So, last year I went to a garden conference at the nearby University and one of the presenters said that each spring she takes the propane gas torch and burns her tall grasses down to the ground in early spring. Fun! I did it last year and they came up again stronger than before so I just torched then again. It's got to be one of the craziest things I do in the garden. Very small prairie fire.
This spring has been so chilly and wet that plants are really delayed. I'm disappointed that three new bee plants which I had put in last fall did not come through the winter. But the lilacs from the Arbor Day Foundation, little sticks actually, are doing beautifully. Lots of green leaves. Now to find a permanent place for them.
The new bee garden is open for business -- my business :-)
It gets so much sun I've got a bunch of perennials to move there. The trees have grown so much on the east side of my banked garden that it really has become a shade garden. Luckily my mother in law was a master shade garderner. She's given me great knowledge and many plants which I had not allowed to multiply unchallenged before. Sun changes. Gardens change. Gardeners change. Let's not bring up the climate.
Happy gardening!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
New Hive
So, we've added a third hive of bees to our family. The new queen is named Gertrude, as that is where the Hungarian line began that I found in my research. Still quite cold but they've been out gathering pollen and eating the sugar water and pollen patties ferociously!
Belgium and Germany made it through the winter in fine shape. Tom saw Eleanor, Germany's queen, but we haven't had time or the proper temperature to poke around in Belgium to find Maria Henrietta. That will come.
Several of the bee plants I ordered through High Country Gardens are coming up. Nepata Walker's Low are all leafing out as are the 4 allium I planted. Waiting to see life in the sage and salvia. I've got quite a bit of space left to fill in with more bee plants. And we just planted 4 more apple trees with 2 peaches awaiting earthing.
Soon I'll need to take another trip up to Boylston MA to Tower Hill Botanic Garden. They keep bees there and it's a great idea gatherer for me. Seeing what their bees are landing on was quite informative last year. And the gardens there.... Oh my they are beautiful. Go if you can.
Belgium and Germany made it through the winter in fine shape. Tom saw Eleanor, Germany's queen, but we haven't had time or the proper temperature to poke around in Belgium to find Maria Henrietta. That will come.
Several of the bee plants I ordered through High Country Gardens are coming up. Nepata Walker's Low are all leafing out as are the 4 allium I planted. Waiting to see life in the sage and salvia. I've got quite a bit of space left to fill in with more bee plants. And we just planted 4 more apple trees with 2 peaches awaiting earthing.
Soon I'll need to take another trip up to Boylston MA to Tower Hill Botanic Garden. They keep bees there and it's a great idea gatherer for me. Seeing what their bees are landing on was quite informative last year. And the gardens there.... Oh my they are beautiful. Go if you can.
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