We have been busy planting the garden these last few days, with no time to get pix for the blog, so I'm showing you another one I took of the Korean dogwood last week.  Up close and personal.  

 

This picture really shows the pointy bracts.  Beautiful, isn't it?  One of my favorites.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

This is Cornus kousa, often called Korean or Chinese Dogwood.  And thankfully our neighbors on Five Forks Drive planted several in their front yard.  They're blooming right now, and are gorgeous!!!

 

Korean dogwood blooms about a month later than the native flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, after the tree has leafed out.  In all dogwoods, the true flowers are the cluster of green in the center of showy white bracts that look like petals.  The green flowers open up into fuzzy yellow balls of pollen.

 

You're probably familiar with Cornus florida, but Cornus kousa is less common.  Rather than rounded white bracts on bare branches, Korean Dogwoods bloom after the leaves have grown, and the bracts are pointed.  

 

Just like the native dogwoods, Korean dogwoods are beautiful year round:  red leaves in fall, red berries through the winter, beautiful silhouette all year!!  But they are absolutely best in spring, right now!!!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I know you've seen these all over.  They are called oxeye daisies.  

 

You may know them as Leucanthemum vulgare.  Oxeye daisy is extremely common, even weed-like, throughout much of North America, in waste places, pastures, meadows, and roadsides.

 

I've read that farmers dislike them because if eaten by cattle, they can produce an unwanted flavor in milk.  

 

Even though they are taking over a large area of my garden, I still love them.  They are cheerful, and make me smile.

 

Psst...we put a few young leaves (lighter green ) in our spring salads, for an interesting break from the norm.  Remember to taste just a tiny bit when trying something new from the wild.  And of course, be positive in your identification.  We use Peterson Field Guides to positively identify Edible Wild Plants.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!! 

It’s working again. I didn’t have to do anything, except be patient. 

 

Better hurry and check out the bluebird camera.

Cause this baby is getting ready to fledge. 

 

 

Here's  another good picture of the bluebird in Yorktown.

 

I just tried to go to the Bluebird cam to see the baby bird, but the site isn't working right now. I'll keep trying, but I may have to reload, or rewrite the blog.

 

I'll get back to you!!

 

The Wildbirds Unlimited Store in Yorktown, VA has a camera set up inside a bluebird nestbox.  This picture is from last year, but the camera is set up again, so we can see the daily development of the bluebirds.  It is fascinating to watch live.  Just click on this link, and you can see them too.

 

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!!

 

Just so you get the picture.  Poison ivy is rampant around here. 

 

Know how to identify it, and be aware.  It's everywhere!!!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

It's that time of year!!!  Poison ivy is dormant in winter, but it is coming back!!!

 

I've written a few good articles about poison ivy.  To see them, scroll down through the archives, or go back to The Home page, and click the Searching the site tab.  Put in poison ivy, and the articles will come up.  

 

If you have experienced poison ivy, then you know about it already, but if you don't know about it, you SHOULD!!!!  It is all over our woods, near the mailboxes, growing up the trees.  

 

I'm trying to help you learn about it, so you don't have to learn the hard way!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

Have you seen Jim and Roxanne's Clematis?   It's worth the walk over there!!!!

 

Each blossom is about 6 inches across, and the vines are loaded with them.  Breathtaking!!!!

 

What I know about Clematis is they like their feet in the shade, and their heads in the sun.  If you get them in the right spot they will live for years, and grace your garden with beauty every spring.

 

I'm just saying, Jim and Roxanne got it right.  Maybe the garden gnomes helped a little.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Meet Sky.  She lives with Tom up on Bella Vista.  

 

She's only nine weeks old, but is already getting to know the neighborhood.  

 

If you see her and Tom out walking, please go slow.  She doesn't understand cars yet.  But she loves people, so stop and say hello.  They will be your friend forever.  

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!!