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Spring 2011
Another day with no work done outside. High of 52 with cold wind.
Cheryl S. wrote: "Another day with no work done outside. High of 52 with cold wind."I didn't get outside either. High of 61 and rain off and on. Was a nice break for my knees!
Ordered the In the Garden boxed set by Nora Roberts for fun about plants. Never have read any Nora Roberts.Probably the only one in the world.
Planted tons of roses for a customer. Tried to stay away from the darling killdeer who was very upset with me.
Elizabeth wrote: "Ordered the In the Garden boxed set by Nora Roberts for fun about plants. Never have read any Nora Roberts.Probably the only one in the world.
Planted tons of roses for a customer. Tried to stay..."
No...you're not the only one. I haven't read any Nora Roberts either. Hope you enjoy them all!
Trilliums in full bloom. Oh wonderful spring
The workers at the Farmers' Market this morning were dressed in boots, gloves and parkas with good reason. Thought I was going to freeze in the time it took to purchase a couple of tomato plants. New kind for me called Concho--supposed to be large meaty and good for BLTs etc, but 80 days until maturity--long time to wait especially when we have frost expected Mon and Tues nights of this coming week. Won't be putting anything in the ground for a while yet.
Elizabeth and Terri, those are the only Nora Roberts books I ever read because I happened upon them a number of years ago while looking for gardening fiction at the library. I loved them so I tried some more of hers and never liked another one of hers since! (And never finished the few others I tried).
Thanks so much Jo. It is raining buckets and was going to hit the nurseries,, Need two honeysuckle Gold Flame Vines ( need fast growers). The customer's Wisteria broke down her archway after several years.But too awful to be out.
Planted half my deck pots yesterday so of course it is pouring.
My Knock Outs did not survive and I mulched them but my David Austins' did. Abraham Darby my favorite looks great. .
Looks like my only loss from this winter is one Butterfly Bush (unfortunately my favorite one). Possibly the parsley too but we'll see. 2 of my Knockouts (Rosa Radcon) that were damaged by the heavy snows, snow drifts and ice have come back so nicely! (Such a relief). I've got a couple of azalea's left to re-pot and the 2 clematis and then aside from some drect seed sowing, I'm done!
Cool, but wall to wall SUN all day with gusty winds. Worked outside for a long time, got lots of things cleaned up. Now we're supposed to have a frost tonight. There's a reason why our Last Frost Date is May 15th.Looks like I did lose one of my Pinkie Winkie hydrangeas--darn it!! I have three and the other two are all leafed out, but I'm still going to wait a bit before I do anything drastic.
Anyone tried origerum(sp) "Kent Beauty" ? Gorgeous but must remember not to over water which I do.
Robins, bluebirds, cardinals all singing for me today while I worked outside. Flowering crabs in full bloom and also some tulips, forget-me-nots, bleeding hearts, foam flowers and plumeria. We have had 5 days of dry sunny weather in a row and the plants are certainly taking notice. It finally looks like spring around here. Supposed to rain the next 2 days which is okay as I need a break to go to the greenhouses to get some plants and supplies.
Yes it does Cheryl! Elizabeth, I'd never heard of Kent Beauty. I looked it up on line and it looks beautiful! Is it a full sun plant?
yes and likes it dry. I try very hard not to overwater, My biggest problem with my pots is too much love..
Elizabeth wrote: "yes and likes it dry. I try very hard not to overwater, My biggest problem with my pots is too much love.."I have the opposite problem. In Iowa we get lots of rain, and the soil is so rich no need to fertilize, so I forget the poor things in pots when I get busy with work or household projects!
Once spring finally arrives in these parts it is spectacular. Everywhere I went today there were flowering crabs in bloom and they looked great even in the rain. My big old lilac right outside my window also started to bloom today so there's lots of perfume in the air.
Cheryl: I hope your taking lots of pictures! Spring seems to come and go so fast around here.
Terri wrote: "Cheryl: I hope your taking lots of pictures! Spring seems to come and go so fast around here."I'll be taking some soon. I have an album I've kept for a few years of some of the really pretty stuff.
4 nice days in a row and working for my customers like mad and then coming home and working like mad. I cannot get my snow peas to germinate. Going to try one more time. I do believe some little creature is having a full tummy.
My Korean lilac is in bloom, and from twenty feet away you can smell it! Heavenly.
Wish spring would get here to the Rocky Mountains in CO. Its very slow this year. Hubby told me that people are still skiing!
Lady Alice wrote: "Wish spring would get here to the Rocky Mountains in CO. Its very slow this year. Hubby told me that people are still skiing!"My son, in Boulder, bragged about the warm sunny weather earlier this spring. Then last week it got cool and rainy. He was not a happy camper.
