The Dad House

I've moved!

2010-03-01T08:58:00.001-05:00

A loooong time ago, but I forgot to put a forward link here.

I've Moved

2009-04-22T20:49:00.002-04:00

I moved sometime ago, but never put a new link up here. Well here it goes. You can find updates of The Dad House blog at it's new location http://thedadhouse.wordpress.com/

Becky

Here's to Doing Nothing!

2008-10-15T21:50:00.016-04:00

I move fast. My colleagues laugh, saying they can hear the "click, click, click" of my fast walk crossing the floor over their heads. I don't stop "doing" from the day's start to finish.

But something happens to me in the garden.

I slow down. Sometimes I just stand there, staring into space.

The first couple of times it happens I shake myself from my reverie and begin my task with fresh vigor. Fussing to myself about wasting time and my large list of garden chores.

Slowly, I begin to remember gardening isn't about accomplishing tasks as quickly as possible. Slowly, I remember I'm nurturing my soul as well as my soil. Slowly, I start to enjoy those moments of staring into nothingness.

I breathe deeply, I listen, I relax and sometimes I see things. Like this praying mantis I discovered in the nandina.

Or earlier this week when I saw filaments flying into the sunlight from the kitchen garden. It reminded me of the scene in Charlotte's Web when her children spun a thread of web and floated away in the wind. Sure enough, by continuing to "do nothing" for a little bit longer, I saw a miraculous sight: a spider floated over my head headed for a new location.

Thank goodness for doing nothing.

What's in Bloom

2008-10-15T19:44:00.016-04:00

It's the 15th which means its another Garden Bloggers Bloom Day sponsored by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. This is only the 2nd one I've participated in; I feel a little self-conscious since I have so little to bloom. I'm reminding myself though of my original blogging intention: to create a garden record and what better way to do that then monthly pictures of what's blooming!

The tomatoes are gone, but the Tagetes signata 'Lemon Gem' are flourishing; even their stems have turned a pretty red.

Rosemary 'Arp'

Chrysanthemum 'Miss Jessie'

I thought this was a Passionflower seed, but research shows it's actually a fruit and, like a pomegranate, we could eat the seeds. I'll need to do some more research before I put anything in my mouth though...

1000 Garden Ideas by Stafford Cliff

2008-10-09T17:21:00.002-04:00

This is a coffee table book filled with pictures from unidentified gardens around the world. It's organized by specific themes like Walls & Fences, Rocks and Steps and each page is filled with multiple pictures, some only slightly larger than credit card sized. This format is fine for the Pots section, but imagine trying to see pictures of ponds in this format! The details were lost and I learned little.

California!

2008-10-05T10:46:00.153-04:00

In mid-September I met a girlfriend in California for a brief get-away. The start of our trip was a drive to Sacramento to visit some of her childhood haunts. I was impressed by all of the Italian cypress in that part of the state. They were so beautiful and I once again wished I could grow them in Virginia. We spent the night near the Capitol building and visited the building and its lovely grounds before hitting the road. This was my first trip to California and I was very excited to see orange trees.

and redwoods!

The grounds were filled with many other beautiful, old trees including this Atlas Cedar.

There was one section with boxwood, aucuba and rhododendron that felt and smelled (thanks to the boxwoods) just like home. Turns out it was! The garden was a recreation of East Coast flora to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Civil War.

Of course inside the building itself, I couldn't resist taking a picture of another amazing sight

After that early morning tour we headed toward Point Reyes National Seashore Park. Beside the sandy beach were waves of colors that turned out to be a variety of succulents.

Our trip ended in San Francisco where my friend had a conference and I spent two days exploring the city on my own. The first day I of course ended up at Golden Gate Park known for its gardens. The Japanese gardens were my favorite. Look at this beautiful gingko to the right of the Tea House. It was unlabeled, but one of the gardeners told me it was the species.

I had been leaning toward planting the 'Autumn Gold' variety along the street, at Michael Dirr's recommendation, but I'm already rethinking. This may be why I don't progress very quickly in my garden. It takes me forever to come up with what I think will be the perfect variety and then I see or learn something that changes my mind!

Throughout the garden they used heavily pruned bamboo to both divide rooms and create movement. Bamboo is a plant I love, but can't bring myself to plant because of its invasive nature and our proximity to natural woodlands. The idea of using it in this way make me think maybe...

