Well what were we thinking? That glyphosate (sold as Roundup) would keep on killing weeds forever? Nope - we now have glyphosate-resistant weeds in 20 states (they don’t mention Canada in this but…)
The weed folks say we have to stop using glyphosate regularly and mix up the herbicides being used so weeds can’t develop genetic resistance. Too bad - too late - horse out of barn alert here. . ..
reBlogged
to weeds
on May 28, 2008, 2:35AM
Posted by Doug Reblogged by Old Roses to weeds on 2008-05-29, 06:32:28
Does this look to you like THE classic pansy? I've been learning a lot about pansies while trying to track down the origin of this seed mix. These came from Select Seeds and they call them Viola x williamsiana 'Historic Florist Mix'. The catalog description says "These sprightly smaller pansies with expressive whiskery faces and a light sweet fragrance are just what you are looking for if the six pack specials of huge floppy sort just don't tickle your fancy. Called tufted pansies way back in the 1800's."
I agree completely with the first sentence, but I'm not sure about the second, nor the name. . ..
reBlogged
to pansy
Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to pansy on 2008-05-29, 06:31:51
This cool shot of a ladybug hanging out with dew drops is from the AP.
Coccinella septempunctata, or ladybird beetles, are one of the few insects that aren't considered creepy by most people, kids included. Maybe fireflies, too, but that's it. Somehow, most people wouldn't think twice about squishing a spider in their home, but they'll gently carry a lady beetle outdoors to safety. Maybe it's because they're cute. They don't bite or sting, but neither do cicadas and they gross out a lot of people. . .
I've selected this week's plant of the week because everyone seems to be talking about it today. It must have appeared on a morning television talk show because Google is having a field day with it. I have to tell you, though, I didn't select it because of any great experience I had with it. In fact, just the opposite. . .
reBlogged
to fruit
Posted by Jessica Damiano Reblogged by Old Roses to fruit on 2008-05-29, 06:29:09
Choose the sunniest spot in the yard and incorporate compost or well-rotted manure into the soil.
Apply mulch after planting to keep the soil warm, inhibit weeds and retain water. Throughout the season, water thoroughly in the early morning hours. Hand watering is preferable to using automated sprinklers because it conserves water, minimizes leaf diseases and concentrates water where you want it (not where weed seeds are waiting to germinate).
I was blog-visitng over at My Wildlife Sanctuary and enjoyed how the writer described her daily photo walk in her garden. Thus inspired, I waited for a break in the rain (I think we're about 16 or so inches ahead of normal so far this year with total rainfall usually averaging only 46 inches!) to go out for a photo stroll in the yarden. These are some veggie garden snapshots:
Above, the Blue Lake bush beans are just at the stage the rabbits like them. (Got to get that little rabbit fencing up for them...). . .
Dreams and Bones was three years old on Sunday. I like to acknowledge these things because I believe there is way too little celebration in the world.
I think back on the lifespan of garden blogs. I miss Judith and Liz. Their blogs were beacons for me. But each month there are new bloggers out there with fresh insights and energy. My own commitment to the practice has flagged this past year. I am afraid it is what it is.
But for what it is worth, I am back in the saddle and ready to engage another full season. For those of you who have been "lurking," please leave a comment so I can find my way to YOU.
reBlogged
to blogs
Posted by Leslie Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2008-05-29, 06:27:03
In a funny conincidence, I am sitting at my computer and looking out the window at a volunteer flower. It is a sunflower. I cannot imagine how it got here. I planted sunflowers two years ago in my back garden, which is quite a distance from where this plant is. Nonetheless, I will enjoy watching it from my window on a hillside which is mostly shrubs and trees.
There's no global warming in Chicago this year. On Memorial Day we had a very nice summery day of 80 degrees and everyone was able to be outside and enjoy their BBQ's.
Come Tuesday the temps plunged into the 40's. I was freezing my arse but didn't cancel the landscaping job I had scheduled.
Wish some of you folks down South would blow some of that sunshine up here.
reBlogged
to weather
Posted by Carolyn gail Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-05-29, 06:26:15
Anyone recognize this orange mystery plant? It must have seeded and grew on it's own. I thought it might be butterfly weed, but it looks a bit different. . . .
reBlogged
to flowers
Posted by Lisa Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2008-05-29, 06:26:07
The guys wasted no time finding a replacement fountain vase among old Christmas decorations in the barn. Although it’s a perfect fit and we’re all impressed with their quick thinking and ingenuity, it’s not perfect and we’re still madly hoping to get Blithewold’s beautiful original back. It’s sad to think that even if the urn is recovered we might have to keep it under lock and key and find a permanent ersatz solution for our visitors to enjoy outdoors. In my bleaker moments I can imagine a time when all of our valuable objects are hidden away for “safe keeping” and facsimiles are put in their place. Will our experience be diminished or will the fakes become as precious to us as the originals. . .
