Aurora's Blog
Aurora's June 2008 Entries
Last Post 1 day, 20 hours Ago
Jun 30, 2008 | 1:13 PM PST
Been doing housework. Have the kichen and dining room cleaned up- still have the living room, guest bedroom, and Megan's room to do. Good thing the in-laws aren't getting here until Wedsneday LOL! Really do need to get back to it though....
Today started of rather pleasant. Now it is plain hot and miserable. I am so over this smoke! My throat has been hurting for the past week and a half!
I think we got some rain last night. When I went to bed there was a lot of lightening and thunder, as well as a slight drizzle. The ground was damp this morning anyway. I need to water though. Maybe I'll actually water everything with the fish fertilizer.
I better get going, I need some coffee if I'm going to stay awake for the next 30 mins!
Have fun gardening :)
Jun 29, 2008 | 5:35 PM PST
It's 8:30 pm here, and the temp is still 92 degrees! I took a bunch of flower pictures today- I just have to get them off the camera. I'll hopefully get around to that tomorrow :)
I didn't water today- we have a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms and rain tonight so I figured I'd play the odds :) Looking at the radar just now, I think I made the right choice- there are some really wicked looking storms headed our way- probably why we are in a Severe T-storm watch until midnight
I splurged on myself tonight- I bought myself a fishing rod. I am so tired of having to steal a few casts with one of the kids' rods LOL! Too bad I won't have the chance to try it out for the next couple of days, I'll be too busy doing housework in preperation for the in-laws and our 4th of July party.
Jun 29, 2008 | 6:42 AM PST
After the rain a couple of evenings ago I went and weeded a little bit. I was also treated to a female hummer visiting every single one of my crocasimia blooms. I stood there watching her for about 5 mins.
Yesterday was a little more weeding. Except for the tangled mess of Mexican Eve. Primrose and bermuda grass, I have gotten all the beds weedfree for now. Then it was off to a party held by one the people in Autocross. He has such a gorgeous property- 11 acres with 2 ponds, huge house, 4 car garage with apartment above, a barn with apartment above, pool. It was so nice. The kids swam for a while, then we went fishing in the one pond. No sooner did their lures hit the water when they had caught fish. The kids just loved it (I did too- I finally caught fish too LOL) Later a live band was playing. Megan danced the entire time.
Today we have all slept in. I need to get the grass mowed. Then it's off to neighbor's house to measure windows for the curtains she wants me to sew for her. I am so looking forward to that :)
The clematis cuttings I took a few days ago are doing well- no leaf wilt at all at least. It would be great to have at least one actually grow. The passion flower cuttings are doing pretty well too. I really want to have those grow wonderfully :)
That's all for now- I'm sure I'll have more to add later.
Have fun gardening :)
Jun 27, 2008 | 2:15 PM PST
As I write this, we are finally getting some very much needed rain YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!! For once I won't have to water tonight. My plants are just so happy :)
Yesterday the smoke held off until late evening. Despite the 101 degree temp I did get some gardening done. I tied some fishing line onto the clematis trellis so they would have an easier time climbing. I did a little bit of weeding, but with the dry soil they were practically impossible to pull.
Then I did more beetle hunting while the kids and one of their friends swam in the pool. I should have gone in the pool with them LOL!
I have some strange rash all over me. Steve thinks it might be poison ivy, probably a bunch has been burning in those fires, and the oils are blowing here in the smoke. It doesn't really feel like poison ivy though...
Well, I better get going- the power has really started to blink with all the close lightening strikes.
Have fun gardening :)
Jun 26, 2008 | 3:57 PM PST
First I would like to thank everyone who commented on the injured dove. I came to the conclusion to let nature go on. I really don't want to take the responsibility of caring for a wild bird for the rest of it's life. I haven't seen it at all today, but I wasn't looking for it either. I am hoping that either the fox or the feral cats will take it soon to stop it's suffering. I just can't bring myself to end it's misery.
On a different note, I spent much of today picking beetles off of my plants while the kids played in the pool. I must've got about 100 of them! We all came in for the afternoon as it rached 101 degrees. The weather was saying that the humidity was only 25 percent, but I swear they were lying LOL!
