yardgranny6's Blog
yardgranny6's June 2008 Entries
Last Post 3 days, 11 hours Ago
Jun 30, 2008 | 7:30 PM PST
the last day of June. Tomorrow starts the countdown for Independence Day celebrations. Hoping to be able to party a little with the family.
The path through the Iris/Lily bed is about cleared. Did a couple of hours of fairly easy digging and weeding out the grass this morning. What a mess. There is still the area at my little back patio and the patio itself which has gone to the weeds as well. It was nice this morning, with the bees buzzing around and the birds busy feeding and fussing with one another. I saw the squirrel again yesterday taking his cooling off nap in the bird bath. Since I have never known one to do this before, I wonder if it has a problem with being able to stay cool. I have often seen them up in the trees at their nests in the hot afternoons just snoozing away. It does make a good picture though.
The beds themselves need weeding too. And that will be a job. I see that the weeds are taking nutrients away from the plants that are trying to grow. So I and that bed will be glad to get a clean up. When all is done in a couple of weeks I will take new pictures. Then I will be dismantling portions of that bed and rearranging the plants. We are never satisfied are we? I really want one area where I can grow just annuals. There are so many beautiful flowers to grow during the summer.
More To Come Later
Jun 28, 2008 | 7:05 PM PST
was so hot! I got out this morning and started on the big flower bed. The paths and part of those gardens are ridden with grassy weeds. Was able to get the first 5 feet or so done and already it looks better. Have one little patch about 3 feet to clean out and then I will have to start on the main path that has some - for lack of better words - stepping stones. Can't decide how I want to do that part. I want to put down a weed blocker, mulch and then some sort of stepping stones. Guess it will come to me while I am cleaning the mess up.
Did spray the front bank bed with weed/grass killer so all that is left now is to do a little raking and it will be ready for mowing the next time around. Glad that is finished. For some reason I just don't enjoy that area as much as the back yard.
I hear thunder all around right now, sure hope it means a little rain. I had set up the timer for the sprinkler but think I will go out now and turn it off.
More to Come Later
Jun 27, 2008 | 3:21 PM PST
Dear GG'ers, it has been such a busy week. Monday I cleaned out from behind the shed. It was a job, why oh why do we toss so much 'stuff' back there? It took most of the morning to get that done.
Tuesday was YMCA day and my water aerobics class. It was a good workout for a solid hour. Since I had not been in a while it was WhooWee and my body felt it. The plan was to come home, load the truck and haul away all the junk but I had to take a break. We decided to eat lunch first and then go. But I tell you that break was not long enough. The A/C in the truck does not work so in the early afternoon it was HOT! Ended up taking a nice nap later in the afternoon. Had no choice, the eyelids were closing on their own.
Wednesday morning we went to the Farmers Market and picked up some good veggies. It is not as expensive there as it is in the stores right now. Local farmers don't have all that overhead. Great maters, green beans, squash and even some silver queen corn (though I didn't ask where it was grown). The maters however, came from Lake City the home of two of our GG'ers it turns out. Last Sunday a friend brought us a watermelon from Hemingway. My hubby loves it and so does the DIL but it is not my favorite fruit. If it is nice and red and really sweet - OK I will eat a little.
Thursday I think I decided to do myself in. Witt will be proud of me - I actually woke up at 6:30AM!! Me whose eyes don't normally squint until the sun shows itself ready to beam hotly down on SC. Was in the yard at 7:30!! But boy did I get a lot done. Started out front on the bank as it is shady there until around 9am or so. I bought 3 variegated sweet potato vines at the Famers Market and planted them on the bank. The purple and lime green have just grown like 'weeds' - which they may very well be and I thought maybe the V will do the same. Really thinking about planting them there next spring as well, but many more of them. They like it hot and dry which that area really is. Our lot is elevated in the front and the soil is sandy so any water - rain or city - just runs straight through.
The other plant that likes it hot, dry, wet or cool is that nuisance 'wire grass' or wild bermuda. That stuff will make roots that go down six feet. I think it is making its way to hell - or maybe that is where it comes from?? So I usually dig it in the spring, spray heavy with grass killer and then this time of year I have to beat it back with a chain saw. Actually that is not a bad idea since I do have a chain saw :-) and then spray it heavy again. I didn't want to spend all morning out front so I pulled it back with a handy hoe thingy with two prongs and will spray it later today.
