Project updates, Healing Garden for the Ave Rest Home

 

Update for Friday, 2 July

Greetings All,

 

Hope you are enjoying your summer. 

 

The healing garden continues despite the near drought conditions.  The Hardy Glads are blooming, an eye catching addition to the peninsula.  Although the Sundrops are about done, Coneflowers and Ice plants continue to bloom, the east wall looks good.  The Swamp Milkweed is a treat for the resident’s eyes and the nectar seekers!  More residents are out today at the new table and chairs.  The Bronze Fennel is looking well, but I forgot to check for cats and eggs (we have them here).  See what happens when my adult supervisor is at work, and I am on my own.

 

I thank you all for making this project a success for all.  Your time, energy, skills, knowledge, plant material and superduty truck made this work.  Thank you, I could not have done this on my own.

 

I think Jane may have been putting ideas in the resident heads, as I was asked if we are going to do the front also, because “it suuure wooould loook nice”, in a noticeable southern accent, by one of the residents.  I said, “ I didn’t think so”, but on further reflection (out of the sun), maybe, maybe.  Any feedback?

 

John


Update for Friday, 25 June

One of the MANY benefits of a supportive wife

Greetings all,

 

I just came back from a little work at the Healing garden project, and am happy (JOYOUS, ECSTATIC…) to report that my wishes have come true, the plants are being watered!  I had gone over around 5AM a couple of mornings, last week, hand carrying a dozen 3 GAL containers, and was not really enjoying it as much as you think I would.  Thanks to Susan’s persuasiveness, the plants are being watered, and already showing signs of improvement.  Where I displaced mulch the soil was moist (REJOICE).  I grabbed some pictures will post later. 

 

THANK YOU SUSAN!

 

John


Update for Saturday 22 May

 

At least in part to Kim’s planning and recruiting skills at the Habitat project, there was still enough energy after finishing up there to go check on the Nursing home project. 

 

The gardened area is looking very well, the only problem plants seems to be the Winecups, we will supplant the existing with some with hopefully more vigor.  The Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Heliot’ has numerous buds and multiple blooms. (Insert unsolicited praise for Pleasant Run nursery here, mention the unequalled plant quality, the generosity, donations to this project, and the Habitat project, the continued support of the AGC, the upcoming plant sale, the wide selection, the pleasant, knowledgeable staff…)  The Gladiolus Atom is up, the Agastache x 'Tutti Frutti' continues to bloom, the Agastache Acapolco Orange (donation from Rutgers secured by Ellen Silverman) is blooming and growing.  The Purple Coneflower, has its first bud, the Compact Cranberrybush Viburnum continues to bloom.  The Cabbage Leaf Coneflower has made the transition from bare root to recognizable plant, while the Variegated Sedum continues to grow and fill in nicely.

Tasks remaining:
Plant remaining plants, Blackberry Lily and Swamp Milkweed (it is not a wildlife garden without milkweed, IMHO)
Install rhizome barrier for the Chocolate mint.
The mulch pile will need to be dispersed.

 

Next planting dates:

Tuesday 25 May and Wednesday 26 May, 5:30- till darkness creeps up on us

 


Update for Thursday 6 May 

 

Thursday was the best attended evening, so far.  Thank you all!  Kim and Larry Pado, Donna Mottola, Jane Pasquito, Kim Wright and I were able to plant all of the remaining plants on hand!, Kim and Larry Pado skills with their truck and a steel cable made this all possible. THANK YOU KIM AND LARRY!  (Note to self, resist the truck envy, Super Duty full size Ford…)

The four Summersweet are finally in place, the soil heavily amended.   Between the Summersweet are groups of: Liatrus, Sundrops and the Crocosmia “Lucifer”  A small group of Purple Iris were planted adjacent to Pat’s path.  This makes for 29 species planted, with only two or three more to go.   Everything looks great, some blooms on the Agastache, multiple buds on the spiderwort and more on the Coreopsis!   I have ordered ten mature Blackberry Lily to complement the seedlings, started in March.  The Swamp Milkweed and a little something TBD, around the Sneezeweed and our planting here is completed.

The garden map / drawing is updated.  Metal plant markers and a paint pen have been ordered.  These are the most durable markers I have found, and they are Blue jay resistant.  As if it isn’t hard enough maintaining the identities of our plants, last Sunday, a Blue jay, stole three plastic markers, while we watched in amazement.  He flew off with the first one, landing in a nearby tree, where he pecked at the marker for a couple of moments, before abandoning it to retrieve another, then another!

