Friday, June 09, 2006

Ugh

I don't know why it never occurred to me that my darling milkweed, which is now naturalizing all over the garden, would be toxic if the dogs ever decided to nibble :( They've both been sick, and since it's been a week and they're still not recovered after resetting the GI tract, I don't think the milkweed was the culprit. Besides, the chances of them both eating something that isn't even palatable are slim. However, the fact remains that the milkweed needs to be at the *back* of the garden, so I've pulled up several plants. I need to pull out the lilies-of-the-valley, which also contain cardiac glycosides. I won't miss them - they're annoying little plants.

Everything I cut down the other day is already showing signs of budding at the first axial leaf, so I think they'll be okay. I did discover however that my lovely Coreopsis rosea is actually a yellow coreopsis. Maybe the rosea died and I put a yellow one in that spot without remembering? It's very strange, esp. since the rosea tag is still there.

To do: plant those two pulmonarias I just bought!! Also, move the veronica out from behind the daylily. Plant annual pots. Attempt to divide the little bluestem before the helianthus eats it.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

And the Baptisia...

...is done blooming, but! BUT!! I have fruits :) When they get bigger I'll take a picture. Baptisia fruits are really gorgeous.

Pics

Since 100% of my commentariat demand it (Hi, Zya!), here are some pictures from the first week of June 2006:


Roses, front porch


Tradescantia bracteata


Tradescantia ohioensis


Penstemon digitalis


The yucca plant, this morning

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Finally normal weather

Today and tomorrow: 75, dry, cloudless, perfect. Actually, bad transplant weather, but good for overall maintenance. Today I cut back the Monarda didyma (garage only), Helianthus, and mystery Aster. The Helianthus and Monarda are flopping away from their centers already. Am going to look for some supports that will keep them together better.

Baptisia is pretty much done. Sure didn't get many flowers! But it was still very pretty. Now I can see if any of them got fertilized. Seems doubtful, unless it's a selfer.

Yucca has formed an inflorescence that is just emerging from the leaves. This is the second time it has flowered. I grumbled about it not flowering every year but maybe yucca isn't meant to flower every year? Desert plants and all.

Salvia is just starting to open, as is the new penstemon. Roses are exploding glowingly and look lovely.