TGOLF on hiatus! Awwwww.

I didn't realize until just now that my blog title acronymizes to GOLF. Looking for help with your backswing? Want to know how to turn that old golf bag into a super-cute planter? Look no further!

Anyway, I haven't posted here in a while, and that's partially from a bit of burn-out and partially from real life requiring my attention. I am scheduled to defend my dissertation this winter and when I'm not *absolutely freaking out* I am writing and analyzing data. There may still be an occasional post if something occurs to me, but mostly I need to set this part of my life aside. Same goes for the garden itself, which did remarkably well this summer considering I barely spared it a glance. (Fun Fact! Unharvested Swiss chard turns your hands bloody red when you finally cut it down in November. It's a little alarming.)

I will be back in the groove for the spring season, at which time I will have a big announcement and a new garden project to entertain you with. No spoilers; you'll have to wait and see!

Citygarden, St. Louis

Last week I visited St. Louis to attend the annual Botany conference and present my latest basswood research (and did I rock? Oh yes I did!). My mom went with me for a little getaway and so on the hottest days of the year we found ourselves touring the St. Louis Zoo, the Central West End, and the Missouri Botanical Garden while mopping copious sweat from our brows. On Thursday after she caught the train for home, I did a quick architectural tour of the downtown area, and just for fun I walked to a park called Gateway Mall. Turned out that it was way better than a park; it was a recently-rebuilt space called Citygarden. I passed a lovely half hour touring its two city blocks of gardens, waterfalls, and sculptures.

The design is inspired by the geology of Missouri and is laid out in three bands from north to south: the Northern River Bluffs, the Middle Floodplain, and the Southern River Terrace.

The Missouri bluffs are recreated in beautiful blocks of rough and polished limestone,

with a forested region whose trees and understory plants, while still young, offer cool shade.

There is also a restaurant (glimpsed in the photo below) with a green roof, and a small amphitheater.
(Tom Otterness, Kindly Gepetto)

A waterfall makes the transition from bluff to floodplain.

The middle floodplain band has paths paved with black granite and is planted with soft-textured prairie grasses.

The river terrace is the most landscaped portion and is meant to reflect the fertile, cultivated portions of Missouri. An 1100-foot granite bench meanders through the gardens, suggesting a river wandering across the landscape.
(Ju Ming, Tai Chi Single Whip)

The river terrace also has a huge fountain with mini-geysers of water popping up at varying times.
(Jim Dine, Big White Gloves, Big Four Wheels)

The Citygarden is a cornerstone of the St. Louis downtown redevelopment and I hope that as more people discover it, it becomes as iconic as Millennium Park has in Chicago.
(Tom Claassen, Untitled (Two Rabbits))

Summer garden

It's been a busy summer and I've been letting the garden fend for itself for the most part. Luckily, the plants know what to do, sometimes a little too well.

Nothing says "June" like lilies.

(I know it's July. Shhhh.)

Speaking of June, here's Hosta 'June', the only hosta I ever bought because I liked it and not because I needed a filler in the shade.

Clematis 'Jackmanii', irrepressible as always.

Humulus lupulus, the hops plant I got at the UIC pharmacy garden a few years ago. Somewhere under that mound is a cute little iron trellis. Hahahaha what was I thinking?!

Someday we'll wake up and find the entire house encased in hops. For now it occupies itself with trying to unscrew the hose from the wall.

Happy Summer, everyone!

The Lurie Garden through the seasons, updated

The view northwest
January 13, 2011


April 21, 2011


May 13, 2011


May 29, 2009


June 30, 2010


July 8, 2005


October 20, 2010



The view south
January 13, 2011


April 21, 2011


May 13, 2011


May 29, 2009


October 20, 2010

Lurie Garden in spring

I'm continuing with my semi-regular visits to Chicago's Lurie Garden so I can admire it in all its phases. Because of our strange, chilly spring, the spring flowers have been delayed. The river of salvia was in full bloom on May 29 two years ago but I don't foresee that happening this year.



Dodecatheon sp. and Geum triflorum


The dark plate, looking southwest


Ballade, Don Quichotte, and Queen of the Night tulips


Daffodils, tulips, and redbud trees

The Lurie Garden through the seasons, updated

The view northwest

January 13, 2011


April 21, 2011


May 29, 2009


June 30, 2010


July 8, 2005


October 20, 2010



The view south

January 13, 2011


April 21, 2011


May 29, 2009


October 20, 2010

New juniors!

The Junior Acquisitions Department has been on hiatus while McGarden Enterprises, Inc. took a few months to ponder life and get its mojo back. Well, the mojo is back, baby! As VP of the JAD, I took the corporate credit card and went on a spree. We lost a few juniors through, um, attrition, and had empty spaces that needed to be filled...

At the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, I stocked up at the Ted's Greenhouse booth as usual. The Adenium obesum I wanted so desperately was nowhere to be found, but I comforted myself with these cuties:

Crassula perfoliata subsp. falcata (propeller plant), Euphorbia mammilaris variegata (corncob plant), Trichodiadema densum (miniature desert rose), Crassula 'Springtime'

I also bought a new African violet:

I usually get my violets on the cheap at places like Home Despot but have had bad luck with them lately, so I shelled out the dough for a plant that had been taken care of by someone who gave a crap.

Finally, at last weekend's orchid show at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I bought the prettiest orange orchid with the most ridiculous name: Potinara Love Passion 'Long Vacation'.

Orchid Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden

I went to my first orchid show today, the spring show and sale of the Illinois Orchid Society. I've never been wild about orchids but I find that the more I see them, the more they grow on me. (Because they're epiphytes! Get it?) Plus, it is always fun to spend time with serious plant geeks.

I had my first up-close look at the (in)famous Blue Mystique phalaenopsis orchid introduced this year. It attracted plenty of attention and photographers, but I was gratified to hear that when customers found out it's artificially colored, they lost interest. Breed me a true-blue and then we'll talk.

I find that I very much like the Paphiopedilum orchids. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough cash to get one of my own. Next year?

I also liked the obscure orchids, including the species orchids, which have not been bred and hybridized into such foofy shapes. This subtle Acianthera chamensis was extremely appealing.

Vanda 'Sansai Blue' and its companions showed off some of the purples orchids can achieve.

The show judged on individual plants and on displays. I liked this collection with a range of warm colors.

Not a great picture, but another genus that appeals to me is Masdevallia.

The marketplace was hopping!

Of course I bought things. I knew after wandering the market that one of the orange cattleya-type orchids would need to go home with me. I browsed until I found just the right color, and ended up with Potinara Love Passion 'Long Vacation.' Potinara is a hybrid of hybrids, in the Cattleya alliance. This one is a lovely rich orange with a touch of red in the throat; in shape it reminds me of a jonquil.

I also bought a Miltassia C. M. Fitch 'Izumi' (Oncidium alliance) off the orchid society's sale table for $5, because I can't resist cheap fixer-uppers. It desperately needed repotting and watering, but a nice person at the orchid society's repotting booth divided it, potted it, and gave me piles of advice. I was told the flowers would be yellow but Google says it will actually be purple/red and spotty and cute in a lanky way. IF it survives!

Finally, I bought a cheap bare-root plant, only because of the name. Meet Miltassia Dark Star 'Darth Vader.'

"I find my lack of soil disturbing."