Mish Mash Monday!

Good Monday morning to all! I hope you are ready to start another week of gardening fun and of course maybe work. :) It was a beautiful weekend here with the sun shinning, little wind blowing and temps in the mid 60's. Perfect weather to be out side working in and enjoying the gardens.
* this post was written this am, so go with me here. :)




Monica of Garden Faerie's Musing did a post last Monday called Mish Mash Monday and I thought it such a great way to show the odds and ends of photos and to tell of this and that. I don't have too much of this and that and seem to have mostly pictures of coming attractions in my garden, but did want to share them with you. I would have had a few more...but sometime last evening blogger quit loading photos for me. I don't know if this is just my problem or if it is something new (else) with blogger. I suppose time will tell.




Remember my attempt at a rock garden last year? This is Rock Soapwort, Saponaria ocymoides. Covered with these tiny pink blooms, it is very attractive in amongst the rocks. Honestly, I was going to show a full picture of it. When I planted this last summer, it was already done blooming, so this has been a pleasant surprise to see the delicate blooms.

The wild violets are really coming into their own this past week. Who could not love these sweet little mounds of blooms. I do admit to pulling some new starts out here and there, but a few have placed themselves very strategically and add a spot of color to bare areas.

Can you guess what bloom this is?? Of course this is a super macro photo so you know their blooms are very tiny. Give up? It is the flower on my Bayberry bush. The underside of it's arching branches are just covered with these delicate little beauties.

I transplanted a couple of Heavenly Blue morning glories and Moon flowers into bigger containers. It is still a little early to plant them in the ground. Last week I put all my seedlings outside in a semi-protected place. They are getting morning sun and are doing very well.

The cone flowers are sending up shoots in all sorts of places. I will have plenty to share at Spring Fling! Aren't you getting excited about going? I have started my lists of things to take. If I don't make lists, it doesn't seem to get done. I am sure none of you have that problem though.

One of the iris I transplanted from my Mother-in-law's last summer has a bud already. Not sure what color this one will be. And when they bloom this year, I am going to see if I missed getting any colors. It was the middle of summer when I mentioned that I would like to transplant some of these from her yard, but thought I should wait until fall. Lisa commented she thought it would be fine to do it any time and I did-right in the heat! They all grew and I am so pleased. Thanks, Lisa for the great gardening tip!

The cornflowers have triplied in size from the starts I planted that were pass-alongs from my cousin. And now they are getting buds. I am so excited to have these great old fashioned flowers in my garden!

The artemesia is also budding. This was one of the mystery plants that I didn't remember planting and had no clue as to what it was. But thanks to several bloggers it was identified. I still don't remember planting it, but the cousin who gave me the cornflowers says it was from her, also.

And finally, I have buds in my daisies. These were the very dark pink ones that we finally decided were Painted Daisies last summer. The mound of them is getting quite large and I think I will try to divide it after they bloom. I love dividing plants...freebies to plant in the garden.

Hopefully, next post I will be able to upload photos once again. I want to show the 2 new roses we planted and the bluebells my neighbors gave me.

Until then, have a great garden week!

Fall Is In The Air!

This will be a note sort of post-not a lot new here at Dragonfly Corner. But I am getting tired of looking at my last post, so I am sure you are! I have worked some extra days this week, had a couple of doctor appointments, (more on that another time) and have been trying to get a little fall cleaning done. In other words, time has been in short supply for enjoying the garden, taking pictures or writing posts. I did want to share a few things with you and writing gives me a good excuse to sit for a while. I did manage to finally put a picture in my header. Wendy suggested I use the moonflower-aka 'heavenly blue' morning glory. It is still blooming and I see no end to the buds.

Fall is here. Or at least these butterscotch mums think so. The temperature dropped to 48 degrees last night so it is on it's way. This is one of my favorite colors for this time of year. Makes you think of football and pumpkins doesn't it?

There are very few cone flowers left. This one is still attracting moths and butterflies. I'm not sure, and this is not a great picture, but I think this is called a wolf moth. Most have gone to seed like the one on the right. I had thought about cutting the heads off to save the seed and cleaning up some of the stalks, but one of the bloggers(can't remember who-sorry) has suggested leaving them for the finches and other birds to enjoy. Sounds like a great idea to me!

