Show Date: 30 Jun 09

It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity! ARG!

Everything grows so well, including pesky weeds. Hand picking can work with annual weeds but those perennials are tougher. Lightly cultivating these guys usually just means you’ve broken off a tap root and now will have even more weeds. You need a total vegetation killer like Round Up. But wait!

Paint the chemical on the offending weeds leaves with one of those 1-inch sponge paint brushes on a windless day. Be sure to follow all safety precautions and read the label carefully. You can also cut the top and bottom out of a gallon milk jug, place it over the weed and spray inside. You might want to wear a mask with this method.

Show Date: 23 Jun 09

So weeding’s not your bag, then plant these perennials pack a weed blocking punch: “Emerald Blue” moss phlox, “Thriller” lady’s mantle, “Walker’s Low” catmint, “Herman’s Pride” false lamium and “Golden Fleece” dwarf goldenrod. All of these are spreaders (read invasive) and they have dense leaf cover.

Emerald blue moss phlox.

Show Date: 22 Jun 09

I spent much of my weekend weeding which really means I let my mind wander. Listening to the birds, the chimes my husband made and dreaming. I find it relaxing while feeling like I’ve accomplished something. I leave some weeds behind in hopes that bad bugs will munch on them and they’ll give shelter to good bugs! Oh and I scoped a couple of sales and found two newer cultivars of Ninebark called “Center Glow” developed by the University of Minnesota:

Ninebark Center glow.

Can’t wait to see what they look like next year!