Kaseys Korner

it's a berry delicious

time in the garden for both the birds and me.  The viburnums (unknown variety) produced an abundance of berries this year:

in contrast to last year.  The branches are literally bent over from the weight of the profuse crop.  One of the benefactors of the bounty are the Robins who are harvesting the berries & gorging themselves almost to the point of not being able to fly:

Is there such a thing as getting "drunk" from too much berry consumption??  If there is, it's definitely happening in my yard.  They feast, drink then leave purple berry stains on everything.  It's good tho and makes me happy to see my yard offering sustenance to the feathered friends I enjoy watching year round.  While they are consuming the viburnum berries on the north side of the yard, I am busy picking raspberries on the south side ~ I think they're at the peak of their production right now:

 

Too bad my niece isn't here now to help me harvest them ~ she's always had a penchant for them and faithfully checked the patch every day while she was here.  Unfortunately it was just a touch early.  I guess I'll have to eat them all myself ~ hardship of hardships....

Something else delicious but not of the berry sort, is this 'Apple Blossom' dahlia:

 

Isn't it the most divine dahlia ever?  I am enthralled with the pale pink & yellow combination.  I saw a picture of it last year on the Internet and knew I had to have one.  So I ordered myself (and my Mom) one from Swan Island Dahlias.  It's taken all summer for it to develop a couple buds (thank you cool wet weather) but now the first bud has opened and it's every bit as beautiful as I remembered.  Needless to say, I will be overwintering this tuber!  Speaking of my Mom, she arrives today (for the weekend) so I will be away from my blog until Monday.  See you then and have a good one.

not in here, you don't

raise a family, that is.  I keep forgetting to share these cute photos of a very persistent barn swallow that insisted my garage was the best spot for him to build a nest. 

Every time my garage door was up, he was in.  He actually forced me to change my behavior patterns (I like the door up a lot in the summer because I'm always going in and out) to discourage his preoccupation with the interior of our garage.

He was very friendly and not skittish at all in our presence but still, there are limits on how far I'll go to accommodate the birds. 

Poop on my car is a deal breaker.  He finally got the hint and moved on...

in the garden nursery

sit some recent purchases that are patiently waiting to be planted.  After I swore I was done buying for this season, I came across a 50% off sale that made it impossible to resist bringing home just a couple more....  You know how that goes.  Now to find the space to squeeze them in.  'Kent Beauty' Oregano (Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty') was first noticed during my visit to the SR ranch (where my niece & nephew were invited to ride horses).  Mine looks like this:

 

but I can't wait for it to mature to this stage:

 

Interesting, isn't it?  Reminds me of Gails 'River Oat' grass (sorta, kinda, maybe??)  The flower bracts start out pinkish but turn purple with age.  I knew I liked it the moment I saw it, but after researching, I found it received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Botanical Society.  Looks well deserved.  I will have to provide some winter protection since it's only hardy to zone 7.  Maybe it spends the winter in the basement??  I also purchased an Armenian Bellflower (Campanula Collina) because, well, you can never have too many campanulas, right?

 

It looks like a great front-of-the-border plant getting only 8-12" high.  It's also hardy to zone 4 so that covers me.  Chrysanthemum 'Clara Curtis' found it's way into my garden nursery too

 

but I'm not sure why?  I think I was swayed by the light pink color?  Otherwise, I can't think what possessed me?  I'm not a big fan of mums in general except in some artfully arranged fall containers.  I guess we'll see how she works out.  Something not working out and maybe you can tell me why, is this Hibiscus bought earlier in the summer:

 

It sets buds, like the one pictured above, then before it develops to the stage of blooming, the buds fall off.  So frustrating.  I lost my beautiful yellow/orange/pink hibiscus from last year so I was hoping to replace it with this one, called 'Powder Puff'.  I would say the odds are not in my favor for that to happen.  Here's the photo from the tag which is what sold me:

 

Doesn't that flower look amazing?  I sure wanted to see one in the flesh.  But you win some and lose some and this one (so far) has fallen in the latter category.  As long as you have the money to keep ahead of the failures, I guess it's okay to try and lose.  or is it?

they're here!

finally, a hummingbird!  and a chance to hone my photography skills on this flying wonder.  Zipping here and there in a constant flurry of activity, they are a real test for the camera & its operator.  I set the camera on "sports" mode and just snap like crazy, hoping something turns out.  Here's one or two of what I got but I'm hoping for more opportunities to practice before September (when they are usually gone for good).

