Hi,
I just accidentally sent an unfinished copy of next weeks blog that I have been working on.
So please just delete it and I’ll send the completed version at the end of the week.
No more late night bloging for me!!!
Gail
A SEASON OF ORBS
It’s Orb season.
Every year in late summer
Orb spiders begin to build their itricate webs.
This year 2 came to the garden in early August.
Signature zig zag woven into an Orb spider's web
Then a third one appeared by the breakfast room window.
Number four built a mansion of a web in the hydrangea bushes in the front yard.
Then last weekend John discovered number 5 in the boxwood outside the den window.
We have spent hours watching the spider in the front yard.
I’m sure people walking through the neighborhood are beginning to wonder about our sanity.
John loves feeding them.
At first he would just catch a small moth and toss it into the sticky web.
Dinner!
Now he seeks out food for them
Moths big and little – dead crickets from the garage
Since some things seem to stick better than others
He’s developed a technique of making sure dinner stays put.
Tweezers – who knew?
Once “dinner” has flown into or been placed on the web the Orb will move to it
and begin to spin a cocoon around its victim.
This happens with great speed.
After the cocoon is spun and the “meal” is stabilized the Orb begins to eat.
She usually begins with the head.
Now…Orb spiders are no small thing.
The big one in the front is about 3″ – 4 ” long.
Yet it moves with lightening speed and accuracy.
Because we are spending so much time in the front we have shared our fascination with anyone walking by.
Which seems to be mostly mothers and young daughters.
First came Torry, Cassidy and Sloan.
No fear of giant spiders here.
Cassidy caught a bug and placed it on the web – twice.
Cassidy fixing dinner
Mom’s not afraid – why should I be.
Next came Michaela and Bridget on their way to school one morning.
Had no idea these California girls were so into spiders.
But not everyone.
By Saturday when Jessica and Madeline strolled by we could tell they were polite
But squeamish.
Giant spiders aren’t for everyone and that’s OK.
I’ve done a little research on these creatures.
They don’t bite unless aggravated
Their bite hurts but is not life threatening.
They have a life span of one year
The female is the big one
The male is only 1/2 inch long.
You can see them both in this picture that Debra took when she came to visit this week.
The female will lay one or more egg sacs and encase them in the same thread material as their food.
Each egg sack can contain between 300 and 1400 eggs,
She attaches her egg sacs to one side of her web
Close to her in the center of the web.
She will watch her eggs until the first hard freeze
When she will die.
Around here the hatchling spiders will remain dormant in the egg sacs till spring.
When like many things the cycle begins again.
They like to make their homes among flowers, shrubs and tall plants.
Which makes them lovers of Hydrangea.
I have taken endless pictures of these busy creatures.
Spiders, John, Elliott and neighbors.
It is nature in a pure form
Well, except for the part where we catch the bugs.
Watching these intricate sticky webs.
So strong that they withstand wind and rain and stupid human tricks
Knowing that they work hard to create the next generation.
And make the world a safe place.
We all have something in common
We share the same space
What an amazing space this is.
Take care,
Gail
P.S. And just when I think I’ve taken the last picture – last night’s dinner was a DRAGON FLY!!!
AAAAAAHHHH!!!
There is something about fall
Cool
Crisp
Refreshing
It’s an almost indescribable feeling
The end of summer
The beginning of fall
Here on the plains I’ve known fall to arrive anytime from mid-August until October.
This year it came right on schedule.
Sunday morning of Labor Day Weekend.
Put away white clothes – check !
Turn on the cool – check !
It was as if someone finally found the switch on that blast furnace known as the Summer of 2011.
And they mercifully turned it off.
Every day since has been pure delight.
Cool crisp mornings
Sunny delightful afternoons.
So….what do we do in the garden now.
Prepare
Observe
Re-think
Enjoy
First I discovered that the sugar snap peas I planted a few weeks ago weren’t doing so good.
Some had sprouted
But not many
Something was eating on some.
Likely grasshoppers.
So I re-planted.
Remember to soak the seed a few hours or overnight.
Then since I was filling in I used a dandelion digger.
Stab it into the ground where there is a blank space
And drop the seed in the hole.
