Garden on Sherlock Street

Did Your Zone Change?

2012-02-02T04:34:00.000-06:00

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating a useful tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 1990 with greater accuracy and detail. The new map—jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group—is available online at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA. (from the U.S. Department of Agriculture).

Garden on Sherlock Street went from 5b to 6a with the new map.

The website is very easy to use. You can really get detailed information for your area.

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Paperwhite Blooms

2012-02-01T17:25:00.002-06:00

I came home from work and found blooms!

As many comments have noted, paperwhites can have a strong odor. Some love it. Some hate it. I'm in between. I won't stick my nose in them, but I don't mind the scent. I will likely put the vases in different rooms now that I have blooms to distribute the scent.

The blooms are just so sweet.

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Paperwhite Progress

2012-02-01T04:18:00.000-06:00

The paperwhite bulbs have either sprouted sporting buds or given up and been removed from the vases.

The glass vases make it very easy to watch the roots too.

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2012 Edibles Plan

2012-01-31T05:53:00.000-06:00

I have put together the list of edibles I hope to grow at Garden on Sherlock Street this year. I've added a few new things, but we try to stick with varieties we like when they do well here. That's why I'm keeping a list now. I used to just go with whatever variety of seeds I could find each year. Now, I search for what we want.

2012

basil
sweet

bean
snap: contender (bush)

--This year, I plan to plant them in more than one location to head off problems like spider mites that finished off the plants last year.

carrot
red cored chantenay
scarlet nantes
--My wonderful husband loves carrots.

cucumber
slicers: marketmore 76
slicers: white wonder

garlic
--I planted this last October. I haven't seen any sprouts yet which is unusual.

kohlrabi
early white vienna
purple vienna

lettuce
leaf: grand rapids tipburn resistant
leaf: salad bowl [Saved from 2010]
leaf: black seeded simpson
leaf: red salad bowl
romaine: forellenschluss (speckled trout)

--This is new for GonSS.
romaine: parris island cos

melon, muskmelon
hales best jumbo

melon, watermelon
??? [from Mom & Dad]

onion sets
--Will go with what I find locally.

parsley
Italian

pea
shelling types: little marvel (dwarf)
snow peas: melting sugar

pepper
bell: buy starter plants
jalapeno: buy starter plant

pumpkin
large: jack-o-lantern

radish
multi-colored: french breakfast
multi-colored: sparkler--This is new for GonSS.

red: cherry belle

rosemary

squash, summer
early prolific straightneck
black beauty (zucchini)
early white bush scallop--This is new for GonSS.

squash, winter
early acorn hybrid
small wonder hybrid

tomato
plum/roma type: buy starterplants
grape/cherry type: buy starter plants (saved tag from 2010)

----- Perennials -----

asparagus
jersey knight

--This is new for GonSS.

mint

strawberry
fragaria

--The heat last year killed off a lot of the plants. It will be a small berry crop this year.

----- Extras -----

I have seeds for the following but am not worried about purchasing more. The broccoli raab was fine but we didn't enjoy it enough to give up the space to grow it again. While I like cilantro my WH doesn't really care for it. Snow peas and shelling peas should cover our needs. So, I'll let the edible pod peas off the list. These may get planted, but not in the prime garden space;or I'll donate the seeds to our church's garden which distributes the produce at our food pantry. I need to talk to the garden organizer.

broccoli raab *

cilantro/coriander *

pea
edible pod: sugar bon

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First Flower of 2012

2012-01-30T16:14:00.001-06:00

Today is really unseasonably warm for us. It's 70 degrees currently.

As I explored the garden, I found a white crocus.

The first flower of 2012.

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Edibles 2012

2012-01-29T18:05:00.000-06:00

basil
sweet

bean
snap: contender (bush)

carrot
red cored chantenay
scarlet nantes

cucumber
slicers: marketmore 76
slicers: white wonder

garlic

kohlrabi
early white vienna
purple vienna

lettuce
leaf: grand rapids tipburn resistant
leaf: salad bowl [Saved from 2010]
planted 1/31/12
leaf: black seeded simpson
leaf: red salad bowl
romaine: forellenschluss "speckled trout"
romaine: parris island cos

melon, muskmelon
hales best jumbo

melon, watermelon
??? [from Mom & Dad 2010]

onion sets

parsley
Italian

pea
shelling types: little marvel (dwarf)
snow peas: melting sugar

pepper
bell: buy starter plants
jalapeno: buy starter plant

pumpkin
large: jack-o-lantern

radish
multi-colored: french breakfast
multi-colored: sparkler
red: cherry belle

rosemary

squash, summer
early prolific straightneck
black beauty (zucchini)
early white bush scallop

squash, winter
early acorn hybrid
small wonder hybrid

tomato
plum/roma type: buy starterplants
grape/cherry type: buy starter plants [saved tag from 2010]

-----Perennials -----

asparagus

jersey knight

mint

strawberry

fragaria

----- Extras -----

broccoli raab

cilantro/coriander

pea

edible pod: sugar bon

Google Reader Commentary

2012-01-26T06:15:00.000-06:00

I postponed moving to the new Blogger interface until recently. It's been interesting figuring out where some things are or which little icon gets me to the place I need. It's not difficult, it's just different. I thought I had mastered it until I realized that my post on spring planning was missing a title. Why? Because I didn't notice where the title box was. I also forgot tags. Same reason. Hopefully, I find my way around soon.

I also tried Google Reader for the first time recently. In general, it makes sense. I can just scroll down and read the entire post of each blog I'm following. Efficient? Yes. Fun? No. I missed the personality of each blog. The colors, the photos, the links, the gadgets and gizmos. It was very plain. Yes, the photos of each post were there, but the header photos of some blogs are just amazing. You don't see them using Google Reader. Clicking on the link and opening your blog is like stepping into your garden. It's a total experience. If I want more about what you're posting, I can usually search the blog and get previous posts about the plant. Comments were missing too (unless that's a box I haven't found to check mark yet). I enjoy the other readers' comments. Plus, some days, I'll read a blog and then click on a link in the blog roll; read that blog and then click on a link in the blog roll, etc. It's like a fun random garden tour.

At Garden on Sherlock Street, I keep a seasonal photo at the top of the right column; I have pages where you can find more information about GonSS; zone data and frost dates noted; a list of tags; links to other garden blogs; the followers block; my email address and a few slide shows. I hope you enjoy them and find some useful.

So, in summary, I'm skipping Google Reader. I want the whole experience of visiting your blog.

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Starting Spring Planning

2012-01-23T17:22:00.000-06:00

It has been windy at Garden on Sherlock Street lately. Today is calm and warm.

I spent some time over the weekend online and with the garden catalogs. I also gathered all my seed packets to take inventory and make a list of what I need to purchase. Most seeds are good for three to five years. Margaret Roach has good info on seed viability at A Way To Garden. I always need radish, carrot, kohlrabi, parsley and onions. Parsley and onions don't keep well after a year. We just eat a lot of the other ones. I'm going to add yellow patty pan squash to my garden this year. A friend gave us some last summer. They were yummy and cute too. I want to try a new lettuce, speckled trout or forellenchluss. Dee at Red Dirt Ramblings inspired me to try that one. I'm browsing the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange catalog which I downloaded from their website and am going to get some of my seeds from them. I also will order some vegetables from Burpee including Jersey Knight asparagus starts. I know it will be a couple of years before we eat any of the asparagus. So, the sooner I plant some the better. I decided on a location for the asparagus bed last year and worked the area with some straw before winter. Jeanne at Seven Oaks is trying to decide on an asparagus variety for her garden. Before I place any vegetable seed orders, I do check at my favorite local garden center. I'm hoping to fit that in this week. I like them for some of those plants where you only need a few seeds. Like zucchini.

I have a nice list of pretty new perennial flower plants too. I order many of my perennials from High Country Gardens. I'm really watching for words like drought tolerant after last year's summer. The holly bushes are coming out this spring and I have a plan for that area. Melanie at No Place Like Home recommended caryopterisis or blue mist spirea. I think it would look great by the fence. Plus, I'm going to plant Agastache cana 'Rosita.' Sue at Sue's Garden Journal, Catherine at A Gardener in Progress and Tricia at Let There Be Garden all thought that would hold up in our heat and drought. And, both plants seem to be butterfly and/or hummingbird magnets. Bonus!

