reBlogged to cucumbers on Oct 15, 2007, 11:09AM

Posted by Rahel Reblogged by Old Roses to cucumbers on 2007-10-16, 06:26:20

link to this

Do a happy dance. Pumpkin Patch is over. Not that any of you care (thanks if you do), but much of my free time for the past month has been taken up by the annual festival at my kids’ school, which is called the Pumpkin Patch Festival. It was this past Saturday. . .

reBlogged to gardening on Oct 15, 2007, 8:14PM

Posted by Hanna Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening on 2007-10-16, 06:25:51

link to this

I'm no Eco-saint. Anything I write for Blog Action Day is bound to be hypocritical, so I didn't sign up. I want to be good. I like being outdoors and observing the natural world. I began college majoring in forestry, imagining that would be a pleasant way to make a living out in the woods somewhere. But life intrudes. Things happen. Circumstances change. The paths I chose took me far from my goal, but they've enabled us to buy a house in the woods, so perhaps the path connects back to where it started. . . .

reBlogged to environment

Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:24:52

link to this

reBlogged to trees

Posted by Graham Rice Reblogged by Old Roses to trees on 2007-10-16, 06:24:27

link to this

"Grapes are the most noble and challenging of fruits."

~ Malcolm Dunn, 1867

~ Harvest Grapes

(Chateau Chantal ~ Old Mission Peninsula)

reBlogged to fruit vines

Posted by joey Reblogged by Old Roses to fruit, vines on 2007-10-16, 06:24:02

link to this

I am currently doing a series of posts on flowers that I consider "Keepers" in my garden. Nasturtiums are one of my favorite annuals for growing in containers. This was my first year to grow this beauty, named 'Vesuvius".

The lovely salmon-pink flowers are surrounded by dark blue-green foliage that complements the flowers to perfection. (The varigated foliage you see to the right is another potted nasturtium, Alaska.) Vesuvius is an heirloom selection, included in Burpee's 1923 catalog. It grows to a height of about 12 inches.

Each year I like try new nasturtiums....but this will definitely be one that I grow again, for it's lovely combination of flower and foliage!

reBlogged to nasturtiums

Posted by Connie Reblogged by Old Roses to nasturtiums on 2007-10-16, 06:23:53

link to this

Today is Blog Action Day. Although I usually stick to the TundraGarden itself, today I am looking at sustainability. Sustainability is a fairly broad topic, and there's an awful lot of discussion and information available about balanced, sensible, non-greedy use of resources in a locally appropriate manner. That's really important, and if we would all just do that, the giant experiment that we are all taking part in on an involuntary basis might run a bit slower, or even grind to a halt. That would be a really good thing, and if you're interested in trying to move things in that direction here are a couple of resources. . .

reBlogged to environment

Posted by AnneBrygger Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:23:14

link to this

For me, getting greener has been a gradual process. It's not like one day I just decided to start conserving and stop polluting. It's happened over the last decade. Here are some of the things I consider to have been catalysts for it. . . .

reBlogged to environment

Posted by Gina Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:22:50

link to this

 

Blog Action Day and Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day are two for one subjects for my post today. Read on for Action and click on for bigger images and names of what’s in bloom (I don’t think the subjects are unrelated!)

Nearly 16,000 voices are speaking on blogs all over the world wide interweb today on the subject of the environment. The parameters are pretty broad - we’re asked to publish a post about the environment in any way that relates to our usual topic in order to begin a global conversation. There are so many relevant environmental issues to gardening - where to begin? Where to end?!. . .

reBlogged to environment on Oct 15, 2007, 2:39PM

Posted by Kris Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:21:46

link to this

Regular readers will recall my story a few weeks ago about Liz getting stung by a yellowjacket while walking in the garden, which led to the discovery of what was obviously a very large nest of these very territorial wasps in the ground right next to the path in question. I decided to just fence off that section of path rather than destroy the nest, since, though I have a somewhat prickly relationship over the years with yellowjackets, they are useful predators, and I never like to destroy any part of nature without some semblance of a good reason. . . .

