Fall Color III

A Crepe Myrtle--the purple flowers seen here have given way to berries...




















The Portulacas bloomed in the sun and closed up at night. With recent frosts, they're done for the year. (They are annuals, but sometimes they will re-seed for next year below where the pot was hanging.):

Fall Color II

A Cotoneaster--it had little white flowers in the spring, now it sports red berries for wildlife:

Fall Color

Even after the summer blooms fade, and before the leaves turn brilliant, fall flowers and berries keep interest in the garden!

Here's a Rose of Sharon:


















A later picture of the same Rose of Sharon, as the flowers open further, the color is more pronounced:

Fall Planting

They say Fall is the best time to plant. The recent rains (anybody else building an ark?) have sure made it easy to dig a good-sized hole!

Plus, the perennials are on sale...











I also got some little shrubs transplanted from the Summer nursery to their permanent homes. Two forsythia and two smoke bushes. One smoke bush replaced my small hawthorne--after being mowed over then getting quince rust, there wasn't much left to save. (Pix to come later.)

Sedum Update

The Sedums have been progressing through the fall... From pink to darker pink to crimson. They're almost brown now.

Sedums

The former owners must have loved sedums--clumps of these hardy plants are all over the yard. Not my favorite, but I am learning to appreciate their good qualities. Not the least of which is their tolerance of the crummy soil here.

This is the beginning of the bloom. As we move into fall, the tufts will turn pink, then darken to crimson as the season progresses. Even into winter, when the tufts go brown, the sedums still look interesting.

Gladiolas

My gladiolas are blooming one at a time. I suppose that way I can appreciate them for their individual beauty! Here is a before and after comparison.

The ones alongside the shed seem to be the healthiest. A bunch of those look set to bloom...maybe together.

These along the fence have been struggling, but the soil is quite thin.

Peppers!

My peppers are coming along nicely. I need to pick the Hungarian Wax as soon as I figure out what to do with it! The others are still pretty green. The grape tomatoes are ripening more slowly now, too, but still looking pretty good.

The herbs are mostly doing well, too, although I'm sure they'd all like to be watered more often. At least I can get the containers watered pretty quickly, it's all the rest of the ground-planted stuff that takes a time commitment, since I have to drag the hose all over and fill the watering can for the more distant specimens. Sunny days are nice, but the drought is tough on my babies! Thyme, sage, and oregano seem to be doing the best. I have to keep an eye on the basil to keep it from going to flower--if I pinch them off on my way out to work, my hands smell like basil all day. . .

Check out the local temperature and rainfall numbers here.

Progress of the Ferns

Remember how sad the ferns looked a few months ago? After spending the winter in the basement windows, they were looking pretty scraggly. Here they are more recently. They've been filling out very nicely--happy in the sun!

Screen in Process

Chainlink fence has its place, I suppose, but it doesn't do much in the way of screening out problem views. Check out the big propane tank midway up on the right. It's even uglier in real life--a good amount of the paint is chipping off.

I'm thinking a line of flowers and foliage will be much more appealing, especially once it fills in. These knock outs have been in for just a couple of years, along with the crepe myrtle and forsythia further up. There's one tree in the middle that remains unknown--among the ten free flowering trees from the Arbor Day Foundation last year. Once it's big enough to get flowers maybe I'll figure it out! The nice shade tree on the left came with the yard.

Who Knew?

Did you know that radicchio gets flowers? Okay, so I shouldn't have let it bolt, but once it started I was curious to see what it would do (it looked rather like something from a SciFi channel promo when it started to go). First it got this weird knob-like thing on top, then it went all spiky, and now it has pretty blue-purple flowers kind of like chicory. Turns out, radicchio is Italian chicory! Saw it on Gourmet Sleuth. Go figure.

Here's the bolting radicchio. I'll post the flower shot when I finish the roll of film. (That's right, I don't have a digital camera yet.)

And here it is with flowers!

Is it Just Me?

Is it just me or is it too hot to work outside? I will admit to being a wimp when it comes to heat. (How long until Fall?) And yes, I am glad every day that I don't work outside this time of year and yes, I truly appreciate those who do! No matter, I can still enjoy looking out the windows and seeing the flowers in bloom :)

I did have to do some watering and general pre-mowing yard clean up last night, but the payoff was seeing a deer bound through the back yard! I know they've been here, by what's been munched on, but I've never gotten to actually see one in the yard. My neighbor and I just watched her jump the fences and head on down the neighborhood. Pretty amazing as close as we are to really urban sites. But then, I suppose we're living in her neighborhood, not the other way around.

