Saturday April 22, 2017 Trees and Evergreens

When I was out last week I picked up more fertilizer spikes for the trees and a different version for the evergreens. Today, I put in four spikes around the junipers along the east fence line, two around the southwest holly, two around the red maple on the west fence and two around the Canadian Cherry. I'll put more spikes in this fall.

I spent more time working to eradicate the spearmint from the east raised bed. It appears the work I did a week or so ago was effective although a little has grown back. This stuff is very tenacious.

I cleaned out some of the plugged sprinkler heads. I need to make a comprehensive survey of what changes I want to make to the sprinklers so I can get the proper parts. I am considering taping into the irrigation piping near the pond skimmer and running a line over to the level valve I installed in the skimmer. It would only have water available when that zone of the irrigation system is "active" (probably only 15 minutes, two or three times per week), but that should be enough to keep the water level in a reasonable range.

Absolutely no activity on the vegetables I planted earlier. Not ready to give up yet, but maybe I put them out too soon. There still are no okra at any of the nurseries yet.

All of the roses in T's rose garden are now in bloom along with the columbine. The hollyhock at each end of the garden have leafed out nicely, but so far, no blossoms. I think it is a little too early yet. Same for the foxglove.

I pruned back the common sage and thyme today. The sage has a lot of buds on it. Should bloom later in the Spring.

Friday, April 21, 2017: Lilies, Yarrow, Cardinals

Very cool and overcast today with off and on sprinkles. Our neighbor's cat comes over every day to ensure our fish are OK. He is ready to help if needed 😃

Yesterday I visited four nurseries looking for something that would go in the upper pond and anything else of interest. For the upper pond, I was looking into the pickeral weed (Pontederia cordata). It is native to Missouri and loves to grow in the bottom of muddy ponds. It likes full sun and has tiny, tubular soft blue flowers are densely packed into erect, 3-6” long spikes. The plant can typically grow to 2' to 4' in height. It can be invasive so I would want to keep it in a container. Being native to Missouri means of course it is hard to find at a Missouri nursery.

Pickeral Weed (courtesy of Mobot)

Another plant of interest was the Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). Also a Missouri native and loves water and sun. It features brilliant red flowers and is a favorite source of nectar for hummingbirds. Interestingly, flowers are very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, but not cardinals. 

Cardinal flower (courtesy of Mobot)

I found neither of these at any of the four nurseries I visited yesterday. I did however get four dwarf asiatic lilies and a yarrow. The lilies (Lilium asiaticum 'Tiny Diamond') supposedly will only grow to a height of 13" (essentially that height when I bought them) and will produce pink flowers. The yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Desert Eve Red') will grow to a height of 10"-12" and likes full sun. We have no experience with yarrow thus far.

Today, I went to one more nursery which actually showed the pickeral weed on their web site. They did not have it either, but they did have the Cardinal flower. I picked up one of those and two more asiatic lilies. The lilies ('Tiny Bee') will supposedly grow to 20"-24" and produce yellow blossoms. 

I put the yarrow in the corner near the Serviceberry, close to the Butterfly Flower, which I doubt is going to come back this year. It calls for full sun, but the Serviceberry will shade it during the afternoon. We'll see how it does.

Yarrow

The six lilies were planted on the east side of the stream, between the stream and the Cyprus. I put the two taller ones behind the four shorter ones.

Lilies

I put the Cardinal flower in the slotted planter and placed it in the upper pond.

Cardinal flower

Wednesday, April 19, 2017: Survey

Today was a warm one. High around 88 F (hitting the record high for this date) and breezy. I opened up the sunroof and stayed very comfortable.

This morning I took my weekly early morning tour through the Mobot. I really enjoy these Spring walks as I get ideas for what might be good additions to our garden.

The Azaleas are out in force

Always interested in Missouri natives

I need an addition to the upper pond

This evening I took a survey of the backyard plants.

The Bleeding Heart seems happy behind the rabbit

Holly's are blooming

The east lungworts and coral bells are doing well

Not only is the mayapple alive but it has a sibling, Researching propagation now.

The golden groundsel is loosing its flowers but the holly hock and hellebore are growing nicely

All the shade lovers along the east fence line have survived and flourishing (except the coleus)

Hornbeams have leaved out nicely

New succulent garden is still heathy

Don't know if the Butterfly Flower (Asclepias tuberosa) is going to make it or not

Also not sure if the red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria) will come back

The livingstone daisy (Dorotheanthus Mezoo mesbicla), that I moved outside last week, is doing well

The coleus, moved outside last week, need some pruning and replanting

The daylillies cannot be eliminated, only controlled

I think I finally killed the yucca. This plant came with the house. I left it out over the winter.

Have not seen any more morels yet

The iris I got out of storage doesn't show any activity

No sign of any bat activity yet