tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40476656215275952012024-03-05T01:58:36.920-06:00Society GarlicOrganic and Xeric Gardening plus Some Observations of Criminal TrialsIrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-75575265053148291182012-06-15T13:57:00.002-05:002012-09-16T14:45:37.324-05:00garden bloggers' bloom day
Previously undiscovered daylily
I was too lazy to post last month. Check out blooms from all over the place at May Dreams Gardens. We Austinites are now entering the it's-never-going-to-rain-here-again days, which combined with highs in the mid to upper nineties, makes me a little grumpy. But at least we've only had one triple-digit (101) day so far. And who could stay grumpy for very Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-62790962895891729852012-04-15T12:53:00.000-05:002012-09-16T14:44:11.774-05:00garden bloggers' bloom day
first homegrown Poppy "Hungarian Blue"
I can't remember a prettier bloom day than what's happening in my yard today. Carol at May Dreams Gardens hosts bloom day, so make sure to check out what's blooming in other gardeners' worlds.
first homegrown Bachelor's Buttons "Black Magic" in foreground with Prairie Verbena and Blackfoot Daisies
Larkspur from MSS of Zanthan Gardens
Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-73266920443280257212012-03-15T08:00:00.000-05:002012-03-15T08:42:01.432-05:00garden bloggers' bloom day
Grape hyacinth--so delicate--planted long ago by a previous homeowner.
Wow. What a difference a mild winter and decent rainfall make in my attitude towards my gardens and my gardens' rejuvenation. So thrilled to see thriving plants all over our yard, I even left the weeds alone to do their thing, something I'm sure I'll regret. But after last year's historic drought, I just couldn't bring Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-76963036261677799652011-11-09T16:35:00.000-06:002012-09-16T14:58:24.240-05:00warts and all
fall aster, basil, potatoes, chard, tiny lettuces, and plumbago in one of back vegetable beds
I was going to wait until I'd weeded the vegetable beds to post any photos, but since I've been such a delinquent blogger lately, I decided to post what's been going on here, warts and all.
at least they're taller than the weeds: chard, red winter kale, dinosaur kale, red cabbage, golden beetsIrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-21713874074433909352011-09-27T17:25:00.000-05:002011-09-27T17:25:04.566-05:00despite drought and heat, some bright spots
Trailing lantana's thriving with a little supplemental water.
It's almost October, but Austin's drought and heat continue to break records. It's difficult not to get discouraged with this continued daily hand watering routine of both drought-tolerant plants--"tolerant", not "impervious"--and vegetable seedlings. I guess I'm just stubborn, but I keep plugging away. Small successes go a long Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-31520638230069419352011-09-17T13:13:00.000-05:002011-09-17T13:13:43.401-05:00garden bloggers' bloom day, late again
Blackfoot Daisies
We finally have a 30 percent chance of rain today, but I'm not holding my breath. That it's only 90 degrees at 1 p.m. is a breath of fresh air, however! Austin has had 85 days of triple-digit heat this year, record-breaking. Mind-numbing. And continued exceptional drought and hideous wildfires. So please forgive my tardy post and lack of botanical names in today's post. Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-11393701631609320392011-08-15T12:38:00.001-05:002011-08-15T12:38:26.030-05:00garden bloggers' bloom day
bougainvillea
Unfortunately, very little has changed since last month's bloom day except that it's even hotter and drier. If I'm counting right, today will be Austin's 61st day of triple-digit heat. Sigh. Be sure to check out other garden bloggers' blooms at Carol's May Dream Gardens.
leadwort plumbago groundcover
ruellia and artemisia
garlic chive and plumbago
I couldn't Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-14487206532718708722011-07-29T17:47:00.002-05:002011-07-30T11:57:00.736-05:00exceptional drought-tolerant plants
cenizo (Texas "Silverado" sage)
Looks like tropical storm Don is not going to grace Austin with any rain on this dry 45th day of triple-digit heat, so I'm celebrating my truly drought-tolerant plants. Plants that are surviving in full sun in this exceptional drought with NO supplemental water. Amazing.
artemisia "Silver king":
This artemisia spreads fairly quickly and ends up two toIrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-6950759119691954512011-07-15T21:18:00.000-05:002011-07-15T21:18:12.088-05:00another crispy garden bloggers' bloom day
zinnia from mislabeled seed packet
I really meant to post something between bloom days, but 32 days of triple digit heat have somewhat fried my motivation and creativity. Please escape Texas' heat and visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see less dusty gardeners' blooms.
