Move me, please

Rose campion is a short lived perennial that that reseeds generously.  It likes dry, rocky soil and will tolerate our hot southern sun with just some partial shade in the afternoon.  I love its magenta flowers that contrast with its soft, gray-green foliage. 

I situated my pass-along rose campions in partial sun, backed by a trellis and tucked behind a rock border; a perfect place to show off its foliage and blooms, or so I thought. 

The plants were scrawny, rarely bloomed and would drop the few seeds they produced into the lawn rather than back into the flower bed.  My wonderful plan was not developing the way I had envisioned it.

Last spring, in a fit of disgust, I dug up my sad little plants and moved them about three feet to the south, on the edge of a larger flower bed.  I figured I had nothing to lose. 

The rose campion, however, are thrilled with their new home.  The plants are large and healthy, they are blooming with abandon, and in just one season, they have doubled their numbers. 

I have no earthly idea why the first spot displeased them so much or why a shift of three feet made them so happy.  But, if the rose campion are happy, so am I.

Yearning for a cahaba lily?

Cahaba lily

There isn't an avid gardener in central Alabama that doesn't yearn to grow the stunningly beautiful but rare (and protected) native Cahaba lily.  They only grow in a few streams that contain their very specific requirements of fast flowing, shallow water over rocky shoals.  People regularly make challenging pilgrimages to these obscure locations every May when word goes out that the Cahaba lilies are in bloom.

My white spider lily

There is an alternative for the wishful gardener; another lily that is similar to the Cahaba in appearance but not nearly as fussy about where it is willing to grow and bloom.  A good friend shared some white spider lily bulbs with me three years ago.  I planted them in partial shade and waited.

This week, my long wait for flowers has been rewarded;  my spider lilies are blooming.  They are smaller than Cahaba lilies and look slightly different but I don't have to make a pilgrimage to the Cahaba River to enjoy them.  They are growing right in my Alabama backyard.

We found Nessie

I have a fondness for using indoor decor outdoors in my backyard.  This week I found this adorable little creature at a yard sale.  After putting her in the garden, my family identified her as a baby Loch Ness Monster.  Little Nessie brings lots of smiles to my backyard.

Blueberries busting out all over

In the first weeks of harvesting, my blueberry crop was disappointing, the berries were small and slow to ripen.  The weather was dry and even though I was watering the shrubs, they just didn't seem to produce.

And then it rained! Last week, we received over two inches of rain over the course of 4 days. 

Suddenly, I have blueberries busting out all over.  The berries started to ripen, turning dark blue and swelling to twice the previous size.  Since the rain, I've picked more than 12 cups of berries and the bushes still have more than half their berries.

Of course, the birds may discover this bounty too . . .
 

What a difference a day makes

Rootbeer plant, yesterday

It has not been raining in my backyard.  We often hear rumbling thunder and see brightly flashing lightening but the rain always seems to fall in someone else's neighborhood.  It has been six weeks since we have had any significant rainfall and my garden is beginning to feel it

Rootbeer plant, today

Most of my garden is made up of perennials which can handle a dry spell because their root systems are deep and well-established.  The annuals have become completely dependent on my hose which I find time consuming and expensive. 

After this length of time, even the perennials are beginning to suffer.  I took photos yesterday of my sad, wilted backyard. 

Angel trumpet, yesterday

Angel trumpet, today

Turks cap, yesterday

All night long, we listened to thunder and watched lightening from afar and then, early this morning, it began to rain.  I think it was the prettiest rain I've ever seen and I'm pretty sure I heard the plants in my garden sighing with relief.  I took photos of the same plants that were wilted yesterday, they much happier this afternoon.  What a difference one day and one half an inch of rain make to my backyard. 

Turks cap, today

More for me

For the first time, I have succeeded in growing beets in my garden.  Beets are a cool weather crop so in years past I've attempted to grow them in the fall.  Beets require consistent watering which is my suspected reason for my inability to grow them during the fall season, generally dry for my backyard.

This April, I discovered a package of beet seeds that I hadn't bothered to plant in October and decided to stick them in the ground to see if they would grow in the spring.   They germinated well, and with a little mulching and some supplemental watering, they have produced some small, but delicious roots and greens.

For reasons that completely baffle me, no one in my family will even attempt to taste them.  I admit that I'm not forcing the issue, their loss just means more beets for me!

New reason to shop

While looking for the perfect birthday gift for my daughter, Karen, I came across this amazing little tote bag.  Not needing another purse or tote in my collection, I suddenly realized that this little bag would make an adorable planter.  I gave this one to Karen for her birthday, but I'll be on the lookout for a bright new tote bag for my own collection!