Herbs
Got the plants from Mulberry Creek Herb Farm on Thursday via USPS. Gave me a couple extra plants because they didn't include shipping in their original quote. I can see why people rave...nice plants, friendly people, didn't overcharge for shipping.

Repotted all the plants. The one they said wasn't rooting had just barely rooted. Hopefully repotting it will give it a boost. Everything looks healthy.

Butterfly
Saw a Giant Swallowtail butterfly in the garden yesterday. The book I have says they aren't common here. It was the largest butterfly I've ever seen. Definitely identified it even though there are a couple other types that look similar. The giant is the only one with light underwings and lots of yellow on the body. The markings on the top of the wings matched well too. It landed on my rue several times. I'm hoping it laid some eggs there or on my fennel. It was flitting about the yard for a good hour or so that I saw. 0 comments

 
Got a response from Mulberry. Some of the plants I requested aren't rooting so they're waiting hoping they'll be ready by next week. Very nice response. 0 comments

 
Hate to admit it but I don't think I actually had any lovage sprout. Got to looking at what did sprout and it didn't look anything like lovage. Went to Oakland today and bought a plant for $3.
It's been raining off and on for the last several days. It's been cool , in the 50's and 60's.

Sent a note to MulberryCreek farm to see if they're going to send my herbs or not. No reply yet. Everyone raves about them but I have a bad feeling...I should have gotten them by now. Decided to send an email now since they stop shipping soon and if I wait til after there will be no chance of changing anything. 0 comments

 
Last frost was April 27, I think. Wasn't hard...tomatoes next to house survived even though I wasn't around to bring them in.

Took out brugs and planted fennel, habaneros from Skip Schmidt wednesday before rain started. 0 comments

 
Planted french basil and epazote seed from Penzeys. Not sure if their processing will kill seeds but there are definitely seeds visible.

The white marigolds I planted a couple weeks ago apparently have poor germination. Some of the pods dried slowly because they are big so maybe that's the problem. I should have at least six plants...that should be enough to decide if I want to grow them again. 0 comments

 
Trimmed roses and cotoneasters. Marigolds are sprouting and tomotoes are sprouting leaves. Spread fertilizer last weekend. Lilies are poking through.
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Lovage update...the seed wasn't the problem. I planted two more pots. I soaked the seed for 10 minutes or so and then left each set in a cup with a damp towel over it for a day or so. One set was soaked in hydrogen peroxide and the other in an epsom salt solution. One of them sprouted much better than the other. Unfortunately, I didn't mark them well and I'm not sure which is which. Anyway, if I can keep the seedlings alive, I should have a few lovage plants this year.

I also planted some portulaca in a squarish juice bottle cut lengthwise. The other half was used as a lid. I used a base of perlite to keep it from being too damp.
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The lovage isn't growing...apparently the seed doesn't keep well. The seed I have is from last year.

Found some interesting japanese videos on YouTube.com. Most of them were cooking tips but one was about making cut flowers last longer. They put the cut end in 84C hot water for a few minutes. Claims it disolves something in the stem which then allows more water to be drawn up into the stem. I wonder if it would work for cuttings that I'm trying to root.

Trimmed the cotoneaster in the front last weekend and planted some verbena and more tomatoes to replace the seedlings that have died. Also got some tomatillos and fertilizer at Lowes. 0 comments

 
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Took two root cuttings of my curry leaf plant. Have a number of seeds that should also be ripe soon. If I can get some additional plants growing well, I'll do a severe trim next spring. Last time I cut it back, it sprouted new branches fairly quickly. 0 comments

 
Well, can't say the graft was a success. It's still barely alive but it hasn't started growing. I think the plastic improves the moisture retention and since it has held on so long I think there was probably some connection of the tissues but not enough to really start growing.

My double-white brug has put out some flower buds. I doused everything with a cow manure slurry to replentish the silt that washes out of the pots. It seem to make a positive difference last year.

I've got some large curry leaf fruit forming also. Sounds like they have to be planted fresh when they are starting to ripen so in a few weeks I'll be trying that. I've been reading about root cuttings and will try that soon also. 0 comments

 
OK...it's been over three weeks since attempting the second graft. I'm getting over-confident thinking maybe it worked this time. I think the buds are growing just slightly. I've misted only two or three times since the start, unlike the constant misting I gave to the first graft during the first two weeks.

