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Recent Entries to this Blog
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Kay's Blog
Seeing the garden's "bones"
Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:19 pm So now December has arrived and my garden has gone to sleep for another season. There were a few weeks that were occupied with cleaning up a lot of fallen leaves. I like to leave most of them in the flower beds, I'll clean those up next spring. Now I am just watering the shrubs regularly before the ground freezes. Anyway, autumn and winter are definitely not my favorite times of the year. I don't like cold weather, I miss my flowers outside, and there is always the uncertainty of what crazy storm could come up. Mother Nature has left it extremely dry. The ground is hard, and I worry about how many plants, shrubs and trees will fare over the winter. I sure hope we get some good snow. However, as I stare out the windows, or go for a walk around the neighborhood, I am drawn to all the shapes of the dormant trees and shrubs. I like to see the structure of the plants, their bones. They have a different character without their leaves. I think my favorite has to be the Red Twig Dogwoods for obvious reasons. They just "show off" this time of year! Then, there is my little Smokebush which has a crookedy shape. The Oakleaf Hydrangea and the Ninebark have such rugged interesting bark. The big Sycamore tree is a beautiful majestic giant,with the multi colored bark, it is almost more beautiful without its huge leaves. This is also a good time to see the shapes of the trees, and plan for some pruning to keep them healthy. When you're looking at the plant's bones, you see its plain form, and I find it very beautiful. I am appreciating this dormant season more for that reason. Then, next spring,(my favorite time) I will be seeing the buds form, blossoms emerging and the new leaves returning once again. This blog entry has been viewed 305 times
Autumn tidy time
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:05 am After what seemed like an endless landscaping season this year, things are beginning to wind down for me. I am busy scheduling the "Autumn tidies". Time to clean up the shrub and flower borders and put the exhausted plants to bed for now. I don't usually like this chore, it makes me melancholy; but this year it seems OK. The tough drought tolerant plants that have survived deserve a rest!! Nights are getting chilly, but days are still warm. Leaves are turning color and falling. Still no rain. I can not believe it, but we have only had about 3" of rain since June 23rd. So very dry! Water restrictions are still in place. We have to conserve this precious resource. Farmers around here are harvesting the parched corn and soybeans early which makes the dust fly! A busy time for me! This blog entry has been viewed 454 times
Defying the drought
Category: Summer 2012 | Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:34 pm This summer has presented unwelcome challenges for me in my gardens at home, as well as my work in landscaping. We are experiencing a drought now. It is very,very dry. Add to that, record heat and it's not a pretty picture for growing plants. Last week, our city imposed mandatory watering restrictions to conserve our ground water. I have been doing my best to keep things alive, and I'm glad I have my big trees to provide shade. For a time, when the temps rose into the 100°s, I carted a lot of my container flowers underneath the trees to keep them from getting fried! The temperatures have subsided, highs are in the upper 80s. More of our normal highs. What is not normal is the rainfall, of which there has been almost none since June 23!!! I'm trying to keep a positive outlook. It surely will rain, won't it?? This morning, I strolled with my camera to appreciate the few flowers I do have blooming. So many of my plants have survived, but they "shut down" and aren't putting out flowers. I hope with cooler weather, I will begin to see more blooms.here is a quick sample of my bloomers. 
good old Vinca ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Zinnias ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Morning Glory blooms this a.m. ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Morning Glory ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Hosta and Impatiens ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Zinnias ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Four O'Clocks ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Shady spot ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Blue containers ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Alive, but not happy ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
hanging basket ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
container gardens 08/2012 ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 546 times
Finding out about drought tolerance
Category: Random Stuff | Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:58 pm Another hot, hot day here in the central plains. We haven't had any measurable precipitation since June 23rd. The temperature has been 95°F or above the past 2 weeks, with several triple digit days in there. It's hot! It's dry! My gardens are doing pretty well, mostly because I have lots of shade. I also really care, and have been paying special attention to keep my plants watered. I am especially watching the plants I put in this year; the little ones that need to be babied along their first year. It has become my morning chore. Taking a stroll each morning to see how they are doing. The temps are not even dipping below 70°F over night, so not much cooling off for them. It's interesting to see how different plants are surviving. I have 6 Heuchera that are not very happy, crispy leaves. They would be dead if not for me, their diligent caregiver! I have decided they need to be moved this fall or next spring to a shadier spot. (more room for sun lovers) The 2 yr.old Lilacs quickly droop to show me they need a drink, as does the Azalea and Hydrangeas. The Astilbes are pretty mad, they are just hanging on, and I hope they will be able to rally when it cools off. Many plants seem OK still. Hostas, Hardy Geraniums, Rudbeckia, Coneflowers, Ferns, Heucheras, Salvia, Coreopsis are doing well. I have moved several of the containers to a shady place under my big Sycamore so they don't burn up. That afternoon sun and 100 degree temps make it pretty toasty out there!. Ugh! I still have to work, and while doing maintenance in other's gardens I have seen many plant fatalities. death by heat and lack of water. Neglect... so sad I usually ask if I can drag the hose around with me while I pull weeds. Which, by the way are very drought tolerant! This blog entry has been viewed 419 times
It was absolutely Perfect!!
