Today was spent trying to weed and mulch the back border. I was only able to get two loads hauled before the lack of a breeze, high humidity, and the heat did me in. I did get all of it weeded and edged, and only have about ten feet left to go. The access path behind the border that is against the fence will be done at a later date, with plain wood chips.
Since I was too tired to scoop mulch, I spent the rest of the morning attacking the last of the weeds and vines from the back corner of the garden. In order to keep the erosion down, there is a combination of grass and ground cover under the shrubs, which does the job, but sure makes it a chore to keep tidy. It looks much better now, and should be easier to maintain the rest of the summer.
After cleaning up the debris and storing the tools, I picked the latest crop of tomatoes that were ripe. I picked one gnarly green one that I think is not going to get a chance to turn red before the vine dies. Oh, well, I have to have fried green tomatoes at least once this year:)
Tomorrow is watering day, and then back into the house for some housework (Yuck! I would rather pull weeds).
Monday, August 6, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Magic Lily...always a surprise
A few years back, a friend gave me some of her magic lily bulbs (Lycoris squamigera) and I planted them in to the side of the steps that traverses the boxwood hedge that borders the old rose garden (now on its' way to an azalea bower, but that is another post..). Last year, only one bloomed. This year seems to have produced a full crop of the 'gurls'. I just love them; they always remind me of Ms. M. whenever they appear.
Another good friend went to the trouble of digging up (successfully, I might add) one of the offshoots of her Bear's Breeches (Acanthus molllis) to give to me. It has produced quite a few babies, but, for the life of me, I can't seem to separate them without killing them.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Blast from the past: Old Macrame project on display
Back in the Blogger Saddle Again
Wow, It's been over a year since my last post! Honestly, though, there was very little "new" garden work that occurred until this year. Last year was either so hot or so wet, that the garden was pretty much in stasis, with just weeding and watering going on. I did a little fiddling, but much of that work was re-worked this year, so really all you missed was me moaning and groaning about the heat, rain, ice, drought, weeds,...you get the idea.
This current year (until the heat wave hit a couple of weeks ago) has been pretty productive, so there is much to discuss in future posts. I do have a few pictures from the 'great blog drought' that I will post at some point, so if you have been watching Downton Abbey to keep yourself occupied in my absence-Rejoice!
The lazy blogger has returned!
This current year (until the heat wave hit a couple of weeks ago) has been pretty productive, so there is much to discuss in future posts. I do have a few pictures from the 'great blog drought' that I will post at some point, so if you have been watching Downton Abbey to keep yourself occupied in my absence-Rejoice!
The lazy blogger has returned!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy 2011
Yes, I am going to gloss over the fact that 5 months has elapsed since I last posted to my blog.
Mostly the lack of posting is due to the fact that all I was doing was watering the little that was struggling to survive in the heat and drought. Since that task is boring to even me, I saw no reason to inflict that on the random reader. Really, I didn't put in single plant the whole season.
All I did was remove the two large azalea from their big pots and place them at the top of the second level and re-potted the containers with a fall/winter display. Whoop-de-do.
I have a few photos to publish, but aside from the Cincinnati Flower show, most of it is just one depressing image after the other-the death spiral of the yard.
So now, I wait for spring, to see what has made it and what condition they are in. Between you and me, I think I will have to do some culling of the weak and ugly.
Of course, no post would be complete if I didn't mention the deer and the yearly ripping up they do on the new plants in the front yard. I swear, I wish they would just eat the things instead of rutting their antlers-it would look less devastating to see nothing versus a twisted, mangled little tree.
On the up side, my new raised veggie beds look nice and clean and ready for the new season. Got my Johnny's seed catalog yesterday, so will peruse the pages for some more plants to kill-I mean grow.
Mostly the lack of posting is due to the fact that all I was doing was watering the little that was struggling to survive in the heat and drought. Since that task is boring to even me, I saw no reason to inflict that on the random reader. Really, I didn't put in single plant the whole season.
All I did was remove the two large azalea from their big pots and place them at the top of the second level and re-potted the containers with a fall/winter display. Whoop-de-do.
I have a few photos to publish, but aside from the Cincinnati Flower show, most of it is just one depressing image after the other-the death spiral of the yard.
So now, I wait for spring, to see what has made it and what condition they are in. Between you and me, I think I will have to do some culling of the weak and ugly.
