I am my own worst enemy

There were a couple of plants growing in the rain garden that I did not recognize. Assuming they were weeds, I sprayed them. Then I spotted a third clump. Curious, I took a photo and used Google Lens to find out what it was. Swamp milkweed.

I don't remember planting it, but a search on the blog reveals that I did, last spring; it bloomed and produced seed pods. My forgetfulness was so complete that I purchased *more* swamp milkweed this spring. I feel like an idiot. An OLD idiot.

I contemplated cutting down the dame's rocket before it went to seed, but the bees have been in it. Not that there aren't more flowers for them to visit. I just hate to limit their choices.

ALL the perennials I purchased this spring are now in the ground FINALLY. I marked each one with a white flag. The chokeberry shrubs are completely fenced off with poultry netting since the bunnies like them. The additions to the rain garden have a little (old) ornamental fence marking their area, to keep me and hopefully the dog from trampling them. It's a relief to have that chore done.

I've been hearing a catbird along with the wrens and the other usual avian visitors. And yesterday a monarch butterfly flitted through the yard, so I am hopeful that the milkweed will attract them this summer.

I would have more photos, but today has been rather breezy, so everything is dancing in the wind. The forecast for this week looks delightful - 50's at night, 70's during the day - so I hope to get even more done in the yard.

Although I am feeling my 73 years these days, I truly enjoy gardening. I hope I am lucky enough to live here long enough to see everything mature, or mature enough that it all looks complete and purposeful. And if I am *really* lucky, the next owners will value what I have done.

Indoor weekend

It is raining AGAIN. I can tell that a couple of my downspouts need to be cleaned out. One problem with shade trees close to the house is leaves in the gutters.

Lots of weeding this week. Initially, I was a bit discouraged, as they were definitely getting away from me. The string trimmer helped cut many of them down to size so I could spray them without using up too much herbicide.

Some planting has happened as well, although not as much as I had hoped for because of the weed situation. The 'Fluffy' western arborvitae is in the ground. I planted green beans in the milk crate container again.

Fluffy was a bit root-bound

And I was able to find some pineapple sage at the other Stuckey's greenhouse. Man, that place is big! And not easy to navigate. Or park at. But I'm glad to know where it is and what it is like.

There is another nursery in Churubusco, called Fingerle Farms. I may check them out for hanging baskets. Ordinarily, I am not interested in hanging baskets, but for some reason I can't get enough color this season.

The lawn service I use only spot treats weeds in the yard. This past week, they managed to nip two catmint plants. I let them know, they offered to replace the plants if they don't survive (although I think they will), but still. A couple of years ago I had trouble with the neighbor's lawn service spreading their granuals on the catmint on the other side of the yard.

On a dog walk at Salomon Farm this week, I witnessed two birds (grackles?) chase a squirrel down the trail. I wonder what that was about. And speaking of squirrels, this youngster has been visiting the deck, munching on maple seeds.

There must be young (and stupid) birds all about, as I keep hearing them hit the windows. One just would not give up trying to land on the reflection of a tree. As soon as I have the chance, I am going to try this solution for bird strikes. Hopefully, it won't look too weird.

More plants

First, my son and daughter-in-law came to visit with this planter. She works at a garden center, so they always bring something nice for my yard. The colors even work with my front porch.

Later in the week, I visited Stuckey's, a local greenhouse that carries the usual. This year I decided to go with a yellow cherry tomato.

'Sunsugar' cherry tomato

They carry a few natives, so I grabbed some butterfly weed. It never does well in my clay soil, so I'm going to put it in the raised coneflower bed. And cross my fingers.

Asclepias tuberosa, a.k.a. Butterfly weed

I don't know much about begonias, but thought it might be a good choice for the flamingo planter. Once in the planter, I realized I should have gone with the pink instead of the orange. Oh, well.

Begonia hiemalis 'Carneval orange/yellow'

One thing I could not find was pineapple sage. Disappointed. Stuckey's has a second greenhouse on the other side of town, so I may give that a try.

Despite the weather, I managed to get the ninebark into the ground as well as the clematis. The trailing snapdragon is nestled into a pot with 'Cat's Pajamas' catmint which blooms only in the spring. I had plans to work in the yard all weekend, but it's raining. Again.

