Crayolas?

Do you know what this is?

 

Or this…

How about this….

Now you get the idea.

This is what the Netherlands looks like in Spring!

Isn’t it awesome!

I think I need to update my bucket list to include a visit to the Netherlands in spring-time.

Apparently I’m a Hibiscus Farmer

I am not a farmer.  As a matter of fact, any legit farmer might be offended that I use the word “farmer” at all.  To all farmers, my sincerest apologies.  I think my only saving grace might be the inclusion of  the word “experimental”.      And that’s what it’s all about.

I didn’t start off with a plan this summer.  Over the past few years I’ve been breaking away from my desire to over-tend (aka: overkill in the garden) and just do my best and see what happens.  More of a “you win some, lose some” attitude.  Tomatoes are the staple.   Cucumbers are always planted but cucumber beetles are a constant battle  Everything else is fair game.   Experiments abound.

Typically I have one or two Hibiscus on my deck.  Last week I posted about a clearance sale at Walmart.    Initially I brought a couple home.   These poor things were parched.   Can you say '”bone dry”?   With a little TLC, in a few short days they were looking  good.

And then…..

I had to go back!    There were still some left but this time they were saturated.   The pots sat in liners that had no holes!   Not to be deterred, I bought ten more.  Does that make it a farm?  For me it does!  They all have to fit on to my deck……and taken inside for the winter! 

I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

During the transportation of these babies I broke off a good size branch so it’s been dipped in rooting hormone and potted up. 

Hopefully I’ll have another one for my collection farm.

Catching Up on Fertilizer Friday

 For the first time ever this post actually has something to do with fertilizer!  Imagine that!

So… on May 21st I took this photo of my brugmansia.  I didn’t have high hopes for it.  The 3 that I have were mere twigs and just behind schedule IMHO.

So with the passage of a few weeks and lots of water and fertilizer…

I am hopeful!

A day or two ago I posted about my 2 newly acquired hibiscus plants.  One is pink but the other was not tagged so the color is a mystery.   

But the proverbial “cat will be out of the bag” in a couple of days.   A flower is ready to pop!

And to everyone back home…..

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I’m linking to Tootsie’s Fertilizer Friday.  Pop on over for more garden beauties.

Hibiscus Love

I have a confession.  I am mad about hibiscus.  They come in such beautiful colors and the blooms are just so magnificent.  I can imagine myself in a tropical island brimming with them.   Now that would be a dream come true!

I recently had a beautiful coral colored hibiscus that I got from a local nursery.    My daughter Lindsay’s friend Brandi works at a florist/nursery and I popped in to say hello one day.    While chit-chatting I noticed a lonely hibiscus looking withered and worn in a spot under the stairs.    Naturally I asked about it.  “Oh, it’s full of bugs.”  Brandi said.  “So you’re throwing it out?”, I asked.  “Yup.”, she said.  So it was MINE!

I took it home, set it out on my deck and gave it a work over.   I plucked off the dead leaves as well as some of the older ones.  Over the course of last summer the “ugly duckling” grew from about 2 feet tall to about 3 1/2 feet tall and produced lots of beautiful blooms.  Like this…



Then when the seasons began to change, I had to bring it inside to over winter it the best that I could.  I don’t have any sunny rooms in my house so I knew for sure that there would be no more blooms.    So all of it’s energy went to getting taller.

In March, Ms. Brandi popped in for a visit and spotted the ugly duckling.  Her jaw dropped.  “Is that the one from the shop?”, she asked.  Indeed it was.  Now about 4 1/2 feet tall – lush and green but bloom-less.  She offered to take it into the shop to put it in the greenhouse.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to kick-start the blooming season since the proper weather for tropicals in the northeast was at least 2 months away.  Apparently a lot of customers liked it too!  Last month while Brandi was off for the day, one of her co-workers sold it.  For……$65!  C’est la vie I guess.

So I have been hibiscus-less so far this year.  Until yesterday!   I was in my local super-market yesterday and I found this…

A variegated hibiscus!  I didn’t know they existed!

