The Desert Dome Pond

Desert Dome Pond
January 23,2010

When it comes to deserts a lot of people don't think of ponds being part of the natural landscape however they are. The desert dome at the Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes) had a lovely, peaceful small pond in the centre of the landscape. I could just imagine thirsty wildlife stopping briefly on their journey for a bit of refreshment.

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

The Desert Dome Continued

As promised the desert dome in the Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin conversation continues. Despite the temperature in the dome being close to the cold outdoor temperatures we spent a fair amount of time in the desert dome. There is just something about arid plants that appeal to me perhaps because they are just so exotic.

Graham's Sage

Graham's Sage (Salvia microphylla [in US Salvia grahamii]) is a low growing perennial, evergreen shrub indiginous to southeastern Arizona and the mountains of eastern, western, and southern Mexico. It is a member of the dead-nettle Lamiaceae family sometimes referred to as blackcurrent sage. There are numerous hybrids and cultivars since the 1990s because the plant easily hybridizes. It is favourved for conservatory cultivation due to its long flowering season of up to 9 months outside and all year indoors. The flowers are arranged in whorls, with a wide range of color (magenta, red, pink, rose) depending on the cultivar. Unfortunately the Graham's Sage was not in bloom during our visit.

Palms

I fell in love with palm trees our first visit to Las Vegas that lined the streets and graced most landscaping. That love was reinforced through a few trips to Florida but my gosh where I really started to appreciate them was in Key West. The palms waved in the wind making a rustling sound while providing cooling shade in the heat of the sun. In the evening hours the shadows created by the palms were amazing then at night listening to the rustling in the deep darkness it was easy to believe the local ghost stories. Perhaps the local ghosts were actually visiting us!

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Moving On To the Desert Dome

Living in Ontario, Canada I don't have a lot of experience with cacti other than the few I grow on my windowsill. My little cacti seedlings are coming along nicely and while they are about double in size they sure take a long time to grow! I can fully appreciate how long it takes for a cactus to get to any appreciable size. Mine are now 3 years old and aren't even big enough to transplant. I'll have to remember to post an update :)

Most think of the desert as a hot, dry area and it it but it is surprising how very cold the desert can get! We've been in the Mojave Desert several times. While the temperatures can be stifling hot as high as 134ºF in Death Valley during the day the low can be as low as 8ºF at night. The Desert Dome of the Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes) was really on the cold side not much warmer if any than outdoors when we went through. Coats were a must!

Aloe Vera

I took a lot of pictures in the desert dome. Despite the cold it was quite enjoyable. Understated yet rustic accents like a cattle sculls were scattered randomly throughout the dome. Once again the dome was set up with plants bordering the perimeter of the dome with a well planted central region containing a small pond and a meandering path with benches to sit and enjoy.

I immediately recognized the aloe vera plant in the lower left corner. Aloe vera is a must have plant in any home. It is low maintenance with healing benefits especially for kitchen cuts and burns. I love the natural looking landscape showing this wonderful plant in its natural environment.

Golden Barrel Cactus

The Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) is a Mexican native that is a protected species even though it is a popular cultivated species especially for houseplants but also in landscaping in suitable areas. This cactus lives to to be several hundred years old. The spines provide shade yet help catch rainfall directing it to the base of the plant. The accordion like folds expand and contract depending on the amount of rainfall the plant absorbs. One myth is the barrel cactus is a reservoir for fresh water but this is wrong even though moisture can be squeezed from the pulp.

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

The Train Show at The Domes

The Train Show at The Domes
January 23, 2010

Yesterday I posted about our visit to the Mitchell Park Conservatory (The Domes) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Train Show was the featured exhibit in the show dome. This exhibit is their most popular and it is easy to see why it delights children and adults alike. I took several short videos of the trains in action. The Train Show included a free copy of Beginning Garden Railroading, a supplement to Garden Railways Magazine and 21 Plant Portraits another supplement to Garden Railways Magazine. Both are quite informative resources for those interesting in setting up their own garden railway.

The Train Show

The Train Show is impressive to say the least. It fills the centre of the dome with a meandering path bordered by a large garden bed running along the perimeter of the dome. There is a wonderful little pond in the centre with bridges for the trains to pass over.

Surprisingly the show dome was quite cool the day we visited so we kept our coats on. The greenery mixed with flowering plants were total eye candy. Since this dome changes exhibits (garden themes) many of the plants in centre display area are planted in pots for easy dismantling but you have to look close to notice that. The attention to detail is incredible!