About to head out to water again. I watered really well last night night, but the plants were literally wilting in the heat today.
Have fun in your gardens :)
Jun 25, 2008 | 4:45 PM PST
Tag: injured dove
I believe I had mentioned in one of my other blogs about the dove with the head injury. Well tonight while watering I saw it again. I got a much closer look, it doesn't have any eyes!! It let me stroke it, but it flew off as soon as I tried to pick it up. Poor thing, I don't know how it flies!
I just don't know what to do for it. Part of me wants to build a small outside enclosure and keep it, the other part says to just let nature take it's course. It is such a difficult thing to see an animal suffering, and I know my grandfather would have kept it. He was always helping animals in need. I believe he's the one who sends them to me, the lost dogs, hurt birds...
Jun 25, 2008 | 6:13 AM PST
Gonna be another hot one today. I was planning on doing some more weeding today, but we're getting the smoke from 2 NC wildfires today. Visibility is forecast to be under a quarter mile. This stuff makes me feel so yucky- tummy gets sick, headaches, and makes it really hard to breathe. Needless to say, I don't think I'll be outside much today until it goes away.
I hate to say it, but it's looking like it will take a tropical storm or hurricane to put these fires out! The peat is burning, and nothing they do can get it out. I really feel for those who live much closer to the fires than we do...
Happy gardening!
Jun 24, 2008 | 1:34 PM PST
I really wish I could find where Steve put the camera- I have some gorgeous flowers blooming right now I would love to get pics of! Did more beetle picking today- I think I got 40 of them Mu-hahahaha!!!! They are just destroying my wisterias and witchhazel :( Also found an injured dove- looks like something attacked a young one, leaving all sorts of nasty wounds on it's head. It can still fly (sort of) and I haven't been able to catch it to take to a re-habber. I really don't think it can be saved though *cry*
We actually got some rain last night WOOHOO! I didn't think we would as all the storms and rain kept going to the east, south, or north of us yesterday. The weather really teased us with rumbles of thunder- then nothing. I'm still going to have to water tonight- I haven't been able to use the drip system yet this year because 1.-I have far more plants than emitters, and 2.- I put a few holes into the main line with my cultivator. Hopefully Friday I'll be able to get the stuff I need to get it working again.
Better get outside, the kids are playing in the still green pool. At least it isn't as bad as it was 2 days ago LOL!
Jun 23, 2008 | 5:54 PM PST
Here's the links to some of the videos we took at Disney for whover may want to watch :)
http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=Zuq-zFRD9Nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=K4FPFSaUX9Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=k7nrlPb6v_8
Jun 23, 2008 | 5:29 PM PST
Today was spent weeding. Amazing how many grow in a week's time! I found a volunteer portulaca in the one bed. Very strange since I have never planted portulaca at this house LOL!
I also collected the seeds from the really pretty blue-eyed grass. Since most of the pods had already opened I'm sure I've had plenty self-sow for next year. Have plenty for trading too :)
Also continued the battle with the beetles. I must've picked about 30 off of a few of my plants. Unfortunately there were a ton of them on the wisterias way above where I could reach *sigh*.I'm going to have to buy that milky spore this year- hopefully it will help a little for next year.
It was fun to see what all is blooming after a week of being gone. My crocasima Lucifer is blooming for the first time since I planted it 2 years ago. It is gorgeous! I'm going to have to get pics of it tomorrow. My daylillies are just full of blooms and buds. The hostas, agastache, catmint, obedient plants, gloriosa daisies, liatris, a sunflower, and four o'clocks are all blooming too. The end of June is always the height of my garden. The heat and humidity of July and August are just too much for most of my plants :(
Jun 22, 2008 | 6:57 PM PST
I guess I'll start with our arrival in Orlando. There had been a thunderstorm (that we missed) and waiting to greet us was a gorgeous rainbow. The colors were very vivid and it arced across the whole sky. Too bad the camera was in the back LOL!
We spent our first day at Magic Kingdom. The kids eyes must have been as big as dinner plates taking it all in. They got to meet Stitch while we were going from Buzz Lightyear to Space Mountain. Both kids are tall enough to ride everything, and they went on everything, mostly :) We were there from open to close.
