Santa (a.k.a. The World’s Sweetest Fiance) was good to me this year and brought me my first pair of Felco pruners. I have been drooling over these for awhile now. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to test out their world famous, smooth, tight action, or awesome cutting power and precision just yet. Well, I suppose I could whittle some marshmallow-roasting sticks. But, I think I can contain myself until spring. I love that they will last forever with a little bit of care. You can order replacement parts should you ever need them, they are easy to repair, and they can be sharpened without taking them apart. Just in case you would like to check them out for yourself, here is the website: http://www.felcostore.com/index.jsp
We are plant-sitting an AeroGarden for Blake’s sister, Ren. I had heard about these 
before, but had never seen one, and certainly never bothered to research them. Ren had visited a store which was going out of business and had them for sale at half price. I would be highly tempted if I were to find such a deal. They are not cheap. This indoor garden is extremely easy to use, and you can grow anything from herbs and flowers to tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce greens. The AeroGarden is computerized, and tells you when to add water or nutrients, and it automatically turns the light on/off. How much simpler could it possibly be? It also gets bonus points for looking really cute sitting on top of my counter.
When it comes to gardening, one of the things I love the most is that there is always something new and exciting to be learned or discovered. Despite the cold temperatures (currently it is 15 degrees) and snowy landscape, I am dreaming of a few additions I will be making in the garden come spring. This Ensete Maurelii – Red Abyssinian Banana grows to 10′ tall in temperate climates, and the leaves can grow to 10′ long. I love the red that appears on new growth as well as underneath the leaves.
Canna ‘Panache’ is a bit different from other cannas. It’s delicate rosy-apricot blooms are orchid-like and great at attracting hummingbirds. Visit the Gardener’s Journal for some great information on overwintering both bananas and cannas. It’s pretty easy to do, and worthwhile if you want to add some tropicals to your garden, but are lacking the tropical climate. I am also anticipating the arrival of two other additions: my English Rose ‘Evelyn,’ which bears giant, apricot-colored flowers of a shallow, saucer-like shape, with numerous small petals inter-twined within. And last, but not least, Hypericum moseranum ‘Albury Purple,’ with the colorful orange-yellow blooms and purple-tinted foliage. I have found the zoning information on this one to be a bit confusing, but I am determined to give it a try.
‘Evelyn’
Hypericum moseranum ‘Albury Purple’
The frost-edged leaves of Heuchera 'Palace Purple.'
I can’t resist the fiery reds, oranges, and yellows of the beautiful red-hot poker. And, I must admit that some of my fascination lies in the fact that they’re just not supposed to grow here in my zone 4 garden. After seeing these beauties in The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, I decided that I must have some. Following some extensive online shopping and research, I discovered that most varieties are listed as being hardy in zones 6 through 9. Bummer!! But, I did find a few varieties that are listed as being zone 5 hardy. I decided to purchase one plant, Bee’s Sunset, and watch and wait. Confession: I visit this plant almost every day, just to make sure it looks happy. I would probably sing to it, too, if only I knew what kind of music it likes. I planted it in one of the most protected areas that I could find, and I’ve read that it helps to tie the leaves togeth
er and mulch it with pine needles for the winter. If all goes well, I will definitely be purchasing some more. I visited the website for Seneca Hill Perennials, which is located in upstate New York. They have had great success in growing these South African plants, and I can only hope that I do, too.
La-da-dee-da-dah……
Hypericum moseranum ‘Albury Purple’
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