A little color in winter
All the orchids are doing very well this winter. Got a few new ones at the recent Orchid Fest in Madison. I have always done will with Phalaenopsis but as I get more experienced with these amazing flora I’ve really embraced other types of orchids as well. For some reason, our orchids just love our eastern exposed windows in the winter. They get just an hour of so of direct sun light early in the morning. During the height of summer they have been moved outdoors. But I’m not sure I’ll do that after last summers 100+ degree days. Orchids definitely don’ t like it that hot.
Read MoreSummer garden
Am watering the garden sparingly, to keep the new plants alive. We are expecting 100+ degree days for the next few. Oh my duckfeathers, it’s Hot out there. So far the flowers are holding their own
Read MoreLast winter’s carrot flowers
Remember these cute little carrots that survived last winter’s mild temps? I had never seen carrots survive the winter in the ground. So what’s a gardener to do? Let them grow and see what happens. I now know what happens. The root of the carrot stops growing and the carrot spends its energy going to flower. I’ve never seen carrot flowers before and not sure I’ll see them again. Aren’t they beautiful? They’ve been in the vase for over a week now with no sign of wilt. Pretty...
Read MoreHot as Hades
Wow, this is one hot month of June. Temps are in the 90s and no chance of rain. It is a tinder box environment and the local authorities are cancelling fireworks all over southern Wisconsin this weekend. Though Madison’s Rhythm and Booms is scheduled for Saturday night. So for now, I’m watering only the flowers and perennials that desperately need water. Thankfully I have mostly seasoned perennials but I did put some new plants in this year. As to the lawn, it’s just a brown field where weeds grow now….. I say the hell with...
Read MoreMay Flowers
Okay technically it’s June, but I took the photos in May. The Spring has been long in Wisconsin this year and the colors are beautiful. Got a good start to the front gardens this spring. The back gardens will just have to tend themselves since we have a deck rebuilding project going on. I am having some fun with containers this year and playing with colors. I bought most of my plants from one of my favorite greenhouses called Kopkes. This Mandevilla is doing well on the front steps. I like its vine like tendrils growing up the sticks. Out in back, the cosmos continue to reseed themselves. They grow in the pebbles which make it very easy dig up and replant. I’ll be moving them to the front yard soon. This is earliest I’ve seen the...
Read MoreGarden Salad
Off to an early start this year with the warm weather. Todd rotor-tilled the side garden on Sunday. What is planted now is lettuce that self seeded from last year’s crop. Along with carrots, parsley and arugula that survived the mild winter. So, salad last night was fresh bibb and arugula from the garden. I served it with fresh raspberry vinaigrette, toasted pecans and blue cheese – yum! Also getting ready to put tomatoes in the garden – we started them from seed this year and have way more than we need. Give a shout if you’d like a few. We have cherries, romas, brandywines and some early...
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