We came, we saw, we bought... plants

My daughter and I took a trip to Hicksville, OH, to check out the plants at Strait Gate Greenhouses. Rumor has it that their prices are better than around here; see comments below. They had a LOT to choose from, too.

I have not been happy with the aster by the front walk, wanted to replace it with something. I considered a fancy redbud, but visually another tree does not fit there. Then I got hot 'n bothered to put a Rose of Sharon there ('Aphrodite' which does not reseed itself), but I think something yellow would work better. And voila - a 'Lemony Lace' elderberry came home with me.

Sambucus racemosa 'Lemony Lace' (cultivar SMNSRD4)

Some of you may remember that I planted one of these in front of the picture window back in 2017. It's a good plant, but it was a bad location. And most plants deserve a second chance. (I notice that the price on this specimen is less than the price of the one in 2017. Score!)

Some plants deserve a third chance, like the ninebark. Instead of trying to find the same variety, I went with two of these 'Ginger Wine' ones. The price is less than half of what I paid for the 'Amber Jubilee' they are replacing. Another score!

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Ginger Wine'

One plant that has had its second chance is a Canadian hemlock that has been replaced once. In its place will go this 'Fluffy' western arborvitae. I had planned to find another big gold mop like I had in the front yard, but I think this one will do nicely. I might have found it cheaper elsewhere.

Thuja plicata 'SMNTPGF' 

I keep trying to find something that will thrive on the trellis by the front porch, despite the lack of sun in that location. Against my better judgment, I selected this 'Happy Jack' purple clematis. We shall see. Another bargain.

Clematis 'Zojapur'

I have tried petunias and sweet potato vine in the hanging basket on the shed in the past, decided to try something different, like these portulacas. It's a tough location, on the north side of the building, but midsummer sun still reaches it. We'll see how well they do.

Portulaca grandiflora

Coleus for the planter on the front porch has been an annual success story, so why mess with what works. This is ChargedUp Campfire.

Coleus scutellarioides

I've seen lantana growing in containers here and there and admired it. Now I have one, 'Hot Blooded Red'.

Lantana camara 'Hot Blooded'

An impulse purchase was a trailing snapdragon, something I had never seen. I considered putting it in the flamingo planter, but decided I still want to try a tuberous begonia there. The snapdragon will summer on the deck instead.

Asarina procumbens

And that's all for now. My schedule this week is tight, but maybe I can get a few plants in the ground each day. Step by step, hole by hole, slow and steady, etc. If it weren't for gardening, how would we make it through the winter?

I frequently hear bird strikes against my windows but rarely find any dead birds in the yard. Sadly, a white crown sparrow met its demise last week. I thought the mallards in this pic were dead, but they were just keeping a low profile.

My daughter, son, and daughter-in-law all have birthdays this month. We will celebrate with birthday pie tomorrow. Rhubarb, of course.

Have a happy Mother's Day!

A year for dandelions

The dandelions are rampant this year. Untreated yards and roadways are full, full, full. It's a rather stunning vista. My yard is treated, so weedfree, but I've been digging them out of the flower beds and rain garden. Ugh.

Last week I forgot to mention that I attended an Earth Day event where two local nurseries were selling natives: Riverview Nursery and Chapman Lake Nursery.
From the former I purchased three culvers root, 3 rattlesnake master, and one spiderwort, and from the latter three common ironweed, three swamp milkweed, and three dense blazing star.

The four Aronia Low Scape Mound chokeberry shrubs, also in the above photo, arrived from Bluestone Perennials. So now I have some planting to do.

I also have some mowing to do. It keeps raining, which means twice-weekly mows. The temps are going to be low this week, which I don't mind as it keeps the spring flowers blooming longer.

On the birding front, a white crowned sparrow hung out with the locals under the millet feeder this past week. They don't summer here, so I don't expect it to stay. A pair of bluebirds are busy with their nest building. I hear wrens but am not sure if they have taken over the wren houses yet.

Around the yard... what I thought might be a mullen patch turned out to be dame's rocket, an invasive that I don't mind as it seems to just come and go with no rhyme or reason.