A Breather

Work has been so busy of late that gardening has had to take a back seat. Of course, the busy seasons overlap! Watering must go on, however. While we've gotten some rain, it hasn't been enough to keep the containers or the newly planted shrubs from wilting, so I've had to at least keep up with that. It's nice though, in the early mornings or evenings, to just stand there with the watering wand and enjoy the outdoors.

Somehow, I manage to put away thoughts of all the work that still needs to be done--landscape cloth around the rest of the trees and planting beds, soil amendments and mulch for the planting beds, weeding and more weeding, etc.

Finally, the ugly old picnic tables, with all their moss and sap and who-knows-what, are gone (thank you to my grass-cutting guys!). Of course, now my excuses for not having a garden party are evaporating just like the water in the bird bath...

Early Harvest

I dined on food from my own garden last night. Sauteed swiss chard and the first of my grape tomatoes to ripen. Yummy!

Sage in Bloom

I planted a Russian Sage not too long ago, adding it to the growing row of ornamental grasses along the western drainage swale. I didn't know it was going to bloom! It has purple flowers in spikes along the top of each stem. Just beautiful with the silver-green foliage.

Summer Slowdown

With the summer heat comes drought. The ground--lovely Ohio clay--is too hard for planting lately. So, it's time for sitting in the shade appreciating what is in bloom. Or enjoying the cool of the evening watching the fireflies.

Oh, and watering, watering, watering! This includes the bird bath, which the birds seem to empty as quickly as I can fill it.

I did get the swing stand painted dark green. Much better! Now it kind of blends into the view. The herbs and veggies hanging from it are doing well. I've been eating fresh lettuce already, and the tomatoes and peppers have little green fruits.

Another Kind of Primrose

They say the evening primrose is invasive. Mine is in the narrow space between the driveway and the fence, so I suppose if anything it will invade the neighbor's yard. I'm glad to see it doing so well in a strange space. It is very pretty, I think. It might be nice to see it spread down the driveway... Since this picture was taken a couple of weeks ago, the leaves are turning a deep crimson and it is still flowering. Very cool.

Mints!

Mint will take over, if you let it. I love mint, just for the scent or for a mojito. I have mine in a couple of pots. It comes back every year, but it doesn't take over the yard! Okay, the one on the left isn't mint, it's a dwarf alberta spruce, but it fills out a group of three.

The Rose Behind the House

This rose was there when I moved in. An unexpected but welcome bloom that first fall! It blooms a few times from spring to fall, one lovely flower that just seems to fit. Here it is this year--bud and bloom.

Summer Sun

Too hot to do much work in the garden today--even starting at 9 a.m.! I did get the bird bath leveled, the gazing ball placed (with a future planting spot next to it), the spider flowers planted, and some soil amendment added to the planting area alongside the driveway. About half what I'd hoped to accomplish, but I'll get there eventually!

Rain Makes Everything Grow, Right?

In spite of the rain, I managed to get quite a few gladiola bulbs planted today, finally. (I didn't count, but I put in enough to front three sections of fence.) I'm hoping some pieces of screen on top will keep the squirrels out. I also planted a few more astilbe and dianthus in the shade garden, some new dill in a hanging basket with some celosia (I hope they get along!), a zebra grass plant, and a few odds and ends in my large containers. Phew! I finally found a spider flower like my grandmother always had in her garden. It's a white one, rather than pink or purple like she had, but I bought it anyway, since it's the first I've seen. It's nice that it's already in a pot, too!

What Eats Dill?

Something has eaten my freshly planted dill! Two good-sized, healthy dill plants have been completely stripped of feathery leaves. Very strange--the stems remain, but not a single leaf! I guess I'll have to put the dill in a hanging basket like the basil. If I can even find another plant at this time in the season. [Off on a tangent--why do so many garden shops close up at the beginning of June? Back to the dependable year 'round garden stores for me!] Thyme, oregano, sage, chives, rosemary, and parsely haven't been bothered (so far). My fennel is safe as well, although it's in a different planting area, so maybe the little grazers just haven't come upon it yet... I just wish I'd see them nibbling so I would know who was enjoying my efforts (or so I could shoot 'em like my grandmother used to do!)

Fireflies

I must live in the right spot, notwithstanding the traffic noise from the busy street. I have fireflies already--lots last summer, too--apparently an increasing rarity for suburban dwellers. Also, I can see the stars from my yard. It is actually quite peaceful after dark (ignoring the random idiot whizzing by working on early hearing loss--I should have become an audiologist!).

Herbs and Vegetables

In an attempt to save money and enjoy more fresh-from-the-garden taste this summer, I've planted fresh annual herbs in my herb garden, as well as some tomatoes, lettuce and other greens, and peppers in my hanging garden (formerly a swingset!).

