| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 10:42 pm: |   
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Monday was a really nice day. Randy and I got out and about running errands. We picked up a new coffee pot since the Black and Decker (about a year old) went kaput. This time its a Mr. Coffee. Very sleek and nifty features. We will see if its disposable too! $42.95 at Wal-Mart. Makes really good coffee and has a little water filter that comes with it. We also got a small little rake weeding thingy with a long handle. Will be good for the back of the bed. I'm sure theres a name for it, just not sure what.
We also went to Target to return Randy's sleep pants..got him a larger size, poor fella didn't want to admit he needed the Large instead of Medium, but trying them on convinced him  . Got some easter candy and some Double Click Cosmos seeds. I couldn't believe it when I saw them. But of course they were outrageously priced. $2.50 for a tiny few...oh well not a large splurge, just relatively speaking much more expensive than my swapped seeds. I hope I get a few to come up. They are so pretty and look more like carnations than cosmos.
Fred Meyer was also on the shopping list and boy..do I need to stay away from there (or go back real soon hehe). They are always putting out new plants and tempting me. They had a big truck load of fuschia and trailing geranium plugs. (DeGoede Bulb farms http://www.degoedebulb.com/ )So had to get a few of those for hanging baskets and filling in some of my pots. The varieties are Fuschia 'Ruffles' pink with a purple ruffly center. Fuschia 'Golden Anniversary' white with a purple full center. I all of the Fuschia I found one upright variety Fuschia "Genii". When I got home to look it up I found that it is extremely hardy, so I planted it in the ground near the dining room window. The foliage has a nice golden tone hence the name. The are bright pink with purple centers, but not ruffly like the 'Ruffles. Trailing geraniums I got three of each, Freestyle cherry rose which I put in a hanging basket with the 'Ruffles' and Freestyle Light Lavender II. I put it in the same pot as the shrub rose. I also go red and bright pink geraniums to put in the ground in the front. I don't have the varieties in front of me. Other purchases (I told you I have to stay away) Nemesia (pink and yellow in same pot), petunias ( I went out on a limb) Easy Wave Red and Wave pink and got a Red Cardinal clematis for the other trellis. ( I actually traded places with the Jackmanii because I thought the red be overkill next to the bee balm.) Randy got some tall stakes for the raspberries and peas. I also got a Sunset magazine because they had a pretty container combination on the cover. There might be more and I just can't remember. I am waiting on the delphinium like they had last year.
I finished the weeding and demossing of the garden. I looks nice and fresh and fertile now :-). I planted more seeds and have more sprouts to report.
Sprouted first:
12. Delphinium dark blue
19. Lobelia Crystal Palace
53. Marigold 'Whopper'
58. Morning Glory 'Flying Saucer'
89. Zinnia 'Peppermint Stick'
67. Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun'
72. Red Vine from Multicare
73. Pink Wave Petunia
79. Marigold White
88. Mystery Zinna
Now for the planted:
90. Marlene's Blue Angels (finally!)
91. Portulaca
92. Mexican Flame Vine
93. Marigold 'Sparky'
94. Sunflower 'Teddy Bear'
In the peat pellet flat:
1a-f Morning Glory 'Flying Saucer'
2a-f Zinna 'Candy Stripe'
3a-f Mini Zini Mix
4a-f Cherry Bomb cherry peppers
5a-f Cilantro (1999)
6a-f Spicy Globe Basil (2003)
7a-f Sweet Basil
8a-f Straight Eight Cucumber
9a-f Birdhouse Gourd
10a-f Sweet Burpless Cucumber
11a-f Single Italian parsely
12a-f Buttercrunch lettuce
I also planted in the vegetable garden Red Sails Lettuce and Rainbow Swiss Chard. I put some Teddy Bear sunflowers in the ground near Weezer.
This is turning into a book...I think I am enjoying this putting my thoughts into words thing! Went to the surgeon today and will have GB surgery either April 6th or sometime the following week. Will depend on the schedule. She was impressed by my LFTs...not good! She was very nice, asked a lot of questions and explained the procedure and risks very thoroughly. Corinna was shocked I could get into surgery so fast as there is apparently usually quite a wait in Canada to get onto the schedule. Speaking of Canada Randy's stuff from the RCMP came and now we have to send it off to the Visa Center. Baby steps....
Rainy today but not too cool. |
| Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 12:24 am: |
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Its been a few days since I posted, but not intentionally. I had a long post written up on Sunday, but the silly computer went dead right before I hit submit. I was so disgusted I gave up. We went to see the Mariners yesterday, so didn't have time to do much else. It was a fun time although we didn't win. Cloudy and chilly, but loved the atmosphere. Score was 5-4 so not a run away. I am watching the game on TV right now and we are ahead 6-3, so maybe good things are on our way :-). Jigs stayed home by himself all day and we let him have the run of the family room/kitchen. We were pleasantly surprised to find no accidents and nothing torn up. He had knocked the TV tray down that was blocking the hallway, so probably went upstairs too. I think he also went out the doggy door. Not sure if he peed or not out there. Anyways he was soooooooo excited for us to get home, but he was a big boy while we were away. We found him laying in his bed so he was napping before we came home.
It was a cool/rainy weekend...nice today though. Typical. Suppose to be nice tomorrow too! The seeds are loving it. Some that hadn't sprouted popped up today, plus a few more that I haven't listed yet:
56. Petunia Horizon Coral Halo
57. Euphorbia Summer Icicle
61. Yarrow 'Cerise Queen'
89. Nasturiums (finally today!)
93. Marigold 'Sparky'
94. Sunflower 'Teddy Bear' yeahhh!
In the first flat looks like some of these have germinated:
1. Morning Glory 'Flying Saucer'
2. Zinnia 'Candy Stripe' looks like I am actually going to have succes this time with these...yeahhhhh!
4. Cherry Pepper 'Cherry Bomb'
8. Straight 8 Cucumber
10. Sweet Burpless Cucumber
12. Buttercrunch Lettuce
I planted the final seeds on Monday in another Jiffy flat
13a-f Tomato Brandywine
14a-f Tithonia orange
15a-f Tomato Watermelon Beefsteak
16a-f Genovese Basil
17a-f Yarrow 'Summer Wine"
18a-f Viola 'Tiger Eyes'
19a-f Datura Lafleur lilac
20a-f Viola Tricolor
21a-f Ipomea purpurea Kniolas Black Knight
22a-f Cosmos Double Click (I see Michelle has some too!)
