My busy messy gardens. Hannah update too...

A post by a friend AC, got me thinking about my own gardens and yard. The mowing is done by a zero turn and push mower and it looks pretty nice. Unless you count all the overgrown areas of pasture [not safe to mow] and weeds growing around old equipment.

So I've always tried to make a very colorful and brilliant bunch of little gardens.

They may be messy and weedy, but the birds and the bees are really enjoying them.

Creeping Thyme flowers.

Morning Glories on the porch.

Self seeded Sunflower in the yard.

Happy Birds

Sunlit Nasturtium. These flowers literally take over the SE section of the porch.

 

Not a hummingbird.

Blazing Stars being watered.

My outhouse garden looks amazing and is nearly surrounded by Bee Balm plants. I can sit on the back stoop and watch bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds dodge around in the flowers. 

If I move closer and am patient I can get photos of them.

The East garden. It is one of my free for all gardens. I have creeping thyme, vinca, iris, day lilies [not shown] bee balm, zinnias, cosmos, a pumpkin plant...😁 along with nasturtium and corn flowers. Basically I took a jar of seeds to the one side of the garden and tossed them in, raked, and stomped and thought I'd see what happened.

There is actually a hidden path that goes through the garden. The dogs and I use it.

Yes the garage is still there crumbling slowly. No word from Frank on when he is thinking of tearing it down. I'm okay with waiting because Frank is also busy with working on two farms with crops. He also raises cattle and runs a Excavating and Gravel business along with hauling things for farmers. His wife believes he should clone himself.

Below is another mess. I had Borage Flowers that grew to 4 feet tall and got taken out by last week's winds and 6+ inches of rain. But the surviving flowers are filling in. I don't do a strict border, but just mow close to the plantings. Love in the mist, Borage, Morning Glories, and it looks like some self seeded black eyed susans are going to appear between some marigolds and nasturtiums. I like my untidy messy gardens. Lots of crazy textures to admire.

I've ignored this spot-- below.... 

But this spring I had a tiny field of tall Sweet William which I just let grow. I'll probably save some plant seeds from these and dig the whole thing up this fall to start over or let it grow to grass. It is a mess and overgrown.

I'm going to pick my battles and do less next year as it is obvious I can't keep it all up. I didn't have time to properly care for it last year either. So perhaps it is time to go. Though I hate to dig up the black eyed susans that put themselves here too!

My one tidy garden is this one.

I may do the same for the other half of the porch next year. But I'd rather have cosmos and zinnias along with all the reseeded Love in the Mist flowers.

I love looking at tidy well done gardens, but for the life of me, I like to mix up as many things as possible and see what happens with no rhyme or reason.

I'm finding out what flowers like to grow together on my own and which plants like which places the best.

I suppose I could study some garden books, but the gardens they suggest are too rigid. I like wild and untamed.

Hannah and I saw Dr. Grimm, she is an awesome vet and Hannah loves her! Hannah does have what is called a seroma or pocket of fluid that is to the side of the incision. Her surgical incision is healing perfectly, the seroma is a small concern and we want to stay ahead of it.

So instead of my solution to keep her from licking it open...we changed tactics.
The area must be open to the air yet keep her from irritating it. 

I have a cleanser to swipe the spot twice a day.

So not a gross shot but here is a photo of the incision and the area points to what seems to be a seroma: Clear fluid that is next to an incision. 

Doc and I want to stay ahead of this as it could be serious and hard to treat if not taken care of.

I learned something today!

She has a new look with a PJ top from Olive's house, she gave me some shirts that her kids didn't wear anymore.

So Doc gave me some cotton balls in a solution to swab the sight and she came up with this to keep the area aired out and keep her from licking it.

It is a toddler t-shirt with leg holes. It is super easy to do and she was embarrassed at first, but is not bothered with it by bedtime.

Flowers

I took flower photos Monday morning while weeding the gardens early. I did it before the sun broke through the clouds and made things much hotter.

Petunias

 Lilies!

Love in the Mist

This first shot is when the lens fogged up
from the humidity. I took it anyway
before setting the camera in a
camera bag to acclimate to the weather.

I should have remembered to stick it in a camera

bag and set it on the porch to slowly acclimate.

These are one of my current 

favorites!

They are so easy to have in the garden and they will reseed themselves. 

Love in the mist is surrounded by another easy
keeper called Creeping Thyme. 

So easy that I have to mow it back. However I would rather
have this in the yard than grass! 

It smells
nice when mowed or stepped on!

Creeping Thyme

This sunflower plant seeded itself between the round stepping stones 

just off the porch.

I let it grow and the dogs enjoy its shade!

Borage.
The flowers are edible and

taste slightly like watermelon.
I often decorate salads with these.

I had fun with this borage stem. 
I used a double exposure trick
with fern leaves. A bit of 
fun on a hot afternoon edit.

Morning Glories are another flower that

reseeds itself.

I have pulled all the little ones that I didn't want

growing from seeds spread last year.

I am allowing one plant to spread and provide

shade for the porch also.

