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Flowers are beautiful, no doubt about it, but if you ever get the chance to see them up really close, they begin to look like something from another world and more beautiful than ever. I wish I could get in even closer!
Some of the aliens hanging out in my yard today:
They're pretty cool, huh?
Even though I see these same flowers year after year, I'm always fascinated by them.
Happy (alien) Growing!
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~Huge whine alert~
I mention something cool and no one says anything.
Weeks or months later someone else mentions basically the same thing and suddenly it's cool.
I just don't get it.
OK, I do . . . I'm just not cool enough.
I'm being passed by (and over) at lightning speed.
Why do people who've just discovered gardening in the last few years suddenly have every bit of thought that comes out of their mouths taken as gospel as though they've become some overnight master of growing things? (ok, sorry, whole 'nother rant)
I'm apparently just not young enough or hip enough.
Pfffttt! Fine, what-evvvv.
I think I prefer my ancient but knowledgeable status much better.
~whine ended~
Carry on.
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Wow, long time no post.
We have been very busy finishing up the planting in the vegetable garden, but it's done. I think this is the earliest I've ever had everything in! It has been another really wacky weather year.
Cross your fingers for me that this is finally going to be a good watermelon year.
Brace yourself - very pic heavy portion coming up. But I have so much to show you!
First, remember that Thanksgiving cactus that keeps going? And going? She's on her fifth (yes, fifth!) bloom cycle! She seems to be on an every two month schedule = October, December, February, April, and now gearing up for June. Weird . . . but wonderful. I have an ever-blooming TC! If she blooms in August, I can officially say I have a Thanksgiving cactus that blooms year round. How fab is that?!
:)
My Asparagus Fern made it through the winter, and quite happily, I'd say.
Ok, to the yard-
I took a quick pick of the peony and weigela hedge while the sun was shining because, well, you know what happens as soon as the peonies bloom = downpour! Sure enough, it rained last night and now they look like hell. ~sigh~
I can't get enough of this combo. Festiva maxima with wine and roses:
Festiva maxima is such a beauty!
All right, I'm done boring you with those. Onward!
The clems are looking pretty good. Not as many blooms as usual, but I still love them:
I got my first bloom on the May apple:
The dianthus are looking fab (these are either Fire Witch or Pink Cheddar):
The Halward's Silver spirea was in rare form this year:
And, of course, the Columbines always look so pretty and cheery:
And last, but not least, even the herbs are getting in on a little blooming action.
The chives are going gangbusters and have such pretty (and edible) flowers.
The thymes (regular and variegated) that I used to edge the walkway (one of my best design ideas ever!) are looking grand. They smell so wonderful when people walk the paths and brush their pant legs or ankles against them. Heaven!
We expanded the veg garden this year. This is the DH finishing up the rototilling so we can finally get the last thing in - sweet corn.(this shows almost half of the garden, the other half is over to the left).
We've even had some nice wildlife show up:
Hawks. They were hunting in a pack of five. I've never seen more than three hunting together. We've had a huge one sitting in the willow across the road every day, but trying to get a good pic is pretty much a practice in frustration.
And our hummers finally showed up. Late, but they're here, so yay! We counted 3 at once working over one weigela (one of their most favorites), so who knows how many we'll have hanging out in the yard this year. I hope they brought lots of friends!
Whew!
So, that's what's been going on in my yard so far this year. Now comes the time for the real work around the yard. I don't even have all my WS'd stuff planted yet :( Shhhh!
Happy (here come the blooms) Growing!
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Grrrrr! Here we go again!
University of Maryland: Late Blight of Tomato
"Unfortunately late blight was detected in a greenhouse in St. Mary's County on May 7, 2010. The grower has taken measures to eradicate the disease. We don't know at this time whether it will spread, or if the grower will be able to contain the outbreak. We also do not know if this outbreak is related to the 2009 outbreak. We are monitoring the situation."
And from Louisiana: Tomato Blight Threatening South Louisiana Gardens
"Scientists at the LSU AgCenter recently confirmed the presence of late blight on tomatoes in home gardens in Terrebonne, Lafayette, Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes. Symptoms include black lesions on stems and petioles, blackening of the fruit, and dark, dead areas on the foliage.
“The disease is probably being introduced on infected transplants, so be sure to check tomato plants for symptoms before you buy them,” said LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Don Ferrin."
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Just a quick update -
Busy, busy!!!
I've gotten tons of WinterSown stuff transplanted to the flowerbeds . . . finally! This weather has been crazy. We had another freeze Wednesday night, so I was very glad I was a slacker getting things planted.
Time for some crappy pics. I think someone messed with the camera settings and I can't get a good pic of anything lately!
I finally got a bloom from the May Apple. Yay!
Unfortunately, something ate the buds off the Virginia Bluebells and there's no sign of the Blood Root this year. ~sigh~
But the Cat Birds are back (my nosey birdie), so that's another yay! They haven't been here long enough yet to start getting comfortable with me enough to almost let me touch them. It won't take them long. It never does :)
And (gross out warning!!!) the wire worms are already out there in huge numbers. I don't mind spiders, snakes, bugs, but these things totally gross me out! Ick, ick, ick! I imagine you're pretty darn glad that this pic is awful . . .
Happy (spring has started - for real) Gardening!
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