Moving Some Rocks

The last couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to get some spots in the garden in order before it got too cold. One is shown here:

It’s a spot that in theory should be a good way to have dealt with the slope of the garden as opposed to the level patio. The problem that developed was that the small foot or so of garden that aligns with the lower grill area, just has become a place for dirt, leaves and other random outdoor junk to collect and wash onto the patio. Plants haven’t seemed to want to grow very well there, so it just became an a dirty eyesore. We had originally planted purple tuurtleheads and bee balm in the area, then added some other plants as things died back.

So finally this year, I decided this area needed a change. I had the stones moved forward to the edge of the brick and some plastic added to keep the dirt from washing in. There’ll be a bit of a slope, but it can’t be worse than the ugliness of what I am dealing with now. Neither of those original plants did great in this locations, so what’s left of them I’m moving them to other spots.

Moving the plants–a clump of turtlehead roots

and some very scraggly bee balm that needs more sunlight.

The spurge that does do well here, I’ll split in the spring. It’s about 5 years old so probably ready to split. I’ve also been been finding such interesting Coral Bells (Heuchera) lately and they seem to like it here. I’ll try to add some more of them and some interesting hosts and astilbe to round it out. I’m hoping this impoves the look and keeps the patio a little cleaner.

Here’s what it looks like now, honestly not much better, but getting too cold to really do much. The rest of the plants to be added and moved will need to be done in the spring. At least I’m ready!

Purple Beautyberry Bush

A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Morton Arboretum for the Glass Pumpkin Patch. In the parking lot, right next to the car was the most gorgeous bushes with brilliant purple berries on it.

Thankfully, the Arboretum does a great job in labeling everything, and I could find the tag telling me what it was.

Callicarpa dichotoma is a native of China, Japan and Korea and grows best on full sun-part shade in zones 5-8. It seems to be pretty hardy, generally free of serious pests or diseases, and is a fairly small shrub growing full size to about 4 ft x 4 ft. It has small unimpressive pinkish-lavender flowers that bloom in late summer, but the berries that ripen in September and October are quite dramatic. A favorite of the birds, it holds its berries well into winter. It should heavily pruned down to about 12 inches in late winter or early spring to have the best berry production.

This shrub looks like an excellent and interesting choice to replace my half dead redtwig dogwoods. My local nursery carries C. dichotoma “Issai” which seems quite similar to the variety at the Arboretum. Might be a little late now, but I will check into it in the spring. Have you seen this stunning shrub?

Brrr, it’s Cold

As expected, we sunk down below freezing Tuesday night. Glad I got the last of the vegetables harvested. Surprisingly, many of the garden plants actually looked pretty good in the morning, but we’ll see after 2 days of below freezing temperatures overnight.

I ended up leaving the single perfect rosebud on the plant. In the morning it was still tightly closed, just half the size as the day before.

The coleus and petunias showed their unhappiness by curling up their leaves and petals like they were trying to stay warm.

Then later yesterday, I headed up to Michigan for a quick visit to my mom’s. The drive was interesting, both from the quirky weather and the seemingly random changing of the colors. I would have expected a gradual transition as I headed north, but instead, the colors were highly variable, with some places still green, others showing beautiful colors, then still more already bare. This morning, we woke up to this–

Not sure I’m ready!

First Frost Warning is Coming Tonight!

I feel pretty lucky that we’ve squeaked out an extra week or so before the first hard frost has hit the Chicago area. NOAA has issued it’s first freeze watch for the area for tonight, almost a week my after the average date for my area. We might even get some flurries! Chicago is a little difficult to know what will really happen weather-wise at any one spot in the region, since Lake Michigan and other land features create a lot of micro-climates that skew local temperatures and precipitation. You can check out your first frost dates on Dave’s Garden.

Even so, I think tonight will be it for the plants. I went around yesterday and took some last pictures of the flowers and harvested the last of the vegetables in preparation. I’m always a little sad this time of year, when the garden still looks so inviting after having finally recovered from the harsh mid -summer conditions. Yet I know it is only a matter of time till it’s over. It’s like the plants want that last hurrah before going to sleep for the winter, or for the annuals, to go out in a blaze of glory.

