My Garden Mosaic

A Surprise

2009-07-17T22:01:00.000-05:00

There are several new plants in my garden and this is one of them. I suspect this came from my friend and co-worker, Cindy. The other year, she gave me several of her overgrown daylilies.

I am loving it - it is very different and I love that it is red.

Accent Plant

2009-07-16T21:58:00.001-05:00

What was I thinking when I ordered this echinacea? I could remember the brochure said it would be a nice accent in the garden. Now that I look at it, it looks like it is sorely missing something - it's colorful petals which normally comes in different shades of pink, white, orange, and light green.

Loving this Weather

2009-07-15T21:46:00.004-05:00

Am loving this cold weather. The grass is green, the trees have grown faster and it seems like our drive is so much greener and shadier because of that. And most of all the flowers are all in bloom and no matter how late the season is for planting, any plants I put in the ground seems to be thriving.

Not to mention my utility bill is so much lower.

Auntie Fe's Garden

2009-07-12T21:13:00.003-05:00

Among my aunts here, the one who shares my passion with gardening is my Dad's cousin - Auntie Fe. She has a lovely garden and very healthy. I have been the recipient of her generosity and the person she'd most likely dump her extra plants on which I'm more than willing to play each time.

I like her garden but am waiting for her to thin out her Japanese peony. I wonder when she will do it or ever, this year. Here's a look at her garden.

Up Close

2009-07-11T22:24:00.003-05:00

I was in the garden, trying to finish my planting of the echinaceas from my friend when I happened to see this dragonfly. They are infrequent visitors there and sure enough, it my adrenalin rush. I immediately asked Auntie Liding to hand me my camera.

To my surprise it was still there when I got back. I took a few shots and then it flew on the top of the fence. And when I was continuing my gardening outside at the frontyard it was there again perched atop one of my irises and this time I was able to get better pictures of it.

Now I am really determined to plant more flowers that would attract them in my garden next year.

And I did hung my first bird house in one of my trees this morning.

Intimidating

2009-07-11T06:21:00.002-05:00

I have always been intimidated by this this plant in the past. I don't know why - maybe because when I first planted it, it didn't do very well in my garden. Or maybe I got the short variety and I am not very fond of short plants. But anyway, this year I thought I'd give it another try.

Well am so happy that they are thriving very well. My only regret is I should have gotten more of this and forget about the cosmos.

Next year I will propagate them myself.

Recycled Plants

2009-07-08T19:36:00.004-05:00

My bus buddy had their front lawn ripped and relandscaped. Their front yard, although it had perennials they have not been managed and weeded out as it should be. It has been an embarrassment for his family as all the yards in his street has been well tended and everyone loves to garden so it seems. His wife is not into that.

So when he told me of their plans, I told him to save the echinaceas. I have some of those plants but why waste them. So last night when we reached home, he called me to go and pick up the plants.

They must not have watered them because the sold attached to the plants were rock solid. Immediately when I got home I put them all in pails of water to soften the soil and to refresh them.

Well I was going to replant them today but it is showering - not heavily though but I think I will do it tomorrow. I might even have some left for around the trees at the front of the house.

Labor Day Gardening

2009-07-04T09:13:00.003-05:00

Finally I was able to plant the new vine I have bought at the Farmers' Market last Tuesday. It is called campsis and hummingbirds love them, they say. Now that our trees are trimmed, I would like to buy some birdfeeders to attract more birds in my yard.

Next in my wishlist too is a butterfly bath.

I hope the campsis grow well. I have put it at the old swing to join the other vines I got there. Aside from a Sweet Autumn clematis, I also have a three-year old vine hydgrangea. It's been very slow and after three years I have not seen a solitary bloom. I wonder if it will ever reward me with anything.

I was going to do more weeding but rain showers started. Gosh too much to do, not enough time.

For the first time we watered our lawn yesterday. I am getting streaks of yellow in the grass because of the weed and feed I spread. Oh well, it's grass, it will come back.

Time Off

2009-07-03T14:17:00.005-05:00

Thursday and Friday are our office's holidays as part of the July 4th federal holiday. It has been a busy weekend so far.

Yesterday we had our trees trimmed. Their leaves are starting to get so low that one tree is casting a shadow in Mom's vegetable garden. They have not been trimmed since we moved here and finally, I couldn't stand it anymore and called a tree trimmer.

It looks so bright and airy now in my yard I could even feel the breeze. I myself feel like I got my own haircut. The only downside is my shade plants are now getting more than enough sunshine than they need.

Hostas in bloom

2009-06-30T05:19:00.003-05:00

Some of my hostas are in bloom now. They are shade plants which reminds me I need to create a new place to move some of them. I am waiting to find a tree trimmer before I transfer them under my two trees inside the yard. I planted some around the trees before but since I didn't put any concrete surround they kept getting ran over by the hose until they died. This time I know better.

Purple bloom

2009-06-28T05:47:00.002-05:00

Am so happy with my zinnias this year. They are growing fast and getting more branches, ie., more blooms eventually. I wish I could have bought more but I will save the dried out seeds for next year.

Not too much luck with the cosmos this time. I don't know what happened. So this year, the zinnias and the spider plants are my faves.

I bought some Scott's weed and feed for my lawn. Gosh that thing stinks, it reeks of chemicals. The smell stuck in my clothes too. You could smell toxic!

Roses

2009-06-27T05:34:00.002-05:00

I don't have much luck with roses. After my yellow floribunda died, I have stopped planting them. I still have a few but mostly rose vines. They add character to the landscape but I wish I know the secret to make them more full with tons of flowers. Maybe I should not cut them down in the Fall and just leave them alone.

Mexican Prim Rose

2009-06-22T20:56:00.003-05:00

Oh finally, I found it's reall name - and I've been naming it Mexican Rose. It's hard to believe it myself but I thought that's what it was called - or maybe that was all I remember.

I love this plant. And this one I don't mind if it gets weedy because I love its flowers and they bloom for a long time. I used it as ground cover by my back patio. It is one of those plants that Auntie Liding mistook as a dandelion and pulled the area clean of them. Good thing some were able to come back.

I wish I know how to move some in my other gardens.

I didn't do much today. Just watered the three recent plants that I just moved. I want to see what happens to the Russian sage if they don't survive, I will leave the rest where they are. No point in destroying them as they are very nice perennials. But I need to plant something in the space vacated by them.

White Flower Farm sells the hosta with fragrant flowers. Years ago while vacationing in Galena Auntie Fe bought a couple of them. I know for years she's had problems with slugs in her garden and the hosta fell victim to them. This year when I inquired she said they died and hostas are very difficult to kill. They are just plain sturdy and so low maintenance.

Well the plants are selling for $30 per. I checked in the internet if maybe I could find a place that sells them but didn't find any. That would be perfect for my empty spot but not at that price.

My garden peonies

2009-06-21T21:34:00.000-05:00

Other gardeners love to collect roses while I am trying to build on my collection of peonies. They are very sturdy plants, one that you could hardly kill once it is well established. But their flowers are so fragile - it would take only one night of strong winds and heavy rain and they are gone the next day. On good weather they would continue blooming for a couple of weeks and then you're left with the handsome shrub the rest of the season.

This afternoon I just finished cutting the empty stems where there were heavy blooms just a week ago when its subtle fragrance filled my garden. They won't come back again until next Spring but their leaves are interesting and the shrubs remains neat, clean and upright until Fall when I have to cut them all to the ground.

These herbaceous peonies are quite different from the tree peony. While the tree peony has enormous blooms that could be as huge as a dinner plate, these peonies are as showy inspite their size.

Roses don't do very well here in the Midwest but peonies are just as pretty.

The Blue Iris

2009-06-20T21:12:00.003-05:00

Above is the blue iris that I have given away. Glad to hear that Agnes finally got hers.