reBlogged to beneficials

Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to beneficials on 2007-10-16, 06:21:15

link to this

Today is blog action day. It's a day for everyone to write about the environment. I've been thinking all week about what I should write about. There are so many issues that it would take more than one post. So I decided I would write about the little things we do around here and provide some links to some interesting sites. . . .

reBlogged to environment

Posted by Beverly Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:20:24

link to this

I was surprised to see this Cereus pernambucensis (grown from seed 2003) send out a bud.

The even more amazing thing is that it is just the top of the plant waiting for roots since ...

reBlogged to cacti

Posted by Jade Reblogged by Old Roses to cacti on 2007-10-16, 06:19:52

link to this

I'm happy to join thousands of other bloggers in writing about the environment today - it's never much of a stretch for gardenbloggers, anyway.  That's especially true if they routinely write about sustainability and that's what I'm doing today.  Because today is also Garden Blogger Bloom Day, let's look at how sustainable - or not - those October bloomers in the previous post really are. . . .

reBlogged to environment on Oct 15, 2007, 7:29AM

Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:19:25

link to this

Time is flying! 15th October and it is time for posting one’s blooms, courtesy Carol at Maydreamsgardens. Although October is a wonderful month considering the wonderful cool weather with sunshine at just the right intensity- the blooms in my garden aren’t much different from last month. So here goes my bloom list: Hedychium

reBlogged to flowers on Oct 11, 2007, 9:56AM

Posted by Green thumb Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-10-16, 06:18:57

link to this

A cursory glance reveals a very yellow season, bloom-wise.
The unusual blooms in the bottom photos are 'overflow paintings' from Open Studios, decorating our trellis. I was surprised by how many people asked if they are always there. (with infamous 'swamp sunflower' in foreground. That thing is a monster. 8 feet tall by 8 feet wide-- or so.) Click on any image to enlarge it. . . .

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by LisaBee Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-10-16, 06:18:33

link to this

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE FALL THINGS STILL IN BLOOM :



Little Lemon Goldenrod

Rhumba Mum

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Carolyn gail Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-10-16, 06:18:09

link to this

I posted a few days ago about some things I traded my garlic for. Here are a couple more:

My garlic got me a nice discount for some eggs and cheese. These came from Het Marlanner Kaashuis (Fries and Dutch languages). The cheese is handmade by the farmer there, and in my opinion is among the best tasting cheese I have ever had. It’s traditional Dutch/Fries style, sometimes called ‘Gouda’ by people outside of Holland. It’s made with milk from his own certified organic/bio-dynamic raised cows. It tastes so wonderful compared to commercial cheese, it’s made without any added color or other chemicals and the milk comes from well cared for cows. They sell many different kinds of cheeses, ranging from young to very mature, and many made with different herbs and spices. . . .

reBlogged to garlic on Oct 14, 2007, 3:24PM

Posted by Patrick Reblogged by Old Roses to garlic on 2007-10-16, 06:17:40

link to this

At last, my little espaliered apple tree has been plucked clean, and its fruits have all found their

reBlogged to fruit on Oct 14, 2007, 10:38PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to fruit on 2007-10-16, 06:17:01

link to this

Siberian irises are one of my favorite garden plants, and they hold a sentimental value as well. Growing up, we had an impressive stand of a deep purple variety that I believe was "Caesar's Brother" that old centurion of perennial gardens. For me, they were something out of the Japanese prints my father was partial to, and my mother mistakenly called them "Japanese iris", but I now know them by their proper name, Iris siberica. No self-respecting Japanese iris, Iris ensata, would have survived in the somewhat dry and partly shady garden near a garage and competing with tree roots. But the Siberian soldiered on and thrived through cold snow and frozen winters, droughty summers, and all the Midwest climate could throw at them. . . .

reBlogged to iris

Posted by Ilona Reblogged by Old Roses to iris on 2007-10-16, 06:16:44

link to this

Got a Bee in Your Bonnet?

