tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post1364614018443135057..comments2023-08-21T01:41:13.490-07:00Comments on Three Dogs in a Garden: Looking Back and Moving Forward (Part 1)Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-54810805647239329132013-04-04T14:36:31.023-07:002013-04-04T14:36:31.023-07:00There are some battles you just can't win and ...There are some battles you just can't win and have to admit defeat and like you have done learn to live with it - everything has its purpose I'm sure - it's just sometimes we can't see what on earth that purpose is - like slugs and wasps and invasive weeds!elaine https://www.blogger.com/profile/17075935631756457901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-32170179420611866922013-04-02T07:08:26.815-07:002013-04-02T07:08:26.815-07:00What a beautiful post, Jennifer. And, like you, I ...What a beautiful post, Jennifer. And, like you, I was inspired by the video of Ninfa. It brings so much calm to us gardeners to know we don't have to live up to some expectation of making nature conform to something almost impossible. I have my struggles in the garden, too, but I hope I can remember the lesson you have shared here today as I weed and prune my way around it. Thank you for the mention.The Sage Butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06252906325012065829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-46547001104090154902013-04-02T06:29:29.426-07:002013-04-02T06:29:29.426-07:00Marguerite beat me to it. The double form of Sapon...Marguerite beat me to it. The double form of Saponaria officinalis is a "pretty pink invasive" in my back garden -- of the same vintage as the house, I think. And the single form is a "slightly less pretty pink invasive" in my front garden -- a hitchhiker from the country that came with a batch of Hemerocallis fulva -- that "pretty orange invasive" ditch lily (a gift from my sister in the days when neither of us knew better). In my dry shade garden, a garden that has -- wait for it -- killed goutweed, I have been happy to let anything that grows, grow. In my maturity, however, I'm trying to mend my ways and my garden.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14527649631254016576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-72601418064568474692013-04-01T05:40:40.700-07:002013-04-01T05:40:40.700-07:00I have to admit the Goutweed does take a good pict...I have to admit the Goutweed does take a good picture. Now that just reminds me of my old mother who would say of someone not exactly endowed with good looks! (aye, but he does take a good picture)Alistairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104382970502166560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-7511643486580124272013-03-31T09:27:00.652-07:002013-03-31T09:27:00.652-07:00I've had a few battles of my own.
I love your...I've had a few battles of my own.<br /><br />I love your photos!My Little Home and Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01519563352358635257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-57991219256128123412013-03-31T06:14:36.734-07:002013-03-31T06:14:36.734-07:00You are right Marguerite. It is a double variety o...You are right Marguerite. It is a double variety of Saponaria officinalis. It was well enough behaved the first couple of years. Then it went wild spreading by rhizomes throughout the garden bed and choking out other plants. I would use it with caution.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-65049667343967346182013-03-30T17:28:26.519-07:002013-03-30T17:28:26.519-07:00Jennifer, the pink flower you have is Saponaria of...Jennifer, the pink flower you have is Saponaria officinalis, a double variety called Flore Pleno. I had no idea this was invasive though. I have some of this tucked away in a far corner of our property - a remnant of the old homestead. The plants never seem to spread any further though. I was planning on collecting seed this year and planting it elsewhere in the garden, has it been a big problem for you?Margueritehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377516887669269657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-2942771577066796352013-03-30T00:24:43.541-07:002013-03-30T00:24:43.541-07:00Jennifer, I love Weigela as well, but it grows bad...Jennifer, I love Weigela as well, but it grows badly here because of frost in winter. Some years it was frozen at the snow level!<br />Great photos!