Tasks remaining:

Plant remaining plants

Select a native ground cover, wildlife beneficial, trouble free, for beneath the Sneezeweed, contenders: Wild stonecrop, Yellow Star Grass, and Dwarf Crested Iris  Please note native is NOT mandatory, but it MUST be noninvasive.

Install rhizome barriers.

Label and install plant markers.

The mulch pile...

Consider some bulbs in the fall (they don’t have to be Tulips and Daffodils)  Any input, anybody? Native, non invasive, less common, or something we all well familiar with? 

For those receiving ‘Chocolate mint’ a care and info sheet is now available online.  All of the plants, we have planted here, will get a sheet like this, with the map, and overall care instructions.  Some are already available, but in need of editing; others will be finished when we have a bloom to photograph.

 

For those with discriminating taste on tomatoes, we have heirlooms, over a dozen different.  Two varieties did not germinate, all others will be available in the next couple of weeks.    Please let me know your needs and desires (Tomato related), the Brandywines are the most available.  Try something different?    And a reminder, no we do not sell plants, see fee schedule.

 

 Next planting date: TBD

 

 


Update for Monday 3 May 

Morning All,

 

Sue(san) and I went over to the project on Saturday, to water.  Everything was OK, some a bit better than others, but all were fine by the time we left.  The spiderworts had several blooms!

 

The Hardy Ageratum has arisen, the rhizomes are dug and they are impatiently waiting for their new location.   Impatience is a common trait of rhizomes, although they are perhaps better known for their eagerness to expand and seize new territory.   The yellow ice plants arrived, quite a bit smaller than expected, but they are fast spreaders.  

 

I think we are need to place the Clethra on the side of the building.  Anticipating the new area to be planted, we have obtained Sundrops and we also have some Blazing Star (liatrus spicata) that will go in between them.  I will pick up (carefully) some more amendments before our next planting date.  The Crocosomia and Blackberry lily will also go here.

 

No sign of the butterfly weed yet.  I find it encouraging that in the past three years it has become increasingly difficult to obtain milkweeds.   I don’t think the growers are propagating less, I think demand is rising.  Perhaps monarch awareness?  Continued rambling on milkweed: three new species, are here now waiting for placement Bluntleaf Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis), Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), both from west of the Mississippi and the NJ native, Poke milkweed (Asclepias exaltata).  Sue has Whorled and Swamp seedlings coming up from last year, in the row of the vegetable garden she declared manifest destiny upon.

 

We will need to remove the stumps on the side, remove gravel, and amend the soil on the side.  The rhizome barrier, for the Clumping Mountain Mint needs to be installed.  Planting the Ice plants and Hardy Ageratum, will be the easy task.  Maybe Thursday, and a day over the weekend, and we might be done, maybe, possibly?

 

John

 Next planting date: Thursday 4 May, 5:30- till darkness creeps up on us


Update for Saturday 24 April

 

Pat Melander, Janette Williams, Susan Brandauer and I enjoyed the weather and comradery today.  We also received assistance from one of the residents, Albert who eagerly brought us water, as needed.  Two other residents took interest in the activities, and were pleasantly surprised that these were flowering plants, and butterflies are amongst the expected guests.  The previous landscaping consisted of: evergreen shrubs, cedar, and more evergreen shrubs.  BORING!

 

And as always, new skills and techniques were learned.  Pat and Susan learned how to install a rhizome barrier.  I learned how to plant in a straight line; my second lesson de jure was how to place plants with equal spacing.  Measure twice, plant once, or the symmetry police will notice.  The fourth attempt was deemed acceptable.

 

Rhizome barriers were placed around the Cutleaf coneflower, and the chocolate mint.  I have no barrier, around our Cutleaf coneflowers, and at one point did not have one around the chocolate mint, an error never to be repeated.

 

The three viburnum are in, each got a bag of manure and humus.  Hardy Glads, (Gladiolus “Atom” ) were placed on each side of the center viburnum.  Each group got a half bag of builder’s sand and a full bag of manure and humus.   The whole peninsula was mulched and is looking significantly improved

 

Jane had previously noticed the patch of clumping mint needed a bit more, so Pat put in enough to maintain the symmetry.  Another lesson instilled, the importance of symmetry.  I am more of a cottage gardener, but this site really demands symmetry, rectilinear plots, a circle, repeating patterns on the structure…

 

Pat suggested we use some of the ever-abundant gravel for the shortcut the residents take around the corner.   Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt

 

Some more mulching, weeding and cleanup, a pause to admire the efforts of our labor, and done for the day.

