AnswerMoon gardens tend to be monochrome. They usually fall into an all-white garden world. The Moon Garden is meant to enjoy the light of the moon or evening. It is meant to be a peaceful place to rest, relax and appreciate heavenly beauty. The Moon Garden design features plants with white flowers and silver foliage that reflect light from the sunset and the moon. Red, blue, and other deep colors seem to disappear at dusk, but white and silver really do appear even in the slightest amount of moonlight. This garden typically has fragrant, nocturnal blooming flowers that attract nocturnal pollinators, such as the sphinx moth.
When COVID-19 is behind us and people travel more, there are three all-white parks worth visiting. Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, in Kent, England has the most famous all-white garden. Designed by Vita Sackville-West in the 1950s. Munsinger-Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud on an all-white garden first planted in the summer of 1994, is inspired by the world-famous white garden at Sissinghurst Castle. Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, which was home to Pierre Dupont, also includes an all-white garden. White gardens have many advantages besides fashion. The bright white bloom is striking. A white garden usually has a sense of fragility, class, sophistication and elegance. Plus, in the shade garden, white brightens the shade during the day and comes alive at dusk.
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, with its all-white monochrome flowers, is an example of a moon garden. Contribute / Jennifer Knutson
A garden with color is one of the easiest and most rewarding designs you can make. The white garden is an easy way for beginners to try out a monochromatic scheme because most species appear to have white flowers. The monochromatic scheme is less distracting – the eye does not need to constantly refocus on the constantly changing color. In a monochrome garden, the visual excitement that usually comes from different colors rather than the interplay of different flower shapes and foliage textures; Therefore, it is important to combine different shapes of flowers and leaves.
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Dear Mr. Bustani: I have a problem with a squirrel. Is there a repellent or something I can use to prevent them from damaging my gardens?
Answer: a very cute squirrel! However, not many of us prefer to deal with them in our gardens. Not only do these cute little rodents damage gardens, they can also cause structural damage to stairs, retaining walls or foundations from all of their extensive burrows. They rush around the yard to collect and store food for the winter – usually seeds and nuts. Have you ever seen sunflowers coming in your flowerpot or garden, or the bulbs you planted in one place coming in another? Chipmunks or chipmunks are the likely culprit. My sister-in-law had an unidentified plant appear in the miniature garden by her front door. It looked like it was in the story “Jack in the Beanstalk”. I left her there all summer because she was to have a great conversation and it kind of seemed magical.
To prevent them from digging up newly planted bulbs in the fall, chicken wire or a rag can be placed over the top of the area. You just have to remember to remove it in the spring after the snow is gone. You can hide chicken wire with soil or mulch. If you are planting bulbs in individual holes, such as for lilies, place some sharply crushed stones or shells into each hole before backfilling to prevent digging. You can even find bags of them at garden centers for this.
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Bird seed fallen from feeders also attract chipmunks and squirrels, so if you have a bird feeder in your garden, this may encourage them. Try to keep bird feeders at least fifteen feet from your garden. It may also help to keep your lawn mowed, so they are not provided with cover and hopefully hide elsewhere.
According to Professor Berry at the University of Vermont, bait repellent that is used with squirrels can also be used for chipmunks and may be a good first line of defense. Unfortunately, like all animal repellents for the garden, it must be reapplied after it rains, so it can be costly over time and generally does not provide complete control. Baiting is an effective method of control. Many people prefer to use a live fishing wire trap, then drop it somewhere else so it doesn’t come back. Depending on where you drop it from, you may pass on annoying little issues to someone else. According to the Minnesota DNR, if you transport a captured wild animal, you must keep it 10-15 miles from where it was captured to ensure it does not return. You must also obtain permission from the governing agency or landowner of the property before releasing the animal.
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Dear Mr. BustaniWhat plants are poisonous to dogs and should they be avoided in the landscape?
AnswerThere are a number of common garden plants that are poisonous to cats and/or dogs. Many bulbs, such as daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, iris, tulips, and tulips, are toxic to humans and animals. The ASPCA lists the following landscape plants as the most poisonous to cats and dogs: azaleas, rhododendrons, yew, autumn crocus, chrysanthemums, English ivy, and castor bean (highly toxic!). Lilies are toxic to cats.
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You can get your garden questions answered by calling the new Master Gardener Helpline at 218-824-1068 and leaving a message. A skilled gardener will answer your call. Or, email me at umnmastergardener@gmail.com and I will answer you in the column if space permits.
Master of Gardeners at the University of Minnesota Extension are trained and certified volunteers at the University of Minnesota Extension. The information in this column is based on university research.
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