They're Growing!

I took some picture of the garden on June 15th and June 29th. This is how much they have grown in 2 weeks!

June 15

June 29

June 15

June 29

June 15

June 29

These others are the newest pictures

Hospice Gardens!

Here are some recent pictures of the Hospice gardens! 

Splitting Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grass is beautiful and it is easy to maintain in almost any landscape. With time, ornamental grass can begin to thin out in the center. When this happens, it is best to split the grass. You can replant portions of it throughout your yard, or give the splittings to your neighbors and friends - just like Nana does.

Here is what I recommend:

1. Shear off last year's growth so that the plant stands 4 to 5 inches tall. It is best to do this in early spring before the growing season takes off.
   
2. Decide how many plants you will be splitting the grass into.
   
3. Split the grass by angling the spade directly down into the clump. Decide on the size you want the new grass to be and then make another cut into the grass.
   
4. Lift the new portion of the grass out and replant it in the new location.
   
5. Place at least three inches of mulch around the new transplant and make sure to give it a heavy watering to allow it to begin to root.
   
   

   • If the grass has a large bare spot in the center, lift the entire grass out, remove the middle, and replant a clump where the barren center once was.
     • Ornamental grass grows very well in all types of soil.
   • Do not shear back the ornamental grass until early spring.

HOPES THIS HELPS ROSE!

New Veggies

This week I have added some hay to keep the moisture in the ground and also add some garlic in a pot, leaf lettuce in a pot, and attempted a cucumber plant on the topsy turvy but I don't think it will last because the plant was too fragile and snapped when putting it through the small hole.

Pictures will be uploaded soon!

PS: I am also starting a small worm composting bin behind the shed. Hope that goes well!

Portulaca Oleracea - The Common Weed of Our Vegetable Garden

 I did some research and found that the weed that comes up every year in our vegetable garden is called Portulaca Oleracea. And it turns out it is edible!

Portulaca oleracea (Common Purslane, also known as Verdolaga, Pigweed, Little Hogweed or Pusley), is an annual succulent in the family Portulacaceae, which can reach 40 cm in height. The species status in the New World is uncertain: it is generally considered an exotic weed; however, there is evidence that the species was in Crawford Lake (Ontario) in 1430-89, suggesting that it reached North America in the pre-Columbian era deposits.

Although purslane is considered a weed in the United States, it can be eaten as a leaf vegetable, providing sources can be found which have not been poisoned deliberately. It has a slightly sour and salty taste and is eaten throughout much of Europe, Asia and Mexico.The stems, leaves and flower buds are all good to eat. Purslane can be used fresh as a salad, stir-fried, or cooked like spinach, and because of its mucilaginous quality it is also suitable for soups and stews. Australian Aborigines used to use the seeds to make seedcakes.
Purslane contains more Omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid in particular) than any other leafy vegetable plant. Simopoulos states that Purslane has .01 mg/g of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This is an extraordinary amount of EPA for land based vegetable sources. EPA is an Omega-3 fatty acid normally found mostly in fish, some algae and flax seeds.

GET THIS! Known as Ma Chi Xian (pinyin: translates literally as "horse tooth amaranth") in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is used to treat infections or bleeding of the genito-urinary tract as well as dysentery. The fresh herb may also be applied topically to relieve sores and insect or snake bites on the skin

Asian Garden Trellis

Check out the new design for the trellises we sell at the Gathering on the Green! Tell me what you think by commenting and voting on the poll on the side.

Thunderstorm Does Number on Backyard!

It was nice while it lasted, but the gorgeous London weather came to an abrupt end with a wild storm Monday that brought with it hail, heavy rain and at least one funnel cloud.

Monday started beautifully, but not long after 2 p.m. the thunder roared and the skies opened up with torrents of rain.

In a few pockets, such as Byron and White Oaks, golf ball-sized hail stones pelted down. But in our backyard, few small hail stones fell. What did most of the damage was the hard rain and strong winds.

The clouds seemed to be clearing around 3:30 p.m., but by 5 p.m. The skies blackened again as a second wave of the storm rolled in.

Here are some pictures of the damages...

Neighbor's Flooded Backyard

My Poor Green Onions!

 Cedar Mulch Wiped Away