Tidewater Garden Goddess

Slacker...

2011-05-11T16:13:00.000-04:00

Spring has come despite my not paying much attention. Ebb and flow, tide in tide out, life goes on. Admittedly, my energy has been low for blogging and gardening. I suppose for everything there is a season!

Today with camera in hand I took a walk to see what has sprung...

These crazy pink and yellow moths are back looking like something out of a cartoon.

The wisteria is at the end of its peak, this bee didn't seem to mind. Once the bloom stops, it is slated for a BIG haircut....it is just a little tooooo happy and will soon overtake the back of the house.

My roses just couldn't be happier...I wish the picture did them justice.

We have had a few tomatoes on a hanging yellow cherry tomato in a hanging basket...this one in the ground is doing its thing too.

The carrots have sprouted...

The radishes are popping their red shoulders above the soil line...

Romaine should be good for a salad within the week.

The figs are set on a flourishing fig tree....

Wild honeysuckle is heavily scenting the air by the woods... despite my lack of attention, all is well.

Celebrating Spring!

2011-03-21T20:24:00.000-04:00

The rabbit is getting the best of me...and the broccoli and the kohlrabi..so I will turn my attention to floral pursuits and more signs of spring..

The Bleeding Heart is one of my all time favorites, and I swear it wasn't there yesterday!

Six or seven little groups of violets popping up in the lawn....there is something so pure about violets.

The pansies are thriving in a warm sun...

The purple is down right velvety, I can't stop looking at it.

Next week this patch will be in bloom.

A now for a true sign of spring...horse babies!!

A brand new colt.

Funny little blue eyed guy.

Tuckered out, sleeping at Mama's feet.

Now back to the rascally rabbits...open to suggestion as to how to stay chemical free and REPEL rabbits at the same time.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day March 2011

2011-03-16T16:42:00.000-04:00

A little of this and a little of that blooming in the garden... so a post for Garden Blogger's Bloom Day!

Please don't speak of the rabbit....and the (formerly planted broccoli)...it is too much to bear!

GGGGGRRRRabbit!

2011-03-14T19:54:00.012-04:00

Is it just me, or would you be exasperated to see that some critter has chomped your newly planted broccoli?

Is this rabbit some kind of weirdo to leave the little pile of overwintered carrots immediately adjacent to the broccoli, untouched??

For now I will just breathe...and focus on pansies until my rabbit anger dies down!

Early March Sunday

2011-03-06T15:26:00.000-05:00

The peas that I planted on February 12 have been up for almost a week now!
I can't think of anything more exciting!!

The beach Rosemary has exploded into soft purply blue blooms...I saw the first big bumble type bee going flower to flower...he scooted by the time I got the camera.

To the peas I added some more broccoli. a line of arugula, and some spinach seeds. Spring planting is in full swing!

The water was the most beautiful green today....and more signs of spring- Awful Arthur's reopened for the season and my honey and I had to go in and enjoy a $5.99 flounder basket.
Life is good!

Broccoli In!

2011-03-02T16:49:00.000-05:00

Warm enough to plunk some broccoli and lettuce in the ground.

Signs of changing seasons are all around.

Leeks, I'll save the tedium of teasing them apart for tomorrow.

Happy dogs glad to have us back in the yard....

Lenten Rose

2011-02-28T10:50:00.001-05:00

Daffodils and Cow Bumps

2011-02-27T16:23:00.001-05:00

The daffodils have been opened for two days,...sigh of relief that spring actually is coming.

In the field down the way, cow bumps are popping up all over. Takes them a day of so to get with the herd action. So much fun to watch them romp and play!

Spring Skies and Frisky Horses

2011-02-26T20:17:00.008-05:00

The sky was downright creepy tonight...but errands must be done.

Crazy weather-warm one day freezing the next.

The baby horses have the windy spring spirit in them.

Little Yellow Flowers

2011-02-21T09:05:00.000-05:00

The first crocus opened over the weekend in the beach garden...cheery and yellow.

Overwintered pansies...cool coloring. That's all for President's Day!

Snow Moon

2011-02-18T22:08:00.000-05:00

Did you see the moonrise tonight?? Holy Cow! It was beautiful.

The full moon in February is the "snow moon."

I think it's kind of cool that way back in history the people of different cultures have given the full moon specific names to mark time and season.

Since the heaviest snow usually falls during the month of February, Native American tribes of the north and east most often called this month’s full moon the Full Snow Moon. It's also been called...

the Full Hunger Moon or Little Famine Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult
the Celts called it the Moon of Ice
the Chinese named it the Budding Moon in anticipation of spring.

Speaking of spring...luckily the "snow moon" actually brought a serious spring flirtation with temps hovering around seventy degrees today. Tonight I heard the first spring peepers...so as folklore has it there will be three more freezes before spring is here to stay.

Sunday Misc.

2011-02-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

You're probably thinking- "Jeez what's up with all the gazebos pictures....always with the gazebo!"
I marvel at this little Kitty Hawk Bay with as many moods as a teenager. This morning- placid. Smooth as glass. So more non-gardeny gazebo pictures.

Back to signs of spring...
1. dos dientes de león Surely this is a good sign!

2. Two clumps of daffodils appeared nearly overnight!

3. Daytona
4. Spring Training
5. No more football on TV

In other news, my kids always tease me about driving around with my camera at the ready...and today I was richly rewarded for absorbing their kidding. Behind the Walmart, where a large man made retention pond is situated, a gorgeous Bald Eagle was perched high up in a dead tree.

Since my camera was at the ready, I pulled to the side, flipped on my blinkers and watched as he regally surveyed the area for a tasty morsel.

How cool is that!

How Early is Early?

2011-02-12T19:06:00.000-05:00

On a day when I was able to find a bedraggled snowman remnant soundside, I read the instructions on the Burpee website, encouraging pea planting as soon as the ground can be worked!

So, I found my soil workable in a protected sunny warm location and planted my Dark Seeded Early Perfection Peas. Drought resistant, prolific and early...begging the question- How early is early?
I guess I will find out!

Yesterday I Planted Pansies....

2011-02-10T10:42:00.000-05:00

...today not so much.

Spring is coming...the Groundhog said so!!

Finally Some Good News!!!

2011-02-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

Punxsutawney Phil emerged at about dawn and his handlers announced the famed groundhog didn't see his shadow, signaling an early spring!! YIPPEE!!

First Garden Work Day!

2011-01-30T18:02:00.000-05:00

The day dawned with a foggy orangey sky, with this guy furiously tapping all over the trees in the yard.

No rain or snow and temps near 50...made for a good day to wash the salt and yuck off the truck. Lot's of people had the same idea as the car wash did a brisk business.

I was already feeling really "springy" after picking up these primrose at Produce Junction in South Jersey, yesterday. They are sunshine and springtime in the center of the table.

My original plan was to spend the day with some quilting and garden planning in front of the fireplace....but the dogs running around with my son in the yard, made me venture outside and see what was going on in the garden. I actually found some carrots, not mushy still hanging on out there...I let them be for now.

My little furry companion was very interested in my poking around.

Kind of a cook fungus thing had attached itself to the side of the garden box.

Lot's and LOTS of holes from aforementioned furry companion...who is not happy to let the voles be.

Will need a couple yards of dirt to fill all her handiwork!

It's a good thing she's cute!

Inspired...I bagged 4 waste bags full of fall and winter "stuff." Began to scope out the garden rotation. Happy to see the perennials that I didn't get to in the fall all have evidence of "life."

The forecast for Wednesday is downright balmy! Must repeat my mantra..."It's too early to start seeds!"

Snowdrops Brighten a Foggy Day!

2011-01-26T19:45:00.000-05:00

It was a drippy, foggy, gloomy morning...but made for a few cool pictures..

Visibility was poor, in some spots near zero, so much so that I drove past my turn in Wanchese on the way to a quilting day with friends, though I have been there many times.

I saw a little clump of spring green when I made a dash in to the convenience store....

I had a happy day of sewing and laughing with friends before packing up my machine. As I started out towards home...my eyes zeroed in on....
...a joyful little clump of snowdrops blooming in Wanchese!!!!

And when I thought is was a fluke...I saw ANOTHER clump on Bay Drive in KDH....my spirits lifted, Spring can't be too far away!

TGG Finds Signs of Spring

2011-01-25T19:54:00.000-05:00

On a dreary, overcast, damp day...I found some signs of Spring.

This Robin and it's friends were not photo friendly, but I got lucky and snapped this one trying to hide out in the tree. After I passed, he jumped back to the ground and was pecking in the grass.

Lawn chair cushions in Walmart....look springy to me!

Last but certainly not least...SEEDS!!! Looking for Cut n Come Again Zinnias...none here, but GoddessSupport picked up the beginnings of a nice herb garden.

Winter Greetings

2011-01-24T08:44:00.000-05:00

Winter greetings are about all I got! It's really cold!

A good bonfire fed by miscellaneous fallen brush collected around the yard.

My fig is showing signs of life.

Underneath pine straw and such, the strawberries are waiting for the warm up.

Lemon balm doesn't care it's winter....a quick rub and my hands were summer lemony!

Pods of okra left to age, look kind of cool I think.

For now I will just keep warm by the fire.

Dare County Master Gardeners Upcoming Events

2011-01-17T20:37:00.000-05:00

Drought Tolerant Plants
Once established, many plants do not require a lot of water to survive and need little maintenance. Come learn about these plants. Admission is free!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 · 11:00am - 12:00pm

Challenge of Gardening on the Outer Banks

Learn how to garden on the Outer Banks!

