Deck Changes (again)

After we had fresh tomato and lettuce sandwiches for lunch, I set to work changing the deck. I decided to move my glider from the hosta garden to the deck. I decided to do this last week, but I had to have DH around to help carry it, so today was THE day. This was a major change which necessitated moving a lot of heavy items. DH helped with all the heavy stuff and then he cut the grass while I played around with the new arrangement. I really like how it turned out. (click here to see the area before the change)

Bargain at the Farmer's Market

I had a nice day today. I was working outside at daybreak - I separated the big red daylily and some liatris (I was shamed into doing something with the liatris when I saw Sabine's beauties in bloom), moved a perennial cornflower that needed more sun and a little clump of painted daisies. About 8:00 am DH and I went to the local farmer's market where we got a couple of nice big tomatoes, some pattypan squash and some fingerling potatoes. It was "garage sale" day at the farmer's market and I bought 11 old quilt squares for only $2. I will probably make pillows out of them this winter to use outside next year.

Here is something for you puzzle lovers. It is a perennial word scramble. Once you unscramble all of the words, there is a little message from me at the bottom. It's a little tough unless you really know your plants. I made it up a year or so ago and had it on my web site. I just found it while searching for something else and thought I'd throw it out here - someone may find it a bit entertaining. You will need to double click the puzzle to bring it up larger and then print it. Have fun.

To Do List Keeps Growing

I have not done any real garden work in quite some time (other than daily watering of the containers). There is not much weeding to be done this time of the year. I did notice some of that darn Queen Anne’s lace blooming that I missed earlier in the year. Talk about a persistent weed – I dig it out by the hundreds every year. It has a long tap root and is easiest to remove when it is very young. Now I will have to get in there with a shovel and dig deeply to get it all. I know that some people actually encourage it in their gardens, but in my area it runs rampant and I don’t want it anywhere near my flower beds. It will take over in a very short time if I let those seeds ripen and drop. It is on my mental list of things to do this weekend.

My battle to eradicate the dreaded creeping bellflower continues. I have to get to it before it seeds.

I also noticed a large red daylily that had no blooms at all this year. I am taking that as a sign it wants to be divided. I will probably divide it into 3 plants so I have to decide where to plant the other two.

All of the main beds need to be edged again. That is at least a two-hour job. Oh, who am I kidding? It is probably more like 4 hours if I do them all.

I am removing all of the plants from my small rockwall area (it is approx. 12 ft. x 5 ft). It never looks very good, so I have decided to start over. I don’t know what to plant there. I am kicking around the idea of leaving it bare this year and planting annuals next summer. I rarely plant annuals in the ground. It might be nice to have color that I can depend on for the entire summer. Just a thought…..who knows what I will decide? First I have to remove everything that is there.

Geez, it sounds like there is a LOT of work I could be doing, doesn’t it? I just have not felt like doing any of it yet. Our weather has cooled down this week to the 70’s, so maybe that will spur me forward.

Allium 'Persian Blue'

Does anyone have Allium 'Persian Blue'? I am planning to order 20 bulbs from Breck's. Before I do I would like to know if any of you have them and what you think of them. They look beautiful in the catalog, but I learned long ago not to trust those pictures. Are they really a bluish color or do they look more purple? I am interested in all thoughts, opinions, etc.

By the way, Brecks sent me a coupon for $25 off with no strings attached. There is no minimum order. It says if your order is less than $25, you get it free. With an offer like that, I can�t afford NOT to order these. The price is $31.99 for 20 bulbs. I get $25 off that amount. Yes, Zo, there IS a Santa Claus!

And the Answer Is...............(drum roll)

Rose Campion (lychnis coronaria). Both Tarracotta and Kathy got it correct. Way to go girls!

Girl Gone Gardening didn't get the correct answer, but she gave it a try and in the process gave us some very interesting (and possibly useful) information about mullein. I do believe mullein was also used for candle wicks in ancient times. Go read her comment--I so love to learn new information about plants.

