Japanese sheared azalea bushes

One of the main focus of the garden are a number of sheared azalea bushes. These are to be seen in many Japanese gardens but not common in western gardens. I suppose you either love them or hate them! I love them.

Above is a picture of a pair of sheared azaleas in the garden of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Sometimes they are by themselves or some times in groups - usually three and almost certainly an odd number.

The bush above is pretty much as it was planted in 2003 as taken out of the container and in a fairly rough shape. I cut back all the long shoots to an approximately round shape. At least with an azalea you can trim as much as you want and each trimmed stalk will sprout quite easily. You will need to trim at least twice a year; once just after the bush has flowered and the second time in the autumn.

It is very useful to buy a small handheld electric trimmer as doing it by hand can be a slow process and it is difficult to make smooth curves!

The trimmed / sheared azalea in 2004, filling out nicely.

The trimmed / sheared azalea in 2005 in full bloom. This is when the shearing becomes really worthwhile!

The trimmed / sheared azalea in 2006. I guess I will try and keep the bush at this size in coming years.

Here is one of the sheared azaleas as seen in the winter of 2006.

take from = http://www.myjapanesegarden.com/

The Japanese Garden Ornaments

I do not intend to have too many ornaments in the garden, but two that were most necessary were a granite bridge and a garden lantern. Most of these items are imported from Japan and in the the UK the following items can be purchased from Redwood Stone.

Redwood Stone The Stoneworks West Horrington Wells, Somerset BA5 3EH Tel (01749) 677777 http://www.redwoodstone.co.uk

Another company to purchase Japanese granite ornaments is Japanese Garden Supplies, http://www.japanesegardensupplies.co.uk

1300cm granite bridge - weighing in a 200kG this definitely a four-man lift!

60cm Rokkaku Yukimi Lantern

Training Japanese Garden Shrubs

Maples

I'm often asked how to create the compact shrubs found in Japanese gardens such as the palmatum just coming into leaf below. The secret is to use the same techniques as used in bonsai. For example, with maples, as soon as the leaf buds start to burst in the spring, watch for the first pair of leaves to form. Shortly after this, a shoot will start to grow - VERY quickly - from the junction of the two leaves. As soon as you can pinch this off leaving just the pair of leaves. This needs to be done every year with no exception! This will prevent the shoots growing too long and a pair of buds will develop in the following year. If any shoots grow later in the year that stray outside of the wanted shape cut them off. If the tree is very strong, all the leaves can be cut off and a new set of smaller leaves will grow and maybe a a few new buds will develop back on old wood. Further info at: http://www.bonsaiprimer.com/pruning/leaftrim/leaftrim.html

The above done in combination with pulling branches down with rope to hold them for one season in a more horizontal position to force horizontal growth will produce an excellent shape within a couple of years.

Japanese Palmatum Maple after 15 years in training

Another maple showing some training ropes after 15 years in training

Pines (Pinus Parviflora or "white pine")

The four foot white pine also needs to be trained otherwise it will run away itself. To prevent this it should not be planted in the ground otherwise a tap root will form and it will well nigh be impossible to keep a tight habit.

As acquired last year	After one year's TLC

There are many different ways to train white pines which consists of a variety of activities:

• Trimming the roots and keeping the tree in a suitably large pot.

• Tying down, wiring and trimming branches.

• NEVER cut off a bud on a pine unless there is another bud farther down the branch as this might mean that the whole branch might die. However, if there is a branch that is too straggly cutting it back could force the tree to bud. An example of this can be seen below where two candles were cut off in the autumn and several new buds developed over winter ready to shoot in the spring.

New buds forming on a white pine.

In the spring the tree will develop 'candles' and if foliage 'pads' or 'clouds' are wanted, then the candles need to pinched back in a careful manner. Here's how I would do it.

• When the main candles are about 1" long (before the needles elongate) in the early spring (April), break break off the longest one if there are more than two to leave just two candles.

• There should now be one long one and one short one. In a random manner over the tree, pinch off 2/3 of the long shoots. Do not do this to the whole tree at once as this could shock it to much, but spread this activity over a two week period. As the smaller second candle grows bigger than the first pinched candle, pinch this off as well. Doing this before the needles form, means that there is less damage to the needles and you do not end up with unsightly brown tips to the needles. You should end up with shoots that are all the same length.

• Multiple new buds should form later in the year and the needles should be smaller.

• This can be done after needles have formed but it cutters have to be used and it is easy to damage the needles.

Original bud pair - April	Long bud pinched back

Further advice on training a white pine can be found at: http://www.bonsai-tree-store.com/white_pine.html or http://www.bonsaiprimer.com/pruning/pines/pineprun.html

Japanese Garden Plants

One of the principle features of Japanese gardens are the plants of course. I have been training (to some degree) a number of plants in my garden for several years. These included three Scottish pines, a palmatum maple, a trident maple and an English beech. I also have purchased a several imported garden (patio) trees from Japan these include a white pine, standard wisteria and a taxus (yew).

I have several English woodland rhododendrons.

