digging in the dirt

june is when everything blooms

2011-06-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

We've not had much consistent sun here in Portland, but the days we've had have been GLORIOUS. I love early june when the late blooming spring things are still going (rhodies, iris,) but summer things like roses, columbine, and foxglove are starting and in between things like poppies glue it all together.

this oregano was a small start from a friend. It's everywhere now, but I like it. Not only do I cook with it, but it's handy for ground cover. (I do need to cut it back from some neighboring thyme, though.)

foxglove! Love them always, even as they end up in inconvenient spots and seem to love growing right on top of roses.

I like this because you can see the purple columbine and orange poppies in the background.

These are so picture-book beautiful I can't even stand it. Of course I only think to take pictures when the sun is high and it's hard to get a good shot.

summertime

2010-08-16T23:46:00.000-07:00

These are from June/ July. I love Shasta daisies, I just wish I could figure out a way to keep them from falling over once they get really tall. I've used string before, but it didn't work out particularly well.

I love the chocolate brown stem on these! I took this photo on a walk - it's not my hydrangea, although I think I'll look for one like this. I wonder what color the flowers turned out to be. (maybe time for another walk.)

I found this while doing some cleanup - it's the skeleton of a poppy seed pod. I think it's beautiful.

crocosmia! I still need to move it, as I have for many years. The little orange cat makes himself a summertime cave at the base of the plant and I guess I don't want to ruin it for him.

butterfly bush

2009-07-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Here's an up to date picture for the blog: these were taken just a couple of days ago. The Swallowtails have been a little late this year, which I chalk up to the late long (for oregon) winter. But they're here now! There are usually two in the yard, but sometimes more.

The hummingbirds like this plant, too. I know they're invasive in some areas, but these have stayed put and lasted a number of years.

foxglove

2009-07-11T01:03:00.000-07:00

the foxglove are mostly gone by now, but I love them and wanted to get these pictures up. I'm sorry I missed out on the giant black bumblebee that was collecting pollen, but what can you do?

I love the purple color, the spots, and the fringy guard hairs on this one.

catching up

2009-07-11T00:51:00.000-07:00

some summertime pictures! My computer was broken, but now it is fixed, and I'm going to be putting a bunch of summer pictures up. (fair warning)

this rose grows in a raised bed along the driveway. It only blooms once, but it's so beautiful when it does! neither of these photos do it justice.

this isn't exactly in focus, but it gives you a good idea of what the color is like. This one creeps along, sending runners further and further out. I need to put some fresh soil in the bed and make sure it's watered more often (some crape myrtles protect it from most of the rain), but I still think it looks pretty darn good.

variegated weigela

2009-05-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you -- I had to consult the dictionary for BOTH words of the title of this post. (I usually know how to spell variegated, but today I did not.)

Some real-time pictures! the Weigela is going gangbusters right now. It's so beautiful.

Up close. This color combo is really fresh and lovely. The plant is in a fairly shady spot, so the little pink flowers are a nice bit of brightness.

But every now and then, the sun comes through!

lots of garden stuff going on this year, most notably redoubled vegetable gardening. I swear every other person in the city of portland is putting in a raised bed for veggies in their front yard. it's great!

daffodil time

2009-04-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day here in Portland. I'm hoping to do a lot more work in the garden this year, but we'll see.
Here are some recent photos.

digging in the dirt.

a daffodil getting ready to bloom. Our spring has been very late this year due to a colder than usual winter. (colder than usual for here, anyway!)

ta-dah!

more color

2008-11-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

here's some more autumn color -- these are not from my garden, but in my neighborhood park. The leaves have been very beautiful this year!

the rainy season is upon us

2008-11-12T22:46:00.000-08:00

Autumn has definitely arrived in Portland. It has been raining and windy all day long -- I'll be surprised if there are any leaves left after it's all over.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your feelings about photos of autumn leaves), I took a bunch of pictures over the last couple of weeks.

Here's some red from a japanese maple. (not mine, but one I walk by every day.) Red is usually hard to photograph (for me, anyway!), but I liked how these turned out.

late summer bloomers

2008-09-02T00:09:00.000-07:00

here are a couple of pictures of some actual flowers from my yard. (shocking, I know.)

I love these single hollyhock flowers. They're so old fashioned!!

This is the only color we've got in this garden. I looked for more a while back, but it was hard to find anything that wasn't a double blossom. I should look again.

there used to be lots of different glads in the garden, but they've all slowly died off except for these beautiful yellow ones, a pink one, and a couple of purple ones. Definitely should plant some more! they do well here. I think some red ones would be lovely. (they come in red, don't they?) I know some people think they look like funeral flowers, but I think they're nice.

detail with pollen.

I'd also really like to get some dahlias. I saw some lovely examples at the State Fair this past weekend.

summertime walk

2008-08-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of plants I like spotted on recent walks around the neighborhood.

This garden had some BEAUTIFUL peonies this spring.

Same garden, a little further down the sidewalk. I love cosmos! I used to have cosmos, and I think I need to have them again.

This is so pretty in person.