Wednesday January 26th, 2011 11:00 AM- 12:00 pm

Event Location

Kill Devil Hills Library

400 Mustian Street

Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

Contact: Susan Ruiz-Evans at (252) 473-4290

Wild Turkeys

2011-01-16T18:54:00.000-05:00

Driving down 158 in Currituck I noticed this large flock of wild turkeys. They were actually quite hysterical, running furtively all over the field. Seems funny that Ben Franklin thought this would be a good national symbol!

The idea that Benjamin Franklin preferred the turkey as the national bird of the United States comes from a letter he wrote to his daughter Sarah Bache on January 26, 1784, criticizing the choice of the Bald Eagle as the national bird and suggesting that a turkey would have made a better alternative.

“ For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country...
I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For in Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.” (Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, January 26, 1784.Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.)

In an early example of Congressional gridlock, it apparently took Congress six years to choose the eagle as the emblem of the newly formed country. It is not apparent that he ever officially advocated the use of the turkey as a national emblem.

The garden is kind of cold and quite.. still I found the Sedum sort of pretty.

The rose is hanging on despite frost damage...

A few rose hips on that bush....

That's it...for a cold southern Sunday.

Zero Gardening!

2011-01-15T16:57:00.000-05:00

Much too cold and frozen for any sort of garden activity, so we took a ride to the Mackay Wildlife Refuge which sort of straddles the Virginia and North Carolina border.

Mackay Island is found in the northern portion of Currituck Sound and the southern portion of Back Bay on a peninsula/island which juts into the Sound. The habitat ranges from freshwater and brackish marsh to upland and lowland eastern pine hardwood forest.

Concentrations of snow and Canada geese, ducks, osprey and other raptors, wading birds, and shorebirds. An active wood duck breeding population are present, along with one active bald eagle nest and many osprey nests.

Endangered and threatened species include: peregrine falcons and American bald eagles (active nesting pair).

From this location there was a cacaphony of snow geese honking in the distance.

We found a flock of Ibis...mixed bag of mature and immature.

I think they are sort of amusing looking....

Still as a stone, the Blue Heron.

Why stand on one foot?

Why stand on one foot in a tree????

New nest? Maybe a sign of spring or my wishful thinking?

The pines are majestic.

The Kingfisher was a hoot...

He dove several times into the pond. We could see small bugs and such moving in the unfrozen areas...Cold bug snack? YUM!

Thin ice throughout the refuge...

Bought a gardening magazine on the way back...will dream gardeny dreams while I park in front of the TV for football.

Chesapeake Backyard Gardeners

2011-01-14T17:08:00.018-05:00

TheBackyard Gardeners of Chesapeake have their monthly "Garden Talk" series from 7 pm-8:30 pm on the following dates:
Tuesday January 18

"Vegetable Gardening 101"

Gill Gillespie, Norfolk Master Gardeners

February 15

"Day Tripping: Gardens of Interest"

The Backyard Gardeners

March 15

"Effective Landscaping with

Trees and Shrubs"

Doug Spencer, Lowe's and Virginia Beach Master Gardeners

The talks are held at the Chesapeake Central Library -298 Cedar Road.
Find thier Winter Newsletter here: TBG Winter 2011

A Year in Review

2010-12-31T09:50:00.000-05:00

January ice....

More February snow...I was ready to garden!

Finally...March planting

April...

May...a modest harvest

June...the last month before the garden turns to JUNGLELAND!

July...

August...Lantana never stops.

September...fall color starts.

October...figs a plenty!

November...still had a few beach days, denying winter will come!

December...record snow.

A satisfying year....now dreaming up the plan for next year!

Christmas Snow!

2010-12-27T09:56:00.000-05:00

Snow is not very common in this region and when it does snow, it is often alot of hype for accumulation that would have the kids still going to school in the North. BUT this time it was different. Predictions grew from 3 to 5 to 6 to 7 and more...funny how weather forecasting works.

The snow started at 9PM Christmas night, and at 11PM on December 26 it was still snowing lightly. My last measurement before bed was 14 7/8 inches by my trusty quilting ruler. The third largest snowfall in this area.

The birds were nuts at the feeders....we refilled three times during the day. Guess we were the only show in town.

It was the kind of snow that stuck to everything....even my husband's eyelashes :)

Morning glory vine and seed....

A day to laze around and dream of warmer hammock laying days...and things to plant in the garden.

Walkin In a Winter Wonderland

2010-12-13T12:23:00.000-05:00

As a former Philadelphean, I laugh at myself getting so excited over this inconsequential yet newsworthy southern snowfall today. It's the first time on the past five years that I can recall 2 "snowfalls" in December. Who knows what it all means for the rest of the winter.

Not excited about the predicted 44mph wind gusts for tonight!

Sad snapdragons....

Buddha ponders the snow in stillness...

A study in contrasts...red berries, green leaves, white snow...so pretty....

Swiss chard stands up boldly to the snow and cold...

Too Cold For Me!

2010-12-08T08:08:00.000-05:00

Rumor of my gardening-blog demise greatly exaggerated! I suppose it boils down to ...."to everything there is a season!"

This morning, the coldest so far of this season, and by far colder than what is normally experienced this time of year... Exactly why I moved South...to get away from FREEZING in favor of a more temperate climate.

Just a few short days ago (three to be exact) I had these remnants of summer-hangers on in my garden.

There should be some prize for zinnia's in December.

Even the yellow pear tomatoes were still doing their thing in a protected southern exposure.

But then again, the birds in Pea Island loudly proclaimed with their presence, "Summer (and Fall) are over you goof!"

The upside...the White Pelicans are back!

Sigh...I sure enjoyed what was likely the last bloom on the rose til warmer temps return.

The Day Before Earl

2010-09-01T11:35:00.000-04:00

So beautiful this morning, the calm before the storm.

Fisherman landing kings and blues...

A huge group of dolphins were visible halfway to the horizon...

Pelicans flying to and fro...

A view north toward Kitty Hawk...

A view south towards Nags Head...

Watching and waiting....hurricane warnings just posted.

Non-Gardeny But Way Cool

2010-08-29T19:33:00.000-04:00

The pictures were taken at the Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills around 445Pm. I stopped at the pier to check out the rip current and wave situation, given that it was coming on low tide. I noticed the yellow rod bent over and some commotion on the end of the pier.

According to a NOAA "Fish Fact Sheet:"
Black tip sharks are one of the most common shark species found inshore off the coast of Florida. Although the majority of shark bites in Florida are likely attributable to this species, there has never been a fatal attack credited to this species in this region.

Scientific name: Carcharhinus limbatus

Distribution: Off the east coast of the United States black tip sharks range from New England to Mexico but are most commonly found between North Carolina and Texas, especially in spring and summer.

Habitat: This shark inhabits shallow coastal waters and estuaries and offshore surface waters. Black tip sharks use shallow inshore waters from South Carolina to Texas as nursery areas for their pups in spring and summer. They can be found in groups as young or adults feeding in shallow water.

Life history: This species is a relatively fast growing shark, reaching maturity at about 4-5 years of age and living longer than 10 years. Number of pups per litter is usually 4 to 6. Maximum size of black tips off the U.S. eastern seaboard is about 6 feet in length

Management: In the Atlantic, black tip sharks are part of the large coastal shark management group, which is overfished; commercial and recreational fishing regulations are in place for this species.

Zipper vs Cicada

2010-08-24T18:48:00.002-04:00

Spider wins!

Morning Walk

2010-08-20T08:49:00.000-04:00

Being virtuous and taking a morning walk on Bay Drive this morning, decided to take my camera along for some pix of mid-August flora along Kitty Hawk Bay.

I frequently drive past this sunflower patch, now past peak, but cheery in determination to live.

The sun rising cast a beautiful light on the clouds and water...

The Live Oaks are beautiful...

Not sure what this is...but something must eat those fruits...

This annoying weed makes a pretty flower, but is killer with thorns and tough to eradicate in a garden bed.

Mimosa full of pods....

Trumpet vine with pods...

This garden mess in front of my house....I love the orange and blue. The Rosemary is insane. I have learned to appreciate its messiness and sprawling...the butterflies don't seem to mind.

Dog Day Thunderstorm

2010-08-18T20:40:00.000-04:00

Hazy, hot and humid, spell afternoon and evening thunderstorms and an opportunity to take some sky pictures...

This cloud was rolling across the sound...

Nags Head Fishing Pier...

Hopefully the rain will revive the parched gardens...

Giant Swallowtail...

2010-08-13T11:30:00.000-04:00

...munching on Lantana on a hot summer day.

So graceful in flight, a single wingbeat taking it from flower to flower.

Close to 6 inch wingspan.

Supporting the Monarch Population!

2010-07-20T09:31:00.000-04:00

Poking around in the garden a bit ago and I came upon a monarch caterpillar bonanza munching away on the Butterfly Weed!

I suppose it doesn't make much sense to be so pissed at the hornworms and at the same time so excited about the Monarchs.

But I am.

I counted 7 caterpillars in varying sizes.

Elsewhere...the Hibiscus is chugging along in spite of the Japanese beetles...

I caught sight of this fly resting on the okra. I haven't seen it before but admired it's spirit- though badly tattered flying flower to flower.

SOMETHING DASTARDLY ATE MY CANTALOUPE!!!

Summer Boomer

2010-07-14T21:53:00.000-04:00

Hooray for much needed rain!

