Wednesday, September 24, 2008

A Correction! and Some of This and a Little of That

Another busy week since I last posted and there has been precious little time to spend in the gardens. Fall is here and can be seen in the fading flowers, in the leaves turning and falling from the trees, and felt in the wonderfully cool nights. So much needs to be done outside and inside, as my house has suffered from massive neglect. I am sure, though, that many of you feel the same time constraints-I empathize with you. Somehow we will get it all done, we are super women after all, and what doesn't will wait for us.

Thank you to all you wished me Happy Birthday. I was really touched and it made the turning of another year older much more bearable. Rose took me to a long lunch and we sat outside in glorious weather catching up on family and of course gardening and blogging. Life long friends, we have shared much over the years and now find it so wonderful to share the world of blogging as well! My hint worked,(I can be shameless at times!) and she gave me a beautifully illustrated guide to 'Butterflies and Moths', by Paul Opler. It is a great size to carry when on a butterfly safari. Actually, the granddaughters were here this weekend and we were able to identify several from the book. They(and I) were amazed.





Now, for some clarification. In my last post, I identified this as a butterfly chrysalis and wondered what would come out of such an unusual looking cocoon. Thanks to Lisa who was the first to correctly identify it. It is a BAG WORM chrysalis. If you see one. throw it into the trash! Here I thought I was becoming somewhat knowledgeable about the world of butterflies. Nope-it's back to Butterfly 99 class! (99 is a class for people who are not up to speed in a certain subject) And yes, there is a picture of the moth and the chrysalis in my new book.

Back to my birthday for a minute-this is a bouquet my daughter and her girls gave me. It has been lovely to have it where I can see and smell these glorious roses. Now, a week later, they are still pretty and not one of them is drooping. Thank you girls for giving me such a long lasting taste of the flowers I would love to be able to grow.


There are a few new blooms at Dragonfly Corner. A different morning glory has started blooming in the wildflower patch I planted. I like this almost-pink-but-just-a-shade-darker-maybe-mauve color. It certainly brightens up the edge of the dismally gray deck.


This is the area where I planted several packets of zinnia and wildflower seeds. My thought was that they would brighten the area. Of course when I planted them the tree nearby didn't have it's leaves yet and I planted in what I thought was a sunny area. Another error in judgement in the garden. It is a shady spot only getting very late afternoon sun. They have grown like little troopers though and have bloomed in spite of my mistake. If you look at the upper right corner, you will see Thomas the cat standing on a rock inspecting the flowers. He is the town cat who graces us with his presence a few times a week. Of course if you happen to have a little extra cat food, he doesn't mind taking it off your hands. Thomas does show his appreciation now. He will let us pet him and he loves to have his head scratched.


We had been dry for more than a week when I found a few of these in our back yard. Different than I have ever seen, they are the purest white and have a very rough looking skin- most mushrooms have such smooth skin.


Twins!



And what would a post from me be without the 'Heavenly Blue' morning glory? Still blooming! I checked back and the first blooms appeared on Aug. 26. Everyday it blooms and by noon the blooms close up and die. The next morning there are dozens more taking their place. The number of blooms from this one plant must be in the hundreds! The buds just keep forming and the vine is still reaching out and entwining itself on more of the dead sunflowers. See the ornamental plum tree in the background? I fully expect to find the vines growing up that tree in a few days!
For all the complaining I did about it not being a moon flower, it has surpassed anything I have ever grown in my gardens. Well done Morning Glory! Well done!
I hope you all have a wonderful week of gardening!
****** Updated Sept. 24-8:30 pm
After some good natured coercing :) I have decided to save some 'heavenly blue' seed. This is what I found when I googled collecting seed....
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed; collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry; Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds; remove and collect seeds; properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored .
If you would like some, I have set up an email for this blog and you can reach me by using it.

26 comments:

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Eeew, bagworms! I hate them. Fortunately, (knock wood) I haven't seen one since I moved from my 1st house. I'm guessing that you don't have rabbit problems with Thomas on patrol. He's a pretty cat. Bravo to the Morning Glory! Although the mauve one is very pretty, you just can't beat that gorgeous blue.

flydragon said...

Hey super woman,
I for one, do not know what a bag worm is and judging from the comments, I'm very glad about that!! And that mushroom looks like a very fuzzy golf ball on a very fuzzy tee.:) Love it.

Rose said...

Great post, Beckie! What beautiful roses the girls gave you; I'm glad the butterfly book has been put to use already. At least you and I will now know a bagword when we see one:) We must plan a few more long lunches like your birthday one before the weather gets too cool.

I wonder if you can get some seeds from that Morning Glory? I'm sure I could find a place for one if I had a start (hint, hint), and I bet I wouldn't be the only taker!

Anonymous said...

Yucky bagworms, I get them in my Pecan tree sometimes. I pull them down & burn them & dispose of the rest. Your morning glories are pretty, the blue has outdone itself. :) You should gets lots of seed from it, you will have them everywhere next year.

Susie said...

My goodness, that morning glory is just amazing! Such a beautiful blue. I bet that vine will be climbing high before you know it.

The rose bouquet is really pretty too!!

Cosmo said...

Well, Beckie, you're absolutely right--the house isn't getting much attention--good thing I'm not taking pictures of it. Loved your pictures, except of the bagworms--I'm glad you got rid of it.

beckie said...

MMD, I had never seen a bag worm cocoon before, just the nests of the worms in trees and those are digusting! We would really like to adopt Thomas but he seems to prefer the life of total freedom. We'll see when winter comes if he changes his mind. And no we really don't have many rabbits with him and our 'Fat Cat'!