This isn't the best vantage point of this garden, but they've got a lot going on in a very small space. Corn, bamboo, sunflowers, sweet peas and much much more. I like the low-grass look.

hydrangea fever

2008-08-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

I got a new camera last night, and therefore I had to take a lot of pictures today. Here are some of the hydrangea. I really love this particular one since it manages to have a lot of variation in color in just one shrub.

an overview of sorts

purpley-blue side

pinky red side

friend to daddy longlegs

summer wish list

2008-07-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Gardening is a blessing and a curse in the "it grows easy" pacific northwest. The good part is that you can coast for a reaaaaaly long time and still have things look pretty good. The bad news is that there comes a point (as there does everywhere, I suppose) where you just can't coast anymore! This garden has reached that point. It's overgrown, full of weeds and grass (I wish I were exaggerating), and just... SAD.

Whole beds need to be dug up and re-thought. I probably said that two years ago, but believe me -- it's more true now than ever. A lot of the perennials that had been going great gangbusters for years and years have finally gotten crowded out by less desirable but "oh, pretty!" neighbors. (Rose Campion, fennel: I'm looking at you.)

There's a kind of liberty in this complete and utter breakdown, though. It's like starting over, but WISER and also with some salvageable plants to help smooth the transition. It's going to be a lot of work, but it's finally gotten to the point where it just has to be done.

So, I'm thinking about what might be nice to add to the garden. I've started taking pictures of various summer-blooming flowers I see on my walks. (Even at the tip-top end of things, summer blooms (apart from roses) were always pretty sparse.)

ANYWAY. Nevermind that these probably all love full sun and I don't have a lot of that, here are some things that caught my eye while I was out yesterday:

I know jasmine can be tender and/or an overgrown nuisance, but it smells SO GOOD and I think it might be great along a neighbor-shared fence. (privacy and fragrance!)

I'm not sure what this one is, but the bees really were digging it. The flowers were not particularly remarkable, but I liked how fuzzy it was and the contrast with the foliage.

Here are the silvery leaves -- so pretty!

I'm not sure what this one is -- it almost looks like penstemon, but it was so low-down I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure it's not, but it was reminiscent of penstemon. I know this isn't really in focus, but I like the contrast between the hot red-orange blooms and the silver cast to the leaves.

here it is en masse. I don't know that I really have a big enough sunny spot for it, but it's pretty.

Any suggestions for summer blooms? The garden is north facing, but we do have some sunny spots. (as well as my nemesis, dry shade.) I like some of the old-fashioned flowers like single hollyhocks, but I also like the tropic easiness of something like canna.

currently blooming

2008-05-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

We're having a really slow, wet spring this year in Portland. This evening it's raining lightly and 60 degrees out. We're in the strange (but beautiful) place of having rhodies blooming along with roses, poppies, foxglove, lilacs and the tail end of some earlier spring bulbs. Of course in my yard many of those are obscured by the GRASS that has decided to grow everywhere. (everywhere!)

I am ready for the sun.

more photos soon -- I have been out of town a lot this month, which perhaps made it a poor one to start flinging around "once a week blogging" promises.

hello again

2008-05-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

I know it has been A WHILE since I posted last, to say the least. I'm not going to make any promises (see lower on the page to see how well those stick), but I am going to attempt to get back into posting here at least once a week!

The garden has been going nuts here in Portland. Today is very rainy and moderate/cool, but it's supposed to be sunny and in the 90's by the end of the week. (cue grass growing inches per minute in front of my very eyes.)

The state of the garden is currently very overgrown. I wish I were one of those people who loves to putter around even in the midst of the muddiest, coldest weather of the winter, but alas, I am not. So it's a lot of catch-up. But that's okay.

Here are a few pictures to get started again -- these were taken this afternoon -- three phases of the oriental poppies that volunteer all over the garden every spring.

I may have a few more pictures to put up this week, otherwise, I'll see you here some time next week.

in bud -- I love how delicate the little hairs on the bud are -- they catch all the rain. I'm not sure what their biological function is, but they're awfully pretty in the light.

petals emerging

all the way out, but wet. (they look less droopy in the sunlight, but I think they're pretty this way too.)

busy summer

2007-09-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Long time, no post! I have been busy this summer and unfortunately did not keep up with this blog as much as I would have liked. Here's a picture of Busby helping with the gardening. (such a giver!) He is king of the bark dust pile; in order to get another load for the wheelbarrow, you have to skritch his head. It's a complicated system.

More soon!

hello, foxy

2007-06-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

It's foxglove time! I love foxglove. It's true, they don't behave particularly well and I can never predict where they'll be and they seem to migrate all over the yard... but they bring such lovely color and get so tall! Here are some early photos:

I love when they're blooming like this all mixed in with the roses (which you can't really see in this photo, but trust me they're there).

So pretty! Ours range from all white (no dots) to pink to purple (various shades). The big bumblebees love to get inside of these.

Hooray for foxglove!

lagging behind

2007-06-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

It's crazy blooming time here in portland! here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks -- I hope to get caught up to real time soon:

here's a variegated weigela gone WILD. It has a cascading habit, and it has been cascading a lot.

here's a close up of the flower -- isn't it pretty?

these poppies are almost entirely gone by now, but when they're blooming they're very fun. (this photo was from two weeks ago.)

