Midwest Gardening REDO: Departing Lilies

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Midwest Gardening Gardening REDO: Departing Lilies.

    This is definitely and Old,New,Green,REDO post.

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This was last weekend before my surgery. A dear friend gifted me a five gallon bucket of Iris corms/roots from their developments thinning project. I have been having a tough time this summer accomplishing anything while unable to withstand the high temperatures. The garden had to pretty much take care of itself. But I had to take advantage of this great gift.

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I love Iris and have many in the front yard, but none in the back, so I decided to use them in this Well plot.

Right now the center pot sitting on our well pump is bedraggled like everything else. I really needed to get something done, as I knew I wouldn't be doing anything after the surgery on the 15th.

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Last year I had thinned the Tiger Lilies(ditch lilies) in this plot. It's roughly 8x8. But it was overgrown again this year because of all the early rains we had. Our well pump is in the middle, a ramp next to it, a 30 year old Clematis in the lower left corner and trellis but was totally overrun with Tiger Lilies.

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I actually like the lilies in arrangements, but I must confess that they had taken over the entire bed that used to also have room to put annuals, pots and statuary. The roots were starting to go into the lawn and pop up between the wood slats on the porch and ramp. 

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This was one of the first projects we did when we moved in in 1984. I'm not sure when, but we bought a bunch of bushes, plants, and bulbs from Michigan Bulb. One of their crazy 'plant a yard' specials...and that was the extent of enhancing our yard for years. I thinks we started with 4 Lily plants in this 8x8 plot.

Apparently I haven't shared many photos of this area since I started blogging, as I had to go back a few years to even find this from 2021. One thing about lilies, if you want something easy to take care of, to fill space, to stabilize hillsides, or shorelines, these darn Ditch Lilies are the plant for you. 

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Anyway the plan was to pull everything out except a line across the back.  I dug with pitch fork and shovel, and dug, and dug, and pulled and yanked.

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One of the goals was to save this Clematis on the left side. I carefully pullled all the Lily roots from around there also.

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This is @ 12" across and 8" Thick...solid roots. I shook all the dirt off (we have been very dry here the last 8 weeks.) 

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Roots so thick---it was like chopping rocks.

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I managed to spear a clump and my pitchfork got stuck, I had to cut the roots into pieces to get the pitchfork out.

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You know how you pick up tools, when you don't even know what they are for. This Husky tool was on sale last year super cheap. I have other garden tools with  the Husky handles which are so great, so I bought it for a dollar something---little did I know the saw tooth edge on the right would go right through these thick roots like 'BUTTUH". LOL

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I have Lilies elsewhere so all the roots/plants were tossed into the recycle bin.

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It took two days of cutting, pulling, digging and shaking the dirt off, but I filled this huge garbage can with JUST ROOTS.

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I was surprised at how great the dirt was despite nothing being done to it for such a long time.  Nice and black and crumbly, not at all like the original clay crap soil we started with. We added the used potato bin soil to it (1/2 compost + 1/2 new garden  soil)  and let it sit a day or two. We had another family crisis last week and finally on Monday Hubby helped me plant all the Iris, Tulips and Daffodils

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The Iris we planted were White, Blue, and Yellow.

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I also planted a ring of variegated Tulips, yellow Tulips, some Daffodils sprinkled around the edges.

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I made a block path behind the pump which will be serviced in early November. The upside down pot got replaced and set on a base of blocks. Because we have had terrible problems with critters this year, we put heavy plastic mesh fencing (two thicknesses) over all the plantings. Hopefully, this will keep the squirrels, chippies, moles, voles, and whatever else from feasting on everything and from digging up all the bulbs. 

Over the years we have probably planted a thousand tulip bulbs, and we are actually  happy when a few actually show up and bloom.

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 I also planted Baby tears around all the edges of the bed from the stuff hanging in the center pot!  This plant is one that keeps giving. With our milder winters now it pretty much will live anywhere in the ground. My original $15.00 purchase has created ground covers in multiple areas and plantings in all my pots. This year it was especially happy.

We are crossing our fingers on this new planting bed. There should be plenty of room for a nice annual pot in front of the Clematis, and places for a few other flowers after the Tulips and Daffodils are done. We will put a wood barrier in across the back to contain the remaining Lily plants. But that's it for now!

This was a HUGE THRIFTY REDO for us old folks, crossing my fingers. We are looking forward to a colorful Spring.