I fertilized once also which could have made a difference. It has been inside on the window ledge since the weather got hot again a couple days after the graft attempt. I figure if it has taken, the buds should start growing noticabley very soon. 0 comments

 
The first graft was doomed to failure from day 1. I did a v-notch kind of deal which, as I see now, isn't much better than butting two cut ends together. The scion seemed to be fine other than it was slowly drying up. However the rootstock caused the problem because the bark layer pulled back and curled out slightly making any original contact between the scion and the rootstock impossible.

I did a second graft before I unwrapped and inspected the failed graft but I think I made the necessary changes to make this graft more likely to take. This time I sliced down the diameter of each end to be connected and then cut out a section to make a lap joint. I then tightly wrapped the tape around the joint with only one layer covering. I can see the cut end pulling away again but I expect the vertical part of the joint to connect. I put a loose plastic bag over it this time instead of remay and I'm not taking much care to mist it. It has been cool so I'm not too worried. As the weather warms this week, I will probably pay more attention to it. I figure I might have almost a 50% chance of succeeding this time. I learned something on the first one so I don't feel bad about messing it up. 0 comments

 
Sunday will be two weeks for the graft. So far it is OK...it's been shrinking slightly so I don't think it has taken but there are still live buds. Brought it inside a few days ago because it's been around 90F for several days in row. Been misting it once every day.

Had a problem with my camera so I'll have to re-take pictures. Actually had two problems, both of which I've experienced before. Understand the cause now though so shouldn't happen again.

Put manure on my three Blue River II plants. All three survived the winter. They all froze to the ground and came up late. The seedlings I planted in pots took a long time to germinate also. I almost think I see seedlings in the garden also.

Got my daylily order earlier this week. Put them in a pot temporarily. The bonus is a strong yellow...having trouble remembering the name...definitely need to put out a marker for it. Was going to plant them all along the fence but decided to put some sedum there. Probably can squeeze one or tow in. Others will go around the wisteria tree and...??? Maybe it's time to enlarge another bed... 0 comments

 
Grafted a Herrenhauser Garten onto a rooted Suavolens White on Sunday. Took pictures of it yesterday. Misted it and wrapped it in remay to conserve moisture. Seems to be OK so far...don't actually expect it to survive since this is my first try. I've got another HG and several SW's so will try again if things don't work out. Want to try the Extended double also...it seems slightly more fragile than SW so I think it is worth a try. Not sure I'm going to have a stem the right size though.

Took some pictures of markers I made for my lilies also. Glued a electrical connector on a bent piece of wire and bent the connector to point to the plant. Never know where they are in the spring and rocks, shells, etch get scattered. I put up some photos when I get them developed.



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It has been cooler than normal this spring. Cypress vines finally sprouted. Milkweed is growing slowly.
Ordered Fary Tale Pink daylily from GordonHWild. I has been raining in Missouri so I don't expect to get them for while.
Got out my old SLR camera last weekend. Wish I could afford a digital SLR...maybe by next year they'll be cheaper. Decided I just need quit talking about it and to start taking pictures.
Fertilized the brugs yesterday. I'll put some epsom salt on them this weekend. Oakland hasn't had the veriagated brug they had last year...I'm going to keep checking...should have got one when I had the chance. Isabella has got some inch long buds on it already.

Gonna try to post more often...
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Hard Freeze. Covered with remay...little damage. 0 comments

 
I have transplanted peppers and bronze fennel. Moved them to the front window so I have more room in the basement. Also have sprouts of brugs, parsley, and tropical milkweed going. Started Portulaca this weekend.

Oakland Nursery had 33% off seeds and birdfeeders...also got a free calendar. Also have big sale in early march. Ordered more pots from Novosel. 0 comments

 
Got variegated pothos from work.
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Last night was the first definite freeze of the season 31F. The night before was debatable at 35F...one of my frosty pink brugs out by the fence got zapped...could have been partly the effect of the wind though.
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Bought crocuses for the lawn and daffodils for ???. Also picked up a bulb auger.
It's rained for the last couple of days after more than a month with no rain. The ground should be soft enough to plant bulbs tomorrow.

We've been close to frost a couple of times but so far no damage.
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Time flies....

