Mike's Backyard Garden Blog

Busy time of year!!!

2008-05-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

The garden centers are certainly busy, people having their lists out as they are getting everything needed to plant. This time of year also brings out people who may have just bought their first home and are eager to add beauty to their yards. Just be prepared to stand in line!! Venture out if you are free during the week as one doesn't feel rushed and can ask for help if needed.

When buying perennials:

1. Labels with photos, how to grow instructions, expected width and height is important.
2. Look for balanced, healthy-looking leaves (new growth means vigorous plant).
3. Short and sturdy versus tall and spindly.
4. Healthy roots, if moss and weeds cover the soil surface usually indicates plant has been in its container too long and could be pot bound (meaning the roots have grown to compact in the container for air to circulate) .

The first three suggestions also apply when you are looking to buy annuals as well. This is a general rule to help you get off on the right start.

Wow... If I was just starting to plant and walk into a nursery, just where do I start! What would I buy? Here are some basic easy care perennials:

For Sun: Daylily(Hemerocallis), Siberian Iris(Iris sibirica), Peony(Paeonia cvs), Liatris, "Goldstrum" Coneflower(Rudbeckia var. sullivantii)
For Shade: Ferns, Hostas

So start a list as you would do for grocery shopping this way you can budget and know exactly what you came for. Good luck to all!!

Can't miss the Tulip Festival...

2008-05-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

For those who are not familiar with the Tulip Festival I though I would give some information on how it all began:

The Canadian Tulip Festival has grown into the largest Tulip Festival in the world from a gift of International Friendship given six decades ago.

In the fall of 1945, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands presented Ottawa with 100,000 tulip bulbs. The gift was given in appreciation of the safe haven that members of Holland's exiled royal family received during the Second World War in Ottawa and in recognition of the role which Canadian troops played in the liberation of the Netherlands.

The first Canadian Tulip Festival was held in 1953. The Ottawa Board of Trade, at the suggestion of world-renowned photographer Malak Karsh whose photographs have immortalized the tulip, formalized the Canadian Tulip Festival to coincide with the tulip's annual bloom. In the next 10 years the Festival grew in size, with a staggering display of over two million flowers.

I spent walking around yesterday as it seemed to be a great day to view what was in bloom. There are still many that are yet to open, but I thought I would share some of my photos with you.

For more Tulip photographs go to Michael's Photography website. The address is www.mtcmediaproductions.com

I can hardly wait....worse than a kid in the candy shop

2008-04-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Seeing all the garden starting to transform one can't help but start checking out some nurseries. I always like to have some herbs and tomotoes every year so thus my mission. I have always enjoyed the yellow tomotoes as they are less acidic. Of course I have to have Sweet Millions (Cherry Tomatoes) to pop in your mouth as a snack. Tomatoes like to be planted in the same spot year after year and I have had great success in doing that.

Different soil types will behave differently so one vital tool for the serious gardener is a tester for acidity levels. You can also judge the acidity of the soil by the types of weeds that grow and their behavior.

I like to use Dolomite Lime to bring the soil pH up closer to neutral. This can be purchased from most nurseries. Dolomite Lime naturalizes the condition of the soil, neutralizes acid soils and provides available calcium and magnesium. This is good for not only tomatoes, but also for lawns and garden vegetables.

My mom used to do alot of companion planting so in turn I have always planted basil, any kind will do, as they seem to thrive off each other. Planting garlic in between the plants protects them from red spider mites as well. Companion planting is another interesting topic to cover and I would love to give more information on it in another blog entry.

If you smoke, it is a good thing to wash your hands before gardening. Tomatoes and many other plants are susceptible to diseases transmitted through tobacco (ex. Tobacco Mosaic Virus).

Well I have my tomato plants just waiting for better weather...... yes I know patience is a virtue.

Those little red devils

2008-04-26T04:14:00.000-07:00

Well spring has finally arrived here in Ottawa. Lilies and daylilies are popping up or shooting up all over the place. It's almost like they were anxious to get going after the long sleep they had this winter. We did not break the record for snow created in the winter of 1970-1971 but we came very close with the 436 cms we got this season. But thats over and spring is here finally and for Lily growers that means the dreaded Scarlet Lily Beetle. This year in my garden and a friend of mine they seem to be out in huge numbers.

