Strawberry delight

I have surrendered to the brown thrashers that are devouring all my blueberries.  I've watched them fly to the top of the shrubs, and then hop daintily through the fishing line to pick every juicy berry as it ripens.  They are thorough and ruthless.

On a happier note,  my mini strawberry garden is a delightful success.

We cannot grow strawberries in the ground in my backyard because our soil contains a bacteria, verticulum wilt, which makes it basically impossible to grow them.  The bacteria causes the leaves to turn brown and fall off the plant.  Without leaves, the plant cannot generate the energy necessary to make berries.  The solution for the determined gardener is to pinch off all infected leaves as soon as they start developing symptoms and raking all fallen leaves from the ground to prevent the bacteria from returning to the soil.  I'm just not willing to work that hard.

However, I decided to plant strawberries in containers on my deck.  I've done this before with some success, but this year, I decided to use strawberry plants in the ornamental containers instead of traditional annuals.  What could be prettier than white blossoms and red berries?  Each day I pick enough berries to flavor some breakfast cereal or top a garden salad.  They are not as large as the grocery store berries but they pack a powerful flavor punch.

A couple of neighborhood cats that enjoy napping on my deck keep the squirrels and birds from helping themselves to my delightful strawberries.  If only I could convince the cats to nap under the blueberry bushes.

In the pink

June 24th

June 8th

The experts are right this time.  My lace cap hydrangea is turning pink as the blossoms mature.  I am SO happy!

I've been robbed!!

My blueberry bushes have been stripped of all the ripening berries!   Even though I didn't not observe the perpetrators, I know who they are.  Only birds would be so incredibly thorough.

The blueberry crop has been excellent this year.  I've been picking 3-4 cups of exceptionally large and sweet berries every other day.

The last two years, my bird deterrent system of fishing line, shiny dvds, waving strips of cloth and noisy wind chimes has been extremely effective.  Apparently, the birds have overcome their fears. 

This afternoon, I added a second, larger (and noisier) wind chime.  Tomorrow morning, I will add a significant amount of fishing line.  Perhaps, the birds will leave me a few more blueberries.

  

Exotic Alabama

In 1609 a monk in Europe was writing a treatise on the crucifixion of Christ.  One of his fellow monks from the newly discovered world of Mexico drew him a picture of of flower from his native land that reminded him of the suffering of Jesus.  The monk was awed by the sketch but struggled with the idea that such an exotic flower could truly exist.  Eventually, he included the flower and the meaning he deduced from its features into his treatise.  From that time forward, this plant has been known as the "passion flower." 

The first time I saw this flower, it was growing up a tree in a woodland margin.  I noticed a huge lavender flower in the vines growing up a tree.  It was absolutely stunning.  Like the priest in 1609, I could not believe that anything so exotic could just be growing on vine in central Alabama.  I've seen them since, growing in hay fields and on old fences.

My friend, Karen, has them growing in her garden and she graciously gave me a baby passion flower vine several years ago.  It politely spreads, so I've incorporated a passion flower vine into several of my flower beds.  It grows the happiest on the chain link fence under a tree.  This year, that particular vine is covered with buds; I love the idea that this exotic vine belongs in my backyard.

Here is what the monk, Jacomo Basio saw when he looked at the bloom of the passion flower vine.  The corona represents the crown of thorns; the 10 petals/sepals represent the 10 apostles that did not betray Jesus; the five anthers represent the five wounds of Christ; the three stigma reminded him of the nails the held Jesus to the cross.  The pointed leaves remind him of the spear that pierced Jesus' side and the vine's tendrils represent the scourges.

Thirty-four shades of green

One of the most beautiful beds in my gardens rarely has any blooming flowers. 

I dug up this bed about 13 years ago when I was feeling stressed (I tend to dig when I'm stressed).  Nothing really grew in this dark space between the oak tree and our house so it seemed like a good place to start digging.  It has taken a long time to mature but this garden is amazing.  It is filled with texture:  glossy, fuzzy, bumpy, and ribbed.  There are hundreds of shapes and sizes ranging from tiny fern leaflets to giant heucheras.  Everywhere you look there is another shade of green.  Some shades are nearly white and others are such dark purples that the green is barely noticeable. 

Occasionally there are flowers blooming.  During these early days of summer, the wild petunias are waving their heads along the edges of the garden.  During winter, the lenten roses glow in pastel green and as summer heats up, there will be crepe myrtle blooms dancing overhead. 

Just for fun this morning, I counted 34 shades of green in this small garden.  Why would anyone want  fifty shades of gray?

Yard sale surprise hydrangea

Last year I purchased a one gallon hydrangea from a yard sale.  I often purchase plants this way as it appeals to my naturally frugal nature.  All the plants at this yard sale were very healthy and appeared to be labeled correctly (which isn't always the case).

My hydrangea was labeled as a "pink, lace cap" variety.   It had two small, pink blooms at the time.  I planted it in the center of a newly started shade garden that is anchored by a corkscrew willow, a Japanese maple, and a fuju persimmon.   With so much drama framing the bed, the center shrub needs to be something with "pop."

While the shrub is growing well and covered with blooms, I was disappointed to discover that the blooms are sort of lacy, but not "flat" as I thought they would be and they are snow white, seriously lacking that pop of drama I was looking for. 

I need to learn more about hydrangeas before I make my purchases.  It turns out that "lace cap" doesn't always mean "flat" blooms.  The good news is that as my blooms age over the next weeks, they are going to turn pink.  

My coloring-changing hydrangea will provide just the "pop" of excitement my new shade garden needs! 

Help, please

These pretty flowers mysteriously appeared in my rain garden this spring.  Although I do forget that I've planted things, I'm quite sure I did not plant this one because I would never plant something on the berm.  I have no clue how they got here.

I have searched Google Images for several days with using various descriptions with no success. 

So, I'm asking for help.  Each plant is a single stem, about 8 inches tall.  The leaves are approximately 2 inches in length and have a slightly scratchy texture.  The flower clusters are similar to a lantana in size and shape.  Do you know what this is?