23a-f Moonflower
24a-f Coral Vine (the last of the seeds-crossing fingers)
Everything is really sprouting out now. Can't deny that spring is here. Here are the signs:
The hosta leaves are nearly open, the tulip buds too.
 Pulmonaria is all still going strong. I have one very low growing variety that hasn't started yet blooming yet, but its on the verge. Looking forward to seeing their color. I can't believe how many different colors I have ended up with.
 Lamiums are starting to bloom and the lamiastrum will bloom for the first time.
 Wanda primulas are still going strong.
 I can see the Forget-me-Nots getting close to blooming and the Veronica..can't think of the type right now is on the verge.
 The false solomen's seal is up now.
 I seem to have lost my lily of the valleys, unless its not time yet for them to appear?
 The Japanese Painted ferns fronds are up and the potentilla anserina is popping up everywhere.
 I can see flower buds on all of the azaleas too.
 The Red Flowering currant is covered with flower buds about to open.
 The little baby muscari is blooming. They are sooooo cute.
 The tiarella is about to bloom.
I got a new plant from Walmart on Sunday. 'Apricot Twist' Wallflower. It was on half-price and as Randy said I rescued it. I read up on it and it says it will continue to bloom for a long while, so not sure why it was on sale except it looked a little ragged but has perked right up since in the ground. I put it and the nemesia at the point of the new bed...I am filling it in slowly but surely. I also transplanted some limnanthes there and rearranged the daylily (not sure of color) to fit in with those other two plants. I think I might have to replace the hydrangea. Jigs bless his heart mistook it for a dead stick..... I have placed a pot with the bottom cut out over it, but I think its a goner. I hope to get a couple at the trades or maybe buy one if I find a deal sooner. I just want a big beautiful blue mophead there. However..I am lusting over a lacecap called Blue Billow. I am pretty sure thats the variety of one I saw in the yard down Yakima.
I have quite a few trades set up for the May swaps. Its all getting confusing, but trying to keep up. Someone has promised me a blue Corydalis..I am excited about that one. Can't resist the blues.
My gallbladder surgery has been scheduled for April 11th. The 6th would have been at Allenmore and I prefer to be at Tacoma General for convenience sake. Alice is hooking me up with all the right people in the OR. I am not nervous about anything else but the anesthesia. Hopefully things will go smoothly and I have minimal pain. I will be off work for a week..would like to get some yard time in during that time hehehe. But that might be wishful thinking.
Well better close this book before the computer closes it for me. Its been so touchy lately. Randy has had trouble with his too. Its a contagious disease apparently!
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| Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 01:55 am: |
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I am loving the luck I'm having with the seeds this year. I just hope I can raise all these babies!! More sprouts:
8. Columbine William Guiness
9. Columbine Nora Barlow
22. Delphinium Pacific Giant
52. Petunia Dolce Flambe
54. Statice Rainbow Mixed Colors
55. Salpiglossis Painted Tongue Kew Blue
60. Datura Mauve
91. Portulaca
I have wayyyy fewer that haven't sprouted than have. Here are the laggers:
Super Aster Blue, Yellow Marguerite, Cardoon, Chocolate Cosmos, Hollyhock Double white, salmon and Chaters Double Pink, Impatiens Tom Thumb, 4 O'Clocks, Pink Aster from work, Marlene's Blue Angels and Mexican Flame Vine(last two planted later) Only 11 out of 94!!!!!! That is EXCELLENT. (For me anyways :-))
My Mom and Dad called tonight. They will be coming this weekend probably (no later than Sunday)and my Mom has plans to stay the whole week. She thinks I am gonna be in bad shape til then. Hopefully not. But who knows. It will be nice to have her here though. Its so nice that they can fly out whenever they want or need to. Nice having a pilot for a brother too hehehe.
I found out today that the cafeteria ladies will be having their plant sale again on Friday. If I had some seedlings big enough I'd donate some, but instead I will just buy lots!! |
| Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 10:08 pm: |
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We had moments of nice weather today, so I took some pictures of the yard.
Things are really starting to happen and more to come. Lots more blooming this year than last..thanks to all the plants I added over the year (and this spring!). Momma and I went to Wal-Mart and to make copies for the HOA. I got Easter stuff since I doubt I'll be going anywhere much this coming week. Plus a couple of shirts and a light jacket. We also stopped by another little shop and we both got shoe shoes. Momma bought them for me plus a pair of gold earrings to replace the one I lost. We all went out to eat at the Mexican restaurant down the road for supper. Jigs was so happy for us to get back home he even greeted my Mom. He has been very wary of her until now..acting very spooky. The little goof.
I potted up the rest of the Double Dandy sunflowers. I think by next weekend there will be a lot more to pot up. I don't know where I'm going to put them all.
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| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 07:26 pm: |
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Well nearly one week post-op (time flies when your having fun!) and I am coming right along. Just kind of a catch in my side now which is getting better everyday. My parents left yesterday after Easter dinner at Alice's. It was fun with the kids there. It was also nice having my mom here for the surgery and afterwards. We didn't get to do much while they were here, but especially with my mom that was ok. The weather wasn't that great. We did drive over to Van Lierop Bulb Farm Saturday and that was neat. That was the day I really starting taking a turn for the better. Today I took pain pills in the morning but nothing so far. The pain stays pretty steady and not too bad, so I think maybe I could just be taking ibuprofen. I go see the doctor tomorrow. I will see if I can just work half days for the rest of the week, then start back full time the following week.
