First day in the garden

After a heavy night rain, the sun came out shining. With temps in the high '60s, how could I not go out into my garden?

Basically, it was clean-up time but I did revel at the sight of buds on hydrangeas and azaleas. The camellias, I'm afraid, have been stunted by below freezing night temperatures and daytime lows in the 30s. Just not good blooming weather. Only a few flowers are open and the buds, though numerous, are brown. We'll see what happens.

I'm expecting action soon from the Lenten Rose and am on the lookout for daffodil shoots. Remembered to fertilize the azaleas around the pine tree.

Also getting excited about the worm box I'll have this year. I've heard they're very successful and easy to establish. Fruit and veggie scraps go it and natural compost comes out. Go worms!

Georgia

Finally, camellias

I have six large camellias in my yard. While other varieties have been blooming since December, mine are just starting. Two are outside the family room windows, so when they're loaded with red flowers the sight is stunning.

However, these two are not the biggest bloomers. That title goes to the trees/bushes on the west side of the house which in preview years have been covered solid with flowers. I don't know the variety. They were all here when I moved in.

As soon as they are lush with flowers, I'll post a picture. It's wonderful to finally live in an area where I can enjoy outdoor flowers year-round.

Georgia

Hello, Pansies

Out went the bedraggled petunias and in came purple and white pansies to the porch windowboxes. They look like Christmas ornaments. Keeping in the holiday theme, the Bradford Pear is a spectacular combination of deep red and green. I love this tree!

Everything's getting a good autumn (yes, it's still autumn) drink with all the rain that's fallen and will continue to fall. The retention ponds (and overflow ponds) are filled. I like this so much better than the bare, dry holes that have dotted the area the last two years.

Camellias are full of buds. Some earlier varieties have been blooming since October (but not in my yard). I don't know what my camellias are called. They were here when we moved in. All I know is they are beautiful!

Hate to spray...but...

The dollar weed is unrelenting. And the three inches of rain last night are an unexpected December boost. I dug out the Roundup and made the rounds, zapping those nasty round dollars and the centipede weed--or grass--or whatever it is.

Back yard is solid Bradford Pear leaves and pine needles. Good mulch!

Ah, here it is, December 3, and a great day to walk on the beach!

Goodbye Petunias!

The pink and purple petunias that flowed from windowboxes on my front porch have called it quits. Lasting till Dec. 1--not bad at all. But it's time to clean out the boxes and plant some pansies--or tiny evergreens if I can find them. Or both!

Purple sage is still blooming in the front yard. Three plants with tall spikes. The ice plant still offers a few spikey flowers and one valiant Gaillardia opened up the other day. Oh, almost forgot: one super-strength coneflower is sporting a half-dozen beautiful blooms. The other plants--same variety, same location--long since gave up flowering. But those six orange flowers sure look pretty.

Grass is still green, thank goodness. I do detest that brown stuff.

The Bradford Pear is turning red. The yellow and orange leaves seem to fall quickly, but the red hangs on a while.

The backyard's looking kinda raggy. Really should get out there and rake. Get those pine needles down for mulch. So much to do!

Up north, this would all be covered with snow. So how lucky am I?!

First time bluebird sighting

Spent several hours this morning cleaning up my backyard garden. Glorious golden autumn sunshine kept me warm and cheerful.

I was sitting in the sunroom admiring my space and saw a bird with a blue back fly to the fence. It had a rosy breast and I hoped it was a bluebird. Since I've never, ever seen one in my entire life, I was thrilled.

A few seconds later, a smaller bird joined him on the fence and I hoped it was a female. They sat there companionably for several minutes and I finally thought to get out the binoculars. When the female turned around I saw a small spot of bright blue at the base of her tail.

The male flew off and I got a good look at his blue back. And where did he fly? To the ancient bluebird house that was here when we bought our house and has been nothing but ornamental for three years. He hung onto the hole for a few seconds then disappeared.

Did he go inside to inspect the interior as a possible domicile? Is this bluebird mating season? I am totally bluebird ignorant.

The female flew off into our big pine tree. I lost her in the needles and branches and didn't see the male again.

What a lovely way to top off a pleasant morning in the garden.

Transplanting Daylilies

Yesterday I transplanted nine daylilies from the two-tiered circle in the front yard to the garden under the redbud tree. I love the colors: deep pumpkin, yellows, maroons. I'm not an orange flower person, but the pumpkin shades are so rich I enjoy them.

Then the rains came last night and soaked those plants good! Just what they need.

The weeds have calmed down with cooler temps, but the dollar weed--or is it penny weed?--is still invading the mondo grass. Will get down and pull that out next week.

Ginger lilies are still blooming. Pentas (red) is almost as pretty as it was during summer. I love that plant and will fill the backyard with more next year. It never wilted once in the summer heat.

And my lovely Chaste tree still has one or two blooms!

Georgia