We got soooo much rain here the past 3 days....yesterday we lost power for 2 hours, crazy storm
What's Happening in your Garden Today June 2011
Big storms came thru here yesterday and last Sunday too. The one on Sunday took out a swath of trees in its path along the gravel lane and power was knocked out for 30+ hours. Next big purchase has got to be a built-in generator that ties in to the panel box - this happens way too often. We were having a party and no one could get out until the trees laying across the road were cut out of the way - just gave them more reason to eat more crabs and stay later :-)
We had a huge, powerful downpour yesterday (friday).
I was on the way home--and decided to stop at the Lowes store looking for
a certain fertilizer. They did not have it....Checked a mark-down rack...
Picked up a bargain plant on there--a purple SPV----$1.
Couldn't leave....there was a "river" running down the parking lot....
and me in Crocks....Finally decided to make a run for it...Splash...splash...
Terri--
Sorry to hear about your storm....BUT--sitting around a bit longer with friends
and eating more crabs----what's wrong with that????
Yes! A generator can come in handy.....
This is funny.....sometimes, during rough weather times, I get calls from customers
at the HD asking if we have any Generators. BUT---they have NO idea that it has to be
installed...They think they can just "plug it in" somewhere.......and run it in the house....
That is the joke...Ahem...GET IT?
I just got enough 2nd growth broccoli for another salad: chopped with craisins, bacon, grated cheese, mayo, and balsamic vinegar; yummy. I also got an armful of green bell and yellow banana peppers, maybe peppers and eggs for breakfast :-} Holly's Ric
We lost the gazebo cover a couple of weeks ago one of those storms just shredded it. I had replaced the old cover last year and wasn't real happy with the quality of the replacement cover. It didn't even last one year. So I have been trying to decide what to do about a replacement and started thinking maybe it was time for a whole new gazebo. The old one was getting pretty rough. Yesterday I went to work and they were taking down the gazebo displays. I got a great deal for the same price as a replacement cover I got a whole new gazebo. Ric came down and picked it up and within in an hour or so the old one was down and the new one was up. Looks really good especially since I had gotten a great deal on new table & chairs earlier this spring. I will have to see about curtains. I really liked the look of the curtains on the old one. So here it is.
Gazebo looks great - enjoy it!
After the nice rain we finally had, our Stargazer lilies started blooming. They look nice surrounded by pink cleome
Awesome, Holly! Gotta love a bargain!
Very pretty, Diana
Holly, being exposed to all those bargains is probably one of the biggest perks for working at Lowes! The new gazebo is nice. Wind, I love the lillies. The only things blooming in my garden right now are a clump of oriental lillies and a 'Blue Wave' lacecap hydrangea. The blue of the hydrangea is stunning. I'll try to get pictures tomorrow after work - huge thunderstorm happenning right now. Oops, just lost power AGAIN. Hope this outage doesn't last long.
Terri, I think that generator sounds like a great idea for you
OH, MY GOD!!!!!
The "other" Red Epi bloomed today!!!! It is the most amazing bloom I have ever seen!
I got both my Red Epis from "kachinagirl" (Karen) in CA in 2005. Just leaves...one each.
You all have seen the flowers from my Red Epi that has now bloomed in the last 3 summers.
The "other one" (Ruby! You got one of these from me at the Swap) has NEVER bloomed!!!
In mid-June--I posted pictures of potentially developing buds....The blush in the veins....
the tiny red pips which were buds-to-be....Three of them grew into buds that will bloom.
Took A WHOLE MONTH FROM BUD TO BLOOM!!!...WOW!!!
Talk about patience....I took pictures all along to see how these buds developed....
SO! Here--a month later one of the three bloomed.....HUGE, fuchsia blooms in shades of red and
fushia and deep pinks. The bloom was about 6" across.....The biggest I have ever seen!!!
Will post this on the "Orchid cactus" Forum to get an ID and name.
SO! TADAAAHHH! Here is the first picture!
The slowly developing buds....making this long "neck" as it grew and grew...
Yesterday--camera in hand--again--I KNEW the "event" was going to happen today...
as the pointed tip of the end of the bud was slowly opening up.
Looked out the window today--and could not contain myself---IT BLOOMED!!!!
Took many pictures--with 3 different cameras....
Will show you a few.....This is, to me, so memorable!!!!!
More--- A bit of a side-view
The bloom and a second bud to wait for--yet....
This will show you the size--as I am trying to hold it more upward....
Bigger than my whole hand!!!
Decided to get out my older Kodak Digital camera.
Thought it may show better colors-as my el-Cheapo one does not...
Don't know why--but the pictures I took with the Kodak camera look like it was taken
at night. It was not! Same time as all the others---but sure added a bit of "mystery" to the color.
And to think--this will be gone tomorrow!
I am in total awe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gita
Here is the whole plant--to give you an idea of the size of the bloom.