The garden is really moving now with new things blooming and many on the verge. Blooming or on the verge:
Tiarellas
Saxifrages
Pulmonaria still going
False solomon's seal just about to bloom
Lamium of all colors blooming
Omphaloides, Starry Eyes and another plain blue
Wallflowers
Nemesia (purchased)
Forget-me-Nots just starting, blue earlier
Lamiastrum
Pansies starting again slugs getting busy on them
Muscari-darker purple in back, Valerie Finnis light blue in front
Tulips are mostly open now except for the shorter purple ones. I seem to have lost some.
Daffodils still blooming and more coming that must have been planted later
Bluebells starting
Red flowering currant
Catmint
Amenone Nemerosa (yeahh..I thought it was gone!)
Bleeding heart
Geranium Macrorrhizum (flowerbuds showing now)
Vinca (still going strong)
Sweet Alyssum (beginning)
Veronica Gentanoides (almost)
Ajuga
Azalea (on the verge)
Mini purple rhody
Zonal geraniums (purchased)
Ranunuculus (purchase)
Carnation (purchased)
Bellis perennis (purchased and old)
Primroses (purchased and Wanda)
Anemones (purchased)
Perennial Candy Tuft
Rockcress, pink and white
Johnny-jump-ups
Not blooming but leaves up/on:
Astilbe
Peonies
Lily of the Valley
Coreopsis
Bee Balm
Volunteer SweetPea
Alexander Lysmachia
Hostas
Japanese Painted Ferns
Alstromeria Theresa gave me
Hydrangea
Lilac
Red Twig Dogwood from Jim (variegated leaves?)
Bluebeard (just coming now)
Wiegelia (just coming now)
Rose leaves are growing strong now
In the past week I have received as gifts:
White easter Lily (from me I guess hehe)
Yellow Mini Rose from Alice
Dark Mauve calla lily from Sharon
Bright Lights Oriental Lily from Momma and Daddy
Pink Azalea -lower growing (from Randy)
All will go in the ground when I am up to it.
Gardenbuddy Tammi sent me some Candy Stripe Zinnia and Teddy Bear Sunflowers!!! What a sweetie. I will try to get those planted tomorrow. We put weed/seed and cranefly stuff on the grass today, so we are keeping Jigs out of the backyard for the time being. Better if I stay either in or in the front too because he cries to go out if I am out there.
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| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 07:35 pm: |
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Wonderful Suzy!! I like the personal glimpses too..You are so far ahead of us! |
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 09:24 pm: |
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I'm glad..I thought spring would never get here. I was sure everything would stay asleep forever. I'm not one for delayed gratification! I enjoy reading everyone else's journals too. Helps me to get to know them (as much as one can through words). |
| Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 08:14 pm: |
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We had a beautiful day and I spent a lot of it outside. Just poking around mainly, but I did pot up some of the seedlings. Boy..I have a lot of potting up ahead of me!! What I did today:
Italian white sunflower
Cosmos (light pink with white center from last year), red/yellow marigolds from last year, scabiosa, French Vanilla Marigold, Salpiglossis - Kew blue, 'Cerise Queen' Yarrow, a mystery Zinnia, 4 Candy strip Zinnia..that was all that came up, glad I got more from Tammy.
I put those in little pots and placed them in the part of the garden we aren't using yet. Hopefully by next month I can put most in the ground or give away at the trades.
Hey! Found a blooming bergenia hiding in the ajuga. Its smaller than the others.
Curt and Linda dug up 3 thread-leaf cypress..at least thats what I think they are called. I posted those for the trades. Nice little evergreen landscaping shrubs. Hopefully someone can use them. If not they will go to waste...I don't have room for them. Linda was looking for suggestions on what to put for color in her front bed. I think she decided for sure on some little reblooming daylilies like stella d'oro, heuchera, and peonies.
I need to take pictures tomorrow of the nominees for yards of the quarter. That should be fun if we get a good turn out to the meeting on Saturday. Hopefully it will lighten things up a bit.
Every day in my recovery gets a bit better. If I could walk around in my sweats all day I wouldn't notice anything...but put me in jeans and I am ready to scream hehe. Better that I took the rest of this week off to get back in real clothes.
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| Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 10:38 pm: |
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Found a taker for the little cypress shrubs! Fran will take them at the Bonney Lake trade, so hopefully I can keep them happy until then. I have them in the shade and will keep them watered. Should be fine.
We ran to the corner store today and I told Randy I'd like to just keep driving around..the day was so nice. So we rode up Meridian to 352nd then cut across to Mtn Hwy and back home. The mountain was hiding, but the sky was mainly blue with the sun shining. Amazing how many new houses/developments are going up way past us. No thank you on that drive!
I finished the drive around to followup on the HOA stuff and took pictures of the Yards of the Quarter...took 7 and narrowed down to 5. We have our community meeting tomorrow at 10..Oh JOY haha. Should be interesting. I think I will pass on all of this fun next year.
I potted up more seedlings today..those from yesterday look good. The morning glorys are a little peakid..but then they were before too. Not sure whats the deal with them. This is what I did today
6. Carnation Valentine (tonsss of them)
23. Hollyhock Dwarf Majorette
35. Cupid's Dart (2) - left the dirt to see if more germinate
44. Heliopsis Loraine Sunshine
50. Scabiosa (the rest of it)
60. Datura Mauve
81. Zinnia (Cactus)
I definitely am guilty of oversowing. Must remedy that next year.
