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The Impatient Gardener

Cottage

A BEFORE AND AFTER 3 YEARS IN THE MAKING

October 5, 2016

I’m not one to draw projects out. When I get set on doing something I like to focus on it like a laser and pound it out until it’s finished. I’d rather wait until I… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
13 Comments
Cottage, DIY

LIGHT AND BRIGHT: GIVING A DRESSER NEW LIFE

March 13, 2014

Remember when I bought this dresser? Oh, you don’t? Well that’s probably because I did that at least three years ago. I bought it because it was just sitting there in the thrift store and… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
3 Comments
Cottage, DIY

Smooth operator

February 24, 2014

I am basking in the glow of a finished hallway, folks. After a weekend of painting and a few finishing touches, the hallway is looking so much better. It was a weekend of many projects… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
5 Comments
Cottage, DIY

A DIY magnetic chalkboard: Now you see it, now you don’t

January 24, 2014

I have to apologize, you guys. My disorganized method of managing photos has struck again. I kick myself for this. I work with professional photographers at work every day and I know that they all… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
1 Comment
Cottage, DIY

Orange you glad they are finally finished?

December 17, 2013

You know I always have several projects in the works at one time, but I think this one holds the record for longest in-progress project. Obsessed with cane chairs, I found a pair of them… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
6 Comments
Cottage

The kitchen is finished! A look at the new digs

June 5, 2013

I am exceedingly happy to tell you that the kitchen is finished. OK, not finished, but finished … for now. I need to touch up some paint (we came pretty close to slapping it on… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
13 Comments
Cottage, DIY

Let’s get bold

February 26, 2013

Slowly but surely the living room transformation from a warm modern French country feel to a more casual, slightly nautical feel has come together. I showed you the new main seating area (our living room… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
11 Comments
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About

The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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Erin Schanen 🌿 The Impatient Gardener
These sister dahlias are big, beautiful girls. Pen These sister dahlias are big, beautiful girls. Penhill Watermelon (first picture) and Penhill Dark Monarch are the best two HUGE dahlias that I grow. They share slightly twisty petals (Watermelon more so) and, when you look closely, subtle striations that add a beautiful depth of color. Watermelon grows taller than Dark Monarch (7 feet tall or more sometimes) and they both need serious staking, but it’s worth it because they produce a lot of flowers for a large-flowering dahlia. 

I like them both but if I was forced to choose (and who would make me do that?) I’d give the edge to Dark Monarch because it’s a little easier to manage size-wise, produces more flowers and has a bigger variation in flower color so it’s always interesting. 

Which do you like better?
I don’t love tools that only do one thing. But w I don’t love tools that only do one thing. But when there’s only one tool that does that one thing really well, I’m here for it. This pottery/container knife from Sneeboer makes it possible to actually get plants out of pots without breaking or damaging the pot. It’s also really expensive. 😀
A little snippet of a bouquet from the weekend. Zi A little snippet of a bouquet from the weekend. Zinnias, pycnanthemum muticum and bronze fennel shown here.
My love for Nicotiana is not a secret. I love tryi My love for Nicotiana is not a secret. I love trying out new varieties and I feel like they just work so well in my garden from both a design standpoint and a cultural standpoint (they are happy here). Because I grow so many, the ones that self sow can be surprises. 

All of these self-sown Nicotiana are probably at least partly the children of the F1 hybrid Perfume series, which grow to be about 24” tall or so. Last year I grew purple, pink, white and lime versions and these are likely new variations on those. 

Picture 3 is, in my opinion, a good example of how these self sown second-year hybrids can go wrong. I’ll probably rip that one out. 😀

And the last photo is of my favorite colorway, lime, popping up amongst the Zinnias. I find these self-sown Nicotiana popping up all summer, so there’s always a fresh-blooming supply. 

Are you as enamored with Nicotinana as I am?
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