An English beech tree

The Japanese Palmatum

The Trident maple

Another transplanted Japanese maple

My first Scottish pine

My second Scottish pine

The imported Japanese wisteria standard was bought from:

Garden Style, Wrecclesham Hill, FARNHAM, Surrey, GU10 4JX UK
Telephone : 01252 735331
Email: sales@gardenstyle.co.uk
web: http://www.gardenstyle.co.uk

Garden style is highly recommended because they have a massive stock of MATURE plants. MInd you, they are both large and pricey!

The beautiful 4ft patio white pine grown in a nursery
near to Mount Fuji in Japan and bought from http://www.dai-ichibonsai.com/

The imported Taxus (yew)

The above two patio trees were obtained from:
Dai-ichi Bonsai
Hillier Garden Centre
Priors Court Road
Hermitage
Newbury, Berks RG18 9TG
+44 1635 200667
http://www.dai-ichibonsai.com/

Multiple dwarf azaleas that will be trained into clumps in
coming years

Dwarf azaleas that will be trained into clumps in
coming years

The iris' (sibirica 'Baby Sister') potted up after
reception via mail order from Fours Seasons Perennials for use in the iris pond.

Four Seasons Perennials web: http://www.fsperennials.co.uk email: contact@fsperennials.co.uk phone +44 (0) 1508 488 344

Phyllostachys vivax Aureocaulis bamboo in the teahouse garden

Phyllostachys nigra bamboo in the teahouse garden

Prunus pendula Pendula Rosea

Vegetable Gardening Today

Back in the late 60′’s early 70’s when I was a teenager growing up there was a great movement towards back to the land and homesteading. Sustainable living was the big thing. I was involved to some extent and that is where part of my roots in gardening comes from. Many years before that during World War II there were Victory Gardens and seems like everyone was growing their own vegetable garden to be able to have fresh Vegetables on the dinner table . Oh, and no I was not around back then but have done extensive reading and research on the subject through the years.

In the last few years there has been a resurgence in people growing a vegetable garden. This is a very good thing for those of us who love gardening. The thing that I worry about is that sometimes people will get started with a garden and then because of inexperience take on more than they can chew and then get discouraged and quite before they even get a chance to taste the fruits of their labor. Gardening is fun and very enjoyable and an important life skill that should be passed on to children. Fortunately there are a lot of resources available on gardening that can make the job of growing your own garden a lot simpler and fun.

Working in an urban environment, every day I get the chance to see a lot of gardens in the neighborhoods as I go from place to place in the city. Even the smallest of yards seems to have a vegetable garden of some type or the other. There is even a restaurant in Chicago that has a full blown organic garden and grows most of it’s vegetables on the roof top. Just for good measure they also maintain 4 bee hives as well and harvest upwards of 50 lbs of honey each year to use in their cooking and baking. This is a bit of an extreme example, but one that none the less shows you can grow a garden just about anywhere.

Maybe you don’t have the space for a full blown garden or would just like to start out small, then maybe a small container garden would be your answer. You could grow a kitchen herb garden and it would take very little time and effort. The is a great advantage to starting small especially if it is a kitchen herb garden. You can get started for a relatively small amount of money and once you have cooked with fresh herbs you will be hooked.

Planting a kitchen herb garden is as simple as getting a large container with holes punched out in the bottom. Fill it with good compost and potting mix and placing it in a convenient location. You can grow four or five different herbs in one container.

This is just one idea the same could be done with tomatoes or peppers even cucumbers could be grown this way. The possibilities are enormous. The other nice thing is that by starting with a small garden like a container garden your chances for success and reward for a small amount of effort may spur you on to bigger challenges such as a small patch in the back yard.

I would encourage this spring to plant a small garden even if you opt for just a container garden. I think you will be very surprised out how good your veggies will taste. There is a lot of advice on gardening available and I encourage you to take a little time and plan a small garden for yourself this spring. I warn you though once you taste your homegrown super market veggies will never compare again.

Lawn Care Core Aeration

With Spring on the way I thought it would be a good idea to add some cultural care of lawns information to the site. Here we will discuss core aeration and it’s benefits for having a beautiful home lawn.

What is core aeration and what does it do? Core aeration is a mechanical process that actually opens up the surface of the lawn to expose 4 times the surface area with out destroying the turf grass.

On heavy soils the ground can be compacted, especially clay soil, from heavy foot traffic or even heavy rain. The more compacted the soil is the less space between the soil particles for air spaces. Space between the soil particles is very important for several reasons. First these air spaces allow for the exchange of gases in the soil. If the soil is too compacted the gases manufactured by the plant can not escape and are trapped in the soil leading to poor growing condition. The more compacted the soil is the harder it is for water and nutrients to move down into the root zone. Without adequate moisture and nutrients the turf grass will weaken and die. Most important of all is that the roots of the turf grass do not actually grow in the soil they grow in the air spaces around the soil the less air spaces the less roots. Core aeration helps alleviate compaction and opens the soil up to help make the soil more able to accomplish these tasks.

A core aerator is a machine with hollow tines that penetrates the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches and actually pulls a plug of soil out and throws it on the surface of the lawn. The tines are spaced 3 to 4 inches apart and do a good job of pulling the plugs out on moderately moist lawns. In order to achieve best results the machine should be run over the entire lawn area in 3 to 4 different directions to really open the lawn surface. On heavily compacted turf such as sports fields up to 8 passes may be needed to get the desired results.

