Bigleaf golden-ray Ligularia dentata 'Othello'

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Orthello 31 May 2009 Bigleaf golden-ray Ligularia dentata 'Othello'
There are two plants in the garden. The dark yellow flower is above the vegetation, and opens later in the summer. Slugs and snails operate on the leaves, so this year I have placed bait around the plants. The plant is rather imposing, particularly the large green leaves, and the plant enjoys plenty of moisture with partial shade.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Bigleaf 26 June 2009 Bigleaf golden-ray Ligularia dentata 'Othello'
Usually there is some some snail and slug damage. I placed snail bail particles around the base of the plant and there is no insect damage.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FPPMU 4 September 2009 Bigleaf golden-ray Ligularia dentata 'Othello'
This large leaf plant is now in bloom. there is a bit of insect damage on some leaves.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QYLVR Summary: Bigleaf golden-ray Ligularia dentata 'Othello' 2009

Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BeetleV 31 May 2009 Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni)

This small insect has damaged the snowball bushes in less than two days. I have observed similar damage to viburnum bushes in the woods. Presently the control consists of soap along with rhubarb leaf extract. Whether this is effective hasn't been determined as yet, since spraying commenced this morning.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Damage 3 June 2009 Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) on Viburnum in the woods. I noticed this damage on a walk in the woods. I assume the bush is a Viburnum. The damage is almost compete destruction of the bush.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Larvae 9 June 2009 Viburnum Leaf Beetle
The two viburnum trees were spayed about five times over three days and all the larvae have been destroyed. I used my home made sprayer which made dispensing the rhubarb and soap in water easy to dispense. Next year I will start spraying at the first sign of infestation. Action taken was a bit late but at least all the vegetation was not destroyed. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YJTPX 19 March 2009 Spray can for garden use.


http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ViburnumB Information regarding the Viburnum Leaf Beetle

Raspberries Summer/Fall

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Raspberries 30 May 2009 Summer/Fall Raspberries
These raspberries will produce two crops yearly if thinned by removing the canes immediately after fruiting. I only get one crop in the Fall, since I cut the canes to ground level in the late Fall, just before freeze up. This is quicker than selecting the dead canes to remove in a crowded patch.

Everbearing Raspberries

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?RaspberryE 30 May 2009 Everbearing Raspberries
This small patch produces enough raspberries for two people most of the summer. The berries are quite large. The plants don't spread much but are quite tall, hence the individual rebar for support. These canes are cut to the ground in the Fall. The cultivar name is unknown.

Clematis (Multi Blue)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MultiB 30 May 2009 Clematis (Multi Blue)
This clematis is on a raised bed, which was built when my garden area was a quagmire, before installing drainage trenches. Flowering seems to be about a week early this year. The plant needs little care, just a bit of top trimming in early Spring.

Coral Bells (Heuchera)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CorolB 30 May 2009 Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Coral bells flower most of the Summer by deadheading. Propagation is best performed by division.

Castor Bean

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CastorB 29 May 2009 Red Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)

This is the red type as opposed to the green. It is located in an full sun location, and my objective is to see how large it will grow. The tropical appearance, with the large colorful leaves are most attractive in our northern climate. There are two plant in the same location, one will be removed as they get larger. The plants were started indoors in late April, and planted outdoors on 21 May.The plant is susceptible to frost.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?CastorBeN 18 June 2009 Castor Bean Ricinus communis
The green plant was purchased from a garden supply. The weather has been cool so they are growing slowly. Both are in ideal ground conditions, so it will be interesting to see how large they get before the season ends.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?XIKJI 18 August 2009 Castor Bean Plants (Ricinus Communis)
The two types of castor bean plants are not a large as normal this year. One is called green and the other is red, referring to the color of the leaves. The seed pods are forming. Sometimes in my zone the seeds do not fully mature if the Fall season is too wet. I grow these plants for the tropical appearance, also to see how large they can get. The plant is an annual in my region. The red was planted from seed and started indoors on about 1 of May 2009. The green type was purchased froms supplier and planted 21 of May 2009.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?MEHOA Summary: Castor Bean Plants 2009

American Gooseberry

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GooseberryA 29 May 2009 American Gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum)
Taste is sweet, and no difficulty eating raw, and probably comparable to many types of table grapes. The fruit matures in late August.

