Mounds of Gold

Mounds of Gold
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

Backdoor Herbs

Backdoor Herbs
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

This is my planter of herbs that is situated near the back door... making it the perfect place to reach out and grab herbs for in a salad.

Picked my first Peppers...

It is quite nice to harvest peppers at the end of the sidewalk! I've also made pesto once and have been using fresh basil in everything imaginable from eggs to pizza. I made a nice fettuccine Florentine with spinach from my brother. Dad's blueberry bushes were very abundant this year too... so i made a berry crisp dessert out of them.

In the gardening listed under "other"... i transplanted 5 bunches of oatgrass to the area near the new blue spruce tree.

Monday musings...

So, i worked on Saturday and had today (Monday) off. It was one of those days with off and on rain showers coming through. I found myself sitting in the garden room watching the rain fall... it reminded me of my father. He would sit in the garage and watch the rain.

First thing that i noticed when i was getting myself ready to go outside... was a bunny beside the vegetable garden and a smaller bunny in my vegetable garden... oh no!!!!!!!!!! I proceeded to add putting up a fence to my list. I created a fence out of chicken wire and placed it around my tiny vegetable garden. Joseph went to Trader Horn and got me tomato cages for my green peppers.

During one of the rain showers, i fixed two ship's bells wind chimes that had broken. Hung them from the branches of the lower pines.

I did a lot of weeding and thinning out and pruning too. I also fertilized the potted plants and hanging baskets.

Blue Sky... Puffy Clouds

Blue Sky... Puffy Clouds
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

The garden is in full swing and day lily time is upon us. I keep adding more day lilies to the garden, so it will be a surprise to see what is blooming next.

Pruning...

This morning i decided that it was time for some tree pruning. We have some young trees that needed some shaping... so out came the pruning shears and haircuts were given to the crabapples (2), kousa dogwoods (2), red maple, oak (large one near driveway and small oak near the west pines.)

An Aster blooms in June!

An Aster blooms in June!
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

We have had the most unusual weather and my plants are doing weird things. We went from one week very cold and wet to one week extremely hot and now two weeks of cool and sunny with occasional showers. Yesterday i noticed that i have an Aster blooming which usually happens in the fall... not the day before summer starts. My husband made the comment that we have had all of the seasons condensed in to one month... These changes concern me.

Weeding and Pruning...

I took the garden sheers to the garden and starting trimming... cutting the wild asters to half their height (usually something that i do on the 4th of July). Also a lot of pulling up spent spring bulb foliage. I also pulled out a lot of brown-eyed susans that were crowding out other plants.

Seeds have been planted...

This evening i decided to plant some seeds (that my Dad gave me) in the new garden plot. I planted a bunch of beets... one of my favorites... and two zucchini seeds. Only two seeds went into the ground because i know how a zucchini can go nuts. SO we'll see how it goes.

My new mini-garden has been planted!

I created a plot of land in the backyard by pulling off the turf... digging up the soil... adding compost and raking until smooth and manageable. Planted my fours pepper plants... and some marigolds to ward of critters. Maybe i'll pick up some beet seeds to add to the mix.

Garden bed...

The heat wave that we had been experiencing has broken this evening. So I hurriedly starting creating the vegetable garden bed that i had been planning. We de-turfed it and turned the soil once and added compost. I still need to turn the soil and work the compost in to it before planting my pepper plants that have been waiting. At least the hardest part is out of the way. I hope the weather stays cooler for a little while.

The Front Gardens...

This past spring i finally completed the front flower beds... and divided the hosta... they are doing quite well.

Backyard_May08

Backyard_May08
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

Thyme takes over...

Last weekend i "thinned out" a lot of perennial ground cover. The creeping phlox that was taking over the sidewalk... the creeping thyme that was threatening to overtake the dianthus and daylilies too! Four buckets later, i think that they might be a little more under control... maybe.

Annuals in the new bed...

