BLOG.MYSECRETGARDENONSWL.COM

Miscellaneous Information

2009-01-17T14:57:00Z

Below you will find links to a garden variety of informational websites and blogs:

1. My Secret Garden Website: MY SECRET GARDEN

Learn how I can help you accomplish your gardening goals.

2. Kane County Extention: KANE COUNTY U OF I EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS

Learn how to become a master gardener and other information

3. Blotanical Blog: BLOTANICAL

Share gardener's thoughts and issues

4. Challenging Pets: MARKAY DOG TRAINING

If you need help training your pets - Liz is awesome

5. Garden Coach Blog: GARDEN RANT

Lessons from Garden Coaches

6. Garden Information: SUSTAINABLE GARDENING BLOG

Share your thoughts with other gardeners

7. Find a Garden Coach: GARDEN COACHING DIRECTORY

Search for a garden coach in your area

8. Grow Herbs: HISTORY OF AND GROWING HERBS

9. Grow Salvias: GROWING SALVIA - PLANT HABITS AND DROUGHT TOLERANT VARIETIES

10. On Line Gardening Seminars: SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NEWSLETTERS AND SEMINAR INFORMATION

From water conservation to germinating seeds

11. On Line Data Base for over 170,000 flowers/plants:

PLANT DATA BASEPLANT DATA BASE

Sage 'n Thyme

2009-01-15T19:06:00Z

The lessons I've learned in my garden are many. I thought I'd share a few with you.

1. Never, Never, Never expect the expected: My garden never fails to keep me guessing and wondering how that red flower ended up in my pink/blue garden or how that '12 inch at maturity' plant ended up at 27". (Also refer to #2 and #3)

2. Always, always read the entire plant tag: Failing to do so, IN THE GARDEN CENTER, is always a problem. I am forever getting home and then reading the whole tag and swearing it said something entirely different. Also, never forget your glasses.

3. Over zealousness always, always leads to overcrowding: Never forget that the little 4" or gallon container has a plant in it that will actually grow many times larger than its present size. Just because it looks so small and cute and its beautiful flower and unusual color is there on the table staring up at you, just begging to go home with you, is absolutely not a good excuse to buy another plant. Against popular belief Plants are not really babies, do not have feelings and you CAN walk away.

4. Always, always use Self Control (or at the very least try and attempt it): This is actually the most difficult, because I make deals with myself - such as - "Well, if I buy these four plants today, then I will not buy anymore the next 2 times I go to a nursery." I am sure you can see the obvious pitfalls with this logic: A: What am I doing at a garden center the next two times if I do not intend to buy flowers. B: The only one that knows I have not kept my promise to myself is of course me...and C: I can easily justify breaking revising the promise I made to myself to suit myself.

5. Always, always have a plan and stick to it: Ok, I am sure you can tell by now where I am going with this. I am Garden Coach and Garden Planner. I give this advice to all of my clients, and I truly expect them to heed my sage advice. It is sage advice. I know it is the right thing to do, yet for some unknown reason, I cannot seem to follow my very own counsel. I definitely promise to do better this year.

6. Always, always take the time to look behind you: Sometimes we are so busy with a task at hand and trying our very best to make one space in our garden 'just right', that we tend to forget about all of the rest of the garden that is already 'just right'. Sometimes what you thought was a mistake ends up adding that little bit of color or texture you didn't realize it needed...Always take the time to look behind you and really look at what you've accomplished over thyme...I guarantee it will bring peace and tranquility to your life if only for the moment or at least until you spy the next weed in line to be pulled.

Debbie Notaro, My Secret Garden, Master Gardener, Garden Coach and Designer, St. Charles, IL, Chicago Area, Sage 'n Thyme Blog

My Favorite Garden Flowers

2009-01-15T18:49:00Z

My favorite all time flower I think is Digitalis purpurea, Foxglove. Having said that I also really like Echinacea with Perovskia, Russian Sage and some Roses - only if they smell really good. I am very prejudice when it comes to roses...if they don't smell they don't get in. If they are going to stick and scratch me they must do something other than look pretty and attract Japanese Beetles. One of my favorites is Rosa, Gertrude Jekyll and another is the Cottage Rose.

Gertrude Jekyll

Cottage Rose

If you want to talk about shade flowers then I have to say that I am developing a serious affection for Pulmonaria, Lungwort. When it is in bloom the blue and pink hues are gorgeous. Hostas are, in my garden, a staple and they and I love it. Epimedium is slowing but surely in competition for my affinity for Helleborus. I am also in serious 'like' with the Brunnera Family, kind of expensive but the variegated cultivars are quite beautiful...