Most of the shasta seedlings either got dug up by chipmonks or got washed out by heavy watering. A few under hardware cloth are still kinda puney.

Transplanted some bishops weed around the east tree. Used some sand to improve drainage and I think that will help alot.
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Planted some shasta daisy seeds (collected aweek ago) in a window box. Figure they might not sprout til next spring but the box wasn't being used anyway and it's worth a try. Sprinkled bloodmeal and red pepper to deter the chipmonks.
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It's been unusually cool and rainy lately (for late July).
The double and variegated brugs are about ready to be repotted.
The wisteria cutting seem to be doing ok and will probably go in the ground soon.
The hummingbird is using the monarda, salvia guarantica, honeysuckle, catnip, and occasionally the rose of sharon.
The white ROS is started blooming a couple of days ago and flopped over in the rain.
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Trimmed pear tree on Saturday. Broadcast 10-10-10 on Sunday (lawn and garden). 0 comments

 
Cut and dry fit the legs for a new potting bench this weekend. Will have to pick up more lumber to finish it. Cuttings I made last weekend seem to be surviving. Oakland Nursery had varigated brugs! Bought a large salvia, a white daylily, some petunias, and a pink penta. 0 comments

 
Received my brugs yesterday. They are well rooted and in pretty good shape. I put them in 4" pots to start...not taking any chances of these ones rotting. I looked closer at the description of the double and I bought the 'slow-growing' one. If I had taken a bit more time to investigate I would have found they had a 'fast-growing' one too. Though I have to admit, I'm fond of my Betty Marshall because it's smaller size makes a really nice potted brug. The structure of the plant is more attractive than the big ones. 0 comments

 
Took some pictures of the red lilies and cicely last night. I need to get more into hte habit of taking pictures. 0 comments

 
My new brugs will arrive this afternoon. 0 comments

 
My profile is now updated and accessible. Not that anyone *really* cares. 0 comments

 
Scattered some coriander, fennel, and fenugreek seeds in the garden last night. Kinda late, I know. 0 comments

 
There is now irrefutable evidence that at least one person has read this blog. I realized I don't have my profile enabled and I'm getting error messages when I try to enable it. It was interesting to get some idea who made a comment and (since it wasn't obvious from the comment itself) why. I'll try to get my profile enabled so any comments I might make won't be quite as anonymous. 0 comments

 
Collected a bunch of sweet cicely seeds today. 1 comments

 
I just enabled comments.
I assume no one really reads this blog... 1 comments

 
My largest brugmansia suavolens cutting has buds that are a couple of inches long. The others are putting out leaves but not much else. The varigated one and the double white died but I ordered new ones plus a c grimaldi to replace the one I suspect has a virus.

The wisteria layers that I did a couple weeks ago seem to be doing ok. The rose layer done last week looks a little ragged but the leaves are ok so I'm not too worried. Yesterday I spread sand and cleaned up the area under the pear tree to use as a nursery. I put a bunch of sedum cuttings there and the small hosta. It will make a good overwintering spot for the hydrangea and rose cuttings. The wisteria layer I put there last year is growing well so I'll move it next spring.

The montenegro and red pixie lilies I planted laster year have been blooming and even some offshoots have bloomed. With the maltese cross, lilies, amarylis, and monarda there has been more red in the garden than normal. The new asiatic and oriental lilies (pinks and whites) are forming buds also. I planted 25 asiatics and 12 orientials and probably lost half a dozen or so to rot.

I let the angelica bloom this year. It is yellowing quite a bit so I expect it might die back. I'll collect some seed and start a new one next year...maybe. I think I'd rather use the space for some fennel and tropical milkweed for the butterflies.

I started finding earwigs the last few days. Haven't had much problem with the slugs though.
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Made rose, hydrangea, maltese cross, and fuchsia cuttingw using sand, perlite, oasis cubes, rooting hormone, and fertilizer. Put in humidity box.

