The weather took a turn for the cool side... in May! in New Orleans! That's unheard of.
But good for gardening, in long pants. But I still pulled up my hair and had on a short sleeve shirt. I worked in the garden with my friend, Kim, for about 6 hours on Saturday. And that is how I ended up with a sun burn on my arms and face and OUCH - on my EARS!! Never had that happen before. It hurts!
We pulled up weeds and planted a few new additions to the big garden, such as Zinnias and a purple Butterfly Bush. The cost is normally 8 dollars for the Butterfly Bush, but there was one on sale at Lowe's for 2 dollars. True, it looks a little on the unhealthy side, but heck, that's how I bought the firecracker plant last year and it's blooming like crazy right now! I'm praying the Butterfly Bush comes to life like that too.
Another addition to the gardens ~ around the four crepe myrtle trees, we weeded in a circle and planted marigolds and other pretty flowers. I like it :) My mother-in-law said that I'm painting with my flowers :)
Something I wanted to do last year, but never got around to it, because of the pregnancy and well, mostly, because of the heat... I'm starting on a lilly/iris garden. It will be located on the small strip of land between the driveway and fence in the front yard. Such a bland little piece of grass and I'm eager to fill it with bulbs and blooms. I might even try for something to go up the fence. First though, to tackle the grass being pulled up!
Oh and there's a tree/bush thing along the side of the house that I found out my husband doesn't like. I only kept it, thinking he DID like it. But when he said he didn't like the looks of it, both Kim and I cheered! We're going to up root that sucker soon and find a pretty replacement.
I'm thrilled that almost all of the plants survived that are supposed to come back each year. It tickles me to see them sprouting up from the ground. :) It's God's garden... I'm just the grounds keeper :)
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
New Bloom
With the birth of our son, our first child and most likely the only, as this was a miracle for us... my garden went along the wayside. The last month of pregnancy, I was on strict bed rest. Then the recovery of the c-section (due to pre-ecclampsia) took a while. We hired someone to weed the garden, because it was breaking my heart to see the garden suffocating in weeds.
I haven't been inspired to spend any time in the garden until this unexpected bloom.
This is a lilly my friend Kim gave to me from her father-in-law's garden. We planted it last spring but it didn't bloom. I didn't know what color it would be or even if it would survive the winter. Imagine my surprise when I saw this beautiful red bloom! It feels like a message from God, "It's time."
I haven't been inspired to spend any time in the garden until this unexpected bloom.
This is a lilly my friend Kim gave to me from her father-in-law's garden. We planted it last spring but it didn't bloom. I didn't know what color it would be or even if it would survive the winter. Imagine my surprise when I saw this beautiful red bloom! It feels like a message from God, "It's time."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
God's Grace
Fall is in the air and around here, some of the flowers might still bloom. I'm curious to see which ones are the hardiest.
In the meantime.... I have to give some credit to this garden for me being pregnant. Sounds like a strange thing to say, but it's said "in the garden, you're closer to God." I worked in the garden before the sun rose. It was a very quiet time and it was peaceful. Some mornings I prayed.
When I found out I was pregnant.... and I wasn't supposed to be able to get pregnant, according to the doctor.. we had given up hope.. we didn't do fertility drugs or procedures or anything, our baby is purely God's miracle... well, I think gardening helped me to heal my spirit and soothe my soul.
And yes, I think it had something to do with allowing my body the ability to conceive.
So, was this garden slumbers in the fall and winter season, I give it thanks. It will remind me of blessings and miracles and beauty.
In the meantime.... I have to give some credit to this garden for me being pregnant. Sounds like a strange thing to say, but it's said "in the garden, you're closer to God." I worked in the garden before the sun rose. It was a very quiet time and it was peaceful. Some mornings I prayed.
When I found out I was pregnant.... and I wasn't supposed to be able to get pregnant, according to the doctor.. we had given up hope.. we didn't do fertility drugs or procedures or anything, our baby is purely God's miracle... well, I think gardening helped me to heal my spirit and soothe my soul.
And yes, I think it had something to do with allowing my body the ability to conceive.
So, was this garden slumbers in the fall and winter season, I give it thanks. It will remind me of blessings and miracles and beauty.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Night Blooming Jasmine
I love flowers that bloom at night and I finally have one! I knew I wanted a jasmine, but didn't know there are night blooming ones that bloom throughout the summer.
I planted this jasmine and I hope that it survives the heat of the summer.
To be honest, it's not a pretty plant. It's a shrub and the buds are white, tiny and tubular. The bloom? An itsy bitsy five-point star at the end of the tube. But wow, you don't need to see the bloom. You can smell it!
The people at the nursery said my neighbors will come out at night, just to smell the jasmine. It is a delightfully light scent. And... I get up early in the morning to water the plants, so double bonus for me - I get to smell it again in the morning!
Butterflies are attracted to the smell. I imagine the butterflies will appear more frequently in the early morning hours.
