http://statebystategardening.com/ga/blog_01_summary/ en connicotti@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-21T02:12:49+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/learn_to_create_mesmerizing_bonsai/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/learn_to_create_mesmerizing_bonsai/   To me bonsai has everything wonderful wrapped up together: nature, gardening, history, art, mystery, even spirituality. One speciman reflects years of purpose, of direction that shaped and committment by someone to care for this tree or shrub, to make little adjustments and keep it happy. I truly appreciate the art and love to look at bonsai. If you also like bonsai, then it is well worth it to see the bonsai collection at the Monastery Greenhouse located at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit off Highway 212 in Conyers, Georgia (www.bonsaimonk.com.) But if you want to try to train a bonsai yourself, there are a few classes scheduled that can help you get started: Bonsai 101 begins at 10:00 am on February 25th at Smith Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw. The affordable $15 fee includes admission into the gardens. Call 770-919-0248 or visit www.smithgilbertgardens.com for more information.  Beginning Bonsai also starts at 10:00 am, but a few weeks later, on March 17th, at Hills & Dales Estate in LaGrange. Each participant will plant and prune a small outdoor bonsai to take home, learn training techniques and get book suggestions. They ask you to bring small pruners if you have them. $35 per person includes garden admission. Pre-registration is required. To register e-mail info@hillsanddales.org or call 706-882-3242. 2012-02-21T01:12:49+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/are_your_tools_ready_for_spring/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/are_your_tools_ready_for_spring/   Last summer my riding mower had a run-in with an ax lying in the field. The mower shaved a chunk of metal from the ax and kept going for the rest of the season, although she acquired a creative tilt to the cut. So I called GreenSouth Equipment in Athens to see how I could bring her into the shop for maintenance. The next morning I parked the mower in my back yard before I left for work, they picked it up and delivered it back to me that evening with a level deck, maintenance package done and some service advice (adjusting two bolts will lessen the wear on the deck – I can do that!) From now on my mowers get tune-ups in January instead of waiting until March when everyone is trying to get their equipment running.   People who can tune up their own equipment have my utmost respect, but even they should try to tend to their garden equipment and tools now instead of waiting until spring garden chores demand our time. So tune up the mowers, edgers, tillers and more, sharpen tools, clean out the garden shed or garage now - you will be so glad you did in a few weeks once Spring has sprung. I’m excited that my mowers are ready for spring – so excited I may clean my tool cart and sharpen my shovels this weekend. Photo from www.deere.com 2012-02-02T11:03:19+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/garden_lights_at_the_atlanta_botanical_garden/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/garden_lights_at_the_atlanta_botanical_garden/ Kudos to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for creating a magical world that brings families and friends together, outside, in a garden during the holiday season! Sunday night a friend took me to see the Garden Lights exhibit and it is amazing: not only the lights, but the entire atmosphere and being surrounded by a crowd truly enjoying themselves and each other. The only grumpy one I saw there was a toad with an attitude inside the Conservatory - definately wanted us out of his life. Log onto the Atlanta Botanical Garden website for more information and tickets. They were sold out the day before I went, so you may want to purchase your tickets online.    2011-12-20T10:37:04+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/freshen_and_protect_your_plantings_with_mulch/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/freshen_and_protect_your_plantings_with_mulch/   I'm so lucky to have a long asphalt drive under mature pines, because whenever the pine needles fall I can run out with my rake, scoop up fresh mulch and remulch the front beds. Extra mulch is piled up for later use (and becomes the favorite cat napping spot). Weeding the ground and mulching your plants for winter has oh-so-many benefits. First, just the action of getting beside each plant long enough to weed (and it doesn't take that much time) gives you the opportunity to notice what is going on with your plants. Are they ready to divide? In Georgia, now would be a fine time to divide perennials. Would cutting off the spent flowers make it more attractive? Would moving this plant to a different spot be wise? Second, it looks good - really good. If you want your home looking great for a party or the holidays or, even more important, to make you happy, then a fresh layer of mulch is a quick fix. It unifies the landscape, makes a clear definition between lawn and beds and freshens the whole garden. That and a couple flats of annuals can work wonders. But mulch can also keep your garden healthy. It's like putting down the winter blanket for your plants, keeping soil temperatures constant for plant roots (which grow year-round in Georgia). Mulch also stops rain from splashing soil onto the plants, eroding soil, or creating that hard crust that can form on top of soil. It discourages weeds from growing and makes them easier to pull when they