Blogs

A New Rose
May 12, 2008 | 2:32 PM PST
Tags: rose , peony , veggies , blackberry , madame alfred

Its amazing how much happens in a garden in just 2 days, especially with a good rain! We were so glad to get home from the hospital with Etta Rose:

Of course, one of the first things I had to do upon my return, was to walk around the garden....so much happened! The peonies bloomed!

All the good rain we had while I was in the hospital really helped along all the veggies:

Everything practically doubled in size! And, look at all the blackberries we are going to have!

But, most noteable is the rose that bloomed! I planted this out in the fall: Mdme Alfred Cartiere. They are on either side of the arbor in the back and will look so pretty when they grow up big. So for now, on our first day home, a new rose for our new rose:

We enjoyed our little stroll in the garden and now I must figure out a time in the day to do my gardening...but, all in good time. For now I am enjoying my little Rose :)

More beans!
May 7, 2008 | 6:38 AM PST
Tag: veggies

Yesterday I had a large picking of beans.  Put up 4 quarts again.  Of course, kittens and Peanut helped-several beans had teeth marks on them.  I have 3 bird feeders near my garden and the kittens are venturing out now, so they hide in the beans to watch the birds (the birds are still bigger than the kittens!) and I think they bite the beans because they're in the way!   Anyway, its no big deal-wash em, and cook 'em!

I also have more bell peppers to pick.  I think I'm going to try the garden center and see if they have any Ca. Wonder anywhere.  Big Bertha is ok-but I still want my FAT peppers.  Jalepenoes are making, tomatoes are loaded, but my cukes - they're slow, slow this year.  Lots and lots of blooms, but very few cukes!  We had 2 or 3 little cold spells after I had put them in the ground, do you think they're just having a hard time coming back?  They're vining good--don't know!  I always have lots of cucumbers off of just 2 or 3 plants-I may have to replant!! 

I've got a spot where I lost a tree due to Hurricane Rita 2 1/2  years ago that still hasn't grassed over, and I believe I'm gonna put cantelope(? spelling?)there.  They were $3.00 for one at the grocery store! Unbelievable! 

Iris and More
Apr 23, 2008 | 2:38 PM PST
Tags: iris , purple , peony , veggies , seeds , hostas , creek

Despite the Iris Patch having a MAJOR aphid infestation, they continue to bloom :) They have never really done too much in seasons pasts (they are relatively new to my garden- passed along from my husband's grandfather's farm), so its fun to see what color they are. So far we have white and today, the purples are blooming. In the picture, they look more maroon colored. It depends which way the sun is hitting:

p>

I am also very pleased to report that some of the veggie seeds are starting to come up already and the freshly planted hostas are looking good. Also, the peony buds look like they might burst open any day now!

Oi Vey! Just had to take a quick break from writing this to go tell 3 neighborhood kids to get out of our creek and not mess up all my freshly planted goodies! They were swinging from bank to bank from the grape vines that I cut back! ARGH! I hate being THAT neighbor....but really, I don't want them to get hurt either, would be our liability you know. They quickly sauntered off with their tail between their legs.

Finally, spring is really here.
Apr 8, 2008 | 1:42 PM PST
Tag: veggies

Nice weather today, finally, after so many days of high winds and cold weather.  It should be even warmer this weekend so I can be gardening all day.  My tiny space for a veggie garden had been re-done because the corn on top of the mound must have rot and destroyed by the neighbor's cat judging by the smell.  Yuck, I love animals but I do not like my neighbor's cats leaving their poohs in my garden.  I had to put that cover because as long as the soil is wet, cats love that spot.   

At least corn on the side of the mound is now growing.  I re-planted some more corn on top of the mound.  It will be followed by green beans and then squash.  Hopefully, these will all grow and the three sisters, corn, bean and squash, can complement and enjoy each other. The tomatoes on the topsy turvy planter seem to be doing well but against advice from the instructions on the planter, I added one more tomatoe plant on top.  I'm not sure how it wll end up but I can see some buds showng already on the top one but none on the two bottom ones. 

