Kaseys Korner

Bee Skeps for Mother's Day

Buoying my spirits and hopefully yours too.

the sweetest little trio to tuck into the garden...

Mothers and non-Mothers alike rejoice ~ it's planting time in the garden.

For some of us, it's been a long haul getting here.

Does that make this moment even sweeter???  i don't know...

Above:  Lemon Cypress tree container

I only know I'm grateful it's finally here, I was barely holding on...

Now I only want to be outside, playing, planting and savoring the garden.  You knew that already tho, didn't you?? 

It's the perfect place to spend Mother's Day for this Mom. 

How many of you will be there too?? 

A happy day to us all.

the first container & a strawberry fork

The garden has competition for my affections.

First. time. EVER.

Let's blame it on Downton Abbey, shall we??  Giving me highfalutin notions about the finer things in life ~ including what has recently stolen a piece of my heart away from gardening: 

Silver or Silverplate flatware.  Either one.  It doesn't matter.  I'm officially smitten.

Above:  Strawberry fork in the Antique silverplate pattern 'Glenrose.'

In a way, it's a companion love (not a true betrayal) because all the patterns I'm drawn to are FLORAL.  No surprise there!

Scrumptiously detailed with vines, tendrils, & blooms.

Above:  Antique silverplate fork handle in 'Grenoble or Gloria' pattern.

Oh, the craftsmanship.  What's that saying, "the devil's in the details??"  Precision & skills the likes of these are difficult, if not impossible, to find anymore. 

In researching my new "passion," I discovered that most of the big name silver manufacturers have shipped their production overseas.  Flatware is now predominately made in Indonesia, Vietnam & China.  How sad is that?? 

A pretty piece of silver can make a sweet treat even sweeter.

The garden better kick it up a notch...

It's my new thing and I thought you should know. 

In case it should, somehow (quite inadvertently I'm sure) pop into other photos on this blog...  Just sayin'

But not these:

My first assembled container for 2013.  With the gorgeous 'Fireworks' Begonia & a wonderful PINK (be still my heart) striped grass.  Name unknown.

and (I believe ~ correct me if I'm wrong) a green 'Wandering Jew' (Tradescantia???)  Name also unknown.

Container to be carried indoors tomorrow for the remainder of the week because (insert drum roll here) it's supposed to S.N.O.W. again!  Can you freaking believe it????

I hope I can handle it.  At least I had a chance to play in the dirt between storms...

 

 

Fairy Garden Terrarium

Finally a home for my ever growing stash of fairy garden products ~ the white wrought iron terrarium I bought several years ago at Hobby Lobby:

It's primary function has been a home for seed starting but setting it up as a fairy garden will make it infinitely more useful. 

My initial idea for setting everything up in the garden got nixed when the wind & snow tore up my fancy gazebo & tossed its itsy weather vane into oblivion.  These tiny little pieces are too expensive (and cute!) to leave to the elements!

Encased in glass is a much safer way to go.

Notice the adorable Martin house! 

Now, if the terrarium were only bigger!  or could I possibly have too many pieces??? 

Not a chance!

The little bee skep (above) is one of my favorite pieces.  Along with this tiny obelisk:

Why is everything SO much more adorable in miniature??!!

Like the parrot in a cage (above) and sweet seating for two (below):

I've gotta say Pinterest really inspired me to set up my own fairy garden.  There are so many incredible pins on this subject. 

One of the pieces I've really admired (and secretly coveted) is a fairy garden greenhouse.  Maybe that's because I want a lifesize one so bad!  Check it out here ~ it's pricey but a must-see!!!

I purchased most of my products at local greenhouses but there are many websites to order from if you don't have a local option available.  Amazon, Miniature Garden Shoppe, Faire-Ality Style are a couple that have cool products.  You're also welcome to check out my Pinterest "Fairyland" board here and follow any interesting link (there are 150+ pins) ~ it may just inspire you to create your own wee garden. 

Beware tho, it's another potential addiction ~ just a friendly warning!!!!

 

'Blue Zebra' Primrose

& what seems like the slowest transition to spring ever.  (my gas bill validates those feelings ~ last year average temps were 45, this year 33!)

At least the snow is almost gone (but only for now, there's more forecasted for Monday)

A happy milestone of spring ~ the first trip to the greenhouse with  'Blue Zebra' (from Hort Couture) taking the honor of being the first plant purchase of the 2013 season!