Lychnis Coronaria is actually an herb. It will bloom for a long time if you keep it deadheaded. Do let some seeds develop before fall though, so you can get babies for future years. This is a short-lived plant, but once you have it, it will probably keep reseeding.

Anybody up for a little Game?

See if you know what plant this is. Just click the comment section to give your guess.

I am a fuzzy silver-foliaged plant with bright magenta flowers (I also have white – pink relatives). I have been around since medieval times and was used for candle wicks during that time period. During my first year of growth I do not produce flowers, just the fuzzy silver foliage, causing many to mistake me for lamb’s ear.

Who am I?

Platycodon (Balloon Flower)

Hi. My name is Zo & I am a Magazine Addict...

I get a lot of magazines. Today I got a renewal request from 'Country Gardens'. I really like this magazine, but I am not resubscribing. Why? Well, in their "this is your last issue unless you cough up the check" letter, they offer me a price of $33.97 for 2 years (only 8 issues). That's more than $4 an issue, which I consider a bit steep, but am willing to pay if it is a good read. As I flip thru the pages, one of many subscription cards falls out (usually I pull all of these annoying loose advertising cards out first and throw them all in the garbage without reading any of them). This time I pick it up curious to see what the price is. You guessed it -- LESS than what they want to charge me (a loyal subscriber for years). For only $26.97 (plus $3 postage & handling) anyone can get this magazine for 2 years. Oh, yes, that is another major peeve of mine - the new fad of listing a price in bold numbers and then in the small print adding plus $3 postage & handling. Sneaky!

Yes, I know I could let it expire and just send in the new subscription card, but that's not the point. They should be rewarding their loyal subscribers with the lower rate, NOT charging them more than anyone else.

I am but one person, but I must take a stand. I shall suffer thru the withdrawal symptoms. When I am overcome with the urge to read 'Country Gardens' I shall grab an issue of 'Backyard Living' or 'Birds & Blooms' instead -- I vow that I shall NOT resub to this magazine.

Yes, 'Country Gardens' has done what few magazines have done before--they have lost me as their customer-- and THAT is not an easy thing to do.........I am every magazine editor's dream--an "easy" sell.

If there was a "Magazine Addicts Anonymous" I would certainly be a member.

I have a lot of phlox blooming right now. I got right in the middle of it and took this pic. I like how it frames the bottom.

I planted this new phlox last night. My mother-in-law gave it to me and I do not know the name of it. Does anyone know?

This is the back side of the long beds that I am always showing you. To me it is the back, but, I guess it is really "the front" as it is what is seen from the road. Look at all that Sedum Autumn Joy! (I think I told you I have a hundred or more of them and now you can see I was telling the truth!) You will certainly be seeing more of this when it all blooms.

My entire house is wrapped in gardens. I have gardens wrapped with other gardens (I am sure that does not surprise any of you regular readers--LOL). The yew hedge is wrapped with perennials. This is the beginning of the deck gardens. It continues right around to the back side of the deck, which you will see below.

I have a number of garden areas that I have not even shown you yet. Today I counted 25 different areas--even I was surprised at the number. A couple of them I really can't count as I am attempting to remove everything and start over. So they are nothing to speak of at the moment. This area is the back side of the deck. There is a butterfly bush in the middle which should bloom in the next few weeks and (of course) it is edged with Sedum Autumn Joy, so it will be a sea of pink by September.

Same area viewed from the rockwall

The first "heavenly blue" morning glory bloomed today. The blue are my favorite.

Early this morning I put two of my big scarecrows out. This guy waves to everyone as they go by.

Garden Helper

For Girl Gone Gardening

who loves frogs....well, this is a toad, but he is real. It's a toss up on which is uglier--this real one or the big green fake below. LOL. I have nothing against these guys. I know they are beneficial in the garden, but I don't want to get too friendly---like I would not touch them or anything like that. EWWWWWWWWW............