Blackridge Garden Club
  • Home
    • BGC Faves and Finds >
      • Garden Centers/Shops We Love
      • In Memoriam
    • It's All About the Corners
  • About Us
    • By-Laws
    • 2019-2020 Officers & Committees >
      • 2019-2020 Members
      • BGC 2019-20 Yearbook
    • Contact Us
    • 2019-2020 Corners Maintenance
    • Becoming A Member
    • BGC in the News
    • Past Presidents
    • Garden Club History
  • Judy's Blog
    • Archives: Garden Gem of the Month
  • Current Events
    • 2021-2022 Program
    • 2019-2020 Program >
      • Feb/ Mar 2020 Photos: Bloomin' Corners Raffle
      • Feb 2020 Photos: Balkey Tree Slideshow
      • Feb 2020 Photos: Tree Time
      • Dec 2019 Photos: 80th BD
      • Oct 2019 Photos: ALT Presentation
      • Oct 2019 Photos: CGC Mtg
      • Sept 2019 Photos: Fallingwater
    • Google Calendar
    • Community Events of Interest
  • Past Events
    • 2018-2019 Program >
      • June 2019: Midsummer's Tour
      • June 2019: EOY Luncheon
      • April 2019: Churchill Borough Earth Day Cleanup
      • October 2018 Photos EJ's Army
      • October 2018 Photos Tree Talk
    • 2017-2018 Program >
      • 2018 June Photos: End of Year Luncheon
      • April 2018 Photos: EJs Army
      • April 2018 Photos: CGC
      • April 2018 Photos: Orchids
      • Oct 2017 Photos
      • Bloomin' Corners Raffle 2018
    • 2016-2017 Program >
      • Bloomin' Corners 2017
      • April 2017 Photos
    • 2015-2016 Program >
      • Sept 2016 Photos
      • October 2016 Photos
      • Bloomin' Corners 2016 >
        • 2016 Benefit Donors
        • March 2016 Photos: Benefit
      • July 2016: Wrecked Corner, Forest South
    • 2014-2015 Program >
      • November 2014 Wrecked Corner
      • Bloomin' Corners 2015 >
        • Benefit Donors
        • March 2015 Photos: Benefit
    • 2013-2014 Program >
      • Oct 2013 Photos: EJ's Army
      • Bloomin' Corners 2014 >
        • Moon Gardens
        • Rosemary
    • 2012-2013 Program >
      • Sept 2012 Photos: Fall Spruce-Up
      • Dec 2012 Photos: Kickoff
      • March 2013 Photos: Kennywood Program
      • March 2013 Photos: Benefit >
        • 2013 Benefit: Garden Art Contest
      • March 2013 Photos: Benefit Setup
      • Apr 2013 Photos: Spring Spruce-Up
      • May 2013 Photos: Auction
    • 2011-2012 Program >
      • Sept 2011 Photos: Fellows
      • Oct 2011 Photos: Fall Spruce-Up
      • Oct 2011 Photos: Bird Habitat
      • Nov 2011 Photos: Ironwork
      • Dec 2011 Photos: WHHS Choir
      • Jan/Mar 2012 Photos: Benefit >
        • Donors to Benefit/Big Raffle
        • Birdhouse Contest
      • Apr 2012 Photos: Spring Cleanup
      • Apr 2012 Photos: Butterflies and Hummers >
        • May 2012 Photos: Auction
    • 2010-2011 Program >
      • Oct 2010 Photos: Oktoberfest
      • Nov 2010 Photos: Creating Holiday Magic
      • Dec 2010 Photos: Behind the Scenes at The Phipps
      • Feb 2011 Photos: Cooking from the Kitchen Garden
      • Feb 2011 Photos: Wrecked Corner
      • Mar 2011 Photos: PA Native Plants
      • Mar 2011 Photos: Benefit Setup
      • Mar 2011 Photos: Benefit
      • Apr 2011 Photos: Burgh Bees
      • May 2011 Photos: Plant Auction
      • May 2011 Photos: Collins Corners
    • 2009-2010 Program >
      • June 2009 Photos: Installing Shrubs
      • Oct 2009 Photos: Planting Bulbs
      • Dec 2009 Photos: Vintage
      • Dec 2009 Photos: 70th Anniv
    • 2007-2008 Program >
      • May 2008 Photos: WHSD and Prez Luncheon
    • 2004-2005 Program
    • 2002-2003 Program
    • 2001-2002 Program
    • 2000-2001 Program
  • Tour Archives
    • 2019 Tour Booklet
    • 2014 Tour Booklet
    • 2011 Tour Booklet >
      • 2011 Tour Summary
      • 2011 Tour Map
      • June 2011 Photos: Garden Tour
    • 2009 Tour Booklet >
      • June 2009 Photos: Garden Tour
      • June 2009 Photos: Bluedorn Garden
    • 2007 Tour Booklet
    • 2005 Tour Booklet
    • 2003 Tour Booklet >
      • June 2003 Photos: Garden Tour
    • 2001 Tour Booklet

JUdy's Blog

Spring Surprises?