  

Citrus
Mar 18, 2008 | 9:28 PM PST
Tags: Master Gardener class , Veggies

Wow, we had an entire six hours dedicated to Citrus today.  More than I ever thought I wanted to know.  Half of our last class was on propagating citrus.  We learned about many of the most popular Door Yard(home grown) varieties, which are better for juicing, or resistance to certain pest or diseases.  A lot about different pests and diseases and different control methods.  Which root stocks are best for which varieties.  Mutations, good and bad.  Even which varieties require cross pollination and the best pollinators.  We had to learn about maturity dates and how that affects fertilizing and pest control regimens.  I will definitely need to review my notes from this class several times to soak up the information. 

I think they should have different levels or types of Master Gardener.  Some class just seem like so much information to take in.  For instance one could be an Ornamental MG, a Door Yard MG (home fruit trees), or a Vegetable MG.  Just because they give me a little certificate at the end of class that says Master Gardener I do not think I will feel as though I have 'Mastered" anything. (Personally I do not think I will grow any citrus trees either... That is a tree that requires too much year-round attention for my taste)

Good news!  The only other class topic that merits more that one session of training is vegetables.  Yea!  I have been looking forward to this one.  Thursday and Tuesdays classes will cover that topic. 

In my own gardens things seem to be doing fairly well.  My tomatoes have a little leaf spot but seem to be holding their own. They have several dozen fruit on them. =)  I have been pruning out affected branches and will mix up some baking soda and water for them tomm.  I did get a bad infestation of aphids in my peas and I think they are a loss.  I think I will retry those next winter I looked them up and should have started them in Sept/Oct.  I will get use to backward seasons... I will.

My sweet bell pepper plants have baby peppers on them, Hooray!  This is a plant I don't have a good history with... perhaps this year will be a success.  My cucumbers, squash, and cantaloupe all have flowers.  I think my jalapeno seedlings have doubled in size this week too.  My cilantro is done and I have started some more.  I think I will move them to the vegetable bed, I read that they attract lady bugs and help to repel other pests.  Tomm I will peek at the cuttings I started last week and see if they are still alive. 

Oh, I did get the composter started up can't wait for the 'good stuff ' for my veggies.  I didn't get to my air layering experiments but perhaps tomm. ( If I ever go to bed... Oops , what time is it?)

 

Planning and More...
Feb 1, 2008 | 5:37 PM PST
Tags: companion planting , veggies , spring , plan , shopping list

Well, the steps survived! It wasn't a torrential down pour, but it was more than a drizzle....the great thing is that the rain helped clean up the creek even more and the steps look more settled in.

I spent the afternoon dragging more brush to the curb. I also pruned my crepe myrtles and autumn ferns.

But, most notably, I did a lot of garden planning. I have been reading a book on companion planting lately and I really want to use this system in my spring/summer vegetable beds. But, its a lot to think about and my usual method of buying what sounds fun and throwing it in the ground was just making my head hurt...so I needed to plan.

First, I made my wish list of things to plant, then I jotted down their appropriate companions according to my book, then I made my shopping list. And, finally, I got it all down on paper!

Shopping List:

Seeds
:
Spinach
Radish
Carrots
Beets
Cosmos
Onions
Calendula

Plants: (Due to the drought...I plan on starting a lot less from seed this go around)
Cherry Tomatoes
An Heirloom Tomato
Big Boy Tomato
Eggplant
Bell Pepper
Brussel Sprouts
Bush Beans
Pole Beans
Spaghetti Squash
Strawberries
Corn
asparagus
Basil
Parsley
Asters
Dill
Chives
Bee Balm
Black Eyed Susan 
Marigolds

I have 2 existing raised beds in the back (about 8 feet by 8 feet) The plan is to add 3 more by spring time... Here is the plan I came up with:

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I know its a bit hard to see on the computer...but it will be so helpful to me. I will print it out before I go shopping and have it as a reference while I plant. Now I can get all that confusion out of my brain and onto paper....so, on to the next task!

Snow Slowdown...
Jan 20, 2008 | 2:36 PM PST
Tags: to do list , azalea , arbor , knock out , veggies , vines , hosta , conifer , cypress , creek , weeping willow

Well, yesterday we had snow all day...with accumulation, which is very unusual for us here! Of course b/c of snow...I am sure you can all imagine that it was quite cold! This means my plans for more creek clean up were put to a rest for this weekend at least. But, it did give me a good chance to get some things done inside the house. I worked on painting the nursery for the little one to come and I spent some time tootling around on various gardening websites. But, most exciting of all is that I got all of my past blog entries printed out and put in a 3 ring binder. I had NO idea how much I had written! I have enjoyed and found it very helpful in the past to look over my old entries. Now that they are all on paper...I have a great essay of the garden for most of last season and I can write notes in the margins and highlight and it will be just a great resource for future garden planning. It ended up being over 300 pages of blog entries! Now, I will try to maintain the discipline of printing out my blog on a monthly basis so that I always have it up to date.

