Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Surprises and Thank Heavens The Move is Over!

It has been a long couple of weeks! Between working, packing, moving, unpacking, making phone calls, meeting with lawyers and fixing meals-I am pooped!

The good news is my Dad is now in his new apartment and for the most part settled in. We had lots of help the day of the move, mostly hubby's side. Two of his brothers volunteered and of course our daughter and some of the grand girls. Our 2 son-in-laws had to work so they missed all the fun. We made it in one trip with 2 trailers, a couple of pick ups and of course a couple of cars. The men did most of the heavy lifting and we girls sorted and put away. I had almost everything packed before hand and that was a big factor in being able to do the move in one day. All workers were treated to a spaghetti supper at our house-who had the energy to go out. I had planned ahead and made the sauce the day before so it was fairly easy to throw together a salad and slice some Italian bread while the spaghetti was cooking. By 8:00 that evening, all but 2 granddaughters had gone home and I could finally put my feet up. This week we(my Dad and I) have been finishing sorting and putting away and finding things that were lost. Today, I took him to a bank that is much closer and got his new account started, called Social Security and changed where his check would be deposited, called Dish TV and set up a time for them to put up his new satellite, and paid bills for the month. I think we are done!


Do you remember my post about the Japanese Beetles eating my sunflowers? Well, an apology is due them. They weren't the culprits in this case.


With apologies to Mary and Cheryl for the quality of my pictures, I'll show you what has been eating the sunflowers. So please bear with the horrible pictures-they were taken through a window, and try to imagine my delight. I have gold finches by the dozens! They are eating the seed.

This one is sitting on one of the leaves. Enlarging the pictures does seem to help.


Another one deciding if the coast is clear.


They are such fun to watch trying to get the seed. They flutter their wings trying to stay in one place long enough to eat.


And they even hang upside down to get their lunch!

Some of the sunflowers have very few seeds left on them. But that's okay. I am enjoying the finches!



The beetles seem to be leaving, although it's a little early. Queen Elizabeth has bloomed without them destroying her bud.




A new climber this year Golden Showers, has finally bloomed. I didn't expect too much from this and a couple other roses I planted this year. They were very small and probably not #1 grade. These were some I ordered on line from Direct Buy Gardens. I don't think I will order any more from them. The plants were all small, they arrived way to early and some of them were not in a survivable state. I could have gotten them replaced, but figured I had learned a good lesson. Order from a well known reliable source.



I know I have shown this before, but I am so thrilled to have one in bloom. It is the Butterfly Weed, I started from seed March 30. 5 of the 8 I planted lived to be transplanted outside and so far all of them are doing well. I am hoping they winter over and come back next year.


My Moon Flower Vine, is certainly vining! It just keeps sending out runners and they are growing on the sunflowers now. Long ago, it out grew the lightning rod I planted it on. My question is, When does it bloom?

My zinnias are so pretty and I am really enjoying the groupings of them I planted. I intended to plant even more next year. The cutting bed is coming along a little slow, but that is my fault. When I made the new bed, the leaves weren't out on the trees yet, and so I have it in the shade. This is a green one-not sure if I like it or not. It's different, though.


And finally,the last oriental lily bloom. I am going to move these this fall. They are in an area I don't see every day and these deserve to be seen and enjoyed.
I have so enjoyed reading your posts- taking a few minutes each evening when I get off work. I still feel connected at least by doing that. They brighten my mood and make me smile. Thank you!
Have a great gardening week.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is a relief that it wasn't the Japanese Beetles. Those little yellow finches are so cute, they love my stick verbena and the blackeyed susans. I don't know what to tell you about the moonflower. Everything seems to be getting a later start this year, maybe they'll still bloom.

Cheryl said...

Dear Beckie.....pure joy to see the goldfinch on your sunflowers....how beautiful....and don't they make the garden come to life......tku for sharing

the zinnias are lovely....I grew some for Dad and grouped them in his garden....he is thrilled with them and I must say they look lovely....

The rose bloom is perfect.....stay you rotten beetle and leave Beckie's blooms alone.....that should do it....

So glad your Dad's move went well....I know that overwhelming tiredness with that one Beckie....you are a good sort you know, you will get your rewards in heaven....
Please take life a bit slower now, it you can, to restore your energy reserves.......

Take care.........

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Beckie, it is great that you finally got Uncle Joe moved into his own apartment. I can only imagine all the work. Whew.

Your garden looks so pretty. I bet those goldfinches are a hoot to watch. They are quite the acrobats.

My comnputer is kaput right now. I don't know what is going on. I have to use DB's computer to read or write. This really puts a cramp in my computering. whine...

Beth said...

oh what fun to see the finches eating the sunflowers--that is much happier to imagine than the japanese beetles. I'm glad the move went so smoothly, you have such a great support system. Have a great day, Beckie!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Huzzah, the move's done! What a load off your mind that must be. What a pleasant surprise that your sunflower seed filchers were cute little Gold Finches. They munch on my Coneflowers. If you wanted to save any sunflowers seeds from the birds, cover 1 head with an old leg of pantyhose. Moonflower is supposed to be blooming by August. Are you sure it isn't blooming at night & you're just missing the flowers?

beckie said...

PG, Yes, I'm glad the beetles aren't getting all my lovelies and I was so delighted to see the finches. They are out there everyday. Now, if I could just get better pictures! The moonflower has certainly brought a lot of green to that garden spot if nothing else.:)

Cheryl, I have just been so tickled with the sunflowers and plan to plant them again next year. I thought I had read somewhere that zinnias don't grow well in England, but should have know you could get them to. They are such bloomers and so easy to grow that I am ashamed I haven't planted them in years. Isn't that rose just glorious? Of course I have always loved Queen Elizabeth. I hope you did banish the beetles! As I said they seem to be leaving early this year, but maybe they are just taking a little break. I don't know about a reward-I can get pretty grumpy at times.I will tell you all of this and working has put a strain on my feeling better. I am close to a flare with the fibro and know I have got to slow down-but we get our granddaughters for 10 days this Friday and I want to do as much as possible with them. So will rest after that. Now, this is turning out to be a letter!

