Kaseys Korner

feelin' like May

I participated in the annual 'Rush for the Roses' event at a local greenhouse yesterday (of course I bought another David Austin ~ it's mandatory, isn't it?!) but what struck me most was all the other buying going on.  No one seemed focused only on roses ~ annuals, veggies, perennials, etc., were also being loaded up in garden carts.  More like a normal May-weekend-buying-frenzy which is our usual 'safe' time to plant.  I hope this wacky weather doesn't come back to bite us & frost all the tender plants that went home.

I said "us" because I was among those purchasing ~ besides the rose, another hibiscus,

Pink, of course!

and to feed my latest obsession (with standards) ~ a violet tubeflower standard!

Can't wait to plant it with something equally scrumptious around the base.

Maybe a yellow companion?? 

With planting on the brain, I stopped by Lowes to get some potting soil and was thrilled to find Hosta 'Frances Williams' for sale at the low price of $5.98!  For you long time gardeners, I'm sure you remember when this was THE coveted hosta and you couldn't buy it for less than $20 something?!!

Goes to show, if you're patient enough, every gardener can afford those much desired plants.  Of course by now, 'Frances" has been replaced by some newer, more-sought-after varieties but that's okay, I still find her highly attractive.  :-)

I bet you know what I did today after reading about yesterday?? 

Yep ~ a bit of planting.  Not everything, but the hostas, new rose and a couple other odds & ends.  Plus I did a little rearranging in my beds (something I'm remarkably lax about but trying to change)  I couldn't help it ~ it was a beautiful day and the supervision was supreme:

ha. (annoyed at having the camera pointed in his direction)

At eye level with the plants, I noticed "Jack-in-the Pulpit" ~ something I'd overlooked:

I added two of these last year, because the tag specified "nursery propagated" ~ making me feel better that they hadn't been dug from the wild.  (important because of some reading I'd done on how collecting has almost eradicated some species from their native habitats.)

Not in jeopardy of that happening ~ Muscari ~ best viewed in my position, eye level:

Looking upward, for the first time ever in April, soon-to-be-blooms on Clematis 'Asao:'

That shows you just how warm we've been ~ I guess I'm not the only one who thinks it's feelin' like May?!?

P.S.  Saw the first Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly today ~ the earliest sighting for them in this garden ~ also a "May" thing....

Turning up the heat

with some indoor blooms ~ enough of the frost already!

Temperatures soared immediately when buds were discovered on the Clivia.

Forgiveness was granted for its perplexing habit of blooming way down in the foliage (instead of up on a proper stalk) because who's kidding who ~ the color is AMAZING:

Bloom on ~ the perfect balm for a winter weary soul.

Attempts to cultivate a lantana topiary caused the thermostat to inch upward even more when it became loaded with buds/blooms. 

Okay, maybe not so much in the above photo but look below:

If that isn't an instant tropical escape I don't know what is!

The value of a winter bloom can never be overrated ~ my northern gardener friends know this all too well.

One more thing bound to blow the mercury:

Paph Orchid 'Robert McCabe' ~ on track to be open for Christmas!

Could be the warmest holiday ever.....

(we'll just skip over the part where staying indoors is necessary to achieve that!)

 

November ends

on a mellow note, capping off a week of milder than normal temperatures. 

 

It's been an absolute delight. 

Especially since it came on the heels of 20+ inches of snow (end of Oct & beginning of Nov) which brought a sudden violent and premature end to Fall.

If the weather forecast is correct, tomorrows calendar flip also marks a switch in the outdoor thermostat as well ~ 5 to 8" of new snow and highs in the twenties.  Ouch.   That's a forty degree drop.

I doubt I'll be ready.  I never am. 

It will be DECEMBER tho so I guess it's inevitable??? 

Time to move the "party" indoors.  At least we enjoyed the warmth while it lasted ~ hopefully it won't be TOO long before the mercury eeks upward.

Above:  Amaryllis 'Red Lion' ~ originally purchased as 'Prince Carnival' but who can complain?! 

I'll be back as soon as I dig out from under the Christmas decorations (and the snow)...

 

 

Hawaiian Thanksgiving Bouquet

My brother has done it again!  This time, instead of an exquisite orchid, he sent me a box of exotic blooms & foliage all the way from HAWAII!!!

Omg ~ everyone in the house was excited to open it (having received similar boxes in the past), even our cat got into the action!

The loose stems were individually packed in (still moist) shredded newspaper.  It was SO much FUN to unwrap each one and see what was inside.  I had to look some of the contents up but I "think" I now know what everything is??

The big, heart shaped leaves ~ Anthuriums, then yellow oncidium (??) orchids, a few Ginger leaves and lots of Heliconias:

We scrambled to find a worthy vase to arrange everything in and I hope we did it justice:

Wow.  What a phenomenal treat.  Thank you again Thomas.  You really know how to knock it out of the park!  and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone ~ you know it will be a good day here!!! 

