May 29, 2006: Memorial Day-3

More photos from my parents' yard. The catbird nest is in a hemlock bush right near their back door. It has 4 bright blue eggs. Mrs. Catbird didn't mind the photos and was quickly back on her nest.

gardenbirds

May 29, 2006: Memorial Day-2

.








These are more photos from my parents' garden. Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.), creeping veronica (Veronica umbrosa) and ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea') grow at the edge of in the woods. The vegetable garden is protected by 5-ft high deer fence.

May 29, 2006: Memorial Day-1

This is a special posting in honor of Memorial Day. The photos are from a visit to Mom and Dad's house. In the flower border, the columbine is in full bloom. Iris and poppies are fully budded. In the lawn, the mower has left tall patches of buttercups and ajuga covered with honey bees. Dad has planted the tomatoes, basil, pumpkins, peas, cukes, beets, spinach, etc. in the vegetable garden. Best of all are all the nesting birds. Wrens are nesting in the house at the edge of the yard, chickadees in the green birdhouse, a robin has made a beautiful mud-lined nest in the lilac (no eggs yet), and a catbird is in a hemlock near the deck and has laid 4 bright blue eggs.

garden bees
garden birds (Hortus Aves)

May 28, 2006

This is my gardening partner. I'm not sure how helpful he really is. On a hot day, he digs in under a cool bush near me. He walks through the gardens like I planted them just for him. And I worry he'll discover the vegetable plants are more tasty than grass. But, no matter, there is nothing like a friend who follows you everywhere. My buddy, Skippy.

May 26, 2006

I planted 3 6-packs of basil and another package of peas (snow peas). It's still very rainy and wet here.
vegetableseeds

May 23, 2006

The tomatoes are in the ground. 16 plants: 6 early girl, 6 supersonic, 2 bradywine and 2 yellow brandywine. The ground still seems cold, but sun and warmer weather are forecast. I planted 6 egglants in with the flowers in the border against the house, hoping they will stay warmer there.

aerial view

Tree peony

My tree peony buds opened today into spectacular blossoms.














Its a young (2 year old) plant but already 5 or 6 blossoms. Just beautiful.

May 19, 2006

.







Hydroponic gardening?

May 18, 2006

.













The beds are ready for the tomatoes now.
vegetableseeds

May 17, 2006

.

















Finally some sun in the Northeast! Still soggy, but the lettuce seedlings are coming up, the blueberries are blooming, and Skippy can go out and play. Yippy!!

Lactuca sativa

May 16, 2006

Its still raining .... They say its the wettest weather we've had in 70 years. 12-17 inches of rain in the last 3 days. Everything is soggy.

May 11, 2006

It's raining, it's pouring .....

May 8, 2006

aerial views of my home vegetable garden