Now that the lawn as been aerated water and fertilizer will be able to get through the holes and down to the root zone of the grass plants. The plugs that are left will break up as you mow the lawn and actually work as a top dressing throwing the soil on top and help to break down the thatch layer by spreading the micro organisms in the soil on top of the thatch layer.

To really appreciate just what core aeration does for the plant a simple test can show you the benefit. After 3 to 4 weeks go out on the lawn with a spade and dig up a square block of soil about 8 inches by 8 inches about 10 inches deep. Next take a large knife and slice straight down through the soil over the center of one of the aeration holes and pull the soil apart and look at the two sides. You will find the aeration hole is packed with new healthy white roots ready to provide and store nutrients and moisture for the turf grass plants.

A Backyard Greenhouse

For those who would like to do more gardening but live in a short growing season area, a hobby greenhouse is the answer. A backyard greenhouse is not large enough to produce vegetables or flowers on a commercial basis. It will, however, give you a place for a tomato plant or two and some fresh greens even if you live in the northern regions. Hobby greenhouse enthusiasts even have their own association, called the Hobby Greenhouse Association, which publishes a quarterly magazine. The organization also sponsors events and helps individuals connect to get help with other gardeners that share their same interests, whether it’s growing cacti or saving seeds.

If you are in the market for a hobby greenhouse, there are several types on the market. The smallest type is not large enough to walk into and must be accessed from the outside. It resembles an old-fashioned phone booth made all of glass and outfitted with shelves. This type of greenhouse is designed to fit as many plants as possible in as small a place as possible. The shelves are made of glass to allow as much light as possible to reach plants on the lower shelves. Another inexpensive version of this sort of hobby greenhouse is shelving covered with a zippered tent of clear plastic. This sort of arrangement is great for the small-scale hobby gardener wanting a place to keep her flowers or houseplant starts.

There are a variety of designs of hobby greenhouse that are large enough to walk into but made entirely of clear glass or plastic. They are often about the same size as a small storage building. Better hobby greenhouses are equipped with automatic sensors that open vents which allow ventilation and keep the interior temperatures from getting too high. These are a great labor saver, but can get expensive. Another benefit sometimes found in nicer greenhouses is a built in irrigation or misting system. Members of the Hobby Greenhouse Association, or HGA, have invented many interesting designs of greenhouses.

If you are interested in building your own hobby greenhouse there are many plans available for free you can get some great plans at http://www.freeplans.glenns-garden.com/?page_id=6 . These plans are free and offer all different types of greenhouse structures you can build in your own backyard. From simple to elaborate. There are also many companies now selling assembled kits on line featuring instructions and all the accessories.

If gardening is your hobby,no doubt greenhouse growing will interest you. With a greenhouse, you can have the earliest tomatoes and fresh salad greens all year. You can also start seedlings for the main garden early in the spring when outdoor temperatures would kill them.This not only allows you to get a head start but will save you money as well. You can buy a lot of seeds for the price of a couple of nursery grown plants. Having you own hobby greenhouse will allow you to start plant varieties from seed that you can not find at your local nursery or garden center like special tomato varieties or heirloom vegetables . Yes a hobby greenhouse can be a good investment and one which will open a whole new aspect to your gardening .

Winter Is Starting To Fade

Well winter is by no means over yet but we are now headed towards Spring. I can hardly wait to get back out to the woodland garden. The first day of Spring is 1 month 3 weeks and 2 days from today. It seems like a ways off but the signs are already starting to show. The days are getting longer and soon the tempersture will start to moderate . These are all good things to dwell on because it will take your mind off the cold and snow.

Woodhaven Lakes will be holding a cabin fever weekend on February 13th and 14th for those that can’t wait to get out and enjoy some events. I will not be able to attend because I need to be available 24 – 7 until the end of March. But I will be out as soon as the first weekend in March when no snow is forecast . Trying to plan anything in February always backfires so I have given up.

I always get antsy at this time of year and can not wait till I can get back to the woodland garden. It will be soon though and I will be able to enjoy the spring flowering bulbs and early perennials as they start to poke their heads up out of the earth after the long winters rest. Before you know it the place will be ablaze in color and the sound of happy birds as they fill their stomachs and try to find a mate. Yes it won’t belong till the magic of the woodland garden takes over again….

http://thewoodlandgarden.com/

When to Plant Flowers Outdoors

When you are planning out your planting calendar for your outdoor flower garden, there are several things that you need to keep in mind. Two of the main factors are what type of plant you are planting and what type of climate that you live in, as these will both be very important factors in your planting schedule. Another thing to factor in is the current weather as every year can be different. If you have early spring plants, you may have to hold off on planting them until you are sure that the last frost is gone if it's a particularly cold year. The best time to start your flower garden varies depending on the type of plant as well. Annuals Annual plants are those that need to be planted again every year. These are more delicate plants and you need to make sure that they are planted after the last spring frost, otherwise there is a very good chance that they will freeze with the next cold snap. There are a couple of exceptions which include violas and pansies. These are sold as cold weather annuals and can last through harsher weather conditions. Bare Root Perennials Perennials are sold either as bare root plants or container grown. If you have purchased a dormant bare root plant, as soon as you can work the ground, you can plant it. This is when the soil is no longer frozen but not wet and muddy either. Dormant bare root plants need to wake up slowly with the season and this is the perfect way to do this. If you have to store the plant before planting it, you want to keep it in a cool, dark place, but only for a couple of days. Get it in the ground as soon as possible and keep it out of warm areas or else the root may start to grow before you have a chance to transplant. Container Grown Perennial Plants If the container grown perennial has been grown outdoors, you can transplant it as soon as you purchase it, assuming that the ground is workable. Those which have been grown in a greenhouse, however, need time to adapt to the outdoor conditions. These can be hardened by setting the pot out in the sun each morning and keeping it in a more protected area during the remainder of the day and night. Make sure that it also has protection from the wind and the frost if it has leafed out. Keep it watered enough so that the soil is as moist as a wrung out sponge. After leaving it in these conditions for a week, you can transplant the flowers into your garden. If you are in doubt about when to plant flowers outdoors, talk to your local nursery. Workers there will know all about proper planting times or will have the means to find out. The tags that come with most flowers will also give you a good idea of when they should be placed in the ground.

