City Garden Ideas

Okay, I’ve been away from my blog post for several weeks – blame the holidays and family commitments – but I’m back and I  have not been idle! 
In early December I had the good fortune to interview Tom Smarr, the chief of horticulture for the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in Boston.  He’s a smart and talented guy who really knows how to plant, tend and grow all types of flowers and shrubs and trees and more.  I was totally impressed.   Later this week, you’ll get to read more about him on this blog.  He shares some gardening wisdom and  great flower recommendations based on the sun level – full, partial or barely any.  That is soooo helpful when planting!   And he knew all the latin names of the plants.  During the interview, I just smile politely when he spoke these names and then went running for my gardening books… 
Speaking of gardening books, Tom recommended two books for novice/intermediate gardeners  like me… They are:
The Well-Tended Perennial Garden” by Tracy DiSabato-Aust ($34.95)
Small Garden by John Brookes ($22.95)
Just bought them both at Barnes and Noble.  They look great.  Lots of pictures!   I’ll let you know if I use them or if they collect dust on the shelf….  More to come!!

Beautiful white rose blooming in the Boston Public Garden

 What a delightful surprise to see
roses in bloom yesterday in the
Boston Public Garden! 
It’s late November, for heaven’s sake.  
I was stopped in my tracks and had to take a few moments to enjoy them.  
The warm-ish fall temperatures and their full sun location has certainly encouraged their continued blooming!  

Kudos to the good people at the Boston Parks Department who tend these fabulous roses and all the other plantings and grasses in the Garden.   I am grateful for this beautiful public space in my backyard.

Magnolia Grandiflora by Martin Heade

I joined thousands of others today at the Museum of Fine Arts to see the new Art of the Americas Wing.  It’s a stunning, modern, four-story addition filled with classic paintings and sculptures as well as abstract and modern pieces.   Plus Indian artifacts, silver goblets and bowls, kicking gold  jewelry and stunning furniture.  Just  amazing.  The exhibit would make any American proud. 

 Loved the Georgia O’Keefe and Thomas Cole paintings.  And I enjoyed seeing the Gilbert Stuart portraits of John Adams and John Quincy Adams (my Quincy homies).   The museum also has a new, glassed-in dining area just outside the new wing that’s surrounded by a  lovely shrub and groundcover garden with two statues… I’ll call next week to find out what they planted in this patch of earth … Overall, a big “thumbs up” to the MFA for a classy addition to showcase these timeless works of art… And letting the public in for free was a bonus!

Walking around Boston this past week, I was saddened to see the fall flowers fading but delighted to see beautiful red, orange and yellow leaves still on many trees.  Even with all the rain and wind, the leaf colors were stunning.  Aren’t we lucky to have fall beauty all around us!?

Maple tree afire in red leaves on Memorial Drive

Have you noticed the leaves this season? Are there more falling to the ground or is it just me?  Perhaps it’s just that hundreds of them snuggled into my small garden.  It’s amazing.   Some wedged between the fencing and the mums, some burrowed deep into the actual mums and some have clumped around the garden edging.  Yesterday we cleaned up the garden and removed most of the leaves… Today, well, they found there way back…  Let’s hope for a good strong wind…

Some folks were stumped by the words “pinch back” and equally stymied by the actions needed.  So here’s a short video from ehow that helps to explain the process. 

And we’re finally putting our mums in the ground this weekend… Pictures to follow!

Last Sunday  I purchased five, 6″ garden mums – four rust colored and one Sundance yellow.  Plus two, 6″ sunflower plants to plant in the front of the garden and kick up the contrast.  Got the plants for a great prices at The Blooming Place on Rt. 53 in Weymouth (and in Norwell on Rt. 228).  Four mums for $15.  The sunflowers were $3.99.  I had checked out the mum supply at Home Depot and they were quite a bit more.
While not my favorite flower, the chrysanthemum can withstand colder temperatures so they are a great replacement for summer plantings. 
Here’s how to plant them:
1. Buy mums at a local garden store in your choice of colors.  Those with tight buds will last longer.
2. Choose a sunny locations.  Mums need about 5 – 7 hours of sun daily to thrive.
3. Dig holes that are as deep and wide as the mum’s container.  Remove the container and set the plant into the hole and cover with soil.
4, Water thoroughly. Then water daily for at least a week. If it rains, you are off the hook.   Mums need to be watered several times a week to stay hardy.
5. Remove any dead flowers using the pichback technique.  Simply use your thumb and index finger to pitch off the dead flower.  This pruning helps the mum stay compact and full.

I am gathering up the tools and the will to remove the lovely summer plantings from their bed in front of my home.  This is always a bit emotional.  This action signals the end of summer and the arrival of cooler weather and the need to wear a sweater.  Luckily I like sweaters.  And I like mums, which are perennial fall favorites in gardens in the Northeast.  Need to clean off the trowel and hand rake and get out the plastic bags to hold the vine-y remains.  On Saturday we will remove the mandevillas, black adder and ivy and replant with nine big mums.  I’ll let you know how it goes…