Garden Helper

 Meet Tivo Le my garden helper!

Tivo is a mixed breed, rescued "sweety"! We met five years ago when she was only 8 weeks old and I was volunteering at the local SPCA.

She loves to be outside in what I refer to as her "Queendom". She is not big on riding in the car or taking a walk but she does love it out back. As you can see in the above picture on the left, she pitches in to help with the empty plant bucket. When I do some digging she is right there to help. I step aside and let her go at it. She loves to put her nose in the hole and give a good whiff and then dig like crazy.  When she is finished I still need to do a little more digging but her help is always appreciated and it is worth a good laugh.

Tivo loves to give the squirrels a good chase and I must add she is excellent at it. She doesn't go "willie-nillie" about it but rather stalks them. It is a good show to watch.
Tivo is a wonderful companion and yes dogs and gardens don't always go well together but there is always a way to make it work. I do need to fence in some of my garden area where I have tender plants but the fence keeps the rabbits out also so it is a good investment of time and money. Our relationship, Tivo's and mine, is enhanced by the time we spend together in our "Queendom".

Vocabulary stuff

When shopping for plants it is good to have some basic understanding of the vocabulary used in regards to plants. Here are some of the most common terms that many people find confusing.

1. annual - living and growing for only one year or season
2. perennial - having a life span of more than 2 years
3. biennial - the life cycle of this plant is complete in 2 seasons
4. deciduous- shedding or losing foliage at the end of the growing season
5. herbaceous -  green and leaf like in appearance and texture as distinguished from a woody plant
6. evergreen - the plant does not go dormant, remaining attractive throughout the year

The terms annual and perennial, are used "openly" when you are looking for the small plant for your garden or front yard. You go out and look at the annuals and perennials your local garden center has on display. But these terms also apply to trees, shrubs, grasses and herbs so it is good to have an idea of what each means on your next shopping adventure!

Pampas Grass

Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana, is native to southern South America. If you have a good spot for one in your yard I recommend it as it will reward you with beautiful feathery plumes that sway in the breeze and catch the light of the sun. I love to watch the sparrows sit on the top of the plumes eating the seeds,seeming to enjoy the swaying as much as the good meal!

Pampas grass is a tough plant. It is drought tolerant once established and needs very little care. I do prune mine each spring but it isn't really necessary. The plumes make a great addition to a flower arrangement and the plant itself remains of interest all year long as it is evergreen. The leaves are very sharp and one needs to take care when pruning!

The plant can be very longed lived and can grow to heights of 9 plus feet and a diameter twice that! It is not a good idea to plant it at the entrance to a driveway or walkway. It is generally a perennial in zones 7-11. It is considered an invasive weed in some places such as CA.

Spinach Vine

Red Malabar Spinach, Basella alba "Rubra" also know as spinach vine is not truly spinach but a plant that has a taste similar to that of spinach. It is easy to grow  in the ground or in a pot on the deck. It does require full to part sun and something to climb on as it will grow from 8 to 12 feet tall. I have read that it is a perennial in  zones 7b to 11 but I also read that it re-seeds very easily and that it is only truly perennial in the tropics.  The leaves are eaten raw in salads or on a sandwich. They are also used in soups  to help thicken the broth or in stir-fries with garlic and chili peppers. I am sure the uses are up to the individual cook. The leaves are high in  vitamins A and C and have a good amount of iron and calcium.

I have yet to try any of the leaves on my plant, I was/am so fascinated by the plant itself! I do think a stir-fry is on the menu very soon! One other note, this plant can be invasive in very warm climates. For more information go to http://www.bbg.org/ (the Brooklyn Botanic Garden).

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum (Mum) is a large family of Daisy like flowers. The Mum comes in a variety of colors with some blooming quite early helping to stretch the season from midsummer to late fall.
The Mum needs full sun with well draining soil. To encourage a well rounded plant  pinch the plant back when the plant has developed 6 to 8 leaves. As the pant continues to grow pinch off any side shoots. You may need to pinch the entire plant once again but you should stop all pinching by July 1.

All Mums are easy to grow from cuttings. You can take the cutting in late spring or early summer. You can keep your Mums healthy by dividing the clumps every one or two years. The Mum is a perennial in zones 5 to 9. Because there are so many selections your local garden center should be able to tell you what grows best in your area. Something to remember: because Mums are grown in a greenhouse to bloom at a particular time the Mum you purchase may not bloom at the same time in your garden the next season.

Otto Luyken, English Laurel

Otto Luyken English Laurel is an evergreen shrub that is suitable for zones  6 to 9. It requires full to partial sun. In extreen heat it needs watering weekly as do many other plants. It grows to about 3 feet tall with a 6 foot spread. In the spring it produces white fragrant flowers followed by small black fruit in the summer. It makes an excellent screen. To learn more you can go to http://www.monrovia.com/ and search the plant title. 

Loropetalum, Ever Red

Loropetalum, Ever Red is a beautiful dark burgundy, compact, mounding evergreen bush. It blooms in late winter - early spring with vivid red blooms. It is disease resistant, drought tolerant and mildew resistant. It requires full sun or part shade and is suited for zones 7 to 9. It can get large, 6 feet high by 6 feet wide.

You can learn more about this beautiful plant at http://www.gardenersconfidence.com/.