This morning we had thick frost on my neighbors roof and the very top of my studio roof, but I didn't think there was any frost lower down...until I walked the yards and found that the metal bird baths had frozen! I was certainly surprised to find that and no damage to my more tender plants. I expected to see a black tomato bush and had even harvested the last of the green tomatoes yesterday, but the bush/vine is still fine today. But we are so close to that first killer frost.
I am going to spray my kumquat with Cloud Cover this afternoon...I think it is in a pretty protected space, but it is my only citrus that is outside so I want to make doubly sure it is safe.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Crepe Myrtle in Autumn
In Lake County we don't often get such vivid fall colors but this year with the delay in the first major freeze, we are getting more showy colors on trees other than the Black Oaks. The Blue oaks are turning more golden this year before the leaves fall, the valley oaks are beautiful as well, but nothing can compare to this crepe myrtle in the new yard. I am so glad it is in the giant bush form. The only competition it has is the wild grapevine near by which is also quite beautiful.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Dinner Plate Dahlia
The first killing frost is just around the corner and in the meantime, the giant dahlias are just gorgeous. They are full of ants but I still am cutting them and bringing them in or putting them out on the deck. They are just wonderful to see at this time of year.
While I was in the garden a short while ago, on a very very windy afternoon, I saw down in a protected space and watched the bushtits and hummingbirds visit the Pineapple sage, the Hollyhocks and the Joseph's Coat rose...beautiful in spite of the icy wind.
I was going to plant my lettuces and swiss chard this afternoon when the winds die down, but just noticed that one of my oldest cats has an abcess in her mouth. Instead of working in the yard, I will be taking Samson to the Vet and probably having her put to sleep. She doesn't weigh more than a feather and I don't think she would withstand any invasive procedures. She is about 16 years old if not older.
While I was in the garden a short while ago, on a very very windy afternoon, I saw down in a protected space and watched the bushtits and hummingbirds visit the Pineapple sage, the Hollyhocks and the Joseph's Coat rose...beautiful in spite of the icy wind.
I was going to plant my lettuces and swiss chard this afternoon when the winds die down, but just noticed that one of my oldest cats has an abcess in her mouth. Instead of working in the yard, I will be taking Samson to the Vet and probably having her put to sleep. She doesn't weigh more than a feather and I don't think she would withstand any invasive procedures. She is about 16 years old if not older.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Still Life: Dahlias with Ants
view profile
Rexfree_99 Pro User says:
Wanted to bring in some fall flowers, and cut some dahlias...got into the house and realized that they and me were crawling with ants. I plunged them into my favorite floating bowl that I picked up in Japan, and rushed them outside for an outdoor arrangement.
Living and gardening by the creek does have some drawbacks. The ants are just everywhere.
Rexfree_99 Pro User says:
Wanted to bring in some fall flowers, and cut some dahlias...got into the house and realized that they and me were crawling with ants. I plunged them into my favorite floating bowl that I picked up in Japan, and rushed them outside for an outdoor arrangement.
Living and gardening by the creek does have some drawbacks. The ants are just everywhere.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Turkey looking for a spot to roost
In the spring, we had a fairly large flock of turkeys, but by mid-summer, we were down to two, and now we have only one. Hopefully this one will be able to join up with another flock. It is roosting very near the oaks over the house, but I haven't spotted the place yet.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Common Buckeye on bolting parsley
Yesterday this accomodating butterfly just sat and posed and posed and posed. He is pretty tattered and had nearby competition from a huge preying mantis, but he won my shot of the day in the garden award. I just made that up. I have been very lax here, but the garden has totally gotten away from me.
To harvest tiny tomatoes and fiery peppers, I had to blindly reaching into huge walls of morning glories and feel around. Even finding my radicchio was a real challenge the other day. And good luck with the cukes...they are so intertwined with the dwarf fig that I have trouble spotting them, but at least they are up off the ground.
I know I should get out the morning glories especially before they go to seed again, but it is so hard as they are so beautiful, climbing and twining their way up the sunflowers and everything else in sight. Perhaps tomorrow morning I will try to photograph them with all the other competing plants. A real jungle.
To harvest tiny tomatoes and fiery peppers, I had to blindly reaching into huge walls of morning glories and feel around. Even finding my radicchio was a real challenge the other day. And good luck with the cukes...they are so intertwined with the dwarf fig that I have trouble spotting them, but at least they are up off the ground.
I know I should get out the morning glories especially before they go to seed again, but it is so hard as they are so beautiful, climbing and twining their way up the sunflowers and everything else in sight. Perhaps tomorrow morning I will try to photograph them with all the other competing plants. A real jungle.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Blooming Sanseveria
Usually at this time of summer, my houseplants are in need of some cleaning, trimming and general refreshment, but this plant suddenly decided to put on a show.
I have never seen a bloom on these good old standby houseplants which are usually tucked into dark spaces and are good for scrubbing air! This one is by a slider on the east side of the sun room so maybe that is why it decided to bloom like this. First tall tall spikes shot up, and then these very delicate flowers opened. It really is quite striking and rivals the nearby hoyas which are also blooming right now.
This one worries me a bit...makes me think of century plants whose bloom signals an end to the plant. We will see.
Other surprises in the garden...with the recent cool weather, the lawn in the new yard has been rejuvenated although I have had to water it. I am so conflicted about keeping a lawn, but the dogs just love it so, and it is so soothing on the eye on hot sunny days.
The acorns are starting to fall, joining all the ones split open by the squirrels...they are good sized and very noisy as they hit my metal roof. Some leaf clusters are dropping too, and that process will accelerate as we get into autumn...I expect that they will all be down before I leave for Panama at the end of November.
All the roses in both yards that rebloom are doing their thing, and the ice bergs in particular are very welcome in the evenings. The morning glories are glorious every morning...they have swamped the vegetable garden which wasn't doing much anyway. Weird weather this year...all the questions at the fair were about why people weren't getting their squash or tomatoes as in previous years. My stock answers were the cooler than usual night, and the higher than usual humidity in places near the water.
Two things gardener's can't control so maybe that helped them feel better.
I have never seen a bloom on these good old standby houseplants which are usually tucked into dark spaces and are good for scrubbing air! This one is by a slider on the east side of the sun room so maybe that is why it decided to bloom like this. First tall tall spikes shot up, and then these very delicate flowers opened. It really is quite striking and rivals the nearby hoyas which are also blooming right now.
This one worries me a bit...makes me think of century plants whose bloom signals an end to the plant. We will see.
Other surprises in the garden...with the recent cool weather, the lawn in the new yard has been rejuvenated although I have had to water it. I am so conflicted about keeping a lawn, but the dogs just love it so, and it is so soothing on the eye on hot sunny days.
The acorns are starting to fall, joining all the ones split open by the squirrels...they are good sized and very noisy as they hit my metal roof. Some leaf clusters are dropping too, and that process will accelerate as we get into autumn...I expect that they will all be down before I leave for Panama at the end of November.
All the roses in both yards that rebloom are doing their thing, and the ice bergs in particular are very welcome in the evenings. The morning glories are glorious every morning...they have swamped the vegetable garden which wasn't doing much anyway. Weird weather this year...all the questions at the fair were about why people weren't getting their squash or tomatoes as in previous years. My stock answers were the cooler than usual night, and the higher than usual humidity in places near the water.
Two things gardener's can't control so maybe that helped them feel better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