Growing Herbs From Seed When To Start

When should you start herb seeds for you garden. This is a good question below you will find a chart of the proper time to germinate some common herbs before the last frost date in your area.

Why Germinate Your Own Herb Seeds

One of the best reason to grow your own herbs from seeds is that for the price of a single herb plant you can probably purchase three or more packages of seeds. Also there are some herbs which you might like to try that are hard to find at the local nursery or garden center.

How many weeks before spring to start herb seeds.

Basil	Six to eight weeks before your last frost date
Chives	Eight weeks before your last frost date
Cilantro	Seed directly after your last frost date
Dill	Seed directly after your last frost date
Fennel	Four to six weeks before your last frost date
Lemon Balm	Six to ten weeks before your last frost date
Oregano	Six to ten weeks before your last frost date
Rosemary	Eight to ten weeks before your last frost date
Sage	Six to ten weeks before your last frost date
Thyme	Six to ten weeks before your last frost date

Basic Information

You can start your seedlings in almost any kind of container. Use a light soil mix and keep it moist. I like the peat pots found at most garden centers for their biodegradability. When it is time to plant just tear off the bottom and plant them right in the ground or container.

Seedlings will need to be kept moist while they are growing don’t let the containers dry out too much but remember moist not soggy.

Provide enough light if not the seedling will grow long and spindly and not be as healthy. If you do not have enough light where you are growing out the seedlings than suplement with florescent lights above the seedlings.

All in all growing your own herbs from seeds is not that difficult and I am sure you will find it rewarding.

blog glen

Choosing and Planting Perennials

Why Choose Perennials

The use of perennial flowers could be a great way to liven up your garden without adding a lot of extra work.

Perennial flowers are strong, local flowers that come back every year without having to replant or do very much work. During their off seasons, the flowers and stems die back and you can hardly even tell the plant is there While they are dormant these plants are still alive. . When it’s time to bloom, entirely new stems and flowers shoot up where the old ones were.

Before deciding which plants to choose be sure your soil drains well. Most plants require that the root zone stays moist but not wet so well drained soil is a must. Adding compost to the soil is a great way to ensure that the soil will retain moisture while improving it’s structure for better drainage.

Picking your perennials can be a complicated process but not that bad. Most perennials bloom at certain times of the year. The goal should be to have something in flower through out the the year. Making a chart of different perennials that will grow in your area and their bloom times will greatly help your planning.

If you plan it right, you can have a different type of flower blooming at any point in the growing season . Getting just the right mixture of plants can give your yard a constantly changing array of colors. Remember that you will also have to consider the site as well as far as sun or shade goes. A little research will pay off big in the long run and insure you have a beautiful garden .

When you go to purchase your plants be sure to look for healthy plants with out damage. Try to remember that most perennials spread rather quickly and can fill in an area in just a couple of seasons. So a smaller plant may not be such a bad idea as well as more economical as well .

You should definitely use mulch when planting perennials. This will reduce the overall amount of work you have to do, by reducing the amount of weeds and increasing the water retention. As for fertilizer, use it sparingly once your plants are established.

When you plant set your perennials with enough space to allow for growth without overcrowding. A great rule of thumb that I use is that most plants will double in size their 2nd season. Also be sure to remember their height try to place the taller plants towards the rear and low growers to the front. The most important thing is to enjoy your garden and you can always tweak it and move things around. Isn’t that what gardening is all about!

POND MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

Ponds And Waterfalls Are A Beautiful Addition To Any Landscape.

A water garden paradise in your own backyard

~~ Bringing Water Paradise to Your Backyard, Listen to the Soothing Sound, Enjoy Your Pond~~

The sound of a gentle water fall splashing in to a pool of cool clear water in your backyard . As fish play and frolic on the surface. The dragonflies skitter back and forth around the pond as they look for a perch atop a tall water plant. Beautiful water lilies bloom to bring a splash of color to your shimmering pond. A frog sits motionless on a rock waiting patiently for it’s next meal to come along as a bird stops in for a cool drink or a quick splash in the waterfall.

Those that have a pond in their yards will tell you it is not just a breathtaking garden feature it is a way of life. To sit down by the pond after a long day of stress and problems and feel your body slowly start to unwind as the never ending show unfolds before you is probably one of the greatest stress relieving activities that you could ever participate in. A lot of folks tell us that after a long day at work they can not wait to get home and go by the pond and see what is new or different today. The idea of pulling up a chair with a drink in your hand is a soothing balm for the commute home.

Our job is to build ponds and water features for our clients. We do not just dig a hole throw in the plumbing, some plants, and fish. Each of our ponds are designed after consulting with our clients to try and match their ideas and expectations. To custom design the type of experience our clients are looking for. We use only the top of the line materials and supplies for a problem free water feature that will give you years of enjoyment without costly repairs.

Glenns Garden Landscape Services is a premier pond and aquatic garden maintenance and construction company. We can assist you with all your pond construction and maintenance needs. Pond plants, fish, pumps, skimmers and maintenance are some of our services.

We Offer The Following Services:

• Pond Installation And Design
  We offer free phone estimates on new pond construction based on size and area of the pond or waterfall. Phone estimates are just that and may not reflect the final cost of any project. They are very helpful though in helping to establish a budget.We highly recommend our on site consultation and design service for those who are seriously considering a water feature installation.Our professional designer will meet with you on site to discuss your project and help design a water feature which will enhance your property and fit in well with your lifestyle and landscape. Please set aside at least two hours for this consultation.The fee for your on site consultation will be credited back on your construction project.
• Aquatic Plant Installation
  We can help increase your ponds aesthetics and efficiency with a complete selection of water and bog plants.
• Monthly Maintenance
  Most ponds are low maintenance, however, some people still like us to come and keep an eye on things. This service includes cleaning debris out of the skimmer net and pond itself, adding water as needed and adding natural bacteria to the system
• Annual Cleanup
  Spring
  A great time to clean your pond of any debris that has settled in the pond over the winter. You are then ready for a great summer pond season.
  Fall Clean Out
  You may have a lot of debris that has collected during the fall months. This debris can break down during the winter and feed the algae. To avoid this, many choose to have a fall clean out.
• Pond Renovations
  We offer complete renovations or additions to existing ponds and water features.
• Repairs
  We can provide emergency repair service as well as equipment replacement. We use only the highest quality material and supplies from the nations number one manufacturer.

VISIT OUR FAQ PAGE CLICK HERE

The soothing quality of a waterfall splashing next to a patio or in a yard is one of the finest ways to enhance your property. It is a great place to relax, pause, and refresh yourself.

Rain Barrels Old Technology More Useful Than Ever

If you’re a gardener that has an unlimited supply of water, consider yourself lucky. There are many who live in drought zones where the garden and lawn watering rules are very strict and make it hard to maintain healthy garden growth . Many people just give up when they find out how few gallons of water they are permitted to use, or more so the cost of the water. Many have found ways to cope with less available water and the high cost .

Conserving Water

Some of the ways to maximize your water conservation while still enjoying a healthy lush garden are include drip irrigation (the use of a pipe or hose with small holes to gradually seep into the roots of the plant), the placement of plants in groups of equal watering needs (to prevent wasting water on plants that don’t need it), and using compost or mulch to insulate the water and prevent drainage.

One of the best ways to keep your garden alive and growing during a drought is to take preventative measures. Even during a drought period there is usually a few weeks of heavy rain. If you to set up several rain barrels you will be able to . Many people think this would be a time consuming, silly thing to do. But it can save you many gallons of water, and requires very little work.
Even those who have plenty of water available should take advantage of this. The high noitrogen in rainwater is greatt for plants

Finding the barrels will probably be easy. A lot of home improvement centers and garden shops are starting to carry these items. You can even make your own out of 30 gallon or 55 gallon plastic drums available in classified ads or craigs list. If you make your own be sure to have a tight fitting screen top to prevent mosquitoes and debris. A simple on and off spigot can be installed available at most home improvement centers. You can use the rain water collected to run a drip irrigation system or simple run a hose off the barrel.

Once you have your barrels ready, you’re faced with the decision of where to place them. You should place them under down spots off your gutter system. The ideal would be to place them at all downspouts but even one or two will catch a large amount of water .

Not only will this project make your gardening greener it will conserve some of our resources . Using this old technology will help you to be more green with healthier plants to boot.

January Gardening

Well certainly the winter is not the best time to run outside and do some gardening. There are however plenty of gardening ideas to keep you busy in the colder months .

I like to start my search for this springs plantings now using catalogs and also the Internet to check for online nursery catalogs. There is a wealth of information and inspiration in these catalogs . When you are search you can set up a folder on your computer and copy and paste things that you are interested in so that you can research them more. You can even set up sub-folders with in your garden ideas folders to cover different subjects vegetables, annuals, perennials,trees, shrubs,water features almost anything you are interested in. This will garner you a wealth of information and ideas for your gardening efforts. The best part of all is that you will have source information and cost information right at your fingertips so that if you decide on a project you can have an idea of what it will cost you and where you can get it during the planning stage. This is great especially if you are planning major changes or are just on a tight budget.

