Gardens can't be neat and tidy

Today is monday
Overcast most of the day.  Transplanted a few bluebonnets in a "new" area.  Got too warm and will try more tomorrow.

Now, the reason for  the title of this post.

I think I did it one time before (unfortunately).  I am going to put a note on October calender to remind me.
Just because there are all those little 2 petal "weeds" in the cone flower bed.  DO NOT REMOVE THEM!!!

When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed
and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.  If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

Don't forget to click on picture to enlarge.

 Look closely at the leaves.  The primary (2) are about 1/4 inch.  They all look like weeds at this point.
Now, look at the third leaf. A little larger and pointed tip and definite vein.
I have been scratching and stirring in this bed for weeks getting rid of the pesky little 2 leaf weeds.

NOT!!They are cone flowers!!! don't even want to think of how many plants I dug out!!!!!!

Here's a link of dumb things gardeners do
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/midatl/msg0210023015587.html   

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view.  

Fall garden..

Today is Saturday the 26th
A good gardener always plants 3 seeds - one for the bugs, one for the weather and one for himself. ~ Leo Aikman
It seems every supermarket and nursery has loaded up areas around every entrance with pumpkins. Amazing different sizes and shapes and even colors. White?  Weird.

I wonder what happens to those that don't get sold.  I never seem to feel the need to spend money on a "decoration" that only lasts a few weeks, especially if the weather is too warm.  My frugal brain cannot bring myself to spend a chunk of money for something that is only used for a few weeks and then either dumped in trash or compost pile.......  A hay bale..............hmm, maybe, but making pumpkin pie or bread from one on those big suckers would be daunting.  Not to mention cutting faces in them which speeds up the decay process.  Oh, well.

I say this pretty much with "tongue in cheek" as I have lots of empty pots as evidence of plants bought with high hopes of having it live more than one season or year for that matter. This has been a constant problem.  If I have 2 seasons of a new plant, I feel lucky.

My biggest disappointment was lavender.  It was beautiful for 2 years. Even had blossoms!  Wintered over just fine and the third season started turning gray and died.  I did pot up a few twigs/branches/stems?  5 are still alive.  Two still in 6" pots and survived summer heat.


 Put three in the ground this year and they took their time settling in. They are in different areas (not the area where they died) and not very large.

This one is 3 times larger in late October

 Slow growers may be normal. 

There is a lavender field about 2 hours north of here and I may check with them as to my problems and the best for this area.

The area where the lavender died has a very healthy stand of blue salvia. (I have forgotten the name)These were transplanted from an older, large clump.  What I love about the blues is that they are a beautiful dark blue in spring and early summer, they fade to not too showy in heat and just when the garden looks so sad and heat stressed, weather cools down a bit and they darken again.  I look forward to this show every year.  This is one plant that "takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' ".

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. ~ Lindley Karsten

We have a pretty good chance for rain today and hope to get the last of the California poppies potted up as they are getting a bit to big for transplanting.
I wonder how a couple would do in a large pot?  They get pretty big and have never seen them in pots when they are fully grown.  

When the bluebonnets went to seed, I picked them and stored them in paper bags til dried and the seeds fell out of the pods.  Actually quite few seeds.  About a pound, which you can purchase for about 35 to 50 dollars a pound (gulp) depending on the store you buy them from. But, 50.00 for a pound that may or may not germinate more than 75%.  Like my idea better.  Now, just have to watch to see how well they germinate.
Have you ever really thought of how much per pound a packet of flower seeds actually is?  Even at 3 dollars or even one dollar, I bet it averages out to more than 50.00 per pound?  Maybe more for those teeny tiny seeds.

I scattered them in a pretty wild, unkempt area (with pretty thick thatch) My idea was to scrape the thatch loose enough for seeds to hit soil.  Of course, listened to my non gardener hubby and just scattered.  I will watch and fuss that I took his advice..................................... pictures to follow in a few months (if any do germinate).

Making use of what you have with a little improvement

This is Tuesday.
Yesterday is my normal day for volunteering at the library.  Most times, I end up with a terrific backache and treat myself to lunch and then go home to recover.

