Category Archives: flowers

Jun22

Rust affecting the Shasta Daisies

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Rust affecting the Shasta Daisies, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Here’s what I was talking about in my previous post. See the spots? I did take many of them off by hand. Not sure if that will help or not.

My 50 gallon in ground pond was in ‘distress’. I have never seen it so full of algae, mud, you name it. It reminded me of my cousin’s big pond behind their farmhouse that we use to swim in. Icky mucky! I have no trouble sticking my hand in algae-it’s like long green threads. I use to make a mean mud pie as a kid. : ) So I decided to bail it out. Bri came out and did a few, but my back is going to feel it tomorrow. I even pulled out the two meshed encased waterlilies and peeled the algae off of them. I was fascinated that one was the home to earthworms as I didn’t know they lived under water. I’ll see how it looks tomorrow and if more bailing needs to be done.

The guys went over to the patriarch’s again as tomorrow he turns 85. I helped Bri pick out a food basket and a cake. I also suggested they take over a gourmet pizza from our new favorite pizza joint. Sean almost begged to go out to eat, even to Friendly’s but pop declined. He does get out of the house to ride the bus to Atlantic City though. I feel when he knows I am coming, he needs to clean, etc. Plus I can’t eat their usual choice of take-out. I use to take food over there all the time. It was so much work. And he use to take us out to restaurants too. We would have paid today. The people he wants are there IMHO.

The weatherman got it wrong about thunderstorms, so I was watering things yesterday and today. Bri trimmed our front hedges that run along the house and didn’t cover my impatiens on one side, etc so that was a mess to clean up. And I am so discouraged as deer have eaten all my sunflowers, leaves on my Hollyhock, leaves on my Dinner Plate Hibiscus and about a dozen buds off of one of my roses. I am happy that my tomato tepees are holding up so far. Those plastic clips that Martha Stewart suggested are great. Instead of using string or panty hose, these little circular clip with a latch do the trick.

Stay cool!

Jun19

Some plant stuff

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I’m basically breaking tidbits of info up. A few weeks ago, Lee asked me if I knew what was wrong with her plants. Well, didn’t some of my own plants get ‘rust’ on them. I did some research and it’s a fungus from too much rain and dampness. They tell you to remove all the leaves, but I’d be out there for a while to do so. The rust is mainly bothering my Shasta Daisies (Grrr-I love them) and a few other perennials. I think you can spray them, but since it’s there already, I don’t know how that would help. I guess I’ll just watch it and pick off the ugly ones.

Jun18

Rainbow effect

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We had a heavy downpour a little after dinner and this pretty rainbow appeared briefly. I just heard on the tv, that something similar happened after Tim Russert’s memorial service. The last song that was played was a ukulele version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’. When the guests left, they looked up to see a double rainbow in the sky. Pretty awesome.

Tim’s 22 yr old son Luke did an awesome job on his eulogy. He has so many of his dad’s mannerisms.

Since I was out in the after rain, I took a few more shots:

The pretty peachy pink Hollyhock that use to be across from our front door. You can see where the deer nibbled the leaves right to the stem.

Golden Lantana with rain droplets

Red and rust colored coleus

I cooked dinner on the grill about an hour early as rain was threatening. I got the burgers cooked, then threw on some chicken and thought I’d do a few hot dogs for the heck of it. I brought it all in and the skies opened up! Brian ate all three things (I cooked more for other meals)! and Sean ate a burger and a hot dog.

Sean’s first day on the job was ok-he washed walls for most of the time. The lady from my hometown called this morning to offer him the internship! Can you believe it! If he had waited a few more days before accepting the janitorial job he would have made it easier for himself. All the ‘old’ folks want him to do the internship. It would look good on his resume next year when he’s looking for a real job. He’s stalling about it and we think he’s a big scared. Reality will have to set in one of these hours. I think he’ll do fine. Wish him well in making up his mind.

Jun13

It really is Friday the 13th

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I’m thinking about the former classmate of mine that passed away as it was her funeral today-31 years to the day that we graduated from high school. As I was reflecting on that, I see that news journalist Tim Russert had  died suddenly at the age of 58. I always enjoyed watching him as he was really excited about reporting, especially the elections. He did get to see his son graduate from Boston College this year.

I know election coverage won’t be the same without him. My mom had just bought his book about his relationship with his dad, ‘Big Russ’ to give my uncle for his birthday. Ironically, my grandfather passed away at the age of 58 also.

Sean’s ‘gal pal’ Kat is graduated from high school tonight. He’s been gone for a few hours to the graduation. She is going to Penn State, but another campus and yes she has a steady boyhood, much to Sean’s chagrin-no he really sees her as a friend. He’s going to her grad party tomorrow night and got her a nice frame with ‘2008’ cut out in the mat so you can add photos under them.

Here’s some more surprises:

I knew I had planted this Clematis out front, but what a neat surprise to see it had really grown and was blooming! I had to untangle it from the bleeding heart there and take a trellis from another area of the yard. It’s a pretty white with a lime green accent.

The Red Hot Pokers are having a good bloom year all around. Here are some next to the pond and gazing ball. I also have the original next to the house in the back and more in the yucca garden.

Here it is up close. It’s a rather unusual bloom isn’t it?

The Sweet peas are coming up well. They are in my herb patch plus in Sean’s garden.

