Full Summer Swing

One of the benefits of having this gardening blog is to help me plan out my own gardens better. I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally dug up bulbs from spring flowers that have passed their prime when I'm planting a new exciting perennial plant late in the season.  Argh.  The obvious hope is that, with proper documentation, in a few years, our gardens will be full and showy each month of the summer....and also experience less accidental bulb excavation.  A girl can dream, right?  Well, so far all of the pics I've posted have been from the spring, so here are some more recent shots of our summer gardens.

There is the vegetable garden up by the chicken shack.  That tomato plant on the right side of the garden is actually a ROGUE PLANT!  One day we discovered a little tomato foliage peeking up through the forgotten soil mound we had gathered, and so we just went with it!  We credit that sole rogue tomato plant for getting us going on the rest of the garden... and then the clearing began! 

(Left) The lovely Mr. Vernon and his pumpkins.  These things grow noticeably everyday... the pumpkins.  I was feeling ambitious and bought the "Competition Size" seeds... thank you Lucy & Ward for planting them.  (Right) Look at the pumpkins only a week later!

 

The Black Raspberries are coming along beautifully!  Still not enough leftover for jam after the birds got them. But they've been wonderful in smoothies and fresh-squeezed lemon-aide.

Wild Phlox is amazingly showy this year.  Again, this was nowhere to be found last year.  Always exciting to see things comes and go.

and last but not least, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!  

Making Peace with the Black Walnut

Not only did we decide to challenge ourselves this year with attempting to grow a vibrant vegetable garden, but we also decided on a plot that lies just beside a Black Walnut tree.  It is a beautiful spot, but this meant that we had to find Black Walnut-friendly plants that could survive the chemical Juglone that Black Walnuts contain.

Apparently awareness of Black Walnut toxicity dates back to Roman times when the ancient scientist Pliny discovered its poisonous effects on all plants and herbs.  Upon reading about this, my heart sank, but with a little more investigation I found that NOT ALL PLANTS ARE AFFECTED BY JUGLONE!  YAY!  The symptoms of Juglone poisoning include foliar yellowing, wilting, and eventual death.

There are many on line sources that will give you comprehensive lists of plants sensitive and tolerant of Juglone, but I am only including those fruits and vegetables tolerant of Juglone.

Here they are:
-squashes
-melons
-beans (lima & snap)
-carrots
-corn
-beets
-onions
-parsnips
-fruit trees: peach, nectarine, cherry, plum
-black raspberry bush (ours is doing great!)

Only part of our garden is under the drip line of the Black Walnut, so we're crossing our fingers that the tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, cucumber & horseradish thrive since they're just outside of the drip line.  But apparently the soil can become toxic based on the roots of the tree, which most likely extend beyond the drip line.  Still crossing my fingers, but the tomatoes look great so far!

These are pics of the veggie garden plot in the early spring.  I guess the wild grass is Juglone-tolerant?  More recent pics to come soon!

Sometimes I Miss My Urban Container Garden...Just Kidding

I'm one of those people who lives part-time in the country and part-time in the city...sounds great, right?  Hmmm. Well, after having lived in cities for over 10 years, the country has become a real retreat, especially because this is where my husband lives. Anyway, here are some of the gems of the yard, many of which were here before I ever entered into the picture....lucky me. 






Our Peonies this year were off da hook!

I've never been a fan of Roses, but there's something really special about these in their clumsy structure and unassuming flower. 

This was a great year for the Spiderwort!  I don't even remember seeing it there before? Wonderful contrast with the Lamb's Ear.

We have a lovely rocky area in one of our gardens where there are mounds of Sedum that resemble medium-pile chartreuse carpet.  Great for contrasting with the rocks and setting off other things like this gorgeous little Iceplant!

So many gorgeous stone walls here! 

Mr. Vernon contemplating the Hostas.  I went HOSTA CRAZY this year.  I hate buying these things because they're expensive and they do so well when separated and transplanted early season! I especially like remembering who gave me my Hostas.  Some of these are from my Mom's and step-Dad's gardens.

That's Quiche seeking shade under our wild Roses. 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister, JEN!  XXOO

First Post

I am a total novice at gardening, but figuring it out along the way. I like to blame my limited knowledge on the fact that I am required to hold down a regular job. This blog is not solely devoted to my gardens, but to others' gardens, garden design, garden inspiration, new garden discoveries, gardening epiphanies, and more...I will try to resist including pictures of the cats, but who knows, one might creep in there every now and then.

Also, it should be noted that I was deliberating on a title for this blog for quite awhile...one of my favorite names was GARDEN PORN. SO, you've been warned...this blog may display some explicitly beautiful pictures of green things. ENJOY.