Now that we are finally having some warmer weather disaster has struck. Tornadoes in North Minneapolis and several other suburbs (about 50 miles from here) today with tragic results---1 killed and at least 18 injured. Reports are still coming in as there are so many power outages etc. Shelters have been set up in armories and other public buildings as so many homes had their windows blown out, tree damage or more severe destruction. It's a miracle there wasn't more loss of life as these storms hit is such highly populated areas and business districts. The oddity is it didn't even make it to 70 degrees today, although it was very humid, we didn't see the sun until after the storms were over. Usually these storms come in our area after a very hot humid day and hit between 4 and 7PM. This outbreak started at 2:15 in the aftn. Very strange and heartbreaking.
I am glad to hear you are okay Cheryl. When I heard there was a tornado near Minneapolis, I started worrying! What a terrible year for weather!
Miriam wrote: "I am glad to hear you are okay Cheryl. When I heard there was a tornado near Minneapolis, I started worrying! What a terrible year for weather!"Thanks for thinking of me--all we had here was garden variety thunder storms, but I do have a friend in No. Mpls, but heard from him on FaceBook so I know he's okay.
Miriam wrote: "Lady Alice wrote: "Wish spring would get here to the Rocky Mountains in CO. Its very slow this year. Hubby told me that people are still skiing!"
My son, in Boulder, bragged about the warm su..."
It did get up to 78 for two days which was sure a surprise but then immediately reverted back to snow. Is he able to grow roses in Boulder? We are having thunder here below Pike's Peak right now.
My son, in Boulder, bragged about the warm su..."
It did get up to 78 for two days which was sure a surprise but then immediately reverted back to snow. Is he able to grow roses in Boulder? We are having thunder here below Pike's Peak right now.
Miriam wrote: "My sister in Boulder grows roses."
I see very lovely ones when ever we are down in Colorado Springs. I wish we had moved down there instead of up so high but 20/20 hind sight. The cherry trees were so lovely there this year also.
I see very lovely ones when ever we are down in Colorado Springs. I wish we had moved down there instead of up so high but 20/20 hind sight. The cherry trees were so lovely there this year also.
No matter where we live there are challenges to gardening. Have you tried growing minature roses indoors? They do very well.
Miriam wrote: "No matter where we live there are challenges to gardening. Have you tried growing minature roses indoors? They do very well."
You know I have tried that but so far mine have died after a year. I am so glad you have good luck as you make me want to try again. How long do yours go dormant in winter?
You know I have tried that but so far mine have died after a year. I am so glad you have good luck as you make me want to try again. How long do yours go dormant in winter?
Miriam wrote: "Lady Alice wrote: "Wish spring would get here to the Rocky Mountains in CO. Its very slow this year. Hubby told me that people are still skiing!"My son, in Boulder, bragged about the warm su..."
I have just returned to CO from two weeks in Sunny Southern California, only it was not! Expected it to be warm and froze all but three days. Also thought I would miss spring in Western CO, it usually turns hot so fast, but it is still cool here too. Definitely not what we are used to!
The weather has just been weird all over this year.Go dormant? It stopped blooming, but didn't go dormant. It died when I planted it outside. The dog peed on it and it overfertilized it.
I'll have to catch up soon! So much blooming here plus I've added 2 new roses (or did I mention that already?! lol) - the gardens are well under way!!!
Miriam--your posts often give me a chuckle. Thanks for making me laugh.
Terri wrote: "Miriam--your posts often give me a chuckle. Thanks for making me laugh."You are welcome!
It's summer here--hit 101. ERK! So not ready. I canned 3 more jars of tomatoes. I should have asked you ladies and gents about how many tomatoes fit in a pint. I'm now figuring it is 10 or thereabouts--I almost didn't have enough for the 3 jars!Of course with it hitting 100...I'll only be getting the Juliets most likely. A few more that have already set, but nothing likes this heat. We had it last year. Darn. Next year I'll have to plant more romas and plan on canning earlier. I've heard the variety I have will make it in the heat, but so far the only kind I've found that really does live is Juliets.
The cucumbers are coming in nicely. That part of the garden gets earlier shade (not on purpose, but if I expand next year, I'm expanding into shade!)
Maria
Maria wrote: "It's summer here--hit 101. ERK! So not ready.
I believe my sister told me its already been 100 in San Antonio so she wants to come back here. I am COLD at the moment in Colorado. Have my heat on!!! BRR....
I believe my sister told me its already been 100 in San Antonio so she wants to come back here. I am COLD at the moment in Colorado. Have my heat on!!! BRR....
Today I planted Zinnias with the 1st graders dressed in long sleeved T shirt, hooded sweatshirt with hood up and a lined jacket on. This is our so called spring in Minnesota, temps in the 50s. The wind was howling and the poor seedlings were getting whipped every which way.Tomorrow it's off to the greenhouse to get the rest of the stuff I need for my pots. Hope to get most things planted over the long week-end including my garden, although the neighbor hasn't tilled it yet.
We're hitting mid 70's and into the 80's as of yesterday and looks as though our weather has turned a corner though it was just in the 50s day before yesterday. 60's at night. Very soupy humid yesterday which was quite uncomfortable. Today it was warm but not humid and much more pleasant! Tomorrow clouds and humidity return as does our chances for storms. As a birthday present to myself last week, I bought a pink 'Queen Elizabeth' Grandiflora rose and an orange 'Easy Does It' Floribunda rose - both are Stunning and smell Heavenly! If I'm repeating myself here, I apologize!
