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Arandiel
Grey Havens
Jul 29 2015, 5:37am
Post #76 of 94
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the WtR thread has threatened to turn into a weekly garden report over the past few years (happy memories, those gardening updates), I agree with some of the other folks here - give it a go!
One thing I try to do is extend my season with row covers and mulch. It sorta-kinda works, so I do have some veggies that last through our winters (USDA Zone 5 - our lowest winter temperatures are -20 to -15 F - up from Zone 4 less than a decade ago). It's fun to see what makes it through the cold, wind and snow - more so when new onion and carrot sprouts appear far earlier in the spring than they 'should'!
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Elarie
Grey Havens
Jul 29 2015, 12:53pm
Post #77 of 94
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I'd make a lousy pioneer wife  Although I do have 1 tomato plant and five raspberry bushes (I really like raspberries). For the most part though, what gardening abilities I have are channeled into my flowerbeds, which are mostly the hardiest, most easy-care flowers I can find plus a few roses that are not necessarily the most care free types. I love sitting outside with my kitties and a cup of tea, and right now this is my view from my favorite chair. We've had huge amounts of rain this summer and this past week is the first dry week in a long time, so the flowers have been very happy and I haven't had to water even the ones in pots until a few days ago. Lots and lots of lawn mowing though! 
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Elarie
Grey Havens
Jul 29 2015, 2:04pm
Post #79 of 94
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It's not very big, but it's my own little patch of something pretty to look at.  And my black fingernail from resetting those flagstones last spring has finally grown out - ahhh, the joys of gardening.
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Alassëa Eruvande
Valinor
Jul 29 2015, 3:43pm
Post #80 of 94
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I'd noticed your absence. Glad you're doing better.
About that watering...Are you watering 30 minutes each night?
If so, I would suggest altering that to watering until you've hit one inch and only doing it once a week, or whenever things start to wilt. It's better to water deeply and infrequently, rather than lightly and frequently. It makes the roots go deeper for their water, and results in stronger plants. Just stick a rain gauge out there and make a note of how long it takes for the sprinkler to hit one inch. The sprinkler I use takes an hour, but each one is different, so yours might be faster or slower.
In addition, watering at night can cause problems, too. Fungus and other diseases can get started that way. I would suggest watering in the early evening starting around six-ish. If you can't get all the sections watered in one evening, put it off until the next evening. Since you don't have watering restrictions, that should be feasible. Watering in the early morning is good, too. I'd start that around six-ish, as well.
My garden sounds a lot like yours, though, but that's only due to my laziness.  We started out with nice, mild, wet weather, but now it's freakin' hot again. There's nothing in it now but grass, and we've let the horses in to "weed" it for us.   My corn did make some nice ears, but that's about it. I planted the tomatoes and peppers way too late and they never amounted to anything before burning up.
I'm with you on extreme heat. It doesn't even have to be extreme anymore for it to bother me.
Oh, well, here's to next season!
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Brethil
Half-elven
Jul 29 2015, 4:55pm
Post #81 of 94
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For you guys in unbearable blazing heat
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Shade cloth or row cover over the plants can really help. The usual is 80-85% light transmission but it keeps the scorch down and helps the soil itself not to lose moisture. Garden sites sell it in various sizes.
Its hideous here today, 90 with ~90% humidity. I just weeded a bit and watered the tomatoes and eggplants and next is AC on and pool.
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Alassëa Eruvande
Valinor
Jul 29 2015, 5:45pm
Post #82 of 94
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Yeah, shade cloth is on the to-do list.
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See also, "laziness".
I have a really tall garden fence and plan to apply the shade cloth across the top, roof-like. That way, I get shade, too.
You know, for when I'm doing all that work.
(This post was edited by Alassëa Eruvande on Jul 29 2015, 5:47pm)
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Brethil
Half-elven
Jul 30 2015, 12:35am
Post #83 of 94
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Not laziness - to much Real Life.
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See also, "laziness". I have a really tall garden fence and plan to apply the shade cloth across the top, roof-like. That way, I get shade, too. You know, for when I'm doing all that work.
I feel you. I love bird netting because it gives me a crop but what a royal PIA. Framing for it is key. If I had planned better everything would be under cover somehow.
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Brethil
Half-elven
Jul 30 2015, 12:45am
Post #84 of 94
(4415 views)
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A pleasure to look at.
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Ilmatar
Rohan
Jul 30 2015, 10:27pm
Post #85 of 94
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You have wonderful lilies...!
