken July 23, 2010

Jack has nothing on me this year, except mine are gourds – not beans.

Because we had to tear out all the plants in our North foundation bed last year, everything in this bed had to be started fresh.

My husband had given a tall metal tree to me a few years ago and it was also reinstalled. I’ve always planted a few annual vines and this year decided to include a perennial clematis. It’s sitting there establishing its root system and not doing much. To quickly cover the metal tree, I planted a few gourd plants.

With the large amount of rain, it’s the year for water loving gourds. They quickly climbed the ten foot tree and have reached for the sky. It’s a daily task to take reaching and winding stems and reposition over the tree. Otherwise, they reach for anything where they can climb and twine – like the shutters, bushes, and other flowers in the bed.

For those of you who have never planted gourds, they are bee magnets. Without the bees, they wouldn’t pollinate and I’d have no gourds. The blossoms are beautiful golden yellow flowers and this year they are plentiful.

I planted the small decorative gourds and the much larger “birdhouse” gourds. In the past, my gourd vines have been adequate but not rampant. Thinking (best laid plans) only a few seeds would germinate, I planted full packs. Thinking (best laid ideas) it would be a meager crop, I then planted morning glory seeds and moon flower starts. Morning glories, strangely, haven’t liked the wet soil but the moon flowers were at the top of the metal tree early in the season.

And then the whole gourd experience: I have gourds that are already as big as my hand and setting many more every day. It’s always fun to discover what a plant likes about what nature throws at us each year. To realize no matter what a gardener may lavish on a plant, it'll still have definite perfect conditions and seldom thrive as well as when its conditions are perfectly met by natural means.

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I may not be Jack with his beanstalk but I’m certainly Diane with her gourd vines. The magic on my vines doesn’t come from a fairy tale, but, from Mother Nature’s record setting rainfall this year. And the only giant I’ll find at the top of my vine is a huge bird house gourd.

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Side Note: A Bishop Hill gardener would like to (informally) get with other area gardeners in the afternoon now and again. Call 309-927-3356 if you are interested in discussing gardening and related topics. There's nothing like visiting with others to add to our friendship gardens.

You Bring the Sun

Helianthus mollis "Downy Sunflower" This picture is from "Annie's Annuals and Perennials" at www.anniesannuals.com A native Midwest perennial sunflower rated for Zone 4.

In my garden is Heliopsis helianthoides "Summer Sun". It's know informally as False Sunflower or Ox Eye. This Ox eye cultivar is compact, clump-forming and about 2-3 foot tall.

This photo is an annual sunflower, in my garden, that sprouted from bird seed. They are often farmed as a crop product. A tall plant with large blooms that provide nectar for insects and many delicious seeds for birds in the winter.

Sunflowers are often overlooked by gardeners - perhaps because they are so easy.

The annual sunflower needs no other help besides feeding your birds sunflower seeds in the winter or a quick throw of some seeds in the spring. Or, plant if you want them in specific spots. I have them sprout from many places and some are pulled because a plant would cause problems but most are enjoyed as a surprise treat.

This is the time of the year when sunflowers come into their own. When most other flowers have finished blooming, a sunflower puts on a show to brighten the landscape and feed the beneficial insects. A field of sunflowers is a beautiful sight as they face the sun with military precision.

In late summer after blooming, the annual will typically have untidy leaves (they may mildew), sometimes bend over from the weight of the head and turn brown. Either pull the plant and cut off the head to dry - or - let it dry on the stem and you will be rewarded with American Goldfinches hanging upside down plucking the seeds. I sometimes do both. Once the cut heads are dry, I lay them outside where I can watch the birds. You can also save the dry seeds and use them in the winter.

Other perennial sunflowers and false sunflowers are more garden friendly but most will gradually increase in clump size so read & plant accordingly. They are ideal late summer cut flowers.

Both annual and perennial sunflowers have been hybridized and size, color and form are many. Not only the beautiful golds, but, now there is maroon, lime green, bright yellow, doubles, frilled, and more. Size of flowers vary and plants are dwarf to ten foot high.

