Fall Color

I realize that the fall color is pretty much done here in SW Ohio, but my computer died a couple of weeks ago, so I didn't get a chance to post these before. My river birch--planted my first year here, it has thrived in its location, in spite of this summer's drought--and one of my rosy barberries (with a cotoneaster hiding behind)--just the greatest color!

Deer Strike Again

Look what he did to my poor baby weeping willow! As if the poor tree hadn't been through enough this year, between being turned into an archway by the ice storm and thirsting through the drought. At least the damage doesn't go all the way around the trunk. Then, look at my poor dwarf Alberta spruce! I have never seen a deer rut on an evergreen, so I didn't think to protect it.

The neighbor says she has lived here 40 years and the deer have never come up so close to the houses. They decimated her lilac bushes, too. And her weeping cherry. Not to mention the damage they did to our flowers and veggies all summer long.

Finally, the Rain!

I promised not to whine about the rain until day 8. It is now day 3, and I am still happy to see it. We've gotten about 4 inches, but we're still down another 8 on the year. Of course, if we keep up this pace until we catch up, things could get ugly! So far, no water in my basement from the back yard (thanks to the drainage work I had done just before the drought set in) and the sump pump is doing its thing for the side yard.

The heat seems to have broken finally, too. I would like to try out the new fire pit this weekend, so I'm okay with that, too. And I got to wear my Halloween turtleneck for the first time this October today.

I toured the neighborhood for Halloween yard decorations tonight. A few really cool displays (some even eclipsing mine), but not as many yards decorated this year as last it seems. Perhaps a contest is needed... I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow.

Fall Resurgence

These golden barberries were looking near death just a couple weeks ago. I thought they were done for, but lately they've been coming back with fresh, bright leaves.

These cosmos are looking healthier--bushier and greener--than they've looked all summer. The shorter days seem to be agreeing with them. We've had so few cloudy, let alone rainy, days this summer that many of my plants have been very stressed.

The Rhubarb Compendium

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: The Internet is an amazing place. Off I went searching for info on how and when to put my rhubarb patch to bed for the winter, and I found it--The Rhubarb Compendium! Everything you ever wanted to know about rhubarb and so much more. Gotta love the 21st Century.

Oh, and the answer is, once we've had a hard frost, I get to go remove the stalks and cover with compost. With any luck, I'll get to harvest a little next spring!

Drought Resistant

Okay, so I've spent far too much of my summer evening time watering these and other plants in my acre, but these are some of the most resilient plants in my yard. The rose of sharon lost a lot of leaves right after I planted it, but it has bounced back well and has produced a steady stream of flowers all along. The hydrangea wilts easily, but comes back just as quickly. And it has lived up to its name "endless summer."

I won't post any pictures of the plants that didn't fare as well--it's just too sad, but, I think the apple trees at the rear property line are done for, my painted fern is barely there, the cleomes have fizzled, the astillbes are hanging by a thread, and the bleeding hearts that were so beautiful this spring went totally beige and disappeared over the last several weeks. Sigh.

Bees Love Sedum

They didn't even pay any attention to me!

Little Friend

Chance encounter, not to mention still figuring out how to use the camera...


What a face, eh?

Time Lapse

Just to show you really can find anything on the Internet...

I recently planted some sunflower seeds and with the drought I wasn't sure that they would sprout. I looked for what sunflower seeds sprouting might look like, and here is what I found: Videos of sunflower seeds sprouting! Here's one. And a second one. Gotta love the time lapse photography. Looks like mine, too.

Culprit

I think this is who has been stealing my tomatoes by the branch! Below, you can see her on the outside of the fence, innocently munching on a weed. Look through the hanging farm, where you can see the Christmas lights I put up yesterday to ward off deer--too late, of course. She's to the left of the leftmost shepherd's hook.

Next, she's in my yard. She spent some time there, then hopped the next fence into the neighbor's. But, their dogs spooked her and she came back for a while. Just watching me.
I guess five tomatoes isn't too bad a price!

