Goodbye Maverick.

The kittens are now 4 months old and it's time to say goodbye to one of them. Maverick has found a home with some very nice people. She is a beautiful, sweet little girl and we will miss her, as will her siblings and mother, but it's time for her to make another family happy with her antics. She will get a new home and probably a new name. We expect updates on her as she grows and matures.

The beauty of the Blue Mountains

bbrrr  bbrr!! It was 9° when I left the house at 8 am. Cannot get this office warm today! However... It sure was a pretty sight the other evening. We are surely setting some records cold temperatures for December! I am worried that some the plants that I have kept in pots, for years, may not survive, as there is no snow to cover them, here in the valley.

Callie & her 3 month old kittens

I've been asked to get some updated pictures of the kittens. They are 3 months old now & getting so big!

Callie is all fluffed up.... it's cold outside!

Little Joker, still the smallest.

So, Garfield, still on the couch.

Yes, mom ... we'll share my bed.  (Elvira really isn't sure about this.)

Garfield & Maverick, on the couch again.

Smokie & Maverick, enjoying some play time.

Kittens at 9 Weeks Old

Garfield - one of the Polydactyl's

Maverik - also Polydactyl.

Look at all those sharp, little claws!

Garden Spider - White Crab Spider

As I reflect back on summers past it's the little wonders that come to mind. I’ve always enjoyed watching these little spiders as they are so unique, even pretty, as they help keep my garden pest free but I wasn't sure what kind they were. Low and behold they are Crab spiders, which belong to the family Thomisidae. They get their name because they move sideways, like crabs. The body is not as hairy as in most spiders. The color of the spider is adapted to the hunting terrain they use and is mostly extravagant. They live in flowers and plants and are sometimes called Flower Spiders because they are often found inside a flower waiting for an unsuspecting insect to come along. 

Kittens

Well, the kittens are 7 weeks old. Almost time to wean them and get their first shots. We have been working on getting them forever homes of the best quality which is hard to do. Wish us luck! As soon as the kittens cooperate, there will be pictures of all 4 of them.

Smokie, is checking out my husband's work boots.

Garfield likes to play with the plants.

Callie K. Cat and Family

We brought Elvira's large travel crate in and cleaned it all up, added a litter box and some towels, set the bottom of the little cat crate in for a nest and added more towels to that, on Sunday the 8th and Callie presented us with 4 kittens on Monday, Sept. 9th. Elvira seems to accepted Callie and will lay in front of the crate door and peer in at the Callie and the kittens. We are calling it Cat TV. Elvira watches and watches. The babies are growing fast and at 4 weeks they want out to play! When we let Callie out of the kennel they rush the door. Our house isn't kitten proof though so they have to stay in the kennel a bit longer. Two of the kittens are Polydactyl, which means they have extra toes. 

Callie Kinsington Cat

Well, it has been quite the hot and dry summer here but it has been made more interesting by the addition to our family, Callie. While we didn't plan to have a cat this one came to us one day, sweet as can be. She walked right into the house and jumped up on the counter as if she belonged... Obviously she had been a people cat. I keep saying cat when actually she was a kitten that was so thin she was just skin stretched over bone. Poor little thing was almost starved to death. You could see that her fur around her neck had been roughed up as if she had had a collar on for a long time and it took several weeks for the fur to lie properly. We can only suppose that she had a collar on and got trapped someplace until she got so thin she was able to extract herself. Only Callie knows what really happened and she isn't talking... well except to complain when her food dish is empty! It's been a little over a month since Callie made her appearance and she is looking so much better! However... Elvira (our dog) isn't so sure she belongs here and makes sure she doesn't come into the house. So, Callie is an outdoor kitty for now. Oh, she also brought fleas with her, which isn't something we usually have around here. I had tried to clean and medicate an abscess that she had on her jaw, but it wasn't clearing up. So, we had to visit the veterinary and have the abscess lanced, flea control applied and a shot of antibiotics. We have tried to locate her family, however there have been no reports of a lost kitty at the animal shelter or in the paper. Guess she has found a home here, at least for now.

July 26. Callie has been with us for about a week now.

August 10th... looking so much better!

We might be fishing

Well, if you can't find us in the garden, we might be off fishing. Ok, my husband is fishing and I'm taking pictures of wildflowers.

Chives in Bloom ~ add some to your garden!

Chives are a mild flavored tasty little cousin to onions. We add them to many dishes that need a bit of flavor but not the sometimes overwhelming flavor of onion. Not only do they reseed themselves around my garden, I split the plants up and have them in pots that can be brought in for winter use. If you want a constant supply for the summer don't cut all of the clump at once, leave some uncut for the next use. It takes a couple of weeks for them to recover enough for another cutting.

