Candling

We planted a Dwarf Mugo Pine several years ago.  Although it is considered dwarf, it will still get quite large over the years and is beginning to crowd the surrounding perennials.  In spring, new growth on pines and conifers looks like candles on a candelabra. To control the growth rate and shape, we are selectively pruning the candles on our Mugo so that it doesn't take over the entire space.

Unholy Star-of-Bethlehem

Despite it's spiritual name, Star-of-Bethlehem is pure evil! Every March and April, the sweet-looking, delicate flower pops up throughout the beds in Griffin's Yard. I've seen Star-of-Bethlehem sold as a spring-flowering ornamental in nurseries, yet many extension agencies consider it an invasive weed for good reason. Related to wild onion and garlic, it multiplies profusely due to the little bulbs that spread through the soil. It's very difficult to pull and extract the entire bulb system. If I'm lucky enough to lift it out in one piece, the bulb inevitably separates and scatters back into the soil only to return next year in more abundance. Did I mention this prolific garden invader is also poisonous?


Oh Star-of-Bethlehem, won't you please hear my prayers of mercy? Amen.

The Ice Plant Cometh

Last year I planted a couple tiny Ice Plant sprigs in between stones on our little waterfall.  It has grown like crazy and has completely filled in all the bare spots.  The plant bears beautiful fuchsia flowers that are just now starting to bloom.  They open during the day and close back up in the shady afternoon.  Rock gardeners love this plant for it's drought tolerance and spread.  Evidently, you can snip off a runner, plunk it in the ground elsewhere and it will grow as long as you water it every day for a while.

Black Gold

We just received our annual compost delivery from Rob, my brother-in-law and owner of All Around Yard Maintenance.  

Nearly every spring for the past ten years, we've added a truckload of compost to the garden beds.  In doing so, we've been able to completely change the composition of our soil which was once hard, rocky clay with very little drainage. It's a lot of work every year, but it has been worth the effort.


All this compost helps our soil retain moisture so we use less water. It's also providing essential nutrients for our plants so we don't use as much fertilizer.  Most importantly, we are helping to protect the environment because compost is made from organic waste like fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, grass clippings, leaves, etc.


In order to have compost available all season long, I hope to someday build a three-section composting bin.  It will be like having our own little black gold mine.

Cousin It Needs a Haircut

I know, I know, I know!  I was supposed to trim Cousin It last fall. This is one reason why I've started blogging about Griffin's Yard.  I'm hoping it will help me stay motivated throughout the season and avoid my traditional late-summer slack.  Each year, I am passionate about Griffin's Yard until late July.  After that, for whatever reason, I'm all done.  Last year was exceptionally bad.  I stopped weeding, dead-heading and, at the end of the year did not cut back any perennials or grasses. I'm paying for it now in garden spades.

And so another season-long battle has begun!

Bindweed!  It's one huge organism winding through the soil and throughout the beds.  When it surfaces above ground, it wraps its spindly tentacles around any plant that comes into contact with it.  I don't know of any safe way to eradicate bindweed without harming other plants.  Therefore, I pick, pull and unravel bindweed from my ornamentals and shrubs all season long.

Due to the unusually wet, rainy weather this year many never-before-seen garden invaders have introduced themselves.  It's going to take several days to completely clean out our beds. The only way I'm going to make any progress is to don my slicker and pull weeds in the rain and mud.

Take a look at the monster below. This isn't bindweed, or any of the other usual suspects, but some new garden antagonist that came along only to harass me.