<br /> and happy Easter!Nadezdahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08159291982383302922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-5329375681813285392013-03-29T20:52:04.035-07:002013-03-29T20:52:04.035-07:00Your photos are lovely :-) Even the bishop's w...Your photos are lovely :-) Even the bishop's weed, as we call it here in Britain. Gardening might feel as a battleground at times, so do i, with red lily beetles, red spider mites, vine weevils, aphids and squirrels - and the occasional fox too - had to go and chase one out of my garden here the other night, before it could do too much damage! But in-between the battles it is important to sit down and enjoy the garden, just look at what the garden wants and if there is an imperfect spot due to a previous battle then – never mind, it will soon be filled with a new plant :-)HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-24794575769490544812013-03-28T20:06:03.804-07:002013-03-28T20:06:03.804-07:00True perfection is always imperfect. It's the ...True perfection is always imperfect. It's the idea that perfection is flawless that's the myth. Your pink invasive is gorgeous! Blow some seeds my way! I had goutweed in my garden in NY and it drove me crazy, too. But I also loved how pretty it was. Working with nature instead of against it makes gardening more enjoyable. :o)Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-45419257519630778042013-03-28T19:44:30.267-07:002013-03-28T19:44:30.267-07:00Jennifer I have gotten to the same point with the ...Jennifer I have gotten to the same point with the J beetles and some of my invasives I battle. I will still wage the battle but not kill myself. The problem with these invasives that people don't realize is many will take over and push out your other plants. That goutweed picture is gorgeous though.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420133886162844400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-27656197782213584732013-03-28T19:06:23.091-07:002013-03-28T19:06:23.091-07:00Conversation 25 years ago about digging out goutwe...Conversation 25 years ago about digging out goutweed from my Aunt's farm garden to plant into mine. <br />My Aunt to me: I wouldn't plant that if I were you. It's a spreader.<br />Me: Oh that's great! My garden's brand new and I need a plant that fills in quickly!<br />My Cousin's wife to me: No, she's right. If you plant that, you'll regret it.<br />Me: Oh come on now - Surely not!!!<br />Flash forward 25 year to now:<br />I regret it :(Astridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17208261869410640449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-3547964093528265322013-03-28T10:49:56.447-07:002013-03-28T10:49:56.447-07:00The Goutweed in my garden is variegated and I beli...The Goutweed in my garden is variegated and I believe the latin name is Aegopodium podagraria. I did not know there was a solid green leafed variety of Goutweed and I had to look it up out of interest. <br />For me the hard thing about this plant are the roots. If any root remains, the plant can come back. Getting all those fine white roots is tricky.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-4387837402449450322013-03-28T10:40:49.648-07:002013-03-28T10:40:49.648-07:00To put your mind to rest Holley, I don't imagi...To put your mind to rest Holley, I don't imagine I will ever hand over my garden to goutweed. I just refuse to make myself crazy fighting it. To truly get rid of it, I would probably have to rip everything out, including my shrubs, and start over. For now, I am just going to tackle the fresh shoots as they pop up and try to nip them in the bud. Hopefully, I can still keep the goutweed in check, and maybe eventually eliminate it. <br />Failing that I can always stick a for sale sign at the front gate and move like Gardeningbren says she did. Just kidding! LOLJenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-44546281030220755332013-03-28T09:44:30.439-07:002013-03-28T09:44:30.439-07:00The only sensible approach, especially when it com...The only sensible approach, especially when it comes to minor insect damage. As to goutweed (we're taling about aegopodium, right?), it can be nasty, though I find the variegated variety much easier to control. One thing that has helped me a lot is always removing the flower stalks when they emerge, or at least before they go to seed, though you may have been doing that already. Of course they will spread by root as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-32166631838167507912013-03-28T09:07:29.997-07:002013-03-28T09:07:29.997-07:00Goutweed was one of those pass-along perennials I ...Goutweed was one of those pass-along perennials I somehow managed to avoid as new gardener. That and Houttuynia. Surprising because I'm a sucker for foliage. I've seen both contained and effectively used in gardens but have heard the stories.<br /><br />Calamintha nepeta is one of my favorite perennials as well. Last night I attended a presentation by a local plant nut/nursery owner about her favorite perennials. Centaurea 'Amethyst Snow' was on the list. A beautiful flower and captured beautifully in your photo.