Here are some of my martagon lilies and - I don't know, are those orange ones the same as your orange Asiatic lily? I'm not exactly sure about the difference between Asiatic lilies and daylilies. Must do more lily research.
I have no idea how long it will take my little cherry tree to get from four to, say, forty berries...
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Brethil
Half-elven
Jul 30 2015, 10:45pm
Post #86 of 94
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Lovely! You have mauve lilies too!
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Great minds, m'dear! I know my daylilies rebloom and my Asiatics are a one-shot wonder. That may be the difference. I just moved some of my Asian lilies today, as I placed the three new columnars in the front bed along the walkway. I figure they will be pretty spring bloom and fall interest loaded with apples. I will replant the bulbs and maybe add some more for next year.
Apple wise, I changed my tree order...yet again......nixed the early summer apples (strongly vetoed by hubby, I didn't know we had a 'committee', hmmmph) and am thinking of going with some more unique, old time and fall harvesting types - Pitmaston Pineapple and Grimes Golden. Unless I find a stronger cooking apple...but those two interest me. SOOOO many great apples in the world!
I'd love to see pictures once you harvest some of your apples.
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Ilmatar
Rohan
Jul 30 2015, 10:49pm
Post #87 of 94
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I'm considering lamium, Jacob's ladder, pulmonaria, penstemon, and coral bells... But they may have to wait until next year. We still need all kinds of things for the house as well as the garden, and the sales have been on in the gardening stores for several weeks now so it would be difficult to find certain plants at this point. But if I get them for next summer - and if there is a gardening thread on TORn at that point (let's hope so ) I can be back to report...!
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Ilmatar
Rohan
Jul 30 2015, 11:14pm
Post #88 of 94
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To be honest, I must say that the mauve lilies are some of the many flowers that were left here by the previous owners - BUT I would have purchased some martagon lilies of the same color anyway because my mother used to have them for a long time and they bring back memories. I also like the color! And they (martagons) are beautiful, to me maybe more so than some more modern ones.
If that is the difference between daylilies and Asiatics (thanks!), I have to wait until next year to know, because I have no idea whether those orange ones have been here year after year or if they were just planted last year (before the previous folks knew they had to move). This yard keeps giving me surprises... The most recent one being the fall phlox, also one of my old favorites - the scent takes me right back to childhood summers.
SOOOO many great apples in the world!
Indeed there are - it's a pity that we can't send some taste samples via TORn. While some of the most known "internationally" cultivated varieties are available everywhere (?) I guess there's no easy way to try some more local/national types. Some of the old Finnish ones are very good as well and I think you would like them - the best apple I have ever tasted anywhere is one of those old ones that grew in my grandfather's garden... I wish I knew what the variety was called, I would go on a mission to buy that tree! (Must ask around, maybe my relatives remember.) Of these we have here, the previous owners said that the fruit are quite sour and better for juice or jams than eaten as such. I'll try both, in time. And once those young saplings grow we should have some sweet apples as well.
I will send pictures as soon as the fruit are ready!
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Brethil
Half-elven
Jul 30 2015, 11:35pm
Post #89 of 94
(4340 views)
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I have pink shell lamium - bees love it. And the dark red coral bells, bees love that too. I had penstemon for a bit, but it got outcompeted I think and only lasted 2 seasons.
And great, we can compare apple pics later in season. Maybe our Starling will host a thread. Or the Mayor, or both. We may need 2.
(This post was edited by Brethil on Jul 30 2015, 11:41pm)
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Arandiel
Grey Havens
Jul 31 2015, 4:15am
Post #90 of 94
(4319 views)
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To both the plants and the gardening thread!
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Elarie
Grey Havens
Aug 6 2015, 12:03am
Post #91 of 94
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My first butterfly caterpillar
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So excited - I've been planting dill, bronze fennel and milkweed this summer and I've got my first butterfly caterpillar - a black swallowtail. Didn't think the plants would be big enough to attract them this year, so a great surprise.
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Brethil
Half-elven
Aug 7 2015, 6:51pm
Post #92 of 94
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Chard and kale: not bolting! Which is happy news.
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Midnight Marvel hibiscus in there too. Summer kale can be bitter but nothing sautéing with fresh garlic, fresh lemon and olive oil won't fix. 
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Brethil
Half-elven
Aug 7 2015, 6:53pm
Post #93 of 94
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Beautiful caterpillar! good for you Elarie!
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I left the broadleaf plantain weed intact in the wildlife area, hoping to get some assorted takers. It got a bit trampled with work this year so maybe next year. In general though with all the birds you have to be a very smart caterpillar to make it around here.
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