Monday, February 17, 2020

Gardening and Learning

Although I can't say I have been gardening all of my life I can say that I have been around Gardeners all my life. I went through the Master Gardening classes, got certified and I continue to learn.

One lesson that I haven't learned all these years is how to keep good records. I have all the best intentions and some rather good ways available to me for record keeping. I have a 10-year Garden Journal for jotting down short thoughts or happenings I want to remember. It also encourages me to keep a daily temperature record. I do think it is fun to look back to see how the weather differs from year to year.

 I  keep a sketchbook in a refillable leather journal. I can take it outside where it gets dirty and I can wipe it off. If I leave it out and it gets wet not all is lost and yes I know this from experience. In this journal my thoughts can meander and my projects are drawn, listed or otherwise explored. Records, receipts, plant tags etc are stapled or glued into this.  I know this isn't the most convenient way to keep things organized and easily accessible but every time I try to change it just doesn't happen.
I  have a Word document that is fairly accurate. Yet I sometimes get too busy during the growing season and don't add new plants.

My DB got tired of listening to me complain about all this and set up an Excel spread sheet for me. It looks simple and efficient yet I have exactly two entries on this. I just can't seem to make myself delve into that operation.

I know we have discussed this all before, here and several other times,  so what has brought me to whining  thinking about all this? What with the growing/blooming season just beginning I am finding that I can't identify the few things blooming. Right now I have only two Galanthus blooming. Galanthus Nivalis and Elwesii. I thought I knew which was which. I am pretty sure that the following photo is G. Nivalis.  I have had this plant long enough that it is making a nice clump. I even think I can divide this one this year.
My other Galanthus is what I thought was G.Elwesii. I was wondering if any of you have this little beauty? EDIT: Thank you Linda for suggesting that this is G.  flore pleno. It sure looks like it in pictures I have been able to find.
When I went to the internet to make sure this is what I had I couldn't seem to find a picture of it that looks anything like this. I just love the little white skullcaps over the bloom that looks like a rose, if you can get down here to see just what it looks like.
It has really taken off this year. I don't know what year I planted this one but it has grown into a nice little colony that could be divided this year too. I have 4 small clumps of it.  It has been somewhat stunted in growth though.
The tallest bloom is only 3"tall and the longest green leaf is only about an inch tall. Which as I remember is oddly short. Maybe I am just paying more attention to them this year. Because last year a very generous garden blogger friend gifted me with Galanthus Primrose Warburg. Mind you this is one of those fancy yellow ones.
I can't wait to see it bloom. I didn't expect a bloom this year because it is it's first year here but just seeing the little brace of yellow makes me almost giddy. I have to protect it though because I thought I had another touch of yellow on another one and the rabbits ate it. I was a bit forlorn because I thought all was lost this year. Then this other one popped up. So there is hope.
I am not taking any chances. I have set this big strainer over the plant and set a big stone on the handle so the rabbit can't just move it. So I hope that it survives to bloom. I have never noticed rabbits eating the blooms of Galanthus before. Have you?  Nature has its way of keeping the classroom open. We never stop learning.

There is no gardening without humility.
Nature is constantly sending even its
oldest scholars to the bottom of the class
for some egregious blunder.
-Alfred Austin


26 comments:

  1. Snowdrops being impossible to grow in my climate I can offer no useful input on your mystery plant other than to say that it's very pretty and definitely worth protecting. Re recordkeeping, I've got an Excel spreadsheet with well over 2000 line items but I'm terrible about noting deaths, removals, and moves from one area to another. I periodically skip new entries, especially bulbs, too. I take photos of new plants sometimes but file the photos by year, which is only helpful if I know when I bought them. So, identifying a mystery plant can still be a challenge.

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    1. Kris, why are snowdrops difficult to grow here? I just planted some last fall. haha

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    2. Makes me feel better that someone that seems so organized doesn't have each and every thing in order as to their plants.

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  2. Oh how beautiful. You do better than I do. Some things I do write down, but not many. When did we start having to document everything? Not just in the garden, but life. Sometimes it's nice just to live and let your memory keep what it wants. I'm guessing you enjoy gardening more than documenting - and she smiled with dirt under her fingernails.

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    1. LL, I have to document things because I forget so easily. I also like to look back over the years to see what was happening when...if I can find it. :)

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  3. Snowdrops are so charming when you can get down to see their faces. I just have the ordinary kind, but I love them. I tried keeping a garden journal once, but gave up. Now I just take photos.