One thing that I have found most helpful with it right now is looking back on the creek project and the progress. I am really starting to plan what to plant in that area as it is almost cleared out....but, since everything is dormant right now, looking back at old entries has really helped me notice where I still need to clean out and areas of sun and shade.

I have also been making a lot of mental to do lists for future garden projects. I think I ought to get them down on "paper":

• 
  Work on Hosta/Hydrangea Bed

• -I already transplanted the Hydrangeas to better locations, now I need to top dress with compost in the spring, then divide and transplant any hostas that need help. I also hope to add some new varieties of hostas. I am thinking I would also like to add some fatsia japonicas in the back to help hide the chain link fence.

• I also have many plants that I would like to divide and move around the garden:

• 
  -Ajuga
• -Daylilie
  s
• -Lambs Ear
• -Creeping Flox
• -Hardy Begonia
• -Vinca Minor and Vinca Major

• I also have a list of plants I would like to add to the garden this year (don't we all!):

• 
  - New sunny bed where we took out the maple: 3 or 5 false threaded cypress, Some fun varieties of conifers, possibly the tree peonie that I just ordered and maybe the hardy fuchsias as well.

• -New Porch Bed that I just created and got ready for planting: Sweet Pea VInes, Sunflowers, Bells of Ireland and something low growing for the front.

• -For the New Arbor that I am awaiting in the mail: It will go in the side yard on the right side of the house and I will plant a deciduous honeysuckle vine on the left side and I will put miniature ornamental gourd seeds on the other side. I am thinking the gourds will look so cools hanging there in the winter!

• -For
  the Never Ending Creek Project: Great Gunnera on bank side. 3 Green Giant Arborvities on property line to hide neighbors, Weeping willow tree on bank to prevent erosion problem. Lots of woodland fern varieties...and next fall I will add some bulbs to it as well! I would also like to add an arbor at the gate entrance and grow a Joseph's Coat Rose on it.
  

• -Veggie
  Garden: I am going to plant mostly plants this year from the local nursery so that if we are still in a level 4 drought, I will have a better chance at success...I plan to do: cherry tomatoes, pole beans and sugar snaps, Sweet Potatoes (purchased the starts already from Burpee), Spinach, Purple Brussle Sprouts, Asparagus and Artichokes (that I will purchase from Territorial Seed Company), and whatever else looks fun from the nursery. I will be doing a lot of companion planting as well so that means lots of: asters, dill, coriander, cosmos, basil, garlic, dill, basil and radishes...oh and onions too! I hope to have a couple more raised beds built so I will have lots of room for all this!

• -I also would like to beef up the shade bed where the azalea bed is. I haven't really ever done much with this for many reasons: Its in the back yard, so it is just now starting to get the attention it deserves, azaleas really are not my favorite things, but they are in good shape and they were here when we moved in, because they are not what I would have chosen, I think I have a hard time envisioning what else to do there. Also, it is one of the only deeply shaded spots in my yard, so I haven't learned a lot yet about shade gardening. I did plant a lot of daffodils there this fall , so I know that will be nice in early spring. I want to make it super pretty b/c it is my view out the kitchen window and I see it very regularly when I do the dishes.

• - I want to get some more knock out roses to plant at the base of my new sculpture in the front window seat bed.

• - And finally, I would like to add more flowering evergreen vines to my chain link fence in the ongoing effort to cover it up. The carolina jessamine and honeysuckles have done particularlily well, so I think I will get some of those.

• -I am sure that, in reality, only about half of this will get done, but I will end up doing a million other things that weren't even on my list. Thats always how it goes...but thats the fun of it! There is always something unexpected and tempting at the nursery that must be taken home :)

Whew....now that I got that out of my system!

