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Friday, June 22, 2012

The Greening: Flower Power


Tiger Lilies with a  Swallowtale Butterfly        r.a.kukkee

I am turning green.  

Green with envy, that is.
Why, you ask?   It's the power of flowers.  Flower power.  No, not cool retro hippie daisies,  and Are you going to San Francisco  in an old VW van  to put flowers in your hair.  Not that kind.
  Regular flower power and gardening is a  greening, growing force in North America.  Why? Demographics? Survival? Fear of greedy powermongers controlling food supplies?  Think about it, Remove your fear and  their power by growing your own food.

Readers of Incoming Bytes are always encouraged to think for themselves. That includes serious efforts at attempting to grow food for yourself.  Survival is more than a hobby.  Maybe to some of us  it's just a wonderful, relaxing, and productive hobby,  and there's more to the greening of gardens than just vegetables for  food. It's about better food, better nutrition, a healthier lifestyle --which includes a fine frame of mind and the appreciation of beauty.
 Flower power meets the eye and stimulates the soul itself. There is a quantum leap in beauty available to you, wherever you are.  Let's talk beautiful first. 

Like  most serious gardeners everywhere,  I admire beauty,  and that sure includes the wonderful pictures of flowers that our  gardening genius Glory Lennon regularly shares, interesting, at times even stunning photographs of all things floral. Somehow, somewhere, our clever gardener genius successfully takes pictures that make everyone that lives in a geographical area colder than zone 5 just a bit envious.
Living in N.W. Ontario in zone 2-3,  our growing season is colder, slower, less predictable,  a few weeks later, especially with weird weather, but we persist and insist on beauty anyway.    I offer a few pictures to show that growing 'beauty'   is not impossible, even in N.W. Ontario --in cool Canada.

A small,  early double Peony

White Roses
  
Giant Lupins Multi-coloured




 Tiger Lilies ready to Open


Even  Wild Roses !
So what is life about if we don't go for it?   We may not be able to  grow tulip trees or flowering dogwood, citrus trees or pineapples,  but we have flowers not to be sneezed at unless you're an allergic type. Think that's all the flowers we have?  Not by any stretch of the imagination. We have many others that come along as they may. We'll bring some more to you later.  

What  about veggies? Food?

 I  envy Mac Pike's gardening acumen when he shows us  rutabagas, grows collards and cabbages, busts onions, and  keeps Farm Girl on the alert for squash bugs, interlopers  and old fossils.
 Some gardeners do seem to have  green thumbs, garden better, and  weed faster out behind the shed somehow.
Encouraged by Mac's calming, continued words of encouragement and assured success,  I hereby examples some of  my own garden stuff for Mac's highly successful and critical garden-eye complimentary wordoodling, praise and doggerel.

 Here's the beanery, with no weeds in-betweenery:

The Beanery,  heavily mulched!


 Hang on, Mac, I can see you're conspiring and winking at Farm Girl.
 You must want to see the peas'ery-pleasery too. These are Green Arrow peas that have been up for only a week or two. They will be heavily mulched after the pea trenches are topped up for additional  root growth potential and a better yield.  The two rows are actually on a raised bed that's kind of narrow.

Peas complete with Pea trellis




And now I bet you want to see the only perennial potato in Canada.  In Mac's gardening fidoodle dictionary, that would be called a pertato, and this is the third year it came up in the the same spot, this year it's in the baby cabbage-plantery since we rotate our crops on the raised beds.


Perennial Potato growing in the baby-Cabbage-plantery

And here's the tomato patch!  It's heavily mulched to preserve moisture and suppress weeds!  As Mac knows,  "Termaters they are,  when you get to hoe,  the far end of the row,  can look like it is more than far"

Tomatoes Grow with a Helpful Scarecrow.  Dangling Cd's make a Laser Show for the Deer

 And  those be mulched, --- lest we be drygulched by weeds,  quite merry, trying to steal a sweet strawberry!
The first Two Strawberries of 2012 --a bit LATE




Now  you have to know that everything has to grow FAST here because of the short season. Look at what happened  to the peonies!  They are even  bowing politely so you will come visit again!