The 'teddy bear' sunflowers, courtesy of Cheryl, are still blooming. These have been a delightful flower. They have bloomed all summer long, the blooms last for weeks at a time and the butterflies and bees have loved them. I am going to save some of these seeds for myself.

Speaking of butterflies-the zinnias are still blooming and attracting more than their share of butterflies. The 'painted ladies' have been thicker in the gardens this year than I can ever remember. It could be because of the zinnias. I have really enjoyed them this year and plan on planting more next year. Maybe I will even use some for cut flowers. This year, I couldn't bring myself to cut any of them.

I was a little disappointed at this picture. The caladium leaves are a much deeper red than shows. I have the container sitting in front of the morning glory and the contrast is striking. In the past, I have neglected to dig my bulbs up for the winter thinking it was just as easy to buy new the next spring. This year, I plan on at least trying to save them. (and still buying more next year!)

You may have seen a spider like this on Gail's blog a while back. It's a Argiope aurantia-female. In the comments, several different names were mentioned. It seems this species covers a wide area and there were lots of local names for it. My grandmother always called it and 'educated' spider I think because of the z's it makes in the middle of it's web. What ever you call it, I call it yucky! There are several of them around the house and in the gardens. Now, having been converted by some of you bloggers, I let them stay and do their thing as long as they do it outside. Now if they try to come into the house....

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Fall will be a busy time for all. The gardener has much to do to get the garden ready for it's long winters nap. Have I started yet-no. Have you?

Enjoy your gardens!

Summer Delights!

Cone flowers are one of the true delights in the summer. You plant one and before you know it you have a whole bed full of the tall, stately, regal blooms.Heads held high, their crowns eagerly await the pollinators.

A corner bed now full to overflowing,

A very brave rabbit dared to sit in the open this afternoon. So far, I have noticed no damage from them.

A couple more day lilies have opened today. This is 'purple d'oro'.

No name for this one, but it is standing on a scape that is almost 3' tall.

This is 'wineberry candy'. But she is not opening-I watched her all day. She looks more like a tulip. We'll she if she finishes opening tomorrow, but I have a feeling this was her day. Hopefully the next buds will open all the way. She is new this year and I am excited to see her in her full glory.

I planted purple and yellow gladiolas this year, spreading them through out the garden in small groupings. I wonder is this one got in by mistake, or is this going to be the color of all the purples? Either way, this one is eye catching.

My zinnia seedlings are starting to bloom. I planted several packets of mixed and was surprised when the first ones were all pink. Now I have this one and a couple of white. Do certain colors bloom first? Or was this just a coincidence?

Sunflowers but so far no bees. Maybe I just am not out there when they come.

This is the other dwarf 'teddy' sunflower I mentioned last time. While the first one was only 6" tall and had a bloom of 2", this one is 3' tall with a bloom 6" across. Both beautiful!

And finally, another photo of the corn . It is standing a good 4' tall now. Certainly "knee high by the 4th of July"!

Another busy, busy week coming up. Work, seeing to a contract for selling my Dad's place, watering the garden( hot and mostly dry is forecast for all week) and last but not least, getting the house ready for weekend company. Posting may not get done, but visiting my favorite blogs is always on my list of to dos.

" Walking into darkness on a summer night watching the stars,

As they pass by faster than a shooting star,

So if ever you are out on a hot summer night in July,

Don't let the night stars pass you by."

by Bernice Rush


Enjoy your hot July nights watching the stars!

News! and More Blooms!

Life takes many twist and turns, doesn't it? We go merrily along our way thinking we know just what is going to happen next and then surprise, an unexpected comes along. What is this all about, you ask?

Well, I'll tell you. After 10 years of being on disability, a new medicine has come along that has changed my life. Many of you know part of my story and for those that don't...I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with Fibromyalgia. I was happy at the job I was working at and fully intended to work there until I retired. It was not to be. I simply could not continue to work. I spent many years in pain and my world became increasingly smaller. This January, I started a new medicine called 'Lyrica'. And as I have said to anyone who will stand still and listen, it has been a miracle for me. I have worked many hours in my gardens, have been able to do more with my granddaughters, and in general have enjoyed life so much more. All of this is to tell you, I have a job! Granted , it is only part-time , but I feel useful again!

