My pansies are happy where I planted them. Even the deadheaded blossoms that I toss into the birdbath appear pleased.
Posts Tagged ‘gardening’
Challenge Creates a Beautiful Reveal
April 11, 2016
Rain was expected through Friday evening, and since I didn’t have the proper material I placed a patio furniture cover over my peony plant. There were over a dozen buds and three blossoms. Too much downpour can cause developing buds to wilt and die, which happened last year.
Peonies are my favorite flower. Waiting and watching the tiny buds mature into stunning saucer-size ruffles is like anticipating a beautiful flower delivery. But keeping my peony under cover too long was a concern. Plants need light and sun, and circulation.
Saturday, it rained all day and into the night. I stood on the front porch and listened to droplets settle on black plastic, concrete, and surrounding plant life. It was a welcome sound in California where the drought is grim. Everything was wet. Water ran from the downspouts. Cottontails, robins, blue jays and doves were tucked out of sight like my peony.
I decided I would uncover the plant on Sunday, even if it was raining. In the morning, I looked outside into the early faint light. The earth was soaked, but the sky had stopped crying.
Gently, I lifted the black plastic and squealed for Iron Man, who was nearby, to come quickly.
Many of the buds had bloomed beneath the warm cozy cover. Layers of bright white ruffles looked up at us unharmed.
It was one of those moments when you’re a young girl again and the doorbell rings. You answer and no one’s there, but below is a beautiful bouquet of flowers addressed to you. Just for you.
The Fever Has Begun
April 1, 2016If you haven’t had the urge yet to mosey through your local nurseries, the fever should hit you any day now. Where I live, frost is still a possibility so I am looking only at color spots. Here are five beauties that stood out above the other blooms at OSH and Green Acres.
Above and below
Ranunculus: tubers or perennials; all zones; full sun;
1.5 feet tall
Nemesia: perennials and annuals; zones vary by species;
full sun
Gerbera Daisies: annual and perennial; zones 10-11;
6-12 inches tall; full sun; part shade in hottest areas
Dahlia Hypnotica Orange: tuberous-rooted perennials;
all zones; full-part sun; 15-19 inches tall
All of the above are suitable for growing in containers.
Do you have a favorite?
Garden Pop Ups
July 27, 2015Pop Up #1: Remember the Cosmos seedlings that I planted and they did not survive? Well, surprise! The dead annuals kindly sprinkled seeds before I took their little bodies away. I have Cosmos popping up near and far from where the seedlings were planted. This confirms my theory. Cosmos grows better from seed. Here are the first blooms. I am eager for more of these whimsical flowers to explode.
Pop Up #2: Wow! I did not plant Lysimachia ‘Goldii’ in this location. It must have been the garden fairies who sprinkled seeds from where it is growing. The fairies knew what they were doing. ‘Goldii’ is thriving in this location and I am pleased with the appearance and how it filled in a bare area. 
Pop Up #3: This little guy or gal pops up to say hello to anyone approaching our front door. His voice is a little croaky and deep, but he or she is friendly just the same.
Shrimp in the Garden: what’s that about?
July 17, 2015Nell Foster, gardener extraordinaire, has done it again. This time she shares her spectacular shrimp plant in full bloom. I have to admit this is the first time I have heard of shrimp plant. Since it grows in my zone 9 (8b – 11) this beauty is certainly going on my must-have plant list. I am going to bookmark Nell’s article and her video how I prune my Shrimp Plants.
Photo courtesy of joyusgarden.com
Last Trip
May 22, 2015Do you recall when I took a trip to Dragonfly Peony Farm last year? This month, I returned to purchase my last peony from owner Julia Moore who is closing the farm due to health issues.
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Julia opened the farm earlier, so the blooms were fewer than last year . . .
. . . and it rained the evening before.
_
But Julia always has a photo by each variety section so customers can view the shape and color. I purchased Do Tell.
_
A few weeks later mine bloomed. The color looks different than the peony photo posted at the farm.
Still, it’s a beauty.
I wish you the best, Julia. Thank you for the peonies, tips, and hugs.
Capturing Summer and Autumn Blooms #5
November 4, 2014
Tis the season for mums. This potted beauty (sorry, I don’t know the variety) sits in my back patio where I can see the bright sunny hue from inside the house. For tips on growing and caring for mums watch Jerry & Autumn Horrocks’ video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Ysv5Y6tYo.
It’s not a yellow submarine
August 11, 2014. . . or a little yellow village. Nope, it’s yellow mushrooms in my flowerpot. And it’s not a good thing!
Contaminated mushroom spores are distributed during the soil packaging process and on employee clothes from farm to factory. The good news is that this type of mushroom, Houseplant Mushroom, feeds on dead organic material and won’t hurt healthy plants.
The bad news? These pretty little mushrooms are harmful to humans and pets if ingested. So remove them right away, during the small growth stage before they open and shed hundreds of spores. Of course, I didn’t do this because I was curious and I wanted photos to share. That’s the price of a crazy garden blogger.
Scientific name of the Houseplant Mushroom is Leucocoprinus bimbaumii (originally Lepiota lutea).
It is 6:00 a.m., Saturday morning
June 7, 2014
I am ready to exit the home office, push my fingers into a pair of garden gloves instead of tapping them on the keyboard where I have spent most of my week. It will feel GOOD to be with nature, to spruce up the plants that need deadheading, and clear the garden floor of leaves.
At some point, I plan to pull out a 15-year-old lavender plant. It is four feet tall and three feet wide, mostly woody. Plants don’t last forever, and I have to admit 15 years ago I did not know how to properly care for lavender. If lavender plants are not trimmed correctly from year one, cutting later, into the ugly woody branches to get rid of them can kill the plant. Having learned too late, I let mine grow and grow and grow.
I won’t be looking for a replacement plant this weekend, but I’ll search the nurseries soon for something less troublesome. For now, I’m going to enjoy my time in the garden—before the triple digits.
Guess What Today Is!
May 30, 2014May 30th is Water a Flower Day, an annual reminder that summer heat is fast approaching and our beautiful flowers (and plants and trees) will be thirstier than normal. They’ll love you even more if you mulch the flowerbeds and use moisture control potting soil to retain water and reduce watering.
Have a wonderful weekend!
In and Around the Garden 