European Gooseberry

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Gooseberry 29 May 2009 European Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa)
European Gooseberries are slightly larger in diameter, than the American gooseberry. The berry size is ~2 cm when ripe, and is dark red coloured, and quite sweet, and most pleasant to taste. The American species is also thought to have an inferior flavor, with some validity, judging by my limited exposure. Comments are based on the two plants in my garden, one European and the other American. There may be a large variation in others of which I am not familiar. The bush is quite thorny, and rubber gloves are helpful when picking. This cultivar is a most welcome edition for a home garden.

Blackcurrant

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Blackcurrant 28 May 2009 Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)
The production of fruit off this plant is in excess of 12 quarts. The fruit laden branches must be supported to keep the berries out of the soil.

Watering Plant Roots

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WandW 28 May 2009 Watering Plant Roots.

This method gets water to the root area of the plants. The hydraulic effect of the water makes pushing the wand into the ground effortless. The device is made by cutting off the end of a typical water garden wand as sold in most hardware stores.

Pawpaw (Asiminia triloba)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Pawpaw 27 May 2009 Pawpaw (Asiminia triloba)
These two, 2 year old, trees were planted in 2008, and both survived the Winter. One is in partial shade and the other is in full sun.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PawPawG 26 June 2009 Pawpaw (Asiminia triloba)
The leaves are getting larger, and both trees appear to be healthy, so I am encouraged.

Blackberry

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Blackberry 27 May 2009 Thornless Blackberry
These two plants were purchased from a local nursery in the Spring of 2008, and there was no name simply thornless blackberry. There were four berries on one plant last year and the quality was excellent, so I expect great things from these two plants, hence the elaborate trellis.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BlackberryT 26 June 2009 Thornless Blackberry
These two plants are growing very well. I notice one plant has pink flowers and the other white.

Grapes.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Grapes 27 May 2009 Grapes

This is the fourth year for the four grapes vines. Varieties are Baco Noir, Sovereign Coronation, Concord, and Niagara. I utilize the fruit for table and make juice out of any excess.

Edible Garden Zone 5B 24 May 2009

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GardenE 24 May 2009 Edible Garden Zone 5B
Pictures of the garden and some close-ups indicating the size of particular plants.
In my zone much planting is done on the 24 of May. Depending upon the Spring weather my vegetables are planted earlier, hoping they will thrive and survive the minor frosts of late April and May. The growth is more than reasonable for this time of year, and bug damage is minimal.

Snowball Bush

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Snowball 24 May 2009 European Snowball (Vibernum opulus)

Vibernum opulus 'Roseum' Hardy to zone 3. Also known as European Snowball Bush. The large spherical flowers open apple green and then turn white. There are two bushes on my property. It is a rather spectacular bloomer for about three weeks in late Spring. My plants don't have much fragrance, but some types are most pleasing.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SnowballR 30 May 2009 European Snowball Bush (Vibernum opulus)
The bush is at its peak for blooming. The balls are drooping due to being waterlogged from two days of heavy rain.

Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Luffa)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Loofah 23 May 2009 Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Luffa)
(aka. Luffa, Luffah, Loofa, Loofah, Sze Qwa, Cee Gwa, Sponge Gourd, Dishcloth Gourd)
Seeds were started indoors on 20 April 2009, and placed in the outdoor garden on 23 May 2009. The bed was heavily mulched to inhibit moisture evaporation. My Zone 5 is marginal for the growth of this plant, since the fruit must be ripe on the vine before sponges can be made, and this takes about 180 days. This plant is not frost tolerant.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AVITH 12 September 2009 Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Luffa)
There are about seven large fruit, but they must dry on the vine before making sponges. The growth has been poor this year due to cool weather and not enough sun. The trellis should be completely covered with vegetation in good year.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OGBJC Summary: Luffa 2009

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BleedingH 23 May 2009 Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
This is a shade plant, and likes normal moisture, and composted soil around the roots in the Spring.

