Today in Our Garden #winterstormStella damaging ice #frozencherryblossoms #GardenCuizine @BurlcoTimes

Today in Our Garden
Ice Storm Stella

I'd much rather be enjoying the Philadelphia Flower Show right now instead of watching ice topple branches from our pines and shrubs. We prepared for winter storm Stella, a predicted mid-Atlantic nor'easter, but instead of getting 8 to 12-inches of snow, we got much worse - damaging ice. 

Stella's ice has coated everything. Cherry blossoms and pussy willow blooms are completely encapsulated in ice. 

We even had the local Fire Department stop by earlier to remove huge, fallen white pine branches that had landed onto the road. The wrath of this storm may still not be over. Flurries are still falling, ice is not melting and I can hear the wind howling as I'm typing.

The white pines dropped more branches than I can ever remember. The sound of cracking and breaking branches could be heard in our yard and echoing throughout the neighborhood. 

When I strolled around the yard with my camera to survey the damages, I noticed one pine had completely uprooted and tipped over, laying alongside the veggie garden.

lots of pine cones on this uprooted pine tree

there is not supposed to be a tree along side this garden fence!

It is hard to believe that Spring is less than one week away from this cold, wind and ice.
Related Links
Winter Storm Update 
Helping Trees and Shrubs Recover from Snow and Ice 
Photos and blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Today in Our Garden #GardenCuizine #gardenchat

Today in Our Winter Garden

South Jersey
USDA Zone 7a (formerly zone 6b)

Lots of activity with wildlife in our gardens today. Heated water bowls really help provide the critters with a water source during the winter. As I walked through the garden today, I noticed that we still have a few plants showing life, especially the bronze fennel, red Russian kale, parsley and seasoning celery. I also noticed foot prints in the snow (bottom right photo in the collage)... any idea what animal they could be from?

Inside, our assorted coleus cuttings under lights are growing like weeds. In March they will be pushed aside to make room for trays of veggie and flower seeds. The price is right when growing from seeds; it's fun too. The seedlings will be transplanted to the gardens (and shared with friends) when the soil warms in spring.
 
Take advantage of the time indoors now to plan your spring garden. We hope to try growing onions for the first time. A professor of mine from Rutgers has had success with growing Ailsa Craig, so we're probably going to start with that variety. I'm still browsing through garden catalogs now for ideas.

Besides our usual plantings, these are on my "New to Try" 2015 grow wish list:

Jiaogulan vine - Immortality herb - has all kinds of health claims associated with it so of course I'm curious about it. Zones: 8-10. Available at MichiganBulb.com

Tango Hummingbird Mint - Tango, the Garden Cat - need I say more! And, anyone who knows me knows I'm a fan of growing agastache and salvias. This one is bicolor firery orange with a hint of blue. Drought tolerant. Blooms midsummer to fall. Zones 5-10. Also available at MichiganBulb.com

Ailsa Craig onions - Long day variety English heirloom. Large yellow globe onions. Plants available at Territorial Seed Co. (ignore the photo on their online catalog, it's of leeks and not Ailsa Craig onions!)

Coral Fountain (Russelia equisetiformis) - Heirloom circa 1833. Mexican hummingbird plant with cascading coral red tubular blooms. Slow grower, can reach 4 to 5 feet tall. Zones 9-10. Available from Select Seeds.
 
Syriaca Zaatar - I wanted to try this wild relative of Mediterranean Oregano that supposedly has hints of thyme and sweet marjoram. Zones 8-10. But, it's out of stock at the moment from Seeds of Change - hopefully they get more.

What are you thinking of growing this year? 

Happy and Healthy Gardening!
Photo collage and blog post Copyright (C)Wind. All rights reserved.

Today in our Winter Garden︱ Spring is in the Air #GardenCuizine

Today in Our Garden

South Jersey
USDA Zone 7a (formerly zone 6b)
February 24, 2014

What a winter it's been. We are so very happy to see the deep snow, slowly-but-surely, melting away. After taking a close look around today, it looks like Black and White kicks off the 2014 gardening season.  

We've had so much of the white stuff and are so ready to usher in some spring color, but ironically, some of the first blooms - Snow drops (Galanthus) - are white. Ours have buds and look just about ready to bloom. Contrasting, black pussywillows (Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys') are another of the first to bloom.

We plan on lots of spring cleanup this season. Thanks to the storms this winter, we have several large branches that broke off pine trees from heavy snow and ice. Yard and gardens always provide rewarding work. 

Gardening counts as physical activity! However, unless you're planning on moving serious mounds of dirt, going to the gym is still a good idea for weight bearing exercise.

As you can see, brown colors still dominate...memories of the harsh winter. Just keep reminding yourself that next month, just in time for National Nutrition Month, gardens will be warming up and full of vibrant color.

Rosemary showing winter damage

How did your yard and gardens fare this winter?

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Spring is in the air at the 

Philadelphia Flower Show March 1-9

ARTiculture

To Celebrate National Nutrition Month

March is also a good time to sow veggie seeds 

indoors under grow lights.

Photos and blog post Copyright (C)2014 Wind. All rights reserved.