It will be great to look back on this and see what ends up getting done! LOL

my garden
Oct 1, 2007 | 3:32 PM PST
Tags: garden , tomato , zuchini , herbs , veggies , weeding , birds

I live in a condo and have a small garden which goes around 2 sides of my patio. I also have a raised bed container where I have all my herbs growing. This year was bad for Japanese beetles, they seem to love eating my basil and mint. I ended up having to coverup the basil with a light blanket I found at gardeners.com. I have a rabbit too, he likes the beets I had growing around the patio. I covered up the beets too.

Helen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Here We Come!
Aug 30, 2007 | 3:16 AM PST
Tags: FRIDAY , Fall Garden , Veggies , Camping , Fly Fishing

Today is my Friday and our Daughter arrives this evening!  We are taking tomorrow off and will just spend time enjoying her visit.  Some friends invited us out on their boat Saturday and Sunday we have a BBQ to go to.  Should be fun and Meggie is looking forward to it.

My seeds are up already!  Spinach is a little behind the lettuce and radish and others but all are up and doing well.  The tomatoes plants look pitiful.  I think I will pull the last green tomatoes and take them out and prep that area for some more fall greens. 

Was just checking weather.com and it looks like we are going to have lots of rain the weekend of the 7th when we are going camping and fishing.  And something we haven't seen in a long time...high temps in the 70's!!!  Fall is coming!! 

The popup camper is cleaned and ready to go.  Rob Dog is chomping at the bit to go fishing with me.  He hasn't talked to me in three days since I put the trailer back in the garage.  He is mad because we didn't hook his camper to the van and leave.  Trying to convice him we are going soon but like any kid he wants to know, "Are we there yet!?!"

 

 

 

 

Thinking of FALL!
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!!!!!

Garden and Weight
Aug 13, 2007 | 3:50 PM PST
Tags: garden , weight , travel , veggies

So glad to have this blog to get all my frustrations written down. You would think with all the sweating, lifting, digging, stretching and arm presses with my pruners I couldn't possibly gain weight!!!!   WRONG.

So now it is back to the 'watching the food' again. We are going to WV for Labor Day and I will not take these 6 pounds with me. I know it is not hard to get it off, it is just the discipline needed on my part. Don't have much of it in my heart. Oh well, it will go by the by.

Of course I will not watch what I eat while I am there, my sis is a wonderful cook. Especially when she has company. My eldest son and his wife are driving us this time. My hubby is not able to drive anymore so this is a lifesaver. The son has never seen where I grew up, at least that he will remember. My two sisters and I took our very young broods to the old neighborhoods many years ago, when the oldest child was maybe 6? So it will be interesting.

Got to go to the grocery now to stock up on fruits, veggies and other good things to eat. This diet really is easy to do as I love most of the foods that are included. Will let you know at the end of the week how things are gong.

More to Come Later

 

 

Blessings given and received!
Jul 25, 2007 | 1:50 PM PST
Tags: give , it shall be given , more blessed to give , vegetables , garden , Word of God , Scripture , zucchini , squash , yellow squash , yellow sweet corn , cucumbers , zucchini squash , vegetable , veggies
I have been truly blessed this year by all the vegetables that we have harvested out of our garden, that we have had plenty to share with family and friends!  Also our family and friends have shared with us out of their gardens, as well.  They have given us things like yellow squash of which I thought I had raised, but found it out that it was summer squash in stead, yellow sweet corn, of which we bought but for a very inexpensive price; cucumbers, zucchini and more!  I truly believe in the Scripture that says "it is more blessed to give than to receive" and when you give you will receive more in abundance than you have given out!  The Word of God says, "give and it shall be given you, good measured, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will men give unto your bosom."   In the Old Testament it also speaks of giving away the first fruits of your garden,  to the storehouse, which would be the church that you attend!  If you want to see your garden prosper try giving some of your veggies away!

Counting the hours
Jun 29, 2007 | 6:41 AM PST
Tags: zucchini , Cukes , elephant ears , Critters , Squirrels , July 4th , racoons , veggies , tomato

Went out to check the veggie patch and pull a few green tomatoes to send to my mom.  They are still off vagabonding in their RV and she loves fried green tomatoes.  I have zukes and cukes all over the place.  Wow.  I put in a few extra plants just to be sure at least a few would take well, all of them took well!  Also now that everything in there has matured, I am seeing my errors of where I planted and being able to maneuver around in that fenced space is getting more difficult.  I can hardly wait for next year, now that I have learned these important lessons I have big plans!!  Hubby is probably going to grumble about building more raised beds but if we get them up now I can work on the soil in them for next spring, right? And…still might be early enough to have a fall planting…more ideas!

