Category: Gardening

Week Seven

Photos from the seventh week in the garden are up, spanning April 25-May 1, and have been tagged "Week Seven" in my Gardening 2010 album in my Picasa Web Albums.

This sunflower was growing beteen the carefree beauty rose and the caldwell pink rose. But, I moved it over to the corner of the yard. Previously, three other sunflowers also volunteered themselves - I moved them to a very shady part of the yard weeks earlier, and they aren't doing as good as this one.
This sunflower was growing beteen the carefree beauty rose and the caldwell pink rose. But, I moved it over to the corner of the yard. Previously, three other sunflowers also volunteered themselves - I moved them to a very shady part of the yard weeks earlier, and they aren't doing as good as this one.
Last year, I had a frog frequently visit my shoe which I kept outside. On Saturday, I caught this one perched on my shoe. I wonder if it's the same frog ...
Last year, I had a frog frequently visit my shoe which I kept outside. On Saturday, I caught this one perched on my shoe. I wonder if it's the same frog ...
Week Seven in the original bed
Week Seven in the original bed

Cosmos ‘Happy Ring’ blooms

The cosmos ‘happy ring’ bloomed yesterday, on a plant that was direct sowed into my original bed.

First happy ring cosmos to bloom
First happy ring cosmos to bloom
A close-up of the first bloom.
A close-up of the first bloom.

Today, there were more blooms – after a rainy, dreary day.

One bloomed in the milk jug that contains four happy ring cosmos.
One bloomed in the milk jug that contains four happy ring cosmos.
One bloomed in the front yard, near the house.
One bloomed in the front yard, near the house.
And two bloomed in the new bed extension section, between the vegetable containers and the seedlings.
And two bloomed in the new bed extension section, between the vegetable containers and the seedlings.

First portulaca bloom

The first portulaca (moss rose) to bloom this year was one of the ones that volunteered itself from last year. It bloomed a bright yet mellow yellow.

(Quite rightly)
(Quite rightly)
Another shot of the first bloom. I've vowed to not allow the portulaca - which I'm using as a border for my original bed - to not get too wild this year.
Another shot of the first bloom. I've vowed to not allow the portulaca - which I'm using as a border for my original bed - to not get too wild this year.
A shot of the portulaca from last year. Something to look forward to.
A shot of the portulaca from last year. Something to look forward to.

The trellis, and its jasmine

One morning last week, I was driving to work, and I saw this white trellis at the curb — in someone’s trash. The history of the trellis at this house is pretty interesting, I think. The unknown neighbor installed the trellis in their front yard, never removed the tag and never planted something to grow up it.

I drove right by this trellis, sitting curbside in some unknown neighbor's trash - and I kicked myself about it all the way to work. But then, without me even mentioning it, Kim decided to repurpose one person's trash into our new treasure. Go Kim!
I drove right by this trellis, sitting curbside in some unknown neighbor's trash - and I kicked myself about it all the way to work. But then, without me even mentioning it, Kim decided to repurpose one person's trash into our new treasure. Go Kim!

Kim even let me decide where to put our new treasure, and what to buy to grow up it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted a rose or a climbing vine. I did some research, and I was leaning toward four candidates: A Peggy Martin rose, a Reve d’Or rose, some kind of Honeysuckle (because I love that song by Austin-based The Gourds), or a jasmine. I wanted a climbing vine that added some scent to the garden, something I think is lacking right now.

So, after picking up my daughter from school on Friday, we headed to Plants for All Seasons, located on SH 249 north of Louetta. There, I couldn’t find either of the roses I wanted, and I didn’t see any Honeysuckle that begged me to take it home, however, I did come across this pink jasmine plant that had one small set of blooms but smelled wonderful.

The greatest selling point was its $8.99 price tag.
The greatest selling point was its $8.99 price tag.

I had a little difficulty getting it out of its pot, however, and broke two large branches on it. I tried taking cuttings of these branches and attempted to get them to root in some left over seed-starting mix I have on the porch, but though I’ve tried to keep them moist, it appears that they’re drying out and wilting. Drat. It was a two-person job but I was too anxious to have anybody help me. Lesson learned.

Regardless, the plant in the ground appears healthy and I’ve secured it to the trellis with some twine.

The new pink jasmine on the new trellis.
The new pink jasmine on the new trellis.

And there’s even some buds on it, so hopefully it will bloom before the weekend’s forcasted rain-a-thon.

Some pink jasmine flowers are forming.
Some pink jasmine flowers are forming.

Week Six

Photos from the sixth week in the garden are up, spanning April 18-24, and have been tagged "Week Six" in my Gardening 2010 album in my Picasa Web Albums.

Here's a shot from yesterday of my original bed. Lots of growth to note, and a trellis was saved from the curbside on trash day - thanks to Kim. More on that later, I'm sure.
Here's a shot from yesterday of my original bed. Lots of growth to note, and a trellis was saved from the curbside on trash day - thanks to Kim. More on that later, I'm sure.
I found these periwinkle (as Kim calls them) or vinca (as I call them) volunteers in Kim's bed this week. There's plenty more returning, too. So I snagged these first three, in hopes of transplanting them to the extended bed to keep these resilient flowers coming.
I found these periwinkle (as Kim calls them) or vinca (as I call them) volunteers in Kim's bed this week. There's plenty more returning, too. So I snagged these first three, in hopes of transplanting them to the extended bed to keep these resilient flowers coming.
This is my largest coleus. I transplanted him Sunday. But here, he's shown in his original pot.
This is my largest coleus. I transplanted him Sunday. But here, he's shown in his original pot.
This is my largest zinnia, which I believe I direct sowed into my bed. It's a little lanky, long in the tooth perhaps, maybe it's the wind or the fertilizer, but it's really healthy.
This is my largest zinnia, which I believe I direct sowed into my bed. It's a little lanky, long in the tooth perhaps, maybe it's the wind or the fertilizer, but it's really healthy. It's said to get up to 16 inches tall and spread profusely.Â
This is a "Lollipop Gerbera Raspberry" gerbera jamesonii that Corina and I bought at Lowe's last year when it was discounted to, like 50 cents or something. We bought a companion one that's white with red accents that I put in my bed this year. It has grown a lot so far this spring.
This is a "Lollipop Gerbera Raspberry" gerbera jamesonii daisy that Corina and I bought at Lowe's last year when it was discounted to, like 50 cents or something. We bought a companion one that's white with red accents that I put in my bed this year. It has grown a lot so far this spring.

Fruit!

This week, we’ve discovered the earliest stages of fruit on two plants in the garden – Kim’s grape tomato plant and one of my Quinault strawberries.

April 17
April 17

With luck, we’ll have some good garden eating this year.

April 22
April 22