tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51283563189455265272024-03-13T12:19:29.732-04:00Gardening in Syracusegrowing food - growing flowers - growing communityPaul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-12056382741417316312010-09-03T14:35:00.001-04:002010-09-03T14:36:50.636-04:00'Tis the season for...fried green tomatoes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-z_XFLrEg95iNc_PS_DeGcB0YCkwDS-Q63FVTwWy4_TWU7b5DXOWh0DaFmIakg2nwIXign7mvw9H231ht1cbhEADKo69BvkjnRdygaRkdZeucglXbpJBb90cNHrZeANf86_LotIXqJBT/s1600/IMG_5662.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-z_XFLrEg95iNc_PS_DeGcB0YCkwDS-Q63FVTwWy4_TWU7b5DXOWh0DaFmIakg2nwIXign7mvw9H231ht1cbhEADKo69BvkjnRdygaRkdZeucglXbpJBb90cNHrZeANf86_LotIXqJBT/s400/IMG_5662.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512758020648619618" /></a>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-47839273160722532422010-08-29T18:19:00.020-04:002010-08-29T19:27:34.704-04:00A few summer memories<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xwZVo4LkR7PI65wAGDeASU3Vwuwpdc8Q9DNLZbFGV1IBEskjjnEt6wQnZ4AUl-upuNInCrYJne-SYmkhyphenhyphenTTYN4o1N_yuCP2lSIH3iaxZah0mZCWb1ehWSyIpOFitMuV1Cr_zSqDYws9a/s1600/Noah's+Photos+025.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xwZVo4LkR7PI65wAGDeASU3Vwuwpdc8Q9DNLZbFGV1IBEskjjnEt6wQnZ4AUl-upuNInCrYJne-SYmkhyphenhyphenTTYN4o1N_yuCP2lSIH3iaxZah0mZCWb1ehWSyIpOFitMuV1Cr_zSqDYws9a/s400/Noah's+Photos+025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510976461323914786" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xwZVo4LkR7PI65wAGDeASU3Vwuwpdc8Q9DNLZbFGV1IBEskjjnEt6wQnZ4AUl-upuNInCrYJne-SYmkhyphenhyphenTTYN4o1N_yuCP2lSIH3iaxZah0mZCWb1ehWSyIpOFitMuV1Cr_zSqDYws9a/s1600/Noah's+Photos+025.JPG"></a>Peony<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7hWgTilW1BrNzOG01uzqotkbL65VUrfnxbBrREPvyfCuVlr2IWR5dXZ6QynnSvG-fljAkJiQV364zJoQYDEAK1Pg7JQL2dKhatLWV7y-hlEHmuIu7Pmf0nBy2FAAxzDVc7VqfOhYaSeg/s1600/IMG_5643.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7hWgTilW1BrNzOG01uzqotkbL65VUrfnxbBrREPvyfCuVlr2IWR5dXZ6QynnSvG-fljAkJiQV364zJoQYDEAK1Pg7JQL2dKhatLWV7y-hlEHmuIu7Pmf0nBy2FAAxzDVc7VqfOhYaSeg/s400/IMG_5643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510962287211181250" /></a><br /><div>Rosa 'Tropicana'</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUtmfrBXqb02MmzqELV2ilORDO2tYjwAc6vup_pjkuPQC2uioNQW-UcmSLGx3X8QxPMdTlbvRwUAJj6JYMyAIGGvMFnggP3Vz13FoJIkRW5vWsxhskmz21uZPLZ81WpUujoBfxQIEzNtv/s400/IMG_5624.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510966800684053410" /></div><div>Forgot the name of this one</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOwgJQ_uIyxA_-VZFIhyxpYyhPEv8ivyxp9B8fPshTaOw2TeY5GXfQeQUYfW0sJKePiaeN8hHSYWVyYeC0WLtAtPR-hgs3FBSKd0bSipUWFSGFjMZjJpxPCYf8Asi_5ZTQ48BBrMKux52/s400/IMG_5621.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510967548150017810" /></div><div>Hibiscus moscheutos</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSsBwmTaeigNGdpyDaUoxliV0xcFkD4VYvUloSrt2YcSsp01_J9SE1h34kdLDkXUyTFHPA0EbeYH1ERaDbZL5lm0zkxSg4mtlWg-h1S3BvYlb88IwjrlVIV0VJUGzR_dVdBHciuFTASeH/s400/IMG_5584.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510972087753758338" /></div><div>Part of the garlic harvest</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPQ_dWKfnGyBdctJ4fa1iV2K_jntacLumIneDeLAct0gmLNXq7aCK9O4gO8Aly_RdiwEsDobUroDJwXwGPAjU2axWEBqQ4PBFeFYL7aGRl3iMZUe93cKj1r4mvD-msqxS6Hqz0vJcfalC/s400/IMG_5625.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510968208020447810" /></div><div>Dahlia 'Chat noir'</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFZaCK3AcFtXUIMr-rQUvBBlNvhCn_hO5t4sjcR4zSK-BkHaAXI4uTAHbG-1CL3O52wCAwlxywiDXep52A6wTiUEtZ0fB8spXaapMrfMGSyj_nERY9j6Um9ZgO-DhztgE4PPHA2LZ6Pje/s400/IMG_5589.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510969410252022194" /></div><div>Stargazer Lily</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYgmIy9JAd3Yy0saFk6kkKn5hf3psIlmdmRbnypRODxCQTV0axlMggCs6xJecs8TTpsdNWVOzDZezVIYB60R7SwaTzbrWjzoaOsIOtyP0EzfDhWntVqKCKJaLF99iq7jJ6C2f5e1luB-u/s400/IMG_5525.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510971615149520786" /></div><div>Amaryllis</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HyQ4UvZy6VNdomLFzi06yXNBKzmV_Dt0sFEjS6NmfKyvY0NVpENYM52BrRqeKhlwHhvCN4VZ7j3y9LZ9GvY30DmSE7LeR4_q4N0wHBMFPPaKndndn8qa1RHgeOB5mP7BW4Tqi7IMy9w3/s400/IMG_5591.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510975504429229282" /></div><div>Lilium 'Cancun'</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisA3sUmfk4Fcu9RyqN6c1ugcoDSTY5YhR2M3Zfhj6ZTmk18pHcFK_1tO9QknsqeAJbWhvOw6OG4xA26G5aHG_jjwYEWfwh9OkmLE3R_fOEWJRCLBJh3eAU7_33DQ5dNevcGXaooKLRAGZJ/s400/IMG_5587.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510974049565539410" /></div><div>A dew-covered plumbago</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW28UrbubosZyNDCwelBMNt2IwHOKfuz16PNLhvgGosGLO6oFJvB8FC5dBX_VBZTzO1JytmwxWeM-kKyrHPvhw1Y4MMGNYXX8sWvBX2xgpmR1qclBxdpLo4Jgit2mpuSCzQo88TJA0Xjoy/s400/IMG_5536.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510974972855668706" /></div><div>Dahlia 'Tommy Keith'</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQY3GwGPeRciQUgXlKz483HkVPCVzHtRyQw42Y3OgJDhoPPpSKzpCyWQGqJh_jBWGgUW2nf8lWv0PqM0-LnwXGyc8oNJ_Fy6hQn3FWKjTH_53n1sj3pJX-5y-7btHgwyVKMlP5bK-g4uuo/s400/IMG_5619.