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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T is for Tickseed Coreopsis May 29, 2013

Outdoor Wednesday and ABC Wednesday
T is for Tickseed

If I were in charge of naming plants,

I would call this pretty wildflower Sun Ray or maybe Sunny Days.

Unfortunately, it was named for the size and shape of its seeds.
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Native to North, Central, and South America, Tickseed's official name is Coreopsis.

The pink flowers in the background are Sweet William Dianthus.

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There are more than 100 named species of Tickseed.

These came from a packet of mixed wildflower seeds so

I do not know exactly which Tickseed they are.

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Hope you are having a bright, sunny day!

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Variegated Rose May 25, 2013

I forgot the name of this rose.

Can anyone help me identify it?

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This is Straight Out Of the Camera.

The bright sunlight makes the petals appear to be a lighter color than they really are.

The few petals in the shadow show the true colors.

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Have a wonderful week-end!

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Onions May 24, 2013

As a beginning gardener, I have found onions to be one of the easiest vegetables to grow.

They are available as:

Onion seeds (in packets like many other vegetable seeds),

Onion bulbs (very small dried bulbs in mesh bags), or

Onion sets (sprouted onion bulbs sold in bundles).

I like to buy the onion bulbs.

I divided this package of 80 bulbs into 4 groups. One group I gave to a friend.
The other three groups were planted 10 days apart in March.
We like long green onions so I cover the bulbs with about 3 inches (8 cm) of soil.

For larger, round onions, plant them more shallow and farther apart.

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These were planted on March 8.

We pulled the first ones to eat seven weeks later on April 27. 

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If onions are left in the ground long enough, they will bloom and make seed.

I plan to save seed from this one (planted last year) and sow them in the Autumn.
I have not done this before, so we will see how this experiment goes.

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Occassionally there are twins!

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Even if you have to buy all your other salad ingredients as I did this week,

(lettuce, tomatoes, baby carrots, mushrooms, and sweet pickles),

Adding home-grown onions makes it special!
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In case you are wondering about my Black-Seeded Simpson Lettuce:
I am in the southeastern United States  zone 7.

When our temperatures go over 80F (26C), it is good-bye lettuce.

I can sow more seeds when the weather cools in September.

BTW, it is not unusual for our Summer temperatures to be over 100F (38C).

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Happy Gardening!

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If you are interested in growing your own salads,
Visit Veg Plotting for this month's Salad Days: Click Here!

Trumpet Honeysuckle May 22, 2013

Wildflower Wednesday!

Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is native to the Eastern United States

and as far west as Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Blooming throughout the Summer, it is pollinated by insects and Hummingbirds.

Notice the interesting leaf formation.

Please visit Gail at Clay and Limestone for more wonderful wildflowers: Click Here!

Snails! May 21, 2013

ABC Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

S is for the lowly Snail

I spotted this snail on the path near my kitchen door Tuesday morning.

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As I moved around to see his other side, he sensed my presence and drew back into his shell.

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I waited quietly, and a few minutes later he poked his head out.

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And there he goes safely across the path!
Lucky for him he was near the house instead of in my garden.

You would be reading an entirely different blogpost!
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I hope you are having a wonderful day!

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