Doesn't it look like boxwood in a formal garden from this distance?

Water was throughout the garden all connected to a large pond you didn't discover until the end

with beautiful, old koi.

There were a number of unusual bridges, many of which seemed solid until you got up close and saw the water or a glimpse of a fish passing underneath.

There was also a beautiful collection of dwarf conifers with a sad history. The collection originally belonged to a Japanese couple, the original caretakers of the garden. According to the sign "during World War II" the couple "was forced to relocate to other areas of the country." Sounds like they were sent to an internement camp to me. Do they really think the public is so stupid they can't figure out the truth? Why not just be honest and show respect for the Hagiwara family by acknowledging their experience. Perhaps, I'm assuming too much; read the sign and decide for yourself.

Here's a picture of their beautiful collection in its current home. The good thing I took away from the sign was proof that "miniature" conifers really are, well, miniature. If these plants are really from the 40's they're growing as slowly as promised. Not that I thought the books were lying, but it's nice to see an actual example with a year for reference.

Some other details I found inspirational:

Check out this little piece of wood with a plant growing inside. Such a simple thing became something fun to discover and such a pretty way to draw attention to an attractive piece of wood.

Checkout this manmade hill creating height in an otherwise flat area. I love its variegated topper!

This grass was beautiful, especially when the light shone on it highlighting the red; it would look gorgeous by my pond. The botanical gardens had it labeled as Imperata Cylindrica Santintail. I thought I remembered this from a controversial Horitculture cover where it first caught my eye. Readers wrote in incensed that they would feature such an invasive plant in such a prominent way! My initial research indicates my memory is correct. It's listed on the Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia list. Oh well, it was fun to dream about however briefly. Of course, now I still don't know what to plant near the pond...

This bench looks simple enough to create at home. Won't my Dad be thrilled with this inspiration.

I loved too that they used these simple wood boxes for their pond plants. I always reuse black, plastic pots, but this was interesting.

I walked around Stowe Lake to reach these waterfalls.

Notice yet another bridge, this one crossing the falls, that allows water to flow freely.

This dead tree on the other side of the lake looks exactly like a giant heron stalking its prey...

The botanical gardens had a few impressive specimens and I took photos of lots of trees and perennials that were new to me and that I want to learn more about. I won't bore you with all of the pictures in this already long posting, but check out the trunk on this Lemon Verbena.

Macondray Lane was tucked between two streets in the Russian Hill area of downtown. After climbing up more steep hills than I would ever have liked, I found it closed in and a more secluded area than I usually venture into alone in a big city. Looking back from where I'd come and looking forward to the woodland-like path I took a deep breath and plunged ahead. It was completely unexpected in the middle of a city.

I liked this little seating area one homeowner had created along the way.

Gardens at the National Zoo

2008-08-10T12:21:00.024-04:00

I know, I know, it's a zoo, the focus is supposed to be the animals, not the gardens. But, I'm a gardener, no matter where I am gardens always catch my eye.

When we visited the National Zoo a few weeks ago I took some pictures of the animals, but most of my photos were of the gardens. The zoo is pretty well shaded with many old, beautiful trees, many of the varieties Dirr recommends. The flower beds are mostly okay in the older parts of the zoo, but they are definitely doing some interesting things in the newer sections.

These grasses were in one of the older sections under some trees. I love how the grass looks like water. I wish I knew exactly what kind it was, but I don't know grasses. My dream is to one day do a natural woodland garden with Asian influence under the pines. The trees are in a circle with a couple of cedars and bitternut tress on the outskirts. I can see a grass like this bordering the path, perhaps on the outside between the cedars and the woods. It's so calming, I even just like looking at in the photo.

In the aviary, they used this very simple fencing for decoration. If you look closely, you can see that the frame is made by standard wood pieces you can buy at any store, faced with sticks placed in a random pattern. It makes a great rustic border and goodness knows we have plenty of sticks around so this would be easy to recreate. I have no idea where I would use it though, perhaps on a larger scale around the cutting garden?

I loved the natural feel of this man-made stream.

This is another spot on the same stream. Can't you just envision wildlife and humans alike walking (barefoot for the humans) through it or just sitting on the rocks enjoying its bubbly, coolness?

