Pages Home More about me... Garden Insects/Pests/Disease DIY Projects Recipes Helpful Hints Sunday, August 23, 2015 Plant Profile: Hosta plantaginea var. japonica I have the pleasure to garden elsewhere, outside my own little garden. At this time of year, I truly enjoy working at this location: Hosta plantaginea has to have the most fragrant flowers I've ever come across. At this location, there are about 34 hostas all blooming at once. The fragrance is intense. The blooms fill the palm of my hand. They are so large. I believe this one is 'Grandiflora'. Bending over from the rain dew drops, they are just lovely. Once open, the flowers invite your nose to take a sample of their light citrus scent. Too boot, I have taken a sample to taste. Really light, fresh taste. Would go great as a salad topper or even for a floral cake design. On one Hosta, I counted over 23 blooms and buds. They flower for about a month, even longer - depending on the moisture levels. Due note: because the Hosta plantanginea varieties are thin leaved hostas, please make sure you take measures to control slug and snail infestations. They can be slug bait in the wrong situation. Planting in a group maximizes their flower fragrance as well as they will attract hummingbirds when there are more flowers to go around. Reactions: Written By: Heidi-Hoe at Sunday, August 23, 2015 Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Links to this post No comments: Labels: containers, Edible Flowers, fragrant hosta, grandiflora, Hosta plantaginea var. japonica, perennials Sunday, August 16, 2015 What's wrong with my Hosta? I have several hostas in which I acquired through purchasing my home. I decided to leave them, as they were all a lovely size and situated just right. However, at this time of year, they do this: Half of the leaves flop in the wind and become unsightly. Losing the great habit that Hostas are known for. If you already haven't noticed, they are riddled with holes. Not only are the leaves damaged but the stems. The leaf stems are weakened from slugs feeding voraciously. The stems become weak and with the wind, the leaves bend with no strength and make the Hosta look unsightly. Nearly, at the base of each leave stem, you find a tiny slug. This one made it into my pail of salt water this morning. I have used: slug bait, beer baits, hair, coffee grounds...you name it. Now resorting to early morning hand picking. Thankfully, my other slug resistant Hostas are thriving and show no signs of this damage. If this had occurred before mid July, I would have cut the Hosta back to the ground and let it re-foliate. But given it's mid August, I will remove the worst of the leaves and continue the battle against slugs. :( Moral of the story: buy slug resistant Hostas! Reactions: Written By: Heidi-Hoe at Sunday, August 16, 2015 Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Links to this post No comments: Labels: containers, Hosta fortunei, perennials, slug bait, slugs Wednesday, July 22, 2015 I Eat Weeds Ok, two years ago, the only weed I would dare to eat were Dandelion leaves - that was pretty much it. Today, I enjoy eating several and the term "weed" has a whole new meaning. I have a job because of weeds. When you truly examine plant life, you realize: weeds are just unwanted vegetation. But not all weeds are unwelcome. The recent welcomed additions to my diet are: 1. Lambs Quarters Lambs Quarters (Chenopodium album) is common in nearly all disturbed soil sites, in perennial borders, park land and growing in areas where turf is situated. It's a heavy seeder and will self seed virtually everywhere. I only eat these when they are young plants. I prefer the tender new leaves. Note: I've read you should be careful with large quantities of Lambs Quarters when eaten fresh. The plant has Oxalic Acid, but the acid is eliminated in cooking. Adding a handful to salads as a fresh, crisp crunch and mild flavour. Similar tasting to Swiss Chard and Beet Leaves. You'll find tender, newer plants in May and June. Although, new plants are also found all throughout the growing season- if you keep your eyes open and can recognize the difference. Notable identifying flower buds. Silver underside leaves, with silvery flower buds. When it has gone to flower, this indicates tougher leaves. Also known as Wild Spinach, it is loaded in Vitamin A and C. 2. Purslane The second - Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Growing under my cedar bush, I only take a stem or two at a time. The mature, fleshy stems have the best leaves. They are quite juicy, when picked fresh. If you are foraging, take as much of the root as possible when picking. This helps with storing and lessens wilting. It shows up later in the season, usually by mid July. Found in nearly every growing situation. I came to know this weed as food, when several years ago my crew and I were removing a heavy cropping of Purslane in one of our annual beds. A lady approached us and eagerly asked if she could take a bag full of our weeds. I stopped to watch her diligently remove purslane from other weeds and gingerly put them in her bag. I couldn't help but ask her what she did with them. English was