Spring Things

We're finally confident that Spring is here.  After early April temperatures in the 80s, then 6" of snow a week later, today is a comfortable 66 degrees and we can get on with the garden work.

Last summer we purchased a small fig tree.  I've never actually eaten a fresh fig, only Fig Newtons : )  The variety is Brown Turkey and although it's a good variety for our northern climate, it can't take the weather if it gets too cold.  We left it planted in the large pot and moved it from the patio into the garage for the winter.  This is what it looks like today --

Brown Turkey Fig Tree

If the weather is expected to drop below freezing, we'll move it back to the garage overnight and bring it out when the weather warms up.  

The below photo shows our asclepias incarnata "Cinderella" milkweed emerging from the pot it was planted in last year.  We bought it from a local nursery and it wintered over on our patio.

Milkweed

Each year the orioles return to our area the beginning of May.  I put out the feeder a couple days ahead of their arrival so they'll see it when they fly over.  The feeder is filled with nectar, grape jelly and oranges.  Cardinals and grey catbirds also enjoy it.

Fall Colors

 

Monarch Release

This is the first of the monarchs that eclosed and was released from the ones I'm raising. He's a beauty!  

"The corn is as high as an elephant's eye ...

Marketmore Cucumbers

Roma Tomatoes

Tomatoes -- Roma and Early Girl

Lady Bell Green Peppers 

                         


...and it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky."

Update on the Path

I've added a few updated photos of the Perennial Path.  This has been a good year.  The path was widened in a few areas, making it a little more interesting.

Climbing Honeysuckle winding around the birdhouse

Butterfly Bush

Daylily

Daylily

Daylily

Coneflowers

Blackeyed Susan

Perennial Path Lighting

We've added path lighting to the Perennial Path this year.  Five lights illuminate the walkway.  Chunky mulch has also been added.  This photo shows the entrance to the path and different areas within it.

Parsley Sage Rosemary Thyme .....

The herb garden on the patio near the kitchen door is happy in the rolling planter.

Herbs include parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano, with spearmint growing along the foundation at the left.  There's big pot of rosemary that I've brought into the house to winter over for the last few years.  The bay laurel was cut back and has little sprouts.  They're at the front of the planter in the photo.  One of the pots on the chair is a selection of leaf lettuce plants that's still producing.  Lantana is in the other pot on the chair and hanging from the butterfly shepherd's hook.

The Orioles Have Arrived!

The oriole feeder was hung just in time -- 2 days ago -- and we saw two, a male and female, at the feeder today.

First sighting of male oriole 5/3/20

Baltimore Oriole Feeder

Each year Baltimore Orioles visit our yard in the beginning of May.  Last year it was May 2nd, so I make sure to have their feeder ready at this time.  Below is the feeder I put on our garden shepherd's hook.  The base is filled with nectar (1 part sugar to 4 parts water) and the top has oranges and grape jelly.  

A Trip to the Garden Center


After ordering online, I made a trip to the garden center  curbside pickup, mask and gloves in place,  to get my leaf lettuce bowl and a few herbs.  It's not the same as spending an hour perusing all the plants and carefully choosing exactly what I want, but it's better than nothing! : )  

A variety of leaf lettuce (Alfresco Mix).  I'll probably plant each individual lettuce plant in the vegetable garden.

Lavender

Sweet Basil

Oregano

The herbs will go into the patio herb planter, close to the kitchen door.