That title brings with it a lot of fussing & coddling so as to find just the right spot. 

The fun stuff that gets overlooked during mass planting season.

in a zinc carrier (second photo), nope.

in a vintage sugar canister (above), maybe...

in a rusted iron basket:

perfect....

and most importantly, very portable ~ so when the snow returns, they can be brought indoors ~ warm & undamaged...

Something I can't promise the first crocus:

maybe it will only be a dusting???

and hopefully won't arrive until after egg hunting is over! 

Happy Easter everyone. 

p.s.  Don't give up on me ~ I'm feeling dangerously close to blog visiting again... 

winterizing the apple espalier

After losing my weeping pussy willow standard last winter, I'm determined to have more success this year with the replacements standards & apple espalier (I'm not even sure you knew I had an espalier???)   We had an extremely windy fall/winter which may have been a big factor in that loss?? 

Whatever the cause, I don't want another repeat with more of my valuable plants, so I started researching (in late summer) steps to prevent more casualties.

Three 2012 additions ~ Apple Espalier, 'Miss Kim' lilac standard & David Austins 'Winchester Cathedral' standard ~ all concern me & therefore warrant extra protection (if for no other reason than my piece of mind!).

The Apple espalier has six different varieties grafted onto the trunk ~ Gala, Jonagold, Gravenstein, Braeburn, Macintosh & Fuji.  All are semi dwarf.

Each graft successfully bloomed & even produced a few fruit:

which were larger than we expected & quite delicious.

But I digress ~ back to the research!   Results concluded the best way to add extra protection was to wrap the trunks ~ especially at the point of grafts.  The easiest (& fastest) way is by using pipe insulation!

Perfect!  We like easy & fast around here...

Above, trunk wrapped, all that's left is a bit of extra detail to the graft points.

What do you think??  Will it work??  I sure hope so!

 

parting photos of fall

Anyone who watches the weather knows it doesn't always follow a calendar system ~ if it wants to act like winter out of season, it most certainly will.  That's exactly what's happening here tonight ~ with 2" of snow predicted to be on the ground by morning.  Mercy, it seems early!

At least we have warning, right??   Which means the past two days were spent readying the garden for a blanket of white.  You know it wasn't all work tho ~ of course time was taken to capture some last bits of fall!

'Autumn Brillance' Serviceberry for one.  This year it got the chance to truly be brilliant:

As opposed to last year when everything froze and turned brown. 

Above:  The front garden (past it's peak) but the colors really were magnificent.

More pumpkins....

Made even better with the addition of a certain special black cat!

The last of the containers (to be overwintered) were dragged indoors, including Buddleia 'Orange Sceptre' still in bloom:

Another "goodbye walkabout" was conducted.  Feel like deja vu???

It does to me too. 

But this time, it's for real ~ or at least that's what we've been told.  Three nights in the lower twenties should absolutely do it. 

A lone, self-sown petunia (under the mugo pine) ~ barely opened just to face certain death:

for even the overhang won't protect it from this cold.

and I wonder about the ornamental kale too...

Fairy garden pieces including the little birdcage below were also collected (a pink geranium bud is in the background ~ maybe I should have saved it too??)

Despite big plans, a genuine fairy garden never got created this summer.  The pieces just got stuck hither & yon.  Next year for sure....   Gardening is good for that, right??

btw, I told myself I wasn't hauling SO MUCH inside this year but now it feels like the same amount (or more??????)

I really do "need" that greenhouse!!!!  ;-)

Hydrangea Double Delights 'Star Gazer'

exquisiteness....

Relieved to see it rebounding (let alone blooming) since after purchase it lost all it's leaves & had to start from scratch!

Planted in front of the 'Mojito' urn container, you can see the lone bloom in the center of the photo:

Hope it's smothered in blooms next year.

Along with 'Star Gazer' the David Austins are closing down the garden season more beautifully than I expected.  Below 'Crown Princess Margareta:'

'Teasing Georgia:'

and 'Jubilee Celebration:'

Throw in a few 'Cinderella' pumpkins:

and the garden is dressing for fall...

I think I'm ready????  Are you???

 

vintage wheelbarrow blooms

The 2012 planting scheme was pastel-themed, with the idea that pink & yellow would complement the seafoam color of the vintage barrow.

