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.

 

        



 

 

Meyer Lemon

 

 

My Meyer Lemon from Logees in Danielson, Conn.  I bought this plant this spring.  It had a few small lemons on it which have since grown large enough to use.  I'm trying to decide what to make.  Maybe a Lemon Meringue Pie?!

 

 

    They recommend keeping it in an 8 inch pot.  I need to use a clay pot to keep it on the dry side.  There is nothing like the fragrance of the flowers in winter to keep you going till you can get back outside again.  I noticed that there was almost always a clump of flowers flowering all spring and their smell filled the room!  I put the plant outside for the summer, but I saw little new growth and most of the small lemons just fell off because of the heat.  Looks like this plant will not be going out next year.



September Blooms

    Not much left flowering in the garden at this time of the year.  The dahlias look great!  Will pull the tubers before the first hard frost.

    The sedum Autumn Joy is so large it is falling over.  I have two large clumps of this, which need to be divided next year.

 

  

 

    I get so tired of trying to write this blog when nothing seems to work as it should!  This is my second attempt at it and as you can see, it won't let me enlarge my pictures now.  This is a chrysanthemumI bought this year.  Hopefully it's hardy, but not likely.

 

   

    The last of the tall Phlox.  This bloomed for alot longer than it normally does.  Maybe it enjoyed all that disgusting heat, I sure didn't! 

 

 

    The last of the tomatoes.  They were great tasting this year.  I think I will skip the Beefsteak tomatoes next year and just plant Betterboy's.  First time in years that I grew them from seed.

 

    More trouble with this blog, but maybe it will turn out alright when I finish!  If I finish!  This was our summer project that we did inside as the heat was too much to work outside.  This project was our toughest yet, but with the help of u tube you can learn anything!!