What to my wondering eyes should appear....

I woke this morning before 7:30, as I lay there trying to decide if I wanted to be awake, I could hear the birds calling. If I listened carefully, I could hear the tinkling of the new backyard fountain through my open bedroom window even though the blinds were down. Then I heard something like a cough come through the window. That was a bit unnerving and it woke me completely out of my drowsy state. As I lay there trying to decide if I had really heard something or if I had dozed into a dream, I heard rustling noises. Okay, that was real, like someone was rifling through the empty pots in my potting area at the end of the shed.

I got out of bed and snuck into the bathroom to peek out of the open window and this is what greeted me...

Six, count 'em, six skunk kits romping in the morning air. Baby animals have a cuteness factor of 1000, especially when the are playing! I watched them charge at each other, stomping with the front feet and skittering sideways as if they were getting ready to spray. I was enchanted by their little personalities! After a while they scooted around the corner out of sight.

Soon Mama Skunk appeared. I watched her use her powerful front paws to tear up the grass by the roots, pulling a pile of thatch against her chest. When a clump wouldn't come up with a tug or two, she used her teeth to yank it out of the ground. She kept scooping it towards her as she backed into the hole under the shed.

Apparently, Saturday mornings are for housekeeping, even when you live under a shed.

I watched her emerge from the shed several times to take armfuls of grass back under the shed. At one point, an assembly line happened, with Mama at the front digging, she would pass the bundle down one side of herself without looking back. Then the kit pushed it back to the next, who backed up under the shed with it and disappeared.

So, DearHusband wants to know what we are going to do about it. I said, "Nothing. She's lived under the shed for at least 5 years that we've noticed." Other than having to use the shovel to scoop up the large-dog sized 'dog-logs' she pushes out from under the shed at the corner, and to pitch them into the empty lot behind the shed, she's a good neighbor, no bother at all. She's tidy, sightings are rare, strong smells have only occurred once this spring, and since she's moved in, I've seen no evidence of rats in the shed! She's earning her keep, as far as I am concerned.

I just always announce my arrival in the backyard by clanging something together or stomping my feet on the deck, so we don't startle each other with an unexpected appearance!

My only concern will be early next spring when we want to completely fence the back yard. How do we get her safely out from under the shed so she doesn't get fenced in. Hmmm, any ideas? Anyone?

And a good time was had by all!

For Daddy's 70th birthday, Mia Sorella (my sisters, as I so fondly refer to them) and I planned "Barry's 70th Birthday Bash Luau"!

We reserved the shelter in a beautiful little neighborhood park just blocks away from home. The kids helped to decorate, with streamers, balloons, and even a sandy beach scene-complete with sand pails, shovels and pretty shells.

We all brought foods galore and Toby manned the grill. We feasted on BBQ Pork Ribs with my Special Recipe BBQ Sauce, Satay-style Salmon, gourmet apple and cheese hot dogs, homemade potato salad, baked beans, chips, veggies and dip, fresh tropical fruit salad, watermelon, Lemon Poppy Seed Cake and so much more!

You'll notice that we all got into the spirit of the day and came decked out in our finest island wear! Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, it was rather cold for late May! A couple of fronts moved through, aided by pretty gusty breezes and we had several bouts if rain. At one point, we could see our breath! in May! but we kept moving with games and sometimes huddled around the barbeque grill for warmth!

The kids didn't seem to notice the cool weather and occasional rain-they were too busy laughing and playing games.

We had a whiffle ball game...

Have you ever seen a pitcher having more fun? I love my NephewZanderman's smile!

NieceB makes contact!

and she's off!

 

NephewGW concentrates while at bat, Blayde watches on from the sidelines

NephewGB gets a hit!

Aizia takes a turn at bat....

and sprints to first base!

Georgia put together "A Minute To Win It" type games.

This one is Who Can Empty the Box of Kleenex Fastest?

Ready? On your mark, get set...

Go!

Notice here that Maureen's hand is a blur of motion, Amanda's whole arm is setting a frenetic pace, and my hand is in perfect focus due to slow-motion!

Oh ya, sure! Amanda's box is empty because she must have been putting her kleenex into my box faster than I could take them out!

This was like running the 50 yard dash in grade school again, Karen dead last and outta breath!

At least this time it was due to hysterical laughter!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

A work in progress...

Everyone has been asking for pictures of our backyard progress. Today, I planted the new raised bed planter that wraps around the deck.  I still have room to add 3 Spanish Lavendars and something else that's evergreen, one at each end next to the stairs. The bed is interspersed with flowers (bright yellow marigolds, purple petunias, vintage red stock, mixed cosmos, mixed snapdragons, purple giant empress salvia, lupine, Mama's double burgandy peony, a Kleims Hardy Gardenia, assorted oriental lilies, acidanthera) and vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, radishes, garlic, walla walla sweet onions).  The area in the background in this shot hasn't  been worked yet. I still need to repaint and relocate the fireplace. Relocate the compost bins-which are now empty. You can also see the end of the shed that my potting bench is attached to.

