Changes afoot!

As of the end of September 2009 Nine Pines Garden will no longer be subject to my authority. Whether it continues under that name is the decision of the new owner. Almost certainly this blog will not continue.

This is for us the beginning of a great adventure that will take place in a different region of the country. It is possible that a new garden, with a new name will arise from there. Who knows, I may even start its chronicle here.

There is much to be done before that decision can even be seriously considered. We will see how everything plays out in the fullness of time.

Meanwhile, I want to thank my loyal readers (both of you) for your patience and interest. I didn’t post as often as I had hoped but perhaps I can do better anon.

Thank you and farewell…for now!

George

Late April Notes

The breezy rain in these latter days of April 2009 has taken a toll on our beautiful blooming apple and crab apple trees. The ground under the apple looks like it has just snowed.

The wild flowers—trilliums, Virginia bluebells, Dutchman’s breeches are fully out and some are beginning to fade. The wild ginger has expanded its territory and I think I see the tips of the Jack in the Pulpits breaking through the mulch under the tupelo/black gum tree.

Early, early Spring

Over the weekend we had two warmer-than-normal days. Gusty winds were at play so relaxing and reading the paper at the big stone table in the garden were not really an option. (Thank you, March!)

Still it was nice to be outside without a coat.

Managed to trim the lavender, sage & the multi-stemmed sargent crab and spread a few more of my 135 bags of mini-pine nuggets mulch. As I look around I wonder if 135 will be enough. We’ve created and expanded lots of beds in the last several years!

Headed over to Ohio State to obtain replacements for a couple small trees purchased in November that became fodder for rabbits and/or deer (who knows?). I expected some damage but the sassafras totally disappeared!

Hurrrumph!

Curse you Bambi & Thumper!

Thank you to Dan Struve and Meghan Blake for making this possible!

Library Pics

I have been asked to show some evidence of the library referred to in our subtitle.

Behold…The Donald M. Bower Memorial Library!

Main Stacks

 

Annex 1

Annex 2

So there!

New saplings take up residence

Welcome back to Nine Pines Garden! 

I fed my tree addiction last Thursday at a sale of native trees by Meghan K. Blake, Research Assistant at the Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and the grower of what appeared to be several hundreds of lovely little containerized trees. 

The sale took place at the site where the trees were being raised, the OSU Waterman Farm at the OSU Container Teaching and Research Nursery, 2490 Carmack Road at the northwest reaches of the campus. Why do all these academic outfits have such long names and titles?

Promotional emails that were sent to the Friends of Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens alerted me to the sale and said proceeds from the 3-day sale are slated to fund nursery research and education at Ohio State. (And, I hope, a few Friday night pizzas for the hard-working Meghan and her buddies.)

 Meghan had lots of cool choices available including medium and large trees (when mature) like Yellowwood (Cladrastis lutea), Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica) and at least a half-dozen varieties of oak. Unfortunately for me, Nine Pines Garden already has a full complement of large trees (including 2 yellowwoods, 1 blackgum and 3 oaks). Most are not large as of yet but everyone knows that good gardeners site plants responsibly assuring adequate space to accommodate their mature size and that trees are not furniture and must not be treated as such. Of course, no one is responsible all of the time-least of all (alas!) me.

 Never mind…

Although I didn’t plan to buy anything (r-i-g-h-t!), after 15 minutes my flat cart/wagon was fully loaded with plants. Ultimately, by putting one plant back I was able to get them all on the cart without carrying any in my hand—an arbitrary but necessary limit that kept me from feeling like an undisciplined idiot later on.

 The plants were a good value—healthy and inexpensive. Sure, they’re small, but they look very healthy. I feel hopeful for their successful transition into the Nine Pines landscape. 

Here’s the tally… 

• 1 Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) – I’ve been looking for a sassafras tree for several years (they’re not abundant in local commerce) because of their fabulous fall color. It will occupy a little gap at the west end of the swoosh bed where a seedling kousa dogwood expired last year.

 

• 4 Sweetbay magnolias (Magnolia virginiana) & 3 Rainbow Pillar® Serviceberries (Amelanchier canadensis ‘Glenn Form’) – The sweetbays and serviceberries will be alternated in a line along the west side of the house (master bedroom and my office windows located there). I had to remove the beautiful but diseased flowering plum this year. (I will miss those gorgeous blossoms next spring.)  

 

• 2 Carolina silverbells (Halesia carolina) – The silverbells will join the single silverbell already in place in the middle of the swoosh bed to fill out that space and to create a more pleasing grouping. 

 

• 1 American Hornbeam/Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana) – The hornbeam will be used as a specimen near the street at the southeast corner of the property by the driveway where bulk mulch and compost have been stored for several years waiting to be distributed. My neighbors will be delighted not to have to look at THAT weedy mess anymore.

These were all in 2- or 3-gallon containers so they were small and easy to handle. I have set them out but haven’t planted them yet. It’s amazing how easy it was to find spots for these little guys.

I managed not to fall for the siren songs of the stunning but temperamental Stewartia pseudocamellia (Japanese Stewartia) or Franklinia altamaha (Franklinia). My two stewartias both keeled over earlier this year and the emotional wounds haven’t yet healed. How did they get that gorgeous (Stewartia pseudocamellia) specimen to grow in the Cleveland Botanical Garden?

I think I’ll skip the photos of the new trees for now—without leaves, there’s not much to see. We’ll see what they look like in a few months.

 Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment or ask questions.