4/22/2011

1 Comment

 
What are you finding in your planting beds as you venture out this spring, and what's popping into your mind?  Here are some of my brain droppings (HT: George Carlin, RIP!):


  • I really need to learn more about common weeds.
  • I am more and more an adherent of no-till gardening, and should do a column on it.
  • I have spinach and chard and leeks, in addition to the second year parsley, green and growing in the veggie bed.  These are all either volunteers or hardy plants from last year. I also have some resurrected Brussels sprouts, and I am wondering if I should eat those.
  • I love the new garden gloves I picked up at the WPa Symposium last week!  I am very tough on gloves, and these seem to be up to the task.
  • Those wild onions (ramps?) are tough buggers to remove.
  • I wish I had more compost, but I am keeping at it!
  • I love the serviceberry I got at last year's Pgh Botanic Garden sale.  It's in bloom this week, and is so pretty!  Will I be able to beat the birds to the berries?
  • I am also anxiously awaiting signs of life in the 'Chicago Hardy' fig I got from the same sale.  Was it really hardy?  It produced a lot of yummy figs in its first summer.
  • I also see some buds almost ready to break on the Japanese Stewartia I was lucky enough to find last summer at 30 percent off at PlumLine nursery.  (I knew it would continue to be reduced week by week up to 50 percent, but I didn't want to risk losing out, and I am so happy seeing it there now.  The poor thing suffered in the dryness of last year.)
  • No, I don't use a fungicide on my 'Golden Showers' climbing rose, and it shows.
  • I don't always remember what I planted last fall.
  • I should dig up those healthy looking suckers from my linden viburnum for the plant auction.
  • Oh, my poor seedlings in my mini-greenhouse--how they long for a heater!
  • So happy I signed up for the Johnny's Selected Seeds emails--they are really informative!

I can go on in this fascinating manner forever, but I'm more interested in what you have to say, Blackridge gardeners and friends!!  What are you looking forward to picking up at our upcoming plant auction?  What looks good in your spring garden, and what doesn't?  What have you learned over the winter?  What bargains are you finding in the nurseries?  Do tell.

1 Comment
Amy Bluedorn
4/21/2011 11:38:48 pm

I wish I had raked up my leaves sooner. I am disheartened to see that only one of my 3 Hellebores made it. I am equally disheartened to see only one of my 'snow angel' coral bells came back. I am so pleasantly surprised that my formal roses appear to have made it through the winter. Usually I have to plant new ones every year.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author,
    Judy Diorio

    Judy's Blog is written by Blackridge's gardener-in-residence, Judy Diorio.  Judy has lived in Blackridge for 35 years, and writes the BGC's "In The Garden" column for the Blackboard.  She has studied horticulture and landscape design.

    Archives

    August 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    March 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    March 2014
    September 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Web Resources

    AgRecycle
    Allegheny Co Extension--Hort
    Arboretum at Penn State
    Audubon Soc of Western Pa
    Barbara Damrosch
    BHG.com--Gardening
    Birds and Blooms
    Cornell Ornithology
    Doug Oster
    Grow Pittsburgh
    Holden Arboretum
    Horticulture Magazine
    Longue Vue Gardens
    Margaret Roach
    Michael Pollan
    NYT--Gardeners and Gardening
    Organic Gardening Magazine
    Phipps Conservatory
    Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
    Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
    Pollinator Partmership
    Post-Gazette--Home & Garden
    Royal Botanical Gardens
    ScienceDaily--Plants & Animals
    Treehugger.com
    US National Arboretum
    Victory Garden
    Western PA Conservancy
    Wildlife Resource Council
    ​American Orchid Society

    Categories

    All
    Asclepias Syriaca Common Milkweed11ea9fb5da
    Ashlee Esplen
    Backyard Poultry Magazine
    Bayberry
    Benefit
    Better Homes And Gardens
    Bgc Online Forum
    Birdhouses
    Birds
    Bloomin
    Chamaecyparis Obtusa
    Cocktails
    Compost
    Corners
    Cornus Kousa
    Dogwood
    Eastern Redbud
    Franklintree
    Gardening Magazines
    Grammy Rose
    Groundhogs
    Hemlock
    Hydrangea
    Japanese Stewartia
    Joe Destefano
    Mulching
    Pollinator Partnership
    Pruning
    Rachel Carson Institute Of Chatham U
    Recipes
    Rudbeckia
    Seed Catalogs
    Serviceberry
    Soil
    Sourwood
    Spring Gardening
    Spring Gardens
    Sweetbay Magnolia
    Three Rivers Birding Club
    Value Of Trees
    Vegetable Gardening
    Viburnum
    Western Pa Landscape And Garden Symposium
    Wildlife Habitat Council

