| When we moved into our south Anchorage log home | | | | July. By July, nurseries have little selection and many |
| I had glorious plans for the 1/3 acre lot. Some | | | | of the plant markers have disappeared. However, this |
| previous owner had chopped down every tree | | | | is my favorite time to shop for plants because the |
| counting on the neighboring woodlands for green and | | | | mark downs are practically giving plants away. Every |
| shade. The house was near the street with a lumpy | | | | year since, I've added some treasure from one of |
| hilly and narrow backyard that ended in the neighbor's | | | | these sales. The first was a spreading Veronica (who |
| goat pen. I was young, enthusiastic and confident | | | | knows what variety), that grows so prolifically, I can |
| that my green thumb could transform our piece of | | | | use them for garden trades every year.The third |
| Alaska into a glorious landscaped garden. Now, 20 | | | | summer I discovered wildflower seed mix. That was |
| years later the neighborhood has evolved from birch | | | | the end of bare spots for my yard and provided the |
| spruce woods to suburban sprawl and I'm still | | | | original plants that have now been moved to more |
| working on the transformation and enjoying every | | | | organized and cared for beds. Columbine, |
| season.It was very important in those early days, to | | | | forget-me-nots, lupin, and several varieties of poppies |
| work on the cheap. With 5 small children the | | | | continue to thrive and surprise me.My favorite plants |
| vegetable garden was more important than | | | | are are the one's that were free or practically free. |
| ornamentals. Composting was the only way I could | | | | The frugal gardener can find dozens of ways to |
| afford to enrich a flower bed. What was once a | | | | create a sea of color without spending any green. |
| necessity became a passion - creating self-sustaining | | | | Some of my most successful tips include: |
| perenial flowerbeds for less than $20/year.Twenty | | | | Recover/rescue. Abandoned gardens often have |
| years later, my garden is still a work in progress. I | | | | plants that will thrive with a transplant and a bit of |
| can and do spend money on plants now. And yet, | | | | loving attention. |
| gazing at my sitting garden I'm surrounded by the | | | | Divide and conquer. As your established plants |
| memories of those early days and the decendents of | | | | spread, find new homes for their babies. |
| the first little slips of green I nurtured so | | | | Trading Treasures. When you divide a favorite plant, |
| carefully.Zone 3 gardening on a budget isn't as hard | | | | set aside some of the babies to trade with other |
| as it sounds.I started with a small clump of siberian iris | | | | gardeners. |
| that grew in the loose gravel driveway that first | | | | Search the sales. Your garden is a process that |
| spring. One clump became 5, 5 became 10 and every | | | | usually takes years. Don't think your planting season |
| year my irises are the center point of the growing | | | | is over just because summer's nearly over. Hit the |
| season. With a little luck I won't have to divide my | | | | nurseries throughout August for a great deal. |
| irises for a few more years, but think I know where | | | | Beautification programs. Every once in a while, |
| I can add the next batch...Near the front porch a | | | | communities and businesses will sponsor giveaways |
| shock of Maltese Cross is in full bloom. I rescued 3 | | | | that can really payoff. We've added several trees |
| plants from the woodpile behind the shed that first | | | | from Arbor Day and Earth Day programs.A word of |
| year, not knowing what they would be or how tall | | | | caution though. Many areas have laws prohibiting you |
| they would grow when cared for. I get more | | | | from digging up native plants from wilderness areas. |
| comments and compliments on these reclaimed | | | | These natural habitats are not free-for-alls and should |
| wildflowers than any of the exotics I've tried. In the | | | | be left alone. When in doubt, call the appropriate |
| enriched bed, my Maltese Cross grow 3 feet tall with | | | | government agency and ask. While I don't "steal" |
| fist sized red flower clusters. Over the years, I've | | | | from state parks, I've been given the go ahead to |
| easily divided these plants and use them effectively | | | | "rescue" lilacs, rubarb, and other abandoned plants |
| in my borders.More treasures that first year included | | | | from city land taken by eminent domain before a |
| a rosebush that had been nearly choked to death by | | | | road or bike path was constructed.Your patch of |
| siberian peas. We've called it a sitka rose but can't be | | | | yard can become a garden no matter how tight your |
| sure. She's now a mother many times over as we've | | | | budget. Just get a bit creative and never be afraid to |
| helped deliver healthy suckers that have grown into | | | | ask for cuttings. Compost for black gold and |
| shrubs nearly 5 feet tall and more around.Daisy's of | | | | remember to think long term. You'll never be poor |
| course were and continue to be a beautiful pest. My | | | | when you live surrounded by flowers.JoMarie |
| oldest son took over a small "daisy garden" that I | | | | Thomson was transplanted to Alaska over 25 years |
| was threatening to burn to the ground. Not that he | | | | ago. Editor and Publisher of she is known to run her |
| had to do anything more than help me keep the | | | | websites and web design company, with a laptop |
| daisy's from taking over the rest of the yard, flower | | | | from her South Anchorage garden. Beauty, JoMarie |
| and garden beds!The second summer I used my | | | | insists, inspires beauty. |
| budget at a close out table from a nursery in early | | | | |