Category: Random Stuff | Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:55 am The wedding was just wonderful. Everything turned out so great, could not have asked for anything better! Perfect weather, well behaved family and friends :), yummy food, and on and on... I was so excited, happy and proud of my little girl. What a beautiful bride she was. I did not take many pictures, I was too busy! We did have photographers (a very clever, imaginative couple) who spent a big part of the day with Sarah while she got ready, then the wedding party, families, the ceremony, and the party. They were great to all of us. So, I am going to share when I get the photos they took. 
Me with my the kids before wedding ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This is Sarah with her brothers Coby and Ben, and me. They were all ready to head out for pictures, and I needed to go get dressed. It took me a few days to recover and get rested. Now it's back to the real world. Back to work, the weeds did not stop growing! This blog entry has been viewed 375 times
Wedding weekend is here
Category: Random Stuff | Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:04 pm We decorated the reception room this morning. Sarah is a very creative, clever girl who has been busy for many months putting this all together. It looks very charming. Lots of lace and crocheted doilies and tablecloths, glass vases and jars with candles in some, and tons of Baby's Breath. Birchwood rounds, barn wood boxes. It a kind of "country chic". Very simple and I love it. The rehearsal is tonight (I need to get ready!) and the wedding is tomorrow early evening. It has been so hot, humid and windy. Yesterday the sky was full of building clouds, and so windy. About 7 p.m. it finally let loose with rain. Woke up today with clear blue skies and fresh air. Suppose to be like this tomorrow. (I am thanking someone up above.) The wedding is outdoors on a lake adjacent to a fancy schmancy golf course. It is called "Wedding Island" It will be beautiful. I am a proud and happy Mom! This blog entry has been viewed 778 times
plants in need of nurturing
Category: Planting | Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:20 pm I bought a bare root Clematis "Nelly Moser" early this spring on impulse at WalMart. It didn't look like much of anything when I opened up the package, my hopes were not high, but it seems to be coming along OK.I had Nelly once, and am excited to have another, such pretty flowers! I think I need to remove some Vinca vine around it though! 
Clematis "Nelly Moser" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This poor Rudbeckia "Goldsturm" was on the sale shelf at the back of a drug store plant stand. It was so pitiful, full of dead foliage. I hand pruned the worst of it while standing in their parking lot. I took it over to the register and jokingly said "you should give this to me free so it can live" and the cashier said "OK". So it has a new lease on life. 
Rudbeckia in rehab ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 814 times
Some new additions
Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:12 pm I've been enjoying my garden projects so far this year, and want to share a few new additions. 
Hydrangea "Pinky Winky" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This is a Pinky Winky Hydrangea. Couldn't resist, it is a different foliage than my other Hydrangeas. Looking forward to its two toned pink blooms. 
Hibiscus Sinensis "Variegata" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) An interesting variegated Hibiscus. I put it in a big pot that sits atop a Pine tree stump. Flowers are bright red. 
Azalea Exbury "Fireball" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This is an Azalea called Fireball. I found it at my wholesale nursery. It will bloom orange-red next year. We put some of Missy's ashes into the planting hole. She was a fireball too, in her "day". 
3 Hosta "June" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) These are "June" Hosta. I planted one last year, and love it so much, I needed more. This blog entry has been viewed 523 times
Bed expansion complete
Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 12:25 am Finally got the bed expansion project done! I had to get all that mulch that was plied up there out of the way.(See previous blog) I put another layer on all the beds in back, and there is still quite a lot left. It is now piled up on a tarp on the flagstone patio. It's nice to have so much extra mulch. So, now that the mulch was removed, the tarp underneath had done a great job of killing off the grass. We did some deep digging, and amended with compost. Today I planted the very patient Fothergilla that was dug up weeks ago and has been waiting in a nursery pot for its new home. The soil was "like butter", so nice to sink my shovel into. In addition, I added yet another Heuchera to my obsessive collection. This one is "Creole Nights" I also added a "Dream Queen" Hosta, and some white Impatiens that were leftovers from work. 
bed expansion completed ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Mt. Airy Fothergilla ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Heuchera "Creole Nights" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) Bob wants to plant an Azaelea that will bloom orange back here.I have my eye on a "Fireball" for him. It will go where the wood dome is. He is thinking of adding a bit of Missy ashes to the planting hole. This area is where she used to do her "business". I have 4 or 5 Hostas that need homes too. It'll all come together soon. I'm scheming on the next project. It will be adding more flagstone to a path. Gardens are never finished, are they? This blog entry has been viewed 369 times
A couple of our neighbors
Category: Random Stuff | Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 1:22 am We try to go for a walk every day, even though it's just not the same without our dog Missy. Anyway, we walk by this place frequently, and I get such a kick out of it. I wish my camera did it justice, it's so cute. Over the past few years, we've watched the mini tree grow. It is now about 10 inches tall, and these two birds lounge beneath it in lawn chairs. I always think "I need to take a picture of that" so today I did! 
a couple of my neighbors ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 714 times
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