January 21 , 2010
Funky chickens, weeds, freeze clean up
white up begins , but conservatively . I did thin back and mold someSalvia greggiis . I only did two , for lack of sentence . Here ’s one pruned ; others beyond not pruned .
I also cleaned out idle or molder stems . Since they bloom on new growth , if yours are woody and need a good haircut to fluff them up , late January and other February are ideal for ultra pruning .
I trim down back the asters , mammy , and stick of herbaceous salvias like Indigo Spires . Mainly , I concentrated on mushy plants , like the agapanthus and guild garlic . This lovesome weather condition and rainfall make those mushy leaves a receptacle for disease .
After I took this picture , I cleanse up these damage daylily .
I clean up the foreground crinum after the last weather condition event . Beyond , the spuria irises carry the mast flag . That was my approximation when I divided some for this area a few twelvemonth ago . I ’ll add more on the next division after they bloom . By the time they disappear for summer , the flame acanthus , crinum , daylilies , and lantana will fill the space near the Astilbe japonica . The plumeria will be back in its pot .
About fixed cycad ( sago palm):Robert Beyeradvises us to cut back the glacial fronds this spring and hold off for new ones to go forth . Whew .
I ’m leaving the freeze - damagedAgave celsiisalone until someone tells me to cut this leaf off !
On CTG this week , Daphne features the Queen Victoria agave , ( Agave victoriae - reginae ) , one that is hardy to 10º. She took this picture at Diana ’s ( share Nature ’s Garden ) last crepuscule .
By the way , look on for Diana ’s garden on CTG February 20 !
Daphne explains how benignity kills succulent , even when you ’ve been so careful to bring cold - tender ones to warm safety . get fungus gnats or decomposition houseplants ? Find out why and what to do .
And on CTG this week , there ’s a lot of peep going on ! Our square guests preen up to be especially adorable for Tom . Like their mom , Judith Haller from theFunky Chicken Coop Tour , they require you to add more than new plant to your garden this outflow . Judith explains why chicken are a gardener ’s best champion , and how to get started with a brood of your own . This year ’s free circuit is April 3 , so mark your calendar !
Here ’s a fun look behind the scene , thanks to Sara Robertson , KLRU ’s Director of On - Air Marketing .
Gallus gallus can sure enough clean up your weeds , too . Weeds are opportunists , rapidly filling blank spaces . That ’s their task . Since drought - weakened garden improved their Book of Job security measure , Sweetpea Hoover fromThe Natural Gardeneridentifies a few of them and explains what they ’re doing .
In my garden , I ’ve get a good craw of fictitious carrot ( Torilis arvensis ) , also call hedge parsley .
consort to Scooter Cheatham fromUseful Wild plant life : “ Older , it becomes harsh to the tongue and eventually turns into “ beggar ’s louse , ” named for the bristly seeds that plant themselves into positron emission tomography ’ fur , socks , and any and all diffuse clothing to thumb a ride . Most Austinites , rather or afterwards , find themselves pick the seed from a garment and mumbling curses in some lyric . The works is ubiquitous . But you may bite it back . unluckily , however , it closely resemblesConium maculatum(poison hemlock ) , at its current stage of ontogeny and the only room you’re able to safely run through it is to reap it far from wetland and bottom , whereConiumthrives . ”
So , do n’t feed it unless you know for sure ! Find out about edible weeds and other plants at utilitarian Wild Plants ’ WeedFeeds . later on this yr , CTG will meet with Scooter and Lynn Marshall about loudness 3 of theUseful Wild Plants of Texas , the Southeastern and Southwestern United States , the Southern Plains , and Northern Mexico .
One you’re able to eat is chickweed , a groundcover “ mourning band ” forming a impenetrable lusterlessness among stepping - stones to my lettuce eyepatch .
I ’ve draw cleavers , also called Velcro plant or layer shuck .
And thistles , like this milkweed edition .
Along with Scooter ’s insight , find out why herbalistEllen Zimmermannrespects their entire intention for nutritious dining and natural curative .
Sow thistle or dandelion in your garden ? Both are highly nutritious . This one ’s a thistle .
Here ’s a blowball .
Even before I stupefy the bunnies , who fuck them as appetizers , this is why I do n’t excavate them up in winter .
As a happenstance , recently I re - readRuth Reichl’sGarlic and Sapphires , her howling undercover adventure as the food critic for the NY Times . In one luxurious restaurant , she was capture by a fragile salad that included lamb ’s quarters , dandelion , and chickweed !
I count it be more than what I could make for free from my garden justly now !
Until next hebdomad , Linda
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