Category Archives: projects

art of creation

boulevard garden, months 01-03: winter, perrennials, projects

Flower Count – day 6 – euphorbia

03/07/2012 svseekins 17 Comments

Euphorbia is a new plant for me. I dipped my toe in that pool a couple of years ago, but had little success. Then I began noticing more & different euphorbia in other gardens & those looked great.

Deciding I hadn’t tried hard enough, last summer I stuck my whole foot into the euphorbia pool. I moved the past year’s trial plant to a new site (in hopes it would perk up), and I bought a different cultivar at the garden shop. That made 2.

Then I admired the euphorbia at SK’s garden. She says they grow like crazy & promptly dug some up for me.

Cousin SM also gave me a gift from her garden.

When I admired some euphorbia a drought tolerant landscape down the street, the resident assured me they’re tough as nails, and immediately offered to share some of her extras. Wow.

Now I have 5 test patches going.

This winter it’s already paying off. The transplant from down the street has survived – – and doesn’t this look suspiciously like blooms on the ends of the branches?

It’s called Euphorbia ‘myrsinites’. The easier common name is Donkey Tail Spurge. I think it’s pretty funky looking.

It lives at the base of a boulevard tree that sticks out into the street corner. I figure this might be a good place for it, since this spurge won’t grow too high to impede the view of any drivers trying to pull into traffic. I also have my fingers crossed that it’ll survive with far less water than it had last summer (transplants need watering until they’re established).

The garden shop cultivar is also looking encouraging. The bright tips look like flowers to me. Even if they’re really something else, I’m going to count them as flowers anyway. It’s called Euphorbia ‘purpurea’, or more commonly Purple Wood Spurge.

euphorbia - gift from SK — photo by SVSeekins

The gifts from SK have something groovy dangling on their tips also. I don’t know if it’s a flower – but I like it.

Does it sound like I’m getting desperate to find blooms for Victoria’s Flower Count? Maybe. But just getting outside at this time of year has given me a boost, and a fresh perspective. These hen’s & chicks look so decorative, I’m half way to declaring them in bloom, too. 🙂

winter Hens & Chicks — photo by SVSeekins

Yet I digress – Sorry.

I have my fingers crossed for the euphorbia Cousin SM gave me. She warned me that it would look like it died off completely, so I’m not too worried.

The 5th sample of euphorbia is alive, but looking dormant. It’s still early in the year, so I thrilled to have anything happening in the garden at all.

An internet search told me that poinsettia, rubber trees & cactus looking plants are actually euphorbia too. I’d thought I was just stepping into a pool of plants called euphorbia. Now I realize it’s a sea! The range is a bit mind-boggling

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© SVSeekins and Garden Variety Life, 2012.

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Flower Count

attracting birds, boulevard garden, bulbs, months 01-03: winter, projects

Flower Count – day 5 – crocus

03/06/2012 svseekins 3 Comments

snow crocus in February — photo by SVSeekins

We can’t get through Victoria’s Flower Count without mentioning the good old snow crocus. They’re the true harbinger of spring. In this area they usually start to show themselves by Valentines Day. This year there were these pastel hints of them at Valentines.

I enjoy watching their dance. If a beam of sunlight hits, they open their flowers. As a cloud blocks the sunshine, they close up again. On a windy day, when the clouds are really moving, crocus can get really busy. It must be exhausting.

They look so delicate, but they’re pretty tough considering the weather they thrive in. Snow is part of their name for a reason. I’ve seen them survive a dump of snow without a shiver. As soon as the sun shows up, they’re even gutsy enough to open their bloom right then & there.

early crocus in peony bed — photo by SVSeekins

I planted some brighter colored varieties in the peony bed. The other day I noticed those were coming up, too. I’ll have to tidy up the old peony stems, to better show off these spring bulbs.

Soon enough the new peony sprouts will be reaching for the sun themselves. By the time the crocus finish, the peonies will take over the bed & give the crocus some shade to rejuvenate in through the summer

dandelions out - crocus bulbs in — photo by SVSeekins

Last fall I started an experiment trying to naturalize some crocus in the boulevard lawn at the same time as digging out some dandelion. After all that digging, the lawn looked worse for wear, but as the grass is just showing signs of growth, I’m hoping it’ll be looking better soon.

crocus sharing space with moss & grass — photo by SVSeekins

The good news is that the crocus are starting to grow too. Dividends – Yippee!

The blooms so far look pretty small in comparison to those growing in the flower beds, but there is plenty of growing season to come. Hopefully they’ll take off this first year & be even stronger next year.

C is talking about the possible need to mow the lawn. That will be another test.

In the meantime, I’m delighted to see the snow crocus. Before we know it, daffodils will follow – then it’ll really feel like spring!

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© SVSeekins and Garden Variety Life, 2012.

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Flower Count

attracting birds, months 10-12: fall, projects

The Dandelion Dilemma

01/04/2012 svseekins 16 Comments

In my mind dandelions have pretty yellow flowers. They’re deer resistant. Long blooming. Survive drought & famine. They’re tasty as salad greens. And even make wine.

To C, that’s just not enough.

C carries a big grudge against dandelions. He harbors dark thoughts & plots their demise. He’s carried bucket loads away from the lawn after battle. But still he lives in fear that the common dandelion will win the war.

This fall I initiated a new plan.

After having some success during wet seasons past, I decided to have another go at digging the dandelions out – and this time replacing them with crocus.

Fall is the proper time to plant bulbs. Considering I’ve dug the hole to get the dandelion out, I might as well take advantage of the effort, right?

My good friend AT planted the idea in my mind years ago. When she was very young, her dad had employed the same reasoning in his yard: replace dandelions with crocus. I’ve never seen that lawn, but in my imagination it is wonderful.

The crocus of choice promises to grow no higher than 4 inches tall. They bloom in mid February. Even if they’re still blooming when C brings out the lawnmower, they should be safely below the blade. Cross my fingers.

After some rain in the fall, most plants can be dug out quite easily. The soil is moist, and therefore softer, and easier to dig. Dandelions however, have multiple, deep, sometimes cork-screwing roots. If any section of root remains in the ground, it’ll happily renew itself.

planting crocus in lawn — photo by SVSeekins

For this project I chose the dandelion patch just outside the fence-line. It was especially resplendent in dandelion. It’s also a high visibility area that C is the most embarrassed about. I gave special attention to get as much root as possible.

Working an hour or two at a time, I slowly made progress. There was so much digging that the lawn looked pretty rough for the first while.

Well over 400 crocus bulbs were planted.

I’m hoping that by spring there will be a colorful blooming meadow.

So much of gardening doesn’t seem to be about having a green thumb. Having a strong back is certainly a plus. So is crossing fingers. Wish me luck. 🙂