Interestingly, the night jasmine is in the Solanacaea family, akin to peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. It's true name is Cestrum nocturnum and has a nickname of "Queen of the Night."
It doesn't do well in the winter months and it's recommended that mulch is added around it to keep the cold away from the roots. If it's not too harsh of a winter, then the plant should survive.
During the heat of summer, it needs to be watered frequently, but during more mild temperatures, once every 4 days should be enough.
The soil needs to be damp, but also well drained and it will grow, grow, grow. Accordingly to Kim, it can be a monster. But it's also easy to keep trim too.
It requires 4-6 hours of sunlight. Some shade is recommended, but for me.. I have it straight in the sun. It should be in shade by about 3:30, so hopefully it will do well.
I planted this jasmine and I hope that it survives the heat of the summer.
To be honest, it's not a pretty plant. It's a shrub and the buds are white, tiny and tubular. The bloom? An itsy bitsy five-point star at the end of the tube. But wow, you don't need to see the bloom. You can smell it!
The people at the nursery said my neighbors will come out at night, just to smell the jasmine. It is a delightfully light scent. And... I get up early in the morning to water the plants, so double bonus for me - I get to smell it again in the morning!
Butterflies are attracted to the smell. I imagine the butterflies will appear more frequently in the early morning hours.
Interestingly, the night jasmine is in the Solanacaea family, akin to peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. It's true name is Cestrum nocturnum and has a nickname of "Queen of the Night."
It doesn't do well in the winter months and it's recommended that mulch is added around it to keep the cold away from the roots. If it's not too harsh of a winter, then the plant should survive.
During the heat of summer, it needs to be watered frequently, but during more mild temperatures, once every 4 days should be enough.
The soil needs to be damp, but also well drained and it will grow, grow, grow. Accordingly to Kim, it can be a monster. But it's also easy to keep trim too.
It requires 4-6 hours of sunlight. Some shade is recommended, but for me.. I have it straight in the sun. It should be in shade by about 3:30, so hopefully it will do well.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Purple Salvia
It appears I'm a fan of salvias. I like the idea that if it's not too cold of a winter, they will come back. They have cool shaped, tiny little blooms. I've already mentioned the blue/black salvias and the red salvias... here are my purple salvias. They are located in the hibiscus garden.
It's called autumn sage purple, Salvia greggii and it will get as high as 2-3 feet. It likes sun, at least 6 hours. I'm a little worried that the hibiscus might shade it too much, but it should get plenty of afternoon rays.
It's called autumn sage purple, Salvia greggii and it will get as high as 2-3 feet. It likes sun, at least 6 hours. I'm a little worried that the hibiscus might shade it too much, but it should get plenty of afternoon rays.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Four O'Clock
Four O'Clock or Mirabilis Jalapa Yellow - This is from Kim's garden. I'm trying to root it and was a struggle at first. The leaves always look wilted.
It got the name because of the time of day (4:00 pm) that it likes to bloom or during a dark cloudy day it will bloom earlier.
Hummingbirds are supposed to really like this bloom. It's a perennial - yeah! It's a leafy shrub-like, multi-branched tender perennial that grows 18-36 inches tall and just as wide. Kim did warn me that she is constantly having to trim it back.
I planted it in the passion flower garden. I'm wondering how that's going to work out. At one point, the purple passion vine tried to attach itself to the four o'clock and I had to unhook it. Should be interesting...
There are two pictures below - one shows the plant during the day - so wilted. Then in the afternoon, the leaves perk up with no sun and the flowers bloom! Very pretty yellow stars!
It got the name because of the time of day (4:00 pm) that it likes to bloom or during a dark cloudy day it will bloom earlier.
Hummingbirds are supposed to really like this bloom. It's a perennial - yeah! It's a leafy shrub-like, multi-branched tender perennial that grows 18-36 inches tall and just as wide. Kim did warn me that she is constantly having to trim it back.
I planted it in the passion flower garden. I'm wondering how that's going to work out. At one point, the purple passion vine tried to attach itself to the four o'clock and I had to unhook it. Should be interesting...
There are two pictures below - one shows the plant during the day - so wilted. Then in the afternoon, the leaves perk up with no sun and the flowers bloom! Very pretty yellow stars!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Flamingo Flower
Also known as Justicia Carnea, the Flamingo Flower has bright pink long flowers that bring to mind a flamingo.
Unfortunately for me... I didn't realize this was a shady plant. I have this one in full sun. We'll see how it survives. If it doesn't make it this year, I'll know better for next year and I definitely want another one.
It's perennial and "easy to grow." I imagine that's contingent upon it being planted in the correct spot! Oh boy.... Here's a picture:
Unfortunately for me... I didn't realize this was a shady plant. I have this one in full sun. We'll see how it survives. If it doesn't make it this year, I'll know better for next year and I definitely want another one.
It's perennial and "easy to grow." I imagine that's contingent upon it being planted in the correct spot! Oh boy.... Here's a picture:
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