| Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 12:34 am: |   
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June 4, 2004
Wow, did I do a lot of work outside today.
We have slowly been putting brick around the beds. We have one bed left to do and the two parkway beds around the trees. Those are getting the larger, grey bricks and today I finally got sick of how terribly overgrown with grass they were. I cut the beds out a little larger and then had to yank all the overgrown grass by hand. It was a ton of work but tomorrow Cj can finally start installing the brick. I think it will look really good.
I also got my shipment of perennials from Bluestone. I had ordered a second shipment because the sale prices were too good to pass up. I soaked those for awhile and then planted them in their bed, too. Plus, I did my annual containers today as well. I'll have to take pictures of those when they settle a bit. |
| Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 02:07 am: |
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June 6, 2004
Dammit, lost an entire entry I just typed out. Bah humbug.
Ok, let's see.
It's been very dry here now, only a sprinkle here and there. I don't know if the redbud is going to make it, it looks pretty bad. There has been no new leaves on in it since it was planted. It just isn't looking well. I guess we will leave it in for a season and see how it goes. I would really like it to make it, but who knows. This is a picture of it from today:
This is from the day we planted it:
It was planted on May 12th, so this is almost a month later and no new growth at all. However, it is in the ground more solidly, so maybe it's just working on roots and is totally shocked.
So, for the good news :)
My ajuga is already blooming. I planted this stuff about the same time I planted the tree. Hardy stuff.
Ernest Markham is starting to open buds, too. This is a new clem that went into the ground in April:
The Cheddar Pinks are blooming like mad:
Something has been eating the new clems I just planted. General Sikorski and Rollo Kolla have been hard pruned :P RK has new growth coming from the roots, though, so hopefully next year there will be some show. The other clems are growing well, except for Huldine, which is showing no growth. People have said she's slow, tho, but to watch out in a few years.
Rubromarginata is MUCH happier where is it now. It is in a very well draining spot and has put on some new growth. I am pleased. Very pleased.
I did my annual planters:
They need to grow in a bit. Give it a few weeks.
I also planted some flossflower (ageratum) in the container in the back that has the stargazers in it and also some vinca vine. It helped to make the container look a lot prettier.
Finally finished the obelisk, too. Gipsy Queen will climb it:
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| Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 12:48 am: |
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June 9, 2004
I scraped off some bark on the redbud and the tree is still green, so...who knows. I hope it is growing roots or something *sigh*
Went to the nursery today and got some more stuff. I got a Lamb's Ear for the kids. I am going to put it in the front of the butterfly garden, I know just the spot. That way, the kids can "pet" it whenever they want :) Love those things.
I also picked up three 'Autumn Joy' Sedum for in front of the lilacs next to the garage (I need to extend the bed a little there) and some Houttuynia 'Chameleon' for the mailbox bed. The stuff is supposed to LOVE wet areas and spread like mad. I'll put two in the mailbox garden area and see what it does. I also think I will put another one next to the patio in the back and see how it does there, too. There's plenty of space.
My Elsa Spath bloomed today! First bloom on this plant which was a 4" pot when I planted it a few weeks ago. It has grown like crazy. The color in RL was a deep, velvety purple, very luscious. It didn't come through in the pics, but it is still pretty.
My Jackmanii is covered with buds and some have started to open. Tomorrow I should have one very opened one and soon more to follow. This is its "leap" year, so I can't wait to see the show it puts on for me :)
Cj moved the drain for the sump pump today. It was draining directly into the sugar maple bed and the sugar maple is basically drowning :( The leaves have all turned yellow and are dying. I told him last night we needed to move the drain and he got all pissy about it, but he knew I was right. So today he moved it. I wasn't around when he did the work so I am not sure exactly what he did, but I am hoping the tree will recover now. It is such a pretty tree and it's shame to see it not thriving. |
| Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 02:31 am: |
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June 9, 2004 (continued)
Ok, I went outside and checked what Cj did and basically he connected the sump drain to one of those plastic things that roll out and the water sprays from them and waters the lawn. The water will flow downhill towards the maple but won't flood it anymore. I certainly hope this helps as that tree is seriously hurting. |
| Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 01:38 pm: |
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June 11, 2004
So I finally got the lilac bed enlarged and planted the sedum and coreopsis. I also rescued the catmint from the bog known as the mailbox garden and planted it in the newly enlarged bed as well. It should be much happier there. In its place, I planted a couple of stray clumps of Stella d'oro daylilies. Those should atleast tolerate the conditions.
