reBlogged to harvest

Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to harvest on 2007-08-15, 06:19:13

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I hope you are not too tired of my recipes but during these last few dog days of summer. I have been cooking up a storm. Here is a great way to use a few of your favorite herbs Italian style. . . .

reBlogged to herbs recipes

Posted by Herbs and Me Reblogged by Old Roses to herbs, recipes on 2007-08-15, 06:18:54

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My hummingbird feeder hangs in the garden on one of those wrought iron crook poles. I thought it would be nice to decorate it a little, so I planted a heavenly blue morning glory at the bottom of the pole. This past weekend the vine got to the top of the crook. The hummers hadn’t been paying attention to it at all. But, on Sunday, I noticed they were boycotting the feeder. . . .

reBlogged to birds vines on Aug 14, 2007, 9:11AM

Posted by Sandy Reblogged by Old Roses to birds, vines on 2007-08-15, 06:18:35

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The heucheras at Lockwoods.

Inspired by Kim’s great shopping spree post, I have one of my own. Although I too really don’t need any more plants this season—indeed, I would be hard-pressed to find room—that would never stop me from buying at least 10-12 perennials and even a few annuals (though at this point in the summer those are only for emergency situations). . . .

reBlogged to nursery

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to nursery on 2007-08-15, 06:17:46

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In a previous article on this site I described the process for growing gourmet mushrooms on hardwood logs in the home garden.

Hardwood log inoculation is a simple and easy way to cultivate loads of shiitake, oyster, maitake, chicken of the woods, reishi, lion’s mane, and other delicious edible or medicinal fungi right in your own backyard.

And one of the best things about growing mushrooms on hardwood logs is that once the mushroom spawn has been introduced you can sit back and enjoy the edible fungi harvest for years to come with absolutely no additional effort.

Nature’s Perfect Solution for Recycling Dead Wood

After producing faithfully for over five years the hardwood logs that I inoculated with shiitake mushroom spawn have finally worn out and decomposed to the point that it’s time for them to be retired.

In some cases the mushroom spawn reduced the Birch and Oak logs to not much more than piles of wood chips and sawdust. In other cases the logs maintained their shapes but became soft and would fall apart under just a little pressure.

The entire life cycle of various fungi that live on and consume wood is nature’s efficient means of decomposing and recycling dead or unhealthy trees. In the process these trees are converted into mushrooms, compost, beneficial soil organisms, and mycorrhizal fungi.

Reaping Rewards from Mushroom Log Production

It was definitely worth the effort involved to grow the mushrooms, and the bumper crops of gourmet shiitakes that were produced and enjoyed over the years would have been very expensive if they had been purchased from a retail market.

I’ve already begun my search for a source of fresh hardwood trees to cut down this winter and inoculate next spring. If you want to learn more about how to grow mushrooms read the following articles on Growing Mushrooms Outdoors, or Mushroom Growing Kits. As with any wild plant don’t consume any mushroom unless you are absolutely certain of its identity and that it is safe to eat!

The decline in production from my mushroom logs doesn’t mean that they have fulfilled their destiny and can no longer serve a useful role in the garden. I’m conducting a little experiment with the remains of my depleted logs.

Coaxing a Few More Shiitake Mushrooms from Depleted Logs

All of the wood fibers, bark, disintegrating logs, and chaff that was left behind will now be used to line the rows in between my raised beds to see if I can stimulate the production of a few more flushes of gourmet shiitake mushrooms.

I laid the spent logs out between the rows along with the wood debris and loose soil that was underneath of the mushroom patch. Then I covered everything with a thick layer of bedding straw and watered it in good.

If the plan works I’ll be harvesting more delicious home grown shiitakes from the garden’s paths this fall. I’ll share the results of this project and post photos if I am successful in coaxing more production out of my mushroom log debris.

Even if my experiment fails I’m sure that the organic matter, mycorrhizal fungi, and other beneficial organisms that remain in the spent logs will serve as a great soil amendment and help improve the growth and health of plants that grow throughout the vegetable garden.

reBlogged to fungi on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by Kenny Point Reblogged by Old Roses to fungi on 2007-08-15, 06:17:25

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Keeping you options open is a good idea for the small garden center. What you thought you would be about when you started may not be what you are about now. This story from the Macon Telegraph on Green leaf Nursery illustrates that. This family run nursery was “opened… on April 9, 1994, concentrating on growing and selling bedding plants and perennials.” The nursery “has consumed their time ‘from dark to dark’ ever since, said Nancy Lawrence, co-owner. . . .

reBlogged to nursery

Posted by Trey Pitsenberger Reblogged by Old Roses to nursery on 2007-08-15, 06:17:17

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We have a gravel driveway, which, as anyone who has one knows, is a great incubator for weeds. So whenever my husband or I spot green stuff in the gravel around the yard, we reflexively bend down to weed it out. Tonight, as I reached down for a bit of errant grass, it moved. Ah, ha, not grass, but a grasshopper.