Lilac

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LilacP 20 May 2009 red/purple lilac.
This pretty bush was purchased in a pot in 2004 and was about the size of one of its present branches. The colour is most attractive.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LilacW 21 May 2009 White Lilac Bush
Lilacs are late Spring bloomers and have a strong fragrance which is decidedly pleasant.

Frost Protection

Frost Protection
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FrostPr 20 May 2009 Frost Protection.
I used this material on one tomato plant and it withstood two nights of frost. Here is the method of covering that was used. A plastic cover is not adequate used alone to prevent frost damage. I suspect a flannel sheet material would also offer some protection in conjunction with the plastic cover.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FrostP One supplier of the light weight frost protection material

Honeysuckle

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Honeysuckle 20 May 2009 Honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica 'Arnold Red'
This pretty shrub flowers yearly. It was on the property when purchased.

Strawberries

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Strawberry 13 May 2009 Alpine Strawberry. Fragaria vesca "Ruegen"
Twenty four plants were received from Richters today and planted. A square foot was allowed for each plant. This type of strawberry does not produce runners and is ever bearing. The pictures depict the method of planting with comments where necessary.

Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Lambs 12 May 2009 Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina)
This plant is grown for the flowers, which are a bee magnet. These plants are perennials and survived the Winter. In some climates the plant can be invasive. Mine does get larger each year, but I find it easy to contain to its allotted space.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LambF 18 June 2009 Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina)
The flowering stalks are forming. The plants are not covered with bees, since the weather is cold.

Chinese Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Wolfberry 12 May 2009 Chinese Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum)
The three plants started from seed in 2008 survived the Winter. The wire cages are to give as bit of support for the sprawling vegetation. Also called Goji plant or fruit is called goji berries.

Trillium (Not in my garden)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Trillium 8 May 2009 Trillium
Ontario Trilliums normally bloom during May. Most Trilliums are white but can be red and everything in between. The colour is determined by the type of soil they grow in. These flowers are not rare but most Ontario residents frown on people who pick them.

A white trillium serves as the emblem and official flower of the Canadian province of Ontario.

Picking the flowers of Trillium can seriously injure the plant. The three leaves below the flower are the plant’s only food source and a picked trillium may die or take many years to recover.

Hybrid flowering quince (Chaenomeles x superba)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Qunicy 7 May 2009 Hybrid flowering quince (Chaenomeles x superba)
A hard, prolific fruit is produced, which is too sour to overcome with sugar. The red flower is attractive, particularly in early Spring. There are two bushes in the garden area.

Weed Puller

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WeedHnd 6 May 2009 Weed Puller.

This marvelous device is utilized for pulling weeds, mostly dandelions. It actually works and is effortless to use. Price $29.95. Don't leave home without it.

Polyanthus Primrose

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Primrosxe 2 May 2009 Polyanthus Primrose
A pretty Spring flower. I must get get some more for the bed.

Fern-Leaf Peony (Paeonia tenuifolia)

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FernLeaf 2 May 2009 Fern-Leaf Peony (Paeonia tenuifolia)
A very pretty plant. It is three years since planted from another's garden. The clump gets a little larger each year, and appears to be slow growing in my area.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PeonyT 11 May 2009 Fern-Leaf Peony (Paeonia tenuifolia)
The scarlet flower is in full bloom. The blooms follow the Sun, when bright the flower opens and on a dull day the flower remains closed.

Tulip Bed

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Tulips 1 May 2009 Tulip Bed.
Tulips are almost in full bloom. They take no care and appear every year. The vegetation is allowed to die off naturally, hence making strong plants in succeeding years.