I gave some to my neighbor who used to give some datura seeds. I am embarassed to ask him some more as I should have saved some seeds but the second year I had them, the volunteer plants came up late and they didn't have the chance to dry. But anyway, they did the landscaping at their front yard this year and he was happy with my gift. He said that he loves all irises. He asked if that was the one that is around the tree in my driveway and said it wasn't. But I promised that when I thin them out I will give him some. He said he's pretty impressed with its grand showing but actually this year, that iris has not bloomed as much. Maybe it is getting too crowded. So definitely I will give him some maybe next month.

I took the picture after a storm so they are all bent out of shape. Otherwise it looks so grand when they are all straight.

Today I dug and move up two of my Russian sage to the side of the house at the front. It got wilted by the time I got home this afternoon. I will hold off digging the rest as I don't want to waste them if this newly transplated plants don't make it. I found out they had runners which I left at the patio garden. At least if the plant at the side dies, they have a replacement.

I also had a blue hosta which was doing poorly at the patio under the eaves. That side does not get wet when it rains so it has a very dry condition. In fact the soil was so dry the earth just slid out of my fingers like sand. Well I put it at the hole where I got my Russian sage. It will get more water there and so I hope in a couple of years it will be a robust blue hosta.

Bring in Sunshine

2009-06-17T21:29:00.002-05:00

I still feel very badly about my Wisteria. I went to look at it as I visited the garden and I am doubting very much whether it will come back. Although the stuff I read in the internet this afternoon are very encouraging, the runners it got are so young and tender I doubt very much if they will survive the harsh Chicago winters.

It is mulched well but I didn't put any fertilizer. They say it is better not to fertilize. Do you think it will take another 4 years before it blooms? It does not have any primary branches - they will surely dry out and die. But I will continue to tend to it so it comes back to life.

Looking in the brighter side, the cleomes are starting to bloom. I've never had any luck with them before but with rain so plentiful everything is growing. Even the echinachea that my Aunt pulled before is still alive if perky leaves means it's not dead.

I was able to transfer a daylily that got covered by dense German viburnum. And I dug up some purple phlox and put them all at the spot where my blue irises came from.

Am done giving away my blue irises. Some to my neighbors (two of them), to May in our graphics department and mailed some to Agnes in NJ. And oh to Sharon and Viv also. I hope they enjoy them as much as I do each year.

Sad Day

2009-06-16T21:09:00.004-05:00

I feel like I have been violated when my brother-in-law chopped my Wisteria. I just wanted the Wisteria vines stirred away from the satellite dish so my Aunt asked him to do the favor as I intended to do it myself when I get home from work. It is a shame that he chopped it off instead.

Some people just don't have any common sense and sensibilities. Much more they have no regard and respect for other's properties and to think all the efforts I have put into my garden in tending to them and the time waiting for plants to mature and bloom, gone to waste in a snap. Some people are just incapable of minding their own business. And certainly that is the type of people I don't want around me at all.

There have been other instances in the past so this time, the die is cast.

Drenched

2009-06-11T22:29:00.004-05:00

It is still cold even though it's almost summer. In a week's time Spring officially ends. And to add to that, this has been the wettest Spring we've had.

But the plants are loving it. It is so nice to see the trees so green and it seems like they all have grown a foot or two in that short time. Even my magnolia tree is past the height of our fence now and pretty soon will serve the purpose it was meant to do when I bought it. I needed a shield from my neighbors because my yard is graded so high that I could see all of theirs backyards, it is not one way though. They, of course, could see me too.

The forecast says it won't rain for the next five days or so. My soil has been so wet and water logged, it is time for the rain to stop. The plants need some warm temperature too to grow. Even the coneflower that I transplanted the other day seem to have come back, all the leaves have turned up alive and lively when I checked on it this afternoon.

That cloud cover helps a lot. If the weather has been otherwise, am sure it would have some major difficulty.

Give Aways

2009-06-10T21:03:00.002-05:00

I dug a huge clump of tall irises yesterday and I think I got a whole day's worth of exercise. I planted in the hole the coneflower that Auntie L mistook as a weed. There now is a big space in that part of my garden but I could easily remedy that by moving a couple of daylilies there.

That is if I have the energy left.

My exercise buddy called that she couldn't go to the pool today. She was coming home late which was fine with me. I thought maybe I could make some scones as I already have all the ingredients but I also bought a Texas rye bread from the Corner Bakery so Mom suggested to do it another day.

I spent an hour and a half catching up with my friend Fatima who's finally found another job. It is very interesting - she'll be working at an army base at the middle of nowhere in Utah. At least it is a job! I hope and pray that it will turn out better than her first impression.

I digress. Let me go back to gardening.

Well, I couldn't believe that I filled a large wheelbarrow with irises. Auntie L chopped the leaves on them so tomorrow I will bring a batch to my friend Viv. I offered some to Sharon also. And then I have to send next week some to my friend in NJ. Maybe if I see my next door neighbor I should give them some too.

Rain Is My Friend

2009-06-09T21:15:00.002-05:00

Auntie Liding did it again. When we were planting the seedlings the other day, I told her to pull out all the wild morning glory as they are everywhere and they are strangling my plants. I was confident that now she could not mistake my other plants with that pesky vine. I made sure I pointed out to her my new clematises.

This morning I decided to check on the alugbati. It's been raining and with the cold temperature I was hoping they would all survive. Well some didn't make it. Maybe they were still too young to cope with all that stress they went through, being pulled out too early, shipped and then replanted. Am hoping the rest would make it through.

I couldn't believe what I saw. I was missing a white echinacea that I have planted 2 years ago and for the first time is making a vigorous come back after it struggled last year. When I told Auntie Liding that she's pulled out one of my plants again, one that I have been looking forward to seeing through bloom this year, she strongly denied that she did.

Since I had only ten minutes before I leave for work I hurriedly check the yardwaste bag and sure enough, wilting among the weeds was my precious plant. I immediately put it in a glass of water. It recovered a bit when I got home tonight and I dug up a big clump of iris where I have replanted it.

It is cool again and I watered it well and I hope it makes it although the roots is probably damaged as she pulled the plant instead of digging it up and there's only an inch left.

Am giving it a week.

Groundcover

2009-06-07T21:44:00.003-05:00

I am not sure what ground cover this is but I got it from my aunt's friend when we went to her garage sale where she also sold extra plants from her overgrowing garden. I am starting to collect more groundcovers because I prefer them over mulching which takes a couple of years to disintegrate.

Good thing it rained today a bit and it's been overcast and the temperature cooler which I hope will help my alugbati to get used in our garden. But it didn't rain hard enough so Auntie watered them just the same.

Mary H, my best friend at work brought me a couple of raspberry plants yesterday which Auntie planted with my lilies. She didn't plant them where I told her to because she's got problems with the stones there. I am not quite sure yet whether I should leave them there. There is not enough space for them in that spot and am afraid when they get bigger they will just swallow my daylilies.

I might still move them, maybe after a heavy rain so it would be easier for me to dig.

Among the Zinnias

2009-06-06T13:30:00.004-05:00

We were early in the garden this morning. Auntie Liding and I finally planted the alugbati seedlings from Mar. Inspecting them closely, they looked so fragile. Am keeping my fingers crossed that they all grow. I was afraid if I wait for my mother to plant it, they will eventually die. After all the effort of Mar in mailing them to me I feel like I need to give him a report card eventually.

Auntie prepared big holes for them in the veggie plot. But after my mother's complaint that I have taken some parts of her garden, I decided to put the seedlings among the zinnias, right in front of them, where they will get plenty of sunlight.

I know they are supposed to be clambering up some trellis but in my family, no succulent vegetable will ever get that tall or long. They get harvested as soon as there are shoots in them. And with our growing season so short, they don't stand a chance.

Am glad that Auntie helped me. She says she's never known that vegetable in her life. Since she dug the holes for me, she knows now not to mistake them for weeds!

