tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102319442009-07-05T18:23:43.571-05:00Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-66668704734775203352009-07-05T18:10:00.006-05:002009-07-05T18:23:43.579-05:00

First, check out the picture of my "Siamese Twins" squash. This is a budding Zephyr squash, in actuality, but I guess the flower was double-pollinated? Pretty cool...I'd be interested to hear from any of you who have seen and/or experienced this before.Here's the rest of my harvest...the yellow crooknecks shown are what I picked just from this week...just from one plant! I've already resorted to

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-66617337117218613602009-06-30T19:21:00.001-05:002009-06-30T19:23:53.661-05:00

Dallas' most progressive nursery, North Haven Gardens, is facing a fight with local (soon to be former, thankfully) councilman Mitchell Rasansky about supplying chickens at its store. The nursery did everything right but still got slammed by this idiot who, in the past has disputed the use of bat houses around the city. Read more here.

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-70733071440876027582009-04-13T22:43:00.002-05:002009-04-13T22:46:32.017-05:00

You're not aging...you're gardening! Apparently gardening isn't just really physically good for you - it will extend your life too. Please tell that to my body after a marathon weeding and raking session.

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-16620420599050298532009-04-02T21:12:00.007-05:002009-04-02T21:54:15.214-05:00

Everything seems to be "off" this year weather- and garden-wise, in one way or another. I saw a hummingbird today - the earliest ever - yet the juncos are still here. Some of my Louisiana irises are swelling with buds...at the same time as their usually-earlier German bearded and Siberian iris cousins are blooming. Nearly all of the tomatoes planted at the Community Garden perished in sub-zero,

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-55658788665649180192009-02-15T15:57:00.005-06:002009-02-15T16:07:29.626-06:00

I'm always a little embarrassed to admit when I've ordered from Dutch Gardens. In my book, they're about one step above Spring Hill Nurseries as far as plant quality and reliable customer service...and that's not too good. But gosh, the pictures in their catalogs are intoxicating. I figured I couldn't go too wrong with daylilies and gladiolus - two of the toughest plants in existence. Here's what

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-20217472496515292042009-02-15T15:21:00.010-06:002009-02-15T15:55:14.839-06:00

I was going through my collection of flower seeds and was truly amazed at how old some of them were. Sunflower seeds from 2001, marigold seeds harvested from plants I had...gosh, I can't remember when. Maybe from before I was married, even. I ended up pitching most of the old seeds, as they probably weren't viable anyway, but I decided to try the sunflower and marigold just for the heck of it.

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-34688039614550829752009-02-04T22:11:00.006-06:002009-02-04T22:24:02.332-06:00

...but deliver us from weevil?It's a difficult time of year for gardeners, at least, Southern gardeners. Spring is so close we can almost smell it. I look around the yard and see my daffodils blooming and I want to start doing things. Things like cleaning up dead plant debris and trimming off ornamental grasses and planting stuff. You know...gardening. But alas, it's still a bit too early.After

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-209623029291016822009-01-24T11:42:00.002-06:002009-01-24T11:50:20.415-06:00

Well, I've placed my bi-annual plant order with Bluestone Perennials. I hope some of you took advantage of their 15% off early bird special. I had a bunch of little coupons from them too, so I ended up saving over $30. When you consider that many of these plants come as 3-packs, the value is outstanding. I've had good luck overall with their plant quality as well - a couple of disappointments

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-60810298705106456152009-01-21T21:44:00.006-06:002009-01-21T22:11:40.085-06:00

Yesterday's inauguration has brought a feeling of hopefulness and much-needed change to our country. Kind of like how seed-starting does for me during winter's doldrums.And that's not to diminish the importance of either occurrence. Just as I am in awe of our new president's sense of fairness and humility, I am always humbled by the simple yet hopeful task of starting seeds for the coming season.

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-87497936599710240452009-01-05T22:46:00.005-06:002009-01-05T23:01:09.450-06:00

So I'm starting off 2009 with a few personal gardening resolutions that have been posted for all to see over at Dave's Garden.Some are ambitious (like not killing any more orchids), while others are just plain necessary (like being more active at the Plano Community Garden). But I'm optimistic about the new year, and not just for good gardening.After building two 2'x 2' raised beds and filling

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-44445365518536561632008-10-22T15:32:00.005-05:002008-10-22T15:37:00.056-05:00

Found this little fella lounging on my blue rue this morning, even though the plant is small and still in a nursery container. I moved it under my patio rocking chair when the weather suddenly turned windy and chilly. Hopefully he'll hang around and pupate. I believe he is a 4th instar Black Swallowtail.

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-50556780365370000612008-10-04T13:46:00.016-05:002008-10-04T14:19:19.770-05:00

I am trying a new bulb company this year, Easy to Grow Bulbs. They come highly recommended by Garden Watchdog reviewers.My order is supposed to arrive Wednesday. I'm taking Friday off to celebrate my 46th birthday by playing in the dirt...teehee! Here's what I'm getting: Anemone Lord LieutenantDutch Iris Bronze BeautyLily, Trumpet Black DragonTulip SaxatilisTulip Clusiana CynthiaIris Pallida

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-18449689612580378812008-09-20T11:22:00.004-05:002008-09-20T11:35:42.762-05:00

Calgary man gets a year for growing opium poppiesI just ordered some seeds of Papaver Somniferum, but not for umm...."high tea" purposes. I just think they're pretty, and a big challenge to grow here in Texas. Stressed Plants Release Aspirin-like Chemical"Fascinating," as Mr. Spock would say. I especially love the part about plants communicating with each other.

