flowers and gardens

[trappnman]

last year was terrible insofar as the results we got from many reliable flowering plants, and esp poor luck with bulbs. stuff like callas that always bloomed, did not, and that followed through on a lot of things. Not sure what it was- colder weather resulting in lower ground temps maybe,

but this year- wow

everything is not only blooming, but putting on a heck of a show- and we have to be 2 if not 3 weeks ahead of a normal growing year- plenty of field corn is mid thigh high, and beans are filling in- oats are so nice I expect to see color in them any day.

an early harvest would be very much to my liking-

how are things in your neck of the woods?

[northof50]

The canola is starting to bloom, that was not frozen on first of June . The winter wheat is heading to pollen in 5 days. Forest tent catapilars are on the increase this year, total whip out next year.
Some blueberries were not frozen, so should be able to bring a BB cobbler to Minn conv this year

[bblwi]

Plant stands for soybeans and corn are excellent, best in years. The crop is a bit behind here as we were really cool and dry in early spring. Winter wheat is good or poor or worked up this spring depending upon planting date. Lot of growers planted their wheat after October 10th last year and those fields survived very poorly.

On the garden note. My early corn, May 5th. is growing well. I have 3 maturities planted two weeks apart. My green beans early planting are horrible, my potatoes are outstanding. with little no snow early my asparagus and raspberries suffered pretty heavy winter injury as well.

Bryce

[trappnman]

we planted a small garden this year, just potatoes, squash and cucumbers- but all are looking very good. Should be digging early reds by end of week-

[redsnow]

Hmmm, just have a small patch this season. Not sure what happened to the beans?, we've planted 3 times, very few ever broke through the surface. About the same with my friends here. Tomato plants, just set there, didn't grow for weeks, I have bloom and little ones hanging on the plants now. Been getting lettuce and green onions for 2 weeks or so? Cold and rainy here early too. Field corn looks good.

Talking about taters, a friend has a beautiful patch, tops up over your knees. I'll bet that's all he's got, just tops. We'll see.

[trappnman]

that happened with us on squash- planted a couple times, just got 1 little vine growing

[RdFx]

Beans just popping up.... it has been so wet. Lucky the beans came up as too wet the bean seeds turn to mush. Have a gladiolus garden i planted that was UNDER water two weeks and they dont like wet feet. Figured i lost $200 worth bulbs.... they are peaking thru... now (whew) , wont be ready for first show though... when they bloom , will take up to Hospice for patients. Maters starting to grow as brussel sprouts....

[trappnman]

whats your secret on glads? We tend to have a green thumb (trial and error) for the most part, but never had had much luck with glads- do good on other replanted blubs- callas, cannas, dialehas, etc

[RdFx]

Glads are easy, they can be grown in just about any soil. I know of commercial growers that grow in sand.... i have heavy clay soil.... Plant the bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep approximately 12 inches apart. If you dont want to get fancy , Miracle Grow ferterlizer works good. Growing for shows, i do soil tests and get my bulbs from various growers including Canada. The bulbs you get fm Menards or big lot garden stores usually arent show type but still pretty and thats why you should grow glads that you like and not a show glad. Alot of times the glads you get fm big lot stores have some diseases and dont last but a year if that. One has to dig in fall and plant in spring and if your a trapper then you arent worried about a little work....LOL.... will post pics when blooming...

[northof50]

Is there not a walnut tree in your backyard and they are an excluder with their leaf dew drop? All the glad producers up her are on sand soils, less thrips problems.

[RdFx]

Yes, sandy soil and glads does eliminate alot of thrip problems, i personally dont spray glads or use systemic products. Enough pesticides out killing honey bees ( i have honey bees ) . Alot of people dont realize with all the GMO crops out there what is happening to the pollinators. If it wasnt for commercial honey bee people taking bees to CA for almonds, there wouldnt be any. But there is a price as the almonds are sprayed when blossoms are out and honey bees are and it damages the productivity of queens, drone and health of the worker bees

[bblwi]

My flowers are doing well, so are my potatoes, romaine lettuce, radishes and early sweet corn will tassel the end of the week. My raspberries, asparagus took a hit with low snow cover even with mulch and were down a lot this year. I am nearing the end of my strawberries this year. I have picked about 25 quarts but there is way, way more fungus and mold in the berries this year and one needs to pick earlier and let ripen not in the garden so they are not as tasty and when you get a fungus one they taste bad.
I have two gardens, one at home and one 6 miles away at my son's place about 2 miles from Lake Michigan and red clay versus my lighter gravel soil. Really a huge, huge difference in crops that do well and those that don't. Glad my potatoes are in the gravel, but man the clay sod we worked up is rich and the plants over there grow much faster than at home, like the cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and corn.

Bryce

[PamIsMe]

My flower garden is a virtual jungle this year :-) We have enough friends that raise veggies and share their overflow with us that I have never felt the need to grow anything other than some herbs and usually one tomato or green pepper plant.




My garden troll (birdhouse) I bought at the WTA convention last fall. He was plain wood and I painted, stained, sealed him and added some glasses. He got put up too late for any birds to take up residence, but he watches over it all.





Cheers,
Pam

[trappnman]

neat birdhouse!

same here- everything is doing as good as it ever has- really a pleasure to walk out I nthe flower gardens- looks like a nice set up you have there Pam

what are the two taller "lacey" leaved plants in the 2nd picture by the coneflowers?

[PamIsMe]

:-) Those 2 are either milkweeds or giant weeds that got away from me lol I'll know in Sept when the milkweed pods should open. lol

[trappnman]

not milkweed- must be giant weeds lol

We have a few milkweeds come up every year, I always let a couple grow until they flower, then pull the ones that don't- few flowers smell as sweet as milkweed

[RdFx]

Milkweeds needed and good for Monarch butterflys.... Have only seen a few this summer so far and havent seen any chewings on milkweeds i have left around the house.

[trappnman]

we get 1 or 2 flitting through the yard- noticeable lack of butterflies all around this year it seems

[bblwi]

Cols weather this winter with little snow cover did in a lot of insects. I had none, not one Colorado Potato Beetle this year and my spuds are in the same place as last year.
Honey bees taking another hit as well. Pollination of some valuable crops may well be a huge impact on rising food prices for the future and most if it has nothing to do with honey.

Bryce

[PamIsMe]

I have had monarchs and little butterflies, some white and some yellow, and lots of bees this summer. I wish the ^&*(# Japanese beetles would die off. They weren't too bad last year but have come back with a vengeance this year. I have a beautiful Hibiscus bush with loads of 10" white and pink flowers on it, but the beetles just decimate them before they bloom. They got my Hollyhocks and a plum tree as well.