Garden And Current Events

This is the first Daylily to open this season . And there are about three spikes on the plant .  It is planted on the other side of the house from the White Garden where the soil has not been improved very much . So , I am so happy it is looking this good . When I think of how hard I have worked to get my garden soil improved it makes me happy to get any blossoms . Oh , the memories of when I had wonderful garden soil where I lived .  Especially, many years ago at the home we built . The soil was so fertile and fabulous .  I certainly did not have to work very hard to have a lovely flourishing garden . As I have said in the past, most of my neighbors have had truck loads of soil brought in because the ground is hard clay with a lot of rocks . I was never able to get better soil other than what I could buy (2 or 3 cubic foot bags) occasionally - but I still have A Garden !  And , I don't have a sprinkler system - but I still have A Garden !

I have always enjoyed Daylilies, maybe because there is always a new beginning as each blossom emerges quickly in sequence day after day and then it's gone . Throughout the garden I have about 24 different species , everyone with it's very distinct personality ! Because of the poor soil they have never grown into nice large clumps of bursts of color . But , I don't think there ever has been a year that each and everyone of them has not bloomed even if it is just one spike . As they unfurl their petals I will take a photo so I can share everyone of them with you .

This is how so much of my garden soil looks like even though I spent a lot of time working on it .

However , these White Daylies are nice and large as they sit in the White Garden where the garden soil is so much better ! Look at all those buds .

This plant is NOT what I said it is a few weeks ago .  It is ENGLISH LAVENDER !  Yep , I goofed and thought I was as I was preparing my post .  The voice in my head kept saying Lavender but I also was remembering a nursery tag that I have had for eons in my disorganized plant tags. The more I compared google photos of  Bowle's Mauve Erysimum (Wallflower) and English Lavender I am convinced it is Lavender . Regardless of the name , this particular species of Lavender is truly enjoyed . Probably , because it always blooms year after year .

Funny how things happen !!! I was at Lowe's Home Improvement and Garden Center today (more about that later) and side by side sat an English Lavender and a Bowle's Erysimum . What are the chances of that happening ? Especially , since I was just commenting on the plant in my garden ! It was certainly easy to compare one to another , if I had any doubts !

This - - - - - - - - - - 

finally has become this .

In the past I had a nice small power rototiller . However, my daughter borrowed it long ago and that was the last of it !

Following a tremendous amount of work digging out roots and turning the soil , I have planted some tomatoes and squash .  I also planted some marigolds . Reportedly , they attract beneficial insects , such as ladybugs , hover flies and parasitic mini-wasps that prey on garden pests .  I hope there will be enough sun for my little veggies to grow . I am not sure if it will get six hours a day .

Can you see how nicely the shrubs on the outside of the fence are growing after being cut down to the ground in October 2018 ?  I miss my privacy !

As I commented above , I went to Lowe's this morning after my six month follow-up doctor's appointment at the Cancer Center .  The information from the doctor was wonderful and he was exceptionally pleasant !!! More on that next time .

And, some comments on this photo from our morning newspaper of the Stanislaus River in our rural county a few miles (about 20) from here . Point of interest is that I cross the Stanislaus River (as I did this morning) to shop and attend my doctor's appointments.  I am tired and it will be interesting to hear the story of how and why someone ventured that far out (to Yea Hoo Gulch) into the forest to make the statement . Years ago (over 20 years ago) when I was younger and more adventurous and curious about what was over the next hill and around the next corner I drove out to this location with a city friend who was visiting me .  The river and the surrounding area is very scenic and quite isolated .

Stanislaus River

Yea Hoo Gulch

Until next time , Stay Safe and Stay Well .

Mary

Repotting

I have been out in the garden for the past three hours even though I am in a lot of pain . If I had not been wearing my back brace , I would not have been able to do the watering and numerous tasks like picking up the cardboard from my painting project, removing spent flowers from the garden plants, preparing to do a little patch work painting where I am returning one of the hose reals to a better location , just to name a few of the tasks . Oh, I worked some more on the raised garden bed. l have been doing it for short periods of time whenever I work in the garden working on more routine activities . Call me an inchworm or a tortoise (take your pick), but, I will get the job done little by little . My ice pack is in place ! 

The outdoor activity was a good alternative and diversion to watching the TV (which I turned on this morning) and being reminded of the horrendous state of affairs we the people of the nation find ourselves living ! Having lived as long as I have,  certainly takes me back  to many times ( the list is too long to itemize) the world has been in a frightening super charged state of affairs . There is no question in my mind that current progressive technology including social media has highly influenced the awareness level of each and every one of us that we may not have had in the past . Don't get me wrong . Advancing technology is great . But, what a shame that social issues have never had the level of attention , financial support and intellectual contribution from the many great minds . Let us optimistically look forward to a time when the people of the world will live in more peaceful times and not a world that is totally destroyed by Hatred.  Just my two cents worth ! Wow , I didn't plan on giving you any thoughts on that .

Speaking again about my gardening - - -

Wishing you a good day and one filled with optimism for better times .

Mary

So Much - So Busy

And , feeling so much better ?  Don't know why but I'll take it. Still have pain but it is more tolerable for some reason . Stress certainly makes my pain more severe and I think I am feeling more calm and free flowing since some of my life stressors have calmed down .  Also, haven't taken much time to watch the Big Box in the living room that constantly shows us a crazy mixed up life that doesn't seem to improve much . Seems as if it is getting worse day by day .

