9.11.2011

After watching the memorial services on television this morning, I had to be outside in the sun under the clear, blue sky.  Not as clear, nor as blue as that sky ten years ago, but a close reminder of how perfect an early September day can be.  Of course, ten years ago, the day turned to terror and horror that is difficult to remember.

The butterflies were busy in the garden.  I've noticed the monarchs for the past couple of weeks, but have not been able to capture them with my camera. Today after dividing some perennials and deadheading and weeding, they didn't seem to mind me near the butterfly bush with my camera.  Maybe they were enjoying the day as much as I was--or just focused on preparing for their migration.

Hurricane Irene

Well, we were not here in CT for the hurricane, but came home from a week visiting relatives in Ohio to no power, all our garden furniture safely tucked away inside our house, and everything swept clean in the garden beds by the high winds.  The only damage was to the butterfly bush, now at least eight feet tall.  It was leaning forward in the bed almost to the ground.  I was able to trim some blooms that had faded from the top finally!

After some pruning, I wrapped some twine around it and pounded a stake into the ground behind it.  As I pulled it back, I stamped the ground back down wher there roots had pulled up and been exposed above the soil.

 I anchored the twine to the stake and the butterflies were back on the bush in moments.  They didn't care if it was leaning, but I did. It will keep on blooming until early October if the frosts hold off.

A Menagerie in the Garden, Late Summer

With a week of rain and being away for a short while, I haven't had many moments in the garden in the past two weeks.  This afternoon, I spent some time just watching from my window.  This is what I saw in just a few moments.

A chipmunk spent some time under the bird feeder.  I also saw him shake a sunflower but ths seeds were not ripe and did not tumble down upon him.

A male and female goldfinch threw down cracked sunflower seeds.

A couple of sparrows drank poolside from the bird bath.

A duo of Great Spangled butterflies fed on the butterfly bush.

Just a great moment to spend
in a summer garden!

We Have Bloom

I'm plant-sitting a neighbor's hibiscus for the summer.  Today, July 31st, it has bloomed!

Manure Tea and Soaker Hoses Do Their Magic

Now that the heat wave is over and we are back to just hot days of summer and lower humidity, I sprayed the plants with The English Lady's Manure Tea.  I seems to be working well, greening the plants up and giving them the strength to recover from the heat and tolerate the active insects. It's a foliar feeding so I just mixed it up in the sprayer with a 1:10 ratio manure tea to water, gave the sprayer 20 pumps for pressure and gave the plants a spritz on a calm morning with no rain in the forecast.

The soaker hose is also working well.  I've used it twice a week for 45 minutes each time.  The leaves and blooms of the plants stay dry and the water soaks in deeply to encourage deep roots for times of drought probably ahead in August.  The herb planters and flower containers on the deck, patio, and front sidewalk and the hanging pot still take quite a bit of time to water in well. 

After an initial spray with soap insecticide after the rainy, cool June days, the plants are looking very healthy.  The leaves are whole and dark green, not chewed by insect mandibles or weakened or discolored by sucking insect mouth parts.

But, once again, am I ahead of myself? Overconfident?  Thinking I'm in control of this thing we call "Nature." We still have August ahead in the garden--and who knows what damage weather and the little beasties can still do!



July Bouquets--Indoors and Outdoors

Full Moon in Full Flower

Here's that moon coming up over the ridge in July:

and the interior of a balloon flower can be just as eerily beautiful:

Oh, the mystery of nature!