Thoughtful Moments #7

Though my 'Thoughtful Moments' posts are rare...

I honestly am thinking all the time. I have one of those brains that never shuts off, never stops creating, telling stories, evaluating actions. An exception, when I'm gardening.

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We have been in a severe drought zone here in NE Illinois. Strips of land surround us that have been ignored by any measurable precipitation since February.

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We are serious gardeners---well...not perfectionists, but we love making the world bloom and also feed us! Hubby has worked hard to have hoses and sprinklers hooked up in all parts of the yard. 

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Hoses are the bane of my photography...but are necessary to make the world green at the moment. Just a month ago, I posted this photo of our pond in the back yard. We had had a cold spell, no rain, and a stalled Spring. What a difference a few weeks makes.

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I had just filled the pond...and still had not cleared the winter rubbish away. Daffys were in full bloom, but nothing else. I fertilized, cleared the dead wood away from the rose and since, we have watered on a rotation.

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Water the secret to life---produces this even during drought!

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This rose went bonkers this year...despite the hot and dry conditions. The birdhouses are full, the weeds are also happy and need to be pulled out...and all seems right with the world.

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We have sparrows in the single houses, and teensy canaries in the large condo. The canaries sing all day long, attack the fly bags, and are sweet and industrious.

Serenades from 4:30 am to 9 pm...are normal and apparently their duty. 

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Bird baths in times of drought are a source of water, your birds need to drink and so do the bees.

I woke one morning to see four sparrows having a coffee klatch under the bedroom window birdbath. Discussing the world events and having a deep long drink to start their day. I try and clear and refill the birdbaths every other day or so. 

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We are fortunate we have 'free' well water from a very deep well. It's full of calcium and iron, but besides that, very healthy. 

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The Hollyhocks are just beginning to bloom. 

We have multiple bird baths on our property, and multiple bird feeders. The birds seem to love the tiny seeds the most. We  have gold finches that feast on thistle seed (Nijer) in the back yard. They never sit still long enough for me to get photos.

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Tuesday, after  a long day of planting...hubby caught me having a 'Thoughtful Moment' in the hammock while I listened to the birds and the water spilling into the pond.

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Thought: This IS the closest thing to BLISS!

Thoughtful Moments #7 

Keep water out for your birds, as well as feed. The bees need water, too! A cake or pie pan will do in a pinch!

Persevere on your plants, a deep watering every few days can do wonders.

Don't forget to stop long enough to enjoy it all! 

Hugs, Sandi from Midwest Gardening at Old,New,Green,Redo!

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Sandi 

Midwest Gardening: May 2021 Freezing to Boiling....trying to catch up!

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These photos were taken May 27-June 3. After a week bout with near freezing temps, we dragged our feet on planting...and then finally got most of the vegetable garden in the ground. Then a blistering, windy dry HEAT wave.

The Virburnum has already dropped its petals, 

...it was gorgeous for a second.

This pot has already lost the Ranunculus in the middle. I've put it in deep shade now.

We had our huge silver maple trees professionally trimmed this year...and the back yard is no longer total shade, so the umbrella has been up a lot, protecting some shade plants.

This speedwell used to be in total shade, it bloomed and has really shrunk since then.

This rose had no blooms, I was afraid it was frosted.

The greenhouse prior to planting---the tomatoes were all blossoming.

Caladiums were wilting in the HOT temps in the greenhouse.

This was the temp at 8:30 am...with all the windows open and the fan running. 

I'm nursing the perennials before I put them in the ground. I emptied out the entire greenhouse and put everything under the back eaves on the north side of the house

There, I did a Barbie post---she was helping me wrangle all those plants I stuck in the shade.

Working hard!

Look at these HOSTA...waiting for a cool home!

She definitely looks better than I do in this heat!

Here's the garden 5/27 with some seeds in, I'll share some more photos next week, hopefully everything will still be alive. Seeds have sprouted, and the tomatoes are loving the heat.

My giant HOSTAS are just that, giant. Hubby has the watering system all straightened out and replaced. We had such a wet year---last year, such we didn't used any of the irrigation equipment. It all needed to be fixed and tweaked.

I still don't have this planter planted. We actually ran out of dirt after we ordered 5 cubic yards. Most went along the new driveway, on the east side fence, and all my pots. Our compost pile really didn't break down into compost much this winter. We will have great dirt next year though.

A new shrub rose out on the mound is taking off.

A Coreopsis was planted and seems to be happy.

Here's hoping you aren't broiling and you got your plants in!!

Hugs,  from Chicagoland.

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Midwest Gardening 2021: Successful POND REDO and company

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 In one of my last posts, I mentioned that the pond needed a redo. Last year in the interest of my back and age, we dumped 3 bags of sand into the pond to raise the bottom---thinking that would make life easier. 

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It didn't, the water was way too hot for plants or the frogs that would take up residence. The water was slimy and the buildup on the bottom was really disgusting. So, this Spring, I dug thirteen or so gallons of slimy sand and rocks out of the pond. 

I bleached all the rocks and rinsed them three times and left them in the sun for a few days. The pond cleared up quickly with clarifier, and I already had mosquito floats in there. 

