I'm one of those odd people who think sunshine is overrated. Gray skies are my skies. Consequently, I thought I could easily live somewhere like Portland OR or Vancouver. But this spring we had days and DAYS of rain - ugh! I prefer my gray skies to keep the rain to themselves.
I haven't been taking many photos lately because, frankly, how many pics of daffodils does one need to see? But I wanted to showcase my little Prairie Fire crabapple tree. What started out looking like a stick is full of blossoms. Unfortunately, today is gray but very windy. Maybe I'll get a decent pic before the flowers fall.
Still no sign of life from the Rose of Sharon, although there is a maple tree volunteer growing there now. I am 99% sure it is a silver maple, so it will not be allowed to continue. Silver maples are native to Indiana, but I despise them.
It looks like none of the so-called hardy hibiscus 'Luna Red' made it through the winter. Ditto the crocosmia 'Lucifer' that I planted in pots but neglected to move into the garage. That darn polar vortex!
Despite the FAILs, my yard produces a nice progression of spring blooms: crocus (until the rabbits find them), daffodils, service berry, hyacinth, red bud trees, flowering crabs, grape hyacinth, purple sandcherry (smells so sweet!), bleeding heart, creeping phlox, chokeberry, etc. Columbine and hawthorn tree blossoms are next. Can't wait!
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
For the record
Today was a beautiful spring day - at last! I spent several hours in the backyard this afternoon. The dogs enjoyed the sunshine as well.
One task was prepping all the planters and big pots. Last year I tried growing tulips in pots (with near-zero success). Those pots each had an inverted pot inside, so I didn't have to fill them all the way with potting soil. Today I dug out the inverted pots and topped the old potting soil with new; later I'll add some finished compost to further freshen them. Two of the pots each received a red penstemon in the center, and two were planted with five 'Lucifer' crocosmia corms each. The fifth big pot will get some annuals later on.
Some of the pots from the garage hold perennial herbs - oregano, sage, thyme. I sawed off the bottom two inches or so of each root ball and replaced that with fresh potting soil. I emptied the potting soil from the remaining pots into the garden and filled them with all fresh. One now holds a cluster of parsley seedlings, the rest are waiting their turn for other herbs. Mmmm...fresh basil.
The rest of the seedlings continue to harden off on the deck. I potted up the three surviving hibiscus starts - I'm going to start some more. The dyers knotweed was so slow to germinate that I gave up on them. Premature on my part - today I separated them from their neighbors - they are growing but rather spindly from the competition.
I am giving up on the azalea, so I pulled it out today. It looks like the spicebush is a goner, too, thanks to those rascally rabbits. While I have seen forsythia blooming elsewhere, mine doesn't look very promising. But then I have been actively discouraging it.
I hope you are also experiencing some springlike weather!
One task was prepping all the planters and big pots. Last year I tried growing tulips in pots (with near-zero success). Those pots each had an inverted pot inside, so I didn't have to fill them all the way with potting soil. Today I dug out the inverted pots and topped the old potting soil with new; later I'll add some finished compost to further freshen them. Two of the pots each received a red penstemon in the center, and two were planted with five 'Lucifer' crocosmia corms each. The fifth big pot will get some annuals later on.
Some of the pots from the garage hold perennial herbs - oregano, sage, thyme. I sawed off the bottom two inches or so of each root ball and replaced that with fresh potting soil. I emptied the potting soil from the remaining pots into the garden and filled them with all fresh. One now holds a cluster of parsley seedlings, the rest are waiting their turn for other herbs. Mmmm...fresh basil.
The rest of the seedlings continue to harden off on the deck. I potted up the three surviving hibiscus starts - I'm going to start some more. The dyers knotweed was so slow to germinate that I gave up on them. Premature on my part - today I separated them from their neighbors - they are growing but rather spindly from the competition.
I am giving up on the azalea, so I pulled it out today. It looks like the spicebush is a goner, too, thanks to those rascally rabbits. While I have seen forsythia blooming elsewhere, mine doesn't look very promising. But then I have been actively discouraging it.
