Another deluge on the radar map!

The Amazon Basin is having a drought and we get soaked ... what weather patterns!

The Wayside plants came well-watered and since I was expected (but not wanting) any downpours, I did not water my new plants after I planted them yesterday. I will go out shortly and make sure they look good -- we did not have frost last night, so, so far, they should be ok. I was hoping my tree service would have come by now to take down some more trees, do some cleanup, and leave me a big pile of woodchips to use on my perennial garden, but so far, he has not come. Let's see ... I did say that gardening teaches us that "patience is a virtue"!

Well, I can always cut some spruce branches and gather some decomposing leaves and put them on my plants.

Wayside plants arrived--thank the maker!

My Wayside plants arrived this afternoon:
Spodiopogon sibiricus
Phlox 'David's Lavender'

Penstemon 'Dark Towers'

Leucanthemum superbum

Hydrangea 'Lady in Red' (a lacecap) Helictotrichon (Blue Oat grass)

Clematis 'Jackmanii'

Baptisia 'Solar Flare'

Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' Aruncus aethusifolius (a dwarf goatsbeard)

and a beautiful orange Iris whose name I can't remember for the mo'.

Since both my husband and I were home, we rushed out, uncovered our unfrozen purchased topsoil and peat moss,removed the plants from the box, and planted like madmen, replacing frozen, unappealing in-ground soil with a better mix. The plants were packed well and all were there. They seem in reasonable condition considering the time of year! Wayside assured me in a conversation and by email, that I have until June of next year to let them know if any do not come to life in the spring and that I would get a refund. Obviously, that is reassuring, but I just want the plants to live long and prosper!

I have heard back from Lazy S'S Farm http://www.lazyssfarm.com/index.html) as to whether they sell blooming size perennials:
"Yes, everything is old enough to bloom for the most part. A few plants will not bloom until they are 4-5 years old and they are indicated in the plant descriptions."

I have already made up a wish list and I am seriouly considering the "16 plant special" (20% off ).

Also, I am still reading everybody's "small print" and the reviews on Dave's Garden. I don't know if all this research is making me happier about buying online or learier (is there such a word?).

Stay tuned ...

Dave's Garden & other mutterings

Dave's Garden is a terrific site including a section whereby gardeners rate nurseries they have used: http://davesgarden.com/

I have been researching ordering plants online and for the mo' anyway, I have a queasy feeling about it. After reading the reviews on "Dave" and VERY carefully reading the policy statements on the websites, and because I like to read between the lines, the list of vendors I am considering is getting shorter.

Perennials (http://bluestoneperennials.com/) still on my list. I started to order from them when they were just starting (or close to it). I was always happy with their service and their plants--AND -- you can specify the date of delivery! They sell seedlings and mature perennial seedlings as well as other plants. They have a printed catalog, which means you can read in the bath --at least I do. I also found that many of the perennial seedlings will bloom the first year, albeit as a baby, but bloom anyway! They offer a LOT of plants!

I have also ordered for many years from Gilbert H. Wild (http://www.gilberthwild.com/), --mostly daylilies and some irises. I have always been happy with their stock and have never received a sickly plant. They offer a wide variety of plants. Their prices are very good, especially if you shop the "sales/specials". Thus they are still on my list. They also have a printed catalog.

Lazy S'S Farm (http://www.lazyssfarm.com/index.html) is the next vendor for whom I have high hopes (very good reviews on Dave) but so far I am a bit confused after reading and trying to understand their policy statement. I think I would never want them (or any vendor) to automatically "backorder" any plant. If a vendor doesn't give an option, I will be leary of ordering. They do charge a handling as well as, shipping charge. They do have an interesting "buying" option: buy 16 (or multiples of 16) plants in your order and you get a 20% discount! The shipping and handling charge from Virginia to Connecticut is ~$30. They do not have a printed catalog. They do have a very large variety of plants, some of which are the "hard to come by" types. It would probably break my heart if I heard something untoward about them. I just emailed them a question as to whether their perennials can be expected to bloom the year I plant them. Ordering is not inexpensive, so I would like to see a bloom.

I have to admit that I do have the option of not ordering through the mail since there are many nurseries in my area and I don't even mind a nice drive in the "country" to find a good plant. This gives me option if being very particular about plant prices, handling charges, shipping charges, and any other policies.

Let the buyer beware

Actually this is just a rant at myself because I got carried away by the pretty plants and forgot to remember, and maybe this will give someone else something to consider before ordering this late in the season, at least here in New England -- or maybe you all are more relaxed about it than I am! (I worry at lot.)

Wayside kept sending me all sorts of good sales on "end-of-season" perennials emails and I decided to order. I have never ordered this late in the season and never will again, but it is too late for this order.

I know I am not the only buyer that Wayside has but I guess I assumed they would be shipping out late-season plants super fast. I ordered more than a week ago and I emailed them but when I got back an automated reply saying that it could be up to five (5!) business days before they got back to me, I called them to see if they had any idea when the order would be shipped. They were very pleasant (the order is "on the shipping floor", at least), but as to when it will ship, "maybe" today or tomorrow or in a couple of days. Anyway it will be December before the plants get here, hopefully the first week but maybe the second! I did also get an email reply. Both the live rep and the email were very pleasant, but the fact reminds that I should not have ordered this late.