Another thing that you can be doing in January is to get that lawnmower, rototiller, and other lawn equipment to the repair shop for tuneups and repairs. The repair shops can then have your equipment ready for you long before you need it in the spring and you can get started instead of waiting 2 or 3 weeks for it to get fixed. There is nothing more frustrating then to go to start a piece of equipment and it won’t run no matter how many times you try to start it. It will just mess up a whole days plan and your attitude. Part of the joy in gardening is that you can get some relaxation and exercise and let worries and frustrations be put aside for a while. So to avoid frustration plan ahead and have your equipment repaired before the season starts. Speaking of planning ahead if you get a few days of warm weather it may be a good idea to get the garden shed organized and put all your hand tools, pruners ,trowels, etc.. together and make it easy to find so you are not searching on that first day of gardening.

Don’t Forget A 5 Gallon Bucket It Is The Perfect Container For Holding All Your Hand Tools

I know it is hard to think about organizing things for spring when it is cold and dreary outside but you will really appreciate it latter!

Another source of great ideas is a visit to botanical gardens conservatories or garden shows. A day trip in the middle of winter is often times just the thing you need to boost your spirits. There are lots of different activities for gardeners put on by garden clubs, nurseryman’s association and other groups. You can usually Google the term garden shows for some located in your area.

Spring is only 2 month one week and 3 days away so even though it is far off it is not as far away as Christmas and for the true gardener it is probably more exciting. I know I can not drive past a home improvement store without looking for the garden center section and more than once have diverted from my mission to stop in and just browse the latest arrivals. This is truly better that Christmas and Birthdays to me. So there is something to look forward to. Just Hang In There A Bit Longer.

The Carolinian Forest

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UBC Botanical Garden has completed the development of one of our newest features: the Carolinian Forest. One thousand cubic metres of soil were extracted from a former construction site on South Campus and spread on an expanse of Botanical Garden hillside that has lain dormant since 1972.

Botanical Garden visitors, staff, volunteers, students and faculty have repeatedly expressed interest in eastern North American hardwoods. The late Gerald Straley, a Virginia native and former Curator of Collections at the Botanical Garden, had always advocated for such a collection, arguing that there were few examples of this rich and biologically important floristic assemblage displayed anywhere locally. Significantly, a large number of eastern North American plants have their closest relatives in east Asia, while others have relatives in both Asia and western North America. Amassing Carolinian species here has enabled the garden to link collections of a number of important genera and species groups, such as Liriodendron (tulip poplar), magnolia, Acer (maple) and rhododendron. Beyond biogeographic comparisons, other educational objectives, such as conservation and biodiversity research, are more easily accomplished with the addition of the arboretum. So much of the eastern hardwood forest, including its associated shrubby and herbaceous flora, is significant from an aesthetic point of view. The Carolinian Forest has been enormously popular with all of our visitors.

Most of the seeds which were used for the Carolinian forest were collected in the wild from forests in eastern Canada and the Maritimes to the Carolinas and Georgia. Approximately 300 trees and shrubs, representing more than 100 different species, have been planted. The very first plantings took place in the early spring of 2006.

Another feature of the Carolinian Forest is the Carolinian Garden. It is comprised of 12 individual groves, each named for an early North American plant explorer. The groves exhibit a variety of trees and shrubs, including signature species that have particular significance to the legacies of those explorers. For example, Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) was planted in the Kalm Grove. Pehr Kalm (1716-1779) was an explorer-botanist born in Sweden and a student of Carolus Linnaeus who collected in the northernmost parts of the eastern hardwood forest (including Québec). Franklinia alatamaha resides in the Bartram Grove. American John Bartram (1699-1777), who Linnaeus described as the greatest natural botanist in the world, discovered this beautiful camellia relative (named for Bartram’s friend Benjamin Franklin) while collecting plants with his son near the Altamaha River in Georgia in 1770s. Bartram was among the last to see this species in the wild.

The Carolinian Forest’s location on the hillside adjacent to the Garry Oak Meadow and Woodland Garden and overlooking Southwest Marine Drive and Georgia Strait beyond, have made it visible from all areas of the east garden, as well as from the Botanical Garden entrance and the proposed Visitor Centre. We invite you to come explore this exciting development and share in a spectacularly beautiful arboretum.

A woodland garden of global scientific value

Above you are vigorous familiar climbers such as wisteria, roses and clematis as well as many outstanding unusual varieties, scampering through centuries-old cedar, fir and hemlock. The gourd-shaped nests of the common bush-tit hang in the air as squirrels dart across your path.

You have entered the David C. Lam Asian Garden, largest component of the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden. From Tibet, Japan, China, Korea, Manchuria and other regions, some of the most ancient flowering plants, the magnolia, are gathered together in the greatest number on the continent. Here also is one of the continent's largest collection of rhododendrons. Paper-bark, snake-bark and many other examples of Asian maples add vibrant colour, shape and texture.

Shade-loving perennials, rare shrubs and lush ferns nestle within this peaceful forest. Plants previously considered not hardy in Vancouver thrive beneath the immense native canopy which provides shade and protection from northwest winds.

You are surrounded by the results of ongoing expeditions by botanists who have explored and collected in the farthest corners of Asia and the close and long-standing and ongoing association of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research with other famed botanical gardens such as Edinburgh, Kew, Nanjing, Hokkaido and the Arnold Aboretum and Harvard.

Visitors are invited to undertake their own personal explorations and discoveries, or to arrange guided tours. There are few spaces between groupings of magnificent plants, but plenty of opportunities to get off main paths where rare plants are scattered and others spring from nurse logs that lay where they have fallen. Towhees, thrushes, robins and song sparrows scratch among the undergrowth.