her second language, and from what I could understand she made: 1) tea with it, 2) ate it in salads and soups and 3) used it in stir-fries. Googling its uses, I was very surprised on its health benefits and how many Asian and Mediterranean meals have it in their recipes. Highly nutritious, it too is loaded with Vitamin A and C. Last year I transplanted a few plants into two of my containers and added the leaves to my salads. Now I find some pop up in my front yard. I leave some stems and tip growth to full maturity, as they generate flowers and seeds at their tip. This ensures they return next year. The leaves have a slight tangy-ness to them and a great crunch. Lots of work to de-leaf them from their stem, but I got the hang of it. The great thing about Purslane, it is edible up until frost. It doesn't get overly woody and unpalatable when the plant ages. It regrows quickly, is drought tolerant and loves the heat of summer. Leaves are also rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Here is one salad recipe: Wash the Purslane thoroughly. It grows right along the soil surface. Lots of grit usually comes with foraging it. You can eat the stems, but I enjoy the leaves more. I remove each leaf; by holding on to the tip of the stem and running my index finger and thumb over the leaves, pulling the leaves off the stem as I go down. Watch for leaf-miners feeding inside the tissue of the leaves - discard. They love Purslane too. I generally add 1-2 tablespoons full in each salad I make. Recipe: Green beans Celery Cucumber Cherry Tomatoes Garlic Chives Swiss Chard Fresh Oregano Leaves 2 tbsp Purslane Leaves 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar 1/2 an Avocado Salt & Pepper to taste splash of Olive Oil 1/2 tsp of dried Oregano flakes 1 tbsp of Black Olive tapenade 1/2 tsp of Dijon Mustard Yum, Yum, Yum! Next time you see it growing in between the cracks of the sidewalk or in your own garden, think twice about composting it! Reactions: Written By: Heidi-Hoe at Wednesday, July 22, 2015 Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Links to this post No comments: Labels: Chenopodium album, eating weeds, foraging, Lambs Quarters, Portulaca, Portulaca oleracea, Purslane, salad, Wild Spinach Thursday, July 09, 2015 Planter Risers One of the biggest struggles I have in a shaded garden is proper drainage for my planters. This past June, we had immense rainfall in the GTA. 165mm worth. I never had to water my planters last month. They have holes at the bottom, but sometimes the gap between the ground and the pot doesn't allow for adequate drainage. In the planter above, I lost one annual from rotting, even though there are 8 drainage holes. Raising planters and pots off the ground also keep the pots from harbouring slugs and pill bugs. At night, they crawl out from beneath perfect hiding spots and devour foliage. Having looked online for potted planter "feet", I was shocked on how much they were asking. I tried to find cheaper alternatives. Below you can see, I used small interlocking stones beneath my larger planters and when the pot is removed, there hid the culprits. This method wasn't working. Today, I was in my local hardware store, walking down the plumbing isle, when out of the corner of my eye, I spotted these: Perfect! Don't ask me what they are for. Just some PVC plumbing rings. $17.85 & 28 pieces later, I bought enough for my needs. One on each corner and within 1 minute of placing them, water flowed through. For square/rectangular pots, I used one on each corner and for the round, 3; spaced equally. The PVC ring won't be a sheltered pedestal for these pill bugs or slugs anymore. My plants have suffered enough. Bring on the rain. I don't need to worry anymore. Reactions: Written By: Heidi-Hoe at Thursday, July 09, 2015 Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Links to this post No comments: Labels: containers, planter feet, planter risers, planting pots, raising planters for drainage Older Posts Home Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Hi there! Thanks for visiting! Heidi-Hoe Hello! I'm a gardener from the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. This blog reflects the way God designed my creative side in the garden. I hope it demonstrates a place where fun gardening tid-bits can be shared - even if you only have a small space, like my townhouse garden. Enjoy! View my complete profile Search This Blog Loading... I'm posting away onHometalk.com My Topics: , Seasonal/Holiday Décor, Gardening Note All outdoor plant material info pertains to a Zone 5b or 6a hardiness; Southern Ontario, Canada. Enjoy helpful hints, links to other blogs, permaculture film, video blogs, upcoming events along this side bar and garden info and books below! Total Pageviews Google Website Translator Popular Posts Pistachio Shells for Compost Common Houseplant Pests Part 2 - Fungus Gnats, Springtails Starting Compost Dwarf Alberta Spruce Winter Damage Worms in house plant soil... Euonymus Scale - Unaspis Euonymi Outdoor Winter Container Designs Outdoor Christmas Urn Container - Natural Common House Plant Pests Part 1 - Thrips Annabelle Hydrangea - Leaftier Moth Post That