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

reBlogged to insects

Posted by Yvonne Cunnington Reblogged by Old Roses to insects on 2007-08-15, 06:16:40

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You can now have my blog updates delivered by email, so no more checking to see if I have written something. See the sign-up box at the top right corner.

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

reBlogged to blogs

Posted by Yvonne Cunnington Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2007-08-15, 06:16:27

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Catching us up with Utopia, John Levett revisits Letchworth Garden City, where the movement for ‘town planning’ began a century ago. (Let us know if you laugh or cry.) John lives, writes and gardens in Cambridge, England.

Originally posted by Julie

reBlogged to design on Aug 14, 2007, 5:57PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to design on 2007-08-15, 06:16:18

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Determined to be more organized this month, I toured my gardens and divided plants into four groups: New Blooms, Reblooms (plants cut back that are on their second bloom), Continuing Blooms, and Annuals. I also decided to highlight the "Top Ten Newbies" for August. The above plant is a new one purchased only yesterday from Ace Hardware, and leads the list. It's a spectacular, large plant with several blooms: Black-Eyed Susan 'Cherokee Sunset.' Rudbeckia hirta. . . .

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Bev Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-08-15, 06:14:52

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reBlogged to dahlias

Posted by Graham Rice Reblogged by Old Roses to dahlias on 2007-08-15, 06:14:15

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In "Natural Methods of Pest Control" I blogged about how I was using beneficial bugs like lady bugs to control garden pests that were attacking plants in my garden. To read about the use of lady bugs follow the link above so you can see the photos and the video I made. . . .

reBlogged to carnivorous

Posted by MrBrownThumb Reblogged by Old Roses to carnivorous on 2007-08-15, 06:14:06

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Twin Butterflies

This picture is of two butterflies on the same patch of Coneflower. I thought they lined up kind of nice. Has any else had a lot of butterflies this year? I distinctly remember saying last year that we had “hardly any butterflies” and this year there have been clouds of them. Go figure. I am almost finished with the overgrown garden I pruned out. Quite a bit of the granite terrace around the pool had sunk so I have been relaying that, then some planting and mulch and its time to move on. . . .

reBlogged to beneficials

Posted by Digital Flower Pictures Reblogged by Old Roses to beneficials on 2007-08-15, 06:13:43

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UNPRECEDENTED COOL TEMPERATURES IN AUGUST.

No, I'm not complaining - the sou'westerly breezes coming in have been a welcome relief from the usual eyeball searing heat we get in August. And the plants are grateful too: the hibiscus are thriving, a stephanotis is in full bloom and winding its way through a dark red bourganvillea and the avocada grown from a pip has quadrupled its size. There are seven new leaves ready to burst forth. Everything under the patio and the two pergolas is grateful for a bit of shade. . . .

reBlogged to weather

Posted by ladyluz Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-08-15, 06:13:23

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Wow! What a storm that was!

My rain gauge this morning says we got 4″ of rain last night. I won’t bother to say that I wish we’d gotten 1″ for the last 4 weeks, because I’m just happy to have rain, have power, and not have any major damage. Were you as lucky? Did you rush out and look at your garden this morning to see if everything survived? Any damage reports at your house. . .

reBlogged to weather on Aug 14, 2007, 10:16AM

Posted by Robyn Dochterman Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-08-15, 06:12:57

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I shouldn't forget the name of my Terragon any time soon, nor shall I be tempted to "dump that bucket of dirt" when the plant goes dormant this winter. Labeling the plant was about the only gardening thing I did today and its all Laurie's fault. If you haven't discovered her yet, go here; www.LauriesGarden.com . . . . .

reBlogged to blogs

Posted by weeder1 Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2007-08-15, 06:12:29

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The Streptocarpus Nerys not wanting to be outflowered by the Unknown variety has put a show of purple/white flowers on too. The Leaves are longer and more roughly patterned but not furry.
They are almost glowing in the morning light.

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-08-15, 06:11:57

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I am back in the Daylight after my week of nights. The plants were left to grow on with me half looking at them through sleepy eyes.
Pictured is the Streptocarpus Unknown variety from Hils kitchen windowsill.
It has furry leaves like an african violet, but sent the red furry flowering stems up with cone like buds. . . .