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510968874717135362" /></div><div>A garden friend</div><div><br /></div></div></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-57893971889546440482010-06-06T22:48:00.006-04:002010-06-06T23:19:52.898-04:00Some garden arthropods<div>Lately we've been finding some interesting creatures of the vertebra-less variety in various parts of the garden:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEZ2vUmVOdF03Ag7flpk6xFvmJ4OPlHFlIrJb4qUsTwPZVSuSJooksBGenFlXOej39W-NJxbzAVS_gLzW0aS7EVzTy3HmD2TvcQfntD0t5CSBx2mD6oukuppURIcSz-VRABOaMwt8BieR/s1600/IMG_5405.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEZ2vUmVOdF03Ag7flpk6xFvmJ4OPlHFlIrJb4qUsTwPZVSuSJooksBGenFlXOej39W-NJxbzAVS_gLzW0aS7EVzTy3HmD2TvcQfntD0t5CSBx2mD6oukuppURIcSz-VRABOaMwt8BieR/s400/IMG_5405.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479859921986720402" /></a><br /><div>Some type of flat millipede I found walking across the lawn</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCzP7Y_e5kaJC8y5xnxVx8bEc6k7ZzZHDMbFvb277MN4ka3WNzbzQkMqBtbiZqfYq6F4PUC2u0LM4WvUiGDDmdd9iX-GPn-1Q_fpPQeeh1cwJq6OGdKE6JShmnK8YGVyhoEKhq3KKn_fY/s400/IMG_5416.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479863248749059890" /></div><div>A rare black purse-weaver (<i>Sphodros niger</i>)</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzxBbqWv5xKbPmjENpv24hB3ALM6RVpqvccNQCJ3y542FCjuj8FqiyEUhfYRcxI4ZTBIq-vqWehur1AlcXAiwg5kOlp6ASlv9y8pbIS_eNuxobZEXelD6iUCGZEOhxEwSgZ4-M7JYw6n9/s400/IMG_5428.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479863659085057026" /></div><div>I've had difficulty identifying this very large beetle. My best guesses are that it's some sort of long horn or blister beetle. If you know what it is, let me know!</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-22886218424663250702010-05-27T15:52:00.008-04:002010-05-27T16:11:40.054-04:00Spruce Pesto: The ResultsFinally a follow-up on my plans for the spruce tips: I chucked them in a food processor with some olive oil, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, pepper, and garlic.<div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhf5Y0f18U_sdrRAwOvJp6RXXWHuQZckHLMAKEXbvnIHeCFLbBEf_IeevL7OV9eDfv6Hs7C9eY3-s_0oKFQbNYd_9YyroYW9Ddj-Si5kfzb0J-Gp2rj_qEZCEBMy63emCYUOrmQN1wIGe/s400/pics+May+28+2010+042.JPG" /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the result:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kQu8khhOAtQ6vPpuU5TkEvBCyZOL0b15vbrrVBzwrCkuukKA-Ex2dW-kL29_s6WlKWzLUk8_ahcGG6YZzISOhiN5Zo1zHnswnPf2Qptu4WH3lTokX-EFjsTocLqYNXYgHTqxqHuAFZMV/s400/pics+May+28+2010+043.JPG" /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's actually quite good, and quite local. Need some pesto in a pinch? There are plenty of Norway spruces in Syracuse. Just remember to collect when the new growth is bright green and tender.</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-60693614999741453952010-05-04T19:01:00.003-04:002010-05-04T19:08:21.723-04:00Spruce Tips<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoi7-OhWm0_9PB3aF4-BQ59AeQ1Hpp2oM1yusT7r36PxhdKIPr4NVReoGmcWBRmBswVlJ5CZNLkXJbwAQ6tnsrUPd2aCeuTNtU9hwbDTXuoc6wtNgngR34yQUHIKXYqjnGhpM_8k3Iwe7/s1600/IMG_5308.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoi7-OhWm0_9PB3aF4-BQ59AeQ1Hpp2oM1yusT7r36PxhdKIPr4NVReoGmcWBRmBswVlJ5CZNLkXJbwAQ6tnsrUPd2aCeuTNtU9hwbDTXuoc6wtNgngR34yQUHIKXYqjnGhpM_8k3Iwe7/s400/IMG_5308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467554028138396002" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>It's the time of year to collect young, tender spruce tips. Actually, this is the first time I've tried this. You can eat them fresh (they have a somewhat strong lemony, piney taste) or make jelly out of them. Some people also brew spruce-flavored beer. I think I may try to make an experimental pesto sauce out of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, the photo above is showing Norway spruce tips I collected from a tree in my backyard. My understanding is that just about any spruce tip is edible, and that white spruce may be the tastiest, but research anything collected outdoors first before eating it.</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-11494731265767712912010-02-10T10:45:00.007-05:002010-02-10T11:29:07.612-05:00Tonight: Public Forum on HydrofrackingI don't usually like to get political, that's not what this blog is about, but for this issue I am making an exception. <div><br /></div><div>Central New York is known for its abundant sources of clean water, and this very important life-sustaining resource is in danger in Syracuse. The hydrofracking technique of natural gas extraction may very well be legalized in NYS, and if it is it will likely be implemented in Onondaga County and Cortland County within the Skaneateles Lake watershed. Why is that significant? Well, that is where Syracuse water comes from, unfiltered. If our water supply is polluted by any of the 100+ chemicals used in hydrofracking, it is <i>permanent. </i>Unpolluted water is not only necessary for gardening (in the least), but for human life itself, and it is nightmarish to think about what would happen to Syracuse if its water supply was tainted. I picture something like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal">Love Canal</a> times 100.