The only down side to all of this is I won't have as much time to garden or blog. I will probably only get to post twice a week. But I intend to visit just as much as before. I can't give up all the friends I have made in blog land. I would miss out on all the great posts you write, and all the wonderful pictures you share. Nope! Not going to give up blogging. Housework...maybe.

You are probably getting tired of seeing my Asiatic lilies, I know. But I just couldn't resist showing some of the new ones that have bloomed.

I wish I had kept name tags for these, but that was before I knew I should-or ever guessed I would be showing them on the Internet.

Still, I am so pleased with these. They are providing spots of color in the gardens during the transition from spring to summer bloomers.

I love the freckles in this one.

This is such a delicate pink.

And a perfectly peachy bloom.

This is from the wildflower seeds I started indoors. Sorry, no clue as to what kind, but it's pinkle(pink-purple) so I love it.

Zinnia's from seed. Pink and purple...notice a theme here?

The butterfly bush is just starting to open-purple. Need you even ask? Now for some butterflies.

My cone flowers(pink, what else!) are looking pretty good. I never did see what was eating them, and they seemed to have moved on, thank goodness. So I have about a zillion getting ready to bloom.

So that's what's blooming in my gardens at the moment. The containers are starting to fill in and the roses are getting ready to bloom. Perennial Phlox are about ready to blossom, and sunflowers should be opening next week. Oh, and I have flower scapes on most of my day lilies. I was beginning to be a little concerned about them, but guess I was trying to rush the season.

Great gardening to you all the rest of the week and have a wonderful weekend.

Baby Birds, Blooms, and Bugs?

Envious of all the beautiful bird photography out there in blog land, I tried my hand with these shots of fledgling robins. Okay, I'll not win any awards, but I enjoyed taking them. And the little guys were so cute. Mama was nearby keeping an eye on them and I am sure she was still feeding them as well. They were fairly cooperative in posing for me, although I think they were more interested in the coming of food. Not really knowing much about birds of this age...how long will it be before they can fly? Don't they have to have some tail feathers first?

Remember the lightening rods we saved when we had the new roof put on?

I planted a 'Moon-flower Vine', Ipomoea Alba, a couple of weeks ago. I wrapped a small tendril around one of the bottom braces hoping it would climb the rod. Well, it did! All the way to the top, round and round, and there are several tendrils now. I am so pleased and will be even more so when it blooms.

Now, I have a problem and am hoping someone out there can help. Something is eating the petals off my coneflowers. Mostly, I have noticed the bud starting to turn color and then the petals are gone before they have had a chance to fully open.

Or, they leave one or two. I have checked the eaten buds and see nothing. They aren't getting them all, it would take an army to eat all the buds that are in the garden! Any ideas?

Admittedly, this is not a great picture, but I was so excited to see these little flowers. These are from seeds I started indoors and are from some that Cheryl sent me. They are 'Cerinthe', major purpurascens. They look a little like our bluebells and are supposed to flower all summer reaching a height of 12"-15". A little bit of England growing in my garden!

As promised, the planter that fits around my patio table umbrella. It is planted with 'blush' impatiens, 'pride' coleus, and pinks. It is starting to fill in and soon will be overflowing -I hope.

One more picture of these Asiatic lilies. This stalk has 12 blooms and buds on it. I have had to put a stake by it to help keep it upright. This one stalk repeatedly has performed like this. Have I said, I am amazed!?

I have a couple of the granddaughters tomorrow and Friday and I am taking them swimming. They will swim, I'll be reading a book. Saturday, Rose and I are going on a 'Master Gardeners' garden walk. I am really excited about this. Next week, I hope to have lots of beautiful garden photos to share. And the great thing is the weather here has moderated. We are back to June weather-highs of near 80, lows in the upper 50's and low humidity. Thank goodness! It's a joy to be outside again.

I hope the rest of your week and the weekend are good gardening weather for you!

*Just a quick note to those of you who feed Zick Dough to your birds. Please read Julie's post about this.