It sure is fun to plan and dream about the coming growing season.

Meanwhile, in the house, the paperwhites are sprouting nicely. I think I have one bulb that is dead. Not bad for bargain bulbs.

Have a great week!

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Taking The Plunge

2012-01-19T05:41:00.001-06:00

Last March, I posted a "personal ad" for a watering can.

After some advice from fellow gardeners and much searching online and on foot, I found the watering can I wanted. I paused at the price.

I decided I could hold out until there was a sale or something. There was never a sale or anything.

Well, with some Christmas cash, I bought the watering can.

It is a Haws Galvanized Slimcan. The two gallon size.

As I wrote last year, "It must have a screw off sprinkler head. The carrying handle needs to be inline with the spout and pouring handle. Plus, I want the fill opening to be on top at back." That is exactly what I got. The "perfect galvanized watering can."

You can put different brass heads on the spout depending on what you want. I chose basic round. They don't screw on. They slide on. It is removable which is what I really wanted.

It arrived one late afternoon. I immediately filled the watering can with water. I watered crocus sprouting by the patio stepping stones even though it was only 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

I see a great future for us.

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All Of GonSS In One Photo

2012-01-16T06:32:00.005-06:00

Here is all of Garden on Sherlock Street as seen from way, way, way, way, way overhead. The photo is courtesy of Google who recently updated the satellite images of our area.

After some detective work with fellow employees (yes, we lost some productivity time analyzing the images at work one day), we determined that it was captured...

1) in late August or early September

school was in session--we checked out the area schools
the trailer being used by the men doing our remodel was parked behind our work place--it arrived about the time school started
the trees had not yet started to turn color

2) on a Friday

based on one employee's car being in the parking lot--she works Fridays, Saturday and Sundays

3) around noon

based on whose cars were in the parking lot
there being very little shadow

As for GonSS, the forest looks very thick, the locust tree is doing a great job of shading the patio and air conditioner and the little lawn in the front garden which only gets mowed occasionally (and weeded) actually looks green despite the dry growing season last year. I know you can't tell, but I know which dark areas are the tomatoes, peppers and basil.

I've often wanted to demonstrate the contrast for you between GonSS and our neighbors' gardens. I think this shows it well. Other than a couple of small trees in the property to the right of ours, the next door neighbors have only grass. I imagine the wildlife that finds our garden feeling like they've discovered an oasis. Actually, that's how we feel about the garden.

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Paperwhites Please

2012-01-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

While browsing some after Christmas sales, I came upon a small bag of paperwhite bulbs. They had a few sprouts already, but I bought them to try and get some blooms in the house this winter.

I like to force paper whites in tall vases. They act as supports.

I put a layer of glass pebbles at the bottom to support the roots.

Then, I nestled three bulbs into each vase.

I added water about half way up the bulbs. Now, to wait for the blooms.

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January Tour Time

2012-01-11T15:48:00.000-06:00

Colder air has returned to Garden on Sherlock Street. The January tour photos don't have a lot of interest as nothing is growing and there is no snow. I did notice how a lot of perennials are now flat from the big snow we had before Christmas. To see the photos, go one post back or check out the pages in the right hand column.

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January Tour 2012

2012-01-11T15:46:00.000-06:00

Front Garden

Forest

Back Garden

Side Garden

Vegetable Garden

Patio

Alley

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Making Good Use Of A Warm January Afternoon

2012-01-09T17:18:00.001-06:00

While we had a little cold front over the weekend, we're enjoying a few mild January days again before the next predicted cold blast comes (Wednesday). In anticipation of our annual tree pruning, I made good use of a warm afternoon and gathered the garden tools that need a little sharpening.

Mostly, pruners in the group. My wonderful husband handles heavy duty sharpening on shovels and such. He usually uses a metal file for them. I use a stone with a little honing oil on the pruners and even on a couple of my favorite hoes. Now, if the hoes had a big notch or something, they'd go to the file first.

I put a couple drops of the oil on the stone and then rub it in one direction only along the cutting edge of the tool. Sometimes, it doesn't seem like much is happening, but the shiny edge that appears tells you it is working.

Getting a little edge on things makes such a difference. There are tons of online tutorials for how to sharpen different types of tools. Sharp tools make the job so much easier. A little time with a stone or file can save you a lot of effort later. It's a great little winter project for a warm day. Daydreaming about all the flowers I'm going to cut for arrangements this summer while sharpening the hand pruners is fun too!

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Warm From One Side Of The House To The Other

2012-01-05T15:00:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe how warm it is in January.

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Santa Was Good To This Gardener

2011-12-26T15:20:00.001-06:00

We had a wonderful Christmas filled with family, friends, food and festivities.

This gardener received some nice gifts for the garden.

A subscription to Organic Gardening magazine from our God children.

New shears from a sister-in-law.

A dragonfly solar light from my wonderful husband's parents.

Let the 2012 garden planning begin!

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10.5"

2011-12-20T16:57:00.001-06:00

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Blizzard At Garden On Sherlock Street

2011-12-19T19:05:00.001-06:00

The December tour photos are one post back and under Pages in the right hand column.

Merry Christmas!

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December Tour 2011

2011-12-19T19:03:00.000-06:00

Front Garden

Forest

Back Garden

Side Garden

Vegetable Garden

Patio

Alley

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It Followed Me Home

2011-12-08T04:38:00.001-06:00

Really, I don't know how another plant found it's way into the house.

Must have something to do with the season.

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Adding A Little Greenery To The Home

2011-12-07T05:46:00.004-06:00

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It Did Not Turn Out Well

2011-12-06T05:28:00.004-06:00

I harvested some holly in November keeping it in a bucket of water in the garage in hopes of making some decorations for Christmas.

Since this is what the garden looked like Monday, I decided to stay inside and try an idea.

I got out a box of old glass ball Christmas ornaments that I use for just about anything except hanging on the tree, collected a few vases and brought in the holly.

I promptly broke one of the ornaments.

After tucking some ornaments into the vases (yes, one of those is a tree topper), I arranged the holly in the vases too.

Now, these are not the best ornaments. The paint on many of them is cracked which I thought might cause some of it to flake off when I added the water (wanting to keep the holly hydrated). However, I never considered that all the paint would come off making the water a mess and ruining the whole look. I pulled the holly, poured out the vases and threw the ornaments in the trash. This was not a good idea.

I found the glass pebbles I store in an old tin, cleaned the vases and went with a simplistic, elegant look instead of a colorful, festive look.

Tomorrow, I show you where I placed the arrangements.

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Turning A Frown Upside Down

2011-11-27T11:06:00.000-06:00

I last shared this photo with you in July when the heat was bringing an end to several plants in the garden.

It was a fitting image for this gardener's mood.

The local arts council hosts a photography competition and exhibit each year. I enjoy submitting photos and supporting the arts council with my entry fees. I've been fortunate to have a couple of photos accepted for the exhibits over the years. Most of my photos are of the garden. Big surprise. This year, I included this photo and it was accepted! So, I'm smiling even if froggy still looks sad.

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Harvesting Holly

2011-11-22T16:30:00.000-06:00

I posted in September that the two holly bushes would be removed and the area planted with more heat/drought tolerant plants. I kept the bushes through autumn in hopes of harvesting some holly for Christmas decorations. This afternoon was warm and calm. I collected a bucket of holly branches. There is water in there too. Hopefully, I'll put together something beautiful and creative from them. Next spring, the bushes will come out.

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Blustery Day For A Tour

2011-11-20T16:59:00.001-06:00

I almost forgot to take the November tour photos. Saturday, it suddenly hit me to get some photos. It was windy and cold when I took the photos. Certainly looks like autumn. Go back one post or click on the "Tour..." link under Pages in the right hand column.

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving with people you love.

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful that my mother is recovering well from her recent hip surgery (she also had back surgery in August.) It has been a long autumn for her, but she is feeling much better since having the surgeries and is much more mobile.

I'm still extra busy at work; but all in all, the computer transfer is working pretty well.

