Living Fences

Fun facts to know & tell:
I can't find the keys to my house. I locked it twice and discovered, both times, the only burglar I was frustrating was MYSELF.

After that annoying experience, I put the keys in a special place, so I could easily find them and then... immediately forgot where that was.

However! I am considering installing a lock and all sorts of other things.

I have new neighbors. 47 new neighbors, to be exact. And, they all live within a mile of me.

Suddenly my country cottage is dwarfed by mansions on all sides. With all these changes this place doesn't feel like 'home' anymore. Noise, traffic and lots of new faces have dramatically changed the landscape.

I need a privacy screen and I need it fast! I've landed on yellow-flowering Forsythia because they grow 1-2 feet per year and they're pretty understanding about high winds and poor soil conditions.

At a mature height of 8-10 feet, they'll create a free-flowing, country-style hedge that, with any luck, will keep my dog in and the neighbors out.

The Great Grape Escape

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Garden Lover's Paradise
Or,
The Pauper's Napa

Most people think opting for a freelance career is risky and unpredictable. It is! But, the alternative can be pretty risky, too.

After 5 years of wasting away in a dull, grey cubicle, I was convinced if I remained a corporate drone much longer, I would surely die.

Domaine Serene, Dundee Hills
Willamette Valley, Oregon

When you announce you're a freelancer, people generally say they could never do that because they'd get bored working alone from home. That's when I have to point out the bleeding obvious:

What makes you think you have to stay home?

The greatest perk to being a freelancer is the freedom to run away at the drop of a hat. When things aren't growing well at my place, I like to go to places where they are.

It snowed on my garden in Park City, Utah last week. It snowed and the freezing temperatures murdered my lonely little heirloom tomato seedling. It made me so mad that I tossed the laptop in the car and sweet talked a fellow freelancer into meeting me in a place where the grass truly is greener.

Where Calla Lilies (Calla Lilies!) grow wild.

If you've never been to Willamette Valley, Oregon, you really should book a trip. It is hands down the prettiest place you've ever seen. Filled with young up and comer wine brats who are hell-bent on proving to Napa that sustainable grape farms and orchards are the way to go.


PS: If you're like me [pretending to be in the office while you're goofing around out there,] fear not. Wireless is free and plentiful and the cell phone works, too! (Just make sure your clients don't hear any clinking wine glasses in the background when they call...)

Blue Flax

Each day, a new color graces my garden. I sneak out on quiet mornings, to enjoy the peaceful beauty of new blossoms.

Blue Flax (Linum) is a wildflower that adapts nicely to our waterwise gardens. Nurture this easy bloomer by placing spent blooms in different parts of your yard. It's an eager re-seeder, gifting you with pretty blue flowers in June.

Flax has a personality that matches my own - energetic in the cool, morning hours, happy for a siesta in the hot afternoons. (When temperatures rise, these tiny blue flowers close up, conserving energy to reopen the following day.)

I would love this plant for the flowers, alone, but it's also a medicinal miracle, proven to reduce cholesterol and aid in the fight against cancer. All flowering things can heal the soul. This happy little perennial can heal the body, too.

Long Live the Snooze Button

Dr. Phil says he likes to "sleep fast so he can wake up and do more stuff." He's always impressed me as maniacal workaholic so I'm not surprised by that.

I'm just like him ~ on Saturdays and also on Sundays. Those other days? Well... that's a whole different ball game.

It's almost a prerequisite that I begin the week by oversleeping on Monday morning. That's because the weekends are so much fun. When the alarm goes off, I just can't get my head around the fact that it's over and I'm facing several days of earning a living before Friday comes around again.

So, I not only sleep late on Mondays. I tend to disappear into my garden for an extra long lunch hour, too.

Look who I met today. A Western Swallowtail Butterfly happily dancing among the Dame's Rocket. It's plentiful in the garden this year and that means I'm harboring a criminal. Experts consider bright purple Dame's Rocket a noxious weed but I don't care. And, neither do the Swallowtails.

It's hard to tell from the photos, but this big bruiser was the size of my hand. Keep butterflies hanging around with a shallow water feature that provides a drink without the danger of drowning. The indentation in a flat rock, filled with a few drops of water is perfect.

* Dame's Rocket can be very invasive in a well-watered garden. Control it by removing spent blooms before it has a chance to go to seed.

** Getting a butterfly to sit still is no easy task. Just ask Gracie, the Shutterbug. She's a real pro at this stuff.

Fast-Growing Zinnias

I am slowly, but surely, warming up to the idea that I own a new, very ugly, grossly over-priced raised garden bed.

Which is kind of ironic when you think about it. I needed a raised bed because mountain soils warm so slowly it's the only way to grow my favorite things.