The siberian iris are still hanging on, but only just. (this photo also from two weeks ago -- note the yard debris can in the background!)

rhododendron time!

2007-05-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

what does a shrub full of these look like?

like this!

and one not from my yard (but I love the yellow with purple)

these are in my yard and out of control. They need some serious pruning, but I think that will wait until after they're done blooming.

Wisterious

2007-05-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

This wisteria isn't in my yard, but I walk by it almost every day. Before it starts blooming it doesn't look like much -- mostly just thick old vines pulling the support up out of the ground. But once it starts blooming...

supporting structures.

It's beautiful and smells good too!

I think the flowers look similar to sweet peas.

some early may color

2007-05-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

This frilly purple rhodie is EXPLODING right now -- I'll try to get a full-shrub shot of it soon.

Close up of the purple rhodie. I love the spotting pattern on this one.

This tulip was almost gone by, but I loved how it looked with the scilla behind it.

still no leopards

2007-05-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

The orange oriental poppies are coming along. I love them at this fuzzy stage.

Leopard's Bane aka Arnica (and some weeds, but.... you know how it is.)

close up of the Leopard's Bane. No leopards yet! (I make this joke every year -- I can't help it!!)

hearts on a string

2007-04-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

I know I already posted pictures of this white bleeding heart, but it's just so pretty...

and when I went by it on Wednesday, it had a lot more blooms on it than the last time I saw it.

This plant is bigger than the wild ones I've seen, but I guess that's not too surprising.

dogwood are blooming

2007-04-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

I hope to get some whole tree pictures soon.

garden helpers

2007-04-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

This shot is more representitve of the garden -- notice the GIANT dandilions, various other weeds and the not-so-helpful helpers! The grape hyacinth are looking pretty good right now (this is just one clump), the daffodils are still blooming (although nearing the end), and the regular hyacinth are blooming too. Mostly that's all just an excuse to post a cute picture of the cats!

tree season

2007-04-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

Full Disclosure: this picture was taken last week. It is raining this week. (but I'm not complaining! No snow, no sleet!)

I thought this was a nice example of trees blooming in the area right now. The weeping cherry on the left is a huge beautiful example, except that the owners give it this crazy dutch boy haircut every year.

tulip time

2007-04-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

Today has been mostly rainy and miserable, but I have these pictures from last week which cheered me right up.

this red tulip isn't from my garden, but I do walk by it every day.

same with this one, although it is so beautiful I really want some like it at home.

but these ARE from my garden. That was a really nice day...

still pretty post petals

2007-04-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

this is what those cherry blossoms look like after the pink petals have fallen to the ground.

blooming right now

2007-04-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

The rosemary is a huge mass of blooms right now! I'll try to get a picture of the whole plant this week.

The first tulip blooming in the garden.

some days are sunny

2007-03-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

pale daffodil in the garden with the sun behind it.

I totally lucked into this bird in the tree -- it looks very springy to me.

the hellebore cheat

2007-03-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

this hellebore feels like cheating since it was in a garden center, but they ARE blooming right now in the area (just not in my garden).

this, however, was captured in the wild. (well, the park.) I expect the next couple of weeks will be very blossomy as these start to fall to the ground. I'm so glad spring is here!

bleeding heart

2007-03-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Bleeding heart grow wild here, although the ones in the wild are usually pink. I spotted this lovely white one while out on a walk.

squirrels are busy in the spring

2007-03-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

You would think they'd be busy doing their squirrel in the springtime things, but they always seem ready to take time from their schedules to give me some attitude.

I think camellias are (or can be) so beautiful, but I'm glad I can appreciate them in parks or other people's gardens. They get so messy -- especially here after the rain. (don't get me wrong, I have plenty of messy things in my garden, I just don't feel the need for this particular messy, especially when there are such exquisite examples not far away.)

This was about a week ago, and this...

was yesterday. I'm not even sure what kind of tree this is, but I love the tassel effect!

I almost didn't include this picture since I still have pink cherry blossoms from LAST YEAR at the bottom of this page, but I'm trying not to let my blog-slacker shame control my actions, so here you have it -- a beautiful blossom fresh from 2007! They're so delicate, and EVERYWHERE right now.

spring, with cherries

2007-03-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

Here's some pictures from Portland... TODAY (well, the 13th.)

Today's sky... which was also blue at one point. I don't think it actually rained, though.

cherry blossom, from my favorite weeping cherry. (not in my yard, but I walk by it almost every day)

weeping cherry

...and some white cherry blossoms. everything is changing so fast -- the crocus from last week are almost completely gone by, but the daffodils are really starting to come out.

first daffodil

2007-03-09T00:29:00.000-08:00

This is the first daffodil of the year in our yard. I've seen them coming up in other places around town as much as a week or two earlier, but we're facing north and everything seems to take just a little bit longer. Although in some instances, the wait is totally worth it!

