August 21, 2009

Trying to keep up with the weeding and the Japanese beetles is the daily mantra these days. My summer has been interrupted by a sewer project, which shook and rattled our home continuously for weeks on end. The constant vibration put a hole/leak in our water main, which had to be replaced, and of course the water department denied any responsibility. Figuring if the incoming water pipes have been damaged, the possibility is good the outgoing water pipes may be damaged as well and we may as well connect to the city sewer, since we're doing this major plumbing work anyway. The project which was not to cost us one red cent, is now to cost us $5,000. In addition, our front lawn was dug up, rocks brought up to the surface, raked across, and grass seed spread out on top of the rocks to grow! "Duh" is all I can say.

Good things continue to grown and come from the garden, including zucchini (of course!) and now, hot peppers!

July 19, 2009

I thought I would share some of my favorite plants that are now coming into bloom: daylilies. I like them because they are no fuss: they come back every year with out special care, and they do fine suffering my neglect. :)

These small ones run alongside my garage

These are wild ones that I've always liked, so my hubby brought some home to me.

A "volunteer" rudbeckia appeared on my front lawn,
so my hubby just mowed around it... lol

Hostas in bloom alongside the dog kennel

I'm sure everyone's convinced I'm obsessed with the Green Envy Echinacea,
but it seems every time I take photos, it's a cloudy day! Today the sun was out...

July 18, 2009

July 18, 2009

Well, that huge zucchini we picked a few days ago has made four loaves of zucchini bread (pineapple zucchini and chocolate zucchini) and I still have plenty of grated zucchini left over!

Just wanted to show how my Green Envy Echinacea is doing; the blossoms are turning pink now, and it is truly a stunning plant; I just love it.

July 15, 2009

First zucchini harvested!

Daylily in the front flower bed

Monarda close up

Monarda view

"Green Envy" Echinacea starting to bloom!

June 30, 2009
I like the wild daylilies that grow along the roadside around here, so my husband snatched me a few one year, and they are very happy alongside our shed and have multiplied.

Baby Romaine ready for salad

Sugar Snap Peas for stir fry tonight!

On the Deck

Summer arrived with a bang; griping about it being too cool, and suddenly we are hit with 99-degree temps. Some of the plants are just lovin' it (still benefitting from the rain) and some of the potted plants are wilting over even if I just watered them the day before... sheesh. Oh well, this is only my little yard, not the Garden of Eden -- and I certainly am not Eve, LOL!

Not much is happening in the "pond"; much of the water has already evaporated due to the heat, and I moved the barrel a few feet over because it looks as if the plants haven't been getting enough light. As soon as things settle, I will move the fish in. Oh, and the Green Envy echinacea is growing, and looks like buds are forming!

There was an article in "Chicagoland Gardening" magazine on combining flowers that blend, or in many cases, contrast well with each other. In this article, I found another plant to lust after --- last month it was the Green Envy Echinacea, this time it is Rudbeckia Prairie Sun; a "black-eyed Susan" that isn't black-eyed at all, but green-eyed --- with two-toned petals of yellow and orange. A striking plant that is a tender perennial; it may or may not survive the winters here, but it may well re-seed itself. In the example, it looks striking combined with purple or blue flowers, of which my latest complaint in my front flower bed is that I have too much purple and blue... so I am on a quest to fine R. Prairie Sun and brighten things up with this unusual plant! See it photographed here: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/77672-product.html

Mid-June Update

Time for a mid-June update; it has FINALLY warmed up a bit and the regular rains have kept things growing and green. We have gotten some good mesclun salads, and I have harvested sage, thyme, and some "volunteer" oregano that is drying in the house.

The catmint has perked up considerably
and is blooming; my cat doesn't care about it! LOL!

The herb garden; the thyme is blooming and the
pigs got in again...

View from the end of the raised bed: veggie garden

The mesclun and baby romaine
(We and the critters have eaten it regularly!)

Sugar-snap peas (and bush beans behind)