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| Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 11:15 pm: |
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The seedlings will soon overtake the garden
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| Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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Wooohooo! My journal has been archived!! Does this mean I have arrived? Or just write too much?? hehehe. Either way I am enjoying it. We had a beautiful day Saturday. Blue skies and a nice temp..I even got a little sunburn..not hard with my skin. We had the unattended community meeting..then went on the streets to get signatures for the bylaw changes..not well recepted. But we did get a lot of worthwhile comments and I got to meet some neighbors. Linda will have to go back to her drawing board. I have to say I agreed with most of the comments. Spent a lot of the day in the backyard with my seedlings..only to have a frost scare last night. I covered them and the geraniums in the front just in case. I do think it got to the freezing mark but not quite as cold as they said it would (20s). I uncovered the seedlings and only a couple look sickly and I'm not so sure it has to do with the cold. I will be watering quite a bit from now until they get planted. What I potted up:
1. Calendula Pacific Giant Mix
5. Carnation Chaubaud Mix
42. Candytuft
48. Impatiens Tom Thumb Mix
49. Marigold Ragged Reggie - not looking so good
67. Gaillardia Arizona Sun
68. Marigold Harlequin - not looking so good either
69. Cosmos Large pink from last year
70. Mixed Cosmos from last year
71. Red or pink Zinnia from last year..only 1..I think I need sow more now???
80. Zinnia Cut and Come again..again only 1
86. Impatiens Peppermint Stick
93. Marigold Sparky
94. Sunflower 'Teddy Bear' - just had a couple will hopefully get more with those Tammy sent!
I went to Fred Meyer to get a few groceries..and of course had to walk through the garden center MISTAKE!! hehe They always have the neatest things that you wouldn't find at other chain stores. I got (too much):
Fuschia 'Dollar Princess'
Fuschia 'Silver Pink'
Fuschia Magellanica 'Gracilis'
all of them are suppose to be hardy to this area and I will try them on the dining room side since it seemed to be the most protected.
Heuchera 'Ruby Bells'
Armera 'Joystick'
Some yummy smelling stock cream and pink
A little blue viola
Campanula fenestrellata
Campanula portenschlagiana (muralis)-will be interesting to see how this differs from poscharskyana
There might be something I'm forgetting..but I think thats it. They are redoing the garden center and its all out in the parking lot now.
Will spend today deciding where to put those and potting up more seedlings. Its going to be another fabulous day! |
| Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 12:31 am: |
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I have made a few purchases that I forgot to record. Will have to go by memory. Last Friday I stopped by Connells and picked up my Dahlias that Alice got me for my birthday (or was it Christmas?) Those were Fascination II, Marshmellow Sky, Lemon Cane and Calamity Shane. I also picked up four more..let me see if I can remember..Mom's Special, Elma Elizabeth, Tequila Sunrise and Pennsford Marion. They were tilling the ground that day and said it was ok to plant. I read a good tip on one of the forums that said plant when the Lilacs are blooming. Mine aren't going to bloom this year, but everyone else's are. I have noticed them a lot more this year. All of the trees and flowering shrubs seem to be very prolific this spring. Rhodies of all colors are going strong. There is one very striking yellow one on Waller Rd. Dogwoods finally blooming as well. Our apple tree is covered, but GRRRRR no nearby trees so I bet no apples again. I think I have Randy almost convinced we need another one. I keep thinking if I just had blooms from another tree I could dust mine with the pollen, but not sure if that would work. Also on last Friday I finally stopped at the Sunshine Flower nursery. What a nice place! The people who own it work the greenhouse and live right there on the property. 5 greenhouses filled with very healthy beautiful and reasonable plants. I had stopped with the intention of looking for a hydrangea..I left with 3. One a very pretty blue and the other two purply pink at the moment. I also got an armeria, Viola 'Columbine', a beautiful bright yellow Calla Lily that I planted out front, a pink double impatiens and a Tricolor Exotic Geranium. Very pretty leaf and will have red flowers. Also (geez I was bad) I stopped at Rite Aid and they had their little pitiful plants out front. Had to rescue a few! Sorbet Coconut Swirl and Sorbet Yesterday Today and Tomorrow violas, another Heuchera with red flowers, some red/yellow dwarf snapdragons and a sad sad delphinium called Blue Bird. Its looking ok now though.
I spent the weekend making sure I have all that I need potted for the trade this coming weekend, plus a few more for extras. Haven't decided what I'm bringing for the potluck. Better start thinking about that. Also planted a bunch of dahlias. Especially the bought ones. I still have quite a few that I want to see if they have eyes. Leah suggested I mist them. Oh ya..I got some tubers from her today. None had names, but they sounded nice. Large lilac, purple and white, yellow and white, yellow/bronze, purple pom....
The weather has been pretty nice this week. Work has stunk though and its one of those weeks I wish I did something else! Like gardened for a living hehe. I "discovered" a new nursery close to the hospital today called Calendula. Kind of pricey but with some neat stuff. I had pangs of guilt, but could not pass up a blue Corydalis labeled Purple Leaf, a Dicentra Exima "King of Hearts" which was on my most wanted list for this year..its suppose to have a very long bloom time. Hearts are red, with red center. Much like the native ones, but more red and the foliage is even more ferny and cut. Will post a pic of it this weekend. I got another little annual that has orange and yellow flowers on it. They had some bigger pots of it that looked so nice...couldn't pass it up. Will look at the tag tomorrow. I planted those today..was trying to sneak around to the backyard with it..but that didn't work lmao. Randy didn't say much..I think he is getting use to this addiction of mine.
I am getting worried about my seedlings when we go to Louisian in a couple of weeks. I hate to ask Linda to water, but I suppose it will have to be done. I am thinking I will get some shade fabric if its not too much in order to conserve water. That way she won't have to come so often. I have been watering them every day.