This has been an abnormally warm and wet spring in Columbus. Monarda is just starting to bloom. 0 comments

 
Planted about a dozen asiatic lilies on Saturday. Ground was a bit wet but it was OK. Covered with potting soil, gardentone, and red pepper flakes to deter squirrels. Moved tomatoes out of basement....they need repotting badly. 0 comments

 
fertilized lawn on March 13.
Will use nylon for capillary mat in the future.
crocuses are still blooming...mostly white and purple.
cicely is sprouting.
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Potted second group of morning glory sprouts. Purple and now white crocuses are blooming. Planted a few more Coustralee tomatoes. Petunias are ready to be repotted. Verbena doing nothing. One b. sang sprouted and potted. 0 comments

 
Yellow crocuses are starting to bloom. Daffodils are sprouting and so are some of the Hyacynths. 0 comments

 
Built new morning glory trellis yesterday. Soaked seeds and prepared pots with peat liners. Covered the cold frame. Saturday transplanted peppers and planted verbena bonariensis and tomatoes. Brug cuttings are starting to root. Started five B. sanguinea seeds.

Celosia is damping off and portulaca isn't doing much yet. Will have to replant both as usual. 0 comments

 
Pepper seedlings planted 2 weekends ago are half sprouted. Got some petunia seeds from Jung. 0 comments

 
Received the PineTree order yesterday. 0 comments

 
Got Cuostralee, Zogola, fish pepper, and poinsettia pepper from Tomato Growers. They threw in a pack of Snow White as a bonus.
Ordered some oriental and asian lily mixes from white flower farm. Also some herbs and stuff from PineTree.

Will probably start parsley and peppers next weekend. I'll start them in my rooting chamber rather than in the basement this year. 0 comments

 
Added webcounter. 0 comments

 
One of my schefflera's got brown tipped leaves and the stems started to rot. The other is fine. The difference was the size of the pot they were put in. The rotting one is in a large pot and the root system wasn't big enough to dry the soil enough to keep it from rotting. The problems I had with other cuttings were caused by a similar situation. 0 comments

 
Supposed to get 2-3" of snow tonight and tomorrow. Sanguinea brugs are dead except for the big one which is doing fine. One of the ancho peppers is doing ok too. Not sure about some of the cuttings of other plants...probably won't know til spring. Have gotten about half a dozen seed catalogs. Thinking about ordering Zogola and Cuostralee from Tomato Growers Supply for next year.
Decided next year I'm going to try using the bulb planter for planting some of my seedlings.

Collected verbena bonariensis and dark orange marigold seeds last weekend. Should have collected petunia seeds earlier...still have some from last year though. Tuberous begonias are in paper bags on shelf in garage and salvia guaranica is in containers with shredded leaves. They formed nice tubers during the winter and I'm hoping they be even bigger next year. 0 comments

 
Had 50 mph winds last night. Cleaned the leaves off the roof. Temps went from about 60F to 35F.
Salvia G. finally got frozen. Need to dig it up...maybe tonight as temps are supposed to be in mid 20's.

Cuttings aren't doing too well. Things were real wet when I brought them in and some of them have rotted.
Brugmansia Sanguinea and verigated suavolens are looking rough. Frosty Pink, white suav, isabella, and grimaldi cuttings look ok. 0 comments

 
Temps have been in the mid 70's for the past few days. Now they're dropping to 40's and 50's; 30's at night.
Leaves in front are pretty much done. Back still has a long way to go.
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Light rain yesterday. We've had a few frosts and most of the tender stuff is gone. Gathered first fall of leaves on Saturday...still lots to go. 0 comments

 
Temps are back to the normal low 70's and low 50's. Noticed morning glories got slightly nipped from earlier frost. 0 comments

 
Very close to freezing yesterday morning. News reports saying 31*F. No damage noticed.
34*F this morning. Some damage to tomato plants. 0 comments

 
Hard frost predicted for tonight. Taking in all tender plants and cutting down brugs in the ground. Way colder than normal. Tested the furnace yesterday. According to news reports first frost averages Oct 17. 0 comments

 
Planted daisies on west side of house. Watered with slurry. 0 comments

 
Tree leaves are just starting to turn. 0 comments

 
Dug 3 three foot Rose of Sharon. Made coleus cuttings and collected seed. 0 comments

 
The rain is finally over and the weather has turned. Looks like 70's and 50's from now on.
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have had about 8" of rain in the last few days.
Planted wisteria and hardy begonia under pear tree temporarily. 0 comments

 
Heavy rain yesterday. 2" or so in a few hours. Temps have been higher than normal...high 80's...lows near 70. 0 comments

 
Cuttings doing well in clear plastic box. Pulled ivy. Fertilized front yard and spread grass seed. 0 comments

 
Planted viburnum. transplanted daisies south of rose hedge. Picked 3 more tomatoes. Kyles Giant White bloomed. Grimaldi is about to bloom. Sprayed bifenthrin around foundation. planted 3rd blue river II on west side of house. made cuttings of samantha lantana, hydrangea, salvia elegans, scented geranium. 0 comments

 
Next year I want to try two large tomatoes. Zogola is supposed to be extremely productive and Cuostralee is supposed to be very large.

