Am I finished purchasing plants?

I made several (A LOT OF) impulse purchases this spring, mostly for the rain garden. Ditto seeds. I tend to go overboard. Unless something dies and needs to be replaced, I think I am done adding plants to the yard. Fingers crossed.

Any exceptions? I've talked myself out of raspberry plants. Maybe the hosta garden needs a fern? I'd like to add smooth penstemon to the rain garden, but that may happen yet this year. And if I get arches installed over the gates, some climbers may need to be added. AND THAT IS ALL! (Except for some asters? I'm hopeless.)

My daughter and I visited a new-to-us nursery near Churubusco this past week. I was interested in some hanging planters (because they don't count as plant purchases, right?) The fuchsia ones were sold out, so I snatched up the last of their fuchsia plants so I could make my own.

I paid attention to which of their hanging planters attracted bees and chose two lobelia. At first, the bees in my yard swarmed those planters, chasing each other off, but their initial enthusiasm has waned. Maybe it is not a good pollinator plant?

I stopped by a local farmers market the next day and could not resist this Black Eyed Susan vine. You may recall I have grown this myself in the past, but this one came ready-made.

And I found some purple basil, not for eating but for dyeing yarn. It's now potted in front of the strawberry bed, flanked by pineapple sage.

My daughter fretted about the possibility of a "flash drought" this summer. So far, the only part of the state that is under threat is the northwest (according to the Purdue Landscaping Report). This week has been less rainy - I went FIVE DAYS without mowing the lawn. I could have gone longer, but thunderstorms were predicted for the weekend. Half-inch of rain (so far); my gutters need cleaning.

What else is going on in the yard? Strawberries and tomatoes have appeared on their respective plants. The safflower has sprouted; I'm growing it to dye with. I planted some sunflowers amongst the milkweed. The big patch of dame's rocket by the strawberry bed is history. The stinky 'Blue Muffin' viburnum is done blooming; it's cousin 'Chicago Lustre' has taken over. The winterberry looks recovered from the winter and is blooming, but the blossoms are so tiny as to be practically invisible. The climbing rose is the opposite - almost gaudy. Weeds are still an issue.

Last June I picked some fruit off the serviceberries and froze it. Now that the berries are ripening, I put the frozen ones outside. We'll see if anything eats them. Just a little experiment.

Inside, I repotted several of my houseplants. I don't feed them at all, as then they would grow and need to be repotted more often. But eventually, I have to give in to their needs.

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.

February and I'm still not tired of winter

This weather feels so strange! I grew up in the Chicago area, and this cold and snow matches my childhood memories. But here? Of course, I am discounting the Blizzard of '78 and similar winters that followed. Compared to those, this is nothing.

I am fond of saying that February is the longest month of the year, but here it is and I'm not done looking at snow. Ask me in a month, though.

A robin has been hanging out under the mealworm feeder along with several juncos. I can understand the robin, but juncos eat mealworms? They never try to enter the feeder even though they are small enough. I'm just a little surprised.

I'm also surprised none of the birds have stripped the winterberry holly plants, either. Maybe this week, when it warms a bit?

Otherwise, not much to report. Gotta get those plants and seeds ordered!

Powdered sugar

I frequently gripe about the lack of snow in this area, but I can complain no more, at least this year. It started snowing last night and is still at it. Just lovely.

The best neighbor in the world lives across the street from me and clears my driveway and sidewalk with his snowblower, but the snow is so light and fluffy that I could not resist doing some shoveling myself.

Clio doesn't get that the weather is bad until we've slogged through the snow for a few blocks. When we finally make it back to our house, she is more than willing to call it quits. She didn't even want to hang out in the backyard for more than a few minutes while I filled the bird feeders.

Later, I fetched the skis, poles, and boots from the garage and skied up and down the block. I don't have the stamina I once had, plus I had to "break trail", so I was not at it very long. I just wanted to be able to say I did it.

The temps promise to stay cold for the next ten days or so. There is not much on my agenda this week, so maybe I will actually make it to a county park for a little slippin' and slidin'. The roads need to be plowed first, though.

My SO offered to get me a new camera, but after perusing what's available, he decided a better option was one from his collection. (Newer cameras are meant for vlogging by influencers, with pricing that is a bit steep.) This one is a Sony DSC-HX80, which still has more features than I know what to do with. Much better than by phone camera, though.

With such cold temps, the snow cover is a good thing for the ground and the plants in the ground. I still have not ordered anything for spring planting. It just feels too soon, but soon it will be too late.