No, but here’s one on a flower:

(Click to embiggen.)

reBlogged to beneficials on Oct 15, 2007, 11:12AM

Posted by Rahel Reblogged by Old Roses to beneficials on 2007-10-16, 06:16:23

link to this

Welcome to Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day at May Dreams Gardens.

This is the tenth month for bloom day which started way back on a cold, snowy February day. I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the different gardens from around the world as we've moved through late winter, spring, summer and now fall.

Thank you to everyone for making this a monthly tradition of the garden blogging community. . . .

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Carol Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-10-16, 06:16:03

link to this

My compost bins sit half-emptied, exactly as I left them yesterday. The bin on the right is the one I emptied first, and then I put the top layers of uncomposted material into that bin. Then I moved on to the center bin and started to shovel out and sift the compost in that bin.

As I was doing that, out of nowhere comes... a yellow jacket. Since I was stung earlier this fall by yellow jackets, I was a little concerned. But not enough concerned to stop what I was doing, because I was so happy about all the compost. . . .

reBlogged to compost

Posted by Carol Reblogged by Old Roses to compost on 2007-10-16, 06:15:41

link to this

Although I am not nearly as environmentally conscientious as many other bloggers I know, especially my Garden Rant colleagues, who water far less and plant far more native plants or organically-grown vegetables than I do, there is one area where I think I'm doing the right thing. . . .

reBlogged to environment

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:15:19

link to this

To be honest, seasonal decline is very evident on the GWI property, as I begin to get bulbs in and dread the leaf onslaught to come. However, I do have plenty of annuals still going strong and some nicely coloring shrubs, as follows:
Above is Forever Pink macrophylla , which gives a nice dusty rose color as it ages. . . .

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-10-16, 06:14:10

link to this

I had no idea these bloomed in fall, but then my horticultural knowledge isn’t what it could be. We had a lovely walk around Delaware Park Lake where we enjoyed this bright vista as well as the still-green foliage. . . .

reBlogged to weeds

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to weeds on 2007-10-16, 06:13:49

link to this

Gee, the 15th snuck up on me again so quickly. I only realized it was time for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day because I saw other people's posts so I quickly went out into the yard and took some photos in the early morning light. The light was great. Quite magical when it illuminated the flowers.

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Ki Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-10-16, 06:13:14

link to this

I've always been fond of Alliums, though over the years they haven't performed well for me. I'm not quite sure why, but they always seem to make a poor showing. When I planted my first Alliums -- 'Purple Sensation,' several years ago, only 3 of 10 ten bulbs made any kind of a showing. The following year, only 1 popped up, and then nothing. . . .

reBlogged to allium

Posted by Jessica Damiano Reblogged by Old Roses to allium on 2007-10-16, 06:12:52

link to this

I've made no secret about my penchant for mixing purple with orange in the garden. And in my wardrobe. And in my home. It's such a happy combination, so bright and bold. So when I spotted this collection on the cover of the new Colorblends catalog, I nearly ripped the pages in my excitement as I searched for the description page.

Colorblends is the wholesale-priced source for bulbs I promised to tell you about. When I asked Christian Curless, a horticulturist at the Bridgeport, Conn.-based distributor, for the specific names of the three varieties in this particular "blend," he told me that, well, he couldn't tell me. . . .

reBlogged to bulbs

Posted by Jessica Damiano Reblogged by Old Roses to bulbs on 2007-10-16, 06:12:24

link to this

Today many bloggers will be posting about the environment. I hope to read about some good ideas that I can work into my life...there is so much we can all do to help heal the earth. Reducing the amount of our personal contribution to the damage that is being done to the environment should be on everyone's mind. Ideas about cleaning products, garden chemicals, transportation, food choices and other daily activities that should be the result of thoughtful choices will hopefully abound today and I plan to check out as many as possible. . . .