Living Collections

UBC Botanical Garden started in 1916 with 900 species. By the late 1930s, the Botanical Garden included significant collections of British Columbia natives, willows, alpines, aquatics and medicinal plants, as well as native and exotic trees in the campus arboretum. Unfortunately, much of the old collections were lost or integrated with the campus plantings. The only remnants visible today are some very fine trees in the original arboretum.

Today, the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden collections include those of the main garden, the Botanical Garden Nursery and Nitobe Memorial Garden. Nitobe Memorial Garden is an authentic Japanese tea and stroll garden, but is also a documented collection of Japanese and British Columbia native plants.

Collections policy at UBC Botanical Garden follows a number of important criteria. These include providing plants and plant materials for academic study and research (based primarily on germplasm of documented wild origin), using plants to create attractive public displays, and providing the public with new plants through partnerships with local horticulture industry.

University of British Columbia Botanical Garden houses a number of significant plant group collections, these include: Acer, Clematis, Cornus, Epimedium, hardy Eucalyptus, Hebe, Lardizabalaceae, Lindera, Magnolia, Rhododendron, Sorbus, Styracaceae, BC native flora, alpines and Chinese flora.

Winter Storm Hits The Urban Garden

We are under a winter storm warning here at the urban garden with snow estimates of 10 to 12 inches over the next 24 hours. This is not so much a danger as it is a big inconvience . The trouble is keeping up with the snow. The hospital is open 24 hours a day so we must keep entrances , drive , and parking lots open for ambulances patients and staff. The storm is expected to drop as much as an inch an hour so we need to be prepared to keep going over the same areas until the storm is over and then it will be another two days till the lots are completly cleared because we will need to close down sections at a time to clear snow.

It is usally a long and grueling week when we get a large snow fall. The main thing is to keep paths open and free of snow and ice so that operations are not hindered and roads open so emergency vehicles can get through . If it is a very big storm the city will try and help out but there is only so much they can do while trying to keep main streets and arteries open.

Over all the snow season is definatly the worst time of year at the urban garden. The bright spot is Spring is only 2 months 2 weeks 5 days away!

Weather Break At the Urban Garden Work Resumes

Last week was a long week at the urban garden. The snow took up most of the week as well as the sub freezing temperatures . A Mid – January thaw is expected on Wednesday and Thursday which should see weather in the 40’s In addition above average temps are expected for the next 10 days. This is a welcome relief as it will allow us a chance to get back on schedule with the organization project and also let us take down the rest of the holiday decorations as well. There is a down side to the melting snow though. As the snow melts all the hidden trash and debris will be exposed so there will be a lot more cleanup. This is always a lot of work but it is part of the job.

The really good news is that Spring is just about 10 weeks away. This is a great thing to be looking forward to. That does not mean that winter is winding down by any means . This is Chicago and there is a lot of winter still left to come but a mid season break will be much welcomed.

As the days go by I will be focusing more on the things we will need to be doing as the weather breaks and Spring returns. The more planning I do now the better off we will be when we get a few nice days to work. The best part of all will be when the spring flowering bulbs start to emerge. I always get a thrill when I first see them poking their heads up through the soil.I guess it is the anticipation of the blaze of color after weeks and weeks of dreary drab landscaping. The other thing that is exciting is the longer light hours. There is a lot to be said about how sunlight will improve your spirit.

On a personal note The Woodland Garden is starting to beckon me as well. I can not wait to get a weekend to go out and see how spring is bursting into bloom there. I truly wish that I could live there year round as it is a million miles from no wheres but only an hour from home. I have been collecting some plans for bird houses and some bird feeders and weather permitting I will be putting a few together to take out there the first weekend. It probably would not be the highest priority on the spring to do list except that I so much enjoy watching the birds and hearing their songs as they visit the woodland garden that I want to get those in place early.

Well there will be a lot to do once spring breaks so the next several weeks of planning time will be a good thing. I know it seems early but I have learned as I get older 10 weeks can pass very fast.

Important Reminder For Winter Gardens

In the northern climates it is very difficult for birds to find food especially when there is snow cover. Placing a bird feeder in your garden is not only a very human thing to do for our feathered friends it will provide you with hours of entertainment.

During these cold periods it is hard sometimes to find food and once birds find out that you are providing them some they will come in droves . They will be darting back and forth and hanging off each other to try and get to the feeder. It is great fun to watch and you will be surprised at just how quickly you can recognize returning birds by their markings and personality.

A bird feeder is also a great way to teach children about nature and putting them in charge of filling the bird feeder is a good way of teaching them responsibility as well

Looking Towards Spring

Two Months 29 Days and 16 hours and then Spring will arrive at the urban garden. Seems like a ways off. Well Friday is New Years 2010 what happened to 2009? Time does fly. This past year some of the things which I wanted to accomplish at the urban garden did not get done but because of equipment problems and the construction project etc..

I have been busy the last two weeks in between snow storms getting an inventory list together for irrigation parts, fertilizer, herbicides, and supplies. This is based on what is on hand and what I have used in past years. By placing orders in February I will have the supplies I need in time for each task. This alone saves a lot of time and that is due to the reorganization taking place this winter. They irrigation parts that are used most for repairs nipples, heads,and nozzles are all in a kit form separated by size so now when a repair is needed they parts are right on hand and there where you are working. As the parts are used you can restock before you run out so that you will not be waiting when a repair is needed.