I shot this four days ago: my beloved rugged spider lily, hymenocallis 'tropical giant'
Evolvulus glomeratus 'blue Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-14133447404119287212011-06-15T15:59:00.000-05:002011-06-15T15:59:13.360-05:00August in June garden bloggers' bloom day
The coleus I planted in this cool planter was ripped out by squirrels within hours.
Today is this year's 11th day of triple-digit heat. Mid-June! And of course, Austin's still in an exceptional drought. I think the term "exceptional" is a little too cute for what is the most severe level of the drought o'meter, but no one asked me. Please visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens to see other Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-24648196251401800462011-06-01T16:17:00.002-05:002011-06-01T18:42:44.734-05:00happy tomato report
Black Prince, Green Cherokee, Lemon Boy, Black Krim, Sungolds, Habanero, Serranos
Despite the fact that Austin's drought has returned to the most extreme level, "exceptional"--we had two 100-degree days last week--we've managed to grow some darn pretty tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. I'm thrilled, especially because the Sungolds are the only variety I've grown before.
The Black Prince Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-21226260729433604142011-05-19T15:47:00.000-05:002011-05-19T15:47:42.090-05:00better late...garden bloggers' bloom day
Vitex tree
Yep, I'm four days late posting for garden bloggers' bloom day, but I did shoot these photos on the 15th. Carol at May Dreams Gardens invites bloggers to share what's blooming in their gardens on the 15th of each month, so make sure to check her blog to see blooms from all over the place.
I thought these balloon flowers were annuals, but these came back from last spring!
gray Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-72148517227206321262011-05-01T19:26:00.000-05:002011-05-01T19:26:24.119-05:00front yard garden: always a work in progressSometimes these things just hit you. Why do we keep ignoring these overgrown, not-entirely-healthy rosemary plants? Suddenly, I'm almost blinded to the cheery larkspur and big pot of white bougainvillea because all I see are rosemary monsters.
Vitex tree is blooming and larkspur from MSS are hanging on.
I'm a big fan of rosemary, but not when it gets huge and woody and diseased. Although it's Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-82135743402782499872011-04-16T19:11:00.001-05:002011-04-17T12:40:05.262-05:00late garden bloggers' bloom day
first-ever larkspurs from seed
I'm positively giddy about my first-ever larkspurs from seed that MSS gave me.
I'm going to blame being a day late for garden bloggers' bloom day (GBBD) on my larkspur fever. Thanks to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting GBBD on the 15th of each month. It's a great place to see blooms from all over the world. Part of the allure of the larkspurs is that Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-65853743589706478672011-03-29T19:31:00.000-05:002011-03-29T19:31:15.716-05:00fancy tomato stakesHusband Kurt decided to make our new tomato beds fancier by using some blackline (natural gas pipeline) as stakes. Originally, Kurt had used the blackline for curtain rods, but he replaced them with homemade copper pipe curtain rods:
So the sturdy blackline rejects were just hanging out in the mudroom. The beauty of them as tomato stakes is that you can screw on additional lengths to accommodate Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-54099578026741820822011-03-15T15:45:00.000-05:002011-03-15T15:45:01.318-05:00garden bloggers' bloom day
young Mexican Plum tree's first blooms
I missed the last two garden bloggers' bloom days because I had nothing blooming except some rosemary and petunias. Most of this month's blooms are new transplants I planted in the last two weeks. Check out others' blooms from all over the world at Carol's May Dreams Gardens .
I wish this cilantro would wait a little longer to bolt, but its flowers Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-63823450509836398562011-03-08T16:29:00.002-06:002011-03-08T17:55:46.801-06:00new vegetable beds with (gasp) orange flowers
strawflower in the new vegetable beds
I'm known for my affinity for blue, purple, and white blooms to provide visual coolness during our hot, dry summers, but I'm now adding orange--hot Austin summer orange--flowers to the four new vegetable beds husband Kurt added to our side yard this weekend.