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13911109672807196057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-23525274547293797892013-03-28T08:16:16.942-07:002013-03-28T08:16:16.942-07:00Andrea, We also have knotweed here which I have se...Andrea, We also have knotweed here which I have seen take over an entire backyard. Plants like this are a huge problem and finding ways to control them once they get a foothold is a daunting task I wouldn't wish on anyone.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-65095298151962860792013-03-28T08:13:08.574-07:002013-03-28T08:13:08.574-07:00Lona I agree that this is something that experienc...Lona I agree that this is something that experience with gardening teaches you.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-81231184313420280952013-03-28T08:09:59.294-07:002013-03-28T08:09:59.294-07:00There are moments of frustration with our quirky o...There are moments of frustration with our quirky old house and garden when I think about packing it in and moving too! LOL<br /><br />I picked up the Centaurea montana 'Amethyst Dream' at a big box garden centre (Rona I think), and so you may be able to find it easily Bren. I am sure you are familiar with the more common blue variety with its grey green leaves and blue flowers. The standard blue variety is well behaved in my experience and so I think Centaurea montana ‘Amethyst Dream’ will be very similar.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-24554379744577305372013-03-28T08:05:09.105-07:002013-03-28T08:05:09.105-07:00I don't know. Although I've been thinking...I don't know. Although I've been thinking lately about leaving some weeds (those I will never get rid of anyway), I think I'm still going to have to go to war with my Bermuda grass! Of course, digging up a beautiful shrub just to get rid of a weed does seem a bit drastic! Although I may have to do that to get rid of some briars I have growing in my roses! I guess, just as in all things, we each have to pick our battles. I loved your sentence about the run in the stocking and no amount of dressing up would camouflage that imperfection! And I do agree with the commenter of years ago - the first photo is really pretty. The floral background gives it another dimension and really shows off the goutweed beautifully. HolleyGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14892421871044249940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-65011659591497179952013-03-28T07:45:51.284-07:002013-03-28T07:45:51.284-07:00All of your pictures are truly beautiful.
Happy Ea...All of your pictures are truly beautiful.<br />Happy Easter! :)Kiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11327411102238314117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-19951253698638966792013-03-28T06:49:29.340-07:002013-03-28T06:49:29.340-07:00What a lovely post. The first pica are fantastic w...What a lovely post. The first pica are fantastic weeds or not.<br /><br />I think we've all been there battling nature at some time or other. Like you I learned the hard way and gave up the never ending battle and took a more relaxed approach. Now I actually leave a few weeds and nettles, they are good for pollinators.xxxxxSnowbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08572555410663928295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-22282553921432570042013-03-28T06:13:26.945-07:002013-03-28T06:13:26.945-07:00Thanks Lisa.Thanks Lisa.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-25289711891522561772013-03-28T06:06:13.374-07:002013-03-28T06:06:13.374-07:00Janneke, Common names vary so greatly and I someti...Janneke, Common names vary so greatly and I sometimes wonder about using them at all. Centaurea montana do somewhat resemble annual Bachelor's Buttons and that is why they are sometimes called Perennial Bachelor's Buttons. They also have the common name Blue Cornflower and Mountain Bluet.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-52939454335231565152013-03-28T05:56:14.004-07:002013-03-28T05:56:14.004-07:00As much as I wanted to get rid of the lily of the ...As much as I wanted to get rid of the lily of the valley and the goutweed, I couldn't bring myself to dig up the Weigela, the hydrangea standard or the spirea. As I said in the post, I find Goutweed likes to hide out in the shade at the base of mature shrubs. Getting all of the Goutweed root is very difficult without lifting the shrub. Unfortunately, lifting a mature shrub is hard work and the shrubs roots are likely to be damaged. I did my best to get the goutweed, and left the shrubs be.<br />Sadly, I have lost the plant tag for the pink flower. It is really pretty isn't it? The flowers almost make you want to forgive it's spreading habit. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.com