Bee's in the Flowers

My flower bed was busy with activity from different types of insects and at least 3 identifiable bees - the honeybee, bumble bee and black carpenter bee.

Watch and see 

Summer Iris Sale

If anyone is looking to add some beauty and color to their garden I highly suggest they check out Irises from Schreiner's Iris Gardens website.  They are having their annual Summer sale and I'm certain you won't be disappointed with their rhizomes.  I've taken a few pictures of this Springs beauties and they are amazing!

 

Spring 2016

It's been a while since I posted anything but today we'll start with some new pictures and a fresh post.  We had a mild Winter this year (2015/2016) and the garden grew quickly.  I was able to get my tomatoes and herbs planted a full week before Memorial Day, which is pretty good for VT as some years I can't even plant until after MD. 

I didn't get fancy this year with growing my own veggie or plant starts.  I purchased most everything from First Season wholesale grower in Vt on the Button Bay road.  Its a pretty run down looking place but the  prices are right and plants are good.

I purchased 12 tomato plants and some herbs there.  This year I plan on lining the rows in between the plants with newspaper , I'm hoping this will cut the weeds down and help to keep the moisture in the soil.  I know this is a good way to kill weeds or sod and unless I find info that counters this idea I intend to move ahead on that.

I took some photos of the flowers in the main perennial bed Saturday night.  They are dark but the flowers pop well enough. A little preview of whats going on.

This is an Iris rhizome that I purchased from Schreiner's Iris farm.  I don't have the name handy.  The top petals are more of a light blue lavender then what they show here.



A rose from the six dollar busted rose bush I purchased a few years ago at Lowes.  It amazes me every year.  I can't believe how big it has grown and how full it is every year.  The blooms have the best rose/mint scent. I only wished it bloomed all Summer.

After work yesterday I went home and scurried around outside repotting herbs and geraniums to bring inside for the Winter.  The geraniums always look pretty sad this time of the year.  They got a little frost bit a couple of times but still have some new leaves on them.  I try to remember to bring in the prettier ones in the Fall so I will have them next year.  I planted some garlic cloves this year .  We'll see how that works out next year.

Sad day in the Garden

Today is a sad day in garden.  It's the day I remove all the ceramic gnomes, rabbits, frogs and other things from the garden and store them for the winter.  I dismantled the solar lights, yanked out trellis's, packed away lawn furniture and cushions into storage.  Even though the sun was shinning and warm the take down always brings a feeling of melancholy.  A bittersweet end. My patio looks so empty now - no more fountains and lights to stare at in the dark.  Nothing but cold rock waiting for the snow of Winter and the bite of frost.

Now is the time to move bird feeders to the now quiet garden bed.  Hang new feeders and clean up the old ones.  Its time to fill the suet holders.

I mowed the lawn today.  Most likely for the last time.  No more tracking freshly cut grass into the house.  Now its just dead leaves clinging to my boots.

This week I'll take the screens off the windows.  Pack away the rest of the Summer furniture and bring the snow shovel to the door.  Good bye Summer - See ya next year - when the air is warmer and nights are longer.

New Blog New topics

I created this blog to document and discuss the challenges of my gardens and landscape projects.