P.S.  The arrangement was shipped by Bob's Tropicals, in case anyone is interested in that info.

 

What to grow in November

in case you're already experiencing withdrawal symptoms from the garden (like me.)  There are many ways to "feed" the obsession and lots to

if you just switch focus from outdoors to in. 

Bulbs are the fastest, easiest means to get a bloom "fix" (aside from purchasing something already flowering)  Believe me ~ I know all the methods as I'm sure many of you do too.

Paperwhites will flower in just two or three short weeks:

I enjoy the growing process more than the actual blooms so I plant them in tall, clear, cylindrical vases for the best visual effect. 

There are always Amaryllis.  Oh the Amaryllis.  The more the better I say.  One of the few reasons I look forward to winter.  They really are the showiest (IMHO) of the winter bloomers and fairly quick to reach the flowering stage as well. 

'Blushing Bride' arrived the middle of October (with my outdoor bulb order) and is already about to open:

That's pretty fast but I think normal since most Amaryllis bulbs say "bloom in 4 to 6 weeks."

Orchids are another way to beat the winter gardening blues.  The shorter days must spur them to bloom because I have a number sporting buds and/or spikes right now including this Paphiopedilum:

and of course there's the Oncidium orchid I've shared with you in the previous post.  It's reached full flower mode since I posted:

Wow!  Why was I having withdrawals??  I can't remember, looking at it!

There are always houseplants too ~ or pond plants ~ like the pitcher plant I saved from freezing:

I don't know if it will bloom for me but I hope to at least keep it alive for next spring.

If none of these interest you, how about planting some cat grass?

It's pretty to look at (once again thru a clear planter) and your cat will love you immensely for it!!! 

What's not to like about that?!

 

after the snow

Last week I was so busy knocking snow off tree branches I never took the time to take any photos.  Our snow last night came with wind meaning there was less accumulation on the trees.   Feeling a sense of relief about that, I took my camera out (instead of the broom) this morning.  Most of you know (all too well) that I'm not a fan of snow, but even I couldn't help but appreciate these snowy scenes from the garden.  

Rose Pillar:

Rooster post topper:

Topiary Tree:

Birdcage:

Vintage watering can:

Birdhouse tuteur:

Armillary sphere:

and another vintage watering can:

Okay, now MELT already!!! 

here we go again

a second round of snow.  Exactly one week after the first.  ugh.  Should I be scared of what winter has in store for us???!!!  I'm inclined to think so considering we aren't even halfway thru fall yet.  Scared for my trees too.  They took a huge hit last week because they were still fully leafed out.  Nothing's changed in that department.  Fingers, toes (and everything else) crossed, hoping for the best but preparing for worse.  I know a lot of you can relate since we're not the only part of the country experiencing powerful early storms.

On a positive note, I've gotten a big lift from this little bouquet I cut myself before the first snowflake flew:

I've never taken the time to save blooms before but now that I have, I'm thinking it's worth the effort.  Nothing like a fresh flower in the middle of a snowstorm!  The roses even still have a hint of fragrance.

I think I mentioned in the previous post that I finished planting bulbs before it started snowing?  Planting at ground level is good for inspecting beds and making discoveries.  Like toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta 'variegata') that I thought I'd lost:

Hope I find it earlier next year so I can enjoy the exotic blooms longer.

My favorite kind of pumpkin ~ 'Cinderella:'

I keep bringing it in the house each time we have a hard freeze ~ wonder what I'm saving it for??  I sure can't tell you ~ I just know I'm not ready to let it go to mush yet.

Finally, in honor of Halloween, Butterball the fire dog!

Here's what he really thought of the costume:

NOT happy!  Next year I better clear the selection with him before expecting him to wear it.  Who knew he'd be so picky?!!  Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween?  Now I'm signing off before I lose power again.  Hopefully there won't be a lot of damage to clean up outside in the morning....

 

Hibiscus 'Powder Puff'

and the first snow of the year.  Say what???  Yep, you read that right ~ we got the first snow of the season last night and into today.  It was heavy, wet stuff that left a TON of damage in its wake since most of our trees & shrubs were still fully leafed out.  I was out throughout the night and all day today trying to knock it off the branches I could reach.  Tomorrow I'll have to assess the damage but already I hear chain saws working on the many branches down across the neighborhood.  The ground was warm ~ it was 80 degrees on Monday ~ so the pavements and streets mostly melted.  Below you can see some of the accumulation on my patio table:

At one time I measured 10" using a ruler but I'm sure there was more since it was melting the whole time.  Here's another look out the back patio door:

Isn't that crazy??  Melted concrete but piles of snow. 