The other red Epi hangs on the other side of this one....
Can't say the plant itself is much to look at---all raggedy and stiff and a bit thorny--
all these ugly, woody 'fronds" just hanging down in all kinds of shapes and sizes...
New growths coming and going--every which way. HEAVY! as these fronds are succulent--
like an Aloe would be. The whole pot of this must weigh about 20lbs! maybe more...
BUT then--this happens! And you forget all the rest....
OMG is right Gita. That is just beautiful.
Wow ! What a show! I'm so happy for you!
Second bud started opening last night.
And--then there were two! Still amazed at the size of these blooms!
beautiful Gita!!! interesting plant. It doesn't look like it would be as heavy as it is. The blooms must be beautiful to see in person. They look like one gigantic Xmas cactus bloom!!!
baby wrens in the white house
grew in a pot. I must have planted seeds for this one last year or the year before and at least one returns every year
black beauty lilies are blooming now
I really love this coleus
Gita- Another good thing- you don't have to bend over to see them!
wind that is the most charming birdhouse- and sunflower portrait. I am now growing a couple every year and they are becoming a must because I admire their size and the goldfinches they bring.
Ric put in massive amounts of work yesterday clearing out a good size weedy spot. We lost a tree a couple of years ago and this area went from a pretty decent ground cover to wild tangle of honeysuckle, poison and various other weeds. He had wanted to make an attempt to save the vinca but I wanted to start fresh and add more plants. He took out the fence that runs down the side of the road and got in there with his riding tractor. Wouldn't believe the pile of plant debris he had when I got home. We cut back some of the dead or misplaced tree branches, laid another layer of landscaping and added mulch. Planted 2 azalea, 2 hydrangea, a rhododendron and blue star juniper. All pretty small and sad as they were bargain plants from work. There is a nice looking but small Mahonia that we planted last year. Looks so nice now that the groundcover mess is gone. Don't have any before pics. to compare. Here you can see where it fits into the evergreen grouping, it will take years for it to grow in.
The azaleas are pretty small and the hydrangeas will be lucky to survive but the rhodie is nice size and the mahonia has had it's year to settle in and is growing very nicely this year. I expect it to be quite a bit bigger next year. In the yard looking out at the road.
From the road looking in. We still have a lot of privacy from the road even with this big gaping hole as it looks in right where the big yew hedge is. I am afraid we will loose the big blue spruce next and that will definitely open up the front yard.
well done! nice to see an update, its like a mini visit to your yard again.
= ^)
Thanks Sally, That back corner is growing in nicely, too.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/287663/
I noticed my wild Nodding Pink Onions are beginning to bloom, greenthumb. Cute! Do you have them in sun , shade, something in between?
SOMETHING has to be happening in your garden!!!!! Go look around!
Need some Posts to get going....Slim pickings lately.....
My white, perennial Hibiscus is blooming away...It is getting fuller and taller with each year.
This one used to be "attached" to my tall red Hibiscus...kind of overwhelmed by it...
I dug it away 3 years ago--and now it has it's own space. Looking good!!!
Look here....
Here is a close-up of one of the blooms....
This may be the one called "Luna".....see the bee?
This is my Brazilian Plume Flower.
IF you remember--it got blown over last summer--and every one of the branches got broken off.
I let it re-grow and it is blooming now--in this sweltering heat!
I wonder how hot it is in Brazil at this time????...........:o)
The plant itself is downright ugly. Nothing to compliment it on...
And then--for a few weeks--it blooms and I love it.
I had to teeter on my 5' ladder to reach all the stems to pick off all the seed pods
from my Wintersweet Shrub. Picked a 2 gallon bucket-full....
Still have to shell them all of seeds.....I have NO idea what I will ever do with all these seeds????
Enough of that!!!!
I pruned the whole shrub back by almost half. Too high up to pick seeds....
Too dangerous as well--as all I have is a 5' folding ladder....
Here is a picture--"Before"....
And--here is the picture "after".....
SO! I may lose a year of bloom! Who needs more seeds????
Here is a dichotomy!
Both of these are Sun Gold Tomatoes....Why the different sizes?????
Here are some of the AV's I grew from a single leaf....
It CAN be done!!!!
Hi Gita, Yes it is quiet. Been pretty busy my Aunt is here visiting from Calif. and we had our family reunion last Sunday. Ric hosted a brunch for all the Aunts & Uncles yesterday so we were pretty busy cleaning the house and tiding up the yard. Love that Brazilian Plume Flower. We got something in at work that looks a lot like that but it is white. Came in without any plant ID tags just says premium annual on the side. I did have one I got it at Rawlings Conservatory a few years ago. Unfortunately shortly after I brought it home I noticed scale on it and in the end I gave up and tossed it. I will post a few pics later. Wait till you see the Tropical water lilies I got.