Book Review: The Plant Lover’s Guide to Hardy Geraniums, by Robin Parer.
If you love Geraniums, you will love this book. If you don’t love Geraniums, this book may plant the seeds (or perhaps a division) of Geranium love in your gardener’s soul.
When I’m gardening, I like to think about the garden. Or better yet, think about nothing at all, just soak in the ambiance. This doesn’t always happen, though.
Sometimes when I am gardening I’m absorbed with thoughts of other stuff, especially work stuff. Frequently this involves reenacting conversations that could have gone better, with me playing the role of all participants (a sort of one man show).
This is going to be a short post, because I got up too early today (too early for a Saturday, anyhow) and drove to another city and had meetings and then drove back and so now I am tired.
Anyhow, today is Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day, sponsored by Cristina of My Hesperides Garden. And I’m taking this opportunity to highlight three grasses that are really outstanding in the fall. None of these grasses are new to readers of this blog. If you have a problem with that, that’s just too damn bad.
So I never did tell you about the time Judy and I motored down the Skyline Drive in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, did I? This was back in late April, after visiting friends near Baltimore and then Tammy of Casa Mariposa in northern Virginia.
It is my contention that Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are underused, and Chrysanthemums overused, as fall annuals.
At my annual checkup I was told to try walking for a half hour every day in addition to whatever other exercise I was already doing. Luckily for me, the Lurie Garden is just about 10 minute walk from my office.
It’s been a fairly warm autumn so far. Leaves are slow to color, flowers to fade. Though they certainly are fading.
I’ve read that New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is an important source of nectar for Monarch Butterflies on their southern migration. From casual observation, though, I have to conclude that Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) is a much bigger draw for Monarchs and other butterflies as well.
Bees, are a different story, though. Right now the New England Asters are covered with bees of many kinds.
Having just watched the second presidential debate, let me say this: let’s talk about butterflies! I mean, who doesn’t want more butterflies around? They add not just movement and beauty, but really a kind of magic to the garden.
I got home from work today to find two boxes waiting on the steps for me. Both contained plants. One was from Prairie Nursery in Wisconsin, the other from Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota.
gardeninacity 