Water well and keep moist till they sprout
Which shouldn’t take long this time of year.
Hopefully there is still time for them to grow and produce Peg’s favorite veggie.
Then I began to think lettuce.
I seem to plant things in the same place.
I know with vegetables you need to rotate.
But since mine are inter-planted with my flowers that’s a little tricky.
So I’m doing the next best thing.
Keep enriching the soil.
The edge of the hydrangea bed by the gate is one of my favorite spots.
The impatiens mostly just fried there this summer.
So I pulled what was left up – way ahead of the usual time.
Next I worked up the soil
Pitchforks are great for this job
Added compost – lots of compost.
Compost from summer leaf pile
Work it all up and
Invite Cassidy and Sloan to help plant.
The theory is if they grow it they will eat it!
Once we’ve sprinkled lots of Encore Mix from Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
We pat them in and give them a drink.
I’m working on a couple of other lettuce beds.
Won’t plant them for a week or two.
Hopefully this will spread out the season and we’ll have tons of lettuce
To eat and to share.
For the re-thinking I engaged Elliott
He’s here for a working vacation.
It’s amazing how you can ponder your garden for weeks trying to solve a problem
And solve it in a 10 minute conversation with a kindred soul fellow gardener.
The problem is that my wonderful Dahlia area is losing it’s sun.
It’s going to shade.
All ready the ends are not producing
The middle can’t be far behind.
Yet a solo Dahlia in the sunny part of the garden is blooming its head off.
Elliott’s idea.
Add a Dahlia area on the northeast corner of the garden house.
Great idea.
This area looks like it will always be sunny.
It’s will require some fall and spring transplanting
Before I can plant the area to Dahlias next spring.
I’ll keep you posted along the way.
As for observing
We’ve spent lots of time watching and feeding orb spiders this week.
An orb spider "preparing" lunch
But….that’s a story all its own
I’ll share it next time.
Till then
Glory in these days
Walk your neighborhood
Look at it through the eyes of a child
Take it all in.
Gail
Cassidy in front of the sunflower she planted last spring.
Filed under Compost, Fall, Garden Planning, Lettuce, Orb Spider, sugar snap peas, Sunflowers, Uncategorized
SEEING
Recently I bought a new camera.
Just a simple point and shoot that hopefully will give better color to the pictures I share.
I’ve noticed something since I got it.
I see differently
more, actually.
Can’t wait for the sun to come up to go into my garden and take pictures.
Pictures of the same flowers and bugs that I’ve known for years.
Decades really.
Late summer visitor - Orb spider
But I’m seeing them differently through this new lens.
Veronica spicata, for instance.
Veronica Spicata
It’s not a terribly showy flower.
I’ve called it a “filler flower” for years.
Probably not politically correct to cast it in such a subservient role.
I’ve even threatened to dig it all up from time to time.
But…the truth is it’s a great flower
now that I see it through a new lens.
And cockscomb
Sure, I’ve marveled over the big “brainy” blooms
Now I’m fascinated by the clusters of feathery blossoms as they rustle in the breeze.
I’m suddenly drawn to the things that have been right in front of me.
Things I walk past each day
Yet don’t truly see.
Like this short but mighty Gloriosa Daisy that just begged me to take its picture.
Seeing
It’s so important.
Critical really in much of life.
Perhaps seeing is the thing that ties the varied parts of my life together.
Because I garden
I observe.
My mind keeps going to another of my passions.
Hunger
How to solve it.
It, like veronica spicata, is right in front of us.
Everyday.
We may not see it.
We likely don’t realize it’s even there.
But it is
Everywhere
Close at home
And far away
If we look – choose to see.
Recently we opened a food pantry at the high school.
It will provide food for kids who have none on weekends.
It has refrigeration so kids can have access to fresh food
A staple for so many of us.
A luxury for so many more.
Kelly is planning to plant another “field” of lettuce this fall.
Harvesting last spring's lettuce
I’ll have a row or two.
We’ve made arrangements to have volunteers come and cut and take it to the high school.
Lettuce bagged and ready to deliver
Seeing a need right in front of us.
Planting a way to meet that need.
Seeing the world connected.