My elephant ears are going crazy with all the rain and heat they are loving it!  I think I will put in a few more next year; they really break up all that brick from the wall of the garage.       

Will get up early tomorrow and get the lawn mowed and things spruced up outside, do the regular housekeeping when it is too hot outside.  The house full is coming and I can hardly wait to see them all!!  Two of the kids are leaving California this evening and should hit Arkansas Saturday night or Sunday morning.  They are going to switch off and drive straight through.  One more kid flies in on Sunday afternoon and my best buddy from Seattle gets in Monday night.  I am so excited I haven’t been able to sleep.  Like a kid on Christmas Eve.

The squirrels and I have worked out a great schedule with the feeding trough.  They come for breakfast every morning and are gone the rest of the day.  This allows me to fill it the night before and it’s all ready for them when they arrive.  Thankfully it has kept them out of my herb pots and other flowers on the deck. 

The coon has been coming nightly and I leave him a treat of peanuts and apple slices and he stays out of my bird feeders.  He does continue to use the bird bath as his wash bowl, so that must be emptied and refilled every morning.  Plan to camp out in the dark diningroom by the sliding glass door and watch for him Saturday night while I am waiting for the kids to arrive.  Hopefully I can get some shots of him. 

            The chipmunk that I have been feeding at the back of my pond has planted his seed stashes all over my flower beds.  I am still finding sunflower sprouts coming up all over the place.  No more sunflowers in the front yard please!  So sadly I have stopped feeding in that area of the yard. 

            The black and white brigade will get their baths and frontline tomorrow morning too.  They need to be pretty and clean when their kids arrive.  Rob to this day goes nuts when he hears a VW Beetle drive by.  He is so sure that his girl is coming to see him.  I feel so sad for him when he finally realizes it’s not his Shannon coming.  Now we are all just counting the hours till they arrive!

i have some veggies sprouting!
Jun 19, 2007 | 6:59 PM PST
Tags: veggies , sprouting , garden

i planted my garden last week and i have some jack o' lanterns, roma tomatoes, corn, & watermelons sprouting...yeah....my determination paid off...now i hope the rest of them start coming up...i did have a single strawberry on one of my plants yesterday...well i think a little bunny nibbled on it...now it is half gone!

Summer, July and the decorating madness
Jun 7, 2007 | 11:40 AM PST
Tags: veggies , dogs , hawk , tomato , Squirrels , Bird Feeder , decks

Summer is coming on fast here.  We have been pushing toward the 90’s all week.  Expecting severe storms tonight with wind and hail.  Hope things don’t get too bad. 

 

Finally beat the squirrels to some of the ripe strawberries; they were few but very yummy.  The squirrel trough is working wonders and they haven’t been in my pots all week!!  Of course I had to make a run to Wally World for more seed.  But that’s okay. (posted a photo in my profile of the trough) 

 

My best friend and two of the three Calif kids are coming for July 4th week!!  Our younger daughter can’t make it because of summer college classes.  (boohoo) I am so excited and have begun planning for the week.  When I planted the petunia bed I was hoping they would be coming so I put in white, blue, red, red & white and blue & white petunias.  I am still the crazy holiday decorator and the kids will get a kick out of it.  I have been picking up little things here and there to decorate with also.  Flags and buntings and patriotic garden stakes.  I am going to replant the pots and baskets on the deck with red, white and blue this weekend so that they are well established for the party.  I can’t wait to see my friend and the kiddos!!

The decks still are not restained!  Every time we go to start on them it rains again.  At this rate they will never get done.  Got them cleaned and sanded but can’t stain until they are completely dry for a day at least.  I am ready to give up and just paint away. 

 

We took the black and white brigade for a long walk last night.  Old Buddy is noticeably slowing down and that kind of worries me.  He is a dear old soul and I knew at his age taking him into our pack would not be forever.  At least he is loved and comfortable and will enjoy what is left of his life.  Think we will go for a check up just to make sure he is doing okay.  As long as he let’s me know life is still worth living we will let him enjoy what is left of it.  (You can read Buddy’s story under my profile.)

