The yellowroot triumphs! Somewhat, anyways. One embatled leaf has poked its head above the mulch and lasted these past two weeks well enough, so hope is still afoot.
My trial three sisters garden goes well- though the maize has been planted too close together. Such is life. Last weekend beans and squash were tucked into the earth, so hopefully by the next time I write there will be pleasant news to report on. It may be a while- winds have been signifigant of late, and more soil has been mounded around the corn to provide support, likely further burying the seeds. If I am truly fortunate, I'll get access to more space and will be able to try for later season plantings in a raised bed.
Prevoiusly I spoke of my pollinator garden, and I am pleased to report that all the plants have been settling in well. On my mother's behalf, I left both oregano and thyme that had been previously growing. However, the oregano is afflicted with a damnable population of leafhoppers. For a long time I have wanted to wage war on them but the garden has not been mine to do so. Now, the first of three shipments of green lacewing eggs is set to arrive today, and I can begin my protracted assault upon the population. Ideally once my pollinator garden is established it will host a sufficient population of insects to stave off any problematic populations, but for now the gardener's hand is required. At the very least, if the lacewings are insufficient, cutting back the oregano for the winter should sufficiently damage their population.
My long garden is somewhat similarly perturbed by insects, but these seem only mildly damaging to the few bee balm stems they feast upon, while the rest of the plant continues on with what seems a renewed vigor. It's my hope that these green little visitors are a native moth or butterfly, but I have been unable to identify them as of yet. Perhaps if they survive the next few instars!
Less fortunately, both my dwarf mulberry and my serviceberry have been plagued by the deer. I assumed that one application of plantskydd would be enough (despite the warning on the back!) and have since paid for my hubris, along with my poor plants. Never the less, they're steady growers, and I will be keeping a far closer hand to them as their growth further develops this season. At the very least, the flies seem to be in favor!
Despite my high hopes, that shaded segment of the garden which held both the yellowroot and the wild ginger I was so hopeful for has been deprived of both. Still the patch will be watered, and I will turn my hopes to the seasons ahead.
While that project languishes, another has begun to grow strong. A large pot has been dedicated to a trial three sisters garden based off of an old agricultural extension pamphlet for educators I found languishing in some refrences section. The first five kernels planted have sprouted, and as of this morning had two leaves from each seedling. This week is home to extreme temperatures, and corn is a thirsty child, but I hope deep watering in the mornings will be enough to sustain them through it. Everyone who has tried to nurture any sort of plant knows that you can only do your best and hope the weather smiles upon you. I remember the frost I spoke of last time, and how badly it burnt back the leaves of the dwarf mulberry. That too has just recovered, and will be recieving some special care.
Finally, a long awaited shipment of native plants for my pollinator garden has arrived. I spent the time before the sun burnt the earth burning my back in the sun to get them all tucked safely in the cool earth before the heat truly came walking to the ground. Cutleaf coneflowers, Hairy Beardtongue, Golden Alexanders, Butterfly weed- If only I could see how it will look years out from now, flush and well established! Ideally it will only need babying for this, and perhaps the next, year. I will not always live in this house, but my mother likes to watch the bees, and maintence will be easy for her with the automated sprinkler system.
True to form, the bee balm in my side garden is insistient about recieving my attention. My plants are sourced from two different nurseries, one which is smaller and prone to dense, bushy growth (and thus needs pruning to allow for air flow) and the other which is prone to explosive vertical growth (and thus needs pruning to encourage bushiness and prevent it from shading out the beginnings of giant hyssop against the fence). I cannot complain, any opportunity to work with the sun on my back I will take, and a second batch of leaves are drying for tea in the cool darkness of the garage.
The garden has been well. Despite the chill of the last week, one of the dormant roots I planted in the autumn survives above ground. Its friend the yellowroot, however, appears to have fallen prey to the frost or some adventurous browser. Despite this, none of the dirt appears to have been disturbed so I remain hopefull for a patch to get itself established.
In the sunnier strip of garden the bee balm has been growing voraciously, it seems to be the first of the lot to start growing in the springtime, gathering strength before sprouting up tall. Yesterday I trimmed back some more adventurous stalks so they didn't crowd out the giant hyssop which has just begun to put on height. Most likely this will be a relationship I mediate throught the season, but I certianly won't complain about the opportunity to gather leaves for tea from the cut stalks.
It is sad to see the ephemeral leaves of the trout lilies loose their mottled colors as their season ends- but it was lovely to have them as brief springtime visitors. I hope that when they return again next year there will be some flowers amongst the patch!