Along the way, a wayward pop of orange somehow managed to squeeze its way in??

Maybe not all bad ~ could have been a bit too boring without it?????

A combination of Pink Pentas, Nasturiums, & Zinnias make up the planting mix. 

It was an effort to best the zinnia & lantana duo that's been repeated the past three years.

I think however; I'll be reverting to the original format (once again) next year.

Because (although this combination is okay) why mess with success??  Lantana & zinnias together are just too difficult to beat.....

 

let sleeping bees lie??

I believe the answer is "yes."  That was my intention too when I found this bee sleeping inside a squash blossom:

but you know I couldn't resist taking his photo!  When I did that, the clicking of the camera roused him:

Feeling slightly guilty, I backed off & went back to watering ~ when I checked back, he had resumed sleeping.  I'm glad I didn't disturb him too much!  My friend Gail would know exactly what kind of bee he is but unfortunately not me.  All I know is he isn't a honey or bumble bee.

I was able to photograph him immediately because I've taken to wearing my camera around my neck each time I go outside now.  That practice was started so as not to miss any opportunities at photographing the newly arriving hummingbirds.  You never know when they'll present you with one & I want to be ready!  I have a LOT of room for improvement but here's the latest:

Slightly overexposed but don't worry, I'll keep trying!

My best chances are found near their favorite flowers which (in my garden) are Crocosmia, Monarda, Delphinium 'Red Carolina:'

Hosta, Zauschneria 'arizonica,'  phygelius, agastache & the red petunias in the little urn container below:

These blooms are spaced around the back garden & keep both them & me zipping between them.

Two new blooms (not hummingbird attractors) that I've not been very successful getting established are Phlox 'David:'

which I think needs to be in a sunnier location (I only have the two shown above:)

and the same problem (I think) for double Hollyhock 'Peaches 'N Dreams:'

Poor plant ~ it's only about 3' tall which is not right at all! 

I will be moving it this fall because I definitely want more:

I'm a total glutton for this color!

Maybe it would look good near 'Crown Princess Margareta' which is also reblooming:

Both are nothing short of luscious....

On an uglier note, a new arrival ~ I'm not so thrilled about ~ are jagged ambush bugs.  They don't usually show up here until mid summer but when they do, it's not hard to know as lifeless pollinators are dead giveaways (sometimes still seen in their clutches.)  I usually pick them off but I'm never successful at being casualty-free.  Perhaps a goal for another year???  or maybe too ambitious to attain??

 

Hosta 'sun power'

a beacon of brightness, rain or shine.

'Sun Power' went on my wish list after reading a post last summer by Jennifer ~ I bet you can see why?!!

The rain & cooler temperatures over the weekend meant more time outdoors to enjoy the garden & patio.  It felt SO nice to be able to wander out ANY time of the day versus only in the morning & evenings (like we've been doing these past scorching weeks.)  It also energized me to do some small projects I hadn't felt like doing in the heat ~ like rearranging garden shelves.

Even tho the shelves aren't anything cool or fancy, they serve the purpose of vertical interest on the stucco wall plus give me somewhere to display some of my vintage watering cans & other unused gardening paraphernalia:

Incredibly, the basket of violas survived the 100 degree heat & are looking a lot perkier in the cooler temps.

Please ignore the "pansy" stake ~ there were none that said "viola!"

Most of you are already acquainted with our cat, Regis, and know he is only allowed outdoors with supervision.  He generally hangs out in a patio chair, content to observe the birds & garden in comfort.  However, when I turned around from rearranging the shelves, he had climbed up the back of the chair cushion & was in this position:

Not sure what that was about??? 

When I said his name, he popped right down & looked at me as if to say "What??" "Me??"  "I wasn't doing anything."

A face that cute gets away with many, many transgressions!!!

One of the other jobs I did while puttering around was staking.  So many plants falling over in the rain & in general need of tidying.  I found a cool twine holder this spring which makes that job easier (and more fun!)

It's heavy, cast iron (I think?) with a rooster topper ~ just about perfect, right?!

It's been very handy to have outside ~ a purchase I've used a lot. 

This week is supposed to heat back up & dry out so I guess the only sound of water we'll hear is from the little fountain:

That's okay.  At least we got some rain ~ now I hope it spreads across the country to other parts that also need it.....