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Garden Plans
Jan. 23rd, 2016 09:40 amI guess the seasonal cycle must be stirring something within me, because no sooner have I finished the rose pruning (still have a lot of other pruning to do) than I start getting antsy about ordering bare-root plants. I generally don't have to worry about "last frost" (heck, don't worry much about "first frost") and there's an advantage to getting things planted when the ground is nice and wet. Easier to dig and more chance for the new plantings to get a lot of good soaking.
So last night, almost on impulse, I looked through my rose vendor bookmarks and ordered two each of Rosa gallica and the "Ispahan" Damask rose. These will be going in the formal garden, one in each corner. That was always the intention, but I didn't have the last corner bed ready in time last winter, so I filled in with squashes and cucumbers instead. The general plan is to surround the formal garden with fence-like plantings, so the roses will anchor the corners with the berry canes forming the "walls", with an opening in the middle of each side. Currently the berries are supported by stakes and string, but I've gotten some redwood to build something more sturdy. Energetic boysenberries get a bit heavy!
The next shopping task will be to order a few more fruit trees from Trees of Antiquity. I was reminded last year that the Black Tartarian needs a pollinator. My other cherry is a Morello which is self-pollinating but won't pollinate the Tartarian. I'd love to get another old variety, like a Montmorency, but alas the suggested Tartarian pollinators are more modern: Bing, Coral, Napoleon, Rainier, Lapins, Van. I'll probably go for the Napoleon, which dates to the 1700s (yes, for me, that's "more modern"). It's tempting to toss in a Montmorency as well.
I have room for a few more trees in the designated "orchard" part of the yard and I'm dithering on what to commit the space to. Given my love for plums, there's a temptation to put in a damson, except that I'm 80% convinced that the established plum is close enough to a damson to make no difference, and I'd rather not double up just for the certainty. Pears are tempting, but all the older varieties require a pollinator, so I'd be committing to two trees. Still lots of old apple varieties, but with four apples already (the established tree, the two old varieties that fruited last year, and the multi-variety espalier) I think maybe I have enough! So I'm still dithering there.
So last night, almost on impulse, I looked through my rose vendor bookmarks and ordered two each of Rosa gallica and the "Ispahan" Damask rose. These will be going in the formal garden, one in each corner. That was always the intention, but I didn't have the last corner bed ready in time last winter, so I filled in with squashes and cucumbers instead. The general plan is to surround the formal garden with fence-like plantings, so the roses will anchor the corners with the berry canes forming the "walls", with an opening in the middle of each side. Currently the berries are supported by stakes and string, but I've gotten some redwood to build something more sturdy. Energetic boysenberries get a bit heavy!
The next shopping task will be to order a few more fruit trees from Trees of Antiquity. I was reminded last year that the Black Tartarian needs a pollinator. My other cherry is a Morello which is self-pollinating but won't pollinate the Tartarian. I'd love to get another old variety, like a Montmorency, but alas the suggested Tartarian pollinators are more modern: Bing, Coral, Napoleon, Rainier, Lapins, Van. I'll probably go for the Napoleon, which dates to the 1700s (yes, for me, that's "more modern"). It's tempting to toss in a Montmorency as well.
I have room for a few more trees in the designated "orchard" part of the yard and I'm dithering on what to commit the space to. Given my love for plums, there's a temptation to put in a damson, except that I'm 80% convinced that the established plum is close enough to a damson to make no difference, and I'd rather not double up just for the certainty. Pears are tempting, but all the older varieties require a pollinator, so I'd be committing to two trees. Still lots of old apple varieties, but with four apples already (the established tree, the two old varieties that fruited last year, and the multi-variety espalier) I think maybe I have enough! So I'm still dithering there.
