Persicaria virginiana ‘Painter’s Palette’. This is the one I forgot to share with Sue Ann. Next time!
No Guest, Just little Me
This week, I was a loser without any gardening pals to interview, so I took advantage of my imaginary friends (other gardening podcasters), and filtered and pilfered some good gardening bits I have learned from them lately. Tom Christopher’s interview on Growing Greener with Dr. Tom Mather of TickEncounter.com, also known as The Tick Guy, was illuminating both in terms of what you can do to protect yourself from ticks, and how to recognize the tick that bit you. You can send in a photo to The Tick Guy’s site and get info about how dangerous the tick is before you start to hyperventilate. Once you find out, let the panic commence, but honestly, not all ticks will give you a disease. InsectShield.com sells clothing that repels not only ticks but other disreputables such as chiggers and mozzies. Not only do they sell you their clothing— they will treat YOUR clothing! I’ve had Lyme disease twice, and it’s just a matter of time before I get it again. Wonder why I don’t protect myself better against the little beasties?
Margaret Roach of A Way to Garden chatted with Patrick MacMillan of Heronswood in Washington about nature and gardening. This sent me on a jag about Capability Brown and how great it is that the current vogue of nature in the garden does not go as far as mid-18th Romanticism inspired landscapes. Re-directed streams and newly built “ruins,” made nature perfect in the eyes of Brown and his deep-pocketed clients. At least our current interest in naturalistic gardens is less about having teams of oxen create new lakes and more about letting go. Better for the bugs and for your sciatica, too.
Joe Gardener recently interviewed Dave Whitinger of the National Gardening Association about their annual gardening survey. Turns out, not only did the pandemic produce more quilters, fly fishermen, and model railroad enthusiasts (thank you, God, that my husband did not rekindle his former flame for that basement destroying pursuit), but 18 million new gardeners. Joe and Dave were scheming over ways to keep the newbies on, and it did not go unobserved that marijuana is a gateway… plant.
The Plant of the Week
Persicaria is not to be confused with Knotweed, which is its common name. The Knotweed that should concern you (Fallopia japonica) is a virulent and pestilential hazard, whereas Persicaria is a well-behaved garden perennial. That got me started on why we need Latin Botanical names to help us keep plants straight. It isn’t a ‘let’s act highbrow’' thing, more of a ‘let’s make sure we know what plant we are talking about’ thing.
The Play List
Watering time in the garden— any time you can, but morning is optimal.
Layer bits of your vining landscape annuals by burying a part of the vine so it makes new roots: petunias, sweet potato vine, tradescantia (Wandering Jew).
Deadhead lilies as you would any flowering bulb.
Consider removing the spent brown sticks of daylilies, unless they contribute to your enjoyment of your garden!