 

The photo above has only the immature Rufous hummingbirds head in focus but I liked how it turned out anyway. Below is a full body shot where I had a little more success:

 

He/she seemed to prefer the Scrophularia macrantha blooms to anything else in the garden.  Returning over and over again to the cherry red buds.  Picking up on that, I moved closer to that grouping of plants and stood as still as possible for over an hour just to get these couple shots.  Least you think I only want to see them for photography purposes, I assure you that absolutely isn't the case.  Capturing one fantastic photo is just a side pursuit/challenge.  We only have them in our garden for about a month (or month and a half in a good year) so I definitely treasure a sighting.  This year I was beginning to doubt that would happen.  I'm so glad that wasn't true...   

this "buds" for you

Maybe I should have made that plural (these) since there are so many things left in the garden yet to bloom.  Lucky me, right?  Let's take a peek at a few of those that are close to opening (rest assured ~ when they are in full bloom, you'll get to see that too).  First, the orchid gladiolus 'Atom' that I almost didn't get in the ground:

 

I'm so glad I didn't let them all rot in the bag, (which is what came close to happening) ~ look how promising these buds look.  That rich red color, rimmed in white, looks extraordinary even in bud form.

I can't wait to see them open now and I'm wondering how I could have been so lax about planting them after that initial purchase?  The only thing I can figure is I got overwhelmed by the sheer volume of all there is to do in spring...  I know you can relate to that!  The next bud belongs to Tibouchina grandiflora:

I overwinter this tender, tree-form, woody plant in my basement each year.  Because of our wet, cool summer, it's super late to bloom (so late, I was worried whether it would or not).  Now that I know it will, I'm anxious for it to hurry up and happen.  The blooms are a rich purple color that will blow you away and simultaneously reinforce why I go to all the trouble of keeping it alive.  Believe it or not, the next bud is not a bud anymore because I missed finding it in that form!  Hidden in the foliage of the front bed, I didn't see it until it was blooming.  It's the 'Rubrum' Lily I referenced in an earlier post.  Doesn't it remind you of 'Stargazer' only the petals are recurved??

 

I'm glad to see it still alive ~ I wondered if it didn't make it when my original search turned up empty-handed.  Now I need to remember to move it somewhere more visible so I can actually enjoy it next season.  Finally, the fall blooming Japanese anemones have sent up bloom stalks/buds.  They seem to be among the few things flourishing in this weather, filling in under the aspen trees like never before:

 

They stand approximately 48" tall and are a mix of single pink & white blooms.  The buds below appear to be from the white form which, by far, outnumber the pink.  tsk, tsk. 

 

It should be the other way around in my garden, right?!!!!!  Hope you enjoyed the buds, it's good to have blooms to look forward to this time of year, isn't it?!

sitting poolside

I wish I could say that's what I was doing the last two days of not posting but I'd be lying if I did.  So instead, we'll skip right over my absence and directly to this photo showing a section of the front garden bed.  Nicotiana sylvestris found its way independently to its spot at the very front of that bed.  I'm not sure I'm pleased with that position (it dominates/shades everything around it including the pool behind it):

 

but I've left it alone despite my reservations.  It's hard to mess with something that is so vigorous and healthy looking.  Lobelia cardinalis lines the terrace wall at the back of the bed and sandwiched in between the two is the pond (although you certainly can't tell by these photos).

 

If we had any hummingbirds this year, I imagine they would be working this area over very thoroughly.  Believe it or not there is seven feet between the front of the garden bed and the terrace wall.  Shows you how deceiving photos can be, doesn't it?  In the first photo it appears that the cardinal flowers are planted directly behind the nicotiana. Definitely not so.  Moving from the front yard to the back, I can't resist showing you how well the David Austin rose 'Abraham Darby' is doing.  (remember I bought him over July 4th weekend?)  I think I can safely say he's happy in his new location ~ there are twenty two new buds!

 

Wowee.   'Abraham Darby' is planted directly below my kitchen window so I can enjoy the beautiful blooms even from indoors.  Rarely do I enjoy it only from the inside out because I'd be missing the best part ~ the fabulously heady perfume of the blossoms.  They really are a sensory delight.

 

I'm really thinking purchasing this rose and adding the pond were my best gardening decisions/additions of 2009.  and that, my blog reading friends, is a good stopping point so I don't have to go into the worst ones! 

if only

the hummingbirds would arrive.  They would surely be thrilled to find honeysuckle (a Lonicera of unknown identity) in full bloom:

 

It would be so lonely right now if the orioles weren't perching on it to gain access to the grape jelly feeder.  Hurry along so you'll be here to take their place....   Please feel free to sample Salvia 'Oceana Blue' while you're hanging out:

 

I purchased this new (to my garden) annual salvia because I thought for sure it would be appealing.  I paired it with 'Lime Green' Nicotiana in the Strawberry jar:

 

Two plants that should be irresistible, in such proximity to each other, would have to be a little piece of hummingbird heaven.  If only they'd show up...  If arrival occurs in the very near future, one or two 'Cambridge Scarlet' Monarda blooms may be left as an appetizer:

 

but time is of the essence, they're fading fast.  What are you waiting for little hummingbirds?  I planted all your favorites just to entice you.  They are blooming and the garden awaits your tiny jeweled presence.  Where the heck are you??