Last year, I found that hanging the basil kept the rabbits out--they weren't leaving me much. It worked out quite well--especially not having to kneel or squat to pick basil! Since I don't use the swingset, and it is firmly placed, I'm using it as a pergola of sorts. One of these weekends I'll get around to painting it plain green to reduce its incongruousness (I have the paint--baby steps), and maybe next year I'll replace it altogether with a dozen shepherd hook plant hangers.

Finally, A Redbud!

I finally found a healthy-looking redbud tree at a reasonable price! My friend Amy helped me bring it home in her pick up truck (it is good to have friends!). Tomorrow I'll get it planted. The extremely hot weather has broken following 1/2 inch of rain, so it should be a great day for working in the yard.

Summer's Here

In typical Cincinnati fashion, we've gone from cool and comfortable to sweltering overnight. I've been trying to get a few plants in the ground and some others moved, but I'm having to work in short bursts alternating with sips of gatorade and rest in the shade. Phew! At least the pools should be warming up for their Memorial Day openings.

Leafing Out!

As spring heads toward summer, there is much work to be done. My busy bee surveys the side of the house, contemplating the balance of weeds and desirables. If only we had more time to spend in the garden!

Meanwhile, out back, the baby trees begin to leaf out: redbuds, a maple, and a smoke tree, as well as a couple of forsythia that will be added to the east screen. You can see the peony in bud behind the tree seedlings.









The fountain grass is starting back nicely. This was lovely all through the winter, too, with its long, tall leaves floating in the breeze. I'd like to add a few plants each year until I have a long swath all along the drainage swale... For now, I've got a Russian sage to go in the line this weekend.













The ferns are happy to be back outside as the weather warms. This is the before picture. I'll show how nicely they fill out through the summer in their new, larger pots, following a long winter hanging in the basement windows.

More on Poison Ivy

Check out this site for lots of pictures of poison ivy and imposters: http://poisonivy.aesir.com/, then stay alert!

Try to avoid it, but if you don't, see http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/fda.poison.ivy.t.p.k12.3.html for immediate response tactics.

Or once you've got the rash, see http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/poison-ivy/AN00539 for how to soothe safely.

New Additions

Thanks to all the rain, digging and planting is easy! I planted a new knock out rose near the bat house last night. I hope to get the hydrangea and weigela in the ground tomorrow. I will block out the neighbor's propane tank eventually! Also, I got a compost bin at the County's sale last weekend. It still needs to be assembled, though. I bought some landscape fabric to help keep down the weeds in the planting beds and to circle the smaller trees and shrubs. I'll place a few pieces tomorrow, too.

It is about time to place the herb seedlings. The tarragon, oregano, thyme, and basil are doing quite well, the fennel and parsley are doing okay, but the cilantro and dill are not growing well at all. Also, some of the mesclun is doing okay. I should have segregated them by germination time. I'll do better next year!

Basil goes in a hanging basket to protect it from the rabbits. I've got some grape tomato plants that will go in a basket, too.

The peonies aren't new, but they are starting to bloom. I got a couple more pieces of ornamental garden fencing that I've wrapped around the plants to keep the branches off the ground. I saw the peony rings, but I don't see how you get those around the plants once they're up to full height! Yeah, yeah, I should have set them up before the plants got so big, but I didn't. Anyway, I can use the little fences for other things once the peonies are done blooming.


I have a beautiful patch of irises this year! After cleaning out the scrub (thanks again to the former owners), there are easily twice as many irises visible than there were last year.


Turns out a bunch of the weeds in the iris patch and in some of the other planting beds were POISON IVY. Ugh. Fortunately, I had done most of the spring cleaning before the evil ivy leafed out, so I didn't get a rash then. But I have it now. This is my first experience with the rash. (Typical in my family not to get it until adulthood.) Now I am spraying anything I suspect...

Spring Rains

The recent rains have slowed work on the garden. Of course, mother nature is hard at work--the grass is growing like crazy, the worms are near the surface so the birds are feasting, and the weeds are taking a foothold. While stuck indoors I've been planning...and shopping. Now there is a backlog of plants waiting to be placed in their new homes, along with a big pile of mulch!

I still have a considerable swampy area. I guess I'll have to get someone to come improve the drainage one of these days. It's not too bad once the rain eases off and the temperature stays up, it's just this time of year when it stays a mud hole.

Lots of branches, even limbs, down from this week's storms! The dead apple trees in the back are coming down slowly on their own. My brush pile is plenty large--the birds love it--so I suppose I'll have to start putting some of these out for pickup by the city.