I don't have just blue and purple flowers. The Zinnias and Cosmos of every single color are coming along nicely in the gardens I planted at the start of June. 

My nasturtium is doing its thing also. Soon, I'll have flowers and leaves to add to my salads right next to the porch.

And...

Hannah.

I am still dealing with her itchy incision. If I leave it uncovered in the morning, she goes after licking it. I imagine the whole area itches because her fur was shaved off.

I can't wait until she is all healed up.

She is such a high energy dog! 
Here she is helping me this morning inspect the meadow. I have to admit, it looks rather lovely right now with all the wildflowers blooming in the area I didn't mow.

Her new healing outfit with gauze over the incision and an Ace Bandage covering the area better so she can't pick at it.

Oh Hannah. She loves to give me the 'look'. She is driving me crazy!

That time of year

I don't usually follow my own good advice. I woke up tired. I ate breakfast tired.
I did chores

tired.

Then I took the weekend's trash out and separated the recycle stuff for Wednesday's journey to the town 'dump'.

Then I looked at my messy flower beds. I put the black plastic [these are old round hay bale covers] over the areas that I am going to plant with seeds to block out spring weeds. 

I usually wait until the end of May to put seeds in the ground.

I dug out last fall's weeds, turned soil, weeded by hand, moved rocks, and did a major clean up. The dogs enjoyed laying in the grass and supervising.

I cleaned out the Hosta bed on the NE side of the house to prepare it for some fresh mulch and found 3 little bleeding hearts coming up.

Last year I'd put down cardboard in this area and mulched on top of it. It did a fair job of keeping the weeds down and so far still looks good.

I'll probably need to redo the whole thing next year.

I generally use those rocks as a border alongside this part of the garden. By midsummer, the hostas are so large one cannot see the rocks.

I might find another job for those rocks this year.

In my 'shade' garden, the tulips, daffodils, Virginia Bluebells, ferns, hostas, and snowdrops are all coming up like crazy. That garden is a true mess with grasses and other 'weeds' growing up. I guess I might get at it later this year or leave it.

I didn't clean it up last year as I was busy with caring for Rich in his final time with me. I let the gardens go last year.

However, the flowers still are coming up despite the mess and I am enjoying them.
 

I noticed that the yard was shaggy and overgrown. My little dogs had grass up to their shoulders. I guess I was going to have to break out the mowers.

I used my all natural mower to assist in difficult places.

I used my little mower to do a large part of the yard. I need to change the oil and the filter in it. Obviously, it needs cleaning too. But I love this mower, it really rocks. 

10 years ago Rich bought this Country Clipper Zero turn mower for doing our yard. It was his 'baby'. It uses a joy stick to steer which I have learned to use over the past 8 years. 

Since this is a complicated machine, I have the guy we purchased it from come each year to pick it up and tune it all up. He is not always swift in getting it done, but he is easy to deal with.

Over the past 30 years we've purchased all of our mowers and chain saws from him. 

Last year I didn't so it is Bad On Me.

It is running just fine but I am not sure about the oil, the hydraulic stuff, the blades, and the belt so I need an expert to exam it.

Machinery is NOT my forte. I don't understand engine things. 

If they stop running, I need help!

The yard below👇
The yellow tape is to remind the Scrap Dudes
not to pull into the yard where
the leach field is.

By 4PM, the dogs and I were all done in. I sat in the grass in front of the porch. 

I did some daydreaming. I dreamt of huge wildflower beds in that area on the left side of the photo above. After that area is leveled, I'll be spreading grass seed. But what if I made a nice area for wild flowers and butterfly flowers? I could watch and observe it from my own porch in the summer months.

Once upon a time, I had a huge flower garden that started at the wagon wheel and went 50 feet towards the house with a walking path down the middle of it. I'd had a job that allowed me more time on the weekends, and late afternoons to tend my huge garden. It was a sight to see.

Two shoulder surgeries and an elbow surgery within 3 years put an end to that garden. Rich removed it and made it into grass. 

This is a shot from 2005 before the garden got mowed down. 

It is nice to dream about things isn't it? At least I can imagine a huge beautiful garden. It may not happen, but I can close my eyes and see it.

It is that time of year, time for big dreams if you like gardening.

I need to get out my seeds I gathered last year and start plotting. It will all change as soon as I start planning.

I like pretending....😉and dreaming.

Different stuff...

Dirty girls. They look awful like this and then go roll in the sand 'pit' and come out looking much cleaner. They have burs in their tails and their manes. The manes won't be an issue because I trim them off.

Fifteen is our only horse and I never wanted her here anyway. We don't like each other much and the feeling is mutual. I don't have time to do right by her. 

The mules are trained and have perfect manners and will accept a saddle and go without any extra work.

I may have finally found a home for 15 with someone who will work with her and give her what she really deserves. Of course we have to wait and see if it works out. If not, then I will search some more.

She is pretty, but as I said, I don't need her and she and I don't exactly see eye to eye. The photo below is her this past fall. She does have a pretty color to her. She is a bright red bay with a beautiful mane and tail.

Less mouths to feed = less expenses in feed. With today's economy these things are important.