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November Tour 2011

2011-11-20T16:54:00.000-06:00

Front Garden

Forest

Back Garden

Side Garden

Vegetable Garden

Patio

Alley

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Gardener Busy Being Computer Tech

2011-11-12T17:28:00.000-06:00

Life may appear quiet at Garden on Sherlock Street for a little while. My place of employment is switching to a new computer system and doing some renovation work too. I'm putting in overtime (not paid) to make sure my areas of responsibility transition smoothly. I promise that I am continuing to tend to the plants overwintering in the house and am enjoying the nice fall rains we have received. I hope to make some quick visits to your garden as I have time. Take care.

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The Ones Toughing It Out

2011-11-06T19:26:00.000-06:00

The recent snow and cold snap took a few more plants from the containers on the patio. Mostly, the sweet potato vine, purple hyacinth bean and Jacob's coat plants. I think the purple fountain grass also died in the cold, but the plumes still look nice so I left them for now. I was most surprised that the ice plant is still looking good. That's what is still in the trash cans. I also have some blooming petunias.

The gooseneck loosestrife I planted in a container this spring is tucked in by the house where I hope it will overwinter well. What looks like a dryer vent above the container is actually an air intake for a fireplace we do not use in the family room. The fire place was added at some time in the house's life and is terribly inefficient. It will be removed in a (hopefully soon) remodel of the family room. By soon, I'm looking at two or three years. The plant should be a little warmer there in general, and I gave it some extra mulch and can keep an eye on it easily.

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First Snow

2011-11-02T16:35:00.001-05:00

I know this is nothing compared to what some parts of the US have gotten in snow already this year. I just wanted to document the first snow on the garden. It is melting as soon as it hits something. I'm just glad for the moisture.

Update: OK. Half an hour later and the snow is accumulating. Yea for the moisture!

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Milkweed Seeds

2011-11-01T16:25:00.001-05:00

This is not a "how to" blog post.

This is a "what I'm doing" blog post.

As you may remember, I recently acquired a milkweed seed pod.

After consulting various websites about how to grow milkweed from seed, I have settled on the following attempts.

I opened the pod watching in awe as the milkweed silk nearly bust out in a big pouf. My wonderful husband helped me by taking these photos as my hands were full.

I put the milkweed silk and seeds into a plastic container which I have a lid for.

It took a bit to keep it from flying out even inside the house with no air moving.

I added a few coins to the container. This is ALL the change I had in my purse at the time.

No photos here, but I'm sure you can picture me shaking and twirling the container (with the lid on) to remove the seed from the silk. It worked fairly well. I had to pull a few seeds from the silk by hand.

The seeds got a little chipped in this process but I'm sure it won't affect them germinating. Maybe I shook and twirled for too long?

Butterfly Encounters says the best way to plant milkweed seed is to just put it out in November and let mother nature do her thing. Milkweed seed needs cold moist stratification. You can also fake this in the refrigerator. I didn't use the horticulture sand mentioned by Butterfly Encounters. I used a damp paper towel as I read on another website (which I've lost the link to). I've decided to try both processes.

I put about half the seeds on the damp paper towel.

After folding the damp paper towel, I placed it in a labeled zipper bag. This went into the refrigerator where it will wait until after the last spring frost to plant the seeds.

The rest of the seeds were planted in the garden. To remind myself where they are planted, I made markers with these teal plastic forks.

I just barely covered the seeds with soil, watered them gently and put a little straw there too to help hold some moisture in the area.

Even if the label wears off over the winter, these are the only teal plastic forks in the garden.

In the spring, I'll plant the seeds currently in the refrigerator. Hopefully, between the two methods, something will grow.

We'll see what spring brings!

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Almost Halloween

2011-10-30T18:34:00.000-05:00

The pumpkin plant at Garden on Sherlock Street barely survived yet alone make any pumpkins. So, once again I purchased my pumpkins at the grocery store. I carved ghosts this year.

The pumpkin seeds are currently being roasted. Yummy.

We have managed to not eat the Halloween candy we purchased for the trick-or-treaters.

Here's wishing you a fun Halloween!

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Autumn Garden Clean Up

2011-10-25T05:59:00.000-05:00

Autumn has arrived at Garden on Sherlock Street. While we only got a light frost last week, many of the plants are tucking in for a winter nap.

The locust tree is dropping leaves everyday.

Saturday, I took down the teepee trellises and cut down the sunflowers. I wanted to get a photo of the tallest sunflower by itself first. My wonderful husband helped me measure it after we cut it down. It grew to eleven feet four inches!

Here is the area where the sunflowers and teepee trellises were. See the teepee trellises leaning against the fence for winter?

This is the view from the alley. I removed all the plants from the raised vegetable beds. I set the cold frames in the beds so they're ready for next spring. I also planted my garlic Saturday and drained the rain barrels.

When I took down the teepee trellises, I harvest the gourds. This is the gourd harvest. The gourds just couldn't produce in the heat this year. These will be decorations on Thanksgiving.

We put some new mulch in the area where the fiber installers had to dig a hole by the house too.

Saturday was a great day to clean up the garden.

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Cultivating Deeply

2011-10-22T17:05:00.000-05:00

Remember when I said I didn't know why we had flags marking the utilities in our garden

since they weren't going to dig in the new fiber lines for our internet and TV? Well, apparently, it was deemed necessary to put the new fiber underground for us and a few of our nearby neighbors.

They bored under everything in our garden to the house where they dug a hole and pulled the fiber up. Just like our phone company did last year. However, they dug much bigger holes in the alley this year. I was surprised to see this parked out back.

This is the boring machine going under the whole garden to the house.

Here is where they drilled the line to. This is a bigger hole by the house than I was expecting. The bouncing betties will have to spread to fill in next year. Tip: don't plant anything you can't sacrifice or that won't recover beside the place where your utilities come out of the ground.

Fiber line waiting for the box installers.

This process was done over a week's time.

As for the alley, I'm just going to look at it as free cultivation for the seeds I'm collecting to plant out there next spring. Sigh. I'm really glad I decided against making a bed for the asparagus in the alley.

The guys working on our fiber were very friendly, let me take photos and talked gardening with me. One guy in particular told me, "I really like your back yard." They did all they could to not disrupt anything more than necessary.

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Rain Gauge Report For 2011

2011-10-22T08:54:00.000-05:00

2011 04 10 set up rain barrels

2011 04 16 put out rain gauge

2011 04 25 00.65" 2 1/2 barrels

2011 05 13 00.05" 1 barrel

2011 05 19 00.28" 2 1/4 barrels

2011 05 20 00.40" 2 1/2 barrels

2011 05 21 00.10" 2 1/2 barrels

2011 05 24 00.52" 3 barrels FULL

2011 05 25 01.20" 3 barrels FULL

2011 06 07 ------ barrels are empty

2011 06 12 01.05" 2 barrels

2011 06 18 00.70" 1 1/4 barrels

2011 06 19 00.30" 2 1/2 barrels

2011 06 26 ------ barrels are empty

2011 07 03 00.10' 3/4 barrel

2011 07 04 ------ barrels are empty

2011 07 07 01.15" 3 barrels FULL

2011 07 09 00.08" 3 barrels FULL

2011 07 16 00.28" 2 1/2 barrels

2011 07 20 00.00" barrels are empty

2011 07 21 00.05" 1/2 barrel

2011 07 23 ------ barrels are empty

2011 07 28 00.20" 1 1/2 barrels

2011 07 31 00.25" 1 3/4 barrels

2011 08 03 00.28" 2 1/2 barrels

2011 08 05 00.50" 3 barrels FULL

2011 08 08 00.18" 3 barrels FULL

2011 08 09 01.50" 3 barrels FULL

2011 08 10 02.00" 3 barrels FULL

2011 08 28 ------ barrels are empty

2011 08 30 00.18 1 1/3 barrels

2011 09 03 00.03 7/8 barrel

2011 09 08 ------ barrels are empty

2011 09 18 00.55" 2 1/4 barrels

2011 10 06 00.10" 3/4 barrel

2011 10 09 01.15" 3 barrels FULL

2011 10 16 disconnected the overflow hoses between barrels

2011 10 18 00.30" 1 barrel FULL

2011 10 22 brought in rain gauge & drained rain barrels

*each rain barrel can hold 75 gallons of water.