Of course, no post would be complete if I didn't mention the deer and the yearly ripping up they do on the new plants in the front yard. I swear, I wish they would just eat the things instead of rutting their antlers-it would look less devastating to see nothing versus a twisted, mangled little tree.
On the up side, my new raised veggie beds look nice and clean and ready for the new season. Got my Johnny's seed catalog yesterday, so will peruse the pages for some more plants to kill-I mean grow.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Slacker Attacker Has Returned
I woke up to rain this morning, so I decided to work on getting this blog up to date.
Can it really have been three months since my last posting? I had the best of intentions, but life seems to always get in the way when it comes to sitting down and creating a blurb.
I will now pretend that it is May and carry on from there.
MAY
I didn't get a whole lot done this month, I must confess. It was very rainy and I had to work more hours, so I kind of was a slacker. I did some veggie garden work and some clean-up work here and there, but really didn't get into any big projects. I did get some wood chips hauled and put in, but that's about it.
Oh, almost forgot to mention where I went on my secret trip last month. The divine Ms M invited me and a friend to the Cincinnati Flower Show. I had a great time and have some images to share.
JUNE
It was either too hot or too wet to do much work in the garden for what seemed weeks on end. Coupled with the fact that I had to work later really made it hard for me to get motivated to tackle what needed to be done. So, I decided to divide and conquer and quit with the ADD style of gardening I usually live by.
The first task was to get the veggie beds planted. The three raised beds (aka, A, B, C) got planted with 'maters and peppers and eggplant in Bed A; greens and lettuces in Bed B; and carrots and beets in Bed C. I planted some San Marzano paste tomatoes for the first time. Hopefully they will give me some good fruits I can use for a nice pasta sauce.
I also got my potato bins up and running and have been topping the growing spuds with straw. I have never grown potatoes, so it will be interesting to see if I have any tubers to harvest at the end of the season. Unless the harvest is good, I will probably use mulch rather than straw next year, as bales of straw are pretty darn expensive.
the fenced veggie bed got planted with more collards and kale and swiss chard and peas. I had a good crop of these.
As for the ornamental garden areas, I finally got a start on the shady side of the sundial bed. I planted garden sage and lambs ear and although the garden sage has taken a beating by Amy and Fiona, they are both hanging in there. I re-arranged the base of the hill and moved some red daylily to act as a border and interspersed them with some catmint. Well, just one catmint, but I have another to move later on and if I like it, I will add some more this fall.
I did some major trimming on the opposite side of the fence in hopes of having a sunny, dry patch, instead of dry shade, which is a nightmare to find plant material for. Chopping out the fence line also helps keep the wild grapevines from taking over, which is a constant battle.
Garden flunky was very crafting this month and rigged up two more water barrels for remote watering use. He uses a sump pump and pumps the rain barrel water from the house up the hill to each new container after a good rain. We have a total of 100 gallons of free water to use, which is great. I hope it makes a 'splash' in our water bill next month.
Finally got the last of the limbs bundled up for re-cycle. Well, that latest batch-there is always a next batch right around the corner.
I hacked out some honeysuckle bushes and planted three 'Techny' thuja trees on the other side of the fence to give some winter screening of the backside of the veggie garden. They don't get so tall that they will interfere with the electric lines to the house, but get fairly wide, which is perfect.
Still no new neighbors yet.
Fiona dug up and killed my new blueberry bushes! Oh, well, life with puppies is always 'interesting'.
I tackled the pergola and got the sides mulched and weeded. It looks really nice this year. The evergreen trees are digging in and taking hold, and the 'Autumn Bride' heuchera has grown a bit and is actually looking like a border.
Toward the end of the month I had a load of mulch (5 yards) delivered and have been a busy bee getting it deposited to needy spots. I found a place just a couple miles from my house, which is going to be really handy to travel to.
JULY
June made the record books as the hottest month on record. Why we couldn't have broke the record for the nicest weather is just the luck of the Ohio Valley. As saying goes; It's not the heat, but the humidity. July seems to be shaping up to be nearly as hot. It has really made it a challenge to work in the outdoors, that's for sure. The one good thing is that we have had some good rains to keep the soil from being so dried out in the high heat. We had a two week spell toward the end of June that was dry, but that has been the longest period without rain.
