Pictures on the 4th

A first for me, Sunflowers.  My son-in-law grows great sunflowers so I thought I would try them.  

       This dalia is about 3 ft. high this year.  Grown from my saved tubers, they seem to be bigger every year.

Most of my Bee Balm disappeared or came up much smaller.  I was glad I had put some extra next to the house ( as I can't seem to throw away perfectly good plants ).  I guess they didn't like being buried all winter.  I know I didn't!

                                     I think this is Japanese painted fern with a new coleus.

                             It's funny how my camera turns these dark purple petunias to blue.

I'm very protective of this one apple this year.  It's about 3 inches in diameter and I'm hoping nothing gets it.
   

Last, but not least, beautiful lilies.  These flowers are all on one stem.  They fell over so I tied them to the trellis.  Happy 4th of July!

An Aging Cherry Tree

    This cherry tree is probably 18 to 20 years old.  I can't remember what year I planted it, but we've been here over 21 years now.  It's called North star, a tart cooking cherry. This spring brought the most cherries I've ever seen.  I don't know if it was the fertilizer or the longest and coldest winter in years, but the birds and I had plenty.

                

    I picked small amounts all week as they ripened.  Very tiring to pit because they are such a small cherry.  I continued to pit and freeze till I had enough to do something with.

    

    The best cherry preserves I've tasted in a long time.  I wanted to eat it by the spoonful, but I jarred it instead.  I made a plain one and one that I added jalapenos to.  I still don't think it's hot enough, but will try again next year.                                                                                                           

My Vegetable Garden in June

   The vegetables are in and growing quickly.  Mesclun lettuce is up and being eaten already.  Swiss chard is up, but still small.  I've never grown it before, so don't know what to expect.

   I've built a rack on the left for my cucumbers, and put watermelon plants under it with jalapeno peppers in front of them.  Less weeding when you crowd everything.  In the middle is a bean pole for my pole beans, if the bunny stays away from my bean plants.  Trying a little homemade fencing to keep him away.

   A new addition to the yard.  I hope it works cause I really miss my compost I used to have in the spring.  More Mesclun lettuce under it.

   Chives are flowering and taste great in potato salad.  Being buried in snow all winter didn't seem to hurt them.

   These are my cucumber plants that I grew from seed.  I also planted more seeds last week end.  I have a great pickle recipe that I want to try.

The Start of a New Season

    After a terribly cold and long winter, I'm ready to go again!  It's the first week in May and the weather is finally warming up.  All of the plants I started indoors have been brought out on the deck to slowly get used to being outdoors.  Hoping not to "sunburn" them as I have in the past.  I started dahlias from tubers, and geraniums and coleus from cuttings. I have basil, cilantro, parsley, and dill started from seed.  My rosemary did well over wintering in the house and was blooming for most of the winter. Riley, my grandson, helped me start watermelon, sunflowers, pumpkins, acorn squash, zucchini, and summer squash.  I'm trying a new yellow cherry tomato and of course my better boy tomatoes.  I also have some cucumber plants that are about 8 inches long, and a few armenian cucumbers too.  Earlier this week I planted mesclun lettuce and swiss chard in my raised bed.  Here's hoping everything makes it!

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.