GardeningMD

Urban Garden Lifestyle

My name is Aliya Kohler. I am originally from Michigan but have recently moved to San Francisco Bay Area. In my day job I am a primary care physician and when not at work I love to be in my garden.

I find gardens to be the happiest places. I love visiting beautiful gardens all over the country. I feel very fortunate that I have the means to travel and that I live in a country with such rich gardening culture. I am happy to share my photos with the other garden lovers across the world.

Amazon

The GardeningMD

Sharing visual stories through my camera

I love being in my garden and experience the silent process around me. It’s amazing to watch something grow form nothing and transform the space around you. You feel a sense of accomplishment even if you feel dissatisfied with everything else in your life. We

David Austin Roses In My Garden

If you are growing David Austin roses than you will find the information below from an article very useful.

The planting and care tips were given by David Austin himself in this article.

“East, west, and south-facing spots are perfectly fine for planting. Austin claimed north-facing areas are also adequate, as long as there isn’t additional shade in the area from trees or buildings.

I’ve found that unless these plants receive at least five hours of sun, the amount of flowering is reducedsignificantly, and the risk of disease is higher. Morning sun is ideal.

Plant away from trees, since roses don’t like to compete with other plants at the root level.

Since these are all grafted plants, be sure to position the graft union about two inches below the soil in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 and lower. It should be positioned just above the soil line in Zones 8 and up.

Austin believed English roses should be grown in groupings. While a single isolated specimen can look unsubstantial, two or three placed together make a striking statement.

After your plants are in the ground, prune them back by a third in the late winter before new growth starts. Take out any crossing or rubbing canes at this time, as well.

During the growing season, deadhead if desired, and remove any dead or diseased canes when you see them. Trim away any suckers that emerge from the soil, as well.

While some people recommend pruning roses at an angle or near a leaf bud, Austin said it makes no difference with his plants.”

  1. Hydrangea’s in my garden

    Hydrangea’s in my garden

    Interesting Fact About Hydrangeas

    I am sure you have heard “Lacecap" and "mophead" are terms used a lot when it comes to hydrangeas, but they don't refer to a specific type of hydrangea at all. They actually describe two possible arrangements of the flowers of a hydrangea.

    What's commonly referred to as a hydrangea's flower is a superstructure comprised of multiple smaller florets.
    These florets can be two different types: fertile and sterile.

    The fertile florets are full of pollen and nectar, and are capable of developing seed. They are smaller, and distinctively star-like. The sterile florets are much larger and showier.

    Lacecap hydrangeas, in my post have a large number of plainly visible fertile florets and sport just an outer ring of sterile florets.

    While the Mophead hydrangeas, have a large number of sterile florets that are numerous enough and arranged in such a way that they completely obscure any fertile florets that have developed.

  2. Why Perennial Garden

    Why Perennial Garden

    Perennial gardens are well-suited for any landscapes for several reasons. They survive for more than two years, can tolerate plenty of sun, and rejuvenate the landscape. Because of their ability to survive our harsh winters, a thoughtfully designed and properly installed perennial garden will provide colorful blooms year after year, and can be an investment in beauty that gets better with age.

  3. My Shade Garden

    My Shade Garden

    I decided to start a shade garden four years ago. I am still adding different plants to it. It’s been a journey, on the way I have discovered may beautiful plants and learned so much about shade gardening.

    My reason to start a shade garden was the dense canopy of shade over half of my garden due to beautiful mature trees. Initially I was focused on having lush green grass under the trees. However after trying for years to achieve this, I gave up. As a result I started thinking about shade gardens.

    One of the reasons, I was not too enthusiastic about starting a shade garden, was my concern of not having enough colorful flowers in the flowerbeds. To overcome this I have used lot of plants with eye catching foliage. Majority of the plants in the garden are perineal’s. I have however annuals like impatient’s and coleus to add color.

    With my garden I am still struggling to creat a focal point. Some thoughts I had was to make a small pond. I will likely do this next year.

    To sum it up having a shady garden doesn’t mean nothing will grow. In fact, a shady garden can habitat for a host of beautiful woodland flowers, ferns and mosses that can create a wonderfully magical atmosphere.

My Top Picks from last summer containers

Some more containers from last summer

OH HEY, FOR BEST VIEWING, YOU'LL NEED TO TURN YOUR PHONE