Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Hot July Gardening

Gardening this month is getting more difficult due to the heat wave we are having-temp. runs from 30-40 deg. C. every day. We have had some thunderstorms and great rains, so I haven't had to water the garden recently and it is growing and very lush - I have a little frog in my garden -how cute is that - he has surprised me twice this week. I was sitting on the patio tonight looking at the flowerbed at the end of the patio and there are petunias that reseeded themselves from last year, lamb's ears, poppy heads and dill - all bunched together and looking very hodge podge. I can never keep my gardens looking neat and tidy as I don't have the heart to pull out stuff that just appears.
Oh yes, my greenhouse! Last week, I did some cleaning and repotting - I now have 14 new aloe plants - how does this happen? I also did some geranium cuttings and all the new plants are doing well. I have been diligent in watering and that helps a lot. The greenhouse is getting full again.
Back to the garden - I picked most of my pink yarrow to decorate the church last weekend. It fell over on top of my carrots and garlic so I made 2 gorgeous bouquets. This week I hope to use some Cleome that magically appeared among my veggies and I really don't want it growing there. I like Cleome but it has lots of prickles on it and I hate getting stabbed by a flower. I picked a lot of poppy heads and have them drying in the garage.
I still have more to pick and every time I visit the IGA I get a brown paper bag to put over the heads so the seeds don't make a big mess when they are dry. I should have lots of dried flower arrangements this fall.
ENJOYMENT: Watching my garden grow every day!

Friday, July 08, 2005


My own greenhouse & garden June 2005 Posted by Picasa


My Greenhouse&Garden June 2005 Posted by Picasa

The Neglected Greenhouse

Along with neglected blogging on my part, my greenhouse is suffering. It has been so hot here recently that the plants are being quickly watered -usually both AM and PM - and then I head for the garden or the patio.
My garden is growing rapidly - I am eating lettuce, onions, swiss chard and herbs and soon my tiny tomatoes will be red. I have lots of poppies and petunias blooming now and they are lovely. The last week of June was extremely busy and I didn't get near the garden and since last weekend, I have been weeding like crazy - mostly purslane and maple seedlings and grass. Hopefully, I can control the weeding with my hoe from now on. Our total water ban has been lifted and we are allowed to water on even and odd days again - big help!!
Getting back to the greenhouse - the plants are doing okay - they don't appear to like the heat any more than most Canadians. I did purchase a red flowering maple (Abutilon) at Home Depot for $1.29 and hopefully it will love the greenhouse as it is very pretty. It needs a transplant to a bigger pot. Our Horti club is having a potluck supper on Sunday and I will get to visit a member's beautiful garden. This PM, we are having a soft rainfall - we need it!
Enjoyment - watching summer rain fall on my gardens!