How many of you enjoy visiting with
and receiving a visit from IVG? :-)
and receiving a visit from IVG? :-)
This is one lively, conversational garden-fellow,
who, with with his cohort and photographer "Ferny Moss,"
have created an enjoyable spot to visit at their Urban Oasis.
And yes, I was able to make a stop in nearby Des Moines August 28!
IVG greeted me at the door,
and we spent the next several minutes poking around
in their surrounding gardens.
who, with with his cohort and photographer "Ferny Moss,"
have created an enjoyable spot to visit at their Urban Oasis.
And yes, I was able to make a stop in nearby Des Moines August 28!
IVG greeted me at the door,
and we spent the next several minutes poking around
in their surrounding gardens.
Can you imagine the effort spent in creating this fantastic rock wall??
Taking photographs of their garden was a little intimidating,
as Fernymoss' photos are wonderful!
I did feel this photo might give an idea
of the great combinations of color,
texture, and depth of the gardens of Urban Oasis.
I was on my way home from visiting my parents and auntin north central Iowa, and I was on my way
to my mother-in-law's home to spend the night.
All that is to say, I didn't have as much time
as I'd have certainly Liked to spend with IVG.
This is a little rue that he shared.
It's growing in a sunny corner bed
with some creeping sedum and columbine.
(Yes, I see there are a couple of clover leaves that won't last long!) ha.
He also sent me home with some Monarda plants!
This little plant, "Jacob Cline," in the center is one I purchased this summer.
IVG's plants flank this little fellow. :-)
Look! New growth!
Next summer this part of the bed will be full of Monarda.I'll keep you "posted!" ;-)
My past experience with Monarda tells me that it often is subject to mildew. But, IVG's hint about planting chives, onion, and/or allium nearby will help alleviate this problem. I plan to plant a few allium bulbs in this bed next week. :-)
Thanks, IVG, for your hospitality and generosity. I hope I can do you credit by your plant-gifts!
Have a great Fall!
SG
Thanks, IVG, for your hospitality and generosity. I hope I can do you credit by your plant-gifts!
Have a great Fall!
SG
You are right about the rock wall. My neighbors have "picked rock" from their cornfields for years and now I "unpick" them for walls.
ReplyDeleteI see a lot of bergamot in native praries and wonder about shade planting for them?
Well, I know what you mean about planting bergamot in the shade. It won't thrive as it would in the sun, but it does get a few hours of sun and/or dappled shade each day in this location. We'll see... My coneflower has the same conditions. It, too, doesn't thrive as it would in the sunshine, but it does pretty well. (Until the trees leaf out in the Spring, there's a lot of sunshine!) ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Shady,
ReplyDeleteI'm very flattered ... and it was such fun to meet you and share some of our plants with you. The Monarda does look like it's perking up, and as long as it stays green until frost/freeze, it should do just fine. In any case, you always know where you can get more, lol. I wouldn't worry about the mildew, since this summer was so humid (especially when you were by), but the alliums will help for sure!
Your rue (Ruta graveolens if you want the Latinate name) is looking happy! I bet you'll really enjoy that plant... it's reputed to be "the bitterest herb" in herbal lore, and one interesting thing we read once is that it has a real antipathy to Basil, so you might not want to put any Basil in the immediate area. I'm not sure what kind of floral fisticuffs it might provoke because we've never done that, lol.
Thanks again for such a nice write up of our place, and I hope you'll visit again sometime when you're in town!
Troutbirder, take it from Shady, Monarda/Bergamot will grow fitfully in shade, but not bloom much, so give it as much sun as you can. Ours out front gets morning/early afternoon sun from the southeast and thrives.
Shady,
ReplyDeleteHow delightful that you got to visit with IVG. I love when he visits my blog! I have imagined that IVG and Fernymoss have created a lush Oasis of flower and form in their garden! Your photos have helped me see that they have indeed done just that!
Very nice monarda! It is settling in and making itself at home. I followed IVG's advice and also underplanted the monarda with allium. Crossing my fingers that it will work!
Gail
Chives and allium to help alleviate mildew. That is a new one to me. Intersting. I will have to try planting some chives near my lilac bush that gets mildew to see if it helps.
ReplyDeleteIVG, I'm glad you could visit your post. I've been in Omaha visiting my family for a few days. Anticipate much fall work when I return. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Gail, This has been quite the inspiring summer. :-) I look forward to having your seeds growing here next Spring!!)
Lisa, planting onion family plants sounds easy... hopefully it works! Thanks for stopping. :-)
Great tips/great photos... enjoyed taking the rest of the tour. The texture and color in that second shot were amazing. ~ Deb
ReplyDeleteHi Deb. Wouldn't we love to visit each others' gardens one day? :-)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering when you were going to write more about your visit at IVG. The last post was so great and inspiring. I haven't heard about underplanting Monarda with alliums either but I have some allium bulbs in my garage right now so I'm going to do follow that tip today!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen, I hope to be planting bulbs this week! (It's kind of cold out right now, but perhaps I'd better "hop to it!") ;-)
ReplyDeleteHow great that you got to see the Urban Oasis in person! Did you see Peppa? Good luck with the new plants. I've never grown either of them.
ReplyDeleteMMD, I did see Peppa... and Peppa's buddy. I have a Meadow Rue in the backyard, but this new one is different. It will be fun to watch!
ReplyDelete