Dirt Therapy

I love growing amaryllis but I never get them planted early enough for a Christmas bloom. To do that, you need to get them potted at least 6-8 weeks before. So, once again, I will anticipate blooms in January.  For now, I've placed them in our plant window that extends out the kitchen window. Once they begin to grow tall, I may have to move them to another location. This year, I have three different varieties and I am also experimenting with pot sizes (mainly because I did not have three of the same size on hand).  Amaryllis like to be pot-bound so that should not be a problem with my two smallest pots. Even the largest pot is not really that big so it should suffice.  The varieties are - 'La Paz' 'Naranja' 'Red Peacock' Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

The leaves continue to fall, especially after brisk winds last night. Before I went to bed, I could see the small leaves of the Japanese maples beginning to carpet the deck. There are two unnamed Japanese maples by the deck steps, one on each side. They are among the first trees planted after we moved in. The tree on the right was the one losing most of its leaves. This is how it looked this morning - The opposite maple, on the other hand, lost very little. Hmmm.... The parrotia also lost most of its leaves overnight, mainly toward the top. Revealed - a squirrel's nest? Ugh The one tree with the most leaves left is the 'Dakota Pinnacle' birch. It has been the prettiest it has ever been this year.  Winter draws closer with snow in the forecast for next week. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Before moving to Washington, I used to frequent a forum where would-be transplants could post questions about living in the Vancouver area (housing, neighborhoods, schools or whatever was on their mind). I remember a post where the topic was the local flora. Of course, there was the usual appreciation of the beauty of the area and the wide range of plants. Then suddenly, a man who had just moved here interjected a rant about how he hated a certain tree that he saw planted everywhere in the city. It was the ugliest thing he had ever seen! After describing it, someone identified the offender as Smoke Tree ( Cotinus coggygria ). It was humorous to hear his opinions and it shows how people have differing views on plants. Personally, I don't find the Smoke Tree unattractive at all although when grown poorly, it can look ragged.  The guy from the post was referring to the Purple Smoketree (sometimes called Smoke Bush as it can be grown as a small tree or large shrub). There are many vari...

    This post is a blast from the past - 2009 actually - the Pumpkin Roll, a dessert I always make at Thanksgiving. In addition, there is Pecan Pie (my mother always made pecan pie at every holiday) and I also made a Chocolate Pumpkin Cake this year.  Happy Thanksgiving!     Pumpkin Roll 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup pumpkin 1 tsp. lemon juice 3/4 cup flour 1 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. ginger 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. cloves 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup finely chopped pecans Filling 1 cup powdered sugar 6 oz. cream cheese, softened 4 TB. butter, softened 1/2 tsp. vanilla First, beat the eggs at high speed for about 5 minutes. Gradually add the sugar.   The egg and sugar mixture should be lighter in color and look like this -   Stir in the pumpkin and lemon juice. Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and salt together and FOLD it into the mixture. Spread the mixture into a greased 15 x 10 x 1 pan. Lining the bottom of t...

If you are like me, you might wonder what kind of garden you would create if you had unlimited funds? I've wondered that about those fantastic gardens created by wealthy people - did they really have a personal interest in gardening or was it just for show? I suspect the latter but one exception would be Samuel Untermyer, the subject of Paradise On The Hudson - The Creation, Loss & Revival of a Great American Garden by Caroline Seebohm. I wasn't familiar with Untermyer or the garden but this book has been on my reading list for over a year now. I finally read it and it is an engrossing account of the man, the garden and its legacy. Although mostly forgotten today, Samuel Untermyer was famous in his day (1920s and 1930s) as a prominent lawyer, supporter of women's rights and critic of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime and tried to warn the public of his rise in power. A self-made millionaire, Untermyer graduated from the Columbia Law School at the age of 20 and soon esta...

A most delicious pound cake and the best lemon one we've tried. We had it with strawberries and whipped cream. Enjoy! Lemon Pound Cake Cake 3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 2-3 tablespoons lemon zest 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs, at room temperature Syrup 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons lemon juice Glaze 1 cup powdered sugar 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice (or enough for desired consistency) Preheat the oven to 325. Generously grease a 10" Bundt pan with shortening or baking spray. Dust the pan with granulated sugar. Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, lemon zest and lemon juice together. Set aside. Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light (about 3-4 minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well....

Frost on 'Beni Hime' This year, fall color has been somewhat disappointing. It came late and I don't think the colors are as vibrant. I am still waiting for the ginkgo to turn color but hear that there is a possibility it might not change at all (apparently they sometimes skip a year or so).  For dependable fall color, Japanese Maples are usually a soul pleaser but of course it all depends on the variety. I'm still waiting on 'Osakazuki' to wow me. It is supposed to be the reddest of reds but I've yet to witness the spectacle. It is always very late to change but the colors seem muted to me. Here it is so far this year. The colors actually are prettier in the photo than in real life. 'Osakazuki' 'Sango Kaku', the "Coral Bark" maple always has vibrant golds and yellows and this year is no exception. This tree is right outside my office window and it is a nice view. 'Sango Kaku' Another tree outside my window is 'Skeeter...

Last night the temperature dipped down to 29. Frosty patches covered most of the garden this morning and there is ice in the bird baths. It was enough to wither the tender annuals (begonias, petunias, sweet potato vine). It has been very chilly this week with highs in the 40s but there is sun and little wind so working outside has been pleasurable.  Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

  Fall color on Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia). This tree was planted four years ago. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

It's that time of year and actually it looks like it is happening faster this year. Temperatures are already dipping into the 30s at night and next week I see a prediction of 28 one night and a high of 42 next Friday. Ouch! And some forecasters are predicting snow showers. What?? I know the photo shows a hot mess and it is but I'm conducting an experiment and hope to spread the plants out some as soon as I can make room. We are fortunate to have a garage at the basement level of our house. We love it although it is woefully small, especially when both our vehicles are in and they always are. That leaves about 6 -8 feet on one side for storage. Shelves run all along the wall as well as space for our old functioning refrigerator which we use for overflow. Most of the shelf space is taken with tools, Christmas decorations, etc. For years, we've overwintered tender potted plants - Angel's Trumpet, fuchsia, begonia, etc. in this dark basement with good success. However, they...