KCB is a professional gardener and friend who does wonderful work in the Greater Portland area. KCB is also an accredited Master Gardener by the Cooperative Extension Service and we are proud to tell you that KCB was recently honored as the 2008 Master Gardener of the Year. And we are honored to have KCB as part of our Skillin's Garden Log family. Now on with the show...
Remember when you whined this phrase to your parents as they called ‘time for bed’?
Those with children or even grand children may find it more familiar still. Then, perhaps not, with some of the conveniences that are in the children’s bedrooms of today being sent to bed may be a welcomed treat.
Still we have all heard the pleading of someone not wanting to leave a place or a task that was deemed fun. One more swing, one more bike ride, story. We’ve all heard or asked the question. As did one of my gardens this week.
As I approached the property, I was in awe at the sight of the rich indigo supertunias along with Johnny Jump-ups and the marled blue and white pansies that seemed to dance around a small bed at around the base of the lamppost. Once in the driveway the trio of containers at the front doorway was overflowing with varying hues and shades of purple to lavender whether it be from the Royal Velvet supertunias, the Osteospermum, trailing superbells punctuated with flowering kale. The melding of summer and fall annuals were doing nicely. Not at all bad for the week before Halloween.
The hypnotic spice of sweet alyssum carried me to Zanzibar while the white blossoms powered my nose as I stooped to clean fallen leaves from the still thriving annual bed. The puffs of white were the perfect foil for the magenta tinged purple heads of ornamental cabbage. Rusty shards of oak leaves could not hinder the pugnacious efforts of the blooms.
The beds at the rear of the house were once a sweeping array of the client’s favorite palette where not a yellow, orange, or red bloom does dwell. Indigo, burgundy, purple, and pink with pockets of white are all but gone. In their wake, the once vibrant have morphed to muted mauves, smoky plums and gray greens. Joe Pye towers with a now silvery glow in the fading sun. A rogue bloom emerges from the clumps that remained from the Shasta Daisies cut back two weeks ago. A self-sowed Cosmos emerged like the Phoenix from the stalks I pulled from the ground earlier this month. Roses continue to bloom from buds to numerous to count. Endless Summer Hydrangeas have matured to regal blooms that appear tea stained from time. Foliage is mottled maroon. The hues are gentler, softer offering the perfect back drop for the vibrant deep pink of Summerwine Yarrow that refuses to go by the way the season that bares it’s name.
The air chills while the sight of such perseverance warms my soul. Time is not on my side as I have many gardens to send to bed for their long winter’s nap. Some are ready having given their all for man and nature. Not this one. This one is surely pleading …
A little while longer………….. PULLLEASE??
KCB for Skillin's Greenhouses
October 27, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Garden Talks October 26
Hello again,
I spent some time neatening the yard yesterday and I have a few Garden Talks to say.
I dumped all my beloved vegetable and flower containers yesterday (well all but the Swiss Chard) as the frosts of this past week finally did a number on them. I had a great year with my containers again.
To review, I would definitely recommend Bar Harbor Blend Potting Soil by Coast of Maine as THE soil of choice for containers. It is locally produced and we need to use all the local products we can but good news--it is not expensive AND it is the BEST quality potting soil I have ever used. I highly recommend it. Also I highly recommend aggressively using the Fish and Seaweed fertilizer when you water the containers early on in the season. This gets your plants off to a fast start NATURALLY and strengthens the roots for a good flowering or vegetable season. This is still Maine and still a short season so I don't think you can fertilize your containers too much as long as you do it naturally. Finally, I deposit at least two Plant Tablets by Organica into each container every two months. Once I stop using the Fish and Seawood food (after the first month) the broken down Plant Tablets are giving the roots of the plant all kinds of food and good natural bacteria.
I grew some very nice vegetables this season in my containers. Full sun is needed and I was able to place some on the top of my paved driveway so my fall plantings still stayed warm for awhile. I would make sure your fall containers (use peas, even beans, carrots really try anything) should be planted by seed by the first week of August. The air gets pretty cold in Spetember even when the containers are on the warm pavement.