Ahhhhh, something to consider for the "great pond expansion project." No definite plans or start date mind you, it's strictly in the information gathering stages.

These creations were at the beginning of the Asia Trail. It's the kind of thing we've seen hundreds of times with cornstalks only this time, with sticks instead. Not only is it unique, but so textural you can't resist touching it. They did the same thing with bamboo closer to the pandas.

Speaking of bamboo, isn't this gorgeous? They've used bamboo throughout the zoo, but I only recall this golden colored variety along the Asia Trail paths. I do love bamboo, but don't feel I can plant it due to it's thug-like nature. I am very curious however about the clumping varieties; although I've also read that they too spread, just not quite as rampantly. Living so close to a natural forest and a feeding river for the Chesapeake Bay I just don't feel like I can take a chance.

Isn't this a pretty garden? Wait, it gets better, let me show you a wide shot...

it's on a roof! There's been a lot of blog buzz about the book Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls by Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury. I love the idea of it for the environmental benefits and was thrilled to see the National Zoo was making a "green" effort. Apart from all of that though, it was just downright pretty!

This was another man-made stream at the zoo. It's deeper than the previous one and lovely, but with just stone on either side and the plants at a distance it's not naturalistic enough for my setting.

Oh Bountiful Harvest

2008-08-03T17:29:00.004-04:00

This is my largest harvest ever! I know it doesn't seem like much, but hey it's only my second summer as a vegetable gardener. The reddish-purple tomato is my first ever 'Purple Calabash;' we're each going to have a taste at dinner tonight. I've been harvesting the 'San Marzano's' for a while now, but never enough to make a meals worth. I definitely need 3 plants next year instead of 2, or should I get 4?

One of our family favorites is a roasted tomatoes recipe that I have been anxious to try with this variety. Up until now, I've only made it with canned because I haven't had enough ripened at one time! Credit for the recipe belongs to Bringing Tuscany Home by Frances Mayes.

3 28-oz cans of whole peeled tomoatoes, drained and cut in half lengthwise

1/4 cup olive oil

3 T each minced rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil

5 garlic cloves chopped

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 200.

Arrange the tomatoes cut side up in a baking dish. Drizzle the oil and scatter herbs and garlic over them. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 2 hours.

We have had these mixed into a store bought pasta sauce, in a pasta salad and as a bruschetta. They're delicious everytime! If I ever get to try it with the 'San Marzano's' I'll let you know how it tastes.

My Favorite Time of Day

2008-07-30T18:51:00.014-04:00

I have had a worry on my heart recently, now relieved, that kept me from doing much of what I usually enjoyed. However, there was always one thing I could rally myself for: a nightly "walk" around the yard with Simon and the dogs.

Watching the dogs play,

and enjoy the slide,

doing some weeding and checking for new growth,

feeding the fish (the dogs come running so they can eat too when we call, "Time to feed the fish,")

and watching the various amphibian eggs appear and disappear (the fish eat more than just the food we give them.)

helped me keep going.

Although I didn't do much gardening (or blogging) the past two weeks, I was able to turn to my creation as a meditative retreat that kept me going when I needed it most. It provided me a place to relax and enjoy the moment, a place where I didn't have to throw myself into a project or other distraction to keep my whirling mind still. For a while I was able to ignore all of the "to-do's" around me and just enjoy. My favorite time of day is heaven!

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day-July 2008

2008-07-15T20:09:00.047-04:00

Monarda from my mom's garden. This is new to me this year and though I know it's a thug and I'll be hating it in a few years, I really love it's spiky hairdo!

Anise Hyssop 'Blue Fortune' from inside the kitchen garden. This was one of those great finds, drastically marked down at a nursery because it was puny looking. Well, it's puny no more.

A volunteer of Queen Anne's Lace just where I'd want it; in the kitchen garden. Sally Cunningham of Great Garden Companions loves these for "attracting and sheltering a wide range of beneficials."

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Golden Showers.' These are repeated along the brick sidewalk in front of the house. I was bemoaning the fact they were too upright at first, but they've softened some. I think I'll still move them back in the fall though.

Echinacea from Martha's garden. Last year the deer ate it, but so far so good.

The most amazing hydrangea that came with the house. It's monstrous and beautiful! I suspect it's 'Annabelle,' but I'm not 100% sure.

