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Jan 13, 2008 | 3:23 PM PST
Tags: fall , tree , clean up , planting beds , mulch , wood chips , pine straw , hydrangea , hosta , path , nandina , conifer , creek , hammock
I had another great weekend in the garden. Got LOTS done as I am taking advantage of the warm daytime temps we have been having lately. I spent so much time on the front yard this past growing season, that now I am excited to get more work done in the back. I have been doing things such as defining the beds and putting in paths. I ordered another load of the free woodchips from the city and got busy spreading it:
I laid down a path in between the beds leading to the back. The bed to the left contains hydrangeas and hostas. I just transplanted all the hydrangeas to a better layout and added 2 variegated hydrangeas on either side of the sweet gum tree - I am looking forward to seeing how it looks come spring.
Here is the same path, from the back view:
My husband cut down the remainder of the trunk of the tree we took out last weekend. He was excited, because this meant he got to buy an electric chain saw. He always loves getting new toys...as you can see it definately did the trick:
I also transplanted the nandinas that were in the front of this tree over to another space so that now I have room to put in a nice conifer garden :) I also finished spreading all the pine straw (this helped to define the beds and create some new planting areas in the back yard. Here is a good shot of the back yard as of today:
The creek area even got some attention this weekend. Once I finish dragging the brush to the curb, it will be all cleared and ready to plant up with ground covers and ferns. I also plan to put an arbor at the gate with a nice vine on it and an outdoor hammock so that the area can be fully enjoyed!
I am interested to see what survived out of my bargain fern purchases that I planted back here in late summer. Once the drought hit, they began to suffer...so we will see. The creeping euonymous is doing well, however :)
On the list for this week: finish spreading wood chip pile and dragging creek brush to curb!
Dec 14, 2007 | 6:25 AM PST
Tags: fall , cleanup , rake , leaves , blooms , spring , grass , color , front , yard , back
Its been a while since I have spent a good chunk of productive time in the garden. And, yesterday...I did just that. In the morning, my girl and I made Christmas cookies and when she went down for her nap, I headed out to the garden. I did some clean up; such as raking and pruning. I also had some fun with my new camera. The weather here has been very wacky! The highs for the last week have been around 80, so we are having a false spring....things are blooming and buds are appearing. Its quite strange, because there are still many signs of fall in the garden. The Laurapedelum is in full bloom:
And yet, the grasses are showing all their fall color:
After a couple hours of clean up (It didn't need as much work as I thought, I guess all the hard work in the summer really payed off) This is what the yard looks like:
Front yard:
Side view of front yard:
Back Yard Views:
Nov 26, 2007 | 5:02 PM PST
Tags: harvested , fall , computer
Gosh its been a long time since I've been on here. Lots has been happening around here. Between getting everything harvested an put up, getting the garden planted for the fall an I've been swamped at work for some time now. Got a new boss lady, an we didn't get along very well from the beginning. Things are better but still not right, IMO. Finally got caught up with my taxidermy business an getting more things in for this years season. Been trying to do some hunting myself so we can have some meat in the freezer. I got a new computer for my birthday an is so much different from my old one. Its an Acer with Vista an so I'm still learning it. Hard to remember passwords on all the sites I like to go on. Well thats been my world for a while, hopefully everyone here has been well. Just wanted to write an entry to let yawl know I have fallen off the edge of the earth or anything. I have now bookmarked this site again so I don't loose it again. Yawl have a blessed day. trudy
Nov 18, 2007 | 2:10 PM PST
Tags: kitty , fall
Grand Kitty. Her name is Olivia. My son found a small cat outside his Sprint store. Her name is now Olivia and she is 8 months old according to the vet. We think she hitched a secret ride from somewhere and wandered over to the store. She was in excellent health and clean as a whistle. Solid white head to tip of her tail. And do check out those beautiful eyes. Even the vet commented on the colors. She is a honey and purrs all the time. They all are enjoying their addition to the family. Olivia will go to the front door when she hears Brents car come home and run to the door and wait for him to come in.
Now this might not sound like much of a story - however - here is the first part of the story. My DIL has had pets all her life and my grandchildren having lived with her family in the grandmothers home have always had cats in their lives. After they moved into their own home my son, who never had pets and didn't like living with the pets in his MIL's home has said NO to every plea for a cat/dog. Now who is it that called his wife and said to her, come see this cat?? A man that has 4/5 employees in his store, one of which would have taken the cat home, called his wife instead. Strange that he didn't just let someone else take ms kitty for their own. We try not to tease him about it. But he likes the cat and the cat likes him. Nuff' said on that.
