Vegetable garden cleanup -

is well on the way to being finished. All the new growth, and many of the leaves, have been trimmed from the tomatoes, so they can soak up the last of the sun before our weather changes.






The corn stalks have been pulled from this bed, manure/compost added, ready to receive the strawberry plants.








On September 3rd, I posted about pinning runners from my older strawberries, onto the tops of small pots ready for my new strawberry bed. As you can see from the picture, the plants have established themselves in the pots with a very healthy root system, in just over three weeks.






As I was working on the cleanup, I got a whiff of a delectable fragrance. "where is that coming from" I asked myself as I turned surveying the garden. As far as I knew there wasn't anything in bloom that close, and I did not recognize the fragrance. I looked down and saw the pot of wildflowers sitting in a corner of the veggie garden. "No , it can't be those little flowers" but on going on over and leaning down to smell, I was very surprised to discover the source of the fragrance. I have no idea what these flowers are, they are from a packet of wildflower mix the local bank was giving out to their customers. I think I would like to sow more of these delightful flowers around the property.




All the new strawberry plants are in their new home and we will be eager to harvest their fruit next season. The berries will produce more, and larger fruit the following year.








The gourds I planted on the outside of the fence, without adding any compost/manure to the soil have produced a couple of small gourds. Next season, I will plant some seed behind the strawberry plants and they should do better with all the goodness in the soil.
These are fun to watch develop and I look forward to having many more to play with, perhaps to make bird houses.




Here is a basket of goodness. A few veggies I am still finding to harvest. They may be small, but they are still tasty.

Autumn is here

Our days have been so warm that I fear I have a false sense of security. I must get out and pick the tomatoes and beans today, and start on tidying up the garden and prepping it for an early start in Spring.

The Scarlet Runner beans are still blooming and producing plenty of beans for our evening meals. I have left a few of the beans on the vines so I will have some for planting in the Spring.

There are about a dozen late bearing Blueberries still on the plant, but I will be enjoying those as I go about doing the garden chores today.

I haven't been able to eat the 'Sugarsun' cherry tomatoes as fast as they ripen, and that is also with giving bags of them to friends. This is one tomato I will be growing next year. The black Russian I will not bother with, as I found it to be tasteless and kind of mushy.

A Beefsteak which ended up on a sandwich. Oh! how I will miss my tasty tomato sandwiches
during the long winter months.
Our weather here on Whidbey Island is supposed to be nice until I think the weather man said Sunday, when it will be blustery with some showers, so I had better get outside and start on the cleanup.

What am I ?

I am a Toad lily, and have found a suitable place to put down roots in Keewee's Garden, where I am quite happy to grow, and show of my unusual blooms.

I am a Caterpillar, but what will I be when I grow up?

This big guy, probably around two inches long, was making his way across a path I was coming and going on, as I worked on my garden. It was his bright lime green color which caught my eye and stopped me from stepping on him. I have not seen a caterpillar like this before, so am asking you, my readers, if you know what species it is.

A new look for the front entrance

It was past time for the Astilbes to be taken from the urns and planted in the shade perennial bed. So on my way home from work I stopped by my favorite nursery.

I wandered around and around the nursery, trying to decide what to buy to replace the Astilbes. I finally settled on a Barnes Wood Fern, Dryoptaris filix- 'Barnesil' and a couple of pansies for one urn, and a Sedge, Carex morrowii 'Evergold' in the other. As with most of my planters, I buy perennials which will go out into the flower beds when it comes time to change out the flowers and plants in the pots.
I rather like the contrast between the green leaves with bright yellow bands of the sedge, and the soft frilly look of the ferns with the brightly colored pansies in front.

You know what they say

I have been talking about purchasing more ornamental grasses for a while now. The first I have purchased, is Japanese Blood Grass, Imperata cylindrica 'Red Baron'

When lit by the sun, the many shades of green and red, come alive with incredible intensity.
I have seen Japanese Blood Grass planted in a row in front of other taller ornamental grasses, and I must say it looks spectacular, and prompts me to do something similar in my garden.

Gardening Gone Wild is hosting September's
Picture This photo contest.
Nan Ondra, the judge this month, has chosen ornamental grasses as the subject.

The prize for this month, has been selected by David Salman at High Country Gardens He has chosen a collection of ornamental grasses. Who wouldn't like to win such a wonderful prize? I would, so I am entering my picture of the Japanese Blood Grass, for a chance of winning those lovely ornamental grasses.
You Gotta' Be In To Win!!

The last Hurrah!

