The Grabell garden
Louise Grabell
Louise, Louise, oh won’t you please, tell us how does your garden grow? For my fellow gardeners, I thought I would do just that; let you know how things are growing in the Grabell garden. As you look at the recent photo (August, 2014) you can see that I am not in need of more flowers! How did all this happen? Well, it took some work and some time, but I am indeed enjoying the fruits of my labor.
In the photo are masses of my favorite summer flowers, zinnias. I have discovered many different types of zinnias from the tallest to the smallest varieties, some which even do well without perpetual deadheading. Behind the zinnias is a wall of greenery which is actually a type of aster which will display a profusion of fuchsia colored blooms about now in the fall. Looking more closely, you will see a few remnants of my daylilies and some really lovely Echinacea which will probably have lost most of their beauty by the time you are reading this article. In the very front can be seen some of the blue blooms of scabiosa and in the rear of the garden are the taller, spikey blooms of blue sage. There is also a newly planted dianthus located front and center with red blooms and an identification tag in the ground immediately behind it. These spring blooming perennials will continue to produce flowers if the old blooms are removed.
The main thing to learn from all this is that with proper planning, you can have an overabundance of flowering plants from the earliest part of spring, right into the cooler days of October and November. I have chosen perennials and annuals that keep on producing flowers in a cyclical fashion each year. The good thing about perennials is that you don’t have to replant them! Not showing in this photo are my daffodils, bearded irises, Lily of the Nile and amaryllis. Also not shown are my applications of compost, fertilizer and regular irrigation. These behind the scenes activities bring you the Grabell garden as you see it today!
The Master Gardeners of SaddleBrooke have a website: sbmastergardeners.wordpress.com for all up to date information and events for our community. Garden questions? You can reach our SaddleBrooke Garden Helpline by calling Pat at 520-407-6459. Your phone call will be forwarded to a Master Gardener Volunteer who will assist you in the solution of your problem.
Remember, nothing brings more tranquility to the heart than a beautiful garden.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeffrey C. Silvertooth, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.
The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.