Calgary Garden Coach

Colorada spruce, feather reed grass, and 'Calgary Carpet' junipers in the front entry garden

snowy outlines in the front entry garden

feathery 'Calgary Carpet' juniper

new garden on a budget - early March 2012 seed starting list (ornamentals)

I am starting many more seeds than usual this year in order to help fill out the big empty area left in the front entry garden now that 2 huge spruce trees have come down.  Eventually I hope to have mostly perennials in the area but they are more expensive and take longer to reach their full size, so in the meantime I will be filling the area with lots of easy-to-grow-from-seed annuals.  Every year I also start a few new, less common things just for experimentation.  In February I started iceland poppy, lagurus, and 'marble arch' salvia, and here's what I'm starting in the next couple of weeks:

• linum perenne lewisii (blue flax) - this perennial is easy to start from seed outside in spring but I'm impatient for bigger plants so I'm also starting some indoors this month;
• echium vulgare 'blue bedder' - never grown before but I'm trying it for the blue flowers; apparently doesn't like transplanting so I have started these in peat pots;
• melinis 'Savannah' - never grown before; an annual grass with pretty pink plumes, I'll probably put this in pots;
• agrostis nebulosa (cloud grass) - never grown before; another annual grass I thought I'd try this year;
• cosmos 'Polidor' mixture - a yellow-orange-red mixture to fit the front garden colour scheme;
• cosmos 'Sonata' - a pink-white mixture for the Adventure Garden;
• lavatera 'Mont Blanc' - more white flowers for the front entry garden;
• lavatera 'Silver Cup' - a gorgeous pink variety for cutting;
• verbena bonariensis - I grow some every year for the Butterfly Potager; I am starting some indoors and also winter sowing some, to hedge my bets, because this plant is notoriously difficult to start from seed;
• ground cherry - the only edible I grow that needs to be started this early; similar to tomatoes in culture.

 The next thing to start will be tomatoes in mid-March.  Are you gardening yet?

 from the archives:

• My seed-starting setup - This post describes what I do to start seeds, and the how and why of it all.  There are also lots more links on the bottom of the post.
• Vegetable gardening in Calgary 101, and
• When to plant vegetable seeds in Calgary
• How to winter sow - an alternative, zero-energy, low-maintenance way to start seeds.

If you would like a beautiful and successful garden that nourishes your body and soul, view My Services for consultation details.

February 2012 seed report

February is the start of gardening season for me, despite the weather (although this year, I don't think we have anything to complain about... yet), and despite the possibility of up to 4 more months of snow...!  I can keep myself from going crazy at this time of year, and it's because I start seeds.

Here are iceland poppy, lagurus (bunny tail grass), and 'marble arch' salvia under lights in my basement.  Aren't they cute?

I've written a lot about starting seeds in previous years, so this year I'll just give you the links.  But let me just emphasize, that one of the keys to success is starting seeds at the right time.

• My seed-starting setup - This post describes what I do to start seeds, and the how and why of it all.  There are also lots more links on the bottom of the post.
• Vegetable gardening in Calgary 101, and
• When to plant vegetable seeds in Calgary
• How to winter sow - an alternative, zero-energy, low-maintenance way to start seeds.

I also grow sprouts all winter long, which my kids devour.  They're yummy rolled up with cream cheese in a tortilla!  I can't grow them fast enough, actually.

But to be honest, I'm out in Kananaskis country this week and not thinking of seeds or gardening much at all.  Really, how can you not love winter with a view like this?

Garden Show plans?

Are you going to the garden show this year?  I will be volunteering at the Community Gardens booth on Sunday morning (plan to come say hello!), and for the first time ever, I'm also considering taking a workshop.  In the past I either didn't want to spend the money and/or to take valuable week-end time away from my young kids, but this year I'm thinking "Meh!  Why not splurge a little?  And the kids are a little older now, they can take me being a little selfish for one week-end, can't they?"

