6.04.2012

May In Review

Wow, it seems like May flew by. I'm trying to journal what works and what doesn't in my garden. There are two great memes that echo this theme. I'm going to join Bumble Lush on the Best and Worst of the Garden and Plant Postings on Lessons Learned.

The Worst
Unfortunately, it looks like one of my aspen trees is diseased with Cytospora canker. It has an oozing a rust colored sap-like substance or might have poplar borers. One of my neighbors has a beautiful dry riverbed that is buttressed by aspens and his look terrible. At least only one of my plants didn't survive the spring. They had started to leaf out and then we had another freeze. I'm not sure if the weather had any bearing on my aspen's poor health, but it seemed to precipitate its decline. Alas. 
Aspens that didn't leaf out
Lesson Learned 
If you decide to plant fussy trees be ready for the consequences. I'm going to try pruning the oozing area and continue watering and hope for the best. Unfortunately, I might need to cut the aspen down. 

The Best
Like many other gardeners, the strange weather this year has caused many of the flowers to bloom one or two weeks sooner. Usually, nothing blooms when the Oriental poppies are blooming. However the strange weather makes it look like I have a planned planting when the norm is that the poppies bloom; there is a lull and the rest of the flowers wake up from their annual hibernation.
Back perennial bed (Oriental poppies and yarrow)
Rocky mountain penstemon, Jupiter's beard, penstemon eatonii or bridges?, penstemon plameri
Lesson Learned
Be grateful for weather anomalies; they make me seem to be a more accomplished gardener than I actually am.

I went to buy a lightweight row cover for my square foot garden at Agua Fria Nursery and the owner talked me out of it. As an alternative to the row cover, I picked up some golden beets, romaine lettuce, shallots, red onions, and nasturtiums. I have read online and on seed packets that nasturtiums and morning glories don't transplant well. The morning glories that I started from seed and planted in the garden seem to be doing fine as are the nasturtiums from the nursery. 
Nasturtium seedlings
Lesson Learned
Don't believe everything you read. (I might eat these words next month!)

I also finished planting my square foot garden except for a lone green chile plant from a coworker that I'm hardening off and put drip irrigation in the square foot garden. I tend to lose more plants by not ensuring that they're watered after planting.
Square foot garden
Lesson Learned
I'm not sure if there is a lesson learned, but I'm hoping that I don't lose plants from forgetfulness to water. Woohoo, the the veggie bed is planted.

Last year, the drought was so pervasive that few of my perennials bloomed and I didn't have much better luck with my annuals or biennials. However, this year the bloom season has already made up for the dearth of flowers last summer.
Snapdragons planted last year
Lesson Learned
What a difference a year makes!

24 comments:

  1. Well what a difference a year does make...I wish the crazy weather helped the blooms to look even better like yours. And woot woot your veg garden is planted and looks great. I wish mine looked so good...I need hotter weather soon. Looking forward to your veg garden in another month to see how wonderful it looks...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your garden looks beautiful. I'm going to try roll with the punches in terms of weather and not get too disheartened if there is continued drought.

      Delete
  2. You have some lovely areas to be happy with, but it's always upsetting especially on a big tree. Good luck on that.

    Cher Sunray Gardens

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so happy to have flowers this year. Last year there wasn't much to blog about.

      Delete
  3. Sorry about your Aspen, but what beautiful blooms you have! Your square foot garden looks good, and a drip system is a great idea. I can also be a forgetful waterer, especially when it comes to potted plants.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have some drip timers, too. I just need to learn how to set them so I don't have to remember to water at all.

      Delete
  4. What a bummer about your tree. I have a fruit tree that got blight and it looks like it won't make it. It is always sad to loose a tree or plant. Your poppies and yarrow combination look awesome! I planted nasturtium by seed a few weeks ago and they are blooming already. I love the blue plant supports in you square foot garden! It is always fun to see a pop of color like that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I was too lazy to start nasturtium from seed. I hope your fruit tree makes it. It's no fun removing a tree. I read that sometimes the sun here makes the metal supports too hot so I got some coated ones. I like the color, too.

      Delete
  5. Great post, and thanks so much for linking up. I love how you tied the two memes together. I'm sure you're happy to see so much color in your garden this spring, especially after last year's drought. Do you think the crazy winter weather affected the aspen trees, especially since your neighbor's trees seem affected too? I'm sorry about that, keep us posted on their progress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The weather seems to have done some damage to the trees in my neighborhood. One of the neighbors has a huge cottonwood tree that only has a few scattered leaves. It's very sad.

      Delete
  6. Great post. I have similar issues regarding watering and the vegetable garden. When we built the new one this year we made sure to put in some irrigation. We used loops of soaker hose, but I really like the drip system you have. Something to consider for the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just have a tendency to forgot to water new plants so I try to add drip emitters as soon as possible after planting. Sometimes, it doesn't happen though. :)

      Delete
  7. Your lesson learned on the aspen is spot on. It took me a long time to feel fine about cutting down a bad tree as a last resort.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's still hard to accept, but I've gotten better about resigning myself to it when it's necessary.

      Delete
  8. I agree with Bumble Lush: This is a creative and entertaining way to combine the two memes! Thanks for joining in. I'm very sorry about the Aspen--it's always sad to see a tree or plant struggle. But your plans make sense. Your veg garden is so organized and well-planned. I love Nasturtiums! And they're edible. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was fun to research and plan the veg garden. I've never planted nasturtiums before so I'm looking forward to watching them grow and tasting them, too.

      Delete
  9. I love your bright blue plant supports!

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's always sad when a tree is suffering; but you are being very philosophical about it. Water after planting is so very important especially for vegetables – they usually need irrigating for all their loves. I like your square foot veg patch, you have crammed a lot in! Christina

    ReplyDelete
  11. This year will not be one to remember for what we could control, but one where we could not. Weather affected bloom times and insect arrival which gives us a garden season unlike any other. Plant disease will also be common on plants stressed from last year. There will be so many lessons learned.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Journaling this season may give us a good look at how really weird the weather has been. Early blooms, more insects, and diseases. More surprises? Let's hope not.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just wanted to let you know I mentioned you in my blog post today. If you have time stop by.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful garden, joy for eyes, pleasure for the soul. I am greeting

    ReplyDelete
  15. When I lived in Colorado and Wyoming I noticed that aspens below 6000' struggled. Being in the poplar family they probably need quite a bit of moisture.
    And yes I am seeing quite a bit of unusual plant problems this year....the sign of things to come? I think so.
    Your drip additions remind me of the 500' of tubing that needs to be put out in the next 2 weeks. Ouch!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The poppies are beautiful amidst the other perennials. Surely you planned it that way! I also recently transplanted some morning glories I had started from seed. So far they seem fine.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...