I still have some very nice Red Sails lettuce and broccoli that I planted (as seedlings, not seeds) on a warm Labor Day afternoon. These plants face southeast and it got pretty warm the first few days so they "flagged" from the heat the first few days but as I said the plants are gorgeous now and I still think I will get some broccoli. Red Sails is a leaf lettuce and I have been cutting that for weeks now. Make a note in your Journal--I highly recommend Red Sails lettuce early this coming year (think April) and also late (think September).
I mowed my lawn short and ground a few leaves (great organic matter for your lawn) in the process. I kept my lawn long this year because I wanted the longer blades of grass to help "shade out" prospective weeds. I think that approach worked well and I will do that again next year. Yesterday I knocked my lawn mower down a notch closer to the ground so I got a shorter cut. I will do this again in another week or ten days to keep the lawn more closely cropped as we draw closer to winter (better air circulation in colder and wetter weather is a good thing) and also to grind a few more leaves into the ground. I used to think that grinding leaves in the lawn was not a good thing; that those leaves would contribute to thatch (thick layerings of built up material that would keep air and water from the ground). But this was before I started to use natural fertilizers on the lawn several years ago. Now all the natural ingredients in natural fertlilizers help break down organic matter like the ground up leaves to improve the cell structure and microbial matter in the soil. Better soil, deeper roots and a naturally greener and stronger lawn.
Want a great plant that yields nutrituous fruit and gives great colored foliage in the fall? Blueberries! The foliage in my blueberries is gorgeous right now. Beautiful! Blueberries are my favorite fruit and I really appreciate the orangy red foliage right now!
Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
October 26, 2008
I spent some time neatening the yard yesterday and I have a few Garden Talks to say.
I dumped all my beloved vegetable and flower containers yesterday (well all but the Swiss Chard) as the frosts of this past week finally did a number on them. I had a great year with my containers again.
To review, I would definitely recommend Bar Harbor Blend Potting Soil by Coast of Maine as THE soil of choice for containers. It is locally produced and we need to use all the local products we can but good news--it is not expensive AND it is the BEST quality potting soil I have ever used. I highly recommend it. Also I highly recommend aggressively using the Fish and Seaweed fertilizer when you water the containers early on in the season. This gets your plants off to a fast start NATURALLY and strengthens the roots for a good flowering or vegetable season. This is still Maine and still a short season so I don't think you can fertilize your containers too much as long as you do it naturally. Finally, I deposit at least two Plant Tablets by Organica into each container every two months. Once I stop using the Fish and Seawood food (after the first month) the broken down Plant Tablets are giving the roots of the plant all kinds of food and good natural bacteria.
I grew some very nice vegetables this season in my containers. Full sun is needed and I was able to place some on the top of my paved driveway so my fall plantings still stayed warm for awhile. I would make sure your fall containers (use peas, even beans, carrots really try anything) should be planted by seed by the first week of August. The air gets pretty cold in Spetember even when the containers are on the warm pavement.
I still have some very nice Red Sails lettuce and broccoli that I planted (as seedlings, not seeds) on a warm Labor Day afternoon. These plants face southeast and it got pretty warm the first few days so they "flagged" from the heat the first few days but as I said the plants are gorgeous now and I still think I will get some broccoli. Red Sails is a leaf lettuce and I have been cutting that for weeks now. Make a note in your Journal--I highly recommend Red Sails lettuce early this coming year (think April) and also late (think September).
I mowed my lawn short and ground a few leaves (great organic matter for your lawn) in the process. I kept my lawn long this year because I wanted the longer blades of grass to help "shade out" prospective weeds. I think that approach worked well and I will do that again next year. Yesterday I knocked my lawn mower down a notch closer to the ground so I got a shorter cut. I will do this again in another week or ten days to keep the lawn more closely cropped as we draw closer to winter (better air circulation in colder and wetter weather is a good thing) and also to grind a few more leaves into the ground. I used to think that grinding leaves in the lawn was not a good thing; that those leaves would contribute to thatch (thick layerings of built up material that would keep air and water from the ground). But this was before I started to use natural fertilizers on the lawn several years ago. Now all the natural ingredients in natural fertlilizers help break down organic matter like the ground up leaves to improve the cell structure and microbial matter in the soil. Better soil, deeper roots and a naturally greener and stronger lawn.
