ABC Wednesday - G!

Gee Whiz!

That's a saying my Dad frequently used.  I was happy to use it myself today!  Miriam Webster describes the saying as an interjection of surprise.

Well, Gee Whiz!  The weather this past early Spring was Great, to say the least.  Plenty of warm weather and rain resulted in Gardens that looked like this!

These photos were taken in mid-June.  These are backyard photos.

"Big Shed Bed"

"Center Pond Bed"

"The Way Back" I

"The Way Back" II

"The Way Back" III

And this is the Front Yard!

This is "The Sunny Corner Bed!"

 "Mattie" Phlox (Nickname, not hybrid variety)

 Gaillardia

Campanula - Bellflower

And I DO love daylilies!!

'Strawberry Candy'

'Startle'

'Mildred Mitchell'

Thanks for Going along with my Garden Gazing!

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Happy "G" Week!
SG

Another Wildflower Wednesday!!

Springtime is such a happy season!!  These are two Jacks-in-the-Pulpit that I began from seed about three years ago.  The plain green one is one from our "farm" from which I obtained seeds.  I was given the seeds for the striped one from ION Exchange in N.E. Iowa.  Both sets of seeds were scarified and stratified in my "Milkjug Greenhouses" over the winter.

Both plants are natives.  It seems most people "in the know" consider all variations to be the same plant.  I did learn that the male plant is usually larger.  The female is smaller in size. Here's an interesting fact:  Jacks-in-the-pulpit bloom in April or May with an unusual flowering structure that gives it its name. The visible parts of the flowering structure are the club-like spadix (“Jack”) that rises within and above the edge of a leaf-like spathe (“the pulpit”). The upper part of the spathe curves forward and downward, acting as an umbrella to prevent water from flooding the 30 to 60 tiny flowers that are hidden at the base of the spadix. Individual plants have either male or female flowers—botanists call this dioecy.

The Male plant has a hole in the base of the pulpit which allows insects to get out.  The female does not have this exit, which means that the insect is trapped and, hopefully, given the opportunity to do a better job of pollination.

Other interesting facts include that the plant lives about 20 years and can change sex from one year to another.  This depends upon the size of the corm and its stored resources.  If the plant has adequate resource for blooming and producing seeds, it will be female.  If it does not, it will be male.

Pretty Interesting, yes??
Happy Spring!!  SG

Wildflower Wednesday; Phlox divaricata laphamii

This woodland phlox warms the cockles of my heart every spring!  And it is spreading around in the flower beds (and in the back yard!!)  Love!!

Now, I have just noticed the dandilion.  He's free and very photogenic.  You might want to know what I do with these fellows!

About 5 years ago, I began using black trash bags to put the weeds, clippings (things not going into my compost pile), etc., etc.   I put them in a fairly sunny area (pretty much out of sight) and turn the bags over once in awhile.  It doesn't take too long - a year or two?  and I have a bag of "black gold - compost!"  The seeds in there get cooked and become inactive.  hurrah!

Happy Spring!!

SG

Quoting Wm Shakespeare: Come Gentlemen, I Hope We Shall Drink Down All Unkindness...

Quotation of William Shakespeare begins this post...

Without Question, we do drink deeply of the beauty of Spring, where we find little or no unkindness.

Spring it is
And we drink deeply...

Beauty abounds,

New growth appears,

Fresh green-ness,

Overriding calm,

Heartfelt gladness

Sharing wealth

And we drink deeply.

Quissential Quietude, Non-querilous Query, Never-quitting, Soul Quenching 
Gladness 
Is Spring.

May you find your Quarry.
Happy Spring!
SG

This is only one of the posts for the final (boo-hoo) round of ABC Wednesday.  Click on the logo below to visit the links to other posts.

Vertical Gardens Using Sempervivum and Sedum

On March 3, several of my friends and I enjoyed a workshop in my garage!  We used containers found at Goodwill, etc.

Holes were drilled in the bottoms (which will be the backs, once hung) of the wooden and closed containers.

Most of our plants were hens and chicks, as well as other succulents and a few small sedum plants.

Chicken wire was fitted into the boxes.  Once everyone was here, we tamped potting mix into the containers, created little holes for the plants and tamped them in, and put Spanish (spaghnam) moss over all, tucking it under and around the chicken wire.

A little spritz with water occasionally will moisten the soil.

After a few weeks in a bright, sunny window - until it becomes warm enough to set outdoors - will establish the roots.

Then the items can be hung vertically, if desired

Tah Dah!

Poor Joan - Everyone wanted to decorate her!!

  

What a great time we had!!

SG

February Gardenbloggers' Bloom Day!

We have something blooming outdoors!

It is still "too early!"  It is still Winter-time in Iowa.

However, we have been experiencing and enjoying unseasonably warm and wonderful weather for this time of year!

And look!

Early Heirloom crocus!!

And Just for fun... check out a few goldfinches in a nearby bush!

Have a Happy Day!  I am!!
SG