Beautiful Celosia cristata, Typwc! Would love to trade. I will keep an eye on mine and see whether it is brainy or plumey!
Yardening Summer 2013 Part 2
Here is a link to the US Botanical Gardens, where there is a live webcam on the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), also known as the corpse flower or stinky plant, which has started to bloom. It will bloom for 24 to 48 hours, and then collapse.
http://www.usbg.gov/return-titan (scroll down just a bit to see the screen, and click on it).
I will not draw a connection between this and fds.
Once again, I've posted a mystery plant on Plant ID. No responses so far. If any of you can identify it, I'd be most grateful.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1326561/
Happy, thanks for the link to the webcam--that is one cool-looking flower! SS, I hope you took photos to share with us!!
TypWC here is the latest photo of my celosia bud. Is it too early to say it looks plume-y rather than brainy? :-(
Ric and I tackled the big Juniper Hedge today. Usually once a year we get in there and pull out any vines, pokeweed or any other unwanted intruders. This didn't use to be a very big job nothing much grew in under there it was mostly just along the edges but after some serious damage from a snow storm a few years ago that broke enough branches to let in a good bit more light it has gotten to be a bit bigger job. Just more things growing under there now that there is more light coming thru from the top. So you really have to crawl in under it and move around in the middle to get cleaned out. Since it was a nice cool day we both suited up in long pants, long sleeves and gloves. Glad it is done and shouldn't need to be done again till next year. Plus as the damage is slowly being filled in with new growth the weeds should become less and less. Here are a few pics of the hedge, more than 100ft long and a good 12ft wide. Pictures from both ends and a look under where Ric spent the best part of an hour and half crawling around under and around the branches. He pushed things out to me and I carted it away. We filled up the garden cart about 5 times.
I didn't remember how big it was -- that sounds like a staggering project. At least the weather was nice....
Good Lord but that thing is huge!!! But it's gorgeous though!
And, at any point in Ric's crawling around in there did, you hear him say something like "Oh, hello, fancy meeting you in here!" ?? < =0
It looks positively beautiful though, and I LOVE the boulder placement!!
LOL, Luckily he didn't run into any one or anything. The boulders at the back were originally brought over from the neighbors and stacked there thinking they would one day be used for a pond. Then the other neighbors asked if we wanted more and we took them also so they were piled up in front at the other end. Not sure if we will ever do anything with any of the boulders now but they make for some interesting plantings. You can see the lilacs growing up though the font of the hedge, there is a hollywood juniper planted out in front and a Crepe Myrtle plus several ornamental grasses. At the back end there are the peonies, a few of my potted tropicals and castor bean. I really like the way if frames the yard, separates the yard from the dirt communal driveway and provides privacy.
Heeheee, I can just picture you standing there all by yourself next to the cart, while there's this voice coming from the shrubbery "Hello there little fella, what're you doing in here? Shouldn't you be running on home to your Mamma now?" Haaahahahaahaaa!!!! "Ric, what ARE you doing in there!?!" "Ooooh, nothing!" < =D
Yeah, I think ... just my humble little opinion, mind... when the time comes to finish up that pond, ya may just have to find new rocks/boulders, 'cause the placement of these ones is so perfect. They look like they're there sorta 'accidentally on purpose', if ya know what I mean. Just perfect!!
What a big job. Got to be done though. We'd vote for the hedge in lieu of a wooden fence which would need its own maintenance anyway. And its hard to imagine your yard without the impressive rocks!
When we originally got the rocks Josh worked for a bridge company and getting a crane of some kind to place the boulders would have been easy but now it would be more expensive. The grands just love to climb on them you can see a few small rocks laying out where they left them the last time they came to visit. We still might pull a few out but I think the original idea for the pond may have passed and a new design idea is in the making.
Looks T-rific!!!!
I have no idea what things are looking like at home since we have been gone. A friend is watering if needed, thankfully. Neighbor is mowing. I'll have to make sure I feed him good. Bless his heart. We have him over for dinner frequently. Thankful for him and it gives him something to do.
"new design idea" from Holly & Ric -- awaiting updates!
If anybody has been thinking, "I should go check out that thread and see what fall bulbs Jill is getting for us from ADR" -- THIS IS THE TIME! After I finalize our initial choices tomorrow, we may do additions to our order, but we will be limited to their (still considerable) stateside inventory.
We've got a couple of great naturalizing varieties where we can get GREAT discounts if we buy a bulk bag, and the numbers aren't quite there:
N. 'Ice Follies' (early bloomer, large cup variety opens yellow, matures to white), 25 large size 14/16 bulbs for $6.25
N. 'Actaea' (white with small yellow cup, pretty orange ring), 25 size 12/14 bulbs for $7.25
N. 'Geranium' (multiple little blooms on each stem, wonderful scent), 25 size 12/14 bulbs for $6.25
N. 'Jetfire'. (miniature with orange center, reflexed yellow petals for a sweet wildflower look), 25 size 12/14 for $5.25
Come over to the "part II" thread to learn more! The bulb sorting party will be October 12, or you can arrange to swing by Frederick any time after that.
