Submitted by Joan Regan
August is when I stop and take the time to look around the garden and take notes: what is good, bad, or ugly. What needs separated, moved, or a standing ovation. Now is a good time for a move while there is still time to send out new roots and get acquainted with their surroundings.
I haven’t been cutting my garden back in the Fall for a few years (too much work for this old gal) and so much easier come Spring – and to be honest I do not notice any difference. With all the rain this year the garden has exploded and I am seeing plants I forgot about. Welcome back my pretties, hope you’re here to stay.
Last year I potted up a couple of large containers and in one I plopped a Pulmonaria in just for fun. Well that plant just loves being potted up – it is huge, beautiful and taking up half the pot this year. And to think it was just a tiny thing I saved from the driveway – checking now for more.
DUH moment now (guess my brain thinks I’m still Blonde) – I have three cedar planters on the steps to our “Pet rock” in the driveway. They’re quite old and I was noticing lots of soil under them… hmmm… time to empty them and deal with the Hostas that call them home. So I dug out the plants in the tallest one, a beautiful Gold Medallion Hosta, and she separated into six very healthy plants. Next the soil came out filling my wheelbarrow. Hmm this planter looks OK, even looks reasonably new. Well D—! I emptied and dug out the wrong planter. The other one is still sitting there giggling and spewing out her soil. I was so ticked off with myself I walked away. I potted up the six new ones, watered them, and then laughed at how dumb a trick that was, and I’m running out of pots.
I could write a book on Garden Boo Boos.
Speaking of Garden Boo Boos… I have let a garden out the front get away from me and it is a total disaster. So glad there’s a new Kid In Town – Cheri Janknegt @ And Rod, who is going to give me a hand (more like a rescue). Can’t wait to see the results.
In the meantime, I’m off to dig out some Pulmonaria from the paths and driveway, sure hope they’re as grateful for the rescue as their brother was. Next time I will share a story about Pulmonaria.
Until then, Happy late Summer Gardening,
Joni
jpregan@amtelecom.net 519 596 2389
P.S: Thank you for the messages and calls, so much fun sharing ideas and hints.