Final Garden Harvest–having just been in Charleston, I am going to use those green tomatoes!

The garden is still in bloom

Some of the trees are showing their colors, but not very uniformly or brilliantly. Some are showing the stress of 2 harsh summers and disease, while others haven’t even begun to change.

It’ll be interesting to see what it al looks like tomorrow. I’m torn as to whether I should bring in that beautiful single rosebud to protect it, or see what happens if I leave it.

Visiting a Glass Pumpkin Patch

This week we visited the third annual Glass Pumpkin Patch at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.

There are lots of artists, each with their own signature style. Shannon Jane Morgan, who we had the chance to speak with at the First Pumpkin Patch, comes all the way from California to headline the event and has mentored many of the artists who also display their creativity with glass. There are over 3000 pumpkins for sale, live glass-blowing demonstrations and workshops. Enjoy some of these beautiful works of art.

I found my favorite!

And I added it to my collection…

Photos by Steve

Coleus

I’ve been away from blogging for a few days while my husband and I took a wonderful quick trip to Charleston, SC. As I mentioned in my Kiawah blog (and also the one on Kiawah dining), we’ve flown to the Charleston airport numerous times with the family to go right out to the beach, but never made a side trip to Charleston. I am currently writing up that trip for a “Travel to Charleston” post, but in the meantime there were some interesting gardening ideas that I thought I’d write about.

The first is about Coleus. Seems an odd choice, but I have become quite a fan of this fairly simple and common plant. I remember back in the old days, we used to have them as indoor houseplants. As long as they got some sunlight, kept them evenly watered and kept pinching them, they grew great. Of course, I did none of those, so I got ugly, leggy plants that I think even got mites or something.

Fast forward to today. I have slowly been using them as annuals in pots around the yard. This year I filled 3 pots that are in dappled shady locations with just coleus seedlings that I picked up cheaply at Home Depot. I didn’t really plan it out very well, other than something needed to go in those pots. But much to my surprise, my husband has remarked on numerous occasions how much he likes those coleus pots that surround his grill area. They have turned out to be so colorful and interesting, and have been fun to watch as the summer has progressed. In fact, they still look great as fall colors starts to settle in around them.

They’ve been simple to keep looking good. Keep them watered, they definitely let you know when they need it, and pinch the flower stalks periodically to keep them bushy. At this point I have let them flower and that’s added to their prettiness. I didn’t fertilize them much, but I think like any pot plant, it helps.

So how does this relate to Charleston? As we wandered around this very wanderable city, coleus was everywhere. In pots, in window boxes and in gardens. I was so surprised to see it so many places, and I came to realize what a great mixer it was in the garden arrangements, both as a mass of one color, or a colorful mixture of varieties.

Seeing these beautiful garden spaces has definitely encouraged me to to think about how I can use coleus better in my own garden spaces. They are so easy to grow and versatile in their uses, I’ve already been researching varieties and seed sources for next spring. I will probably grow my own so that I can really plan out the right varieties for the colors, height and sun conditions better. Unfortunately in Zone 5 where I live, coleus is definitely an annual so it needs to be grown each year or plant cuttings overwintered indoors. If I can find a location to overwinter a few, I might do that. But I better hurry, it’s getting close to that first frost here.

So if you’re looking for ideas as to how to grow and use coleus in your garden, check out these sites that I’ve started collecting for next spring. Does anyone have any more recommendations or ideas? Do you have coleus in your garden?

Southern Living-Colorful Coleus
Fine Gardening-Designing with Coleus
Fine Gardening-Sizing up Coleus
Tribtoday.com-Start Coleus Seeds Now for Spring
Swallowtail Gardens Seeds
Burpee Seeds

Sunday Feature: More Fall Scenes from Michigan

Here’s some more scenes from fall in Michigan…

Turkey Tail Fungi (Trametes versicolor)

Wooly Bear-mild or harsh winter?

Meadowhawk Dragonflies
Black-Eyed Susan

photos by Peggy

An Unwelcome Visitor

While we were out there discussing the ideas for the new raised gardens yesterday, this is what we saw in the neighbor’s backyard behind me…a very healthy coyote!

