Garden Friday

 It's Garden Friday!

Mid-November finds the garden pretty quiet.

We are in a state of transition as we await colder weather.

With Sunday's predicted temperatures in the 30's,

we will be covering our sugar snap peas in the hugelkultur bed

so that we might be able to get at least one harvest in.

This variety grows amazingly well back in Florida during the winter,

but it may be just too doggone cold here.

Time will tell.

 The kale in the same bed will not be covered all winter long.

Last year, I was able to grow kale through freezes, snow and ice!

 The carrots will remain uncovered as well,

although because they are grown in a container,

it would be easy enough to do.

In one of the smaller raised beds,

the shallots finally showed themselves.

They are growing along the garlic 

that was planted on the same day.

Can you believe the flowers we are still getting?

 Surprisingly, the lettuce that was reseeded a couple of weeks ago

in the hugelkultur bed is popping up.

We have buttercrunch, green oakleaf and red salad bowl varieties.

 There are backups in cell packs to ensure that the lettuce keeps on coming!

 The cabbage seedlings seem to be responding to the 

worm casting compost tea they've been given weekly.

The leaves are flying like crazy here the last week or so.

As far as I'm concerned, it makes a great groundcover.

 And some of the foliage around the neighborhood is striking!

Look at this beautiful crimson bush right across the street.

So amazing!

 Back in our garden, we still have plenty of blooms.

But with temperatures getting ready to take a nosedive this weekend,

we may not see them for long.

 The tithonia is one flower I never want to be without in the garden.

 It's the most vibrant shade of orange, one of my favorite colors.

Even though I planted these rather late in the season,

we've been graced with many a blossom to take us right into autumn.

The spent blooms are stunning!

Just look at the detail and intricacy in each flower head.

 Shades of blue are my absolute favorite to use in the garden.

Here is a grouping by the front porch

that adds some bold color to the front of the house.

Alyssum, lantana and salvia in various tones of indigo.

 Of course, pansies are a staple around here in winter.

They add not only color,

but a bright, cheery feeling to our front door.

The enamelware pot is one of my favorite materials.

What's going on where you are this second week of November?

Pansy Power

Do you love pansies?

I certainly do

and fall is the perfect time in our neck of the woods

to enhance your landscape with these little gems.

Further north, planting pansies (also known as violas), is a springtime ritual,

but here in the lower half of the country,

we can enjoy them during the cooler part of the year.

While July and August are the perfect time to begin sowing,

our climate does not lend itself well to successful germination at that time.

Our summers seem to get more and more humid,

and these sweet things just won't put up with that.

Their preferred temperature for germination is 68 degrees.

That's not gonna happen here.

Planting seeds in late winter might give me a jump 

on some spring and early summer bloomers.

 For the life of me,

I couldn't get my hands on any Johnny-Jump Up seeds,

and it finally occurred to me that I could just pick up some starts.

Being so used to trying to provide everything myself,

it completely thrilled me when I saw these cuties at the store.

Lightbulb moment...

Preferring well-drained soil,

I knew that containers would be the perfect option for them,

so I gathered a few pots and got to work.

The contrast here of the purple and bright yellow is captivating,

and the rustic feel of the terracotta container just adds to the charm.

In hues that range from blue, purple and pink

to yellow, orange and red,

pansies are a welcome pop of color in the garden.

 (The mums were only a buck apiece, 

so I picked up a few of those too.)

Caring for pansies couldn't be easier.

They adore full sun, especially since the air temperature is moderate,

they can take the intensity.

The beauty of having them around in fall and winter

is that you needn't worry about frosts,

they will survive even some freezes

and bounce right back.

Keeping them insulated by growing them near other plants

will likely help them to do well in the winter months.

 Of course, mulch is always a good option.

 Pansies need a little room to spread out,

so planting them at least 5" apart is a good idea.

They are low growers, and will not get much larger than 9 inches tall.

