Gardening in My Rubber Boots

Oct 15

What’s Blooming October 15

Here’s everything that’s blooming in my garden this October 15, 2009. Don’t click to zoom — I didn’t realize the pictures were fuzzy until I got them on the computer & didn’t want to do over.

: Heuchera

: White Carpet Rose

: Blue Hydrangea

: Lavendar

: Climbing Rose

: Daphne “Summer Ice”

: Persicaria Affinis ‘Superba’

: Green Hydrangea

: Chocolate Eupatorium

: Dahlia

: Hardy Fuschia

: Toad Lily

: Dahlia after freeze

: Double Old Fashion Rose

: Zinnia

: Smoke Bush

: Hens and Chicks

: Pansy

: Russian Sage

: Dahlia after freeze

: Dahlia after freeze

: “Hot Lips” Sage

: Pink Hydrangea

: Aeonium and Echeveria

: Aeonium

: Aeonium starts

: Rudbeckia

: Knautia

: Ginkgo

: Gooseneck Loosestrife

: Sedum

: Heather

If I’ve named something incorrectly, I won’t be offended if you let me know.

Oct 13

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Time for the House Plants to Shine

The Most Beautiful Begonia

I hate to say it, but if I was responsible for our house plants, they’d all be dead. I may turn them occasionally when I think they’re growing into the sun too much or repot them. Other than that I do nothing.

Now that our outside garden is getting ready for Fall/Winter it’s time for our indoor garden to shine. Since this is where we’ll be hiding for the next six months, we’re happy to have the green and beauty in the house to keep us sane.

Not only do we have the pictured Begonia but we have many Aloe, African Violet, Christmas Cactus, Wandering Jew, Spider Plant, Cacti and a couple random nameless plants. I got most of these plants for free by taking a small cutting from another plant, including the Begonia — we took a cutting from one of my mom’s plants. This is a great and inexpensive way to start a house plant collection.

Some time before our next big freeze I need to dig up the Aeonium in the outside garden and find a spot in our tiny house. They’ll be a nice addition to our indoor winter garden.

Oct 10

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Secret Garden Remodel

How the Front Yard Looks Today

After “discussing” it all morning, I think we finally agree how we’re going to improve the front yard. To start we’re going to turn the grass patch on the right into an oval — giving me a larger shade garden space under the magnolia (tulip tree). Then, we’re going to remove the small hedge and cement pathway leading to the front door. Instead of the rigid cement pathway I’d like to replace it with large circular stones that I haven’t found yet – but will. I also plan to move around a lot of the plants in the garden on the left.

New Front Door Close Up

So the rest of the house matches the new front door, we’re going to add a little brown accent to the inside of our window frames. I hear on these older houses you should really have three colors: your main house color, trim and accent color. We haven’t added our accent color yet .

Now, to figure out where I’m going to plant all those Japanese Holly I’ll be digging up along the front path…

I’ll keep you posted on our progress. We plan to remodel the back yard next to add a patio and more garden space.

Oct 9

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10 – Toad Lily: My Top 10 Favorite Plants

It took me a while to pick my last favorite plant, the Toad Lily. Surprisingly, it beat out Sedum, Echinacea and Red Twig Dogwood.

Random Unmarked Plant from Plant Sale Posted on Twitter

I found this little gem at the Snohomish Garden Club plant sale this past spring. When I brought it home I noticed the tag was missing and had no idea what it was. I didn’t even remember why I picked it out. So I took a picture and posted it on Twitter. Almost instantly my friend Jenn from Wisconsin told me it was a Toad Lily.

It was then that I knew why I picked it out. I love toads and lilies. Why not a Toad Lily?

Still not knowing what a toad lily was, I planted it in a part sun/shade spot by the cherry tree in my back yard. I figured it would stay small and I could enjoy the little spots on the leaves. I’m not sure why I didn’t just Google “Toad Lily” to find out – this is what I normally do with new mystery plants.

Almost six months goes by and I barely notice the plant. Mid summer I did notice it was taller than I expected so I moved it toward the back of the flower bed.

Then, earlier this week I was on Twitter again and my friend Kari from Connecticut posted a picture of her Toad Lily. I’m not kidding you, I opened the link, gasped, and ran to see if mine was as beautiful.

I had no idea. I fell in love instantly.

Toad + Lily + Spots + Beautiful = Top 10 Favorite Plant

My Toad Lily

Oct 6

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Getting Ready for Frost

Well, I knew this day was coming. I even had to scrape the frost off my windshield the other morning. Even though I don’t really believe the weather reports “claiming” we’ll get down to the mid-30’s this week, I figure I’d better be prepared. Most years I cover the tomatoes with plastic to keep the rain from splitting the fruit as they ripen, this year we’re getting right into the frosty weather.

Under the plastic we have six tomato plants, two pepper plants and a lemon grass. It’ll all be worth is if we can get at least ONE MORE ripe tomato.

As you can see, I didn’t cover the roma or cherry tomatoes since they’re too wild to enclose. These guys ripen a lot easier anyway.