**I am continually using water from the rain barrels.

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Bringing The Garden Inside

2011-10-21T06:25:00.002-05:00

While we only got a light frost Wednesday night/Thursday morning, I think I am done bringing in plants for the season. Most of the plants will live on the plant stand in the family room. I put the fern from my friend in one of the bathrooms to give it some humidity, and the ice plants are living in a window where they did quite well last year. Here is the list of plants I will try to overwinter:

2 aloe vera

1 amaryllis

3 asparagus ferns

2 bacopa cuttings

1 cacti

1 fern

10 geraniums

hornwort in bucket

2 ice plants

4 impatien cuttings

1 Jacob's coat

2 Jacob's coat cuttings

1 mother-in-law's tongue

1 rosemary

snails in bucket

8 sweet potato vine cuttings

2 vinca cuttings

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Edibles 2011

2011-10-18T20:45:00.004-05:00

basil

sweet

planted 5/7/11

purple plant from Mel

planted 5/7/11

bean

snap: contender (bush)

planted 5/7/11

broccoli raab

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/2/11

carrot

red cored chantenay

planted 4/9/11

planted 4/28/11

planted 5/17/11

planted 8/11/11

planted 8/25/11

scarlet nantes

planted 4/9/11

planted 4/28/11

planted 5/17/11

planted 7/23/11

cilantro/coriander

planted 5/7/11

cucumber

slicers: marketmore 76

planted 5/7/11

slicers: white wonder

planted 5/7/11

garlic

planted 10/22/11

kohlrabi

early white vienna

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/2/11

planted 4/9/11

planted 4/28/11

planted 5/17/11

planted 8/25/11

purple vienna

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/9/11

planted 4/28/11

planted 8/11/11

lettuce

leaf: grand rapids tipburn resistant

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/2/11

leaf: salad bowl [Saved from 2010]

planted 3/12/11

planted 5/17/11

planted 8/13/11

planted 8/25/11

leaf: black seeded simpson

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/2/11

planted 4/28/11

planted 9/19/11

leaf: red salad bowl

planted 3/12/11

romaine: parris island cos

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/2/11

planted 4/28/11

melon, muskmelon

hales best jumbo

planted 5/7/11

planted 5/21/11

melon, watermelon

[from Mom and Dad]

planted 5/7/11

planted 5/21/11

onion

evergreen bunching

planted 3/20/11

planted 4/18/11

planted 5/17/11

planted 7/23/11

red burgundy

planted 3/20/11

planted 4/3/11

sweet spanish yellow utah jumbo

planted 3/20/11

planted 4/3/11

parsley

aromatico a costa rossa

planted 5/7/11

pea

edible pod: sugar bon

planted 3/20/11

planted 4/9/11

planted 4/17/11

shelling types: little marvel (dwarf)

planted 3/20/11

planted 4/9/11

planted 4/17/11

snow peas: melting sugar

planted 3/20/11

planted 4/9/11

pepper

bell: buy starter plants

planted 5/7/11

jalapeno: buy starter plant

planted 5/7/11

pumpkin

large: jack-o-lantern

planted 5/7/11

radish

multi-colored: french breakfast

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/28/11

planted 5/17/11

planted 9/4/11

red: cherry belle

planted 3/12/11

planted 4/28/11

planted 5/17/11

planted 9/4/11

planted 9/19/11

rosemary

planted 5/7/11

planted 6/9/11

planted 6/20/11

squash, summer

early prolific straightneck

planted 5/7/11

planted 5/21/11

black beauty (zucchini)

planted 5/7/11

squash, winter

early acorn hybrid

planted 5/7/11

small wonder hybrid

planted 5/7/11

planted 5/21/11

tomato

grape/cherry type: sweet baby plant from Mel #1

planted 5/7/11

grape/cherry type: chocolate cherry plant from Mel #2

planted 5/7/11

standard slicers: brandywine heirloom plant from Mel #3

planted 5/7/11

standard slicers: mater sandwich plant from Mel #4

planted 5/7/11

plum/roma type: volunteer in back 4

found 5/29/11

***** Perrenials*****

mint

strawberry

***** Extras *****

mesclun

planted 4/3/11

radish

white: icicle, short top

planted 4/3/11

planted 5/7/11

spinach

bloomsdale long standing

planted 4/3/11

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Safety In Numbers

2011-10-17T19:53:00.000-05:00

The weather forecast this week has "the f word." Frost!!!

Since we are past our average frost date, I'm not really surprised. In anticipation of frost, I have moved all the remaining container plants together along the edge of the patio where they will get some protection if it's not a hard frost. They look really good. I hope to hang on to them for a little while longer. I have already moved in all the plants I wanted to overwinter.

I also took some cuttings of the sweet potato vine, bacopa, vinca and Jacob's coat.

I harvested the remaining peppers too, and chopped them before putting them in the freezer.

It was a long, hard growing season with the extreme heat and drought. Autumn has been mild and given us some rain. I'm not ready to go to winter, but the change of seasons has been welcome.

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Adding To The Plant Collection

2011-10-17T07:01:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year, my aloe vera plant gave it up. Don't know why. It didn't transition well from the house to the garden.

My mom gave me some starts from her aloe vera plants.

Yes, the pot on the left has a crack. I can't seem to let a pot go until it just won't hold soil anymore.

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Milkweed Find

2011-10-16T07:30:00.002-05:00

My wonderful husband and I have been bike riding as often as possible enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. On Friday, we were on a county sand road. As we passed milo fields and cattle herds, I was checking out the plants along the road. Along one particular mile, there were a lot of milk weed plants with seed pods already opened the fluffy seeds gone in the wind. Then, I spotted a plant right in the edge of the road whose seed pods were ready to explode, but still intact. I carefully collected one pod and tucked it into my pocket.

The promise of native milk weed plants next year.

I want to support monarch butterflies more next year. They need the milk weed plants for the caterpillars.

I haven't seen any monarch butterflies here since I posted about the asters. I think they've moved on south for the winter.

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Put Up 2011

2011-10-15T17:54:00.001-05:00

Put Up

Produce consumed while standing in the garden, eaten soon after harvest, given to family and friends (unless it is given to them after it's "put up") or saved as seed is not included in this list.

In The Cupboard or Root Cellar*

garlic, bulbs
25

onion, red burgundy
whole, 6

onion, sweet spanish yellow utah jumbo
whole, 17

squash, small wonder hybrid
12

In The Freezer

basil, sweet,
pureed, 14 cubes

parsley, aromatico a costa rossa
2 quart logs

pea, edible pod: sugar bon
1/3 gallon bag

pea, shelling types: little marvel (dwarf)
1 1/4 cups in Tupperware

pea, snow peas: melting sugar
1/3 gallon bag

pepper-green/red, chopped

12 pint bags

pepper-jalepeno, chopped
1 cup

pepper-jalepeno, rings
1 cup

tomato, diced

10 pint bag

vegetable stock
13 cups

*Root Cellar: a tray lined with newspapers in the guest room

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What's Black And Orange With Glitter?

2011-10-14T19:41:00.000-05:00

I am used to finding tomato horn worms. They turn into hawk moths. Usually, they are green making them hard to find on tomato plants.

This is a horn worm too, but I've never seen one this color before. The spots on the black body 'glittered,' and it's head and horn are orange. It was busy eating four o'clock leaves.

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Bulbs To Plant

2011-10-13T13:01:00.000-05:00

Each year, I try to add some flowering bulbs to the garden. This year's list is smaller than some.

I picked up some different red tulips for the bed by the remaining red bud tree.

A few daffodils to add to the front shrub bed.

I don't let the garlic flower, but here are the bulbs I saved to plant for next year's crop.

I also got a large purple allium bulb to replace one that apparently disappeared from the bed under the living room window, and some allium moly bulbs to plant along the patio in the back garden.

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The Lawn Gives A Gift

2011-10-12T13:46:00.000-05:00

Since we had such a nice soaking rain last weekend, I scanned our small front lawn for weeds. Imagine my surprise when I found small white flowers.

They're in there. In the bermuda grass that is going to sleep. See them?

Here's a closer view.

They look like some type of aster.

I don't know how they found their way to the lawn, but I rescued them.

It was easy to dig them out of the rain soaked soil.

I found them new homes. Some in the front shrub bed and others in the alley where I'm hoping to get a mix of wildflowers growing.

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Late Asters

2011-10-11T13:46:00.004-05:00

Ever since I planted the asters in the garden, they have bloomed by mid September. Always.