Want a great plant that yields nutrituous fruit and gives great colored foliage in the fall? Blueberries! The foliage in my blueberries is gorgeous right now. Beautiful! Blueberries are my favorite fruit and I really appreciate the orangy red foliage right now!
Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
October 26, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Begonias
Hello again,
Barbara Gardener checks in with the following note:
"I've never seen a begonia with leaves like these. Probably very common. I'm sure you have since I bought 6 at Skillins. The others all had the dark green that I am used to.
I'm starting to fill this shady area in with ground cover. Ajuga and the mysterious blue."
I'm starting to fill this shady area in with ground cover. Ajuga and the mysterious blue."
Barbara, great to hear from you. These appear to be Proven Winner Nonstop Begonias that are just bright and gorgeous. We feature several colors with this type of leaf pattern in the Spring.
I have used similar plants with almost the same leaf BUT with a deep maroon color for a shade container the last couple of years. Really nice!
Begonias are a solid choice for shady spots or partial shade spots. An old time plant that just does a great job. Watch the ajuga and the mysterious blue (Barbara did we decide those were forget me nots? I forgot!) for invasiveness but maybe that is okay with you in that spot.
Thanks,
Mike Skillin
Good News About Good Shepherd!
Hello again,
Great news!
This past Saturday October 18, Skillin's Greenhouses and our loyal customers raised a total of $1043.56 for the Good Shepherd Food Bank.
Check out http://www.gsfb.org/ to get an idea of all the great organizations that the Good Shepherd Food Bank provides food for. There is plenty to worry about these days. But for many people around us decent food is not an option as folks scramble for clothes and fuel.
Let’s help the Good Shepherd Food Bank keep over 600 Maine food banks supplied—do you realize that just a $25 contribution feeds a family of 3 for two weeks? What a truly efficient way to help a family save more for fuel and clothes by helping the Good Shepherd Food Bank provide food! OR that because all the great relationships in the food distribution industry that Good Shepherd has cultivated that a $1.00 donation means $12.50 in real food to the hungry in Maine!
So thank you Skillin's Staff and Customers for helping to bring over $13,000 in real food to fellow Mainers in need. That is just awesome!
There is more that we can all do. It is our intent this Christmas Holiday season to donate a generous portion of each retail sale of Skillin's Christmas trees, wreaths, roping and poinsettias to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. This should mean even more in donations to an incredible cause for so many fellow Mainers.
Thanks,
Mike Skillin
Great news!
This past Saturday October 18, Skillin's Greenhouses and our loyal customers raised a total of $1043.56 for the Good Shepherd Food Bank.
Check out http://www.gsfb.org/ to get an idea of all the great organizations that the Good Shepherd Food Bank provides food for. There is plenty to worry about these days. But for many people around us decent food is not an option as folks scramble for clothes and fuel.
Let’s help the Good Shepherd Food Bank keep over 600 Maine food banks supplied—do you realize that just a $25 contribution feeds a family of 3 for two weeks? What a truly efficient way to help a family save more for fuel and clothes by helping the Good Shepherd Food Bank provide food! OR that because all the great relationships in the food distribution industry that Good Shepherd has cultivated that a $1.00 donation means $12.50 in real food to the hungry in Maine!
So thank you Skillin's Staff and Customers for helping to bring over $13,000 in real food to fellow Mainers in need. That is just awesome!
There is more that we can all do. It is our intent this Christmas Holiday season to donate a generous portion of each retail sale of Skillin's Christmas trees, wreaths, roping and poinsettias to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. This should mean even more in donations to an incredible cause for so many fellow Mainers.
Thanks,
Mike Skillin
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Ode To Alliums!
Good friend Kathleen Carr Bailey of Finishing Touches is quoted extensively in this very recent article in the Maine Sunday Telegram about alliums and how to plant them for great spring color!
Alliums are a very reliable and relatively inexpensive spring flowering bulb and can be purchased right here at Skillin's!
When most gardeners think of fall-planted bulbs, they picture the early bloomers such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and crocuses.
But alliums, or ornamental onions, can be planted now until the end of October, and provide blooms in late spring or summer.
