Hooked on Tulips

April 11th 2007 a friend and I drove up to LaConnor Washington to view the tulip fields. I was so taken with all the beauty, that when I arrived home, I immediately got on the internet, and ordered a few 160 bulbs for my gardens. ( I can't believe they have been in the ground all these years, where did the time go?)
These pictures are of some of the tulips in the front garden, the tulips planted in the garden around the carport are not in bloom yet, and I am excited to see that some of the double tulips I thought had died out are coming up.

Magier

Scarlet Pimpernel

Green Primrose

The plant tag said NEW! "rare and unusual" I knew I had to have Primula 'Francesca'

From label: This unique selection unusual ruffled or frilled flowers of lime green with a yellow eye. Unlike other varieties, the blooms remain attractive for many weeks or even months. Sure to be a conversation piece.

Here is a collage of just a few of the primroses in my collection.

As I wandered the herb and vegetable aisle at the garden center, I came across Elettaria Cardamom. The label said Ornamental and Culinary Uses.
I had been looking for a plant which grew tall and could stand some shade. As I read about the plant, on back of the label, I thought it may work for me.

From label: Tender perennial herb. Native to forest canopies of southern India: long, fragrant leaves. In sub-tropical conditions, loose flower panicles are followed by 3/4" fruit containing 14-20 edible seeds each. Grows 5-8 ' tall.

Yesterday, I was carrying a hummingbird feeder into the house to clean and fill it with fresh juice, when a Rufous hummingbird flew right up to me and proceeded to sip from the feeder I was holding in my hands. I was so startled I nearly dropped the feeder, but quickly got it together, and watched in awe as the little guy drank his fill. Where is someone with a camera when you need them?

Keewee the "Herb wrangler"

A couple of years ago, I decided to recycle an old styrene box used to house frozen salmon sent down from Alaska, as a temporary planter for some herbs. Little did I know how fast the herbs would burst out of the box.

Last year, Dwarf Greek Oregano, Rosemary, Mint and Chives fought for growing room in the box.

I thought, (foolishly) I would be able to remove some of the plants and find a new home for them. First of all I tried to move the container, but discovered the roots of the herbs had found their way through the drainage holes and had embedded themselves into the ground below. With a lot of huffing and puffing, I managed to push/pull the box onto its side.

Then came the task of removing the styrene, and with the help of a lawn edger, I manage to start prying the styrene from around the edges. It was still a difficult job, so I decided drastic measures were needed. Out came the bow saw, and I proceeded to cut plants, box and all into sections.

Huff, puff, grunt and groan, and with some effort, I had it cut into three sections.

Now I had to get the rest of the styrene from around the plants, so once again,using the lawn edger, and a few, under my breath cuss words, I wrangled these bulky somewhat heavy, sections around, until I managed to remove all the offending styrene.
Now what to do with the plants. I really could not see tossing them away, and by this time I was worn out, and did not want to struggle with them any more. I decided to plant them around the outside of the vegetable garden.

The vegetable garden is surrounded on the back side by about an 18 inch bank, which is covered in grass. " so what," I muttered to myself, "this is where the herbs will grow. If the wild rabbits eat them, so be it, if the grass over takes them, so be it. I am done fighting with these herbs and next time I plant some, they will each have a nice solid pot of their own"
I am sure. I am not the only one who talks to themselves in their garden, and I am not the only one, who had made work for themselves by planting something in an unsuitable container. We all live and learn.

Spring is overdone! Over blogged

What!!! you ask, who said that? I am confident you would never hear the words "Spring is overdone, or over blogged" by many gardeners.
Spring is a time of beauty and rebirth, a time when serious gardeners are all a tingle, vibrating with the urge to plant, create and drink in the beauty of the new growth in their gardens.

El Cid
We simply can't help ourselves when it comes to taking photos of our blooms to share with others. If you are like I am, I take oodles of photos looking for the perfect one to display on my blog. Thank goodness for digital cameras, I simply would not have the patience to wait while my photos were developed, then finding some are not up to par.

My "primrose garden" is just starting to wakeup from it's long winter nap. Give it another week before it shows it's full color.

This year the tulips are full and luscious as are the columbines, which were planted two years ago and are doing a grand job of filling in bare places between some of the other plants.

Under the bamboo tee pee I constructed last season, a huge Hosta will fill in, and I have not decided yet, if I will plant sweet peas or scarlet runner beans for their beautiful red flowers, to climb the tee pee. Perhaps both would be a nice combination, the sweet peas adding fragrance.

Well, we are taking a few days off for a little R&R so I will be back on Monday. You all have a wonderful weekend.

Mutter, mutter #%@* #^ Crows

In all fairness I shouldn't be upset at the crows, as I did plant a smorgasbord of peas without a covering of chicken wire or such like, to protect them until they started to sprout.

The crows left me three peas, so I guess I haven't much to complain about *grin* See, I do have a sense of humor. the rest of the row has some new seed sown and has a nice piece of wire over them. I suppose you will tell me that crows can get to my peas through the covering of wire. *chuckle*

This time, the newly planted peas are being protected by a piece of chicken wire.
I'll show those darn crows who is boss in my garden.

