Category Archives: to do

Winter Arrives

berms, rambling thoughts, seeds, the Lot, to do

In our area of Zone 6a of the midwest US, I have mixed feelings about the winter months. I enjoy fresh snowfall and snowy days curled up on the couch with the four-footed garden management. For me, it allows a type of recharge, both physically and mentally. We gardeners in this corner of the Blue Dot do not have many months to spend in the garden. However, we hit it hard when we do. Now is a time for rest… and daydreaming about next season.

Most of the plants on the Lot have been hibernating for a solid month or so now. The only activity has been from the Hellebores as the temps flux up and down. “Winter Interest” can only do so much to counter consistently gray skies and rain/snow sleet mix. There isn’t much sun to speak of to show off all those carefully planned arrangements of brown in the garden beds. However, today we had our first good snowfall. The Lot was blanketed in a cozy cover of white fluff. Winter is fully here, which means Spring is on the way.

Big Dreams in All the Spaces

As we wait for Winter to play its part, I’m already thinking of plans for the Lot this year. Here are a few I’d like to log and revisit later:

  • Plant a sedge lawn
  • Create a rock garden berm
  • Plant more Mexican sunflower in the back garden
  • Try again to start some annual ornamentals from seed

TOTALLY doable in one season, right?

The Darkside – Shade in the Garden

education, to do

Some gardening friends and I recently attended a brief spring garden series. One evening focused on Shady Characters – Plants for Shady Areas presented by Kim Davidson, a local horticulturist. She did a great job covering what to consider when evaluating a shady area of the garden. There is not only the type of shade present at a given time during the day, but also soil moisture and soil fertility.

3 Shades of… Shade

Yes, there is more than one type of shade. Crazy; I know.

  • Light Shade: partially filtered sun with about 3-5 hours of direct sun (remembering afternoon sun is warmer than morning sun)
  • Moderate Shade: little direct sun as in under a shade tree canopy; light is usually reflected
  • Dense Shade: no direct sun as in under a conifer or on the north side of a home

If there is a shady area to plant, keep track of how the shade changes throughout the day. I learned this the hard way when planting an astilbe last season in what I believed was a shady area. In actuality, the area was blasted with about 4 hours of afternoon sun. “Sizzle” went the astilbe. “Whoops” went the gardener.

Soil Moisture

When choosing shade plants, also consider the soil moisture level of the shady area. Overhangs on homes or shade tree canopies will keep rainfall from the plants below. Trees and shrubs will compete with smaller plants for water. Plants tucked beside a fence or in a lower, shady area of the garden on the other hand may receive plenty of moisture.

Soil Fertility

Again, shade plants living in the shadow of trees and shrubs will find themselves competing for soil nutrients. According to an University of Minnesota article on shade gardening, “a spring application of a balanced fertilizer, followed by one or two applications as the season progresses” should help. Most shade plants enjoy soil rich in organic matter. Woodland wildflowers are a natural example of this as they thrive in the layers of decomposing leaves on the forest floor.

Plants for the Lot

The north side of the house has dense shade and is in dire need of something to soften the transition from lawn to foundation. The finch feeder hangs near that back window, so we’d like to camouflage the discarded thistle seed shells. I’ve plunked a few plants back there knowing they “like shade,” but now feel much more confident about what to seek out. Since there is an overhang on the house, plants which are able to grow in drier soil would be a good choice. Here are a few to try:

  • Epipmediums (Epipmedium): hardier varieties okay in dry soil; spider-like flowers with leaves that turn in the fall
  • Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra): chartreuse in color to brighten shade area
  • Siberian Iris: move from another bed on the Lot?
  • Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum): white flowers and great scent

Happy Earth Day 2013

education, fellow gardeners, to do

According to the Earth Day Network, April 22nd (Earth Day) “marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.” The newly founded holiday united people from both ends of the political and socioeconomic spectrum. It also led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States.

This past Saturday, our city’s zoo held an Earth Day celebration. Though it was freezing and I could barely feel my fingers afterward, I really enjoyed chatting with the local organizations who where set up around the zoo. They had some great educational resources I can put to use on the Lot, and opportunities to fulfill the volunteer hours required for the Master Gardener Volunteer certification.

Wild Ones

This not-for-profit, national organization was founded in 1977 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Local chapters focus on sharing information with the community about landscaping with native plants. Their approach to gardening promotes “biodiversity and environmentally sound practices.” The local chapter for our community is the River City Wild Ones. More info about the national organization is available at www.wildones.org.

WMEAC

The West Michigan Environmental Action Council is a non-profit founded in 1968 and has since “provided West Michigan citizens a means to take action on behalf of the environment.” This group’s main focus is on “Building Sustainable Communities and Protecting Water Resources.” I have seen efforts of the WMEAC around the city in the form of rain barrel workshops and community garden projects. As I chatted with the lone, young woman manning this table, she told me the rest of her team was at the riverfront helping with sand bag efforts because of the flooding we have been having in our area. More info is at wmeac.org.

Grand Rapids Environmental Services

This is a department of our city, but I was pleased to see how much they were doing to integrate education of water quality into their everyday responsibilities. A direct mail program featuring environmental tips has been included in the city water billing system. Information about their efforts in building rain gardens to help manage storm water runoff is available on their website.

What I found most exciting is the new Adopt a Catch Basin program offered by Environmental Services. City residents can adopt a catch basin near their home, keeping it clean of leaves and debris, for award points through myGRCityPoints. The catch basin program educates city residents about stormwater runoff leading directly to the river and not passing through a treatment plant. This will be a definite addition to Lot gardening practices.

Blanford Nature Center

Last, but definitely not least, I stopped by the table for the Blanford Nature Center. I have visited the center several times before, along with what is becoming annual visits for the Garlic Mustard Pull. This place does a great job on providing children’s and community programs to teach good environmental stewardship. I enjoyed chatting about Toad Abodes, little shelters made from unused terracotta pots, with Kristin at this table. Another to-do for the Lot!

Education is the First Step

All of the programs reminded me we are a part of something larger and therefore have certain responsibilities to uphold when it comes to this planet’s ecosystem. When talking with all the various organizations, they stressed the importance of making educational materials available to the community. That way city residents can arm themselves with the knowledge and be empowered to make changes, even if small ones, to sustain the health of our environment for future generations.