This snowy, drippy day…what else to do but check on past projects.

Front beds, without Mexican primrose. Whew!

Getting rid of Mexican Primrose
10-15-2010 Invasive plants and impatience in the garden

March Update:  There are a few sprouts coming up of the Mexican primrose which confirms that it’s the right decision not to have replanted the plants I removed from the front beds. These sprouts I will try to kill by ‘painting’ them with a systemic herbicide.

I’ll wait until I’m sure it’s all gone and the beds will seem empty, but with a top dressing of pine bark, they’ll at least look neat.

Milkweed seeds puff out in a pattern

Milkweed seeds
Oct 2010 Marvelous Milkweed, part of a butterfly garden

Last October, I released all these milkweed seeds in several areas without preparing any ground, just letting it fly in the wind.  I wonder if any will take root?

Note: If I do say so, this milkweed photo got 2nd in the Seedpod, Mushroom and something category on Dave’s Garden photo contest. Also won first in another contest, Cool Springs Press, where I won a book!

California Native Meadow Project

Meadow, March 14, 2011, showing a bit of green.

Plants
Nov 2010   Do you dream of a natural and beautiful wildflower meadow?
Dec 2010   Let’s check for progress on the meadow!

March Update: The seedlings are now between 3” and 4” inches high and seem unfazed by a bit of snow.  By photographing the seedlings, it’s easier to tell which are weeds. I’m learning a lot about how to tell the difference.

Here’s a five spot!

The first blooming five spot was pointed out by Maggie, who has been helping me weed.  The seedlings don’t mind being sat upon if it’s not for long.

Maggie, sitting on seedlings

Weeding the meadow

March Update: I weeded for the second time which took longer, two sessions of an hour each. The filaree is persistent and I’ve since learned that there are two varieties of it, Erodium cicutarium and Erodium botrys here. Wonderful!  The steak knife method of weeding has worked well and it gets between the small seedlings well and the serrations help pull the weed away. I’ve been collecting the weeds and tossing them on the paths, my form of sheet composting.  My biggest fear is that by chopping them at the ground they will grow back thicker and stronger, but as these are annuals, I believe it’s the end of them.

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The Meadow project, month by month
What am I really doing in the garden in October?  Planning and removing weeds
Do you dream of a natural and beautiful wildflower meadow?  Finding and sowing seeding
Let’s check for progress on the meadow!  Weeding and watching the weather
How to weed a meadow in the Sierra Foothills  More weeding…letting the sprouts thrive
Let’s check on Fall and Winter projects!  Identifying seedlings
The wildflower meadow in May   Small triumphs
My California native meadow in June  Starting to bloom
The midsummer meadow  The peak bloom
Stomping down the Autumn meadow  Neatening up
Native California meadow in the second year

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Wintersowing Project
Jan 2011 Wintersowing, a great January seed starting project

Wintersown delphiniums

March Update: After three months, the wintersown seeds (planted Jan 1^st) that have sprouted the best are Red poppies, Delphiniums, Breadseed poppies and ‘Violet Dusk’ penstemon, as well as the uncovered trays of CA native wildflowers and grasses from the S&S Seed mix used on the meadow. These seedlings can go in thin spots in the meadow or in patio pots…oh, I’m getting excited now!

Wintersown ‘Violet Dusk’ penstemon are tiny

A few sprouts are seen of the Columbine and Mexican Hats and nothing can be seen of the Drumstick allium seeds or the Chocolate scented daisies. Thrilled with the Violet Dusk pentemons (they are tiny!) because I bought the original plants (two) at a $1 sale!

Now, back to my snow, drippy day…get a cup of tea and settle in with a book, probably on gardening!  I changed the header for the blog to reflect what it looks like now.