Tools and Supplies We used:

Shovel

Pitchfork

Husky cutting/bulb tool on sale last year.

Sweat...lol

Garbage can to recycle yard waste $0

1 bag of variegated Tulips $11.97

Leftover yellow Tulip bulbs from a gifted pot $0

Daffodils ( reused from the patch itself) $0

Iris (gifted corms from a friend) $0

Baby Tears cuttings for edges $0

Reused Dirt from potato bin $0

Mesh Fencing ($6.99)

Odd bricks and blocks from the yard $0

Replacement pot for covering the well. (reused) $0

NEXT:  We still have Carrots and Beets  in the vegetable garden that have to come up with the garden clean up.

We've had a few light frosts, but have another week of warm weather forecasted. So there is still time. 

This post was featured at in November 24

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 Sandi Magle

OldNewGreenRedo

What's Bloomin' in Midwest Gardening 2023

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Good Morning, first hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. We celebrated with family yesterday, and it was lovely in the low 70's and we even roasted marshmallows at dusk. 

But yesterday early, I ran around the yard and took some quick photos...of what is in bloom!

We are just budding out after a very late dreary Spring, and we are already in drought here, but everything is busting out with diligent watering. Portulaca or Moss Roses in a pot. A bit of this and that in the earn. The stars here are the Hosta bursting in this shade bed.

These I grew from rootings from Home depot 2 years ago...they are huge this year.

I had to support all my Iris, with the dry winds, so many tipped over and broke, they are in the house in vases. We will have a few more next week, I personally like the foliage as a great contrast against the brick.  Plant in lower left is a transplanted Phlox grown from a root start. Crossing my fingers. Newly purchased Shasta Daisy is just opening. I had a much lower budget this year, but we lost so many perennials with the freeze and thaw winter. So I moved a lot of things around, and did purchase a couple replacements.

This front bed has several types of Day Lilies, Boxwood and Iris in the back, and Sedums in the front row which are very drought tolerant.

Another gorgeous IRIS, this one soaked up the sun and no adjusting of the photo could bring out the details...so pretty and tall!

These are my favorite, classic Iris, I've long forgotten the varieties. 

Out on the mound near the street, nothing is blooming YET, except these little pom-pom perrennials I just planted. In two weeks there should be several plants flowering. I've given up planting annuals out here as it just bakes in the sun. Perennials have deeper root systems and seem to survive better. I did loose a Hydrangea, a Rose and something else, I have to look at notes here this year, sadly. 

Without our own greenhouse plants this year, I purchased only a few basics. I'm skipping the trailers this year. Hubby had to rebuild this box as another car backed into the structure and really did a number on it. 

No one ever stops, to say they are sorry or help with the damage. That's three times in two years!

I've planted here, but it will take awhile for any really photo worthy shots. I'm trying Dahlias I started in the house, but they were so spindly, I don't know what will come of them.

My big pot by the stairway holds a 4th year Hibiscus (branches) we wintered over in the garage which was kept at a 45 degrees and lights on. The first weekend we brought it out, it got frosted and all the leaves dropped off. I pruned it and watered it, and it's coming back with buds all along the branches...we will see what happens.

I had tried digging it out to pot and bring in the house, but the roots were so massive, we decided to try and keep it wintered in the garage. 

More Iris behind the pond. The rose had significant damage, and this creeping invasive vine...went bonkers this Spring. I have to get in there and hack this down and try some root poison.  (Not a green thing to do--but it clearly is way too happy now.)

It also climbed on our trellis and swallowed our already dying Clematis.

Here is the Rose damage here. It is coming back---I didn't trim it early so I could see what was really dead. Will get to this sometime this week. So much winter damage...the worst we've had--and a very mild winter, also. The yellow Barberry are very happy also...and will need to be thinned drastically--and they are very prickly! 

Happiest plant on our lot...this Viburnum, which we deeply  trimmed from the inside out last year...and it rewarded us with TONS of blooms. A new drain pipe is going into this boxed area and I think that accounts for everything looking better.

The porch is sparse for now---the planter on the table is for my D-inLaws Birthday.

We have two Manilla hanging in pots. I will have to remember to water them. If they don't grow much in a week,  I will move them into the sun.

My porch herbs are happy! All the usual suspects, Cilantro, Thyme, Basil, Rosemary, and Parsley. 

