Going, Going, Gone!

One of the 'big ' projects on the Spring to do list has been accomplished!
The rose bush, I have been writing about removing is gone. This was supposed to be a repeat bloomer, at least that is what the tag said. And the tag also showed a picture of a 3-4 foot nicely shaped bush. Don't believe everything a tag says. I remember buying this at Lowe's about 8 years ago, thinking it would be a nice center for the long burm. The first year it did okay, not great, but it did have several blooms and stayed fairy compact. The next year, it started growing after a poor showing of blooms. Maybe, I thought, it blooms on new wood. So I left it. The following year, huge, ungainly and few blooms. I trimmed it back severely. Again, few blooms and the Japanese beetles found it. I sprayed, but could do no more that year. To make a very long story short-it has never re-bloomed, it spreads like wildfire, it has dead looking spots and it traps leaves and tree seedlings. It has to go!
Hubby, bless his heart, finally has time to pull it out. Here he is taking a log chain and wrapping it around the base.

I was told to stand back! The chain tightens.

It's going.

Going more...

Wait, the chain is slipping. Hubby redoes the chain close to the bottom, again.

Yes! It has popped loose. It is gone!

After pulling out some of the stragglers, digging out some tough roots, raking, and tearing out what would have been a whole forest of baby trees, the job is finally done!

I'm pretty sure I will have to spray some kind of brush killer in the cleared area. We think the roots will try to grow. I will check with the garden center about that and it probably won't be safe to plant for a while. In the meantime, I can plan what I want to put there. I'm sure, though it won't be another 'rugosa rose'.

Thanks Hubby. I couldn't have done it without you!

Hoe Down 2008!

We are so excited over here at Dragonfly Corner! We've been invited to the first ever 'Hoe Down' at Carol's place. Mother Rake has been busy all week getting everybody's duds cleaned and laid out. Dad Hoe has been trying to get his outside work caught up so that he can take Saturday off and join in the festivities. Grandpa Rake came all the way from his house-no easy feat for a Rake of his age and having to use a cane. Baby Rake-Hoe is too young to realize he will be a part of history, but knows something's up. They all got ready in record time and so we have time to take a few pictures of them dressed in their finery.

First Grandpa Rake. He's had that same old straw hat for years now and where he goes -it goes. Being wooden, Grandpa spends a lot of his time inside now as the dampness and cold get to his tines. He probably was used a little too much in his early years and now has to use a cane to get around. Although the spirit is willing, his body begs to differ.

Dad Hoe isn't one, usually, to sit around and pose for pictures. But today, being such an important occasion, he has donned his just washed farmer's hat and put on his new kerchief. Dad can usually be found outside chopping weeds and loosening the soil. He expects he's got quite a few good years left in him.

Mom Rake (Grandpa Rake's daughter) is sporting a new necklace of pearls bought just for this get-together. She wanted to make a good impression! Her hair was a bit unruly and she decided to wear one of her prettier scarfs. Although, she's busy year round, she's most in demand in the fall. Her slim lightweight body and shorter than average stature make her quite popular.

Baby Rake-Hoe looks like both his parents. A hoe on one side with tines on the other. Small though he may be, he has come to be a favorite for small jobs and is especially useful when it is planting time. He really didn't want to pose, but Mom Rake gave him his favorite Teddy and that keeps him entertained while also keeping him still so as not to get his baby blue sleeper messy. I'm sure this little guy will be around for many, many years and do his part in keeping the gardens in good order!

Time for one last picture before we go. With their busy lives, it may be a while before all can take time for a Family picture.

Come on! Join us as we head to May Dreams Garden for the big shindig. Time's a wasting!

Plant Shopping, Rock Gardens, Lilacs

This is a field just south of our little town. When I saw it I knew I had to take a picture. This is what I think Ireland must look like with it's heaths and heathers. Well, kind of anyway.

Unfortunately, it is not heath or even heather. It is a field of weeds and the farmer will soon be plowing and or spraying to kill it so corn or beans can be planted.

I just couldn't wait any longer. I had to have lilacs in the house. I picked a couple of purple tulips, added some peach blossoms and am enjoying the bouquet as I write.

I promised last post to show some of the plants I found when Rose and I went plant shopping. It was a really good day! I could have taken at least one of most everything we saw. That would mean a lot of planting! These are a few of the ones I did bring home.