Being Difficult

2009-06-05T22:38:00.004-05:00

Mar, my friend I met in my other blogsite, sent me some vegetable seedlings from his garden in Oceanside, California. My aunt volunteered to plant them in the vegetable plot yesterday morning but upon my suggestion, she was going to plant it this afternoon.

When I came home and asked if she was able to plant them as it would be nice without the sun beating on the fragile plants if planted in the morning, my mother wanted it planted tomorrow morning. My aunt didn't want to insist to do it because she didn't want to be blamed if it dies or something happened to them.

I asked my mother why she didn't let my aunt plant them she said Auntie wouldn't know where to put them. She could have just pointed to her where which really does not make sense. She is already complaining about her arthritic foot once again and now she's being stubborn.

She also got some ampalaya and bean seeds in water to plant later on. I don't know where she's going to put them all. That is aside from the melon and gourds.

She's mad that I have planted flowers on her other plots but that has been two years ago. She could hardly take care of her garden, good thing Auntie Liding is here to help her and now she's overdoing it.

I want her to have enough to keep herself busy and although it is really nice to be able to harvest homegrown vegetables, sometimes they are counterproductive if the soil is not well-prepared. I have to help them to cultivate it aside from doing my flower garden and now she thinks she's some superwoman.

A Glimpse of My Garden

2009-06-02T21:32:00.001-05:00

It's been six years and 5 months. That's how long we've been in our current house. Unlike our first house which was way much older and therefore had plenty of old mature trees around, this one was ten years old when we moved in.

The original owners were not into gardening but they did plant trees that were strategically located around the yard. We have a good mix of shades and sunny parts. The lot was fenced only because they had a dog which is an advantage for me as I have a built in background and support for my plants.

It was a blank canvas for me. We moved in in January and immediately as soon as the soil and temperature warmed - I was prepping the garden in March. It was hard work and many hours. I wanted it landscaped but I found it hard to find one who would give me a freehand in planting my own plants. They wanted to do the whole package but I have my own plans and I wanted to do all the work. All I needed was for them to do the hardscape. In the end I hired help to prep the soil, replaced the patio.

I chose and bought the plants I wanted and dealt with some disappointments. Some plants lived for a year or couple of years. I had successfully grown a yellow rose which for four years exploded in yellow blossoms from Spring to early Fall only to die because I think it got choked by some Greek oregano. The idea came to me after a vacation from Greece thinking I would be grilling a lot of souvlaki and using tons of oregano. NOT! The rose has long been gone and up until now I am still weeding those pesky oregano. Had I known, I would have preferred to keep that rose and have not introduced the herb.

This year we've chopped off a rose vine which has a beautiful bloom but it was so stingy. Although it looked healthy and grew a mile each year it seemed, I could count with my fingers the number of pink blossoms I've seen from it. After several roses and hydrangeas have lived and gone, I have now determined to better stick with plants that thrive naturally in our climate.

After six years, I have gotten the courage to move plants from where they do poorly to someplace I think they would be happier. Last week I have finally subdivided my astilbes after so many unproductive years under overgrown hostas. I hope they shine where they are now. Sometime this summer, I will thin out my irises. The clumps are so overcrowded they are not blooming as much. I will just put the extra plants in an empty kitty litter pail, leave it in my driveway and mark "Free Irises - Help yourselves!"

At the back of my mind, there is a chance that I might leave this garden behind and move wherever fate brings me. But I might not, so for now I will just pretend that I am here to stay and nurture and care my garden like I will be here forever.

Maybe until that Japanese maple at my back porch gets to be 5 feet tall.

Plant food

2009-05-31T21:36:00.002-05:00

This morning I fed my plants with some fertilizer. I used to add bone meal or sodium sulphate when I transfer them to the ground but this time I left them out. So far they are doing great.

I didn't finish the task as I ran out and so on my way home I grabbed a big container of Miracle Grow from Wal-Mart. Auntie Liding can throw some in my planters tomorrow.

I wish my Granny's Bonnet multiply some more - reseed. They got so weedy at one point that I had to pull many of them. But now I see so few Grannys and this is the only bloom this Spring. I am leaving them alone and hope they have a massive come back next year.

Sore Muscles

2009-05-30T11:52:00.003-05:00

My body, especially my right wrist is sore from digging. It started this week after I woke up at 5 for an hour gardening and when I got home at 7, I didn't go back to the house till it was very dark - about 9 pm.

My friend and I went to the pool last night and that relaxed my body but I still have this nagging soreness in my wrist.

Since I was too excited and trying to catch the early morning light to accomplish something before I get ready for work, I didn't do any stretches. I normally don't but aside from feeding my cats first thing - it was almost literally jumping out of bed straight to the yard.

All that digging with the big shovel, even though the ground was very wet, is the culprit. And wet earth is heavy - it is no different from lifting 5 pounds of weights.

And I did it again this morning - Mom's garden. She's 78 and could hardly dig deep enough for her veggies to survive so I took it upon myself to prep it for her. I was able to do only two plats and was going to start a third one but my arms just didn't have any strength left.

At least she's got something to start with.

Second Chance

2009-05-28T06:33:00.002-05:00

I stayed in the yard until about 9 last night. It was overcast the whole day after an evening of rain so my new plants are doing wonderfully well. And the ground is soft like butter, verging on being muddy as some parts of my garden is low and accumulates some water.

Finally I was able to finish planting the hostas Auntie Fe gave me. In addition to that I also dug up my astilbes, subdivided and transferred them where I hope they would flourish. They have been covered by overgrown hostas on the northwest corner of the yard.

I dug up the yarrow I transplated this morning and took most of the soil from its roots and moved it to a very sunny spot. My research said that it thrives on full sun and I hope it makes it. I did the same thing with the clematis although like the yarrow, all its leaves have turned brown.

If the clematis dies then maybe I will get another vine to cover the old swing that came with the house when I bought it. I left it in the yard and now a Sweet Autumn clematis covers one side of it. I need a vigorous vine to be able to cover the whole thing.

I should have planted my Kentucky wisteria there but am afraid if I move it, it might die. It is by my patio door and it is getting wild and I have the job of trying to prevent the vines from covering my satellite dish all the time.

Am surprised that I didn't get any mosquito bites. In fact there were no mosquitoes that I noticed.

Picture: A flowerng maple or Japanese lantern. I bought this at The Farm nursery in Westmont on Friday. It is a houseplant but for the season it is in my front porch among with my other indoor plants.

Toxic

2009-05-27T13:17:00.003-05:00

Too much of a good thing is bad for you, or to anything living and I just thought of that when I saw two of my plants this morning.

One is a clematis which is a pink paniculata and the other is a yarrow which I just bought on Friday. Last time I saw them they were doing pretty good.

I was out in the yard at 5:00 a.m. as soon as my alarm sounded and daylight was starting to stream in. I was on a mission - to finish some planting. There's the echinacea, a ground cover which I don't know its name, both gotten from the plant sale and a yellow datura from yesterday.

Because of the downpour last night the soil was soft as butter. What a great time to dig and I was able to plant them all including moving the dying yarrow to a new spot. I was thinking my clematis suffered from rot and then I wondered why the yarrow has the same fate? Then I realized I poured some melted fertilizer from a pail and it burned both plants.

Good thing I was the culprit or I would have thrown a fit although I am very upset at myself. The only good thing is I poured only on that area and there are no other plants there - yet.

This one is another of my clematises from Fall 2007. I have to research its name by process of elimination from my list of orders at that time period. It's so lovely I hope I could get another one.

And so it finally rained

2009-05-26T21:55:00.004-05:00

I was starting to worry about the annuals that I have planted. And I also have other perrenials I have not finished planting. But Memorial Day was marred by intermittent showers and today on my way home, it poured.

Today I bought a yellow datura from the Farmer's Market. I could have just asked for seeds of the white variety from my neighbor but am afraid it is a bit too late. I wanted to get some dried out seed pods from my plant by Fall so I could propagate them next year. For four bucks which I meant to use to buy bread, I brought home a plant instead. I just couldn't resist.