As I said at the start, this is my fault -- I just got snookered by the pretty face of a plant.

I am also researching "shipping" costs and procedures for the couple of mailorder companies I am thinking of using in the spring. So far, I have some "disquieting" info, but more on that later.

Also, I found a great site: DavesGarden (I have to get the exact name) where buyers have put their "positive, negative, neutral" comments for sellers they have used ... quite interesting.

Where is the right spot for this plant?

In preparation for the arrival of my plants from Wayside Gardens, I decided that I had better finish staking the allotted areas for the plants in general. Although I will probably deviate here and there as to the amount of space, and allow some “drifting” of plantings, I like to start with a framework. I also know that I will buy too many plants and then frantically look for an empty piece of earth -- but at least I know I had good intentions.

One of the “interesting” things with this year’s property renovation is that we have taken down a lot of trees; some new growth and some old. This will change the sun patterns for the property and I am no longer exactly sure of the sunny or shady patches in my new summer perennial border. I don’t think it will change much, but I could be in for a surprise! Well, since there are always some plants that have to move to a different home … now there may be a few extra.

Anyway, I have finished my layout and I have found places for the new plants. The weather is getting colder so I hope my plants arrive soon. I have never planted or transplanted this late in the year. It’s much nicer doing this work in the early fall. I thought that considering the lateness of the season, Wayside would be rushing the plants out, but I guess not. The site still says "not shipped yet".

Tis a puzzlement!

I must be a plantomaniac.

Oh my gosh, just when I closed down the great outdoors—I succumbed! Wayside Gardens has been sending me beautiful emails with all sorts of plants on sale. Each time I get one, I make a list. I then think it over and tell myself: “No, the season must wind down”… and I don’t order.

Alas, I weakened today. The perennials were just too beautiful, so I ordered some! Tonight I will sit around the fire and try to decide where to put them. I know I have to finish my perennial border layout and plant choice so maybe this will spur me on.

I used to order from Wayside many years ago and I was always happy with their stock. I hope they haven’t changed.

If I can’t find just the right spots, I will plant them in a temporary bed and wait for spring. Fortunately, I have a large unused vegetable garden that can be turned into a “nursery”.

Arm chair gardening

Although we have had some good weather for new plantings and transplanting old plants, I guess I became lazy and closed down until spring. I may do some things if my whimsy takes me … but nothing is a “must do” outside except to put stakes into the ground in the summer perennial border marking the individual planting areas within the border. I will be been busy thinking, though.

Must-do thinking:
1. *Which plants should be in the summer border – which are first choice and which are alternates?
2. What to do with the little garden off the kitchen porch?
3. How to work out the” two or three step and flower area” (for want of a better designation) from the lawn area down to behind the perennial border and into the property line shrub border?
4. How to nicely end the perennial bed at the house end?
5. Rework the straight edging where the roses are (and transplant the roses) and the straight edging of the little planting area outside the den window?
6. Since the linden tree (bless its heart) is growing tall and wide and makes marvelous shade, it is shading the little garden bed near it that used to be in the sun. What to put there instead, and where to transplant the climbing roses, privet, Siberian iris, and daylilies that are there now?
7. Since we have removed the “dwarf” Alberta spruce (they may grow slowly but they still grow tall!), we have space in the area for which other plants? Shall I also make the bed deeper?

On the back burner:
The perennial border (which had to be raised on its back edge) is backed by 2x10s with wooden stakes holding them in place. It would be nice to have something more elegant at some point … or maybe not.

My goodness, even thinking is tiring – I need a cup of tea!

Easy & delightful garden plan

I am forever cruising the net looking for landscaping ideas and I just found an absolutely delightful and easy growing full-sun perennial plan. It also helps that the site also included lovely photos of the planting--which include a couple of shrubs. The plants are easy to grow, and except for the sedum that must be "protected" from the d___ deer, maintenace should go smoothly. The border is 24 x 6 feet.

http://gardening.about.com/od/gardendesign/ig/Designing-a-Sunny-Border/
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The following is from the website: Full sun opens the doors to a full spectrum of plant material. The sunny border design illustrated here runs 24' long and is about 6' deep. It would look lovely against a fence or in front of a hedge. The colors here are minimal, mostly shades of purple and yellow. They can be intensified with stronger hued varieties are by adding more hot colored flowers, like orange daylilies or red phlox.
Most of the plants are suitable for a range of hardiness zones, but alternatives are listed. Specifics about each plant follow on successive pages.
1. Buddleia davidii 'Potters Purple'
2. Phlox paniculata 'The King'
3. Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster) 'Purple Dome'
4. Heliopsis helianthoides (Sunflower heliopsis, False Sunflower) 'Golden Plume'
5. Hemerocallis (Daylily) 'Hyperion'
6. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) 'Vintage Wine'
7. Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
8. Achillea filipendulina 'Coronation Gold'
9. Perovskia (Russian Sage) 'Blue Spires'
10. Liatris spicata (Blazing Star) 'Kobold'
11. Coreopsis verticillata (Tickseed, Threadleaf Coreopsis) 'Moonbeam'

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See the website for the alternatives. Also, there are many things of interest on this website. Give it a "look-see"! Hours of knowledge can be found here.