The Hummingbird and the Bee

     I'm keeping the Hummingbird feeder full, as it's almost time for them to go.  I've had 3 or 4 of them all summer and they've been fun to watch, chasing each other under the awning and around my tomato plants.   I've also noticed that the bees will try to sting them when they come to the feeder.  So have a safe journey and I'll be watching for you next spring!

What's new in August

    This is an Armenian Cucumber.  I was surprised to see it hiding on the other side of the pot.  Hope it tastes good!

                                      Cleome is about 5 feet tall and beaten over by the rain.

                         An old stand by, Black-eyed Susans , in numerous places all over the yard.

                                                    Larger Tomatoes since early August.

                                                           Sweet 100's up against the deck.

                           And last but not least, Purple tall Phlox, a favorite of the Hummingbirds.

Plants That Just Appear!

    This Spiraea came to me from my neighbors yard.  I now have four large plants and am constantly weeding them out of my flower beds!  I also have one out front called 'Goldflame' that has yellow leaves that are bronze-red when young.  I cut these back to about 2 feet after they bloom and usually get more flowers on them.

    I'm thinking this is Evening Primrose.  I had this years ago and lost it, but I noticed a small amount last year and moved it to a better spot.  Maybe some seeds were left in the soil and took a while to sprout?

    The shrub on the right was probably given to me by the birds.  They eat the red berries and spread the seeds everywhere they go!  I can never remember the name of this shrub, but we always called them 'Pricker Bush' when I was a kid.  They can tear your arms up when you're trying to clean around them.  I'm sure I've forgotten other plants that had wandered in, but these are some of the ones I've enjoyed for free.

Cucumbers and Tomatoes

    Started a bucket of cucumbers this year.  I never seem to have any luck when I plant them in the ground.  I have quite a few cucumbers on the vine, with a lot more flowers coming.  This may be the way to go, no critters climbing the 2 foot pot to get at them.  I haven't seen any cucumber beetles either.

    Tomatoes are about six feet high already.  No large tomatoes yet, but it was August last year before I got my first one.

    I do have cherry tomatoes though.  I grew them from seed, Burpee Sweet 100's, and they are tough and small.  Nothing like the Sweet 100's I used to grow.  I'm hoping they'll get better as the season goes on, maybe a new variety next year?

    Dill is taking over.  I just love picking fresh herbs right out my back door!  We've been eating alot of basil too.  Yesterday I picked my first green beans and we ate them for supper.  Great tasting!

Peonies and Baptisia

    The Peonies look great this year, although the flowers are smaller.  The white ones in the background are a little larger than the pink.  I love the smell, as they remind me of a neighbor who grew them as big as my head, when I was a child.  The Baptisia is also smaller this year.  It was a long winter.  After they finish blooming, they will have dark grey seed pods that can be dried for decoration.

    My Pink Iris have multiplied this year.  I thought I was going to lose them a few years ago, but they've finally come back.

What's Flowering in Early June

It's June first and a look at what's flowering.  This Rhododendron is waiting for a haircut.  It has gotten so large that it really needs to be cut back and I'm just waiting for it to finish flowering.  I have cut back the Holly and Euonymus that grow along the fence.  Everything growing here has gotten too large and chocked out all the perennials in between them.                       

 



This is my Holly that was over 4 ft. tall.  Every leaf had died from a late frost.  I've cut it back in hopes that it will send out more leaves.  I don't know how long I can look at it, and there is a nice Alberta Spruce around the corner just waiting to take it's place! 

 



    Well, back to small pictures.  No matter how many times you complain about this site, they never seem to listen.  This is my tiered vegetable garden.  We are already eatting loose leaf lettuce, cilantro, and chives.  I've planted Better Boy Tomatoes and Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes.  I've also got some Basil and carrots in there.

             Some Rhubarb is waiting for some recipes that don't involve pies or squares.

          



                                    

                               

                                        

                 I've cut my Golden Japanese Forest Grass into 4 plants to line the walkway up the stairs.   This has been a slow grower, but well worth the wait.      

              

                                    

 

                   Thanks,  Amy , for this clematis.  It's nice to have sisters that share their plants!

 

 

            The Poppies are flowering right under the Hummingbird feeder.  I put the feeder out the last week in April and I saw them there within a day or so.  I'm also watching a nest of Robins in the Holly bush against the fence.  They have been attacking any one that comes too close.  They actually know what birds will attack the babies and chase them away.  The Morning Doves are allowed right next to the baby bird that fell out of the nest, but the chipmunk was dive bombed and pecked!  I didn't see him there again.



Getting Ready!

 

 

    These miniature Daffodils are about 5 inches high.  The first thing to bloom in my yard this year.  My larger ones don't even have buds yet. 



 

    The end of my compost bin.  I'll probably get another 8 wheel barrels full.  This will make for a great vegetable garden in my tiers off the deck.  It really will be the end of my compost as it is falling apart and will be torn out when empty.  I guess I'll do some direct composting this fall instead.  After adding the compost, I planted some lettuce and dill seeds.  My tomatoes are in the house just waiting to get out here!

Hummingbird Moth

 

        This is a short video of a Hummingbird Moth in my back yard last year.  These moths feed on nectar from alot of different flowers.  They grow to be no bigger then two inches long.  The hair on their body looks like feathers and their wings are usually clear.  They seem to enjoy my Bee Balm.

The First Day of Spring?

 

 

    Is it really the first day of spring?  You could have fooled me!  A little warmer to-day, but still snow on the ground.  Will this winter ever end???

 

          I did notice an Iris or two popping up through the snow.  There is still a three foot pile of snow by my front door.  And even better news!  Back to the 20's next week!

 

        Seeds have been planted indoors a week or so ago.  Rosemary has survived coming in for the winter and can't wait to be back outside.  It actually flowered for most of the winter.  I have never seem it flower outside.

          Seedlings started popping up this week.  Better Boy and Sweet 100 Tomatoes, Dill, Purple and Green Basil, Cilantro, and Peppers.  I also started my Dahlia tubers and they were up within a few days.

                                                                                       
          My geraniums were planted up from the garage and are already going to flower.

 



          And this is my Meyer Lemon that I said anyone could grow.  Last week the leaves started turning yellow and fell off.  I think it was too close to the door and it burnt.  It had about 50 flower buds on it, but most have fallen off.  I think it hates the winter almost as much as I do!  Lets hope it's almost over.

Christmas Lights

 

 

    This is the time of the year that I turn over my gardens to my husband for his display of Christmas Lights.

 

 

    He usually starts putting up lights in mid November.  This year he took a few days off from work to get a head start.  The lights go on around December 1st.

 

    The larger trees out front are strung with dozens of light sets.  There is a 15 foot Arborvitae that stands to the left of the front door, that is lit from top to bottom.
 





 

 

     He does a truly amazing job!  And when the grandchildren see it, it's worth all the hard work.