Irises are about to bloom in the garden, Mountain bluet blooming, Snow in Summer just starting, all of the dicentra, ajuga still going strong. Some of the pulmonaria are starting to die down but others still going. The last of the tulips are about done..the white ones and the Princess Irene lasted longest. I will add more next year and look for later blooming varieties to extend my bulb season. The azalea by the shed is in fullllll bloom and the white/pink one in front is too. The other ones in front are about to begin as is the one on the fireplace side of the house. I see flower buds coming on some of the daylilies. Oxalis is blooming again. FMN, pansies perked up, the little violet, tiarella, columbine is just starting. There is a very LARGE plant in the corner garden. It has a dark purple flower..but the point down lol. Can't see them! Geranium renardii!!! Nepeta is going strong. The no name pink, Golden Showers and the minis out front all have buds. The Knockout is putting on lots of new growth, but don't see a bud yet. The Super Fairy is starting to shoot up too. The strawberries are blooming..both the everbearing and June bearing. Can't wait to taste them. In the garden we have peas, carrots, beets, radishes, Swiss Chard and buttercrunch lettuce all up. The Silene is about to bloom and so is the spiderwort. Anemone nemerosa Vestal had one flower, but I was happy to see it return. I thought it was gone. Darmera blooming now and getting tall. Sweet woodruff and vinca are blooming together. The hostas are nearly entirely unfurled and the Geranium macrorrhizum is just beginning. The blooms are a very rich pink. They are making huge plants! Not sure what I will do with them eventually, but it can't stay as it is forever. The corydalis chelanthifolia is blooming too. Saxifraga too. Thats quite a bit blooming! And I am sure I missed something.
I need to not wait this long in posting...I am sure I'm leaving things out.
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| Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 01:20 am: |
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We go to Louisiana in about 10 days, so I have potted up all of the seedlings I am going to pot up. I left a few in the plastic containers mainly because they are still so small. I have already lost a few seedlings to who knows what, but still have plenty that seem to be doing fine. I am going to move them onto the patio where we hardly get any sun while we are gone. Still haven't asked Linda to water. I dread asking anyone to do something like that. I think maybe I will try to convince Randy that we need a timer and just set one sprinkler on the seedlings for a bit each day.
Went to the Shoreline trade on Saturday and had a nice time. Small gathering, but came away with some nice plants. I enjoy visiting with everyone. Michele was there, as was Doris, Allison, Jacqueline and a friend (Karin?), Marie and her daughter..Tammy I think, another girl whose name I am not sure (dark hair, kind of young), Shirley and her husband, Shirleys neighbor and a few other family friends. Beautiful neighborhood. Well landscaped and very very woodsy in the back. You'd never know you were basically in the city. Talk about a dream yard..sloping down a wooded hill, with stone edged paths leading to the bottom. She has done a lot of work cleaning up and has planted lots of things but still has plenty of room to play. I would like to see it in a year from now.
I got lots of things and should have recorded them here before now. Let me try and remember:
Miss All American Beauty Rose -big older plant I had to prune back..hope that won't matter. It already has a bud...left that as I didn't have the heart to chop it off!
White Calla
Camellia and grape cuttings...probably spinning my wheels with these
Pulsatill vulgaris
Digitalis with burgandy flecks
Geranium Purple Haze
Chocolate JOe Pye Weed
White pulmonaria
White bleeding heart
Solomon's Seal!!!
Poppy Princess Victoria Louise
Primula Miss Indigo..what a cutie
Geranium 'Cambridge'
Hellebore and Cyclamen babies
Blue lace cap hydrangea!!!! Nice size
Brugmansia
Autumn blooming Crocus
Assorted Hens and chicks from Shirley all put all in one pot
Dianthus -tiny blue leaves..not sure what color yet but about to bloom.
Saxifraga stolonifera
Some Primula with orange flowers from Marie
Penstemmon
I am sure there is much more just can't remember right now.
I could have sworn I had two other penstemmon from Shirley, but can't figure out what I did with them. GRRR
I got everything in the ground with the exception of a couple of little things. Will keep them in pots for a while longer
I got the cutest campanula today at Walmart. Tiny little double flowers..Kind of a ground cover thing. I will have to post pictures and ask for the name of it. It was kind of expensive as far as Walmart plants go because it was in the Mother's day flower display. But had to have it.
New flowers blooming this week:
Iris woohooo! I think siberian? Need to study up on irises more.
Geranium Macrorrhizum
Pink azalea on the fireplace side
Saxifraga
Snow in Summer
Work tomorrow..after the past couple of weeks I have to say I am not looking foward to it. Maybe it will be better after I get back.
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| Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 01:51 am: |
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Busy Busy gardening weekend! Saturday was the much anticipated trade at Andi's in Bonney Lake. I took off through the country without good directions and ended up being an hour late! Beautiful beautiful views though. The day was crystal clear and warm. The mountain was gorgeous. I didn't really get an postable pics of it, but for just me these will do
There was a great turnout..not sure exactly how many, but I'd say around 20??? I made a lot of pre-trades and people had brought some great stuff so had to pick up a few extras. Trunk was full...back seat close to it. Dirt got all in the back seat...grrrr. But it was worth it hehehe. Plus Randy cleaned the car..so poof its gone! He's a sweetie...puts up with me.
I cannot even begin to remember all I got but most is in the ground except for the dahlia tubers, some things I'm putting in the big pot I got at Alpine Nursery and a few that are too small. It was a challenge finding spots for all and I did a lot of rearranging. Overall I am happy with the results. We went to Wal-Mart and got 3 trellises today for the clematis that Karen brought me. I wanted a different shape than what we got, but the fan was all they had in white. It doesn't look too bad and I can always get a better one later. I will try to remember some of the things I got
Iris pseudocorus
Siberian Iris 'Caesar's Brother' (purple)
Oregon Grape - a nice size seedling
Bloodroot
Hostas 'Super Nova'(my fav) 'Elvis Lives' 'Kiwi Treasure Trove' and a very nice blue seedling from Mike. I really don't need more hosta but how can I resist such fabulous plants.