Yesterday, no backache, perfect chilly weather. Nearly chilly enough for my new creation.

I had brought this lined work shirt home from a trip to see family. It is a little big, but tough and I wanted to "really" use it.  Hubby came up with the idea of using a pair of his old jeans and make pockets.
I did just that. The jacket is not denim and the pockets are obviously no match. Still, the denim is tough and the pockets are deep and I can drop my hand tools in them, carry a water bottle (which I always misplace)
They may be a little too deep. When I do this to another work shirt and even thinking of a sleeveless one for summer?  I will make the pockets a little less deep.  We will see................
Pretty good idea, if I do say so myself.  Of course something similar may already be in some catalog but bet it costs a lot more than mine, which is Nothing!!

 The weather stayed overcast and almost chilly.  I cleaned up a grassy bed and dug out some more bluebonnets that are germinating all over the place. Mostly in beds and other spots that they need to not be. Lots of pots of bluebonnets and California poppies now.  Just have to baby them over winter and hope that the poppies survive. It would be so great to have lots of them as a border.

I love this quote and put it here, just cuz..........

On every stem, on every leaf,... and at the root of everything that grew, was a professional specialist in the shape of grub, caterpillar, aphid, or other expert, whose business it was to devour that particular part.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Horse Apple; Osage Orange

Don't forget to click on picture to see enlarged view

I love fall.  I repeat, I love fall! Every year, I walk down this particular road and watch for the Horse Apples.
I am including a web link so you can read the history of this tree and its fruit.  In reading the article, I didn't know this tree was in so many states.
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1997/10-10-1997/hedgeapple.html

I remember as a new bride, hearing my mother-in-law talking about the Horse Apple and that it could repel cockroaches.

Coming from northern Minnesota, I was amazed that there was such a tree. I don't remember ever hearing of cockroaches living in Minnesota, country side .  Maybe it was in the city housing, but not where I grew up.

Now, I watch a particular tree that will one day have "mysteriously appear" the Horse Apple, Osage Orange.  This much I do know, the wood is very dense and hard to get to burn in the fireplace.
The "fruit" will one day just "be there". A lovely shade of sort of a light lime green.

This year, for some reason, I decided I would gather the fruit and put it in one of my pots.  I love the color!

I don't know how long they will stay just the "apple" before they begin to deteriorate, but I will enjoy them while I can.
This chair is in an area that will be full of bluebonnets in the spring.  Thus, I have to think of where to move it. 
I have benches of one sort or another scattered all around the garden area.  I sometimes really need to just sit and take a breather.  Better a bench or a chair than the ground.

The white bucket is holding a dilution of molasses.  I add a bit to each watering can full of rain water. Molasses helps with those mysterious little beasties that are good for the soil.
I am 99.9% organic and will encourage the "beasties" however I can.

Needless to say, I am not going to use the technical words for my gardening doings.  Just mentioning organic garden lets people know I don't like poisons of any stripe.

This has been one of those seldom perfect days.  Low 70's in the evening and 50's when I was sifting soil and potting up more California  Poppies.  They are so difficult to transplant.  If the sun comes out, I may lose all of them.  The matt of plants I had to pick from broke my heart in destroying some for the good of one (that may not make it).

I loaded the pots in my ever present green wagon to take to the court yard.  How did I ever get by without it?

Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade.”
― Rudyard Kipling, Complete Verse

Potting up seedling bounty

It is Tuesday the 15th and the temperature this morning was in the 70's and now it is 56.  The front took its time moving through. It has rained off and on all day. My kind of weather!!
I gathered up all my 4" pots and some 6" ones as well and have enjoyed the mist and the dampened soil.  Makes transplanting delicate seedlings easier.  The little roots are so fragile.