I hope you are also experiencing some springlike weather!
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Nothing camera-worthy yet
The grass is green and buds are starting to swell, but not much else is going on in the yard... yet. I look at posts from previous Aprils and salivate. Must. Be. Patient.
Meanwhile, I'm doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Some of my tasks are geared toward making mowing easier, like pruning the branches that repeatedly get tangled in my hair and reshaping beds so the mower can cruise by. I also continue whacking at the barberry, to give the gold mop more room. The inner wood of the barberry is *really* yellow - maybe I can dye with it?
My one-person, four-pet household doesn't generate much filler for the trash besides dog poop and used kitty litter. We can put yard waste in the bin, though, so my goal is to fill it up each week with the trimmings and such. We do have a compost site which I have taken advantage of in the past, when there were literally truckloads of yard debris to dispose of. I have also brought home compost and mulch from the site, which probably explains the odd undesirable or six that have magically appeared over the years. For now, the trash bin strategy will serve.
I'm anxious to harden off the seedlings, and this seems like a good time to do that. Maybe some withstand frost? I'll have to research that. Meanwhile, their beds can be prepared. On each halfway decent day, I try to spend an hour in the yard. My gardening muscles have atrophied over the winter. It's hell getting old.
Meanwhile, I'm doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Some of my tasks are geared toward making mowing easier, like pruning the branches that repeatedly get tangled in my hair and reshaping beds so the mower can cruise by. I also continue whacking at the barberry, to give the gold mop more room. The inner wood of the barberry is *really* yellow - maybe I can dye with it?
My one-person, four-pet household doesn't generate much filler for the trash besides dog poop and used kitty litter. We can put yard waste in the bin, though, so my goal is to fill it up each week with the trimmings and such. We do have a compost site which I have taken advantage of in the past, when there were literally truckloads of yard debris to dispose of. I have also brought home compost and mulch from the site, which probably explains the odd undesirable or six that have magically appeared over the years. For now, the trash bin strategy will serve.
I'm anxious to harden off the seedlings, and this seems like a good time to do that. Maybe some withstand frost? I'll have to research that. Meanwhile, their beds can be prepared. On each halfway decent day, I try to spend an hour in the yard. My gardening muscles have atrophied over the winter. It's hell getting old.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Dog days of April
The weather forecast is for a couple of days of unremitting sunshine, temperatures in the 80's, then it will cool off again. When spring is hot, I think I have missed the window for planting cool weather vegetables. Not so, not yet. Meanwhile, what plants are in (the onions) and up (the rhubarb) look a little bedraggled.
Last fall, I planted and transplanted natives to the south side of the house. This spring, the creeping Charlie threatened to take over the entire bed. Today I carefully removed the latter in order to find the former. It looks like most (maybe all?) of the plants survived. I'm hoping the few no-shows are just late to emerge. It doesn't help that I am unfamiliar with many, hence not sure what they look like when they break through the soil. Fortunately, the newbies (mostly) retained their plastic plant tags. Note to self: find a better way to label plants in situ.
Other tasks tackled this week included a proof of concept: adding hanging planters to the pergola. I purchased five deck planters from Menards, and my SO and I mounted two of them this past Friday. It took us a while, but we figured out how to get them to work. Yay! The annual vines I plan for them are planted indoors and just starting to sprout.
Other indoor plants: zinnias and marigolds are seeded and sprouting, and I potted up the broccoli. Outdoors, the bean poles are standing tall, and I transplanted the lettuce seedlings to lettuce "bowls". And I mowed front and back. I would pay good money for someone to install and maintain a no-mow lawn.
Last fall, I planted and transplanted natives to the south side of the house. This spring, the creeping Charlie threatened to take over the entire bed. Today I carefully removed the latter in order to find the former. It looks like most (maybe all?) of the plants survived. I'm hoping the few no-shows are just late to emerge. It doesn't help that I am unfamiliar with many, hence not sure what they look like when they break through the soil. Fortunately, the newbies (mostly) retained their plastic plant tags. Note to self: find a better way to label plants in situ.