When we returned from our vacation, I expected to find the asters blooming their little hearts out. No.

The asters finally started blooming last week. In October. Odd.

I guess they waited to give these butterflies some flowers.

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Rainy October Tour

2011-10-10T15:48:00.000-05:00

The October tour photos were taken while it was raining. A light rain. Very unusual to take them in the rain. We usually get our moisture during thunderstorms or blizzards. A day of light rain is not common. As I finished the photos, the rain started coming down harder making it was a great day to sit inside at the computer working the photos while listening to the rain. I took these Saturday morning. It continued to rain off and on through most of Sunday. We received 1.15" of rain. To get that much in a slow soaking manner is such a gift. Just what we needed after a hot week with wind.

You'll notice in the back garden that we have flags marking our phone and gas lines again this fall. Not having work done like last fall, but a local phone/internet company is working in town so the utilities are marking every line they have access to. Apparently, not having a back fence made our garden accessible because while they marked a neighbor's yard where they have no fence, all the fenced yards down the alley were spared the markers on their properties.

The vegetable garden is really waning. I am harvesting peppers on a regular basis and some tomatoes still, but it's time to start putting it to bed.

All of the plants I plan to overwinter have been brought indoors. I will take some cuttings before we frost this fall of the sweet potato vines and impatiens. In the mean time, the patio containers are looking good with the cooler days.

I want to mulch our "unloading area" in the alley. Then next year, I hope to get a lot of wildflowers going out there. That will really make it look better.

The tour is one post back or you can find it in the pages in the right hand column. Hope you enjoy the rainy tour.

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October Tour 2011

2011-10-10T15:44:00.000-05:00

Front Garden

Forest

Back Garden

Side Garden

Vegetable Garden

Patio

Alley

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A Wren?

2011-10-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

I need help identifying this little bird. He is so cute. We have a handful of them in the garden. They're busy, busy eating bugs. This one came up on the patio a lot while it was raining this morning. It looks like a wren but I don't know more than that.

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I Have A Fern

2011-10-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine was given a fern by a friend of hers. She planted it in the ground and it grew huge over the summer. She was told it would not survive outside during the winter. Since she wasn't going to bring it her house for the winter, she offered it to me. This is a small piece of the fern. Like one twentieth of the original plant.

I put it in a pot and brought it inside. I have no idea what type of fern it is, what kind of light it prefers, does it need to stay moist or let dry out, etc.

Here's a close up of the leaves.

Any advice?????

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Two Became Six

2011-10-06T06:14:00.000-05:00

We have six solar lights at Garden on Sherlock Street. Three along the front walkway and three at different points off the back patio. They've been here for a number of years and are holding up pretty well. I leave them out all year in all weather.

Recently, one of the back solar lights died. I did all the tricks--replaced the AA rechargeable battery, cleaned out the spider webs, made sure it was making contact, made sure it was getting sun during the day, etc. Since I was also wanting another solar light by the stepping stones off the back patio, I headed to the store to purchase two solar lights.

The solar lights you can buy individually are inexpensive but do not use replaceable AA rechargeable batteries.

The boxed sets of four solar lights are $29.99. The boxed sets of six solar lights are $19.99. Each boxed set uses replaceable AA rechargeable batteries. Eventually, rechargeable batteries stop taking a charge. They stop taking a charge long before the charger stops working.

Four in the sleek new style and finish that cost more or six in the basic old style and finish that cost less?

That is how two became six.

I put together the lights and did a little rearranging.

I took out the three old solar lights by the front walkway and put in five new solar lights.

The other new solar light went at the end of the sidewalk to our trash container area. The remaining five old solar lights took their places off the patio.

We now have more solar lights at GonSS.

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Many, Many Monarchs

2011-10-04T15:26:00.000-05:00

There were even more monarch butterflies on the salvia and butterfly bush too. I'm just amazed!

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Happy On The Salvia

2011-10-02T15:08:00.000-05:00

Right now, the most popular plant in the garden is the salvia planted along the driveway in the front garden.

I have many more photos of the butterflies and bees.

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GonSS And WH's Great Utah (And Colorado) Adventure

2011-09-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

I think it takes a whole week to dig out of the "to do list" at home and at work after a week away on vacation. I'm have managed to process some photos, but haven't visited many other blogs lately.

I'm coming! Leave the coffee on! Actually, I don't drink coffee. Save me some lemonade!

Here's a little post about our adventure.

It's worth the extra efforts before and after vacation to be able to do this stuff.

First of all, I'm a geology nut. I love rocks, seeing areas of previous volcanic activity and finding fossils. That transfers into enjoying petroglyphs left by the American Indians and viewing the remains of their stone buildings. I love all stone buildings. Hmmmm. More of a pattern there than I thought. Someday, I hope to travel to Hawaii to see the volcanoes in action and I secretly want to feel a small earthquake. My wonderful husband asks whenever we travel to mountain areas, "why aren't you a geologist?" Well, my BS focused on geology in college. Shrug.

Anyway, My WH and I headed out September 10. We drove over 2000 miles during this trip. I snapped a lot of photos from the passenger seat. Cool stuff like this.

And this.

Sunday, September 11, we arrived in Springdale, UT. I had made reservations at a cute little motel and we planned to pack in as much of Zion National Park as possible.

On Monday, September 12, we hiked one mile up and back through The Narrows. Basically, you hike in the Virgin River where the canyon narrows. Now, after a dry, hot summer, rain found us everyday of this trip. Mostly late in the afternoon. Since it had rained Sunday afternoon, the river was a little deeper and faster than one would have thought this time of year. This is my WH before going into chest deep water. 58 degree Fahrenheit water. Brrr. We had planned for this but it still makes you shiver.

After the initial deep spot, most of the water was knee deep. With a couple of waist deep spots right after you get completely dry. This is me with my hair in braids. Only on hiking trips do I morph into "hippy girlfriend" as my WH likes to point out. He's "hikin' dude." Yes, that water was running a little hard. Talk about a work out.

The canyon was just amazing and worth all the effort of walking against the water to see it.

This waterfall was one of my favorite spots.

We purchased a small "sport" camera that says it is waterproof up to 10 feet deep just to be able to take photos safely during this trip. Everything else important was left behind or put in zipper bags. Like our lunch!

After returning to the motel that night, it rained.

On Tuesday, September 13, we first hiked to Hidden Canyon. Some of the trail is along the edge of the uplifted rocks and there are chains to hold onto for safety. You can't see over the edge in this photo but trust me when I say it was a long way down over that edge!

Once you actually get to Hidden Canyon, you can explore it as much as you want which requires navigating some rocks, and since it rained the night before, pools.

The view coming back down was so beautiful with the sun on the colorful rocks. See, a long way down.

I also got several photos of this beautiful red flowering plant.

We rented bikes Tuesday afternoon and biked the road in and out of Zion National Park. Since they run a shuttle service there is very little traffic making it a great place to bike. We loved the shuttles. Yes, you do have all the stops; but without all the vehicles, the canyon was quieter. And, we met the best people on the shuttles. We were always talking to someone about a trail or what they had seen or done. Hikin' Dude and Hippy Girlfriend are very chatty. As we were finishing our bike ride, it poured! That makes two days of getting wet. It poured so much that they had to close The Narrows to hikers for a couple of days because it flash flooded. We did so good going in the first day of our visit.

On Wednesday, September 14, we got out early. I just love the light on these canyon walls.

Our destination was Scout's Lookout and then up the West Rim Trail a bit. We passed on going to Angel's Landing. It is a thin sliver of rock you navigate with many other hikers using chains to get to a separate point that looks down into the canyon. We got great views from the West Rim without having to concentrate on every step and hand hold.

Here's Hikin' Dude taking photos.

To get to Scout's Lookout, there is a section called Walter's Wiggles. I don't remember how many switch backs there are total. I couldn't get them all in the photo.

Here's the great view from Scout's Lookout.

Since we had two cameras for this trip. There are many more photos of me on the trail than in previous years.

After returning from this hike, we took another trail to Emerald Pools. It started raining near the end of this hike and we actually got out the ponchos to finish because it poured again. That makes three days of being wet.

Thursday, September 15, we squeezed in a short hike along the road on our way east out of the park. I'd bought a new hat the night before in town after seeing how well my WH's hat shed the water during the rain storm Wednesday afternoon. No hiking sticks on this trail. This went to Canyon Overlook.

