Dealing With Disappointment

 The Cicaida apocalypse of 2021 has been, by far, the most frustrating gardening experience I've ever

A horn worm, common source of tomato failure.

had. Thousands of flying bugs with red eyes landing on all my trees (and me whenever I would go outside) and sucking the life out of them has literally brought me to tears. Originally, I thought about writing a whole post on the experience but no one needs that in their life. Instead, I'd like to offer some encouragement to all of you for when you, inevitably, have your own garden disappointments. It all has to do with having a good perspective. 

First, be thankful we're not homesteaders from the 1800s. If they lost a crop, they didn't get any of that food to eat till the next year (assuming they had more seeds to work with). If they lost a fruit tree, they didn't get to eat any of that fruit till they had more trees established. We always have the option to go buy food at the store. Yes, it's really disappointing but we don't have to go without and we can try again soon.

Second, every gardener, no matter how experienced,  has had failures. It is impossible to have great success all the time. You're in good company. 

Weeds are another source of garden failure. 

Third, and yes this is so cliché, but all disappointments are learning experiences. What when wrong? What can you do next time to have better results? Many of my blog posts here are based on failures I've had in the past. Maybe next time you can improve the soil, plant at a different time, try a different type of seed, water more often, etc. 

Finally, and I'm such a hypocrite for writing this, but see it as an opportunity to let go of control. As much as I read and prepare and work, there was nothing I could do about the cicaidas. Sometimes big storms just come through. If you fight mother nature you'll lose every time. So accept the things you can't control and roll with it. 

Having a gardening failure doesn't mean you are a failure or that you don't have a green thumb. Just learn from the experience and try again. Next time might be your biggest success. 

In Defense of Goldenrod

 Whew! I was afraid that with a title like that, NO ONE would ever read this post. Thanks for checking it out anyways. Goldenrod, genus Solidaster, plays a vital role in our Pennsylvania ecosystem and I want to encourage everyone to plant some on their property. Yes, on purpose.

First off, I know what you're thinking and NO, goldenrod does not affect your allergies. At least, not any more than any other flower. You see, in nature, goldenrod grows alongside ragweed which is far less conspicuous. So the rag weed, which is wind pollinated, does all the damage while the goldenrod gets all the blame. Don't let your allergies keep you from planting this important flower!

Why is goldenrod so important? In Pennsylvania, over 120 species of butterflies and moths benefit from it either as a food source or a place to lay eggs. So you're automatically supporting a bunch of native pollinators.

Also, all those butterflies laying eggs creates lots of caterpillars. Yes, I know you don't like caterpillars but not all of them are bad. In fact, they provide essential food to our song bird population. In his book, "Nature's Best Hope" Doug Tallamy points out that even se
ed eating birds like chickadees and finches need soft food to feed their young - hence, caterpillars. In fact, they need thousands of them. Planting native flowers, like goldenrod, will provide lots of food for songbirds in your yard. 

Finally, goldenrod also makes a lovely filler flower for fall bouquets. Most florists will have it shipped in from out of state to include in fall arrangements but you can grow your own in your backyard. 

Perhaps you're worried that any goldenrod plants will look like weeds to your neighbors but a thoughtful planting mixed in with other flowers like sunflowers and asters can create a beautiful autumn display. 

I hope this post has gone a long way towards dispelling goldenrods bad reputation. Please do consider buying some plants at a local native flower nursery to support both pollinators and songbirds in your area. 

Fall Gardening Part 2 - Ornamentals

 

If HGTV has proven anything, it's that people like to live in beautiful places. Whether it's your front yard curb appeal or a backyard you like to hang out in, we all like to enjoy beauty. Gardening offers you the ability to spruce up your outdoor spaces, even after Labor Day. With some smart planning, you don't have to spend a fortune either. 

First, how you approach fall gardening has everything to do with where you live and when your frost date is. (For more info on that, click here.) Most of your plants are going to be toast when the weather hits 32 degrees for the first time. After that, your left with scare crows, straw bales, and pumpkins for decoration. Where I live, we get a frost sometime in mid-October so I plan on enjoying as much color as I can till that happens. 

Next, if you're looking for seasonal annuals to rejuvenate your flower beds, you're going to be in for as much disappointment as I experienced. After driving to four different garden centers, the selection of annual flowers was almost nil and what there was cost far more than I was willing to pay. Unfortunately, that means a lot of what I'm going to tell you will be for next years. 

Some great annuals to buy from seed, plant in the Spring and be patient with for fall color include (but are not limited to), late season sunflowers (some sunflowers are done already), China asters, celosia, marigolds and annual ornamental grasses. Some coleus comes in great fall colors too but be aware that the slightest nip of frost will destroy them forever. You can buy theses seeds for cheap and plant them in the spring. Then you'll have some great flowers in late Summer - mid Autumn. 

Sedum

Another great way to save money is to plan for the long run with perennials. Perennials are plants that will continue to come back year after year so you only have to buy them once. I like to sprinkle some fall blooming Perennials around so my borders have something blooming all the time. I'm not going to talk about Mums here because I'm giving them their own post later. Some of my favorite fall blooming flowers include sedum, trycirtus, and gaillardia. You can also have a beautiful wildflower meadow of goldenrod and asters. 

You can also think about the Autumn beauty of deciduous trees that turn color in fall or the appeal of ornamental bushes like beauty berry or burning bush. 

So, you can have a beautiful yard in fall, it just takes a bit of planning ahead instead of making impulse purchases in the store. What are your tricks to a great garden in fall? Please post below!

Enjoy Public Gardens

Asticu Gardens In Maine

Summer is, by far, the most popular time to travel. Coincidentally, it's also the best time to enjoy other people's gardens. What's better than enjoying the beauty of nature that you don't have to take care of? Perhaps in the hustle and bustle of summer travels to theme parks, beaches and sporting events you might have never thought to visit a public garden but few things are more relaxing! After a day or roller coasters and outdoor concerts, what better way to unwind than by strolling through a lovely natural setting and getting inspired? 

The Rose Garden at Hershey Gardens, PA

A few weeks ago we traveled to Mount Dessert Island in Maine and 2 highlights of the trip for me were the Wild Gardens of Acadia which showcased a lovely garden of native Maine plants in a forest setting and Asticou Gardens which highlighted Japanese garden design. Both were gorgeous, peaceful and very inexpensive.

If you're going out of town, or even having a nice stay--cation this year, make it a point to visit a new garden or two. In this age of technology, it only requires a quick google search to find them. Science has shown that time in nature is good for your physical, mental and emotional health. I have also found that it's a nice place to pray and feel closer to God. 

One regionally famous garden that I especially love is Longwood Gardens in south east Pennsylvania. They boast a huge conservatory, an authentic Italian water garden, Arboretum and so, so, so much more. Even children can enjoy this place as they have an indoor and outdoor children's garden. Seasonal displays ensure that it's worth visiting year round. No, thy don't pay me to blog about them, I just love the place. Unlike many public gardens, it is not inexpensive but it's worth it if you can get there.

Italian Water Gardens at Longwood Gardens

My daughter and I at Longwood Gardens

What public gardens do you like visiting? Please share about them in the comments below.