witt's Blog
witt's Blog
Last Post 3 days, 14 hours Ago
Aug 4, 2008 | 3:52 AM PST
I thought that I would send a happy thought to all here on Garden Guides.
Aug 3, 2008 | 6:49 AM PST
We really slept in late for us. After 6:00 a.m. I guess it was all that fresh air and semi-heavy labor. I finally got some things done in the yard. I finished cleaning up, edging, and deadheading until it was just too hot to do anything. I had read that one should shear coreopsis, but there were so many buds that I tried to only get the spent blossoms. What a chore. I did some of the lantana, too. They had produced seeds. Most of them were green, but a few had turned into the hematite-looking pearls. Perhaps they will reproduce? I would love that! My efforts probably won't last long, but it looks decent for now. Later in the afternoon, we had rumbles of thunder. It rained a bit, stopped, and the sun came out. Luckily, another wave came through later, and ultimately we recieved 6/10ths. I had lugged some collected rainwater earlier, and now I'm glad that I won't have to do that again today. I never did get around to watering all the flower beds, so this rain is a big help. I finally have some flowers on my field peas. I do hope that I'll get a mess or two out of them. I just planted them as a lark and hoped that Mother Nature would take care of them for me. She is doing a fine job!
Aug 2, 2008 | 10:00 AM PST
Just taking a quick cool-down break for a minute. Today I hit the yard early and started in on The Patio Garden in the front. The creeping jenny has crept again. There were lots of little fallen limbs and debris everywhere along with a million mimosa sprouts. The Easter lilies that have volunteered out there have just begun to bud. I do have one bloom open there. I went to dump my bucket load and wound myself around to The Butterfly Garden. Before I knew it, I was working in there. I got another bucket load, dumped it and found myself working in The Back Bed. By then the sweat was pouring. Hmmm. I seem to have abandoned The Patio Garden which is what needed the most work because that's the first thing people see when they come by. I did get the walkway swept, so it doesn't look too bad. My rudbekia and tansy are putting on their yellow show with dots of pink yarrow interspersed. At least everything hasn't died from neglect. I may make some forays back in The Patio Garden before the day is done, but they'll have to be quick. This heat is just sapping my usual energy, but I am loving the peace and the sounds of nature.
Aug 1, 2008 | 5:45 AM PST
Happy August the Oncest! Where does the time go? Things went more smoothly yesterday. On the trip to therapy, we arrived at the end of the waiting line for construction, and it started moving right away. The same thing happened coming back. We didn't have to sit and count trucks or cars. The radiation machine was fixed, so we didn't have to wait around for therapy either. Son brought us a BBQ plate, so I didn't have to fix supper. It made for a much better day. I did get a picture of my arrowhead vine plant into the Houseplants section.
(I need to get the instructions from Bill again to post pictures on the blog. I don't seem to be able to do it. Edited to say that I have found my instructions. I'll be playing with this for a while till I can get the picture in. Eureka? Have I done it? Ok, ok, so that was a thumbnail. I think I've got it now. So there's a learning curve. I get that! I may be old, but am I sure? NOW--eureka!) I tucked the plant in a safe place on the porch, anticipating the big bad storm that was approaching. Guess how much rain we got? None! It was supposed to really be a gully washer, but it passed us by. At least it was raining in the river somewhere. I never thought I'd have to say TGIF again after I retired, but I am saying it now. I'm so glad that this will be our last trip for this week. I so want to go out and play in the yard this weekend. Of course, if it should happen to rain, I wouldn't mind that either.
Jul 31, 2008 | 7:46 AM PST
What a day yesterday. I went outside early after I got my house things done and put the arrowhead plant in a pot. Not what I really wanted, but it'll have to do for now. I'll post a picture in the Houseplant section. I guess that's where it should go. Then I found some vincas in the lawn growing "outside the box." I transplanted them. Whew, it was hot! Then it was off to therapy. Everything was going fine till we got stopped for a paving project. They had traffic stopped both ways. We finally made it to our appointment in time. Then we just sat there waiting. They have never been late. If anything, they have always been early. Finally someone came out and announced that the radiation machine wasn't working. Luckily, they doubled up on the other machine and started taking patients. It was also the day that the patients have to see the doctor, so he was taking them as they had to wait. That threw us way off schedule, but it all worked out ok. On the way home we were stopped for the construction again. You wouldn't believe the truck traffic on that road. One right after the other and truck makes that I'd never heard of! Traffic was backed up for miles. Just as they waved for us to go, the guy in the second car jumped out waving his arms frantically. The car behind him had jumped the gun and hit him in the rear. It turnd out to be my old assistant principal and friend. What a hoot. His bald head was as red as a beet, and he was furious. They pulled off to the side, and as we passed by, I couldn't see any real damage. He may have gotten a scratch. When we got back home, we decided to swing by the watermelon stand that one of my friends had told us about on her road way out here in the country. Sure enough, he had the kind they like, so we got some. Finally, we made it home. It was really later than usual. I got supper fixed, and we finally settled down. I was really cutting the zzzz's when it was time to get up this morning. I sure hope that we don't have to go through all that again today.
