The goldfinches love these coneflowers.  Other small birds visit them too, for the seeds.

 

They will eat the seeds all through the fall, until there are none left.  It gets a little ugly, but hey!! we're feeding the birds naturally.  And we get to see them up close.

 

I've got plenty of seeds to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

I don't know about you, but I LOVE rainy days in the garden.

 

First of all, I think I can hear my plants drinking up the moisture, especially after a long dry spell.  They just sound happy.  Secondly, it's definitely cooler, and you can plant little plants without them wilting immediately.  Third, you don't have to follow the shade around, all areas are accessible without sweating to death.  And fourth, nobody bothers you, they're all inside.  

 

And best of all:  the weeds are easier to pull out!!

 

So, get out there today, and try gardening in the rain.  That's where I'll be...

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

These sunflowers also grew from seeds on the compost pile.  The deer didn't find them in time to eat the heads off.

 

George and Rose weren't so lucky.  Deer got a few of theirs.  Fortunately, they left most of them to bloom.

Be sure to notice them next time you're on Beacon hill near Stonebriar.  They are beautiful.

 

Sunflowers take about 80 days to mature, and some varieties can grow as tall as 12 feet.  There are many varieties. Choose one that makes you smile,  and try them, they are fun to grow.

 

It's a little late to start sunflowers, but if you hurry, you should be able to see blooms by Halloween.  But, that's pushing it.  You will get more enjoyment out of seeds you plant in May and June.  I'll remind you when planting season is upon us.  

 

In the meantime, notice them in your travels.  They're always good for a smile!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

These are butternut (left) and spaghetti (right) squashes.  They grew from seeds on my compost pile.

 

I really have to be careful what I plant, because everything grows!!  I just stuck seeds in the ground!!

 

The deer don't bother the squashes, only the leaves.  So if they leave enough leaves for the plant to survive, we will have a few squashes.  They are worth the trouble.  I'll post how to use them in the recipe section.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

  

 

This is another plant that deer dislike:  Echinacea purpurea.  aka Purple coneflower.  It is quite prolific in its ability to reseed.  Since it is perennial, it takes a few years from seed, but once it is established, it just goes and goes.  

 

Every year when I cut it back, I save the seed heads.  Got lots if you want some.  In fact, many purple coneflowers that you see around Five Forks came from my garden.  Not the red, orange, or yellow ones, they are nursery grown, and I suspect they are annuals.  But Jim Brunst and I are going to experiment with them this fall to check out their ease of propagation.  We'll see what happens.  He's got some great big Denver Daisies too, that we will play with.

 

Meanwhile, know that nobody in my life should ever have to pay $$$ for Echinacea purpurea.  Just come get the seeds.  That also goes for DILL, OREGANO, MARIGOLDS, and probably some others.

 

We will talk about seeds some other time.  Fascinating subject, and really FUN process.  Can't wait to share.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!

Mark brought up a good point while I was dreaming about geraniums...how fast do the deer eat them?  

I guessed:  as fast as you can plant them.  Not true!!

 

I've learned a few things...

 

They generally don't eat strongly scented plants, like geraniums.  Also consider growing:

    Rosemary, oregano, marigolds, lavender, verbena, lemon balm, lemongrass.

Other plants on the deer dislike menu are:

    Columbine, coneflower, peonies, foxglove, holly, rhododendron.

I'm sure there are others, but this list may help.

 

Of course, you can fence your plants, or apply stinky spray, but you can also plant away from tree lines and hedgerows and other places you see the deer hanging out.  I have a friend who just plants extra because she knows they are going to be eaten.  And truthfully, when deers' natural food sources aren't available, they'll eat anything, (read:  everything).

 

They WERE here first, and we do love seeing them up close,

so we just need to be smarter than they are:  plant what they don't like.  ????

I've never written a blog before, but it IS 2017, and it's time to move forward into the world of technology.

 

Not much to do in the garden in August, so I'll ramble a bit.  That's what you do in a blog, right?

 

My earliest experience in horticulture was a part time job in Mr. McGee's greenhouses.  I learned a lot about planting, watering, and weeding.  But mostly I dead headed geraniums.  I love them!  To this day, 47 years later, the smell of geraniums takes me back to that little place on Tidewater Drive in Norfolk, Virginia.

 

Mr. McGee was a bit crusty, dirt everywhere of course, but he taught me many valuable things.

 

He said, In the world of Horticulture, if you're not moving forward, you're moving backward, because there's no such thing as standing still.

 

I guess that applies to many areas of life.  So here I go:  moving forward!!