Where is the thread? Got a link for it please?
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1326263/
in case jill is busier than am at the moment lol
The only thing that I was concerned I might run into under those junipers was one of our larger black snakes hanging around trying to shed or full of eggs. That's about the only time they are mean. Oh I almost forgot having just eaten. LOL
even a smaller mean black snake would not be a happy sight
8 ^O
Thank you Sally, and yeah, I wouldn't want to run into any mean any sorta snake in there! (LOL, what a cute surprised face!)
I try to believe that there are no snakes in my gardens. That's the only way I can step into them.
Old joke:
"What's worse than biting into an apple and finding a worm in it?"
Answer: Finding only half a worm.
I had one cat, Midnight, who lept straight up into the air when she would encounter the garden hose somewhere in the yard, Figure she had an encounter with a snake at some point in her life.
Eeewwwwww. Never gonna bite into an apple again. < =x
In the olden days, when I was young, we had all kinds of fruit trees and veggies growing on our patch of land. My grandfather thought that a lawn was a ridiculous waste of good growing soil. However, there was no such thing as spraying insecticides, so we ate all around the worm holes.
Love it!
In the olden days of my childhood water was ice cold right out of our well! And we hardly ever used ice cubes except when we had a special treat of lemonade which was sipped not gulped.
And I can't remember having 'snacks' We ate three squares and didn't eat between meals. Seems parents today stress more over snacks on hand than running out of mikl! But, yes, we all had fruit in season to pick or pick up from our trees and bushes and wild grown along the road, in the woods and fields or down by the tracks (best wild strawberry patch ever!) Of course, the food we ate then was fresh, whole, local, home grown, organic and homemade. Comparable today seems a luxury for most
We had Sunday dinner on Sunday not every supper of the week. Meat was a once or twice a week menu item except we did have bacon or sausage several times for breakfast and an occasional tuna sandwich or BLT for lunch.
Lawns, Haven't verified this but heard that if 10% of lawn was converted to food production no one would go hungry and planet warming would be decreased significantly Correct or incorrect, sure something to think about. And why is a lawn such a status symbol? Does a green expanse of lawn mean we have made it into the middle class and can now afford all of the tools and chemicals and time or to pay for a service to maintain same or engage in an expensive leisure-time hobby.???
Well, never mind I'm just very glad to not have a lawn and neighbors who haven't complained yet because frankly I think it takes some of the pressure off of them to strictly keep up appearances. "Unsightly" is a value judgement like laws that restrict people from hanging out their clothes to dry on a day like today!
One more thing before I jump off my soap box How many times have we been out 'enjoying our yards or the great outdoors' to the accomnyment of mowers, trimmers, atv s etc. There is a man I heard interviewed who is recording 'the last quiet places on earth' before they disappear.
Have a great quiet weekend all.
Judy
Judy
Oh, yes!!!!!
It WILL be quiet except for the sound of an axe chopping wood for the campfire. We are headed up to a lake just east of Mt. Hood for the weekend.
There probably will be some noise though as they make an outdoor shower and attach it to the bunkhouse.
Jan-
Sounds ah-mazing!!! Who doesn't enjoy an outdoor shower. Awesome.
Lawns, Haven't verified this but heard that if 10% of lawn was converted to food production no one would go hungry and planet warming would be decreased significantly Correct or incorrect, sure something to think about. And why is a lawn such a status symbol? Does a green expanse of lawn mean we have made it into the middle class and can now afford all of the tools and chemicals and time or to pay for a service to maintain same or engage in an expensive leisure-time hobby.???
Read more: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1323157/#ixzz2aB2SYn9Y
1- could be true
2+ I've pondered it and think thats it. Mostly. There's a long history probably involving rich landowners, and sheep and English countryside and whatnot.
Lawn is the default correct situation for that ground around each house which gives a buffer to the rest of the world around our private space. Open lawn around a house makes the interior brighter and allows better air circulation, But- being somewhat sterile, lawn also is less buggy, snakey, crittery than most anything more grown up- which for the majority of people would be unkempt, untended growth. Gardeners of course would fuss enough to keep most bugs etc at bay....In short, any idiot can mow a lawn but we brilliant gardeners can do better than that!
Got some good stuff done today, mostly pruning a plum and the peach trees. I read that summer pruning would slow down their overexhuberant growth. Of course, I hastily pruned OFF one of the only clean peaches left on the tree. rats!!.
moved the Tiger Baby lilies and planted two Pentas.