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We replaced the pump works, hoses and clamps---these also get very dirty and plugged up. Actually we had enough odds and ends around the garage to do this without any extra purchases. The pump is actually placed on a rock, and I clear it every time I see the the Fish spew lessening. 

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Creeping Jenny (Baby Tears) wintered over and are showing up around the pond. Hopefully they will cover most of the edge. The lime green is a great accent.

 I had also planted some succulent mat bits here and there and they are starting to show up. We have had this old fish for so many years, he's made of plastic but I have to anchor him with rocks, to keep him from blowing over.

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I've removed the rocks from the edges---because of the Grand or little visitors. The temptation is to rest or step on the edge rocks and maybe fall in. At least this way it is not walkable, though it is now deep again.

I did purchase two new plants, one grass which I split and put into a larger pot with a layer of rocks in them and also some some holes cut in the sides. More rocks went on top to hold the dirt in from floating around the pond.

I also potted an optic plant. These have done well in the past. The plants use the excess nutrients in the pond and will help it stay clear. Plus, they provide places critters to hide in. 

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One of the culprits for putting debris in the pond is this Viburnum bush/tree. Hubby trimmed it back severely last year, so it only had blooms here and there.

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They are my favorite, usually they bloom with the Peonies, Iris, and  roses, so I can make beautiful bouquets. This year they were early and everything else was late, only Iris started to bloom this week.

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Even from just a few blooms---this is the 'snow' they leave behind. We have also had incredible winds in NE Illinois this year. 

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In the front you can see the creeping succulents I put between the rocks last year. Many came back despite the 4 feet of snow that ends up on top of this area to clear a path to the garage.

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We love the sound, it comes through the kitchen windows and is water trickling is simply delightful.

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Here's the rose...just starting to bud out a week ago.

After a few days, I placed starter plants along the wood to pot, and noticed this:

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At first I didn't notice, and then I saw we already had a frog in the pond.

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Even before I put the plants in.

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He/she was quite patient as we tried to scramble and take photos with the cell phone. 

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I'm hoping the little family grows, even though we are constantly walking around this area. I put in plants and now I have to watch carefully to see where 'Froggy' likes to hide! 

WHAT SORT OF CRITTERS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR GARDENS!?!

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Sandi 

Midwest Gardening 2021: IRIS FABULOUS- I can't wait to share.

Every year, I hold my breath for our 'Fabulous' Iris to begin blooming. With our 80 degree temps this last week (and high winds with finally TWO rains) they have exploded in color and stature.

Photos taken May 24th, 2021

It was so windy, that morning I had to corral all the IRIS which were very tall this year, from our constant watering. Our part of Illinois was at just 2.3 " of precipitation since February 1st.  As, I have said in earlier posts, I never remember having to water in April and May.

The front wall of our home is basically greenery, Iris and a couple of pots I haven't planted yet for color. I love Iris for their elegance, vibrant hues, and their spikey greenery which adds interest to our garden. They are very hardy in our Zone 5 and if the weather isn't too hot they have a long 'bloom life'. We will have cooler temps now, so I'm hoping the bloom will be lengthened considerably.

Our new boxwood bushes survived the winter and are in need of a healthy trim to thicken them after all the planting is accomplished. I LOVE the texture with the Iris.

I had to hold this one from the wind---and it also gives you an idea of how huge the blooms are.  Iris are happiest planted on the surface and not even in the best soil. This is the perfect place, south facing and sheltered from north winds.

Sorry, I don't have the species list at hand. I ordered about $80.00 worth three years ago. And they haven't disappointed. This year, I will dig up and divide, making even more blooms hopefully next year.

This pale yellow is ruffly and simply reminds me of a summer dress! 

These are just gorgeous. You can see blooms already spent because of our hot temps.

Great color!

I'm so glad I tied these up--the winds have been fierce this Spring.

Over on the east side we have this variety! Peach and lavender, nummy! You can see the Sweet Peas in the back left beginning to go nuts. This flower bed will be redone as soon as the Iris have finished their bloom. 

By May 24th I had finished the pond! YUGH, what a project. I had to dig out the sand and the rocks...bleach everything, then multiple rinses. Get all the muck out, and reset and replace hoses and pumps. I finally have it looking good again and considerably deeper. 

Last year, I had thought raising the bottom would mean less care---WRONG! 

The pond last year ran too hot, and we had no frogs, and lots of slimy growth. So after digging out 13 gallons of blackened, slimy rocks and sand...I think I have it taken care of.  I rinsed the rocks 3 times, and then bleached them in the sun, before they went back into the pond. WE WILL see, how it goes! 

We use pond clarifier and mosquito floats which are organic and bio-degradeable and safe for people, animals, and water critters.

Here, the IRIS are yellow and burgundies which aren't blooming yet. This area is between the garage and house and is in shade until the sun is overhead. I'll share more Iris blooms from here next week! 

HOW are your favorite bulbs doing? 

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                    comment and answer every question.

Please Join me at these fine blog parties:

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Please do not use my photos without a link back to this blog without my permission.

Thank you for your cooperation, 
Sandi