Then, we hit the road across southern Utah. There are tons of places we want to visit there. We're already talking about just coming back next year to see more. This was at a high place along the highway where we met another couple vacationing with their two dogs and a group of motorcycle riders on their way to Vegas. As I said, chatty, chatty, chatty.

Love this "sculpture" along the highway.

And, the layers here are so cool.

On Friday, September 16, we took the road less traveled through Indian lands to see Hovenweep National Monument. We were at the main site with the visitor center, but they have several sites protected to preserve structures like these.

Then, we packed on many miles to cross the mountains and stayed in Alamosa, CO so we could go to Great Sand Dunes National Park Saturday morning. We will be back to this location soon. You can go out and hike the dunes all you want. When it rains (and yes it rained overnight), you can sled down the dunes. We saw several kids with their snow sleds. The dunes sit against very tall mountains. Like 13,000 to 14,000 feet tall mountains. There is an amazing contrast there and you can hike trails into the mountains. We will return.

And, the rest of the story is in the last Sunday's post about arriving home.

I gave the garden a lot of love Monday afternoon. It did pretty well without us last week since it has started cooling off. Now, time to start bringing in plants to overwinter and preparing for the first frost which could come any day here.

I hope you enjoyed a little of our adventure. I'll be by soon!

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Too Many To Count

2011-09-19T16:19:00.000-05:00

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GonSS And WH Are Home

2011-09-18T15:39:00.000-05:00

It was a dark and foggy night as Gardener on Sherlock Street and Wonderful Husband made their way home Saturday.

It had been an amazing adventure. Many miles had been driven over mountains, across deserts, through tunnels, in busy cities and to remote villages. At the main destination, they waded in a canyon river, biked through scenic lands and hiked to overlooks with amazing views.

The journey was coming to an end as they traveled lonely highways across plains, past quiet farmsteads and through sleepy country towns. Family, friends, work and the garden were all awaiting their return.

Coming over a rise, they saw the lights of their city. The colors were muted through the fog. As they pulled into the drive on Sherlock Street, Gardener's eyes scanned the plants in the mist. All looked upright and water drops glistened with the porch light. A quick pace through the house brought her to the patio door where she peered out and was greeted with happy containers. The vegetables and plants in the farther reaches of the garden would wait until morning for their inspection as the hour was late and both Gardener and Wonderful were happy to soon be sleeping in their own bed for the night.

Sunday morning revealed a nice rain shower had blessed the garden overnight. All looked well. Gardener watered the containers on the porch and patio. She turned on the fountain to enjoy as they unpacked suitcases, washed dishes and did laundry. Gardener will soon harvest tomatoes and peppers which grew and matured during her absence.

Garden on Sherlock Street will need some extra attention this week. Gardener will be by to visit your garden soon! A future post will share more of the adventures with photos.

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Bye Holly

2011-09-15T16:32:00.000-05:00

This is a tag from one of the 3 holly bushes we planted in the garden almost ten years ago.

Note how tall the holly bush is suppose to get. Eight feet tall.

One of the holly bushes died a number of years ago.

The primrose has surrounded the remaining two holly bushes.

But, I ask you, do these look eight feet tall?

I need to include the holly bushes on the list of crispy plants in the garden after this year's heat.

It is time for the holly bushes to leave. I will let go of the dream of making Christmas decorations with them. Later this fall or early next spring, this area will be dug up and new plants will get the space. I'm already dreaming of tall flowering plants. Maybe some joe pye weed, bee balm or phlox. Any suggestions? The primrose will likely still be in the area too.

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Purple Pod

2011-09-12T07:07:00.000-05:00

The flower tower was planted this spring in hopes of a beautiful display of white bacopa intertwined with purple hyacinth bean vine. The heat did in most of the bacopa and really held the purple hyacinth bean vine back.

I disassembled the flower tower. The one surviving bacopa is doing well by the front steps. The purple hyacinth bean vine container was put on the back patio where it is now blooming!

The flowers smell so sweet.

There is one small pod. Hoping for more.

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Clematis Blooms

2011-09-08T06:34:00.000-05:00

In May 2010, I planted a clematis in the garden. It grew, but did not bloom in 2010.

In July 2011, the clematis was included in my crispy report. It did not look good. I started watching it extra closely; gave it more water and mulched its roots really well.

Imagine my surprise to find it is blooming!

One bloom.

Two bloom.

Yea!!!

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Coming In From The Alley

2011-09-06T19:54:00.000-05:00

We had a mild, cloudy evening Tuesday. I was enjoying the fountain on the patio through the open door and thought I'd share it with you. When I went outside, I decided to show you the garden as if you were walking in from the alley. No narration as I wanted to let you hear the fountain, the birds and the insects. You also get to hear the train and the neighbor's dog at the end.

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So Glad It's September

2011-09-05T14:01:00.001-05:00

Even though we hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit on September 1st, that extremely hot day was followed by a few cold fronts over the weekend and we're topping out around 75 degrees Fahrenheit today, Labor Day, Monday.

The garden is happy for the cooler temperatures. I watered everything really well Friday and am gathering seeds where ever I can. The birds are attacking the gomphrena. I hurried to get some seeds before the birds eat or scatter them.

The hummingbirds are making good use of the feeders.

45 degrees last night has me planning on getting some houseplants ready to move in for the winter. Autumn can be very up and down for temperatures. One never knows when the first frost will hit.

The September tour photos are one post back or you can find them in the pages in the right hand column as always. Enjoy!

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Tour September 2011

2011-09-05T13:58:00.001-05:00

Front Garden

Forest

Back Garden

Side Garden

Vegetable Garden

Patio

Alley

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Tiny But Might

2011-09-02T05:50:00.001-05:00

The plumbago grows beneath the locust tree in the back garden.

It's a ground cover which I hope will continue to cover more ground.

Even with the heat and the drought, it maintained and produced lovely little blue flowers.

In the fall, the leaves will turn a pretty burgandy.

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September Lilacs

2011-09-01T05:44:00.001-05:00

One of my lilac bushes is blooming. Not a lot. Just a little on the fringes.

I don't know why.

They sure do smell nice.

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Blooms

2011-08-31T05:38:00.003-05:00

The August tour lacked a lot of color because nothing wanted to bloom in the heat.

Now, flowers are appearing.

The butterfly bush started blooming in time for the monarch butterflies.

The ivy geranium is busy showing off.

And, the hummingbirds have arrived!

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Big Leaves

2011-08-30T05:38:00.003-05:00

The castor bean plant took a beating in the hail storm but has recovered. It has sexy leaves again.

Big, sexy leaves. I have long fingers.

More leaves are coming!

Also growing in the wild area, gourds!

Since the big rain event, the gourds have really grown. There is still hope for gourds for my fall decorations this year.

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Purple On The Teepee

2011-08-27T15:46:00.001-05:00

The heat and drought kept the gourds from taking off until recently. So, they haven't covered the teepee trellises like I had hoped, but the morning glories are making up for lost time.

In the background of the first photo, you can also see several blooms on the moon flower plant. It has gotten huge!

These morning glories reseed themselves. I have to pull a lot of they'd take over everything.

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Snow On The Mountain

2011-08-25T07:07:00.001-05:00

In the side garden near the Maximilian's Sunflower and a chrysanthemum is one single snow on the mountain plant. A friend gave me seeds this past spring. She said it is native and will self seed. I hope so. Next year, I'd really like to have more than one.

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Belly Buttons

2011-08-24T06:42:00.001-05:00

I don't know why, but the mater sandwich tomatoes all have belly buttons on the bottom.

Innies.

This one has two.

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False Sunflower

2011-08-23T06:34:00.000-05:00

I received seeds from a friend. I referred to them as "yellow flower from Dot" because she didn't know what they were either.

I winter sowed them.

They sprouted well and I planted them among the wildflowers in the alley. After inquires on this blog and with our horticulture agent, we have decided it is false sunflower. Most likely Heliopsis helianthoides.

I was surprised to find one of the plants is starting to bloom!

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Was It Worth Planting?