Asiatic lilies I also inherited. They're smell is a little too heavy for me to have in the house, but I do like that it greets me when I step out on the porch.

Also in bloom...
Butterfly Bush
Fennel (just this week!)
Liatris
Russian Sage

Shasta daisies

Baby Bluebird Rescue x 2

2008-07-12T21:29:00.035-04:00

Saturday, July 5th

The previously mentioned babies saw their first snake! We suspect it's the previously photographed rat snake because we first saw it near the same location. Within the hour we were very excited to see it again, this time slithering along the backyard. Luckily, I am no longer using my Palm to shoot photos so as you'll see these are much better! Since I was mostly preoccupied with the twins, my son Simon had the presence of mind to shoot some fabulous snake shots.

We were a little slow to comprehend why we were so lucky to see this brazen fellow, but when he started heading toward the steadily chirping baby bluebirds we caught on! He was hungry.

We tried to stand in his path, hoping he would veer, but with no success. He made it to the tree and began climbing ! Knowing he wasn't poisonous, wasn't comfort enough to convince any of us to touch him at first. Using sticks we gently pushed him down and then tried moving him with the baby pool.

He escaped and headed back to the tree. My Dad got into the act and was brave enough to pick him up by the tail! He quickly doubled back on him though and was, ummm, quickly put back on the ground. I had put down my human baby and picked up the camera by this time, but the only shot I got of my Dad, the snake wrangler, was of his butt; I'll spare you that one. Finally, he was deposited in the woods and what we hoped was far enough away from the bluebird babies! They were safe!

Saturday, July 12th

I was enjoying my favorite view yesterday afternoon, looking down from my bedroom window, when I saw baby bluebirds diving out of their home like paratroopers from a plane. It was very exciting until I noticed that one of the birds had landed in the baby pool immediately below. Simon and I rushed outside to see if help was needed and found that a second baby bird had also landed in the pool. The parents were flying anxiously above, chirping furiously, but the babies were motionless,

one on the dry side,

the other on the wet.

The wet one was easy to scoop out using a frisbee. We deposited him on the grass

and the father found him quickly.

He hopped across the yard, finally taking flight.

He landed on the slide and slid right down to the bottom! I laughed out loud, but unfortunately didn't snap a picture. While all of this was going on the 2nd baby was still unmoving in the pool. Simon managed to get him out; I was too nervous to watch how he did it. neither mother nor father found this one right away. We didn't have to worry though, this little fellow was an expert in disguise.

Can you spot him in the grass?

Careful now, don't hurt his feelings, he's convinced he's invisible!

As we watched from afar he finally stuck his head up and his father found him! The family was reunited and hanging out in our woods!

Two final notes:

The offending pool is now empty and upside down so it can't catch anything else!

The snake appeared again today by the cutting garden. He seemed a little nervous around us this time and quickly headed back to the woods. Poor guy, I guess he doesn't know that with the bluebirds safe our interest in him is purely scientific!

Anticipation...

2008-07-12T20:20:00.020-04:00

A week with my two-year old niece and nephew, mostly at my house and partly at theirs, didn't leave much time for gardening OR blogging. As soon as I arrived home today, I greeted Simon and the dogs and we all headed out to the gardens. The most change was in the kitchen garden, quickly filling with soon to be ripened food.

'San Marzano' roma tomatoes

'Purple Calabash' tomato

Yellow peppers

Onions

Yellow squash

A Week in Wildlife

2008-06-29T21:50:00.027-04:00

Flower longhorn on the oregano which is always loaded with bumblebees. I counted 5 on a single flower this day.

Water striders devouring a beautiful, iridescent bee that had the misfortune to fall into our pond. The striders don't actually walk on water, but instead skate about on the water's film.

Dragonfly by the pond. There have been several around dipping their bums in the water which I assume means their laying eggs.

Millipede on the front step. Bedtime was delayed until I found my camera and took a couple of shots. I was never sure if they stung or not, but apparently they don't. Instead, they'll only curl up in a ball. Think of this though, according to the Virginia Cooporative Extension, "There were several locations in which the numbers of millipedes were so excessive that they swarmed over mulched flower beds and invaded basements and other ground level rooms in houses. At times there can be thousands of millipedes moving across lawn areas and into houses." Can you imagine? That's the stuff nightmares are made of.

