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...