coolish temps

yesterday (not at all unusual this year) but different in that it motivated me to do a little gardening.  I haven't puttered around much in the last month or so except to pull a weed or take pics.  So many areas need work.  I decided to start chipping away a little at a time.  Some weeds were pulled in the rock pathway, bleeding hearts were cut back (they stayed green for the longest time this year) and six of the Verbena Bonariensis seedlings were planted out.  Maybe, if we have a nice, long, warm fall, they just might produce a bloom or two for me??  What do you think are the chances?  I hope they're good.  I photographed a few noteworthy finds (while I was on clean-up) to share with you this morning.  The first of which is Bugbane (Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette').  The buds (clasped ever so tightly till now) on one bloom stalk have finally eased, hinting at the delicate floral show to come:

I'm pleased with its performance since moving it last August.  The response to its new location was for it to grow bigger (in girth & height) than ever before with the added benefit that I can view it better in this position than in the previous one.   I think it will appreciate getting even more light now that the bleeding hearts are cut from around it.  Another thing I noticed was new blooms on the Canterbury Bells:

 

You may remember these bloomed in early summer and also again in July, making the current round of blooms its third of the season.  The first round was by far the showiest with the largest & most flowers on the stalks.  I do not cut back the spent flower stalks, preferring to let them seed but the added bonus is that the newer, smaller flowers emerge from those same stalks.  Of course, the double hollyhocks are still going strong and I never tire of seeing either the apricot (ish):

 

looking decidedly more pink in the photo above or the newly opened double pink (desperately in need of staking ~ which you'll be relieved to know I did immediately after photographing):

The first Thunbergia 'Blushing Susie' bloom has opened on the trellis in the raised 3' X 3' veggie bed:

 

I was hoping the trellis would be smothered in blooms by this time of the summer but that is not the case.  The cool, wet weather was not a friend to my young plants (these were started from seed) so they sat, seemingly on hold, for the longest time.  Finally almost all of them have climbing tendrils.  Another reason I'm hoping our first frost holds off till later than normal ~ to give these a chance to actually make a show.  The first turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) buds have emerged:

 

I will photograph a long view of this clump today.  It's very impressive at about three foot wide and four foot tall.  Of course, it's more impressive when more flowers are blooming so maybe I'll hold off a week or so?  Now I better wrap it up but hopefully I'll get back out in the garden today for more discoveries....

thanks to you

I think I've figured out the difference between dragonflies and damselflies.  I've also decided that my garden must be a damselfly magnet as look what showed up yesterday:

I'm still finding my sea legs (so to speak) in learning to identify them but could this be the Common Blue Damselfly?  Gorgeous coloring, that's for sure.  The brilliant blue on his/her body is what caught my eye and drew me in for closer inspection.  Of course, as soon as I saw what it was, I quickly ran to get my camera. Since posting that first damselfly photo, I've been told that damselflies rest with their wings folded while dragonflies rest with their wings out.  That seems an easy way to distinguish the two, doesn't it?  I'm just glad they are finding my garden attractive. 

the August garden

at Paper Posey Cottage is dominated by grasses, Rudbeckias, and majestic Joe Pye. 

Of course those three things are not the only ones flourishing this time of year.  Hidden among the lush foliage are some real gems worthy of a closer look.  A double true pink hollyhock has begun to bloom:

One stalk is all there is to the entire plant but boy am I glad I have that one.  The baby bunnies had chosen this particular hollyhock to snack on earlier in the season and almost killed it.  I ended up putting a metal can (with both ends cut out) around what little there was left of the perennial and that is what saved it. Good thing, right?

"Double pink" is planted near double apricot (which you've already seen) and they both receive multitudes of compliments from visitors to the garden.  I'm also finally getting some action out of the collarette dahlias I planted this spring.  They have sat and sat, waiting on a heat wave that never really has materialized.  Despite a lack of ideal conditions, there are now a couple buds on 'Apple Blossom' and one lone bloom on 'Rosita:'

 

Thank goodness.  I was beginning to think I would never see them bloom.  Collarette dahlias are my favorite, and I believe the most favored by bees as well??  When exquisite 'Apple Blossom' opens, I will be sure and share one of those blooms as well.  You will fall in love, I promise. It is planted in a container with 'Cerinthe major purpurascens,' which is performing nicely:

 

A long view shot will be provided when I post my annual container photos.  If I'm smart, I'll coordinate the shoot at a time when both the dahlia and cerinthe are blooming in unison.  Shouldn't be hard since I need only to worry about the dahlia ~ the cerinthe have been blooming non-stop for over a month.  I suspect even they would have appreciated more heat?   I have not noticed the bee activity around the blooms that I anticipated but maybe (since it's new to my garden) it just takes them a while to warm up to a newcomer??  Lastly (wouldn't you know) two days after I posted about it, the gardenia bud has opened:

 

Do you think I shamed it into opening by likening it to a turtle??!! I have to say, all the buzz about their heavenly fragrance is based in truth.  When I saw the bud had opened, the first thing I did was stick my nose into the blossom and breathe deeply.  That breath, became two, then three, then so repetitious I began to feel a little OCD about it.  Now the devil has a hold of me, and instead of being satisfied with one bloom, I want many.  Enough to perfume the air around my entire patio.  I think I better step away and regroup.  I'll come back when I've gotten my senses back and am happy to have what I have....