My hiking pal --> Jason the Geologist Pony Tail Guy -- is coming out this afternoon with his two tumbleweed dogs. [My stepdaughter calls him the Pony Tail Guy so we've given him that moniker!]

Jason is going to provide me with some coverage while I get our taxes done and some other errands that take me out of the house. We'll also have some time to explore the creek bottom and give our 'puppers' some time to stretch their legs.

Apparently Jason is coming with some food and plans on doing some cooking for us? I never thought a random meeting during a hike on December 31st 2021 would produce a friendship like ours. Jason and Rich get along too. That is another bonus. 

This week will be busy also. 

Taxes, errands, and then another visit from one of our ex neighbors [along with the home aide and the nurse].

Caring for Rich is like having a toddler again. We arrange things around his 'eat' time and his 'nap' time.

Yesterday afternoon was so beautiful! It was up to 70F in the late afternoon when I took Charlie for a walk up the road to get the mail and some exercise.

I took my Infrared Camera with the 850nm filter on it. 850nm only lets you shoot black and white. Anything with chlorophyll will show as bright white. The clouds will show up white also, blue sky shows up dark colored.

This was our walk up and out to the ridge. 

It was another very windy day and I heard a tree fall in the woods, so we stuck to the gravel road.

This was the view of our house after our muddy walk. Our gravel roads turn to mush when the frost is coming out of the ground. Charlie got properly dirty and wet so we spent some time drying off on the porch.

We love our porch.

I found this doll head in the ditch. I know who lost it there a long time ago. One of my previous neighbor's kids used to take his dolls and make them into Zombies. [No, he did not grow up to become a serial killer..].

I found this on the edge of his old property and had to laugh as I recognized his work right away.

Perfect for a black and white photo.....

Zombie gal...

A 45 minute walk is about perfect for Rich's nap time and break time to breath fresh air.

This summer, I will be the yard mower since he won't be able to help. I plan on doing a bit more flower gardening to keep me near the house and focused.

I'm thinking Cone Flowers, Dahlias [maybe], and bunches of Lily's of different kinds. Bachelor buttons and then my mixes of cosmos, zinnias, morning glories, sunflowers and whatever else I can dream up.

I have most of the seeds I need from collecting them last year. Now I just have to figure out where I'm going to expand for more flowers.

I can always dig up the not so great sections of the yard to mow!

Last year's side garden....

Happy August

 

It has started out very August-y. Hot Hot Hot. But the gnats have started to dissipate here and being out in the flower garden is more comfortable [in the shade]. 

I am bummed. I woke up yesterday morning and listened for our resident wren. She/he always sings and scolds me when I go out with Charlie. In fact several wrens generally serenade the yard each summer morning.

I was left wanting. 

Their voices have disappeared. Left in their place are crickets and an occasional Robin, Wood Thrush, and Woodpecker voice in the predawn. Another voice not heard is the Red Wing Black Bird. The birds are starting to migrate.

Hmmm. Not to be a bummer, but I read somewhere that August is also the month where we lose a significant amount of daylight. 😔 

I still feel like it should be ... more nice summer and not heading towards fall. But that is how nature works, right?

Time waits for no one?

However, August is the time for flower gardens to shine in their glory with annuals!

My Zinnias that were not doing well have finally hit their peak! So color me happy!
They aren't as plentiful or tall as they have been in years past, but I adore being able to cut bouquets of them and add color to my kitchen counter.

This side garden of flowers was all my leftover seeds from last year. I did not expect to have this!

The girls say good morning!

Here is a closer shot of the orange cosmos bunch. They are thick as thieves and I don't think any weeds even grew up in between them. So much for spacing them out a few inches. I just dumped the seeds on the ground and raked it, then stomped them into the dirt. 

I'll be gathering a lot of these seeds again this fall.

This makes me smile even though August races us towards Fall.

Some other stray cosmos got in the mix. My favorite colors of cosmos are the multicolored ones, but the orange ones sure are prolific with their fern like foliage and bright colors.

And then there was a huge surprise. A white Malva aka known as Prairie Mallow came up in the middle of the orange cosmos!

They are related in a way to Hollyhocks, but are more sturdy and readily reseed. I hope to see more of these white beauties next year. I'll have to collect their seeds even though they will do it themselves.

The humming birds are going crazy over the 4 O'clocks in the evening and through the morning. The flowers close up during the day and re-open with a sweet scent all evening.

I have hundreds of these plants on the west side of the house.

Every year now, I collect Nasturtium seeds and replant a few around the porch. Each August I am always surprised as to how they want to spread out and take over everywhere. 

I let them. Here they crowd out the stepping stones to the porch. The violets are volunteers from a hanging planter I had there last year. They actually are doing better as volunteers than they did in a hanging pot.

I'm going to let the plants do what they want and just carefully go around them.

I have one more spot that I planted with Zinnias and Cosmos. It is an area where the old veggie garden used to be. Next year I hope to add another small extension of carefree flowers. 

The morning glories have gone crazy and have covered the wagon wheel. I had to put out a couple of posts to give them more climbing area.

Have a good weekend and stay cool.