In addition, I still have a pail of green hostas from Auntie Fe. She said they are bigger but I've seen them before in her garden, they are medium-sized, but I need them at the shady spot in my garden.

Just when I thought it stopped raining after dinner, when I opened the patio door, it poured. This time with lightning and light thunder!

So much for finishing my planting tonight. I might just skip the pool tomorrow, that is if the weather cooperates.

Muscles!

2009-05-23T21:20:00.003-05:00

The Memorial weekend is always a busy time for gardeners. It is the ideal time for planting so the nurseries here in the Midwest are very busy. People like me are buying plants, gardening soils, humus, stones and numerous other items for their gardens.

After yesterday, I feel like I've been rolled in a barrel and thrown over the Niagara Falls. My whole body ache from all the activities - gardening, buying plants, carrying bags of soil, weeding - I got a great workout. But I am amazed with the energy I got, I felt I really used my muscles which I never thought I got.

Good thing I did because Maria, my neighbor/friend, was too tired after work to go to the pool. Which I was glad anyway as I wanted to put in as much plants in the ground.

Pictured is Angelique - the only tulip I have in my garden, aside from an orange one outside the yard that the previous owners planted. Am not too fond of tulips as they need a lot of attention - like digging them up after three years to avoid overcrowding. I'd rather have the simple and low maintenace bulbs like lilies and daffodils.

I live for this

2009-05-22T13:01:00.004-05:00

No more fretting about not having made plants for this long weekend. I started early, as soon as the sun was out, I hurriedly fed Sissi and Pixie, grabbed my java mug and off I went. Nothing envigorates and rejuvenates me more than seeing a garden like this. And if you planted every single plant, got your hands dirty until it was dark, you can understand the ache I felt when my companions pulled my plants. Granting that they didn't mean any malice nor harm, it is still hard to take but just looking at the irises this morning, am happy again.

I took some weeds out especially where a baby clematis is coming up, before the mowing guys this time, mistake it for grass. At nine Auntie Fe called and we hied off to Villa Park to buy some plants from her friend, Manang Nita. I bought several plants for $2.99 in one gallon pots.

It is so warm today and am waiting for the promised rain so I could plant them. By now the ground is so parched and dry.

Auntie Fe gave me some hostas too that she was about to throw away. I got some space for them so she put them in a bag for me.

My last run was at the nursery where I bought some annuals, calendula, cosmos, zinnias and spider plants. Now I need to go to Lowe's or Home Depot to get some soil.

The day is halfway over. Rain where are you?

White Clematis

2009-05-21T21:41:00.001-05:00

I have had this clematis for 3 years now. It has grown so much this Spring and I love its big petals and it blooms in profusion.

We used to have a white clematis in the old house and it was a double petaled one. It was lush and had plenty of blooms too and I wanted to get one of the same and I thought this was the one but it isn't.

Maybe in the Fall I will search for it in the catalogs.

Meanwhile, I have ordered some Asian veggie seeds for Mom. I told her it is quite late for the gourds but nothing could deter her from planting them.

I also ordered some saluyot seeds. The first time I planted them they were all eaten by rabbits before I could gather them but someone told me they cover their vegetables with a net, like a mosquito net perhaps? That's a good idea and I will try and check them out at the nurseries if they have any. If not I will improvise just so we could have the saluyot growing - in pots. No way I will leave them in the ground after the first time.

For the first time I also ordered some Japanese melon seeds. That would be interesting.

Aaaaargh!

2009-05-20T10:01:00.003-05:00

Auntie Liding, feeling guilty for pulling out my daylilies, have put it upon herself to water the transplants every morning. I took advantage of her presence in the yard to show her two weeds that she could get rid off when she's bored. She is now familiar with the regular dandelions, this time I showed her a cloverleaf and another type of dandelion, the prickly one.

I thought my show would start at 7 right after dinner but they showed a replay of last week's. I ran to the yard to do some planting as I have bought some tomatoes, peppers and basil on Sunday.

I almost cried when I saw how well she'd clean the front of my side porch. Not only did she take out the pesky weeds I showed her, she also got rid of the ground covers. Oh my, what am I going to do with her.

After I've shown her what she did, I am totally banishing her out of my flower garden. That's it, enough weeding for her.

I didn't finish my planting, but am just glad that I was able to put in my four tomatoes among the flowers.

Gorgeous!

2009-05-19T06:33:00.001-05:00

Among my garden plants, nothing is more gorgeous than the blooms of this peony tree - Hana Kisoi. This was my gift to myself when I first moved in our current house six years ago. For awhile it languished in a wet and shady portion of my yard. But it wasn't happy there.

Peony tree is quite expensive from the nursery and I didn't want to waste my money. So when my patio was finished 3-4 years ago, I moved it to its present location. The first year after that I saw one bloom, last year it grew so fast and I was rewarded with multiple blooms. This year it just explodes with huge blooms!

My patience paid off and am glad that I kept it.

Weeding Fields

2009-05-18T19:00:00.002-05:00

Most transplanted plants takes some time to develop and acclimate themselves to their new location. Daylilies bought from the nursery may not bloom a year after planting. It may take another year before they show off their beauty.

So you can just imagine my dismay one morning right before I leave for work when Auntie Liding mentioned that she's really impressed how deep the roots of the weeds are and how difficult to pull them.

She's filled up three big bags of landscape waste with dandelions. Although they seem to be coming up faster than she could weed them out. I wandered by the kitchen window and I saw what laid there and my day lilies were not where they were supposed to be.

For confirmation, like I had any doubts, I ran to the patio side door and I cried in horror. She and my Mom have pulled out my daylilies on my two sides of my garden in her excitement to prepare her vegetable garden.

That space used to be hers but in 2007 I told her that I am going to plant it with ornamental plants because her veggies were not doing too good. After all she already has two raised beds exclusively for vegetables.

Last year we didn't do anything as I mentioned earlier. But this year is different. Mom is looking forward to having her garden. As early as a month ago she already started planting her sweet potatoes but of course they just died. It was still too cold for any kind of planting.

And now she's claiming back her old plat.

I was going to give her space for some peppers and tomatoes and mix it with my flowers but what were they doing when it was so cold and breezy on Thursday?

On Friday night when I arrived home, Auntie Liding was proud to tell me that she's planted them all back and this time it looks better because she had it in a row.

Upon checking her plantings closely, she's mixed daylilies and Japanese irises together. There were even wild onions in the mix. And upon closer scrutiny, she didn't press the ground hard so there were some space in between the soil for air bubbles.

Sunday morning, I couldn't wait for the sun to come out. I needed so badly to replant my dear daylilies.

This morning after breakfast she went out there and watered them. And I showed her two weeds she could start pulling out if she's looking for them.

Now they know to stay away from my garden!

Late Come Back

2009-05-17T13:14:00.005-05:00

It has been raining a lot here in my side of the world, and cold. I could see the Dicentras or Bleeding Hearts as they are commonly called are doing very well. Every Spring, this is the first I check. I love watching their heart-shaped blooms hanging in a row in its tiny stem, like hearts strung in a chain.

There used to be three of them but I managed to kill one of them. I probably chopped it off too close to the ground one summer and the roots just dried out.

Half of the plants I bought as shown in my last post in 2007 didn't show up. I don't know if they were of inferior quality from where I normally buy them online but the online nursery is supposed to be one of the best. But next time I will stick to the one tested through many years of experience.

Four of the clematises I got are up and about. They hardly showed up last year but this year I think they will be catching up. All that rain can only benefit them.

Fall Planting

2007-10-21T15:13:00.000-05:00

Am quite busy nowadays with Fall planting. Plants for Spring are being planted now and as you can see from previous posts, I've ordered quite a selection to enjoy next year.

