Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Doing the Garden, Digging the Weeds. Who Could Ask for More?

The thing about really diving into the garden and getting some work done, is that at the end of the day you don't always have the energy to blog about it, let alone run around with the camera. I am happy to say, though, that the garden is finally starting to shape up.

I've been weeding and transplanting and keeping the local economy afloat by visiting my local nursery several times a week. It's dangerous when you have an amazingly awesome nursery barely a mile away from your house.

My bananas have finally woken up. My property may wind up looking like a banana plantation, because I purchased two more banana plants, just in case the old ones hadn't made it. That's okay, though. I'm using the new bananas to block an ugly view of our neighbor's property.

Most of my caladium did not survive last winter's frost, but I snatched up bags full of them when they went half-price at Lowe's. They were already sprouting in the bags, so they put out their leaves almost immediately when I planted them. I'm also happy to report that I have achimenes plants popping up.

I was fussing so much at a gardenia shrub that has been so yellow and sickly for so long (and not blooming yet), that I completely overlooked one deep in my "jungle" that is blooming like crazy.
I wandered outside with my camera, and the lens fogged up from the humidity. I thought I'd wiped it enough, but the pictures came out blurry anyhow. I do like the soft dreamy look, anyhow. That's the bottom side of my Queen Anne's lace which has grown to about five feet high.
A pair of mourning doves have built a nest in the live oak tree just outside our front door.
This dragonfly was napping on the same twig for hours. I was beginning to think he was dead, but then he suddenly flew away.

8 comments:

Ami said...

Those doves are so cute! I agree that dreamy effect of Queen Anne's lace picture looks quite beautiful. I also have been doing lots of digging, weeding and transplanting lately. Still a lot more to do...Wish I can have more time.

Floridagirl said...

Ooh, I think those foggy photos are dreamy as well. Beautiful! Love that mourning dove in the nest. I see them feeding on the ground all the time, but I've never actually seen a nest.

Steve Asbell said...

The foggy lens is really appropriate for the queen annes lace!
I actually enjoy pulling weeds! I recently commented that i don't have too many weeds at my place, but I guess that I just pull them up as an afterthought anyways, enjoying the chance to get my hands dirty! Eventually my tropicals crowd them out anyways...
Glad to hear your bananas are awakening! What kind are they?

Amy said...

I know what you mean about finding time to blog after gardening. I love your photos. Nice dreamy touch with the humidity. I have a hard time photographing birds...let alone when they are sitting in their nests. I'm impressed!

Mya said...

You always have amazing photographs. Dragon flies and damsels are two of my favorites of God's creatures - glad you were able to get him..er, her (?).
Have not heard much this week about the oil slick and the beaches. The only thing I did hear was the thought that if it did get in the gulf stream, then the east coast might be threatened also.

Deborah Verhoeven said...

Thanks, guys. The foggy lens really did help--better than I could have done in Photoshop.

I don't mind pulling weeds too much. I've noticed in the shady areas, they are not so bad. My goal is eventually that my entire garden will be shady, as that is cooler anyhow. Trees take time to grow.

Birds are tough to photograph. Having a zoom lens for my camera helps. We have lots of those doves nesting on our property. We also have a neighbor's cat who wants to snack on them, so I try to divert her attention.

As far as the oil slick goes, we too have heard about the east coast. So far we've been spared, but get a whiff of it now and again. How ironic that Miami beaches could be destroyed instead.

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Hi Deborah,

I like the way you take care of your plants.

Weeds are common on areas where sunlight is present and when I used to stay at my moms house weeds are everywhere. Good thing she has time to remove weeds from her garden.

Sometimes it's better to put plants in flower boxes to avoid it. I think windowbox.com are selling planters online. My uncle bought some and he said its nice to keep away weeds from thriving.

I like the pictures you shared on your blog... fresh from your garden.

Thanks