A Weekend Gardener in the Bluegrass

Garden Ablaze with Color

2011-06-22T13:44:00.000-04:00

We've had a lot of rain and storms the past few days which has made it difficult to do gardening chores such as weeding and mulching. However, the flowers seem to be loving the rain and hot weather. The daylilies, purple coneflowers and azaleas are pretty much at their peak right now.

Ah! Finally, some beautiful weather in the Bluegrass state!

2011-06-13T16:52:00.000-04:00

As a result of an unusually wet and soggy spring and then an oppressing early heat wave in Kentucky, I am just now getting my yard/garden in decent shape. Today is a beautiful day with pleasant temperatures and low humidity. So, I plan to do some much-needed weeding and mulching today.

The daylilies are starting to bloom and the hydrangeas should be at their peak soon. Also in bloom now: Asiatic lilies; coreopsis; and speedwell. The hostas are really thriving. I think they liked the rainy spring weather. Annuals in bloom include impatiens, begonias, and periwinkle.

I will try to post to the blog a bit more often during the summer.

Happy Gardening!

Maggie the Cat, The Movie

2011-04-24T17:03:00.006-04:00

Be sure to check out Maggie the Cat's exciting new movie:

http://maggiecatblog.blogspot.com
Be sure to turn up your volume, sit back and enjoy the cinematic masterpiece by the award-winning feline actress, Maggie the Cat.

The Weekend Gardener is Back in Business!!

2011-04-08T19:11:00.000-04:00

Daffodils, the first sign of Spring

I planted more bulbs last fall to make a better showing.

Tulips in bloom

Tulips and grape hyacinths

A rainbow of spring colors

After an exceptionally cold and seemingly endless winter, spring has sprung in the bluegrass. It's great to be able to work in the yard again! My daffodils have been blooming for a couple of weeks now and the tulips are making a beautiful show of pastel colors .

Keep checking back as the spring progresses. Just a few more weeks til Derby!

Holiday Greetings!

2010-12-21T16:56:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted anything on the blog. We've had an unusally cold winter already here in Kentucky and it is just now officially winter! We had an ice storm last week which left about a quarter to half inch coating of ice over everything. It certainly was beautiful but was very treacherous for walking and driving. The weather forecasters are predicting we'll have a white Christmas this year!

Best wishes for a happy, safe and healthy holiday season to all and Happy Gardening in 2011!

Jim, a Weekend Gardener in the Bluegrass

Impatiens finally succumb to the cold weather

2010-11-07T17:53:00.000-05:00

Well, the cold weather of the past couple of nights did a number on my impatiens. They were holding up very well but today they're gone. And, with the change from daylight saving time, I think winter is definitely coming to the bluegrass state. I still have lots of leaves to rake whenever I can find some time. I's always a bit sad to see the garden look so barren during the winter, but I know that Mother Nature will make a splashy appearance in a few months. Until then, I guess I will bundle up and try to stay warm.

Can anyone tell me what kind of bird this is?

2010-10-11T23:52:00.001-04:00

This afternoon, I was attempting to plant some daffodil and tulip bulbs but the ground was so hard and dry from the drought, I didn't make much headway. While I was working, I was distracted by this big bird that landed on the fence. I went inside to get my camera and was able to get a few pictures of it. It's the largest bird I've ever seen in my yard! I think it might be a falcon but I'm not sure. If anyone knows what kind of bird this is, please let me know. It certainly is a stately looking creature, to say the least. I wouldn't want to make it mad!

Lace Vine is in bloom

2010-09-22T18:51:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted to the blog in a few weeks. This has been the hottest summer on record in our area and we haven't had a good rain in a long, long time. As a result, my lawn is brown and the few parts that are green are primarily crabgrass. I'm about ready to try a rain dance!

About the only thing that is blooming now is the lace vine. Several years ago, I planted this vine to provide some privacy for the back yard. It has certainly served its purpose and is actually a bit out of control..However, at this time of year, the lacy white blossoms on the vine are quite a welcome sight. Here are a couple of pictures:

Hummingbird Festival

2010-08-30T19:08:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday was the 3rd annual Hummingbird Festival at Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood, KY. Yew Dell is the former estate of the late commercial nurseryman Theodore Kline. It has been reopened as a horticultural display, education and research center for the region. There is a link to Yew Dell in the "links" section of my blog. Check it out. It is a very interesting place!

At the festival, trained volunteers were catching hummingbirds and banding them for tracking purposes. It was fascinating to watch the tiny creatures up close and personal. The volunteers took each bird's measurements and put a tiny band on the bird's leg. It was very intricate work! The birds were then released and they flew on their merry way.

Some interesting facts about ruby-throated hummingbirds:

adult females are slightly larger than adult males
they weigh less than a nickel but may double in weight prior to migration
they can fly hundreds of miles non-stop (500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico)
they live about 4-5 years if they survive the first year
they eat their weight in nectar or sugar water and insects each day

So, I plan to keep feeding the hummingbirds in my yard because they usually return to the same location the next year. They are truly remarkable creatures and so interesting to watch!

