Aurora's Blog

Today in the garden 4-30-08
Apr 30, 2008 | 2:07 PM PST
Tags: ladybugs , preying mantis

Didn't really do very much today., For some reason I was a little garden lazy, despite the beautiful weather.

I did a little bit of weeding, but it was more of a little here, a little there as I walked around enjoying the gardens while ladybug hunting.

Megan and I looked for ladybugs- I let her put one into the "bug house" (an old 2 gal fistank with a screen on top). I told her we could keep it until tomorrow, then we have to let it go. She made me promise to take a picture of "Buggy" so we can remember it :)

It might be fun to catch one of the mantises when they are bigger and keep it for a few days. I think the kids would really enjoy that. With all the egg cases I've found, I'm sure we'll find some adults later in the year.

Maybe I'll do more later, or I may just stay lazy :)

Photos!
Apr 30, 2008 | 1:47 PM PST
Tag: Photos
I actually took some prime gardening time to post some photos. Far from being done, but it's a start!

Today in the garden 4-29-08
Apr 29, 2008 | 9:57 AM PST

Not sure I'll be able to do much today after yesterday's rain, the yard is still a marsh in places. I really shoud make dry streambeds leading into the drainage ditches, that may help with the drainage problems.... Oh well, what can I expect when I live 8 ft above sea level a quarter mile from the Elizabeth river?

Just to the west  of us they were hit pretty bad by tornadoes yesterday. The damage is unbelievable! I'm very thankful it wasn't here, and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the people affected.

Maybe I'll be able to finish weeding the kids flower bed, it was cut short yesterday because of the rain.

I also need to find a good spot for the butterfly weed I bought the other day. I'm thinking I'll plant it in a pot, and put it into the garden since my drainage is so bad. Same thing with the lavender my mom bought me.

Then there is all the laundry I need to fold and put away, and yet more to wash!!

I wish the day was twice as long, then maybe I'd be able to get more done...

Have spent most of the morning in the kids bed- It's really hard because we planted seeds and trying to pull the weed seedlings without pulling flower seedlings AAARRRGGGGHHHHH. I'm about half done. I'll probably put some more seeds in there, and this time I'll mark them with toothpicks.

May add more later....

Today in the garden 4-28-08
Apr 28, 2008 | 8:51 AM PST

Well first I'll start with yesterday,

I was pretty lazy, didn't do all that much. I moved the previously unidentified peony to a sunnier spot, and it seems to be happeir (of course, it's been cloudy, but it isn't wilting). I also finally got around to removing last year's "blooms" on my pampas grasses. Since I'm allergic to it I put it off for as long as possible.

Then, while doing my evening "walkabout" I saw the female hummer! The male has been here for over a week. Have also been seeing lots of different butterflies too. And I found a baby mantis on one of my unidentified trees.  So I guess at least one of the 6 mantis egg cases I've found so far has hatched out.

Today I planted more sweet pea and climbing bean seeds. I hope they grow nicely. Started doing a little bit of weeding in the kids flower bed. The seeds they planted have grown into recognizable plants so I feel confidant I'm pulling the weeds that sprouted too, and not the seedlings we want. Then it started to rain so I'm forced to be inside, doing the dreaded HOUSEWORK!!!!! Which of course I'm not doing yet because I'm on the computer....

Today in the garden 4-29-08
Apr 27, 2008 | 7:25 AM PST

Not sure I'll be able to do much today after yesterday's rain, the yard is still a marsh in places. I really shoud make dry streambeds leading into the drainage ditches, that may help with the drainage problems.... Oh well, what can I expect when I live 8 ft above sea level a quarter mile from the Elizabeth river?

Just to the west  of us they were hit pretty bad by tornadoes yesterday. The damage is unbelievable! I'm very thankful it wasn't here, and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the people affected.

Maybe I'll be able to finish weeding the kids flower bed, it was cut short yesterday because of the rain.

I also need to find a good spot for the butterfly weed I bought the other day. I'm thinking I'll plant it in a pot, and put it into the garden since my drainage is so bad. Same thing with the lavender my mom bought me.

Then there is all the laundry I need to fold and put away, and yet more to wash!!

I wish the day was twice as long, then maybe I'd be able to get more done...

Have spent most of the morning in the kids bed- It's really hard because we planted seeds and trying to pull the weed seedlings without pulling flower seedlings AAARRRGGGGHHHHH. I'm about half done. I'll probably put some more seeds in there, and this time I'll mark them with toothpicks.

May add more later....

Today in the garden 4-26-08
Apr 26, 2008 | 11:28 AM PST

Haven't done too much yet today, just cut the "grass" (weeds, crabgrass, etc.).

I plan on removing more pine straw and replacing with grass clippings from the front sunny bed in a little while. My landscaper friend just dropped off 3 large bags of great grass clippings :) I really need to get it done before we get the thunderstorms forecast for later.

I finished mulching the bed with grass!!! Ran out, but then I saw some bags by the curb at the new model home here. Great WEED FREE grass!!!! I was able to put it down into the backyard beds and still have 2 bags left. The compost can always use more.... And it still hasn't rained yet (10;30 pm)

Than again, after the backhoe destroyed the beds I had (dug under or dug up my best perennial borders) and covered them with the horrible clay found here 2 ft down, I really need to improve the soil. I should work all that grass into the soil. That will have to wait until everything dries out a bit more after Monday's deluge. (the entire yard was under 1-2 inches of water!) I'll have to pick up the remaining 4 bags from the curb...

Plan for tomorrow- move the newly identified peony and pull the garlic mustard before it seeds. Easy day! We'll see what else I decide to do.

 

 

Helping a friend
Apr 26, 2008 | 11:22 AM PST

Today Steve and I went down to a neighbor's to help them put large river rock around their house foundations. The children (theirs, mine, and others) had lots of fun shoveling the rocks into the cart and spreading them out.

After finishing the rocks, I decided to cut our "grass". It's mostly weeds, and crabgrass but it still needs mown on occasion. Then decided to cut our other neighbors' as well (she's 85).

It really makes you feel good helping others, I wish more people would try it, it would make the world a better place.