Whats Blooming outside your door part 3

Another lovely yellow, 'Graham Thomas'. My favorite clear yellow.

And these cup and saucer campanulas! The bells are huge.

I'm so tickled that David Austin's roses are so warmly received in the US - I do think he is a fantastic breeder! Magnificent scents - I will try and add in a few pics of some of our later on, but in the meantime - gooooo Pix.

Laurie - I think you're referring to the air conditioning unit Wonderful to have cool air, but a pain to cover up outside because they need to have good air circulation around them.

Bea, as everyone has said up above, you're garden is great! What a place to sit outside and enjoy! It's no wonder at all that the little Delphi picked your place over others to grow up at. Did you build the pond yourself?

Pixy I wish our computers had some sort of scent component to them. That rose looks as though it smells fantastic!

laurie..My neighbor's and their two cats are giving me grief right now.They could care less about my yard. Since the weather is nice they leave thier cat's outside and they use my yard as a giant litter box. They have also crushed many plants. It has become a very ugly situation!! Filing a complaint with the city this week. I hope that climbing roses & a lace vine on the arbor near the veg garden once grown, will distract the view of the a/c unit. Wish it was a composter..could use one!

Pixy..the guy in the red pointed hat is a member of my family. He lived with my Grandmother for many years, then my Aunt and now with us. He is of French decent and his name is Jacques..but he likes to be called Jimmy! Beautiful DA roses!

redchic..I rarely have time to sit in my garden..always doing something. One day I hope to sit in my pink chair with a glass of wine and just relax... I designed the basics of the pond I wanted and then hired out for it to be built. I would still be digging the hole..if I did it myself!! Thank goodness for backhoes!!
Pic of my yard after shed was built..before pond & landscaping began..

Everyone with cats, look away now - Beahive, have you thought of getting one of those pump action squirt guns to dissuade the cats - they really don't like it - with the pump action you get a nice long squirt to chase them with. After a few direct hits, I doubt they will be back - AND honestly, you cat lovers, it only chases - it doesn't hurt. Alternatively, may I suggest a fox terrier? Ours loves chasing cats! Ooops.

How neat, you can get a pink one to go with your chair!

http://www.amazon.com/TY370-Water-Pistol-Pump-Action-Water-Pistol/dp/B000VYJPDS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1214145924&sr=8-2

This message was edited Jun 22, 2008 2:46 PM

LOL, Laurie! I'm a cat lover, but sympathize with anyone who's having a problem with them. I think squirt guns are a great idea - and another thing that might deter them, although you'd need to be fairly close, is one of those cans of "air" that are used to clean computers, keyboards, etc. When my cats are acting up (they are house cats only, much to their annoyance), I use that and they scatter!!

Bea,
I sympathize with you about the cats, when we moved here 9 years ago the man across the street thought he was being kind by letting feral cats live under his house, there were 30+ cats and they used my front and back yard as litter boxes...ie bark is great litter! Every time we opened our front windows all we could smell was, well you know! The problem existed before we moved here, we took out all the bark and it went to the dump, could not be salvaged because of all the poop!
I then laid chicken wire in all my gardens and my front yard, it was work cutting holes for existing plants, but they don't like it because they can't dig and bury it! It has worked wonderfully!
I convinced him he was not doing anyone a favor by letting those mean buggers live under his house and he took them to the humane society...but I continue to use this practice even with new beds I put in, it discourages cates and also I find it keeps the squirrels from digging my bulbs too.

Haha I am a cat (and dog) lover too! Buy the squirt gun is a great idea! So is a motion activated sprinkler. They are typically intended for deer, but they work for cats too!

Bea call in sick one day and enjoy it! Life is too short to put that much work into something and never be able to take advantage of it for you never know what tomorrow brings! So, call in sick and go get yourself a glass of wine! You did a great job designing the pond! and I, like you, would still be digging the hole! that's why I had to ask!