I took the maddock to the turf between two crab apples in the front yard. I made a nice arcing bed and added a layer of mulch. I'm planning on purchasing some plants in the fall that i really want. Like a black iris... I then had Joseph bring a large rock up to place in it... and added the clay goose. On Saturday, Joseph requested a stepping stone in the middle of the bed (Since it is in the middle of his route to the road). By Sunday i needed some color in the bed and went for annuals. So now i have pink/white impatiens and a burgundy sage. It will be a pretty bed.

Morning sun

Morning sun
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

on the Mother Earth iris.

thirsty...

Today we went shopping for a few annuals to fill out some spots. This is a typical routine where we go to the nearest department store to "save" some of the end of stock plants. I was really dismayed to see how dry and in many cases wilted the plants were. I was happy to see a middle-aged man picking up the hose and start watering. When i was at the checkout the young man waiting on us made a comment that the guy watering the plants was doing so on his day off. I said that the plants sure needed the water. At that the young man reiterated that it was the man's day off... and i responded with "i'm sure that the plants appreciate it!" It was a curious exchange between one who thinks of plants as the living thing that they are... and one who doesn't consider the plants much at all.

Pots, Herbs & Vegetables...

Yesterday i pulled out the pots that had been overwintering in the garden room. I proceeded to add new plants in with the old ones. It felt good to finally be planting.

Today I planted the vegetables and herbs that i purchased earlier in the week. I was delighted to dig out some beautiful compost from one of our many compost piles. Deep dark black compost to add to the existing soil. I'm anxious to see how the plants respond to it.

Today i also created a bed joining the crabapple named Eleanor in the front yard and the smaller crabapple. There is a nice arching bed that i can now add plants to. The turf was extra hard to dig up... seems that the grass was thick and the ground moist. It made for some rough maddocking... and blisters on my fingers.

Mulching, mulching, mulching...

Today it wasn't raining or cold so i was able to get out into the garden. I edged and mulched the front flower bed. Digging out turf that is wet isn't too much fun and my back isn't too happy about the days events. sigh... i also mulched portions of the main flower bed. I'm sorry to say that there is no sign of my pink poppy... i guess the harshness of the winter was too much for it. I'm going to miss that beauty.

May in the Garden

May in the Garden
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

A Visit to Jesteadt's Greenhouse

Today I picked up Mom and drove out to a family owned greenhouse to purchase some plants. We've been going to Jesteadt's for many years and enjoy going to a family owned and operated small business. For the first time in many years their prices went up. It still is a good deal... especially the gorgeous fuschia hanging basket for $12. Other greenhouses were charging $20.
I purchased the following herbs & vegetables:

• Basal
• Tomatoes (3)
  
• Pepper
• Parsley

The following perennials:

• 2 Huechera with red flowers

The following annuals:

• Lobelia
• Alyssum
• Dusty Miller
• Begonia
• Cholea
• Various ivys

Now hopefully the weather will get warmer (not too hot) so these can be planted!

Potting oatgrass

Today in the midst of the on again, off again rain I decided to dig out some of the oatgrass that is growing in the garden. It had reseeded itself and was taking over. I decided to put some in pots and when the neighborhood has its garage sale in june i'll put some out for giveaway purposes. I just need to find it new homes!

I also received an order of plants today. Two huechera (coral bells) in caramel colors and a Delosprema. I received a bare rooted daylily called strawberry candy. The day lily has already been planted. The huechera and delosperma are waiting in the garden room to be transplanted. the weather remains cold and wet. I'll wait for it to warm up a little before planting them.

Loads of Rain...

We're in a very rainy spell and i'm starting to get really concerned about slugs. I'm noticing that the foliage on the columbine is getting eaten. Guess i need to take some action.

Lot's o' Rain

We have been getting our April showers in May this year. So the plants are growing like crazy and with the cool temperatures the tulips are still hanging on. This photo was taken on Saturday when we had a spot of sunshine. The weather is forecast to be 20 degrees warmer tomorrow... which will be tough on the plants. I guess 20 degrees warmer is better than 20 degrees colder.

