Frond:
The branch and leaf structure of a fern or members of the palm family
Frond:
The branch and leaf structure of a fern or members of the palm family
This old straw hat blends in with the dry weeds so well it’s easy to miss while driving by, unless you’re a gardener. What do you think; did the wind sweep the hat away when the owner tilted his or her head out an open car window? Did somebody toss the hat out the car window on purpose? Did the hat just happen to land on this makeshift roadside hat rack? Was it placed there—then forgotten—by one of the road crewmen while weed eating the dry fire hazard?
Whatever the story is of this old straw hat, there are other ‘gardening’ things to think about–fun, educational, family activities and much more–listed on the October Calendar of Events. Click on the sidebar on ‘today’s date’ on the little calendar or on ‘Events’ under Page.
If you decide to attend a bright, sun-lite, outdoor activity, I know where you can get a free hat!
If you’re a little behind schedule like me, there’s still time to get cool-weather seeds in the ground. Growing from seed is the most economical way to bring ‘healthy’ food to the table, and there are more available seed varieties than seedlings. Although starting seeds indoors provides a jump-start if done earlier, sowing seeds directly in the garden takes less work and avoids transplant shock. All you need to direct sow cool-weather seeds is a little time for soil prep, garden tools, gloves, and water.
Soil Prep for Direct Sowing Includes:
Once the soil prepared it’s time to direct sow seeds. Here’s a list of cool-weather seeds sown in September:
Follow seed packet instructions for depth and spacing. Seeds sown directly on top of the soil need light to germinate. To keep these from washing away, use a hose wand set on a gentle ‘shower’. Buried seeds require less caution while watering but need moist soil. Label what you planted where and watch your crop grow.
Note: Most seeds need warm soil to germinate and grow to a sufficient size. If a cold spell is in the forecast during germination and early seedling stage and you have a small garden, cover the soil with clear plastic. Be sure to ventilate or uncover if the temperatures are warm in the afternoons.
For a list of September gardening chores check out “Monthly Tasks” on the sidebar.
Cyme:
A flat-topped or domed flower head in which the center flowers open first.
I took my computer to two repair shops and it is fried. (Discovered this morning, there’s also a problem with my printer but I think I can fix it–not sure yet.)
I received one carload of donations so I can have a garage sale this weekend to help with the cost of a new computer. If you have any sale-able items you’d like to donate contact me at inthegarden@softcom.net.
Ten percent of the profits will go to a charitable organization. I haven’t decided which organization yet so please feel free to submit your favorite ones for consideration.
My favorite ground cover is Lysimacha Goldii (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldii’). This low-growing evergreen thrives in full sun or semi-shade. The trailing, golden highlights add a stunning pop of color. Mine is growing between flagstones and in an otherwise drab area of the perennial garden. I planted Lysimacha Goldii several years ago and it always looks beautiful, unlike some mature ground covers that get woody and dull.
Lysimachia Goldii is easy to grow and is beautiful cascading over walls, pots, and hanging baskets. Best of all, it’s a cool pet bed on hot summer days.
Note: If your pet loves to gnaw on vegetation, ASPCA has a list of toxic plants. However, their files are not complete and Lysimachia Goldii is not listed.
Giant farm equipment is the last thing you’d expect to encounter in garden beds. But that’s what you’ll see in Kimberly Fruits’ remarkable landscape. Beyond an iron gate and an impressive grove, a massive grain auger and a 1908 threshing machine on either side of a circle driveway surprisingly blend into the scenery. The largest of many farm equipment, agriculture and a strong sense of rewinding time festoons most of the five acres surrounding Kimberly’s, and her late husband, Drexel’s, 5,000 square-foot country home in Acampo, California.
After tearing down and rebuilding the existing 1,800 square-foot house from 1997 to 2000, Kimberly and Drexel began landscaping the grounds in 2001. Drexel replaced borer-infested trees, brought in tons of soil to overlay hardpan, and installed water systems.
For years, Kimberly, a retired bank manager, and Drexel, a pharmacist, sought out auctions, estate sales, thrift stores, and garage sales. They tore down old barns to rebuild rustic sheds, and searched the internet for objects Drexel loved for the history and Kimberly loved because, “My favorite color is rust, and I like old and ugly.”
When Drexel bought agriculture equipment, he’d have a vision for it, drew a picture for Kimberly, then together they’d design a bed for the piece. They built large hills to accommodate timeworn pieces. To border the mounds, they used railroad ties, rocks from their property or broken concrete from the old house’s foundation. Then Kimberly dazzled the beds with flowering perennials and annuals.
Kimberly admits to choosing some of the large pieces like the manure spreader (above) tucked beneath a Japanese Elm tree. Drexel reinforced the rotted-out bottom with metal. He set barrels on the metal, filled them with soil, then added a drip line. Today, Kimberly’s plantings of sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritime), agapanthus (Lily-of-the-Nile), and Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos flavidus), spills over the sides concealing the barrels. Between the spreader and repurposed concrete path that Kimberly acid washed, are colorful impatiens.
Nearby, purple and yellow lantanas fill a rusty horse feeder. A claw foot tub and an antique hand pump are paired as a water feature. A baby buggy frame holds a galvanized tub with society garlic. Throughout the grounds, wagon wheels, rusty carts, farm tools, cast iron stoves, bicycles and much more are intergraded as accents or focal points.
Everywhere one turns, strolls, or stops to take in the vast number of garden art and picturesque plantings, you realize several visits are needed to see everything. Impossible to miss are the grain auger and threshing machine. Against a vista of redwoods, cedar and pine trees, both pieces appear complete. Although Drexel plumbed the auger and threshing machine for water features, neither were finished when a tragic fall from a scaffold took his life three years ago.
To honor their dreams, Kimberly, a petite grandmother full of energy, spunk, and personal garden memories, has opened the grounds and her amazing home for tours. This is one place you don’t want to miss. Rewinding rich reflections of remarkable garden art and thousands of collectables indoors, Kimberly’s stories are as intriguing and unique as her country estate. © Dianne Marie Andre
For tour and luncheon information contact Kimberly Fruits at 209-334-0138 | rewindthyme@softcom.net | facebook.com/rewindthyme
Kimberly Fruits’ Garden Art Tips: