Posted on 05/22/2021 6:18:16 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
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Amen sister!
We’ve had a week of drizzly rain, gray skies, just generally yucky out there.
You’d THINK the floors would all be swept and the house as neat as a pin, wouldn’t you?
Nope! I have boots. I have a rain hat. ;)
Greetings from southern New Hampshire!
Getting close to full gardening here. I have been tasked with building pallet wood raised beds for Household Six’s vegetables. I am putting up our old canopy from RVing to provide a shaded and protected area for breaking down pallets, processing wood, and assembling sides. It will also cover my chop saw and tools being used for building our garden shed.
I have the screen room floor installed and the RV opened up. I need to do some adjustments on the floor to level it.
Household Six’s seedlings are hardened off and ready to plant. Almost ready to go. Then, we will have our back deck available.
: ) amen or awoman...don’t wannabe sexist
Someone offered me a free horse. Just needs to be treated for Lyme disease. Think I’ll take a pass.
Trying to get my gardens in shape before the hot weather sets in...soon, including hot winds.
Our gardening expert here says not to plant anything after April 1st b/c plants won't have time to set down a good root system in order to survive our long, hot, dry summer/fall season. We won't see rain again (if we're lucky) until late fall. As it is, we only received a scant 5" this year, usual is 15.
I've finally learned which plants survive our harsh summers:
Bougainvillea:
This is a large "royal purple" that flops over my back fence. My neighbor is mortified but I've told him to leave it:
This is "sea foam" on the left and "rosenka" on the right with a white rose in the middle:
This one is called "California gold"
Um...pretty sure they’re not talking about planting potatoes, LOL!
QUEEN. What will your duties be?
SERVANT. The service of your idle days.
I will keep fresh the grassy path where you walk in the morning,
where your feet will be greeted with praise at every step by
the flowers eager for death.
I will swing you in a swing among the branches of the
saptaparna, where the early evening moon will struggle
to kiss your skirt through the leaves.
I will replenish with scented oil the lamp that burns by your
bedside, and decorate your footstool with sandal and saffron
paste in wondrous designs.
QUEEN. What will you have for your reward?
SERVANT. To be allowed to hold your little fists like tender
lotus-buds and slip flower chains over your wrists; to tinge
the soles of your feet with the red juice of ashoka
petals and kiss away the speck of dust that may chance to
linger there.
QUEEN. Your prayers are granted, my servant, you will be the
gardener of my flower garden.
(I, however, DO have a special ‘Cabana Boy Fund’ saved for when I’m a Little Old Lady.) ;)
Probably a good plan!
So pretty! Nice of your neighbor to share with you, LOL!
I did end up losing that ‘Topaz Jewel’ rose. I’ll get another and put it in a better spot. Going to plunk down a birdbath where this one didn’t make it.
There ya go!
Outdoor chores still have to be done...and then there’s the sheer joy of being outside in any weather. Like strapping on cross country skis on a moon lit night...and howling like a wolf.
;>)
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Some roses work, some don’t. I’ve learned which ones do best in our climate.
It amazes me when I look over the selections at Lowe’s or Home Depot - and see plants for sale that absolutely do not grow in our area - such as tuberose begonias. I see people lining up to buy these beautiful plans and want to tell them they’re going to lose them quickly, they simply cannot tolerate our climate. I hate that Lowe’s and HD sell them. Local nurseries are a bit better, but I’ve seen this there too.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten about gardening is from our local expert in the paper: Walk in your neighborhood to see what grows- and make plant selections based on that. It’s worked very well for me.
That, and happy gardening!
Horses sure can eat the doxi
close up of one of the pawpaw blossom. The green speck in the center is the beginning of a cluster of 4 pawpaws. We pollinated with a paint brush but also noticed many flies around at just the right time.
So I had ordered white hairnets a pack of 70. Trees are too big for netting, and streamers did not work last year we only got one cluster of 4 fruit the birds missed. So each white bag you see is around one, 2 or 3 flowers that have tiny fruit at the end. Hubby noticed the birds going in and out 2 days ago and we hurried down there right away and started covering them. Ran out of the 70 bags so I ordered ore. There are more blossoms up high, not as many as below. So we are hoping for a good harvest.
early shot of the garden, many things not up yet but we have solved our broccoli and lettuce rabbit problem with shrouds and deer/rabbit repellant spray. Got no broccoli last year so I am excited we have 8 plants. Garlic has almost doubled in height, picking lots of asparagus, having it for lunches and in omelettes.
>
one of the front door rhododendrens
Diana in the garden shot you can see my potato pot all planted.
Our gardens are surviving the constant rain over the past month. The sun is supposed to break out this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the local Farmer’s Market is a sea of umbrellas. No Menonites till mid June. They want to offer dozens of peppers, onions, etc...
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