Well, here it is June, and I still haven't planted some stuff.  Tomatoes and tomatillos still need a home.  My garden is full, maybe you can use a plant or two.  Let me know.  They are great, healthy plants, and I'm happy to share;  but do it soon, cause they are going on the compost heap eventually.  

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

This is Elderflower in bloom.  Sambucus canadensis.  This one is on Stonebriar across from the Nickleys' house.  
 

Elder is a native shrub with representatives throughout the United States. It is very common here in western NC and northeast GA.  As you're driving, you can see them with their large, white, flat-topped flower clusters.  Notice them now in bloom, then in August and September when they have set dark purple berries, you'll know what they are.  
 

Elderberries are edible, and medicinal.  An extract that helps prevent flu is often made from the berries.  Commercially, it is sold as sambucus, or elderberry syrup.  Some people make wine from the flowers;  never had that, but we do add the berries to our morning tea.  
 

I wouldn't suggest trying to harvest the berries from this tree though.  It's way down in the gully, looks snakey to me.  It's also important to consider WHERE a plant is growing when thinking about foraging.  Plants that grow near heavily travelled areas may be polluted by car exhaust, and plants growing on private property are not ours to forage.  So think about these things before collecting wild edibles.  Best to just look and admire in the wild, and appreciate them for their contribution to humanity.  And order your berries from Vitacost  https://www.vitacost.com// or Amazon.

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

You know that for a plant to make fruit, it must first bloom.  That applies to trees too.  
 

As we started down our road for a walk today, I noticed the Persimmon tree is blooming.  Not big, showy blooms like some trees, but blooming.  We stopped for a photo op, and I'll update you as they progress toward fruit.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Jim and Roxanne's lilies are blooming.  So pretty!!!!  They have lots of different ones, and the perfect location for growing them:  morning sun, partial shade.  
 

Lilies need to be planted in the fall, and planted deep:  8-10 inches deep.  This gives these heavy heads stability.  They are very attractive to the deer, so Jim fences them when they start to come up, and sprays that stinky 'deer off' spray on the leaves until they start to bloom.  
 

If you're interested in growing lilies yourself, you can usually buy the bulbs in the fall.  Or go to Brent and Becky's in Gloucester, VA.   https://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/  You can see their catalog on line, or request a catalog and dream about what gorgeous bulbs you can grow in your garden.

Meanwhile, walk over to Jim and Roxanne's and see their beautiful lilies in bloom.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

See, I told you.  Some radish flowers are pink!!!  Eventually they will go to seed, and then we can replant them.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Here are fire pinks in our yard.  They are all over the neighborhood, and surrounding area.  You have to look kinda close, though, because they grow close to the ground.  These are tangled up with fading daffodils.  
 

Botanically, fire pinks are Silene virginica.  They are native perennial wildflowers, and can be seen along roadways and at the edge of woods over much of the eastern United States.  Even though the common name is fire pink, they are brilliant crimson in color.  The 'pink' part refers to the family:  same family as carnations and dianthus, which are often called pinks.   
 

Be on the lookout;  they are blooming now and for the next few weeks.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

 

It's summertime, time for fun in the sun, and time to talk about poison ivy!!!

 

I took this picture in the park, because it shows both poison ivy and Virginia creeper.  Poison ivy has three leaflets, and is a bit shiny.  Virginia creeper has five leaflets, see it on the right?  I'm not sure how, but some people see these as the same plant.  OK, they are both green vines.  Beyond that, not even close.

 

Poison ivy and Virginia creeper grow all over;  on the ground, up the trunks of trees, near the mailboxes.  Be on the lookout when you're walking in the woods, hiking the trail, or working in your garden.  And remember, you can shake hands with five fingers, but NOT WITH THREE.  

 

Love you, stay safe.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know you know what arugula is, we've all seen it in the produce department.  But have you ever seen it blooming?  Only if you've seen it growing.  When it's in bloom, you can see how it's related to broccoli, cabbage, radish.  They are all crucifers.  See the four petals in the shape of a cross?  All crucifers bloom like this.  
 

Botanically, they are all known as Brassicaceae, or the older name Cruciferae.  The family includes mustards, cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, horseradish, radish, wasabi, turnips, collards, and kales.  Arugula blooms white, broccoli yellow, and radish blooms are often pink.  We let them all bloom so they can go to seed.  Then we collect the seeds, and start all over.  We haven't bought arugula seeds in years, but grow three crops each summer.  
 

In this picture, the arugula bed has been invaded by a bit of Queen Anne's Lace, see it at the bottom?  It's the one on the left with feathery leaves.  On the right is dandelion.  And the yellow flowers are blooms of bok choy that got tossed in the bed for fun.  I also see some chickweed, and morning glory, but don't look at them.(They're weeds!) and need to go away.  The rest can stay.  
 

Speaking of weeds, it's time to hit the garden, before it gets too hot.  Talk later.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

 

 

This is Queen Anne's Lace blooming on my hillside.  Actually it's next to the steps going down to the bottom deck.  Probably going to have to remove it, but AFTER it finishes blooming.  I love these.  Maybe I'll just tie them back from the steps.
 

Queen Anne's Lace is in the same family as carrots, celery, parsley, cilantro.  Its botanical name is Daucus carota, and it's commonly called wild carrot.  The roots of first year plants are edible, wild carrots.  They bloom the second year.  By then the roots are too tough to eat.  Besides, carrots in the grocery store are cheap.  Why go to all the work to find, AND CLEAN the wild ones.  We've done it, because we could, but it's more work than benefit.  
 

You can see Queen Anne's Lace in meadows and fields everywhere.  Look as you're driving out of the community, in the meadow:  Lots of lacy umbrella shaped blooms, standing about 2 feet tall.  

 

Some people call them troublesome weeds.  WHAAAT?

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

 

I love it when the tulip poplars bloom!!!  Isn't this great?   The trees are covered in these beautiful orange and green flowers.

 

Liriodendron tulipifera, botanically.  Common names include tulip tree, yellow poplar, tulip poplar.  If you work with wood, you've probably seen it for sale as yellow  wood or yellow poplar.  
 

Our neighborhood is full of Tulip poplars.  Lots down on the trail. They grow tall and straight, not branching until very tall, making them excellent for straight grain timber, and ships' masts.  Normally, they grow to be 100 feet tall, with a 40 foot crown.  Great shade trees.  We park under one at the Walmart in Blairsville.  It's near the gas station, at the outside edge of the parking lot.  

Orange blooms on a huge tree are easily spotted at 45 mph.  I can't miss them.  (You probably don't want to ride with me driving in the spring, cause I'm all about the trees, and everything else in bloom.)  Tulip trees have distinctive leaves too.  They are the only tree with 4 lobed leaves.  Even the leaves look like tulips.  
 

When you're out walking and see orange petals on the ground, look up.  You may be in the presence of a fabulous tree.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!