Sweet Days of Summer?

Well, the jasmine IS in bloom.




Along with most everything else. Like the dianthus, oak leaf hydrangea, hostas, astillbes, a lily, and plenty more not pictured.

And it is 95 degrees.




Of course, my personal favorite is the marigolds blooming in a crack in the driveway alongside some leaf lettuce. Volunteers, all. Go figure.

Hoses are Out

It is 9:20 at night and 84 degrees (Weather Channel says it feels like 87). That is down from a high in the mid-90s. The rain seems to be on a much-appreciated break, but it does mean that the raised beds, containers, and recent plantings must now be watered by me. For the next 10 days! Sigh. This morning, I drained the rain barrel watering the vegetable gardens and containers. Tonight, I hooked up the hoses. Oh, and it is still May. For at least a few more hours.

Why Grow Veggies?

I was telling my niece about all the vegetables I had just planted in my gardens, and she said "you are trying to be eco-friendly by growing your own produce." I kid you not. She is 10.

It got me to thinking, though, about all the many reasons why. And why did I buy a house on an acre lot? Yes, I want to be eco-friendly! But, I have other reasons. I never cease being amazed by God's creation, watching the plants grow, and, yes, the deer and other critters wreaking havoc on them. (I just wish they'd leave a bit more for me.) Nothing beats the taste of something just-picked. Some things don't make it into the house. I love the smell of the earth. And, the act of planting and harvesting ties me to my parents and grandparents and the memories of working and playing in their gardens when I was little. So, with a whole acre of my own, I can plant whatever I want! Flowers and veggies and trees galore! And then, during the drought periods, I can water for hours on end. (It is relaxing for the first hour or so. Really.)


So, here is this year's raised bed, breaking through. Lettuces in the front, radishes to the left, beans (yellow and green) in the middle, corn salad and zucchini on the right, tomatoes across the back. And, the garden tiki standing guard over the sprouting. Beans are new to me this year. But, I could not resist the "bean tower" in the catalog. The beans are growing pretty fast already--I can't wait to see if they climb the tower all the way to the top!

Yet to sprout in the ground-level bed are watermelons, patty pan squash, carrots, and cow peas. Meanwhile, the peas are flowering behind the rhubarb and horseradish in their bed beyond the raspberries and blueberries. And there is swiss chard just planted in a big pot in front of the garage. I should be well-fed. Especially with the CSA share included!

I do hope we don't have another drought this year. But, I now have a great sprinkler collection, so I just have to move the hoses around occasionally :)

There's a Reason They're Called Knock Outs

Cincinnati Weather

87 degrees and muggy yesterday, thunderstorms today, cooling to 60-ish tomorrow. Gotta love the variety. And, we take what we get to the max. The ice cream truck was out in the heat yesterday (I do wish he'd get a new song), somebody was grilling out, and the poison ivy is trying to take over. Note the healthy green leaves and warning-red stems. Got to put on the haz-mat gear to get rid of it without exposing myself to the oil. It makes me itch just thinking about it.


Meanwhile, rain, sun, and heat mean that those April showers really have brought May flowers. Raspberry bush, Scotch broom, thyme, columbine, and yellow knock-out rose. And peas. Lots of yummy peas, coming soon!

Rain and Deer

We just missed a one-month rainfall record in April. Missed it by 0.14 inches! Someone pointed out that the prior record was set in a January, which has 31 days. Since April has only 30 days, and it rained on May 1st, we did hit a 31-day record. It was a record for an April anyway.

Meanwhile, it is May 2nd, and raining. The Reds are rained out for the night. More rain is forecast for tomorrow, Wednesday morning, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Mothers Day). Yippee. The grass is at mid-calf. The weeds are taking over even more than usual, but at least they pull out pretty easily!

And the deer are eating everything and leaving big divets wherever they walk. I sprinkled Deer Scram everywhere on Friday, but it is probably washing away... So, does anyone know how to attract coyotes (without feeding them, of course)? Check out this article from Audubon on urban coyotes. I suppose having urban chickens would do the trick, but I want them eating the deer, not the chickens...

The good news is, the neighbors did away with their big ugly propane tank! Woo hoo! Before and after:

Squish, Squish

That would be the sound of walking on the grass after 11.5 inches of rain so far this month. Yes, I said MONTH. Wish I could save some up for August. Oh well.