Is it any wonder I love to garden!!!
Gail
P.S. If you have extra fruit and vegetables you’d like to share, just let me know.
A potential fall tomato crop?
Filed under cockscomb, Gloriosa Daisy - Rudbeckia, Hunger, Lettuce, Orb Spider, Tomato, Veronica Spicata
PLANTING HOPE
Last week we talked tulips
Glorious tulips
Now lets see what else we can find to bury this fall.
Daffodils are just about the happiest flower there is.
They will often begin poking their noses out of the ground before Christmas.
Some years they even bloom by Valentines – more often in early March.
My favorite is a solid yellow called King Alfred.
It’s the traditional large cupped solid yellow.
There are hundreds of varieties, but I must confess to only planting this one kind.
Don’t let that stop you from finding your own favorite.
Daffodils are more perennial than tulips.
King Alfred edging the garden in late winter
Which is good since they cost more.
Another standard for me is Dutch Iris.
You might recognize them as a standard in florist bouquets.
Dutch Iris "Delft Blue"
They are a smaller bulb, don’t require much space and easy to plant.
One of my real favorites is the tiny bulb and bloom of the Grape Hyacinths.
They bloom early and long.
They are wonderful at edges.
I’ve lined much of the path of my garden with them.
Grape Hyacinths along the brick path
I’ve also scattered them on my one little “hill” and let them roll down to the edge.
Grape Hyacinths and vinca minor on the "hill".
And best of all they are pretty cheap!
The other bulbs I order this time of year are lilies.
Asiatic, Oriental and Trumpet
I love them all.
This year I’ve found a semi-shady place to add lots of Oriental lilies.
So I’m buying a mix of pinks and creams and whites.
Stargazer - a staple Oriental Lily
Mixes generally save you a little money, but you don’t get to pick the colors.
I’m also adding Oriental Lily Golden Star to the yellow Orientals I all ready have.
I’ve also found Trumpet Lily African Queen.
I saw this melon colored beauty in a magazine and tracked it down.
Now…no bulb order would be complete without Amaryllis.
You will know them as the fantastic flowers forced into bloom at Christmas.
My favorite is the Hybrid Dutch Amaryllis.
The pink and white Apple Blossom is glorious.
Apple Blossom Amaryllis
A fairly new Black Pearl is a most dramatic dark red.
Black Pearly Amaryllis
Actually, there isn’t a bad color of Amaryllis.
They are monster bulbs fitting snuggly into a 6 ” pot.
Forcing Amaryllis for Christmas in the garden house.
OK
Where do these bulbs come from?
How many do you order?
How do you know a good bulb?
How do you plant all of this stuff?
We’ll save the last question till time to plant.
Which for me is in November.
Suffice it to say it’s good to have friends in November.
Let’s tackle the rest.
Where to get bulbs?
You’ll find them at garden centers, nurseries and stores that add seasonal greenhouses.
Along with all kinds of catalogs and websites.
I find them well…everywhere.
I will tell you though I don’t like the pre-packaged bags of bulbs.
Though my friend Debra literally grabbed a bunch of these last fall
Through them into the ground.
And had glorious bulbs.
But, I like to pick out each one to make sure that it is firm, has no sign of mold, and most importantly, big.
The bigger the bulb the bigger the bloom.
It’s just that simple.
Though I do my best to support local merchants I do have to confess to being a little picky about the colors I want.
So for that reason I do order from catalogs.
My long time favorite is a company called k. van Bourgondien.
I have found their selection to be very good – to the point it takes me a week to figure it all out.
I also think their quality is excellent and reliable.
Their prices are fair.
As for quantities.
Well…this is my weak point
I always over buy
But I always get them planted
With Megan’s help.
Here are a few guidelines
But remember – it’s just my own opinion
Which is worth exactly what you are paying for it here in the blogosphere!
With the exception of grape hyacinths and other tiny bulbs I never plant in rows.
I dig – rather Megan digs – big oval-shaped holes.
In them we plant odd numbers of bulbs
Daffodils & Dutch Iris – 5 or 7 or 9
Tulips – 9 or 11 or 15
Lily bulbs are bigger and need a bit more space 3 or 5 per hole.