Borders are an ideal place for them, 

or they can be a cheery addition to a rock garden.

Another bonus with pansies is that they are butterfly magnets!

 Placing some near the front door

will remind me to keep them well watered.

As with anything placed in a container,

care must be taken to keep them moist

as they tend to dry out quicker than when planted in the soil.

In a few weeks, I'll nurture them with a bit of compost tea,

and see how they like it.

These blooms should take us through until spring.

What a treat!

Although I probably won't indulge,

pansies are edible flowers

and can be added to salads and baked goods.

The historical background of pansies was fascinating to discover.

"In Victorian England, the pansy flower was used for secret courting.  Any display of love or passion was severely frowned upon and in order to communicate to potential romantic partners the  pansy was employed.  It was placed in what was called a tussie mussie which was a bunch of herbs wrapped in a doily with some flowers in the middle.  The pansy flower was used to convey not easily expressed in Victorian England such as I’m feeling amorous towards you, I am thinking of you or I have thoughts of you or I’m missing you, but always it was about one person thinking of another."

~Flower Meaning

Without Victorian constraints,

we can openly rejoice in the wonder that is this garden jewel.

I think I may need to find a few more pots... 

Pansies-a-Plenty!

 These sweet lil' ole pansies were picked up at Ford's Seeds a couple of weeks ago.

They help us welcome in spring

when there is not much color in the garden.

Before transplanting them,

I raided the worm pile out in the leaf compost heap.

This goldmine of crawling critters is being added to beds

as I redesign and replant them around the property.

The hope is that the amendments will make planting easier

in seasons to come.

I should have dowsed the transplants with water before putting them in,

but it was good to see the strong root structure.

They are pretty hardy plants, so I think they'll be fine.

The mailbox planter was the first place that needed a bit of dressing up.

After clearing out the weeds and leaves

(there is no end to the leaves here),

I got to work, 

using the towel folded over a couple of times

 to cushion my knees on the hard pavers.

A half dozen or so were added,

spacing them in a zig-zag fashion.

There will still be plenty of room

for adding other annuals or maybe some butterfly plants.

This bed by the front porch is getting a total makeover.

I've already gotten rid of most of the plants that were here,

as they were just too tall for the space.

This is going to be one of our butterfly areas.

 The pansies line the walkway so nicely

and add a bit of color to the front facade.

I look forward to filling in this space with plenty

of butterfly and hummingbird attractors.

This is the spot where some rose bushes were taken out

and given away.  I'm not crazy about roses, so I wanted to find

a home for them where they would be cherished.

Most of the remaining pansies were planted here,

where they will get plenty of sunshine

and brighten up the front of the house.

The final plans for this area are not certain,

but most likely will contain more pollinator-friendly choices.

We will be expanding this bed to the right about 3 feet,

so that the entire front of the house is one, continuous bed.

Lots more room for growing!

These delicate looking flowers 

add a whimsical presence to the garden.

After a long, drawn out winter, 

what a welcome sight they are!

The Maple Hill Hop 112

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Grab the button above to link back to Maple Hill 101.*

Pansies are one of my all-time favorite flowers.
They are just so delicate, sweet and cheery.
Winter is the perfect time to add them to the garden
for a bright pop of color. 

 
This roasting pan had grown over with native petunias,
salvia and (ahem) weeds.
With our house recently listed with a realtor,
we are doing small things to entice buyers.
(Okay, this project was mostly to raise my spirits.)
  

 A good deal was had on these beauties.
The purple and yellow variety are also known as
"johnny jump-ups".
I look forward to getting them every winter. 

It must have been my lucky day,
because this cell pack of pansies wouldn't ring up at the register,
so I got it for free!
Score!  

The blues and purples are my favorite shade in the garden.
The sharp contrast of bright yellow in the center
really helps them stand out.  

I think they will all be very happy together.
What a great way to kick off the season!

What are y'all doin' to celebrate the Winter Solstice?
Let's HOP!
 
   

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