Buggy Things

2010-07-13T20:55:00.000-04:00

There were lots of creepy crawlers in the garden today. The Assassin bug that's the size of a 50 cent piece is still on patrol on the porch. The color in this picture does this moth no justice...it was the color of Campbell's tomato soup...

This fierce looking spider had built its nest in the lawn...I walked wide around it in case it had it's eye on me!

Then I got TOTALLY creeped out...look at the top of this trashcan....WHERE IS THE SNAKE THAT LEFT IT"S SKIN ON MY CAN!?!?!?!?!? Ew ew ew ew ew. I hate that it was probably watching me...and I will not be touching that can!!!

Is it wrong of me to be sort of gleeful that this rotten hornworm is infested with parasitic wasp larvae...is this some sort of karma, I wonder??

Is this not the most incredible shade of blue...Agapanthas, Lily of the Nile...

Look my Edamame worked!!

This isn't the best hummer picture by far, but what was cool was that this little guy was less than 3 feet from me as he sat down on the leaf and just looked at me...of course, I didn't have my camera then. I went in and came back out with it, and waited...he returned but was a little more skittish.

Nothing to say about this...I just like it.

It's Not Officially the "Dog Days" of Summer Yet....

2010-07-12T20:16:00.000-04:00

...but you wouldn't know it from looking at the garden. Some spots have that August look already in July...too much heat, not enough rain I suppose.
But some things are looking good...the Butterfly Bush has lots of visitors- bees, moths, perched dragonflies and a wide assortment of butterflies.

The acorn squash is coming along...

Okra is standing at attention!

Toothy grin looking at me while I watered...

He moved around as I did...his faceted wings caught shimmering light...

Thitonia loves the hot...

Volunteer morning glory reaching for the sun...last year the plant was blue...the seeds it dropped made this color...hmmm.

Couldn't miss the Zipper...

Storms and a Few Flowers at the End of June

2010-06-30T20:35:00.000-04:00

Big storms rolled through the area yesterday bringing much needed rain after a prolonged period of dry. I was really happy, as I have always felt that no amount of hosing will ever replace good ole Ma Nature letting loose a deluge on the garden.

The clouds were cool....

The lightening bolts striking into the ocean, angrily breaking the heat wave we have been sweltering under.

Meanwhile, the flowers are doing the end of June things...the Black & Blue Salvia is waiting for the hummers....

The Hibiscus is outrageous, despite the Japanese Beetles having a feast on the leaves...

The riot area of the garden...disorderly, floppy, blooming every which way....I love it....

Tomorrow is July 1...how the heck did that happen...

Saturday Miscellaneous

2010-06-26T20:01:00.000-04:00

A cherished lazy Saturday in the middle of many comings and goings. Happy to have GoddessSupport back from too much travel...packing our son off for a week away next week. Little in the way of gardening after a week of brutal heat and alot of work on big projects.

This tomato in a pot on the deck is a winner...an orange cherry, it has the best flavor, and the moment it's ripe, I pick and eat it! Not one has made it into the house.

We spent the day on the beach and what a terrific day it was...rolling waves perfect for just laying on a boogie board and the water temperature was an unbelievable 81!! The osprey were fishing and surely jealous of the kid who landed a good sized cobia off the pier.

We were lazy floaters.....loving life....

We returned home to a great dinner of grilled grouper. And this is what I did with my patty pan squash...bacon, onion, garlic, scooped out squash, Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, s&p sauteed and stuffed, put there little hats back on...baked ~30 minutes...they were great! They have a sweet kind of nutty flavor. I would make them that way again... I think sliced think in a casserole with cheddar cheese and bread crumbs would work well also... So success there...glad there will be more! (And Arizona Garden Goddess will be so proud that I got GoddessSupport to eat squash!!! Yeah me!!!)

BUT The peppers...I thought were Italian ...were HOT HOT HOT HOT.... not good for the inside of my mouth!!! Definitely NOT Italian...hmmmm Oh well...

Today's Harvest...

2010-06-25T22:26:00.000-04:00

My first ever cantaloupe! Also....Italian red speckled beans, Italian, Serrano and jalapeno peppers, green peppers, patty pan squash, lemon cukes, Mr stripey and another Cherokee purple tomato....lots of good eatin in that tray!

At War With the Hornworms!

2010-06-23T21:25:00.000-04:00

But first...I am still stuck on my crazy coneflowers...who are turning somewhat risque looking...but it's all birds and bees isn't it?

OK...now on to the horn worms. I happily go to see what's going on in the garden before scooting off to work and I was screamed with horror when I saw that ~1/3 of the leaves had been eaten off the Mr Stripey tomatoes by two FAT FAT FAT horn worms who I could swear smirked at me! I quickly declared war and since the recommended squishing is not my cup of tea, I retrieved a plastic drink bottle from the trash, snatched the offenders from my Mr Stripey's (of course with a gloved hand) and dropped their green butts into the bottle. I left the sealed bottle near the tomatoes as a warning to the other hormworms...eat my stuff and the same fate awaits you...death by plastic drink bottle...(insert evil laugh here!)

Here is the bottle- see the offenders in the bottle....ha!

On a much more pleasant note...I picked my first Cherokee Purple tomato and at it warm with salt for lunch...it was incredible...and made me forget the whole worm trauma.

Lastly, the okra is flowering and fruiting.....cool!

Father's Day in the Garden

2010-06-20T12:57:00.000-04:00

First...homage to my Dad...oh how I miss him! It's been 4 years almost to the day since I last saw him and nothing is the same without him. Happy Father's Day to my Dad and GoddessSupport!

Yesterday I picked my first Pattypan Squash...isn't it perfect?!?!?! I love the shape and the soft green color.

I feel happy as I approach the garden and see this view...

These coneflowers are "becoming" their fullest version of themselves.

The ditch lilies have morphed into doubles....hmmmm.

This guy has a thing for landing on rocks and stones.

One of my favorite pictures of the year...the light was just perfect...

Maria's corn doing it's thing!

My cantaloupe now has soft green webbing..it's size compared to a quarter....it's neighbor coming along.

More watermelons....

I would conservatively estimate about a hundred Roma tomatoes on these plants...

Bloom Day...Sort Of

2010-06-15T16:34:00.000-04:00

I know a purist would stick to flowers for Bloom Day, but what the heck- my garden is eclectic and so is my Bloom Day!

As you enter the fenced part of the garden, the Mr Stripey tomatoes are quite happy across the lane from the volunteer dill just out of range on the right.

For some reason this Zipper Spider thought the celery was a great place to start a zipper...he was there yeterday but had moved along today...

This part of the garden will be a jungle by August ...I suspect with no visible paths....there are about 7 or 8 baby watermelons already! Luckily I am a big watermelon fan.

I love the cherry colored Yarrow against the Bright Lights Chard...add a little fallen over Bee Balm just for messy effect.

GoddessSupport spied this Eyed Elator (Click Beetle). I have since read that they like to munch on carrots and beets. My beets are about quarter sized so I will have to keep my eye out. I have a second sowing of carrots that have just sprouted. One, yes one, sprouted from the first, so I tried again...so look out Mr Elator!

Assassin bug...eat all the Japanese Beetles you like and we will peacefully coexist.

Baby Spaghetti Squash with Flower.

Yellow Woolly Bear Spilosoma Virginica Caterpillar...turns into a tiger moth, later

Baby Pattypan Squash with Blossom...

There are about 5 ears of corn developing so far!

My best Dragonfly pic yet, I think....I like the sun on his wings.

Lots of figs.

Corn and tomatoes and Bee Balm in the sprinkle....there really hasn't been much in the way of rain.

That's all for today!

Just Call Me the Mulch Goddess!

2010-06-12T18:11:00.000-04:00

I think I have mulched my brains out....or very possibly sweated them out! But I am sold on the many benefits of mulch...the instant beautification for one. But mostly the weed blocking is the best thing going.

Before starting, a small harvest this morning. Cukes are a daily treat now.

During one of my rehydrating breaks, I grabbed my camera to see what I could see...

...or who was seeing me!

A baby watermelon the size of my thumbnail...

My second cantaloupe about chicken egg sized.

My Italian Speckled Red Beans are doing great!

This Coneflower is about 7 feet tall!

Baby Lemon Cucumber...

Unknown bug in a Balloon Flower.

All the Roma tomatoes are making lots of fruit! Got to buy some jars this week.

Mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch..... back to mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch.

Buggy Thursday

2010-06-10T13:30:00.000-04:00

Lot's of crawlers and fliers in the yard today.

In the weird things I noticed category....after the dragonfly lands, it's tail goes up in the air! Can't imagine what that's about!!

Today was the first day I noticed the Hummingbird Moth's ...Lot's of them buzzing around.

Discussing a matter of some importance...

My corn has tassels!

My best bug picture this year to date...."Wasp on Dill."

Sunny and HOT!

2010-06-05T10:24:00.000-04:00

Away from the blog and the garden, immersed in a large work project this week...but things are happening out there without my supervision! It's full on summer with hazy, hot and humid days that make the tomatoes and viney things grow right in front of your eyes....and make a daily quandry of should I water, or will we have a gullywasher thunderstorm at 4:45? I harvested the first two cukes this week that had not a hint of bitter....and a handful of the super sugar cherry tomatoes.

At baseball the other night, in the category of "what the heck is it?"... this GIANT buzzing, flying beetle thing landed on the GIANT light standard. It is by far the biggest bug? I have ever seen!