"Alliums are just a little surprise – or sometimes a big surprise – in the garden," said Kathleen Carr Bailey of Portland, who runs a gardening company called Finishing Touches and recently taught a class in planting bulbs at Skillins Greenhouse in Falmouth.
Alliums are onions. The ornamental varieties have a more pronounced blossom than the chives, garlic or garden onions – all alliums, by the way – that you grow for food, but they all are related.
The ornamental types would be edible, but they are not grown for their taste and would be a lot costlier than the typical garden onions.
Carr Bailey likes to mix alliums with other plants in the garden, having the blossoms peek up over perennials like shasta daisies and baptisia.
"It is just great when you see these little purple lollipops hovering on top of those plants, in groups of three or five," she said.
Using companion plantings has the advantage of hiding the allium foliage, which can sometimes start to turn brown even before the blossom emerges, Carr Bailey said.
Alliums have a lot of variety to them – in size, shape of blossom and color.
The standard allium is a purple ball on top of a stalk, and the purple can range from lilac to a deep, dark purple. But the blossoms can be white, pink, red and yellow as well.
Some alliums can grow to 3 or 4 feet tall with globes that are 14 inches in diameter, while other low growers have bulbs that are less than an inch in diameter.
This summer, Nancy planted allium schubertii right by our back door. This plant was about 18 inches tall, and had an airy blossom with long tendrils that looked a bit like a communications satellite with antennae going out in every direction.
Carr Bailey especially likes the large alliums, which she says can look like a low palm tree in the garden and make a strong statement.
With the smaller alliums, Carr Bailey likes to run a lot of them along walkways and along the edge of a garden border. She says the small ones can spread over a large area if left unchecked, so you want to keep an eye on them.
Alliums should be planted in sunny locations in rich, well-drained soil. As a general rule, you plant alliums three times as deep as the bulb is wide.
Many bulb packages will say how far apart to plant the bulbs, but Carr Bailey likes to plant them more closely. She says it doesn't seem to affect their growth, and she likes the effect of having a mass of blossoms together.
Being onions, alliums do emit a strong onion odor. That means deer and rodents will not eat them, and the odor will help keep deer away, Carr Bailey believes.
Because the alliums bloom so much later than the other bulbs, you can plant them in the same areas and have a succession of plantings over the course of the summer.
The alliums also make good cut flowers, looking great in a vase with other seasonal blossoms.
This article was written by Tom Atwell of the Blethen Maine Newspapers and appeared in the Maine Sunday Telegram on October 12, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Mark Your Calendar for October and November!
Following is a listing of our classes and events for October and November 2008 here at Skillin’s!
Our FREE classes will be held Saturdays at 9 AM and 1 PM (unless otherwise stated).
Call Brunswick 442-8111 (1-800-339-8111), Cumberland 829-5619 (1-800-348-8498), or Falmouth 781-3860 (1-800-244-3860) to register. You may also register by emailing us at info@skillins.com, just specify the date, time, and location! These classes can sell out fast so sign up today!
October
18th Skillin’s Kids and Family Day (9 AM & 1 PM)
Join us for great kids activities like pumpkin carving and kid gardening activities. We will help the kids while you shop as 10% of all proceeds from Oct 18 will be given to the Good Shepherd Food Bank-No one should go hungry in Maine. Check out http://www.gsfb.org/ to get an idea of all the great organizations that the Good Shepherd Food Bank provides food for. Pumpkins, bulbs, candles, houseplants and more are all here at Skillin’s!
There is plenty to worry about these days. But for many people around us decent food is not an option as folks scramble for clothes and fuel. Let’s help the Good Shepherd Food Bank keep over 600 Maine food banks supplied—do you realize that just a $25 contribution feeds a family of 3 for two weeks? What a truly efficient way to help a family save more for fuel and clothes by helping the Good Shepherd Food Bank provide food?
25th Beds to Rest (9 AM & 1 PM)
Getting a good winters rest makes the Spring look brighter. Let us share with you how to get your perennials, roses and shrubs tucked away for winter.
November
1st Holiday Fun (9 AM & 1 PM)
It is never too early to start. Learn how to make your own gorgeous holiday wreath. There is a $15 fee for this class! You get to bring home the beautiful wreath you make!