The next day we went to Hollywood Studios. First ride we went on was Aerosmith Rockin' Roller Coaster. They were giving out Dream Fast Passes. (A fastpass is a card that gives you a time to come back to the ride, example is 1:00 - 2:00, and you don't have to wait in a really long line. The catch is you can't get another one for any other ride until the first one expires) The Dream Fastpass is a fastpass for every fastpass ride, with no set times to return between. It was wonderful. Especially since after riding the Aerosmith coaster Megan decided she didn't like ANY rides that were dark. That caused a whole set of problems, with Logan being the lucky one that could ride everything twice (for the rest of the trip). Anyway that coaster was AWESOME!!!!!!! Went upside down, 0-60 mph in 2.2 seconds, and pretty much completely dark except for road signs. Logan loved it, and probably rode it about 4 times LOL! It was also a Star Wars weekend, which was great because we all love Star Wars.
Then it was on to Animal Kingdom for the third day. They have a great "safari" trip through their zoo. You can tell that there is nothing between you and the herbivores, excluding the elephants and white rhinos. You are right next to hippos, gazelles, impallas, black rhinos, giraffes, etc. And the barriers between you and the carnivores, elephants, etc are hardly noticible. The nice thing about this park is it's mostly in the shade. Lots of wonderful shows, and another great roller coaster- Expedition to Everest. Megan wouldn't ride that one, but the rest of us loved it.
Fourth Day: Epcot. Megan wasn't feeling well, so was pretty grumpy, but still soldiered on. They got to meet Donald Duck. Had a lot of fun, but decided to leave early since we all needed an early night. Soarin, Test Track, and Mission Space are great :)
On the fifth day it was back to Animal Kingdom. Watched a lot more shows. Went to Dinoland this time, really neat stuff there! Kids got to meet Micky, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald again. As well as Pocahontas and the little gorilla from Tarzan whose name I can't remember.
Sixth day was Epcot a second time. There they got to meet Snow White, and a couple of others I don't remember right now (the days are running together LOL) We missed Jasmine, but Megan got to belly dance with a real belly dancer! I think steve put the video on Youtube, but I don't know what he called it. It was really cute :) I'll post the link when I find out what it is.
Seventh and last day was the Magic Kingdom again. Megan had an appointment at the Bibbity, Bobbity Boutique in Downtown Disney at 12:20 to become a princess. They did her hair, dressed her in her choice of gown- she chose Belle, put on make-up, crown, shoes, and wand. Then it was off for her photoshoot. She looked absolutely beautiful. Then it was back to the Magic Kingdom. All of the park employees would bow to her- she didn't know quite what to do! She had all of her princess photos in her gown. Belle was wonderful and danced with her. Megan was so happy :) We have photos of them all, plus the pics from the Disney photographers. I'll post them tomorrow. While Meg and I were doing all of that, Steve and Logan were having a great time. They had lunch with the Winnie the Pooh characters, and rode lots of rides. Stayed until after the fireworks again.
We had so much fun. I really hope we can get there again soon. The kids just loved it. Gave every character a BIG hug that just melted your heart, and made everything so worth it. They were the perfect age- the whole thing was so magical to them.
Jun 22, 2008 | 7:18 AM PST
We got back back home last night. Had a fabulous time, will post more later... My mom did a great job with my gardens- They must've grown 2 feet!
Jun 12, 2008 | 9:31 AM PST
Tags: Japanese beetles , last day of school
My son found the first Japanese Beetle of the season this morning while waiting for the bus. That started our annual beetle hunt- picked 10 off of the wisterias.
Other than a few last things to pack we are ready to hit the road tomorrow morning (6 am is our projected departure time).
I'm going to be watering all of the gardens very well tonight. It'll be the last watering they will get for a little over a week! Unless we get rain....
Logan's bus just got here. Last day of school!!! It is now officially summer :)
Jun 11, 2008 | 3:02 PM PST
Tags: smoke , class party , veggies
First I'll start with last night- About 6:30 or so we had the smoke from a North Carolina wildfire blow in. Between it, 100 degrees and the humidity I could hardly breathe! It's supposed to roll in again tonight.... Logan was coughing last night and this morning, with his voice sounding so hoarse. I'm sure it had to do with the smoke as well. I felt so bad for him.