Attention to Detail

We have visited several train shows and we are always impressed at the incredible detain the railroader hobbyists build into their displays. This train show did not disappoint. Intricate to scale buildings complete with people, animals and vehicles highlighted the exhibit all landscaped with real plants. There are working street lights, traffic signs, hydro lines and just so much more! Pictured is four views of some of this detail just to give you an idea.

Constructing a garden railway combines two hobbies, gardening and railway. A lot of times it becomes one that both husband and wife can enjoy together. I'm not so sure a garden railway would work well in our zone as we get snow and freezing temperatures during the winter months. It is something I'm researching because it just looks like a fun garden theme to set up then watch as it evolves. The grandkids would find it quite delightful!

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Conservatories

During the cold of winter one of the most pleasant activities a gardener can do is to visit a conservatory.  It is quite pleasant wandering through the paths in a conservatory stopping to enjoy the plants and a bit of warm out of the winter weather.  The peace and lush growth soothes the soul while the mind comes alive with all the possibilities for the up coming growing season.  What I really enjoy too is seeing the plants that I know won't grow well outdoors in my zone.  Some conservatories have birds flitting around while larger ones like in the Ontario Science Centre have smaller amphibians as well. 

I alway take my camera so I can get pictures of those plants I'm interested in growing.  Seeing these plants at their mature sizes gives a better idea as to whether they will fit into the space I have in mind.  I also take a small notebook to record any additional ideas.  Most digital cameras will take fairly decent pictures of the plant identification tags so the notebook is more to record things such as approximate size of the plant as well as what I liked or didn't like about the plant.

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Phillip & Jeff

Please welcome Phillip and Jeff, my newest gnomes checking out one of the seed trays. They arrived by gnometravel this morning. While Gnameless is still looking for help in the garden, these two don't really looking like they have their mind on garden work. But that's ok because I'm sure Gnameless already knows that a gnome village requires input from all the little folk. Gnomes always work together and that's the way it should be.

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2007

Please Wecome Jack My New Gnome

Gnameless Gnome & Jack

Gnameless gnome was used to being the only gnome in my garden. As you can see he lost a couple of pieces off his rake so I'll have to see if I can find a way to fix that for him. He was joined by a wide variety of other garden decorations. This year I decided to use a unifying theme instead of a mish mash of decorations. Of course that theme had to be gnomes! The visiting kids should really like these little guys! I also decided to add solar lighting and while I now have eight solar lights and two solar rock lights (spotlights made to look like rocks) I am planning on adding just enough to get a subtle twinkle effect.

Jack the swinging woodland gnome arrived today. His birthplace was Aarons Enterprises Inc. then he traveled to Krupps and finally came to me. He is an 8" gnome so a bit smaller than Gnameless. I was quite happy with him so ordered two more gnomes. I'm planning on making or buying gnome ladders for each of the beds so the gnomes can get up there and will be adding a few other gnome accessories. The goal is to achieve a gnomescape without interfering with the function of the gardens.

Gnomes and other garden critters should be protected by an acrylic spray with UV protector annually in it something I did not know. So I will be cleaning Gnomeless and the raccoon twins then spraying all of them before placing in the garden this year.

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2007

More on Garden Gnomes in the Garden

Stella de Oro Daylily

Spring is just around the corner even though it does not feel that way today. It is cold with freezing rain and snow flurries. Everything was coated with ice this morning thanks to the Colorado Clipper as it made its way northeast. I'm itching to be in the garden again! This week I will be starting a few seeds indoors

Gardens can be so much more than just plants and while that's what most of us aim for, a touch of whimsy is always nice. For years I have used used decorations like turtles, frogs, racoons, miniature scarecrows and of course a garden gnome. One reader emailed me to ask if the garden gnome picture in my profile was a real statue. It is. I've had him for a few years. He is made of resin to withstand the weather. I think he is somewhere around 9 to 12 inches, just guess as he is put away for the winter. My decorations have tended to be whimsical with no real theme. During an online search I discovered PhenomeGnome.com a wonderful website dedicated to gnome lovers. There is a lot of information as well as a forum. What intrigued me was setting up garden decorations to follow one theme and in this particular case it is called gnomegardening. They like to show gnomes in their natural environment and use gnome accessories such as doors, tree stumps and other natural elements for a realistic gnome based environment. These items are referred to as gnomescaping. While the goal of my vegetable garden is production, I am going to try gnomescaping this year. The idea of more earth elements blessing my garden is appealing!

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2007