Here's what to expect next year:

3 Rudbeckia Black Beauty
3 Lily Pardalinum
2 Clematis Veronica
3 Lilly Miss Lucy (on back order)
1 Gaillardia The Sun
1 Gaillardia Oranges and Lemons
1 Clematis Rooguchi
1 Clematis Franzishka Marie
1 Echinachea Coconut Lime
1 Tricyrtis Stolofnifera (see previous post how it looks like)
1 Pennisetum Fox Trot
Echinacea Summer Sky

I swear not to get anymore perennials next year. But I will fill up the empty spaces with annuals and in my list will be a lot of cosmos seeds and morning glories.

This is it!

More Plants via Mail

2007-10-18T11:19:00.000-05:00

The other day I received a big box of plants from Wayside Gardens. There were six plants with 3 in back order. I didn't open the box till last night as I worried that they might get too dry. Also I needed to check in what state they are in. This is the first year that I'm ordering all my perennials from them. Although they are well recommended by home magazines, the house plant I ordered from them which was a gift for Mother's Day died after six months. So hopefully this time it will be different.

The plants are all healthy, in pots and still very green. Unlike the first package, this are plants with leaves. To give me time to finish my planting I took my blood tests this morning rather than cramming on Saturday morning. I still have 3 lily bulbs from the first delivery. So they will be the first to go as soon as daylight comes this weekend.

Plants by Mail

2007-10-13T09:10:00.000-05:00

I received the package on Wednesday but since when I get home it's already dark, I didn't get around to planting them till this morning. I opened it on Thursday night and I was quite dismayed when I looked at them. The clematis' leaves were dry but my friend Denise said as long as the roots look fresh and strong, they are probably just dormant now.

Got to the garden at daylight which is quite late this time of year. It was seven by that time and I was so happy when I finally opened the bags - the clematis' roots were thick and alive - I mean they were not dry at all so I planted one each on both sides of the gate. Since I've ordered them months ago, I'm not quite sure anymore what color they are but anyway, am sure they would be nice to look at come Spring when they bloom. They will soften the brown wood fence.

The black echinaceas' roots are thick and plentiful. It's easy to tell that they will be mature plants when they come up next year. I planted them (3) in the middle of my garden; they will be good contrast to the whites and pinks around them. And just so the moles or rabbits won't dig them up, I covered them with bricks.

And for good measure, I dug the $100 hole for my $1 plants. Well actually they cost a lot more than $1.

Tomorrow, I will finish planting the Asian lily bulbs.

The First Frost

2007-10-12T15:03:00.000-05:00

Last night was very cold. Going to work, I could feel the cold breeze like a sheet of ice over the exposed part of my body - my face. They said last night would have been the first time we would have around 40 temperature. I brought in my San Francisco plant afraid that its leaves will just fall off its tiny branches. It's a perennial and it's been growing consistently this summer so I don't want to waste the beautiful plant.

I brought it in last night and this morning, I moved it under the skylight where it will stay until next Spring.

My last blooming dahlia - it survive the cold last night. This week the temperature is going to be around in the 60s. That's good news as I don't want to dig it up yet.

Am Thrilled

2007-10-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

I got plenty of reasons to be happy about. My lilac colored rose is blooming profusely and the blooms are huge! Although it's only in its second year, I never thought the flowers would be this big. It looks like a tea rose.

I swore I'm giving roses. They are way too high maintenance. But today, it looks like I can be convinced to plant more roses again in my new garden bed next Spring.

My dahlia has opened up it's first flower. Am thrilled. Hope there will be more warm weather.

Sworls

2007-10-08T04:20:00.000-05:00

This is what's left of the flowers of Sweet Autumn after all the petals have fallen down in the ground. I thought they are interesting. They used to be covered all ovr with white flowers and now what's left are nothing but sworls.

Over the Moon

2007-10-07T04:20:00.000-05:00

. . . over these cosmos. I can't believe the multitude of blooms from the cosmos this late in the season. I can see it from my kitchen sink and it's really a sight to behold. They look like fairies dancing in the air. I definitely will order seeds of different varieties next year.

Late Dahlia

2007-10-06T14:24:00.000-05:00

I can't wait for this flower to open its bloom. I was afraid I would have to dig it up for next year before it blooms, but apparently not. Hope the weather stays this way for awhile. But as long as there is no frost, I can still enjoy its flowers.

Fall Flower

2007-10-05T16:15:00.000-05:00

This is sedum Mr Goodbud. This is my only fall plant left after the Sweet Autum clematis bloomed so early. With the warm weather they go very well with the pink dahlias.

I didn't get a chance to fertilize my garden last month. I must do it over the weekend to give them a good start next Spring.

New Day Lilies

2007-09-26T16:25:00.001-05:00

Right after the Labor Day holiday, I met with Cindy who gave me some daylilies from her garden. Most of them were cutoff to the roots so I was skeptical whether they will come back. But with the rain that first week, I could see some of them coming out of the ground. I hope they grow some more so they could come back next Spring.

Fall is the best time to plant for next Spring. From my experience, it takes another year before they'll bloom but anyway, I'll nurture them until they do.

Finally, It's Here!

2007-09-24T11:17:00.000-05:00

Today is the first full day of Fall. We had the Fall equinox yesterday which I understand means that there is an equal amount of hours (12) of night and day. Maybe they are right because I got a lot of things done yesterday. I was able to get rid of dying Snow of the Mountains and last night I planted the Black-eyed Susans from Benny & Viv.

I planted them around one of my trees at the frontyard. But it is so hot today, I wonder how they are going to survive. They said it's supposed to rain tonight and am keeping my fingers crossed. I will cover them with mulch tonight.

Japanese Maple

2007-09-21T11:16:00.000-05:00

This is a really beautiful tree. But I bought it in Fall 2005 and it was very short then, maybe one-and-a-half feet tall. It seems like it has not grown but this year it has a lateral growth.

I've always love them in Japanese gardens. It took me this long to plant one because they cost an arm and a leg. I paid $75 for that small tree at that time. A five feet tree would probably costs in the hundreds. I don't want to pay that kind of money for a tree. But it'll probably take me five more years before I can really enjoy it's beauty at eye level.

Let's just say no pain, no gain.

Fragrance of the Night

2007-09-21T11:14:00.000-05:00

My dama de noche has been doing pretty good. It's been blooming continuously for the whole summer although we cannot enjoy it's fragrance as all the windows and doors are shut. I've moved it in the covered porch outside the dining room so it doesn't get burned by the excessive summer light and pretty soon I will carry it back indoor. It's a tropical plant and like the hibiscus they cannot stand the cold wind.

I love it's smell when it's indoor because it fills up the whole house. Spooky sometimes when you forget that it's coming from a plant. I've always been afraid of ghosts and sometimes I wonder where that sweet smell is coming from. Silly.

Vision Problems

2007-09-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's my eyes or there's something wrong with my camera. I first noticed it when on an out-of-town trip I tried taking a picture of a sunflower. It was midday and the sun was really bright but I've never had that problem before. I was not able to get a good picture; they all came out overexposed. At that time I thought maybe I accidentally opened the back of my camera.

This morning when I went to the garden, I had the same problem. I've been having problems with my contacts lens, my eyes are bloodshot red although it's new. Could it be?

But then the results are in the pictures. And am not too happy with them. I better have somebody check my camera before I go on my trip to Ireland.

A No Show

2007-09-19T11:06:00.001-05:00

On my way home yesterday, I knew my plants needed some water. I planned on taking a quick dinner and run outside to water them. The rain they promised to come has not shown up and the poor things are so thirsty. My hydrangeas at the front of the house were wilted.

Although Fall is coming in a week's time, the plants are still needing plenty of sustenance. They need to shore up plenty of energy for the long winter months. That way they will come stronger and more invigorated for the next season.

The annuals will die but the perennials will just take a period of rest. Actually many of them needed the cold weather to be able to come back next Spring. Just like the tulips and the daffodils.

Many of my annuals has been replanted in pots and will be brought indoors. Good thing I have a skylight and with the two patio doors, I think I can bring in enough sunlight inside for them to flourish.