Not a flower...but definitely Bloomin' are our two  Rhubarb plants---I'm thinking Rhubarb jam, rhubarb pie, rhubarb bars, bread, muffins, pudding....etc. NUM!

Not much is blooming---except of course weeds, this of course is Dames Rocket or Silver Dollar plants. I don't mind a few and the flowers are quite pretty and even cut well for bouquets. 

Another plant, Baby Tears...which the mild winter has encouraged. I've been digging  up hunks of this and using in my pots. SO FREE PLANTS! YAY! 

This area had our rain barrel and a bush which was lost last year with all the construction on the roof. I usually have a huge pot of Impatiens and Coleus here,

 but not yet.

I"M SO, so, So, far behind!

I am slowly tying up all the daffodil greens to make room for other plants. Eventually they get cut. The greens need to help and store food to the corms. Of course Daffodils really don't need any help to thrive. Buy them once and you have a gazillion for life!

The Hollyhock bed is coming along. I planted new ones last year and some this year also that are supposed to bloom immediately. YES--that is still the tent full of contents of the basement disaster. 

We are still working on that!

Last place with anything flowering is this small shaded bed next to our storage shed.

I grow root perennials in here, usually. I moved everything out , but these two columbine which are so happy here, and put in lettuce seeds and lettuce plants. This area gets filtered light with some sun...perfect for tender plants and lettuce, oh I did plant some Wasabi Radishes in here, too. We will see, lol.

Oh and it is totally fenced...seems we have bunnies that like to eat everything!

I've totally forgotten what this blue is, but it's happy right here, lol. where nothing is. At one time I had copper leaf and lime Heuchera or Coral Bells here, only one of four have survived over the years.

Crappy soil and tree roots seem to be the blame. 

This Clematis got a new trellis last year, and seems to have survived, despite the new well pump put in a week ago and getting bent and pushed aside.  Honestly another almost 3K...I wish we had moved a couple of years ago, instead of having to replace everything AGAIN!

Yep---stay in your home---and eventually rebuild it. We've put more $$$$ into this house in the last year then we paid for it by almost 50K. Something comes to mind about pouring money into a never-ending hole...

a joke...

NOT REALLY!

Still plugging away here in the Midwest...

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW!?

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Sandi

 

#WorldWatercolorMonth -Caught up days 9-11

PHEW....this will be a short post. I spent my extra time today painting three for the #WorldWatercolor Month challenge.

My Palette was getting empty---and in an effort to sharpen up my colors, I added Prussian Blue in addition to Cobalt and Cerulean,. and Carmine in the Thalo Red hole. Otherwise, I'm keeping the previous palette with these additions. I really need a bigger palette for mixing and keeping my colors pure.

I went back to sketchbook paper because I planned on these being quick!(ha, ha, ha)

Day 9 Shadow Play

I set up my Brush pot and my water glass, just as it was on the table, and I kept stealing the brushes and bumping them around. The pot is a large stoneware, cheese crock that once had a lid. The cup is a lime solo cup---! We keep it simple around here.

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I tried to keep this simple, the shadows were concentrated on the blue pot. Shadows and reflections are interesting to play with. Here you can see the cobalt, cerulean, Prussian blues with the Thalo Purple for some of the shadows. 

Day 10 Ocean Creatures 

I included coral in this because it is a living creature and sadly disappearing, a few other critters are hiding as they do Unda-Da-Sea, (that song played in my head the whole time, such restraint to not paint a clown fish, also...LOL)

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There's a crab and a few other hints of things. I went for lots of texture here and plants. I might use this theme in the future for some watercolor paper, something rough. 

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Day 11  Simple Pleasures  

At our age, the first thing in the morning is a huge cup or two or three of coffee and a bit of cream. 

I have these huge red stoneware mugs that are nice and thick and keep the coffee hot---what could be more pleasurable? All my dishes are blue, red,  or blue and white. So, you see a lot of them. 

The cup has Thalo Red, Cadmium Yellow Deep, Carmine and Burnt Sienna. Lots going on for one cup of Pleasure...

Hope you had some fun today, I sure did. 

Disclaimer: Any products I am using are not a recommendation, but only for reference for the reader's use. I am in no way affiliated with any of the companies or products, or have I received compensation or products. 

My painting projects will be posted on Pinterest, Flickr and Facebook with the hashtag

#WorldWatercolorMonth

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Sandi