Coleus - I finally found the secret

Last fall I took three cuttings of Coleus Glennis hoping to have at least one take root. I really am tickled that at long last, I am successful at growing Coleus, as in previous years they have been a dismal failure. This time around, I had a very healthy plant to take cuttings from, as I found the perfect place for coleus to flourish, and that is on my front porch which gets just a little morning sun.

I am so delighted that all three took root, and have now been transplanted into this pot. As the plants grew I picked out the growing tip so they would bush out, and you can see, how lovely and full the three look.

Skunk cabbage

Such a pretty bloom to have a not so nice name.

The plant is called Skunk Cabbage because of the malodorous, distinctive "skunky" odor that it emits. This odor will permeate the area where the plant grows, and can be detected even in old, dried specimens. It may have been because it was a rainy day or the fact that I was up wind, that I did not detect a "skunky" odor from this plant.
The foul odor attracts its pollinators, scavenging flies and beetles. Other common names include Yellow Skunk Cabbage and Swamp Lantern.

Oh no! you can't be serious!

This is what I said to myself, when some elderly friends of mine said they were going to throw the Azalea in the trash.

Instead I said " really, but it is still looking so good" they then asked me if I would like it. " I sure would " I replied.
So here it is, all potted up in a nice new large pot, with the required amount of Azalea fertilizer added to the potting mix. It should now be a happy little plant.

Saturdays gardening

Once again my timing was right on. Yesterday was so warm outdoors, that I took advantage and planted more starts in the garden. As I was going about the business of planting, I noticed that the spinach, lettuce, yellow wax beans, and swiss chard seed planted 3/1/2010 and 3/4/2010 are up and doing well.
Today, Sunday, is cool, overcast with a good chance of rain in the forecast. I guess I will have to stay indoors and catch up on housework Sighhhh!

Swiss chard - bright lights and marigolds in front of the lettuce, which was planted last weekend.

Kale-Redbor, Chinese cabbage - "mei qing choi' and more marigolds.The marigolds I have dispersed throughout the three beds are, Bonanza yellow, Bonanza orange, and Bonanza bee. I am not sure if it has been proved, that the marigolds actually do keep destructive insects away, but I believe it won't hurt, and they do add color to the garden

Perfect timing

Last night we had a good soaking downpour, which watered the onions and leeks I planted yesterday.

These too are happy to get a drink.

The columbine is not complaining.

Neither are these tulips.

Learning all the time

In my exuberance to get started on planting vegetables, I had these few lettuce starts in the bed before I remembered that I was going to do a soil test before planting anything. I thought the vegetables I grew last year, could have done a whole lot better. Even though I had added a fair bit of compost and some veggie fertilizer to the new beds, I still thought there was possibly something missing.

This is a basic inexpensive soil test kit which works just fine, except this one had been sitting around the house for years, and did not work very well, so I purchased a new one so I would have accurate readings.
My analysis showed:
pH level (acidity/alkalinity) was very slightly acidic.
Phosphorus - a surplus
Potash - sufficient
Nitrogen - deficient
The kit has a very good insert which shows what kinds of fertilizers you can use and the amount per 100 square feet of garden. According to the information provided with the kit, I need to add Blood meal or Nitrate of soda to correct the nitrogen deficiency.I decided to save money and use the blood meal I already had on hand
I think I am getting this vegetable growing figured out at last.

As soon as I have amended the raised beds, the romaine lettuce, Borrettana Cipollini onions, and the Lancelot leeks can be planted.

Well off I go to get the blood meal worked into the beds, and perhaps get some of the onions, leeks and lettuce in the ground before it rains again.

A bounty of blooms

There are loads of gorgeous Camellia flowers this year.

"Little Red"

"Little Red" a Rufous hummingbird, has decided to stake out the feeder outside my kitchen window as his own.

He is a feisty little guy, showing off his brightly colored gorget (throat feathers) whenever another bird comes near.

"Little Red", was rather nervous that I was so close by, even though we had the window glass between us.

He did stay still long enough so I could snap a few pictures..

I hope to see this handsome little guy often, throughout the summer.

Saturday this 'n' that

I checked the sprinkler system for any broken parts or blockages, and found a couple of the sprinkler heads need to be replaced. Add these to my shopping list for tomorrow.

The tulips have opened up in todays warm sunshine.

Tossed a couple of last years cabbages to the rabbits who don't care that the cabbage is past it's prime.

So lovely to see the tulips on this first day of Spring.

I rather like this color combination

All the pot needs now is a trailing plant to hang over the side.
The plant with the red foliage is a purple Wood spurge, Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea', the one on the left, is Veronica 'Christy' and three little violas fill in the front.

I have placed the pot on top of a piece of granite in front of a bamboo, in a garden in front of our house. This year I plan on placing more pots in and around the flower gardens.

Out with the old, in with the new

A few weeks ago this pot was planted with an ornamental kale which had grown very tall and was going to seed. I have replaced the kale with a Heavenly Bamboo.

I love the bronze orange of the new leaves, and the blue green of the older leaves.

The variegated Moor grass, which was planted last fall, is just starting to make an appearance behind the little rock.

I have added a little interest to the pot by placing a couple of seashells, a small Oriental statue and a piece of coral on top of the pine needle mulch.

Memories of childhood nursery rhymes

Daffy-down-dilly

Daffy-down-dilly
Has come to town
With a yellow petticoat
And a pretty green gown.


Whenever I see the first daffodils of the season, this little nursery rhyme pops into my head.