THIS 'N' THAT FROM THE VEGGIE GARDEN

The blueberries are plumping up nicely. This is the second year so the crop is small, but enough berries from two bushes for a few meals for the two of us.

Yes, Yes, Yes, I have tomatoes at last.

I like to grow scarlet runner beans for the pretty flowers as well as for their delicious beans.

Royal burgundy bush beans are new to the vegetable garden this year, and so far they are performing very well, with many blooms.

The lettuce has bolted, and I thought to pull it and toss it onto the compost, but I have another use for it.

No bolted lettuce is going to waste around here.

HUMMER THURSDAY

Please enjoy some of my best photos, of these spirited little birds.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

YOU ARE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO MY GARDEN

How can you resist those big brown eyes and gentle face, but I can tell you, I was ready to chase this handsome young fellow off, if he made a move towards my flower garden, which is about ten feet away.

So far he has been happy to eat the plums which have been falling off, and knocked off the trees by the crows, starlings and other birds.
At times I would see birds in the plums trees, and rabbits and deer underneath enjoying the bounty.

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE GLADS

This is the first year I have grown Glads to be so tall. The red one on the right, is just shy of six feet tall.

The corms from these gladioli will be lifted in fall, as these are grown in my vegetable garden, and don't have the protection from the elements as the ones do near the house.

Not a gladioli, but a sweet little dove which has taken to visiting the feeder, to eat seeds the other rowdy, greedy birds scatter on the deck below.

YOUNG FLICKER TAKES A NAP

This young Flicker took a nap while waiting it's turn at the feeder.

GLORIOUS GLADS

This is another plant my mother grew, and I have followed in her footsteps. They are a stunningly beautiful flower to have in your garden, coming in many wonderful colors.


Gladiolas are very sensitive to frost, so planting should wait until frost has passed and if you live in an area in which frost is a regular occurrence, you will need to dig up the bulbs during the autumn before the first frost, and store them in your home. For warmer, frost-free areas, you can leave your gladiolas in the ground during the winter months, although I have left mine in the garden and they have come back.


These flowers like maximum sunlight, however,they will still flower in partial shade. Gladiolas require moist soil, but with good drainage.

When planting several glads at once, ensure that you leave about four to six inches of space between corm bulbs. The more space you give your plant the bigger your plant will grow.

Gladiolas come in many colors and generally bloom between July and September each year. They have an average height of anywhere from forty to sixty inches and are lovely in your home, as cut flowers, or make a stunning display in your garden.

A QUACKING GOOD TIME

Mommy duck and ducklings hanging out around a friend's pond. It was fun to watch the ducklings scoot around in the pond searching for food, usually head down, tail up, looking beneath the water for goodies to eat.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

LOOK AT US NOW

Last fall we were just three baby cuttings, sitting snug in the basement. But look how we have grown since then.

We are almost 32 inches tall.

Our family is increasing. Here is the first new Coleus Glennis which started off as a cutting as we did. However this one has been rooted in water, whereas we were started in potting mix.

The rooting method does not seem to make much difference as we all developed nice healthy root systems.

And now, as of this morning, we have three more new members joining our family. It won't be long before they too, have lovely roots, then will be potted up as we were.

CUTTING GARDEN, BUT I DON'T WANT TO CUT THEM

I have Gladioli planted in the center of two of the raised beds in my vegetable garden. The idea was that I could cut the flowers to enjoy them indoors, but they are so beautiful, I am hesitant to do so. This morning they are looking even more lovely, dripping with the fine drizzle coming down, and they are so tall. One of them is level with the top of the five foot high trellis which supports the cucumbers.
Within the rustic greenhouse kind of structure on the right, are my tomato plants, and there are ripe Sungold tomatoes within. So my idea to create a little house to provide some extra warmth for the tomatoes, is working rather well, don't you think?

UPDATE , the watering system using the three interconnecting sprinklers, with five different pattern sprays, I installed, is working way better than I expected. I have it set on a timer to come on for five minutes every second day. The second day and five minutes duration watering, seems to be just right, to keep the area which is in the shade, on an incline and very quick to drain, at just the right dampness for optimum growth.
In the past, I had been hesitant to plant too much here before installing the new watering system, because I could not provide enough moisture on a regular basis, and I lost a few of my favorite plants. That is all changed and a visit to the garden center is on my list of things to do.
The other project I have started work on, is too create an outdoor living room.
Read about it HERE

I LOVE THIS COOLING FOG

A blessed cooling fog is blanketing us this morning. A little relief from the heat is feeling very nice indeed. The plants will enjoy a little relief too, I am sure.

EUREKA "I HAVE FOUND IT"

Watering this irregular shaped garden has been a real problem. I was so tired of standing out there with a hose in hand, wetting down the garden, when I was really wanting to be doing something else, and of course relying on someone else to water the garden when we are out of town, can be very tiresome.

The soaker hose system did not work very well, as the garden is on an incline and there wasn't enough water pressure in the soaker hose to get to the garden on higher ground. Besides I don't like the look of the soaker hoses, which are on my to do list, to be removed from the garden.

You can see the incline, although it is steeper than the photo shows, and the hydrangeas and a couple of other plants up top, did not receive enough water.

While wandering the garden section in our local Walmart, I noticed a box containing a Rainscapes Watering System, Lawn watering kit.
Hmmm! I said to myself, that looks like something I may be able to use. I know it says lawn watering kit, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work in my problem area. I then read the description on the side of the box.

* Simple and ready to use in less than 5 minutes. (Perfect, no hassle with assembling it)
*Customized coverage area (better yet)
*keeps your lawn healthy - designed especially for small strip and odd-shaped areas (now we are talking!)
*metal spike base for stability (they think of everything)

4 Pattern spray head
30ft x 30ft
6ft x 15 ft
15ft x 30ft
6ft x 30 ft
Whoo hoo! This is just what I need, if I can't make this work, then I go back to square one, and start all over again.
The system comprises two 15ft hoses and three sprinkler heads with 4 dial in patterns. It was very easy to assemble, and I had it set up, dialed in and watering the garden in about 15 minutes. All I have to do now, is to install the timer, so the watering will be taken care of on a regular basis.
Ahhh! life is good.

ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

CUTIE PIE

WHAT ARE THESE PLANTS?

Dare I say Summer has arrived at last? The weather report says temperatures will be in the 80s this week. So I guess instead of complaining about the cooler Summer temps. we can complain about the heat. *grin*

This unusual flower is growing in a friend's garden. It is about 2 feet tall she does not know the name of the plant, and neither do I.

Here is one I don't remember planting. It is about three feet high, and I don't know what is is either. Anyone know what the two plants are?

No, I am not dead, just way too hot in this fur coat.

A QUESTION ABOUT POPPIES

I Just love the color of this one, growing in a friend's garden. I plan on taking a couple of the seed pods, so there will be some of these beauties in my garden.
Is it correct that the best time to sprinkle the seed, is in the fall?