Refer To: annuals (13) autumn (4) berries (3) bloom (7) bulbs (9) Canada Blooms (3) cold tolerant (2) compost (12) Compost tea (2) container (4) containers (23) DIY (9) drought tolerant (2) gift ideas (8) herbs (8) house plants (12) insects/disease (30) living wall (2) media/publication (3) mulch (3) perennials (36) Plant Profiles (6) ponds (1) projects (7) pruning care (1) seeding (3) shade (9) shows (3) sowing seeds (2) tools (12) townhouse garden (13) vegetables (10) watering (3) winter (4) winter container (8) winter damage (3) winter interest (4) worms (3) Blog Archive ▼ 2015 (25) ▼ August (2) Plant Profile: Hosta plantaginea var. japonica What's wrong with my Hosta? ► July (4) ► June (4) ► May (6) ► April (4) ► March (3) ► February (1) ► January (1) ► 2014 (58) ► December (1) ► November (5) ► October (6) ► September (6) ► August (5) ► July (7) ► June (6) ► May (7) ► April (4) ► March (4) ► February (3) ► January (4) ► 2013 (39) ► December (3) ► November (3) ► October (3) ► September (3) ► August (5) ► July (4) ► June (2) ► May (4) ► April (5) ► March (1) ► February (4) ► January (2) ► 2012 (79) ► December (2) ► November (6) ► October (6) ► September (2) ► August (3) ► July (10) ► June (3) ► May (6) ► April (10) ► March (9) ► February (11) ► January (11) ► 2011 (3) ► December (3) Blog Comments: Loading... My Reads Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog Subscribe To Posts All Comments Follow this blog My Tiny Backyard Spring Summer Autumn Winter My Youtube Channel Loading... Heritage Perennials Website Great website for perennial info Ontario Weed Identification Website Reputable Landscaping Company Hollander Landscaping LTD Favourite Seed Companies Burpee Seeds Thompson and Morgan Seeds Natures Garden Seed Company Stokes Seeds West Coast Seeds (Organic, non-GMO) OSC Seeds (Ontario) McKenzie Seeds Gardens and Conservatories to Visit in the GTA Alan Gardens Centennial Greehouses Niagara Botanical Gardens Royal Botanical Gardens Toronto Botanical Gardens Recommended GTA Garden Centres for Quality Plant Material Valleyview Gardens Angelo's Garden Centre Humber Nurseries Plant World Sheridan Nurseries Terra Greenhouses Tree Valley No land to garden with? Support FoodShare - Toronto Community Gardens Bronte Creek Garden Allotments (Oakville) City Of Mississauga Garden Allotments City Of Toronto Garden Allotments Landshare Canada Ulternative Lawns Loading... Important Reasons to Grow Food Naturally River Cottage Toronto Foodshare Slow Food Permaculture Loading... Back To Eden Film Favourite Gardening Quote "A garden without wildlife is like a kiss without a squeeze." Alan Titchmarsh. My Blog List - Just a few.. Skippy's Vegetable Garden summer is passing Toronto Gardens Texture in the garden, Niagara-on-the-Lake Clairesallotment's Blog Thursday 3rd September 2015 – The kids are back to school, so I’m back to the allotment!! Personally Andrea Using a Free Printable to Make Coffee Station Art My Tiny Plot Two of My Favourite Things: Blueberries & Hydrangeas River Cottage blog The Wonder of Aquaponics Gardening Urban Veggie Garden Blog A Years Harvest Events Canada Blooms March 13-22 2015 Followers Favourite Book Series from Lone Pine Publishing - Ontario Plant Of The Month August 2015: Deutzia gracillis - Slender Deutzia Inspiration The internet is wonderful to search blogs, videos, books, magazines and local publications for ideas and helping you get launched for the new growing season. Not to despair! May I suggest watching: Victorian Kitchen Garden Introduction: Part 1 Victorian Flower Garden: Episode 1 - YouTube This Victorian video series is an oldie, but goodie. It will help get rid of any winter blues. How To Be A Gardener Alan Titchmarsh Loading... Victorian Garden Series (UK) Loading... These are some of my favourite Gardening Books and Resources Alan Titchmarsh Gardening Books Carol Klein Gardening Books Dirr's Manual of Woody and Herbaceous Plants Gardening journal (where you learn from mistakes and remember what you've planted year to year), an absolute essential! Lone Pine Garden Publications Seed and Nursery catelogues Taylor Gardening Guides The Best Plants for 30 Tough Sites The Garden Expert Series Some of my favs Advice Over the years, I have bought many books on gardening. If you are new to gardening, the best I find are the books that are simple. To gain knowledge, I'd suggest you buy books that pertain to one element of gardening; such as flowering shrubs. If you buy the type that touch upon every aspect of gardening, you'll find they are great additions for the coffee table, as apposed to you learning a thing or two. Check your local bookstore or online for gardening books that are specific to your region. Hardiness is a HUGE factor here in Canada. No sense in buying books from the UK which has info pertaining to their climate, or ones from the west coast when you live in Southern Ontario. They may have info regarding pruning techniques and such which is helpful, but for the most part, invest your money in garden knowledge that speaks of zonal information pertaining to your region. * All post photos are original (unless marked otherwise). Awesome Inc. template. Powered by Blogger.