Morning Glories in the August Heat

This year my morning glories first bloomed on August 1st.  Seems so late in the season, to just begin flowering, but they're opening lots of blossoms every day. This year I planted a mix of "Heavenly Blue," with a couple of variegated types, so every morning it's a pleasant surprise to see what's open today.

NOW I'm in trouble!

Oh no!  I'm out of grape jelly, and the orioles are really ticked.  They keep flying in, looking into the empty dish, and then giving me that beady-eyed glare of disapproval.  If I know what's good for me, I'd better not forget to pick up a new jar of jelly at the store today.

A Less Aggressive Wisteria

Amethyst Falls wisteria

A couple of years ago, after doing some research, I finally chose a variety of wisteria to plant in my garden.  I've always loved wisteria, but know that it can be quite aggressive in the garden, requiring constant trimming to keep under control.  However, the native American wisteria is less vigorous than those from Japan or China, and fits more easily into the garden with less work.  The Amethyst Falls cultivar I chose is an improved American variety.

End of the Greenhouse

Tear in greenhouse plastic

Over the last couple of years, I've really enjoyed having a pop-up greenhouse. Though not as protective as a "real" greenhouse, it did offer some shelter over the winter to marginally-hardy plants, extending the harvest later into the fall/winter, and helped in hardening off seedlings.

Preliminary Results on New Weed-Prevention Schedule

Last year I learned more about the timing I needed to follow on applying corn gluten to my lawn to prevent weeds.  So last fall I spread the gluten earlier, in August rather than in October/November; then this spring put it out earlier, in March.  In previous years, my back yard in particular had lots of chickweed and henbit.  This year, there was practically no chickweed, and much less henbit.  It was good to see such positive results from simply tweaking the time at  which I applied the corn gluten.

May Day Peony

On May Day I especially enjoy making the rounds of my garden, savoring all of the flowers in bloom at this lovely time of year.  Today my tree peony celebrated by opening its first blossom of the year.  Also starring right now are lilacs, columbine, and the snowball bush.

Lilacs in Bloom

The last several days the lilacs around here have begun to bloom.  Every time I step out into my back yard the aroma is incredible.  As I walk my dog there are several places in the neighborhood with lots of lilacs too, that smell wonderful as I walk by.

Goldfish Tragedy

As I walked out into the backyard earlier today, a large white bird took off from beside my little pond.  I checked the pond, and all of my goldfish were gone.

Hyacinths

Creeping Phlox

The creeping phlox is starting to bloom now. Over the next few weeks, they should bloom so heavily that flowers will totally cover the plants.

Flowering Pear

The Bradford pear tree in my front yard began blooming today.  Sure hope tonight's frost doesn't stop the display!

Onslaught of the Daffodils

The daffodils have responded enthusiastically to the recent sunshine. 

The Arrival of Spring

I've been enjoying the progress of the spring flowers; first dwarf iris, snowdrops and crocus, and now daffodils and hyacinths.  I also love to watch the perennials as they emerge from their winter's rest. However, the milder weather over the last week has also brought on lots of tree pollen, which means stuffy, runny noses and itchy eyes as well.  It's all just a normal part of spring.

Dwarf Iris

One of the very first flowers to bloom in my garden every year is the dwarf iris.  They're here so briefly, but make such am impact.

Motto for Cats

Driving across town today, and saw a sign outside a vet's office that I think perfectly sums up my kitty's attitude toward life:  Life is Short, Bite Hard.

Time to Think of Weed Prevention

Things are beginning to green up, so I bought a bag of corn gluten today, which I plan to apply to the lawn over the weekend.  I want to prevent weeds and crab grass as much as possible this year with this non-toxic method. 

Starting More Seeds

Over the weekend, I put together some more milk-jug mini-greenhouses for winter sowing.  I've had family to visit for a couple of weeks, so I had extra help on putting these together.  This year, I'm wanting to start more seeds this way, since it worked so well last year.

Happy Valentine's Day

My sweetie on Valentine's Day 2014

Amaryllis in Bloom

It's open!  This morning, with all of the nasty weather outside, the amaryllis has finally opened.  We may have ice everywhere, and single-digit temperatures outside, but in here, I can enjoy a gorgeous, colorful flower.

Getting Closer

Over the last week, I've been keeping a close eye on the amaryllis, as the bud has begun to open.  The package listed the variety as "Red Lion."

Amaryllis on its Way Up

One of the gifts I received for Christmas was an amaryllis.  I actually got it right after the new year.  I haven't had an amaryllis for several years, so I was delighted to get this one.  It's such fun to watch them come up so quickly, and to have a big, beautiful flower in the middle of the winter. 

Greenhouse after sub-zero

Even after the sub-zero temperatures we've had the last couple of days, some things in the greenhouse are still alive.  The double layer of plastic, water jugs, and heated dish of water really do make a difference!  The parsley, rosemary, and strawberries are still making it.