75 Trees Outlet
February 8, 2023
77 Johnson Garden Center
March 10, 2023
February: Whatcha’ Doin’?
I am out in the landscape doing chores to prevent overload once Spring comes. Because then it’s “squirrel time” and I’ll be scampering here and there in my garden, in the gardens of clients, trying to manage so many chores at once doing my part to help Spring to do its thing!
It’s late February and right now it is freezing at my house. The sun had been out for a few weeks but now it is raining along with a touch of snow. And more of it on the way.
One of my chores this time of year is to cut back all ornamental grasses. They must be cut all the way to the ground and straight across—NOT MOUNDED like some people do who don’t know how to do it right. (Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine?)
If you keep grasses in a mound, water and debris collects in the middle and the center rots out. People might notice this happening but they don’t know it’s their own fault. Don’t be STUPID, people! TO THE GROUND and STRAIGHT ACROSS!
Deer Grass however does not require cutting back every year unless it gets looking like crap.
Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer Grass)
before and after
I cut mine back every 3 or 4 years when I have to, but this grass is not one of my favorites. When I bought the Deer Grass and installed it, it was long ago and I had no clue it would look dead ALL THE TIME.
I could dig it all out, but it’s growing near my bamboo forest where, if I put a shovel in the ground, I’d hit a bamboo root. Frankly I can spend my energy better at things other than tackling stubborn bamboo roots to get the dumb Deer Grass out.
Besides cutting grasses, I am going through the yard re-leveling pots that are tilting. When installed on stepping stones in the landscape, pots tend to start leaning to one side or another. And I absolutely hate seeing unlevel pots. Drives me insane, and I have to put them right!
It’s also a good time to relocate a pot 10 more times to find its perfect spot.
I bought the pots below at Alden Lane Nursery last year and now that the hellebores are FINALLY in bloom, they have found their permanent resting place.
But notice the hellebore in the left pot. It’s not growing. I transplanted it from where the new olive tree went in, and once hellebores are first installed, they do NOT like to be moved. This one has let me know it didn’t like being messed with.
Sigh…I guess I must go on a nursery visit to buy a new one. Oh, darn 🙂
Which brings me to WHAT IN THE HELL IS HAPPENING WITH MY HELLEBORES?!!! They took forever to bloom this year. Was it the heat we had in Fall that caused them to stay underground where it’s cooler? (Hmm…I should try that myself….)
I tell ya’, when you think you’ve finally got things working right in your garden, BAM!—some damn plant refuses to perform as instructed!
I have an enormous number of pots in my landscape—many of them filled with evergreen plants. So throughout the year I give them a dose of fertilizer. I use Fish Emulsion and—for my acid loving plants—MaxSea.
For instance, this lovely acid-loving plant…
I bought this Camellia a few winters ago at Green Acres in Rocklin. It is 2 by 2-feet and pruned as a patio tree. Blooms started opening around December and it is still loaded with them. I don’t have a clue what this Camellia’s name is. It’s so lovely though, who cares?!
That container is a clay sewer pipe, and you can plainly see the paint flaking off. I’ve tried everything to get paint to stick. I’ve sanded, sanded again, even applied primer. Doesn’t matter. A few years later it looks like this again. And I am SO DONE trying, I’ve decided to call it the “Aged Look” because trying to fix it is aging me!
Since it is February and all the leaves are off the trees and shrubs, now is the time for heavier pruning than the rest of the year.
I love love love to prune because I like my trees and shrubs to be in tip-top shape. I see people install trees and shrubs and then never touch them again…until they call me!
I intended to show before and after pics here of a pruned shrub, but I got so excited in my pruning I forgot to snap a single pic. Now I have nothing else to prune!
Anyway, here’s an illustration. It will have to do.
A few years ago I (meaning my crew, lol)—installed a fountain for a client. Three months later she called me to come get it. So I went right over.
“What’s wrong with it?” I asked her.
“Too much trouble,” she said. “I don’t want to the clean leaves out of it.”
Lucky for her she’s a favorite client or I would have spoken my mind. In my view, if you want beauty, a little work is worth the trouble. I did give her a big eye roll though which made her laugh.
“I know, I know,” she said. “Just take it. You can have it.”
So I took it.
Now this may or may not surprise you, but that fountain sat unassembled for 2 years. Then recently Mike came out of hibernation one day and ventured outside because the sun peaked through. He came to the greenhouse looking for me which is a bad idea—you come near me, you get a chore!
He helped me move and assemble the fountain at the front of the greenhouse. It’s a very heavy fountain and I will not bore you with the episode of moving it. Let’s just say there was no laughing or smiling, only in-depth conversation. After 40 years together and who knows how many projects requiring us both, you think I’d be able to read his mind. Nope. Can’t. Don’t want to. Because quite frankly it’s exhausting.
Here’s the fountain where I can hear it burbling happily while working in the greenhouse. Definitely worth the trouble.
And don’t forget to sow some seeds because now’s the time for it.
I do annuals for color and veggies for snacking.
Don’t be fooled by this photo, there are more than just two flats!!!
Also before all the springtime duties hit, now’s a great time to go shopping for non-plant garden items—which Mike and I did recently.
Okay…I MUST have this set…
Most outdoor table sets are decorative and just for show, not for using (see here). But these chairs are actually comfortable. They don’t make my boobs fall to the side, don’t pouch my tummy out or create triple chins!
You can buy this lovely set at any of the Green Acres in the Sacramento area. You’re welcome 🙂
As for garden art, new on the market are wooden (instead of metal) animals—here’s a lion and some others…
Not my cup of tea but I do appreciate the intricacy of the build. Just beautiful!
Remember, if you have to ask how much, just keep walking.
(Oh, and just ignore that man on the lion.)
As you know, I do not go for gnomes much, but these are actually pretty cute…
They stand about 2-feet tall and are made of concrete.
They’re $689 with 40% off, and when Mike saw me looking at them he said, “Oh no you don’t!”
These ladies aren’t my cup of tea either…
But I know a few people who might enjoy them. Definitely not for everyone and I’ll be interested to see how long they sit (stand) unsold.
Now I love me some Day of the Dead statues…
I want a husband and wife set made in this style. They would go in the house rather than the garden.
I saw a wrought iron husband and wife in Carmel Valley years and years ago. I really really really wanted them but they were 7-feet tall and at the time I had no way to transport them home.
Haha, now I do! So I’m on the lookout.
You can buy the wooden animals above, the gnomes, the women and the Day of the Dead people at Pottery World in Rocklin. You’re welcome 🙂
While I did take all these photos while Mike and I were there, I did not buy a single thing.
Yet.
When I do, you’ll know before Mike does.