So…that gives you a guideline.
You can measure and multiply and see how much trouble you can get into.
We’ll cover more planting information come fall.
OK
This should get you in over your head.
But come spring you’ll be so glad you took the time to plan ahead
I think of it as planting hope!
Gail
Hope !
Filed under Amaryllis, Daffodils, Dutch Iris, Grape Hyacinths, Oriental Lilies, spring, Spring Flowering Bulbs, tulips
PLANNING AHEAD
One of the things I love about gardening is planning.
Thinking ahead.
OK…dreaming.
After all, the soul of gardening is that you always get another chance.
It’s forgiving.
There will be another new season.
Giving me a new beginning.
That’s where the planning comes in.
Late summer’s planning ritual is actually for spring.
Spring Flowering Bulbs!
What kind?
What colors?
Repeat last years?
Do something totally new?
Where to begin?
For me I begin with a review of last year.
And hopefully some notes I took on what worked and what didn’t.
But…not this year – not a single word about last spring can be found.
That leaves my memory – HA!
I do remember thinking I loved the mix of colors last year.
But I wanted the tulips in front to be an earlier blooming variety.
This is the only bed where I pant annuals for consistent summer color.
It’s a small bed so I’m OK with only annuals – otherwise I’m a perennial girl you know.
I want the tulips there to bloom early and be gone by mid April so I can get the annuals going.
Last year I planted a Darwin Hybrid Impression Mix that my friend Mary spotted in the catalog.
Darwin Hybrid Impression Tulip Mix
They have the great huge blooms I’ve love, but they lingered longer than I would like.
So this year I’m switching to a earlier blooming Triumph Tulip Mix for the front only.
I know the blooms will be smaller but I’m going to give it a try.
Since building the garden house I have focused my tulips in the back on the path leading up to it.
Tip toe through the tulips!
For years I planted what I called “the Easter Egg” tulips.
Pink Impression, Golden Impression, Menton, Ivory Floradale and Negrita.
Darwin Hybrids Impression Tulips Golden Apeldoorn, Pink Impression, Negrita, Ivory Floradale
Pink, Yellow, Salmon Pink, White and Purple.
Most of these are Darwin Hybrid Tulips.
More than 2 feet tall with huge blooms and clear solid colors.
But last year I strayed from this pattern.
I planted a mix of bi-colors and solids.
They also had staggered bloom times which meant they bloomed off and on for a month.
So this year I have ordered a few of each of the following tulips:
Pastel Mayflowering Mix, Scheeper’s Sports Mix, Lefeber Hybrid El Nino, Darwin Hybrid Jaap Groot, Ollioules and Pink Impression – in my opinion the best tulip God and Holland created!
I’m also trying a lime green Triumph Tulip called Evergreen.
And I always plant a few Parrot Tulips in another location.
They bloom later and their ruffled petals feel like leather.
Parrot Tulip Blumex - try a few
Different – dramatic – wonderful!
Why so much tulip talk?
They are after all in most places an annual.
They rot easily in beds that get watered all summer.
For me they are the good news.
Though Hellebores, Crocus and Daffodils all proceed them
Their appearance tells me that gardening season is on its way.
And that makes me happy – deep down inside happy.
If I’ve learned anything over these decades it’s to treat yourself to things that make you truly happy.
Family…friends…nature…good conversation…the ocean…tulips.
Next week we’ll cover the rest, but for now…dream tulips!
Gail
Filed under Garden House, Gardening, spring, tulips, Uncategorized
THE LATE SUMMER GARDEN
The late summer garden.
There comes a time in summer
When you have to decide.
Let the blossoms linger
Or…cut them back so that they can bloom again in fall.
That’s what I’ve spent much of the last week doing.
Cutting back.
Deadheads from this week's efforts.
I may be a bit late.
It’s always hard to tell.
After all we don’t know when the first freeze will come.
At this point we can hardly imagine a freeze at all.
But before we know it we’ll be looking back at this summer.
We get a lot of bad press in this part of the country about weather
Much of it self-inflicted
Some people gripe about gardening here.
But for me the truth is this is a great place to garden.
We have 4 distinct seasons.
