Friday, May 22, 2009

Wisteria Revisited


The spring bloom explosion has passed for my wisteria and I am dealing with the repercussions. Those would be the hundreds of seed pods that form after the petals fall. The fallen petals were a different repercussion, bringing back memories of my sweet dog who thought they were a special taste treat. Who knew dogs liked flower petals? Or maybe she was just odd. In any case, each spring she ate lots of those petals. The last two years I've had to clean them up myself. She was such a good garden helper!
But now I'm talking about the seed pods that need to be dealt with. The last few weeks I've kept a bucket near the fence and when I'm out there watching the kids I pick a few handfuls of the pods and toss them in. As they get bigger they are easier to see. This weekend I will get out the ladder and pick all the pods that are up too high to reach. You might wonder why I pick them. There are actually two reasons. First, as the pods mature they eventually dry, crack open and literally shoot their seeds out...at some distance and velocity. They are considered possibly toxic...the literature varies...but with children in the yard I've never wanted to test that out myself. And the second reason to remove the pods is...

Thursday, May 14, 2009

GBBD May 2009

Every month on the 15th Carol at maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com invites garden bloggers to list what is blooming in their garden. Visit Carol for links to over one hundred gardens world wide and an incredible visual treat!
White lavender, Salvia Caradonna, Blue Veronica bloom near vegetable garden.
Lime scented geranium is still not back to the size it was before freezing back two winters ago but is happier this year than last.

Pelargoniums are blooming around the yard...I like this one because it has a richer color than many of the others I have.


Star jasmine covers the fence in the side yard that contains firewood piles, leaf holding bins (like the one you see at the left), compost bins and various wooden stakes and wire for garden use.


Abutilon Pink Parasol attracts hummingbirds.

Brunfelsia pauciflora, commonly called Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow, blooms purple one day, turns lavender the next and ends up white.

Alstroemeria Regina blooms near the fountain.
Another scented geranium...this one rose scented.


Scabiosa Butterfly Blue
Dietes blooms here and there around the garden a reliable, could-be-invasive filler.
Pink carnation blooms in the front garden near the little bench.
Parsley has been left to hopefully reseed.
Red onions planted last fall are beginning to go to seed with the first seed head just opening.
Climbing New Dawn is pretty in the back corner growing into her job of protecting the birds from the neighbor cat. Soon she'll be full enough to keep that killer out!
And yet another scented geranium, this one in a pot, is citrosa.
Penstimon Husker Red blooms near the front door.

The more or less complete list of Davis bloomers for May 2009:

Solanum rantonnetii
Solanum jasminoides
Alstromeria regina
A. unknown pink
Cranesbill biokova
Scented geranium-rose
Scented geranium-lime
Scented geranium-citrosa
Lavendula pinnata buchii
Dietes
Anisodontea Elegant Lady
A. Hibiscus Bits
A. Very Cranberry
Pink Pandorea
Erodium
Star Jasmine
Penstimon Husker Red
Allysum
Pansies
Wax begonias
Dwarf Carnation Evermore
Scabiosa Butterfly Blue
Felicia amelloides
Nepeta Walker's Low
Borage
Onion
Fennel
Parsley
Cilantro
Sweet Pea Shrub
Salvia Mulberry Jam
S.Dancing Dolls
S.May Night
S. Caradonna
S. Blue Hill
S. Indigo Spires Dwarf
S. greggii
Rosa Flower Girl
R. Berries and Cream
R. Climbing New Dawn
Iberis
Spanish lavender
Meyer lemon
Bearss lime
Forget-me-nots
Strawberries
Yellow columbine
Nemesia
Bush Mallow
Abutilon Pink Parasol
A. unknown pink
verbena