Bees love both the annuals and perennials although they don't frequent the doubles as much. If insects intrigue, you will be amazed at the many different kinds of bees these attract. From a tiny little bee to the large bumble bees. Some are red, others metallic green, and fortunately the honey bee.

Speaking of bees: I have never been stung by a bee unless I've accidentally trapped it on my person (such as bending my arm as it sat on the elbow curve.) I can work in my garden with them buzzing all around and they ignore me. I am simply aware and try not to bother. I also keep children out of those areas during heavy blooming.

Bring a little sunshine into your garden next year by planting or allowing sunflowers.

A Late Bloomer

White Temptation Daylily

This daylily has a long bloom time. The advantage of a near white daylily, it gives so much contrast and light to the beds. For those of us who tend to have lots of daylilies, planting near-whites among the strong colors really makes the differences show. Plus, this daylily has strong features of it's own. To date, there is no all white daylily, hence the "near" title.

Posh Design Daylily

Most of us don't think too much about daylily bloom times until the majority have no more flowers. We lament, "No more daylilies - they're all done." to each other and get a sad wistful look in our eyes.

Crimson Sword Daylily

UNLESS, we have "late bloomers" or a few rebloomers or continuous bloomers. I've never been very good at documenting which of the categories my late bloomers belong. Aside from the ever faithful Stella de Oro, a continuous, I'm just thrilled at any daylily flower lasting late in the season.

Along the Way Daylily

Typically, we in Zone 5 are too far north and have too short a summer to have daylilies rebloom (even if it's bred into their DNA.) Along with other differences in 2010, the early spring coupled with such a moist year has enabled us to see daylily reblooming.

Stella de Oro Daylily

The commercially strong Stella de Oro will bloom on and off most of the summer, especially if it is deadheaded and the seed pods are removed regularly. This characteristic is why many landscapers use it in many of their business designs.

Parade of Peacocks Daylily

Parade of Peacocks is a large spider type and is classified a "late bloomer". Late bloomers for Oakes Daylilies is classified June-July.

Green Flutter Daylily

This beautiful daylily was not bought from a nursery and planted in too much shade. Seldom blooming and looking totally average, I dug it up this year, divided and now have three beautiful lilies in the sun. The green center (eye) glows and it's become a real standout. A great color for late blooming daylilies because it's a time of the summer where a color splash is needed.

Olin Criswell Daylily

Sometimes a bed of all one color makes a statement. I have a bed of several light yellow daylilies out by the red shed. Lots of green/blue grasses and shrubs behind it and it is a nice mellow look. They have been mid to late bloomers.

Lilting Belle Daylily

This is perhaps my last daylily to bloom - stay blooming in my garden AND it has always been my favorite.

Chicago Apache Daylily

Chicago Apache was my first hybrid daylily and still a favorite. I've given starts to many friends over the years and it responds by being even more beautiful. Plant late blooming reds where you can view them all day (mine is right in front of our front porch swing).

Superlative Daylily

Superlative daylily has been blooming since June 12th and it's been divided many times. I'd term it mid to late season. Not an expensive plant but it increases in size quickly, is reliable and always beautiful.

Several garden friends and I laugh at our ability to quickly change gears and forget the gone blooms of the past several weeks and have new blooming favorites. Are all gardeners undiagnosed attention deficit adults - I wonder. . .

As you consider daylilies for your fall purchases, consider a few late bloomers. Many years this will extend the bloom times to the end of August.

Daylilies bought at local nurseries in the fall will be showing the same signs as those in the garden: The bloom time will be over, the leaves will be starting to turn yellow and flop.

I'd resist the urge to trim the leaves back because the sun will help the leaves take nutrients down into the roots and establish the plant.

Keep new daylilies watered this fall. I know it seems crazy that anything would need water but all new plants will need water until winter. As an example, we had over one inch of rain this week and my new hydrangea was dry and had started to wilt.

Side note: To check out more on most of the above mentioned daylilies, see "Daylily Madness" in the index of articles and the look for the daylily name.