reBlogged
to botanical_garden
on May 28, 2008, 2:31PM
Posted by Kris Reblogged by Old Roses to botanical_garden on 2008-05-29, 06:25:46
Gardener's Note: Spring flowering Bergenia has large handsome leaves and clusters of delicate flowers ranging from deep purplish pink to pale pink and occasionally white. Grown for their 'sawtoothed' edges as well as blossoms that remain attractive even after the flowers fade, bergenia thrives in full sun or partial shade. Useful as a slow spreading border plant, the huge cabbage-like foliage remains green throughout the year in southern regions and turns a handsome bronze in the fall in cold areas ~ a strong contrast for spring bulbs, ferns and wildflowers.
reBlogged
to bergenia
Posted by joey Reblogged by Old Roses to bergenia on 2008-05-29, 06:25:24
If there is a signature plant for our garden, it is the large yellow lady's slipper orchid, Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens. Over the years, and through a couple of gardens, it has been steadily multiplying, so that we now have about 35 stalks. Planted shallowly in loose, duffy soil, it has been carefree and beautiful. . .
reBlogged
to wildflowers
Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to wildflowers on 2008-05-29, 06:24:38
Debunking the myth once again, my fish survived another winter in my shallow pond (18" deep). So long as the pump runs all winter and keeps the water circulating, the fish survive. Ditto for my mother's pond, which is the same depth and host to a dozen big, old fish.
However, my fish tend to zip around the pond all day as if joined at the hip. Perhaps the cold weather fused them together!. . .
reBlogged
to ponds birds whimsy cats
on May 28, 2008, 7:24PM
Realization of the Day: I forgot to have strawberries for breakfast.
Can you believe it? These gorgeous beauties were out in the garden, hanging by their stems and just waiting to be devoured, yet somehow they completely slipped my mind. I had a whole wheat tortilla with peanut butter and - get this - storebought strawberry jam instead. It's embarrassing, really. At least the jam was organic - and I remembered about the strawberries in time for a sweet and juicy mid-morning snack. . ..
Imagine that you are an innocent little hummingbird (see him just below?), and that you are zipping about on a Tuesday morning, hovering over a field of tall, nectar-rich alliums, mostly minding your own business . . . when you come upon a scene like the one above. Would you be confused? I think I would be.
reBlogged
to flowers gardeners whimsy birds
on May 28, 2008, 2:11PM
I have these euphorbias (E. amygdaloides) in my front garden bed that get crippled by aphids every spring. Despite their aphid problem, they're quite lovely, which is why I've kept them this long. (I'm not sure what variety of euphorbia they are; they are the developer's last remaining contribution of my garden.) For the last two springs, I've used a homemade pest spray to deal with them. This year, I don't have time to be vigilant with the spray bottle, so I decided to buy some ladybugs. . ..
reBlogged
to beneficials
on May 28, 2008, 9:00PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to beneficials on 2008-05-29, 06:04:51
I yanked out a bunch of oyster plants, then planted my new peach tree. Then, I planted a bunch of seeds and was too lazy to make out plant markers. Great...now I don't know if these are little oyster plants or seeds I spread out. If they are oyster seedlings, I don't know what I'll do. I really don't like them because they're messy and will interfere with my little flowers I planted under the new peach tree.
reBlogged
to plants trees
Posted by ldybug Reblogged by Old Roses to plants, trees on 2008-05-29, 06:04:14
We're having a really slow, wet spring this year in Portland. This evening it's raining lightly and 60 degrees out. We're in the strange (but beautiful) place of having rhodies blooming along with roses, poppies, foxglove, lilacs and the tail end of some earlier spring bulbs. Of course in my yard many of those are obscured by the GRASS that has decided to grow everywhere. (everywhere!)
I am ready for the sun.
more photos soon -- I have been out of town a lot this month, which perhaps made it a poor one to start flinging around "once a week blogging" promises.
reBlogged
to flowers
Posted by Jen Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2008-05-29, 06:02:59
I'm all for a good boycott and I really want to shop at smaller privately owned businesses. I get it. But the big box stores make it very difficult and I don't feel like the little guys are doing all they can to get my business.
Case in point, plants from Home Depot (or Lowes) versus plants from J&P. Last summer I purchased 26 Simplicity Hedge Roses from J&P and was very pleased with them. They arrived in good condition, and all 26 bloomed profusely all summer long. See below.
reBlogged
to nursery roses
Posted by Gina Reblogged by Old Roses to nursery, roses on 2008-05-29, 05:58:11
Update 2008.05.28: Many thanks to John Ascher for the id!
While spending most of the weekend gardening, I discovered that the garden is home to a small colony of mining cellophane bees. At first I thought they Andrenidae, mining bees, based on...
Apparently we had an influx of visitors over the last couple of days, and Elements In Time exceeded it’s bandwidth! Sorry, for those of you who tried to visit and couldn’t get here. A big thanks to Chile for pointing out the problem!!
And welcome, all you new visitors!. . .
reBlogged
to blogs
on May 28, 2008, 6:37PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2008-05-29, 05:53:00
via ToyTrains1's Garden Journal on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
There are a couple of reasons why it's best to water plants at the base, around the soil and roots rather than from the top.. . .