What I do and recommend to other gardeners that want to grow lilies is to do daily "bug hunts" in your garden. I do at least two per day. First thing in the morning and then again after I get home from work. In the morning the weather is still cool so the Beetles are cold and slow. I seem to get more in the morning. In the afternoon when the temperature rises they are more active and quite often either drop from the plant or fly away as you approach. If they do drop off the plant they have a tendency to fall on their backs. They are black on their underside which makes it tough to see them against the darker ground. Be patient as they will turn around in a short period of time and then you will see their red shells.

While they do not eat daylilies, irises and echinacea, I quite often find them on these plants. So if you have them in your garden take a look there for them as well. They especially like to be in the deep fold of the daylily plants.

At this time of year they are mating so you will often find two or more together. This makes it harder for them to fall off the plant. But now you have to start checking for their eggs. These will appear as a single line of red spots on the underside of the lily leaf. Try to crush these and eliminate part of the problem in the future. The more eggs you find the less larvae will be around to chew on your lilies. They will go through this mating cycle a couple of times during the season so keep a close eyes on your plants. Larvae will be found under the leaves and look like a glop of black sludge. This is because they cover themselves with their own feces to protect themselves from predators. Which unfortunately in North America they do not have any natural predators as they are an introduced species.

Now how to eliminate them. Well Lily Beetle are resistant to most insecticides. I have not really heard of any true and tried insecticide that will positively work on them. Neem oil is said to have some effect on them. You could try insecticidal soaps but I have not had much success with them. Basically I just do the crushing method. It is messy and I try to be quick about it so they are killed as fast as possible. If your squeamish about crushing them then collecting them up in a ziplock bag and then stepping on the bag works as well. What ever way you find works for you then use it.

Unfortunately this is one pest you cannot ignore. The adults and larvae can strip your lily bare of leaves and flower in a very short period of time, this does not kill the bulb but will gradually weaken it until it cannot survive. This then adds to the problem for others as the population on this side of the ocean will continue to grow and spread. There are still some areas not affected by then but thats getting smaller each growing season. We all have a part to play in controlling these insects until a predator is found.

New Year ....fresh start

2008-04-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

A Happy New Gardening Year to ALL!!! I figured that the blog needed a women's twist .. lol My name is Tracey and have taken over the blog for Michael as he is busy with the photography site. I hope that you walk thru the garden site and enjoy the new additions. We have been combining gardens ... mine mostly comprise of daylilies and roses. So it is becoming one very full garden strategically placing our precious plants. Looking at the garden these past few days I think even they are ready to start growing. Ok I am off to polish my shovels ... happy growing!!!!

Warning for all!!!

Oh yes just to let everyone know we have been finding LILY BEETLES already!!!!!!! Keep a close watch in your gardens.. if you are not sure what they look like, Michael has some pictures on his Lily Pest page in the website.

Spring Time

2007-05-24T03:59:00.000-07:00

Well spring has finally come and the garden is doing fairly well. We could use a bit more rain however. Saves me watering. Couple of lilies are smaller this season but it is still early. I may have to put miracle grow on to give them a jump start. I did not get a chance to get any compost last fall or so far this spring to add to the soil. Weekends are busy lately and the car just will not take the weight like the van would.

2007-04-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well finally spring like weather is here and early flowers are blooming. Here are a few pictures to start off the season.

First Flower of 2007

2007-04-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Well winter is still not giving up its hold on Ottawa. We have been having colder than average seasonal temperatures and have even been getting snow. Its not accumulting but it is still depressing to see. However on one of my scoutings of the back yard I noticed a Snowdrop blooming. So I guess sooner or later spring will finally arrive and things will begin to grow. I will be able to post more frequent blogs once things are actually happening in the garden.