Hope you are safe and warm wherever you are!

A Thanksgiving gift blooms for xmas

My daughter-in-law works for a garden center, so some of my gifts come from there. At least, that is what I am assuming about the amaryllis bulb that has reached its peak (maybe? it looks like a second stalk is starting) The best part? Unlike flowers in vases, Beau (the destroyer of all things nice) has left it alone.

One

Two

Three

Four

It feels like the local temps resemble a sine wave. I tried to find a graphic that showed this, but the stupid search engines are brain dead. At any rate, it did not reach 60 last Thursday as "they" predicted, but it is supposed to tomorrow (plus thunderstorms). By the end of next week, we'll be back to the single digits with a chance of snow.

The other day, while filling the peanut feeders, a nuthatch landed about a foot away from my face. We eyed each other for a few moments, then it grabbed a peanut split and flew away. I got out my phone camera and hung out a bit, but of course he did not return. The boldness of nuthatches is one reason I love them.

When I purchased my house, the neighborhood was still outside the city limits, the addition next to us was nothing but corn and soybeans, the closest "major" artery was two lanes wide. Since then, we've been annexed, the farm fields are apartments and businesses, and that road is four lanes (plus a turn lane in the middle). All that doesn't seem to bother the deer, though, one of which I spotted across the street the other day.

One more holiday and we'll be done for the year. Here's to a happy 2026!

I'm dreaming of a green xmas....

More weird weather. The snow is gone (but not quite all the icy piles at intersections and along the roads), the wind has been at it non-stop, temps were in the single digits but may reach 60 on Thursday. And so it goes.

Not much else to report on outside. Inside, the amaryllis my son and daughter-in-law gifted me at Thanksgiving is finally starting to bloom.

Is it too early to start planning for Garden 2026? The first day of winter has yet to arrive, yet I already have a list of about twenty changes I want to make, some additions and some subtractions. There are also the chores I did not accomplish, like cleaning the deck and siding. All in good time.

Happy Solstice! See you next year!

Hunkered down, part II

We are experiencing more weird weather, with more to come. Today it's snowing and the temps are dropping to the single digits. Later this week the prediction is for warmer temps and rain. Ugh. But maybe then the ice will finally melt off the roads.

To safely walk the dog on said ice, I purchased some Yaktrax. How this came about is I noticed footprints in the snow that were obviously from a jogger and that included an odd tread pattern. A trip to Dick's Sporting Goods resulted in my leaving my own odd tread pattern. These things really work, too!

I have seen only two(!) starlings at the bird feeders so far this year (knock on wood), but they are in the area, so I'm sure their absence won't last. From on high, sandhill cranes have been migrating, uttering their odd gargling song. They fly very high, barely visible on a clear day, invisible when there is cloud cover.

A neighbor's cat has taken advantage of the unused-but-full-of-straw doghouse in my backyard. Better a kitty than an opossum or - gah! - a skunk. I love wildlife... but not too up close and personal.

THIS is WINTER

The weather has actually been very winter-like for a change. Today's dog walk was just about perfect: temps in the high 20's, no wind, light snowfall. The only problem was the icy patches beneath the snow.

Even though my neighbor blows my driveway, I enjoy shoveling when the snow is light and powdery, especially in the dark when it is so silent. So peaceful.

While I am not doing much outside, some things have been fixed inside. The landline died, and when Frontier came to fix it, I decided to just do away with it. The end result was upgraded equipment and a much lower Frontier bill. Now I'm chasing down all the accounts that use my old phone number.

The microwave started making zapping noises, as though there were metal in there, so I had that replaced. It took a while for the unit to be delivered and installed, so I had to "rough it" - use the stovetop for reheating food, making popcorn, cooking bacon, etc. That resulted in more pots and pans being used, so more dishwashing. Glad that is taken care of.

The other pressing matter has been getting my RMD started. Having three different IRAs complicated things, but I think everything is ready to go now.

Today's "helper".

Happiness is a warm lap.

Hunkered down

A winter storm came through yesterday. The snow fell first like powdered sugar, then like corn flakes, then back to powdered sugar. Maybe six inches all told? It's hard to tell today, as the temps rose far enough to cause some melting. Today it is also extremely windy. A good day to stay inside.

Let it snow!

And watch birds. These pix are from yesterday. Between the window and the falling snow, they are not the best. They are symbolic of how my feathered friends may ignore my offerings when the weather is fair, but not so much when it turns for the worse.