Swallowtails were lovin on Bottlebrush Buckeye and now the Liatris
Loved looking back at some of the simpler times which you brought us back to, Judy. Got to relive another happy childhood memory today... at, of all places, WORK today! Boss Lady's sons came to visit and one of them brought her a few leaves from a "mystery plant" to nibble on. She called me in, said if she was gonna eat it, I would have to, too. =) (I do love my Boss Lady!) Took a bite and it IMMEDIATELY brought me back to visiting my Grandparents in PA, roaming in the back yard and nibbling from...whatever was growing around on the ground or in the trees just because it was different... wild garlic, wild dill, crab apples, grapes from the grapevines, and what we nibbled on at work today.. wild sorrel!! YUMMY!!! Such sweet (and sour) memories! =) ... those were the days my friend....
speedie---You took me back to a long ago place we lived....
When we were still bouncing around Germany--one place we lived was
close to a hill you had to walk down to get to the river Ems, where we
splashed and swam--and where I almost drowned--seriously!
Some kid from my school jumped in and pulled me ashore...
The sand just washed out from under my feet where i was standing--and I
did not know how to swim. I had already been up and down 3 times---
My mind was flashing with my funeral and me in a coffin--and who would
miss me the most.....morbid! I was either 11 or 12.
Anyway--to get to this hill and traverse the meadow--I had to walk through
a ghostly, old Cemetery...Caved in graves...toppled tomb stones...Brrrrrrr....
But--we did it almost every day.
In the meadow grew a lot of Sorrel--and I used to pick it so my Mom
could make Sorrel Soup. It was good--and it was served with boiled
eggs chopped up on top, as I remember. Very much like Spinach--just sour.
My sister in AK grows Sorrel in her garden just so she can make this soup.
Try some of these and tell us what you thought....Where would you ger Sorrel?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorrel
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sorrel-soup/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chilled-sorrel-soup-recipe/index.html
http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/sorrel-soup-recipe-zb0z1301zmat.aspx#axzz2aCoP55Xc
http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/Russian-Soup-Recipes/r/Russian-Ukrainian-Sorrel-Soup-Recipe-Schav-Borscht.htm
Gita
Grow sorrel. I have it. Good crop of leaves in spring, then it blooms and dies back. then another bunch of leaves in fall. I think I got it from miatablu. Gita you can have one of the offshoots if you want.
...If I only lived in an untended meadow---i am sure I could grow and
harvest some...
I could use some "pucker power'.....;o)
G.
Is sorrel the same as my most despised weed, dock? It looks like a bloody dock in the rough and has a tap root from hello? If I can make something tasty from it, I may upgrade it from despised to most hated. LOL
I look for this stuff to ensure I at least remove it's extremely abundant crop of seed before it ripens and put it in the burn pile and not the compost. One of my specialty tools "The Cobra" was purchased in my pursuit of eliminating this scourge from my cultivated spaces. It is one of the few things that motivate me to use herbicides and it's revenge is that one application never kills it. I worry about the extinction of any species but possibly this one.
Ric--
If memory serves me right---there is a "Horse Sorrel" which is not
the edible type. It is rough and grayish-green and sends up a tall stem with seeds...
It is everywhere! Roadsides--in wastelands, etc... A nasty weed!
I tried to Google it--but what came up was a bunch of "sorrel horses".....???
You can give it a try......G.
The image page on Google for sorrel has a whole lotta different plants as examples, including my foe.
Ric, maybe the sorrel you're thinking of is "Patience", which is less acidic but more bitter.
The sorrel that Boss Lady's son brought to us looked like the pic below (pic borrowed from this website: http://www.islandbreath.org/TheGobbler/Articles%20Published/06%20GD%20Gardening/01%20French%20Touch/gd_01_FrGardening.html ) Not sure how the pic is gonna come out, if it "saved" just the sorrel pic or all three... but the sorrel is on the left. What we ate looked EXACTLY like that... almost leathery, very acidic, very yummy. He said it grows all over the campus there... OH! He attends University of Maryland, by the way... Paul, do you remember seeing Sorrel all over the place there!?!? Do you remember grazing the campus between classes? **giggle**
Gita, thank you for sharing the recipe links, I will have to give those a try, they look WONDERFUL!! MY GOODNESS, what a scary memory, I'm sorry I brought THAT one back to you!!!! Glad I could bring back happier ones though. =)
My new soaker hose (thanks, Critter!) is so wonderful--not only does it water the plants, it also tells me which parts of the bed are pooling water! :-o Turns out that a couple plants I had who seemed a little unhappy and I didn't know why--well, they were sitting in a couple puddles, so I was able to move them to better draining spots.
On to the next bed with my new soaker toy!!
An untended meadow is not required to grow garden sorrel. Yes, speedie's description sounds like mine. Kind of like spinach but a little leathery, but cooks quickly. Its too tart for me raw.
I love love love sorrel!