    RSS Feed
Picture
Copyright © 2020. All web site design, text, graphics, the selection and arrangement thereof, and all software are Copyright protected under the copyright laws. Any use of materials on this website, including reproduction, modification, distribution or republication, without the prior written consent of Blackridge Garden Club, is strictly prohibited.
  • Home
    • BGC Faves and Finds >
      • Garden Centers/Shops We Love
      • In Memoriam
    • It's All About the Corners
  • About Us
    • By-Laws
    • 2019-2020 Officers & Committees >
      • 2019-2020 Members
      • BGC 2019-20 Yearbook
    • Contact Us
    • 2019-2020 Corners Maintenance
    • Becoming A Member
    • BGC in the News
    • Past Presidents
    • Garden Club History
  • Judy's Blog
    • Archives: Garden Gem of the Month
  • Current Events
    • 2021-2022 Program
    • 2019-2020 Program >
      • Feb/ Mar 2020 Photos: Bloomin' Corners Raffle
      • Feb 2020 Photos: Balkey Tree Slideshow
      • Feb 2020 Photos: Tree Time
      • Dec 2019 Photos: 80th BD
      • Oct 2019 Photos: ALT Presentation
      • Oct 2019 Photos: CGC Mtg
      • Sept 2019 Photos: Fallingwater
    • Google Calendar
    • Community Events of Interest
  • Past Events
    • 2018-2019 Program >
      • June 2019: Midsummer's Tour
      • June 2019: EOY Luncheon
      • April 2019: Churchill Borough Earth Day Cleanup
      • October 2018 Photos EJ's Army
      • October 2018 Photos Tree Talk
    • 2017-2018 Program >
      • 2018 June Photos: End of Year Luncheon
      • April 2018 Photos: EJs Army
      • April 2018 Photos: CGC
      • April 2018 Photos: Orchids
      • Oct 2017 Photos
      • Bloomin' Corners Raffle 2018
    • 2016-2017 Program >
      • Bloomin' Corners 2017
      • April 2017 Photos
    • 2015-2016 Program >
      • Sept 2016 Photos
      • October 2016 Photos
      • Bloomin' Corners 2016 >
        • 2016 Benefit Donors
        • March 2016 Photos: Benefit
      • July 2016: Wrecked Corner, Forest South
    • 2014-2015 Program >
      • November 2014 Wrecked Corner
      • Bloomin' Corners 2015 >
        • Benefit Donors
        • March 2015 Photos: Benefit
    • 2013-2014 Program >
      • Oct 2013 Photos: EJ's Army
      • Bloomin' Corners 2014 >
        • Moon Gardens
        • Rosemary
    • 2012-2013 Program >
      • Sept 2012 Photos: Fall Spruce-Up
      • Dec 2012 Photos: Kickoff
      • March 2013 Photos: Kennywood Program
      • March 2013 Photos: Benefit >
        • 2013 Benefit: Garden Art Contest
      • March 2013 Photos: Benefit Setup
      • Apr 2013 Photos: Spring Spruce-Up
      • May 2013 Photos: Auction
    • 2011-2012 Program >
      • Sept 2011 Photos: Fellows
      • Oct 2011 Photos: Fall Spruce-Up
      • Oct 2011 Photos: Bird Habitat
      • Nov 2011 Photos: Ironwork
      • Dec 2011 Photos: WHHS Choir
      • Jan/Mar 2012 Photos: Benefit >
        • Donors to Benefit/Big Raffle
        • Birdhouse Contest
      • Apr 2012 Photos: Spring Cleanup
      • Apr 2012 Photos: Butterflies and Hummers >
        • May 2012 Photos: Auction
    • 2010-2011 Program >
      • Oct 2010 Photos: Oktoberfest
      • Nov 2010 Photos: Creating Holiday Magic
      • Dec 2010 Photos: Behind the Scenes at The Phipps
      • Feb 2011 Photos: Cooking from the Kitchen Garden
      • Feb 2011 Photos: Wrecked Corner
      • Mar 2011 Photos: PA Native Plants
      • Mar 2011 Photos: Benefit Setup
      • Mar 2011 Photos: Benefit
      • Apr 2011 Photos: Burgh Bees
      • May 2011 Photos: Plant Auction
      • May 2011 Photos: Collins Corners
    • 2009-2010 Program >
      • June 2009 Photos: Installing Shrubs
      • Oct 2009 Photos: Planting Bulbs
      • Dec 2009 Photos: Vintage
      • Dec 2009 Photos: 70th Anniv
    • 2007-2008 Program >
      • May 2008 Photos: WHSD and Prez Luncheon
    • 2004-2005 Program
    • 2002-2003 Program
    • 2001-2002 Program
    • 2000-2001 Program
  • Tour Archives
    • 2019 Tour Booklet
    • 2014 Tour Booklet
    • 2011 Tour Booklet >
      • 2011 Tour Summary
      • 2011 Tour Map
      • June 2011 Photos: Garden Tour
    • 2009 Tour Booklet >
      • June 2009 Photos: Garden Tour
      • June 2009 Photos: Bluedorn Garden
    • 2007 Tour Booklet
    • 2005 Tour Booklet
    • 2003 Tour Booklet >
      • June 2003 Photos: Garden Tour
    • 2001 Tour Booklet