Monthly Archives: July 2019

Six on Saturday – Summer Garden – July 27, 2019

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We are having a short respite from the extremely hot temperatures, but the rain that deluged most of the east coast on Tuesday mostly bypassed us. The gardens are dry and I am still on hose duty.  We are puppy sitting this week for a friend and loving every minute. Boca (a teacup Pomeranian) is “helping” me in the garden in the mornings.

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2.  This is what the ground looks like in the garden.

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3.  The tomatoes like the heat. In an effort to outwit the squirrels, I’m bringing them into the garage to finish ripening. Every morning I find the ones that need to be used and either make a pot of sauce or cut them up and freeze them.

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4.  A chore I need to get done: These pretty sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)   will self-seed like crazy if I don’t cut them back. They are lovely filler in arrangements or just by themselves in a vase.

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5.  When this Schubertii allium dried, the stalk was hollow so I stuck it on a bamboo stake. Even my raised beds with drip irrigation are pathetic in this heat. The beans are not doing well.

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6. Borrowed landscape. A spectacular crepe myrtle two doors down. But it has been too hot to be outside to enjoy it except in the early morning.

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That’s my quick six for this week, a meme started by The Propogator, a UK gardener. I learn something every week from the participating gardeners. This is the link to the rules if you’d like to join in. #lovemygarden

Six on Saturday – Dragging in the Garden – July 20, 2019

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It’s been really hot. Temps in the high 90’s and today predicted to be 100 with a heat index of 115 Farenheit. And no rain in sight so I am dragging hoses around the yard trying to keep my gardens watered until we get some rain.

  1. I must admit I was tempted to take a seat on the bench this morning and cool off.IMG_9194

2.  Rudbeckia are blooming — and taking over this bed. In the fall I need to seriously thin this patch.

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3. Limelight hydrangea with an Arabella clematis that just keeps blooming.

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4. The hoops removed from rotted half wine barrels have been repurposed into a sculpture perched on the stump of a clump of river birch removed last year. The heaps of chips are from the huge load we got a week ago. They were not great chips as they had alot of leaves in them. Next time I’ll remember to get them earlier in the season before the trees leaf out.

I got them all moved around the yard but didn’t have the energy to spread them.  But we can pull the car closer to the garage now.  I can do a little spreading early each morning. The photo was post watering.

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5. I moved this crepe myrtle to another part of the yard several years ago. Apparently I didn’t get all the roots as it is now putting on a show with the other crepe myrtles that have begun blooming. Once established crepe myrtles don’t seem to mind the hot humid weather on the Eastern Shore.

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6. A baby pumpkin. Why do I keep doing planting squash that just provide a banquet for borers? There is probably a therapy group for people like me. Borers Anonymous anyone?

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That’s my quick six for this week, a meme started by The Propogator, a UK gardener. I learn something every week from the participating gardeners. This is the link to the rules if you’d like to join in. #lovemygarden

 

 

Six on Saturday – Six on the Fly – July 6, 2019

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It’s hot and muggy. I was out by 6 a.m. using muriatic acid to clean up the motar repair job I did on the front brick walk. It looks pretty good, if I do say so. Another job off the “to do” list for this summer. I was in the house by 8 after patrolling flower beds for baby maple trees and picking up sticks that those glorious old maples throw down every time the wind blows.

Here are my quick six this morning.

  1. Diminutive hostas around a seating area are in bloom. They proliferate like crazy and need to be thinned. My dad made these Adirondack chairs for my first house in 1965. They have been mended with screws and Bondo and the original cedar painted, but they still offer a quiet place to watch the garden.

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2. I found this box turtle in the drive and put him in a flower bed where I hope he/she will snack on slugs. When I showed the picture to my husband he asked, “What are the letters painted on the shell?” They are just normal box turtle markings but I did think the same thing when I picked it up.

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3. The zuchinni plant in a big pot succumbed to borers. It went in the trash this morning. I thought I could outwit the borers by using a pot. Every year I say I’m giving up on squash and every year I try again. An  example of “hope over experience” but I’m pretty sure there is some stupidity involved.

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4. The packet of striped zinnias seeds that I planted has now put out a pink and white bloom. Another seed saver flower.

5. A yoga pal brought bags of elephant ear tubers to class one morning. I threw some in a big landscape pot and they are thriving in the shade of a big maple.

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6.  A view along the side of the garage. The hosta in the foreground needs to be divided as do many in the garden. A chore for fall when the humidity is lower. The monarda are still giving a pop of color although the leaves are getting mildewed.

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That’s my quick six for this week, a meme started by The Propogator, a UK gardener. I learn something every week from the participating gardeners. This is the link to the rules if you’d like to join in. #lovemygarden