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight there will be a citizen's community forum on hydrofracking. The forum will take place at 7pm at Nottingham High School (3100 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY). Guests include:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lee Macbeth, Syracuse Watershed Control Coordinator</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ken Lynch, Region 7 DEC Director</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dave Valesky, State Senator</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Daniel Young, Regional Representative for Governor Paterson</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mark Dunau, Northeast Organic Farmers Association and Delaware County Farm Bureau</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Local landowners who have signed leases</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Please attend and let your concerns be heard. If you view Syracuse and Central New York as your home, as I and so many others do, then this is an excellent opportunity to protect your home. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-50860102012146173372010-02-08T13:18:00.008-05:002010-02-08T13:32:08.035-05:00Damn deer!<span><span></span></span>I just glanced out the window and my 'Kuro Delight' camellia has been <span style="font-style:italic;">totally</span> defoliated by deer. I'm so bummed. I definitely did my research before buying these camellias, and they are <i>supposed </i>to be deer resistant. I guess "resistant" is the key word; hungry deer will apparently eat anything when the winter is winding down and food is scarce. They had two fat buds that I was really looking forward to seeing bloom. Sigh.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, here's something more uplifting: a sign of spring! The following photo was taken in the back garden on January 25 during that little warm spell when spring seemed right around the corner (it certainly doesn't now). Snowdrops never disappoint:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMeuiniZx4Bkgte3kFuxBbl1a-aIQdjVZILYg0_9ToE3gR3kUAZ4aTSpr_JGgsVCsrpLwHKbUTJyLiTGc9yYQ-_vmc5yC1pK6M0zoXlJ4ofdQh5MqTnwdKXIsE0kcqxTTJkzyMRpId73B/s1600-h/IMG_5120.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMeuiniZx4Bkgte3kFuxBbl1a-aIQdjVZILYg0_9ToE3gR3kUAZ4aTSpr_JGgsVCsrpLwHKbUTJyLiTGc9yYQ-_vmc5yC1pK6M0zoXlJ4ofdQh5MqTnwdKXIsE0kcqxTTJkzyMRpId73B/s400/IMG_5120.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435940758188681506" /></a>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-49151952619653067722010-01-17T12:03:00.005-05:002010-01-17T18:08:11.446-05:00January robin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pT2dNP_gcrTQc8VoAYN4oyKtj7jh0ha5ofrgeL9dZJiJ3wXP5XTRDMApV566nSHFYgPfPcKrATF3_wh7R5jqkF3R7utZSN2usIIJabeNEkpzAOAWhqKEyfCG3mZRKDXMV0FlML6S5Y1p/s1600-h/IMG_5107.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pT2dNP_gcrTQc8VoAYN4oyKtj7jh0ha5ofrgeL9dZJiJ3wXP5XTRDMApV566nSHFYgPfPcKrATF3_wh7R5jqkF3R7utZSN2usIIJabeNEkpzAOAWhqKEyfCG3mZRKDXMV0FlML6S5Y1p/s400/IMG_5107.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427756489199193522" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pT2dNP_gcrTQc8VoAYN4oyKtj7jh0ha5ofrgeL9dZJiJ3wXP5XTRDMApV566nSHFYgPfPcKrATF3_wh7R5jqkF3R7utZSN2usIIJabeNEkpzAOAWhqKEyfCG3mZRKDXMV0FlML6S5Y1p/s1600-h/IMG_5107.jpg"></a><br />I actually heard a robin yesterday. Not singing, just calling. That might be the earliest I've ever heard one around here (robin not pictured).</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-30576023589222906742010-01-15T15:02:00.004-05:002010-01-15T15:13:36.510-05:00Garden Blogger's Bloom Day: January 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mRhyphenhyphenmz6hD5_-kvZIHikjU3tNPqBP0xeJbTNEAlgueA1OdeIag_tkSY4GBFj_vW4UDCmLey5orxw5fjdUCPcjZgwvhCC_J-7ToLEW1LPwFqXEdDvM7HRdARQmtxHSD-rVQ3EJiLo7a9By/s1600-h/IMG_5099.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mRhyphenhyphenmz6hD5_-kvZIHikjU3tNPqBP0xeJbTNEAlgueA1OdeIag_tkSY4GBFj_vW4UDCmLey5orxw5fjdUCPcjZgwvhCC_J-7ToLEW1LPwFqXEdDvM7HRdARQmtxHSD-rVQ3EJiLo7a9By/s400/IMG_5099.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427059524267842146" /></a><br /><div>All I can muster this month is a sad-looking kalanchoe. If I</div><div>had planned right I might have some miniature roses or something</div><div>else, oh well.</div><div><br /></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-29334386660332801922010-01-15T10:30:00.011-05:002010-01-17T12:10:18.358-05:00A melty day in JanuaryI dread turning into one of those bloggers that disappears for months on end and then reappears with gusto, and then does the same thing all over again in an awful cycle of forget/over-compensate/forget. So I apologize for basically missing most of the fall blogging season (along with many garden blogger's bloom days) and I will certainly try to stay on top of updates, however minor they may be. Fall 2009 was a difficult season as several personal issues prevented me from really putting time and effort into blogging, one of which was a death in the family.