Today was "cooler" then yesterday- only around 90. I re-attached a picket on the fence, and straightened out the gate again. Now we can close it without having to lift it 6 inches WOOHOO!! That was about all I was able to accomplish before having to leave for Logan's end-of-year class party.
The party was lots of fun. Except for the part about me having to lug a cooler full of 36 cans of soda and 10 lbs of ice about 3 blocks LOL! It's hard to believe that he's going to be in first grade next year, and that Meg will be in Kindergarten! Boy how the time flies...
One more day until we leave for Disney. Been doing laundry and packing. All that's left is to pack the last-minute stuff, and wash the sheets and towels in the guestroom for my parents. I'm really hoping the gardens will fare all right with my being away for a week. I am pretty sure I can get my parents to water the veggies- they want to have some!
Well- I'm off to fold laundry and buy some dogfood.
Jun 10, 2008 | 8:25 AM PST
It's tooo dang hot to do anything! It's 11:15 here, and already 92 degrees! With a heat index of 98.
I woke up early this morning. I topdressed the veggies with the mushroom compost, then watered them well. I also tried planting the potatoes that were sprouting in my pantry, figured it could be a fun experiment :) Planted the 2 clematis I bought a couple of weeks ago. I got tired of having to water them 3 times a day LOL! Then I relocated the elephant ear that was in the sunnier spot of the fern garden into the flowerpot fountain. I potted with mushroom compost before setting the pot on a slightly submerged rock- let's hope it likes it there even though it will get afternoon sun. If it doesn't I could always move it where the other ones are :)
I think that was everything that was on my garden list of things to do, other than rooting another brugmansia cutting.
Have a great day- and stay cool!
Jun 9, 2008 | 6:01 PM PST
My EE's- the leaf that's still curled up has opened, and they are about 18 inches long!
Jun 9, 2008 | 5:26 PM PST
I took some more photos today, and finally got around to offloading several day's worth from the camera :) They are the last ones in my "Flowers" album.
I'll try to post them to my blog tomorrow, I'm too tired to do it right now. The lazy side of me has been really showing itself this past week- I blame the heat LOL!
I'm going to try to remember to dig up my struggling EE and put it in the flowerpot fountain tomorrow. Completely forgot about it today. The fountain has become quite popular with the birds. They don't even mind the dogs being out! Poor little things, every bird I've seen the last few days has been panting because of this heat
I also need to remember to top-dress all the plants with the mushroom compost- I keep forgetting to do that too!!!
Jun 8, 2008 | 6:32 PM PST
So far this June we have had 0.01 inches of rain, with temps in the mid to upper 90's. Our lows have been in the mid to upper 70's! This is late July/August weather, not the beginning of June weather! At 9:15 pm it's 90!! I don't think we have any rain forcast for the next 4 days...
Steve let me drive his Porsche to the store today. It was lots of fun driving with the top down AND the AC going full blast :) I even drove it in manual mode too. It's an automatic, with the Tiptronic transmision. You can drive it in either automatic or manual mode. When I came out of the grocery store there was about 4 people standing around and looking at the car. Here I am in my "yard" clothes, sweaty hair pulled back in a baseball cap-looking more like a homeless person than someone who has a Porsche :) Spent 5 mins answering the typical questions- It's 254 hp, top speed 167 mph, tiptronic transmission, blah blah blah- while sweating like I just ran a marathon and 2 gallons of milk condensing enough water to fill their bags in the 98 degree heat LOL!
Took a little dip with the kids in the pool, got a shower then it was off to our neighbor's daughter's 3rd B-day party. They had it at a place called Kangaroo Jacs. Sort of like Chuck-E-Cheese but with those big, inflatable, bouncy things instead of deafeningly loud games, and Papa John's pizza. All the kids had a blast. The dads had fun being with the kids on the bouncy things too :) I must've drunk a gallon of water trying to rehydrate myself.
After, since we were down that way, we stopped in to Kohl's so I could buy a new pair of sneakers for Disney. Found a great pair of Sketchers that weigh next-to-nothing. On sale even!!!!! Sketchers are the only shoes that actually fit me and my difficult feet- high arch, wide instep, narrow heel, while also having the padding in the soles in the right spots too :)
Well, I'm off to bed. This heat just saps the energy right out of me...