 

I thank all of our hardworking volunteers!

 

John

 

P.S.

 

I have a butterfly bush ready for Kim Wright, and potted some chocolate mint for Donna Mottola, please let me know how to get them to you, next planting date, next AGC meeting…   If anyone else is interested in the plants used here, let me know, many came from our garden, and a couple of the purchased plants were purchased in quantity for price breaks, or reduction of shipping cost ratio, a few extras may be here.  The Threadleaf Ironweed, Pat was admiring was not purchased in quantity.  It is somewhat unusual, unlikely to be found locally, the one at the project came from Niche Gardens. 

 

For those of you not using rich text for email, there are usually hotlinks, clickable links that may bring up an image or webpage.  All of the updates are in reverse chronological order here: http://www.weedsforwildlife.com/nursing_home_garden/updates.html

 

 

Next planting date:TBD Awaiting, Yellow Iceplant, Butterflyweed, Hardy Ageratum to arise…


Update for Wednesday 21 April

 

On Wednesday, despite the threat of rain, that turned to drizzle, then more serious rain, more than a few plants were introduced to their new homes, by Jane Pasquito and I.

 

I am pleased to report all of the plants installed so far are doing well, the Violet continues to bloom.

 

The Threadleaf Ironweed went in centered between the two groups of three Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Heliot’ from Pleasant Run.

 

The Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), a Mediterranean native, grown for its striking ornamental foliage is an herb, whose leaves, seed and bulb can be used in cooking.  The blooms are not the primary reason to plant this; it is also a perennial host for the Black Swallowtail butterfly.  One quadrant of the circle is now a hosting area for the Black Swallowtail.

 

The (24) Spiderworts (Tradescantia virginiana), which are the border for the Bonze Fennel, were supplemented with another (24) of the same.  Although it does produce nectar, it is a butterfly attractant, and is NJ native, my soft spot for plants with a “virginiana“ species name got this one placed as a border to the Bronze Fennel.

 

Thankfully  Pleasant Run donated (3) generously sized Viburnum.  This allowed expansion of the gardened area to include the peninsula, which meant two plants that had not made the final cut are back in!  Bulbs for

Gladiolus “Atom” and Crocosmia “Lucifer” are here and ready for planting on Saturday. 

 

Before the rain and darkness forced an end to the evening, all of the plastic, and the majority of the gravel was removed from the peninsula.

 

On a perhaps unrelated topic, according to my Google calendar, the Hummingbirds may arrive on Sunday!  Coinciding with the blooming of the native columbine.

 

John

 Next planting date: Saturday  24 April, 12- 4 pm


Update for Monday, 19 April

 

On Sunday, Kim pleasantly surprised me with an offer to go over and water on Monday.  Thank you Kim. 

 

Today, while I did the day job, not satisfied with mere watering, Kim and Larry PULLED OUT THE STUMPS!  WOW!  THANK YOU KIM and LARRY! 

 

The Threadleaf Ironweed, and the Bronze Fennel are ready to leave the recovery room, and go to their new home on Wednesday.  The recovery room is the north side of the house, near the back door, where plants that go through the mail, divided clumps, bare root plants, etc wait, and recover.

 

I have done volunteer work before, but this is my first time running a project like this.  In all of the projects I have helped with, I have never had the pleasure of working with a group like this, drive, initiative, generosity and dependability… I could go on, but I think you get my message.  Thank you all!   You have impressed me, which is not an especially easy task. 

 

John

 

 Next planting day Wednesday 21 April, 5:30 PM

 


 

Update for Wednesday, 14 April

 

On Wednesday, Jane Pasquito, Donna Mottola and I met at the Ave rest home, to do our dirty deeds.  (Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap…)  I seemed especially dirty, and the rich earthly scent of wet manure had well permeated my clothing by the end of the evening.

 

All that we have planted so far is fairing well.  Some plants show significant growth!

 

We have our first bloom (at the rest home)!!!  The coast violet has its first bloom!  A bit of a cheat, it was blooming here, before I brought it over, but our first bloom nonetheless.

 

Soil was turned over for the Bronze Fennel, a host (larval food source) for the Black Swallowtail, caterpillar.  I received notification of shipping this morning.

