2012 Plant Sale: May 12th
Author Archives: Ashland Garden Club
Garden of the Month: May 2012
450 Lit Way:
Shannon Wolff’s beautiful garden at 450 Lit Way has been a fourteen year process. Shannon is the third generation in her family to garden in Ashland. Her grandfather moved here in the 1940s and raised vegetables on land behind the Presbyterian Church. Her mother has always had a garden, and still does, and Shannon continues her mother’s tradition of planting daphne as close to the entry of the house as possible.
When Shannon moved into her house, the roses were already growing, but not much else. Her former husband built the raised bed for vegetables on the right side of the front yard. Other than that, Shannon has done all the planning, planting, and weeding in her organic garden herself with occasional help from her son, Sam, and her daughter, Gracie, both students at Ashland High School. Shannon’s garden reflects the fact that children grew up here. A birch tree in the front lawn has a wonderful fort in it. Her daughter used to make potions from the lavender and mint still growing in abundance in the middle garden. The swing set allows a great view of the vegetable garden.
Pasque flowers (Pulsatilla) are a favorite of Shannon’s, and she has a wonderful collection, many of them from Kathy Allen’s rock garden in Central Point. Another favorite is the jasmine that covers a trellis outside the kitchen door, creating a wonderful, and delightfully scented, place to relax after a long day of teaching at the John Muir School.
The daylilies in the front yard came from a farm Shannon visited in New England about ten years ago. They’re not blooming yet, so be sure to walk by again in June!
Shannon’s garden, including the middle garden (not visible from the street) which is brimming with strawberries, rhubarb, spring bulbs, flowering trees and shrubs, will be open for viewing from
10:00 AM till Noon Sunday, May 6th.
10:00 AM till Noon Sunday, May 6th.
submitted by: Terry Tobey
Growing Shiitake Mushrooms
An article in the Medford Mail Tribune’s January’s HOMELIFE magazine inspired me to order shittake mushroom spawn from www.mushroompeople.com.I called several tree pruners before I could obtain five white oak logs for growing the mushrooms, each logs was about 4-5 feet long and 4″-6″ inches in diameter. My husband drilled holes in them every 6″ and then we hammered in the pegs with the shiitake spawn. I didn’t use any wax to seal the holes as suggested, I just hammered the pegs in and called it good. Like the article says, all the work is done in a day, and then you just lean the logs in the shade, water them when it gets really hot and wait to see what happens.
by Melody Jones
Read the Homelife article here: http://www.mailtribune.com/HOMELIFE/mushrooms
Garden of the Month: April 2012
826 Holly Street-
It’s daffodil time! If you are eager for a touch of spring stop by 826 Holly Street (on the corner of Liberty) and you’ll find the home and garden of Carol Walker. If you’re lucky enough to catch the sun shining, the view will be all the more golden, but just a hint of what’s to come as more buds unfold. (The pictures don’t do it justice.)
Beginning in 1994, when Carol purchased the home, there were few daffodils to be seen, only lawn and the occasional grazing deer – regretfully, now more often than occasionally. Looking for drought and deer resistant plants, Carol began with 250 daffodil bulbs ordered from White Flower Farm in Connecticut. The lawn was removed, the daffodils planted and the front yard saw the first of many improvements.
Today the yard is filled with daffodils – many different varieties to assure blooms from February into May. In addition, Carol’s front yard is planted with other deer resistant plants – lavender, rosemary (seen cascading over a small retaining wall) crocus, grape hyacinth and sage. Interspersed among these are Japanese maples, kwanzan cherry, blue spruce and a giant douglas fir ringed in Oregon grape. Pathways meander throughout inviting a closer look.
Carol, originally from Sussex England, inherited her love of gardening from her father. “Their” touch can be seen throughout, including Carol’s “Garden Art” – bits and pieces found here and there, adding charm and interest everywhere one looks.
In the back and side yards, protected from the deer by a high, elegant fence, can be found even more to make a true gardener smile – poppies, tulips, cowslip (most waiting to bloom) surround an antique bird bath, a beautifully shaped aspen and more cherry trees. The highlight – as soon as our spring warms up – is an amazing wisteria covered arbor. Carol has done nearly all of the work herself, adding more daffodils each year from local sources. No chemical sprays are ever used and water is conserved as much as possible.
You may view the front yard at any time. In addition, Carol has agreed to show her side and back gardens to AGC members on Saturday, April 14th from 11:00 to 2:00. Seeing all of this loveliness will be a great reminder that warmer, more colorful garden days are just around the corner.
by Kaaren Anderson
Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis (Blue False Indigo)
This North American prairie native is long lived but slow growing, so it can take up to 3 years to bloom. It is an easy to care for plant which tolerates both clay and sandy soils. Blue False Indigo is excellent for cut flowers and attracting butterflies.
Form: Spiky architectural vase shaped: 3-4 feet high, 1½ -3 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Color: Striking pea-like purple flower stalks, blue-green foliage
Bloom Time: June – July
Attributes: Drought tolerant, suitable for xeriscaping, deer resistant (Note: Parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested!) Average Water Needs, water regularly but do not over water.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3A – 10B
Bigroot Geranium
Bigroot Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)
Geranium macrorrhizum is a hardy perennial that blooms prolifically in the spring. Some varieties also present outstanding leaf color in the fall.Bigroot Geranium is deer- resistant, so “typically” deer leave it alone. Plant your geranium in full sun or partial shade. It’s not too picky about growing conditions, except it doesn’t like wet boggy areas, so plant in well-draining soil. It grows 1 to 3 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. Geranium makes a good groundcover at the base of trees, shrubs and taller perennials. Geranium macrorrhizum varieties include: Album which produces white flowers, Ingwersen flowers in pink, and Variegatum, with white-variegated leaves, which produce purple & pink blossoms. Note: Variegatum likes richer soil and keep it out of full sun. USDA Hardiness Zone: Zones 4-8