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Picked 2 large and 1 medium BigBeef tomatoes. Took pictures of Brugs in bloom. 0 comments

 
Brugmansia are starting to bloom again. All plants except charles grimaldi and sanguinea have 10 or so large buds. Grimaldi has several small buds. We've had at least a couple of inches of rain in the last few days. 0 comments

 
Viburnum plicatum seems to be slowly dying. Bought a 2 gallon Viburnum opulus L. var. roseum at Oakland for $10 (half price sale) 0 comments

 
Took pictures of brugs at sunset. Both had good fragrance. Isabella is getting darker. 0 comments

 
Suavolens White bloom opened last night. Isabella looks like it will open tonight. 0 comments

 
More storms. 0 comments

 
More storms yesterday and this morning. 0 comments

 
It has been hot with occasional storms lately. We've had a couple of inches of rain over the past few days. Wind blew over one brug and also broke a main stem off of C. Grimaldi. Wisteria rooted so I cut it off and potted it yesterday. The stem is very wobbly so I worry about the roots breaking off. 0 comments

 
Things are starting to get dry now. I'll probably try to water with a sprinkler tonight. 0 comments

 
Stepping stone seems kind of crumbly. The cement was old and I didn't get it quite wet enough. I think a ridge of sand down the center would give a better shape also. 0 comments

 
Tomatoes are setting lots of fruit. Unidentified plant looks like is most likely Big Beef as it is more fruit than Bonny Best already. Perennial aster is just starting to bloom. Noticed Isabella has a big bud on it. I think the Frosty Pinks didn't appreciate the granular fertilizer. On several plants, new leaves cupped toward the backside of the leaf. The other types didn't have any problem. Daturas look like they'll be blooming daily now. Morning glories are starting to bloom more regularly too. The vines are still sparse though. Next year I'll use large peat pots (bottom cut out at planting) with stakes to get them started early. 0 comments

 
Yesterday, had two ripe raspberries...didn't expect any this early as I cut them back this spring. Repotted several plants. Made 1st rhubarb leaf stepping stone. Monarda is in full bloom. 0 comments

 
Found several Y's on my brugs yesterday!!!! Isabella, Frosty Pink, White Suavolens all have Y's and buds. Wind bent over one of the Frosty Pink's a bit. I need to put either more or sturdier stakes in next time.
Poblano peppers in pots are also setting fruit. I picked off a bunch of the blossoms because the plants are not that big and probably can't support more than a few fruit. 0 comments

 
Received Herrenhouser Garten and extended double Brugs;sanguinea and aurea seeds; and blue and red salvias that I ordered back in Feb or March. I had given up hope of ever seeing anything but they showed up in good shape on the front porch yesterday. Brugs have pretty much recovered after being moved to shadier spots. Had a few dried leaves but the damage wasn't too bad. Put temporary shade in front of BRII and mulched brug on west side of house. Temps have been close to 90º but it's suppose to rain today and the temps drop back to high 70º's, low 80º's. 0 comments

 
Got to the mid eighties yesterday. Some brugs have been wilting. A few leaves didn't recover so I cut them off. I think the granular fertilizer was too much. Blue River II has been wilting too. Maybe I'll keep the last one in a pot so I can move it around. Spread gypsom,hollytone,sand and bloodmeal on backyard. 0 comments

 
It was warm for a couple days...this morning the low was 50ºF though.
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Brugs were drooping so I got the hose out for the first time. Started relabeling the brugs. 0 comments

 
Caught a few slugs. Took pictures of maltese cross, lily, hydrangea. Fertilized Blue River II. Blackeyed Stella daylily blooming.
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Rained another inch this weekend. Still cooler than normal. Earwigs eating lily (pink and crimson pixie) blooms. Monte Negro lilies are beginning to bloom. Fertilized brugs with 10-16-20 granular on Friday.
Big Beef is setting fruit. Put out slug and earwig traps. Put out yellow jack trap on Sunday.