Finally the freeze has killed back the rest of the tender plants. Looks like I will be out cutting everything back tomorrow. If all goes well, I am going to finish a piece of lattice that I want to put at a section of fence. Tired of waiting for my friend to come do this one project.
It is time for Turkey!! Not my favorite food but I love everything that goes with it. We have been invited to a neighbors home this year. I seldom cook on T-day as our kids are scattered and she knows this. So I am looking forward to seeing how her family celebrates. And looking forward to some good eats. Then my DIL's sister always has T-day dinner at her house so we may have to go there for a visit. (note to self do not eat again!)
Posted pix of the new grand kitty and will go now and post some fall pictures I took walking home from my sons house this afternoon. Doubt I will get more than that done tonight. There is another world outside of GG???
More to Come Later
Oct 25, 2007 | 10:05 PM PST
Tags: Fall , decorate , lush , kittens , creek
Must be, the weather has finally cooled off, it's been in the fifties for the past few days here, but thankfully, no frost yet. I guess I am the oddball around, I don't care for fall, except that I don't have to water the flowers as much, and they do get lush again, just in time for the freeze to kill them. Oh well, soon enough and it will be spring again. I feel like the past summer has been wasted at my house, anyway, I've had a bum knee and a bad back all summer and couldn't do any of the things I had planned to do. Maybe I'll be fixed up and feeling better next summer, and I can put up the fence I have wanted for three years now.
Now I will look forward to Christmas. I absolutely skip fall. I don't decorate for fall, or Halloween, I just let my summer flowers last as long as they will, then when they are gone, I just wait until I can put up Christmas decorations. The only concession to fall is Thanksgiving. We always have a big Thanksgiving dinner,
Enough griping.
I have added a few pictures to my albums and they are pretty, to me at least. I'm not the most skillful gardener, don't know what I'm doing a lot of the time, but the few flowers I get to grow provide me with lots of pleasure. I had an overabundance of kittens this year also, so they have helped to decorate the garden.
Soon I plan to add some more pictures of the creek. It is beautiful there, and there are a few places that are downright gorgeous.
Oct 21, 2007 | 7:51 AM PST
Tags: drought , mulch , figs , fig , pepper , tomato , green , fall
Well, we picked yesterday what I am pretty sure is the last of the harvest. We picked all the green tomatoes on the vine, since the temperatures have cooled off so that they won't ripen. Hopefully they will ripen on the window sill:
We continue to get lots of figs and enjoy eating them right off the tree! We also picked the rest of the peppers.
I had planted a bunch of fall seeds, but since I can't water....they will not grow :( So, I look at my pitiful patch of dirt in despair :(
But, the situation here is so dire, I understand.
I will focus next on mulching since thats really about all that can be done.
Oct 15, 2007 | 2:14 PM PST
Tags: fall , trumpet tree , brugmansia , daylily , susan , autumn fern , divide , transplant , camelia , veggie , clean up
Over the past couple of days, I have gotten a great deal done on my fall project list! I spent most of this afternoon dividing and conquering (so to speak). I transplanted and divided some autumn ferns for my front porch bed. I went from 5 to 11 total in this bed and I think they will fill in nicely:
I also divided some daylilies and the green eyed susans and put some in the big front bed by the street. Not much to see now, but hopefully will add some great color in the spring!
This is what the front yard looks like from the street as of today:
I'll be so sad when the first frost gets all that sweet potato vine...it will look so naked!
I also did a lot of clean up and filled up a few landscape trash bags as well as overflow in my wheelbarrow:
I am so enjoying this time of year! There is not as much to be done in the garden it seems and what is to be done is very enjoyable. Also, the trumpet tree is just FABULOUS!!!!!!!!
Also looking forward to my camelia sasanqua blooming this winter. It has SO many buds:
My next task at hand will be to pull out whats left of the tomato and pepper plants and plant the 2nd veggie bed for fall. :)
Sep 28, 2007 | 8:25 AM PST
Tags: veggie bed , clean , fall , leaves , eggplant , white , tomato , pepper , red , roasted
Started cleaning up my other raised veggie bed this morning. I was planning on pulling out everything but the peppers, but on closer inspection, I noticed that the tomatoes are still producing, so I picked some and trimmed the plants back. I pulled out the rest of the eggplants and the tomatillos.
Before:p>
and after:
I realize it doesn't look a whole lot different, but you should see how much i pulled out of there!
I suppose in the next couple of weeks, I will get the rest of it cleared and ammended to add in more fall crops.