Another thing I did was cut back Ms Hollyhock as she has about given up the ghost for the season. But she did a good job and made lots of seed. There are nice new plants springing up at her feet so I know she will be back next year. Kind of reminds me of a mother hen with her chicks clustered under her wings. The black HH has made good seed pods also and after these last couple of blooms go to seed that will get cut back also. I have enjoyed the black and love it when the sunlight catches it from the back of the blossom. You can see the maroon/red color shining through. I did find my tag from the pot this black came in and the name is "Watchman".
Now the Blackeyed Susans that I have this year decided to go into 'urban sprawl' mode and had overtaken the Dogwood bed. They had pushed the red Hibiscus over and was encroaching upon the large Rudbeckia plant that blooms in late summer. I cut one BS plant completely down and half of the other. Then I put the old metal headboard to work holding the rest of the plant up and out of the way of the path through that bed. This is not the headboards permanent place but it is doing the job of helping control the wayward plant. Looks neater and I am happier about that bed.
Some of you may wonder what I did with all those beautiful flowers from the BS plant. I took the cuttings and placed them in a bucket of water overnight. I thought this would help them before I brought them inside. So this morning I cut them and placed them in a new container I found at a thrift shop. I paid 4.95 for the planter. Hopefully you will be able to see the container in the picture.
The heritage Zinnia seeds did sprout and were doing so well that they were beginning to press upon the screen I had placed over the seed box. I took them up and placed them in four packs to get a little bigger before going into the regular beds. As of last night they did not look so good. Gave them water to soak up from the bottom of their little pots and this morning they look much better. I have high hopes they will survive. The only other seeds that have sprouted even a little are the Gomphrena which is a flower I really like. The lettuces and the radishes are doing fair. They need to be thinned in a big way. Just ran out of steam yesterday.
Early in the spring I purchased a packet of Windflowers and decided to go ahead and plant them. They have been sitting for months on the counter. Put most of them around the Rock Pool. They will look nice next spring if they sprout. I really loved the one Purple WF plant I purchased this spring. More must be much better.
Later in the afternoon I took my trusty camera to take a pix of my neighbors first bud on the Crinum lily a friend gave her (which she shared with me) And the first bloom on my Foxglove. I have two and this is the first of this plant I have had so to say I am happy it #1 lived and #2 is going to bloom is a big plus in my garden.
Crinum 
Foxglove
While I was out there a hummingbird caught my eye. She was sipping on the Bee Balm - I acutally had a camera this time. Got a number of pix but only two came out really good. (Bugnut how do you do it) Such fun, she was so busy I wonder if she was filling up for feeding time in a nest somewhere. Anyone know how far away from the nest a hummer will travel? Have been curious if one of those nests are so close and yet so hidden from my eye.
I saw a squirrel yesterday lying in my bird bath. Wonder does it have any issues that need to be addressed? No I think it was just so hot and that makes a good cooling off place. This morning I saw him again and actually got a pix Doesn't he look content? I generally leave the door to my shed open when I am outside but one day I found a squirrel inside eating from the sunflower bag. So now I have to be sure to close the door. They are crafty.
After a long wonderful day in my gardens and a few log ins on GG it was time for much needed nightly rest. I love it when a day comes together.
More To Come Later
Jun 26, 2008 | 3:26 PM PST
Tag: gardenshed
Dear GG'ers, it has been such a busy week. Monday I cleaned out from behind the shed. It was a job, why oh why do we toss so much 'stuff' back there? It took most of the morning to get that done.
Tuesday was YMCA day and my water aerobics class. It was a good workout for a solid hour. Since I had not been in a while it was WhooWee and my body felt it. The plan was to come home, load the truck and haul away all the junk but I had to take a break. We decided to eat lunch first and then go. But I tell you that break was not long enough. The A/C in the truck does not work so in the early afternoon it was HOT! Ended up taking a nice nap later in the afternoon. Had no choice, the eyelids were closing on their own.
Wednesday morning we went to the Farmers Market and picked up some good veggies. It is not as expensive there as it is in the stores right now. Local farmers don't have all that overhead. Great maters, green beans, squash and even some silver queen corn (though I didn't ask where it was grown). The maters however, came from Lake City the home of two of our GG'ers it turns out. Last Sunday a friend brought us a watermelon from Hemingway. My hubby loves it and so does the DIL but it is not my favorite fruit. If it is nice and red and really sweet - OK I will eat a little.