 

The veggie garden grows and grows.  I have one mater starting to blush!  I can almost taste them as I check the plants for more fruit.  I know it sounds crazy but I love the smell of tomato plants!! Lots of squash blooms and noticed a few cuke blooms last night.  Got the rest of my bean starts out last night when I got home.  Noticed that one bell pepper plants dropped three peppers.  The whole stem of the peppers were yellowed and laying at the base of the plant.  I am hoping it is only the result of the pounding rain we had and not something else.  The banana peppers are all doing well though.  Next year definitely calls for a larger veggie garden, that is all there is to it.

 

Harrison paid a visit this morning.  He roosted on the tomato trellis and sat watching over my garden.  I thanked him and wished him a good day before I left for the office.  Couldn’t ask for a better scare crow or squirrel patrol than a red shouldered hawk!

If you can't beat them, feed them
Jun 5, 2007 | 10:19 AM PST
Tags: Squirrels , Veggies , containers , Shade , Fungus , elephant ears , Bird Feeder , maters , Tomato , Bell Peppers

The battles with the bushy tailed beasties over my bird feeders and potted herbs on the deck continued until this weekend.  I had been putting feed and bird seed on the railing for them to try and deter the ravages to my herb pots.  The mess they made with the seed shells on the deck was driving hubby bonkers.  While I was out in the garden he went to work on a solution to our problem. 

 

He built them a squirrel trough!  It’s a six foot by six inch platform with a 1 inch rail all the way around.  The whole contraption is hinged so that it can be dumped out for cleaning and has a guard chain so it doesn’t flop all the way down.  The trough sits on long shelf brackets on the outside of the deck railing so any shells fall down to the ground.  There is a steep slope down to the lake on that side of the house so no harm cleaning it out there.  It works great!!  I can fill it with enough feed and seeds to keep them happy all day and out of my pots!!  The jays love it because they are too big for my bird feeders and the titmice love it because they can pick all the peanuts out of the seed.  Everyone is happy, especially Hubby who doesn’t have to go blow the shells off the deck everyday.

 

Gave the maters a feed yesterday.  I was up to 53 tomatoes but there are too many to count now. I love it!!  Yummy!  Squashes have blooms all over and the cukes are trying there best to start too.  Pulled out the last of the lettuce and spinach, it was pretty much done and our last pounding rain did them no favors.  Peppers are starting to get a little bigger.  Now that we have sun and warm maybe they will think about growing, you can see the little peppers on the plants, they just haven’t done much with all the rain we have had.  Going to put in more beans where the lettuce and spinach was, I have some starts that I will put out this weekend.

 

Got all the containers watered last night because we are up in the 90’s today.  Thank goodness it is not humid yet.  My daylilies I put in a couple of weeks ago now are doing wonderful; one that was about a three fan size is thinking about blooming, it is called “Go Figure”.  The others are all late bloomers.  I have a Masquerade Ball daylily that is getting ready to bloom, I put it in right before the freeze and it made it.  All three elephant ears are up at the back of the pond.  The leafs are huge and it really filled in that side in front of the garage.  The new willow that took the place of the Japanese maple we lost is doing great.  Lot’s of new stems and foliage.

 

And best of all my dinner plate dahlias are all about to bloom!!!  I have had to stake a few of them they were getting so tall.  But soon they will all be flowering.  I will take some photos as soon as they do.  The sunflowers have all bloomed.  I think I will plant some more of those on the hill side just for the birds.  They really are pretty.  

 

The shade bed has really filled in.  I was watering a container near there last night and notice this fungus growing on the mulch.  Looked kinda yellowish and spongy.  I gave is a squirt of the hose and the whole thing exploded in a big brown cloud!!  So great, I can just imagine the whole shade bed is going to be covered with this fungus from all the spores I released by hosing the thing down.  So how do I get rid of that????

Almost there...for now anyway.
May 21, 2007 | 12:30 PM PST
Tags: Birds , Deck , Daylilies , veggies , dogs

What a beautiful weekend!!!  Lot’s of sun, perfect temps and best of all no humidity.

