In the Garden: May 2011 Archives

Could it really be nine says since I last posted? I've certainly thought about posting, but my days have been full, so the ideas haven't made it to the page.

The egrets and herons returned around the seventh of May. We don't have huge numbers of them yet, but I have the pleasure of seeing at least one of them each time I go out. I have seen the big gray herons in flight several times, and they always remind me of pterodactyls.

Up until this week we had a long run of gray weather without the rain. This week we have finally gotten the rain. I made a trip to Morris, Illinois last Tuesday, and was pleasantly surprised to see that about 90% of the fields between Yorkville and Morris were planted, and many even had corn 4-6 inches tall. I know that many of the Midwestern states have had so much rain that the farmers haven't been able to get into the fields. We seem to have been a little area short on precipitation, so I'm not complaining. What I don't care for is being drop-kicked from the 60s to 90 degrees overnight!

Despite my post on being frugal, I bought a sewing machine! I have been concerned that my beloved Singer 301A would eventually go kaput, and not be repairable. I've sewed on that machine for more than fifty years, and adore it! I thought that it might be wise to have a newer machine as a back up, before Dear Husband and I retire. The new machine couldn't be more different. The Singer is a straight stitch portable machine made of iron. While I can drop the feed dogs to stipple quilt, it was never really intended for that purpose. The new machine is computerized, has a built-in dual feed system and an 11 inch opening through which I can feed quilts. There is a built-in needle threader. It has more than 100 stitches, an alphabet and numbers, and pattern memory. I can arrange for the needle to stop in the down position and there is a knee lever for lifting the presser foot. It's possible to run the machine without using the foot pedal. Most women who sew today take a lot of this for granted, but it's all new to me! I hope the learning curve won't be too steep.

I've planted all but two of the plants I picked up in my first garden shopping trip. The last two to go in were purple fountain grass, along the back of the bed next to the garage wall. If I had planted them a month ago, it would have been a lot easier, but this week I had to work around iris that were ready to open, and the last of the tulips. I asked DH to bring a chair and sit where he could keep an eye on me as I planted. I was afraid that I would get into a position I couldn't get out of. Luckily, the plants went in well, and with the use of the shovel handle, I was able to maneuver myself out of a tight spot and back onto my feet. I'm sure that his presence was what made that work. Had he not been there, I'd still be waiting for a hand out of the garden! *G*

I believe that eight to ten iris were blooming yesterday. One was open for a couple of days, and then it was a domino effect. It must have been just warm enough, and sunny enough to move them along on Tuesday. I have a lot of dark colored iris: navy, purple, burgundy, bronze, contrasted with yellow and peach. There's no rhyme or reason. If I see one I like, I try it, and they almost always multiply for me. They are at the top of the list for my favorite flowers.

We are going to celebrate my oldest granddaughter's seventh birthday today. Her birthday was last week, and they did a party for the kids, but the adults are gathering this weekend to celebrate. Last weekend was so popular there wasn't enough time to fit everything in. I was tickled to hear that GD1 wanted to be the Cake Boss. To further this goal, I bought her a Nordic pan that lets you create filled cup cakes that resemble a soft serve ice cream cone in shape when they are assembled. The top and bottom are baked separately, and then pudding or frosting or even ice cream can be spooned into the indentation in the bottom half. I doubt her mother has the time to cook with her, but I thought it might be something that GD1 and I could do this summer. It interests me that it's not the eating of the cupcakes, but the baking of them, that appeals to her.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. I hope that those of you who have been around for our wars will help our younger generation understand why we choose to remember those who have fought on our behalf.

As I cleaned earlier this year, I came across little collections of seeds everywhere. I dedicated one little basket to the seeds, and it finally overflowed with packets. I sorted the seeds a few weeks ago and decided that I would put them in, as many as I could, this year.

I have no idea if they will all germinate. It's possible that some of the seed it too old, but I'm planting it anyway!

I used a shovel to turn over the dirt in most of one arm of the herb garden. I broke up the clumps and took out old stems and new feverfew starts. (Feverfew is lovely, but it will take over your entire lot if you let it!). Once the bed was smoothed, I planted rows of giant State Fair zinnia. In front of that I planted a row of Giant Cactus zinnia, and in front of that a row of Cut and Come Again zinnia which are slightly smaller. Along the edge of the bed, I planted Nasturtiums. I didn't soak or nick the seeds, so I'm not sure what kind of turn out I'll have from the Nasturtiums.

Around the corner from the zinnias, I've planted a stand of Evening Sun sunflowers, with a row of Tithonia (Mexican Sunflowers) that should bloom in an orangey shade. When I clear the section between these two pods, I hope to plant Lemon Verbena and two scented geraniums.