Pulmonaria - Lungwort

Brunnera - Brunnera

Now lets talk about Hydrangas. They are in this mini classification in my mind because so many are now tolerant of some sun and are pretty good without boat loads of water every day- depending on the day of course. Among my favorites are PeeWee and Limelight. I have them together along my dry river bed and they light up a fairly dark space at certain times of the day. I really like them.

Hydrangea paniculata 'PeeGee' Hydranga

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' - Limelight Hydranga

Debbie Notaro, My Secret Garden, Master Gardener, Garden Coach and Designer, St. Charles, IL, Chicago Area, Sage 'n Thyme Blog

Top 3 Container Flowers

2009-01-15T18:09:00Z

My 3 favorite container flowers are as follows:

1. Geraniums - All sorts and kinds. Regular common Geraniums, Ivy trailing types and of course the scenteds. I know it is an old fashioned common plant, but I love it for the vibrant color and unending blooms. It never overpowers the rest of the plants in the container and is fairly disease and insect free. Pelargonium hortorum

2. Millet - is one of my newer loves. It is tall, with taller shoots, very colorful, and textural.

It is great in the center of a container with chartreuse and pink or purple. The shoot strength is very good, doesn't flop over and is interesting to look at. This plant also does not take over the rest. It is also fairly disease and insect burden free.

3. Swedish Ivy - Plectranthus coleoides - What can I say, the smell is to die for and the variegated coloring is a great contrast with other plants or is it good to go on its own in a container. This plant does not really like to live cooperatively with others, but it is worth the time and effort to trim it back. I have also taken the time to pull it and divide it during a particularly good growing year.

4. Ok I know I said three but here are a few more:

Coleus - So many varieties that add SO much to any container - Color, Texture, Leaf Variation oh my!

5. Gaura - love it in a container - pink or white. Great for movement and sprigs of color like little butterflies hovering over the pot. See it in the Chair Container for Swedish Ivy.

6. Herbs - Very general statement I understand...Just think for a moment if you put a lavender say Provence and planted with it Thyme, Salvia Purpurea, or Tri Color, some trailing oregano - I did it was beautiful and could hardly take it apart in the fall. Try it you'll like it.

Debbie Notaro, My Secret Garden, Master Gardener, Garden Coach and Designer, St. Charles, IL, Chicago Area, Sage 'n Thyme Blog

My Secret Garden Top 3 Favorite Container Combinations

2009-01-15T15:37:00Z

I have many favorites, but this past year these were my top picks:

Starting with:

#3: Red Geranium, Euphorbia - Diamond Frost, Red Verbena, Rosemary -

- Black Container

- All plants played nicely with one another...none overcrowded the others

- Really nice red/white/dark green contrast with nice fragrance

#2: Red Geranium, Swedish Ivy, Euphorbia - Diamond Frost, Diascia - Red Ace

- Window Box

- As always Swedish Ivy tends to overpower the rest of the containers

inhabitants - keep a weary eye on it and trim back as necessary.

- The scent and color is worth the effort.

- Really Charming

#1: Rose tree topiary, Ivy Geranium, Spearmint -

- Black Container

- Light pink Rose Tree paired with medium pink Ivy Geranium and a tiny bits of Mentha spicata that quickly spread around the pot

- Very Cottage Garden pretty

Sorry no good picture of this one...

The grand prize: Coleus - 'Moonglow' and a Deep Burgundy curly leaf; Ipomea - Chartreuse or Burgundy or both; Sanvitalia sunbini - creeping zinnia; Lysimachia congestiflora; Solaire Bidens ferulifolia; Ornamental Millet 'Purple Baron'-

- Stunning great performer in Sun/Shade location

- Lysimachia needs regular watering, but has adorable little yellow flower and

a wonderful dark green leaf.

- The continuous contrast between the burgundy, chartreuse and yellow is striking

- Planted in a tall, round, brown container

Other good ones: Combined Coleus colors - deep burgundys with chartreuse/burgundy mix or tri-colors like pink/burgundy/chartreuse coleus with pink verbena and a solid chartreuse coleus add a trailer like Lysimachia 'Goldi" and/or Ornamental Millet 'Purple Baron' - awesome.

Debbie Notaro, My Secret Garden, Master Gardener, Garden Coach, St. Charles, IL - Chicago Area, Sage 'n Thyme Blog

Welcome

2009-01-13T23:59:31Z

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

I hope you enjoy the next few pages of things I've come to learn after spending many hours in My Secret Garden.

"In garden arrangement, as in all other kinds of decorative work, one has not only to acquire a knowledge of what to do, but also to gain some wisdom in perceiving what is well to let alone." by Gertrude Jekyll

Please Visit my Website: http://www.mysecretgardenonswl.com

Debbie Notaro, My Secret Garden, Master Gardener, Garden Coach and Designer, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elburn, Chicago, IL