The daddy (I think) bluebird peeking at the world.

I give up! I've been looking and looking for this one. I think it's some kind of skipper, but I'm just not sure. Any ideas out there?

A painted lady on lavender flowers.

This guy was floating in the lily pads. I love that you can see his webbed foot floating to the surface.

Tomato Trellis and Floating Row Covers

2008-06-27T21:18:00.027-04:00

I had read I should avoid the standard tomato cages so I decided to create something in the fashion of a trellis I saw on The Victory Garden. Using some stakes I already had, I bought some cobalt blue outdoor paint for color and, using twine for the sides, installed the trellis. Two mistakes were immediately apparent, the stakes are too short and I placed the front and rear ones too far apart! The 2nd part is easy enough to fix, but the taller stakes will have to wait until next year. So far they're doing an okay job of holding up the 'San Marzano' roma tomatoes (the other tomatoes aren't big enough yet to need the trellis.) The white flowers mixed in are cilantro that self-seeded from last year; they small yellow flowers front, right are 'Lemon Gem' marigolds.

Once my 'Sugar Baby' watermelon, 'Earlisweet' muskmelon and 'Gold Rush' yellow squash seeds began to turn into plants, Simon and I dug out the floating row cover recommended by Sally Jean Cunningham in Great Garden Companions and Edward Smith in The Vegetable Gardener's Bible. Of course, I forgot that Smith had detailed directions on how to install your row covers; the picture above is NOT what he recommended. Instead, I tried to find something for support in my local box store, struck out and in the interest of time, cut the pieces what I hoped would be extra large. I used landscape fabric pins (these resemble pins my mother used with her hot rollers when I was a child--I wonder if she still has those? The pins that is, not the curlers) and rocks to hold it down. After my weekend away I returned to see the plants bulging up under the row cover. Here's what I saw when I peeked!

No flowers yet! So I let them breathe for a moment, then bunched up the row cover so that it would "grow" along with the plants. Hopefully, I didn't let a bunch of thug insects in at the same time!

Next year, I think I'll actually follow his advice to use wire to raise the pieces and wrap two thin slats of wood in the sides to hold it down. Much more attractive then my little shrouds! I'll keep checking for flowers and, as soon as they appear, take off the covers so pollination can occur!

This is my "control subject." An acorn squash that I decided to leave uncovered (read was too hot and lazy to cover.) So far it hasn't been invaded yet either. I bought this already growing from a big box and planted it the same weekend as my seeds. Notice that their size is almost the same!

You may have noticed in some of these pictures, my next big project to tackle in the kitchen garden. The grass.

I thought it would be nice,and just fine, to have grass paths until I was able to install brick ones. Unfortunately, that just made me naive twice! There is no brick in my immediate future and the grass grows quickly. My husband kindly trims it, but that just spits grass pieces into the beds which quickly grow into weeds; and it's only a matter of time before he hits a plant. It's also messy! Now, I can stand a little bit of messy in the garden (I have a bed to prove it), but this is ridiculous. You can barely tell where the beds begin and end in the above picture. So I've decided I will remove the grass and cover the paths with pine needles. I love walking on pine needles and they're the same color as bricks so if I only get bricks a little at a time, I could install them in sections and the difference wouldn't be glaring.

Hey, Guess What's in the House?

2008-06-24T22:40:00.008-04:00

He knew he didn't belong inside at 10:30 p.m.!

With the promise of freedom, he took himself out of the corner.

He was so grateful to be back where he belonged he didn't even pee on me!

Another Batch of Bluebirds is on the way!

2008-06-24T21:01:00.011-04:00

The bluebirds have just laid their 2nd clutch of eggs (the first was born in early May.) I think they still have a fledgling around helping them., but I'm not 100% sure.

Ironically, Kathy at Skippy's Vegetable Garden blogged about the bluebirds at her community garden today too. She has a link to a great Web site where I learned that if I had cleaned the first nest out of the house they may have rebuilt sooner.

This afternoon, I worked outside on the screened porch much to the dismay of the local birds. My worktable is right next to the mahonia with their fully ripened berries. A variety of birds would fly pell mell towards the shrubs, sense me and make sharper u-turns than I make with my Civic on my best day, heading in the opposite direction at an even faster speed than they arrived. Sometimes there were several of them flying in at a time as if they were playing tag. Occasionally, I stopped typing long enough that they felt comfortable eating a berry or two. but that never lasted long. One bird actually hit the screen in its excitement.

