And just like that… another garden is born!
It was bound to happen, because plants happen! This new area, in the photo is about 24 feet by 18 feet. Not huge, but big enough to stuff in new peony plants, Asiatic lilies, daylilies and lots of smaller plants of various types. This new spot is actually butted right up to an existing garden.
Prepping a new area starts with removing or killing off existing turf or ‘weed turf’ which I have, largely creeping Charlie in this area. This area was sprayed and then large rocks moved forward by rolling or moving on a two-wheel cart.
Turf can be removed by digging, but that my friend is a lot of work! Plus, you are removing lots of topsoil if digging it out. The challenge here will be to keep the Charlie out, which will require spraying borax or an herbicide around the edges of the garden.
The next step is using rocks/bricks or empty plant containers to layout where my largest plants will go. The largest here being three groups of three peonies, each group different. I am a groupie! Seldom will I stuff in a single plant, plant them with their friends in odd numbers, three-five-seven-nine. After nine it doesn’t matter as much to the distinguishing eye.
Why odd numbers verses even? It gives the appearance of being more natural and moves your eye better with the rhythm of the garden.
After staging where the peonies go, next was to plant three groups of daylilies, either three or five in a group. One group is a red variety named “wildheart,” a pink group named “pink topping” and the final group a whiteish daylily variety named “chantilly ruffles.”
Deciding which group to plant where is easy, put the white one in the middle of the space to balance out the colors as they bloom at the same time. The peonies all have the same visual color weight so not critical for them.
This garden bed is sloped to the lake, so few if any iris will be planted here due to soil moving, erosion, eventually covering the rhizomes. For tall upright plants here, I will install lots of Asiatic lilies, liatris and Siberian iris, which are taller and grass like. Small pockets of space will be left vacant for some new varieties next year.
There is no frost in the ten-day forecast so lots of days left to get working on fall clean-up and projects. Finishing up the polymetric sanding in my newly pavered walkways this week. Next will be to start cutting back the garden using a DR trimmer. As much as I prefer using a hand pruner, that is no longer possible! Have you toured my garden? Too much! Then tree trimming!
Normally I would never recommend ‘topping’ a tree, however, this box elder sprout that I allowed to grow in my garden many, many years ago has wore out its welcome. Too much shade and too many seed pods dropped. My garden table however is nestled in the shade there and I would miss it if completely gone.
Certainly, everyone has heard of ‘farm to table’ restaurants and ‘farm to table’ events. Sounds so intriguing and cool, right? Well, if you are a gardener, farmer or a regular farmer’s market customer, this may already be your way of life.
You can shop at any farmers’ market and create your own farm to table meal… every day during the growing season! Not to diminish the ‘event’ business, but it’s so simple to live it every day.
At the Mankato Farmers’ Market almost everything can be found to round out your meals or parties. Produce to include: salads and greens, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and endless other veggies. Condiments like jam, BBQ and hot sauces, herbs for dressing, honey and the fresh bread to put it on!
Several vendors have beef, chicken, pork and bison ready for the grill. Choose from fresh baked pies, pastries and sweets for desserts.
Pick up eggs, scones, cinnamon rolls and some melons for brunch. Don’t forget the late-night snacks like fudge, caramels or kettle corn. Add a fresh bouquet of flowers from the one of the many vendors to brighten up your table.
Enjoying the freshest possible local foods while supporting your local grower/producers is a win win!
The outdoor Mankato Farmers’ Market is open 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday morning. It is located at the Best Buy parking lot on Adams Street in Mankato. We have nearly 50 vendors with a wide variety of goods and food items, produce, honey, flowers, eggs and local meat! Weekday markets are 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
