Yellowjackets

Candy was stung by one yesterday, and I ran into a bunch this morning while mowing in the back.

Fortunately, Tom of the Turf Company was able to come out on short notice and spray.

I got the front gardens watered. Candy’s hibiscus have started to bloom.

Yesterday, I painted the bench and planted two Helena’s Blush and two Sedum as well as a couple of little begonias rescued from a nursery.

Put down hemlock mulch in the front to hide all the violence done to the ground as a result of planting. It looks pretty good and I hope everything winters over so that I can concentrate on the back side of the fence next year.

Outdoor Shower

I put the outdoor shower together last evening. It’s working fine although it needs one or two joints to be wrenched tighter – hard for me with carpal tunnel.
I bought a cool solar frog and a lantern. That should complete the garden features. I want to finish the front today and maybe do some painting.

Fountain Grass

Spent about 3 hours mowing and weeding at Edgewater yesterday. Gave the rock garden a good soak. It looks great – miraculous, since it’s received so little care this year. Destroyed several slugs.

Planted purple fountain grass in front of the fence at Dixon a couple of days ago, did more weeding and dead-heading today.

Have been storing up food and beer for the cookout this Sunday; the downstairs frig is full.

Transplanted James’ strawberries to the vegetable garden, and they seem to be okay this morning. Miracle Gro’d the annuals.

Made a decorative pseudo-fence to partially hide the mulch pile.

Candy put in hibiscus yesterday next to her pool; I hope they take.

Weeds

Finished the driveway and did some weeding and dead-heading at the front entrance to Winslow Farms, pruned the big hydrangea, washed the truck, watered and did a transfer station run. Otherwise, I’ve been eating junk food and relaxing today.

Perfect Day

Have been working in the yard off and on for the last 8 hours.
There was so much weeding to be done, and I’ll bet when I start again tomorrow, I’ll find even more.
I’ve managed to keep the gardens alive and even reasonably healthy, and I’ve been pretty good about pruning, but not weeding.

Continue reading Perfect Day

Butterfly Bushes

Dug up the purple butterfly bush today and was horrified to see that it has almost no roots; no wonder it’s done so poorly.
I bought a new, larger one at Mahoney’s. Will try to get it to acclimate better than the old one.
Had a nice chat with Richie, too. He has a great attitude towards long-term customers, considers us “friends”.
Paid a visit to Country Garden in Hyannis; what a place.

Early August

We’ve finished the hottest month of the year; August has been kind so far, a break from July’s killing heat and humidity.
The first tomato is almost ripe, and there are 3 pumpkin seedlings. I moved their EarthBox to the yard yesterday.
Put Miracle Gro on the vegetable garden as well as the annual flowers and the recent transplants. Gave the little garden by the right fence a good watering.
Leaving shortly to pick up Peter’s lawn mower.