Now that I've paid for this eyesore, I've got about a dollar left over until next pay day. So, I can't afford to buy the seedlings I intended to put in it.

Plan B:
There's only one thing that could make me feel all Zen about this mess... And, that's a Zinnia garden.

I'm hard on anyone who plants annuals and that's purely because I'm jealous. My growing season is too short, the nights are too chilly, pretty little annuals aren't up for the challenge.

Perhaps this 'ugly raised bed built for the price of gold' will change all that. Maybe the better soil, the sunny spot and the soaker hoses on a timer (thank you, Omega Mom) will allow me to enjoy what everyone else takes great pleasure in: Speed Gardening.*

So, I beelined it to Home Depot this morning and purchased a whole dollar's worth of Zinnia seeds. They're one of the few annuals that can be successfully planted by seed in a high altitude garden. Wish me luck.

Everybody loves Zinnias. Meet my soul sister.

* Zinnias are fast-growing annuals. A perfect choice when introducing kids to seed planting.

Strawberry Moon

Just as the moon pulls the tides in the oceans, it also pulls the subtle bodies of water. Tests have proven that seeds will absorb the most water at the time of the full moon - and germinate faster during this time in the lunar cycle.

In case you haven't figured this out by now... Full Moons make ya nuts. If you don't believe me, look back on this volatile week. Everyone I spoke to was having a rough time of it. Even I went off and I hardly ever go off. I blame that on the Domino Effect... when everyone is raising hell about something it inspires me to do the same, darn thing.

Full Moon names date back to the Algonquin tribes of Native Americans. This one is so named because the strawberry harvest comes each year during the month of June.

So, calm down. You survived. Make yourself a Strawberry Daquiri and celebrate. While you're lovin' life, plant some seeds. Better yet, strawberries. They adapt very well to high altitude gardens.*

Live for the moment, while you can... Because if you thought this was a rough week, hang onto your hat. Full moons come around every 29 days ~ which means June has another trick up her sleeve. She's planning to hand you a blue moon on 6/30.

* Fragaria 'Ozark Beauty' is a sweet, ever-bearing strawberry that's fast, fast, fast. Yummy berries in 6 short weeks.

Strawberry Daquiri Recipe:

• 1 oz light rum
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup shmushed, fresh strawberries
• 3 oz frozen lemonade

The Egg & I

There's this new craze called the Urban Chicken Movement. I'm aware of it because I accidentally rented an apartment to one of the Beverly Hillbillies.

It's a tiny, little one-bedroom place with an equally tiny yard. Imagine my surprise when 'Jethro' showed up with a small shed, which I later learned is actually a house... for chickens. I couldn't believe it.

In the midst of this neighborhood, populated with people like me who dearly love to sleep 'til noon, he shows up with a rooster who crows at dawn and a whole bunch of funny-looking hens.

According to Jethro, this is a hugely popular movement because they lay eggs, saving you a fortune on grocery bills. My argument was: a dozen eggs costs $1.99. Which of us has lost his marbles? (Trick question.)

So, anyway, I happen to know just enough to be dangerous about the circle of life and chickens with respect to gardens, though I'm not admitting any of this to him:

• They nibble on the tips of grasses. I suppose if you raise enough of them, you'd never have to mow.
• They control garden pests, happily munching on snails, slugs, earwigs and other insects.
• Aged chicken manure is ideal for vegetable gardens.
  
• Egg shells are particularly beneficial, providing calcium to help young seedlings grow big and strong.

I'm relieved to report we've found a happy home for the hens. It might take a little longer for Jethro to adjust to his new digs.

* It's no fun having a sleep disorder and that's why the Turner Classic Movie Channel was invented. If you're one of the lucky ones and can sleep through the night, Tivo this wonderful movie, The Egg & I.

Honeysuckles

After a welcome week of warm weather, the honeys are in bloom. As kids, we'd pick the petals and taste the sweet nectar from these big, climbing vines.

Bush Honeysuckles make ideal screens and hedges, giving privacy around our homes.

Vine Honeysuckles climb trellises, porches and arbors. Most bloom all summer ~ a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.

Climbing Vine: Lonicera brownii Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle, USDA zones 4-8, is a prolific bloomer from June through October.

Flowering Shrub: Lonicera tatarica Pink Tatarian Honeysuckle, USDA zones 3-8, is a native of Southern Russia and Turkistan. After a short-lived burst of fuschia flowers sturdy branches provide a colorful windbreak for tender perennials.

Put a little happiness in your garden. Butterflies, hummingbirds and rambunctious little kids will thank you.

Tirade! Salsa! Or, the Blonde Donnellys

Pineapple Summer Salsa

• 1 cup pineapple, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup mango, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup yellow and red bell pepper, chopped
• 2/3 cup kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon serrano chili with seeds, minced
• Ground white pepper to taste

Traditional Salsa ingredients are ideal for container gardening at high altitudes.