Granted they get a little confused some years.
And occasionally we miss one all together.
But almost every year I can garden for 9 months.
Sometimes 10.
What more can you ask for.
When one of my first gardening clients, Liz, died on New Year’s Eve.
I remember going into my yard to cut a few flowers to add to an arrangement to take to her home.
Liz loved arranging flowers.
She was an artist.
She knew color and scale.
Even on days when she wasn’t feeling well I would find her out in her cutting garden when I came by for the weekly maintenance.
Frequently there will be daffodils and hellebores on Valentine’s Day.
But in order to do this you have to plan and…
You have to be ruthless this time of year.
It also means that you’ll have less color for a few weeks.
Unless, of course, you planted zinnias during late June.
The purple wedding zinnias are starting to bloom.
Then, they will pick up the slack when it comes to garden color.
My friends Martie and Cheri have both reported the first zinnia blooms in the last few weeks.
The Monarch Butterflies will be grateful to them.
Soon they’ll begin their flight to their winter home in Mexico.
The sunny flat faced blossoms of zinnias give them all the food they need for the trip.
Zinnias awaiting visitors
There have been years where they absolutely come in flocks to dine on late summer zinnias.
So what you may ask am I whacking away at.
Tall garden phlox.
Too tall phlox
This year it’s been really tall since I didn’t get it cut back in the spring.
And for some reason I haven’t cut much of it for arrangements.
Along with phlox other hot summer staples Gloriosa Daisies and Purple Coneflower have gotten harsh hair cuts.
Pladycodan (Balloon Flower) also got whacked severely.
Shasta Daisies are still blooming.
Just deadhead them to keep them going.
No severe treatment here.
Though I do need to dig and divide them come fall.
Basically this time of year there’s not much else to do but deadhead and weed.
Or in simpler terms putter.
And enjoy!
Gail
P.S. I know I’m repeating myself, but I’m seeing more and more trees around town in
severe stress. Drag a hose to any tree or shrub at your house and let it trickle.
Move it in concentric circles for a day or two. Soak it slowly to go deeply. You’ll actually hear them thank you!
THE MAKING OF THE GARDEN HOUSE
A Spring view of the Garden House
When I was growing up my sisters, cousins and I spent lots of time with our maternal grandparents.
They were the only grandparents we ever really knew.
What wonderful memories.
While my great-grandmother was living with my grandmother
There were four generations of women
Doing what women and girls did in the 50’s.
Standing over the floor furnace flannel night gowns filled with warm air.
Six of us sitting on the living room floor playing solitaire on everyone’s aces.
But perhaps my favorite memories are of Grandma’s wash house.
Whenever we would gather at her house in the summer
Grandma would turn her wash house into our play house.
There were trunks of old clothes.
A window converted in our minds into a drive up window where we happily served our “customers”.
And, of course, our “swimming pool”.
Grandpa would pull a cattle tank up to the house and fill it with water for our summer swims.
Ann, Gloria and me in our "swimming pool".
It was our place.
We were indulged.
We were loved.
I’ve carried those days in my head and heart for decades.
I dreamed of a garden version of the wash house.
So…one winter a few years back when it was too cold for golf
John needed a project.
What’s next he asked?
Master Bath or Garden House?
Being my boring practical self
Master Bath I answered.
Thankfully, John’s more fun.
So we spent the winter designing the garden house.
We had been talking about it since we moved here
Collecting pictures of structures we liked.
But…none were exactly what we wanted.
In time it simply came from John’s imagination.
He wanted it to fit into our backyard.
To look like it had always been there.
To get the scale and slope of the roof right
He built a foam board-model.
Weekend after golf-less weekend he tweaked away.
I’ve learned the process after 35+ years of projects and marriage.
I know exactly when to enter into that process
And when to bow out.
It’s an interesting rhythm we have mastered.
While John proportioned the outside
He and I negotiated the inside space.
John’s best idea was to build a partial wall well into the space.
Behind it we could stash the lawn mower, leaf blower and other unsightly things.
My contribution was to panel the entire space in peg board.
By spring we were ready to begin.
But first we had to remove the wall of arborvitae and small shed that inhabited that side of the yard.