Jul 30, 2008 | 3:10 AM PST
First things first. I got my hair cut. Was I looking like a shaggy dog! After that, we did all our business around town before time for the radiation therapy. While we were grocery shopping, I spied an arrowhead vine that was pink. It looked as if it had been painted with a brush on the topside and was green on the underside. It was so unique that I couldn't resist it. I don't know if I can care for it during the winter since our house is a dungeon and gets no light, but I just couldn't help myself. On our way home from therapy, we spied a guy selling the long type of watermelon, not the ice box kind. We got one watermelon and two canteloupes. A friend called and chatted for awhile to see how we were. She said that there was a guy selling melons on her road, right near here. They were a lot cheaper than what we had paid. I guess we'll have to check him out. It was such a busy and tiring day that I couldn't get much else done outside. We had tomato sandwiches for supper. They were so good! I'd better do my housework and get ready to hit the road again. I hope that I'll be able to find a pot for my new arrowhead vine so that I don't have to look at that black plastic pot that it came in.
Jul 26, 2008 | 5:00 AM PST
We got through the therapy just fine, and when we got home, would you believe it, Hubby decided to cut the front yard! He must be feeling pretty good. I guess the relief of knowing that he didn't have to go back today gave him the energy. He didn't eat all those good fixin's as well as I had hoped. We've got to get his weight back up, but I surely don't want to be a nag about it. I'll just keep cooking good things in hopes that he'll eat. One of our friends stopped by yesterday afternoon and regaled us with his gardening woes. We really got some good laughs. Every gardener has a story and he had more than his share! I plan to change linens and that sort of thing this morning, and then go visit with another of our gardening friends for a little while. She always feeds us well with her homemade goodies.
Jul 25, 2008 | 5:44 AM PST
Yesterday, I decided that I needed to cook some of Hubby's favorites so that I could get that pound that he lost back on him. I started at 6:00 a.m. I put a chicken in the oven to roast, made dressing, and a macaroni pie. When I finished getting the macaroni together it hit me that Son said he would bring us a plate of BBQ. When he walked in the door he knew immediately that I had been cooking although I had already finished and had things in the fridge. He laughed and said that I now had two meals cooked and ready to eat! Thursday's and Friday's. In the meantime during of all that, I washed, dried, and put away a load of clothes. I don't want them piling up and have to spend the weekend doing loads and loads of laundry. One at a time I can handle! The BBQ was delicious. We'll have to try that again the next time the guy has it for sale. This morning I decided that I MUST plant the coreopsis and the day lilies. At first light I went out in my gown, robe, and bare glory. I deduced that it might not be a good idea because who knows how high up under your gown a mosquito might be able to fly. I ran back in, put on long pants, and then sprayed myself down with OFF! Even though I was careful to spray my ankles and feet, I still got two bites. I put the coreopsis in the second natural bed because it's a perennial, and I can see it from a lot of different places. The day lilies went into The Poison Garden where they will have plenty of sun and room to grow. I got the flowers planted and was surprised that the ground was still dry even after that inch of rain. I watered them all in with collected rainwater, pulling weeds and grass as I came near any along the way. It's amazing how fast all your hard work can go to heck. I'm showered, dressed and ready to hit the road for therapy the last time for this week! Two days off.
Jul 24, 2008 | 4:53 AM PST
Hip, hip, hooray! Three cheers for the rain! We got 1 3/10ths inches last night. Hubby and I were trying to figure out how to start toting water again this morning, but thank goodness, we had rain and we won't have to do it now.
I've been trying to participate in the forums, read and comment on as many blogs as I can, but with our time restraints, it's near impossible. Most of our day is spent traveling to therapy, and that doesn't leave much time to do anything else. The side-effects of the therapy are starting to rear their ugly heads, too. This will be a long haul, but we're still trying to keep the gardens going. Hubby loves it so much. He was proud of his first red, round tomato. (He doesn't think much of the Romas. "They don't look right.")