<br /><div><br /></div><div>As I write I'm gazing out the back window at what I like to call a "melty" day; the snow is slushy, icicles are dripping, and little patches of dormant garden are peering out here and there. A "warm" day in Syracuse; about 37 degrees. January is an interesting month because it is almost always when a particular hardiness zone sees its winter low temperature, and being a gardener who likes to push the envelope when it comes to hardiness I usually spend January checking temps everyday and thinking about some of the "experiments" I have going on out back. Some of this winter's experiments include:</div><div><br /></div><div>- an attempt at overwintering (yes, outside) a musa basjoo ("hardy" Japanese fiber banana)</div><div>- three Ackerman hybrid camellias, which are supposed to be hardy to a cold zone 6</div><div>- a hardy heirloom gladiola called 'Carolina Primrose', also hardy to zone 6</div><div>- on the edible front, overwintering some brassicas such as mammoth redrock cabbage, Jersey Wakefield cabbage, and of course kale in a coldframe</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's basically what I did to protect the banana:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb89QtbWNUdMLTuU_Xu2xBvya6mSuBfDFr7LA7IFzd5PlmmuzxsxHGgzygrAbuXfi43hEtS5M226LHDFuPNUzBoWOnZI2QLky72MEX_nQlFWyANcArUbscOZinQ9VfwzAiq40nM2korKm/s400/IMG_4878.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427006767868398514" /></div><div><br /></div><div>After cutting it down to about a foot, I built</div><div>a chicken wire cage around the pseudostem.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kwaQa6niIXdXnRufgYIrCOkMA2wNU53pEZ_o7pWw11rMs4MopQ_xfrvpcC13CtQkKnw_CiJqoBGrldDOH3hx-P3ojgue9ZcJ7-tWPKhBM6yQe8sAZZUSFi0YW3hWuqwERVDI4A2k920S/s400/IMG_4881.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427007260333358866" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I filled the cage with pine straw that I collected from a</div><div>local park. There's also some dried Siberian iris leaves thrown</div><div>in for good measure. You could also use dead leaves, but pine</div><div>straw is generally better since it's less prone to fungal growth.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RQ16RAWq-RSObSmYjZHFR3ur1wZYO_dThv8Q3H0Y_lxN0eYSh8ZUYv6UmdvhPaNh5xekkzt7V7of6dEu2cPjbB4K_CygjavTMfu99wWSw1G6FgHe-TuTKCou_nW9bH8UuIGhDqR_KsF8/s400/IMG_4884.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427008359723382754" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The finished product. This will *hopefully* protect the </div><div>banana enough to allow for its survival. In the spring, it</div><div>should grow back from the ground, or possibly the </div><div>remaining pseudostem if I'm lucky.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWUEi-gbyt4LsD6WS8OhyFNMugqyyf8OWgh6O8OxXECyR2iJ7Oe9erKt4jbkFee9mfSxvZg4iiuFvM6sXO6S3pjqHUlTECeCvNZqoHyQ9XOdGbzn38f4X8_qAtp1Cif_aVxN48aJ-kzUL/s400/IMG_4880.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427009704621367330" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's one of the Ackerman camellias, 'Kuro Delight'. There</div><div>are two fat buds waiting for spring..I really hope this plant survives</div><div>the winter!</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEQ0W43tTAaydz3kBSf20qkWe7GPOstG249m_UVCGZHEyO8GQVQc-WBv7s69bUzye2pvDDYpz97L6VR4uNKvdeHPMj1SZydCgbFu4yizjMevaxFPboRp1zkGmcwELIg_KzX2y4d9_Ti-g/s400/IMG_4861.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427010179561989058" /></div><div><br /></div><div>A bloom from this past November from another Ackerman</div><div>camellia, 'Ashton's Pride'. Right now this plant does not look</div><div>so good as the deer have been continuously browsing it, so</div><div>I'm a little worried.</div><div><br /></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-52157288287352460492009-10-29T18:09:00.002-04:002009-10-29T18:44:00.460-04:00Rose hips<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLMsr8PJ94H_eQol7dQnEOvKcIcPxXZ_lPzISh7pAY_2uT5mPCWo0VywxCz2FLP8xtxEbAWfhZsNc-6GxKODRH7hlaEZe8z8Cc09jX9tZT-bhsx933JcADgHVQLq7SsVCJp2tIkSuyYdv/s1600-h/Oct_29_2009+034.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLMsr8PJ94H_eQol7dQnEOvKcIcPxXZ_lPzISh7pAY_2uT5mPCWo0VywxCz2FLP8xtxEbAWfhZsNc-6GxKODRH7hlaEZe8z8Cc09jX9tZT-bhsx933JcADgHVQLq7SsVCJp2tIkSuyYdv/s400/Oct_29_2009+034.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398156363304475570" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>These make the <i>best </i>jelly.</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-43391574095602323232009-10-16T13:04:00.001-04:002009-10-16T13:23:49.485-04:00First frost of the seasonThe past two nights were frosty ones, and it even flurried last night. By late morning there was no trace of the light snow, but some of the tender plants bore signs of the temperature dip. Basil, coleus, eggplants, dahlias, and cannas were all burnt, but curiously most of the tenders in the backyard were fine while the front garden was the most affected. It must have something to do with the cold front usually approaching from the northwest (where a lot of the burnt plants are located). Next week we may be back in the 60s, so I'm hoping to get some closeout gardening done then!Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-16161685772404845982009-09-06T20:15:00.008-04:002009-09-06T23:02:39.251-04:00Adventures in Canning 2009Canned some pickles from our garden produce for the very first time. This:<div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIfvoi3yaG5I3xV8rFwLN-t2tOJfQWT6bOXXlj8y-OgVcg652KTwAtlX3pkjtfWKL1y5Helio_Mmd_USPXtY5TTTK4KPvCETUxPWex3JQjXBvIT3zpJuLHkjH-ndS0Dg0qkHs__BSkHCu/s400/IMG_4716.