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-08-15, 06:11:49

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The Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora' is blooming now and the shrub is teeming with bees, wasps, flies and the occasional butterly. The feeding is frenetic and the moving from flower to flower, frantic - the bugs don't seem to be very aware of my presence. Unfortunately it is also very windy so it makes it doubly difficult to photograph the rapidly moving insects. . . .

reBlogged to beneficials

Posted by Ki Reblogged by Old Roses to beneficials on 2007-08-15, 06:11:21

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Who doesn’t need some help when buying plants especially orchids. The biggest bang or the buck today is the Phalaenopsis or Moth orchid. They really are not difficult to grow...

reBlogged to orchids on Aug 14, 2007, 11:53AM

Posted by Plant Pro Reblogged by Old Roses to orchids on 2007-08-15, 06:10:38

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I no longer have to worry about my cantaloupe being eaten by the animals, but not because I've put up a fence or done anything to stop them. I don't have to worry about them because there are NONE LEFT! Last night the raccoons ate ALL OF THEM!

I know it was raccoons this time by they way the melons were eaten. . . .

reBlogged to melons pests

Posted by Marc Reblogged by Old Roses to melons, pests on 2007-08-15, 06:10:30

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What's in my compost pile today? Well it's the middle of August, so that means that apples are dropping like raindrops onto my lawn. Unfortunately they are pest infested apples so there's no eating but as I've mentioned before, they're great in the compost pile. I like to flip them into the compost bin with my hockey stick and make a game out of it. By the end of the summer, I make Wayne Gretzky seem like an underachiever. . . .

reBlogged to compost

Posted by Anthony Reblogged by Old Roses to compost on 2007-08-15, 06:10:01

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Zinnas are popular garden annual or perennial plants that originated in Mexico. Zinnia elegans was sent from Mexico to Madrid, Spain by Casimir Gomez de Ortego to his friend the marchioness of Bute. Zinnia is named after Johann Gottfried Zinn, who was a medical professor at Gottingen University who is best known for publishing a book on the anatomy of the eye. . . .

reBlogged to zinnias

Posted by MrBrownThumb Reblogged by Old Roses to zinnias on 2007-08-15, 06:09:36

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I went to the garden center today to get some potting soil because I have a few plants that desperately need to be repotted if they are to survive the winter indoors. (I learned my lesson last year--my rosemary was so rootbound that even overwatering it would have been fine for once. It only made it through mid-December.) I should have known better than to venture into a garden center shortly after having collected a surprise check from my second job... I really should have known better. . . .

reBlogged to nursery

Posted by Blackswamp_Girl Reblogged by Old Roses to nursery on 2007-08-15, 06:09:12

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If you’ve been reading my garden stories you know I was a very very bad gardener this year. I didn’t complete my summer gardening tasks until last week! Those tasks included adding a three inch or so layer of shredded red cedar mulch to my garden beds.

Time and time again I’m amazed at what a difference mulching the garden came make. If you use an attractive mulch it makes your garden beds look nicer. I find it also makes your garden look tidier. . .

reBlogged to mulch on Aug 14, 2007, 6:30AM

Posted by Tricia Reblogged by Old Roses to mulch on 2007-08-15, 06:08:49

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I just joined an interesting site called Meosphere. The site is a collection of lists, and links that site members have created. Each member can create their own Meosphere.

As the sites about page says we all have our Meosphere. You could even say this blog has it’s own meosphere, a gardening meosphere perhaps. . . .

reBlogged to tools on Aug 14, 2007, 1:13AM

Posted by Tricia Reblogged by Old Roses to tools on 2007-08-15, 06:08:28

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I moved to my current abode about 5 years ago. At that time one plant in my front yard had what I think is called "angel hairs" all over it. I cut off the branches that were infected but the plant still died. Since that time 3 other substantial flowering shrubs have slowly died in the ensuing years. The outer edges appear black in colour and the branches are dead dry inside when I break them off. Now a 4th shrub is dying (the pic dead flowers 1) and it looks as though a 5th shrub I planted about 2 years ago is beginning to die (dead flowers 2 pic). Can anyone tell me what is wrong and if there is a remedy for the problem?

reBlogged to shrubs on Aug 14, 2007, 12:38PM

Posted by Mick Reblogged by Old Roses to shrubs on 2007-08-15, 06:07:45

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We have finally started getting some rain in MN - unfortunately it has been accompanied by some severe storms. The garden survived pretty well. In the back yard, my son's climber is pretty beaten up - this may be time to decide that he has outgrown it and take it down..... The only other thing amiss in the back yard was a missing top to one of my composters - found it 3 yards down!

reBlogged to weather

Posted by Kathi Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-08-15, 06:07:20

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Yes, there’s a change in the air surrounding my vegetable garden but unfortunately it has nothing to do with the heat wave that we have been experiencing.

High temperatures and drought continue to dog the garden but at least there have been no more groundhog sightings. Despite the sweltering conditions my garden is beginning the transition from summer into fall veggie gardening.

