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The Impatient Gardener

easy wave petunias
Garden, Plants

The all-purpose annual that carries the garden

July 22, 2022

Thank you to Wave Petunias for partnering with me on this post.  I’m often asked a question that is perplexing to me: “Do you grow annuals or perennials?” I don’t fault the people asking the… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
14 Comments
Breakout dahlia
Garden, Plants

The dahlias you need for however you’re growing

December 22, 2020

Hello flower lovers! I’m partnering with Longfield Gardens on this post, but you know the drill: all words and dahlia obsessions are my own. We interrupt your regularly scheduled holiday activities to talk about something… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
25 Comments
group of dahlias
Garden, Plants

My top 5 dahlias (for now)

September 29, 2020

They say the first step is to admit you have a problem. So I admit it: I have a dahlia problem. I grew about 100 dahlias this year, and I estimate there were between 25… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
26 Comments
pink nicotiana flowers backlit during the golden hour
Garden, Plants

The best (and worst) new seed-grown annuals

August 13, 2020

The facts are indisputable:  I enjoy starting interesting and different flowers from seed. Doing No. 1 is a great way to create lush borders on a dime. I grew way too many plants from seed… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
22 Comments
dahlias in pots
Garden, Plants

2 ways to plant dahlias

May 13, 2020

Thank you to Breck’s for partnering with me on this post. As always, all words, thoughts and dahlia obsessions are my own. Receive free shipping and up to 75% off some products at Breck’s with… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
19 Comments
Garden

The problem with panic sowing

April 23, 2020

When the world was busy panic-buying toilet paper, I was busy panic-sowing.  As it became clear that the novel coronavirus pandemic was going to change life, at least for awhile, I was in the middle… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
44 Comments
Seed starting plan
Garden, Plants

A seed starting plan for hoarders

February 20, 2019

This started as a post to share what I’m growing from seed this year. What it evolved into is a sordid tale of seed hoarding, a gardener so traumatized by a never-ending winter that she… [Continue Reading]

by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
8 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
Three years ago I planted 10 ‘Royal Raindrops’ Three years ago I planted 10 ‘Royal Raindrops’ crabapple whips and then (after a gin) cut them all off about 16 inches from the ground. And so began the training of the espalier Belgian fence (no, I don’t know why it’s called that, it’s just what that form of espalier is called). It is blooming fabulously this year and in need of a few more extensions of the framework to help guide the branches but I’m thrilled with the progress it has made in a relatively short time. Video update coming soon but I didn’t want to miss showing the blooms.
I still believe that the biggest game changer in a I still believe that the biggest game changer in a garden and the single best way to make a less-than-perfect garden look amazing is a fresh edge. Weeds? Who cares. Bare spots? Nobody will know. A fresh edge tidies even the most disheveled garden right up. And even though I have a ton of planting to do, I spent a good amount of time today working on edges because it’s just that good. I use my @troybilt gas edger to cut the edge and follow up with the @sneeboer half moon edger. By the way, I’d give up my lawn mower before I gave up that gas edger. I didn’t get all the beds done but I did do the ones I see the most from the house so I can stare out the window and just think, “Damn, that looks good.”
Great diagonals courtesy of Polygonatum (Solomon’s seal) in the shade garden. Athyrium niponicum (Japanese painted fern) and ‘Dawn’s Early Light’ playing rare backup roles as the Polygonatum is allowed to have its moment in the sun … er … shade.
I love the small flowers of Epimedium. I’m grate I love the small flowers of Epimedium. I’m grateful that they bloom early in the season because their delicate blooms would probably be overlooked if they bloomed later when they would have to compete with big, brash, attention-demanding flowers in the summer garden. They are great for dry shade but they really need moisture to get established before they will get on with things.
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