Bulbs in Pots

I forgot to plant the bulbs I bought last fall, so I potted them up. They've been a bit behind the ones in the ground, so I'm stretching the season! It was easy, I just layered them in big pots in the potting shed and watered them very occasionally through the winter. Then, when the ground-planted bulbs started to sprout, I moved the pots outside.

I'll probably put them in the ground for next year. The handful of lonely tulips alongside the driveway need some company. But maybe I'll get some more for the pots again, too.

Appreciating the Neighbors

Sometimes we get a bit of garden for nothing. My neighbor has some beautiful lilacs along our common fence. They smell great (and of course, look great), and I can just enjoy them every time I step out in the back.

The Chokeberry

The Chokeberry is in bloom. I planted this one last spring. It has done quite well in the front yard. This is a really nice little shrub. It gets to leaf out and bloom ahead of the larger oak and maple that frame it and shade it through the summer. The chokeberry kind of leads the pack, easing the wait for spring leaves. The birds like the berries through the winter, too.

For the Birds

The birds seem to be appreciating my spring yard cleanup. So far I've raked up about 20 bags of leaves--mostly long-lasting oak--and the birds like to follow behind. I guess they are scooping up the bugs I've disturbed with the raking and bagging. The process has definitely woken up a lot of moths that fly out of every clump I throw in a bag. I did mulch some of the leaves, but I'll need a more efficient piece of equipment to do much more of that.

I've still been doing a lot of cleanup of debris from years past. Every planting bed includes at least a handful of golf balls. Definitely not from me, as I agree with Mark Twain that "golf is a good walk spoiled."

To celebrate my new job I went out and bought a few new plants. I couldn't find a redbud, so I ended up ordering a few from the Arbor Day Foundation. But, I did pick up another azalea to place by the herb garden--a white one to balance the pink one that came with the house. Also, a bleeding heart for the bird bath area, and a mountain fire pieris for the east side.

I've been looking at several options for adding a garden path and for edging the planting beds. That would definitely add some polish to the yard. Better Homes and Gardens has a great website. Lots of ads, but lots of good ideas, too. I'm going to the flower show at Coney tomorrow. I'm sure there will be lots of cool concepts there. I'll just need to pace myself!

Apple Blossom Time

The apple tree closest to the house is half covered in blossoms (not to mention a few bumblebees)! The three young ones in the far back should follow soon.

The peonies have shot up, most to about 18 inches, but one is closer to 30 inches already. Flower buds are forming. It should be another good year for them. My crepe myrtle is finally showing some buds--I was a bit worried that it hadn't survived the winter. Even my heather is greening up.

The mowers cut off three of the four seedlings I planted last week. I guess I need to mark them more clearly! One may come back, but the other two look pretty well done for. At least they were freebies from the Arbor Day Foundation, but it still hurts since I nurtured them in pots all last year.

My wildflower area between the garage and the fence has an awful lot of dandelions. I've got to clean them out so the flowers I planted can come back. A few are starting, but I'm afraid the dandelions will choke out the desirables.
I can't let them go too much longer.

Still haven't found a redbud to add to the yard. I'd really like to get a few; they look so pretty this time of year. I may have to order them from the ADF...

Spring 2006

It's my second spring in my new house (garden!). Seems last year's hard work in the yard has had some good pay offs--lots of bulbs have been revived, resulting in some unexpected but much appreciated spring color.

Among my goals is to have a wildlife-friendly area. I've been planting lots of trees, as well as fruiting shrubs and butterfly-attracting plants.

Among my plantings, the primroses and dianthus are coming back, along with garlic chives, parsley, and thyme. My little trees are starting to bud, and the chokeberry is poised to bloom any day. The forsythia have been at it for a while already. The knock out roses are leafing out, too.

The peonies that surprised me last spring are emerging from the ground again. Such a cool plant.

The apple trees planted by a former owner produced apples last year, but the fruit was wormy and not much good. This year, I've used a pest control that's poured around the trunk (rather than a spray which sounded like too big a project for me right now). Hopefully I'll get some good apples this fall. They're galas, one of my favorite varieties.

The spring thunderstorms have left soggy patches, so I'm looking for the right plants to fill those areas. Of course, they'll also have to tolerate the late summer dry spells.

The bird and butterfly zone seems slowest to come back. I'm moving some decorative grass there. (A gift from a friend, I had planted it in the crisis to stabilize the lovely mud hole left by the former owners along the side of the house. But, it just doesn't fit there, although it has done remarkably well in the very, very bad post-construction soil there.)

The side planting bed between the house and driveway continues to slowly come together. The euonymous is very happy there, along with the cotoneaster. The creeping phlox have been slow to establish, but are looking healthy this week, so I'm planting some more where the decorative grass had been.

So, it's coming together, slowly but surely. But, getting there really is half the fun!