Friday, August 31, 2007

Weeds I Want

So, after mowing Wednesday in a move that more in line with self preservation, than aesthetics, I tackled the weeds in the gardens. Zeppe and I were amazed to find that the milkweed was being attacked by another nebulous wildflower. The bird bath garden is now relatively safe for flowers everywhere, but I'll need to keep after the grass.

After that, I tackled the deadheading of the beebalm. Normally, I'm not big on deadheading. The birds can make better use of the seeds than I can. And free flowers next year. But beebalm is enough of a thug that I don't need to give it any mercy. One thing I did find odd about the experience was that it smelled more like oregano than mint.

I did have an oregano plant a long time ago, and I did harvest it for use as spices. But its path to garden supremecy was blunted by the chocolate mint that was planted beside it. I think I had vague leanings towards chewing on the leaves as a breath freshener. Now, it's the groundcover of choice in my dad's yard, simply because it is easier than removing it. And it does smell nice when he mows it.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Year 3

Wow, entering year three here at The Little Blue House. I've passed my (near history) record. I have to go back over ten years to have been at a place longer than two years, and the last place was just shy of the two year mark. Granted, I'm spending it fear of what happens to a lawn that receives 3 inches of rain in as many days after suffering from drought.

In other news, I'm about to launch into a fall buying spectacular. Queued up for purchase; 1) daffodil bulbs, 2) peonies, 3) materials to construct a raised garden for the new peonies, 4) a swing hammock for one, 5) some sort of edging brick/paver, and a possible 6) tulip bulbs. I'm still not decided on tulips. We shall see....

Monday, August 20, 2007

Drought Hazzard

The biggest problems with droughts, is when you get rain in the middle of the night. Last night I was soundly sleeping with the window open, since the heat had broke last night and the night air was cooler than where I set my AC. While the periods of waking up and shifting and going back to sleep are quite normal in the middle of the night, it is a different kind of thing to wake up and realize that you have to move. Like to close the window against rain. While, most nights that I would do this task I'd just go back to sleep right away, last night was different. After being so long without a good soaking rain, I actually stayed awake to listen to the lovely sound.

But oh, I could have used that extra sleep. ;)

Friday, August 10, 2007

Blithering Idiot

Today, I was a complete blithering idiot. Oh, I had an okay day. Did some shopping. Got the groceries I've been putting off. But because of taking a fishing class that ran way too late two days this week, I'm run down. So, while practicing my casting outside, I was faced with the reality that I haven't mowed my back lawn in weeks. And it needed it before the stretch of hot weather that kept me from doing any yardwork.

And, let me tell you, there's nothing worse than staring at the jungle that your edging has become. Unless. Unless after a long day on a day that is only cool by comparison to the 102 degree record set early this week, you decide enough is enough and go after it with your mower. Your mower that has a tiny bagger that fills up three times when you were keeping up with the mowing. ARGH!

I am tired. I am sweating. And I don't even have a completely mowed lawn. I'm going to have to go back another day this weekend. And that's not counting the tall stalks of grass that are using my flowers as cover. I pulled one of those yellow clover weeds out of my beebalm, that was as tall AS the beebalm. Ugh. Bad gardener.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Code Goldenrod

I wonder if all those air quality alerts take into account the fact that the goldenrod is blooming? Not that goldenrod is the culprit, mind you. I actually like goldenrod as a flower. But I dread its appearance. Mother Nature, in all her wisdom, decided to make it the warning signal of hay fever season. Now, it is nice to have a highly visible and distinctive flower to see that lets people know why they are sniffling. But it does seem a bit unfair to the poor goldenrod.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Sunbaked Showers

We had some nice steady rain Monday morning. Not near enough, but still, I can't say it was entirely welcome. The humidity outside is off the chart in my opinion. And the rain only seemed to make it more steamy.

My sunflowers seem to have bit the dust. I'm probably going to throw some of the remaining seeds into the garden after the heat breaks on Wednesday. In addition to the promise of cooler temperatures, there is a promise of at least a little rain.

I also need to get out and see if deadheading the beebalm gets them to rebloom. Those flowers take a long time to finish, and I don't feel like robbing the bees of any pollen in a rush to rebloom.

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Dog Days

The ancient Greeks in their attempt at science, looked up at the heavens and figured out why the days of late July and early August were so hot. Given their clumsy (to us) view of the universe, they saw that the brightest star in the sky was Sirius in the constellation Canis Major. As the seasons change the constellations rise and set in different places. The hotest part of the summer, Sirius rises and sets in daylight. The Greeks assumed that the heat of the Dog Star added to the heat of the Sun and thus, the days were particularly oppressive.

Meanwhile, the modern weatherman describes the situation as a batch of particularly warm air is sitting on top of the region, and the strong rays of the sun keep heating the air but not enough to cause widespread instabilities (thunderstorms). And this slug of high pressure is just going to hang out until a very strong front can knock it out of position.

Either way, it's hot, it's humid, it's oppressive. I love my AC.