Here is the newly enlarged lilac bed:
The sedums are 3 clumps of 'Autumn Joy' and one clumpo of 'Starburst', which is a white variety. I also put in two coreopsis 'Creme Brulee' and you can also see the catmints. |
| Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 12:57 am: |
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June 12, 2004
Mulch. 5 yards. This is what it looks like:
All of it is now spread over the beds. It was incredibly humid today, too. Ugh. Not a fun day to be spreading mulch. I need to get out there again tomorrow and even it out on a few beds. Cj was just dumping the last bunch of it and ended up burying some of my newly planted perennials, which I temporarily dug out before we went out tonight, but tomorrow I need to spread the mulch out a little more evenly.
I am pleased with this mulch. We got brown hardwood and it was nice stuff. Smelled wonderful, not icky like some do. The price was decent, too: $23/yard and free delivery because we ordered 4 or more yards. The guy's name is Paul Rousseau and his number is 847/533-2611 and 847/875-4336 (noting here mainly for my own future reference). The delivery was prompt and they were surely not chintzy with the amount. It was a solid 5 yards.
So the yard is looking really good. Except for the maple and redbud trees. I think I will call the nursery tomorrow about the redbud to see if there is anything they can do for me. The thing looks like shit and has been planted for a month now. No new growth or anything. |
| Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 03:06 am: |
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June 13, 2004
Well, Multi-Blue finally has buds. Not as many as Jackmanii does but I would say probably 10 or so, which is a good showing for a plant in its "creep" year.
Sunset finally has a bud. Because it is growing so entwined with Bees' I had thought that it had buds earlier in the season, but they were all Bees'. Now I can tell the difference in the foliage as well. Bees' has broader leaves while Sunset's a more narrow and pointy, a lot like Multi-Blue's.
I think Ville De Lyon is starting to get a bud here and there, as well. I can't wait to see that clematis bloom.
Comtesse is again getting too much water and wilting. Grrrr. I have her on the porch but with all the rain we've been having she hasn't been able to dry out. I am ready to just give up and buy an older, established one.
The Cheddar Pinks are still blooming. In about a week I will deadhead all of them and hope for another flush of flowers this summer. The foliage is looking ratty, too, and I hope shearing them will help.
There is a guy from the nursery coming out this week to check on the redbud they planted for us last month. It just isn't looking good. We'll see what he says. |
| Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 01:42 pm: |
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June 14, 2004
More rain today. Ugh. The ground can't take any more rain at this point. |
| Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 02:26 am: |
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June 14, 2004
The day cleared up and was actually rather pleasant. I spent some time cleaning up a bit. Deadheaded the salvia in the hopes that it will start blooming again. I don't remember it blooming this early last summer, but I do remember deadheading it and didn't get quite the same bloom again. I guess we'll see how it goes this year.
Jack is blooming his little head off. Jackmanii flowers do not last very long when cut off the vine and brought inside. Bummer.
I deadheaded the Don Juan today as well. It is covered with buds. I love that rosebush, but it dies down to the ground every season here :( Not good when I want it to climb.
The other roses I moved earlier have been dreadfully neglected by me. They are in sad shape, but actually have one or two buds. They will probably survive and come back fine next year.
I need to start stocking up on Japanese Beetle traps. Soon those nasties will be out and attacking my plants. Ugh, do I hate them. I am going to do the bucket of soapy water thing this year and just knock them off the plants. I just don't see any alternative unless I feel like poisoning everything out there.
I noticed that the Stargazer lilies are starting to get buds :) I am hoping that they will be in bloom for the birthday party on July 4th. Wouldn't that be cool? :) Hopefully some of my other clematis will be in bloom as well. Madame Julia has some buds...one in particular should be open by tomorrow or the next day. I can't wait to see it, it will be this itty bitty teeny weeny little flower. So darling. She is one vigorous plant. I do so love the viticellas.
Oh, speaking of! I noticed that Huldine is *finally* starting to show some new leaf growth. About damn time. Of course, she probably spent the past month or so growing roots, so I can't complain. Next year I hope to see some nice growth there. |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 04:18 am: |
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June 22, 2004
Grrr.
The rabbit has taken my Harlow Carr down to the ground. I am SO pissed because that was one really pretty plant that had a number of buds on it. He is also constantly eating my General Sikorski. Bleh. I wonder if I leave some seed out for him if he will leave the clematis alone. I guess I shouldn't complain too much because those two clematis are the only ones (knock on wood) that he's eaten so far. I did also notice that he is starting to eat my coreopsis "creme brulee" in the front of the house, too. That is really annoying me as well.
