I will be potting up some dwarf blueberries for containers on the deck. I also have some edging to install that I will procrastinate on until the ground freezes and then tell myself all winter I will do it first thing when the ground thaws in the spring ;-)

I may get around to planting some seed grown sedum ground covers that are still sitting in a nursery tray I left on the patio table weeks ago.

Really about the only things I have left to do before the snow flies are the things I have been procrastinating about for a while. I was expecting frost weeks ago when the weatherman swore up and down it was going to frost and get really cold for awhile. Stupid weatherman. It has neither frosted nor been cold yet.

I understand that September was the warmest Sept on record as far as worldwide temps go and it is looking like Oct may be the same. I love global warming or whatever it is that results in warmer winters.

I think I need to go let my cars idle for awhile ;-)

(note: I do take climate change issues seriously, I am just making a joke)

Username: What variety are the blueberries? Are they a dwarf variety? I assume you leave them in the pots all winter, do you protect them in some way? They sound really interesting, always looking for new things to grow.

Thanks,
Laura

They are tophat and northsky. Yes, they are dwarfs and well suited to container culture. Both grow around 18" tall. Tophat also gets about 18" wide and northsky will get as wide as 3' if provided a large enough container.

They are both very cold hardy (tophat to zone 3 and northsky to zone 2) so winters aren't an issue, and I have no plans to provide any winter protection other than leaving them on my deck which radiates whatever solar heat is available and will pile some snow on them once it starts flying.

The only real challenge to growing blueberries is soil ph. They do best in the 4.5 to 5.5 ph range with 5.5 being a tad on the high side. Watering with acidic water (rain water or tap water with vinegar added) takes care of the issue though. Also fertilzation needs to be done with an acid formulation such as what is sold for azaleas.

Blueberries are extremely good for nutrition and they freeze perfectly so storing them isn't an issue at all. You can expect 1-2 lbs per dwarf bush once they are mature enough. If you are looking for something new to grow Blueberries in a container are attractive, fairly easy and they taste great. I order mine from raintreenursery.com

I finished planting bulbs today, cut off up some of the ratty looking, mildew infested perennials, cleaned out and organized some of the seeds that I've collected these past few weeks. It was fun - done in the warm sun and gentle breeze. No heat, no excessive humidity, no mosquitoes. I can't remember the last time I had been able to enjoy the outdoors like this.

Tomorrow, I'll go to the temple to do some clean up and dig up some redundant plants or those that have not performed well. I'll be decisive and just throw/compost them to free up the space for some others that will be good for cutflowers. I have not been out there to do anything all summer. It has been sorely neglected.

motria, would you like perennials? I will for sure remove all the white flowers and some of those that bloom all at once. I need succession bloomers to furnish us with cutflowers throughtout the growing season. I will also plant more Dahlias and large mums so I will have enough flowers for fall.

It will be another great day tomorrow. Can't wait.
Have fun, everyone. Enjoy it while it lasts.

OK, I had to make myself come inside, although there is still daylight . . .

This weekend I did a lot of picking up of things I've left sitting around all summer, cleaned up some container plants that are starting to look bedraggled. I have spent most of the summer moving things around--it's my second summer in my house. I think I have much of it the way I want it (my husband hopes by now), so I can kind of sit back and enjoy. I need to clean my little greenhouse too because I have stuff that will need to come in, but the weather's supposed to be beautiful all week, so that can wait, right? For now it's a spider haven.

I finally got & planted the dogwood I've been yearning for, and I dug into the grass two flagstones I found stacked in funny places in my yard. In the process, I uncovered an old concrete stepping stone and a pretty old looking nail.

I felt like I had a pretty productive weekend (so far).

Gee, I'm jealous of you folks with greenhouses. ;-)

I gave myself a deadline to finish moving perennials this weekend so they have a chance to adjust and grow some roots before winter. Thanks to the beautiful weather I was able to achieve that goal. Now I can take my time with re-edging beds, composting, etc.

Pitim - Do you still have some extra perennials hanging around? I, too, am avoiding excess white flowers, but I'd be interested to hear what you've got. Please drop me an email.. I live very close to your temple and could swing by anytime. Thank you for thinking of me.

Pitimp--I finally got smart and looked at your pictures--I love how layered and full your garden is! I have an ID question--in the picture you have of your favorite hosta (Hosta plantaginea--is that the fragrant hosta? I think I have some too) there is another white flower in front of it that has a yellow center. They are ruffled and I discovered some in my yard last year. I love how delicate the blossoms are, but of course I found out that they need little encouragement to spread all over the place. Are they a kind of mum? If I just clip the flowers before they seed, can I contain it? I normally am not interested in white flowers but I also got a white balloon flower this year and it's the prettiest thing, small and old-fashioned.

You've inspired me to try to take over the parkway in front of my house next year . . .

Joan, white flower with yellow center???? Must be Feverfew(Tanacetum parthenium/ Chrysanthemum parthenium/Pyrethrum parthenium). They come in many forms. I like them and don't mind them seeding themselves all over. Sure you can just clip them off to keep them from seeding themselves. I don't mind them. I like to see them pop up where I least expect them.

Yup. I want to take over my neighbor's yard too. :-D

motria, I still have a lot of perennials to dig out. I was wondering whether you would come by last Sunday as I was digging them out. We have a big do this weekend, so I won't be in the garden at the temple. I'll definitely be there the following weekend. Please come by.

Yipee!! That's it. I now know it's name. I know it's just kind of a wild thing. I've had an awful time figuring it out. They're cheerful and bloom a long time, so I like that. I'll just keep an eye on the seeds. I should put some in my herb garden I'm planning for next year.

Thanks!!

Okay, Pitim.. I've marked my calendar for Sat. Oct. 29th, early afternoon (1-ish). DH was interested in seeing the temple itself and inquiring about meditation classes. Do you know whether that would be a good time? Thanks!

Motria, sure. Please come over. I'll make sure to be there, unless it rains heavily. I do need to do more clean up and move things around.

for all of the blueberry information. When I got done reading your post I felt VERY informed!!!

I am going to try and grow these.

Thanks again,
Laura