Jun 7, 2008 | 11:04 AM PST
We pulled out the pool for the summer. It's the kind of round pool you can get at Wal-Mart. We were going to wait until after we got back from vacation- but it's just too dang hot! It's currently being filled by the garden hose- but it's going to be a LONG wait with 1500 gals to put in! But at least I'll be able to hop in when I get all yucky from just walking around the gardens :) And I won't have to drive the 20 mins to my parents apartment just to cool down
I repotted my houseplants this morning. I washed all of the old potting soil off of their roots, then repotted them with a 50-50 mix of potting soil and mushroom compost. They seem to be a whole lot happier now :) I also potted the brug cutting, it's sitting in the dining room window with my bromeliad until tonight, then I'll put it on the porch.
Jun 7, 2008 | 6:05 AM PST
It was another 3H day here yesterday. I watered a bit last evening when I wasn't squirting the kids with the hose :) It's already a hideous day today. It's not even 9 am and it's already 85 degrees with a heat index in the mid 90's! It's forecast to be at or near 100 for the next 3 days, YUCK! I think we are going to be going to my parents place to go swimming.
About 8 or so last evening I watered my veggies with the odorless fish fertilizer (Alaskan Fish Fertilizer). They look much "perkier" this morning, even more so than they do after I've watered them (every evening). I am going to wait to see how they respond to it.
Blooming news- my hostas are starting bloom, as well as the butterfly weed (I am really liking this one), the butterfly bush is also starting. One of the plants given to me by a neighbor is starting to open- looks a liitle like a perennial sunflower, I'll have to post a pic in the ID thread. The wisteria's second round of blooms are also starting to open. The flower bud on my Dr. Ruppel clematis should be opening in the next day or so as well. I'm really excited about this one- it's my first clematis :)
Spent last night looking up the care of bromeliads- I'm still not sure what to give my new, and only, bromeliad since I have no idea what kind it is!
Found a really cool online nursery that specializes in Brugmansia and Elephant ears- with AWESOME prices! After we get back from Disney I'm going to buy a bunch.
Jun 6, 2008 | 11:04 AM PST
Or maybe I should title this entry: "The Heat is Getting to My Brain" LOL!
This morning it was actually cool and overcast. I managed to do a little bit of weeding, sprayed my peppers, tomatoea, beans, and brugs with my homemade bug spray, and fed the brugs (the ONLY plants I use fertilizer on).
Then I decided to head out to do some much needed shopping. First stop: Home Depot, I bought a couple of cupic feet of mushroom compost. Then it was off to Wally-World for a big mental list of what I needed to get. Note, I said MENTAL list. Bought some more potting soil so I can repot some of my houseplants, and also a deodorized fish emulsion (Alaska Fish Fertilizer). Found a pretty healthy small bromeliad for $5- first time I'll try growing one of these. Then I got the much needed band-aids and gauze pads since summer is upon us and I know I'll be "Dr. Mommy" lots :)
Get home and realize I forgot some of the most important things I needed to get- COFFEE, MILK, and a few others I've forgotten already *sigh*. Oh well, guess that just means that'll have to go back out with DH's convertible :)
Jun 5, 2008 | 6:59 AM PST
I'm going to write my entry now, because I already know that I won't be out in the garden today :) We're under a Heat Advisory from noon until 8PM!!!, and it is already unbelievably hot and humid.
So instead of playing with my plants, I'm going to be doing the dreaded housework. I think I'll be doing that for next couple of days as the house is a horrible mess, and it's supposed to horribly hot and humid too. A great big thank you to the inventor of air conditioning :)
The guys are over in the power line righ-of-way killing the trees, as well as loads of other plants. Unfortunately the few wildflowers that are there (excluding the goldenrods) will probably be killed to :(
Maybe I'll take time out of my maid duties to repot my ficus, South African mint, and Aralia... Can't keep me away from playing plants for too long !! :)
Jun 4, 2008 | 6:43 PM PST
It was a really Hot and Humid day today- with the same forecast for the next week. As such, I didn't do a whole lot of gardening. Mainly watering. Something tells me I'll be doing a lot of that in the next week :)
The little bird that flew into the window yesterday morning wasn't where I left it last evening. I'm guessing that since I didn't find any feathers anywhere that it flew off sometime overnight or before I got up. Guess I'll never know what really happened to it.