But there are still so many things to do. And once again I got sidetracked when my friend came knocking on my door before my dinner. Did I want to take a walk? Yes I did and we arranged to do it again today. This morning I had to ask my Mom to do the watering chore for me.

The forecast was rain but then again, it might just be a no show.

Back To Summer

2007-09-18T16:33:00.000-05:00

Fall does not begin until Sunday. From a very cold week, today we are in the late 80s to 90. To which I am very grateful. Maybe I still have a couple of weeks to enjoy the summer. I hope this is not yet the Indian Summer.

But the sunshine are starting late and darkness come early. The days are getting shorter and shorter.

I hate for the coldfront to come but it is a fact of life here in the Midwest. Pretty soon I have to bid adieu my lovely plants/flowers.

Too Late

2007-09-14T12:03:00.000-05:00

I have a number of plants that are blooming too late. Like the white datura in the photo. The seeds came from the plant last year, left on the ground. Maybe I should have harvested them and planted them earlier. Now the colored varieties also have seeded but I doubt very much if they will dry enough for next year.

Also I have several cannas, which admittedly Denise gave to me a bit late. While they bloomed profusely last year, only a couple of plants matured to a level where I can enjoy their red blooms.

The giant dahlias too that I ordered from White Flower Farm is still growing and no chance of blooming this season.

This week promises to warm up. Maybe it's time to dig them up and store them for next year. Time also to turn off the water fountain.

Am really disappointed but add the experience to lessons in gardening. Got to get going early next season.

Sweet Smell of Autumn

2007-09-14T12:01:00.000-05:00

My garden is smelling good this time of year because of the Sweet Autumn clematis I planted three years ago. It is unfortunate that it's been chilly to stay too long outside. It would be nice to have a bonfire or those portable firepit.

Maybe that's for another year. Sit around the fire, throw a warm afghan over your knees or a warm blanket even, sip a glass of wine with old friends.

Won't that be nice?

Fall Too Soon

2007-09-14T11:56:00.001-05:00

This morning I heard the temperature will be going down to 40s. Before I left I moved my two plants I've left in the patio closer to the house. It's the San Francisco plant which is really growing and a hibiscus which I intend to move to another pot.

I think the cold spell is too soon. They predict frost in 2 days and that's a death verdict for my succulents. I need to go back to the plant center to get more potting and garden soil.

I have a felling I won't be able to do everything I need to do before the first snow falls on the ground.

Fall is Coming

2007-09-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

The cold breeze is slowly creeping in. It's been sunny all week but don't be fooled. The mornings has been cold and the temperature is gradually coming down. I no longer even need to turn on the ceiling fans anymore.

In a week or two the leaves will suddenly turn golden. I would hate the weather but I love the colors.

Also I will be planting in earnest as soon as I receive the plants I ordered. I have moved my pots of indoor plants under the shelter of my side porch just in case the evening temperatures hover to 40.

Zap Those Bugs!

2007-09-12T16:34:00.000-05:00

I've seen the mosquito bites in Wilma's legs. They were huge!

It's been raining a lot last week and the pesky insects are out in full force. She's stopped her gardening chores to avoid encountering them again. I feel them too whenever I'm out there. Last night they were in my nose, eyelids. Really nasty.

Whenever we have a barbecue party I sprinkle the yard with this powder. It works. It's got the smell of gasoline in the beginning but it goes away. It can be bought at any garden center. I've been getting it at Home Depot.

Ground Cover

2007-08-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

This is clematis Autumn Joy. This is one of Mom's favorite plants because they get so thick and they bloom fairly long from late summer to fall. They have gotten so bushy that some are rambling on the ground, over the rose vine and on the old swing. They certainly add charm to a cottage garden.

What's a Better Excuse to Come Back to Work

2007-08-29T12:51:00.000-05:00

Our office is closed on Friday in conjunction with the Labor Day holiday. Our firm always gives us the day before or after of a federal holiday as time off to give us a long weekend.

Am returning on Tuesday but resume my vacation days on Wednesday to the rest of the week. Why?

Cindy, my friend and former co-worker will be thinning out her garden and giving them to me. I've already given her instructions to chop the daylilies' leaves so they won't be so bulky. And she's doing it early in the season. Last time she gave me so much plants but half of them got wasted. She dug them out in the Fall when the days are short and the nights longer. By the time I got home it would be so dark to do anything and on top of that, it rained almost everyday. So a lot of the plants rotted before I was able to get to them.

Today she asked me how much I wanted. I said just give me whatever you have. I have a lot of empty spaces or I can always give away the rest to someone.

Modifying Nature

2007-08-28T11:32:00.001-05:00

This is what happens when you force nature. This came from the packet of cosmos that Lynn gave me. (See my post of June 24, 2007.) It didn't come out as pictured in the packet where the deep pink color should be concentrated at the center on a white background.

When you modify nature, some of the results get mutated, not true to their original self. Which makes me think it is best to leave nature alone.

After the Storm

2007-08-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

It's been raining a lot last week. After the storm/tornado warning on Thursday, I can't go work in the garden. It's been raining so much but I can tell you, the plants are loving it.

One of my trellises fell down and brought along with it my favorite vine rose. I cut the stems into several pieces and divvied them up between Jun and Benny to propagate. At least there was one stem left in my plant. Hopefully that will produce more growth.

Baby Pink Cosmos

2007-08-23T12:09:00.000-05:00

I am so encouraged with the annuals I've planted this year. This is the year when I have planted several of them and with the rain the cosmos are getting taller and are happily blooming.

Even the packet of cosmos seeds from Lynn has buds already. Definitely I am going to order more colorful ones next year.

I've always seen only yellow and orange varieties when I was in the Philippines. I never thought they have a lot of colors and very interesting combinations.

Spring Revisiting

2007-08-22T15:34:00.000-05:00

No, this is not some photos from Spring. This is the iris that got infested with borers last year. It is a rebloomer, it blooms twice - once in Spring and again this time of year. It didn't bloom at all last year and am glad that finally it's back. It is lightly scented too and I have planted it behind our kitchen.

If I look outside my breakfast nook I can see and enjoy it. By the small fountain. The ones I planted in some other parts of the garden won't probably bloom until next year but at least I am assured that it's back. That's all that matters.

Water-Logged

2007-08-21T15:08:00.000-05:00

We're getting plenty of rain nowadays. Even the mowers who normally come once a month has been mowing every week. The grass are very green and growing fast. The ground is water logged. This wet weather is making me feel that Fall is just around the corner.

I have not been out of the yard this week. My resolve to check what's going on outdoor quickly evaporated when it suddenly got dark at 7 pm last night. This is summer and without the overcast above, the sun would have still been out till nine. So instead I watched The Aviator not realizing that it would take 3 hours. It's a good movie.

Here's a photo of my coleuses that I'm trying to root in water.

Dipped in Wine

2007-08-20T14:42:00.000-05:00

It looks like. So far this is my favorite coleus. I bought it from Home Depot. It's funny how the big box stores have evolved. Home Depot is a hardware store but in the summer they sell garden tools, garden hardscape like fountains, bricks, shepherd's hook, bird houses and other stuff, but now they have a huge garden center. I still prefer a dedicated plant store though but once in while, you can find there some interesting plants. This is one of them.

This coleus is called Dipt in Wine. I am thinking of adding it to one of my tropical hibiscus when I repot it but it's been raining consistently and they said for the rest of the week. So meantime, it's time for the gardener to take a break. Can't do much when it's all muddy and soggy outside.

I bet you the weeds will be in full force when this rain goes away.

Limelight

2007-08-19T12:31:00.000-05:00

Limelight Hydrangea

It's been raining so hard lately. Last night and again this morning. My new plants should do very well.

It was hard driving in the rain last night on our way to a formal dinner dance, in gown and all, and to church this morning, but am not complaining. The temperature has gone down, so is the humidity, so my a/c can take a break and save me some energy bills.