I vote for the large pump action squirt guns, and then add a touch of ammonia to the water. It won't hurt them, but they don't like the smell. Plus, you kill slugs at the same time! My own cats give me grief. I have opted for the chicken wire solution in areas that are newly planted. Otherwise they just dig them up as they use my garden for a litter box. I'm wondering if giving them their own little sandbox area would help. I get mighty tired of cat poo in the garden, and little piles of dirt with baby plants struggling in them.

How are they accessing your yard? Are they coming over the fence?

I thought your gnome looked to be of European descent. I have a small collection of vintage european gnomes. I've loved them since I was a young girl. Should have bought more of them while they were affordable. Now they are considered 'collectible' and I can't afford to buy them even if I could find them.

Iwould look into one of those motion-sensor devices that emit a high-pitch sound that is not discernable by humans, but very definately heard by animals. My friend put one up years ago to discourage the 2 a.m. antics of the 2 barky dogs that her next door neighbour owned. If you factor in cost of materials, cutting/placing the wire & your time, you'll probably be coming out ahead with the purchase of such a unit.
Also - find someone that has blackberry canes - cut them in lengths and lay along the perimeter of the fence. they will only need to jump down into the area once to learn that sharp does not feel good. Of course, this depends on the established pathway they have made.

Well, I am late getting to this thread, but BeaHive, your cottage and gardens are so wonderful. I want to come live at your house! The before and after shots are so telling of all your hard work!

I have used the blackberry canes, as well as coyote urine, but the sensor worked best. They also don't like digging in wet soil as much, so I watch to see where they are going and keep that area wet until they move on. Cayenne pepper sprinkled around new plantings also helps.

thanks everyone for your kind words and suggestions on my neighbors cats. I have a cat(indoor) and two dogs of my own , and love them.. I was working out in front early this morning for several hours with one of the neighbors cats meowing..meowing..meowing to get in his house. Having not seen the car in the drive all weekend, I assumed they went away for the weekend and left the cat out. He/she would not stop meowing. I gave it a bowl of water and some of my cats food and left a nice note for the neighbors..(it's the humane thing to do..can was not looking well!). well oops ..someone was home as the food & water was taken away from their doorstep. I get myself into so much trouble sometimes.. Can't wait to hear their snide remarks next time I see them..

Redchic.. I am self employed ..so I can't call my boss and pretend I am sick..Darn! LOL

Pixy..they poo in the front..they poo in the back by jumping on the fence and landing below to my flower beds. They recently jumped down into my Garlic bed and crushed a bunch of those which are almost ready to harvest. I always have the hose ready should I see the little buggers. They make my cat upset as she knows they are out there. My cat now tries to get behind my blinds and look out those covered windows..Not great for the blinds..not to mention cat hair on fabric blinds is a pain to remove.. Ahhh.. it is always something

My Kitty on the look out for the bad kitty's..

Soo sorry Bea, I have 4 outside cats, and Laurie no need for me to look away, I carry a spray bottle on stream setting, and they know it. This was taught to them when I got my birds, and they have been drilled a number of times, they don't even think about the birds anymore even when we let them out, ( outside birds are a diff. matter) If I see them even thinking about it, I'll I have to do is pick up the bottle, and they run.

Wow, Bea. Sounds like you have some 'interesting' neighbors. I had to laugh at the idea of you putting food and water for the cat thinking that they had left it all weekend! Imagine them being home! I cannot understand when people who own animals do not 'hear' them. There is a big hound dog SOMEWHERE in my neighborhood who begins barking around 5:00 every day (probably when the owners come home and scoot him out the door) and doesn't stop until really late at night. It's most annoying.

I think this calls for an all out booby trapping of the entire garden area. I think I would observe their fence crossing behavior to get their patterns, then go for broke with all the ammo you can think of. Even coyote urine on your fence posts. Sounds like your neighbors could not care less.

This coyote urine sounds interesting. How do you get them to pee in a cup??LOL!

My first Hollyhock bloom this season.