The front Peony is 10" across and very heavy
Glory, you gotta see these, too!They are just too beautiful!

More Lupins!

So there.    I'm always wondering if everyone thinks  the grass is greener in other growing zones. Is it greener on the other side of the fence?  Do vegetables grow better?
 Maybe this one isn't so bad after all.  Should we be turning green as a bean  with envy?  I think not!   *Mac and *Glory, what do you think? 


Is that incoming I hear?

*Loyal readers of Incoming Bytes are encouraged to visit  Mac Pike's  www.unclemacshed.blogspot.com   and  Glory Lennon's   www.glory_garden.blogspot.com  for  enjoyable reading,  gardening knowledge, and  their weird and wonderful sense of humor.   ~RK

All Photo credits:  r.a.kukkee 2012

39 comments:

  1. Great Pics and as usual, a great post, Ray.

    MJ

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    1. hi Mike, thanks! Do you do any gardening yourself? Sometimes I think I should do more fishing and canoeing instead! ":)) ~R

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    3. I used to do a lot of gardening. I had a big garden, twenty or so tomato plants, peppers, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, herbs, squash, eggplant, broccoli, Brussels sprouts. I have tomato seeds from all over the world and participated in a tomato de-hybidization project with a rather famous biologist. I also grew all my own starts from seed for flowers and for veggies.

      I miss it and am trying to get back into it. I need to start these seeds next year or I will start losing them to age.

      MJ

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    4. Mike! Wow! I would be very interested in reading more about your tomato project and your gardening stuff! Dehybridization of plants sounds like a fascinating idea! Keep us posted on what happens with those seeds, I think the germination drops off a few % every year doesn't it? How old are they? Hopefully some will grow, I want some of those spares... ":) ~R

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  2. Raymond, just loved those flowers we have Dog Roses out in the hedgerows and Roses out and lupins the Tiger Lilies are still in bud though.. But I have plenty of rouge potato perennials coming up between our cabbages.. Our peas are now steaked and the strawberrys are forming. the Beans are climbing and the carrots are just through, we are trying two ways this year.. 1. in the rows in the allotment, and 2. in a raised bed within a frame... As our carrots got hit badly with carrot-fly last year.
    But its been very cool here this month so we need some Sun now instead of the rain..
    Loved this Post Raymond... And I seriously need to get some mulching done for next year.. To save on the backache...

    Loved all your photo's... Nothing beats the great outdoors and Growing your Own.. :-) ~Sue

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    1. Hi Sue! I'm glad you like the pics and post. It sounds like your gardening is coming along fine too! About that carrot-fly, I wonder if used coffee-grains sprinkled around would help? It DOES keep slugs and other nasties away from cabbage and cauliflower and some other things, I don't know if it would work with carrot flies or not.
      About mulching, we use old hay--it tends to rot down faster, feed the earthworms faster, and incorporates into the soil each year--keeping in mind that we mulch VERY thickly, 6" at times. IN the spring we remove the top "good stuff" and leave the rotten layer on the soil for the new planting. It works well, and our veggie production has skyrocketed since we started using mulch. Weeding becomes almost non-existent if you have enough mulch, and any weeds that DO sprout, can be very easily pulled from the better quality soil that results. --and virtually NO pest problems with the healthier vegetable growth! We are completely organic, we use no sprays or chemicals of any kind. ":)
      I don't know what Dog roses are, maybe post a pic?
      Sue, thanks for dropping in, and I sure enjoyed your gardening report! ":)

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    2. Sorry Raymond Dog roses are your wild roses.. which have Rose Hips.. Its a term we used from childhood.. and dont ask me where it stems from, but everyone in our village called them that.. .. Thank you for the Mulching tips.. :-) And Ive not taken many new pictures yet..But will soon..
      ~Sue

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    3. Thanks, Sue, I've never heard the term "Dog roses" before. Other than the fact that my dogs end up with the dried thorny stalks in their fur, I have no idea where that name would have come from, unless it is one of disdain.
      Yes, do try mulching, it is VERY productive and conserves water beautifully. The areas not mulched can be bone dry down 6" into the soil but where it's mulched it's still nice and damp..and full of earthworms too.
      I would LOVE to see some pictures of your gardens too! Thanks for visiting and commenting ! ~R

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  3. Beautiful indeed! You sure are an avid gardener. I too love some gardening of the rustic kind :)and have a blog dedicated to it.
    http://jugnoofarms.wordpress.com/

    Cheers!