Spring in Portland (crocus version)

2007-03-06T21:36:00.000-08:00

crocus last week (rain, rain, rain)

crocus this week (sun, but I'm sure rain is on the way)

crocus at the local park

colorful may

2006-09-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

this is one of my favorite rhododendrons in the garden.

These poppies are EVERYWHERE for a couple of weeks. I don't mind though because they are so jolly.

leopard's bane (with poppy buds in the background)

This red poppy is one of my favorites.

catching up with spring

2006-09-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

I know that SUMMER is practically over, but I thought I would catch up with some of my backlog of garden pictures. Since I've been so remiss in updating, that means rhodies for this post.

the pink buds turned into mostly white rhodies like the one below.

pink days

2006-04-17T23:54:00.000-07:00

I don't have one of these cherry trees in my yard, but they are blooming all over the city. Here's what the sidewalks look like ...

tulip time

2006-04-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

The tulips are still going gangbusters.

trillium

2006-04-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

I took this picture last year, but this is pretty much what they look like right now. The trillium are growing near the base of the rhododendrons and other sort of shady places. I think they're so pretty! They turn a sort of pinkish color as they age out..

hello, springtime!

2006-04-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

I know -- updates have been few and far between. It's been a busy winter -- unfortunately, not busy in the garden, as the weeds will attest. But I think we're about to do some overhauling. Most of the garden is perennial (so much easier!) but the beds need new soil, dividing and all that jazz. It is starting to look like it will be easiest to take EVERYTHING out (one bed at a time!) and start over. I'm hoping that I'll be able to make some room in the sunny corner for a raised vegetable bed! I've still got some time... most of the summer veggies I'm fond of can't really go in here in Portland until early May.

(the photo is from a magnolia that is not in my garden, but one I spotted while out on a walk)

almost spring...

2006-03-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

It is almost spring, hooray! here in Portland it is sunny and mild, although the rain is supposed to resume by this evening. We've had pretty mild weather, then it froze. All of the roses are confused, and some fuchsias that I thought were going to make it died DEAD, but other than that... it's nice to see things coming up out of the ground and spreading a little color around.

the sun is shining!

2006-01-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

there are shadows and everything. After about 30 days of straight rain (that is only a small exaggeration), the sun has finally deigned to shine upon Portland! The ground is still really soggy so it is hard to get out there and do the things that need to be done. (hard to do without getting really muddy, which I am still not in the mood for.)

I do want to get my sweet-peas started, though. I've decided I am going to do about 3 or 4 large pots of them and try to grow them up a little piece of trellis or maybe make a bamboo teepee type thing for them to grow up. Then I don't have to worry about double digging dirt that is full of tree roots and bits of iris and who knows what else.

More pictures soon.

windy

2005-12-29T09:20:00.000-08:00

This is how windy it's been lately! Usually, we don't get the wind until after it's been raining for months (which causes even more destruction because the ground is so soft - the big trees just topple right over), but this year we are getting it pre-rain. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

I have finally chosen a new template that I think will work. It's got a posting area that's wide enough for a slightly bigger picture than the "blog this" button from flickr will allow. I still have some sprucing up to do (adding links, fixing the flickr badge, stuff like that), but it's a start!

a little wintry mix

2005-12-19T23:30:00.000-08:00

DSCN1915.JPG
Originally uploaded by jensect.

We had an interesting Sunday. First, sleet, followed by snow, followed by freezing rain, and now we're just into regular old rain. It will probably be 50 degrees on Christmas! From all I've read, it looks like we're in for a more typical PNW wet winter rather than the cold wind and ice we had last year.

Planting Schemes from Monet's Garden

2005-12-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

by Vivian Russell
from the Garden Inspiration series published by Frances Lincoln Ltd.

This book is great. I picked it up at the library because I have always been interested in Monet's gardens at Giverny. I have read about this garden over the years, and was always impressed that he got these great exuberant effects using widely available plants (iris, tulip, cosmos, nasturtiums, etc.) and not relying on an exotic planting scheme. (I like exotics too, in theory - in practice I REALLY like plants that don't require too much from me). The book has tons of great pictures, and takes you through the seasons with a focus on which plants are blooming when (and helped me visualize those tough transition periods). I guess I especially like this book because so many of the plants in it are ones that I have growing in my yard already. I got some great ideas on how to move things around and spice things up.

If you favor a more formal style, there might not be as much for you as I got out of this book, but if you like color and don't mind things a little shaggy it's fantastic!

confused calla

2005-11-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

confused calla
Originally uploaded by jensect.

The calla lilies are coming up again. The only thing I can think is that our mild-so-far fall/winter has got them sincerely confused. I don't remember them coming up this time of year before, but maybe I just didn't notice..

still some pink

2005-11-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

still some pink
Originally uploaded by jensect.

The hydrangea is pretty much gone by, except there are still a few pink blossoms hanging on. I would really like to get one of the deep purpley blue ones, but first I have to figure out when the best time to plant them is (I'm sure I've missed it, as that is usually the case), and - more importantly, prep the spot I want to put it.