This pot of petunia's was supposed to be all white. A purple seed I guess snuck in. I like the effect and it was a nice surprise!

A macro shot of my purple lupine.

This rose- Celtic Pride has finally bloomed. Planted this own root last year. It was very small and grew quite nicely and had many buds. A mishap with a shovel falling on to the bush resulted in several broken branches and no flowers last year. SO SAD! Well she has recovered and has put out some pretty blooms..

My front yard garden from mid yard, looking south

mbabbit - lovely curb side garden - I always think this is such a generous thing to do, make nice street scenes. Lovely.

Thanks for the complement, Laurie1. As a child, I always wanted to be like Johnny Appleseed but instead of planting apple trees I wanted to beautify my neighborhood by planting flowers that adds to everyone's joy. As an adult I finally got to do that and I have people stop by and tell me that they go by my garden everyday to see what is blooming next and that it has changed the entire neighborhood for the better. Not an earth shaking contribution to the world but a very satisfying one nonetheless. Shown here si another picture from July 2007.

So lovely! And think how many lives you have brightened as they walk past with the load of life's burdens on their shoulders. And it is earth shaking! We have no idea what the ripple effect can be from one small act of other-centered actions. Bravo for you!

I think Neo has said it all, Babbit, you are creating ripples.

Think globally, act locally. Isn't that what they say? If everybody was busy tending their "curbside", there wouldn't be time for a lot of the nonsense that's going on today. I can't tell you how many times I've been out walking and reaped the benefits of other people's plantings.

On behalf of your neighbors, mbabbitt, thank you!! What part of Bothell are you in? I'll have to keep an eye out for your garden.

Love the curbside garden. Time for me to get rid of the lawn and get creative. Beautiful mbabbitt.

These morning glories are starting to climb... hoping they will fill out
to the fence soon.

8 peas in a pod.

i was all excited early this morning to see my first daylilly starting to bloom. I went outside just now to photograph it and the bloom had been snapped off. Give a guess who the culprit is? Dang..I could scream!

White Gaura bloom.

Your photos never disappoint! The blue of the morning glory is intoxicating! I ate a bunch of peas off the vine this morning for breakfast, but no photos, and yours captures it so well. The photo of the guilty kitty is priceless!

neofarmer.. I must admit both are very cute cats.. but I wish they would be cute inside their own house.
My first daylily.. Don't think it will be suitable for my greeting cards.
Unless I do a series called "look what the neighbors cat did!"

The title of this photo will be - "death by cat"

This rose looks like a peony. Big and fluffy!

Have some fruit setting on my raspberry bush. My daughter will be pleased as she asked me to plant some for her. I prefer the Marionberry..and that plant is doing nothing. I think it may be dead...ho hum...so sad.

Not the best of picture , but my Black Barlow Columbine put out its first bloom today. Very pretty in person!

Oh Bea, so sorry, that kitty really must hate you, get a fire truck hose and get it real good and wet, or blow it to next Tue. That is just not right!
My cats don't do that kind of damage.

My Clematis ' Parisienne' gave me a treat when I got home in the daylight to see it. Jackmanii is a little slow yet.

Close up

The artichokes are looking great! Have enough for my whole family of 3 this year. Last year only had one choke and the bugs got to it!

Had family in town and we ate most of the artichokes...Yum! Nothing beats fresh off the plant!


This message was edited Jun 24, 2008 5:20 AM

This message was edited Jun 29, 2008 8:48 PM

Are you going to save seeds from it ? If so I would love some.

tilly..beautiful clematis. Those cats are really stressing me out. I will give the fire dept a call tomorrow and see if they will send their biggest truck & maybe even a few cute firemen! (for me to look at while they wait for the cat... Maybe they can power wash my walkways at the same time they blast those darn cats.. I like the way your mind works Tilly. I can picture them being blown down the street by this jet of water..dragging their soggy selfs back into their house..dripping water all the way upstairs and going to sleep on the
bed in the master bedroom..LOL!

To end the day , my valentine rose