AW - the daylilies are done.

OH LOOK, something's shiny over there!

Remembrances

Chanticleer Pear Tree in bloom in the Spring.

Chanticleer Pear in the fall.

When my father passed away in 2004, our church friends gave us a gift certificate for a tree in his memory. We chose this Chanticleer Pear. It's a permanent reminder of him and a thoughtful way for those who chose to honor his memory.

I don't know if you've sent flowers to a funeral service recently, but they are very expensive. Most often they are beautiful but they are either put upon the grave, sent to a nursing home, or occasionally taken home by a family member. Still - they are fleeting.

In recent years, other options have become popular: stone statues (often angels), fruit baskets and house plants are often sent to the service.

If you have friends who will be receiving sympathy remembrances, and if they are gardeners, I suggest a gift certificate at a local nursery. If you use the same amount you would have spent at a florist, it will be a substantial offering.

In addition, it will live in their yard as a sweet reminder of the person they have lost.

Today, we will be giving our friends a gift certificate from Sunnyfield Nursery for our remembrance of his father/her father-in-law.

Sunnyfield is under new owners and right now they have a selection of beautiful hydrangea bushes and other trees and bushes. I'm sure our friends can find something that suits their taste and location. At this sad time, I hope looking forward to planting something in memory of this good old farmer will bring a memory of the years he tended the soil.

Gramma, the sun is shining!

My almost three year old granddaughter (pictured eating strawberries) stayed all night with us last night. When she awoke this morning at 5:55 a.m., she immediately sat up and said, "Gramma, the sun is shining - it's a good day." Out of the mouths of babes!"

Sometimes I forget the beauty of things like "the sun is shining". Gardeners, above many others, have the up front seat to the beauty of nature. Something I shouldn't take for granted and shouldn't be too busy to notice.

And so, what's pretty in your garden this especially beautiful Sunday?

I have an unknown variety of hosta that is just beginning to bloom. The flowers are white and have a very strong jasmine fragrance. It's a hummingbird and butterfly attraction.

The cleomes are spreading and have filled in next to the daylilies that have stopped for this summer. They're so light and airy with pink and white flowers.

Just beginning to bloom is the bright yellow and very tall Rudbeckia called Golden Glow. The leaves are dark green and it will now bloom until about frost.

The Amaryllidaceae (called Naked Lady by locals) are blooming about a month ahead of typical. They bloom a lavender shade of pink (or a pink shade of lavender) and have a heavy fragrance.

Coneflower, black eyed Susan, bee balm, turtle head and some varieties of sedium have all begun heavy bloom time.

And last but not least, the humidity has lowered and I have the doors and windows open. Even though my hotsy totsy weather gauge says it's 112 in the sun, it is a beautiful sunny day.

Serenity Now

I'm a Board member at Freedom House, the women and children's domestic and sexual abuse shelter and advocacy center. It serves five counties: Henry, Bureau, Marshall, Stark, & Putnam.

The calming effect of gardens, both decorative and vegetable, can help those who have suffered from violence, both physical and emotional. The sounds, the labor, the colors, and even the arrangement can add to the soothing effect.

Sometimes we don't take the time to soak up the benefit to our emotional well being a garden can bring. Not only those who suffer the effects of abuse but for the many who suffer from noises, stress, and pressures of everyday life.

Water features have become extremely popular again. Always a fixture in gardens even back BC, water features come and go in style and popularity. Today, there is something for most every garden: A small table top device for the office, a wall-hung unit for an apartment balcony, a bird bath, a fish pond, a water fall, or a lake are all options depending on space, funds, and how much work you want to do to maintain.

The sound of a water feature can mask out irritating noises of the city, apartment & suburbia neighbors. For some, the sound of moving water is soothing. For me, I find it similar to fingernails on a chalk board but I'm probably the exception.

Another benefit of a water feature in a garden setting - it typically attracts birds.

The colors of a garden may determine the calming level. Hot colors tend to excite - cool colors tend to calm. If your landscape is big enough, having pockets of both may fit your changing moods.