Chives in bloom... in the pathway

Bishop Weed, also known as Goutweed

Bishop Weed, also known as Goutweed ~ Aegopodium podagraria

 My experience with both varieties of Bishop Weed is a love/hate relationship. They are easy to grow, are deer and rabbit proof, and spread easily. Ah, but there is the problem... they spread! Everywhere! You can pull them up, dig them up, mow them down and next year you will find them in the same area from rhizomes left from pulling and in new areas as they also spread from seed. The ones pictured were pulled up last summer and they are back as if they hadn't been touched. If you really, really want them, I suggest growing them in pots and cutting and destroying the flowers before they set seed. As they are an invasive plant, you may want to avoid them in areas where you want to keep native wild plants as these will choke out just about every thing else. It is banned from being sold in some states. It was brought here here as an ornamental plant in the 1850's, it is native to Europe, Northern Asia and Siberia. Before you decide to plant Bishop Weed please read the comments: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/546/#b  Also read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegopodium_podagraria
Aegopodium podagraria, commonly called ground elder, herb gerard, bishop's weed, goutweed, and snow-in-the-mountain, is a perennial plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae) that grows in shady places. The name "ground elder" comes from the superficial similarity of its leaves and flowers to those of elder (Sambucus), which is unrelated. It is the type species of the genus Aegopodium. This species is native to Eurasia, and has been introduced around the world as an ornamental plant, where it occasionally poses an ecological threat as an invasive exotic plant.
I do use the flowers (which are quite fragrant) and leafy stems in arrangements but you have to presoak them before using as the wilt rather quickly. As for it being edible, I wouldn't try it. It's medicinal properties need more research.

Bishop Weed-Snow on the Mountain ~ Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'

Egyptian walking onions (multiplier onion)

Egyptian walking onions (Allium cepa var. proliferum) are unique in that they grow bulblets on top of their stalks. It’s been a constant in my garden for about 30 years. This is one plant (of many) that does well all over the garden, the pathways, and any other spot it can find! It’s not quite time for the little bulblets to form, but very close. It’s great to have around for adding to salads, first thing in the spring, along with some fresh chives and garlic leaves. Add some fresh thyme and oregano and you have a great bundle of herbs for cooking just about anything.

Walking onions, garlic, oregano & lemon mint, in the pathway, of course.

Bulblets forming... won't be long!

Hardiness Zones - Last Frost dates

June 10, 2008... Iris blooms and snow

Gardeners are a hardy bunch and have to be by their very nature, to endure the trails, tribulations and the great rewards of planting and tending a garden. I have planted as early as March and as late as July. The rain was so abundant one year that I gave up and let the garden go wild. In May of 2010, our apple tree was in full bloom and had a covering of snow, in June 2008 another late snow dusted the flowers and trees.

May 5, 2010... Apple Blossoms and Snow

To learn more about your growing seasons, you can use local and regional data to get an idea of what your sowing, growing and harvest dates are on average which can be found online, at your local Extension Service, Agricultural Center, or you local library. The last frost date (on average) for our area is May 17, the "Safe" date is June 11. The USDA Hardiness Zone map puts our area in zone 5, which gives our average low temperatures of -10 degrees to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reflections on 2012 gardening

At last! Looks like we are in for a great weekend for gardening! Reviewing my garden pictures from last year I noticed that we were preparing the raised beds on May 13th so we are a week ahead or more if you take into consideration that we have plants in the greenhouse that are ready to set out. The cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and spinach won't need to be covered as they have been outside to harden off and they don't mind getting frosted should we have more frost, which is very likely! The planter, in the picture, worked out nicely for the peppers last year and this year the patio tomatoes will be planted in it. The only drawback was that the cover for the soil was destroyed by the squirrels to make their nests! It had the planting instructions on it too! Oh well, I bet we can figure something out.

May 13, 2012 - Beds are ready to plant! 

I tried out a "Topsy Turvy" planter for a couple of tomato plants last year and was not really happy with the results. It took lots of looking after to make sure it had enough water and I'm not that dedicated... so the results weren't great. I may try again this year, we shall see. A friend tried this type of planter as well and wasn't happy with it either.

August 22, 2012 - Pepper are ready to pick!

The hanging, green bag is the Topsy Turvy

Cat's Breeches, Native Wildflower

Ballhead Waterleaf, Cat's Breeches, Dwarf Waterleaf - Hydrophyllum capitatum

Many years ago, we brought home a few local wild flowers and planted them in our garden. All but one eventually died out and that one “Cat’s Breeches” has not only thrived but has continued to reproduce. It migrated from the flower bed after a few years and now grows in a partly shady spot next to the house. The blueish clusters of flowers are delicate and are soft to the touch. The deeply lobed, dark green leaves make a lovely backdrop for the flowers but do partially hide the flowers at times. I look forward to enjoying these little flower treasures every spring. If you want to learn more about native wildflowers just follow this link: http://uswildflowers.com/