Unfortunately the 2 'Rosa Radrazz' Knockouts I put on the front porch (2 replace the 2 hydrangea) look as though they got scorched today despite being labeled "full sun." The one I have in the back yard didn't suffer the same (gets early morning sun, then shade until mid afternoon, then sun for 1-2 hours depending on the time of year before returning to shade again). So, looks like I'll be moving those 2 to the back yard tomorrow. (The new pink and orange roses are on the front porch and are fine).
During the warm months, we have full sun out front from roughly 11am until just about sunset. It can get to more than 113* on the front porch at the height of the day.
Very frustrating. I've re-done the front porch containers twice now since the beginning of April. All because my oldest, largest Butterfly Bushes died. They thrived on the front porch for 5 years. (My other Butterfly Bushes are on the side of the porch, too small to give any privacy to the porch as the other 2 did).
Sigh. Maybe I'll luck into a couple/few large Butterfly Bushes at the beginning of June. Doubtful - every year what the nurseries get in is smaller & smaller and not doing as well overall.
Until then, it's back to the drawing board!
I wonder why the nursery's are getting smaller butterfly bushes every year? I haven't noticed that here in California. But, we get ours in in the fall because they need to be planted then in order to have roots deep enough to sustain them in the hot summer.I also haven't heard of scorched roses. Do you mean the actual flowers? or the leaves? At my MIL's house she has an old Abraham Lincoln (red) and the Queen Elizabeth you mentioned (beautiful shade of pink isn't it?) and they get full sun pretty much all day except in the early morning. I've never seen them scorched--although the flowers don't last very long in the heat. In the summer here, you might as well go ahead and chop them off for a nice bouquet in the house. They just wilt in that heat. But the bushes themselves thrive and send out continuous blooms, replenishing the vases. :)
The only time I've had trouble here with roses is if they don't get ENOUGH sun--then they get thin stemmed, (leggy) and tend to not hold their flowers upright. They also get prone to aphids. I moved one of my bushes to the front yard where it gets full sun now and it's going crazy with blooms. The aphids have disappeared. I guess it just wasn't happy with only four hours of sun.
I get aphids out front in the full sun as well as in the back yard so it doesn't seem to make a difference here. For a switch I've been battling them out front already and haven't seen a one out back yet.The petals were scorched on the Knockouts out front, not the other new roses - that same Knockout out back didn't get scorched. My other 2 pink Knockouts (Rosa Radcon) and my 'Mardi Gras' floribunda are out back (which get the sun I decsribed in my prev comment) and while they take a little longer to get blooming in the spring, once they start, there's no stopping them until the first hard frost. It's been wonderful some years making Thanksgiving dinner and looking out to see roses in bloom!
There are so many new hybrids of everything in the nurseries nowadays, it's difficult to find the old standby's. Dwarf and low growing/ground cover Budelia (spelling seems off) are becoming popular and while equally beautiful, serve a different purpose in landscape.
Perhaps I'll just put an outdoor folding screen on the porch for privacy and get a climber to attach to it. Sigh. I don't know.
Sheers? I like my front porch not being private, and being so close to the sidewalk. Here in my small town, people actually chat as they walk by, like everyone used to do pre-TV. Take an evening stroll and touch base with neighbors. Although if I allow it to get messy, then I wish it was more private!
A drape would work on the side of the porch but that's not where I need some privacy, it's the front of the porch itself so when I'm sitting on the chair, tenants don't feel as though I'm out there watching their every move (which I'm not anyhow but they think I am). I'd have to afix a rod to hang anything like that and I know our boss/management wouldn't approve of it. I plan on hanging a bamboo roll up shade to offer some sun relief but that will be hidden up inside the porch roof when not unrolled so that won't be a problem. I've done some re-arranging already but thinking of getting a couple of decorative trellis's or a large decorative trellis to put there for privacy and get a Clematis or 2 that can grow all over them/it.
Clematis are great, but probably will take a few years to get to be good privacy. I just looked out of my upstairs window, and noticed my blue-purple clematis is in full bloom and looks incredible! First time, and it has been in the ground four or five years now.
That's why I'd get decorative trellis's :-) They'll provide interest and privacy while the Clematis matures in the mean time. I could do just a piece of lattice but that's so blah.I'd love to see a pic of your clematis Miriam! Sounds beautiful. Mine are just starting to bloom again. Deep dark purple - stunning! (I'll have to check the album I upload my BlackBerry photo's to and see if there's a pic in there and post the link or I'll post one to my goodreads).
Jo wrote: "That's why I'd get decorative trellis's :-) They'll provide interest and privacy while the Clematis matures in the mean time. I could do just a piece of lattice but that's so blah.I'd love to se..."
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/4...
So happy you are finally getting to enjoy some spring! And doubly happy the Knockout may survive!