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    1. Dilip, thank you and welcome to Incoming Bytes! I was over visiting your blogs, VERY VERY nice! I would like to follow your blogs too, but could not find a "join this site" button! I signed up for email on your posts. Your photos are fantastic! Nice "meeting" you. Do come again! ":) ~R

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  4. And you say you've been laid back lately??? Can't have flowers and a garden that beautiful without work! Wonderful photos RK and your garden is so big! Lots to keep up with. No slacking at your house. Very impressive. Thanks for showing us. Keep at it RK. You'll need that antique tractor to keep up. I trust it is all back in one piece by now :) Blessings....VK

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    1. Hi Vk, yes, I have to admit we probably work far too much, but when we see the beauty, eat the wonderful vegetables that result, it kind of compensates doesn't it? Hard work has it's own rewards, keeps us out of trouble! LOL..
      I just took delivery of the new tires for the antique, it will be back together in no time! IN fact, I've already used it to hill the potatoes for the first time. It's probably the first time that machine did any work for 40 or 50 years ":)
      Thanks for dropping in, it's always nice to see you! ~R

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  5. I was in San Francisco for awhile. I may have worn some flowers in my hair and I met a few gentle people there. Always did like flowers and these are beautiful! Keep up the great work.

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    1. Thanks, Angie! I've never been to San Francisco, but if I did go there I would certainly appreciate the flowers worn in the hair of gentle people. Life is what you make of it, and making a garden productive and beautiful is so important. Thank you for the wonderful comments! ":) ~R

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  6. Oh, what beautiful photos! You know I love Peonies and I love your Lupines...mine seem to have vanished. Must get more. We all suffer from greener-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence syndrome.I envy those folks with gardens in zone 7. Ah, well, we make do with what we have. :-)

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    1. Thanks, Glory! I'm glad you like them! Your own posts and sharing the beautiful flowers, plants and trees challenge me to share ours as well. They are beautiful aren't they.
      Gardening in Zone 7....is there such a place?,,,,of course there is, but only in my dreams I guess. We all must make do with what we have, and looking at your gardening stuff and ours--we're really doing very well! Thanks for dropping in and making such great comments! ":) ~R

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  7. I like your thinking here. I would probably have my own garden if it wasn't for the fact I do not want to take the time to do it. Maybe that is the problem and our government knows it. I don't know.

    Anyway, now I see why you thought my stick people were gardening. lol
    Thanks for coming by today and playing along.

    ~Naila Moon

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    1. hi again, Naila! It doesn't take much to garden, start small, with the Stick People..LOL Sooner or later you'll want more than Stick tomatoes... I really enjoy your "Stick People". I'm not sure why, perhaps it's the games Stick people play. Soon you'll have them playing baseball, hockey, and football too...hehe...Thanks for dropping in! ":) ~R

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  8. Well you are showing Mac a thing or two here! GREAT photos to accompany your witty text. A delightful Incoming to see today.

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    1. Christyb, welcome again, thanks for dropping in, dear ChristyB, I always like to receive such wonderful comments! I'm not sure I can show Mac very much, he's the ultimate gardener dude! "Christyb is paying attention to gardening dudes growing stuff!"
      I'm glad you like the photos! Thanks, Christyb! ":) ~R

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  9. Nothing like eating plums from my own plum tree - not that the ownership is the point, it's more like a relationship.

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  10. Hi, Siba! Sweet! There IS nothing like eating plums from your own tree, or any fruit for that matter--or vegetables from your own garden. Interesting take, 'it's more like a relationship'! Thanks for dropping in! ":) ~R

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  11. Fabbo pix! I am looking forward to some sweets from the few little plants I planted. I grow the majority of mine indoors as the heat and moisture are much more stable indoors. I am looking forward to seeing if my baby pear trees put out fruit ;)
    Red.