Thursday I think I decided to do myself in. Witt will be proud of me - I actually woke up at 6:30AM!! Me whose eyes don't normally squint until the sun shows itself ready to beam hotly down on SC. Was in the yard at 7:30!! But boy did I get a lot done. Started out front on the bank as it is shady there until around 9am or so. I bought 3 variegated sweet potato vines at the Famers Market and planted them on the bank. The purple and lime green have just grown like 'weeds' - which they may very well be and I thought maybe the V will do the same. Really thinking about planting them there next spring as well, but many more of them. They like it hot and dry which that area really is. Our lot is elevated in the front and the soil is sandy so any water - rain or city - just runs straight through.
The other plant that likes it hot, dry, wet or cool is that nuisance 'wire grass' or wild bermuda. That stuff will make roots that go down six feet. I think it is making its way to hell - or maybe that is where it comes from?? So I usually dig it in the spring, spray heavy with grass killer and then this time of year I have to beat it back with a chain saw. Actually that is not a bad idea since I do have a chain saw :-) and then spray it heavy again. I didn't want to spend all morning out front so I pulled it back with a handy hoe thingy with two prongs and will spray it later today.
Another thing I did was cut back Ms Hollyhock as she has about given up the ghost for the season. But she did a good job and made lots of seed. There are nice new plants springing up at her feet so I know she will be back next year. Kind of reminds me of a mother hen with her chicks clustered under her wings. The black HH has made good seed pods also and after these last couple of blooms go to seed that will get cut back also. I have enjoyed the black and love it when the sunlight catches it from the back of the blossom. You can see the maroon/red color shining through. I did find my tag from the pot this black came in and the name is "Watchman".
Now the Blackeyed Susans that I have this year decided to go into 'urban sprawl' mode and had overtaken the Dogwood bed. They had pushed the red Hibiscus over and was encroaching upon the large Rudbeckia plant that blooms in late summer. I cut one BS plant completely down and half of the other. Then I put the old metal headboard to work holding the rest of the plant up and out of the way of the path through that bed. This is not the headboards permanent place but it is doing the job of helping control the wayward plant. Looks neater and I am happier about that bed.
Some of you may wonder what I did with all those beautiful flowers from the BS plant. I took the cuttings and placed them in a bucket of water overnight. I thought this would help them before I brought them inside. So this morning I cut them and placed them in a new container I found at a thrift shop. I paid 4.95 for the planter. Hopefully you will be able to see the container in the picture.
The heritage Zinnia seeds did sprout and were doing so well that they were beginning to press upon the screen I had placed over the seed box. I took them up and placed them in four packs to get a little bigger before going into the regular beds. As of last night they did not look so good. Gave them water to soak up from the bottom of their little pots and this morning they look much better. I have high hopes they will survive. The only other seeds that have sprouted even a little are the Gomphrena which is a flower I really like. The lettuces and the radishes are doing fair. They need to be thinned in a big way. Just ran out of steam yesterday.
Early in the spring I purchased a packet of Windflowers and decided to go ahead and plant them. They have been sitting for months on the counter. Put most of them around the Rock Pool. They will look nice next spring if they sprout. I really loved the one Purple WF plant I purchased this spring. More must be much better.
Later in the afternoon I took my trusty camera to take a pix of my neighbors first bud on the Crinum lily a friend gave her (which she shared with me) And the first bloom on my Foxglove. I have two and this is the first of this plant I have had so to say I am happy it #1 lived and #2 is going to bloom is a big plus in my garden.
Crinum Foxglove
While I was out there a hummingbird caught my eye. She was sipping on the Bee Balm - I acutally had a camera this time. Got a number of pix but only two came out really good. (Bugnut how do you do it) Such fun, she was so busy I wonder if she was filling up for feeding time in a nest somewhere. Anyone know how far away from the nest a hummer will travel? Have been curious if one of those nests are so close and yet so hidden from my eye.
I saw a squirrel yesterday lying in my bird bath. Wonder does it have any issues that need to be addressed? No I think it was just so hot and that makes a good cooling off place. This morning I saw him again and actually got a pix Doesn't he look content? I generally leave the door to my shed open when I am outside but one day I found a squirrel inside eating from the sunflower bag. So now I have to be sure to close the door. They are crafty.