 

The area for the Turtleheads and violets was prepared, in addition to the usual removal of gravel; this section received no sand, but an ample quantity of peat and organic material.  Drainage was not the goal, for these.  Both were planted and mulched.

 

The patch of clumping mint was filled in a bit on the edges, still needs a bit more.

 

Four of the Agastache ‘Acapulco Orange’, donated by Rutgers, through the efforts of Ellen Silverman, were planted.  The balance is being held in reserve for the Habitat project.

 

Locations for the Viburnum and Summersweet were scouted.  Solutions for the stumps were proposed; we will probably go with the one that does not require dynamite.

 

My best guess is that we are at the 70% planted mark!  Thank you all!

 

We will take a break over the weekend, to wait for more plants to arrive, and maybe I can get my greenhouse out of the box at least. 

 

This time the special thanks go to Donna Mottola.  Donna dug from her garden the elusive Ice plants, which we have had difficulty finding this early in the season.  She dug them, donated them and planted them!  THANK YOU DONNA!  My wife also thanks you, as I almost borrowed some from another pending garden project, which Susan designed.

 

Next planting day Wednesday 21 April, 5:30 PM.

 

Thank you all,

John


 

Update for Monday, 12 April

 

On Monday, Kim Wright, Jane Pasquito and I removed gravel, added amendments, mulched, watered, and got some plants in.

 

We filled in the red beebalm, with a few more clumps.  Hummingbirds cannot resist this plant.

 

Soil was prepared for the Ice plants.  Ice plants like drainage in the summer and require it in the winter, soil amended with builder’s sand, two sixty-pound bags, for each bed. 

 

The cabbage leaf coneflower was also planted.  This is the third “coneflower planted here, not for personal preference, but due to the multiple wildlife benefits.

 

The chocolate mint went in, there was enough left for our volunteers to each take home a small clump. Plant in a container, or with a barrier, and keep a watch on it.

 

 I use this as a deer scent deterrent, works better than anything else we tried (soap, lavender, hair, putrescent eggs…).

 

I spoke with Baby, the administrator, and there are three residents that may be willing to assist in the planting.

 

Volunteering for this (and any AGC project) has multiple benefits.  There is a social aspect, a chance to better know our fellow members, and get the warm fuzzy feeling of having done something good at the end of the day (or is that muscle burn, as we begin to build our garden muscles).  We all also get to learn from each other, about plants we grow (and can’t grow), tools we use, soil amendments we use, and sources for plants…

 

Thank you for volunteering, and a special thank you, to my wife Susan, who is home raking, cleaning and uncovering our garden, as I work here.  THANK YOU SUSAN!

 

Thank you all,

John


Sunday, April 11, 2010

 

Pat Melander, Jane Pasquito, Ellen Silverman and I worked the rest home garden.  Thank you all.

 

The center circle is more than half way planted and mulched. 

 

The in, watered and mulched list for today:

 

Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Heliot’ that Lisa picked up from Pleasant Run are in, probably the six finest quality plants, so far.

 

Beebalm, ‘Jacob cline’ (Monarda didyma), on the east side of the circle.  One of the better choices to attract hummingbirds, and the most mildew resistant we have found.

 

Winecups, on the South side of the circle.  A really tough native of the US.

 

Spiderworts, on the north side of the circle, they might like the bit of shade, provided by the Butterfly Bush.

 

Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)  (Ignore the line about “rampant spreading”, in four years my colony tripled in size, and there have been three stray seedlings, to me this is vigor, not “rampant spreading”).   A New Jersey native, that provides nectar, a host for the Silvery Checkerspot, and will be a seed source for Goldfinches.  I like plants that are beneficial to wildlife, sometimes a plant will have two wildlife benefits, but, an NJ native that provides three wildlife benefits, OH BABY!  It doesn’t get much better than this!

 

Also accomplished today was soil preparation for the surprisingly elusive Ice plant.  No worries, we have options, it’s just early in the season.

 

Tomorrow, after 5:30, hopefully to be planted

 

 Chocolate Mint” (Mentha piperita), our strongest scented plant.  Not native, a somewhat undeserved bad reputation, but has such a strong scent we use it as a natural deer deterrent.  Now this IS a “rampant spreader”, and will be planted with a rhizome barrier.

 

Cabbage leaf Coneflower is similar to the Culeaf Coneflower, and much better behaved.  A smaller grouping for this one, on the north end of the building.