It's those darn marigolds' fault. They started it. I'm not sure if marigolds actually deter pests Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-49131235714110998232011-02-28T18:53:00.000-06:002011-02-28T18:53:57.399-06:00adding by subtractingSince that last freeze didn't kill our huge front sidewalk agave, husband Kurt removed it this weekend. Be still my heart! That agave was just too big and drew too much attention away from some of the other cool spiky plants.
today: balance somewhat restored
last Friday: monster agave with pups hogging all the attention
phase one of removal process
agave carcass in the back yard
tiny Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-55776999136939423212011-02-13T20:15:00.001-06:002011-02-13T20:17:08.142-06:00thawed and slightly flawed
I'd sort of hoped the freezing weather would kill this agave, which is just too big now.
Austin had several windy days in a row last week in which the daytime highs barely hit 31 and nighttime lows were in the teens/low 20s. The week before that we had more freezing temperatures and measurable snow, which is extremely unusual for Austin.
Our 1941 house has its original wood frame Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-9238359745204563592011-01-30T16:55:00.005-06:002011-02-13T11:30:39.275-06:00Gardening on trial: genetically modified alfalfa deregulated
Finally, my gardening and trial-watching overlap. Thursday 27-January-2011, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (D-IA) decided the U.S. Dep’t of Agriculture (USDA) will fully deregulate genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready® (RR) Alfalfa. While I am upset and depressed about this move, I’m more grateful than ever to have an organic vegetable garden and more determined Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-27012696228625282172011-01-12T15:22:00.000-06:002011-01-12T15:22:07.924-06:002011 gardening: more tough loveSaturday night, we finally got enough rain to break in my new rain gauges, a little more than half an inch. It arrived just in time to offer some protection against the past two nights' hard freezes. Something about these two weather events solidified my resolve to practice more tough love, especially in our lawnless front yard, which is filled with established drought-tolerant plants. If the Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-75197808856408216672010-12-13T19:42:00.000-06:002010-12-13T19:42:15.494-06:00despite drought and pests, decent December vegetable harvest
Second (small) beet harvest
Caterpillars weren't satisfied eating the beet greens and moved on to the beets themselves.
Austin's officially in the severe drought stage again. I don't think it's rained since September. The fat, woolly, black and orange Giant Leopard Moth caterpillars have been eating everything in sight. And yet, I've managed to grow some cool-weather vegetables, and I'm Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-37419798914042347912010-11-23T15:07:00.000-06:002010-11-23T15:07:51.072-06:00just in time for Thanksgiving: early carrots and late beansI didn't thin all the carrot seedlings as thoroughly as I should have, as you can see from this curly duo.
But overall, I'm thrilled with this season's early group of little "Carnival Blend" (from Botanical Interests) carrots. I, like many other Austin gardeners, doubted that those seeds I planted the first week of August when the weather was consistently in the upper 90s and dry would actually Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-57221633555931347442010-11-15T17:32:00.000-06:002010-11-15T17:32:58.216-06:00garden bloggers' bloom day Cooler weather but precious little rain has led me to water my vegetable garden and a few potted plants but allow the rest of the yard to fend for itself. So I don't have a big bloom showing this month. You can find other garden bloggers' blooms at Carol's May Dreams Gardens blog. Also blooming are blue and white plumbago, lavender, trailing lantana, a few blackfoot daisies, and Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4047665621527595201.post-41725484931211321842010-10-30T15:11:00.002-05:002010-10-30T18:12:24.925-05:00Halloween weekend greens and grasshoppersHusband Kurt and I finally put up a few Halloween decorations today and will celebrate our 11th anniversary tomorrow. Meanwhile, I've been harvesting (all from seed) several quarts of kale and chard, one big bowl of baby lettuces, a couple of handfuls of green beans ("Contender" and "Royal Burgundy"), the last few cherry tomatoes, and a few banana peppers. Tonight I'll make a big pot of curried Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517165081477969468noreply@blogger.com7