Summer Lull

The garden is filling in and the pots are starting to look like show pieces.  With all the heat and dry weather, it has taken quite a bit of sprinkling to get to this point.  I am thankful for a husband who likes to take the time to move the hose around the yard during the day while I'm at work.  The plants are getting their moisture but have time to dry their leaves before bed time.  All gardeners should have a night shift worker for their watering.
I have hit the bottom of the barrel.  I have been reserving my rain barrel water for dipping my water cans in for my potted plants.  There is a bit more in there, but I have to move the can around to scoop it out now.  They say we have a "chance" of rain Saturday night.  We are not holding our breath.  Dark clouds moved over last Saturday with not a drop for our plants.  90's are predicted temps for the weekend once again.  It is almost 4 weeks since we had rain.
Some of my annuals are coming to the end of their bloom.  I will talk more about my reseeding annuals as the seed pods set and I can get some pictures for those interested in what to look for in their own gardens.  The larkspur in the picture above has green pods at this time.
I was thrilled to catch a gold finch perched on top of my "wild" sunflowers tonight.  They don't frequent my feeder but are stunning with the yellow of the sunflower and their arched bodies reaching for the seeds below their feet.  The thistles are also starting to bloom and seed now.  It is a good source for finch food, but they sure are not welcome in the lawn or garden.  Soon the finches will be gathering the down of the thistle to line their nests.  I still remember the early morning bird walks during my college summer school.  Dr. Hardin pointed out the finches up and down flight patterns as they dip and rise with the beat and glide of their wings.  I identify the finches in flight from this characteristic today.
No tomatoes yet, the fruit is setting.  I have enjoyed a couple of small zucchinis.  The chipmunks started eating the ends so they had to get picked earlier than planned.  Moving the strawberry planters into my new vertical tower has meant more strawberries for me the last couple days.  The chipmunks had too easy of access in the last locations.  They are also close to the hose, so the plants look less droopy than they have.
Time to move the hose...again.

Back from vacation

I took a wonderful break from everyday life and went with my family on a vacation during my daughter's spring break.  The gardener in me did not take a break from watching the emerging plant life going by my car window on our trip from the upper mid-west to Florida's northwest panhandle. We did make one intentional garden stop at Eden State Park in Florida where the Spanish moss hangs of the trees of this former mansion of a lumber baron.  Not much was planted yet but the grounds offer such a peaceful setting as you sit and rock on the wrap-around porch of this beautiful home.

A stop in Pensacola's historic district was a treat for the senses.  So much was blooming in the yards surrounding the historic buildings.  The only orange trees we saw in Florida where also in this area.  A town square across from our lunch stop was also a pleasure to stroll through.

Of course, there were palm trees in all kinds of varieties.  The pool was surrounded by jasmine adding a wonderful smell to the nighttime air.  The grounds had pansies and snap dragons in full bloom.  According to the locals, they also had a mild winter and could have grown just about anything through a winter with no freeze.  Several newspaper articles talked about the early arrival of spring in all the stops along our route.

 There were sunrise walks along the beach...

birds of all kinds on land, in the air and sea...

 and a few other little friends popped up in surprising places.

Coming home to a blooming garden was a wonderful treat.  With temperatures reaching the 80's in our southern Wisconsin city, so much had emerged from the ground.  The primroses were fully open as well as the periwinkle and scilla in their bright blues.  Daffodils are fully open with tulips not far behind.  My transplanted blood root has also pushed up its white petals and delicate green leaves.

I will continue to approach this spring with caution as there are many days that can bring a cold snap and kill off developing blossoms.  Fruit crops face an uncertain future with such an early bloom happening with hardy peaches and pears.  Insect populations promise a strong showing with so little frost to knock down their numbers this winter.
I thank my oldest daughter for her kind devotion to my greenhouse plants while I was gone.  With so many things just started, I could not have left them unattended for a week and expected to find them still alive when I came home.

Just a reminder to those who got their onions started early.  Keep them cut back to 3" when they get up to 6".  It is also time to start setting them out for a couple hours every day in a protected location to harden them off for transplant in the middle of April.  I will try and remember to take and post pictures when I do this job as you won't believe what these tiny little babies can endure.  Get your flowers started soon so you will have some strong plants by Memorial Day.