Flowers for the Table

I love to have cut flowers in the house whenever it's possible. They add so much pleasure with both their beauty and fragrances. In order to use daffodils in mixed bouquets you need to let them soak overnight in their own vase of warm water and do not re-cut the stems after the soaking. Daffodils exude a thick substance (Calcium Oxalate crystals) from their stems that will clog up the stems of any other flowers you put with them prior to a good soaking. (These crystals prevent other flowers in the same vase from absorbing water, causing them to wilt.) To help your flowers last longer add a tablespoon of bleach to the water in your vase. In a small vase a few drops will do. Add fresh water daily. If you have flowers that are not quite open and you want to make them open faster use warm water to quicken them; cold water will slow them down. Little vases around the house brighten up your day too, so don't forget the smaller flowers like Grape Hyacinth, vinca and such.

Spinach

As usual the weather is questionable this time of year. I planted spinach in a windowsill planter back in February and graduated it to the unheated greenhouse for a month then to the outdoors. It was beautiful and ready to pick but then the slugs had a feast on the nice fresh leaves! Now they will need some clean up before the plants go into the garden. I am very pleased with the results of planting the seed indoors in a planter and will start it in the house again next spring. 

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a very old plant. Its medicinal uses and horticulture have been recorded in history since ancient China.  Rhubarb likes to have fertile, well drained soil, so a couple of weeks ago I top dressed it some compost and steer manure to help it along. When you harvest the stalks, be sure to toss the leaves of the rhubarb plant into your compost, as they contain oxalic acid (in other words... don't eat the leaves!). It won't hurt the compost a bit.  Harvest by grasping each leafstalk near the base and pulling it slightly to one side. Stalks can also be cut with a knife. To help keep the plants moist and their roots cool, in the heat of the summer, I like to put an inch or two of straw around the plants.  As the leaves/stalks die back pick them off and compost them.  Mine is starting to come up now and I can hardly wait for enough to cook with! Personally, I like it in Rhubarb Cake.

Using Sugar for weed control ~ by Charlotte B.

     I LOVE those little wild violets, but they are a weed, I guess, because they like poor soil.
     When I started using sugar to nourish the beneficial microbes, my wild violets were one of the first weeds to go.
     I had some growing between the stones in a path, so I didn't put sugar there EVER. This year, my violets in the walk didn't come up. They were skimpier last year, but this year there were none. Guess the microbes made it up the path. LOL
     The only “weeds” that still grow in my yard are the trees the birds and wind seed in. Trees love rich soil, so of course they come up and grow faster, but all the broad leaf weeds and grassy weeds, just don’t come up anymore.
     Even the poison ivy doesn't come up in the alley since I put sugar out there for a couple of years.
Just apply sugar (plain table sugar) at the rate of 1 pound per 250 sq.ft, and water it in well, and DON’T use any chemicals on your lawn. The chemicals kill all the beneficial microbes and insects. ALL chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides, weed killers, fungicides, ALL of them.
    They kill off the food supply of toads, lizards and grass snakes that will keep your lawn freer of harmful insects than all the insecticides on the market will, and they work CHEAP!!!

If you would like more information on organic gardening, write me any time.
Charlotte (Organic Gardener for 10 years)

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lawns-725/eradicating-wild-violets.htm

For more information go to this forums page.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/yarddoctor/

Dark Knight Caryopteris

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight' (Perennial to 3 feet) (Zone 6) Deep blue flowers from June - September. 

This is clearly a favorite of the bees! Even in the early mornings you can find bees on this beautiful shrub and from time to time a humming bird will come calling as well. It does reseed so you can give plants to friends! It makes a nice cut flower for your table, mine is always so heavy with flowers there are plenty to use daily. I prune this shrub back heavily every couple of years to keep it out of my walkway. It doesn't seem to be bothered by pests and when the spirea next to it is full of aphids it never is! These picture were taken in early September of 2012.

Wild Iris

We have wild iris (also known as grass iris) all over our area. They can be found in sunny, moist locations in meadows, along roadsides and streams. The mountain meadows have such a wide variety of wild flowers that it's difficult to pick which one I like the best. The easiest way to decide is to like what ever flowers happen to be in bloom when I'm there!

Crocus

Wild Violets

These little violets are so pretty along my pathway and in my yard. The first time I saw a yard that was covered with the lavender violets I wanted my yard to look just like that! I am hoping that they will spread all over the front yard. It wasn't until I took a close look that I noticed the white violets had lavender veining. That's new! What a nice surprise!

Blue-eyed Grass

Blue-eyed grass is one of my favorite spring flowers. These little flowers are showy and prolific! I love to see the mountain meadows covered in their blooms.

Snow mushroom

We pick snow mushrooms a little earlier than morels but many times we find both toward the end of May. The season will be off this year as we didn't get the usual snow pack. Much less snow that normal.