Nuthatch

Junco

Downy woodpecker

Bluebirds

Mr. and Ms. Cardinal

(Sometimes I think about getting a "real" camera instead of using my phone.)

Before the snowfall, I did manage to get the gutters cleared. A bit of yard cleanup occurred as well, on what I considered a perfect wintery day - cold and overcast, but not breezy. So many people complain about this kind of weather - why don't they just move? - but I love the changing and challenging seasons.

Wet and heavy

I didn't think it would get cold enough last night for snow, but I was wrong.

Seeing all that white feels weird.

It won't last long and that's okay because I still need to do things like clean out the gutters (I was waiting for the last of the leaves to fall) and wash windows.

Yesterday

Today

Wondering what the Farmer's Almanac predicts for winter 2026 led me to this information: there is a difference between The Farmers' Almanac and The Old Farmer's Almanac. The former is discontinuing publication with the 2026 edition, but the latter has no plans to quit.

Hail yeah!

We are having all kinds of whacky weather these days: hail, thunderstorms, lots and lots of rain. The rain garden is currently a water feature - very full. That end of the yard is rather soggy as well. I have plans to remedy the latter.

I have a mason bee nesting box that has never hosted a mason bee. But perhaps this paper wasp nest is fulfilling that job? If I keep an eye on it, maybe I will see what emerges from those plugged cells.

It's going to be a busy week here at Woodchuck Acres, starting with the installation of a new furnace and AC tomorrow. The joys of homeownership are overrated, in my opinion - eventually stuff wears out and needs to be replaced - but I do like having a yard to play in.

Baby, it's (gonna be) cold outside! So let's look at echinacea (coneflower)

A polar vortex is on its way. Even though I knit myself a balaclava for those cold, windy dog walks, it will be too cold for doggy paws. Time to hunker down and dream about spring.

One reason I focus on native plants is for pollinators. I love seeing the bees, wasps, and whatever those other bugs are buzzing about the blossoms. My yard is a little island of nature in suburbia.

However, natives have some problems, which is why cultivars are developed. One issue I have with "straight" coneflowers is their height. I'm in search of some shorter varieties to plant out front BUT they are generally less attractive to pollinators. What to do?

My late garden blog friend gardeninacity posted about just this problem back in 2021. One future (now past) study he cited was by the Chicago Botanical Garden, but alas, their comparison of coneflower cultivars did not include their value to pollinators. While they observed visiting insects, those observations were casual rather than systemic. Boo.

The Mt. Cuba Center, on the other hand, has included pollinator attraction in their evaluation of echinacea. Their observations and recommendations (which are somewhat local to the east coast) may be found here. I sifted through their list, eliminating the taller varieties, which left five to choose from.

• Echinacea 'Julia'
• Echinacea ‘Balsomcor’ (SOMBRERO® Hot Coral)
• Echinacea ‘TNECHKIO’ (KISMET® Intense Orange)
• Echinacea ‘Snow Cone’
• Echinacea ‘Santa Fe’

I won't make up my mind quite yet, but I am not inclined to choose something white ('Snow Cone').

I'm also interested in a shorter version of rudbeckia, but the only one I have found so far is 'Goldstrum', which I have growing in the meadow. Perhaps I will just transplant that despite not being sure of its attraction to pollinators. Any opinions out there?

Dead hedges

Sometimes random stuff pops up in my FB feed. One recent post was by a gardener who had created a "dead hedge". Basically, a dead hedge is a tidy version of a brush pile. After erecting some vertical posts to retain the mess, one fills it in with downed limbs, prunings, etc. It gives wildlife a place of refuge while the contents slowy decompose.

There are still a lot of leftover trunks and branches from the removed arborvitae, so I could easily get a dead hedge started. I just need a half dozen fence posts and for the ground to thaw.

Yes, a substantial amount of snow fell like powedered sugar yesterday afternoon and last night. Not quite enough for cross country skiing (although I doubt that will stop some people), but enough to cover the grass and make everything look pretty. It should stick around all week, then we are promised a "frozen mix" - ugh.

The snow cover has upped the bird presence in the backyard. Not only are the wintergreen shrubs and hawthorn tree stripped of their fruit, even the flowering crabs are looking picked over. Usually the bluebirds politely take turns in the mealworm feeder, but I've seen as many as four crammed in there at one time. I even spotted a Carolina wren in there and at the birdbath.

