FishinBC's Blog

Just the regular maintenance...
Jun 27, 2007 | 8:03 AM PST
Tags: vegetable , dahlia , Pond , Pond Lilies , Lotus , perennial

I hadn’t watered in a couple of days because we were supposed to get lots of rain.  It only spit on us so after my photography class last night, I ran around trying to get things watered before it got too dark.  We got a little shower this morning, but nothing that really watered anything.

 

A couple of my dahlias were leaning over pretty bad from the weight of the blooms.  Decided to go ahead and cut the full blooms and bring them to the office to enjoy.  There are still plenty of buds on the plants and now they are not leaning over, even staked.

 

My pond lilies are blooming non stop this year.  Had a total of six blooms last week and this week there are four new ones.  Monday night, I transplanted the chameleon, cannas, and one of the pond grasses that were bulging in their pots.  They look better for it already.  Lot’s of leafs on the lotus but no blooms yet there.  The hyacinths have bloomed a few times also.

 

Going to try my hand at pickling peppers.  Got some jars and found a recipe on line.  I have banana peppers coming out my ears and I hate to see things wasted.  I am hoping to have a ripe tomato by this weekend.  I have been harvesting cherry tomatoes, but the first of the big ‘uns is almost ready!!  Should have two really nice zukes to grill on July 4th too.

 

Making plans for the kids and friend when they come next week.  The fourth will be spent at home, cooking, eating, visiting and enjoying their company.  My Shannon and my friend Cat enjoying cooking as much as I do, so we will be fixing all kinds of goodies to enjoy throughout the day and week.  They are both looking forward to coming and harvesting from my garden and herb pots.

 

Have begun laying out on paper just how I want to design my two largest beds.  I will keep buying marked down perennials that I want to add and look forward to making them what I really want. 

Where the heck did spring go??
Apr 12, 2007 | 12:13 PM PST
Tags: freeze , birds , garden , vegetable garden , veggies , Pond , Lotus , japanese maple , sod , containers

Another night below freezing last night and another to come Saturday night, will spring ever come back???  They even said the words “snow flurries” for Sunday!!  Whaaa!!!

Okay, still waiting on the extra 20 yards of sod to fill the patch and trim out the rest.  Rain again is keeping them from cutting the sod.  The rest of the grass we have put down is looking great.  What a difference in the front yard it makes. 

All my container plants were hold up in the garage again last night.  I will take them out again for the day as soon as it warms up.  We have given up on the rest other than the tomatoes and peppers.  Containers in the garage, veggie bed covered and filbert covered.  For all the good it will do.  But at least it isn’t the 20 degrees or lower 5 nights in a row. 

I asked Treeman about my very sad Japanese maple, the news is not good.  I will wait a bit and keep an eye on it but odds are its toast.  Thanks, Treeman for breaking it to me gently.

The birds are back at the feeders, this cold giving them an urgent need for fuel.  Some of the birder talk I get emailed to me is saying that this warm spell we had bringing everything out and now this freeze is going to hurt the birds pretty badly as well.  The new tender foliage is now brown and crunchy, leaving the insects nowhere to do their thing and that means no insects for the hungry birds sitting eggs or feeding young.  Not good.  I don’t know how much good it will do, but I will keep a close eye that my feeders are filled and have water there for the birds.

Hoping we get a bit of a break in the rain we are suppose to get this weekend, so that I can pull up or cut back damaged flowers and access what to do now in my flower beds.  Most of the annuals are toast.  I planted those just for instant gratification.  I really want to get serious and plan out some nice perennials.

The pond is doing well.  The lotus was trying to put up shoots when the freeze happened.  I had sunk it deeper in the water to protect it and checked it last night and it is still okay.  The lilies slowed down but are okay and the four leaf clover is doing well too.  The cannas slowed too but are fine, since I threw them in a cooler with the pond grasses and stuck them in the garage.  The pond nursery said they would have hyacinths by the end of this month, so I will head over there to get some to add to the pond soon. 

I really want spring to return soon, and not go straight into 100+ degrees with humidity.  But I am sure my wish is no different from any of us.  Hope everyone is doing well and staying warm.