And while I know coyotes can jump a fence, I hope it acts as a deterent to keep him from coming in my yard!

The coyote population has really risen the last few years. As with many wild animals living in suburban areas, there is friction. So, while it really helps to keep the rabbit and rodent population under control, we have had instances of them attacking family pets. Even one incident in my neighborhood, which thankfully the little terrier survived! So we keep just a little closer watch over Daisy, and hope the coyote is too lazy to jump over my fence.

I read a great book recently about humans and animals trying to coexist, The Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature by Dave Baron. Here’s an overview from Barnes and Nobles:

“When residents of Boulder, Colorado, suddenly began to see mountain lions in their backyards, it became clear that the cats had returned after decades of bounty hunting had driven them far from human settlement. In a riveting environmental tale that has received huge national attention, journalist David Baron traces the history of the mountain lion and chronicles one town’s tragic effort to coexist with its new neighbors. As thought-provoking as it is harrowing,The Beast in the Garden is a tale of nature corrupted, the clash between civilization and wildness, and the artificiality of the modern American landscape. It is, ultimately, a book about the future of our nation, where suburban sprawl and wildlife-protection laws are pushing people and wild animals into uncomfortable, sometimes deadly proximity.”

To Add More Gardens or Not???

I am really in need of a new area for vegetables. For years, I’ve struggled with too many plants in a too small of a place. But, I also don’t have a good spot for adding more vegetable gardens, either due to too much shade or existing plants in the way. So I am contemplating putting 2 new raised beds off the back of the patio in a space that used to house the kids swing set.

View from my patio looking straight out

Right now, this looks out onto half dead red-twig dogwoods that are unfortunately succumbing to some kind of canker. To try and help the dogwoods, we’ve tried to cut back all the old wood, clean up the leaves and last spring did some rejuvenation pruning removing about a third of the branches. No more have died and I’ll do another rejuvenation pruning in the late winter. We’ll see how much longer they last.

But, back to the vegetables. I have been following the sun pattern for most of the summer, and I think this spot will work out. It’s not full sun, but gets good morning and mid-day sun, which is the best I can hope for. I am trying to decide if I should add some trellis work in front to shield it, but in talking to my landscaper, he confirmed my fears that while it will look nice, it will make the area quite shady. Maybe some other kind of less dense fence will work?

So now the question is, can I make this look pretty by adding some flowers, grasses or other interesting features to the area, or will it just turn into another messy vegetable garden? What have you done to “hide” the vegetable garden or do you think they are pretty? I think what my mom has done with her gardens is pretty.

Travel Tips: Kiawah Island Dining

In a previous post, I talked about all the wonderful things to do on Kiawah Island. This time, I’ll talk about the dining options on the island and nearby. While Kiawah does not have as many food options as other popular islands such as Hilton Head, it has a unique array of restaurants and cafes that make up for the lack of options. When people think of Kiawah, they first think of the highly rated Ocean Room and Jasmine Porch at the Sanctuary Hotel. Our trips to Kiawah have always been a bit more laid back, so we have not eaten at these restaurants. However, from everything I’ve read and heard, these are exquisite dining options and should not be missed if they fit in your budget.

When our family visits Kiawah, we stay in a villa with a kitchen that allows us to eat breakfast and lunch at home. Then, we treat ourselves to a dinner out on the town! Food can be easily bought in a pinch at the Town Market in East Beach. For a more substantial shopping, head to The Village Market by Harris Teeter in Freshfields Village. They are conveniently open from 6 am-midnight every day, with the deli and hot bar open 8-8. So no matter when you arrive, you can head over to pick up some supplies. They have a nice selection of prepared foods such as salads, sandwiches, pizza, dinners and sides and baked goods. There is even a Starbucks inside, so if you’re in need of your special coffee drink, you can get one right there.

Dining on Kiawah Island

There are a lot of dining options right on the island ranging from super casual beer and hot dogs at Oak Point clubhouse, to a Four Star restaurant at the Ocean Room. I will review the places we have eaten at.