Spider's Progress

Where has the last week gone? Lots going on with friends visiting from out of town and, of course, the new Harry Potter book (just finished--what a wild ride!). But, the garden continues. This is still the furthest along of my cleome plants, although there are several more sprouting. Yea!

Garden quote of the day:

It is good to be alone in the garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended thought.

from James Douglas in Down Shoe Lane

So true! I've gotten to spend a lot of time in the garden at dawn and dusk this summer thanks to the ongoing drought. When the neighbor's psycho terrier isn't barking her head off at me, it is a wonderful time to feel at peace.

Seed!

Yea! I didn't give up on this odd-looking little plant. As it turns out, it was from seed I planted, not a weed. I planted the cleome seeds ages ago and had pretty much given up on them. I almost pulled this (and a handful of younger mates), but thought I'd wait for the flower to be sure. This morning, it finally is giving hint of its true essence. At least, enough for me to finally recognize it!


My grandmother always had these in her garden -- with any luck it will re-seed itself here as I think it did for her. I have had a heck of a time finding them to add to my garden. Last year I found a plant in flower for about $20, so I was happy to find seed this year for considerably less!

We always called these spider plants, and as the flower matures, it will become obvious why. You'll see. If you don't believe and can't wait, check out some pix from Redbud Farms.

Back from the Freezer

The late cold snap after a pretty mild winter hit several of my plants hard. My smoke bush and weigela never did recover. I had almost given up on the crepe myrtle, but suddenly, it's on the mend. The russian sage has been slow to recover, too, but it looks like it will make it.

Weed or Seed?

Garden quote of the day: "A weed is a plant that is not only in the wrong place, but intends to stay." --Sara Stein.

I planted seeds in this area, but I don't recognize whatever this is. I'm hoping when it flowers I'll figure it out!

Tomato Time, Almost!

The Sweet 100's are starting to turn red. I did sneak the ripest one tonight (you can just make it out just right of center). Nothing is more delicious than a tomato fresh from the garden!

Lilies on Parade

The day lilies are in their prime these days.

Filling in the old mud hole alongside the driveway is slowly but surely coming together! I know it is kind of an eclectic mishmash, but I am learning a lot about what works where. Some things may get moved--like the liriope already did.

Oh, and I'm not going to be taken in again by claims that a fall mum will come back. You'd think right up against the house where the ground is the warmest that would work. Ha.

Anyway, I kind of like the blend of groundcovers that are succeeding, and the bursts of color from the day lilies, dianthus, butterfly garden, and annual pots. Below are the bee balm in the butterfly garden and a pot full of celosia, gazanias, lupine, and alyssum.

Orange

They say orange is uplifting and soothing. When I see the daylilies in bloom, I have to agree.







It's just a coincidence that the petunias are in orange "pots." I finally found a use for the broken pieces of clay pipe the former owners left scattered about--a place to put some annuals while finally succeeding at keeping the soil in place alongside the driveway.



















More annuals in regular pots. I am waiting for the cosmos and morning glories to start flowering, but in the meantime, they look pretty healthy. The morning glory vines are reaching out for anything they can twine around--posts, other plants, somebody standing still too long, whatever!

Danger!

For anyone who still has any doubt about what POISON IVY looks like: This is it! Note the weird bumpy stuff on some of the leaves and the red stems.

Unfortunately, this is the most vigorous plant in the yard these days. Poison Ivy seems to LIKE the hot, sunny drought.

Yes, I've sprayed it--since this picture was taken--even though I am generally against weed killer. But, after getting a really bad poison ivy rash, to the point where steroids were necessary, I am making one exception!

And no, I didn't see it until I was up to my elbows in it (it was hiding underneath a bunch of wild grape vines). Makes me itch just thinking about it...

The Rhubarb is Growing!

Given the scrawny, wrinkly roots I started with, these plants are pretty amazing. Can't harvest until at least next year, but the foliage is still a fun addition to the garden.

