September garden

I haven't been around lately due to trying to heal from my shoulder surgery. It feels 100% better and I'm able to get out and dig!

Here's what I'm working on:

I planted almost all of the shrubs I got last summer in the front garden and they did very well, except for the azaleas. This garden gets sun the whole day, so the azaleas looked pretty beat up. The one I put behind the Knockout Rose got completely blocked and didn't grow much even though it wasn't burnt up. I removed the three azaleas and I'm going to plant them in my back yard where most of the yard gets shade at some time or another.

Our lack of rain didn't help my azaleas much either.

My two Crape Myrtles are still alive! I was so thrilled when I got three more from WalMart for 2.00 each. I gave two to my daughter and planted one in my back yard. It looks sad.

These Crape Myrtles are doing pretty well. They bloomed a beautiful dark hot pink.

I purchased the bricks for around the Crape Myrtles and just stuck them there temporarily, as you can see. My goal is to make two layers (larger circles than what is there now). I will put in some garden soil and humus in the circles. I want to get a few tulips and plant them and see how they do, or if they survive the critters! I'll then fill the circles with mulch, making sure I leave a space free around the trunks.

The Knockout roses have all gone wild and have bloomed literally all summer long. I really love them.

The other Knockout that is growing like crazy. I deadhead them every few weeks.

I am somewhat disappointed in my clematis - it was a combination of two - a dark purple Jackmanii and this pale pink or violet. But early on in the summer I think something ate the Jackmanii - more than likely a mole or vole. I don't know the name of the pink one to know what its leaves are to look like, but it seems in need of something because the leaves don't look very hardy

The photo on the right is a close-up of the fresh bloom on the bottom of the plant. Most of the upper blooms have been small even though I fed it.

( The single bloom photo is on the right as I write this, but shows up on the bottom when I publish it!)

Well, now I know what does well in the heat and drought for next year: snapdragons and zinnias. A pathetic little tuft of my favorite flower peeks out from behind - cosmos, but most have died in my pots.

I received some used bricks for my garden and laid them down in front of the main garden. I need a few more, but I'm happy with how they look so far!

My poor Datura is not looking great, either. I  moved it to a shadier spot, too.

Until next time have fun with your Fall gardening. I would love to hear from you. Comment below, or write me at eabailey661@gmail.com  .


Happy gardening,
~Ann

Torrential downpour bunny

I love to see the wildlife in my yard. We have bunnies running around and I have looked out my window to see a couple playing with each other, racing around like maniacs trying to catch each other. They never do.

Here's the little bunny that got stormed on sidling up to my beloved moonflower - not looking great due to lack of rain.

It’s interesting because we have cats running in the neighborhood, too. I see the bunnies once in a while and often they’re different-looking than the ones I saw earlier. I kind of wonder, of course, if the earlier versions met their demise at the hands – or paws of the cats.

We’ve been very, very dry lately and everyone, especially us gardeners, have been praying for rain. Finally our prayers came true over the last couple days.

One of the bunnies who had been visiting regularly to relieve my lawn of all its clover was out there the day the rains started. Then we had a horrible storm move through with thunder,   lightening, wind and pounding rain. I worried about my tree in my back yard losing limbs.

I looked out at the tree and barely spotted something on the lawn that looked like the bunny. It was. He just lay there getting pummeled by the storm. His ears were up high and eyes wide open. I was beside myself. I ran out in the storm to my back porch and yelled and screamed at him and clapped my hands. He was frozen – couldn’t move. Those big eyes gazed my way. It was so sad.

Well, hello!!!

I went inside and kept looking out the window. It seemed like forever, but he finally disappeared. I don’t think he’s been around. I hope he didn’t die.

I’ve been looking for the bunny. This morning I looked out and there were two bunnies cavorting around. I thought they looked a little strange.

This photo was taken with him looking at me, but there's a kitty about twenty five feet away getting ready to make a move.

I sneaked out with my camera and the one was gone, the other was behind him, but turned around and started running right toward me. Wait – he’s not even the same kind…is he a jack rabbit? A kangaroo? Strange-looking little critter.

I hope my rain-soaked guy is all right.

I'd love it if you would leave a comment, or email me at libbylottie@yahoo.com. Or share - whatever you care to do!

Until next time, happy gardening my friends,
~Ann

Party in the front….business in the back

Party in the front......

Yes, the saying is reversed and this post isn’t about mullets! It’s about my back porch. I just wanted to share with you this year’s flowers. If you click on the first photo, you will get a slideshow and the photos will be larger.

Beautiful large coleus

Love this coleus

Looking out on the backyard

"Don't take my picture!" says Holly

Someday there will be a beautiful flower garden out there!

Happy angelic couple

Healthy plants....

Ferocious protector.....

Bath time

My favorite place to drink a cup of coffee and chat with a friend

This coleus may be "Chocolate Mint" - It sure is gorgeous!

The porch overlooks the back yard. Holly enjoys a bath.

Angel Wing Begonia -  one of my favorites




and Business in the back......

I couldn't put this old buffet in the house, so it makes good storage and a surface to work on if needed.

Thanks for looking at this summer's plants. I love my porch because it's very private and quiet and always has a beautiful breeze blowing through. This means I have to water the plants more than usual, but it's worth it!

Until next time, happy gardening, my friends ~
~Ann

How to clean your bird bath

I hope you all have some water sources for the birdies out there. It’s been in the 90’s here in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. It’s hard for me to imagine how the wildlife endures extreme temperatures.

Here’s my bird bath.