They all headed for the hills though when a group of crows arrived. They must have known what I only just learned a group of crows is called a murder. Ominous isn't it? They were huge so it's no wonder the smaller birds fled. Here's a picture I took of one of them in the bird tree. It's through the screen so it's not very good I'm afraid.

A Weekend Away

2008-06-23T08:39:00.014-04:00

The first thing I did when I arrived home from a weekend out of town was take a walk through the garden and see what changed. Here's what I discovered.

If there was an order to which hosta the deer ate next, I missed my chance to see it. They're all gone! Keep in mind this is the same hosta I showed in my Some Firsts post on the 16th! This is only six days later.

A couple of sunflowers from the cutting garden were sampled as well

The oregano bloomed

and the squash are attempting to escape from the floating row cover! I know I'm supposed to leave it on until I see flowers, but there's at least one bent stem under there. I guess I need to spend some time pulling it in some so that they have more room to grown up instead of out.

Eat More Dirt by Ellen Sandbeck

2008-06-18T21:25:00.007-04:00

The subtitle here is "Diverting and Instructive Tips for Growing and Tending an Organic Garden" which pretty accurately describes the book. This is a quick read because most entries are short, some only a paragraph long, and the longest are only a page or two. The organic gardening information was fine, but not my favorite part. That honor belongs instead to the chapters on tools and gardening as exercise. Sandbeck revolutionized how I will use my pruners from here on out. No longer, will I crouch to one side of a sapling, supporting the pruners against my chest and pulling as if on an oar. Instead I will use them as if they were a thighmaster! She suggests crouching in front, pruners between your knees, arms inside them. You then use your thighs (and arms) to close the pruners. I tried it and it worked! Once I got the awkwardness of the position down (knees wide) I could feel the burn AND it was much easier for me to use this tool!

Seedlings

2008-06-17T22:27:00.026-04:00

As much as I love gardening I'm not a coddler, so growing seeds indoors in little pots that require watering and sometimes transplanting in even bigger pots, was out of the question. It was direct sow or nothing, a method which offered no guarantees and great risk. I'm usually not much of a risk taker, but it was worth it not to have to coddle and it worked! I've already mentioned the peas, but here are a few other seed successes.

Sunflowers in the cutting garden. Last year the crows got all of the seeds, but not this year! I love the way you can see the actual seeds for a while after the plant begins to grow!

Cosmos in the cutting garden

Zinnias planted just last weekend! Also in the cutting garden.

Larkspur I planted last Fall. Guess where?

Dill. I hate to say use this word, but aren't they cute?

I bet you can guess this one! Basil

Borage

This is my favorite kind of seedling; the unidentified one! Unfortunately, that's happened all too often this year. I have a feeling that I've pulled some seedlings as weeds and left some weeds as seedlings. I'm pretty sure this is definitely NOT a weed though since there are eight of them in a fairly straight row which screams human, not nature!

Some Firsts

2008-06-17T18:05:00.012-04:00

Neither of this weekends firsts are positive I'm afraid. First, there was Sunday's discovery of Japanese beetles on the lavender, on the bean plants, on the hydrangea and mating on my camera bag. I have never been one to kill insects. There's even a spider that lives in a basket on my kitchen counter, but Japanese beetles bring out the worst in me. I crushed as many of them as I could, but some escaped.

The 2nd first is deer related; the first time we've had any deer damage in our yard. We had a doe May 30th, we had footprints in one of my herb beds June 12th, but it wasn't until June 14th that they began to dine. Not in the kitchen garden thank goodness! The victims: the green hosta, and the flowers on all of them. It's interesting because there was A Gardener's Diary where a woman said the deer ate her hosta in the following order: the green, the variegated, then the blue. Our deer had all three to choose from in various places of the yard and only devoured the green ones. It will be interesting to see which color goes next.

The last first was the most delicious for us, not the deer! Blackberries!