do grow.     2011-11-23T10:26:20+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/falls_magical_light_and_colors/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/falls_magical_light_and_colors/   Fall is a wonderful time of year for color - not only the rich golden and burgundy foliage colors, but the vivid blue sky and change in light quality, angles and patterns. The sun moves quickly in the sky at this time of year, rising and setting further south, staying at a low angle that streams into our windows and disappearing early in the evening. The sun and light are dancing with the foliage, creating wonderful shadows and colorplays in the garden. Grab your camera or a glass of wine and stroll about the garden as the sun rises in the morning or is about to dip below the horizon in late afternoon. The play of light and color will amaze you. You spend time weeding and planting and mowing - make sure you are also spending some really seeing what is in your garden. A stroll through your garden can add perspective and relaxation in this busy world. It could also be a budget-friendly, romantic date with your spouse or a memorable moment with a grandchild. You may also get a few photos worth framing or turning into a gift, a greeting card or a Facebook post. So for just a few moments in this magical time of year stop the overwhelm, step outside, and indulge in a few oohs and ahhs.  2011-11-07T12:00:06+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/time_to_order_bulbs/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/time_to_order_bulbs/ I swear waiting for Hurricane Lee to arrive with much-needed rain for my garden is torture! So to distract myself from looking out the window every 30 seconds to see if it is raining yet I decided to place my orders for fall-planted bulbs. They will arrive to my garden when it is time to plant them, sometime in October. So instead of the typical ‘Fall Planted Bulbs’ discussion, today I’ll just chat about the bulbs I ordered and why and a few that I recommend that are already in my garden. From Brent & Becky’s Bulbs: Brent Heath spoke at the Perennial Plant Association annual meeting in Atlanta this summer, so my order reflects the notes from his inspiring talk.  Daffodil ‘Monal’ is an early bloomer that takes the heat, and ‘Katie Heath’ performs well in the South, even in Dallas, TX. I definitely could use early bloomers in my garden. Although I have hundreds of daffodils, my garden seems to start blooming a week later than many others, so this year 'February Gold' is also on my list. When placing orders for daffodils, which are very long lived and deer-resistant, choose early, mid and late bloomers to create a long season of cheerful flowers each spring. I’ve chosen a few Ipheions, which Brent suggests scattering in the lawn, and Aliums, ornamental onions that come in many shapes and colors. Both are inexpensive, which makes it easy to try them out. I rarely order tulips, but ‘Lilac Wonder‘ is starred in my notes and too pretty to not order. From Old House Gardens: This mail-order nursery specializes in heirloom bulbs and this year most the bulbs I chose date to the turn of the 17th Century. The exception is English bluebells, which date back to 1200. I also ordered Spanish bluebells and both like dry summers and shade – that I’ve got! The sternbergia looks like a big yellow crocus that blooms in fall and the sowbread cyclamen (which may not do well south of Athens) has leaves as pretty as its blooms. From Lushlife Nurseries: I found out about this South Carolina nursery at the Garden Writers annual meeting last week. One of the few treasures in the garden surrounding my 50 year old house is a hymenocallis, a relative of amaryllis with large leaves and white blooms. When I received a small crinum bulb (also related to the amaryllis, rain lilies, and hymenocallis) last week from Lushlife Nurseries I had to find out more.  This blog post was a great intro. I couldn’t leave the Lushlife website (www.jenksfarmer.com) without ordering ‘Bradley’. You can buy a bulb for yourself or send a gift box to a friend for a few dollars more, which is less expensive than most gifts and will bloom for decades! Expect this order to come quickly; there is no need to hold these bulbs for later planting. Favorites that I already have and heartily recommend you order: From Old House Gardens: A Fall Planted Sampler. Just let them send you bulbs that will do well for your planting zone. It’s a great way to discover something new. From Brent & Becky’s Bulbs: ‘Fragrant Rose’ daffodil, which is not only beautiful, but really does smell like a rose – a great conversation piece. From your local garden center: Just about anything that inspires you, especially if the bulbs look fat and healthy and the photo inspires you. Indulge! Ooh, I hear rumbling. Finally, the rains are coming!!! 2011-09-05T21:39:18+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/more_glass_garden_sculptures/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/more_glass_garden_sculptures/ I had so much fun with Shirley learning how to create garden sculptures from flea market glassware (July 2011 issue of Georgia Gardening, pages 56-57), that I went shopping for more glass to create more sculptures and invited a friend over to join me. I had found some old Coke bottles in my father’s garage closet and then bought old-fashioned Coke glasses in the dollar store. Together they made a cute garden ornament that rests on a piece of rebar in the garden. Glasses and matching bowls from the garden store became mushrooms. A little glass swan became the finial on my friend’s tower sculpture. We debated over whether or not one wine glass was just too pretty to use, but cut glass catches the light so well in the garden. This is a fun project to do with friends - just remember not to move your sculpture for 24 hours after you have created it. Your friends will have to return to pick up their creations. I have had one seal break and just cleaned and reglued it. Remember what Shirley told me: “These are not created as forever pieces. You are not creating these to put in your will, although a couple of friends have asked.”   