Silent Saturday

I Missed Wordless Wednesday.
This post property of http://yardisgreen.blogspot.com/

ABC Wednesday - Hola to the Honorable Hoya!

ABC Wednesday is a fun meme in which to participate. If you'd rather not participate but enjoy viewing the variety of posts, just click on the link to see who's participating.

Enjoy!

The information in the following paragraph was taken from Wikipedia.

Hoya is a genus of 200-300 species of tropical climbing plants in the family Apocynaceae (Dogbane), native to southern Asia (India east to southern China and southward), Australia and Polynesia. Common names for this genus are waxplant, waxvine, waxflower or simply hoya. This genus was named by botanist Robert Brown, in honor of his friend, botanist Thomas Hoy.


You will find much more information about the species at this site, entitled "The Hoya Page."

During the Fall of 2008 or the Spring of 2009, my Aunt MEA's garden club held a plant sale/fundraiser. My parents and I stopped and shopped. I came home with three hoya leaves in a pot (75-cent expenditure) and hope for its future.

This photo was taken January 24, 2010.

These two photos were taken April 12, 2010. It's growing!

September 1, 2010
A ballet?

March 3, 2011

March 3, 2011
Isn't it looking wonderful? Do you suppose another vine will start?

The Hoya has waxy leaves, and is susceptible to mealy bugs, and certain varieties to spider mites. Treat both by spraying with an insecticidal soap.

Hoyas like bright, indirect sunlight. These plants make great houseplants. I have mine in a bright, west window. You might have to move it around until it finds the "perfect spot."

They tolerate humidity at low levels. If you allow the soil to completely dry between waterings, you will not have to worry about overwatering. When you do water, make sure you water thoroughly - until some water drains through the pot.

You can fertizilize lightly. Once-a-month with a balanced fertilizer is adequate. During the winter, when the plant rests, discontinue feeding.

You can prune when you need to, or after the flowering cycle is complete. The plant blooms on new growth.

This post is property of http://yardisgreen.blogspot.com/

Green Thumb Sunday

March 6, 2011

The first two violets were begun from leaf cuttings last year. Now look at them!
They're ready to blossom!

This dainty looking violet below was purchased at the grocery store tonight.
I don't know a thing about it - except to say that it was an exceptionally reasonable purchase!
:-)
It's in "isolation" right now - until I know for sure it's not inhabited by critters.

And yes. One of my "Johnny-come-lately" amaryllis bulbs is nearly ready to bloom!

It's just keeping itself out of the compost pile - for one more year! ha.
Actually, the bulb became so healthy last year that it had a baby. I'll leave it in the pot this Summer and remove it next Winter when I give everyone a re-potting.

Just thought you might like to see the greenest of the green here!
Nothing Shady, yet.

ABC Wednesday - G is for Grape . . .

Glibly gazing towards Spring...


Grape Hyacinth
Muscari armeniacum
are early Spring blooming bulbs. Those in the photo above are those found occurring naturally. There are several varieties of Muscari - resulting in shades of light blue and white, and cultivars that are light pink/mauve, two-toned blue, etc.

Most bulbs should be planted in zones 3-9. They won't do well in extremely wet or dry conditions. Many of them have a pleasant aroma, that I've not detected. I look forward to having a greater number of them someday - and actually enjoying their fragrance!
They naturalize freely.

I would love to provide you with much more information about this early flowering Spring bulb.

However, this link will give you practically EVERYTHING you'd ever want to know!

*****

Gleefully glazing towards breakfast...

Grape Jelly

(recipe from Practical Kitchen dot com)

5 lbs of grapes
Stem and thoroughly crush fully ripe grapes. Add 2 cups water.
Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Extract juice. You will have 6 1/2 cups fruit juice.

Set aside 4 1/2 cups sugar (Do Not Reduce Amount of Sugar)

Combine 1 box light fruit pectin crystals with 1/4 cup of the above sugar.

Slowly add Fruit Pectin mixture to prepared fruit or juice in saucepan. Place saucepan over high heat and stir constantly until mixture comes to a full boil. Stir in remaining sugar. Stir constantly as mixture returns to full rolling boil. Continue to stir and boil hard 1 minute. If sticking occurs reduce heat slightly but maintain the full rolling boil.

Remove from heat. Immediately pour jelly into warm, sterilized jars. Cover quickly with lids, apply screw bands until fingertip tight.

