ABC Wednesday - N - Norm

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I was 2 years and 9 months old when my brother arrived "on the scene."

There was already a sister in-between...

I'm imagining this poem might have reflected my reaction to his birth.  :-)

My Brother 

by Marci Ridlon

My brother's worth about two cents,

As far as I can see.

I simply cannot understand

Why they would want a "he."

He spends a good part of his day

Asleep inside the crib,

And when he eats, he has to wear

A stupid baby bib.

He cannot walk (tho' Norm began at 9 mos.) and cannot talk

And cannot throw a ball.

In fact, he can't do anything ---

He's just no fun at all.

It would have been more sensible,

As far as I can see,

Instead of getting one like him

to get one just like me.

:-)

Actually, my brother was full of spunk and kept everyone on their toes!  He was mechanically gifted (!), a very hard worker, enjoyed people and a good laugh (often providing the humor)!  

My brother died last Thursday; 3 1/2 months after having been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer.   He will be sorely missed.

SG

Nice

Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday

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ABC WEDNESDAY

For an enjoyable tour, visit the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden, billed as an Urban Oasis!
This less-than-an-acre at 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA is packed with plants and ideas for gardens of any size.  (Click the garden title above for a link to their website.)

Finally, you can enjoy the "one-stop" retreat; visiting several gardens in one stop:  A testing ground for plants,  A display garden, and A photography studio!

Open to the public from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m., May 4 to October 5, 2012.
Group tours by appointment.

FREE admission.

:-)


and

"Green  Space - Your Place!" 
You might like to visit Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanic Gardens,
a beautiful public green space.  (Click the garden title above for a link to their website.)

This 72-acre arboretum is open daily from April 1 to October 31.

Guided tours are available and depend upon availability. Please call the office at (319)226-4966 two weeks in advance to make a reservation.

FREE admission.
:-)

Looks like a great opportunity to tour some gardens this Spring, Summer and/or Fall!

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/

ABC Wednesday - D is for Diana Clare

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'Diana Clare' is one of many Pulmonaria hybrids.
She belongs to the Pulmonaria longifolia species.

(This past year's growing season began very very early.
Diana looked like this by mid-April, 2010.)
Do you agree she's Darling?
She's one of my favorite early flowering herbaceous perennials!

Pronounced pul-muh-NAIR-ee-uh, the common name is Lungwort.
This plant is suited for zones 3 - 8 and enjoys part to full shade.
It loves humus-rich, moist but well-drained, woodland settings.

Pulmonaria grows and blooms in the early Spring

(Here you see Diana in early-April 2009. She's not very big, yet.)

(April 28, 2008)
Early on, many of her leaves are spotted, but several are not.
As time goes on, she loses those early spotted leaves and the plain ones
grow much longer. This is indicative of those plants belonging to the species P. longifolia.

This photo was taken in October 25, 2009 (forgive the blurriness).

Delightful in the Dappled Shade Garden, 'Diana Clare' is not only Dependable, but she is Deer resistant! Do check out 'Diana' as well as her many Diverse relatives within the Pulmonaria family.

Have a great Day!
---Shady Gardener

U --- Uff-dah!

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At the end of my sixth grade school year my family moved into an extremely northern-Iowa farming community comprised largely of people of Norwegian descent. Uff-dah (oooof-dah) was the exclamation used to react to nearly anything.

You know how we're getting ready for the Garden Tour tomorrow . . .

Cutting and Painting are in order for set #3! :-)

Can you see the post set down there by my compost bin?
That will be set #4, as it turns the corner.

Uff-dah!

:-)

T is for Terrific! (I'm a week off!!)

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Terrific because these were seedlings begun in milk jug greenhouses in January 2009.

Tennessee Coneflowers from Gail
Last year they were little seedlings just sleeping.
This year they're creeping? (Some are leaping!)Terrific because this little plant was sent to me by Kathleen in 2008.
Filipendula rubra - 'Queen of the Prairie'
Last year it was creeping and this year it's leaping
(given the amount of shade it has to deal with!)
Great leaves. Hey! Doesn't that look like a . . .
Yep! Definitely something "brewing!" ;-)
Click here to see what this will look like soon!

Terrific because this is one of the items on "The Project List!"

Early last Spring, I created four panels of my own design. The photo below (taken 4/19/09) shows a panel in progress.
I do need to make one more. However, there are now two installed! Yea!! (Thanks to Mr. Shady!) ;-)

Some very nice, out-of-town friends visited last week. She helped with some necessary weeding. He cut the tops off three posts. I wanted the one on the right left "tall."

Everything has now a nice fresh coat of paint.

Can you see a little something atop that tall post?

Can you see it a little better here (below)?

The finial was purchased at a lumber store. I painted it to match the birdhouse my dad made. He had painted it blue and yellow. I embellished it a bit. I've also added racing stripes to the tall post. ha! What do you think?

This is a project I'm wanting to finish soon. Isn't it nice we've had the excuse of a Garden Tour? :-)

O is for the Ostrich Fern

ABC Wednesday

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris



Ode to the Ostrich Fern


How stately does the Ostrich Fern
Rise above the bower

Unfurling greenness in the glade,
Besides her last-year's flower.

Exuding elegance she does rise -
And above all else she towers,

I'd love to join her in the shade,
and while away the hour.


---by yours truly,
SG



Would you like to read more about this fern?
You can find information through Wikipedia by clicking on this sentence.




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N is for Nepata

ABC Wednesday

taken April 30, 2008

Taken June 8, 2008

taken June 11, 2009

taken July 7, 2008

taken September 8, 2008

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ABC Wednesday - M for Muscari

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Muscari are hardy little bulbs, growing and naturalizing generally in zones 3 - 9. They should be planted around 3" deep in rockgardens, beds, borders, under shrubs, and trees, and can be used for indoor forcing. There are a number of varieties available for purchase (and/or trade!). Just provide a little sunlight and drainage.

Muscari are also very sweet in the slow-growing grassy areas of your yard. This gives the blossoms time to fade before you have to mow the lawn.

I have four varieties that are (or have just been) blooming. Enjoy!

Muscari armeniacum (commonly called Grape Hyacinth)
They grow anywhere from 3 - 8" tall.

Azure Grape Hyacinth - Muscari azureum
I'm sorry that these are on their way out. They are beautifully frilly and grow to 5" tall.

Muscari 'Pink Sunrise' (Pink Grape hyacinth)
It's growing a little taller, about 6 - 7" tall, this year (second-year bulbs).

Muscari ' Valerie Finnis' (light blue hyacinth)
These are reported to grow to 7" tall.

M? Mighty Fine... Magnificent!

Nothing "shady" about these little flowers. In fact, they make a person feel absolutely "Melodic!"

:-) Happy Spring!