Deer Bed Update

I went out to check on my deer bed. Remember, these perennials were half dead and anything I got would've been gravy considering what they've been thru.
The first thing that I noticed was the entire bed is full of weeds. Weed seeds from thousands of years waited for us to rototill and expose them to the sunlight, so they might germinate and make me angry. I got out the hoe, of all things, and scraped and chopped. I am hoping it will be enough. I need to get some mulch out there.
I yanked 2 red twigged dogwoods out of the mixed border. They are not good neighbors and were shading everything out. I also discovered the ground squirrels have eaten away at my peonies. Sick, sick, sick.
After hoeing for an hour and a half, my right arm fell off so I took a break and got my camera. These perennials are so grateful to be in the ground, they decided to flower!

Autumn Joy, almost in flower!

Purple Rain Salvia

Vera Jamieson Sedum seems especially happy here in deer land. 

I did see deer tracks. I couldn't tell if they'd eaten anything, though.

I see bloggers' zinnias and I love them! My girlfriend, RoseM has fabulous tall ones that are lush and colorful. This is an anemic variety, Purple Prince. 

I am just not feeling this guy. I made the decision to grow it because it is an heirloom, so I thought it would be a big showy one. I will keep trying with zinnias. I just see so many pretty ones. 

I ordered pansy seed from Jung's. I stuck them in the fridge and will throw them on the ground and see what happens!

I also ordered 'Double Click Cranberry' Cosmos. It sounds good enough to eat!

Jung's says "amazing flower production". Maybe they mean for me, too!

RoseM has a bed with Cosmic Yellow cosmos with tall verbena and I fell in love with it. 

I think I would like to add a cutting border. I don't want to work too hard on this, I will just scalp the lawn in late October in a long narrow path. As the first snow flies, I will throw some poppy seeds, larkspur and tall cornflower. In the spring, I will throw Cut and Come Again Zinnias, the Cosmic Cosmos, the Cranberry Double Click, and the verbena. The combination sounds awesome to me. We'll have to see how sowing in situ goes for me. 

They look all the world like cippolini onions, but they are tomatillos. I roasted them with some garlic today, ready to make salsa verde. 

I cannot tell you how fabulous the house smells right now....

Deer Bed Done

On Friday nite, Jeff used a borrowed 50 year old rototiller to till up the Deer bed. It was an old machine and he wouldn't use the stabilizer bar and it took him hours. He was wet with sweat from head to toe when he finally came in around 8:00pm. 

Saturday I was ready to go. The morning was hot and thickly humid. Normal, for August in the midwest. I checked the radar and the rain was still in Iowa, I had a few hours to get this done!

9:24am

The digging begins!

9:44am 

The very first tree planted.

Laid down a layer of unfinished compost. 

Nick working on the 3rd hole. 

Nick

10:15am

sun is still shining, but the clouds are closing in to the west and there was no breeze at all

The border's bones are in and I'm alone, Nick left for haircut.

11:07am

less sun now. Thunder rumbles to the north and every now and again, a cool breeze that smelled like rain could be felt 

Dug out the Winterberry hollies that were way too close to the evergreens and placed them in the Deer bed, along with the Ninebark, and two hunks of 'Hamlen' that were growing under the climbing rose. 

11:37am

No sun now. Humidity is soaring. Thunder is constant, in the background.

The last of the trees and shrubs are in. 

The puppy comes to visit and interrupts my progress!

That is not blue sky behind the girls, it is storm clouds!!

The rain began soon after this was taken.

Big fat drops plopped on us. 

Big fat soft rain drops fell heavy on my newly planted border for an hour. 

25 "rescued" plants from the garden center + 5 transplanted from my existing borders= 28 plants in 3 hours.

Not a bad day's work for a morning!

Plant list for Deer Bed:

1 Honey Locust 'Sunburst'

3 Potentilla 'McKay's White'

Pennisetum 'Fountain Grass'

Miscanthus sinensis 'Flame Grass'

Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder'

2 Lilac, 'Miss Kim' standards

2  Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Penstemon, 'Pina Colada'

2 Artemesia 'Silver Brocade'

3 Salvia 'Sensation Rose'

Russian Sage (no variety listed)

Catmint 'Blue Wonder'

Lamb's Ears 'Helen von Stein'

Coreopsis, 'American Dream'

3 Blue Fescue 'Elijah Blue'

Hardy Geranium, 'Karmina'

2 Lupine, 'Popsicle Mix'

2 Winterberry holly, 'Red Sprite'

Ninebark, 'Coppertina'

Pennisetum, 'Hameln'

Salvia, 'Purple Rain' (a little iffy on this guy, I am pushing the zone limits on this one, but if it works, it is spectacular in the garden! Different than the typical salvia, so I am hoping it works)

Plants that I have and need to divide and add to Deer Bed:

Iris siberica, 'Caesar's Brother'

Bee balm- Raspberry Wine and Blue Stockings

Corepsis 'Zagreb'

Shasta daisy no variety known

anemone robustissima

Plants (bulbs) I plan to purchase

Allium moly

grape hyacinth

crocus

This has been quite a project. I got almost the entire family involved. Cass didn't really help, but that's ok, she kept the kitchen clean.

The heavens have opened up and rain is pouring all over our new deer bed, driving the fertilizer into the ground and giving my plants the best shot to survive the harsh winter and the late planting. 

All that's left is the picture taking (easy, I got that one), and the mulching, (a little more difficult since we don't have the pick-up truck any longer)...