reBlogged to environment

Posted by Leslie Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:12:04

link to this

reBlogged to environment

Posted by Colleen Vanderlinden (nospam@example.com) Reblogged by Old Roses to environment on 2007-10-16, 06:11:38

link to this

reBlogged to trees

Posted by Jane Berger Reblogged by Old Roses to trees on 2007-10-16, 06:11:30

link to this

Camellia sasanqua 'Cleopatra'



Angel's Trumpet

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Phillip Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-10-16, 06:11:12

link to this

I had a Thursday an Friday off, and spent them fishing in Canaveral National Seashore and at Flagler Pier. I had only fair success, but enough to eat red drum and bluefish all weekend...

I found time to plant carrots and beets, run to Volusia Shed for half a cubic yard of potting soil, and do a bunch of garden clean-up. The weather has been unseasonably warm an dry, which from a gardener's perspective is ideal October weather.

My plants are going crazy...

Broccoli Rabe & geraniums from last week are up. Still waiting on the cilantro, dill & celery.

reBlogged to vegetables

Posted by Central FLA Gardener Reblogged by Old Roses to vegetables on 2007-10-16, 06:10:43

link to this

Venus and Saturn were visible in the morning sky. This shot was taken at 6:30ish from the Blue Ridge Parkway somewhere between the Yadkin Valley Overlook and Raven Rock Overlook. . ..

reBlogged to weather on Oct 15, 2007, 10:39AM

Posted by Marie Freeman Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-10-16, 06:10:29

link to this

After covering this week's round of area autumn festivals I ventured down Railroad Grade Rd. in Ashe county. Up here, the New River is a winding, lazy water, and flows much like an old man in the morning--It takes it's own sweet time to get up and going. I did note the water level is way down. We are suffering a drought. There wasn't alot of color on the trees but I did round one bend and found a maple tree that was just being showy.

reBlogged to autumn on Oct 14, 2007, 10:14AM

Posted by Marie Freeman Reblogged by Old Roses to autumn on 2007-10-16, 06:10:03

link to this

Flowers of the Super Sized Elephant Ear Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant Strain'

Super Size Elephant Ear
Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant Strain'
(kol-oh-KAY-see-uh) (jy-GAN-tee-uh)
Araceae (a-RAY-see-ay)
Synonyms: Giant Taro

On Friday I had a few minutes in between appointments in Pound Ridge, New York so I decided to zip over the Connecticut State Line into Stamford and the Bartlett Arboretum. It is a nice little garden with a good collection of things. Sometimes when I go to gardens that I have been to many times I see something that really blows my mind and this plant was one of them. Too bad I didn’t get a picture of the whole plant but I only had the 60mm lens and I really couldn’t line up a good shot. . . .

reBlogged to plants on Oct 15, 2007, 5:56AM

Posted by Digital Flower Pictures Reblogged by Old Roses to plants on 2007-10-16, 06:09:34

link to this

The last rose of the year - Yellow Dream

And here is Voodoo's last blooms. I've never seen her get this tall! I think it was the new organic fertilizer that I used - "Peace of Mind.". . .

reBlogged to roses

Posted by Bev Reblogged by Old Roses to roses on 2007-10-16, 06:09:10

link to this

The Sycamore Tree growing in the Car park through the asphalt. I noticed there are four trunks growing up. They looked like the council have coppiced them, as in cutting the top layer off so they have grown up with long thin branches covered in leaves. You can see the Brewery wall and the sky contrasting to the Autumnal Leaves. . . .

reBlogged to autumn

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to autumn on 2007-10-16, 06:08:36

link to this

Foundation plantings have been getting a lot of negative publicity lately. Critics say that the cookie cutter appearance of yews clipped into neat little meatballs and boxes is uninspired...

reBlogged to design on Oct 14, 2007, 9:54PM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to design on 2007-10-16, 06:08:16

link to this