Old-Fashioned Iris

This wonderful bunch of iris were here when we moved in. At that time, i moved them to a spot that they didn't like and so last year i moved them again. Last year they did not bloom but this year they are rewarding me. I think they are happy.
Today i went and bought Mom her hanging baskets of geraniums... here mom's day request. I also bought myself a hanging basket with red viburnum. I'm hoping that the hummingbirds will like it. I also pulled some of the sweet woodruff that was taking over the shade bed... giving the hosta and daylily some room to breath.

Tulips!

I have a dozen of these wonderful pink tulips. They started out a very pale pink and have gotten darker over time. They are delightful to have in the garden... and i'm still adjusting to the fact that they have not been eaten by the deer!

On another note... i dug up 4 buckets worth of dandelions that had decided to grow in flower beds. I'm ok with them in the lawn/meadow, but not in the garden. I spent a good portion of the day dandelion digging.

Split & Share

Over the weekend i potted a bunch of plants for my friend Stephanie. She will now have in her garden, violas, chick n' hens, brown-eyed susans, bell flower, daylily, hosta (2 varieties) mint (2 varieties), columbine and lily-of-the-valley. I'm delighted to share with her... and i got her a mini shovel, trowel, gloves and a kneeling pad... everything that a new gardener needs.

In my own garden... i split and moved the blue hostas in the front of the house... now instead of two, there is five.

On Friday, i split the daylilies at work and moved them around to spots that were empty... six spots that is. I also brought home a couple daylily varieties that i did not have and some spearmint... payment for the manual labor!

FROST!

Hearts on a String...
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

There is a call for frost tonight...

It has gotten rather cold here and tonight there is a possibility of frost. My bleeding hearts with their watery stems are especially vulnerable. So soon I will go outside to cover them up.

Digging & Mulching...

Busy Friday evening and Saturday.

Finished digging out around the patio and hemlock and mulching... now the bed outside the back sidewalk continues around the patio and hemlock and joins up with the front flower bed! The mulch pile is going down quickly.

I also did some weeding of the sweet woodruff in the hopes that i can control it.
Transplanted two stella d'oro day lilies to bed near patio.

New in bloom:

• Forsythia
• Bleeding Heart
• Veronica (creeping)
• Creeping Phlox
  

Weeding & Mulching...

Today i spent a good deal of time digging out dandelions from the main flower bed. Still have plenty of dandelions to remove from the sidewalk bed. The phlox are starting to bloom and look wonderful. Still have an ongoing abundance of daffodils of many varieties. I think there are some new ones that Mom gave me bulbs for last year. I don't recognize them... Currently in bloom:

• Daffodils
• Dog-tooth Violets
• Freckles Viola
• Violets (wild purple)
  
• Frittalaria (only 1)
• Grape Hyacinth
• Blue & White Hyacinth
• Tulips (just starting)
• Phlox (creeping)
• Quince
• Veronica
• Hyacinth
• Scilla Sibirica
• Puschkinia
  

I made a dent in the mulch pile by mulching the "butterfly bed". I'm hoping this year to carve out the front flower bed on the living room side of the house... and also around the back patio. I'm hoping to get some creeping thyme started out there near the hemlock.
In anticipation of tomorrow's rain, i put out the large rain barrel.

Red Gazing Globe

Red Gazing Globe
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

Leaving the brown behind...

Leaving the brown behind...
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

I must remember to divide these hyacinth!

A Day in the Garden

Looking out...
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

I managed to get a work day in the garden yesterday... before the cold weather and rain came to town.

I moved a lot of "freckles" viola that had reseeded themselves with reckless abandon. They were taking over the path through the garden and getting stepped on frequently. I moved them to other spots in the main garden, near the back patio, under the crab apple and under both birch trees. I moved at least 20 little plants and have a bunch more that will probably need moved soon.

After all those transplanting duties, i started in the dandelion pulling task. The soil was damp so it made the task much easier.