Jul 22, 2008 | 3:50 AM PST
Sunday we were afforded the opportunity to porch-sit a bit and enjoy the birds. The hummers were quite active along with the goldfinches playing on the sunflowers. We had another unusual visitor with an unfamiliar birdsong, but we couldn't see what it was amongst the leaves. Visitors of the human variety came as well. One was bearing watermelon already cut and chilled. Another came with the prettiest pink coreopsis and a bag of day lilies that she thought we'd enjoy. I don't know when we'll get a chance to plant them with the temperatures in the 100's. Right now I have the coreopsis placed on a garden bench so that I can enjoy it from the porch or from the window. The tiger lily is still blooming like crazy, and the Easter lilies are beginning to bud. As Alexander Pope said, Hope springs eternal.
Jul 18, 2008 | 11:51 AM PST
Although we haven't been out enjoying the birds lately, I sure did need to be taking care of them. The hummers were working the mimosa blossoms, so at least they were getting their nectar if the feeders were empty, which they were. I cleaned all the hummer feeders yesterday afternoon and refilled them. All three of the thistle socks needed refilling as well. That means six different locations. I couldn't help lollygagging around in the beds where each feeder was. I did a little weeding that was absolutely necessary, like knee-high weeds. Boy, they sure grow fast when you're not looking! The front walkway looked as if no one lived here. It was loaded with dropped mimosa blossoms. I got that mess cleaned up and then swept off the porch. Next it was water the plants on the porch. They have been neglected of late. Before I knew it I was covered with skeeter bites. I didn't even think of putting on my summer perfume. I was only going to be out there long enough to fill the feeders, but that turned out to be a lot longer than I expected. At least a few things got done outside that were sorely needed. I think that we have a warbler of some kind. The most beautiful bird song that I have ever heard. I tried to see what it was, but whatever it was, it was high and hidden in the trees. I would love to know what it was! It wasn't a song that we usually hear. It almost sounded like a flute. Just gorgeous.
Jul 17, 2008 | 6:08 AM PST
I've dashed through all of my housework and done all the things that must be done. I've been up since 3 a.m. That's about the only time that I have to do what must get done. We found Frinkles, my Speckled Sussex, the sweetest bird that we have ever had, dead in the nest this morning. Oh, that's just what we needed. I suppose that the weeds have taken over the place. Maybe I can do a walkabout this afternoon, but by the time we get back home, we're too pooped to work. I must close up now and get dressed. As Bill says, happy gardening.
Jul 16, 2008 | 3:17 AM PST
Sometimes life can get in the way of gardening. I haven't been able to do much of that lately. Thank goodness that we have had some summer thundershowers or all of my plants would be dead by now. I do have some nice color right now with tiger lilies, rudbekia, petunias, marigolds, and coneflowers. The only vegetables to have ripened are a few Roma tomatoes, but then we weren't able to plant a full garden this year. My field peas are finally growing since we got some rain. Maybe I will get some after all and will be able to harvest them. I have discovered that sitting around and pouting doesn't make the situation any better, so I will put a smile on my face and do the best that I can.
Jul 10, 2008 | 5:10 AM PST
The other day before we left for therapy, Hubby went out to gather any eggs that might have been laid. He doesn't like for them to stack up because they get pipped or cracked. All the hens want to use the same nest. They are sooo jealous. In one coop there are nine nest boxes, yet they will all use the same one and always want to use it at the same time even if there are eight other places that they can go. Anyway, instead of it being a black hen in the nest, there was a huge black snake coiled up in their favorite nesting box. He was six feet long and a little lumpy. He had already had his breakfast obviously. The funny thing is the chickens didn't make a peep, but when a limb fell yesterday and brushed the fence, they had a squawking fit. Go figure!
We got 4/10ths of an inch yesterday. That brings our total up for this month to 3 1/10ths. For June we had 3 2/10ths. I'm hoping that we'll get these thunder showers every chance that one rolls through. We are blessed.
Jul 7, 2008 | 10:35 AM PST
It was a really lazy day, and we both enjoyed not working. Late in the afternoon we had a little thundershower, which later became a heavy thundershower. When Hubby went out to feed the chickens, it turned out that we got 1 inch and 3/10ths! Can you believe it? Luckily, we didn't have any wind damage or hail. We are blessed.