The first day of autumn may begin on September 22nd, but some plants in my garden are saying "I think not"

Asters, Helianthus and a Salvia are still blooming and are making the bees happy.

I have Googled this Helianthus, and there are several species which look similar, but it really does not matter much to me which one it happens to be. If my memory serves me right, this Helianthus has been in this spot for three years and certainly is happy here, as it is now just over four feet tall and a mass of flowers.

Two lovely Asters draw bees to their vibrant colors.

I am very happy to have this volunteer Nicotania set up home in a pot with a young Hellebore. I have no idea where the seed came from, unless it has lain dormant in the pot, as I had a few of these plants in the garden a couple of years ago.
I am always pleasantly surprised to discover volunteer plants in my garden, unless of course they are weeds.

See what happens when you take a mini-vacation

It is amazing how things can change in the garden over a period of six days.

Ahh Haa, so I am going to have some Rubine Brussels sprouts this year. Look at the wee babies starting to form at the juncture of the leaves, I am pretty excited to see the heads as it is the very first time I have ever grown Brussels sprouts.

The gourds are not huge but they are rather cute, don't you think?

Many of he scarlet runner beans are past their prime and these will be saved for seed. The rest will be enjoyed for dinner tonight.

The baseball sized cabbage is firm, and will be a tasty treat for us in the next few days, and Our rabbit is going to like the outer leaves.

Wednesday Whimsy

Note: we arrived back from our mini vacation last night, and sometime today, I will cruise the gardens to see what has happened while I have been away. I am sure there will be a few surprises waiting for me.

Weird and wonderful

'Alien encounter '

'Bad Hair day '

'Spit and polished to a high shine '

' Curiouser and curiouser '

Signs of Autumn

The days are noticeably cooler, dusk comes earlier and the drifting leaves are starting to carpet the ground.

Autumn shades are coloring the hydrangea blooms

and the fern is looking sad and weary.
Soon many of our perennials will be resting, gaining strength to burst forth come Spring. I will also be resting, ordering seeds from catalogs, planning where to grow my new plants, and looking forward to warm spring weather.

Pretty in pink

We are going to be away from home for a few days, but I will be leaving some delights for you, so you won't forget me while I am away.

Wordless Wednesday

A mystery gift.

A few weeks ago, my sweetie and I were visiting a friend. Just as we were leaving, Mary gave me a hanging basket, containing three very small fuchsia plants. I never expected to have flowers this season, but am delighted to see two large blooms on one of the plants, and a smaller bloom on another.

Please open up and show me your pretty faces.

Out with the old ~ in with the new

There was a sickly begonia growing in the lower left corner, but Dr Keewee could not save it. This morning the begonia was pulled, and replaced with the colorful swiss chard.The plant in the lower right corner, is Lewisia 'little Plum'
I think the combination of different colors, size and shape of leaves makes a pleasing display.

Coleus 'Glennis'
I have not had much luck with coleus in my flower beds, but this one is thriving in the pot, probably due to the fact that it was in a more shaded area, and was watered more often.

Swiss chard 'neon brights'

In the center of the pot is a Ligularia I bought at a farmer's market plant sale.

Also sharing space in the pot, is Acanthus mollis.
I have taken to buying mostly perennials instead of annuals to plant in pots, then when they become too large, they are found a permanent home in the garden. This way I put most of my gardening budget into plants which will be around for a long time.

What is this

I thought perhaps it is a Hollyhock, but now I am unsure. Does anyone know what this dainty flower is?

---

Update: a photo of the leaves.

I should have given you a picture of the leaves in the first place Duh!
They are small, about an inch long, and the flower stem is a little over two feet tall.

Sky Watch Friday

When I took this photo and looked at it, the line about the corn being 'high as an elephant's eye' from the musical Oklahoma, popped into my mind.

For more pictures of the sky from all around the world, click HERE to take you to Skywatch Friday -season 4 episode 8

Strawberries 'n' icecream

I have 21 little pots nurturing the runners of the strawberry plants. This is the least expensive and oh so easy way, to replace the spent plants in the strawberry patch. i usually pull old plants every two or three years, depending on how they look and if they are still producing plenty of fruit.
Next season we will have more fruit for our strawberry and icecream desserts, but the following year will be even better.

What a pleasant surprise

I certainly didn't expect the Burgenia to flower again.

Wednesday Whimsy

There were so many bees on the dwarf Greek oregano, that I had to be careful, and not accidentally brush up against one. I have had the misfortune to annoy a bee on the herbs once before, and felt it's wrath when it took it out on my hand. ouch!!