The color-coordinated flamingo is keeping a protective watch.

The rhubarb bed is in front of where I planted the gladiolas last year. Hopefully they'll be back...

Replacement Butterfly Garden

The butterfly bush that was here didn't make it through the late freezes (along with the weigela, smoke bush, bunny grass, and crepe myrtle in the back yard). Here I've planted bee balm (no flowers on it yet), pin cushion, guara (aka whirling butterflies), and a ground cover called orange splash.

There was a bee in the pin cushions just before I took this picture (and a hummingbird when I was selecting the plants at Burger Farm & Garden Center on Sunday afternoon).

Lupines' Progress

These are pretty much the only plants that made it from the many seeds started inside this spring. In the middle you can see the lupine plants with their distinctive multi-part leaves. Flowers should follow later in the summer.
More pots, with annuals mostly started from seeds. Cosmos on the left, morning glories on the right.







These pansies still look pretty good, considering the (early) hot weather, and the morning glories in the left basket are coming along.

Today We Bid Farewell...

...to the Swamp!

And not a moment too soon. Of course, it hasn't been an issue with the lack of rain lately, but it was only a matter of time until the rains, and the swamp, would have returned.

Anyway, today TLC arrived to connect the swamp zone to the drainage line. Of course, they found additional broken tile and a less-than-pristine box at the end of the line, so they had a wee bit more work than planned. They say I should water the fresh grass seed hidden among the straw (whatever the birds don't get to first, I suppose). I can only hope that God chooses to help with that activity...

Next Big Project

Since the wildflower area next to the garage is more of a weed patch and I can't really see it to enjoy it over there anyway, I'm prepping this area to move the good stuff into in a couple months. The fountain grasses and Russian sage seemed kind of lonely.


I've put down a layer of cardboard and a few layers of newspaper, followed by some composted manure and some peat humus. Mulch is next, but there is only so much room in the trunk!

Rabbit-Safe Farming

This year, I've moved the "farm" out into the sunnier area of the yard. Since I'm not around to keep the rabbits out all day, nor do I want to put fencing all over, the hanging baskets are a decent alternative. Except that you do have to water more often.

Last year I had most of the baskets hanging on the old swingset. But, it was in the shade, not to mention just plain ugly. Besides, the squirrels were still getting into the baskets from the trees above. Planting acorns! The swingset met its match last weekend in my brother-in-law's sawzall (I want one of my own now!) and my city's trash pickup.

Most of my seedlings didn't make the transition to outdoors, but a few may yet make it among the purchased plants. This year's collection includes Rainbow Swiss Chard, a variety of lettuces, cherry tomatoes, basil, dill, and a variety of peppers. Also, the little bay tree did just fine in the kitchen over the winter, and is back out in the sun.

Apples?

Check out the little baby apples. It is a Gala tree--coincidentally one of my favorite apple varieties, even though it was here when I bought the house. The cold snap didn't seem to bother this tree, but I'm checking for worms everyday!

Hazelnut Home

Here's where the hazelnuts will go this fall. The bed is getting warmed up for them thanks to layers of paper, compost, manure, and mulch. The little tree will keep them company, too!

Hazelnut Project

I recently received three hazelnut tree seedlings as part of the Arbor Day Foundation's Hazelnut Project. Given the small size of the trees, I've planted them in pots for their first summer here. So far, two of the three have leaves. Meanwhile, I'm in the process of preparing a planting area for them where I'll transplant them in the fall.

Tulips' Progress

It seems that planting all those tulip bulbs last fall was worth the effort.

Survival of the Fittest

Many of my seedlings are struggling, but the lupine and the tomatoes seem to be holding their own. I read that basil and tomatoes are good companion plants (not to mention dining complements!) so I added some to the container.

From a couple weeks ago:

Today:


We're still a couple weeks shy of the last frost date, hopefully these will be ready to go outside by then!