This one was transplanted from a spot that was too dry and too sunny. It did much better this year.

lovely library

2005-11-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

I am fortunate to live in Multnomah County, which has one of the best and most used library systems in the country. I am extra-fortunate that my local branch has a large gardening section, which makes it very easy to browse. I've decided I am going to pick up a couple of garden books every time I go and see what strikes my fancy.

Kitchen Garden: what to grow and how to grow it, by Lucy Peel - this is part of the Harper Collins Practical Gardener series. It is probably a little to simplistic for hardcore kitchen gardeners, but at my particular phase, it is just the right combination of information and pictures. Flipping through it again right now, I would say that it is a very good source for the knowledgeable but amateur gardener. I can also say that some fiend has ripped out pages 159- 162, which are the pages on disease. Shame on you, page-ripper!

The Scented Garden, by Richard Bird - this is part of the Essential Garden Library series (vol. 10). Here's the blurb on the back which really says it better than I could: Each Garden Project Workbook provides a comprehensive, practical guide to a single subject. Taking as gospel that you learn best by doing, every book features 20 projects, each spread across a triple page "gatefold," enabling you to see at a glance all the materials and equipment needed, plus techniques, and a source guide. Additional special features -- a hard cover to withstand the elements and a concealed spiral binding that allows the book to lie flat-- make it possible to take the workbook into the garden for easy on-site reference

Well, all of that is true EXCEPT I can't imagine any book but a totally plastic one that would escape the ravages of going into the garden with me. I mean, we're talking mud, garden hose, and the most deadly of all - forgetting I took it out there, looking all over for it, and finding it in the spring under the rhododendron. So, since I would never do this to a library book, I had better just read it in the house. It has some nice ideas for a potted scented garden, and instructions for a sweet-pea obelisk. The rest I just sort of read as inspirations for plants since I don't have a handy 30 foot walkway just waiting for a catmint border. (let's not even think of all the neighborhood drunken cats I would have lolling around in the garden).

determined

2005-11-15T00:28:00.000-08:00

Rather than let this blog languish over the winter, I have decided to be determined, like this Rhodie still blooming in NOVEMBER, and keep it going. I will be thinking about what I want to do in the spring, what I should be doing in the now, and also looking for good garden books to get some ideas. I am particularly interested in figuring out the best way to grow vegetables. My tomatoes this year were a complete bust - I know the soil really needed to be amended, but that was probably just part of the problem. Our entire yard faces north, and I really only have one very sunny corner. (when the sun is shining, that is). I am going to try to figure out some container or raised bed or something solution. I LOVE fresh tomatoes, and was very sorry that the squirrels got the one and only one that managed to get red.

I have also decided to try the pictures in this larger size. You can still click to them to get to the Flickr page they're from.

edit: well, it pops a little over the edge of the allotted area in this template. I guess I could change templates, but I think I'll sleep on it and see what I can figure out.

caterpillar has been here

2005-10-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

caterpillar has been here
Originally uploaded by jensect.

the after photo. This would have been one of the green envy zinnias, had it not had its middle devoured.

my enemy!

2005-10-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

my enemy!
Originally uploaded by jensect.

the same caterpillars that ate the petunias, going to town on the zinnias. I wish I could set up a caterpillar and slug salad bar, where they could eat all they wanted BUT NOT THE FLOWERS.

late zinnia

2005-10-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

late zinnia
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I planted these LAAAATE. They are just blooming now. Well, until the caterpillars get to them. (photo upcoming)

I can't deny it any more

2005-10-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by jensect.

it is definitely fall. This is the first tree to turn in our yard - even of the three Crape Myrtles planted along the driveway, only one has color. Actually, they go from this bright color, to one with just a little on the top, to one that is still blooming at the top. This has been a confused year in the garden.

apologies

2005-10-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

I am setting this blog so that you have to fill in that little word-thingy in order to comment. I apologize, but I was getting hit with that new kind of clever spam where they make a generic comment and then have a link to a commercial site. I don't mind the links if I think there is an actual human-garden person on the other end, but if it is just a robot-troll leaving messages willy nilly - well, that's not cool.

purple vortex!

2005-09-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

purple vortex!
Originally uploaded by jensect.

some september color. The flowers get smaller and smaller as it gets colder at night. But still blooming!

clear day

2005-09-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

clear day
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I got the morning glories in early enough this year that they are going to seed. Yay! Less work for me next year.

morning glory

2005-09-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

morning glory
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I think this one is called Grandpa Otts - it is doing well and is very pretty along the fence with the pink one (photo coming shortly). I only wish I had planted some of the Heavenly Blue this year too.

purple cone flower

2005-09-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

purple cone flower
Originally uploaded by jensect.

they are still pretty, even when they're drying out.

portland september sky

2005-09-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

portland september sky
Originally uploaded by jensect.

It seems all I do is swear to pay more attention to this blog lately. Things have been busy with various home improvement projects, but that's no excuse! So - to recap on the last things I left hanging:

Moonflower: still no flowers, but it has grown a definite tendril. I don't expect that I will see any flowers from this vine, which bums me out. It will probably get too cold before that can happen. Next year - a sunnier spot!