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Rained 0.25" last night; more rain expected today. Still relatively cool...mid 70's. 0 comments

 
Asiatic lily is blooming...white with pink tips. I don't actually remember planting these two plants. Brugs are starting to wilt more in the heat of the day. Murraya still has bad scale. Swabbed with alcohol. It has some flower buds on it.
One of the morning glories that I started indoors has reached the beginning of the arch of the trellis. Each node has small buds.
All of the tomatoes are blooming now. Have seen several earwigs in tips of brugs and the tips of pokeweed. 0 comments

 
got 0.5" rain yesterday. Maltese cross has been blooming well. Rabbits ate most of the linaria. Brugs are big and green. Monarda is getting very tall and has small bud...wondering if I should have pinched tips early in season. Fruit has been setting on raspberries. Didn't think they would start so early since I pruned them to the ground in late winter. Grampa Ott morning glories do seem to start growing faster.
Spring has been very cool and wet this year so far. Nights in 50's and days in low 70's. This week we will probably be seeing some low 80's. 0 comments

 
Got 1" of rain since last night. Tomatoes starting to bloom...Bonnie Best looks like it has set a fruit. 0 comments

 
Sprayed kelp on hosta first to make sure that wasn't what made the brug go green...no change. Mulched lobelia and rhubarb. Watered morning glories with warm water again. Plants started inside have may small buds. Peonies about done. Brought out begonias from front window. 0.5" rain over weekend. 0 comments

 
Mulched pots. Epsom caused C. Grimaldi to go dark green overnight. Put some on the oriental lily and need to try it on some hosta. 0 comments

 
Put 50% diluted beer out and caught just a few slugs. I sprayed some insecticidal soap around but I doubt that had any thing to do with the reduced numbers as I only put it in a couple of places. I think the worst is over. Watered morning glories with warm water to try to get them growing faster. Put epsom salts on brugs, tomatoes, and roses. Took fuchsia cuttings and seedlings outside. 0 comments

 
Light rain last night. Slugs ate my smallest poppy (Danish flag) plant. They left the bigger ones alone and aren't doing as much damage anymore. The only thing that has really worked well is the beer traps. Guess I'll set some more out tonight. Transplanted shastas look great. 0 comments

 
Monday- layered wisteria branch, weeded garden, edged, sprayed dilute ammonia to kill slugs, dug hole for fountain, repotted shastas.Sunday- planted pentas, mulched tomatoes, planted cosmos and 4:00, planted two blue river II hibiscus, turned rotting leaves. Misting murraya with kelp water.
Most things are growing faster than the slugs can eat now. 0 comments

 
Caught more slugs. I may spray some dilute ammonia after dark tonight if it doesn't rain. 0 comments

 
Recharged slug traps with 3-1 diluted beer. Caught one or two in most traps, 10 or so in one trap. I don't think the diluted beer worked quite as well but I think I'm making a dent in their population also.
Iris fell over so I staked it. Also staked the datura. Fertilized th brugs again. 0 comments

 
Got 1.0" rain yesterday. Rose in front starting to bloom nicely. Morning glories are sprouting. 0 comments

 
Vanity German Iris started blooming yesterday. Lightly scented. I should have taken a picture...it has been raining today so it will probably be beaten up by the time I get to it. 0 comments

 
Oriental lily is yellowing, especially near top. Have given fertilizer so I don't think it is a deficiency. Found one reference on the web saying Oriental lily yellowing can be caused by overwatering which would make sense with all the rain we've gotten. Asiatic lily has slight yellowing also. 0 comments

 
Planted some tomatillo seeds directly in garden. Covered some with promix and just scattered the rest. Fuchsia is in full bloom. Hydrangea move to front is getting buds but it looks like it was set back by the move. Portulaca is starting to grow in the strawberry pot. Brugs respond well to heavy fertilization. Really need to get gutters cleaned out. 0 comments

 
Planted sprouted morning glory seed seeds yesterday. Covered with promix. Stripped ivy from foundation and sprayed thistle with Roundup. 0 comments

