Good Morning Everyone! I’ll include what’s becoming our group’s every Saturday welcome…..thanks to the SMGB'er who wrote it!
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We are here every Saturday at 8 am Central with new content and chit chat continuing throughout the week. A core crew checks in each day.
So, what’s been happening in my part of northern Central NYS?
Well, pretty much nothing on the outdoor vegetable gardening front. The surrounding fence needs some repairs at ground level to keep out the woodchucks, etc. I may throw mesh netting over the top of the plot to keep out (maybe) squirrels and chipmunks. Another weeding is due. I did one back during a warm spell late February. Then it snowed. Then we got more cold weather and rain. I’m not sorry I did that weeding because anything growing there now is easily removed. A few dandelions which take a bit more digging out. The chives are looking good. Thyme plant may need to be replaced. I think the oregano for sure.
The flower garden out front has been invaded by chipmunks. I JUST CANNOT TALK ABOUT IT. 😳
Indoors, I have sprouted some Sully’s Dwarf Gina tomato seeds from DHM and they are coming up spectacularly. Test sprouting of swiss chard seeds I saved from last summer has produced only 25% germination rate, at most. But the seeds that did sprout are looking very good. I think it’s the larger seeds that are more viable so I need to sort those out. Greek oregano, chives, parsley, and celery seeds also sprouting nicely.
With not much going on in the veggie department, this diary is about part of my backyard and a walk around the neighborhood to see what other folks have blooming. Here we go out back!
This is down the south side of the house. Vinca on the left grew under the fence from a neighbor. Hey, it’s free and pretty and the grass doesn’t grow well in that space. The white flowers you see around the patio are Sweet Woodruff. A large clump were given to me when we first moved in as there were NO gardens and that patio wasn’t there either. The originals grew under a small tree next to that shed. They also grow where grass won’t and like the shade. That bare spot in the foreground is from my portable greenhouse. Haven’t set that up, yet, but soon.
I got rid of most hostas because the deer eat them. A few I couldn’t part with, like this one. I spray with a mix of cayenne and garlic liquid. They look so nice with ferns and bleeding hearts. The deer don’t bother this one much. I’ve noticed they seem to prefer the one that I mostly got rid of. There’s also been deer culling for 3 years and that has helped. It’s sad that it had to be done. I enjoyed the fawns visiting the back yard. One year there was a pair of twins that literally zoomed around the yard.
Pond! No fish or plants as it’s not deep enough. Mr. CNY wanted a pond so I said fine if you will clean it, I’ll landscape it. Plants looking very nice this year after I cleared many out a couple years ago for a redo. I let the forget me nots and violets fill in spaces. Easy to remove it needed.
On the left is solomon’s seal that I rescued from streetside last summer. The yellow colored plant is a gold bleeding heart. The flowers are the usual dark pink/red. There’s a mix of hosta by that (safe from deer), a few lily of the valley, Japanese painted fern, Canadian wild ginger (see the round looking leaves lower right) and lungwort. There’s also a small hellebore that I rescued with the solomon’s seal last year. I think it will blossom as it’s looking healthy.
Pond during the redo early on in the pandemic. I didn’t have a lot to do and it cheered me up to make the area nice again. The white tube towards the left is an overflow tube for when it rains. Muddy plant lower right is lungwort. To the far left is white anemone. They get about 14 inches tall with white flowers.
I now have my very own Big Blue Pot! I’ve wanted one ever since I saw Ninkasi’s. Hers is lower and rounder. This and the off white one were gifts from a lady I met who was getting rid of some pots from her greenhouse. I said just dump whatever you want in my front yard some day when you’re going by. And she did! Some nice smaller ones were included. I’m thinking I will put deer resistant annuals in these and leave them to decorate the kitchen patio by the pond.
I’ve gotten as far as setting up my large clay pots on the patio. I’ll start some arugula, collards, kale, swiss chard in these. If they do well, I’ll leave them. Otherwise, more flowers! There are grow bags that will get beets, carrots, and parsnips.
Something from out front! Foot tall purple iris that come up early. Another free plant early on in landscaping.
And here are photos from neighbors’ yards…..
Anyone know what this is???
Saw this nice set up on a walk near the local university. Have to check it out as the season progresses. Owner even has some plant tags.
Can we PLEASE make the color orange a POSITIVE color again??? Post photos of your orange flowers, plants, planters in the comments!
In the nearby community garden area. These collard greens overwintered. I wondered why they hadn’t been picked. Still looked good enough to eat.
These two guys would be happy to chat with you about all things gardening! Please comment and let us know how your gardens, your neighborhood gardens, and your indoor plants are doing.