Petunias: it was CATERPILLARS eating all the buds off. Oooh, they make me mad. Almost as mad as slugs. Equally mad as slugs.

major yard-changing project: haven't started yet, but I haven't given up on it yet.

Moonflower update

2005-08-31T11:40:00.000-07:00

still no flowers. But the plant is growing. Not huge with a million leaves like I'm watering it too much (as happened last year with the morning glory), but very slowly. I think it might be smoking cigarettes at night or otherwise retarding its own growth. It is my fondest wish to get at least one flower before frost. At least I am sure that this time it isn't a blackberry tricking me into thinking it is the moonflower. If it were a blackberry it would be 30 feet tall by now!

Note to self: get cosmos!

2005-08-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

cosmos
Originally uploaded by jensect.

this isn't actually in our yard - but I want to have some cosmos again, so this is a reminder picture.

petunia

2005-08-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

petunia
Originally uploaded by jensect.

This is from one of the wave petunias I have planeted by the front door. It is currently without ANY flowers. Is this weird? It seems weird to me. My theory is that it might have to do with the extremely warm, dry weather and that I haven't watered it in about a week. (I know, I know). So, I have now watered, I will feed it tomorrow, and hope that it starts blooming again.

cone flower

2005-08-17T09:37:00.000-07:00

cone flower
Originally uploaded by jensect.

now more cone shaped! I can't help it - these remind me of little rockets or something.

the green, green grass of home

2005-08-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

the green, green grass of home
Originally uploaded by jensect.

This is the grass in the section we're thinking of digging up. It's not as bad as it looks. I mean, it's definitely as brown as it looks, but usually after a little bit of rain the green starts poking through again.

August Garden Update

2005-08-16T00:56:00.000-07:00

August is a weird time in our garden. I think it is partly because August in Portland is like July in a lot of other places - (our summer weather is usually July, August, September). Everything is in the process of becoming a seed pod! I can't keep stuff watered and gave up entirely on having a green lawn. Usually I make at least some effort and end up with about 50/50 green/brown grass mixture (which reads mostly green from the street) - but I can barely keep on top of watering the beds, let alone the grass! Plus, water isn't cheap.

I think we've come up with a plan that will reduce lawn, increase bed space, and get some of the little roses out of the shadow of that monster (beautiful monster, but still) Cecile Bruner. Hooray! It will involve digging up a bunch of grass and bringing in a bunch of dirt. AKA lots of hard work. But I think the benefits will be huge! I like to have enough lawn to walk barefoot on it, or sit on it and read - I don't need enough for croquet or rugby. The new plan will leave enough lawn for my favorite things, and also be a reasonable amount to keep green. In fact, the area of lawn that we will have left is in the part of the yard that doesn't get as much intense sun, so it keeps itself pretty green. If we act soon, we won't even have to kill off the grass because it is already DEAD.

vegetable garden gate

2005-08-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

vegetable garden gate
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I am finally getting around to uploading pictures from my recent trip to California. If anyone is in the area, I can heartily recommend the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. They had many formal gardens, and all sort of micro-climate gardens, but one of my favorites (and this sort of surprised me) was their fantastic vegetable garden. They combined fruit and vegetables, along with edible flowers and herbs. It was a lovely place to visit, and it looked like it would be a lovely garden to work in as well. Things seemed well thought out. For example, the veggie beds were narrow enough that you could reach right across. Easy to weed, easy to harvest! This is not news - lots of people do it. But I guess I liked thier style. They had fruit trees planted amongst the vegetable beds. It just seemed like the kind of garden you could really eat out of, rather than just have enough fixings for a salad. They also had a cold-frame going which was full of heavenly smelling basil while we were there. I am not sure what about it appealed to me the most - but I think it was the fact that while it was certainly functional, it was also beautiful.

verbena

2005-07-27T00:30:00.000-07:00

verbena
Originally uploaded by jensect.

These verbena are very tall (over 5 ft.) and have square stems. I thought this was one that we lost, but it survived the winter and popped up this spring. It looks great near the tiger lily, and has some green nicotiana growing near the base. Nice combo.

caterpillar, brunching

2005-07-27T00:25:00.000-07:00

caterpillar, brunching
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I think this is a moth caterpillar, but I'm not sure. We do have a pair of swallowtails who hang out on our butterfly bush, but I've just looked them up and this definitely does not seem to be that sort of creature. At any rate, the caterpillars are not as destructive in our garden as the slugs are.

tiger lily

2005-07-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

tiger lily
Originally uploaded by jensect.

the first tiger lily is out! This plant has really thrived over the past couple of years. We found it on a sale table beat up and neglected. It has gone from one single stalk to 4, and every year it seems like it has more flowers. What is the story on tiger lilies? it seems like for a few years they were really hard to find since nobody wanted them in the garden - too common or something. I've beendoing a little googling and it looks like there are several different varieties - I'm not sure what this one is, except that it has fantastic shape and color.

epiphyllum anniversary

2005-07-21T23:58:00.000-07:00

epiphyllum with flash
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I am just making this post under the wire - this is the one year anniversary of digging in the dirt! I can hardly believe it. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by. Here's to another year!