My reblooming iris has one bloom but when I was about to take a photo, the downpour came. Oh well, I can do it later - there's quite a number of buds.

Lace-cap Hydrangea and Coleuses

2007-08-18T12:28:00.000-05:00

Sedona and Royal Glissade Coleuses

More Rain to Come

2007-08-17T12:01:00.000-05:00

The news forecasted more rain to come. Northern Indiana has been hit by a big storm - downed power lines and trees and they said there will be more coming. Hurriedly I planted my two daylilies and Ruby Giant echinacea last night. Although they are doing pretty good in their pots, I wanted to take advantage of the wet ground.

It was still hard and I needed to fill the holes with water and I soaked the potted plants in there for a few minutes. I still have some blue and white iris rhizomes to transplant which cannot be given away. Although they have been soaked in water with chlorox and has bee drying under the sun since weekend, I'm afraid they will just infest other iris plants. So when I get the chance I will plant them at the front of the house and if they die, that's okay.

I still have to thin out some of the tall blue irises. It's really not a good idea to plant too many of them because of the borers.

Meantime, the white irises which were infested early last year are now budding. It's a rebloomer so I will post their photos as soon as they bloom.
Joan Senior daylily

Berries for the Birds

2007-08-16T15:40:00.000-05:00

My viburnum shrub is finally producing berries. I love its deep red color and am sure through the years it will have more.

Lately I've seen some needle dragon flies flying around too. With the echinaceas I intend to plant this Fall, in the coming years I would like to see more of them, fireflies and butterflies.

Bulb

2007-08-15T12:21:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I dug up my blue and white iris. They have been infested by iris borers. So my east side garden looks like it needs some rearranging. I got some holes there and am thinking whether I should move two of my nikko blue hydrangeas. They seem to be so thirsty and not blooming this year. They are too stressed.

It is while I was digging the iris that I found the daffodil bulbs. Of course they could not come up every year and I've totally forgotten them, and no wonder - they've been buried underneath the iris rhizomes.

I've cleaned them up and am going to put them back in the ground. I don't know if they will bloom next year but am sure they eventually will come back in 2009.

Morning Storm

2007-08-14T11:05:00.001-05:00

Weather forecast yesterday was early rainstorm this morning. At four am, Pixie came to wake me up but I just stayed in bed willing for the rain to come. I could hear the thunder from afar hoping that it will get closer.

I need the rain to soften the ground so it will be easy when I replant the hydrangea and the echinacea I just bought. The tall coneflower is doing pretty well in the ground and the rain assures me that it will not wilt under the scorching summer sun.

With another rainstorm tomorrow, it will be good so I better be busy tonight.

Tall Coreopsis

2007-08-13T13:32:00.000-05:00

This came from Auntie Fe. She bought it at Milaegers Nursery, all the way at Racine, Wisconsin, at the border of our state, a good 2-hour drive from home. That was more than five years ago but this Spring she gave them to me.

I can't believe it's been that long. She said she kept pulling them out because they multiply so fast. I have put them at the back of my garden since they are about 3-4 feet tall. I prefer them over the short ones as this has double petals. Can't wait for them to multiply and get thick.

Meantime I have transplanted yesterday the two coleuses with a hydrangea which I've had for years but has been having difficulty growing. I think that plant is normally for Zone 6 so finally I'm taking it out of its misery. Being in a pot would be easier because I can always move it at a more favorable shade as it needs.

I am still thinking where to put the limelight hydrangea and I've bought a deep pink echinacea.

Harvest Run

2007-08-12T13:16:00.000-05:00

Saturday was gourd harvest time. They have matured so fast so my Mom told me to share some to our neighbor, my aunts, and Viv. Maria, who's Mexican, received tomatoes. I am sure she wouldn't know how to cook the gourd so I decided to give her the tomatoes. She gave me a bag of tree-ripened peaches last week. They are, of course, the best and extremely juicy.

But I have my personal errands too. The plants I purchased are starting to wilt under the intense heat so I told Viv I was dropping the upo and run. I knew she wanted me to see the new paint of her house, stairwells but I didn't have the time to stay. Needed to get to the plant center so I can plant my hydrangea and coneflower.

While at the store, I also saw three different small-leaf coleus to add to my collection. The ones I planted three weeks ago have now overgrown their pots. The grow so fast. They are called Kongs by the way - as in King Kong because of their oversized leaves.

A Trip at the Lily Farm

2007-08-11T11:05:00.000-05:00

Thursday was a day off. I had a quick trip for my mammogram and after lunch I went to pick up my aunt for the trip to The Fields. This was my second trip there.

The first time I went there, it was June, 2-3 years ago. My cousin, Marie, went with me. It was a beautiful sight then because all the lilies were in bloom. I must have spent close to $300 at that time. It sounds like a lot but I tell you, that's not a lot of daylilies. I only got 4 varieties. That's what seeing the flowers in bloom does to you. You want to bring them all home, each and everyone of them.

They also had a garden display where the lilies are shown in their natural habitat. Although I remember lugging my SLR camera at that time, I don't remember ever taking a picture. I probably got lost among the flowers. But I do remember saying that I would just want to spend my day under the trees and drown myself in that beauty with a beautiful book in hand and perhaps a hammock or a blanket. You know the whole scene.

This time, it's quite different. There are hardly any lilies left in bloom. But at least we got to see the late bloomers. The fields are all being worked on so there are no mature plants to buy and bring home. I was a little disappointed. I went there thinking I could buy red and white day lilies, although I bought two varieties which are near white - White Temptation and Joan Senior. They were 30% off in one gallon pots.

I also spotted a limelight hydrangea in their general garden. It looked so pretty and the bloom was fragrant. Better than the Annabelles. My aunt and I got one for each of us, she also got two different daylilies which we promised to share as soon as they mature.

After I paid my purchase, I can't resist the coneflower. I just had to bring it home.

Long Gourds

2007-08-10T11:24:00.000-05:00

We're back to the long variety of gourds. My mom thought I ordered her the same ones as last year which were rounded and didn't need any trellis, but she mentioned she preferred the long ones so that's what I got her.

She's so excited because she's always had good luck with the gourds. Definitely we'll plant them every year because unlike the winged beans (sigarillas) which I have tried for years to propagate from seed unsuccessfully, the gourds are easy.

I've also tried planting lima beans at one point but no luck. So I better stick with the tested ones.

Very Long String Beans

2007-08-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

Am sure my mom is happy with our variety of string beans this year. There are only four (4) plants left after the rabbits ate them but there should be enough for a dish or more till the first frost comes.

This variety is extra long so I will make sure to order the same next year. I seriously must get my mom a new way for the vegetables to support. This year I bought a new tomato posts but I think I could get her a better one via mail. A neighbor from my old neighborhood have sent me a clipping of a place where I can get them. And I've kept that note for a long time. Some old things (papers) just come in handy.

White Dahlias and Snow on the Mountain

2007-08-08T13:27:00.000-05:00

It saddens me that the dahlias I bought from the store are not doing as well as the ones I ordered from White Flower Farm. The variety must be diseased because even after spraying them with disinfectant, the leaves are still turning brown and curled. I am afraid I must just have to discard them soon. Good thing they are no way near the ones from White Flower.

I guess it's worth to pay more from the catalogues.

Honeysuckle

2007-08-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

This is the third year of my honeysuckle and it is doing wonderfully well. It has rebloomed and it's got red berries from the first bloom. No wonder they said birds love them.

Once again I have planted this vine in the wrong spot - behind my magnolia. Am in a quandary, whether to dig it up and move it somewhere where it can really shine or just add another trellis so it spreads horizontally. My fear when I move it is if it dies.

Maybe I will do the latter.

Note: See the story behind my honeysuckle.

Caladiums

2007-08-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

These are what we call gabi-gabihan in the Philippines because their leaves look like yam. They are mainly ornamental though.