2011-08-19T22:17:00.007-05:00

Here's the list of edibles in the garden this year. Some are still producing and some have been planted again. Others are long gone, were abandoned or never showed. Why wait for a snowy winter day to review the plantings? Let's start today...

basil
sweet--Awesome despite the heat and only being hand watered for long stretches of time. I'm still harvesting it. It has been shared with friends and put up for the winter.
planted 5/7/11
purple plant from Mel--Pretty. Planted it in the laundry basket that I installed in the garden this past spring. The heat and drought didn't phase it. However, the grasshoppers munched on it quite a bit.
planted 5/7/11

bean
snap: contender (bush)--Only got one little harvest. Just barely enough for dinner for two. Spider mites and grasshoppers got to the plants in a big way, and I just couldn't keep them watered enough to beat the heat. The beans were abandoned.
planted 5/7/11

broccoli raab--It grew well. The plants were very pretty. We grilled and sauteed them for a couple of meals, but we didn't like them enough to give them space in the garden again.
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/2/11

carrot
red cored chantenay--Grew well and tasted yummy. Planted more for a fall crop.
planted 4/9/11
planted 4/28/11
planted 5/17/11
planted 8/11/11
scarlet nantes--Grew well and tasted yummy. Planted more for a fall crop.
planted 4/9/11
planted 4/28/11
planted 5/17/11
planted 7/23/11

cilantro/coriander--Grew well. Eventually, it bolted and went to seed (coriander). Maybe some will self seed for next year. I only need a little of this as my wonderful husband doesn't care for cilantro.
planted 5/7/11

cucumber
slicers: marketmore 76--Was slow to get going this year. I gave it a balanced fertilizer boost and a lot of water mid-July which helped. It survived the hail storm and started producing. I love cucumbers.
planted 5/7/11
slicers: white wonder--Was slow to get going this year too. I gave it a balanced fertilizer boost and a lot of water mid-July which helped. It survived the hail storm and started producing. It is easier to find white cucumbers in the vines than green ones.
planted 5/7/11

garlic--Just perfect in every way.

kohlrabi
early white vienna--A lot of these seeds didn't even sprout. I wonder if I got a bad batch of seeds. Only harvested a few but they were delicious. I need to make sure I get all new seed for these next year.
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/2/11
planted 4/9/11
planted 4/28/11
planted 5/17/11
purple vienna--These grew well. Very pretty having the purple against the white inside. Yummy!
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/9/11
planted 4/28/11
planted 8/11/11

lettuce
leaf: grand rapids tipburn resistant--Did well until the heat as should be expected. I shared a lot of lettuce with friends.
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/2/11
leaf: salad bowl [Saved from 2010]--Did well until the heat as should be expected. I shared a lot of lettuce with friends.
planted 3/12/11
planted 5/17/11
planted 8/13/11
leaf: black seeded simpson--Did well until the heat as should be expected. I shared a lot of lettuce with friends.
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/2/11
planted 4/28/11
leaf: red salad bowl--Did well until the heat as should be expected. I shared a lot of lettuce with friends.
planted 3/12/11
romaine: parris island cos--Did well until the heat as should be expected. I shared a lot of lettuce with friends.
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/2/11
planted 4/28/11

melon, muskmelon
hales best jumbo--The idea to plant it with the peas was good for the vines later in the season, but the peas shaded the plant too much early on. It didn't grow enough to start setting fruit in time and then the hail storm about did it all in.
planted 5/7/11
planted 5/21/11
melon, watermelon--The idea to plant it with the peas was good for the vines later in the season, but the peas shaded the plant too much early on. It didn't grow enough to start setting fruit in time and then the hail storm about did it all in.[from Mom and Dad]
planted 5/7/11
planted 5/21/11

onion
evergreen bunching--These did well. Still harvesting some.
planted 3/20/11
planted 4/18/11
planted 5/17/11
planted 7/23/11
red burgundy--Maybe red onions don't like my soil. I've never had a good crop of these.
planted 3/20/11
planted 4/3/11
sweet spanish yellow utah jumbo--Did fine but are kind of on the small side. Next year, I'll try starting some inside.
planted 3/20/11
planted 4/3/11

parsley
aromatico a costa rossa--Oh my gosh. I'm harvesting like crazy and making parsley rolls.
planted 5/7/11

pea
edible pod: sugar bon--These did well and are good.
planted 3/20/11
planted 4/9/11
planted 4/17/11
shelling types: little marvel (dwarf)--A favorite. I plant these each year. I got some put up for winter.
planted 3/20/11
planted 4/9/11
planted 4/17/11
snow peas: melting sugar--These were a great surprise. They did very well in the garden and we like to eat them. May bump out the sugar bons listed above for more of these and the little marvels.
planted 3/20/11
planted 4/9/11

pepper
bell: buy starter plants--Doing well. Just now harvesting some.
planted 5/7/11
jalapeno: buy starter plant--Got a slow start for some reason. Haven't harvested any yet.
planted 5/7/11

pumpkin
large: jack-o-lantern--Couldn't handle the heat. It wilted too much each day. I had to abandon the pumpkin.
planted 5/7/11

radish
multi-colored: french breakfast--First time planting these. Very good. Not as hot.
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/28/11
planted 5/17/11
red: cherry belle--These are a favorite. I always want more than I get.
planted 3/12/11
planted 4/28/11
planted 5/17/11

rosemary--Slow going but healthy looking plants in a container. Hoping I can keep it going over the winter.
planted 5/7/11
planted 6/9/11
planted 6/20/11

squash, summerearly prolific straightneck--The plant was beautiful before the hail storm. It is still producing. We love it grilled.
planted 5/7/11
planted 5/21/11
black beauty (zucchini)--We harvested a couple of zucchini but the wind and hail did in most of the plants. One small plant is still growing but looks rough.
planted 5/7/11

squash, winter
early acorn hybrid--The plant never vined. It is so small. ???
planted 5/7/11
small wonder hybrid--This plant is doing very well. I've harvested several squash and more are coming.
planted 5/7/11
planted 5/21/11

tomato
grape/cherry type: sweet baby plant from Mel #1--Very yummy. The plant took some damage from the hail but I think it'll produce more.
planted 5/7/11
grape/cherry type: chocolate cherry plant from Mel #2--This is the best producer of the tomatoes this year.
planted 5/7/11
standard slicers: brandywine heirloom plant from Mel #3--All the early fruit had blossom end rot. This is the only tomato plant with that problem this year. I'm waiting for the next round of fruit to ripen.
planted 5/7/11
standard slicers: mater sandwich plant from Mel #4--These are big and bold. Such a dark color and very good.
planted 5/7/11
?: volunteer in back 4--I see some fruit. It looks like a roma!
found 5/29/11

***** Perennials*****

mint--Prolific as always.

strawberry--Did well but the heat killed off many of the runners. Don't know how good the strawberry patch will be next year.

***** Extras *****

mesclun--I ignored this. We never ate any. My WH doesn't care for something in this mix.
planted 4/3/11

radishwhite: icicle, short top--These got hot, hot, hot.
planted 4/3/11
planted 5/7/11

spinach
bloomsdale long standing--Didn't sprout. Must have been bad seed as it didn't sprout outside last year either.
planted 4/3/11

This post is property of http://gardenonsherlockstreet.blogspot.com/

August, Different Than July

2011-08-15T19:52:00.000-05:00

The August tour is one post back or find the link under pages in the right hand column.

I took all the photos Sunday morning with the sun still rising and a light cloud cover.

I had been dreading August because July was sooooo hot and dry. August is usually our hot, dry month. I figured as bad as July was, August was going to be worse. Now, I could have done with out the wind and hail damage from the storm last week. However, we've got some decent rain and many plants are looking better. Some vegetables don't have enough time to produce, but I've planted a few quick growing vegetables in hopes of those harvests this fall. You'll notice there is little color in the garden. Flowers just didn't form in the heat and drought. There is still time. Hopefully, autumn will be more colorful. I have hope that the self seeding annuals will still make seeds if frost doesn't come early this year. The jury is still out on my gourd vines. Those teepee trellises should be covered with vines by now, but the heat held everything back. The cooler days have made being in the garden a joy again. I'll wait until spring to see which perennials are truly gone, but I'm making some plans for new plantings including bulbs to go in this fall. Since the soil is wet still, I got out there and attacked the weeds really well. The alley really looks dead. Hopefully, next spring it will be filled with wildflowers. I put seeds from the spring blooming annuals out there as they finished, and have been acquiring other seeds from friends to add to the space.