Tricyrtis "Lightning Strike"
Primula 'Wanda' I loved these this spring
Candelabra Primrose (red)
Calla lilies
Italian Arum
4 clematis Seedlings, 3 very large Seedling of Nelly Moser (Front of house), seedling of Moonlight (dining room side), seedling of unknown parentage (by water hose), seedling Arctic Queen (on same trellis as Rouge Cardinal)
2 beautiful red Japanese maples
very large old peony
Irises rescued from old house short dark purple with white beard, tall bitone purple-fragrant, Tall gold
Snowflakes! I have to find the right spot for these
Dahlias Chilson's Pride, Sugar Cane, Glen Echo, Pink and White, Santa Clause and others - need to find name from Kathy
Geranium Rozanne!!
alstroemeria
Hebe
Another 2 Peonies one from Justin one from Mike
2 flowering hellebores..one cream with pink flecks and one pink wahoooooo
'Blue Panda' Corydalis
I got both of the above because I brought Jake 12 empty sq. gallon pots. Mighty fine trade I'd say.
Plus two other blue corydalis - so much for my $11.00 pot I got at Calendula..I need patience. At least its diff.
Trillium!
Phlox sublata
A couple of small hydrangeas
Buttons and Bows Hydrangea! small but it will be worth the wait
An unknown huge back of something...maybe anemones???
Giant fern from Michelle!
Geranium 'Splish Splash' thanks Michelle I needed that one!
Saxifraga 'Peter Pan' This is so cute
Penstemon seedlings one called 'Blackbird'
Columbine seedling most unnamed one that had label Scott Elliot strain
Solanum Jasminoides 'Potato vine' will have to keep an eye on this one
Hydrangea quercifolia....can't remember who gave me this but I appreciate it!
omphaloides verna "Blue eyed Mary"
Mimulus
Purple Peruvian Chile
English daisies pink and frilly
OOhhhh I am sure I am forgetting lots.
Here are a couple of shots from Andi's back yard. It is such an inspiration to me. There were baby birds in the birdhouse
We leave in 4 days and I have so much still to do. Dahlias to plant, seedlings to plant or figure out what I will do with them, pack!!!, WORK lol.
Getting about time for beddy bye..guess I should shut this down. Happy Mother's Day to any who might read this  |
| Posted on Saturday, June 10, 2006 - 12:51 am: |
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Lots has gone on since I last wrote. Will write more about that tomorrow. For now I want to record some plants I bought at Sunrise Flower Farm. Stopped on the way home from work. I just love that place. Very friendly staff..they own the place and live on site. I bought mainly things to fill pots but got tempted but a few more.
Salvia 'Victoria Blue' 6 pack
Lobelia Trailing Sapphire (4) 6 packs
Verbena 'Pink' and 'Peaches and Cream' 6packs
Geranium Pratenses 'Sunny Skies' (aka Gernic)-very neat double pinkish blue flowers
Lupine Gallery Mix' color unknown as of yet
Lavatera -promised to be a shorter variety. Full of beautiful pink blooms
Calibrachoa 'Callie Dark Blue'
Calibrachoa Red
Aster 'Pot 'n Patio'
Patio dahlias red, pink, peachy pink
Coleus unnamed dark garnet no green on leaf
Coleus Florida Sun Splash
Coleus unname red with green edge
Petunia 'Tidal Wave Cherry'
Coleus 'Kong Rose'
Begonia 'Non-Stop' Red and Yellow
Hoping to get all planted tomorrow plus the rest of my seedlings. Very ambitious!
The petunias are sitting here on my desk and the smell is heavenly. Love that smell. Definitely goes deep into my garden memories. |
| Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 04:10 pm: |
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Before I forget, after doing a bit of research I think that the Lavatera is called 'Novella'.
http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/3852/1?RA=tiscali
I hope it continues to bloom as beautifully as it is right now. I've put it close to the arbor and it contrasts nicely with the yellow roses.
Spring is about to pass into summer and I have recorded very little about the past month. Too many trips, too much work and too much to do in the garden itself! The irises are winding up. I ended up having so many more different ones than I knew I had. At least 16 that I can think of on the top of my head. I missed the peonies while we were away. There were a few more buds, but they have dried up *sigh*. Next year! The daylilies are starting now and I am excited to see what I have in that department. The geraniums are still all going strong. I love the blue one (probably Magnificum ?), but they are all very nice. The G. Macrorrhizum really looks nice plants in mass on the dining room side along with the sweet woodruff (done now), hosta and sweet william.
I have done quite a bit of moving around and removing of some plants in the past couple of weeks. The New Zealand flax is now gone Hallelujiah!!!! I know it has its place somewhere but it just didn't fit and took up enormous space. You'd never know it was even there. I've filled up the spaces with things that make it flow more. I took out several things from the front which had gotten out of control and put them where the flax had been in the corner (a geranium, campanula persificola, lady's mantle and feverfew). I also put the hydrangea that weezer chewed there. If it lives it lives if not I will get another.
Blooming or about to bloom: Poppies, lamium, heuchera, small azalea, some hydrangea, hosta, rose campion, a few stray iries (light purple by the fireplace, white/yellow, light purple/purple, Half Magic, geranium of all kind, campanula (persificola, poscharskyana, glomerata, muralis, sweet william, sedum, lady's mantle, geum, Jacob's Ladder, Verbascum, sisrynchium striatum, Roses (minis, Golden Showers, Miss All American Beauty, red in front, Super fairy just about ready, pink (I missed)), Clematis (Rouge Cardinal, Jackmaani, Prince Charles just about ready), Daylilies (Yellow, orange, light peach so far..more to come), large white calla about to open, large coreopsis, smaller one to open soon, Gaillardia, buds on the butterfly bush, Malva, Hollyhocks getting close, strawberries are red now, Pink panda is blooming away, Red Hot pokers are doing their thing, Azaleas have winded down, monarda not blooming yet, astilbe is on the verge, yarrow just starting, candleabra primula, bleeding heart - the fringed kind, fuschia, columbine winding down, saxifraga, foxglove, spiderwort, red valerian, salvia, lavender, feverfew just starting, dianthus. Wow..there is bound to be more but thats the bulk of it. Lots going on. Still more to come though..Can't wait til July.