Here are some suggestions for a "serenity space":

• Soften the background with tall trees & bushes in green. A mix of shade and sun is optimal.
• Provide a place for insect free shade.
• Pastel flowers on bushes and perennials typically take less care.
• A water feature that will add serenity and not add to your work load.
• If you enjoy gardening, a bed of flowering annuals and perennials.
• Make sure you have flowers & herbs that have a scent mixed into your garden. Consider Oriental Lilies for years of carefree enjoyment. Lemon Balm, Basil, Oregano all have heavy scents. Place those plants close to where you will sit/walk.
• Provide comfortable seating.

This may sound like a lot but it doesn't need to be huge or lavish. Here are some ideas for simple or small:

• If trees and bushes aren't an option, consider a screen made from lattice, metal or blinds.
• If you have no grass, consider a rug made from anything that won't rot: bamboo, plastics, wood, or painted.
• Curtains made from material. Heavy for rain and sun protection - net for insect or semi protection. Something as simple as stitching together material from bright used clothes and hung on a piece of clothesline will suffice.
• Lights: Candles, twinkle lights, oil lamps, solar powered - the list is expansive.
• Pots of flowers: Situated around the seating area. Although they must be protected from freezing in the winter, small trees and shrubs can block views and noise.
• Take all your old bed pillows away and get fresh new ones. THEN, cover the old ones in pretty covers to fit your mood and have available for lounging. Throw in a large trash bag and return to the closet or garage until the next time. (Rain & insects do ugly on these.)
• Do not listen or watch the television, computer or radio in the serenity area. If you must have externally produced sound, consider soothing music but remember your music may not sooth others and that should be a consideration.

Serenity now? It's possible!

Freedom House hot line: 800-474-6031 or call 911 for emergency situations. The local police work with FH and abuse victims.

To learn more about Freedom House or to contribute:

http://www.freedomhouseillinois.com/

What's Up?

Black-eyed Susans

What's happening in July in our gardens:

Young Canada geese fledge.
Wild turkey hens re-nest.
Second squirrel litters are born.
Weasels breed through August.
Cicadas and katydids start singing. (Started this past week here)
Black eyed Susan and Prairie Blazing Star bloom. (Mine started last week)
Young bald eagles fledge.
Young raccoons leave their dens.
Rattlesnake master blooms. (Been blooming for several weeks)
Tiger salamanders change to adult shape.
Young hummingbirds visit feeders.
Blackberries and mulberries ripen (Mine are about done.)
Quail (bobwhites) hatch.
Lizard eggs hatch.
Wood ducks fledge and biologists start banding them in the open.
All this thanks to Jeff Lempe, Peoria Journal Star

What's happening in my yard:

The walnut trees have started to loose their leaves.
Curly cabbage and horseradish have been severely eaten by earwigs.
Red cabbage is doing good.
The first tomatoes have started to turn red/ripen. Many garden plants are about a month late.
Blooming plants are still about a week to a month ahead of typical.
White Turtles head is just starting to bloom.
Except for a few very late bloomers, daylilies are about done blooming.
Many annuals are just starting to get really robust - most do well with dryer weather.
Some hosta have finished blooming and others are just starting.
Many ornamental grasses have already set seed heads.
There are little frogs and toads everywhere.
Trumpet vine blooming - clematis finished. Some honeysuckle still blooming.
Dusty mildew on phlox, honeysuckle, lilac, dogwood and other things to a lesser degree.
Japanese Beetles are going full bore - earwigs have slowed.
Phlox that I didn't pinch back are blooming - others are just budding.
Some areas are dry and ground cracked - others are still wet.

Here's something to watch for:
Humidity comes and goes this summer - mostly comes. It encourages mildew and mold. There are powders and sprays for plants, but to be effective, it must be applied early and often (after every rain) and on both sides of the leaves.

If you don't have air conditioning or run dehumidifiers, watch for both in your home and on wood furniture. Mildew is white/gray and mold is black. Both in the house and outside, they can cause allergic reactions - sometimes serious in the vulnerable.