It’s made out of resin and I’ve had it many years. I am concerned about keeping it out in the direct sun, but I know birdies love to take sun baths. I also know that in this heat, I walk outside every other day and the water is getting ready to turn green. If for some reason I ignore it longer, I find green water and lots of mold on the bottom. I truly try not to let it get this way.

Here's my other bird bath:

This morning I dumped the water out of this bath to clean and refill a little later. I looked out the window at it and there is a mourning dove flitting around it and finally settling in to the empty bath. I felt bad I hadn't yet filled it, but she seemed OK with it. She filled the whole bowl up with her size. I hurried up and filled it up but of course haven't seen her the rest of the day!

To clean my baths, I dump the water out and I’m left with dark slimy gunk on the bottom of the bird bath. What I have been doing is taking a gallon of water and putting a drop of Dawn, and a drop of bleach in it and dumping it in the bath. I get a scrubby and scrub it as much as I can. I rinse with another gallon of water, but then I let dry for a day, because I don’t know if my cleaners will harm the birds. Well, of course they would if they drank  them, but I mean after I rinse out the bird bath.

I decided to see if there was an organic way to clean my bath, and sure enough came across this recipe that might work:

4 and a  1/2 cups of white vinegar

½ cup water
Pour into the bird bath and let it sit for a while. Scrub and rinse it out with a good amount of water.

As far as the birds' drinking water, some resources suggest putting a cap full of apple cider vinegar in the water all the time, which will keep down the algae and also provide vitamins and minerals to the birds. I’ve got some inquiries out to see if this is an acceptable practice, too, so in the meantime I’ll stick to my bleaching out the bird baths and filling them with plain water.

It's also suggested to place the bath near bushes where birds can fly to quickly to preen and dry themselves off.

Here's a couple of pretty bird baths:

This is available at Amazon. I'd love to have a fresh water feature for my birds and others to enjoy.

Pinterest

What do you do to clean your bird bath?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you leave a comment and share with friends and family.

Happy gardening, my friends ~

~Ann

Garden candy!

In keeping with my blog theme of writing about gardening on a budget, I thought I’d show you the wonderful finds I’ve come across – so far.

This is certainly the time of year to hit the stores to see what plants they’ve reduced so they can clear their shelves. I’ve been to Busy Beaver, Walmart, Kroger’s and Lowe’s.

Below are photos I found of the healthy specimens that I hope my sad plants will turn into. It'll be amazing what regular watering will do!

I paid way more than I hoped I would, but purchased plants that were on my Plant Bucket List: Crape Myrtles. WalMart had them 50% off for $7.50 each. They looked neglected, of course, but I snatched up the two best ones.

                                         Crape Myrtle (2):

                    Everything else below I got for $1.00 each:

Double Knockout Roses (3)- I do love these - they are so hardy. The three I planted last year all came up beautifully.

                                      Weigela Pink Poppet

This is a small one - only reaches 3-4 feet

                                      Dappled Willow:

                                     Japanese Painted Fern:

                                               Yarrow:

                   Penstemon Red Husker "Bearded Tongue" (2)

BUMMER Alert!

I love Coreopsis. I found them for 1.00 each. I was so excited I bought two! When I got home I read the tag -  Highland Blast Coreopsis – MOUNDING ANNUAL. I never knew Coreopsis came in an annual! Why did I buy TWO?! So, so disappointed. Lesson learned: Read the tag! Duh.

Annie’s Tips: Read the plant tag so you are not bitterly disappointed when you get home with that “bargain”. LOL

I listed everything I got on sale and planted last Fall here: I lost one plant and the rhodies did not bloom, but are healthy and look good.

What good buys have you gotten for your garden?

Thanks for reading and please sign up for my blog and share with your friends.

Happy gardening, my friends -

~Ann

A Northern WV Gardener: Beauty in a city block

Weirton, West Virginia is a small industrial town of 17,000 people. As a reference point, the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia is about 40 minutes West of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The Panhandle is surrounded by Ohio and Pennsylvania and consists primarily of four counties: Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and Marshall.

My goal in writing this garden blog is to introduce you to the beautiful area that makes up Northern West Virginia and its wonderful gardeners, besides gardening on a budget. I hope to share commercial and community gardens, but my heart is mostly with home gardeners like myself.

Becky Walker has been a gardener her whole life and has lived in the house she’s in with her husband for ten years. She is a West Virginia University Master Gardener.

If you click on any photo you will get a slideshow of all the photos and you can see the details better!

The front yard was replaced with raised beds . "When I moved in there was two ugly shrubs in the front. My husband said do whatever you want as long as I can mow around it!" To the right are three water feature urns.

The back yard is a steep slope, then flattens out.

A dry riverbed meanders down the yard...

Pampas grass, butterfly bush, red hot poker plant and Joe Pye Weed line the stream

A fairy garden sculpture made by Glenn Zarfos overlooks the garden

This greenhouse was a kit from Harbor Freight that Becky and her husband put together.

Peony located on the slope

Deck overlooking the back yard

How did Becky become interested in gardening? "I was inspired by my grandparents who taught me to love flowers - and how to pinch them off, root them and take care of them. I wanted to do two things when I retired from nursing: quilting and gardening. I now have a winter hobby and a summer hobby - and I love them both!"

If you know anyone in the Northern Panhandle that has a beautiful garden that they would like to share with us, please let me know. Email me at libbylottie@yahoo.com

Thanks for reading and I'd love it if you would sign up for my blog and make a comment.

Happy gardening, my friends,

~Ann