The peppers are still going strong though:
so fun that they are turning red!
I think tonight, i will make hamburgers and top them with roasted red peppers and white eggplant:
YUM!
The colors of fall are abundant in my garden and I am loving every minute of it!
Sep 27, 2007 | 10:22 AM PST
Tags: brussel sprout , spinach , red russian kale , onion , garlic , parsley , trumpet , fall , veggie , fence , beet , carrot
Today I was able to put in the first planting of my fall veggies seeds. Temps here finally seem to be staying under 90! I put in 3 rows in my 8'x8' raised bed. In the first row went kale, mesculin mix, salad onions, garlic and spinach. In the middle row I put in brussel sprouts and parsley, and in the last row went beets, carrots, and salad onions.
It doesn't look like much now...but it will soon!
I used some companion planting techniques that I learned about from a book I recently purchased, so I do hope it proves to be effective. If nothing else, I do think all the different varieties of things will look very nice together :)
As you can see, my husband finished the new chicken wire frame fence. This is very effective in keeping out the 3 dogs, the toddler and the various other wildlife in my neck of the woods. Once he gets the others made for the 2nd bed, I can get that all planted too!
I also had help from Liliana and Dora the Explorer :)
Once the little one goes down for her nap, I will do some various clean up tasks. My city issued a compete outdoor water ban (except for edibles) so, this is going to put a major cramp in my fall gardening style...but I will try my best to manage and not to cheat too much!
Here are a couple of shots of my backyard in the early fall (taken today)
I am getting a second flush of blooms on my trumpet vine...
Sep 21, 2007 | 4:57 AM PST
Tags: veggie , fall , tomatillo , red , bell , pepper , okra , flower , spinach , kale , carrot , beet , parsley , brussel sprout , mesculin , peas , broccoli
Good things are happening in the garden! The other day I pulled out the spent veggies in one of the raised beds and added some compost. This weekend, my hubby is going to make some frames to support the necessary chicken wire barrier. Hopefully, this will make it much more attractive. When he has them made, I will then put down my seeds. I plan to plant spinach, kale, garlic, onions, mesculin, brussel sprouts, parsley, raddishes, beets and carrots. I am so excited!
Some things in the other bed are still producing, so I haven't yet pulled them out.
An okra flower:
The peppers are looking good and some are even starting to turn red!
Once this bed is finished, I will clear it and make way for broccoli, peas and probably more greens :)
Here is a fun picture of what happens to a tomatillo when the ants find it....
Almost prettier than the fruit itself :)
Happy weekend everyone!
Sep 15, 2007 | 3:53 PM PST
Tags: fall , autumn , sedum , fig , ripe , miscanthus , wild grape vine , breeze
For the first time here the weather has not gotten much above 80! It feels so wonderful and that fall breeze is in the air. The garden is doing great! Weeds have slowed and the leaves are falling. Everything is ready for my fall projects soon to be started. Colors of fall are starting to show as well:
Wild grape vine that grows here...I usually pull it out with a vengence, but I let it go a bit wild on my porch and I must say the fall "fruit" is very pretty!
Autumn Joy Sedums are in full bloom:
Miscanth
us looks loveley in the fall breeze!
And, best of all...the figs are finally starting to ripen! The drought delayed them a bit this year, but they are still nice and yummy:
HAPPY FALL!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 1, 2007 | 6:34 AM PST
Tags: fall , heat , labor day , clean up , projects
Well, I'm at the beach this week :) Kure Beach, NC! Having a blast and since I can't work in the garden, I am having fun showing off my blog and dreaming of fall projects.
Of course, being at the beach is always an inspiration, especially in color. Makes me want to paint everything bright and fun. I am going to pick up some fall gardening magazines for the 8 hour drive home for even more inspiration. Then, when I get home, its back to it! I have got to get some more creek brush to the curb...that is first on my list. Then to clean up and plant fall veggies :) I think our heat wave has finally broken, YEAH!!!!!! Which means I can start on more projects!
Till then.....
Happy Labor Day
Aug 24, 2007 | 2:47 PM PST
Tags: heat , drought , fall , elijah blue fescue , strawberry , harvest , zebra grass , brussel sprouts , autumn joy , sedum
Despite the heat, some things continue to do great and more happens in the garden each day! I spent some time watering and weeding this afternoon as the weather dropped from 108 to 96.
The angels trumpet has started to bloom and I look forward to nights through the fall when it will be loaded with blooms!
The Zebra grass has all its plumes now and they are so pretty in the wind:
All of the autumn joy sedums have their buds:
Makes me yearn for fall even more :)
We continue to have good harvests! Guess the veggies like all this heat!