Seed for lawn repair will be on hand as well as starter fertilizer and peat moss so that as soon as weather brakes you can start repairs even if it is only one or two nice days you can get started early and be ahead of the game. This is especially important when you are working with a small crew and need to make each day count.

Along with the irrigation kit I have set up a pull behind garden cart with a sprayer so that weed control will be much more efficient. This cart will hook on to the lawn tractor and also hold the irrigation kit so that when needed it will only take a few minutes to hook up and be out there working. Planning is a key element in getting things done and the more you plan the better off you will be.

Now is a great time for you to start thinking about your own garden and garden projects and planning for them this spring. If you don’t have any project planned yet why not visit our resource page Free Backyard Project Plans and check out some ideas that you can build using the lists of free plans.

(W)intermission

Gail and I need a little more time to gather thoughts before I dive into posts about the decade’s best plants. Because I ventured outside on some of the chilliest days to grab at pictures with my mittens on, I’ll give those to you today instead. You might want to make a cup of tea and put on your thickest sweater before looking…

Even though I’ve never considered this my favorite season, I have realized that I am very grateful to live in a climate that has a true winter. I need a real break from the garden to recharge my brain and body. – And if it was warm enough to work outside I would have trouble staying in.

A month or two ago I couldn’t really imagine having any fresh ideas for these gardens or even my own (which I think about constantly even while I’m at work). I was fried. But after only a couple of weeks of intensive indoor regrouping, I have enough thoughts in my head that if I don’t write them down they’re likely to be pushed off the shelf by the next thing. I definitely need help to kick-start the idea process. Before allowing ourselves even a glance at seed catalogs, Gail and I always take a look through the year’s gardening magazines, which we hadn’t yet given ourselves time to read, and we pull out the ancient back issues too along with our favorite books. – Because everything old is new again. And of course I am catching up on blog reading. Amazingly, it doesn’t take much for the ideas to start germinating. A plant suggestion here, a photo there and I’m already completely jazzed to get back in the garden.

Do you take a winter intermission too? Self or climate imposed? Where do you find the seeds for your ideas?

Important Reminder For Winter Gardens

In the northern climates it is very difficult for birds to find food especially when there is snow cover. Placing a bird feeder in your garden is not only a very human thing to do for our feathered friends it will provide you with hours of entertainment.

During these cold periods it is hard sometimes to find food and once birds find out that you are providing them some they will come in droves . They will be darting back and forth and hanging off each other to try and get to the feeder. It is great fun to watch and you will be surprised at just how quickly you can recognize returning birds by their markings and personality.

A bird feeder is also a great way to teach children about nature and putting them in charge of filling the bird feeder is a good way of teaching them responsibility as well.

Winter Storm Hits The Urban Garden

We are under a winter storm warning here at the urban garden with snow estimates of 10 to 12 inches over the next 24 hours. This is not so much a danger as it is a big inconvience . The trouble is keeping up with the snow. The hospital is open 24 hours a day so we must keep entrances , drive , and parking lots open for ambulances patients and staff. The storm is expected to drop as much as an inch an hour so we need to be prepared to keep going over the same areas until the storm is over and then it will be another two days till the lots are completly cleared because we will need to close down sections at a time to clear snow.

It is usally a long and grueling week when we get a large snow fall. The main thing is to keep paths open and free of snow and ice so that operations are not hindered and roads open so emergency vehicles can get through . If it is a very big storm the city will try and help out but there is only so much they can do while trying to keep main streets and arteries open.

Over all the snow season is definatly the worst time of year at the urban garden. The bright spot is Spring is only 2 months 2 weeks 5 days away!

New Years Day 2010 At The Urban Garden

New Years Day 2010 here at the urban garden. Just like Spring is the start of the new gardening year New Years Day is the start of a new year. I have been thinking about the website for a while now and in general I am pleased with it. I do want to have more relevant content though and more resources for the visitors. Over the last month or so I have been working on a resource called Free Backyard Project Plans which is a collection of lots of different plans on all kinds of projects. Currently there are plans in the following categories:

* Arbor Plans
* Cold Frame
* Free Backyard Project Plans
* Garden Benches
* Garden Bridges
* Greenhouse Plans
* Pergola Plans
* Raised Garden Bed
* Water Falls

There will be many more to come. It is a chance to get some ideas for you landscape and what you can build or make.

I really want to place a question and answer section in as well so those who have gardening questions can come and ask and get some help. I am not sure if it should be as a forum or a Q&A section yet but I am still working on the concept.

I have spent many years in gardening both professionally as well as a hobby. I really have a an interest in all things gardening. It is the old adage about finding a job you love. I truly love what I do for a living and while challenging at times it certainly is not what I think of as work. I think of work as something that is not truly enjoyable and fulfilling and I can not say that about what I do for a living.

Most important of all is that I hope to make this a valuable tool for those who need garden information or advise. Also to be entertaining. If anyone has an ideas or thought please register and leave a comment. I promise you that you will not get bombarded with any emails or communications from me. I just would like your feedback and input. H ave a great day and a very prosperous and happy new year!