New Flower shoot on Orchid

2007-03-07T06:10:00.000-08:00

One of my new orchids is putting out its first flower spike for me. It will be interesting to see the colour. The cultivar is Slc. california flame. It was purchased from Cloud Orchids in Ontario this summer. They have a nice selection of orchids and the ones I have bought from them were in very healthy condition. Their prices were very reasonable. I will post more pictures of the flower when it blooms in a couple of weeks.
I have another one that looks like it could potentially put out a flower bud, but it is too early to tell yet.

Website

2007-03-02T04:42:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have come to my blog site via my gardening website, please feel free to send in any questions you may have concerning horticulture. I will try my best to find the information and answer your questions. Also sign my guest book, its nice to see who is looking at the site.

For those who have not visited my site there is a link to the site to the left and further down. Please visit the site and let me know what you think of it. Any suggestions for new topics to be covered are welcome. I plan to add information on Roses and Water Gardening in the near future.

Come on Spring time

2007-03-02T04:17:00.000-08:00

Even though it looks like winter has decided to return after the last three days of absolutely gorgeous weather, spring is really not that far away. Even the plants in my basement are starting to feel the change in the seasons. SOme of my stored Canna Lily tubers are already sprouting and are about two feet high. This could post a problem when I move them outside. The tissue is not strong enough for outside light levels. Also I had a pot of Tom Piuce Oriental Lilies that I did not get a chance to plant last fall. Well one of the bulbs is coming up. Maybe the other two will join it and I can have an early show of Lilies in my house. This is a picture of the first Tom Pouce shoot. I have it under my Florescent lights so it will grow straight.

March is coming in like a lion here so it should go out like a lamb. Hopefully we will have a nice long spring and not get to hot to fast so we can enjoy the spring flowers and tulips in our Tulip Festival.

New Additions to website

2007-02-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

Today I added two new features onto my gardening website. These are Photograph of the week and Tip of the week. The new digital camera is making it easier to add features like Photograph of the Week. Ita a little early for our flowers to be out but some of my orchids are in bloom so I will be using these for now. Hopefully im March the Algonquin College Spring floral show will be on again and I will take some pictures there to add to the site until my own flowers come out.
Take a look - website address is www.mikesbackyardgarden.org

Daylily Seedlings

2007-02-09T22:37:00.000-08:00

One has to love the magic of digital photography. No more waiting for pictures to be developed. The latest photo I took was of my daylily seedling that I have growing in the basement under florescent grow lights. These are from my crosses during the summer of 2006. They are in their second growth session of the year. I find that they go through a couple of these sessions where they grow then turn brown and after a while start to grow again. It should take another two summers to get to blooming size. Some of the faster growing ones may bloom in the second year, but most will take until the third summer to bloom. More than likely by that time I will have more seedlings crossed.

Blooming Orchid

2007-02-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Today one of my Phalaeonopsis orchids finally opened it first bloom . I bought the plant a couple of years ago and has not bloomed until this year. This is also one of the first shots taken with the new digital camera. Nice true to colour shot taken with the flash right next to an outside window. I don't see any spill over from the outside light.

Digital Camera

2007-02-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Another step into the new electronic generation today with the purchase of a new Digital SLR camera. I purchased the Pentax K100 2 lens kit. It comes with one 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens and also a 50-200mm F4.5-5.6 lens. I have not tried these yet but I am excited to get going taking pictures with them.

I will be familiarizing myself with the camera over the next couple of days and will post some pics.

WoooHooo First Blog

2007-02-05T10:53:00.000-08:00

Well I guess it had to happen sooner or later, I finally got my own blog. ...........Uhmmmm, Now what? I guess I better think of something to write in here. Hmmmm, let see.........Oh I know!! Let me introduce my gardening site. The Address is www.mikesbackyardgarden.org. This website is about my garden....hence the name. In it you will find many picture galleries of the Lily and Daylily Cultivars I grow as well as some of my own hybrid lilies I started in 2003. I have also written a huge pile of information on Lilies and Daylilies, how to grow them, and especially how to multiply them.

Come and visit my site and let me know what you think. I have a guest book if you want to leave comments or suggestions for other information you would like to see on the site.

There that was not so bad, they say the first is always the hardest to do.