The sky became threatening, but I ignored it to get the basil and parsley planted. I put in both curly and flat-leafed parsley, as usual. I still have to plant the basil at my kitchen sink, and the dill, but I'm moving right along.

I think the next area I'll finish is the center of the center box. I need to re-seat the St. Francis statue. He lists a bit. While I'm at it, I hope to dig up some of the crab grass roots that infest that area of the garden. The roots like to hide under the chive plants.
Once that part of the bed is done, I'll plant the miniature tomato plants, a Sweet 100 cherry, a yellow pear, and one new one that seems to be an orange/red version of the cherry tomato.

There are times when I drag my feet at the thought of going out to do this work. It isn't always fun, but the more I get done before the heat hits, the easier it is to maintain the grounds through the summer. I think I have about two more days of work on the herb garden, and then I can resume working on things at the front of the house. The rain we are supposed to get the next few days will make things easier.

Yea, for dirt therapy!!

So much has happened since I last talked about my gardens that I hardly know where to start, so this may be a scrambled account.

The bleeding heart is beautiful this year, next to the last of the daffodils to open, a set that is all white. The peonies are doing well, and have pushed up through the wire supports. I'd guess that they are over two feet tall now. I need to move mulch to cover parts of the driveway garden...as soon as it stops raining!

The hostas have come up. I need to trim the spent flower stalks from last year. I hope this year the bunnies will leave me a few hosta leaves. I believe that I am going to try a cayenne spray to see if that will help!

The daffodils are mostly gone now, but the memory remains of one of the most beautiful displays they have ever given us. I need to dead head so that they will bloom beautifully next year. I know that many people dislike dealing with the daffodil leaves as they ripen, but I don't mind leaving them into June. In some places other plants will cover them, but I just wait them out. It seems little enough to do in return for the pleasure they bring us.

The oldest lilac, one that was here when we built, is in bloom, and those that we planted should follow suit soon. Lombard, Illinois, has a lilac festival during May. I should drive over and take in the festival.

My chives are incredibly healthy, and almost ready to bloom. When the blooms have faded, I'll cut the plants back to encourage new growth, and I'll harvest that new growth and see if I can dry it. I am very seriously considering digging up the garlic chives. They insist on relocating, and once the little bulblette grows, they can be tough to weed out. I don't use the plant enough to justify giving them garden space.

I trimmed back the clematis and added new twine supports to the arbor. I used the string trimmer around the herb garden and north side of the garage, and I managed to get baby romaine, spinach, two kinds of dill and sweet basil seeds planted. Mother Nature is overseeing the watering this weekend.

I have an infestation of grass and bunnies where I used to have a thyme bed. The thyme got disgusted and climbed over the side of the bed to grow in the chat walkway. I'm going to dig out an area about 3 x 4 feet, and sieve the dirt, and then replant more thyme. There's also a salvia plant that I want to slip a support over, so that it doesn't sprawl this summer.

I have one arm of the herb garden that I think I am going to dig and amend so that I can grow zinnias. Zinnias were one of my father's favorite plants, and I'd like to see a riot of color in that corner.

I made my first trip to The Growing Place, and picked up parsley (flat and curled), Sweet basil starts, three kinds of tiny tomatoes (Sweet 100, pear and one new one whose name I can't recall), a Roma tomato, four pots of purple fountain grass, three of Homestead purple verbena, and two scented geraniums. It's time to start moving the geraniums that I wintered over outside, but I need to wait for it to warm up again.

The star magnolia and forsythia blooms are gone, and have been replaced by pear and apple blossoms. The air is filled with the petals of these plants as they near the end of their bloom season.

The honeysuckle, both the pink and the white/yellow versions are in bloom, and we are once again surrounded by the greenery of the shrubs and trees that give us the illusion of privacy in the midst of more than a quarter of a million people.

I love watching the changes, counting the passage of time by watching what's in bloom. As usual, Spring has brought great joy to my life!

I've seen egrets this week! Or, maybe I've seen the same egret more than once. He/She must be the scout to see if our weather is ready for the migration! lol Now, I'm watching for the herons. They are harder to see because of their smoky gray color, and how thin they are. If you are not seeing a side view of those birds, you might miss them!

Spring is FINALLY showing up!

I asked the man who has helped with some of our landscaping to fill my veggie beds with a mix of compost and dirt. I thought it would be delivered about three weeks ago, and was getting ready to call to find out what had happened. Dear Husband pointed out that it had been delivered yesterday. I have seeds to plant! I'll have to pass on the spinach until this fall, but I can get other things in, soon!

Tomorrow the Arr!! goes into Lake Michigan. Dear Husband is going to come home tomorrow night. He says that it's a bit too cool to sleep over on an unheated boat. He'll go back Sunday to get things squared away, and I'll spend the day piecing quilts!

Egrets, the Arr!!, seeds and quilting. It's Spring.