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378512829005402402" /></div><div><br /></div><div>became this:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJBknpzmU6CiNQhVyWHhm1vNn7om0gAaZmjerPA-FwejgMNara2l5x8tc1RYlBVzJva2CVHciLPbD7yp6iPBwYgTw3rvdSG38jLRK_pvP1IU-xwEHtdVnYOhF0wegx0HxbTlwrCcEkjKO/s400/canned_pickles.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378512998764071362" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Had a lot of green tomatoes that were probably going to shrivel before ripening. Pickling seemed to be a great use for these guys. Oh, and I have to admit that the cucumbers are not from the garden, they're from a local farm. Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, carrots, garlic, and onions are all homegrown however!</div><div><br /></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-59591550445449363242009-08-06T14:53:00.003-04:002009-08-06T14:54:37.181-04:00Comments are finally fixed!Yes, they are. Sorry about taking forever to fix it.Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-57058206063335382992009-08-05T22:32:00.007-04:002009-08-05T22:46:23.960-04:00Late Blight Alert<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Late blight has apparently reached central New York State. Kathy of </span></span><a href="http://www.coldclimategardening.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Cold Climate Gardening</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> has reported infected potatoes, and some neighbors of mine here in Syracuse (a few blocks from me) have also had tomatoes dying from the disease. We've been spared thus far *knocks on wood* at my house, but I am exceedingly worried (this thing spreads through the wind!).</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">Look for splotches on leaves, dying plants, and mushy tubers. Remember, don't compost these plants! Good luck to all of your solanaceae.</span></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-30069459721246139502009-08-02T22:58:00.004-04:002009-08-05T14:17:28.704-04:00Rose 'Glowing Peace'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0hDZ6tWaOkU9lNWFJaEnGGE3D1aC-tRzoWvI_ub0bX2EzcM15mHR9Z5FwJr6m1h4EkyFR8xBF7DsjCO5kaU-ACV_PyZh1SWzyK6HSB-J0_WMXDaOhXlBEAOeQPHzqxfgjPxWqpwpJKFR/s1600-h/P1010022.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0hDZ6tWaOkU9lNWFJaEnGGE3D1aC-tRzoWvI_ub0bX2EzcM15mHR9Z5FwJr6m1h4EkyFR8xBF7DsjCO5kaU-ACV_PyZh1SWzyK6HSB-J0_WMXDaOhXlBEAOeQPHzqxfgjPxWqpwpJKFR/s400/P1010022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365566763237096482" /></a><div>This was transplanted about two months ago, but despite</div><div>that it's still blooming!</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-58772906171966110522009-07-29T21:46:00.003-04:002009-07-29T21:49:40.915-04:00Garlic Harvest 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_SbW6JbAHEdP0j_DYaheXvT5WImVq-mltEontFcMQ3cef_p91uYPlQraa2__aWRqAg9-IuWeNV9AUv_W5Yne5U0J3JaCxbqZMPT9pPuLlrHIzRcCaDsM50-V2roNEyIjhgM9Ml4MC2C9/s1600-h/IMG_4489.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_SbW6JbAHEdP0j_DYaheXvT5WImVq-mltEontFcMQ3cef_p91uYPlQraa2__aWRqAg9-IuWeNV9AUv_W5Yne5U0J3JaCxbqZMPT9pPuLlrHIzRcCaDsM50-V2roNEyIjhgM9Ml4MC2C9/s400/IMG_4489.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364063917369214690" /></a><br /><div>Fresh from the garden this morning. Much of this will</div><div>go to pickling and canning!</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-9297476616946740892009-07-25T18:45:00.008-04:002009-07-25T19:00:28.019-04:00In Search of the Tropicalesque<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">One of my projects this year is to install a "tropicalesque" garden.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">What exactly this means is somewhat open for interpretation, but I generally think of it as a garden that intends to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">look </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">tropical with plants that may or may not necessarily </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">be</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> tropical.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Cooler-climate gardeners often attempt this as a sort of challenge, and this season I am one of them.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">What exactly is a “tropical look”?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This, again, is open for interpretation, as tropical climates range from rainforest to grassland to desert.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There are certain plants that are strongly associated with the tropics, and can be found throughout the zone.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">These include palms, bananas, and ficus.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Often it is large leaves, spiky leaves, or palmate leaves that characterize a lot of these plants, and generate what is considered a “tropical look”.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Some are even hardy in zone 6 Syracuse, believe it or not.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There are also many other plants that are not necessarily tropical (and quite hardy in Syracuse), but are able to connote a tropical “look”.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Many of these are native, such as yucca, pawpaw, catalpa, sumac, and various lilies.