I have put a lot of plants in pots and have either planted out my seedlings or put the little ones on the shelf to let them grow up a bit. I still need to get a few more annuals for color here and there and will probably make a trip to Walmart or Home Depot next week especially for that. I was at Fred Meyer on Sunday, but found their annuals lacking somewhat. I guess they have been picked through for now?? I wanted petunias and they had very few which Ithought was strange. They are renovating their garden center though, so they may be limiting the number of plants they get in. I got two more tomatoes there..Brandywine and Mortgage Lifter. We had gotten 6 last weekend from the farmer's market..(2) Fabulous, Siberian, Ruby, Sweet Million, Celebrity. Also got 4 bell peppers..the names escape me right now. Corn was planted and its up! We had a nice buttercrunch salad this week with lettuce from the garden..that was nice. I made strawberry short cake yesterday. Yummmmmmmmmmm. Can't wait till the raspberries get ripe. We will have lots more this.
Ok..enough writing. I could chatter on all day and I am typing to myself. Imagine what people who have to actually listen to me think!
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| Posted on Saturday, July 08, 2006 - 08:30 pm: |
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It's been a while since I've posted her. I guess once the garden gets going in earnest there's not as much time. Actually its more like there's so much going on I don't know where to begin!! The garden is resting a bit, but lots of things about to start happening. Daylilies are starting in earnest now. I had stellas and tawnys blooming already..along with Hyperion (just found out the name). Now some of my fancier ones are starting too. So far Touch of Magic, Strawberry Candy, Wineberry Candy, Fairytale Pink-just beautiful, Children's Carnival, Dublin Elaine and unnamed Red have bloomed. In the front my oriental lilies are taking their own sweet time but the buds are fat. I have been waiting for them to bloom so I can move them because they are smack dab in front of my red/orange rose which is doing better this year. The Cobalt blue salvia came back this and is blooming. Its such an amazing color. The front hydrangea is covered in blooms and is coming back purplish pinkish blue. Darker I think than last year. The fuschia basket is blooming now. The little mini yellow rose that Alice gave me is blooming now and getting established. Its the best looking of all the minis because the other two have blackspot to the point that its ridiculous. The red one is still blooming like crazy but no leaves. The pink one is blooming less but looks like its getting leaves back. Sedums are all in full bloom. Some celosia came back from seed. They weren't much to look at last year hard to believe they came back from seed. Probably they will look better this year.
In the backyard the blue hydrangea by the sliding glass door is not looking well. Only flowers on the tips..leaves mostly fell off. I do think its putting on new leaves, but I am not sure what to do in the meantime. The flowers are fading, although even faded they look good. I will definitely be redoing that little bed. I want to put more daisies behind and around the hydrangea. The one thats there now is blooming and looks good. There is also a clump of short daisies in the front that is very nice. I hope its big enough to divide this fall and I will move some to another spot in the back. I have several rudbeckia that are about to bloom and the Ruby Star coneflower is getting close too. The dahlias are finally growing. I am afraid the slugs not many of the tender shoots and I'm not sure they will come back. I also broke off a few myself when I was weeding GRRRRRRRRR. I don't think I will see blooms until the end of July or beginning of August. The whites are doing the best of anything. Sweetpeas are blooming now and growing up through the lilac. I had volunteers of the red/white ones and then I planted a mix of other colors. So far I just have a very pretty purple. The geraniums have all pretty finished except for the odd bloom here and there. I have been trying to fill in holes here and there especially where I had to cut back the geraniums. They are starting to fill out again though. The Prince Charles clematis is really putting on a show. Rouge Cardinal had one nice flower early and now has two more about to open. Jackmaani *or whatever it is* has one very large bloom and has sat still since then. It doesn't even have much foliage and is only about a foot and a half tall. Crocosmia is about to start. Red bee balm is blooming and pink and purple about to start. White phlox 'David' is in full swing right now. I love the plant. The pink phlox is slower to bloom and not quite started yet. The butterfly bush is blooming and has quite a few blooms on it. The one behind the geraniums has no blooms and will be removed if it doesn't do something soon. Its foliage isn't even attractive. Foxgloves are finishing up although I did notice the ones in the front are going to bloom!! Coreopsis is all blooming now. I guess none of the pink survived, but I do have Moonbeam which is a very nice pale shade of yellow and Sunburst which is the large kind and slightly double. The cosmos are beginning to grow big and blooming. The arbor is getting covered by rose foliage..the yellow is getting very very tall. Its gotten to the top of the arbor. The blooms are taking a break, but I see buds coming again. The Fairy is also blooming and I am hoping its going to continue to grow tall and bloom more for me. Miss All American Beauty has several new buds on it, but the Knockout rose hasn't bloomed yet. The leaves look pale and I'm afraid its not liking living in a container. I might plant it in front in the fall. Or maybe not. The Gaillardia that I got last fall is definitely one of my favorite surprises this year. I love the colors and they really do brighten up the area to the right of the arbor. The spilling pots are spilling right out now! I was surprised at how fast it came together. All of the container I planted are filling out and looking really nice. I have red petunias by the lobelia/allysum and its so cheery. Pink spirea is blooming and getting big. The strawberries are slowing down but still have a few. So delicious. The raspberries are making now. Randy picked a nice bowlful for me today. I need to find a recipe to do something with them today. Something with chocolate. The vegetable garden is coming along. The corn is really growing fast now. Liking the heat. The lettuce looks so pretty. Huge full heads and so green. Once we controlled the slugs they got real happy. The Sugar Ann peas are finished and I won't plant them again. They are much shorter, bloom faster, but didn't give much of a yield. The Sugar Snaps are getting full now and I will start picking some. Carrots are getting longer and I think I will have beets in the next couple of weeks. They aren't huge, but they are beets as opposed to last year. They never filled out. We have 9 tomatoes and they all have blooms..although a few haven't set fruit yet. Siberia is the clear winner in fruit setting. Its getting loaded. The plants look really good though and they are loving the heat too along with the pepper plants. I put in some basil and cilantro today that I got from the farmers market. Two basils, one is Italian flat leaf and has the best smell and taste of the two. Astilbe is beginning to bloom an I think it will be light pink. I want some dark pink and purple for next year. I plan on ordering that from Big Dipper. Speaking of Big Dipper I made a trip there a couple of weeks ago with Teresa and Mara. We ate lunch afterwards at the Black Diamond Cafe. I got a few annuals they had on sale. I'm drawing a blank at the moment on what else I got. There were so many things that I wanted and didn't get though! Spiderwort is blooming. I like it for the shade. Adds nice color there. The hostas went wild with blooms this year. The fuschias in the ground are blooming too. I know there is a lot I'm missing.