If you've followed my blog for a while you know that I still have major work to do in several areas of my yard, and spring is always a very busy, energetic time in the perennial garden.  While I'd love to spend time preparing a beautiful container or two, I just never get around to it.  So I'm thinking of doing either the "Perennial Planter" or "Fabulous Container Garden" workshop this year, although they all look great.  How about you?

from the Hort Society:

The 2012 Garden Show at Spruce Meadows

April 14 & 15
Perennial Planter - with John Duncan - presented by greengate Garden Centre


Featured Workshops:


Fabulous Container Garden - with Tricia Ingram - presented by Cobblestone Garden Centre

Alpine Tufa Planter - with Irena Burns - presented by C.R.A.G.S.

Ladybugs & Dragonflies Garden Sculptures - presented by Red Roof Studio & Olds College

Bliss Balls - with Abrah Arneson - presented by Olds College

Living Wall Container - with Tricia Ingram - presented by Cobblestone Garden Centre

Succulent Wreath - with Lorie Bjorkman - presented by Countryside Garden Centre 

Veggie & Flower Planter - Cathy Baceda - presented by Urban Gardeners

Herbal Healing Salves - with Abrah Arneson - presented by Olds College

Garden Bug & Fairy Sculptures - presented by Red Roof Studio & Olds College

 

 

 Hands On Workshop participants receive expert advice and instruction while creating marvelous garden projects to take home and enjoy.  

*pre-registration fees include materials & free show admission* Register Today!
Online registration closes April 12th

 

Visit Website for Garden Show Details

Calgary Garden Coach's February 2012 garden to-do list

This weather has been great for getting outside!  What with the warm weather, and the new space opened up in my front yard, I can't help starting to think about gardening!  Believe it or not, there is plenty you can do in February in Calgary.

Garden planning

I've already written about my plans for the patio I need to build in front of the new trellis, and the front yard entry garden I will be planting this year.  For more articles on gardening planning from my archives, try:

• How do I get rid of my lawn?
• How to make a large, new perennial garden on a budget.
• Garden planning: front yard garden design.
• My favourite plants for a sunny, low-maintenance front yard garden.
• What can you do in a Calgary zone 3 garden in mid-March?

Seeds and Vegetables

• I've almost finished my seed shopping but it's not too late to start if you haven't yet!
• Stifle the urge to start seeds too early.  Look at the package for recommendations regarding how long before the last frost date (May 23, for us Calgarians) to start seeds and calculate backwards. Organize seeds packs according to planting date.
• See my previous posts: vegetable gardening in Calgary 101, and  when to plant vegetable seeds in Calgary
• I am trying a few slower-growing plants this year so will be starting iceland poppy 'solar fire', salvia 'marble arch', and bunny tail (lagurus) indoors sometime this month.
• See this post on how to winter sow for an alternative, zero-energy, low-maintenance way to start seeds.

Houseplants

•  with the days getting longer, house plants are starting to wake up now.  I'll gradually increase watering and start light fertilizing of houseplants next month.

Trees and Shrubs

• Right now is prime pruning time for most deciduous trees and shrubs (but not spring-blooming shrubs such as lilacs!)  I plan to get outside this week-end to do a little pruning of overgrown branches here and there. 

• February (and March) are good times to prune.

• I don't get the prune-shrubs-into-a-ball-shape thing.
• Since I keep my shrubs in a natural form, pruning mostly involves cutting back a few older or overgrown branches at ground level and doing some minor re-shaping each year.  See this post on thinning and rejuvenating shrubs.

 

If you would like a beautiful and successful garden that nourishes your body and soul, view My Services for consultation details.

for the record - very warm December and January!

 Despite the record cold snap we had a few weeks ago, this article from CBC says the winter in Western Canada has been the second-warmest on record.

 Environment Canada blows winter forecast

And this weather map taken from CBC news shows above-average temperatures and below average precipitation for January:

 

I'm sure glad I got rid of those water-sucking spruce trees as soon as possible!  Did you know evergreens will use water all winter long, whenever temperatures go up?