Other tasks tackled this week included a proof of concept: adding hanging planters to the pergola. I purchased five deck planters from Menards, and my SO and I mounted two of them this past Friday. It took us a while, but we figured out how to get them to work. Yay! The annual vines I plan for them are planted indoors and just starting to sprout.
Other indoor plants: zinnias and marigolds are seeded and sprouting, and I potted up the broccoli. Outdoors, the bean poles are standing tall, and I transplanted the lettuce seedlings to lettuce "bowls". And I mowed front and back. I would pay good money for someone to install and maintain a no-mow lawn.
Monday, April 20, 2015
First cut
Friday and Saturday were perfect for yardening, but I was out of town. Fortunately, Sunday's rain held off long enough for me to mow and trim. Once those chores were done, so was I. It is hell getting old.
The extended cool temperatures are extending the bloom season for magnolias and daffodils. The hyacinth and grape hyacinth are up and at 'em, and the rhododendron and forsythia popped over the weekend. Everything is slowly awakening.
I feel like I am already falling behind, especially in the vegetable garden, but this week's forecast is a reality check: highs in the 50's, lows in the 30's. With few exceptions, it really is too early to plant seeds or transplant seedlings. In the meantime, there are plenty of other tasks to keep me occupied while I wait.
Inside, the seed starts are doing well. The population under the lights include Black Eyed Susan vine, broccoli, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, zinnias, marigolds, hollyhocks, calendula, Mexican sunflower, basil, parsley. I decided to give the fish emulsion a try despite my misgivings, and the fishy aroma did not affect the cat.
And that is about all for now.
The extended cool temperatures are extending the bloom season for magnolias and daffodils. The hyacinth and grape hyacinth are up and at 'em, and the rhododendron and forsythia popped over the weekend. Everything is slowly awakening.
I feel like I am already falling behind, especially in the vegetable garden, but this week's forecast is a reality check: highs in the 50's, lows in the 30's. With few exceptions, it really is too early to plant seeds or transplant seedlings. In the meantime, there are plenty of other tasks to keep me occupied while I wait.
Inside, the seed starts are doing well. The population under the lights include Black Eyed Susan vine, broccoli, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, zinnias, marigolds, hollyhocks, calendula, Mexican sunflower, basil, parsley. I decided to give the fish emulsion a try despite my misgivings, and the fishy aroma did not affect the cat.
And that is about all for now.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Critters
Finally, a very nice day, as evidenced by neighbors walking dogs, pushing strollers, riding motorcycles and bicycles and skateboards. There is still snow on the ground, but it's giving way. Hopefully it will be completely gone before it rains on Friday.
The birds were a bit of a disappointment this winter. Regular visitors included a pair of cardinals, several blue jays, a junco or three, rarely a woodpecker, but otherwise it was sparrows and finches. The squirrels scavenged under the feeders. Since they came in singles, I was not sure if it was the same squirrel or several, but it had to be more than one because one was missing the fur on half its tail.
Today I heard a constant (and annoying) chirping, which I assumed was a bird on the roof. Eventually, I realized the noise was coming from my attached garage, and again assuming it was a bird, I opened the garage door so it could fly out. But the noise continued. Using inhuman stealth, I managed to crack the mudroom door open enough to see it was a chipmunk. But why would it not leave? I tried scaring it out, without success. Then I worried it had been hibernating in the garage all winter and was now attempting to attract a mate! Eventually, the chirping stopped, so it either departed or went back to sleep.
I took advantage of DST and spent some time outside this afternoon. Daffodils have broken through on the south side of the house. I dragged the mower through the snow, from the shed to the garage, so I can have it serviced. And a lot of pooper scoopering occurred, another sure sign of spring.
