It seems every year around this time, bookstore shelves swell with gardening tomes. Most go back whence they came after I drain my latte cup. But a select few stand out. Here are my picks for books that should actually make it out of the store. Drink up!
Images are from garden tours last summer.
I do not have room in my yard for a large veggie garden. Hence, I do have B.V.G.E. (Big Veggie Garden Envy).
Tall, tall garlic:
Past the arches, many, many veggies growing:
I think there's enough to share with the neighbors (and then some) here. . .
The finches are letting me get closer and closer to the window with my camera. Do they tell each other that it's ok to trust someone or something, or how is it they all seem to start knowing it's safe?
The smartybum squirrel figured out that while he can't eat from the tube feeder, he can indeed shake it with his little hands, let the seed fall to the ground, climb down and pig out. Apparently. . .
Having a water garden is a great addition to any landscape. Water gardens are relatively easy and maintenance free.However, overtime they may develop a leak.There is nothing quite so frustrating as to see the level of your pond sinking much faster than normal evaporation.
Finding the leak is your first order of business.If you have a stream a...
reBlogged
to ponds
on May 21, 2008, 1:00AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to ponds on 2008-05-22, 07:01:17
I love to grow peonies. However, they do tend to flop over and this can ruin the spectacular blooms we wait for all year long. Peony cages are a great way to prevent the flop and keep the blooms looking great for a few weeks.
You can find these cages at most garden centers.The key is to get them on early before the peonies get t...
reBlogged
to peony tools
on May 21, 2008, 1:00AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to peony, tools on 2008-05-22, 07:01:09
Ouch! This Paul’s Himalayan Musk rose cane and a couple of others just like it have been topped by one of our local, and getting braver by the day, deer. The picture is on the fuzzy side but look at those thorns for goodness sake! They are huge and red to boot. [...]
reBlogged
to pests roses
on May 21, 2008, 8:45PM
Posted by kerry Reblogged by Old Roses to pests, roses on 2008-05-22, 06:53:00
To attract and build a population of these industrious native bees in your garden you need two basic elements: flowers to pollinate and nests to dwell in.
reBlogged
to beneficials
on May 21, 2008, 2:00AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to beneficials on 2008-05-22, 06:52:07
If you let the rain keep you home on Sunday afternoon, you made a big mistake. Big. Huge. The Shepherd Park Garden Tour started off with a misty drizzle. Then it poured for a bit. Then it cleared and the sun shone bright for the final hour. For all of it, the hardy garden tour souls were treated to a variety of fascinating gardens. From the green rooftop of the Eastern Village Co-Housing complex to manicured landscapes designed by pros to lush shade gardens painstakingly labored over by the amateur gardener homeowners. . . .
That sums up my goals lately. When there are the few sunny, dry days I try to mow down the lushly grown grass, grub out the lusty weeds, make places for the new plantings and soak my tired bones at the end of the day. But then the rains come....and come....
reBlogged
to weather gardening
Posted by Ilona Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening, weather on 2008-05-22, 06:51:05
Lilacs, you either love them or despise them. Those who hold them in little regard usually complain about their dull leaves, lack of season interest, and short bloom while taking big space. Ah, but those that love them speak but one word with that glassy-eyed expression of infatuation: fragrance. . .
reBlogged
to lilac
Posted by Ilona Reblogged by Old Roses to lilac on 2008-05-22, 06:50:42
After loosing my camera on my last traveling experience, I have been hesitant to take it with me on flying trips. Lately I have had to do a lot of flying which means no camera, but I should have my nerve up soon!
Yesterday I heard from a lady in Texas about some bulbs that have been in her family for several generations. We hear many of stories and I thought I would share this one with you. . .
reBlogged
to iris
Posted by Bulb Hunter Reblogged by Old Roses to iris on 2008-05-22, 06:50:19
I love this time of year! I don't feel totally depressed every time go out to the garden. The butterfly garden is looking pretty decent right now. The only flaw (and isn't there always one?) is the empty trellis where the passion vine just isn't taking off. . . .
Howard Dill set a gardening record that hasn’t been beat to this day. Back in the 80’s he won the world champion pumpkin growing contest 4 times in a row. And he bred ‘Atlantic Giant’ the first of the really big pumpkins and one that is still commercially available today. Some would say that he created the entire large pumpkin growing craze. . . .
reBlogged
to gardeners pumpkins
on May 21, 2008, 7:21PM
Posted by Doug Reblogged by Old Roses to gardeners, pumpkins on 2008-05-22, 06:48:31
I got 12 tomato poles up and 5 of 24 tomato plants planted! I also laid the plastic film on the tomato bed at my community plot. I hope to get all my tomato plants in the ground tomorrow, along with my cukes and squashes.
I'm glad to be able to use my Flickr photo site again. Photos say much more than words.
reBlogged
to weather
Posted by kathy Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-05-22, 06:48:05
Even though I am extremly tired today I made it outside this evening to water the plants and do some repotting with a few plants. I'm trying to upgrade a few plants to
bigger pots and it is easier to undertake a few a night, or throughout the week. . . .
reBlogged
to flowers
on May 21, 2008, 11:25PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2008-05-22, 06:47:35
#1. It's my dear husband's 60th birthday, which is enough in itself a cause for celebration,
but then there's......
#2. He has finally, after many long, tiring days, finished planting 60 acres of field corn. Phew!
Plowing was started on April 15th. Then came rock picking...a job no one in their right mind likes. Before the corn planting began 8 days ago, he planted 10 acres of oats and new seeding (grass for hay).
reBlogged
to planting
Posted by Kerri Reblogged by Old Roses to planting on 2008-05-22, 06:45:57
Finally, a beautiful day. I did not need a jacket although it was still quite breezy. I escaped the office and went around campus location scouting. The Rhodos are almost at their peak and when students begin returning next week, I intend to hijack several of them to work into my Rhodo/campas images. The motto around our office is: "Buildings without bodies look lonely."
reBlogged
to rhododendron
on May 21, 2008, 10:25PM
via THE VILLAGE VOICE on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
Propagating your own plants was never easier! Here are a few warm weather plants that will root from cuttings stuck directly in the ground. . .