Grow a Salsa Garden.

I hardly ever lose my temper. And, that's a problem. Because once people figure that out they get busy taking advantage of my good nature.

A bigger problem, though, is the fact that when I do lose my temper it's kinda like Mt. Vesuvias. People are running for cover, fearing for their lives. Suddenly it's apparent that I'm completely and totally 100% Irish. Mt. Vesuvius erupted today and now I'm sitting here feeling all guilty for throwing a fit.

I've had a major neighbor problem lately and I know why. It's all based on that irrational monster, prejudice, raising it's ugly head again.

You see, I rent the lower half of my house to the nicest family I've ever met. They are kind and considerate and have never ever been late on rent. I planted strawberries for the little girl and giant pumpkins for the little boy.

This great family is from Mexico. And, Mexicans are to the US what the Irish were 200 years ago. (Not welcome.) People on both sides of me are ballistic over this (very legal) family because I live in a neighborhood filled to overflowing with people who are rich and white and... well... a pain in the ass. So, there, I said it.

Now, the interesting thing about a truly impressive hissy fit is how very nice people are to you after the fact. I've been getting lots of apologies from my neighbors and that's because I finally pointed out the bleeding obvious.

I wish things didn't have to come to this. But, sometimes they do. And so, I'll go through my Catholic guilt phase for a little while. And, my neighbors will be extra cautious, kind and polite (for fear I'll go off again.) And, then life will go back to normal. At least, from their perspective. Though I, unfortunately, will always be slightly disappointed in each and every one of them.

* The Black Donnellys could very well be the best series ever produced for commercial TV. So, of course, it was cancelled.

** Salsa is the best-selling condiment in America, high in fiber, low in fat, full of flavor. It's almost as popular as Irish ale, scorned centuries ago.

*** My Irish family was refused entrance to the US. So, we emigrated to Canada and then... (Oh, My God!) we sneaked over the border. That was 7 generations ago. We caused you no harm.

Cowgirls & The Gardening Blues

What to do when garden chores are getting you down:
Step One: Invest in a snazzy new pair of boots.

Step Two: Buddy up to neighbors, bored with their horses.

What's this have to do with gardening?

There's more than one way to mow a lawn.

Fragrant Lilacs in High Altitudes

It's been a busy time for visitors. The last pair departed Thursday, the next person arrived Friday afternoon. Some house guests, like some plants, are high maintenance. Others, not so much. This one rises early without making a sound (and washes the dishes, too!)

This morning, I'm enjoying the intoxicating fragrance of lilac blossoms in full bloom. No cottage garden is complete without them.

Lilacs are misunderstood. They're long-lived and low maintenance ~ getting along fine without extra watering and fertilizer.

I used to be afraid to snip the blooms. Then I discovered that lilacs don't know when to stop caring for their own flowers. The bushes send energy and nutrients to flower stems all summer long.

Do yourself, and the bush, a favor. Picking the flowers re-energizes the lilacs. You'll get lots more flowers next spring.

If you've ever woken up to the fragrance of fresh lilacs on your nightstand, you know that a vase filled with these spectacular blooms can re-energize you, too.

Mountain Lilacs

Popular to 8,000 feet altitude

• Syringa x persica 'Persian' Lilac

Popular to 9,000 feet altitude

• Syringa x prestoniae 'Donald Wyman' Lilac
• Syringa patula 'Miss Kim' Lilac

Popular to 10,000 feet altitude

• Syringa x chinensis 'Chinese' Lilac
  
• Syringa vulgaris 'Common Purple' Lilac
  
• Syringa vulgaris alba 'Common White' Lilac
• S x prestoniae 'James MacFarlane' Lilac
• Syringa meyeri 'Korean Dwarf' Lilac
• Syringa x prestoniae 'Royalty' Lilac

Popular to 12,000 feet altitude

• Skiing and snowboarding on the 4th of July
  

* When properly selected, lilacs regularly outlive the person who plants them.

* For most flowering shrubs and trees: when in doubt, wait to prune until after you've enjoyed the flowers.

Raised Beds

When I was younger, and went home to visit the folks, my Dad always asked for the keys to my car.* Then he'd disappear for the better part of an afternoon. I honestly thought he was just bombing around town in it ~ because it was cute and sporty and far more fun than the tank he drove.

A year, or so, after he passed away that cute little car's engine caught on fire. It was then I discovered he wasn't goofing around. He was changing the oil and doing all kinds of necessary maintenance.

I'll never know why he kept that secret. Perhaps he thought this was so bleeding obvious that I'd 'know' without him telling me. Instead, I learned my lesson the hard way.

Which brings me to my plight with the handyman.

