Kaseys Korner

catching up

I certainly left you all "high & dry" didn't I?!  Yikes ~ my apologies.  Somehow it still hasn't slowed down then my Mom came for a visit.  I had good intentions of posting before she arrived but as you know, that never happened.  Temperatures were in the upper 80's for most of her visit so we were able to be in the garden a LOT (hardly having to pretend it was summer.)  She was excited to see the changes in my back garden especially since I hadn't even started those when she visited this spring.  On one of the afternoons during her visit, I spied what I thought was a newly emerged Monarch butterfly.  I flew into the house to grab my camera but by the time I got back, the butterfly had totally disappeared.  I began to wonder/doubt if it really was "new" but then today, look what I discovered a few feet below where the butterfly had been drying:

The empty chrysalis!!!!  I can't believe I found it after the fact ~ I had searched & searched all around the milkweed in that bed when the caterpillars first disappeared.   Then today, there it was ~ attached to the underside of the urn that sits in front of the birdhouse tuteur.  Arggg.  Next year, I'm going to have to search a LOT better as I would really love to follow the whole process.

One butterfly I didn't miss photographing was this Western Tiger Swallowtail sipping on Verbena bonariensis just today:

Since I last posted, I've also had another Amaryllis bloom.  'Aphrodite' was purchased on clearance after Christmas last year but didn't bloom then:

SO pretty but I have to admit, it seems more than a little strange to see an Amaryllis in bloom during "pumpkin" season. 

Big & little orange globes have been scattered about the garden & I particularly like this one mixed with Fuchsia 'Autumnale:'

The foliage of 'Autumnale' is so impressive ~ it 'almost' makes the blooms inconsequential:

Don't you agree???  Anyone else growing this one?

My Mom & I also got into some dangerous shopping in the fairy garden section of one local greenhouse.  Oh my.  Look at two new additions that made the trip home with us:

I think I'm hopelessly addicted!  And definitely excited to bring it all to life next spring.  I want to go back for the blue crystals & place them under the bridge to create a pond.  This is exactly the reason I never jumped into the fairy garden arena before ~ thanks again Dora!!!

Other blooms in the garden right now are Buddleia 'Honeycomb:'

Anemones:

'Sweet Autumn' Clematis:

and finally, buds on the Brugmansia.

I'm not sure why this plant waits until almost frost to produce blooms??  I hope a few make it to flower since it will soon be time to start hauling it (& all the other tender plants) to the basement.  I can't believe how fast summer flies by each year.  I also know I can't be the only one who wonders where September went??   It's gone so fast, I'm already counting down the days until next garden season!!

 

 

gifts and purchases

There have been some nice and not so nice things happening in my life lately.  Since I'm trying not to dwell on the "not-so-nice," I'm only focusing on the "nice" today.   It isn't very surprising that those are all associated with the garden since that's my "go-to" source of joy. 

First, a couple of unexpected gifts came my way last week.  One from my daughters music instructor, who surprised me with a pair of Fiskars gardening shears and a book:

Wasn't that so nice?  I've never own any gardening shears before so it will be fun to try them out.  Just slipping my hand in them, they seem very comfortable to use.  The book looks great too but I haven't had time to do much more than flip thru and check out a few photos.

The next gift came compliments of a next door neighbor who was moving.  Before she left, she called and asked if I'd like her fairy garden ~ I'm sure you know my answer ~ "YES!" 

I've been tempted many times to give fairy gardening a try but always resisted.  It seemed like something I could become totally addicted to ~ so many cool miniature pieces to collect.  Now I have the perfect reason/excuse to delve in!!  Thank you Dora!

I've also been lucky to catch some great fall sales.  I haven't bought any plants but I have found some cool containers.  This huge urn was being clearanced out so, of course, I HAD to snatch it up!

I'm either going to move my Brugmansia into it or have fun scheming up a container arrangement for next year. 

Two matching black urns were found to position on either side of the yew hedges (also on clearance.)  Small arborvitaes were placed inside (bought for $3.00 a piece).  If they don't survive the winter, I won't be out much.

Can you tell I was thinking ahead when I assembled & placed them??   I picture them sprinkled with snow and for some reason, snow covered urns seem prettier than plain ole snow on the ground??  Forget that last sentence ~ it's too early to go there! 

Back to blooms, while we still have them!  The most exciting ~ Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow Wax-bells)

First year in my garden and I wasn't sure I would see any this season.  You can bet I'll be watching it closely from here on out tho!

Then there's Fuchsia 'Lena Dalton' ~ one hummingbird is still zipping around the garden and at some point always ends up on her:

Too bad I can't capture a picture of them both together.

That would be really spectacular, wouldn't it?

Finally, not a bloom but beautiful just the same ~ new growth foliage from Japanese Maple 'Red Dragon' purchased this spring:

It's very small ~ only 18" tall ~ but it got off to a good start this summer.   There's lots to look forward to ~ a garden is always good for that, isn't it? 

 

 

 

clusters in the garden

Everywhere I look these days I'm seeing "bunches."  Sometimes it's good, like (finally) fruit to harvest from the tomato vines:

I thought I'd been watering a lost cause!

and berries on the Viburnum hedge:

Robins have been gorging themselves on these!

Even insects are crowding together:

I understand ~ I've been seeking the warmth of a sweatshirt in the early AM's & PM's too.

There are a few clusters I'd rather not see. 