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Large ferns, such as ostrich, contribute as well.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The creative use of broad-leaf evergreens can really contribute to a tropicalesque garden.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, hollies, and camellias can be used for their glossy, evergreen foliage.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, camellias!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I have a few here in my Syracuse garden.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There is a family of camellia cultivars called the ‘Ackerman hybrids’ which can withstand colder winter temperatures as low as zone 6, possibly even zone 5.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Of course, there are plenty of traditional tender perennials that can be thrown into the mix.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These include cannas, dahlias, gladiolas, and calla lilies.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These make good fillers for the little spaces left in the garden.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They are usually not hardy here, but a select few might be able to make it through the winter with some mulching.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The crown jewel of my experiment is definitely the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Musa basjoo, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">or 'Japanese fiber banana'. This plant is the cold-hardiest banana in the world, possibly being able to handle temps down to -30 F. This is accomplished with heavy winter mulching of course, but even without mulching this banana may be able to survive zone 6. This upcoming winter will be my first experiment with leaving the banana outdoors. I got it last May, and grew it in a pot indoors throughout last winter, but now it is sizable enough to be outside.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Georgia';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5mxuSrJSCG4opjf_s1T74VKnyLA8IKhKfabNHPyU8USd6SeeCsg6EM24PHE9Mi4gtH23jpesSkSYvltzMK7Yn8ctZwZOg245riuD_ldEMpS2P0Qi4h5DSJENFd0hzaQf3GGlhhUq50N4/s320/P1010006.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362533949277207490" /></span></span></div><div>The 'Tropicalesque' garden. <i>Musa basjoo </i>center-</div><div>left.</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-31735119998675810562009-06-14T19:14:00.004-04:002009-06-14T19:25:09.426-04:00Thornden Park Association Garden TourNext Sunday, June 21st, the Thornden Park Association will be hosting its 17th annual garden tour of the Syracuse University neighborhood area. Select private gardens will be featured and open to the public from 1pm - 4pm. Admission is $10 (proceeds go to the association's efforts to upkeep Thornden Park), which is payable at the field house located at Thornden Park. Read more about the tour <a href="http://www.thorndenpark.org/Home/tabid/283/ModuleID/893/ItemID/2/mctl/EventDetails/Default.aspx">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>I highly recommend the tour, as you get to meet the gardeners themselves. This allows for the opportunity to ask questions or discuss anything that might peak your interest about their garden. As a matter of fact our garden was featured last year (not this year however, maybe next!). The variety of gardens on the tour is also quite amazing; large and small, sunny and shaded, open and wooded. You'll probably also see a new plant that you'll want to try at home. It's definitely worth it!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-77765000076914195602009-06-14T11:15:00.008-04:002009-08-05T14:17:57.110-04:00The End of Iris SeasonWhen the iris are in bloom I feel like I'm in a candy store. Not only because of the colors and shapes, but more importantly the scent! I'm waiting for the day when iris-flavored candy will be invented, which is probably doubtful since they're quite toxic. I'll just have to settle for the few weeks of scent in May and June (and gin, which is partly flavored with iris root). Anyway, here is some of the "candy" of the garden:<div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYjGOLGj4GDCUTe0k-HeGqarWyo4xGXBWeQd8UaSdAd7qmcqn3ZxYakWvPuI3BYBgRbwv-YC3KH9UiwPod2j_HfHNcXrBhKWhAz6CP3IpamTBOtzOGOiQitCb0xAOdmePp3U-ImKVNFWf/s320/IMG_4251.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347204291598468562" /></div><div>'Supreme Sultan' (bought this at the farmer's market!)</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FFQKqh0qbuT93saZWZBMieGIgJdxhc1NLBUMLK3A0VlYEjtB1NI4Ecw0ebVstJCOJ1it_Q9oH6O8Yo2AhEJvALK7AsmS4KbS4s0LIqNN4zPmoflP8R48XKF1MMzY6-mG-a6Y626yDb0-/s320/IMG_4222.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347207510055491762" /></div><div>possibly 'Flavescens', a cultivar dating back</div><div>to 1813</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir9V4SlX2qWnAxJAZixYR0F-2seQ_jHJU-Ke7AQ4RT-O_5XwzUlQ5rTaE_smZ179uDGyUIm4vrF_K9wAKvZmx7gJBPhxxOykzTz9KSfax8AktTA_M48l5m_YVWPGxQmDWcV7GXjYSXRqZ/s320/IMG_4194.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347208925843396898" /></div><div>possibly 'Honorabile', from 1840</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TsVzDH7EJh1uAdJXNRx9JHoaMQgfzlLPlsObYR5pEhsy2bWB56gAw_WXBoKLHYCMR58kSX1SmT_-hDBBeW8jMD9ar_MqnqA4Hu8f6dqljpbnFZBVhxKA4iD6MyVCsYRNn_tFdKTLSxAA/s320/IMG_4234.