January 1 , 2009
From the producer: 27 April 2025
The goldfinches certainly made things merry and bright for us this holiday season . Here are more impression from Greg behind the camera .
When I got them another bag of nyjer seed for Christmas , I knew they would n’t exchange or bring back it !
Here ’s one I occupy from inside the hideout windowpane . I also bugger off them another sock to replace the one I record when a squirrel snagged it .
To make it easier to fill the feeder , I use a braggy funnel from the car entrepot to swarm the traveling bag into a cat-o'-nine-tails litter jug ( or an old congius water container ) .
The bird love their Christmas birdbath , too .
I blaspheme , we get lots of hiss in there at one clip , but as presently as I quietly move the camera onto the patio , off they go . Will keep trying , but National Geographic I am not .
To protrude the unexampled year mightily , I change by reversal the compost pile . A few years ago I bought a pitchfork and was good about putting it to use every Sunday . This class I got lax , but as you know , compost happens whether you lean to it or not ; it just rent longer . Still , I dug in and loaded a lawn cart to meet in Harvey ’s playpen double digging this fall . I incidentally edit his burrow photograph , but here ’s one of them filled in with the compost , so we would n’t get around a leg walking into it .
As the weather changed in October , he make up one’s mind to tunnel , much to our fascination as new bunny rabbit parents . Ever hardheaded , we put him to exploit by moving his pen to spots that needed aeration . Since December , he has n’t burrowed ; perhaps he did n’t like the pay . In any case , I ca n’t wait to see the event of bunny double dig ( fertilized along the mode ) and compost .
This is a good thing to do , even if you do n’t have a bunny , to improve those tread down or abject drain areas in your lawn or garden . Even aerate with a garden fork really help . Top with compost , and if you ’re in the mood , include dried molasses to supercharge it . Or fall apart leave of absence into the spot . Or dig a trench and fill up with your vegetable fleck and burnt umber grounds and cover with the ground .
As we turn the calendar over , I lie with this time of year of new birth . Despite no rain , my novel Liliums ‘ Linda ’ greet the raw yr .
The Arum italicums are come up . Gardening is like have nowadays every day !
A particular giving is the passalong pink poppy seeds from Joan Hilbig . I inseminate them a few month ago among the emerging spuria irises . I ’m glad they like their new address .
And , the leek I planted from the cut - off market storage solution are all going potent !
As I wondered and wandered , and did a lot of grubby Labor Department , too , I noted my unexampled stars of 2008 .
Dicliptera suberectaTheir top got nipped , but they handle freeze as well as drouth . Their repetitious flowers run so many , including hummingbirds . I like their velvety foliage any time . particularly , I like that they fill my part sunlight / spook expanse . Swiss chard fills the gaps that cosmos held this summer .
DianellaThis has been the unexampled wonder plant life for me in part shade . In their first year , they did n’t whimper over drought and freeze . Here one is against a Dicliptera and ‘ Powis Castle ’ artemesia .
Salvia sinaloensis ( Bicolor sage)I’ll take : with my clay soil , I was wary about this one . But with raves from CTG viewer , I go for it . They have n’t bloomed all that much , but the foliar color and low - growing form was just what I want in the morning sun den layer . I plan to add some to the muted sun area in the crepe paper seam . They ’re a bit freezing - worn , but not to the ground .
‘ Huntington Carpet ’ rosemaryLast winter I supervene upon the overgrown prostrates from the bed draw the front porch sidewalk . Constantly I was clip them to expedite travel to the front door . Also , they had become woody with frill on top . Fortunately , I found these mini versions grown by local Gabriel Valley Farms . The tag says they get to about 18″ high and 30″ full . They ’ve grown so well that by next year should set up the walk nicely . Might be a good choice for phratry with “ hell curb . ” ( Oh , the charge plate subway system is Greg ’s sidewalk Christmas kindling ) .
Berlandiera lyrata ( chocolate flower)Beyond them , I establish this experimentation . I never ever suppose this native would last in my grunge . It gets daybreak shade and afternoon Lord’s Day , but its intense blazes are abbreviated and then temper by the trees . you’re able to see a bit of its old flower stalks . And yes , the lily-livered bloom do reek like deep brown ! The scent would be more powerful with clusters of them , so I may add another two this year .
Foxtail fernI’d admire this one in several garden , but figured it would never live in mine . Last twelvemonth , though , I stuck one in a pot in the shady rental - side bed . It ’s done so well that I may adventure into the ground this twelvemonth . The freeze did n’t hamper its flossy performance a bit .
Shrimp plantActually , this one ’s a long - term occupier in sun / shade , but winter ’s clench simply enriched the bract that held on after the freeze .
This week , CTG come back ! And if you drop segment , I put them online - stoppage under Video .
Since blackberry bush and fruit tree diagram are finding home in more gardens every twelvemonth , this week Texas AgriLife fruit specialiser Jim Kamas give us bakshis using organic techniques . In Resources and with This Week , you’ll find Jim ’s list from this computer programme .
Also ascertain Resources forDrew Demler ’s and Jim ’s yield tree diagram lists and polish info .
By the way , this is the fourth dimension of year to apply a dormant or horticultural oil to fruit trees to vote out overwintering insects .
receive Jim in person and find out more at a liberal seminar at 10 a.m. on January 10 atThe Natural Gardener .
Until next week , Linda
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