It wasn’t in the greatest shape but it was a “Manager’s Special” and for $9.99 who could resist!

A pink one at that!

So after some plucking and watering, I’ll leave it alone for a few days.  Don’t want to completely traumatize it!  Then repot.  And pluck again! 

Oh, and I got another one today.    It will be given the royal treatment tomorrow, weather permitting!

Out & About – Week 2 – Fertilizer Friday

I love to keep a timeline of what is going on in the great outdoors.  Which plants are blooming as well as the wildlife that emerges or migrates back to the area.  

Last week I was out & about and here are a few of the pics.

In my own yard….

Brussel sprouts!  I was shocked to see this is growing from the last year.   It was the first time I grew it so that was one of my experiments.

Leftover garlic.

And leeks.  And acorns, of course!

This beautiful tree blooms for a very short time every Spring.  Such a pretty addition to the landscape.  I wish it lasted longer!

Hydrangeas are budding.

Tulips & Hyacinths…..no garden is complete without them.

Nor these, unfortunately.

Neighboring towns….

I love this place.  It’s a house on a corner so it’s easy to see the pond from the side street.  It was quiet on this day.  Usually it’s brimming with geese and ducks.

Only one lonely duck on this day.

Then just down the road, this beautiful pair.

I hadn’t been to this pond in quite some time and was delighted to see this beautiful swan. 

 

Her partner was across the pond when I started feeding her but not for long.

 

What beautiful creatures!

We’ve had a very wet spring in the northeast and it hasn’t been very much fun.  

But there is a bright side.

Flowering trees have all exploded at the same time.    I’m happy to enjoy the beautiful sight even if just for a short time.

So that’s what’s been going on in my area over the last week.  I hope you are enjoying the bounty of Mother Earth’s wand too!  I look forward to seeing everyone’s posts on Tootsie’s Fertilizer Friday.

Unexpected Pretties - Fertilizer Friday

I read (and love) Tootsie’s blog but I’ve never participated in  Fertilizer Friday before so I’m the new (albeit old) kid in town.  I am not fortunate enough to live in a sunny house so I have to dig into my photos from last season.

Do you recognize this?

Notice on the lower right that a second bloom is bursting from it’s papery covering.

They were cut from these.Leeks!

I now know why leeks are so expensive.  These were planted in the spring of 2008 and over wintered in the garden into 2009.  I had no idea they would take so long to grow!   Oy....patience is a virtue.

So in addition to the scrumptious Potato Leek Soup that was made, a bouquet was born!  Waste not, want not.

That is my contribution to Fertilizer Friday for this week.  I would love to be contributing something that is “live ‘n kicking” but that is still months away.   Visit Tootsie’s blog where there are sure to be plenty.

P.S.  I am renovating my blog so please bear with me.

Exploring My Neighboring Towns - Wrentham

Last week I was out and about enjoying the colors of the season and came upon a little farm in the neighboring town of Wrentham.  Several times I had been tempted to buy my pumpkins from the grocery store (chain) but repeatedly resisted.  It means far more to a local farmer that I buy from them.  So in a very haphazard way I found Adams Farm.  As a matter of fact, I am assuming that I was in Wrentham MA.  Actually factually, I may have been in Cumberland RI.  Either way my intention was well meaning and mission accomplished.  So here are a few pictures from my meandering trip.

Pretty New England Barn

Perhaps the farm guard?  He looks like he means business.

These were some good looking goats.  Look!  A Dalmatian!

These guys were just traipsing along the side of the road.

A horse in the field.  Just doing her thing.

What a beauty!  If I am not mistaken, she is getting her winter coat.

The waning days of Fall.

A Bloom in the Nick of Time - Brugmansia

It has been a long wait!   My brugmansias (aka:  Angel Trumpets) were put out in April.  All rooted and potted and looking fine.  And finally, for the first time this year, I have a bloom!  Woo-hoo.  Only about 3 months later than expected.



Isn’t it beautiful!!  I really didn’t think that I was going to see one at all this year – with the arrival of the cool weather it wasn’t looking good.  But this baby pulled through and I am just delighted!