Astilbe

2005-07-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

Astilbe
Originally uploaded by jensect.

close up of the pink astilbe. I hope to get some pictures that show the whole plant this weekend. It is doing well this year, but I'm not sure what the difference is from last year. Maybe the rainier spring/early summer?

purple cone flower

2005-07-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

purple cone flower
Originally uploaded by jensect.

the echinacea is out! At least the first one. The color is fantastic, particularly in the afternoon sun. This clump has moved itself out of self preservation as the rose campion (which is weedy, I know, but so bright and cheerful) crowds it out.

gardenia

2005-07-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

gardenia
Originally uploaded by jensect.

The gardenia is blooming! this is one I bought from a catalog many years ago as a small start. I think I bought it because someone at work needed to get X amount of dollars or she would have to pay more shipping. It took a number of years before it ever put out a bud, even. But this is the second or third year it has bloomed, and it smells marvelous. It has a waxier leaf than a lot of the gardenias I see sold around here. I have it in a pot and take it in in the winter - it is the only sensible solution I can think of because it just can't take much cold. Anyway, I think you can tell from this picture that the plant has a lovely creamy blossom - and you'll just have to believe me on the fragrance. It is heavenly!

hollyhock

2005-07-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

hollyhock
Originally uploaded by jensect.

Here is the hollyhock that is growing in the posthole in the driveway. It was a sunny day when I took this on Tuesday (unlike the miserable rain we have today). I like how that makes it looked striped!

random garden updates: I think I have ONE moonflower coming up, although it has kind of stalled out on me. The blackberry that tricked me before is back and the same size as the putative moonflower. So, we shall see, I guess.
The morning glories are all chugging along. Fewer of them came up than I would have liked, but I think it will be enough to cover the fence, which was the point.
The tomatoes are all doing well. We bought two (Lemon Boy and Early Girl), plus the two that volunteered. It probably won't be the lovely volunteer green zebra I got last year, but if it is any of the ones I had planted in the approximate area, I will be happy. Honestly, if either of them produce a tomato I can eat, I will be happy!

crocosmia

2005-06-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

crocosmia
Originally uploaded by jensect.

the flowers just pop open from the base to the tip.

close-up crocosmia blossom

2005-06-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

close-up crocosmia blossom
Originally uploaded by jensect.

here's one of the flowers up close. They are nice individually and fantastic en masse.

crocosmia

2005-06-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

crocosmia
Originally uploaded by jensect.

Here is the first a couple of shots of the crocosmia as it opens up. It looks like it is going to do really well this year!

sunset

2005-06-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

sunset
Originally uploaded by jensect.

White nicotiana (smells so good!) with the mysterious purple flower last night as the sun was going down. I thought they looked really nice together. In a week or so the MPF will probably be gone by, but the nicotiana will flourish the whole summer long. Hooray! We also have a green bell shape blossomed nicotiana, but it doesn't smell as nice. It sure is pretty though, so I will try to get a decent picture.

crocosmia (in bud)

2005-06-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

crocosmia (in bud)
Originally uploaded by jensect.

...and right next to the foxtail lily is the crocosmia! This one is the lucifer (red) color. I really enjoy this plant. It requires next to no care, and looks good (in my opinion) at every stage from just leaves to seed-pods. Plus, it helps carry over some color for the summer once the late spring exuberance has died back.

foxtail lily

2005-06-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

foxtail lily
Originally uploaded by jensect.

the foxtail lily is almost all the way out, now. It is so pretty and fluffy. I should check and see if they come in other colors.

transition

2005-06-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

transition
Originally uploaded by jensect.

This is one of the shirley poppies on its way to being a seed pod. This year the poppies are less pom pom fringey and more regular petal-having. This is basically the same shape as the ones the neighbors across the street put in, but thiers are a really pretty dark wine color. I may have to sneak over with my camera.

mysterious flower

2005-06-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

mysterious flower
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I'm not sure what kind of flower this is - but it comes up every year around this time and is...plentiful. I love the color and how the stamen is sort of curlicue shaped.

cone flower (not out yet)

2005-06-22T00:05:00.000-07:00

cone flower (not out yet)
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I am pretty sure this is the purple echinacea. We had a white one a few years back, but I think it is gone now. I've got more pics that I will be posting over the next few days - it is a kind of transitional time (appropriate, I guess, with it being the first days of summer and all) in our garden.

The foxglove are starting to go by, the peonies are but pleasant memories, the roses are getting cut back and I need to figure out what to do about blackspot, the orange poppies are all but done, but the shirley poppies are just bursting open. Anyway - more pictures soon!

And good news! After my moonflower meltdown the other day it would seem that two seeds have sprouted. We'll see if they survive the night in slug town. As much as I hate slugs it seems like the remedy is worse than the slugs themselves.

After the petals are gone

2005-06-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

After the petals are gone
Originally uploaded by jensect.