This year I've fallen in love with them. I bought 4 of two varieties but they got so overwhelmed by the Russian Sage that I have to move one to a spot in front of the Annabelle hydrangea. The three are just totally covered by the sage but it's too late to move them now.

I plan on digging them up before the first frost and repot them for indoors. Since they love shades, I have to make sure they go with another plant that has the same temperament. The indoor jade plant we have is an idea, but jade plants don't like too much water.

We'll see. Maybe the four plants can just fit in one pot.

Beautiful in Spring

2007-08-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

I planted a pot of violas and some were in the planter by the patio. The one in the pot is long gone. As soon as the hot weather set in, they died. The ones in the planter are really struggling. If not for the shade of the dahlia plants which covers them, they would be dead by now.

They are very pretty in Spring, looking fragile like moths. Too bad they can't stand the heat.

Ampalaya

2007-08-01T12:44:00.000-05:00

Every year, Mom has her vegetable garden. This year, she planted string beans, hot peppers, camote, alugbati, eggplants and upo (gourd). They are not doing as good as the tomatoes, or definitely they could do much better, oh so much better but that's got to wait until next year. She's now having difficulty gardening but she enjoys watering so next year I plan of interpersing the veggies with the flower plants that way the plots are not barren. I've already started planting irises in her garden. Quickly, before she changes her mind. Hahahaha!

The bitter melons has some fruits but not enough leaves to use for monggo. She's let two fruits to ripen and she's drying the seeds now for next year. But I still have not tasted any ampalaya fruits from her plants.

Orange Canna

2007-07-31T09:52:00.000-05:00

I bought this canna at Wal-mart at the beginning of the season. They don't look like the photo in the bag, good thing it's not like the one I had last year that came from Denise or I'd feel I wasted my money.

This variety is shorter too than the reds I had last year but if there's any lesson I learned, I need to plant them indoor first before planting them in the ground after the danger of frost is over next year so I would be able to enjoy them longer in my garden. I will dig the tubers this Fall and try to keep them for next year. I've never had any success doing that but hopefully Denise can teach me how to do it.

I also have the dahlias and the gabi-gabihan to keep for next season.

Hope

2007-07-30T13:33:00.000-05:00

Everytime I look out my bathroom window, where I have a good vantage point to see the back of my next door neighbor, I can't help but feel jealous at their beautiful echinacea. This time of year it is full of bloom in bright colors of pink. I don't know why I have missed planting them from the beginning.

But last year I went ahead and bought two pots of Hope. One died after it came back for a month. I don't really know what happened. But at least one survived and now has one bloom with another a bud. It might seem meager this year but I am hopeful that next year it will grow stronger and multiply. I can already see young plants coming out of the tallest one.

Not a Weekend Project

2007-07-29T09:56:00.000-05:00

My garden helper, Danny, gave me those blocks of concrete years ago. They just sat by our air conditioning unit until, I thought to myself, I'd know what to do with them.

Looking for a way to stretch and exercise myself, I decided to move them to the empty swing. That swing was left by the previous owner of our house. My vision is to have a vine cover it and replace the hanging baskets with small Japanese lanterns and place a seat underneath. It would be a good nook for someone to read or simply just to view the rest of the garden.

My mom said I already have enough stones but I think I need to add one more line of blocks so it's not too narrow for a bench or an old chair which I can paint all white. I got the idea from a BG&H issue. The iron chair is just to see how it'd look.

I've covered the dirt beside the old swing with newspapers and plastic to kill the grass. Am preparing it for planting this Fall.

Sweet Tomatoes

2007-07-28T09:50:00.000-05:00

This year I took care of Mom's tomatoes when she didn't plant them deep enough. And now I have no shame in taking the credit. Even she surrenders the rights to these plants - those are my plant! And we're enjoying their sweet fruits.

I had them yesterday in my salad with one whole avocado. I simply added a dash of salt and pepper and then I realized I have a bottle of soy sauce. I remembered our maid Bella from Marinduque used to dress tomatoes with soy sauce. You should try it one time, you might like it. I do!

Stargazers

2007-07-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

The star of any garden.

Front Stoop

2007-07-26T09:35:00.000-05:00

I wish my front is more welcoming than this. I try. If I win the lottery, I'd like to have my frontyard landscaped. For more curb appeal. Wonder when.

Crazy Over Coleus

2007-07-25T09:32:00.001-05:00

Am nuts over coleus. Every year, I get fixated on one plant, where my biggest purchase would be just for one kind and different varieties.

The first year I moved in, it was hydrangea. Then there was a year for hostas, after a tour in Europe the following day I went to the daylily farm and purchased,what else - daylilies, then came the year of the irises. This time, I want to collect coleuses, in different colors.

I've been telling my friends that I want to pinch a coleus from the parkway. There's this gorgeous colored coleus at the city's medians and I told them that if I don't return from lunch one day they might as well presume that I was picked up by the police.

They also have a different one in the planters at my train depot in Lisle. Last night I took the later bus as I was planning to take the chance of pinching the coleus. Pinching does not do them any harm - they just get bushier. But I chickened out. I told Jeannie, our saintly bus driver, to get one for me. She sits there looking at it for a long time while waiting for us. It was funny because Jeannie can't harm a fly, much more do harm to the city's property.

This morning when I got off, as I walked to the train she asked me why I didn't do what I had in mind. I smiled.

San Francisco

2007-07-24T16:53:00.000-05:00

I couldn't help it. It's marked 2 for $6. And it's beautiful, colorful and so thick. I thought it would be a good buy. So did another Filipino guy. He got one, I got two to fill a pot.

Every Filipino shopper who saw me with the pots smiled. I knew what they wanted to tell me. It reminds them of a garden in the tropics -- Home!

Purple Phlox

2007-07-23T16:43:00.000-05:00

Am lucky that I planted the phlox in the right spot this time. I have another - a white one but it is not multiplying as fast as this one. Maybe next year.

I love the height of the plant, because I am not particularly fond of short plants in my garden.

Rain

2007-07-22T14:24:00.000-05:00

May This Be An Endless Summer

2007-07-21T13:56:00.000-05:00

Big Box Dahlia

2007-07-20T13:52:00.000-05:00

I bought this dahlia at Walmart. I thought I'd give it a try and am not a bit disappointed. It turned out as beautiful as the one I bought for three times the cost online. This is will be added to my "for keeps" list for next Spring.

Coleus

2007-07-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

Am starting to fall in love with coleus after I've seen the lush and thick plants of Nita, my aunt's friend. She has them in pots which she brings indoors come winter time. When I mentioned this to Lynn, she told me that she has babies from her coleus. Apparently she does the same thing as Nita.

So today, she brought me the baby coleus. Like always, Lynn made sure that it didn't get crushed in the plastic bag she brought it in -- she put the smaller pot inside a bigger pot to protect it.

Now only a serious gardener could think of that! Thanks Lynn.

Yellow Foxglove

2007-07-17T12:22:00.000-05:00

I really like this plant - foxgloves. The pink ones are in bloom once again after it's been broken by a rabbit I thought, but now I believe it must be from the water hose when mom didn't adjust the shower head. In place of that broken stem are several branches of the pink variety.

Pink Dahlia

2007-07-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

This reminds me why I wanted to plant dahlias again in my garden. Although they have a slow start, their blooms when they come, is really worth the long wait. This color is certainly going to be a keeper. I am thinking of digging out of the ground all the tubers before first frost for next year.

I ordered these from White Flower Farm, CT.

Golden Day Lilies

2007-07-15T10:53:00.000-05:00

Peaches and Cream

2007-07-14T10:47:00.000-05:00

I don't really know what the specific name for this daylily but looking at them makes me want some ice cream.

Ripe in the Vine

2007-07-13T10:50:00.000-05:00

All I need is some fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, olive oil and a dash of seasalt. It can't get any sweeter than this!

Endless Summer

2007-07-12T15:14:00.001-05:00

Am really happy with this hydrangea. It came back without any problems. I think I would like to get a couple more.