garden — Page 126

A Busy Friday

June 30, 2017 at 8:43 am by Claudia

Three days and counting. Today? Recycle. Hold Mail. Hold NY Times. And more. Yesterday, I mowed the front yard and the corral and was pretty darned tuckered out at the end of the process, but I knew it was going to rain at some point today and tomorrow, so I thought I’d get that done.

These might be the last of the roses for a while. I need to add more to the Memorial Garden so there’s something else going on when the roses decide to take a break. The moonflowers have emerged from the ground but it will take a while for them to start climbing.

Much of the milkweed that is growing this year is tucked way back in the borders at the back of the property. I had to contort my body to get this shot of the flowers. They have such a wonderful scent. Have you ever seen millefiori flowers in a glass paperweight? These look exactly like them.

I have a friend who always manages to see a Monarch butterfly on her milkweed. That hasn’t happened to me. Wish it would!

I bought a hollyhock this year because I missed the volunteer that graced us with beautiful flowers for the past two years. So far, every bud has fallen to the ground before it could fully open. I took this photo this morning. Fingers crossed that an entire flower emerges.

I’m looking forward to my trip but so many flowers are about to open around here that I’m sad that I’ll miss out on that daily discovery.

Can I take my garden with me?

My friends saw three houses yesterday, all of which were wrong for them. But now they’re reconsidering the one that is only six minutes away from our cottage. I don’t dare hope!

By the way, we saw a black bear cub run across the road the other day (near to the house they’re considering). And my neighbor has seen one cross his driveway.

Okay. Time to get going.

Happy Friday.

Flowers and Friends

June 29, 2017 at 8:47 am by Claudia

The first of the purple coneflowers has opened. I have so many coneflowers in the garden and I hope a few more open before I leave on Monday. They make me happy.

I made up two batches of deer repellent and sprayed everything in the big garden bed and the bed on the side of the house. They don’t seem to go for bee balm (yet) or catmint. This morning I woke up way too early – at 5 am – and started thinking about all sorts of troubling things including my marauding deer, so I got up and immediately checked out any activity in the gardens. So far, so good. Since it’s going to rain this weekend, I’ll reapply the repellent on Monday morning before I leave.

And that’s all I can do. Not easy for a girl who is a bit of a control freak.

I mowed the back forty yesterday and I think I’ll mow the front lawn today. Noble came by and we talked about a loose schedule for watering the plants. He brought along little Petey, their adorable dog, so I got to dote on him a bit.

Then I had dinner with my friends Rick and Doug. They saw the house yesterday and they love it, but have some reservations about the outside. Putting in a pool might be problematic and the house – being surrounded by trees that go up a sharp slope in the back of the house – might not get enough light, despite it having lots of windows at the back. While we were waiting 30 minutes or so for a table at a local restaurant very near to the house, we went back and walked around on the property. It’s really lovely, but I understand their reservations about it. They haven’t ruled it out, but they’re looking at another property today. I’d sure love to have them close by, but they’ll most likely be in this part of the Hudson Valley anyway and they need to find the right house for them. Maybe only six minutes away from the cottage was too good to be true!

I have to say how lovely it was to spend time with them. Rick and I have known each other for 30 years. I’ve moved a lot in my life and my closest friends live far away from me in Michigan and Chicago and California and Florida (my sister is also my friend.) I have lots of casual friends out here and lots of colleagues, but being able to spend time with a friend like Rick (and Doug, as well) is a gift. I’ve missed that so much.

So we’ll see what happens.

I have to pick some more black raspberries today. Yummy.

Happy Thursday.

The Culprit

June 28, 2017 at 9:00 am by Claudia

I just mentioned to someone in the comments that I rarely have trouble with deer eating things in my garden.

I spoke too soon.

All the day lilies on the side of the house have been eaten. Several of the brown-eyed susans and some of the phlox have been chomped on.

I think he is the culprit:

This is the guy I shooed away from the side garden bed the other day – where all the day lilies are.

So frustrating! And I forgot to spray any deer repellent, so that part of it is my fault. The only thing saving me from being really depressed is the fact that I’m going away for about 3 weeks, and then I’m going away in August, as well, so I won’t see the garden as much as I normally would.