The creek is high, the basement is wet, managed to unclog the downspout finally during a brief break in the rain. Check out the lush grass. While it lasts!



And, I used the rest of those few minutes of sun to check out the budding around the yard. Peas are up! Fortunately I got the pea fences in last week--that is one between the peas and the chain link boundary fence :)
















The smoke bush is leafing out beautifully.

















And the barberry is ready to flower.

Supplies Arriving...

Pea fences came yesterday, more Deer Scram today. On the way: A bean tower and a new composter--a tumbler! Good thing the pea fences showed up, the peas are poking up already. Nothing like fresh peas. Sometimes they don't make it into the house :) I haven't tried to grow beans before, but now that I'm going to have a bean tower...

Meanwhile, more rain is on the way. So, I put one of the rain barrels out yesterday, since there is no overnight freezing forecast for at least the next week. If only we could store up more of this rain for later in the summer.

The late Easter this year really has thrown off my sense of time for the spring, and I am way behind. I need to get some compost into the main garden bed. At least I finally got all of last year's debris out. Yesterday. With any luck the "scattered thunderstorms" predicted for Saturday will be sufficiently scattered to allow me to get a little work done in the yard. Between baking challah and egg-shaped cupcakes for Easter :)

But, mother nature is not confused. Here come the hostas! Note the Deer Scram shaker. I actually buy the stuff by the big pail now, but the shaker container makes it a lot easier to apply. Of course, with 3 inches of rain Tuesday, I'm sure I need to get out and spread some more. After tomorrows storms. Sigh.

Sweet Violets

Sweeter than all the roses. Is it because you can't control them, they show up when and where God chooses? My yard is covered with them this time of year. Oh, and it's the Alpha Delta Pi flower :)


I suppose the same could be said of dandelions (except for the ADPi part!). Also carpeting my yard, and those of all my neighbors. At least you can eat them. Or make wine ;)





The mountain fire pieris was a great buy. Evergreen leaves, new leaves come in brilliant red in the spring, white masses of hanging flowers soon to come. A big branch was broken off early on (deer? mower? roaming neighborhood dog?), but the plant has bounced back very well. Maybe time for a few more in the shady side...

Some Tulips Survived

The deer seem to prefer the grassier areas, although they have been known to nibble what grows along both sides of the driveway. Either the profusion of daffodils kept them away, or the garage light, or something equally tasty but more accessible. But, I coated the driveway bed tulip area with Deer Scram anyway. Of course, then it began to pour rain. Oh well. Guess I'll have to keep the Deer Scram people in business and buy another vat. They are having a sale...








The yellow ones are from the ravaged bed near the potting shed. Silly me, waiting until there were actual buds showing to put up the barrier. I will remember this for next year...

Sun...Rain...Sun...Rain...

Today is pretty gloomy. Thursday was just pretty! The blooming is well underway among the spring flowers and shrubs. My yard is usually a bit behind the rest of the neighborhood, but that is okay, it just means we all get to enjoy the peonies and such for a longer time :)



peonies making their way...


purple leaf sand cherry


creeping phlox


apple blossoms



pink flowering almond

I Used to Love Deer

Now, I love them when they are in someone else's yard! Argh. I much prefer the little robins, happily pulling up worms, leaving my flowers alone.











Maybe if I start grilling venison...

More Signs of Spring

With buds come deer. Deer with the munchies, of course. Waited too long to protect the tulips, and they are half eaten well before getting a chance to bloom.







They do not, however, seem to like rhubarb. Go figure.







Not bothering the redbud tree, either. Never have. See why they call it a REDbud?







Cilantro doesn't seem to attract any nibblers. At least not so you'd notice. Of course, lots of people don't like it either. I am not one of them. Fortunately! This will be the third year it comes back on its own in this pot that stayed out all winter.







Yay, hyacinths!

Yard Cleanup

Rhubarb
Thanks to the guys from Springdale Lawn Care, lots of little sprouts are now visible. Oh, and yet another golf ball. Six years I've been working in this yard, planting stuff everywhere, and still every spring, I find more golf balls. I do not play golf. I do not have friends or family members who practice in my yard. Not complaining, mind you, it is just weird.


Peony
Sedum and golf ball
Horseradish
Daffodils
Forsythia
Columbine

Crocuses!

Spring has sprung! And not a moment too soon ;) The crocuses are smiling in the sun, and the daffodils are not too far behind...