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  WINDY CITY TIMES

THE FAIRY GARDENER Light levels in the garden
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Jim Edminster
2017-03-07

This article shared 411 times since Tue Mar 7, 2017
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I've come to the conclusion that one of the most useful tools to a city gardener would be a light meter, which would show you the amounts of light in different parts of your yard.

After years of struggle trying to grow coneflowers, daisies and hydrangeas ( all supposedly easy-to-grow plants ), it has dawned on me that my failure may be due to low light levels, as opposed to general ineptness. My yard has too many episodes of darkness since it has five big trees scattered around and houses on both sides. I should probably shift to all shade plants. So, there are lots of astilbes, liatris, heucheras and hostas. This is why the cherry tree an ex-roommate persuaded me to put in after five years has not grown an inch and its crop last year was ... cherries. ( I eat one or two, and leave the rest for the wildlife. )

The new tenant, a chef, told me he wants to cultivate some pots of veggies and herbs. More power to him: There's plenty of new dirt in the compost heap. ( Actually it's not a heap—it's an arts-and-crafts brick bed with fancy pallet tops. ) But the patio where the pots reside is the sunniest place in the yard.

The top deck on my house also gets sun, which is why the cannas are going there. I'll have to find the netting for the tropical hibiscus that goes up there—it's been inside all winter and it'll sunburn if I don't cover it for a week or two after they go outside. I wonder if the oleander andthe plumbago I was given last summer will have to be shaded a bit too?

Even in fairly shady areas, bulbs usually come through since sun-covering tree leaves won't have unfurled yet. Lilies, of course, will actually take a little shade.

The fish in my pond have been more active than ever before. Only one night did a little ice crust form over the pond, meaning the yard cats could drink at it. ( Here's a pic I'd like to paint: the feral cats contemplating the goldfish, which are contemplating the feral cats. ) Speaking of these things in your garden—if you have water and flowers, you may have fish and bees. Over a long time, these scientists tell us both insects ( especially bees ) and fish can think—not Einsteins but definitely not instinctual automatons. When someone tells you your fish don't recognize you, you have my permission to snarkily tell them, "If I fed you every day you might learn to recognize me too!"

One of the other things I've figured out about my yard ( after only 30 years ) is that while my yard's dirt is fertile, it is only fertile if I put, and leave, mulch on it each year. I leave on a former beach of Lake Michigan and a foot down the ground is pure sand.This means I have excellent ( too excellent ) drainage. The yard's minerals and fertility drain away with excess water. I am loathe to use chemical fertilizers or any kind od weed or insect killers so I stick with leaf mulch and occasional bags of composted manure.

I've been able to baby the tropical bromeliads I found in a box in the alley 3 years ago. They were only supposed to last a year so I guess I can't complain that they are declining rapidly.

Here's a review of the book Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces, by Michele Slatalla. It's a romp through 13 gardens in which the author tells you "steal this look." She suggests and shows ideas for firepits, paths and drainage solutions.

The carnivorous plant, the Venus flytrap, used to be called the tipitiwichet.

You can use discarded Xmas trees in your yard but birds won't eat popcorn or cranberries. ( Squirrels might. ) Hang apple slices, orange slices or peanuts on them for birds.

Eating daily fruits andveggies if you've been or are, a smoker lowers your chances of heart disease 4 to 8 percent.

Low containers of mud attract birds when they're nest building. Also, a square foot or two of bare dirt attracts birds who like to bathe in dust.

This month's dish is kapusta, an old Polish comfort food: Ingredients: One large cored diced ( smallish ) green cabbage, one large diced sweet yellow onion, six tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper, and a pound of cooked butterfly noodles ( optional ).

To do: Toss cabbage, onion, oil, pepper in a Dutch oven or large pot that can be put in oven. Slide into a 325-degree oven. Cook uncovered two and 1/2 hours. Season with salt. Stir occasionally. Toss the noodles with the rest if you wish.

Await the true spring ( or maybe the snow ), but my snowdrops are telling me all is in preparation for the resurrection!


This article shared 411 times since Tue Mar 7, 2017
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