I severely whacked back one honeysuckle vine that was threatening to run rampant, then wondered if it would recover, and it is. So is the tree that has been growing up through it, but its days are numbered.

After several relocations and not enough sun, the rhubarb "patch" is finally getting established, just in time for pie season. My SO dug up a neighboring goldenrod clump to call his own, which helps with the sunshine issue.

I usually drag planters into the garage over the winter, but just didn't feel like it last fall. The catmint survived despite the frigid temps, so I repotted it (and will take better care of it going forward).

Out of the twelve coneflower cultivars I planted in the bed along the front sidewalk, only one survived the winter - lesson learned. Two ninebark shrubs are dead, dead, dead, along with one of the Canadian hemlocks. I'll give the ninebarks another chance, but that hemlock has already been replaced once, so a gold mop will go there. Some of the winterberry shrubs look peaked, but we'll see how they do. Otherwise, things look hale and hearty. Fingers crossed!

A butterfly!

The past few years I have complained bitterly about the lack of butterflies in my yard. So imagine my surprise when I found this guy in the shed. I managed to get it outside to a location under the spice bush. Later it was gone, hopefully under its own power and not inside the tummy of a bird.

I've been unimpressed by the blue star in the front yard, but this year it is really making an effort. You can find more info about this native plant here.

It makes a nice backdrop to the ragwort.

More spring beauties are popping.

I've been considering eliminating the aster in the front yard, but what to put there in its place? How about a ‘Rising Sun’ redbud? I just learned there is such a thing, and it sounds like a beauty. It's going on my wish list.

Pinks!

My love affair with redbud trees started with our first house. A family friend gifted us with several redbud starts from her yard. Having grown up in a Chicago suburb with elm-lined streets and during a time people spent little effort on their yards beyond some foundation shrubs and the lawn, I had never heard of redbuds. But now, if I ruled the world, every yard would sport a redbud tree.

Another pink I look forward to each spring is bleeding heart.

And close on the heels of the redbud is the flowering crab.

I would like to add some pink hyacinth to the front yard as well, because one can never have too many pinks in the spring.

It keeps raining and I keep mowing, grateful for my zero-turn riding mower. My next door neighbor has been using a battery-powered mower this year, but runs out of power several times before finishing. That would annoy me.

Yesterday, while handweeding the beds in the front yard, I wondered just how long I can keep up with the yard upkeep. Today I am a bit sore from bending and stretching and my hands ache, but so far, so good.

A little springtime prep

I tend to accumulate piles of stuff that are destined for a variety of charity shops, but those piles frequently just sit and sit and sit. This past week I actually cleared out the one for the local Restore store. This included a garbage bin I never used for garbage, just bird seed, that has been taking up space in the garage. Farewell!

That bit of clean-up inspired me to get a few more things out of the garage - flamingos. One holds a pot that over the years has sported a variety of annuals, none of which have worked out very well; I'll try something new this summer. Another flamingo is new to the yard.

A new windchime is gracing the pergola over the deck. It makes much better music than any of the other windchimes I have owned. Delightful.

I finally ordered four low-growing chokeberry shrubs, but I am still having trouble finding some of the other items on my plant wish-list. I also find myself not very driven to work harder at locating the plants. It's not like I don't have a wide variety of green things already in the yard. I'll hit some local nurseries and native plant sales once we get closer to May.

Despite nighttime temps in the 20's this past week, it didn't really frost, so those blooming trees and shrubs look fine. Bluebirds have taken up residence in the bluebird house without being harrassed by sparrows - the upsidedown tuna can I put in the box must be working to discourage the latter.

And I put out the rain guage. It hasn't rained since, but this week looks promising.

April showers... and more!

We have had a very rainy week. The rain garden is so full, it is attracting mallards. If I had put out my rain gauge, I could tell you just how much rain my yard has received, but take my word for it - it's a LOT. I have even mowed the lawn, twice.

(Looking at the photo above makes me think surrounding the rain garden with daffodils would be pretty.)

The story behind my quasi obsession with flamingos is based in part on my dad. He was a chemist who at the end of his career landed at Foster Grant in Leominster, Massachusetts, the purported plastics capital of the world. Union Products, the manufacturer of plastic pink flamingos, was also located in Leominster. One day I got it into my head that I wanted some pink flamingos from the source, so I asked my dad to oblige. Three arrived in the mail shortly thereafter. Over the years, and with the help of my son and daughter-in-law, I have added to the collection.

