Milkweed – Attraction – Butterflies

So…..this is “Milkweed.” Most often seen on farms,  in pastures, along the side of country roads in ditches and we spied two stalks of it ten days ago, right in the center of a neighborhood Daylily bed. We just pulled hard and it came out.  No real roots to speak of, just white dirt covered ends.  So we cut the tops off creating a pencil length stalk and without even washing it off, we put it in a glass of water in the kitchen window. A gardening friend didn’t think it would root or produce anything. 

Well today we looked at it….and there it is – new growth on both stalks. Nearer the top.

We are going to plant it in the garden in a sunny spot. Remember it develops an underground traveling root system so it can spread and become highly invasive – so plant it closer to a wooded area where it can grow without disturbing your more domestic plants and flowers. And once it takes off – do your best to contain its growth. It’s a bit like the herb “mint,” it will spread everywhere.

We only waited ten days for this new growth. Amazing plant life. It cannot stop itself. Nature just keeps on giving. We love it. And very soon we will have “butterflies.” How can you not love this. Pretty exciting!!!

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good

Repeat Client on Mt Eagle

Our repeat client has a woodland property with prolific undergrowth in a bed we created a couple years ago. No budget had been set aside to proceed with any significant  plantings. But since then we have made two attempts at cultivating some wildflower seed. The area is very shady and located in a yard that has very patchy grass growing with a ton of weeds. Unfortunately they keep invading this bed. Native Wildflowers are generally very small at first. Maybe only about an inch tall. It can take up to three years to mature them. It can be frustrating for someone who has little time for care and cultivation. Having said this we have decided to try one more time. In  the interim we have recommended adding a few perennial plants for some growth and color in the bed. While a cost is involved it provides certain growth for our clients satisfaction. They want plants but have no idea how to really care for them.  

We hand tilled the soil aggressively providing holes in the earth so that the seed would absorb into the soil. We used a bag formula of mixed seeds (wildflower) recommended by a farm nursery in MD.

And we added three hardy and well established perennials. Two Day Lilies, one peach and one yellow, along with a shade lover called Huchera which comes in many gorgeous colors. We pushed for this  to help stabilize the bed and to give our homeowner blooms to look forward to. Not being a gardener…. it’s sometimes difficult to persuade folks to invest in plants. Most typically, real hands-on gardeners are quite comfortable spending about $250 for each spring growing season. So we become an advocate for trying new things and actually beginning the process of filling a bed. It’s fun, rewarding and helps the client learn new plants and how much they nurture and enrich our lives. It’s very satisfying to watch plants grow and mature. But it can take some persuasion on our part to help their confidence in investing and planning a yearly budget for plants. Having  said this….. here are photos of the plants we added and our FINAL VIDEO. We saved all the native Virginia  “Violets” in the bed as they are very prolific and a sweet filler to maintain the woodland “look and feel.”  We do like them and nature provides at no cost. And our homeowner has a “honeysuckle” that overhangs the bed. Very natural, free flowing and a lovely aroma.   

We spread two bags of high quality garden soil which we sprinkled in abundance to help hold the wildflower seed mix  in place and in the end, we lightly mulched the entire bed. It provides a finished look, but it also helps to hold our new seeds in place. We are hopeful for our clients benefit. But with huge overhanging limbs of the trees in this very wooded area, SUN is a sparse contributor. It’s all about trial and error. But it is always good to try. We are happy to accomplished this “try” for our homeowner.

“Contessa” says…it’s a all a good thing.

Repotting Houseplants

Remove plant from current pot. Turn your plant sideways, hold it gently by the stems or leaves, and tap the bottom of its current pot until the plant slides out. …

1. Loosen the roots. Loosen the plant’s roots gently with your hands. …
2. Remove old potting mix. ..and discard any dead growth.
3. Add new potting mix. …
4. Add plant. …top off with soil, press down gently to secure.
5. Water and enjoy.

Simple,  but… today might be a perfect day to do this. Purchase a high quality “potting mix.”  Bring your plants outdoors today as we have filtered sun today. Not only will your plants enjoy a clean and larger pot, they will also enjoy the wonderful fresh air today. When you take them back in later today, you will notice a new vigor. They love to be cleaned and cared for. Take a large bucket or bowl outdoors with you and put about 3 inches of water in it. Once you have your plant moved back into its pot, set it in the water and let it drink from the bottom. This way you can see just how much water it’s drinking. In fact, we highly recommend that you water all your indoor plants from the bottom. It’s better for the roots and you are less likely to get bugs, and fungus and avoid overwatering. Place your watered plant back in its saucer and enjoy its revived beauty. We find this so therapeutic, and it’s fun to do. Enjoy your feeling of accomplishment.

