End of the Month View, September 30, 2013

Sulphur Butterfly

Most of the tree leaves are still green, but a few are beginning to turn red or yellow.
I almost missed seeing this Sulphur butterfly on the Chinese Parasol Tree.

Chestnut Tree

Soon the Chestnut Tree's burrs will open. Even the dog likes to eat chestnuts!

Pear

Most of our pears are medium sized, but we get a few extra-large jumbos.

Okra

My Cow Horn Okra plants must think that they are trees this year.
I have six plants and they are twice as tall as my other okras (Clemson Spineless - 10 plants).
We have had a really good crop of okra this year, and as you can see, they are still blooming.

Jalapeno and Cayenne Peppers

The tomatoes are finished, but we are still getting a few peppers.

Marigolds

The Marigolds have bloomed steadily all year since I set the plants out in the Spring.

Spider Lilies

Recent rains have brought the Spider Lilies up!

Mums

Chrysanthemums are a sure sign that Autumn is here.

I hope you have enjoyed the End of the Month View of my garden.

Have a Wonderful Week!

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End of the Month View August 31, 2013

Trees and Shrubs:

Big Jay in the Pear Tree

Big Jay has decided that it is his job to protect the pears from the birds and squirrels.
But don't worry - he is too fat and lazy to actually catch anything.

Rose of Sharon

The Rose of Sharon shrubs continue to bloom well despite the Summer's heat.

Swallowtail Butterfly on Butterfly Bush

The Butterfly Bush is the most popular spot in the garden.

Vegetables:

My okra is growing so tall I can barely reach it.

We have two kinds of okra: 'Clemson Spineless' and 'Cow Horn'

Sweet Cayenne Pepper

The Sweet Cayenne peppers are out-producing the Jalapeno peppers.

'Improved Taylor' Beans

I first planted 'Improved Taylor' beans early in May and harvested in July.
This is my second crop, planted in mid-July.

'Super Fantastic' Tomatoes

The tomato vines are looking a bit ragged, but are still making tomatoes.
However, the tomatoes are not as large as they were in July.

Flowers:

Mums

It seems too early for Chrysanthemums to be blooming, but the buds are beginning to open.

'Homestead Purple' Verbena

I've been very pleased with this hardy Verbena I bought in the Spring.
It has really spread out and bloomed all Summer.

Encore Azalea

I'm excited to see that the Encore Azalea is blooming again!

Have a wonderful week-end!

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End of the Month View July 2013

July's weather has been very good - not as hot as usual, and we have had rain, too. Sunset July 25

Trees and Shrubs:

The Rose of Sharon shrubs, Hibiscus syriacus, are covered in blooms.

The Crape Myrtles, Lagerstroemia, are blooming magnificently this Summer

Vegetables:

'Kentucky Wonder' Pole Beans are producing very well, and still blooming, too!

'Ford Hook' Lima Beans have only two or three beans per pod, but they are big ones!

'Super Fantastic' Tomato is certainly living up to its name!

Flowers:

Bumblebees are really enjoying the Zinnias.

Surprise Lilies, Lycoris squamigera

Staggered bulb planting in the Spring gave me Gladioli blooms all Summer 

Night Blooming Cactus, Epiphyllum, opened last week-end.

Happy Gardening!
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End of the Month View June 2013

There is a lot happening in my garden today.
Lets start with the trees.

The Chinese Parasol, Firmiana simplex, tree is blooming magnificently this year.

These trees reproduce so fast that they are considered to be an invasive species.

We mow around it to keep it from spreading.

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Our fig trees are loaded, but it will be a race with the raccoons to get any for us to eat.

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Rose of Sharon, Althea, Hibiscus syriacus, always puts on a good show.

I bought a small double red one in the Spring, but it will be several years before it blooms.

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The Vegetables

There are still a few onions from the March 28th planting,

and on Friday we picked these Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans.

We like these as 'string and snap' beans, but they can be left until larger for shell beans.

The bean in the middle (with red on pod) is an Improved Taylor.

I picked it to see if they were ready to shell yet - just a few more days to wait.

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The Ford Hook Lima Beans are just now blooming.

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The Sweet 100 Tomatoes are just beginning to ripen.

These wonderful cherry-type tomatoes will continue to produce for several months.

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I have plenty of green tomatoes on my other tomato plants, too.

I haven't grown this one (Jet Star) before, but soon I'll find out what it tastes like.
In addition to Jet Star and Sweet 100, I have Super Fantastic, Sun Sugar, and Beefsteak.

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The flowers.

Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis

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Milk and Wine Lily
I believe this to be Crinum zeylanicum,
but they have been cross-bred so much it is difficult to be sure.

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  Gladioli

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It is amazing what beauties you can get from a "Mixed Colors" package.

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I hope you have enjoyed this tour of my garden.

Have a beautiful day!

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End of the Month View May 2013

May 31 - June 1, 2013

To put first things first, my garden helper says, "Hi"
Now that the Kerria Japonica has finished its bloom time,
I pruned it back to reclaim this path at the end of the house.

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Trees:

Catalpa trees are native to the southern United States, the Carribean, and East Asia

The name comes from the Catawba tribe of American Indians.

It is a tall tree absolutely covered with showy blooms in mid to late Spring.

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If all goes well, we will have pears this Autumn.

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There are tiny apples beginning to form, too.

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Vegetables:

This is the first time I have grown Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans.

I am pleased at how fast they are climbing the trellis.
(Planted April 15)

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My bush beans got off to a slow start, but are growing well now. 

The friend who gave me the seeds is not sure exactly which bean they are.
There is a row of Clemson Spineless Okra behind them, but still very small.
I set up a soaker hose to water them. So easy. I really like it!

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The Tomatoes are blooming!

I think five plants are enough for the two of us this year:

Red Beefsteak, Jet Star, Super Fantastic, Sun Sugar, and Sweet 100.

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Flowers:

Roses!

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This one is pink in the bud, but blooms out a creamy white.

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My mother called this climbing rose 'Seven Sisters'

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Here is my latest purchase.

Carolina Jessamine vine can grow to 20 feet (about 7 meters).

Now I have the perfect reason to buy that garden arch trellis I've been wanting!

Happy Gardening!

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