The rain barrel system is working great! Do I have a great garden flunky or what! I have only had to water once this year with the city water hose.
The mulch pile is no longer a pile, I'm proud to report. It's been backbreaking labor, but the long border has been weeded, covered with newspaper, and mulched. Ditto the shade border.
I have also kept on top of the weeding in the thyme bed I put in this spring in the stepping stones and it looks vedy, vedy good.
Garden flunky has been mowing the grass most of the time for me, which is a great thing. He is also taken the weed-whacking job, which I really hated to do. Of course it helps that he has a new weed whacker to play with. It's professional grade, so we hope it lasts even longer than our last one (15 years).
Getting some good tomatoes from the garden these days. Blackberries are in right now too. GF and I have been pretty good at picking the ripest ones, which are super sweet when you pick the right ones.
Pulled up the lettuces and will replant at some point. I still have some chard and kale, but am waiting for edamame and pole beans. I also pulled up the garlic and they are drying nicely in the shade of the lanai. Peppers and eggplants are still small.
Yesterday I weeded all day. I did some repair work with the stones that somehow, magically threw themselves onto the patio along with some mud. Hmm, I wonder how those fairly heavy rocks got there??? Big, giant, brindled mole, maybe?
I planted a tray of golden oregano on the sundial bed after I weeded. I think it will look nice when it fills in-if Amy and Fi don't do it in before that time.
I also filled in the attempted dig out by the front gate. I planted some cast-off annuals around the flag pole for a little bit of color with zero cost (well, no $ cost). I put in an ornamental pepper called 'Peggy's Hot' just for some interest. It fruit are black and it has silvery green foliage.
The first of the month I fiddled around in the front garden and did some weeding and mulching and planting of a few things. I had some bits of astible that I put in, and dug up a few odd items that were performing badly and will stash them elsewhere.
I must report that we carried out an execution in the garden this month. The wisteria was executed by lethal saw on July 3rd, 2010. It was a sparsely attended event and the wisteria had no last words to offer.
I have most of the plants I drug home from work planted except the two blueberries, the climbing hydrangea, and a tray of garden sage and a tray of thyme. I still need to put in some artemisia, the 'Becky' Daisy, some carex, and find a home for the cherry salvia.
News 4U: the vacant house has been sold and the new buyers seem very nice and have black Lab named Bella!
Coming attractions: the attack on the gravel parking pad.
Can it really have been three months since my last posting? I had the best of intentions, but life seems to always get in the way when it comes to sitting down and creating a blurb.
I will now pretend that it is May and carry on from there.
MAY
I didn't get a whole lot done this month, I must confess. It was very rainy and I had to work more hours, so I kind of was a slacker. I did some veggie garden work and some clean-up work here and there, but really didn't get into any big projects. I did get some wood chips hauled and put in, but that's about it.
Oh, almost forgot to mention where I went on my secret trip last month. The divine Ms M invited me and a friend to the Cincinnati Flower Show. I had a great time and have some images to share.
JUNE
It was either too hot or too wet to do much work in the garden for what seemed weeks on end. Coupled with the fact that I had to work later really made it hard for me to get motivated to tackle what needed to be done. So, I decided to divide and conquer and quit with the ADD style of gardening I usually live by.
The first task was to get the veggie beds planted. The three raised beds (aka, A, B, C) got planted with 'maters and peppers and eggplant in Bed A; greens and lettuces in Bed B; and carrots and beets in Bed C. I planted some San Marzano paste tomatoes for the first time. Hopefully they will give me some good fruits I can use for a nice pasta sauce.
I also got my potato bins up and running and have been topping the growing spuds with straw. I have never grown potatoes, so it will be interesting to see if I have any tubers to harvest at the end of the season. Unless the harvest is good, I will probably use mulch rather than straw next year, as bales of straw are pretty darn expensive.
the fenced veggie bed got planted with more collards and kale and swiss chard and peas. I had a good crop of these.
As for the ornamental garden areas, I finally got a start on the shady side of the sundial bed. I planted garden sage and lambs ear and although the garden sage has taken a beating by Amy and Fiona, they are both hanging in there. I re-arranged the base of the hill and moved some red daylily to act as a border and interspersed them with some catmint. Well, just one catmint, but I have another to move later on and if I like it, I will add some more this fall.
