Rachel’s Blog

Gardening Enthusiasm

Posted by Rachel on Feb 19, 2012 in Garden Posts | 0 comments

This past Friday I spent hours on our landscape raking and then chipping leaves/small branches into a very fine mulch. My new chipper has been working hard to prepare our beds for the 2012 season. With temperatures in the 40′s it is hard to refrain from spending time on our landscape.

On Saturday February 18th I spent the day a Joy of gardening presentation at our local community college. The event was put on by the University of Illinois extension ‘master gardeners program’. I attended four workshops that only enhanced my anticipation for gardening this 2012 season. Already I have seen the promising buds on shrubs and with great restraint have held back from checking perennial beds for their ‘life’.

As always patience is a virtue that all avid gardeners must adhere to so that nature can be a part of our gardening path to beauty on our landscape.

Catalog Month

Posted by Rachel on Feb 11, 2012 in Garden Posts | 0 comments

(Source: Burpee on Flickr.com)

February brings on the catalogs from seed companies and wholesalers. This brings on dream designs for many gardeners. The thought of adding a new hybrid, a new texture, new color, or just a unique combo of plants.

As a landscape designer I have begun to think of designs for both new installations ahead and my own gardens. When a new perennial or plant comes into the landscape it will be in demand, and thus I often call to check on availability for upcoming season.

If possible I then have some set aside for my use during spring installations before sold out. Many homeowners take pride in their vegetable gardens and will be filling out forms to order their seeds.

Thus giving thought whether to stick with ‘old reliable’ (tried and true) or try something new. So to all my fellow gardeners browse and give some thought what catalogs do bring forth in the minds of all those who like to ‘play in the dirt’.

Winter Plans

Posted by Rachel on Jan 20, 2012 in Garden Posts | 0 comments

Vera the snowgirl

As most avid gardeners know we can not fight the weather, but rather we must adapt and flow with the weather. This winter 2011-2012 early on we had very mild temperatures here in the Midwest. For myself this allowed me to do many of the chores that I normally would have done in late March or early April.

I cut down the prairie gardens lest the grasses and chipped them up for a mulch base. Also my new 11hp Troy-Bilt® chipper worked constantly to mulch leaves & branches for my compost piles. The perennials and roses that could have possibly suffered from upheaval were given a covering of fresh mulch. At present we have about a 3″ base of snow covering with another 8″ expected to fall today.

So now I move on to reflecting what was good about the gardens in season 2011, and what needs improvement. Making plans for designs and installation for 2012 means reading and learning of any new hybrids or the availability of plants for upcoming season. I often like to order my perennials from wholesalers in late February or early March, for then I know I will not experience SOLD OUTS. Planning ahead can often diminish frustrations from having to change designs because lack of plant material.

May the winter of 2011-2012 allow you to improve your knowledge of plant material, create designs that inspire, and time to hibernate while you rejuvenate my fellow gardener.

Fall Clean-up

Posted by Rachel on Oct 17, 2011 in Garden Posts | 0 comments

My trusty chipper

For the past two days I have been cutting down herbaceous perennials and chipping up them along with fallen branches gathered in the yard, creating a compost pile that will be well used in Spring of 2012.

After cutting down the perennials in several garden beds I used our riding mower to chip up the leaves into a fine mulch. This mulch was then blown into the garden beds to create a winter blanket that will eventually decompose and add nutrients to the soil.

This afternoon I cleaned up our butterfly/hummingbird garden which brought glee as I think ahead to the return of the hummingbirds next Spring. I still have many garden beds to put to rest, but as always my work and efforts in Fall give me great rewards in the following Spring.

Arrival of Fall

Posted by Rachel on Oct 8, 2011 in Garden Posts | 1 comment

The vibrant colors of Fall have arrived here in Davis, IL. As I look about I see yellows that seem to be a reflection of sunshine. When the reds and oranges float to the ground they seem to make a comfy blanket for nature’s oncoming winter. My mower and chipper have been busy gathering many loads of leaves to create leaf mulch. The leaf mulch will be spread around my many gardens for both warmth and nutrients thru the winter.

Soon our pond will be getting prepared for the winter, and our fish will hibernate once again. I know that many a gardener is getting set to put aside their gardening tools for the season. Tools will be cleaned and stored for 2012 season to arrive.

However, till our fall beauty ends, we shall enjoy the perfect Indian Summer that we are now experiencing. Still time for a few campfires and long walks amidst the rustling leaves.