We have been working in the yard today weeding and just ruffling up the dirt a bit so its not so hard packed. Just general tidying up. Randy is watering and he mowed yesterday. The fertilizer he put down a couple of weeks ago has really greened things up. The clematis on the dining room side has lots of foliage but no buds. I hope to get to see at least one this year. Next year we will for sure (I hope!).
Will try to report more often so the post isn't so long. I won't be able to come back next year and wade through these long ones!!
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| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 01:08 am: |
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Well it finally feels like summer is here to stay! It isn't that its been so hot..actually very mild this past week. But the garden is moving to that summer stage. New things are beginning to bloom...crocosmia, bee balm in full bloom now..but the purple lagging, phlox, butterfly bush, daylilies, buds on my dahlias finally, roses are coming back for a second round and the lace cap hydrangea is about to be in full swing. The most important and momentous event though is that I ate my first tomato!! Siberia looks to be a winner for this climate and no wonder with its name. We split one yesterday...the size of a very large cherry tomato. 4 more will be ready tomorrow. Sweet Million is about to start coming ripe too. It has a lot less fruit though for some reason.More to come I'm sure. Ruby has about a bazillion blooms and I think will end up being very prolific. From my reading I think they are quite small though. Good popping size! Besides the tomatoes we are finally getting a small harvest from the rest of the vegetables. We had huge buttercrunch salads. Still very sweet tasting. The first of the carrots..still short, but getting sweet. 4 small beets! I boiled the carrots and the beets. Both very tasty. Andddddd the peas!! I picked a bag full and shelled them. They were so fresh tasting. I can't wait until we get to taste the next batch. Next to tomatoes I think peas have become my new favorite summer food.
I planted all of the irises Susie gave me. Ugh..one of my least favorite garden chores for some reason..but the rewards are worth it. I took a tumble as I was reaching over to plant one in an awkward place. Fell knee down on a big sharp rock. Now I am feeling all banged up. Just a little scratch, but I'm stiff. Good thing no one was watching!! I am sure I looked like a complete dork  . This week I also planted the clematis, jasmine and lupines she gave me. The clematis looks like it hasn't skipped a beat..at least what's left of the leaves. I am hoping it will come back strong next year. The jasmine was a little sadder looking on the other hand. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one. The root was pretty well chopped up..but still huge. Lupines are iffy, but worth a try. I also did a little rearranging. Still have a couple of things I want to move around because they are bugging me. Mainly the rose campions. I like them, but they are in bad places.
I stopped by Sunshine Flower Farm on the way home Thursday. Got two beautiful little rudbeckia..they are like little bouquets, some coleus, a cape fuchsia, a petunia basket..that neat light purple color with the darker veining and a little reddish peach lantana. Must stay away from there or go when the lady that owns it isn't there. She is a shameless saleswoman. Always suggesting this plant or that one based on what I have already chosen. And she loves her Osmocote. I broke down and bought some. Succumbed to her pressure. I think its a good product though..just expensive. My flowers have been liking their cheap stuff just fine! She did say it was better for newly planted things for the time release, so I will save it for the occasions when I get something new.
Randy put up two hanging brackets on either side of the garage, so I have two fuchsia baskets hanging there and the petunia basket at the front door.
Today was a perfect summer day in my opinion..warm..but not too much so and cool in the shade.
This oxalis makes me happy
So does looking at my house after Randy mows
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| Suzyqt1968 Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 11:47 pm: |
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Well somehow I have skipped a whole month and then some! Busy time in the garden I guess and life in general. In the past couple of weeks fall has set in and I've been doing garden clean up as needed. No frosts yet though! Probably closer to Halloween. Speaking of, we got the house decorated yesterday and I picked up a couple of pumpkins at Safeway.
From memory whats still blooming
Asters
Mums
Orange Wallflower..purple one less
Hydrangeas trying to bloom again
Impatiens
Marigolds
Dahlias..some not yet blooming MUST plant earlier
Salvia Hot Lips
Carnations
English Daisies..I think they bloom all year
Some feverfew
Rudbeckia
Petunias
Sedum aging now
Oxalis - non-stop color
Potentilla is reblooming
Anemones
Verbena bonariensis
Strawberries - I even have a few fruits
Geraniums making a come back
Kobalt Salvia
Rose of Sharon
Fuchsia
Clematis sporadically
Silene sparsely
Calendula
Yellow roses and red in front - a few
Mini roses making a come back
Pink Monarda on its last leg, others long gone
Joe Pye still pink and Chocolate has white
Gaillardia
Obedient plant
New purple perennial Nemesia
Cockscomb
Persicaria Red Dragon
Pansies
Primula!!
Cosmos
Spiderwort
Heliopsis Lorraine Sunshine
Little yellow daylilies
More I'm sure but thats all I can think of. Still pulling tomatoes and I have yellow ones!!! They are nice and mild but with a great taste. I will probably end up with lots of green ones. Corn has been pulled. A few carrots left. 3 Birdhouse gourds set fruit. Love the color of them..pretty green. Buttercruch lettuce, basil, parsley, kohlrabi still in ground. I don't think the kohlrabi knows what to do.
We have been working on a new flowerbed and place for the bubbling rock!! Will take pics tomorrow if its nicer. I need dirt to fill in a bit ove |
