Flowers (annual and perennial), Landscaping

Moonflower gardens are becoming more popular

Moonflower gardens are becoming more popular in the last few years, maybe we are spending more time at night in our backyards. But what is a Moon Garden? It is a group of white flowering plants that seemly glow in the moonlight. Many flowers produced more scent at night bringing in various moths to pollinate them. Foliage plants are used with grey and white hues creating more ambiance. Adding solar lighting will make the beds stand out when the moonlight is missing. Add a fountain to create the sound of flowing water.

Plants that give off scent are flowering tobaccos, especially Nicotiana sylvestris with their long white flowers. Moonflowers with their large white flowers make a wonderful climbing vine. Angel trumpets can not be beaten with their neat, rounded growth and 8-inch flowers.

Any other white flowering annuals or perennials make an excellent addition. You can go will pale pinks, blues, and yellows for variety.

Add a few benches so you can enjoy your new moon flowerbed.

Flowers (annual and perennial), Vegetables

Time to Start Thinking about Gardening

Next week is supposed to have night temperatures above 40 for a change. Maybe it is time to start thinking about gardening. This weekend is supposed to be cold so maybe I will see if the mower and rototiller are working. I finished clearing off the garden including removing the old asparagus stalks and flowerbeds and cleaning out the pots. Need some more rabbit damage pruning on shrubs. Got the tools ready except the hand trowel, which I think the dog grabbed and buried in the backyard.

I did get in a hurry and planted seeds of lettuce, spinach, radish, and Bok choy (whatever that is) out in the garden which are poking their heads above the soil. This weekend I will put in onion, shallot, and garlic bulbs and sow seeds of carrots, parsnips, and beets into the ground. Later I’ll plant cabbage, onion, and cauliflower plants. Might even prune the roses if I can find a decent pair of leather gloves that the pup has not eaten. The cold frames are full of flower transplants and tomato, pepper, and summer squash transplants. I will plant vine crop seeds into peat pots to germinate indoors now.

I guess to keep a close eye on the night temperatures and get ready!

Vegetables

Phases of the Moon in Gardening

I remember my mother would plant her garden by the phases of the moon. I have never been a convert for moon phase gardening. My method has been if I have time to plant between wind, snow, soil temperature, or rain, I will.

Moon gardening goes by the phases of the moon which is on a 29.5-day cycle. When the moon is waxing (growing light between the new moon to the full moon), plant or transplant crops that produce above ground like tomatoes and peppers. When the moon is waning (the light is growing dimmer between the full moon to the new moon), plant crops that produce below ground like beets and onions. Also, harvest during a waning moon when the photosynthesis is slowest and less fluid moving in the plant. It also helps with shelf life.

We do know that plants like humans, animals, and birds have a circadian rhythm and moonlight affects it. Some plants open their blossoms after sunset, however, increase bloom production in the full moonlight like the moonflower and four o’clock. The Werewolf plant sends out pollen in time of the full moon.

Moon gardening goes back to the Celts in England. Some think the structure of Stonehenge helped the people in the timing of crop planting.

I light of everything, if you wish to garden by the moonlight, go for it. There is no negative aspect to doing this.