 

Later in the week, 

 

Pleasant Run has donated:

(3), Compact Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum opulus Compactum) an attractive shrub that will provide fruit for birds in the winter:

 

(4) Summersweet, (Clethra ainifolia-Ruby Spice) another native nectar source, sometimes recommended as a substitute for the butterfly bush.

 

All of these are large, healthy plants!

 

Additional plant donations were made to the Habitat project.

 

THANK YOU Pleasant Run. 

 

The Coast violets (Viola brittonia) (Photo is of those growing here) have arrived, from Toadshade , but will have to wait, we are almost out of manure, again.  Will get some on Tuesday maybe.

 

Ellen brought a mixture of annuls and perennials, donated by Rutgers, for this and the Habitat project.

 

Schedule, so far, tomorrow, 12 APR and Wednesday 14 APR, after 5:30.

 

Thank you all,

John


Thursday, April 08, 2010

All,

 

Thank you for volunteering. 

 

My schedule these are times I MAY be there, if you want me there, just let me know.

 

Friday, 9 APR, after 5:30 PM

  

Sunday, 10 APR, anytime, daylight preferred.

 

I look forward to working with you.

 

Regards,

 

John Brandauer
10 Spring Road
Clarksburg, NJ 08510
www.weedsforwildlife.com

 


Wednesday, April 07, 2010

 

Ave Healing Garden update

 

The club has donated, Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Heliot’.  Lisa picked these up, from Pleasant Run (at a wholesale price), and delivered them to me.  Such good service.  Thank you Lisa, and thank you Allentown Garden Club.  There are six, which will go in front of the double windows, three each, on either side of a Threadleaf Ironweed.  The 2010 Plant Delight catalog inspired me to add this, I like the story of George W. Letterman, but I ordered it from Niche Gardens. (Shipping 15 APR)

 

Last night at the BofD meeting, Kathy and Jill have offered a birdfeeder and birdhouse, which they have made.  Thank you Kathy and Jill.

 

Tonight went VERY WELL!  When I arrived Donna Mottola was already working away, shortly afterward Kim and Larry Pado, came, with a second wheelbarrow.  To my AMAZEMENT, we were able to remove ALL of the remaining gravel, from the center circle!  While the only planting tonight was the Clumping Mountain Mint having all of that gravel removed is excellent.  Feeling time was pressing; I was planning to hire a day laborer, on Sunday.  Larry who had not had enough, did an exploratory dig, and there may not be as much plastic under the rest of the gravel as we feared.  THANK YOU, Donna, Kim and Larry!  I forgot to bring mulch, but my wife Susan has volunteered to mulch early tomorrow morning.  Thank you Susan.

  

Regards,

 

John Brandauer
10 Spring Road
Clarksburg, NJ 08510
www.weedsforwildlife.com

 


Tuesday, April 06, 2010

All

 

Good news, my wife has spoken with the town (Millstone) and they will deliver a load of mulch, FREE!  This is not triple shredded, will be a bit coarse, but is FREE.  I don't mind buying plants, money on soil amendments is always money well spent, but paying for mulch, well we all have our priorities.

 

Regards,

 

John Brandauer
10 Spring Road
Clarksburg, NJ 08510
www.weedsforwildlife.com

 


Monday, April 05, 2010

We have broken ground for the Healing Garden! 

 

There is going to be a bit more work. It appears that the guy that went over to investigate only looked at the top couple of inches of soil.

 

The soil is fair in quality, but has quite a bit of gravel.”

 

Had he gone down a few inches, he would have discovered that someone put wood mulch, (now decomposed) over gravel mulch, which is over an old swimming pool liner.   Along the building there is vestige of another weed barrier that will not allow water to pass through, looks like sheet plastic, under gravel mulch, which is under partially decayed wood mulch.  No big deal, just a bit more effort.

 

Kim and her husband Larry volunteered this afternoon, Kim planted while Larry and I rearranged gravel.  With Larry’s help, about a third of the center circle has the offending pool liner and most of the gravel gone.

 

Thank you Kim and Larry! 

 

In my estimate, we are just under 10% planted! (By area, not by plant).  It is beginning to look like a pending garden!

 

In and mulched:

Butterfly bush, purple Buddleia davidii, perfectly centered in the circle

Sedum, variegated, Sedum sieboldii "Mediovariegata", beneath one of the sets of windows.

Agastache "Tutti Frutti", south of the Butterfly bush, basking in the full southern exposure.  Larry can confirm the full sun.

 

My schedule these are times I MAY be there, if you want me there, just let me know.

