Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Snacking in the Summer Veggie Bed

Summer's coming IMG_2936 The veggie beds are shaded in the morning by Natchez crepe myrtle in full bloom. IMG_2940 Crepe myrtle is buzzing with dozens of bees. IMG_2939 The fruit is so dense on this patio tomato that I missed the fact that there was a tomato ripening. IMG_6255 Now, this is just rude! Somebody took a couple of bites and left the rest for the ants. IMG_2925 IMG_2927 Time to pull up the dill! Might try to transfer the ladybug larvae to other aphid-y areas (like the mojito mint). IMG_2929c The fennel has been a great host IMG_6206 To swallowtail caterpillars like these (a couple of months back) IMG_6046 Yesterday was the first time to harvest the bulbs (my sister cooked them with lentils and sausage: delicious!), and they had multiplied. A lot. The bulb on the left is actually 6 inches high (the white part), but most of the others are small. IMG_2930 And it looks like there's a least one more round of caterpillars before summer sets in. IMG_2934 Cherokee Purple tomatoes are a little easier to spot...hoping I get one before the bandit gets them. IMG_2752 A new potted arrangement: dwarf beans from seed, dwarf blue corn, purple basil & an exotic version of bachelor button (not blooming at the moment). IMG_2918

Monday, May 20, 2013

Bees in the artichokes

Left town for a few days and came back to a mass of honey-sweet artichoke blooms keeping the bees busy. Seems a bit of a job getting in there for a bee, though. IMG_6245 The blooms really pack a visual punch! I feel like I'm growing an art installation in the front yard. IMG_6246 IMG_6254 Bee battle! IMG_6249 And a few more things that happened to bloom while I was away: IMG_6253 IMG_6221 IMG_6227 IMG_6223 IMG_6237

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day: May 2013

Happy bloom day (hosted by May Dreams Gardens). These pics are from yesterday, which is lucky, because it's a little rainy today. To kick the list of blooming things off: sea creature? Or artichoke close-up?
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My sister's plot next door: Peony poppies (how amazingly frilly are these?) IMG_2871 IMG_2870
My 2-year-old nephew was in charge of seed spacing IMG_2873 IMG_2810
Front yard: Mexican feathergrass, artichokes, gaura IMG_2828 IMG_2822 IMG_2803 IMG_2806 IMG_2805
Coral bean (first bloom of the year) IMG_2832
Curb strip: poppy
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Globe mallow and blackfoot daisy IMG_2825
Missouri primrose
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Back yard: second round of iris IMG_2885
Larkspur
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White mistflower
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Butterfly weed (any idea on what these beetles are??) IMG_2876
Volunteer angel's trumpets IMG_2815 IMG_2816
Volunteer Mexican petunia next to the A/C unit IMG_2819
Zucchini
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Dill, fennel and shallots are all bolting...I mean, blooming IMG_2835 IMG_2834 Check out what's blooming around the world this Bloom Day here.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Why I planted an artichoke

The day is finally here! Almost as if the last post was a challenge, the first artichoke bloom started to unfold yesterday afternoon. And today it's shimmering in all its neon lavender glory. IMG_2781 Only 15 more of these to go...

Monday, May 6, 2013

A watched artichoke never blooms

IMG_2758 Dec 1 IMG_5826 Mar 2 IMG_2256 Mar 18 IMG_6067 Mar 27 IMG_6109 Apr 15 IMG_6173 IMG_6181 April 28 IMG_6197 May 6 IMG_2754 IMG_2755