Last Week's Destruction

2008-06-13T22:26:00.011-04:00

The heat last week resulted in several severe thunderstorms. Wednesday night's storm was particularly bad and the next morning trees were down everywhere. Our home is surrounded by three different roads and returning that evening I could see a tree had fallen across one of them; neighbors had cut their way out. Heading into the woods I discovered with horror which tree had fallen.

We had two remarkable trees on our property; one for its size and the other for its character. The one with character had grown right on the edge of the creek; half its roots in the dirt behind it and half creeping down towards the water. Some of the roots had wrapped themselves over a large, oval shaped boulder as if they were eagle talons clutching an egg; below that a small boulder, stood on its edge. It is one of the few places the creek usually runs free with the soothing sound of rushing water. We have a decaying cedar bench facing this tree and visited occassionally to enjoy the cool shade. Of course, it was this beautiful, precariously balanced sculpure that had blown over taking several smaller trees with it. I never took a picture of it in its glory, but you can see some of the root work in the shot below.

The oval boulder now looks a little silly balanced on the smaller one. I hope it's steady enough to last though.

Yummy Peas!

2008-06-13T21:37:00.011-04:00

Vegetables are my favorite food group, but I hate peas; pea pods are okay in a heavy Chinese food sauce, but that's it!

They're a favorite of Mike and Simon's, however, so I took the plunge. Easter weekend I planted "Sugar Snap" peas and wonder of wonders they grew! Their flowers were beautiful and reward enough, but May 31st we had our first pods. I had family over and we each had half of a pod at dinner. Everyone was polite, but I spoke what everyone was thinking, "ooh, bitter!" After that I snacked on them whenever I was in the garden and quickly realized that the smaller pods were sweeter. The recent heat has kept me inside and pretty much killed the plants. The above harvest, too fat to eat as pods, is probably the last for the season and was delicious raw.

Did I mention I hate peas? It's hard to tell if the homegrown variety truly can't compare with those sold in the stores or if I'm just so enamored of the fact that I grew these. It's probably a little of both. One other lesson I learned, I didn't plant nearly enough seeds. I only had six plants and it would have taken probably 4 times that to ever get a meal, even if one of the people hates peas!

The New Camera Arrived!

2008-06-04T20:01:00.018-04:00

What do you think?

Geranium 'New Hampshire'

Feverfew

Rue

Twelve-spot skimmer?

Lavender, not the typical 'Grosso' that survives so well here, but a well-sheltered finer leaved variety

I'm happy!

Insects Galore!

2008-06-01T18:54:00.007-04:00

I was weeding my way around the kitchen garden beds when I arrived at my asparagus. One of the plants had lost almost all of its beautiful, ferny leaves and another was on its way with many of them brown and broken. Looking closer I saw fat little gray larvae with black heads on several of the plants. I knew they were bad, probably asparagus beetle larva, and rushed to my computer to confirm and learn how to destroy. This site told me everything I needed to know and showed pictures of the eggs. When I went back outside with my glass of soapy water, I found them on the plants as well. I was carefully inspecting my asparagus, continuing my way through its beds, when I found three black and orange stink bugs. Back inside where I learned from this site that they needed to go as well because they sucked the juice from tender, young plants. Unfortunately, by the time I finished, they had moved on, but I did find six of them mating in pairs on my soon-to-be lavender flowers. Let's just say their moment was ruined.

After all of that excitement, I saw several strange bee-like creatures: hairy, with very long proboscis ,flying around, occassionally landing on the ground for a second or two wriggling their bottoms and then taking off again. They didn't seem to mind me, and frequently landed pretty close. This time, my book, Audobon's Insect Guide, had the answer. It's a Large Bee Fly. I found some pictures on this site although none look exactly like mine. Apparently, they are important pollinators and lay their eggs, which become parasitic larva, in the entry to the homes of solitary bees. When my new camera arrives, that's right new camera I will no longer inflict bad smartphone images on you, I'll try to get some shots. Hopefully, they'll stick around.

If only seedlings grew like kudzu...

2008-06-01T18:49:00.003-04:00

One of my new favorite gardening activities is to check and see if my seeds have sprouted. Usually they have not because it is well under their germination time, like three hours after I planted them or only three days. I'm a pragmatist, but I do have hope and there's just something about the first glimpse of a something hard and round becoming something pointed and green that I find irristable. So if you'll excuse me, it rained and I just want to see if the melon seeds I planted at this morning performed a miracle.