“Contessa” says….it’s a good thing.

Gardening in January

We are preparing a list now, of gardening tasks for January. If you have your own ideas, please forward them to us. We will revise our list as your suggestions come in. We are looking forward to hearing from you. Planning now and brainstorming for our 2022 gardening season is essential, so do send us a note with topics you have special interest in. Thank you so much. Stay tuned……

THE GARDEN CONTESSA

African Violets (Saintpaulia Ionanthatha)

African Violets are a very common houseplant. And now that our holidays are past, they are a lovely addition to the house for some pretty decorative indoor color. Very often you will see three of them on a wrought iron vintage garden stand designed especially for them. These stands are becoming more and more rare. They are old fashioned but you can still find them at country antique stores. This small plant is a bit fussy in terms of its care. They have fuzzy looking leaves and prolific velvety colorful flowers and they have an almost continual blooming phase. They are somewhat similar to an orchid, in that once they bloom, their blooming phase lasts fairly long. They are usually very economical, and they will reward you for several years, if cared for properly. A warning; every now and then you will buy a dud. They try, but for some reason they just don’t make it. This is fairly rare but it does happen and it’s not your fault. Violets like to be grown in the plastic pot they come in. Rarely will you need to repot. They prefer a crowded root system with little soil. The soil can recede over time with watering, so you can very carefully add a little with a teaspoon. Bright indirect light is perfect and an east-facing window is best. If you have a spot on a side table under a lamp source, they are very content. Always water them from the bottom. Do not get water on their leaves. Let them sit in a small bowl with one inch of water. Add more, if they drink all of it. Then remove them and sit them on a cloth or paper towel to soak up the residual moisture. Do not water again until completely dried out and their pot is very light weight and is clearly dry. African Violets are pet-safe.

Christmas Cactus – Care

Christmas Cactus is a very colorful houseplant and several of you undoubtedly received one this year.  They are low maintenance and pet friendly. If well cared for, they will grow and bloom for years. It’s well known that if your planter is too large for your plant you won’t have very many flowers. They also don’t care to be repotted while they are in their blooming phase. Chances are that if you received one for Christmas it came in a plastic pot, suited to it’s current size. This plant likes crowded roots so if you like the planter it’s in, chances are you may never need to repot it – ever.

Chrustmas Cactus likes dim or indirect light. A north or east – facing window is best.  Be cautious with direct Hot sun. It will cause it’s leaves to discolor. Cactus flowers are delicate and often fall even with the slightest movement, so once you find a good location, it’s  best leave it be. Do not try to rearrange the plant in it’s pot, as it frankly prefers no touching.

Folks are often very proud of their Christmas Cactus that they have been growing for 20 years or more. So be sure to compliment their achievement…….

“Contessa” says….it’s a good thing…..

Beginners Yoga – early spring….and More

Hello Friends,

We wish to announce our spring Yoga class. We will begin posting the details of our spring class in the PFX Forum Newsletter beginning in January, 2022. Do be on the look-out for it. It just makes sense to give our prospective classmates an overview of what will be included in our curriculum. Several of you may be very experienced in Yoga and we will always welcome your attendance. Our class is designed specifically for “beginners,”. Maybe you tried a class once and were defeated right off the bat. Generally that is because you were not in the right class. It’s so important to start with the basics of Yoga. They are; proper breath, stretch, balance and pose/form. These four components help you discover an inner strength you may not know that you have. But…they are the key to developing a long lasting love of Yoga. Yoga at your speed and level. They will encourage anyone, of any age, to learn a progressive yoga practice at any level, be it beginners, intermediate or advanced. You will gain a self confidence about the strengths in your mind, your body and your spirit.

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We are currently still gardening for a few of you, and our wreaths project is ongoing. Wreath deliveries will commence December 10 – 15.

Do stay tuned to this blog for new offerings. We may conduct private personal “consults” to help folks prepare a plan on paper, for their spring flower/planting season. Meeting up at an outside venue to put pen to paper, and create a personal spring gardening plan. A chance to socialize safely, create some new acquaintance and learn new things about gardening basics. So many things to share and we are told that these “gardening tips” could be useful to so many of you. Your inputs gave us this idea. Thank you!