Evil garden dwelling, one bite out of every strawberry eating rabbit pretending not to look at me...I can still see YOU!!!

Bee on Hollyhock...pretty flowers...leaves have the rust bad! :(

Onion flower

Millet...I think it's cool....

The corn has the beginning of tassles!

Turtle under Rosemary...

Rained on Hydrangea.

The next lunchtime cuke.

C'mon Hummers....

Isn't Dill pretty?

Grow, grow, grow!

After the Gardener Goofs Off...

2010-06-01T08:42:00.000-04:00

Played the entire Memorial Day weekend, with very little in the way of serious gardening...while I was playing the little tomato plant is going crazy....it is only about 6 inches high, and already has produced more than a dozen sugary tomatoes.

The Dill is over 5 feet tall...and it was all volunteer seeded from last years plants!

A wascally wabbit is eating just a little of EVERY RED STRAWBERRY!!! WHAT THE HECK!!!

The peas are just about exhausted...they will be replaced with some kind of beans by weeks end.

My first cucumber(s)!! There are two but only one in this shot... they are seedless-burpless....so far no critter has touched them.

I have read on several other gardening blogs, that people are not seeing as many bees this year. I am happy to see alot of bees at work this morning, including this one visiting the cantaloupe blossoms.

The first morning glory is greeting the day!

I like this happy little vignette. Near the deck steps, it's a mixed bag of a new knockout rose, astilbe, some pansies that are on borrowed time, several hydrangea, blue rug juniper and a little zinnia.... I try to be an organized planter...but messy cottage seems to be my garden style. My apologies to the arty colorists....I want to plant EVERYTHING, or at least one of everything...so this is what you get! ha

Bird, Berries and Butterfly

2010-05-27T20:58:00.000-04:00

After spreading 2 yards of mulch these evening, I sat with satisfaction, surveying my shovel work....mulch makes everything look better! A hummingbird graced me with his presence and I was feeling cheerful....and then, an unassuming grey bird. looked like maybe a catbird, landed on one of the tomato cages and snapped up a white cabbage butterfly for dinner... not done, it went over and helped itself to some blueberries (now I know where my berries are going) Then...not full yet, it snatched up a worm out of the tomato patch! I was incensed....have all the cabbage whites you want, but leave the worms and berries alone!

I did get some good pics this week and replaced the hopelessly misplaced card reader....

The Magnolias are just elegant, and they smell great too!

The Cherokee Purple tomato had one fruit!

The delicate Dill flowers have opened....soon to be populated by caterpillars galore....

GoddessSupport home from NYC and checking for ripe strawberries...

The Roma tomatoes have grown several inches this week.

The Butterfly Bush is just ready to explode into bloom...

Hello Captain Obvious!

2010-05-24T20:00:00.000-04:00

Since I have temporarily misplaced the new card reader, I am photo deficient today...BUT, I cracked up at some of the weather postings I have seen today....

In a STUNNING news flash we learn.....

Summer will be warm and the greatest threat for tropical risk is from the north Texas coast to the NC-VA border...while that leaves a little real estate uncovered, I wonder to myself....did we need a meteorologist for this prediction??

A "hybrid" tropical system is lurking off the southeast coast. Curiously the Farmer's Almanac predicted this very event for this week!

Did a few garden chores early this morning....pulled the last bolting radishes that had no hope of developing further...they and some bolted arugula went right on my infant compost heap. I noticed the dill is going to flower already...I think this is oddly early. And can I register my complete and utter hatred for Bermuda grass...whose bright idea was this invasive nightmare!?!? Ugh!

Crazy For Hydrangea

2010-05-23T08:50:00.000-04:00

Years ago when I was still a Philly-SJ dweller, I would marvel at the exceptionally beautiful Hydrangea that grew at the Jersey shore. In Ocean City and Cape May, there seemed to be something about the air? water? humidity? sandy soil? something that produced the most gorgeous blooms in all sorts of colors...clear periwinkle blue, deep reds, and an indescribable purple that wasn't even in the crayon box.

When I got to North Carolina, I was on a mission to have a beach hydrangea looking as good as those I remembered in Jersey. In 2005, the lot was a barren .19 acre patch of sand. I set about planting like a lunatic, and I situated the small shrub immediately outside the window of my sewing room so I could watch it bloom.

Biased, I know, I think it is just perfect, and look forward to it every year...

In other news, while the Atlantic Hurricane Season doesn't officially start until June 1, there is a little something something brewing to the southeast. Right now the prediction is for some heavy rain and gale wind later this week...only time will tell!

Saturday Miscellaneous

2010-05-22T18:25:00.000-04:00

Volunteer ?millet sprouted under the finch feeder.

Red Hot Pokers in bloom.

I hesitate to let the cat out of the bag on this one....but these gloves are the best thing since sliced bread....thin enough to grab the smallest weeds, ventilated cloth tops make them not sweaty or uncomfortable, and they are neoprene so any latex allergic nurses out there won't have anaphylaxis! Unlike their higher priced cousins in swanky garden catalogues and specialty shops, these easy to find bright orange hand savers found by GoddessSupport at the orange big box store for a ridiculously low price.

Clematis reaching for the sky...

Plant ghetto waiting to be planted...

Found this on an oak branch...not part of the oak...what the heck is it?

Before I came upon this slug, I never knew that their antennae were retractable....how weird is that!

I have yet to identify this in the moth book...but I am pretty sure it will be "bird poop" moth...because at first glance, that is exactly what it looked like.

And finally...the Black Racer Snake that GoddessSupport found IN OUR KITCHEN!!!!!! ew.

Country living...yikes!

Wet Macro Monday

2010-05-17T17:11:00.004-04:00

It's good when work days coincide with rainy days....no gardening going on here today!
Just wet, wet and more wet...

Wet dill....
OK...not very wet, but is this not the coolest plant!?!

Wet pansy...

Wet onion and corn...

Wet cabbage...

Wet lettuce...

Wet swiss chard...

Wet Day lily... (just started blooming this weekend)

Wet Snapdragon...

Sunday Gardening

2010-05-16T20:24:00.000-04:00

Lot's of yard jobs to take care of today.... GoddessSupport felled a large dead tree yesterday and today the fun part was over and the work began! Working diligently with a somewhat undermotivated DS15, one half of the tree became firewood and the branches etc became a big bonfire in the yard.... an unfortunate casualty of the dead tree, because of the odd way the two trunks grew the one side ended up falling on one of our apple trees. :(

The cabbage butterflies were out again in force...

I was weeding in the raised beds and noticed this plumey growth on the fennel....

We harvested another bowlful of salad...arugala, swiss chard, boston and romaine lettuce, cook's radishes, some basil, and brocolli made an awesome side for dinner.

The Clematis has grown over the top of the trellis and another flower will pop this week....I am still thrilled that it lived and seems to be thriving.

Lot's of these birds all over this area with our close proximity to water and marshy places...

I did some inventory today of what's currently planted in the veggie garden.... am going to make a page for that later in the week... that's all for today!

Gardening in NC

2010-05-15T20:39:00.000-04:00

Some time in at one of my favorite garden centers, Nature's Harmony, in the fishing village of Wanchese. I picked up a few things....a pineapple sage with gorgeous acid green leaves, a few red Pentas to attract the hummers.

They had some beautiful roses that were hard to resist...though I have to admit being totally intimidated by roses!

This Iris was unspeakably gorgeous in person...I wish the picture did it justice....

This morning a good friend and I attended the Coastal Gardening Festival held by the Dare County Master Gardeners at the Arboretum in Kill Devil Hills. Lots of wonderful plants and really cool crafts. I got an Angel Trumpet, and 2 Beauty berry...and a few other things that were extremely reasonably priced and all rooted and started by the Gardeners... I have my fingers crossed that my raffle ticket is a winner for the rotating compost bin!!

I am interesting in increasing the natives in my gardens....some research to be done about this.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, it was too darn hot and muggy, for a gardener with some sinus issues to be out there. I did lay in some edging stones this evening after the sun went past the treeline...put in the pineapple sage and some zinnia's. The forecast is cooler tomorrow, so it will be back to crazy garden girl bright and early!

Cabbage Butterflies

2010-05-14T07:50:00.003-04:00

A few weeks back, my cabbage were being decimated by little green velvety cabbage worms. While I bought the recommended BT, my procrastination, disorganization and desire to stay as organic as possible on the veggies left the BT in the bag in the garage and me wondering if the cabbage was a total loss.

The other day I noticed that the damage had all but stopped and in it's place, literally a hundred cabbage butterflies ...clearly not cabbage eaters!

I am glad that I didn't pull out the cabbage when it was looking so rough...because the heads appear to have recovered for the time being...and I am hopeful for a small harvest!

On the patio, and seemingly free from pests, the sugar bush tomato is BUSY! Today these have a blush of red on them...it is highly likely that I will have the first tomato before June! Thanks to GoddessSupport for the new nifty watering can, and for watering when I don't get to it!

Planting and Picking and Eating!

2010-05-08T18:19:00.001-04:00

A busy work week kept me out of the garden except for watering for much of this week. After playing chauffeur to all the kids and their activities today I indulged in a visit to the local garden center. I bought something I never planted before....Sweet Corn. The gardener assured me that the only trick was to plant multiple rows to help pollination...and otherwise a no brainer.