8th Holiday Arrangements (9 AM & 1 PM)
Get hands on experience. We will show you how to make boxwood trees for the holidays! There is a $20.00 fee for this class. Special encore class at Falmouth on November 10 @ 5 PM.
15th and 16th Skillin’s Annual Christmas Open House
Demonstrations, great ideas, refreshments, door prizes and loads and loads of great holiday merchandise and more! Good deals abound so come check us out! More details soon about this event!
22nd Deck Your Halls (9 AM & 1 PM)
If trimming your tree, decorating your fireplace mantle or hall have you scratching your head, let the experts at Skillin’s show you the tricks of the trade, Plus don’t know how to make a bow, we will devote time to show you how.
Four Part Landscape Design Series (Falmouth Oct 28, Nov 5, 12, 19 10 AM) (Brunswick Oct 29, Nov 6, 13, 20 9 AM)
What a great chance to get a jump start on plotting how to landscape your home the right way! This class always sells out quickly in the winter so we are bringing you some new dates to choose from. Class fee is $40—you will have a great landscape plan at the finish!
If your group of 10 people or more would like to book any of our classes for a time and day that best suits you please call for scheduling and reservations.
Mark Your Calendar!!!
Every Tuesday is Mature Gardeners Day at Skillin’s! Those customers who qualify will receive 10% off all regularly priced items. (Sale items and volume restrictions do not usually apply and some other restrictions may apply).
Every Friday brings Flower Power Happy Hour where we offer fresh cut flower stems and bunches at 30% off their regular prices. The Happy Hour lasts from 4 PM until we close!! Every Friday!
We hope to see you soon right here at Skillin’s!
Mike Skillin
Our FREE classes will be held Saturdays at 9 AM and 1 PM (unless otherwise stated).
Call Brunswick 442-8111 (1-800-339-8111), Cumberland 829-5619 (1-800-348-8498), or Falmouth 781-3860 (1-800-244-3860) to register. You may also register by emailing us at info@skillins.com, just specify the date, time, and location! These classes can sell out fast so sign up today!
October
18th Skillin’s Kids and Family Day (9 AM & 1 PM)
Join us for great kids activities like pumpkin carving and kid gardening activities. We will help the kids while you shop as 10% of all proceeds from Oct 18 will be given to the Good Shepherd Food Bank-No one should go hungry in Maine. Check out http://www.gsfb.org/ to get an idea of all the great organizations that the Good Shepherd Food Bank provides food for. Pumpkins, bulbs, candles, houseplants and more are all here at Skillin’s!
There is plenty to worry about these days. But for many people around us decent food is not an option as folks scramble for clothes and fuel. Let’s help the Good Shepherd Food Bank keep over 600 Maine food banks supplied—do you realize that just a $25 contribution feeds a family of 3 for two weeks? What a truly efficient way to help a family save more for fuel and clothes by helping the Good Shepherd Food Bank provide food?
25th Beds to Rest (9 AM & 1 PM)
Getting a good winters rest makes the Spring look brighter. Let us share with you how to get your perennials, roses and shrubs tucked away for winter.
November
1st Holiday Fun (9 AM & 1 PM)
It is never too early to start. Learn how to make your own gorgeous holiday wreath. There is a $15 fee for this class! You get to bring home the beautiful wreath you make!
8th Holiday Arrangements (9 AM & 1 PM)
Get hands on experience. We will show you how to make boxwood trees for the holidays! There is a $20.00 fee for this class. Special encore class at Falmouth on November 10 @ 5 PM.
15th and 16th Skillin’s Annual Christmas Open House
Demonstrations, great ideas, refreshments, door prizes and loads and loads of great holiday merchandise and more! Good deals abound so come check us out! More details soon about this event!
22nd Deck Your Halls (9 AM & 1 PM)
If trimming your tree, decorating your fireplace mantle or hall have you scratching your head, let the experts at Skillin’s show you the tricks of the trade, Plus don’t know how to make a bow, we will devote time to show you how.