Lisa, the move went so much better than I could have hoped. Yes, it was a lot of work, but he is settled and seems happy to be nearby. The garden has that overgrown look to it with Russian sage falling over and the false sunflowers leaning. Everythng has grwon so well, that I am staking a lot-the glads, delphiniums and the statice. The finches were such a surprise to me-I had not thought of them getting the sunflowers seeds. But how fun! Sorry about your computer. I knew you were having problems. Isn't that a pain! Thank goodness you can use DB's, although he probably wants to use it too. You haven't lost your pictures have you?

Beth, sometimes coming from a big family is such a plus. Hubby has 4 brothers and a sister and they are always willing to help. The finches were such a delightful surprise-I should have known they were eating the seeds. After all, that's what I put in their feeders! I have so many sunflowers this year, the finches will have treats for quite a while yet.

beckie said...

MMD, yes it is a relief to have the moving done. He seems very pleased to be so near, and I can keep better tabs on him. :) That's a good idea on saving the seed. I may have the girls help me with one or two. No, the moon flower shows no sign of buds unless they are hidden in that mess of vines. Surely I will start seeing buds soon. Oh, we finally got a good rain yesterday. 1" so I don't have to water for a couple of days.

Rose said...

Well, if the goldfinches are eating the sunflower seeds, that's a whole different story! I've enjoyed watching mine at the feeder I put up this year; they are so funny to see them hang upside down to eat--the grandkids have enjoyed them, too.
Your Queen Elizabeth rose is absolutely beautiful; so glad the beetles didn't get to it.

What a relief it must be to have your Dad all moved--and into his own apartment, too?? That's great. Now take a day to relax, if you can; you deserve it more than anyone:)

beckie said...

They are fun to see and they will turn upside down on the sunflowers too. Happy that your weekend went well. I know you enjoyed having the kids home if only for a short visit. I am tickled the 'W' word was even mentioned. As it worked out(thank heavens!) we were able to move him in on Sat. and he is now pretty well settled. Of course there have still been things to do. :) That's me keeping my sense of humor. I had to work Sun. & Monday and also do some errands for him. Then Tues. I was off but that meant a whole day of errands. Working Wed. & Thurs. then get the girls for 10 days on Friday. Then I can rest! And I will be ready for at least a day out.

Gail said...

Itmust be a relief to have your dad close and settled. You are very efficient and organized. I can't imagine moving now...so much work....too much stuff! Makes me think I want to start cleaning out everything now before I get to tired or too old to do it!

All my vining plants are slow this year...and I am in zone 6b!

I noticed the gold finches checking out the coneflower! Might be time to save the seed! But who can begrudge them a few sunflower and coneflower seeds! They are so much fun to watch but so fast i haven't been able to get a photo!

Gail

Susie said...

Hey Beckie,

Those Goldfinches are so cute! They are quite entertaining!

I'm glad you got your dad settled. Moving is such a pain.

Our moon vines are blooming down here so maybe it won't be too long before yours does.

joey said...

Beckie, you are an angel! I know how hard the days must have been being a care-giver myself. Your heavenly crown will be too heavy to wear! Good that you take time to grab your camera and capture the wonders that abound about you. Hugs ...

Wendy said...

I am glad the move is over! Such a lot of work for all. I hope you can take some down-time and rest a bit.
Loved your Queen Elizabeth - such a beautiful pink! And those finches - are'nt they cute? I seem to see lots this year.

beckie said...

Gail, it is good having him close by. He's almost 84 and while still able to pretty much take care of himself, he needs help with Drs. and bill paying etc. And of course keeping the house clean.:) I did do a lot of clearing out this past year but would still hate the thought of moving! If that moon flower ever blooms, I will post a picture. Actually, I am enjoying watching it grow. From morning til evening it grows inches! I am glad to let the finches have the seeds-they are such fun to watch. I want my granddaughters to see them.

Susie, if yours are blooming, can mine be far behind? :) This is the first one I have ever tried so am new to it's habits. It is really fun to see how much it grows, though. Yes, the move is pretty well complete. We go back this weekend to get a few things from his shed-not sure where we are going to put them. But he thinks the stuff is important and so we will get it for him.

Joey, angel I am not! I did my fair share of grumbling. :)But you do what you have to and because you love them. That's what family is all about and my Dad taught me that. The garden and nature are stress relievers for me. I can always find something to smile at or to brighten my day.

Wendy, wasn't that just a perfect rose!? Queen Elisabeth is such a reliable bloomer and takes very little care for a rose. I just love her. The finches do seem more abundant this year-or maybe I am just noticing them more. Anyway, they are such a delight to watch.

flydragon said...

I also tried the butterfly weed one year from seed. I thought they would be easy since they do grow in the wild. I did have 2 start to grow but they never did very well and did not come up the following spring. Glad to see you have good luck with yours!!

Roses and Lilacs said...

I've had the little goldies all over my sunflowers too. They don't seem to even wait for the seeds to ripen.
Marnie

Mary said...

Moving is exhausting. I know! I moved out of state twice in 3 years! Glad it's behind you, Beckie, and you have finished with the moving details. Whew. I admire your enthusiasm for cooking a spaghetti dinner on moving day. I would have sent someone out for McDonalds or carry-out pizza.

I had three sunflowers in bloom and those Goldfinches took care of them in a few days! Lovely little birds....