So for $1.49 a cell pack, it seemed like a low budget experiment. DD9 was very excited when I announced "we are planting corn!" We picked a spot between the onions that will be harvested long before our corn will be ready.

She was intrigued to see the small corn kernel still visible where the plant sprouted and began to grow leaves and roots.

After planting, we took our empty bowl....

...and started picking!

It was a one for me one for the bowl experience as she worked her way through the leaves to find the ripe pods, declared to be, "excellent."

We added a ready to harvest head of romaine, some broccoli, and baby radishes and Goddess Support made a killer salad to go with the gnocchi and gravy we brought back from the Grand Central Market in Manhattan yesterday. It was an awesome meal!

Right now there are 2 front loader bucketfuls of black gold AGAIN in the back of my pickup....to fill the last 2 raised beds and set in the last of the vegetables. The weather is set to cool off to a more May like level, so the crazy growth may slow down a bit this week. We sure could use a little rain as we are under fire danger with the wind up and the humidity low.

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow gardeners and bloggers...I hope your day is filled with whatever makes you happiest!

A Close Up View of Tuesday in the Garden

2010-05-04T17:28:00.000-04:00

A Knock out Rose...a new yellow-cream variety....I like it!

Tomatillo...Physalis philadelphica. A relative of the tomato and member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. I have never grown these before, but hoping to make some of those great Mexican green sauces if all goes well!

At the end of the road....the last vestige of being a Clematis flower...

My brocolli is kicking butt!

The peas are happily making pods, and GoddessSupport is promptly eating them!

Cherokee Purple Tomato blossom.

Weigelia...I love that color...

My one peony, it's perfect to me.

The end of the line for the Iris also- now their brilliant clear purple has faded to burgandy sofa drab.

An old faithful performer...I wonder where the bees are?

This color was a happy surprise...looks like something you'd find in Key West.

Hot-Hot-Hot!

2010-05-02T16:42:00.000-04:00

It feels like......

The dogs have the right idea, or at least one does. The Welshie Warrior made a bee line for her swimming pool, while the webfooted dog, wants no part of it!

Son of GardenGoddess- not too thrilled with post hole digging...

But the work must go on! There is a garden to expand, tomatoes and canteloupe and sugar babies to be planted!

Things are coming along great, the garden is half again as large as it was....with more room for "stuff"

Happy May Day!

2010-05-01T19:41:00.006-04:00

Today this Mother kept a close eye on her babies as they fledged....just 12-14 days from hatch to empty nest! I wonder what she will do with all the free time. Watching her has been interesting...she kept a keen eye on her nest, built near our trash containers, anytime anyone came near, waiting patiently for the all clear to get on with the wormy business at hand. Now the fledglings will learn how to be birds under the protective cover of the bushes and brambles nearby.

Elsewhere in the gardens- the beach Hydrangea is just starting to bloom. This is one of my most favorite blooms in the garden, the clear blue is gorgeous against the deep green leaves, I think.

The snapdragons seem unusually cheerful as they reach for the sunshine.

I have no idea what rose this is...I am challenged to save the tags that would have identified it. But even anonymously- it's a beaut!

Fingers crossed for peas....the first pod appeared on Thursday, and the plants are loaded with blooms....I am keeping them well watered in hopes that they will survive this weekend of temps in the 90's and higher humidity.

My Wisteria is a good three weeks behind the rest in the area...now just opening magnificent lavender blooms.

Two front loader bucketfuls of "black gold" are in the back of my pick-up waiting to fill the raised bed veggie garden expansion. I moved a few perennial in anticipation of moving the fence. Tomorrow I will be a shoveling and planting fool....can't think of a better way to spend a May Sunday!

The State of the Garden April 2010

2010-04-26T09:55:00.000-04:00

So, a long post to share the state of the veggie garden as April comes to a close. All in all things are going pretty well. It seems like many plants are ahead of themselves abit this year- whether all the wet or early warm or both, who knows. The Clematis is happily reaching up the trellis despite the ~~wookie~~ Welsh Terrier making her appointed rounds. The flowers are easily six inches across and just the most beautiful color.

In this bed two, Mr Stripey tomatoes, a little basil, a little lavender that overwintered well, a tomatillo... the arugula in between will be long gone once the warm weather things are booming.

The romaine seems happy and is pest free at the moment....although there must be some lettuce eater lurking nearby. A variety of peppers are situated in their summer spots.

The broccoli is making nice heads....hopefully it will reach ideal before the heat really settles in. I think the partial shade in that area is helping keep the temperatures down. The cabbage worms are having a field day with the green cabbage, but seem less interested in the red. Perhaps because they are screaming green and would be easy prey for some bird against the red. At any rate they are soft and kind of squishy and I am totally grossed out every morning picking them off the cabbage...ew!

The onions are thriving...

Peas are flowering, so I expect to see pods soon. Interesting that all these were planted at the same time, but the box on the left had plants that I transplanted...I have a hard time ~~"thinning"~~ killing babies. I need a tougher affect!

Okra for pickling and maybe some gumbo if the crop is good.

Lot's of radishes and bright lights swiss chard coming along...

Ever bearing strawberries, dill that seeded itself from last years plants, fennel, pineapple sage and some oregano....

This weeks "TBP" to be planted. I love the millet in the garden and the birds do too.

Cukes doing well.

Enjoying the pansies and viola's before they are cooked!

The fig seems happy in it's location, though we have yet to eat all the fig preserves we put up last year....

And, the planned expansion...GoddessSupport built me more boxes and this weekend, hopefully, we will move the fence to make the garden twice as large as it is now... with a plan for a boat load of Roma tomatoes for gravy, watermelon, cantaloupe, and maybe pumpkins. We have 4 blueberry bushes that will be enclosed and will add several more blackberries to the one we already have.

I am pretty satisfied with how it all looks for the end of April! And I am grateful for a wonderful husband who supports my gardening insanity.

Arizona Snow-April 23

2010-04-23T14:46:00.000-04:00

From the mid-atlantic, we travel clear across the country to the garden of "ArizonaGardenGoddess" (my mil) who lives essentially on the Mexican border in Santa Cruz County....

In this southern, desert mountain, location, with spring blooming everything, snow fell overnight. I am sure the hummers have to eat more to keep warm!!!

Yesterday and Today

2010-04-21T12:16:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was walking around the garden, watering- which is inconceivable after all the rain we had in the earlier part of the year. But...it is actually dry, and I have to add to my daily mental list-"hey dummy go out and water or your stuff is gonna die!"
Rain is predicted, the skies are gloomy today...a good thing!

Yesterday, I noticed that my feared dead Clematis had a bloom that was swelling....

Today, it has popped!

The patio tomato is doing it's thing...

I know that whole pansy thing is getting tired at this point, but I can't help but love this plant...what color could I call it...

The Hollyhock leaves are HUGE!! Maybe I shoud store my paperclips there!

A hint of a radish growing there...is radish shoulders the correct terminology?

I coax the peas along every day, encouraging them to make fruit before the blast of southern heat is upon us...one of them is listening....

The azaleas are in full bloom...

Can there be any mistake about what is going on behind our backs in the garden???? I think not.

Take the Good With the Bad

2010-04-17T20:39:00.000-04:00

It always strikes me that the garden is full of dichotomy. The proverbial thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, the good the bad and the ugly all simultaneously happening right outside the door. And so it is here today.

Good...I love these Bleeding Hearts. A reliable plant that faithfully returns each year, without pruning, or feeding, or really much of anything at all. Dicentra spectabilis is also known as Venus's car, Dutchman's trousers, or lyre flower and it does best in a well drained shady spot. It may die back after flowering, but it will be back the next year.

Good? Kind of cute I thing...this Jumping Spider was sitting on the hummingbird feeder. It has EIGHT eyes!!! "All the better to see you with my dear!" The species name, Phidippus mystaceus, is derived from the Ancient Greek mystax, meaning "moustache", which is especially visible on the females The literal translation of Phidippus Mystaceus, however, is "Jumping Mustache." (Photo by GoddessSupport)

BAD BAD BAD BAD!!!!! Cabbage worms (YUCK!!!!) are the larval form of the Cabbage White butterfly. Currently decimating my cabbage in a small velvety green army of chompers. Is this REALLY necessary.

Good!!! Broccoli is doing it's thing...hopefully the worms will steer clear although the cabbage worm will eat any of the brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, and kale.)

Good! The Iris are just gorgeous...

BAD BAD BAD...

Good!!! The robins have a nest near the driveway. They generally lay one egg a day until they have a clutch of four. We have two nests that I have found so far...they are a happy thing to me.

Other good things in the garden today... I saw my first male Ruby Throated Hummingbird at the feeder. I planted Jalapeno, Serrano and Yellow peppers, burgundy okra, tomatillo, bronze fennel, some of the Lupines that I started from seed....transplanted some day lilies....save a frog from the clutches of the Welsh Terrier and last but not least GoddessSupport built me a whole bunch of raised boxes for expanding the fenced garden...which means I will be hauling horse compost all week to fill them up. All in all a satisfying day in the garden!

Bloom Day April Edition!

2010-04-15T07:02:00.000-04:00

Happy Garden Blogger's Bloom Day!

To participate, just snap a few pics of what's blooming on the 15th day of the month. To see what is blooming in other garden bloggers gardens visit the director of Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - Carol at May Dreams Garden - April Bloom Day

So a wall in my garden.... The Iris are crazy tall this year and at the peak right now...I just love their reeaaaacchhhh to the sun.