Taking down a "wall" of Arborvitae
It was ….well….alarmingly bare.
But exciting at the same time.
All through the spring and early summer we watched as it rose from the bare spot.
Framing
John oversaw every detail
It was clear this was not your average backyard shed when the cupola arrived from Maine.
Almost done
It is for me a peaceful hub of my passion.
Sunday evenings find me stretched out on the little antique French settee
Sore to the bone
And listening to Krista Tippett’s “On Being” on NPR.
(The best program on radio or television.)
It has served as the bar for parties
The "potting bench bar"
The backdrop for bridal showers.
And the heart of the small luncheons Debra and I host as we interview “Wise Women”.
Lunch with Debra and Wise Women
The master bathroom is still circa 1947.
It’s day will come.
I am oh so thankful to John for that golf-less winter
And the gift it brought me.
I look forward to playing in it with my own grandchildren someday.
Creating memories with them.
For them.
Gail
P.S. A few years after we completed the garden house we ran across this newly published book.
Look familiar?
Filed under Garden House, Uncategorized
HYDRANGEA – SUMMER OF THEIR DISCONTENT
Hydrangeas in happier days.
FOR A LONG TIME I’VE KNOWN THAT THE HYDRANGEAS IN MY FRONT YARD ARE IN WAY TOO MUCH SUN.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT ORIGINALLY THERE WAS SHADE PROVIDED BY A PINE TREE…THAT DIED.
NOW WE ARE IN THAT IN-BETWEEN TIME
WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT TREES TO GROW.
AND FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS IT WAS OK
BUT LAST YEAR AND AGAIN THIS YEAR WE’RE EXPERIENCING
HOW SHALL I PUT THIS
HEAT
AND LOTS OF IT.
SUNSHINE IN ABUNDANCE – WHICH I LOVE
BUT THIS IS A BIT EXTREME.
MY FRONT HYDRANGEAS ARE NOT GOING TO DIE
BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT HAPPY.
A sadder version
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE DRIP SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE PUT IT.
I’VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE BUT YOU MAY BE MORE INTERESTEDAT THIS POINT.
WWW.DRIPWORKS.COM IS THE ANSWER TO THIS KIND OF WEATHER.
IN A NORMAL YEAR I TURN IT ON ONCE A WEEK.
NOW IT’S MORE LIKE EVERY 3 OR 4 DAYS.
ACTUALLY THAT STILL ISN’T TOO BAD
BUT IT’S ENOUGH THAT I AM LEACHING NITROGEN AWAY
THAT MEANS THAT THE FOLIAGE IS TURNING
WELL…YELLOW IF NOT WHITE.
Anemic Hydrangeas
IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THIS TIME OF THE YEAR
BUT IT’S DEFINITELY MORE THAN USUAL
A FEW WEEKS BACK I SWUNG INTO ACTION
ORGANIC MATTER IS WHAT THEY NEED
SO I DUG OUT THE PEAT MOSS AND SPREAD IT AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANTS
THIS ALSO HELPS WITH MOISTURE RETENTION
NEXT I ADDED A LAYER OF LEAVES FROM THE PILE OF LEFTOVER LEAVES IN THE BACK
THEN JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE I POURED A COUPLE OF GALLONS OF ALUMINUM SULPHATE OVER EACH PLANT
I EVEN TRIED AN OLD WIVES TALE THAT PAM TOLD ME ABOUT.
PUT BALLS OF ALUMINUM FOIL UNDER THE PLANTS.
ALUMINUM – GET IT.
THE PROBLEM IS THE BALLS KEEP MOVING AROUND THE GARDEN.
I THINK THE SQUIRELS ARE USING THEM FOR BALLS FOR THEIR SUMMER BASEBALL LEAGUE.
IT REMINDS ME OF HOW ELLIOTT AND HIS COUSINS MADE WRAPPING PAPER BALLS AND PLAYED “BALL” IN MY MOTHER’S LIVING ROOM EACH CHRISTMAS.
I DIGRESS.