One piece of news that has me really angry. The power company that owns the powerline right of way next to us is killing all the little trees in their meadow under the lines. That's one of my favorite hunting grounds for wildflowers. They are using some sort of herbicide. Has me sad because there are some really cute trees there. I thought about going over there tonight to try to dig some up, but I'd probably kill them in doing that too.
Jun 3, 2008 | 6:17 PM PST
Just a few additions to add since my original entry- decided to give them their own place.
Earlier today I was treated to a show by about 6 blackbirds bathing and drinking in my flowerpot fountain. They were so enjoying themselves. They would take turns being at the top flowerpot drinking the water where it comes up, like they were people drinking at a water fountain. Then they would hop down to the lowest level to where there's a big rock just below the surface, where they would splash themselves with water. I stood there smilingat their antics for about 15 minutes. Of course when I went and got the camera they were gone.
The little bird seems to be doing well. It's been moving around under the azalea bush where I put it. I just hope it survives the night.
Who sang that song "The Heat is On"? Today was the last day of nice weather for at least the next 2 days. Wednesday the high is supposed to be 91, with a chance of severe thunderstorms. Thursday is forecast to be 92! Hello summer!
Jun 3, 2008 | 11:33 AM PST
I gathered some more of the toadflax seed- the little blue flower that I wrote about last entry- I was finally able to identify it, and have had some serious interest in the seeds after I posted a picture of it in Perennials. Good thing the field across from us has a bunch of it :) I also replied to your comment, Gardenbug, on where to find the blue-eyed grass seeds on the plants. ;) Thanks to Stereoman I was able to find out that the "green balls" on my Lilly of the Valley [plants are seed pods!!!! I'm going to try growing them next year- even though I need more Lilly of the valley like I need a hole in the head LOL!
Amazingly, the little bird that flew into the window is still alive! (Pic posted in Wildlife) The bleeding from it's beak has stopped completely. I did move it into the shade under a large shrub so it wouldn't get overheated. I'm still not sure what to do with it though. The feral cats or fox are sure to find it tonight...
My Painted Lady beans are blooming- posted pics in What's in Bloom, as well as one of my glads, and yet another unidentified blue flower :)
Jun 2, 2008 | 3:02 PM PST
I spent much of the morning collecting and preparing seeds. I collected: a bunch of blue-eyed grass seeds, red hot poker seeds (not enough of those to trade though :( ), Johnny Jump-Ups, and gazillions from this plant with tiny blue flowers.
The last plant I haven't yet identified, but it looks really great in a big drift- you're able to see the flowers then. Once I identify what it is I'll offer them for trade. These seeds are TINY (smaller than poppy I think) but thankfully really easy to gather :)
I have some buds that are about ready to bloom on my Painted Lady climbing beans- I'll get pics as soon as they do. My hostas are also sending up loads of buds each. It will be really pretty when they bloom.
I noticed that I have these green ball-like things growing on some of my Lilly of the Valley. I posted it in Bulbs and Tubers, so if anyone has any ideas what they might be... I'll try to get some pics of those soon too.
Well, dinner's done and the kids are being really loud, so Bye for now :)
Jun 1, 2008 | 6:47 PM PST
It was another Hazy, Hot, and Humid day today, although not as bad as yesterday.
Last night the weather really teased us, right before I went to bed I could see lightning. We never got anything from it though, so it must have just been heat lightning :(
Tonight it was really humid, then the breeze suddenly picked and the temp has dropped. I hope we get some rain tonight. I watered today, so hopefully we will.
I also finally got around to mixing up some garlic, oil, and dish soap bug spray. Sprayed it on the peppers, tomatoes, beans, sweat peas, and brugmansias this evening. They were really being eaten up by some little nasty bug. I'll post later how it works.
Earlier in the day I decided to go fishing- after about 2 hours with not even a nibble I gave it up. I guess it was too hot for the fishies too :)
