Monday, November 5, 2012

November 2nd – November 4th, 2012


FRIDAY

Well, how goes it everyone? Today was certainly not good for Devin and I (Eric) as the weather seemed to have a mind of its own bringing flurries, wet snow, rain, sun and even HAIL at one point!



We started our day by first identifying the dead and broken branches located in the backdrop of the Hosta Garden, using pole saws, hand saws and secateurs to remove them as neatly as we could. In order to keep our work area neat, we piled the cut down brush in areas that we were already finished in order for easy and efficient removal later on in the day. After and although it was extremely wet and cold out, Lucas our on-site staff, Devin, I and even Mr. Pascoe came to help us as we hammered away at nails putting white poly on one of the two Hoop Houses we have here at Cuddys Farm. Once the hoop house was taken care of, we than started removing steel panels from an area in the Hosta Garden and placing them at the North end corner of the sea container. After that was done we thought we were in the clear just having to mulch all afternoon using the mower and trailer! Although due to the muck and very wet areas we could not dump mulch near our spreading area causing it to be quite difficult to get large mulch piles anywhere, just wheelbarrow loads. The area was also quite larger than what we had expected so we could only finish mulching the one half of the Hosta bed and the pathway amongst them.

SATURDAY

Up for a bright and early rainy morning on Saturday, Devin and I arrived to Cuddys with a new list of tasks for the day while still continuing to deal with mulching. Unfortunately, the ground was still absolutely flooded and mucky everywhere so we were still having a hard time dumping the trailer. Splitting up, Devin continued the toughest task of dumping wheel barrow loads all day, while I removed the leaves from small perennials in the Magnolia Garden, cut back Hostas using secateurs and shears, pruned the dead out of trees with a pole saw in the Woodland Garden, power blew larger leaves off of the plants as well to avoid smothering and bailed water out of the water trough using a bucket.

SUNDAY

Another bright and early day, today consisted of no rain although the ground was still fairly wet and we both were still unable to get the trailer where we wanted in the Hosta Garden. At this point we had become one with the pitchfork and wheel barrow and dumped loads all day, spreading with a hard rake once enough was down. We hauled any debris or limbs that were still piled up under the trees and moved them to the North West corner which is to be chipped up into mulch later on. Devin continued to dump wheel barrow loads of mulch for an hour or so as I completed watering the hoop houses and blowing off all hard surfaces on the Cuddys property. Mulching was not completed as a small area is still left but all piles were spread and cleaned up before we left the site. All tools as well as machinery we had used throughout the weekend was power washed off before we left.

Plant Profile

A plant we learned was Heuchera ‘Mint Frost’.

Common name: Mint Frost Heuchera or Mint Frost Coral Bells

Family: Saxifragaceae

USDA Hardiness: 4-9

Canadian Hardiness Zone: 5

Height: 20 – 35cm

Spread: 30 – 45cm

Flower: Bell shaped white flower that can reach up to 24 inches high and it is not fragrant. Blooming early summer, mid-summer and late spring.

Leaf: Light green, silver or variegated including light green with a rose tinge colour. Dense, crinkled lobed leaves with the flower emerging above it.

Bark: Dark/light green stems

Colour: Light green, silver or variegated colour.

Fruit: The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Propagation: Division

Habitat: Huerchera ‘Mint Frost’ is of horticulture origin.

Shape: Mound of dense foliage with creamy white flowers emerging from middle.

Growth: Medium

Cultivation: Grows in both full sun and full shade. Prefers moist conditions and should not be let to dry out. Covering around the plant with a thick layer of mulch will protect root zone in winter. Somewhat tolerant of urban pollution.

Pest: Japanese beetles, Root and Vine weevil.

Diseases: Anthracnose, Gray Mold, Bacterial Leaf Spot.

Notable Specimens: A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario.



Bibliography



http://www.perennials.com/plants/heuchera-mint-frost.html

http://search.millcreeknursery.ca/11050005/Plant/3610/Mint_Frost_Coral_Bells

http://suite101.com/article/heuchera-for-the-garden-and-containers-a126833

http://www.daytonnursery.com/encyclopedia/perennials/heuchera.htm