 

Wednesday, 7 APR, after 5:30 PM

 

Friday, 9 APR, after 5:30 PM

 

Saturday, 10 APR, limited availability, morning till early afternoon.

 

Sunday, 10 APR, anytime, daylight preferred.

 

I look forward to working with you.

 

Regards,

 

John Brandauer
10 Spring Road
Clarksburg, NJ 08510
www.weedsforwildlife.com


Monday, April 05, 2010

Morning,

 

There I was this morning trying to decide which species of native Violet (host and nectar source) to plant at M&M, (I had been leaning towards Crow Foot Violet.) and this mornings NY Times article convinced me that Viola brittonia is the violet of choice.    We grow it here, well behaved and trouble free.  This should do well in the amended soil area, with the Chelone.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/03/nyregion/03flora.html?ref=science

 

Last night Susan and I did some fine tuning on the plant selections, some previous proposals were bumped Gladiolus “Atom” and Crocosmia “Lucifer”.  Sigh.  Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurascens and Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata are in.  YEA!  The Pink Turtlehead Chelone lyonii will be supplemented with a White Turtlehead Chelone glabra in an attempt to lure the Baltimore Checkerspot.  Also proposed, on the north side of the Butterfly bush, native spiderworts Tradescantia virginiana, which will appreciate life in the shadow of the butterfly bush.

 

The high goldfinch appeal and a desire for symmetry, has us proposing a second planting of Cabbage Leaf Coneflower Rudbeckia maxima.

 

All plant selections are penciled in on the drawing, literally, the garden design software is yet to arrive.  If anyone has suggestions, recommendations…  The option to erase and substitute is there.  We certainly did a bit of that last night.  Added more natives, extended bloom times, improved wildlife benefits, enhanced visual appeal…

 

Please note the revised schedule limited availability on Saturday.  (Good thing my wife is on the distribution, she reminded me I volunteered for the “Meet the artist social.”

 

My schedule

Monday 5 APR, anytime, daylight preferred

 

Wednesday, 7 APR, after 5:30 PM

 

Friday, 9 APR, after 5:30 PM

 

Saturday, 10 APR, limited availability, morning till early afternoon.

 

Sunday, 10 APR, anytime, daylight preferred.

 

I look forward to working with you.

 

Regards,

 

John Brandauer
10 Spring Road
Clarksburg, NJ 08510
www.weedsforwildlife.com

 


Sunday, April 04, 2010

All,

 

I thank you all for volunteering. 

 

On Thursday, I spoke with Von, Director of Nursing, at the Ave Care, site (formerly M & M Rest Home).  We are free to garden at any time.  Enough plant material has arrived, to at least begin. 

 

I am off tomorrow, 5 APR, and will go over to transplant the butterfly bush.  If anyone else is interested in planting some of the others, tomorrow, please let me know, we can set up a time.  I am substituting a mature (was eight feet tall before pruning) for the white, if there are no objections. 

 

My schedule

Monday 5 APR, anytime, daylight preferred

 

Wednesday, 7 APR, after 5:30 PM

 

Friday, 9 APR, after 5:30 PM

 

Saturday, 10 APR, anytime, daylight preferred

 

Sunday, 10 APR, anytime, daylight preferred

 

Ready for planting:

 

Agastache x 'Tutti Frutti'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/91753832@N00/4469944672/

 

Variegated Sedum

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91753832@N00/4469204995/

 

Cabbage Leaf Coneflower

http://www.weedsforwildlife.com/plants/Cabbage_Leaf_Coneflower.pdf

 

Purple Coneflower

http://www.weedsforwildlife.com/plants/Purple_Coneflower.pdf

 

Anyone who can help, please let me know, when would be best for you.

 

To integrate more scented plants, (recommended for nursing home gardens) tomorrow I will also dig some Clumping Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum ”Eagle Rock”  for later planting, and provide a barrier, lest it forget it’s “clumping” habit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91753832@N00/4469172217/   

 

Anyone with interest in planning, suggestions of plant selection, or possible donation of plant material, please feel free to contact me.  There is a strong preference for wildlife beneficial plants, nectar for butterflies, seeds for birds, etc.  Native plants or non-natives which are not invasive, nor overly aggressive, and low maintenance, with good visual appeal seem like the better choices, to me, if we aren’t asking too much from a plant.

 

Regards,

 

John Brandauer
10 Spring Road
Clarksburg, NJ 08510
www.weedsforwildlife.com