I did some major trimming on the opposite side of the fence in hopes of having a sunny, dry patch, instead of dry shade, which is a nightmare to find plant material for. Chopping out the fence line also helps keep the wild grapevines from taking over, which is a constant battle.
Garden flunky was very crafting this month and rigged up two more water barrels for remote watering use. He uses a sump pump and pumps the rain barrel water from the house up the hill to each new container after a good rain. We have a total of 100 gallons of free water to use, which is great. I hope it makes a 'splash' in our water bill next month.
Finally got the last of the limbs bundled up for re-cycle. Well, that latest batch-there is always a next batch right around the corner.
I hacked out some honeysuckle bushes and planted three 'Techny' thuja trees on the other side of the fence to give some winter screening of the backside of the veggie garden. They don't get so tall that they will interfere with the electric lines to the house, but get fairly wide, which is perfect.
Still no new neighbors yet.
Fiona dug up and killed my new blueberry bushes! Oh, well, life with puppies is always 'interesting'.
I tackled the pergola and got the sides mulched and weeded. It looks really nice this year. The evergreen trees are digging in and taking hold, and the 'Autumn Bride' heuchera has grown a bit and is actually looking like a border.
Toward the end of the month I had a load of mulch (5 yards) delivered and have been a busy bee getting it deposited to needy spots. I found a place just a couple miles from my house, which is going to be really handy to travel to.
JULY
June made the record books as the hottest month on record. Why we couldn't have broke the record for the nicest weather is just the luck of the Ohio Valley. As saying goes; It's not the heat, but the humidity. July seems to be shaping up to be nearly as hot. It has really made it a challenge to work in the outdoors, that's for sure. The one good thing is that we have had some good rains to keep the soil from being so dried out in the high heat. We had a two week spell toward the end of June that was dry, but that has been the longest period without rain.
The rain barrel system is working great! Do I have a great garden flunky or what! I have only had to water once this year with the city water hose.
The mulch pile is no longer a pile, I'm proud to report. It's been backbreaking labor, but the long border has been weeded, covered with newspaper, and mulched. Ditto the shade border.
I have also kept on top of the weeding in the thyme bed I put in this spring in the stepping stones and it looks vedy, vedy good.
Garden flunky has been mowing the grass most of the time for me, which is a great thing. He is also taken the weed-whacking job, which I really hated to do. Of course it helps that he has a new weed whacker to play with. It's professional grade, so we hope it lasts even longer than our last one (15 years).
Getting some good tomatoes from the garden these days. Blackberries are in right now too. GF and I have been pretty good at picking the ripest ones, which are super sweet when you pick the right ones.
Pulled up the lettuces and will replant at some point. I still have some chard and kale, but am waiting for edamame and pole beans. I also pulled up the garlic and they are drying nicely in the shade of the lanai. Peppers and eggplants are still small.
Yesterday I weeded all day. I did some repair work with the stones that somehow, magically threw themselves onto the patio along with some mud. Hmm, I wonder how those fairly heavy rocks got there??? Big, giant, brindled mole, maybe?
I planted a tray of golden oregano on the sundial bed after I weeded. I think it will look nice when it fills in-if Amy and Fi don't do it in before that time.
I also filled in the attempted dig out by the front gate. I planted some cast-off annuals around the flag pole for a little bit of color with zero cost (well, no $ cost). I put in an ornamental pepper called 'Peggy's Hot' just for some interest. It fruit are black and it has silvery green foliage.
The first of the month I fiddled around in the front garden and did some weeding and mulching and planting of a few things. I had some bits of astible that I put in, and dug up a few odd items that were performing badly and will stash them elsewhere.
I must report that we carried out an execution in the garden this month. The wisteria was executed by lethal saw on July 3rd, 2010. It was a sparsely attended event and the wisteria had no last words to offer.
I have most of the plants I drug home from work planted except the two blueberries, the climbing hydrangea, and a tray of garden sage and a tray of thyme. I still need to put in some artemisia, the 'Becky' Daisy, some carex, and find a home for the cherry salvia.
News 4U: the vacant house has been sold and the new buyers seem very nice and have black Lab named Bella!
Coming attractions: the attack on the gravel parking pad.