After a long wonderful day in my gardens and a few log ins on GG it was time for much needed nightly rest. I love it when a day comes together.
More To Come Later for the third time to post this one.
Jun 25, 2008 | 7:41 PM PST
Tag: Rabbit
You are the first to see the pictures of my bunny in the garden. I doubt it will stay around once the area is weeded. Funny thing is I can't see where it is eating anything. Pretty little thing though. Bill helped me get the 'flash eye' fixed and they look a whole lot friendlier this way.
and a second one ------------
More To Come Later
Jun 22, 2008 | 2:00 PM PST
Tag: red hibiscus
is a day of rest. From the garden anyway. OOPPPSSS!! What is this I hear out my window?? Yikes!! It is raining!!
See me smile or rather give a huge grin. Rain two days in a row, I am impressed and the gardens will be well rewarded for their efforts during the dry spell. Go weeds Go - or am I to say Grow plants Grow? Oh well I can pull and dig the weeds and sing to the flowering plants. Just hope it will do more than just blow and go. Something like the Mow and Blow lawn services? Which reminds me I saw the fellow at church this morning that I need to call for help with my no-lawn in order to get it back into some shape to become green and growing again.
My two sons have been busy working on the swimming pool decking. Guess they are taking a short break about now. It is looking good. We had sub sandwiches at lunch time together a little earlier. They were dirty and sweaty, especially the older son who was born looking like that little guy from the Peanuts comic strip - the one with the cloud of dust over his head all the time.
I have two angel trumpets with buds and one is almost open now. And I got a pix of the first red cutleaf Hibiscus blossom. It is huge. My neighbors red is a regular leaf round dinner plate and right now it is outdoing itself with flowers. Just beautiful!! I take pictures of her plants just like I do mine. And when I get several good pictures I print them out for her. I did that one time last year and took them to her. It turned out to be her birthday that day. It was a nice surprise for both of us.
My cutleaf flower:
My friend dinner plate:
More To Come Later
Jun 20, 2008 | 7:00 PM PST
But one that had many perks. The best was meeting with the two new GG friends and getting to see up close the transition of one of their beds. We still can't believe there are three of us in our small town on GG and that we live less than one mile from one another. It rather forms a triangle.
The second was seeing a hummer on my butterfly bushes this morning. The first sighting in many weeks. So they may have been around but I have been so busy 'gardening' I have missed them. Must make a note to just sit one day next week.
The third was a sighting of a young 'bunny' in my garden. Couldn't believe it. There have not been rabbits in any of our yards in many years. My neighbor and her sister came over and they knocked on the back door to tell me. Bunnies are cute, but I said if all our flowers start disappearing, we may have to have rabbit stew. I wonder if I will see the easter bunny again. You will be among the first to know.
Our one son from another town is coming this weekend to help the son that lives up the street build the decking around his new swimming pool. Sure hope the rain holds off until late afternoon so they can get a good start.
I hope to be in the gardens in the morning doing some more weeding and getting ready for mulch. The truck is coming back with son #1. It will be good to get some cleaning done from behind my shed. That will be first on the list for Monday moring.
More To Come Later
Jun 18, 2008 | 12:40 PM PST
Tags: 4-H , MicroTomCherryTomato , soil
As a young child I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. I never did the 4-H club. Today I had the privilege as a Master Gardener to help with two classes of kids at our Extension Service Building. Our extension agent led the groups as they were taught many things about growing tomatoes. Then they were taught how to grow them in a medium sized opaque storage box much as you would build a Terrarium.
They learned that soil is not 'dirt'! Did you know that? Dirt is what your mom fusses at you about when it gets on your clothes or her freshly mopped or vacummed floors. Soil is for growing. In this case we used a 'soil less' medium. The children were really neat with this process. One class was about 9 yr to 11yr or so, the second class was 12yr through 13, so you can see it could have been a BIG mess. Just think soil + water + kids??
Once they had the soil in their planter boxes. They had the next lesson about tomoto growing. I learned a few things here. Yes even an MG forgets or didn't pay attention in class. Tomatoes are one veggie that is self-pollinating. The trick with this process is that if the wind doesn't blow or the bee doesn't brush on the blossom it does not work. So you have to gently shake your tomato planter box once a day.