Alas, I am one of those people who is not careful to take all my yard stuff in during the winter. Two of the original flamingos have lost their heads. I'm not one to be sentimental about my belongings, but I am a bit regretful about this little tragedy. The remaining flamingo will become an indoor ornament.

My cataract surgery was successful. I'm a little shocked at how bright everything is. Clio's eye surgery followed; her recovery is a bit more complicated, as she has to wear the "cone of shame". We both have eyedrops, which I administer four times a day.

I uncovered the strawberry plants a few days ago. It looks like they took a beating this past winter. I'm contemplating transplanting the survivors, from the raised bed into the ground proper. The garlic I planted with them seems to be okay, though.

The redbud at the back of the yard is trying to bloom. Too soon! Too soon! We may have a hard frost this week.

Waiting for warm-ish weather

Strolling around the yard produced no inspiration for photos today. A few shrubs and trees are starting to show signs of life, but not camera-worthy yet. So let's look at hammerhead worms!

This photo is courtesy of the Purdue University Landscape Report, as is the text below.

Hammerhead worms, sometimes called shovel-headed garden worms, are a type of land planarian, or flatworm. Flatworms are worm-like organisms that lack the segmentation of earthworms and have the ability to regenerate from parts and pieces. Hammerhead worms belong to a subset of planarians, the genus Bipalium; while there are a few native species of Bipalium, most are from tropical regions. It is believed that hammerhead worms have been present in North America for long time, preferring environments that stay warm and moist through most of the year. Hammerhead worms are named for their spade-shaped head and typically have bright colors with dark lines running the length of their bodies. They are often found in indoor spaces and greenhouses that are temperature controlled and maintain humid conditions. Hammerhead worms can also be found living under rocks, fallen trees, or anywhere that can maintain a high enough relative humidity. While some flatworms are able to live in drier conditions, Bipalium need moisture in order to survive.

Members of Bipalium are predatory, consuming invertebrates like earthworms, snails, slugs, and some soft-bodied insects. Once they capture a prey item, they envelop it in a mouth-like organ located on the underside of their bodies. The primary issue with hammerhead worms is the potential damage they can do by preying on beneficial organisms that maintain soil and plant health. Hammerhead worms, and all other planarians, lack a closed body plan that uses a one-way digest system. Once they eat something, it is digested and waste is excreted through that same mouth-like opening. Some members of Bipalium can also use a toxin called tetrodotoxin to subdue their prey; however, they only produce a small amount and lack a way to use it on a larger organism. While they are often confused for more dangerous species, the Bipalium in North America do not represent a human health concern. Just keep any pets or children away from them, and if found, use gloves if you’re forced to handle them.

As mentioned above, one of the more unique traits of Bipalium, and planarians in general, is their capacity to regenerate new individuals from parts and pieces. A piece as small as 1/279th of the whole can regenerate into a new individual. Do not attempt to chop up or crush hammerhead worms, or you may be dealing with several dozen when new worms develop in two weeks. However, even though it seems like hammerhead worms could reproduce very quickly, it’s still fairly uncommon to see one. If found, place it in a bag or bucket with either salt, alcohol, or vinegar until the worm is dead. As long as you do not cut or chop up the worms, it is very unlikely you’ll have to deal with more than one at any given time. Just keep your eyes open and remember to report any sightings to 1-866-NOEXOTICS!

I doubt I will ever have to deal with this oddball invasive at my current location, thank goodness.

Fall cleanup is winding up - just a few more things to do. I'm getting antsy to plant something - anything! - but I will have to wait. This morning's dog walk required a parka, mittens, and hat. At least the sun is shining and the goldfinch are back.

Weather whiplash

That is what "they" are calling the weather this spring - whiplash. Some days the high and low temps vary by as much as 30 or 40 degrees. I find it difficult to figure out what to wear. Today it is a pair of shorts and a tee.