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347209440923464786" /></div><div>'Warchief'</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJbs5KSBq8xjG2_fAvTYOP7pcKRGtlQzMBOBlbSZ_TPDWuIgtq35pR-Z0NdpUM-wcvyquijsdaqxKbV4eXi4YBYHKEICLMyL7HXkVDlG4sziFW0i1Ugq8_8M4YwsuzTfO0luSzuhGGxr-/s320/IMG_4257.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347213259407045538" /></div><div>'Before the Storm', by far the most strongly-scented</div><div>iris in the garden (and one of the most beautiful)</div><div><br /></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-81217271860620535972009-06-13T17:46:00.003-04:002009-06-13T17:50:53.288-04:00Commenting Problem<div>Hi all - Just letting you know that I'm aware of the problem with the comment section, and I'm working on it! Check back often :)</div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-11054540812171755492009-04-29T21:35:00.006-04:002009-04-29T21:52:31.583-04:00Lesser Celandine: Scourge of the Garden<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KZ3R8yZzUhKLDnezToJ_aALGVOy2Z2mQqZDTsJJdLs4KOnub4n2nVcq7TP01F7BLhynN5wB5bZ8QnVuYf-NKdZY7pj4ErI15V7HTx87t3fKYDsCAfHyezixXXYgp7l8gogjOJs_hM1ZL/s1600-h/IMG_4100.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KZ3R8yZzUhKLDnezToJ_aALGVOy2Z2mQqZDTsJJdLs4KOnub4n2nVcq7TP01F7BLhynN5wB5bZ8QnVuYf-NKdZY7pj4ErI15V7HTx87t3fKYDsCAfHyezixXXYgp7l8gogjOJs_hM1ZL/s400/IMG_4100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330294728027439362" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Does this plant look familiar? If it does, then I am sorry. You probably have to fight it in your garden, where it forms a choking green mat that prevents anything from growing. This invasive Eurasian plant is currently <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">everywhere </span>in our garden, and is creeping its way into the woods behind the house. And don't think that simple weeding will do the trick. Lesser celandine forms little tubers that break off <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">very </span>easily when pulled, and new plants will grow back from these tubers. In short: it is extremely difficult to eradicate. We've got a method of weeding where we delicately tease the plant out after first loosening the soil with a claw. Do <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">not </span>compost this plant, as the tubers will survive in your homemade fertilizer and you'll risk spreading it all over the place.</div><div><br /></div><div>We can win Syracuse back from lesser celandine. All it takes is vigilance. Good luck.</div><div><br /></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-22485000919819194692009-04-28T22:44:00.023-04:002009-08-05T14:19:27.560-04:00A Long Overdue Spring Update<div>As with many graduate students this time of year, my life has within recent weeks been consumed by that weird concept of actually finishing my thesis, which I (successfully) defended last week and will be presenting tomorrow. Regardless, I couldn't keep myself away from the garden blogosphere any longer, even though I promised myself to put extraneous activities on pause in a sort of triage where only work pertaining to my thesis was permitted. Anyhow, so much has been happening in the garden that I had to at least throw up some photos of the action.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's backtrack just a bit. Here are some early spring blooms, which are now gone of course (especially after the 90 degree heat wave):</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANiKpbuVZC8ERUFolD6gB9b2OetFoRmqcvEo9o9kS9wzXOK-MtjoT2YU08GgqMTXucXf7Avjs6xPp7x-7FAWVUZb5KUKFUSjAXQk1nQDY6jKRXxR1T7Yl2kdp7T0xREb4CuU6AJsZDLwa/s400/IMG_4048.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329940785968254034" /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLRolbwV9lCxYsxacJ8IfK9f1XeDCel19B9EQBlWJrDN4t5yZDAYEwFue6Qwyf4_X1ZnjVu9Uya_35t9J8xMQJd5diT7Vhmg-QNoVntIGxjkHIDYdNjNeuokkk1UsscmaxF10Snk__9mK/s400/IMG_4040.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329943452538360578" /><br /></div><div>Bloodroot and lungwort in early April</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuQGjNPbOyGWMYlTAHjkAzjlFNly3cQRqQaMhwmuyfppcecbjNV7iO3C8fKQczgF-DSOcqXJeF0Z9F0QEMp2rM3OzOBhkAFnfJZJnKVDsXCXjJYzfMf3H2iDmBAvP2OaoRNgoDM4HSYgi/s400/IMG_4038.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329943744043228626" /><br /></div><div>Grecian windflower (Anemone blanda)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBFjgPTjSJIicT2jabPgX0lvGG08PAxIvnsQfAEqy0aYEjGRvc13R1f-V-aW8CBFigbyEhvHUxL8GkRBKbIP9lsKxjbor9SpH0nF9L7W8Mks099QFJy8eb7Sg9l8_zuw3oRG7rp_Meakk/s400/IMG_4069.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329944260593706242" /><br /></div><div>Corydalis</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXyQZorqGLcI-P_RIr69CcyFhk7mSQI6KkS-sOC-MYRhOHeCmFtQuA9CxigGdtHZyt-yloqdLocQmdlqKPOgyTGQw_zASCobB9dvRPh1s9jipM0sz3SuaZt2yroqcvCU3fegGtO-JoA6j/s400/IMG_4068.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329944897713160770" /><br /></div><div>Hyacinth, of course</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll admit I'm not much of a tulip or narcissus fan. But when I'm up at 6am on a cool spring morning it's very difficult not to appreciate these temperate gems, with the rising sun gleaming orange behind their silhouettes:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH-VbGxuGJf6_oQko47RCjwGy9s0C3WgjEoYaskWIVBclvxglcWs0XvklxAEBJKvTA4thjWic8_47h_rjJbMjqnNXf-P0MgtUjZpnqxhDpx8b8PQIO_uDOjx85itVsiABhxi0Ur4M-heX/s400/IMG_4077.