Delphinium 'Black Knight'

My yellow impatiens! 'Fusion Glow'

Dianthus 'Frosty Fire'

Phlox paniculata 'Super Red'

A Steppable-Isotoma fluviatils 'Blue Star Creeper'

Origanim vulgare ' variegated sweet marjoram'

I did get several planted today and then decided I wanted rock garden. I am starting small, but plan on enlarging as time and rocks permit.

Before:

After!

Lastly, the African violet I am plant sitting(3 months now!) has decided to bloom.

Don't forget the "HOE DOWN" May 3rd!

April's End!

The pink Dogwood cornus florida. On my 'life's wish list' of trees I want. I even have the spot for it. Alas and alack...the budget will not allow for it this year. Although, there is the economic stimulus money. Hmmm...!

Aren't these trees beautiful? I was driving by and saw them and thought of Carol at May Dreams Garden. She ask if we thought her newly planted Carolina Silverbell, halesic carolina, 'arnold pink' would clash with her redbud tree. It seems she planted the Carolina closer to the redbud than she had planned. These two, while different species, are close to hers in colors. I think they look grand together.

Monday evening, I raided my towels and sheets to cover some annuals(my seedlings) in case of frost. I knew that if I didn't cover them we would have a good frost. Fortunately, we did not! I have a feeling people driving by thought I had lost my laundry off the clothes line. We do some odd things to protect our gardens.

On Monday, I said the lilacs seemed to be on hold. They still are. I guess they are waiting for the weather to warm, also. They do have the lilac scent, though.

Mrs. Dove is sitting patiently, and steadily I am sure. She has to-to protect her eggs from the cold! Soon she will be surrounded by wisteria in bloom. I could see a bud or two just starting to open, but did not want to get close enough for a picture. I was afraid she would fly away and the eggs would chill. Maybe tomorrow when it warms up I can get a quick shot.

I decided to check out my mother-in-law's gardens. Although she has not done much for years, she still has some pretty spots and several nice plants. Her peach trees are in full bloom. She has 4 or 5 that are getting very old. They still show pretty but have few decent peaches.

She has violets growing everywhere. Especially around the edges of what used to be the vegetable garden and under the peach trees.

Lily of the Valley is growing and even has tiny buds. I have tried numerous times to get a start of these. I've taken whole shovels full of dirt and roots. They will not grow for me! So I enjoy them at her house, pacifying my wants by picking some for a mini bouquet.

Her poppies are budding! I enjoy these almost as much as the flower. Their fuzzy silver pods nodding in the breeze are comical to watch. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to transplant these too.

Growing in the poppy bed at the front of her house, right next to the brick foundation is this. I don't have a clue. They look like trees, but notice the really crooked stems. Any ideas? Something unusual, or do we need to cut them down as an undesirable?

In my next post, I will show and tell about the day of plant shopping Prairie Rose and I had today. What fun!

April, Full of Promise-Gone So Quickly!

I can't believe April is almost over. Where did this month go? Is it because we were so busy in our gardens that the days just flew by? Days of sun and warm breezes tempt us out to our gardens where time is lost to us. We clean and dig. We plant and pull weeds. We marvel at the growth of each flower and eagerly await the next bloom. Gardens are indeed, I think, pilferers of time. As time will go by anyway what ever we are doing, I would much rather have my time flee while I am in my garden.



Fat Cat is enjoying her time in the garden. The blooming vinca makes a comfortable bed while she awaits her prey. Today it was bumble bees.

Our ornamental plum is blooming and attracting it's share of honey bees. This tree always puts out leaves before it blooms. I think it is because the tiny pink flowers show up so well against the dark maroon leaves. Mother Nature has a very artistic side to her.

The blue bells are in full bloom(in my neighbor's yard). These were one of my Mother's favorite flowers. I have tried many times to get them to grow in my gardens, but have finally settled for seeing them next door.

I have long ago forgotten the name of this plant. It vines and I originally had it planted in some of my barrel planters. Like the vining vinca, it spilled over the edges and has become a perennial in several places. This is the first time I can remember it blooming though.

A new color of tulip has bloomed in the last couple of days. I wish I knew their name so I could find more of them. I love their color and their growth habit.

I am so happy with this part of the garden. It is a small 'rock' garden area. I planted creeping phlox in and around them a couple of years ago, using very small plants. Look how it has grown and mixed with the vinca. I love the color combination and the spilling over effect Just to the top middle is the fern leaf tansy. If you click on the picture it willl show it larger and in more detail.