Friday, April 16, 2010
What's in Bloom for Thunder Weekend
It has been so unseasonably warm for the last two weeks (temps in the high 80'sF), that it feels like summer instead of late spring. The pansies and violas are pouting, but most every other group is taking advantage of the warmth to let loose a flurry of activity. The containers of spring bulbs that I potted up this past fall look especially nice right now. I really like the striped tulips so well that I might just let them die back instead of ripping them out early, like I usually do.
The big fireworks show Thunder Over Louisville is this Saturday, and since this heralds the kickoff of Derby Week(s), no self respecting l'ville gardener would miss the opportunity to boast about what is blooming in his/her garden. I know it sounds snotty, but a garden in full bloom on Derby Day is a major coup d'etat around here. So, here is what my 'castle' has to offer:
In the interim, it's nice to sit and listen to the soothing sounds of falling water, now that the water feature on the patio is up and running for the season. I should really refer to it as the water cooler as Amy thinks of it as her personal drinking dish. With that long, geeky neck, she can easily lap at the water at the top of the basin. Poor Fi has to be content with licking the water as it runs down the sides of the vase.
The patio looked great for about five minutes yesterday after Garden Flunky swept it of leaves, but the ash tree is budding out, so it's a short lived tidiness. At least the coral bark Japanese maples are leafing out, giving us something to look at instead of flower detritus.
The old waterfall that used to empty into a fishpond is slowly being converted into a dry stream-bed. It's prettiest in the spring, as most of the sedums, bulbs, and alpines are in bloom. it still needs some work, but it's beginning to be a focal point instead of an eyesore
Speaking of eyesores, I wanted to post an image of the old and new grill. The old one is currently dismantled, and will be upcycled into a barbecue grill. I will add it to the 'Spitting Image' page when it's final transformation is complete (aka, when I ask my Father to help me pull it off!)
I must sign off and get started on some chores before the rain kicks in this afternoon and I'm still here, surfing, and sipping coffee.
Oh, FYI:
I have a fabulous trip planned for this weekend, and when I get back I will post some images. I am very excited and it's hard to keep the secret, but check back next week for the reveal!
The big fireworks show Thunder Over Louisville is this Saturday, and since this heralds the kickoff of Derby Week(s), no self respecting l'ville gardener would miss the opportunity to boast about what is blooming in his/her garden. I know it sounds snotty, but a garden in full bloom on Derby Day is a major coup d'etat around here. So, here is what my 'castle' has to offer:
- "Forest Pansy" Redbud in nearly full bloom.
- Dogwoods, both pink and white are glorious this year.
- Purple and white lilacs.
- Most of the Azaleas are in full bud and some are just now blooming, except the yellow-still tightly held.
- creeping phlox is brilliant pink and blues
- Amelanchier is beginning to fade-lst year it's been in full bloom on all stems!
- hideous yellow blooms of Oregon grape holly are inn full swing.
- The last of the daffodils are beginning to fade, but still a few double white ones scenting the air.
- A few of the hellebores are still in full bloom.
In the interim, it's nice to sit and listen to the soothing sounds of falling water, now that the water feature on the patio is up and running for the season. I should really refer to it as the water cooler as Amy thinks of it as her personal drinking dish. With that long, geeky neck, she can easily lap at the water at the top of the basin. Poor Fi has to be content with licking the water as it runs down the sides of the vase.
The patio looked great for about five minutes yesterday after Garden Flunky swept it of leaves, but the ash tree is budding out, so it's a short lived tidiness. At least the coral bark Japanese maples are leafing out, giving us something to look at instead of flower detritus.
The old waterfall that used to empty into a fishpond is slowly being converted into a dry stream-bed. It's prettiest in the spring, as most of the sedums, bulbs, and alpines are in bloom. it still needs some work, but it's beginning to be a focal point instead of an eyesore
Speaking of eyesores, I wanted to post an image of the old and new grill. The old one is currently dismantled, and will be upcycled into a barbecue grill. I will add it to the 'Spitting Image' page when it's final transformation is complete (aka, when I ask my Father to help me pull it off!)
Our old, sad gas grill
And, now, our New Gas Grill!
I must sign off and get started on some chores before the rain kicks in this afternoon and I'm still here, surfing, and sipping coffee.
Oh, FYI:
I have a fabulous trip planned for this weekend, and when I get back I will post some images. I am very excited and it's hard to keep the secret, but check back next week for the reveal!
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