This is the backside of the raised bed surrounding the propane tank. You can see the access path between the hostas. The hostas were brought over this evening (by our neighbor across the street), just as we had finished planting a couple of items in the front side of this bed. I have plenty of room to transplant some tiny ferns from under the deck stairs into the corners behind the hostas. Lots of planting room left. Hmmm, time to go shopping!

From this angle you can see the front of the bed wrapping around the propane tank. In the center is a pink dogwood tree. It is in it's own seperate box within the bed to protect it from overwatering. On each end is a Snowmound Spirea that will have tiny white flowers soon and the labels promise vibrant red foliage in the fall. Between the tree and the Spireas is where my rhubarb divisions will be replanted amid the compost from my bins. I will plant a line of cosmos along the back behind the rhubarb to help hide the tank. Lots of room along the front the bed for colorful annuals. Eventually the ground will be covered with landscaping material and then beauty bark between the beds which will line the perimeter of our property line and along the front of the deck bed.
And, just this evenng, DearHusband has decided we can build a 2 foot high framed lattice screen that we can put between the plants and the propane tank to further hide the tank. The giant pot you can see behind the tank has my Multi Blue Clematis that I plan on putting to the right of the Spirea in the foreground and train up over the top of the tank. I am hoping to get two divisions from the clematis so I'll have one on each end of the tank.

Phew, it was a busy day in the garden. I was blessed with bright sun to warm me and just enough of a breeze to keep me cool. The weather promises to be great again tomorrow!

Real Women drive trucks!

This is the picture text I sent my daughters on Monday afternoon:

Real women can drive their own trucks to get garden soil, mulch, and haul the trailer to the dump! I bought myself a truck today! I hear 1988 is a good year. (The year DaugherA was born!)

 It's kinda silly how exited I am to have the means to pull my trailer again! Its been a few years since we got rid of the 'man van' and our only trailer-hitch vehicle.

Wednesday, I took my truck to Walmart to make it's first haul: A pink dogwood tree (Cornus Florida-Cherokee Chief), 2 5-gallon Spirea (Snowmound), 2 1-gallon Spirea (Snowmound), and 6 12x12x2 cement pads for the backyard fireplace.

I went to Walmart because I had seen that they had Dwarf Alberta Spruce in a one gallon pot for $7. However, on closer examination the spruce were not in good shape, they had been badly pruned and had many a bald spots.  But I did see some plants that were very heatlthy looking. The Spirea was healthly looking, not pot bound, and full of buds. I got the large ones to go into the new raised beds in front of the propane tank in the back yard. They will have small white flowers and striking red foliage in the fall. I was thinking I'd put the smaller ones in the raised beds along the deck but realizing they will grow into 4'x4' mounds, they will be too big for the space. Maybe I'll add them to the planting beds in front of the picket fence in the front yard.

I couldn't resist the Pink Dogwood. My favorite tree! I have on that is front and center in the picket fence bed, but it's a variety that leafs out, the blossoms start out as green and don't turn their rosey red color until mid June. This new tree is in flower with very few leaves yet. It will be front and center in the new bed!

Pictures of the new raised beds will follow soon, as soon as I have them planted with all my plants and flowers.

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Time For Spring Baskets!

Sshhhh, don’t anyone tell my Elantra sedan that it’s not a pick up truck! I hauled home more flowers today than I ever have before in one trip!

Back seats folded down to hold four 12” hanging baskets, the front passenger seat and truck full of flats!

This post may well bore anyone who isn’t a gardener. I know my DearHusband’s eyes glazed over when I was telling him all of what I bought, name of flowers and quantities, what will go where. Remember the “blah blah blah blah…” sound the kids from Peanuts heard when their teacher or any adult spoke? Yeah, I think that’s what he was hearing as he watched my mouth moving.

Seeing as I have been using this blog to remember what I do from year to year in the garden, I am going to detail my purchases today. Feel free to yawn and look bored, if so inclined.

For my window boxes, deck planters and pots for the front walk I bought (in order of importance):

1 flat of 4 packs (48 plants) “Midnight Dreams” Petunias - fragrant dark purple

1 flat of jumbo 6-packs (36 plants) “Vintage Red” Stock - I especially love to put this in the back row of my window boxes so I can enjoy their spicy clove scent.

1 flat of jumbo 6-packs (36 plants) of Red Verbena

1 flat of 2.5” pots (32 plants) of White Bucopa to trail over the edges of the pots

1 flat of jumbo 6-packs (36 plants) of “Regata Mix” Trailing Lobelia

1 flat of 4-packs (48 plants) of Yellow Marigolds

And 20 Zonal Geraniums of assorted colors for the center of each pot or window box.