All the azaleas are on the brink of popping. I think the warm temps predicted in the next few days, will push them along. This is one of the earliest, and one of my favorites tucked in a canopy of pines. I thing the color is just awesome.

The Bleeding Heart is a star in it's spot....

The Clematis has several buds and grows steadily everyday....you can almost see it climbing up the archway.

If you look between the leaves, you will see the first teeny tiny fig forming.

Ok..this is not a bloom, well maybe a blooming pain in the butt- With GoddessSupport away on business travel, I was a little delinquent in keeping his feeders filled. The woodpecker was having none of it, and pecked our roof for 45 minutes before I clued into the lack of seed in the feeder he frequents.

I filled it after I snapped this pic...and he seemed much happier.

This is the Homestead Verbena that was the outlier last month...now this ONE plant is a monster of purple joy not far from my front door.

Hope your day is full of blooms and not tax headaches!

Luna Moth (Actias luna)

2010-04-11T10:15:00.000-04:00

Three Luna Moths were found hanging around the outside of our house on Thursday!

Luna Moths are members of the Saturniidae family, also known Giant Silkworm Moths. The family name Saturniidae is based on the eye spots of some members of the family that contain concentric rings reminiscent of the planet Saturn. The Luna Moth gets its name from its moon-like spots.

After reading about them, I am left wondering what purpose Luna Moths serve in the natural world. The adult form lives for about a week, with a sole purpose of reproducing. I suppose whatever is relying on them for a meal, either has a varied palette, or an equivalently short lifespan. The Luna Moth can mimic living and dead leaves on the ground by remaining motionless

They don't eat....they have no mouths... Well I guess if you can't have the pleasure of eating, that leaves mating as a big form of entertainment! The males are identified by their larger and "bushier" antennae. Female Luna Moths release a chemical at night which attracts males. The adults die shortly after mating and laying eggs.

Accessed 041110 at Species Detail Butterflies and Moths of North America

Usually, two generations are born each year. The moths that spent the winter in a cocoon will hatch, mate, lay eggs...and RIP; then their children will hatch, mate, and lay eggs which will hatch and make cocoons for the next winter.

A Day at the NBG

2010-04-10T20:07:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I came up with a brilliant idea...improve my macro photography by taking a class. Now I have been blessed with a great husband who gifted me a fabulous camera. My true confession is I have been "cheating" (no not like Tiger!!) I have been letting the magical camera make magical pictures on "auto."

Now it's still my camera, and they are still "my" pictures, but I have been feeling a lack of integrity ....no actually, I have been feeling like a big idiot with a magical camera and no earthly idea how to use it...I don't know an F stop from a doorstop, though I think they both control entrances, well sort of.

So, excitedly I packed my magical camera and all of GoddessSupport's stuff, tripod, remote control, etc...I definitely looked the part of "Flower Photographer"

Our instructor, Ty shared his wisdom last evening in the lecture part of the class. Then this morning, we marched off to the azalea garden area....AND, drum roll....I took the camera off "AUTO" It was torture....almost as bad as math! Between 830am and 1pm I took 468 pictures...thank goodness that wasn't all film, because I got about 20 pictures that I would dare take back to class to be critiqued.
So without further ado...this is what I got...

Hoy Cow!

2010-04-07T23:34:00.000-04:00

Holy Cow!! Pollen levels are at their highest since the state started measuring pollen counts in the 1990s. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported Wednesday that pollen levels in Raleigh reached 3,524 grains per cubic meter in Raleigh.In Winston-Salem, the pollen count was 9,632 grains per cubic meter on Tuesday

Anything more than 120 particles per cubic foot is considered extremely high!!!

One article I read said the combination of heavy rains, colder than average winter and the quick warmup ....

"It's a reproduction explosion right now with pollen everywhere!"

So the net result in the mainland garden is a whole lot of blooming things....like these two apple trees, one of the trees blooms with just a hint of pink, the other stark white.

These iris have a special place in my heart as they were dug from my Mother's garden at the time of her death back in 2002. They have been divided and replanted in my NJ garden (in NJ they bloomed in May at Mother's Day), then down south. They like the woodland clay better than the sand. I am happy to see them each year- a reminder of the green thumb I inherited from another GardenGoddess. :)

They are bot the fanciest variety, but reliable without a lot of fuss!

The onion sets have grown a few inches...

And a week ago, I looked at the bare dirt where this Clematis grew last year and thought aloud, it must be dead. In a WEEK the thing broke dormancy, grew several feet and set a few flowers...all that...in a week!!! Holy Cow!!!

AHCHOO!! Pass the Claritin Please!

2010-04-06T12:08:00.000-04:00

There is yellow-green everywhere!!! Sneezing just a fact of life now... no escaping it! Undaunted, I ventured into the yard early this morning before working. I mulched around some plum tomatoes that went in last night ...at the beach garden the yard is 100% sand, so everything planted gets a big wad of compost mixed in. Over time the beds are becoming more plant friendly and the mulch holds the moisture a bit when the North Carolina sun bakes down in the summer.

I noticed that the Hydrangea has a few tiny flowers forming.

The first strawberry...a ways from ripeness, but a harbinger of good things to come, I hope!

I also noticed, for the first time, the Aucuba japonica ''Variegata''
is flowering. It's the first time that has happened, I didn't even know it got flowers, which now are to be followed by red berries. I just like it because it is a good shrub for shade with colorful yellow and green foliage that really brightens up a dark space.

Meanwhile back on the mainland, GoddessSupport snapped this pic of a yellow form female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail dining on the Homestead Purple Verbena in the front bed...the first of the season

A Little Refuge- A Little Macro-A Little Micro

2010-04-05T11:01:00.006-04:00

The front of the beach house faces south and is protected from the northeast wind by the house next door...it makes for an interesting microclimate that keeps things warm and alive in winter and quickly summertime when it is only spring. The whole microclimate concept is really interesting to consider as I make my way around my gardens...it can spell success or failure depending on how much I think about it when planting.

By definition, a microclimate is the climate of a small, specific place within an area as contrasted with the climate of the entire area, or the "macroclimate," aka, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet (like my south facing area) or as large as many square miles (for example a valley). On this barrier island, there are microclimates galore! I can be sweltering in the garden ~2 blocks from the beach while at the oceanfront especially with a seabreeze over the 48 degree water, the microclimate can turn to winter in a few blocks!

So in my happy little microclimate, I have thriving Osteospermum. They love, love, love this location rewarding me with cheerful blooms everytime I pull into the driveway.

The Hens and Chicks seem to like that microclimate also judging from the proliferation going on.
The morning dew rapidly evaporated, and a relaxing day was spent at the beach. The 48 degree water did not keep the teenagers from making a "polar plunge." Luckily the microclimate featured a westerly wind that thawed them out quickly!

After dinner, the need to escape from a house filled with teenagers took GoddessSupport and I to another favorite place, The Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, to take a stab at some sunset pictures.
The Refuge is host to thousands if migratory birds coming and going in all directions. Just a few weeks ago the place was loaded with tundra swans and snow geese as far as the eye could see. Now all that was left was one pair of snow geese who seemed to even have the seagulls wondering why they remain.

Another species that is found in large numbers is the red winged black birds. We spied this pied bird as we walked.

The Red-winged Blackbird is omnivorous. It feeds primarily on plant materials, including seeds from weeds. About a quarter of its diet consists of insects and other small animals. It prefers insects, such as dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, moths, and flies, but also consumes snails, frogs, eggs, carrion, worms, spiders, mollusks. The Red-winged Blackbird forages for insects by picking them from plants, or by catching them in flight. (Not too many mollusks in flight!) All of this in abundance in the Pea Island Refuge...they should all be fat and happy there!

I am not certain what these are, but they were blooming all over the trail.Not much gardening going on, but grateful to have found a place I love so much, and someone to share it with.

A Full and Happy Saturday...

2010-04-03T21:22:00.000-04:00

Started my Saturday with a stop at the Avalon Pier to check out the pier and the fog. Last evening a cloud of fog literally creeped down the street from the ocean to the sound...thick as pea soup, it was like flying through a cloud.

The fog remained this morning, despite the sun. The tide was almost full high when a truck full of ~20 year olds came driving down the beach, (I will be happy when the beach driving season is over) the writing was on the wall. An ill-fated decision to try and make it under the pier, and a last minute change of heart, sunk the newer pickup in the sand fast. A small group of "experienced" fishman gathered on the pier offering suggestions to the pickup group in a classic scene of youth versus experience....offering such comments as, "Y'all better hurry up that tide is coming in fast." The truck owner kept digging and trying to get the truck to budge...meanwhile, his friends made the surrendering gesture of lighting up a smoke and taking camera phone pictures of the escapade. Finally, a good samaritan with a rope and a better positioned truck....disaster averted!

As the fog lifted, GoddessSupport and I headed over to Roanake Island with our cameras in tow, to the The Elizabethan Gardens The Garden Club of North Carolina adopted The Elizabethan Gardens as a project in 1951 and opened the gardens to the public in 1960.

A nice mix of native and "other" the gardens are interesting in all seasons.

This Clevia was in full bloom in several pots...the bees where pollen diving deep into each flower. For some reason this year, orange things are growing on me...this color- I don't even know how to describe it.

The Camelias are blooming their brains out all over, soon there time will pass, but what a show they put on today!

Georgia O'Keefe anyone??

Sing a song of spring....lute a song of spring!!

A large swath of Lily of the Valley blooming in the shade.