This is a picture of the white peony after all the petals have fallen off. I think it looks pretty cool.

moonflower melancholy

2005-06-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have been fooled by Mother Nature. I am trying to grow a moonflower vine this year to go along with the morning glories I have planted near a fence. I have been bewitched by descriptions of dinner plate-sized flowers and a sweet fragrance. I tried last year and got nothing - but I figure the seeds might have been old, etc. etc. . First batch of seeds this year - no go. I figured it was probably just too early, or too cold and try again. The seeds were soaked in accordance with the directions on the back - they are HUGE seeds, so it seems reasonable. I plant the next batch - nothing happens, until suddenly a sturdy looking sprout comes out of the ground. Sturdy makes senes, I told myself, because of the huge seed. Well... yesterday revealed that this little sprout I had been rejoicing was, in fact, a bleeping BLACKBERRY.
I am so sad. I can't figure out why the moonflowers aren't coming up. Maybe it's slugs. Maybe it is just the wrong spot (although morning glories grow readily in the same spot). I may have to start indoors and transplant, but that seems like a lot of work for something that is supposed to grow so easily. Bah!

Mock Orange

2005-06-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

Mock Orange
Originally uploaded by jensect.

Here's a bigger view of the mock orange, which is in full bloom right now. just beyond it toward the middle of the picture you can see some of the foxglove from the circle garden. On the left is the white lilac that needs some trimming!

foxglove, roses, etc.

2005-06-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

foxglove, roses, etc.
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I realize that almost all of the pictures I post to this blog are close-ups of flowers -- so here is one with a little wider view. This is what we call the Circle Garden, because at one time it was round. We've expanded it, it is no longer round, but the name remains. Right now the roses and foxglove are going full tilt. I need to get in and do some deadheading, and also decide what to do about the blackspot. It isn't that bad YET, but it could get that way, particularly if it stays wet like it has been.

foxgloves on parade

2005-05-30T00:57:00.000-07:00

foxgloves on parade
Originally uploaded by jensect.

speaking of foxglove, here are some of the many growing in the main rose garden. They kind of choke the roses a little bit, but they are so jolly and colorful I have a hard time pulling them up.

afternoon sun

2005-05-30T00:54:00.000-07:00

afternoon sun
Originally uploaded by jensect.

the foxglove are getting to be 5-6' now. They will get a bit taller as the season progresses. I caught this one the other day in the afternoon. I thought the color showed off nicely in the sun. Also, this particular foxglove is a little unusual because the flowers go all the way around (many are balanced mostly to one side) and the flowers themselves are tipped up ever so slightly. Maybe easier for the bees? there was a giant fuzzy black and yellow bumble bee in the foxglove yesterday, but he would not stay in one place long enough for me to get a photo.

Mock Orange

2005-05-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Mock Orange
Originally uploaded by jensect.

and here it is open...

mock orange

2005-05-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

mock orange
Originally uploaded by jensect.

The mock orange also smells good. I am sensing a theme, here. This tree is one that is ramshackle, pokey and in the way all winter long. We don't trim it much because its growth pattern is cascading branches, etc. etc. But, it is all worth it in the spring/early summer when these beautiful blossoms come out.

the mysterious center

2005-05-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

the mysterious center
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I remember the first time I ever heard of or saw a representation of a peony. It was in one of the OZ books - the one that was all underwater, I think. I lived in Florida and roses were really exotic - peonies were unheard of (by me, anyway)!

We had a couple of nice hot days and the peonies burst open all at once! We only have pink and white peonies. I would really like to get a deep red one, but so far it hasn't happened.

Peonies have a nice light fragrance and make great cut flowers. Since so many opened all at one time, I brought some into the house and they are wonderful.

pink columbine, blue sky

2005-05-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

pink columbine, blue sky
Originally uploaded by jensect.

Here is what the columbine I posted earlier looks like when it is open. So pretty! I love how it looks against the patch of blue sky. What you can't tell from this photo is that there was an enrormous black cloud right behind me as I took this and it rained very hard about 5 minutes after I snapped this shot.

a day in the life of a pin-cushion flower

2005-05-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

a day in the life of a pin-cushion flower
Originally uploaded by jensect.

The scabiosa starting to put its petals on. It looks like this is the bluer one of the two I had. I think the pinker one might have died. I should replace it. These are fantastic perennial flowers - they look good in every stage, bloom all summer long, and make great cut flowers.

peony and siberian iris

2005-05-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

peony and siberian iris
Originally uploaded by jensect.

These are so pretty right now! Actually, the siberian iris are now almost all gone by, and the peonies are taking a beating from the constant downpours. However, it is supposed to be sunny for the next week, so maybe the peonies will recover. I hope so!

busby

2005-05-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

busby
Originally uploaded by jensect.

I haven't updated lately. It's not because there's nothing blooming (there's a lot!) it is because it has been raining like crazy for two weeks. More picture updates later today.

Busby is not only a garden helper, but also a photography helper. He enjoys running through/over whatever I have the camera pointed at.

sunny sunday rhodie

2005-05-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

sunny sunday rhodie
Originally uploaded by jensect.

this rhodie hasn't bloomed for a long time - I forgot how pretty it is!

columbine bud

2005-05-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

columbine bud
Originally uploaded by jensect.

Happy may day!