And starlings. Can't forget about the starlings. There was a tub of Bark Butter in the cupboard, so I ripped the cover off that and put it out with the feeders. After seeing a photo of a feeder with a jar of peanut butter strapped on, I decided I didn't need to bother with actually applying the Bark Butter to anything. The starlings love it.

Winter wonderland... sorta

Snow has been falling half the night and all morning, but it is barely covering the grass. The temps are high enough that the streets are wet but not slick. I was hoping for a white xmas, but rain is in the forecast.

I keep waiting for the day I will be invited to xmas instead of having to host xmas. Maybe next year. Meanwhile, I have things to do, places to go, people to see. Happy holidays!

Name that tune

Several years ago, I tried the bird identifying app Merlin and was not impressed. But I decided to try it again. It is much better. While I can visually identify most of the birds in my backyard, their songs frequently escape me.

It's no surprise that most of the birdsong in my yard is from sparrows. Merlin also picked up a black-capped chickadee's staccato cheeps; I located it in the (dead) tulip tree, feeding on bugs. Merlin identified the hawk I hear so frequently as a red-shouldered hawk. Mystery solved.

Of course, that is assuming the accuracy of the app. Ideally, one would visually confirm the link between the bird and the birdsong. A photo would be even better. But I'm lazy and don't want to move from my lawn chair. Or I just can't sight the damn bird. Or so many are LBJ's (Little Brown Jobs) and are difficult to tell apart.

My SO and I took a bit of a hike at Fox Island. Many (MANY) years ago, I participated in a ground water study there, which gave me an opportunity to view the wildflowers over several seasons. My tiny brain has not retained the names of those wildflowers, but we enjoyed them nonetheless.

I have a tendency to plan a project, purchase the needed supplies, then never actually complete the project. Yesterday I actually accomplished one: adding nonskid strips to the garden shed ramp. When wet, the ramp is slick, even moreso when covered with snow or ice.

The black strips were easy to install: remove backing and press. The narrow gray strips were a nightmare. The backing layers separated. My thumbnails are sore from trying to pick at the backing (I eventually resorted to using a box cutter). We'll see which ones last the longest.

This must be the year of the hydrangea. All over town, shrubs are dense with bursting blossoms. My own 'Limelight' hydrangea has joined in.

It looks like it will be a banner year for goldenrod as well.

Below is a photo of the morning sun. I took the picture because the sun was red, but it didn't translate onto the image. Too bad, because it was stunning.

While on the topic of photos, Dropbox no longer is working between my devices, probably because I have been using the free version which apparently is no long free, or free for only a limited time. How best to transfer photos from my phone to laptop now? Well, today I discovered I can link those two devices. It's not as simple to use as Dropbox, but it works fine.

Jumping worms?!?

While I am puzzling about the stink bugs that show up (one at a time) in my house, apparently there are bigger problems to worry about. Asian jumping worms are invading the Midwest. Wisconsin has had jumping worms since 2013, and now they are showing up in Indiana.

What's the big deal? These boogers destroy soil, mulch, and plants, leaving behind castings that do not nourish anything. And there are no known treatments other than collecting them and destroying them. I haven't seen any evidence of them in my yard, but I will keep a lookout for suspicious brown patches.

From the Wisconsin DNR

Here is more info: From the Wisconsin DNR, from Vermont Invasives, and from Indiana Native Plants.

(I can't help but wonder what Darwin would say about such a destructive creature.)

Meanwhile, we are having a ridiculously warm day. It won't last, but it is a bit disturbing.

I've been sick with a cold this past week. Not covid, not the flu, just a plain ordinary cold. In the midst of it, one can't help but wonder if recovery is possible, but eventually symptoms start to fade. I don't get sick very often, but when I do, I am IMpatient to be better. Illness is so boring.

Ice box

This has been a very cold week. No dog walking, as the street (we have no sidewalks) has an slick layer of ice beneath the snow. I confess I like looking at the white landscape instead of the gray and taupe one we usually have in winter. Alas, not enough snow here for cross country skiing and it is due to melt this week.

Despite the sub-zero temps (or because of it), there has been lots of bird activity. The robins have eaten all the winterberries, are now working on the hawthorn haws. It was 7 degrees out when I spotted these starlings bathing - they emptied the birdbath with their enthusiasm.

I follow the Garden Rant blog. While they don't stick to native plants, their postings frequently give me some good ideas. One of the recent postings mentioned that rattlesnake master seems to prefer it a bit damp, so maybe I'll reintroduce some near the rain garden.

I found two more squash bugs in the house this week, but both were already dead. What is the deal?!?