Ferns, unfurling everywhere...

The daffofils were still going strong, as the location near the water keeps this area a little cooler than the mainland.

Bees were out in full force!

Last night, D14 and her friend assembled homemade horse treats. A mixture of molasses, oats, carrots, raisins, apples, flour, they baked in muffin cups with a most interesting aroma. The horses being piggish about anything tasty, were more than happy to walk over and investigate what the girl had in her hand...

I am not quite sure what to make of this...I will have to reference the "horse behavior" book!

Despite the reaction, he ate more than one!

In the end...I am left wondering about this whole horse treat idea....

I also saw my first Monarch butterfly today, while at the base of the Mann's Harbor bridge looking for osprey. It was a full an happy Saturday!

March Went Out Like a....

2010-04-01T21:20:00.000-04:00

...~~lamb~~MUDPIG!! That dog cannot resist a mud puddle (a rain transformed bonfire pit)....I don't know what to do with her. That Weimaraner wants no parts of that activity...he cannot bring himself to get in there. Nope. Not doing it.

But I digress. March really did come in like a lion, with snow on the ground March 2 and yesterday...pushing the mid-70's. Amazing!

Not much gardening going on with heavy work projects, but did get some cool pictures...

If you don't have one of these feeders, definitely think about it. They are woodpecker magnets, though the one pecker continues to peck on my roof immediately adjacent to the window behind my head most mornings. This week a new variety...though I am not totally certain if this is Downy or Hairy. The picture is at a difficult angle to check all the markings.

The onions seem very happy with the recent weather conditions.

The wild raspberries on the property have sprouted leaves....GoddessSupport will be checking them regularly for berries, if I am lucky some will make it into the house!

I am going a little loco with the macro lens for the next week. I am taking a class next weekend at Norfolk Botanical Garden, and need lots of attempts to critique...I vow to take the camera off of "auto!"
At any rate, I did notice that this was "Emergence of Bug Week" as all around the garden, and by the porch light at night critters are making an appearance. Lots of moths, mosquitos the size of fifty cent pieces so far.

A few of the blueberries are beginning to set fruit....

Is it crazy that I transported all the seedlings with me to the beach house for the weekend...I couldn't leave them alone with a teenager to look after their needs....no it's not crazy.

Check out Les!

2010-03-30T10:16:00.001-04:00

Another yucky weather day...damp, cool, breezy. Not really a day that inspires gardening...maybe some bird pictures later.

We got ~2 inches of rain since overnight Sunday. I am sure grateful that was it! I am worried about my northern friends who are getting hammered by hopefully the last noreaster of the season! More flooding is not needed.

In the meantime check out Les, "A Tidewater Gardener" (a God not a Goddess-ha) on the local news channel! Les talks about Camelias at NBG

If you are in this area...the Norfolk Botanical Garden is totally worth the cost of admission... I just bought myself a membership and signed up for a macro photography class in the hopes of actually learning what my camera can do if it is NOT on "autofocus!"

Also...The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary will band the Norfolk Botanical Garden bald eaglets on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 9 a.m. You can follow the banding activities on the web cam with a narrative provided by Norfolk Botanical Garden staff. Eagle Cam Link here!

Murky Monday

2010-03-29T08:22:00.004-04:00

Murky, thundery, rainy Monday in store...

The rest of the weekend was a blur as we hosted D-13's sleepover birthday party...much girly stuff going on until 3:30 AM when the 10 girls in the pile finally fell asleep!

I did get out back and spread some of my black gold yesterday morning...top dressed the beds, dug in a new Knockout Rose:

Sunny Knock Out® Rose Rosa 'Radyod'described as ..."a tough and hardy shrub type rose with outstanding disease resistance. Blooms are bright yellow flowers that fade quickly to a pastel cream color. The yellow color stays more intense during cooler times of the year. The dark, semi-glossy foliage contrasts nicely with the bright blooms.Sunny Knock Out™ will bloom early in the Spring and continue blooming until the first hard frost in the Fall.Sunny Knock Out™ is drought tolerant, Blackspot resistant, mildew tolerant and self-cleaning. An excellent choice for a trouble free rose garden. Great plant for hedge, border or foundation planting."
Hoepfully it will like the suny spot I selected for it!

Back inside...here is the bean check. I think they look pretty happy! I may tempt the fates later today and divide them into separate containers. After the sleepover, D-14 was to go riding.... this horse summed up what I wished I was doing!

As I wandered around the farm, suddenly it was VERY apparent that spring was in the air as this 26 year old, gelded Morgan got frisky with this 12 year old Belgium Draft.

I will spare you the x-rated photos, but suffice it to say this next picture sums up how "Gramps" was feeling after 4 "mountings!"

Driving home, I saw happy Forsythia, swaying elegantly in the breeze...

...and not 1/4 mile down the road, the sad result of Forsythia abuse...

Well off to work for me...hope it's a great spring gardening week for everyone!

Bird Party

2010-03-27T21:35:00.006-04:00

Not too much of a gardening day for me...first of all it was about 25 degrees colder with a strong northeast wind. Nothing in the garden was really impacted in a permanent way by the cold. While D-14 was taking her riding lesson, I wandered around our beach from sea to sound... the water was all churned up on that wind.

I headed over to the sound for a bit. The water was all blown out revealing the mucky bottom with clods of oysters here and there waiting for the turn of the wind to cover them up again.

You can see how much water was moved...the lowest third of the marsh grass not normally above the water level.

The osprey were working on their nest...I waited to see if one of this pair would bring back a fish...but I had to go. I did see another osprey with a fish when I was driving over the 3 mile bridge with no hope of snapping a picture without going into the drink!

If you look closely at the talons, it is perfectly clear how they can carry a fish and fly at the same time. Often, if I am sitting on the beach, the osprey will dive in the ocean then fly back to the soundside nest with its catch. I read that live fish account for about 99% of the osprey diet. Barbed pads on the soles of its feet help it grip slippery fish which it carries headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible. How cool is that!

They were very chattery with each other, much more than I expected.

This was a big bird party....if you look closely there are 7 or 8 different birds in this picture!

Sanderlings...normally skitting along the waters edge, were for some reason running along this dock. The first time I have seen them soundside.

And last but not least, and not on the beach, the new little cow down the road...how can you not smile when you see a calf frolicking around.

In a loosely related topic, I did pick up two yards of "black gold" at the horse farm if you know what I mean...the garden will be happy for that, and it's free!!!!

Always Something to Photograph

2010-03-26T08:33:00.007-04:00

My plan yesterday after watching D-9 at gymnastics was to scoot over to the Norfolk Botanical Garden to take some super zoom pictures of the eaglets. (GoddessSupport rented an awesome lens that we are trying out)

If you aren't already aware of this nest, it's worth a trip to NBG to get a sense of it's enormous size ~90 feet off the ground and to watch the attentive care of this eagle pair that has been using the same nest in the garden for some years. For those far away you can check out the EagleCam

My eagle plan was foiled, despite the blessing of the traffic gods who got me to the garden quick, quick during rush hour, the garden still closes at 5 for another week..."winter hours." boo.

So with camera in hand and no place to be for the moment, I wandered over to another favorite place, The Chesapeake Arboretum

There are ~ 10 different kinds of daffodil-jonquil-narcissus ...admittedly telling the difference is not my strong suit.

I am bulb deficient in my own garden, but admire the efforts of other who can not only purchase bulbs but actually get them into the intended growing environment at the appropriate time. (read- not in a bin in the garage, sprouting green in an attempt to self-actualize)

This swath of lavender color caught my eye.

I LOVED these....like they can't decide between yellow or green

The marker said, "Common Peach"...I wondered, is there an "uncommon" peach?

I thought this was Leopard's Bane but I am not so sure....it looks lower growing and the flower is not right, though the timing is right...maybe a variation.

Look what I found in the garden.... who doesn't like that after a few hours with the kids!

I am mad for the color of this Quince...I just bought one for my yard and I can't wait to it is as beautiful as this...

And a hopeful sign of things to come...the Oak leaved Hydrangea is putting out leaves...

I am a little worried about the low temps the next few nights....cold with clouds, ok....but the no clouds on Saturday night....I hope we are spared a frost.

TGIF!

You Can Just Start Calling Me 'Jack"

2010-03-25T11:08:00.004-04:00

If you recall, on Monday I posted a pleasant little picture of my beans....

I was so proud of their tiny sprouts, and my developing seed propogation prowess...but now I am inclined to think that something nuclear is going on in my dining room, because what looked like this on MONDAY EVENING(THREE SHORT DAYS AGO) .....

Holy Carp Batman....look at the beans now!!!

Where did this leaf come from????? How in the heck did that thing grow in such a short amount of time???
"Ah! You don't know what these beans are," said the man. "If you plant them overnight, by morning they grow right up to the sky."

There are more leaves in this one...OMG!

"When he woke up, the room looked so funny. The sun was shining into part of it, and yet all the rest was quite dark and shady. So Jack jumped up and dressed himself and went to the window. And what do you think he saw? Why, the beans his mother had thrown out of the window into the garden had sprung up into a big beanstalk which went up and up and up till it reached the sky. So the man spoke truth after all."

The beanstalk grew up quite close past Jack's window, so all he had to do was to open it and give a jump onto the beanstalk which ran up just like a big ladder. So Jack climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed till at last he reached the sky.

At this rate, rather than building me additional raised boxes for the enclosed veggie garden, GoddessSupport will be fashioning a grow hole in the ceiling of the dining room! I will soon be able to climb into the sky!