For landscaping use I also bought:

1 flat of 4” pots (18 plants) of “Giant Purple Empress” Salvia - hummingbirds love this plant!

1 flat of jumbo 6-packs (36 plants) of Ganzia in assorted colors. I’ve actually had this ‘annual’ come back for a second year!

I also bought two 4” pots of “Jack Be Little” pumpkin starts. One pot has 3 young starts and one pot has 4 starts. I am thinking of training these to climb up the two (accidentally dwarfed) flowering cherry trees in the front yard. Won’t it be fun to see mini pumpkins hanging from a tree?!








I have been going to this nursery for 15 springs now (I have watched their children go from riding their Big Wheels through the greenhouses to the oldest now holding her own sweet baby). I have always bought their 12” mocha colored pots that are nice and deep with lots of room for root growth but I didn’t like the color and plant combinations this year so I bought the more shallow 12” pulp pots. It looks like the are trying something new as these pots were labeled with “Inspired by Design” tags that listed the plants in the pots. I saw 6 differently titled baskets and I think I showed considerable restraint on only bringing home four.

For the front porch I picked out a basket titled Blueberry Sorbet. It has Blue Petunia with Dark Blue Vein, Dark Blue Petunia, Lavender Verbena and White Bucopa.

Between the front bedroom windows hangs Raspberry Sorbet: Pink Petunia, Dark Fuschia Petunia, Dark Fuschia Verbena and White Bocopa.

On the far end of the back deck I hung up Jazzy: Supertunia Raspberry Blast, Deep Burgandy Verbena and Lime Ipomoea (Sweet Potato Vine).

In the coveted position in front of the immobile side of the dining room sliding glass door is Blue Ribbon: Dark Blue Petunia (so they say, I call it a dark purple-my favorite), Petunia Glow in Lavender Shades, Light Blue Lobelia and Lavender Calebrochoa. This is where I put my favorite basket as it’s the one I look at all day long when I’m in the house. It is easily viewable from living room, dining room and kitchen.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a rain-less day tomorrow so I get busy potting these beauties!

How to get your tomato starts off on a strong foundation

The last few years I have only planted one tomato plant: a Sweet 100 or Sweet Million, whichever variety was available that year. This lone tomato plant had a prominent place among the all the planters on our backyard deck, trellised up against the privacy screen around the spa. With only one tomato plant to lavish my attention on, it grew to amazing proportions and continued to produce huge clusters of sweet mini cherry tomatoes until a hard frost would do it in. This is how I lay the foundation of my colossal tomato plant:

First start with healthy young plants. It's okay if they are leggy, but avoid the rootbound who are sure to have suffered stress from bouts of water deprivation. I usually only buy one plant, but the nursery had one plant in a 4" pot for $1.99 or a 4-pack for $1.29 and as my daughters expressed an interest in gardening on their apartment decks, I made the logical choice of more plants for less money!
Next start with a deep, but not necessarily oversized pot, as this is a transition home. Add an inch or two of good soil. Having just had 6 yards of 5-way mix delivered by dump truck to our driveway, I had lots on hand!

Now here's the hard part: Cut off all branches up to the last two sets of leaves. Use a clean, sharp pair of scissors or garden snips as you want a clean cut, not a tear that might wound the stalk.

Next take the rootball and place it on it's side against the soil, bending the stalk gently upward to center the stalk in the pot.

Next surround the stalk with the soil, gently tamping in place, up to the remaining set of leaves, hopefully not too far above the top of your container.

Tomato plants will send out roots all along the buried stem which will result in more roots and stronger growth. Having more roots allows the plant to take up water in a more even way, helping to avoid the stress brought on by drought-to-flood situations common to plants in deck planters.

I will repeat this process a time or two into successively deeper pots until I have their final destination prepped and ready, at which time I will repeat the process, leaving only 2 sets of leaves above the soil.

Don't be afraid to snip off any early blossoms. I want the plants to first put down a good foundation of roots to support the abundance of fruit to follow, which will in turn produce better quality and quantity of the harvest!

Next, I watered thoroughly with tepid water from the house as it's still too cold outside and the water from the hose would be shocking to these beauties.

Finally, I placed the planted containers into a garbage bag lined laundry basket to bask in the warmth of my house and the warmth of the light coming through the sliding glass door onto the deck, until all danger of frost has passed.

I hope this primer will assist you in your gardening pursuits!

A hearty welcome to an early spring

I was standing at my sewing room window while talking on the phone with my Auntie Jan about what a beautiful springlike day it was when a little male hummer with a bright red godet flew up to the window, said "zeep, zeeep, zeep" to announce he was here and hungry and off he zipped!

It was an amazingly mild winter with only one prolonged spell of snow and ice back between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Looks like the only casualty in the yard is the supposedly "hardy" gardenias I bought from Lowes. Wish I'd saved the receipts-do they offer a guarantee anymore?