Remember the weird “alien from the Planet Zork” fungi (?) shown in the the last photo in my early May post? Well, I never did get a chance to bring a sample of it to the lab at the Cooperative Extension Service before the mulch was put down last week, but I figured oh well,…
In order to keep from being driven insane this summer trying to maintain a beachhead against the hordes of weeds infesting the Temporary Garden, there were only two alternatives: chemicals constantly applied, or a budget-busting amount of mulch. Once the humidity and mosquitoes arrive with a vengeance in June (ours feast all day long, not…
Oaks have now surpassed the sweetgum to claim the #1 spot on my list of Trees I Never Want to Have Again. Yes, they have their good points: they are majestic, long-lived, and provide food for wildlife as well as fabulous home furnishings. But they do not belong in suburban neighborhoods (by suburban I mean…
Despite the Sybil-like weather lately (or perhaps because of it) there’s been a flurry of floral activity in the Temporary Garden. Of course there is the seemingly-obligatory double flowering cherry whose show only stayed in town for a week. On the other hand, Phlox stolonifera has blanketed several areas: Ironically, I’ve never had success…
Well, it’s now official. Winter is finally over and done, for lo we have entered the Season of Tree Poop: yesterday I went out to my car to find it thickly encrusted with a disgusting layer of yellow. I suppose I’m grateful that my car is a gold color, because if it was black I’m…
I snapped some photos during the past few days of things that have appeared in the Temporary Garden. Most of my identifications will be best-guess because everything here was planted (for good or ill) by the former owners. The magnolia has been flowering for about almost a week, starting right after we had a late…
Yesterday I had only two simple, straightforward objectives in the Temporary Garden: to weed and then put down mulch under a small weeping Japanese maple that, once leafed out, is a royal pain in the derriere to get access to; and to zap the thousands of weeds that seemingly sprang into being overnight in all…
The crocus and Eranthis have fled, but a few others have emerged to take their place. Tomorrow is predicted to be 70F which is a good ten degrees above normal; never mind that it will go back down to the 50s the next day, and probably rain all next week! It rained yesterday and this…
The Chatsworth Lady 