I WISH I COULD SAY THE HYDANGEAS ARE NOW A RICH DEEP GREEN
THEY ARE NOT
BUT NEITHER HAVE THEY LOST ANY MORE GROUND
SO AT THIS POINT I’M HAPPY
HOLDING YOUR OWN ISN’T BAD.
NORMALLY AT THIS TIME OF THE SUMMER I WOULD ALSO ADD A LAYER OF MANURE AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANTS AGAIN.
I USUALLY DO IT THREE TIMES A YEAR
SPRING WHEN THEY ARE GREENING UP
MID-SUMMER
AND AS WINTER PROTECTION.
I USE 15 – 40 LBS BAGS.
THAT’S 600 LBS
I HAVE A SYSTEM WORKED OUT WHERE I NEVER ACTUALLY LIFT A BAG.
AFTER HAVING THEM LOADED AT THE STORE
I PULL MY WHEEL BARROW UP TO THE BACK OF THE CAR AND DRAG THE BAGS INTO IT.
THEN I SCOOP IT OUT IN MANAGEABLE AMOUNTS.
THE PROBLEM THIS YEAR IS THE HEAT.
NOT FOR THE PLANTS
BUT FOR ME
IT TAKES AWHILE TO SCOOP OUT 600 LBS. OF MANURE
SO I LIKELY CAN’T GET IT ALL DONE IN ONE MORNING
WHICH MEANS I’LL HAVE MANURE IN MY CAR OVERNIGHT.
IN A RATHER TOASTY GARAGE
SO FAR I’M WAITING FOR A COOLER MORNING.
I HAVE CUT BACK THE “FRIED BLOSSOMS”
TONS OF THEM
Trusty wheel barrow full of blossoms - off to the composter.
AND THE NEW LEAVES FOR THE FALL CROP OF BLOSSOMS ARE COMING ON.
NORMALLY THIS WOULD LEAD TO LATE SUMMER BLOSSOMS
THAT TURN THE MOST WONDERFUL GREEN IN THE FALL.
LAST FALL'S BOUNTY
THIS YEAR….
WE’LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
THE HYDRANGEAS IN THE BACK ARE IN MORE SHADE
THEY ARE MUCH HAPPIER THOUGH STILL A BIT ANEMIC
UNFORTUNATELY MOST IN THE BACK ARE AN OLD VARIETY THAT ONLY BLOOMS ON OLD WOOD.
SO THE DILEMMA IS DO I LEAVE THEM WITH THEIR MEAGER BLOOMS
OR…DO I DIG THEM UP AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEWER MORE PROLIFIC BLOOMERS.
I KEEP GETTING EMAILS FROM WHITE FLOWER FARMS ABOUT ALL THE NEW VARIETIES THAT THEY HAVE.
IT’S AS IF THEY KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN MY GARDENS
SOMETHING TO PONDER ON THOSE COLD WINTER DAYS THAT WILL COME
I PROMISE
I GUESS WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A CLUE FROM THE HYDRANGEAS
AND HANG IN THERE.
ENJOY THE WEEK.
GAIL
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS THAT SEEM TO LOVE THE HEAT!
HELIANTHUS - FALSE SUNFLOWER
THE COCKSCOMB ARE COMING!
Filed under cockscomb, HELIANTHUS, Hydrangea, Uncategorized
MYSTERY SOLVED
WHEN LAST WE SPOKE I THOUGHT TWO THINGS
I HAD AN INVASION OF MEXICAN BEEN BEETLES
AND…
I HAD THEM LICKED.
HOW WRONG I WAS
BUT THROUGH THE POWER OF THE BLOGASPHERE
AND A DILLIGENT FELLOW GARDENER
MYSTERY SOLVED!
KRISTINA’S MOTHER MARY IS A GIFTED GARDENER
Mary - Bug Detective
SHE LIVES IN A MUCH COOLER CLIMATE
WITH A SHORTER GROWING SEASON
SO SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE SEASON
WHEN I SPOKE TO HER THIS WEEK SHE WAS OFF TO PICK BLUEBERRIES
HOW FUN
SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERS AT THE LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS
THANKFULLY HER CURIOSITY GOT THE BEST OF HER
SHE GOOGLED ONCE AND GOT AN ANSWER
HARLEQUIN BUGS
BINGO
HERE’S THE LINK SHE SENT ME IN CASE YOU HAVE THEM
http://www.growit.umd.edu/PlantandPestProblems/Harlequin%20Bug.cfm
TORRY, NEXT DOOR, IS A LITTLE CONCERNED I’VE CHASED THEM TO HER HOUSE
BASICALLY, UNLESS I WANT TO PULL OUT THE SPRAY GUN
I’VE DONE ABOUT ALL I CAN DO.