The most exciting thing about these tomatoes is first: their name: Micro Tom Cherry tomato and the second: is that they only grow 8 to 10 inches tall. And this planter box is just the right height. They should have fruit in about four weeks. Actually I think just putting their hands in the soil less soil is what they might remember the most.
After the tomato plants were in place the next lesson was on care of tomatoes. And here is the next thing I learned, our agent says it takes him about 2 years working with a new grower before the grower learns just how to grow tomatoes. I couldn't believe that. Of course with the trouble we have with a few in our yards and thinking of actually farming for income I can see the possiblity clearer.
Water, nutrients and sunlight were very important for growing plants. And tomatoes are no exception. So they added water, some slow acting fertilizer and were instructed to place the lid on the planter box ,place it in a sunny spot at home and add water in a few weeks.
All in all they had a good time and were very well behaved. So Happy 4-Hing people.
More To Come Later
Jun 16, 2008 | 11:41 AM PST
morning turned out not as I expected. Was going to mow the back yard when some errands interferred. It will wait on me this I know.
I can't remember if I posted this anywhere on the forums or not. But I have this plant that has the look of a blackeyed susan but the blossom is just spectacular. The cone really stands out. See if any of you recognize it. The leaves are fuzzy just like the BES.
Am looking forward to saving seeds from this baby. The plant is at least two feet tall and more erect than the other BES I have. Those are just falling all over the beds. One will have to be cut back because it is causing my Hibiscus to lean over.
More to Come Later
Jun 14, 2008 | 11:17 AM PST
was mowing the front yard day. That is what grass that is left anyway. Seems like it took as long to cut those patches than if I had just done the whole lawn. I have plans to nourish the front but I am going to have to hire in some good and fast help. I figure that way it will get done. And maybe look better for the rest of the year and especially next season.
Did some maintenance as well like deadheading the lilies and cutting back that creeping rosemary. I felt like a lion tamer saying 'back' - 'back'. It has really been roaming out in the herb bed. Also cut back the Spiderwort. I think it has seeded as far as I want it to for this year.
Then I had to do a job on the Celebrity tomato plant. Not looking so good. I trimmed it out some, staked it up and gave it some mulch around the roots. Now to water and it should be good to go. The dogwood tree branches need to be cut back to let in more light I think. Next weeks work.
My neighbor and I had 'Blooming Bucks" from our favorite nursery. They offer dollar certificates during May and then you can spend them during a two week span in June. She allowed me to choose plants for her and that was fun. She loves red so a dinner plate Hibiscus was in order for that. Then I chose a gorgeous White Shasta Daisy. (Montauk?) They are such healthy looking plants. She already has them in the ground.
When shopping for myself - discovered they were out of the fancy Gaillardia plants. One of the young fellows (an Orchid grower himself - he has at least 150 orchids) made a phone call and told me they would have them in next week. I need to remember to call them and get my name on the list for when the shipment comes in.
However, I spent my 'bucks' on plants for the White Garden Bed. First was an exciting find - A White Texas Star Hibiscus. Never seen the white before. And I love my Red Texas Star.
Red is Beautiful!!
Then found a White Plumbago which I have come to really enjoy. They bloom all summer.
Then I found a pure white vinca which will reseed for me and some all white portulaca that will also reseed.
Planning to move the white Lantana as it doesn't seem to like it in that area. Will put it further back in that bed. Then the White Hibiscus will take its place. The Plumbago will sit at its feet, which means I will have to move the little white begonias. Oh well, I doubt they will care. The Portulaca and the Vinca will intermingle around the other plants.
One more thing, then I am going to take a break before we go to a Fish Fry this evening. Hope I don't bust my diet out of the water. I think I can handle it. Once I really make up my mind that is that, I am all the way.
The lettuces, radishes and heirloom zinnias are up!! Not a good pix but here are the zinnias.
More To Come Later
Jun 11, 2008 | 4:03 PM PST
has been a busy day. First thing this AM I paid a visit to my weight loss center. Those pounds just tend to creep right back on the body. So for the next few weeks I will be fighting that battle of the bulge. Good diet plan though, I just need someone to report to in order to keep it up.
Then we had errands to do, finally got home around 11am and it was so hot already. Have not been back out except to put fresh water in the bird bath. I know they are miserable too and need a little fresh water to get a cool bath and a drink.
Here is a pix of the new cushions:
And a pix of the big flower bed. The lilies have done so well, I just need to get some new ones next year or in the fall.