The bed that had the tomato ring this summer is full of bluebonnet and California poppy seedlings.  The poppies are pretty close together and will have to sacrifice some to get as many as I can potted up.  The bluebonnets are spaced farther apart and much sturdier root wise.
I am trying a "new" idea for the bluebonnets because the seedlings are pretty small.  I am using a bulb planter. It is one that has a trigger to expand the end to sink into the ground and when released, becomes smaller which holds the dirt better. Pretty cool. Works pretty well for the bluebonnets with the damp soil. When it is dry and powdery, the dirt falls off the root.

The poppies are a bit trickier. I pack the damp dirt loosely in the pot, poke a hole and then carefully lift out the poppy seedling. Pop it into the hole, give the dirt a pinch or two and done. 

Don't forget to click on a picture for larger views

California poppies

Finally had to quit when the rain started getting in my eyes.  My hubby thinks I am weird.  I just love chilly, damp, cloudy days for gardening. I could stay outside all day if I didn't have to visit the bathroom occasionally and maybe eat a bite.

Before I started this potting, I did fix a big pot of soup. So, no feeding worries.  Helps to think ahead.

I am just going to add today, Wednesday to this page.  It is just a continuation of yesterday. Rained all morning and the temp hovered around high 50's and low 60's. Overcast and a bit misty.

I potted up a bunch of bluebonnets from the tomato ring bed and struggled with saving as many California poppies as I could. They are really my favorite summer flower.  If the seedlings survive the winter, the next summer should put on quite a show.
                                
                                      The smaller the better when moving bluebonnets
                                       Not so with the poppies.

The gardening season officially begins on January 1st and ends on December 31.
-  Marie Huston

                                      

                                                                                    Now it is up to Mother Nature

More on garden redo in front of house

We  had a lovely day of overnight rain and off and on rain with nice temperature.  The rest of the week is looking good for some digging.  The first thing to do is stir in lots of compost and other bits of amendments. That is, of course after cleaning debris, the worst of which is old mulch.

The rain was not the heavy downpour kind, just brief, soft and hopefully soaked into the dry, powdry soil. Cannot do any planting until soil is "fixed".  I don't seem to get excited about projects requiring hard work until the temperature is below 80's.  Looks like 70's all week.
Hopefully, the plans for this "solution" won't get too involved and take more time than I plan to just make a simple border.  I tend to think of things as I go and suddenly have lots of ideas for a smallish space and then spread to get them all in. Making a plan and posting it on the wall and sticking to it would be a very good idea.

Also on the agenda is rigging up some sort of lighting for early morning weed pulling and such. There are a couple of areas in the big garden  that need work as well.  Slow down brain................one thing at a time. Ha, ha.  Don't know any true gardener that finishes one thing  before starting another.
 

"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It is for joy."

All I have to do is find a picture I took of the bees on my flowers to feel pure joy. Thank you God

Garden project

This is Wednesday and mild weather prevails.  Since I don't sleep well (or at all after 3AM), I decided to take advantage of the chilly weather and tackle the front flower bed.
It had been in bad shape for at least 4 years.  The problem is that people walking to the front door see this sad mess.
It started out as a large bed with a "moat" "creek" separating sides. The problem not to mention the moles, has always been poor soil and competing with live oak trees for nutrients.  The live oaks are a mistake we made years ago and hubby has a hard time "killing" anything with green leaves.
That said, something has to be done.

No boring pictures of before and after, just now.

I had taken out one side of the garden and just tried to keep the weeds pulled or whacked to be presentable.
One morning, I knew what I wanted to do. Had to wait until the weather cooled however.

The white things are plastic pipe I used as a means to hold the border upright.  Not too hard to pull out. The bush on the right is the red Knock Out Rose.  This is the only thing remaining from the "other" bed.  Plan: move it into the redefined bed.  Hopefully, it won't get too big and grow outside the boundaries.


The smooth brown edging  is too short (5") and I need at least 8" to be able to pound 3 or so inches into the ground.  The edging I am using is from Gardener's Supply Company catalog. I should have purchased this product years ago.  It is pricy, but in the long run, cheaper considering how much money, time and back aches in between. All in all, the 8" pieces are perfect and at 65 dollars, a steal considering the ease of installation and durability

 This another one of my "cheaper" mistakes.  I decided that cement embedded siding was long, flexible enough to accomadate curves.  It is siding, should last?  How it lasts on a house takes a bit of thinking. My edging idea had one flaw the siding principle does not.  The top edge collected water. It is layers of stuff. On a house, the top edge is covered by the next strip.
Needless to say, it held up fine until rain and freezing temperatures for several years. A shattered mess to take out.   Some sections did the job, but not enough.