After jars are cool, test for seal. If you press the middle of the lid with your finger, the lid should be firm and curved down slightly in the center. If it springs up, the lid is not sealed. Refrigerate any unsealed jars after 24 hours and use within 3 weeks.

Makes 8 cups of yummy jelly.

(I cannot attest to the quality of this recipe, as I've not tried it - yet.)

*****

And Last but Not Least (!)

Gladly Gravitating to the t.v. re-runs...

Grape Nehi

as loved by Corporal Radar O'Reilly of MASH

You can buy yourself a bottle... just click this link!

Enjoy this little video below as a tribute!



Enjoy other ABC Wednesday posts by clicking this link!

Glad tidings for Giddy moments. ;-)

It Was a Slightly Misty, February Evening...

It was a slightly misty, February evening.
One of those murky times you might know,
When things in the woods seem to happen...
Warning: Watch the activity out in the snow!

There was a light that was brightly burning.
Was it a beacon or navigational key?
What shall we do - shall we decide to be turning,
or shall we keep forging? What might we see?

Aha! It is Leaf Woman! She's definitely not a mirage.
She complacently stood, not glancing our way...
We'd walked past the neighbor's, around their garage.
But look! Does it seem she's got something to say?


There was a slight movement, my heart- yes, it leapt
The birds in the bushes were watching...
We sneaked 'round the bush, as closer we crept.
We saw food - to the birds - she was offering.

Now, this is the odd one. What can I say here?
I followed my footprints, while trudging back home,
Thinking of Leaf Woman and her satisfied birds,
When I spotted a fellow, in my yard, all alone.

"Glad to meet you," said he, as he stood there quite still.
"I came out with Leaf Woman to help feed your birds.
I brought my own feeder and an extra bird-perch.
Do you mind if I stay?" (and I? I searched for the words!)

To be quite honest, he seemed harmless enough.

Drawing closer, I looked at his head.
Good-looking food for my birds, I did think.
"Of course you may say, and thank you," I said.

And you? What's your theory? What would you do?
Would you invite them to stay for awhile?
If they offered to feed the birds in YOUR yard?
Would you let them... and offer a smile?

Shady? Maybe. ;-)
Happy Monday.
(Poetry and photos written and taken by Shady Gardener, Yardisgreen.blogspot.com)

Wildflower Wednesday... a little late

My Wildflower Wednesday posts will be late.
But that's okay, isn't it?


Trillium Recurvatum Beck
'Bloody Butcher' or 'Red Trillium'
(clicking on the botanical name will take you to a USDA informational site)

This is a true wildflower - and this particular plant has an interesting history.

This map and information were provided by the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.

The plant is an erect perennial from 8 - 16" tall with an unpleasant odor. The flower is 3-part, purple, and approximately 1" wide. The petals are slightly longer than the green sepals, blooming in April - May. The leaves are one whorl of three and usually mottled at the top of the stem. The plants thrive with moderate moisture - here seemingly primarily in woodlands.

In 2007, this little plant was sporting five spotted leaves and five flower petals. I couldn't resist planting it in my woodland garden to see what would happen! In 2008, it had 4 leaves and 4 petals. In 2009, it had the 3 leaves and three petals (as it should). However, in April 2010, it reverted to four leaves and petals. I wonder... will it revert to FIVE again this year??

For more Wildflower Wednesday posts, visit Gail at Clay and Limestone by clicking her link.

Nothing too "shady" about this shade-lover... just intrigue. :-)

ABC Wednesday - F is Finesse

Finesse?

Maybe... maybe not.
You be the judge.

The story actually begins with a few overcrowded Forsythia,one of which was moved from here last Spring (2010).

The story also has to do with a backyard Fence;
the planning of which began several years ago.

This Fairly Fancy Fence, of my own design, began
as a Few Fence Fragments
Fit together.

See below.

Far be it For me to Feign Faint of heart...
but Fancy that - a Fine Fencepost hole begun!

Fittingly...

Fphew! Fairly a lot of work
and the planting of the little Forsythia bush later...

I may have Fitted the First, but

Fabulously Fine help From Mr. Shady Framed the Future Fence Fragments

Fairly Fancily into place! (See the little Forsythia at right?)

Fence progresses - Fun for Feathered Friends?

Another Favored view.

Fairly shady . . .

Finely Finished...

For now.

You can't see it here, but we did turn one corner. Another section must be built this Spring and set in place! Then we shall truly say,

Finally! Fa La!

:-)

For YOUR viewing pleasure, check out ABC Wednesday Posts for yourself! Click on this link to enjoy other peoples' posts.

SG