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tea root
nominate your own title
A daisy-like cosmos and blooming goldenrod...9 Sep '09 3:04 pm
The thunder rumbled this afternoon, and although some blue sky was showing, the field didn't look so sunny and big clouds hung in the horizon. But before the rain came again, I took a look around at the beds and garden. As I've mentioned before, in the wildflower bed behind the unattached garage I have this cosmos which is a purple-pink color. However, there's another interesting type of cosmos bloom that's out there, too. These are white, but thin and fluted and make me think of a daisy. The tall plant they're attached to is leaning over the main garden and if they're able to set seed and produce those same blooms next year, then those will contrast well with the apple-green bracts of the molucella laevis that's growing nearby.
On the side of the main garden where the rose bush and butterfly house is, I've noticed that borage likes to grow there. (New ones have popped up, too). And I'm thinking that I'd like to get rid of that rosebush and let the borage take over that spot next year. Honestly, that rose bush has been an eye sore all summer.
Finally, I want to mention that the goldenrod I've got growing in the southwest facing flowerbed at the front corner of the house has started blooming. I think that the variety I have is 'Fireworks', and those bright yellow blooms make a nice contrast to the soft pink flower heads of the sedum which is growing next to it. |
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tea root
nominate your own title
Cypress mulch and asters in the fairy garden...15 Sep '09 2:29 pm
Over the weekend I finally weeded the fairy garden after it has been a weed patch for quite a while. I also went to Walmart with my parents who bought me five bags of cypress mulch and a hardy aster. Well, in my opinion, the cypress mulch was one of the most attractive and also the least expensive. As I was working with it earlier, the scent reminded me of how it smells in the forests that I go hiking in.
So this evening I got to work spreading the mulch onto the bare dirt under the fairy tree after removing the stones. Then after the mulch was laid, I rearranged a bunch of the stones on top of the mulch, but didn't use them all. As for the ground ornaments, I switched out the spring gnome for the autumn gnome and she's by the base of the tree. The fairy bench is still there, of course, as well as the pond, but the base of the terra cotta birdbath broke- so there's no fairy birdbath now. That's fine with me. I plan to forego getting another one since birds are not supposed to be as small as fairies anyway. And today I found that a head of a little statue I had out there was broken off, so it's removed, too. Obviously this fairy garden was badly in need of repair. ;P
Dad suggested that I set an owl on the big cylinder stone which is not far from the edge within the fairy garden and I think it's a good idea. I already had ornaments hanging from the tree, but re-added a small windchime. As for plant life, the hardy aster with its lovely purple flowers is now sitting behind the left side of the fairy bench, and then a wild strawberry plant that I decided to keep is framed by rocks set around it. Meanwhile, a feverfew is in bloom nearby. Then remember that yellow-flowering columbine? It's still out there and thriving, but without the flowers for now.
As for the visual result of this work, I am pleased. However, I still want to add some finishing touches and to fill up the little pond.  |
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MacFlax
nominate your own title
Canberra, Australia
15 Sep '09 4:01 pm
I'm sorry about your terracotta birdbath. Ours also broke, as have a couple of pots. Apparently terracotta doesn't handle cold weather that well. Your cypress mulch sounds lovely. |
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gordonf
Happy Collector
Vancouver Island, Canada
15 Sep '09 4:50 pm
My terracotta pots also have a strong tendency to break in winter, as well. They mostly seem to flake apart at the top, which weakens them so that as soon as I try to move them in spring, they just fall apart.
I have feverfew plants coming into bloom, too, Tea Root. By the way, it just occurred to me this evening as I was showing someone around the garden, that at this time of year, nearly everything in my garden has pink, red or mauve flowers. Didn't plan it that way. . . just happened!
-gordonf |
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tea root
nominate your own title
18 Sep '09 12:41 pm
No worries, MacFlax. This was a makeshift birdbath not even as large as my hand using a very small terra cotta pot and base. I turned the pot upside down and put the base on top of that as a bowl to hold water. (It was for the fairies).
And yes, Gordon, terra cotta only lasts so long out in the elements unless they're brought inside for the winter. Even then, a lot of dampness could cause breakage I suspect. And it sounds like you're pleased with the colors of your garden. Pink is my favorite color, actually. |
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tea root
nominate your own title
Crystals for the fairy garden...18 Sep '09 12:42 pm
Today someone gave me some pretty rocks that I can add to the fairy garden. They are:
4 amethysts
2 rose quartz
1 rock with colorless crystals (could be crystal quartz)
1 snowflake obsidian
And remember that in my last post about the fairy garden I listed what plants are in there? Well, here's a plant that I forgot to mention: variegated iris. |
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tea root
nominate your own title
Pumpkins for the fairy garden...19 Sep '09 2:41 pm
Two pie pumpkins were purchased this evening to be added to the fairy garden- one being smaller than the other. |
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tea root
nominate your own title
Full moon and pumpkins...4 Oct '09 3:18 pm
Tonight a bright full moon shines over my pumpkin patch in the main garden. Meanwhile, the two pie pumpkins I bought last month sit quietly in the fairy garden behind a little gnome who is sitting on her own little pumpkin. |
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gordonf
Happy Collector
Vancouver Island, Canada
Of Full Moons & Pumpkins4 Oct '09 5:17 pm
Hi, Tea Root!
Tonight there is a wonderful full moon here, too, so I took Joey dog along with 3 other dogs down by the ocean for a walk. It was quite windy there, and a bit cold, but what a wonderful night! All the lights reflecting on the dark waters and the tree leaves reflecting the silvery moonlight made it rather magical (yes, folks, I CAN wax romantic!!  )! Joey ran and ran with a young terrier-type dog which has just arrived here from Mexico. What a blast they had, only to be ruined later when owners and dogs all arrived back at my place and the little Mexican dog looked too closely at one of Joey's toys and Joey beat him up! 
Later, I plan to post some new pictures of my garden that I took this afternoon, if you're interested.
Cheers!
gordonf |
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tea root
nominate your own title
7 Oct '09 8:55 am
Gordon, I checked out your pictures and they are nice. I like your moongate.
I like the ocean, also. |
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