Oysters, Fresh from the… Garden?

I harvested all of the fingerling potatoes over the weekend. The harvest size was average but I’m looking forward to sampling the La Ratte and Purple Peruvian varieties that I grew for the first time this season. The Peruvians look more like purple baby potatoes than fingerlings.

There was also a crop of salsify roots that I harvested from the same bed as the potatoes. I’m still not sure about how to clean, store, and prepare these uncommon oysters of the garden world, but I’m determined to find a way to enjoy this unusual vegetable crop. (more…)

reBlogged to vegetables on Aug 13, 2007, 10:00PM

Posted by Kenny Point Reblogged by Old Roses to vegetables on 2007-08-15, 06:06:45

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reBlogged to design

Posted by Jane Berger Reblogged by Old Roses to design on 2007-08-15, 06:06:37

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The last two weeks have been so hot and humid, that it almost makes me want all that rain back. The temperature was 102 degrees today, with an heat index of 117 degrees in the shade. The heat has brought most outdoor activities to a halt, so nevertheless, the garden is still pretty much a mess. We were able to do a little cleanup work, but it's small, compared to the work that lies ahead. So, much for the summer garden! Yet, onward we go, we are already starting to plan our fall garden. We will not let this funky weather get us down!!. . .

reBlogged to weather

Posted by Rose Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-08-15, 06:06:11

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Remember when I posted this dragonfly a while ago? I thought it was the male calico pennant because it was so colorful. Well, this week I found the one below in the grass at edge of my garden. When I looked it up, I found the male is red. Guess I am used to bright male birds and drab females! Anyway, this a very colorful pair isn’t it? There is a lot to learn about dragonfly identification, and hard sometimes, because the colors in the photos can be deceiving. It is fun to learn though, and I will keep at it.

click on the bottom shot for a better view

reBlogged to insects on Aug 13, 2007, 6:57AM

Posted by Sandy Reblogged by Old Roses to insects on 2007-08-15, 06:05:48

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By Danny Thompson

My uncle owns a rather large cotton, cattle and soybean farm. During summers in high school, I worked as a cotton scout...essentially a low-level agricultural entomologist. Essentially, my duties were to walk acres and acres of cotton field and look for the signs of the pests that could spell disaster for the crops. . . .

reBlogged to pests on Aug 13, 2007, 7:37PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to pests on 2007-08-15, 06:05:35

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In the ongoing discussion on what are good ways to measure the success of our blogs, one of Kathy Purdy's readers, Katie from Gotta Garden, said this;

I don’t know that I’d use the amount of comments either…if only because I read many more blogs than I comment on. I simply don’t have the time (I’m a slow writer!) to comment on them all…surely, I’m not alone in that.

No, Katie. You are certainly not alone in that. . . .

reBlogged to blogs on Aug 13, 2007, 7:29PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2007-08-15, 06:05:14

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Hibiscus, jasmine, chamomile, orange blooms tossed in the tea pot these are not. These art flower display teas will astound you with their exquisite presentation.

reBlogged to flowers recipes on Aug 13, 2007, 4:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers, recipes on 2007-08-15, 06:04:50

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Alright, we are planning our autumnal gatherings already! Mark you calendars for November 3, at the Grove, another symposium for “Rethinking the Idaho Landscape.” After many many days of 100 degree days, it is time to rethink lots of things.

Two of the speakers already booked: Marcia Tatroe from Colorado, who’s new book, Cutting Edge Gardens, Designing Gardens in the Rocky Mountains is a KEEPER. And we all enjoy hearing from Panyoti Kelidis, curator and plant collector of the Denver Botanical Gardens alpine collections.

Something to look forward to as the temperature heads back up to 98 this week.

reBlogged to shows on Aug 13, 2007, 8:22PM

Posted by Mary Ann Reblogged by Old Roses to shows on 2007-08-15, 06:04:19

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I transplanted my young broccoli seedlings from their seed tray to the garden this weekend. I gave them a space between a row of dill and one of kale. I spaced them about 5 inches apart. They seem pretty happy. I noticed that the fall crop of broccoli at a nearby farm is only a little bigger than mine now. . . .

reBlogged to broccoli beneficials

Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to beneficials, broccoli on 2007-08-15, 06:03:59

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Can I use sawdust from plywood as mulch in my garden? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

reBlogged to mulch on Aug 13, 2007, 11:00PM

Posted by The Old Farmer's Almanac Reblogged by Old Roses to mulch on 2007-08-15, 06:03:29

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Not a left or right-winger, a radicle is something way different.

reBlogged to seeds on Aug 14, 2007, 4:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to seeds on 2007-08-15, 06:03:21

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