I had $100 burning a hole in my pocket so I asked him to build me a raised bed for some tomato plants. We never talked budget - how hard could it be? 3 days later my raised bed is complete. First of all, it's ugly. Second, it's 5 times more than what I thought it should cost.

The most frustrating part is that it's all my fault. Just like the exploding car. Because it never occurs to me to ask questions until it's way too late.

When people connect, things happen.
When people can't communicate, life is hard.

PS: Since I'm a glutton for punishment, I did the math. Assuming good tomato plant harvests in my over-priced bed, my return on investment will pay out in about 17 years.

This is what I was hoping to see. One upped, once again, by Wunx:



* Upper photo is not my car. I shot this years ago and keep it on my desktop because it makes me smile. It's the cutest car I've ever seen.

Drought-Tolerant Basket of Gold

Alyssum: Basket of Gold
with late-blooming Tulips

Weather-wise, it's been a particularly confusing month in the mountains. It was 90 degrees last week, 25 degrees last night. Even some of my 'tough' perennials were drooping their heads, this morning, wondering what will be thrown at them next. Alyssum seems to thrive on the abuse and for that, I'm grateful. Because yellow is such an uplifting color when the weather refuses to cooperate. Plant Alyssum Basket of Gold in a sunny, dry spot where it can crawl over rocks or cascade down the side of a raised bed. Tiny masses of yellow flowers pair perfectly with late-blooming tulips.

* Aurina saxatilis, Alyssum Basket of Gold flowers 3-4 weeks in spring.

Sprinkler Envy

Mine is not so much a 'keeping up with the Jonses' dilemma as it is trying to keep pace with every Tom, Dick and Harry who've moved into the neighborhood.

It's official.
I'm the only person in the 'hood
who hasn't installed an in-ground sprinkler system.

I'm green with envy at the freedom an automated watering system provides. While my neighbors are out riding their bikes, I'm schlepping hoses all over the yard. So, why haven't I conformed? The answer lies somewhere on that continuum between 'Can't Afford It' and 'Really Can't Afford It.'

The installation is about $3,000 - that's $3,000 more than I have. Plus my neighbor divulged the cost of his monthly water bill. Are you ready for this? It's $600 a month! (Mine peaks at about $90 in August.) Granted he's got a gorgeous yard, but think of the clothes you could buy with that monthly budget!

* I still want an automated sprinkler system but I wonder if we could set them to be less automated? Time them to sprinkle every 5 days vs. 2 and hit the manual override button when it's really and truly necessary.

High Plains Desert Watering - Fun Facts to Know & Tell

Q: What's the best time to water your lawn?
A: One hour after you watered the last time.

Sound crazy? Water sticks to water. Desert soil is hard-packed and baked by the sun. Most of the initial rainfall runs off the hard pack, much like it runs off pavement. (Hence the flash flooding that often occurs in Utah.) Once the soil becomes damp it acts like a sponge, soaking up the rain and holding it in the soil for many days.

Plants and lawns are 'trainable.' Heavy watering, less often, encourages deep root growth so paupers like me - who can't afford an irrigation system - don't have to water so often.

Pretty Persuasive Petunias

Buying a house is scary business, especially for someone like me who absolutely hates being 'the decider.' But, when I first saw the house I would ultimately buy, the yard was overflowing with hot pink and purple flowers. In my mind it was perfect in every way.

I didn't have a panic attack until the day of the closing. I kept driving around the block unable to get up the nerve to go through with it. My real estate agent was looking out the window watching my drive bys. After about 20 minutes, he marched out into the parking lot, flagged me down and said, "Grow up. This is a done deal. Now get in there and sign your life away." So, I did.

And, that's when the trouble began.

Because, after the closing, we walked through the house again and it was missing a bedroom! I was so excited about that blooming extravaganza outside that I didn't notice it was missing a crucial bit of square footage inside.

To make matters worse, those lovely flowers (at least 300 of them) were Petunias that croaked with the first hard frost.

It's this embarassing moment that inspired me to be a savvy mountain gardener. It's how I learned that perennials are not only your best defense against Mother Nature's abusive tendencies. It's also the only way to keep a big garden blooming and still afford to pay the mortgage. (Or, finance the construction project for another bedroom, as the case may be.)

* Hold your horses: May is downright hot up in here in the mountains... inspiring you to plant tender annuals, veggie seedlings and all sorts of things you shouldn't. Then Memorial Day comes. This is Mother Nature's most favorite weekend to exact revenge on all who've jumped the gun. Plant tender annuals on June 1st.

PS: You, too, can be in control of the weather! Simply plan a Memorial Day camping trip and watch how fast it snows!

* Annuals are plants that flower for a single season and then die. Perennials die back in the winter and rebloom year after year.