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    1. Oh mercy Linda I have thousands of pictures too. I could go on and on about my garden documentations. ha...

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  4. I had that exact 10-year journal in Alabama. I wasn't that good about keeping it up to date. I think having a blog helps, don't you? Also, I have a computer document where I note new plants, their location, price and where they came from. I've been pretty good at keeping it up since starting this new garden but I am always coming across plants that I forgot to enter. That happened today! Fortunately it was a rose that I would know in the dark. But for some reason, it doesn't appear on my spreadsheet.

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    1. I do think the blog helps document the garden but when I get into the garden I often don't have time to blog. Then if I do I can't find what I want to see. Maybe I need to do as you and Michael did and start a new garden.

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  5. We never stop learning, I agree Lisa. You're so skilled and organized lady. I'm not as you, every time have no time to write to my diary or in computer. If I write something then can.t find where it is :-(
    Love your Galanthus, it's a BEAUTY, never seen such double flowers that really look like rose.
    All the best!

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  6. Hi Nadezda, You are a busy lady traveling around I can see why you can't keep up with diaries or computer work. You probably remember things better than I do.

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  7. Oh gosh, I'm terrible at tracking and documenting my garden, in any other way but through the blog. Your blog is a great record of your garden, right? Maybe not as detailed as a journal, a word document, or an excel file, but it does record garden activity from year to year. You have Galanthus blooming! Yay! If we can melt some snow up here, it will happen soon here, too. You give me hope. Will we see you at the GB Fling this year?

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  8. My blog has been my record, and it has worked well for me.

    Your Snow Drops are lovely, and so elegant.

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  9. Lisa I love your idea of keeping a written record as well as a visual one. I am thinking it would be delightfully fun to look back on previous years. Your snowdrops are a signal spring is just around the corner. Have a super day. Hugs!

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  10. Learning no matter the age is what keeps one young, I think ~ and gardens can teach so much ~ lovely post ~

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  11. Lisa girl I am so jealous of your snowdrops no matter which variety they are ! .. it was -14 this morning, needless to say there are no Spring plants peeking up at me ? .. Garden PA bought me a beautiful book from Lee Valley to keep (I think a five year) garden records ... that was about 3 years ago .. not a jot of a pen stroke is in it .. instead I have various simple ringed scribblers ? and random pieces of paper with notes that were supposed to be written down in said books ... BIG sigh ! what will be .. will be, as records .. and NO ! we never stop learning as gardeners and people on this planet. If that ever happened to me, it would mean I was not? on this planet any more but learning some where else ? LOL
    Nice pictures girl .. puts me in the mood for some SPRING !!

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  12. Hahaha, you sound like you're describing my record keeping except you're being overly polite and positive! I have a few cups and trays where I toss all the plant labels into, every few years I take a trip down memory lane and throw out the ones which have gone to the great compost heap in the sky, and then think (and it's only a fleeting thought) about better organization.
    Of course I love seeing the snowdrops!

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  13. Rabbits eat Snowdrops! Oh, no. I have never seen that before. Is there no end to their depradations?

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  14. Thanks for your comment and visiting ~ Hope you are having a lovey weekend ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  15. The day you stop learning is the day to curl up your toes.

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  16. Excel? Blech. That's too businesslike for gardening. Gardening is supposed to be fun, soul fulfilling, pleasure. So...keep filling that journal. That's the other half of the fun. Even if it isnt perfect, its yours. It's you. Keep loving it.

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  17. and when its filled, start another.

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  18. Warmer than usual lately but cold weather is returning ~ How about your area?

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  19. Yep ~ cold weather is back ~ at least the sun is out ~ seeing some 'green popping' in the yard ~ New England Weather is so unpredictable ~ and getting even more so ~
    Hope you are able to enjoy what tales your beautiful garden are telling you ~ ^_^

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  20. Aww, it’s just pretty to see the snowdrops blooming thru winter and surviving!!!Snowdrops are so charming and beautiful. Agree totally Lisa, there is no age to stop learning, I believe each day we learn new inputs. I feel you are very much organised in your work. Hoping to see more pictures from your garden.

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  21. Thanks for your visit and comments ~ how is your garden thriving?

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete

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