Spring 2011

Summer Lillys 2009

Spring 2008 in Missouri

Early Spring around April 5th, 2008

No Time

It's been really difficult this year to do much gardening. First ungodly hot and now too cold. Since traveling in Oct. and Nov., I've not had the time to do normal chores. I'm only thankful I was able to get all the house plants inside, sprayed, repotted, watered and resituated. A massive job since many of the plants are huge and extremely heavy. I have grow lights in the basement so many of the shedders are down there.
It snowed last night, Thanksgiving evening. Today, Friday, is cold and overcast. I really good day to stay in. I can't imagine going to a store for any reason.

I am lucky

The weather changed today. It's been raining most of the day with temps now in the 40's. Good thing I worked as fast as I did on my plants. Thankfully they're all in the garage except for two giant ferns I haven't finished with. Now comes the task of moving them inside to the available window space. I've got tables set up in the basement under grow lights. Whatever I can't fit around the house, goes down there.

Staging area for repotting plants

My plants have become so large that it takes a gargantuan effort to repot them. I've already used 6 cubic feet of Miracle Grow Potting soil and had to purchase a number of 12"-21" pots just to fit the larger ones. I got the "King Tut" papyrus when it was 3 feet tall in the beginning of the summer. See it in the middle picture. It stands probably 10 feet now. The ferns and spider plants are enormous as are the asparagus ferns. I use a dolly to move them around. And I'm still not done. Have spent 3 days already and am just trying to beat any cold snap that might occur at any time.

Difficult time of year

This is a very difficult time of year. Temperatures are fluctuating between cool and warm and hot to cold. And we're going from air conditioning to heat and then back again. I can't work fast enough re potting. It's so time consuming. You have to find the right size pot to reestablish your plant. Spray for bugs. Water. Acclimate and then move into the house and find the right location. I've been working on the small plants for awhile. Have to start tackling the bigger ones now. A cold snap is predicted. It's beautiful, sunny and cool right today. Better get busy.

Fence Lines

October 1st, 2007

So hard to believe that it's Fall. It's still 87 degrees during the day. At least not so humid. I've set up a table on the screened in porch to start working on the smaller plants to get them ready to bring inside. I have some Neem Oil to spray on the leaves and some insecticide to put on the soil. Then the really tough stuff has to be done. Moving the big, heavy plants to the porch and washing them down and doing any transplanting. It's 59 degrees now, but it's 1am. The temp can change on a dime though, so there's a lot of pressure now to work on it everyday. Then the really big stuff starts. All the moving and hauling inside. Today is the first time since the beginning of summer that I felt like working outside. I finally got the smaller mums in the ground and did some more watering. The ground is like cement and lots of leaves have fallen from lack of water.

A few apples

For the first time in a long time wh have some golden delicious apples on our tree in the backyard. Our Lab Roxy used to scarf them up and devour them. Now our Lab Bailey is doing the same thing. Usually the squirrels get the small apples before they hit the ground. But looking out the window I can still see a few hanging.
We had a few days of wonderful, cool temperatures but now it's returned to the 90's with humidity. Things are pretty dry. The drought this summer took its toll.

Glimpses

Even though it's still 90 plus degrees out, things are browned out and dried up, there is a tinge of Fall in the air. Am still trying to water some to preserve the perennials but for the most part it's a losing battle.

Our First Nice Sunny Day

Today is Sunday, 8/26/07. It's the first sunny day without intense heat and humidity. It's been a struggle to water and keep the gardens alive. Have lost a couple of bushes. Just couldn't get water to them. The grass is brown and the deer have been eating plants they're not supposed to like.
Critters continue to get up in my bird fountains and topple them. I have four. Three have Twigglers to keep the water moving.
The Climatis are starting to bloom again. But on the whole now is not a pretty time of year. Things look dried up. Lots of tree leaves have fallen.

Roadside Garden

This is an interesting roadside garden that has prospered this summer.

Lilies are Blooming

My B&D lilies are finally opening

The gardens are thriving in all the heat, humidity and sunshine. Plus we're getting just enough rain, the good soaking kind.

Oleander

Found a nice looking Oleander and planted it in a large container and placed it in my front garden. I have several other plants in containers placed around the garden as well. They are more tropical and need to be brought inside at the end of the season. I save myself the work and do not plant them. It cuts down on contamination of bugs. I over winter as many of my plants as I can. The Oleander is doing well and just started to bloom. Since it is highly poisonous, I also need to be able to move it quickly if the dogs jump the fence and get near it. That recently has happened since there is a warren of rabbits in the front garden. Unfortunately, 3 of the 5 immature bunnies have been killed by the dogs. The bunnies are not fast enough at their young age and fell prey to the jaws of both the Lab and the Dalmatian.

Rough Spring

2007 was a difficult Spring in the Midwest and much of the US. The growing season started very early with a about of very warm weather. Everything started growing and blooming early.Then as expected there was a really severe cold snap that stunted everything. Three months later that is now memory. Most plants, trees and shrubs have recovered nicely and blooming and growth is abundant.