The left corner of this bed will get a change. I want a place to put out some great butterfly/hummingbird annuals and I have perennial-ed my beds to the brim. Need to share some of the lilies/iris again this fall as I did not get the digging finished this spring.
Need to check on the plants and see if and what needs water this evening. There is a timer in the shed that needs to be checked for use. Can't remember if that one quit on me last year or not. Watering is best done from about midnight until 7am especially in this heat. Since the dew falls during the night and is a natural thing, adding water during this time is best.
More To Come Later
Jun 10, 2008 | 6:12 PM PST
Tags: screens , seeds
or was it an actual thought I had during the night. At any rate when I awoke this morning the idea was there. How to cover the seed box so the squirrels wouldn't get in it before the seeds awakened and little sprouts pushed through the soil.
Some of you remember the Butterfly Cage? The one the Swallotails actually made chryslis inside on the screens? Well since I didn't have anywhere like an out building or a garage, the cage had to stay outdoors. It seems there are insects that love to bore into the chryslis' and feast during the winter. Thus no butterflies to emerge. I had decided to just take it apart and forget that idea. Although it is a wonderful way to see nature at work.
It occured to me (during the night?) that those screens might be big enough to cover that seed box! And be durned if it don't!!! I took the cage apart, carried the first screen over and laid it on top. Joy oh Joy, it fit to a tee just as if it had been made to cover the box. And best of all TWO screens were a perfect fit over the whole frame!!
This is the box after I cleaned it up and raked it smooth.
This is the box after I planted bibb and leaf lettuce and radishes (from Sharana) on one side. There are heirloom Zinnias (from carolinec) globe amaranth (from KeyWee)and Snowman Marigold from another GG friend, a seed tape of straw flowers and the last of the 'rose' seed from Parks. I don't imagine the rose seed will make it but ya gotta' try. I have left a space in the middle so I can get to each row.
As you can see those screens fit to a tee. The screens have small blocks of wood at each corner. That made it possible to put some pavers on top of the wood blocks to be sure no critter can scoot my screen out of the way. Also put a brick in the middle where the screens met to be able to keep everything nice and tight. Just think I might have lettuce in a few weeks. :-)
I am a happy camper and I didn't even have to leave home.
More To Come Later
Jun 8, 2008 | 6:30 PM PST
Tags: tomatoes , blueberries , lilies
The Cherry Tomatoes are coming on good now, got lots to pick in the moring. Mr Celebrity may not look so hot but the fruit is coming along. There were enough blueberries for my breakfast in the morning. They are so tasty sometimes they don't make it into the house ;-)
The green C's fell off when I was trying to get to the fruit that was redding up. I have been bringing in the tomatoes before they get red because of the birds. Looks like hubby may get a mater sandwich tomorrow. The green ones may get fried soon.
Planning to get up a bit early and do some weeding in a couple of places. This evening I found all those wild viotets are easier to pull up now than they were in the spring. Hopefully I can keep them from reseeding by pulling them before they flower. Pretty little plants but they belong in the woods. Wish I could pot them up and sell them for a few dollars. Then I could go buy some new perennials. ^-^. Don't let DH hear me say that.
Went through all the seeds from the box that traveled the US tonight. Picked out some that I want to try and then I am going to sort them by types and put them in plastic bags to share as grab bags during our next Master Gardener meeting. There were some great looking veggies in that box. Going to try a few of those as well as lots of flowers.
My lilies are really putting on a display right now. I will be taking some pictures in the morning and will share them later. All the plants are suffering. My beautiful white Anget Trumpets up next to the house are really suffering from the heat. They don't look pretty at all. Others in the yard that get a bit of shade sometime during the day look fine. Sure hope we get some bit of a break from this heat. I know you members that live in the north are just not used to this and here in SC we don't expect this heat until late July or August. Guess we will just have to keep posting beautiful pictures for one another to see.
More To Come Later
Jun 4, 2008 | 6:59 PM PST
Tags: heat , cushions , tomato
Remember that old movie? It is one of my favorites. It seemed while you were watching you could just feel the humidity and the heat, even smell those wonderful sweet scents of the south.
Well I think I am in the middle of that movie this week. Heat index was 101 degrees this afternoon. Thunderstorms would be welcome about right now.