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Tour August 2011

2011-08-15T19:51:00.000-05:00

Front Garden

Forest

Back Garden

Side Garden

Vegetable Garden

Patio

Alley

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The Trouble With Rain

2011-08-14T16:54:00.000-05:00

If you've read this blog for any time, you know I don't want to mow. I have reduced our lawn down to one small patch in the front garden.

Always looking for something positive, I must say being in such a long dry spell meant I didn't have to mow our little lawn. We never water the lawn. It is Bermuda grass. Winter and drought make it go dormant. Rain and heat make it grow. Well, after our storm last week that gave us a total of 3.50" of rain, the lawn has greened up and is growing. Looks like I'll be mowing this week.

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Again And Again And Again And Again And Again

2011-08-10T14:22:00.004-05:00

As I hunted squash bugs Tuesday evening, I watched the clouds do acrobatics. The clouds looked so odd. Eventually, this formed east of us.

As I took the camera back into the house, I checked the weather and discovered there was a lot of severe weather brewing to our west. Soon after, a tornado warning was issued for us. The area of rotation stayed north of our town. I did not hear of a tornado reaching the ground but large hail was reported in several areas. A downpour like we haven't seen in ages drenched us. You can just barely hear the tornado sirens in the rain.

After the all clear was given, I surveyed the garden as it was still light out. 1.50" of rain in the gauge. Full rain barrels, but no damage.

As we were going to bed, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for us. This time, hail pounded. I hate the sound of hail. Most of the hail was small. I could just see that my single surprise lily was broke. You can just see the hail on the ground in the dark.

It was raining still when we went to sleep.

Around 2 am we were awoken by such a howling wind. Another severe thunderstorm warning was issued. The wind roared. As it calmed a bit, we looked out the patio doors and could see one of our red bud trees was broken over. We barely fell asleep and at almost 3:30 am, another severe thunderstorm warming was issued. The worst of this storm passed south of us but we got our share of thunder, lightening and rain.

While I've seen a line of storm train over the same area for hours, I can't remember having separate storms do this. Each one with such intensity too.

I left for work at 5:30 am and we got more rain after I arrived at work. I found 2.00" of rain in the gauge when I got home in the afternoon.

I surveyed the garden.

The tomatoes, spaghetti squash and zucchini look rough.

The yellow squash plant was beautiful. The cage tipped over. I will try to right it later.

The cucumber and peppers have some broken stems but not bad.

How did the basil which is out in the open not have a single broken leaf?

The castor bean plants leaves are not looking very sexy today.

Here's my broken single surprise lily.

Since I saw this red bud tree laying over at the edge of the light from our patio, I was surprised to see it like this.

Looks like my wonderful husband had too much time before he had to be at work this morning. It would need a much better splint job than this, but I don't even think this is a possibility. I'm prepared for it to come out.

**update**
My WH and I looked at the tree closer after he got home from work. It appears that part of the trunk was dead. There is dry wood in the area it broke that also extends up the trunk a ways. It looks like the tree may have been declining and the storm just sped up the process. It will come out and we'll plan a replacement.

The zinnias are not looking very happy today.

I am very grateful for the rain. Sometimes, we must sacrifice some plants for the good of the garden in general.

Personal note: I know I've posted occasionally this month, but I've hardly made the rounds to garden blogs. I am hopeful to have my blogging time back soon. My mom had back surgery August 1. In addition to the nursing hospital stay, she is currently in rehab getting therapy to strengthen and to learn how to function once home. Even though she is almost 80, she is really progressing well. Since the hospital and rehab facility is in my town, I've been busy visiting her, updating my out of town siblings and getting things she's needed. I haven't seen my mom this many days in a row since right after college when I lived at home while starting my first job and apartment hunting. That part is nice. Word is she should go home soon. Dad will be happiest about that. It's almost 61 years for them and they're best when they're together.

**update**
It looks like my mom will go home Thursday afternoon!!!

This post is property of http://gardenonsherlockstreet.blogspot.com/

Single Surprise

2011-08-07T20:52:00.000-05:00

Here she is, the one surprise lily of 2011.

The leaves looked so good in March. Last year, I had a lot of surprise lilies.

This year, I have one.

I guess the heat and drought affected the lilies.

This post is property of http://gardenonsherlockstreet.blogspot.com/

I Did Plant This

2011-08-05T05:51:00.001-05:00

My sweet friend who gave me the gomphrena seeds also gave me castor bean seeds. None of my seeds sprouted even though I nicked them and soaked them and talked to them. Nothing. So, she bailed me out by bringing me one she got to sprout. She has a jungle of these plants.

It has sexy leaves.

I'm hoping it will get big and produce the purple poofy pods and beans.

Castor beans are poisonous. They contain ricin. But, I'm not planning to eat them. Castor oil is also made from the beans and it is harmless. Interesting.

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I Didn't Plant This

2011-08-04T05:51:00.001-05:00

In the wild area of the garden, it's hard to say what will grow. Near the base of one of the teepee trellises, a new plant has emerged. It is very upright, not vining.

It has beautiful heart shaped leaves.

The flowers are yellow and short lived. In fact, I couldn't even photograph one as they were all gone by the afternoon. These interesting seed pods are forming.

Should I get this plant out before these pods make millions of seeds that overtake the garden: or should I be doing the happy dance that this plant has found its way to the garden?

Are you familiar with this plant?

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Basket Of Sunshine

2011-08-02T21:17:00.000-05:00

The spaghetti squash vine set fruit early. Here's the first harvest.

The heat kept blooms from forming for awhile, but some extra water and a little fertilizer seems to have perked up the plant. I see some new flower buds.

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A Frown

2011-07-31T15:14:00.003-05:00

Froggy is sad. The plant he was keeping company succumed to the heat and was finished off most likely by a cricket or grasshopper. Sorry Darla. It's been a rough month. There was a lot of August in July. With a whole hot month ahead of us, some tough decisions are being made at Garden on Sherlock Street.

The beans have already been left to their own devices and the pumpkin has been given the same sentence. As far as vegetables, I'm trying to focus on what will produce the best at this point. I still have some vegetables put up in the freezer from last year. There may not be much added to the freezer this year.

I have moved some more containers of flowers hoping to give them a little shade for part of the day. This included disassembling the flower tower. I decided the purple hyacinth bean vines might be better on the patio. I put the remaining bacopa by the front steps.

The front garden shrubs seem to be fairing well. I do run the soaker hoses on a regular basis.

The back garden shrubs are where I'm worried the most. Many of them are getting brown spots. There are also some perrenial flowers which have disappeared. They may return next spring so I won't count them out yet.

Sorry for the sad garden report. I'm just trying to hold on to what I can.

There's always a chance of a big rain shower turning a lot of the plants around in a hurry.

**Update: Since posting this, we had a surprise rain shower give us .25" of rain and dropped our temperature to 80 degrees. It's a good start!**

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Bye Beans

2011-07-30T21:25:00.000-05:00

I have decided to let the green beans go. Sigh. I know. Gardeners don't give up. Here's what's going on. The beans are still struggling with spider mites, the heat and a drought. When I do get enough water to them to show some improvement, the grasshoppers eat the nice new leaves. So, I am no longer going to water them. If mother nature drops rain on them and they recover, I will rejoice. At this point though, I'm cutting my losses. We did get one meal for two of green beans before it got really hot and they just stopped producing.

On a happier note, the yellow squash is good and producing well. As long as I keep the squash bugs under control, it continues to do well. We're even sharing yellow squash with friends.

The cucumber plants responded well to last week's fertilizer application and a good soaking. I have tiny cucumbers setting on.

In the ornamental category, the flower tower is looking rather weak. Two of the containers of bacopa died (the two leaning left). One bacopa is doing well, but the purple hyacinth bean vines are struggling below. I was kind of counting on them to fill in and hide the fact that some bacopa died. I have also discovered a morning glory seeded itself in there. Good. Maybe the morning glory can make this a decent display still.

Plants that usually self seed in my garden are struggling to survive. They're not even blooming yet in some cases. I wonder if they'll make seeds for next year at all.

I also noticed today that the holly bushes are looking bad. It looks like I'll be pruning a lot of dead branches out of them.

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