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-109572240221483562008-09-11T18:07:00.011-05:002008-09-11T18:26:07.147-05:00

Well, Ike is headed this way this weekend, probably in the form of a Tropical Storm. My particular area is expected to get 2-4" of rain and some pretty good sustained winds, but nothing terribly major, although the soil is already a little swampy from recent rains. Areas to the east and south of us could see some bad stuff, however.The National Weather Service is warning people to prepare by

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-39239123796468957622008-09-06T09:22:00.004-05:002008-09-06T09:28:56.883-05:00

I like the glow of my backyard gardens in late summer. The white flowers of the autumn clematis on the back fence really sparkle, and in the morning light, the swaying brooms on the Zebra Grass catch the sun in a lovely manner.And here's a look at the afore-mentioned woodpecker. Actually, there might be a pair of them; this looks like a female to me, and I know I've seen a male with the complete

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-6431774279970274112008-09-01T18:01:00.003-05:002008-09-01T18:11:15.329-05:00

It's inevitable that DFW will see some much-needed rain from Hurricane Gustav in a couple of days. As I write this, my beloved New Orleans seems to be hanging in there, and that's great news.Speaking of weather, I really wonder what kind of winter we're going to have here in North Central Texas. One Farmer's Almanac is predicting slightly colder and drier than usual, while NOAA says the

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-82903120797957958222008-08-24T21:46:00.006-05:002008-08-24T22:01:21.287-05:00

I've got several plant orders scheduled for early- and mid-September. Much as my darling husband hates to hear it, it's nice to have the plant-buying bug back again!From Digging Dog Nursery:Eupatorium rugosum ChocolateHelictotrichon sempervirens Sapphire FountainOriganum RosenkuppelPanicum virgatum Heavy MetalPenstemon mexicali Sunburst RubyPenstemon ThornSalvia argenteaFrom

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-42297265715733791572008-08-23T15:42:00.004-05:002008-08-23T15:44:22.812-05:00

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-39656217297439439192008-08-23T11:49:00.006-05:002008-08-24T09:03:19.424-05:00

Notes to Self is a new section that serves as more of a to do list for myself than anything. You see, while I'm good at lecturing other gardeners about keeping lists, it's not something I do consistently. And I should.My collection of tropicals and otherwise tender plants has boomed in recent months. I've kept (and neglected) a couple of lemon trees in containers on the driveway for several years

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-82149532276108818092008-08-17T15:07:00.006-05:002008-08-17T15:50:12.874-05:00

Ok, back again after a trip to England and a bout of sheer blog laziness.I took almost as many photos of plants as I did relatives while visiting family across the Big Pond. Here are some of the more interesting/appealing ones (of plants, not relatives):These Giant Gunnera are pretty common creekside sites around the southwest part of England, where we spent part of our trip. That's my DH posing

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-27468299457296084322008-06-22T12:43:00.011-05:002008-07-02T17:52:02.896-05:00

I don't often grow flowers from seed -- vegetables, yes, but not flowers -- so I can't really use that as an excuse as to why I keep forgetting what flower seeds I did start this year. Thank goodness the flowers themselves are reminding me!This is Scabiosa 'Dark Knight' Gorgeous isn't it? At first I thought it was Rudbekia 'Green Wizard', but the petal-less heads suddenly open into these deep

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-75984328483588648512008-06-15T12:17:00.008-05:002008-06-15T12:32:23.393-05:00

Yey, I made it this month!The daylilies, as is usual this time of year, are cranking. Really nice to have that consistent splash of color in the front yard. The glads are about done, but gosh they're pretty. All of the yellow flowers in my aforementioned post are still blooming too...except that yellow squash I talked about has already succumbed to vine borers. Drat those things...!

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-73715908369211022512008-06-12T18:38:00.008-05:002008-06-12T19:05:08.375-05:00

June has definitely brought summer to North Central Texas, along with lots of wind. The last week has seen my crank-out patio awning tucked safely away due to continuous gustiness. The wind doesn't seem to stop me from cooking steaks on the charcoal grill, however, albiet cautiously. Strangely we've not been under wind advisories.Some spider-related news: I always try to park in the furthest of

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-61707816119748558502008-05-31T11:48:00.007-05:002008-05-31T13:10:48.262-05:00

I hope this finds all of my fellow gardeners well and in full enjoyment of the summer weather.In an unconscious overcompensation for an abundance of purple flowers being featured in my garden for the past few years, I've apparently shifted into a yellow phase, as evidenced below...and this is just what's blooming now. There are also yellow yarrow, esperanza, and snapdragons gearing up for a

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10231944.post-29635762725358956062008-04-26T16:21:00.002-05:002008-04-26T16:25:26.810-05:00

A few more Louisiana irises to drool over.Black Gamecock (with Scabiosa)Easter TideHush MoneyOur DorothySinfonietta

Tamarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845173449321024791noreply@blogger.com4