Graceful Blue

Graceful Blue
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

The vivid blue of the Scilla ads a nice touch of contrast for the miniature daffodils.

Repellent

I decided to try a spray deer & rabbit repellent on my main flower bed. I got tired of chicken wire cages everywhere. I'm hopeful that the really stinky stuff will do the trick... it had my gag reflexes going! I also sprayed the azaleas out front. So we'll see if it works.

After work today i removed the turf and mulched around the paperbark maple.

Miniature Daffodils

Morning sunshine
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

Today was a warm springlike day. So I spent a good deal of time attending to the garden. Raking up leaves and debris... loosening the soil. I have an abundance of miniature daffodils and they are a delight with their bursts of yellow in the garden. I also noticed that the grape hyacinth are close to blooming.
I noticed that california poppies are starting to appear as are the bleeding hearts, viola, violet, daylily and other assorted plants. I'm delighted that the stella d'oro daylilies that i transplanted to the outter edge of the sidewalk are coming up nicely. The quince is also happy in its new home.

Aconite through the thyme

Follow the sun
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

My woolly thyme is growing like crazy... and i'm realizing that it has blanketed over quite a few plants. I think i will thin it out a bit and also plant some near the back patio where nothing but weeds grow.

Today we did a lot of yard maintenance... picking up sticks and trimming grasses, the butterfly bushes and the rose. The breezes were still brisk but hopefully that will change real soon.

I also added wire cages to protect some tulips from rabbits and deer.

Must Remember for Next Fall... purchase crocus bulbs!... i really miss them.

Winter Aconite

Surrounded by Brown...
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

...this wonderful little flower has finally arrived in the garden... multiple spots of vibrant yellow opening up wide to soak up the sunshine.

Today i took the trunk wraps off of the trees. It's nice to see the peeling bark of the birch trees.

Another view of the Snowdrop...

A little sun on the snowdrop
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

We had one warm day that allotted me a little time outside doing gardening maintenance. I trimmed down a lot of different grasses... oatgrass, fountain grass, purple fountain grass and pampas grass.

I also trimmed dead stalks from a variety of plants... and took out some chicken wire to protect a tulip that a deer might find very tasty.

And i also picked up a lot of twigs and branches from the big pine trees.

It felt good to be outside.

The first flower of 2008!

Snowdrop aka Raindrop
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

is a single solitary snowdrop.

Trimming Geraniums

I trimmed some of the scented geraniums that are over-wintering in the garden room. I placed the stems in water near the kitchen sink where we get the best light. I'm hoping that they will root and i will have more scented geraniums.

and the deer have to eat too...

I seem to have one deer in particular who has decided that my Rheingold shrubs taste good. They have never been bothered before, but this year some deer decided that they were a delicacy. So I have added chicken wire cages to all my Rheingolds and hopefully they didn't get too damaged by the deer grazing.

Ice in the garden...

Last night the sleet started us off, then it changed to rain, giving us a nice coating of ice... and the rain continued. It turned to snow for a short period and then back to rain. Now the fog is rolling in. I'm glad i opted to not go to work today!

This is Fox Red Curly Sedge (ornamental grass)

Foraging Deer

Well it's later in the winter and the deer are starting to eat a little closer to the house... i noticed that they have decided to try nibbling on my rhinegold near the back sidewalk. They've never bothered them before and i don't think that they are supposed to like them. But i guess that is about the same as them not liking liriope and chicks n' hens. So i guess the next warm spell i'm going to get out the chicken wire and block off more of my garden. sigh...

Grey & White

Grey & White
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

it's been extremely cold this past week and today it warmed up... with the warming came the snow. i'll take the snow and its blanketing effect for the garden.

Things still grow in the Winter...

Recently I've noticed that the trees are showing new growth. I did a double take at the paperbark maple the other day... it's silhouette has expanded just like the bradford pears and birch trees. The deer continue to prune the azaleas... and i placed wire cages over some spring bulbs that they found irresistible.

Old watering can...

Old watering can...
Originally uploaded by pjslomer