The rest of the daylilies I ordered came Friday night by the UPS man.  The dogs were out front with me when he delivered the flowers. He gave them all a cookie, said he keeps them in his truck because some dogs aren’t very nice to guys that they think are mailmen.  He got a big kick out to the black and white brigade, all three sitting at the same time and looking up at him when they realized he had treats.  He said he wished all dogs were so polite to him!

I got brave and decided to give the dogs their lion cut for the summer.  Left their manes, front leg feathers and tails.  I hate doing it and hate how they look but I know they feel better with all that hair off.

I got busy at 7AM Saturday morning prepping the bed I put the daylilies in.  Put some more mulch around the pond where it was wearing thin from the traffic to the hose bib.  Hubby cut the grass and then we gave everything a good watering. 

The veggie patch is growing, we had our second salad out of the garden and there are loads of maters.  Yummy.  I staked and tied of the green beans and caged the tomatoes that I have in containers because they are starting to get big.  My carrots tops are growing but there isn’t a lot of activity happening under ground.  Is that normal?  Never planted carrots before.  Lot’s of blooms on the bell peppers and a couple of peppers well on their way.

The pond is off and running again.  Everything is coming in great.  The lotus is filling in and the four leaf clover is ALL over.  We had one lily and my hyacinths are making little hyacinths already.  No blooms yet on the cannas but they are growing nicely.  All but one of the 25 cent gold fish dozen made it.  They are growing fast and giving the four big fish a run for their money.  We had zillions of tadpoles a couple of weeks ago but no signs of tadpoles and no little frogs at all.  I think the fish have been eating tadpoles; the new fish sure are growing fast!

After doing some shopping I spent the rest of the afternoon watching the birds between loads of laundry.  The blue jay pair has three fledglings and their wings and beaks are busy keeping their brood fed.  The whole family spent most of the afternoon in the trees near our deck.  I never realized that they would feed their young from my feeders.  I guess I would use any resource I could if I was in their position.  The young were certainly demanding.  I also wonder if they are teaching them to come to the feeders.  I guess that is possible.  The cat birds are actually visiting my feeders as well.  That is a first, normally I see them down in the blackberries but they have never come to the deck before.  The rest were the usual crowd.

Sunday afternoon we started in on sanding the deck and prepping for re-staining.  I am very sore this morning but the hard work will pay off.  Just a bit more sanding to finish and we will be ready to stain.  I am taking Thursday and Friday off this week and will start on the lower deck.  Hubby is off Friday and will help finish up then.  Other than the decks and the shed cleaning, which still needs to be done, I think we are almost ready to take a break from all the work and finally sit and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

The Neighbor is Happy
May 8, 2007 | 6:53 PM PST
Tags: neighbor , plants , veggies , water , straw , rose , bed , southern
I took my neighbor some plants this afternoon and he was tickled.  He helped me this time load another load of straw, but I think he secretly needed an escape from his other neighbor that comes by daily an had worn out his welcome.   But he isn't the type person to hurt ones feelings, its just not the southern way.   Anyway got it home an had enough to almost finish the large rose bed.  Still needs some more added.  Seems it went farther this time than it did yesterday.  Which is good.   I didn't have time to water everything this afternoon, but did manage to get the veggies watered, fed up all the animals an called it a night.  I'm pooped!!

Kinds Of Veggies Planted
Apr 18, 2007 | 8:34 AM PST
Tags: veggies , fruit

The kinds of veggies that we have planted so far this year are---

ASPARAGUS, Jersey Giant, Purple Passion and Martha Washington

GARLIC, volunteer that came up in the garden early this spring, must have missed it last fall

ONION,  CARROTS,   PARSNIP,  BLUEBERRY, DILLS ATLANTIC GIANT PUMPKIN

ZUCCHINI,    POTATO,    BELL PEPPER,   HOT PEPPERS,   MESCLUN MIX,    SPINACH

KOHLRABI,   CUCUMBER,  KENTUCKY WONDER POLE BEANS,   PURPLE POD POLE BEANS

RADISH,   CABBAGE,   RED SAILS LETTUCE,    CRUNCHY FRILLS LETTUCE,    BUTTERNUT SQUASH

SPAGHETTI SQUASH,   TOMATOES---sweet 100, brandy wine, burpee supersteak hybrid,  rutger,

WATERMELON,    AND CELESTE FIG TREE

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.