Wednesday Walk

2010-03-24T09:48:00.004-04:00

It's a pretty day outside,with a promise of warm temps ~70 and not a cloud in the crystal blue sky. I've got a pile of work projects to accomplish today, but scooted outside to see what was happening before hunkering down to some productivity.

On the porch, the ornamental cabbage, under the influence of the sun and warmth has started to bolt...I think it's pretty just the same...and won't pull it until it starts to stink, which according to several internet sources is the 'right' time...ha!

I have lots of moss and lichen in the yard, but this one caught my eye...if not already it should be called eyelash moss! When I have more time I will check that out.

My baby ornamental plum survived the cold winter and has the sweetest little blossoms just starting to open. While I have no picture, the bark on this tree is really spectacular. A beautiful deep burgandy color is revealed with growth when the outermost layer splits, sort of like a birch.

I just love the grandeur of the Loblolly Pine...if only an eagle pair would find it worthy of a nest here, instead of the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

I know real gardeners are not supposed to like or possess the dreaded Bradford Pear, BUT, it was here when I got here, has yet to succomb to the wind and really does make the prettiest pictures contrasted against the clear sky...

Outside in the vegetable patch, things are humming along. The cabbage and broccoli have several sets of new leaves, so must like where I plopped them. The green tops of the onion sets are almost all poked through. I was reading about them yesterday and discovered that for maximum storage I need to wait until the tops have died off before harvesting...this could be 100 days!!! Hmmm...I should have read the 100 day thing before I committed an entire 4 square to them...oh well...I will just have to increase the size of the garden to accomodate the other things I want to put in!

The weirdest thing....I planted two types of peas in the same type of soil, in the same location insofar as sun etc, and one type came up like gangbusters, and the other came up...not at all! I think I will spread the growers out abit using the other space...maybe I had a bad batch or something.

I did spy a little visitor within the newly sprouted plant. I expect the bug explosion to start within a week or so, but am enjoying the relative bug free garden at the moment.

Seedy Update

2010-03-23T10:34:00.004-04:00

While I am usually able to coax along most things growing outside, I am daunted by this whole seed adventure I am on this spring. After GoddessSupport gifted me with a heat mat and a grow light, I felt sort of obligated to not only have a stab at it, but try to be successful... I have to admit that it is with a wing and a prayer that any of these seeds has actually sprouted! Mother Nature clearly doesn't need help from me, but she may need me to take the Hippocratic oath and "do no harm"

So...in the last few days the speckled red beans have done their thing! Now all are sporting alien like protuberances that seem to know which way is up and down.

In order for germination to occur, three fundamental conditions must exist :
(1) The embryo must be alive or viable
(2) Any dormancy requirements that prevent germination must be overcome. (read-after obligatory warming, cooling, freezing, they have to come out of their nifty paper sleeves and get put into some dirt...aka "seed germination medium")
(3) The proper environmental conditions must exist for germination. (well it was too cold in the garage, but they seem to like the dining room!)

These little individual peat pots were a little challenging (to me)...first they needed more water to "swell" and then they needed someone who is not particularly delicate to get an individual seed or two into the tiny little spot intended for their "nest."

But, I did it and now...I have sprouted Vanilla Ice sunflowers!

These are Yellow Pear tomatoes...a favorite of GoddessSupport...

A tray full of Lupines!

Three distinct phases of seed germination occur: water imbibition; lag phase; and radicle emergence.

In order for the seed coat to split, the embryo must imbibe (soak up water), which causes it to swell, splitting the seed coat. The rate of imbibition is dependent on the permeability of the seed coat, amount of water in the environment and the area of contact the seed has to the source of water. For some seeds, imbibing too much water too quickly can kill the seed. (I have yet to do this)

For some seeds, once water is imbibed the germination process cannot be stopped, and drying then becomes fatal.(No kidding! The first round of sunflowers were "disimbibed")

Other seeds can imbibe and lose water a few times without causing ill effects, but drying can cause secondary dormancy...it would be helpful if they stated this implicitely on the packet! I would buy a heap of these!

The seed is an embryo with two points of growth...one forms the stems the other the roots, is enclosed in a seed coat with some food reserves.

The embryo is composed of different parts;
-the epicotyle grows into the shoot,
-the radicle grows into the primary root,
-the hypocotyl connects the epicotyle and the radicle,
-the cotyledons form the seed leaves,
-the testa or seed coat forms the outer covering of the seed.

The radicle, is the first structure to emerge from the seed during germination. (I have lots of radicals in the dining room right now) It penetrates the soil very rapidly, forming a slender, usually unbranched taproot.

The embryonic leaves, aka seed leaves, develop into the plant's first leaves above ground. These leaves open within a few days after the plant emerges from the soil and begin photosynthesizing to provide the growing seedling with its new -- and renewable -- food source.

So there you have the third grade seed primer.

I have my fingers crossed that some of these will make it safely from the dining room to the outside garden where they have a MUCH better chance of thriving...only time will tell.

Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden

2010-03-22T09:10:00.004-04:00

Took a run over to the Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden yesterday afternoon to see what was blooming there.

The garden is located adjacent to the Thomas A. Baum Senior Center at 300 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills. The purpose of the Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden is to create an outdoor classroom that will provide horticultural education,memorial acknowledgment and enhancement of the properties. The goals are to test and display labeled plantings and planting practices that are suitable for the coastal climate, and to provide a garden for the viewing pleasure of all citizens and visitors of Dare County.

The many types of daffodils were gorgeous in the sunlight dappled through the Live Oak trees.

The arboretum, opened in 2002, is almost within hearing distance of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to hosting plant tests, it showcases labeled salt- and pest-resistant native plants suitable for the Outer Banks' unique, often harsh coastal microclimates: beach dunes, maritime forest, wetlands. Within this relatively small space are butterfly, aquatic and dune gardens.

One of the Live Oaks was covered with beautiful leathery acorns.

That macro lens, helped me "see" the tiny details on the new growth of this pine.

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens L.) was in bud...a native high-climbing, twining vine, 3-20 ft. long, with showy, trumpet-shaped flowers, red outside, yellow inside, in several whorled clusters at the ends of the stems.

A beautiful, slender, climbing vine that is a favorite of hummingbirds. It's not too aggressive and good as a climber or ground cover. The species name refers to its evergreen habit, especially in the South.

Meanwhile, back at seed central...my red spotted bean has sprouted! More sprout pics later this week!

Sunday Macro Things

2010-03-21T14:19:00.002-04:00

One of my goals this growing season is to learn how to actually use the macro lens on my Canon 5D...the camera a wonderful present from GoddessSupport, and admitedly a little more camera than I can figure out right now.

Snapped these red cabbage leaves, that are about 2/3 larger than they were last weekend...I love how the macro lens shows you things that are imperceptible to our eye alone...at least my over 40 eyes!

It's been a beautiful weekend and while officially the first of spring, it seemed more like the first of summer as the weekend warrier fisherpeople returned to the "opened" Avalon Pier! A sure sign that winter has left the area, although the water temp is 49 a few brave surfers in wetsuits enjoyed the day... My son's friend admitting that the moment the water hit his face, it was the biggest brain freeze of his life.

I was happy to see 2 pairs of eagles making nests out over the Albemarle Sound, near the 3 mile bridge.

I know it's only March but....I am always pushing the envelope in the garden and planting at the earliest. I couldn't resist these geraniums at the big box store. Since the overwintered geraniums are sprouting green and the forecast temps are not going below 45, I took a chance. Really the worst thing that happens is they remain in suspended animation until a little further into April.

My Hellebore is...just perfect. I love this picture~

The Hydrangea has popped a mass of green leaves- seemingly overnight! I guess the temps in the 70's have awakened everthing from winter sleep.

There were 4 different types of bees on the blooming Rosemary...love that macro view of the bee~

Off to the Dare County Master Gardeners Butterfly Garden...to see what's popping there....then back to the yard cleanup!

Green!

2010-03-17T08:19:00.004-04:00

While I don't have a lick of Irish in my ancestry anywhere, it seems like a good day to celebrate GREEN!

Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors, and is second only to blue as a favorite color.

Green is the pervasive color in the natural world.

Natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm (blue and yellow) undertones. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology.

Green has traditionally been used to symbolize nature and its embodied attributes, namely those of life, fertility, and rebirth.

Green was the favorite color of George Washington, the first President of the United States

Green is the color of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty.

In China, jade stones represent virtue and beauty.

In Portugal, green is the color of hope because of its associations with spring.

Because of the fertility symbolism, in the 15th-century green was the preferred color choice for wedding gowns! Some people say green M & M's send a sexual message...hmmm

Animals typically use the color green as camouflage, blending in with the chlorophyll green of the surrounding environment...this frog- definitely color blind regarding the surrounding environment! Most fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds appear green because of a reflection of blue light coming through an over-layer of yellow pigment.

Green is the color used for night-vision goggles because the human eye is most sensitive to and able to discern the most shades of that color.

Green ribbons have been used by a range of environmental groups to symbolize organ donation and transplant, awareness of Bipolar Disorder, solidarity with Chechnya, and support of farmers in America.

And what all gardeners already know....how the color green affects us physically
•Soothes
•Relaxes mentally, as well as physically
•Helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety
•Offers a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony

Why do you think we are always itching to get outside!!

So celebrate green today...
St. Patrick's Day Toast
Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer – and another one!