Here are a couple of pictures of a female hummingbird in the hands of a trained volunteer at Yew Dell :

The garden in August

2010-08-21T18:29:00.001-04:00

This has been an oppressively hot summer in the bluegrass state. Most of my perennials have already had their "day in the sun" and won't make another appearance until next summer. The black-eyed Susans are getting droopy but provided a much needed burst of color during the last part of July and early August. The annuals are still looking good and my elephant ear plant has grown considerably since I planted it at the beginning of summer. I hope I'll be able to dig it up in the fall, store it over winter, and plant it again next spring.

One plant that is blooming now is called "hot lips turtle head". The botanical name for it is "chelone lyonii". It has pink blossoms that resemble lips.

Here's some pictures of the garden in mid-August:

Hydrangea and elephant ear

"Hot lips"

Elephant ear and assorted annuals

Impatiens did well this summer in spite of the heat!

Hummingbirds are finally here!

2010-08-03T23:30:00.001-04:00

I have been filling the hummingbird feeders all summer long but had not seen any hummingbirds until the last week or so. I suppose they didn't need the nectar from the feeders when there were so many flowers in bloom. They are so much fun to watch. I tried to take a couple of pictures of them. If you look closely, you'll see them!

A look at the garden in July

2010-07-25T13:24:00.000-04:00

Even though it has been a sweltering summer here in the bluegrass state, my garden has held up pretty well. Most of the daylilies have bloomed but the black-eyed susans are now in full bloom. I think I need to thin them out a bit next year. I also have some August lilies (aka naked ladies) in bloom and it isn't even August. Everything seemed to bloom earlier this year. Here are a few views of the garden taken during the month of July.

Old Louisville Garden Tour

2010-07-17T10:32:00.003-04:00

I enjoy seeing other people's gardens. One of the best ways to do this is to take a garden tour. It's fun to see beautiful and unique gardens, and I usually get some ideas for my own garden on these tours. There are several annual garden tours in the Louisville area including Crescent Hill, Tyler Park, Audubon Park, the Original Highlands neighborhood and Old Louisville. Last weekend I experienced the Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour. This is my favorite tour because the yards and gardens are small like mine (some are even smaller) and the architecture is spectacular! Old Louisville is a National Historic Preservation District and has a large assortment of Victorian architecture. Saint James Court in Old Louisville is host to the annual St. James Art Fair, one of the largest art fairs in the country. It is held the first weekend in October. For more information on Old Louisville: http://oldlouisville.com/ Here are some pictures of gardens I found especially interesting:

Introducing Maggie the Cat

2010-07-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

Maggie has her own special viewing areas of the yard and garden. This happens to be one of them!

Take a tour of the garden to see what is blooming spring and summer 2010

2010-07-05T11:45:00.001-04:00

The walkway to the garden from the front yard

2010-07-03T19:46:00.000-04:00

I tried a new look this summer for the front yard. In the past, I've planted impatiens in this bed. This year I planted blue and purple ageratum, penta, Mexican heather, blue salvia, begonia, snapdragon, and dusty miller. It's quite an assortment but they seem to blend very well. At least I think so :)

Stargazing Time

2010-07-03T19:38:00.000-04:00

My one and only stargazer lily is in bloom for the 4th of July holiday. I wish I had a few more of them. Maybe next year!

Hydrangeas June 2010

2010-06-27T23:09:00.000-04:00

My attempt at trying to alter the colors of my hydrangeas didn't quite work out as anticipated. My plan was to have alternating pink and blue plants but they mostly all turned out blue. Mother Nature seemed to have other plans in spite of my putting lime around some plants and sulfur around others. Oh well, they have been beautiful but are beginning now to be a bit faded and droopy. They are located at the top of the hill in my back yard which makes it difficult to water them. Maybe next spring, I will buy a longer hose in order to give them more water.

Welcome back to my gardening blog!

2010-06-27T11:59:00.000-04:00

After a year or so of not posting anything new to my blog, I decided it was time to update the site. So, welcome back to the Weekend Gardener in the Bluegrass blog!

A video tour of the garden

2008-06-29T22:21:00.000-04:00

Garden Update

2008-06-27T22:49:00.000-04:00

It's been quite awhile since I added something new to my blog. It's been a busy spring and summer so far and I've done a lot of gardening!Unfortunately,the grass doesn't look very good this summer. I decided to tackle the weeds and have a professional service that sprays the yards. I'm sure it will look better next year after it has been re-seeded. But, in the meantime, the flowers are making their presence known this year!
I will post some new pics/videos of the garden soon. Happy gardening!

