Lunch with garden eye candy

A visit to a private club's garden. Mostly shade plants.

Dispite the lack of rain, I have beets, letttuce, and sunflowers, at the left end of the box.

A view from my kitchen door to my back garden. I have finally reach the point of having to divide plants. It took 3 growing seasons.

Red door with clear glass, changed to new color, and leaded glass. The new color was suppose to be dark grey, but it's kind of greenish blue. I put white primmer under, but I like the color very much. The house will be four years old in the Fall.
I changed the glass for privacy. It also makes pretty, ligjt prisms, in my foyer.

THE FOLLOWING WAS SO GOOD I BORROWED IT FROM 'THE CASUAL GARDENER"

Secret Recipe For Drought Tolerant Container Garden Soil Mix

Monday, June 25, 2012

Secret Recipe For Drought Tolerant Container Garden Soil Mix

This has been one rough season for container gardens in the Midwest. Hot. Dry. Sweltering. No rain. That has been the forecast day-in and day-out. I have done rain dances, prayed to the gods, and of course drank margaritas; all with very little success. One thing that has really helped my containers hold on this heavy drought season is my super-secret container formula and planting techniques which have kept the containers fresh even though I water them only about three times per week.
Above you see by one of my containers that my technique is a success. The container is a mix of Proven Winners annual plants - Supertunia Watermelon Charm, Superbells Grape Punch Calibrachoa, Superbells Yellow Chiffon Calibrachoa, and Illusion Midnight Lace Sweet Potato Vine.
When you shop at a nursery and buy a pre-planted container, chances are the containers will be planted with the soilless mix that the nurseries need for their specific growing conditions. In other words, they water very heavy every day and do not want the soil to hold the water in the container so the plant will not suffer root rot. Therefore, when I get a pre-potted plant, I always tear the planting apart and replant it in my own secret fantastical soil mix which holds water close to the roots longer and helps build a healthier plant.

SECRET SOIL MIX FORMULA

1. 1/2 Organic Potting Soil (I use Organic Mechanics)
2. 1/2 Rotted Composted Manure
3. Organic Fertilizer (I use Jobe’s Organic Granular All-Purpose Fertilizer)
4. Actino-Iron Soil Additive

Here is why I add each item in the secret mix:
#1 is REAL SOIL, not a soilless mix, so potting soil is usually a healthy mix of ingredients that will hold water consistently.
#2 is compost with a nitrogen content and some amazing microbes mixed in. Composted manure is always a great water retentive product that is beneficial to both containers and ground plantings.
#3 is a fertilizer. Annuals such as petunias, geraniums, and calibrachoa can always use a little extra oomph to help them grow because they are heavy feeders.
#4 adds Iron and a fungicidal bacteria called Streptomyces lydicus that strengthens the roots. It enables the roots to uptake both water and nutrients better, by enhancing the root structure.

Above is a video of the television appearance I made in New Mexico last week demonstrating container planting techniques. If you want a planting demonstration, please watch the video.
Special Note – Because the FTC requires it, I am letting you know that Proven Winners, Organic Mechanics Soil, Jobes Organics, and Natural Industries supplied the plants, soil, and soil additives I used in this garden post. I donate a large portion of the vegetables I grow in my soil-improved garden to the local food pantry when harvested.

Many new bugs in the garden.

Can anyone tell about these beautiful beetles. They are gold and green iridescent, with a circle of glistening diamonds. I am sure they are harmful.

Hypertufa

Hypertufa is popular for making garden ornaments, pots and land forms. Hypertufa is relatively light compared with terracotta or traditional concrete and can withstand harsh winters, at least down to −30 °C (−22 °F).
Hypertufa is an anthropic rock made from various aggregates bonded together usingPortland cement.

 
 http://www.youtube.com/embed/RcRJ2XbPA3I

A pause in the day's occupation...

It never ceases to amaze me how fast the veggie garden grows. In a matter of six weeks I will be harvesting cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, radishes, beets, and lettuce, from this tiny garden. The neighbors can't wait either.

It seems more like July, then the end of May here in Western New York, and the bugs think so as well.
Battling Japanese beetles, and slugs, are already a challenge.

We've come a long way since 3 years ago, testing and moving plants for more or less  sunlight for growth.
We discovered that the slope of the land causes the water to run down, and allows for better growth in that area. No matter how much we water the plants and shrubs in the higher area, they still do poorer then the ones in the lower area. So we are planting accordingly. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

Something pretty

A few left over bits of color from an arrangement, to color up a cold grey winter day.