KEEP PICKING THEM OFF AND SQUISHING THEM.
IT IS SLOWING REDUCING THE POPULATION.
I’M NOT SURE WHAT BROUGHT THEM MY WAY
I’M GUESSING THE LEAVES THAT I USED AS MULCH
FOR A BIT TOO LONG
BUT NOW I KNOW
THANKS MARY
SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ABOUT KEEPING POTS ALIVE DURING OUR SUMMER FROM @#$%$#@#
BIG POT ON PATIO IS PRETTY HAPPY
SO HERE ARE A FEW SURVIVAL THOUGHTS
IF POSSIBLE MOVE THEM INTO AFTERNOON SHADE
IF THERE ARE SITTING ON CONCRETE TRY TO FIND THEM A MORE HOSPITABLE FOUNDATION
IF YOU CAN’T MOVE THEM INTO SHADE
TRY BRINGING THE SHADE TO THEM
MARKET UMBRELLAS ARE GREAT FOR THIS
MY MARKET UMBRELLA
CLUSTER YOUR POTS TOGETHER
PUT THE UMBRELLA STAND IN THE MIDDLE
AND WHEN YOU STAND THE UMBRELLA UP
YOU HAVE INSTANT SHADE
AND YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST FOR COOK OUTS!
I’M USING MINE TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG DOGWOOD TREES.
WE PLANTED THEM AS UNDERSTORY TREES.
LAST FALL THE UTILITY COMPANY CAME THROUGH AND TRIMMED AWAY THE “UPPER STORY” SHADE
MARKET UMBRELLA PROVIDING DOGWOODS SHADE
SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT MARKET UMBRELLAS WITH STANDS IS THEIR PORTABILITY.
LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT IN YOUR YARD MIGHT LIKE A LITTLE AFTERNOON BREAK.
THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO FOR POTS IS TO ADD MOISTURE RETENTION GRANULES.
I KNOW – IT’S BEST DONE BACK IN THE SPRING
BEFORE YOU PLANTED THEM
BUT IN CASE YOU FORGOT
OR THOUGHT YOU WERE LIVING ON CAPE COD
YOU CAN STILL ADD THEM
TAKE A SCREW DRIVER OR PENCIL AND MAKE A DEEP HOLE
FILL THE HOLE WITH THE GRANULES
AND WATER
THEY WILL SWELL UP AND HELP TO KEEP THE SOIL MOIST
YOU CAN DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES
DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE POT
AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR MY BIG POTS
I THINK I’VE FINALLY FIGURED THEM OUT
THE VARIEGATED PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS IS GREAT IN THE CENTER OF THE POT
HAPPY VARIEGETED PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS
GOOD HEIGHT AND IT CAN TAKE THE HEAT
SEEMS TO THRIVE ON IT
YELLOW LANTANA INTER-PLANTED WITH PURPLE NIEREMBERGIA
GOLDEN LANTANA AND PURPLE NIEREMBERGIA DRAPING OVER THE EDGE
IS HAPPY ALONG THE EDGES
THIS, OF COURSE, MEANS I’M DONE WITH PETUNIAS
I KNOW – IT’S HARSH
BUT REALLY…
THEY BUILD YOU UP IN SPRING
JUST TO DIE
AND LET YOU DOWN COME JULY
HELP ME REMEMBER
I’VE SWORN OFF PETUNIAS
FOREVER
PROBABLY
STAY COOL AND ENJOY
GAIL
HERE ARE A FEW FLOWERS THAT SEEM TO THRIVE ON SUNSHINE.
TALL GARDEN PHLOX AND GLORIOSA DAISIES
THE SEASON'S FIRST SUNFLOWER
In My Garden 