The black pieces fit together easily, a little hard to control the equal depth for an even border.  I have a 4 foot long level and used it to keep everything as straight as possible.  

The dirt was a bit loose and there will be some settling that can be easily rectified. I watered it in and will wait to see what needs a bit of tweaking.
All in all, I am happy
with the results.  Now to
add amendments and plan                                            
for spring.

     I think the true gardener is a lover of his flowers, not a critic of them. I think the true gardener is the reverent servant of Nature, not her truculent, wife-beating master. I think the true gardener, the older he grows, should more and more develop a humble, grateful and uncertain spirit. ~Reginald Farrer, In a Yorkshire Garden, 1909  

            Half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination.  ~Mrs. C.W. Earle, Pot-Pourri from a Surrey Garden, 1897 (Thanks, Jessica)                                                                                                                          

I

Terrific garden what not ideas

Ok, I am not a fan of pintrest.  Most seems just a bit too, too.
Today, I have changed my mind. I happened to come across a wonderful collection of garden enhancing and working and other ideas, I just have to share.
This came about because I found a deal on 6 old windows at a flea market  for a garden conservatory.  I have been mulling this idea for years.  The lady at the flea market who made wonderful conservatories with broken china embelishments no longer there, nor is her web site active. This slowed down my creative juices.  I have to make a "test" of my ideas before I go for broke. Have found that starting out cold and not knowing quite what to do, can make for major disappointments.

I am excited just  looking at all the clever garden ideas.   If you check the site out, somewhere on the picture you will see Pinned from  if you click on that, voila! you are on a clever blog. Haven't spent much time checking them out. (There are a lot)  I plan to spend a lot of time here and on the blogs mentioned.

Check it out!
http://www.pinterest.com/sassynancy/greenhouse-conservatory-potting-shed/

I plan to put my windows together, now that days are cooler, and see if I can make something I want in my garden. I even have a location in mind.

Fall is still trying to make up its mind

Yesterday, according to the weather (actors) reports, was supposed to be in low 70's.  Perfect for hubby and me to visit Canton flea market.  Woke to 78 degrees.  Okay, debated a bit and decided to take a chance. 
A WHOLE LOT of shoppers had the same idea! I have never in my 20+ years of shopping this flea market saw so many people!  I almost backed out of trying.  It gets so thick with shoppers and their carts, wagons, and the ever present electric transportation thingy.  Not just for persons who need help getting around. Just a "fun" thing to do. Ride the things in tandum, blocking road ways, jumping off and shop, shop, gab and hop back on to annoy pedestrians some more. Love the groups of mom, aunties and teens all taking up the very very crowded roads.

Nuf said. Just one of my pet peeves about obnoxious shoppers.

The temperature failed to cooperate and it was in the humid 80's by 11:00AM.  Enthusiasm waned and we went in search of food.  A baked potato and iced tea and off again. 

There was a schizophrenic atmosphere in displays which can be quite comical. You think it's bad when Christmas and Thanksgiving and Halloween displays show up in July at Wally World.  It is even worse to think of the work that went into very creative displays at a flea market.
Some people are so talented in choosing what and how to display. I am sure they would prefer one season at a time.

Don't forget to click on picture to view larger

I have some of these houses unfinished. What a great idea!

My intent was to take photos of the overwhelming assortment of choices, but just too crowded and hot and... crowded.

Notice Christmas on the left and Thanksgiving on the right

At 1:30PM, the front finally blew in.  The people who dressed for cool weather were happy and grateful as they suffered in the heat I am sure.  The people in shorts and halters, dragging their kids in their shorts and thin shirts were probably not so happy.

All in all, flea marketing is never dull.