The lilacs are on hold. I suppose it is the cooler temperatures of the last few days. Although the flowers aren't fully open their perfume is caught by the breeze and comes clear across the yard. I think I will cut a few stems from the back side of them tomorrow for the house. I still say nothing says spring like the smell of lilacs!

And finally, more wood violets. I have several small bunches of them spread throughout the yard and gardens and I leave them. They are lovely to see and always bring a smile. Maybe it is because they are so tenacious. They survive sprayings, pullings and mowings, still managing to spread and bring forth dozens of tiny perfectly formed flowers.

We had a good weekend, although not as restful as hoped, it was relaxing. And hubby's birthday was celebrated with family and good friends. He even got a call from his mother who is in the nursing home. That pleased him. We are sure someone reminded her and dialed the phone, but she knew him long enough, today, to wish him a Happy Birthday.

I hope your week is filled with sunshine, warm temps, and lots of blooms!

Heaven Is Gardening!

Summer came to our area these past few days. Temperatures in the 80's are not spring-like. But I enjoyed the gentle breezes and the warm rays of sun that were missed this past winter. My mind enjoyed...that is. By the end of the day, my body was not as thrilled.

My gardens have been neglected for years with only sporadic care and attention. Days, weeks, and even months went by without me being able to tend them. As I have mentioned, fibromyalgia has robbed me of the ability to take pleasure in the nurturing of my gardens. But because of LYRICA-a truly miracle drug for me, I am able to garden once again! Now when my body aches and my back won't straighten up, it is from hours spent raking, digging, pulling weeds and planting flowers. Just like any other gardener who has spent the winter indoors not using those gardening muscles. I'm in heaven!

With the warmth, blooms have opened and the bees have come. The dwarf ornamental cherry tree, that only a few days ago was beginning to bud, is now buzzing. Last year I remember only a few honey bees and mostly saw the black and yellow kind. Cheryl, at Wildlife Sanctuary is a bee's best friend. She plants for bees, provides bees with shelter in the winter(Mason Bees) and is spreading the word about the world wide population decline of bees. So Cheryl, this bee above is for you!

The lilacs are just starting to pop. Both bushes, the common(I think) and the darker one are full of buds. Carol at May Dreams Gardens has predicted a 'spectacular' year for them. I hope so. Last year we lost most of them to a late killing frost.

This is a not-very-good picture of my wisteria, which is also full of buds. But what I am trying to show is the bird nest in the middle towards the back.

A dove! I was trying to sneak around the back of the garage to get a picture without disturbing her, but she flew right after this shot. I will watch from afar now.

This poor climbing rose has given it's all and it is time to let it go to that great rose garden in the sky. Once upon a time it was glorious in it's width and height and it bloomed with abandon. That was its downfall I'm afraid. My dad loved it and wanted a start for his deck. So, a couple of years ago, he tried to divide it...with a spade. Do I have to explain any further?

Yesterday, I replaced it with a climbing Queen Elizabeth. I promise, no more dividing!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Me, I am going to let my garden-weary-body rest a couple of days and help my husband celebrate his birthday!

A Spot In the Bath Tub?

This is my bath tub. See the spot? What is the spot? I took a shower in there about an hour ago and didn't see the spot. Bend down and check it out. What? What is that spot!? A TOAD!!! In my bathroom? A TOAD IN MY BATHROOM!

I call my husband who is in Ohio. A TOAD...in the bathroom! (laughing on the other end of the phone) But, there is a Toad in the bathroom! You know how I hate things like this. Do something. (more laughter!) Look, I learned to deal with spiders when you aren't here, I don't think I should have to deal with TOADS.

Okay, okay(he's trying not to laugh now) get a paper towel, grab him, and put him outside.

But it's a Toad and I don't want to touch it.

Look, I would get it for you, but....I'm in Ohio. Do you want to leave it til I get home on Friday? (snickering now)

Oh, alright! I'll figure out something. But if Fat Cat is gone when you do get home, I don't want to hear anything about it.

Why would she be gone?(not laughing at all now)

How else do you think the Toad got into the house? You know how she is about playing with live things.

Hey, innocent until proven guilty!(Har har har!)

I am so glad you find all of this amusing. Talk to you tomorrow-love you.

Popsicle stick and plastic cup. Ewww!

Stay in there, TOAD until I can get you out the front door!

(I apologize for the blurry pictures, but did want to share this 'nature comes to me ' story. And to those of you who have been waiting to hear toads and frogs, come to my house. You can take them home with you!)