One of our family favorites is the Ryder Cup Bar located in the Ocean Course clubhouse. It’s well worth the drive for the food, the scenery, and the experience. It also has one of the best mojitos around. They don’t take reservations, but we never have to wait too long. And even if you do have to wait, it’s a great time to enjoy the pro shop, use the practice putting green and get some great photos. For appetizers, you can’t go wrong with the Warm Carolina Crab Dip, Mussels Diavola or Charcuterie Plate. We’ve loved the Fish Taco’s, BBQ pork Sliders, Bagger Burger and Shrimp Provencal. They don’t have a traditional children’s menu, but our kids have always found something delicious to eat off the menu.

You can't beat the view.
Shrimp Provençal

The Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House is another favorite. It’s located at the Osprey Point clubhouse and there really are osprey nesting right in view of the clubhouse. If you’re able to get one of the porch tables (and be lucky enough to be there when the gnats aren’t), you also have a good chance of seeing one of the resident alligators. It is a traditional southern BBQ, so some of the sauces are a bit new to northerners like us. Nevertheless, we found everything absolutely delicious. I had the savory brisket, while the rest of the family had the free range chicken, smoked St. Louis Style ribs and the Triple Grind Dinner Burger. At first glance, that seemed like an awfully expensive hamburger, but my son just kept saying it was the best burger he had ever had! That was a mighty high compliment, so we all had to try a bit and we all had to agree. The sides were all tasty, and the beer list is fabulous, too.

Family Seaside Buffet At Loggerhead Grill is a real treat, weather permitting. The Loggerhead Grill is poolside at The Sanctuary. We went a few times when the kids were not yet teenagers and could eat for the child price. They still ask to go every year, and one of these years we will have to splurge and really treat ourselves. It has a little bit of everything for the seafood lover, or for the person willing to try new things, as our kids did. Everything was super fresh and tasty. There’s festive music, great service and a great setting. Just wonderful to eat poolside at sunset.

The Market at Town Center turned out to be the place for us this year. They offer dine-in or take-out items all day from 7 am-9pm. We had their pizzas the first night after we checked in and they made for a perfect first night meal. Later in the week, we needed a quick meal before heading out for an evening kayaking trip, so we called in a sandwich order which were just perfect a casual, quick dinner. Not sure why we didn’t make more use of this before, but we’ll be back. They do have a nice dining area if you choose to eat in, rather than taking it back home. The ordering/paying system is a little confusing, but once you figure it out, it works just fine.

Ice Cream at Beaches and Cream Beaches and Cream is located inside The Sanctuary and is a decadent treat, both for the price and its sweet treats. but it is nice on those hot summer days.

For drinks, The Sanctuary’s Lobby Bar is not to be missed. My husband and I try to make it a point to go over at least once a visit for a relaxing drink in an absolutely beautiful, very Southern room. We never tire of walking through the lobby, seeing the stunning and huge low country murals before entering the Lobby Bar. In this oversized parlor, you are surrounded by warm walnut, comfortable furniture, and of course, a view of the gardens and ocean. They have an extensive drink list, but hands-down my favorite is the Mojito.

There are a number of other dining options that we haven’t tried, including the Mingo Point Oyster Roast, The Atlantic Room, Tomasso’s at Turtle Point and Night Heron Grill. Maybe next trip.

Off Island Dining

The closest place to find dining off Kiawah island is at Bohicket’s Marina, located right between Kiawah and Seabrook islands. It’s a cute market area with shopping, dining and of course, the marina. Salty Dog Cafe Seabrook, Fischer’s Sports Pub and Lucky Luciano’s Pizza are located there.

We ventured over to Bohickets one night to enjoy the sunset and dinner at the marina. The wait for dinner was very reasonable. We just wandered out front and enjoyed the scenery of the river and the marina at sunset. It’s a fun, festive kind of place.

A lot of people will venture to Charleston for dinner, but when we’re on Kiawah, we stay on Kiawah. The fabulous places everyone keeps telling me about will have to be visited in a separate trip to Charleston someday.

Stephi Gardens