Flydragon, I would say you are lucky to never have had a problem with them. so far we haven't, but I have seen trees near here that have damage from them. Super woman was written with tounge in cheek, I certainly don't feel like that most of the time. :) You're right! It looks just like a fuzzy golf ball and tee.

beckie said...

Rose, I went back and updated my post with a promise to collect seeds and give them away. I even set up an email-it was just as easy as you said! Now remember this is supposed to be an invasive plant...so be careful where you put it. More long lunches sitting outside-sounds wonderful to me. Let's plan!

beckie said...

Racquel, I remember my Dad making a burning torch and setting fire to the nests in the trees. But so far, we have not had any here-just that one lone cocoon. I have a feeling I am going to be pulling morning glory seedlings for years to come! :)

Susie, it has already climbed an
8' shepard's hook and I think if it had a way to get there would be roof high by now. The bouquet is lovely and I have been so tickled that it's lasting this long.

beckie said...

Cosmo, I finally tackled the house today-no deep cleaning(that needs to be done too)but at least got some of the clutter picked up and the vacuuming done. How does stuff get so piled up?! I did an update on my post so be sure to let me know if you want some morning glory seed.

Gail said...

Becky,

I loved enlarging your photo of the Heavenly Blue Morning Glories! They are little blue suns! Happy Week after your birthday! Flowers sure do extend the day!

Gail

beckie said...

Gail, thanks. I used to do birthday months :), but not anymore. I prefer not dwelling on the years adding up now. Some one did a post on the 'heavenly blue' looking like it had a sun image deep inside. I thought that was a great description. I fully expect to have morning glory blooms til frost. They just keep producing buds. It's amazing!

Meems said...

Yikes, the thought of that bagworm is eerie... good for Lisa and good for you to find out in time to get rid of it. Your two morning glories are very nice. But I have to say that blue one is just glorious and has certainly rewarded you for a long time.

So glad you had a nice birthday!And yes, there is always more to be done.
Meems

Roses and Lilacs said...

That is a lovely rose bouquet!

You must get hundreds of compliments on the morning glories. What spectacular color. I have Grandpa Ott, and I don't like its color as well as your heavenly blue.
Marnie

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Beckie, Your birthday roses are gorgeous. I love yellow roses. You don't see them much but they are my favorites. I too wish I could grow them.

Thre was just a big black cat passing by my window as I read about Thomas. This black cat is a neighborhood cat too. I don't know its name. Luna chases it out of the garden.

beckie said...

Meens, I'm with you on the bagworms! Lisa was exactly right when she identified it and I got rid of it before it had time to emerge. As I said, after all my complaining and disappointment at the morning glory not being a moonflower-it has more than made up for it. I can't believe how long it is staying in bloom. I will be anxious to see just how long it does.

beckie said...

Marnie, thank you. Yes, the neighbors are enjoying it as much as I have. I googled grandpa ott and thought it a very pretty blue-purple. Maybe we could trade seed? Actually that site had several pictures of morning glories-one was named 'old codger'!

beckie said...

Lisa, the roses are really pretty and these even smelled great. Some of the commercial ones don't. My one yellow rose didn't make it through last winter and I have been debating getting another. I can see where Luna would not appreciate a cat in her domain.

Wendy said...

Your birthday roses are beautiful! I hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends.
Thanks for the tour of your garden. I particularly enjoy your vibrant morning glories. The "twins" were cute too. Did I see a faerie or two hiding behind them? Just kidding.
Have a wonderful weekend. And you're right - the work will wait for us!

beckie said...

Wendy, I did have a nice day and enjoyed my birthday-had it not meant another year older, I would have enjoyed it even more.:)I didn't even think of the fairies having something to do with the mushrooms! I'll just bet they did. Hope your weekend is a good one.

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie....what beautiful Roses......the flower of love....how appropriate that your girls gave them to you.....do you ever press or dry flowers.....If a loved one gives me roses, I always take one out and press it....then I can keep it forever.....

The morning glory has done you so proud.......could you imagine them climbing over shrubs ......it would look stunning......

A lovely post......autumn is moving in fast.......we are starting to lose some of the leaves on the trees.........

beckie said...

Cheryl, thank you. I do save roses. Sometimes whole bouquets by hanging them upside down and letting them dry. Or sometimes pressing one or two. My Mom always had books full of drying flowers!

Fall is comming-yes. The ornamental cherry tree is loosing it's leaves and I am seeing color on more and more trees. My poor garden is turning brown in many areas as well. But I still have a few zinnias and a surprise flower or two which I will post about shortly. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Aiyana said...

The roses are beautiful, but oh, those Heavenly Blues! I can never see enough of them. I really wonder if I would covet them so badly if they weren't banned here. Sometimes I think it may be wanting what I can't have, but I do believe if I could, I'd have a yardful!
Aiyana

A Larrapin Garden said...

Your post has me making another note-2-self for Gardening 2009: Plant Heavenly Blue Morning Glories! What a fabulous color. Love your feline garden companion. Thanks for the beauty.

Leigh, over at A Larrapin Garden

Mary said...

Me loves Morning Glories.

I'm sorry I missed your birthday, Beckie! I hope it was a special day for you.


Mary

beckie said...

Aiyana, Isn't that always the way? I want tropicals and the bloggers in Texas want hostas! But at least we can enjoy looking at them on other's sites. I have a feeling I will have a garden full of them next year-at least lots of seedlings.

Leigh, I planted what I thought was a moon flower and this is what I got. I was disappointed at first, but it has just been so beautiful for so long that I have fallen for it. So yes, get you one next year-you will have more blooms than you know what to do with!

Mary, I'll bet the hummers would love this morning glory too! I had a very nice birthday, thank you. Even if I did turn another year older!