September, 20, 2011
Hi Friends, Follwers and Fellow Gardeners,
I enjoy reading all your comments to me and really appreciate them. I've been really busy with some family issues (all sorting themselves out now) and haven't had any time to read your blogs.
I am really looking forward to getting caught up on my friends and follower's blogs and commenting back.
I'll be back soon!
Happy Gardening,
Diane
Red Ants!
September 9, 2011
One of my favourite fall perennials is fall asters. I have, over time, separated and replanted mine, so I have about six of them, in different gardens. Late this summer I noticed that just one of them was looking very dry. I didn't think all that much of it, and just started giving it extra water. It seemed that the next time I looked, the plant was completely brown and crispy. See the photo below:
I checked closely and noticed the mulch was all dug up around the bottom of the plant and the soil seemed really sandy. The sandy soil was full of red ants! The only thing I can think of is that the sand was from below the soil, and something to do with the brick retaining wall. There is no sand to be seen anywhere else.
I did some 'google research' for humane ways to get rid of red ants. There are many ways, but I decided on the 'pour boiling water on the ant hill' approach. I also decided to pull up the fall aster and disgard it. I hope that was the right thing to do. The ants seem to be gone.
This is what the healthy plant, about six feet away, looked like at the time. It should be in full bloom shortly, so I'll post a photo of it again soon.
If anyone has had a similar problem, advice, or a comment about this, I would love to hear it!
Happy Gardening, everyone.
One of my favourite fall perennials is fall asters. I have, over time, separated and replanted mine, so I have about six of them, in different gardens. Late this summer I noticed that just one of them was looking very dry. I didn't think all that much of it, and just started giving it extra water. It seemed that the next time I looked, the plant was completely brown and crispy. See the photo below:
I checked closely and noticed the mulch was all dug up around the bottom of the plant and the soil seemed really sandy. The sandy soil was full of red ants! The only thing I can think of is that the sand was from below the soil, and something to do with the brick retaining wall. There is no sand to be seen anywhere else.
This is what the healthy plant, about six feet away, looked like at the time. It should be in full bloom shortly, so I'll post a photo of it again soon.
If anyone has had a similar problem, advice, or a comment about this, I would love to hear it!
Happy Gardening, everyone.
FF Last Week of August
August 26, 2011
We are officially in the last week of August. Where did the summer go? The nights are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. The garden still looks nice, although a recent all-night rain has the phlox looking a little ragged.
The rudbekia below is in it's prime this week. I'm not sure of the name of this one, as I got it from my friend, Rita. It's such a happy little plant and I love the way the buds look when they unfurl.
I wasn't sure what this one was called. It was given to me by a friend. Thanks to Alison at Bonney Lassie, it has now been identified to me as Malva sylvestris or Mallow!
Below is a lovely 'Perennial Lobelia'. Rita gave me two, this white one, and a pretty blue one (not shown). I was surprized and delighted to see that the white one has all kinds of little seedling plants growing up beside it. At first I thought they might be weeds, so I'm really glad that my inner voice told me to let them be. I have enough to give a few to my garden club's plant sale next spring.
The 'Stargazer' lily. No explanation of this plant required. It's just plain beautiful and smells wonderful. My husband says to leave them on the outside of the house though. ;)
Check out some really great garden blogs at Fertilizer Friday. I'll leave you with a look at my backyard border. This picture was taken last week, before the rain hit. It's the same garden shown in my last post 'Wordless Wednesday', but taken from the opposite end.
Happy Fertilizer Friday and Happy Gardening!
We are officially in the last week of August. Where did the summer go? The nights are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. The garden still looks nice, although a recent all-night rain has the phlox looking a little ragged.
The rudbekia below is in it's prime this week. I'm not sure of the name of this one, as I got it from my friend, Rita. It's such a happy little plant and I love the way the buds look when they unfurl.
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| Rudbekia coneflower, but I call them Brown-Eyed Susans |
I wasn't sure what this one was called. It was given to me by a friend. Thanks to Alison at Bonney Lassie, it has now been identified to me as Malva sylvestris or Mallow!
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| Malva sylvestris |
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| Perennial Lobelia with pink phlox |
The 'Stargazer' lily. No explanation of this plant required. It's just plain beautiful and smells wonderful. My husband says to leave them on the outside of the house though. ;)
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| Lilium 'Stargazer' |
Happy Fertilizer Friday and Happy Gardening!
Kew Gardens, London, England
Today, I'm doing something new. I don't usually post about anything other than my own garden, but my blogging friend, Beth, is doing a fun travel theme party called Travels Near and Far, at her blog Beyond the Garden Gate.
In 2008, my best friend and I went to England. We had a wonderful time wandering around the streets of London, visiting historic places, browsing through fancy stores and museums. And gardens, of course!
For today's post I thought I'd show some photos from Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens in London.
Below is a photo of a lovely cottage which is on the Kew Gardens grounds. It was built for the royal family, in the 1700s. It was used for the family of Queen Charlotte for things like picnics. You can't go into the inside, but there are pictures and more information on the website here: Cottage.
I was really sorry to have just missed English Bluebell season - I could see the spent blooms just positively everywhere around this beautiful cottage.
Check out Beth's post Travels Near and Far out when you have a chance. She has wonderful pictures of a trip to New York City in today's post.
Happy Gardening, everyone.
In 2008, my best friend and I went to England. We had a wonderful time wandering around the streets of London, visiting historic places, browsing through fancy stores and museums. And gardens, of course!
For today's post I thought I'd show some photos from Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens in London.
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| The Nosegay Garden I could never explain what a nosegay garden is as well as the following sign. I hope it's not too small to read. |
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| the Formal Garden As I understand it, these very structured gardens were meant to look especially lovely, when viewed from an upper window. |
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| a pretty water feature |
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| the Rose Arbour I loved it here. |
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| a better look at the roses climbing on the arbour |
Below is a photo of a lovely cottage which is on the Kew Gardens grounds. It was built for the royal family, in the 1700s. It was used for the family of Queen Charlotte for things like picnics. You can't go into the inside, but there are pictures and more information on the website here: Cottage.
I was really sorry to have just missed English Bluebell season - I could see the spent blooms just positively everywhere around this beautiful cottage.
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| Queen Charlotte's Cottage |
Happy Gardening, everyone.
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