Crocus of some kind

I saw an article about the "March mehs". Apparently, some people find the interim between winter and summer tedious and blah. Maybe these people have no yards and/or live where there is very little green space. Seeing the spring bulbs emerge despite a brutally cold winter gives me hope that everything will be okay. In fact, the flowers seem particularly joyful this year.

First daffs

While wandering around the house the other day, I found a plastic flap on the ground. It must have broken off the exhaust fan housing during one of the extremely windy days we have experienced. Fortunately, my daughter is in the remodeling biz and sent over a contractor to take care of that (and several other little jobs around the house).

Yes, I know the siding needs to be cleaned

Fall cleanup continues. The north and south sides of the house are now (relatively) tidy. All that remains is the backyard. Cataract surgery is not holding me back - one more eye to go.

Happy Pi Day

A few times I have actually baked a pie on Pi Day, but not this year. I've just been stupid busy. Plus I don't really need pie.

The grass keeps getting greener, a few early bulbs have popped up, and the weather is its usual crazy with some in-like-a-lion winds. Tomorrow the low will be 37 degrees, the high 67. I'm wondering when I can uncover the strawberry plants.

Crocus tommassinianus 'Roseus'

In completely unrelated news, I fell. Again. And once again, it was due to a dog. No trip to the ER this time, since my injuries were limited to some bruises and scrapes and a fat lip. I've thought of making a collage from the photos of all my falls over the years and titling it "Me v. Gravity".

And speaking of the dog, Clio has a growth on her eyelid that the vet has insisted is cosmetic. Lately it has been bothering her, which causes her to rub her eye, then lick her paw. The licking is vigorous enough that she now has a sore on her leg. So he is going to remove the growth in a couple of weeks.

But first. I am having cataract surgery. Almost everyone I know who has had it done is pleased with the outcome. There are a few disgruntled folks who complain about having to use reading glasses, which I will need to do as well. And I'm okay with that.

The doc says I won't have any limitations on activity afterwards, so fall cleanup will continue while I itch to do some fun yardwork, like installing new plants, which I have yet to order. Like I said, stupid busy.

Spring forward

Every year I hope that someone somewhere manages to do away with Daylight Savings Time. It doesn't "save" any "time". It just annoys us all. Pick one and stick with it!

Meanwhile, spring is creeping into the yard. Today I spotted these snowdrops. Some of the "Tommies" (Crocus tommassinianus 'Roseus') are up as well.

I have a "new" camera, a SLR one that I am struggling a bit with. I prefer to use the autofocus feature, but it keeps focusing on the wrong thing. I guess I will have to step up and learn how to focus it manually.

This past week I sowed the rudbeckia seeds directly in the ground, as they need to be exposed to cold to germinate. The forecast shows the temperatures all over the place, so I am hopeful.

The latest piece of metal yard art (or fence art?) is up. I love it, but may move it to the side of the shed.

The other day a landscape guy stopped by to see if he could talk me into having my trees trimmed. My trees are not that big, not even the 35+ year old "Crimson King" maple in the front yard (the slowest growing tree in the world). I can't imagine hiring someone to cut off a lower limb or two that threaten my noggin while mowing. He left his card, which I later noticed included mosquito control as a service. The last guy who came to the door offering *that* got an earful from me. No wonder the bird population is declining so fast.

Harbingers of spring

Thursday I spotted a redwing blackbird at the sunflower seed feeder. They normally avoid the feeders except in spring when pickings are slim. They are much better signs of spring than robins. Ditto vultures and crows, both of which are back.

(Not a very good photo, as I had to use my camera phone from inside.)

The Home and Garden Show is in progress; we went on Thursday. I purchased another piece of metalwork that I may hang on the front porch, after shifting the current fair weather piece to the back fence. It is time to remove the (plastic) winter wreath, before the sparrows start nesting in it.

I also purchased some seeds at the show: Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Giant Zinnia Mix (Zinnia elegans), Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia speciosa), and Black Hollyhock (Alcea rosea nigra), from a company called Circa Seeds. The black eyed Susan needs to go in the ground NOW, as a cold period is necessary for germination. I was going to buy plants, but seeds are cheaper and easier than hunting down this particular variety. I like giant zinnia because they grow three feet tall. Mexican sunflower is on my list, as it is very attractive to pollinators. And the black hollyhock (which won't bloom until next year) will be for dyeing yarn.