I have been doing one project after another outside , gardening (which I am loving) and general maintenance (fixing leaky faucets and spray painting garden furniture) along with a little  of this and a little of that . The list is long !

Recently, a nearby neighbor posted a comment on our Nextdoor Website that she was selling organic starter plants for seasonal veggie gardens . So I took a little drive over to her curbside , protected with my face mask and purchased a few plants . It was a little bit of fun with like minded gardeners !

I brought home three tomato plants, one acorn squash and one zucchini plant .  They are growing fast and I had to pot them up so I can prepare my raised bed . The soil is good but filled with lots of roots that need to be removed . It is a very slow process for me . I have already removed a large barrel full of roots ! 

My little collection of plants is getting larger .  I wish I could find someone to shovel the raised bed for me . Most of you know that my ground soil is not really soil . it is rock and clay !

It has been a few years since I planted tomatoes in the raised beds and they did not do very well . Very possibly the tremendous amount of roots interfered with good growth and anticipated amount of  production .

I just thought of a photo from years ago when I still had my precious sweet Cavalier King Charles doggie and she loved cherry tomatoes . Look at this sweetheart climbing a support trellis to get her daily treat! 

Pretty good tomato production that year don't you think ? About eight years ago .

And, of course Ivy is sleeping next to me as I type this post . Yes, she sleeps a lot especially during the day . Night time is play time . Go figure - she is a Cat !

Now a few flower photos .

Lots of wonderful color .  See you soon .


ps. It was a Gopher Snake , not a Garter Snake !

Mary

An Uninvited Guest To My Garden

(google photo)

And, she is not welcome in the future . Females are bulkier and longer than males .  Yes , this is a Garter Snake and my quiet response to seeing her at my feet was "Oh, my God".  I had been watering my red planters and she was lying somewhat coiled between the two daylily plants .  She was not there a few moments before when I went to the garden to specifically water the planters.

I slowly moved away and walked to the other side of the house to get my camera .  By the time I returned she was on the sidewalk - at red symbol on upper right side of below photo .

Yes , she was very long and was slowly slithering (yes slithering) along the sidewalk and eventually left the sidewalk and took shelter under the nearby Azalea Plant .

I think this is the closest I have ever been to a snake and I am still feeling very unnerved by the experience !  I have seen snake skins occasionally but this has been a very different story !  I have been spending a lot of time in my garden even though my back has been very troublesome .  I take many many breaks along with the use of ice packs and that makes it possible even though I am never without pain .  Where there is a will there's a way even though modified ! It troubles me that I have spent a lot of time close to the ground and sometimes on my knees ! I hope the snakes don't want to bother me any more than I don't want them around me .  The warmth of the sun draped ground can attract them out from shelter .  They are not poisonous but they will bite if startled !  I am so thankful I did not step on it !!!

This post is far different than the pretty flowers that I planned to show you .  That will wait until next time .  The garden is very pretty and I think I have enjoyed it more than anytime in the past .  It is one of the many blessings that I am feeling during these challenging times .

Blessings to all of you .

Mary

A Little Walk In The Garden

Following a lovely rainfall last night .

It was just day before yesterday that I tied up the drooping White Peonies so the stems would not break and I am so glad I did because the rain would not have treated them well !

The Snapdragons and Columbine are a nice addition to the White Garden this year .

 These are some of my Herbs (Chives, Oregano, Tarragon, Rosemary and English Thyme) that are are flourishing .

This is a plant that I have had for years and it never disappoints . It must like it's location and soil/rock conditions and sun exposure.  The name is Bowle's Mauve Erysimum , also known as Wallflower . It seems to me that it blooms all summer long .

This sweet plant is new to my garden this year . At the end of last season I picked up a few plants ar Walmart that looked like they were about to be trashed and of course they didn't cost much !  It's name is Glory 0f Sunninghill Azalea and it has Orange Red flowers . It was very small and acts like it likes Me !

The side of my driveway has a nice size flowerbed that has never seemed to me to be planted properly .  But I think that has changed with these Rhaphiolepsis - Jack Evans that bloom with purple tinge and bright pink flowers . Since I bought these at two different times I think there are two different varieties , but I can't remember the name of the other one . However, they all look the same to me .

Also, at the end of last season I planted two six-pack of Purple Echinacea (Coneflower) plants among the Rhaphiolepsis .  I think that will be a nice complimentry plant and they are so easy to grow plus I think they are self seeding .

 The cement ducks came with me to this home 25 years ago .

And , here are a few more pretties .

Iceland Poppies - more of them another time .  I have always dearly loved these flowers , so delicate and fragile but also proud as they stand so erect .

Never can have too many petunias ?

It is 3 PM , Monday afternoon and it has started to rain very heavy again . We certainly need the rain and the garden loves it .

Thanks for visiting me in my garden, today .

Be Well .

Mary

I See A Lot Of White In The Garden

Tall , Stately , White Iris are Extraordinary this year . There are some Dusty Miller , White Daylilies , White Hollyhocks , White Foxglove, White Azalea , Guara , White Spirea , New Dawn  White Climber Rose and White Gladiolus keeping the Blue Bottle Tree company . And, soon there will be a lot more flowers in full bloom .

Wishing Good Health and Patience to All .

Mary