2011-08-01T09:52:51+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/this_heat_is_a_trial/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/this_heat_is_a_trial/   “If you want to see a trial garden in Georgia, come in July and August -  that’s when the plants are really tested.” I’ve heard Allan Armitage say that more than once, so during a lunch break at a writer’s conference I walked the couple blocks to see what the Trial Gardens at UGA looked like. It was full, full sun at 1:00 and the thermometer said HOT! but a few plants surprised me. Actually, most of the plants looked good. Keep in mind, these plants are being trialed (some already on the market), but they had to pass a lot of tests to get to this point. Now the best of the best are growing side by side to see which really can take the heat and humidity. The calibrochoas were all impressive in baskets, as they are on my deck. The rudbeckias looked good, especially the annual ‘Prairie Sun’. Angelonia was thriving. The geraniums and gallardias looked healthy and full of buds, but looked like plants that needed constant deadheading to really look sharp. Heucheras were both good and not so good, depending on the variety. The pulmonarias were impressive, except for one that was in full sun at 1:30. Surprises? Caladiums, which seemed to have fallen out of vogue, but, oh my, can they perform - both in my garden and at the trial garden, which were trialing the bulbs for www.classiccaladiums.com. I never want my shade garden to be without caladiums again after seeing how they have handled this summer; you can bet I am going to check out that website. Another surprise was papyrus, known as a water plant. Two specimens in containers looked great. At the Perennial Plant Symposium in Atlanta this week, Dottie Myers commented that a papyrus in a container was her dad’s favorite plant in his garden. But what looked great that you can get now? Many of the perennials there are available and one fun workhorse is Rudbeckia ‘Henry Eilers’, which has tubular petals that create a fun, sculptural flower in your garden on a taller, perennial plant. ‘Georgia Peach’ heuchera looked good and who can resist that name and the peachy-caramel color? If you are in the Athens area, check out the garden on campus or any botanical garden or garden center. The true performers will stand out, so take notes on what you want to add to your garden for next summer’s display. 2011-07-23T22:45:47+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/uga_trial_garden_open_house_june_25th/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/uga_trial_garden_open_house_june_25th/   The UGA Trial Gardens is hosting a Public Open House on Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m.  The garden will be featuring guided tours with Dr. Allan Armitage, a plant sale, heirloom tomato tasting, and a book sale/signing. A $5 donation is requested upon entry (make checks payable to "The Gardens"). For more information visit: www.ugatrialgardens.com or email contact@ugatrialgardens.com. I’ve been to many open houses here and it is well worth a drive. Here’s my list of essentials to pack: Hat, water, and sunscreen. There are many wonderful things in this garden, but not a lot of shade. Totes. Who can resist a plant sale? So, since you know you are getting plants, come prepared. Clear out your trunk and bring a wagon or a couple totes to carry the plants. I love the bright plastic, round totes with handles that you can smoosh together to carry in one hand. Camera. Oh my, if you love taking pictures you will love this garden! Paper and pencil or a smart phone to take notes. Stamina. Yes this is a great open house, but Athens is full of wonderful restaurants, specialty nurseries and gardens. Do a little research and plan a whole day. 2011-06-10T10:13:43+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/put_your_annuals_to_work_while_you_go_on_vacation/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ga/blog_01/put_your_annuals_to_work_while_you_go_on_vacation/ Leaving town for a week or so? That’s the perfect time to revamp your annuals. Cut off spent blossoms, cut back lanky plants, apply a dose of liquid fertilizer if appropriate, and then leave. While you are reviving, so are they! While you have your nose in a great beach read or the amazing view, your annuals are making new flowerbuds and fresh foliage. Shortly after you return, they will reward you with a new flush of blooms and healthier foliage. This can work for reblooming roses too. If you have had a flush of blooms come and go, give the shrub a shearing and let it start producing another set of blooms. Instead of sporadic blooms all summer, you can create more impact with periodic shearing, producing shorter, bushier plants and periods when blooms cover the plant.   Whether or not you stay in town, cutting late summer/fall blooming perennials now will result in more blooms and stockier plants. Cut your perennial sunflower, mum and aster plants back by 1/3 to ½ for a better display in fall (the deer took care of my sunflowers for me this year, but with deer spray they will still recover and bloom in a few months).   2011-05-31T00:25:41+00:00