I haven't been doing much outside in the garden lately...just haven't really felt like it for some reason. I have been out there pulling weeds here and there (if I don't, they take over) but I haven't planted anything new or moved anything. Tomorrow, though, I need to cage those clematis I think. Or get cayanne pepper. Or something. |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 03:25 am: |
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June 29, 2004
Been really lazy about adding to this lately. Mainly because I haven't been doing much in the garden except pulling the occasional weed.
Everything is looking great. Jackmanii is blooming his head off and in full glory and there are buds on Etoile Violette and I can see some starting on Piilu. Also, Ville de Lyon has buds and I got a perfect bloom on Sunset last week. Just one, but it was gorgeous. Can't wait to see that one when it hits its leap year.
I have a bunch of buds on my Stargazers. I don't think they will be open in time for the party on Sunday, but there's nothing I can do about that.
Something (bunny?) has been eating the tops off my new coreopsis. I have one plant blooming, the rest have been eaten down. Very annoying. I tried sprinkling chili pepper on the plants but it didn't really seem to help. I guess eventually there will be enough to go around, but in the meantime, it's very annoying.
My MultiBlue clematis are starting to bloom. I'll get pics tomorrow. |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 02:57 pm: |
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June 30, 2004
I noticed that the Betty Corning I planted last month as an itty bitty plant actually has a bud! One itty bitty bud, but hey, I didn't expect to see anything on that vine this year. |
| Posted on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 03:38 am: |
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July 1, 2004
**Happy 2nd Birthday, Gage!**
My mom bought me a Rosemoor clematis today. A very nice gallon sized plant from Geimer Greenhouse. They had a bunch of clems I never see around here and it's late in the season...makes me wonder what they started out with. I'll have to make sure and visit earlier next season :) It has a bunch of buds on it and they had some that were already blooming, but I liked this one more. I planted it against the back fence where I can see it from the back door. I also moved Harlow Carr from between the lilacs and planted him with Rosemoor. I am hoping that the open area will keep the bunny away. HC is actually starting to recover from his bunny incident and I would like that to continue.
Speaking of bunnies...
There is a totally adorable baby bunny in the yard. Yes, yes, I know adorable baby bunnies turn into annoying adult reproductive machines, but ohmygawdishecute! :) I tried catching him today because I wanted to release him in the woods away from my house but no luck. I did actually touch him, but he was under the rosebush and I couldn't get him. Oh well.
As of today, these are blooming:
Etoile Violette
Jackmanii
Hagley Hybrid
Madame Julia Correvon (almost done, only had a few blooms)
Sunset (one bloom so far)
Nelly Moser
Elsa Spath
Multi-Blue (new wood blooms)
Buds:
Ville de Lyon (lots)
Sunset (one)
Ramona (second flush this season, only a couple so far)
Blue Boy
Venosa Violacea (the one on the fence)
Gypsy Queen
Rouge Cardinal
Piilu
Either Violet Charm or Dr. Ruppel (can't tell yet and they are totally entwined, so I have no clue which is budding...I *think* VC, though)
Betty Corning!! She has one tiny little bud :)
Arabella
The President got chomped on by the bunny. Still has a couple of leaves but probably won't in the morning :/ Fortunately, the roots seem to keep growing and hopefully it will come back stronger next year. Same with General Sikorski. The bunny loves that one, too. |
| Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 05:20 pm: |
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July 6, 2004
The invasion of Japanese Beetles started this past weekend. I saw my very first one on Friday, the 2nd, and now they are starting to really show up. I have spent the past couple of days with my 'Bucket O'Death' and have been handpicking them off the plants. I get perverse satisfaction from doing it, too. 
So far, they are swarming the Cutleaf Buckthorn (as usual), the dogwoods and the viburnums. I have found a few on the Rose of Sharons, some on the purple leaf plum (tho they are harder to see on that shrub) and I find a lot of them on the river birches as well. I know it will only get worse from here, but at least I feel like I am doing *something* about it.
Rosemoor is blooming. That is one gorgeous clematis. A pretty deep red and so velvety looking. I saw a bud on Petit Faucon today, too. All the late season clems have buds, really. It's nice to see.
The 'Creme Brulee' coreopsis are blooming (the ones the bunny didn't eat, anyway) and it is a really pretty flower. A winner, as long it comes back next year. I noticed that the Rosea coreopsis has started to bloom now and so has the 'Sweet Dreams'. |