I know I show you a lot of close ups, but here is what I call the Lily/Grass garden. The Lamb’s Ear really has spread well. I have a clematis and moon flower where the supports are. The lilies are situated more in the back. The grape arbor has been here the entire time we have lived in this house. It use to provide us with dark purple grapes, now it has a disease. I’d love to cut it down and plant a variety of azaleas here. The veggie patch is way to the right. And those are Queen Anne’s lace a wildflower next to where I am trying to grow wildflowers. I do see flowers, but I am seeing lots of grass too. I can see why people put a block like newspapers in an area they want to garden to smother and kill the grass, etc. there. You really can’t just rototill it and hope for the best.

I found this Blue Moon delphinium at Lowes the other day. I love true blue flowers. I tried to grow it before, so we’ll see.

And last but not least, for Zoey:

See that little grayish green clump there-my only Rose Campions from the seeds Zoey sent me! They are right near the above plant.

Have a great weekend. I have a funny photo for Photo Hunt tomorrow, so watch this blog. : )

Jun10

Power outage and flowers

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Summer Flowers 2008, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

The names of the flowers are listed on Flickr, but most of the above are Snapdragons.

From 3 pm and on, the power went out 5 times. The last time was a little before 7 and we are expecting thunderstorms too. Sean is at his night class, so I’ll be holding my breath until he gets home in an hour or so.
I did grab the camera after dinner as I wanted to mainly take photos of the gorgeous snapdragons I have in a few gardens. Each petal looks like a little gown for a fairy.
Sean and I felt a bit blah today, like that feeling you have when you eat green apples-you get my drift. I had to take some medicine for my tummy. I think it’s the heat-it should be breaking soon!
Since I sat in the dark for a few minutes and had the camera right there, I took this shot:

Jun10

A little gem

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Look what I found in the kitchen garden window last night:


Brian had given me this orchid a few years ago. I think it’s bloomed at least 4 times now. It must really like the window. I don’t give it any special treatment and look at the reward I get!
This is probably the last day of the heat wave-yes! I haven’t been going out as my van needs to have the a/c recharged. Now that my brother is going to fix my mom’s car, I can ask him if he can do it soon. It must have a leak as I think this will be the third time now in less than 5 years. I need my air to function. : )
I have to keep a watch of my gum on the bottom middle as it looks inflamed. I think I hurt it with either the electric toothbrush or dental floss. I’ll have the dentist look at it if it isn’t better in a few days. I never had gingivitis and I don’t want to start getting it now. Ugh.

Jun9

View out the window-pond garden

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View out the window-pond garden, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

This seems to be the best view, through the dining room window! It’s another scorcher. Schools in the city and surrounding suburbs were closed around noon.
The Canna lily in the pond’s waterfall is blooming! The portulaca looks good as do the purple petunias. The Red Hot Pokers are about to bloom too. The only think that bothers me is the Creeping Charlie taking over the stones. I have added some perennials on the end such as Lupine and English Daisies. I don’t believe Pentas are perennials. You can’t see some of the garden next to the gazing ball. I have some pineapple sage and salvia there.

Jun5

I’m so proud!

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First my lettuce!

Had some in our shrimp salad boats (hot dog rolls) for dinner tonight. Lots more left too.

And where I snipped it from, the garden in an old tractor tire:

I didn’t pull it out, I snipped it with my kitchen scissors. I plan to do that again before our heat wave arrives as it may bolt. I also have nasturtiums in there. I have nasturtiums everywhere! I just found two more packs of them and decided to add them to flowerpots and in the ground all over the yard.

Then I assembled this cross stitch flat fold for my friend’s upcoming birthday (I don’t think she reads my blog). She’s from Birdsboro, PA and I thought this was perfect. It took me about 3 weeks (exclusively, but not that many hours each evening). It’s a The Prairie Schooler design. Shrinking the photo made it look a bit distorted:

Here’s the backing material. I am glad it matched the design so well as I had bought it years ago!

My garden across from the front door is looking good. The large plant is coreopsis:

Mom suggested floating the fallen begonia blossoms (from the heavy rain) in my different birdbaths:

Peonies are so gorgeous and last such a short time, but unfortunately, both my shrubs had one only bloom this year. Any ideas why? The leaves are healthy!

And last but not least, a cool plant called ‘Spiralis’ surrounded by portacula:

Yes, we are expecting a heat wave starting Saturday-ugh! Got to be expected. I am sure it will boost seed growth. I did weed out my seed only garden of zinnias, etc. and I see more of them all then I thought. Whew.

Sean will cut the grass tomorrow. I asked him to get out the weed whacker to do a few areas. He bought it for me, but it’s for a taller person, or I just can’t handle it well. I loved my little Toro one that I had for about 15+ years and it just fizzled out.

May29

A first

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A first rose in my rose bed. Last year deer had eaten every bud!

And the last of the irises to bloom: Night Owl

Aren’t they gorgeous? I collected all the tags in the garden as I had a feeling I didn’t see one called ‘Sailor Blue’ or something like that bloom. Will have to write to where I bought them. I do plan on separating these in the fall as they are getting crowded. I will save some for anybody who would like some. I’d like to trade too! Easy peasy to grow!

Although my allergies are the pits-started in the movies last night, (I used Flonase for the first time since I had my eye pressure retested-it works well!) I guess I’ll go to my mom’s. It’s to beautiful a day not to. And I can’t stand weeding in the heat with all the mosquitoes. Who can?

Got the twine, clips and bamboo poles in the mail today (fast), so guess what I’ll be doing tomorrow? Yep, see the photo in a few posts below. I hope I can figure out how Martha and her pals did that with her tomatoes!

The LOST season finale is on tonight!