I have had some casualties due to this heat wave and drought:
I have lost:
- 3 Elijah Blue Fescues (the new ones :(
- The strawberry plants may not make it
- the brussel sprouts got the worms...they just dont like this heat
- Even my vinca is crisping up and what was once a nice, dense groundcover...looks pathetic!
- My blue juniper is suffering
But, fall is just around the corner!
Aug 20, 2007 | 6:53 AM PST
Tags: hosta , berm , veggies , fall , mums , divide , transplant
This week we are finally supposed to have a break from the over 100 heat. Back into the 90's, so that means...back to the garden! I have missed it!!!! I am really looking forward to fall and thinking of all my projects and plantings. I just took a part time job so I will have less time, but I'm sure I will manage as I tend not to sit still well :)
They were talking on the radio this morning about how the heat and drought might affect the fall color we get here. They said the leaves may just start dropping instead of changing colors :( I hadn't even considered that would happen!
Projects for Fall:
- Redo Hosta Bed : I will dig up everything, add compost, berm up slightly and replant
- Finish center berm that needs mulch and plants
- Do LOTS of dividing and transplanting!
- Veggies: Beets, peas, spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli
- Have Hubby build another raised veggie bed
- Plant Mums
- Order climbing roses
- Mulch beds
- More Work on Creek Project...hopefully finish it!
- Hubby wants to rebuild back porch (its falling apart and unsafe to walk on, so it would be a good idea)
I think I'll be busy!!!!!
Aug 18, 2007 | 5:05 AM PST
Tags: Planting , fall , weddings , raised beds
Today we are going to work on the raised beds and get some fall flowers planted so our yard will look nice for the bridal shower on Sept 22, 2007
Jul 5, 2007 | 5:08 PM PST
Tags: lawn , fescue , beds , path , berm , fall , mulch
Most of my projects this season have evolved around my plan to minimize my lawn area. Actually, I use the term lawn VERY loosely, it is really more a patch of weeds that requires fairly regular mowing and always looks bad. So, at the beginning of spring, I asked my neighbor (who is a grass guy) about getting rid of the weeds and doing "real" grass. He described the process and really this is something I have resisted all 4 years that we have lived here because of the cost and maintence involved. But, I have done so much with the gardens that a nice patch of lawn will just be the icing on the cake and might finally prompt some compliments from my non-gardening neighbors. (I used to think I didn't care if anyone else but me liked my garden but, yes, i actually do care). So, I decided to add lots of new beds and paths to get my lawn area down to a reasonable size. I am FINALLY done with that and will put out fescue seed in the fall....Here are Picts of the progress so far. And, if you enjoyed this or any other of my blogs, PLEASE take time to add comments...I just love that , it make my day...THKS!
Area ready to make into path:
Gotta Love free mulch from the city:
A good workout later...nice path :)
Side yard with free mulch to make a nice drive area for my hubby's truck:
Good shot of new beds bermed up and ready for plants:
Good shot of my new patch of lawn "ameoba" ready for fescue:
I will keep you posted in the fall.....
Jun 30, 2007 | 6:18 PM PST
Tags: mulch , double knockout , red maple , fall , okra , weekend , datura
-I got all the mulch moved!!! It looks FABULOUS. I still need another load for the right side of the house and crepe myrtle alley.
-Laid out a new bed for the back yard, I will berm it up with the free city compost and plant a red maple as the center. (All in effort of operation lawn minimization.
-Okra is growing :)
-Broccoli is appearing :)
-Squash coming along :)
-Turks cap Lily Blooming :)
-Purple Datura Bloomed!
-T
he inlaws are in town and for my upcoming birthday they gave me a gift certficate to one of my favorite garden centers in Atlanta! Can't wait to spend it in the fall!
-Went to the nursery yesterday and when the sales guy asked me if I needed help, I told him I was looking for half dead plants for cheap....he hooked me up! 3 gallon double knock out rose for $10, 1 gallon Pink Dianthus for $2 and a guaera (spelling?) for $2. Woo HOOOO. I want 7 double knockouts for the front, so I am going to attempt to propogate from the one I got.
-Tomorrow morning is my watering time, so I will give everything a much needed good drink.
-This week my big plan in the garden is to clear out behind my back fence where there is a creek...it is SO overgrown with privet, wild grapes, and god only knows what else. I think I may try to make a wreath or something out of the grape vines that i pull. I'm going to post before and after picts of this one....
-All in all a great gardening weekend
Happy Gardening to all and to all a good night :)