The birds were a bit of a disappointment this winter. Regular visitors included a pair of cardinals, several blue jays, a junco or three, rarely a woodpecker, but otherwise it was sparrows and finches. The squirrels scavenged under the feeders. Since they came in singles, I was not sure if it was the same squirrel or several, but it had to be more than one because one was missing the fur on half its tail.
Today I heard a constant (and annoying) chirping, which I assumed was a bird on the roof. Eventually, I realized the noise was coming from my attached garage, and again assuming it was a bird, I opened the garage door so it could fly out. But the noise continued. Using inhuman stealth, I managed to crack the mudroom door open enough to see it was a chipmunk. But why would it not leave? I tried scaring it out, without success. Then I worried it had been hibernating in the garage all winter and was now attempting to attract a mate! Eventually, the chirping stopped, so it either departed or went back to sleep.
I took advantage of DST and spent some time outside this afternoon. Daffodils have broken through on the south side of the house. I dragged the mower through the snow, from the shed to the garage, so I can have it serviced. And a lot of pooper scoopering occurred, another sure sign of spring.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Not your average spring
My rule of thumb regarding tomato transplants is to wait until the nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees before moving them to the garden. Today's high is 50. According to Weather Bug, I *might* be able to *think* about transplanting tomatoes next Tuesday. *sigh*
It's not just the tomatoes that are in a holding pattern. There are other warm weather fellows like peppers. Also, I decided to try starting members of the squash family inside this year; like everything else, they look leggy and impatient.
What is already in the garden looks fine: garlic, onions, broccoli, peas, snap peas, new beds of asparagus and strawberries. The potatoes are finally showing up; I was afraid they had rotted underground. This past week, over 3.5 inches of rain has fallen, but the raised beds are handling that just fine.
The non-vegetable beds are also doing fine. I'm pleased with the way the bed by the front sidewalk has filled out, despite the (not unexpected) loss of the delphinium and several coreopsis. A volunteer columbine and several violets are helping out.
The hosta bed is full, per usual. I found something to plant in the back that would add height to this area, and I hope I made note of it somewhere because right now, I can't think of what it might be. Maybe black cohosh?
I thought I had lost all my bleeding heart, so last year I bought one. It is doing quite well, but so are some others scattered around the yard. You can't have too many, in my opinion.
One item on the to-do list is to remove the old fashion lilac bush. Frequently, as soon as I consider getting rid of something, it blooms its little heart out. The lilac is no exception.
My scheme to avoid purchasing coleus for the front porch box worked out just fine. In fact, I have yet to visit any nurseries this year. I picked up a few herbs at Home Depot, but otherwise nada. There is plenty to do without adding to the plant population right now.
How does your garden grow?
It's not just the tomatoes that are in a holding pattern. There are other warm weather fellows like peppers. Also, I decided to try starting members of the squash family inside this year; like everything else, they look leggy and impatient.
What is already in the garden looks fine: garlic, onions, broccoli, peas, snap peas, new beds of asparagus and strawberries. The potatoes are finally showing up; I was afraid they had rotted underground. This past week, over 3.5 inches of rain has fallen, but the raised beds are handling that just fine.
The non-vegetable beds are also doing fine. I'm pleased with the way the bed by the front sidewalk has filled out, despite the (not unexpected) loss of the delphinium and several coreopsis. A volunteer columbine and several violets are helping out.
The hosta bed is full, per usual. I found something to plant in the back that would add height to this area, and I hope I made note of it somewhere because right now, I can't think of what it might be. Maybe black cohosh?
I thought I had lost all my bleeding heart, so last year I bought one. It is doing quite well, but so are some others scattered around the yard. You can't have too many, in my opinion.
One item on the to-do list is to remove the old fashion lilac bush. Frequently, as soon as I consider getting rid of something, it blooms its little heart out. The lilac is no exception.
My scheme to avoid purchasing coleus for the front porch box worked out just fine. In fact, I have yet to visit any nurseries this year. I picked up a few herbs at Home Depot, but otherwise nada. There is plenty to do without adding to the plant population right now.
How does your garden grow?
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