Like these oak galls found abundantly on the undersides of the Bur Oak leaves:

At least I now know why I have so MANY yellow jackets on the Mugo Pine (that grows beneath the oak.)  The galls secrete a sweet substance the bees eat.  I'm hoping a neem oil application next spring will help because I'm frustrated at not being able to enjoy the front patio area.

I've also noticed quite a few Tachinid flies, this one on a cluster of aster blooms:

Too many Tachinids could spell disaster for the caterpillars recently discovered in the garden. 

One thing I've been looking for all summer and wishing I'd see in multiples ~ toads.  Finally, at the edge of summer, an appearance:

Hoping for greater numbers next summer. 

So many other "groupings" not photographed ~ flocks of geese flying overhead morning and evening,  gatherings of starlings ~ sorry, but I won't miss them at all ~ etc., etc.  No matter how hard I try to deny the arrival of fall, there's no escaping.  The change is in motion as evidenced in the garden.  I'm sure you've noticed it too...

Rudbeckia 'Henry Eilers'

One of the newest perennials bridging my summer garden over to fall. Seen below in early morning light:

Then again bathed in (soft) late afternoon light:

Purchased for several reasons, chief among them being the cool quilled petals:

plus respectable stature (reaching 5') and lastly, it's late season bloom period.  Like many of you, I've been working ever more consciously toward extending the gardening season by adding early & late season bloomers.  This rudbeckia fit those goals to a "T."  It has only begun to bloom so I'm hoping it continues well into October.

'Henry Eilers' was planted in the new oval bed (where the birdhouse tuteur is located) and I have to say that bed is just now peaking.  Zinnia 'Queen Red Lime' also resides there ~ photos below in the same sequence ~ morning light first:

followed by an afternoon/evening shot:

I started these from seed (purchased once again thru Summer Hill) and I've been really pleased with the coloring & performance.  The last bloom I expect hope to see in this bed is from Leonotis nepetifolia 'Staircase.'   It has reached towering heights (now above the birdhouse perched atop the tuteur) but nary a blossom in sight.  It's an annual so it better get cracking if it wants any time to shine before frost!

After snapping the photos above, I turned to go back inside and couldn't resist sharing this one with you of my back patio:

 or this one of David Austin's 'Crown Princess Margareta' enjoying her third flush of blooms:

'Abraham Darby' is also loaded with buds so the season will end on a very sweet note.

Happy weekend everyone. 

Black Swallowtail

Do you see what I see?? 

No, wait.  Totally premature question.   Please excuse me.  I'm just STILL so beyond excited by what I "think" I witnessed, my thoughts are a jumbled mess & I've gotten WAY ahead of myself!

Bear with me while I work (in the proper order) at getting to the exciting part ~ which, amazingly enough, aren't these photos I was originally extremely thrilled to score. 

Thrilled because I've only been lucky enough to see a Black Swallowtail in my garden one other time.

After leisurely sipping nectar from 'Peacock' Buddleia davidii, this tattered beauty headed straight for the bronze fennel:

That's where the intro question comes from (and what has me all aflutter):

I think I witnessed/captured the Swallowtail laying eggs????  Do you think so too???  I can hardly stand it ~ first the Monarch caterpillars and now possibly future Swallowtails??  oh, say you think it's so too!!!!!  That would make for an amazing year in the garden....

One li'l Rufous Hummingbird

at LONG last in the garden.  LoOooong last.  (Did I emphasize that enough??!!)  In fact, I'd waited so long to no avail, I'd pretty much given up.  I pulled all the feeders last weekend ~ whining the entire time about how they'd bypassed our garden this year. 

Thank goodness no feeders are required ~ a container of 'Black & Blue' Salvia will do just as well.  It's one of the hottest hummingbird magnets around:

Oh, I bet you'd like some proof??? 

No worries, I anticipated your skepticism and covered it:

Convinced??  I thought so.

For me, the summer is now officially complete ~ it always ends with hummingbirds.  I had a dreadful feeling this one was going to be different.  Salvaged in the nick of time....

How sweet it is.

Backtrack to the first photo tho ~ did you happen to notice the vintage clippers??  I scored those in one of my previously mentioned flea market runs.   Don't they look just awesome next to Hopflower Oregano (Origanum libanoticum):

Like they were made to perch there....

Wishing everyone a restful & relaxing Labor Day weekend.  The purpose of the holiday is fitting for all the hard working gardeners in the world too!  :-)

'Pink Feathers' Morning Glory

The name sounds enticing all on its own, don't you think??  I sure did.  It intrigued me so much I had to try them out just to see what a 'pink feather' morning glory would look like.  Here's the answer:

Aaahhh ~ a girly-girls bloom (code for my kind of thing.)  Lots of fluffy, frilly pinkness with buds that even look like ice cream cones:

Almost good enough to eat, right??  Here's a top view of the bud, equally mouth watering:

and a lone luscious bloom growing up alongside the birdhouse:

'Pink Feathers' exceeded my expectations to say the least. 

Seeds were obtained thru Summer Hill Seeds ~ my first time ordering from them and service was excellent ~ I'll definitely be a repeat customer.  Only a few seeds came in the packet, of which two germinated ~ but no more is necessary.  Those two seedlings have climbed my birdhouse tuteur and are twining around everything:

I love when blooms match or surpass conceptions ~ especially when trying something unknown & new.  I will put this seed back on my list to plant again, unless you all put a run on them and leave none for me!  ;-)

p.s.  I have gone days and days without posting and now two new posts, two days straight.  Probably not the new norm, but when the mood strikes, go with it, right?!!!