The plants seem to love this kind of weather. If they get enough water/rain they just grow and grow. Picked maybe 2 dozen cherry tomatos this evening, ate 5 little blueberries and about 6 wee strawberries. The Celebrity tomato plant does not look too good. It did well in the beginning and has a good number of tomatos but it looks as if it has just stopped blooming. I picked three that I didn't want the birds to get before they ripen, which they can do inside just as well. Hope it perks back up.
The new perennials I bought yesterday look great. The Twilight Echinacea has nice buds, can't wait to see a red flower.
Managed to get the cushions for my outdoor glider finished today. Looks pretty good. Since the heat will continue the rest of the week, I should be able to get all the outdoor chairs finished as well.
If I can manage to get out of bed early enough a day this week, I will do some poking around in the yard. When it is 80 degrees at 8am, there is not much yard work to be gotten out of this ole gal.
More To Come Later
Jun 3, 2008 | 2:26 PM PST
Tags: visit , new plants , HOT
with a new friend. Fairygarden and I spent the day talking of all things flowers. She got to finger the Seed Box and chose a few seeds to try in her beds. Then we went Plum picking. Brought back enough to give all of us a 'tummy ache'. My neighbor makes jelly and I am going to see if she will show me her method.
Then we went 'lookin' at one of our favorite garden centers. Plant lovers cannot go 'looking'! We both bought three new plants. FG actually saw the purple Cuphea that is cousin to the Batface plant. It was too fantastic to pass up, so home she came to join the sisters 3 (the red cuphea). They were happy to see their cousin. So now I have Ms BatFace and her sisters in the Flamenco Series, 'Samba' , 'Totally Tempted 'and now the purple 'Cha Cha'. They will enjoy dancing away in the flower beds. We discovered they will come back up next year and I will be sure they get a good coat of mulch to keep them warm.
Last year I discovered the Big Sky Series of Echinacea. Some of you received seeds from my pale yellow 'Harvest Moon' and today I found a red called 'Twlight' and a yellow called 'Sunrise'. I really love my garden center, if you want it they will grow it. My Harvest Moon was moved this spring and was not doing well. I dug it to put in a pot and discovered the poor thing was trying its best to just barely live on the old dead and dying wood. After cleaning up the root system I did place it in a pot and dug a hole to put the pot in, then piled the soil up around it. Sure hope I don't lose this one. There were three new babies trying to make it on their own. Kinda reminded me of those poor little kitties we had to trap. I sure hope those little ones are doing OK.
It is soooooooooo HOT here this week. Had to water, water, water last night and early this morning. But it is June after all and that is part of living in the south. You learn to get up early whether that is your nature or not. (Not for me) I will have to set my alarm clock so that I can get outside before 8am if I am to do any gardening. Lots of you love the early part of the day but my internal clock has never liked getting out of bed until the head is fully functional. Hubby has learned to live with it. Took a few years before he understood my differing morning habit. A grouchy wife awakened too soon in the am is a grouchy person all day long. He on the other hand has the internal clock of a Ben Franklin, early to bed and early to rise. In our house that does not necessarily make a man healthy, wealthy or wise. Maybe that is why Ben had several wives??
Going to go out and poke around a bit, see what needs water and what else is coming up. Things are looking good at the yardgrannies house.
More To Come Later
Jun 1, 2008 | 12:43 PM PST
Tag: seed box
made it all across the US of A back to SC. When I cut through ten layers of tape and pulled open the lid, those seed packets came springing out like they needed a breath of fresh air.
DH took this one and it is a bit out of focus.
There must be at least 10 times as many packets as were first placed inside the box.
The memo pad is full of words from each of the participants. Hopefully I will be able to let you see/read what each one had to say.
Charlotte - 'Kratz7' - placed some picture 'postcards' in the box for each of us to share. Please do tell me that all of the ten did take one. They are beautiful. Thanks you so much for sharing your photography gifts with us.
The seeds are so plentiful, I will be sharing them with Master Gardeners, friends, neighbors, fellow home gardeners and any of you that would like a small share. Send me a PM with your address and I will mail you several packets of seed as a re-share.
I do so love the thought that our seeds are being grown all over the US. When the veggies and flowers get to the harvest and bloom time, do share photos with the Garden Guides members.
About October we will start another box. Thanks to everyone that participated and all you that kept up with the travels of the Seed Box.
More To Come Later