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329946529988705522" /><br /></div><div>Darwin hybrid tulip, variety 'Daydream'</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianSpqsM8jcyPPFXSDiyoegVqsPPt-YYkwPlQXN-aQegP2O3C2a8YIjPUuJZ404LRJUxmfOgQC_rAbn4hvMNdEADbbc3cUAGRIzin3WFthttzzSeXHIz8qutkFMu5IXocNO-4Ls8Mrhtqf/s400/IMG_4060.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329947120418007170" /><br /></div><div>Narcissus, possibly variety 'Fortissimo'</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWASm9tn85fNPinD8WnLiPRzLnnJUp32XqX3G-T2CxtdTkkv3ofgP2_i6KR_Pfye8xbjs-U8TkZJfBUk40uptCad1B8QXuFJTwvd1I1ekUFo73IUr3nKeiQo8YjjLcc80yc_1r2tHezjh/s400/IMG_4075.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329948216696975410" /><br /></div><div>Darwin hybrid tulip, possibly derived from the 'Dover' variety.</div><div>Apparently the colorful streaks are caused by some kind of</div><div>virus.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And of course the more subdued blooms:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw656_Q25bwROgGZLw0bPYylvRfJoHuOoCZS1Gi3hT36ePF-WtG928kjq0KDpHInWEA3vrU5A8FVwvkxrzwTPmHGKnbRmgjPBITFFDKMfE2UmA2TeEb2EtdFGPunVyrI4ePqvPfeXXTvTk/s400/IMG_4070.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329949114164730210" /><br /></div><div>Viola sororia 'priceana', apparently called the</div><div>"Confederate violet". My favorite violet in the garden.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zoIyevntF4R-RHB2fuBqXETcZwa7Fg9b7yhMjUFz7CD-LHDkLhmqavplBUH7ImpBAW6mhTSK9Ooq7bySveNUv4wfKLAMdurmQyE7JdzuIW63WxwNbRJ0nVNvCyXiDZe_Xx_Od0COY-Wk/s400/IMG_4066.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329950667593714210" /><br /></div><div>Fritillaria</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_e__V7hiKaAR4hm86JPGGIUAqINLNfFu3AYkuT7ITPGglpqjmrnVjyXdBKxuIEoy5PgJZBDjH494adN4Hv3nZ5Qjfa5qagktNj2cLE3aqL9r0l_6AgtcQhvBXGiJyyjuvCdIE-GntJ2R/s400/IMG_4065.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329952096886756706" /></div><div>Even though they're relatively plain, there's something about</div><div>the green variety of Lenten Rose that I find elegant and appealing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-54944590751920074212009-02-17T12:33:00.006-05:002009-02-17T16:42:41.669-05:00Garden Bloggers Bloom Day: February 2009<div><br /></div><div>This black-eyed-susan vine is doing wonderfully hanging in a sunny window.<br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbPfkAy1NkFhRUz6WK361TpkquhJwp_ftfvuwfbwN75Lth9KTItvVegsakgtrXZz1gw1wDajdWODueFxn6rvW_cP0sqC5utn-Qtcw9stZ5ZXo1TebFFf9l6ylJFBOEEMtBvOpzXCpW1ma/s1600-h/IMG_3971.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbPfkAy1NkFhRUz6WK361TpkquhJwp_ftfvuwfbwN75Lth9KTItvVegsakgtrXZz1gw1wDajdWODueFxn6rvW_cP0sqC5utn-Qtcw9stZ5ZXo1TebFFf9l6ylJFBOEEMtBvOpzXCpW1ma/s400/IMG_3971.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303822551650327986" /></a><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5128356318945526527.post-78191570145424083692009-02-10T21:58:00.002-05:002009-02-10T22:06:57.531-05:00February HarvestWhile outside enjoying the mild temperatures today, I opted to take a stroll around the garden in search of life. Instead of snowdrops, surprisingly (I think they’re still covered with a layer of ice), I came across narcissus:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5Gi0RnAFABFjlDdMU3wilMfLs9cjsZs7XLpAjwBJpQ2tTfwqnPyO23mJY_BT7Qi7lLodpDBv4yWK6Mqr-_oo5rQjjLZYyW8JtQ2jzy6-SCto9HHq1KlaMNmBbsuMTWzOzOCUXGLKoPo/s1600-h/IMG_3949.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw5Gi0RnAFABFjlDdMU3wilMfLs9cjsZs7XLpAjwBJpQ2tTfwqnPyO23mJY_BT7Qi7lLodpDBv4yWK6Mqr-_oo5rQjjLZYyW8JtQ2jzy6-SCto9HHq1KlaMNmBbsuMTWzOzOCUXGLKoPo/s400/IMG_3949.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301369211697300130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And with delight, kale:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKCtT1NffT7LxtAjSv0auLzelIl3h8m-U8Ct2oaCblREezvHPbwDCw15B9OuCoeL7NjJJ6WOHFMiXpLsAVdvuql9_Ry0cPVS5Be4FUpbjbsHbJLGrAUvf-NHu1QTFX07nR6ZEzz_epzpz/s1600-h/IMG_3950.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKCtT1NffT7LxtAjSv0auLzelIl3h8m-U8Ct2oaCblREezvHPbwDCw15B9OuCoeL7NjJJ6WOHFMiXpLsAVdvuql9_Ry0cPVS5Be4FUpbjbsHbJLGrAUvf-NHu1QTFX07nR6ZEzz_epzpz/s400/IMG_3950.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301370073768763538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As well as cabbage and bok-choy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa7lIE5sbDe71zJba8SR9CGJ9oK9ocrxpvExzFA7FAWOgMwaqdA2aGu6i_O91NPLLvLxCRT3JJYPvKtb_4S3qKdy-d83MZqjGJG4YlX0T8Z1GFQ0FLP4x7NKD2iYenWbIYklbfB2fWgLo/s1600-h/IMG_3951.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa7lIE5sbDe71zJba8SR9CGJ9oK9ocrxpvExzFA7FAWOgMwaqdA2aGu6i_O91NPLLvLxCRT3JJYPvKtb_4S3qKdy-d83MZqjGJG4YlX0T8Z1GFQ0FLP4x7NKD2iYenWbIYklbfB2fWgLo/s400/IMG_3951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301370411861161970" border="0" /></a><br />The kale, cabbage, and bok-choy probably won’t make much of a meal, but I’m just happy for fresh greens in the middle of winter.Paul H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05140295047737258052noreply@blogger.com0