The fact that there were no native plant nurseries at the show was disappointing, but perhaps not unexpected. I'm sure booth rental is expensive.

Fall clean-up continues. Most of the frontyard looks clean(er). The forecast for the next week looks like lots of rain, so I'm not sure how much will get done then.

It ain't over til it's over

Last Wednesday night it stormed, complete with thunder and lightning. In the morning, it hailed (see pix below). Last night it snowed. So despite the "January thaw" we had last weekend, winter is not leaving yet.

Before things went south weatherwise, I managed a bit of fall cleanup (which I do in the spring). And dog poop pickup. There is still more of both, of course.

The starlings that were absent most of the winter are back, from the north or south, I don't know. They don't like a lot of my offerings and can't reach most of what they do like, but they make quick work of the suet cakes and peanut splits. Jerks. But they are also patroling the lawn; I hear they like grubs.

The Internet is making me cry

I recently read (or rather, listened to the audio version of) Enshitification, by Cory Doctorow. Today I experienced some of what he rants about - how horrible search results have become. It nearly brought me to tears.

All I wanted to do was order some straight native plants for spring. One site that offered many of what I wanted would not let me order a measly three or twelve plants of each variety. Trying to find alternatives was a nightmare. Regardless of my search criteria, all that came up was barely related to what I asked for. At one point, I was even getting obituaries.

That was on my laptop. For some reason, the results on my tablet and phone are much better. One link took me to the Indiana Native Plant Society site which listed in-state nurseries that offer native plants. Whew!

Some of the sites listed are suspect, as I think they went out of business, but I'll take note of the ones I plan to look into and/or actually visit.

• Bernacchi's Oak Valley Greenhouses (La Porte)
• Blue Fox Farms LLC (Wawaka)
• Chapman Lake Nursery (Warsaw)
• Hardy's Farm Market (Fort Wayne)
• Heartland Restoration Services (Fort Wayne) (Wholesale)
• Laura Stine Gardens (Fort Wayne) (Designer)
• Naturally Native Nursery (South Bend)
• New Leaf Nursery (Nappanee)
• Riverview Nursery (Fort Wayne) (I think they are closed)
• Rozelle Lawn and Landscape (Fort Wayne) (Designer)
• Sanctuary Natives (Roanoke) (this is the outfit that redid my landscaping a few years ago)
• Saving Grace Gardens and Gallery (Kendallville)
• Spaulding Restoration (Plymouth) (Designer)
• Stantec Native Plant Nursery (Walkerton) (Wholesale)
• Wyatt Way Landscapes and Nursery (LaFontaine)

I'm guessing the designers and wholesalers won't want to sell to me, but I'll keep them on the list, just in case. There are a LOT more I did not list here because they are points south where I rarely travel. However, if they ship, they are also an option.

The local home and garden show is in a few weeks, so I'll see what nurseries are there as well. Meanwhile, I will dry my tears.

One side effect of searching for nurseries is plant creep. I ran across some clematis that grow in the shade. I have a trellis on my front porch where I have tried to grow a variety of things, including clematis, over the years. Maybe a shade-tolerant clematis will do the trick. And then there is the desire to grow dye plants like dyer's coreopsis. And wouldn't another spiderwort (or two? or three?) be nice? The question is, how out of control will I get?

I blame the weather. The snow is melting. In fact, the forecast is for temperatures in the 50's and 60's over the next few days. Besides making me itchy for spring, that should reveal a lot of dog poop in the backyard.

Almost done with winter

I still like looking at snow. I don't mind driving in it. But I am tired of slogging through it on dog walks and I'm tired of winter wear - long pants, long sleeves, wool socks, parkas, etc. By the end of the month, I should be completely over it.

Inside, the Thanksgiving cactus is blooming again. A pleasant surprise.

I almost submitted a purchase for some plants yesterday, but didn't pull the trigger. Not because I don't want the plants, but I could feel my decisions being influenced by the sales and groupings in the catalog. For example, there is a build-your-own-tray offer, but not all the plants I want are available for that option. I did not want to build a tray populated in part by plants I did not want or too many of the plants I do want. A more methodical method of shopping is required.