 
The stunted tomato is finally starting to grow. 0 comments

 
Recharged slug traps again. They just keep coming. It seems like they get larger every day also. The shallow traps with no cover seem to attract the most. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the cover preventing the fumes from spreading.
Saw a hummingbird for the first time on Wednesday and have seen him each day since. He's using the feeder and the fuchsia.
Put morning glory seeds in cups to soak overnight last night and rinsed them this morning. 0 comments

 
Rained again last night. 2/3" 0 comments

 
Recharged the slug traps. They are catching dozens of slugs. Next year I'll have to put them out earlier...before the plants go out. Also staked both peony (festiva maxima) bud.
Did some searching on the web. Milkweed harbors the Cucumber Mosaic virus which can also affect tomatoes. I looked at the damage again though and it still looks like herbicide to me. I can't understand why only those two plants. If someone sprayed, I'd think at least the grape would be affected as it appears to have shielded the milkweed. 0 comments

 
Planted fennel yesterday. Also planted thyme and oregano in concrete block.
Noticed what appeared to be herbicide damage on swamp milkweed. There is a nightshade in front of the milkweed that has looked like it had the same damage for the past couple of weeks. One milkweed is undamaged...it was behind a grape vine. Neighbor on side sprays Roundup alot but nothing else is damaged and these plants are well within my property so I don't see how it could be drift. It looks like someone specifically sprayed the nightshade and milkweed. The grape that blocked the milkweed has no damage at all. It doesn't make sense for someone to come over the fence and spray one or two plants. I cut the damaged ends off of the milkweed. 0 comments

 
Bought silver thyme and greek oregano at Sears. $1.99. Will plant in concrete block by door this year so it stays dryer and hopefully survives winter. Also bought 13" foam pots at $ General for trees that sat out all winter in their small pots. They are the same as the one I planted the trumpet honeysuckle. I'm thinking I'll need to plant that directly in the ground before winter. It is growing well.
The tomatoes have grown alot too, except for the stunted one. I should have replace it earlier. 0 comments

 
Added blog link to flabbycat.com yesterday. 0 comments

 
Rained Saturday and Sunday early...total about 1". Very windy and drizzley all day Sunday and will continue today. Temps dropped to 50's from 70's.
Made new beer traps with rimless yogurt cups and larger cup with notched rim covering. Potted Betty Marshall brug. Spread more slug bait. 0 comments

 
Got another 0.75" of rain. Tithonia is pretty much gone. Guess I'll replant. 0 comments

 
It's raining again and looks like it will rain most of the morning.. The stunted tomato is not growing much at all where the others have probably tripled in size. I'm thinking about replacing it. The one's still in pots are bigger than the stunted one. I put down some slug bait around the tithonia last night. 0 comments

 
almost 1.0" rain last night. Slugs definitely got some tithonia last night. I wonder if there is something I could spray on the leaves that would deter them. Ammonia,caffiene,acid,diet dr pepper? Beer trap caught a dozen or so small slugs so I moved it closer to the tithonia.
Charley's Greenhouse has square pots and surfactant for peat...shipping is high though. I think I'll try to get pots locally and try detergent first. After all, people rinse their plants with soap water for aphids so at least some plants should be able to tolerate it in the soil. 0 comments

 
I think the slugs have gotten some of the tithonia despite the slug bait. I should have re-applied last night. It's raining again now though... 0 comments

 
Got less than 0.25" more rain. Slugs seem to be under control for the moment. Put beer trap in middle of garden yesterday. Spread a bit of fertilizer on lilies and around generally. Iris has a bud and daylily is also much bigger than last year. Wisteria has large split in bark on main stem. Not sure what to do about it. Staked the brugs that needed it. 0 comments

 
Got 1.25" rain last night...more is expected. Saturday and Sunday planted blue stocking monarda, purple sage, petunias, ipomopsis, marigolds, rudbeckia, brugs, tithonia. Spread lots of slug bait. Lost tropical milkweed and a couple petunias to slugs. Repotted last 6 tropical milkweed plants to 2.5" pots. Brought out plants from basement; piper nigrum, pelargoniums, aloe, xmas cactus. Repotted plants received on 5/2 and let them get a bit of sun. 0 comments

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