We may even create a podcast re; Potting 101

Stay tuned for new updates and new offerings from:

Yours truly,

“THE GARDEN CONTESSA”

 

Geranium ……..Tips

Geraniums had a tough start this year. We had so much rain that many of them in the garden centers looked so poorly.  But as the season went along and we dried out finally…..they did revive. This one photographed here didn’t really show its true colors until late summer. This bloom was an October bloom. But it finally pulled itself through and in fact is still blooming

For years we have saved our Geraniums. And so we will with this one.
Our technique is to continue to let it grow in its pot from now until the first frost. They often will give you some very special blooms up through all of the fall season. Their last show !!

Once you feel like it has given you its all, pull it out of the dirt. Lay it on some newspaper in the sun. As it dries out shake the dirt loose. Just let it dry out. Roots and all. The leaves will wither away. You will end up with a stalk and roots. Make sure you let it completely dry out. If we get a rainy day bring it in. Then put it out in the sun again. The real key is completely let it dry out.

When our first cold frost arrives place your Dead Geranium in a dry paper bag. Close up at the top. Put it in the back of an area in your house that is dark and chilly. Done…..

In late April, have a look. It’s probably already grown at least one new green leaf. It’s dormant phase is finished. Plant it in your favorite planter with new soil. Place in a sunny window. Water from the bottom once a week. You will see it will drink the water. It may only grow green until it’s warm enough to place it outside. Before you know it, your plant will revive itself. It’s a miracle. It will bloom and thrive all over again for you.
Try it. It’s simply amazing. We do it every year. It’s a challenge and so very rewarding. Usually it’s an even better specimen.

One year we forgot to bring it out. When we went to the bag, low and behold it not only had leaves, but it also had a bloom.

…..so very amazing.

“Contessa”

Garden URNS / planting can be super fun (Revised)

Garden Urns come in many varieties. They are super fun to plant. Generally they have a drainage hole in the bottom. If this is not the case a layer of pebbles about one inch thick will suffice. If the receptacle is narrow and deep we recommend you line the vessel. You can purchase a coir liner at the nursery. You decide how you wish to cut and shape it. So pull it apart and create your own form. It helps to keep the soil from escaping into the base of your urn. And further, we recommend you use a plastic grocery store bag to line it with. Poke holes in the plastic. You can cut the bags to work for your size urn. No need to bunch it together. Just toss what you will not need. Adding this plastic bag is so important fir water retention. Then add some soil to about half way. We recommend you discard a good bit of the root system of each plant. Start  filling your urn with the plants you have chosen. You can get more plants in the urn if you pull away some of the root ball. Don’t worry, your plants will grow better if the root systems are not too crowded. And frankly crowding them a little once the root ball has been thinned out, will present a beautiful full urn display. Place one dominant plant in the center working around it with smaller plants and around the perimeter of your urn opening is the best spot for trailers  (Ivy; green and verigated, Creeping Jenny, Alyssum, phlox, etc). Insert pockets of fresh soil as you place and turn your urn. If the soil spills over it’s ok.  Once you first water the urn with a light spray,  the plants and the dirt will settle.

If you are lucky enough to have Urns In you planter selection save enough money to really do them up nicely. They will present beautifully and will show so well in their appointed spot. Have fun with the project of planting your Urns  They will thrill you with their beauty.

“Contessa”

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Good Afternoon…. We have completed the Urns project. A few days needed for the plants to settle. Pics will follow. Our homeowner is a fairly new resident of one year. Coincidentally she was a former customer of our store in Delray. Small world once we realized we actually know each other. She has asked us to continue into next week and recreate her garden beds. A new Holly tree was planted at the corner of her property by PFX last year in early fall. During this planting project considerable damage to the Ivy bed that surrounds this tree took place. It just never grew back very well after the crew planted the new tree. Frankly the Holly needs a cleared area in which to grow. It’s being choked. So we are going to clear the entire bed and the Ivy is coming out. We will do some transplanting, trimming of existing bushes, edging/defining the beds and adding some new perennial blooming  plants for the cleaned up beds. We estimate about six to eight hours for this new project. We will begin next week. Happy to help this lovely end unit, in this strip of homes to look so much nicer. We love new projects. Hazzah!

“Contessa”

 

Seedlings….for “dearest”

so….. my dearest had a Birthday. I prepared a cardboard egg carton with “baby Zinnia” seeds. I took one extra step and planted them inside halved egg shells that I had been saving. The calcium shell can go right in the dirt once “dearest” gets ready to plant them. They are the tiny variety and will be about 6 inches tall. Perfect for a smallish vase in the kitchen or bathroom. A nice little project for you to do as well. You can frankly just fill the egg carton with dirt. No need to save egg shells. They will give you the same result. Enjoy!!

We think they are so “sweet.”

“Contessa”