Thank goodness for 'Powder Puff' Hibiscus that opened in the middle of our wintry day:

Feeling grateful I brought it indoors to overwinter, I'd considered otherwise.  It's loaded with buds:

which it also had last year but then they all fell off after coming inside??  That's why I was torn about whether to keep it or not.  I don't know what I did differently this year, I'm just happy for a bloom when everything is cold and white outside.

Makes the whole snow thing a bit easier to swallow, doesn't it?? 

blooms to carry me

thru another winter.  I'm sure I'm not the only one looking around the garden and drinking in what's left of the season?  Trying to "soak up" the color & greenery before everything turns to drab brown...

Are you grabbing the camera with the same increased frequency I am??   Determined to capture anything and everything left in bloom?? 

Zauschneria 'arizonica' (Hardy Hummingbird Trumpet) in front of the vintage wheelbarrow:

The way I see it, flowers at the end of October are just as precious as the first blooms of spring. 

They are the lasting impression of the garden before the doldrums of winter set in...

Japanese anemones still going strong. 

The longer they bloom, the shorter the "off season!"

Seat yourself in the purple rocker and enjoy the show...

With the end of the month looming, the sense of urgency to finish fall clean-up becomes paramount.  Tender tropicals (like double flowering mandevilla) have been lifted from their containers and brought indoors to be overwintered.  All that remains are annuals perilously close to demise.

Sounds morbid, doesn't it?? 

It would be remiss to focus solely on flowers & ignore the sudden explosion of fall foliage.  Check out the view down the side pathway today ~ the viburnum leaves were lit up like liquid sunshine!

So fantastic.  If only it would last....

'Terracotta' Calibrachoa ~ I'll be back for you next year!

You were fantastic in the arbor container ~ the perfect spiller.

Oh the melancholy of it all.  Proceeding with seasonal chores while mourning the loss of what has been. 

The fountain is winterized.  The birdbath heater is readied.  The last of the bulbs have been planted, etc. etc. 

All that remains is acceptance. 

Summer is over (get it in your head girl!) and after the predicted hard frost (coming with possible first snow) it will feel as tho fall is gone as well.  Now how to mentally get on the same page...

 

decision time

The threat of frost last weekend (that fortunately never happened) has spurred me into a greater appreciation of the garden.  I've been making concerted efforts to get outdoors as much as possible before the season truly is over (not that it's difficult, just a matter of time management!) 

I've noticed that Verbena bonariensis is the "go to" bloom for October.  Thank goodness it seeded itself all over the garden because the bees and bumbles (the latter a rare sighting this summer) are really using it.

Probably because (even tho I've been trying to add more) I still feel like there's a deficit of fall bloomers in my garden.  Something to keep working on...

Strangely enough, the foliage of most trees & shrubs have only the barest hint of fall color?  I need to look back thru photos from previous Octobers but I'm pretty sure the garden was starting to be "decked out" in autumn brilliance by this time in years past...  For now, a sea of green is still what greets the eye ~ note the antique birdhouse which is barely visible thru all the rose foliage:

That splotch of pink is a cluster of roses, blooming for the third and final time.  Elsewhere in the garden, other plants, with the luxury of extra time this mild fall, are also re-blooming.  Check out the Canterbury bells basking in afternoon sunlight:

It looks like the Brugmansia buds just might make it to blooming as well.

Ever so close....  

It's impossible to forget the month with dwindling daylight hours & fall touches like a pumpkin that replaced 'Adonis Blue' Buddleia in front of the birdhouse tuteur:

and of course the black mum-filled urns:

This is the time (instead of waiting until the last minute) to decide which plants to overwinter.  Two Colocasias are on my "maybe" list ~ 'Mojito:'

and 'Blue Hawaii:'

What to do, what to do....  I LOVE the foliage but haven't had much luck storing them in my basement.  Maybe the garage??

Then there's this vibrant lantana that I'm toying with turning into a topiary:

I've never shaped any of my tenders or annuals into topiary form before but I love the effect.  I saw my 'Powder Puff' Hibiscus as a topiary TREE (!!) last weekend and fell in love all over again.  That's what got me thinking about trying it.  I wonder how long it takes to get a nice height & shape??

I have a boat load of bulbs to plant too.  I believe I was over zealous when ordering back in June ~ I remember thinking I had lots of new planting areas in my back garden.  Now that they've arrived tho, I am wondering if I'll get them all in the ground.  If you don't hear from me for a few days, you'll know what I'm doing!

p.s.  I joined a neighborhood book club this fall and had my second meeting last night.  So fun. We met around a fire pit (I came home feeling like I'd gone camping).  Our book this month was "The Man in the Rockefeller Suit."  I'm mentioning this because we also all brought ingredients to create a "smores bar" ~ it was my first time thinking outside the box of a "regular smore."  My contribution was pumpkin marshmallows, cream cheese & cinnamon.  I'm wondering if anyone else has experimented with this favorite summer treat??