KY Gardener

Baby Robins

2008-05-11T17:09:00.000-04:00

It has been fun to watch the progression of a robin family who took up residence in a bush near the garage door. Yesterday, the babies learned to fly and now they're off on their own. I managed to get some pictures while they were in the nest.

Springtime in Louisville

2008-05-08T22:50:00.000-04:00

One of the highlights of spring in Louisville is the annual Audubon Park Dogwood Festival. Neighborhood residents put spotlights on their dogwoods and azaleas during the festival. This year the dogwoods were not at their peak until the weekend after the festival.

Audubon Park Dogwoods

2008-05-08T22:43:00.001-04:00

Kentucky Derby Festival Steamboat Race 2008

2008-05-03T19:54:00.001-04:00

Well, the weather for Derby Day turned out pretty well although a bit windy and cool. Yesterday was a terribly rainy and stormy day for the running of the Kentucky Oaks. Congratulations to the new Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown! Think we might have a Triple Crown winner here? Here's hoping! The last Triple Crown winner was 30 years ago with Affirmed. It's been too long, so go Big Brown!!

The Derby Festival Great Steamboat race between the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen on Tuesday might just have been their last race. The Delta Queen is in danger of losing her exemption to carry overnight passengers. Maybe she'll get a reprieve and can race the Belle again in next year's race. I took some pictures of both of these "grand old ladies" on the day of the big race.

"Naked Ladies"...oh my!

2008-04-23T21:08:00.000-04:00

My sister had some August lilies (or naked ladies as she calls them)dug up this week to make room for some new rose bushes. So, after work today, I went to her house and brought back a bunch of "naked ladies" and planted them in my back yard. They're not a pretty sight right now, but hopefully in August these ladies will show their stuff!

Spring Flowers in Bloom!

2008-04-15T18:57:00.000-04:00

After a long dreary winter, some of my spring flowers are in bloom! My rhododendron is blooming and my grape hyacinths. Also, my tulips that I planted last fall are blooming but they're not very tall. Maybe I didn't plant them deep enough??

Maybe Spring is Finally Coming

2008-04-01T18:12:00.000-04:00

I was able to do some work in my garden over the weekend and again tonight...in between the rain. I didn't do a good job of cleaning my flower beds before winter so now I'm trying to make up for lost time. It's nice to see the daylilies and tulips peeking through the ground. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we had a big March snowstorm. I've posted some pictures that I took of the snow. It was beautiful but I'm glad it didn't last long!

Looking forward to Derby

2008-02-27T23:13:00.000-05:00

Will this winter ever end?? Today was another cold dreary day in Kentucky. It's hard to believe that it is just a few weeks to Easter and then a few more to my favorite time of the year....Kentucky Derby. If you've never been to the bluegrass during the two weeks leading up to the "greatest two minutes in sports", here is a little video I put together. I hope you enjoy.

Turbulent Weather

2008-02-08T15:56:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day that it seems like there may be a Spring this year after all. It has been a very turbulent and unsettling couple of weeks in Kentucky and other states as well. Fortunately, we had no damage from the storms. Somebody up there is watching over us! Spring can't come any too soon!!

Gloomy Day

2007-12-15T13:17:00.000-05:00

It's a cold and gloomy December day in Kentucky. We've had freezing rain this morning which has now turned into a cold, steady rain. Where was all this rain back in July and August when we really needed it?

Tiptoe through the tulips (bulbs, that is)

2007-11-28T23:27:00.000-05:00

Last week I planted 50 tulip bulbs of various colors in a flower bed in the front yard. I'm hoping that in the spring we will be dazzled by a colorful display of spring flowers. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the squirrels will leave the bulbs alone! The salesperson at Bunton Seeds advised me to plant a mixture of mid-blooming and late-blooming bulbs. So, here's hoping for a beautiful array of tulips during the months of April and May. It will be even better if some are blooming at Derby time.

First frost of the season

2007-10-27T23:13:00.000-04:00

This afternoon I brought indoors the Boston fern, asparagus fern, shamrock, spider plant and a tropical plant that I can never remember it's name. The weather forecast is for a frost on Sunday night. It's always a lot of trouble getting the plants indoors for the winter but I don't want to lose them. They never do very well inside no matter how hard I try to take care of them. I'm sure they are as eager for springtime as I.

Learning how to Blog

2007-10-25T22:57:00.000-04:00

Pardon my inexperience. I'm trying to learn how to create a blog. Suggestions and feedback are most welcome!

Summer is Over

2007-10-24T22:35:00.000-04:00

A chill is in the Kentucky air tonight. It has rained steadily the past two days which was a delight to see after the long hot dry summer. But the chilly rainy weather of the past two days is a reminder that the gardening season is over. For the next few months I will long for that first warm day in spring when I can dig in the ground...even if it's just to dig up a weed! Gardening awakens my soul like nothing else can. So, during the cold dreary winter, I will survive by thinking and dreaming about how beautiful my back yard will be next summer. Here's hoping for a mild winter!