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    1. Thanks, Red! Even a few plants inside or on the balcony, wherever, can produce the most delicious sweets and veggies better than any supermarket can offer.
      Baby pear trees, sweet! In our area pears won't produce for 7 or 8 years, but it's not unknown to get a few pears as early as 4 or 5 years. Yes, even here in NW Ont. I have a couple of Ure pears, an Earligold and a sapling French Bartlett which seems to be a bit frost sensitive. The others are fine, and the Russian pollinator pear bears very heavily. Last year we harvested about 20 gallons of real pears, this year with the weird late frost, it's quite unlikely we will get more than a handful or two. It must be nice living where there is no hard frost...oops, that's the grass being greener on the other side of the fence isn't it...haha! Red, thanks for dropping in! ~R

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  12. I love the pictures (and the word pictures with them) :) I wish I could garden, but I absolutely do not/can not/won't. My husband always does one though, so I reap some of the benefits. I do like to vouyer/??? um, see other people's gardens through pictures though (no allergies). Keep 'em coming :) Angie

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    1. Hi Angela! Enjoying a garden isn't always about doing it yourself,especially when allergies are involved, especially if you get to share! ....Being a garden voyeur can provide some fascinating entertainment too, as a gardener I really enjoy looking at photos offered by others too, so I shall keep the pictures coming as we grow! Thanks for commenting, Angela! ":)

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  13. Wonderful gardens. The opening tiger lily and butterfly are especially beautiful. I just have a shade garden, which is heavenly in the heat, but I miss more extensive gardening. You do a great job!

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    1. Hi Querulous, thanks! I'm glad you like the photos. Shade gardens are very beautiful too. I like the vegetables and flowers, but I would love to have a shade garden too! Some of the Japanese moss gardens are amazing too! Thanks for the wonderful comments and encouragement! ":) ~R

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  14. I wish I had a green thumb! Well, I do, but it is not from gardening. Painting.

    Great pics!

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    1. Hi CYW, nice to see you! What, a green thumb from painting as in artwork? I guess you'll just have to paint veggies or maybe grow a few on the patio? Thanks for commenting! ":) ~R

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  15. I am horrible. I buy things I like, plant them and hope for the best.

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    1. Awe, Lorre, you're not horrible. You're just busy. Plants are like kids, 'ya gotta look after them, try plunking them in front of the TV set, feed & water'em a bit, who knows, that might work with plants too! ":)) Thanks for visiting, nice to see you! ~R

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  16. Green is GREAT. We need more green. Envy will do! :)

    Stunning pictures - particularly the lupins. I thought lupin was like maize meal, though.

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    1. Hi 'wordsfallfromyeyes! Welcome to Incoming Bytes! Green is wonderful isn't it? I'm not sure about Lupins, but I believe maize is a type of corn. I'm not sure if lupins are safe to eat or not, but I will try to find out! Thanks for dropping in! ":) ~R

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  17. how long is the growing season where you are?

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    1. Hi Katley!
      Our frost-free growing season is considered to be from May 24th to Sept. 6th even to Sept 6th, but it can vary a bit on either end, so some years we may have as many as 120 days frost-free. We only count on 90-100 days.
      What part of the country are you in? How long is your growing season?
      Thanks for dropping in! ":) ~R

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    2. here it's a little longer frost free is about from May 24th to September 21st, although I have left tomatoes on the vine as late as mid-October. I am in New England some distance inland, the growing season is a little longer along the coast, they don't get frost until the end October or sometimes later.

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    3. Katley, thanks for answering! That must be nice, sometimes it's just those extra few days that make all the difference in gardening. It is kind of curious, garden produce seems to grow faster here though, with our long, long summer days, so maybe it compensates?
      We ripen lots of tomatoes out in the garden (usually) , but once in a while an early frost forces an early harvest that gets ripened on the table. Here it is frustrating that typically the first frost may hit on Sept 5th or so, but then it CAN stay warm, even hot for 3-4 weeks in a beautiful Indian summer. We can also get 2' of wet snow on Oct. 1st..":) ~R

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