Four Part Landscape Design Series (Falmouth Oct 28, Nov 5, 12, 19 10 AM) (Brunswick Oct 29, Nov 6, 13, 20 9 AM)
What a great chance to get a jump start on plotting how to landscape your home the right way! This class always sells out quickly in the winter so we are bringing you some new dates to choose from. Class fee is $40—you will have a great landscape plan at the finish!
If your group of 10 people or more would like to book any of our classes for a time and day that best suits you please call for scheduling and reservations.
Mark Your Calendar!!!
Every Tuesday is Mature Gardeners Day at Skillin’s! Those customers who qualify will receive 10% off all regularly priced items. (Sale items and volume restrictions do not usually apply and some other restrictions may apply).
Every Friday brings Flower Power Happy Hour where we offer fresh cut flower stems and bunches at 30% off their regular prices. The Happy Hour lasts from 4 PM until we close!! Every Friday!
We hope to see you soon right here at Skillin’s!
Mike Skillin
Garden Talks October 13
We love your Gardening Questions at the Garden Log! If you have any gardening questions, just email us at skillins@maine.rr.com and we will respond!
Another question about wintering roses, this time from customer RS:
"I want to know how to best protect some rose bushes I purchased this spring from you. I planted them at the end of my deck, so they are a bit exposed to wind and other elements. One is a climber and the others are bushes. Should I wrap them in burlap or something to protect them for the winter ? I have had lots of roses when I lived in NJ but these are first I have planted here in Maine and I want to make sure I treat them right !"
Our answer:
"Roses in Maine should be well protected in the winter time. The best protection you can give is a good heavy mulching or covering of the base of your rose bushes. I would do this in late November when the ground has started to freeze up. The key is to bury the base or grafted area of your rose bush in at least 3 or 4 inches of top soil or compost. Then I finish off the cover with some cut fir boughs or straw to keep the cover in place.
It makes sense to try and wrap at least the bottom couple of feet of your climber in burlap. This will reduce the amount of stem that is killed off by the winter. So you may want to prune down to that point and wrap the rest of your climber. Do this pruning or wrapping in late November or even December so as not to spur any new growth from your plant.
The non climbers really do not have to be pruned until late winter or early Spring when you do your uncovering. It is crucial in late March or early April to sweep away all the cover around the base of your roses and prune out any growth that is dead or dying.
It has been dry the last couple of weeks. I would recommend giving your roses regular waterings a couple of times per week from now until the ground freezes.
If you have time we will for sure be covering winter rose bush care in our Beds to Rest class on Saturday the 25th of October at either 9 AM or 1 PM at any Skillin’s location. Let us know if you would like us to sign you up—the time and the location is all we need! The class is free of charge but full of great gardening advice!"
Another question about wintering roses, this time from customer RS:
"I want to know how to best protect some rose bushes I purchased this spring from you. I planted them at the end of my deck, so they are a bit exposed to wind and other elements. One is a climber and the others are bushes. Should I wrap them in burlap or something to protect them for the winter ? I have had lots of roses when I lived in NJ but these are first I have planted here in Maine and I want to make sure I treat them right !"
Our answer:
"Roses in Maine should be well protected in the winter time. The best protection you can give is a good heavy mulching or covering of the base of your rose bushes. I would do this in late November when the ground has started to freeze up. The key is to bury the base or grafted area of your rose bush in at least 3 or 4 inches of top soil or compost. Then I finish off the cover with some cut fir boughs or straw to keep the cover in place.
It makes sense to try and wrap at least the bottom couple of feet of your climber in burlap. This will reduce the amount of stem that is killed off by the winter. So you may want to prune down to that point and wrap the rest of your climber. Do this pruning or wrapping in late November or even December so as not to spur any new growth from your plant.
The non climbers really do not have to be pruned until late winter or early Spring when you do your uncovering. It is crucial in late March or early April to sweep away all the cover around the base of your roses and prune out any growth that is dead or dying.
It has been dry the last couple of weeks. I would recommend giving your roses regular waterings a couple of times per week from now until the ground freezes.
If you have time we will for sure be covering winter rose bush care in our Beds to Rest class on Saturday the 25th of October at either 9 AM or 1 PM at any Skillin’s location. Let us know if you would like us to sign you up—the time and the location is all we need! The class is free of charge but full of great gardening advice!"
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