Pictures from the garden to share

[applestar]

Two photos of Arrowwood Viburnum flowers. I can't decide which I like better. I keep flip-flopping





--- I don't know why the colors came out so differently either. Maybe different light quality. We had a crazy scary wind storm this morning shortly after I took these photos.

[Lindsaylew82]

[told2b]

[applestar]

Very pretty! Told2be

I tried to start some dianthus from seeds earlier, but they didn't come up. I need to learn more about growing them, I think.

Lindsay, loving the luminous tomato shot.

[Lindsaylew82]

[told2b]

...

[applestar]

Haha that last photo is that terribly named fungus isn't it? I didn't know they grew here in NJ.

[applestar]

This is a bluebird house that I gave up hosting bluebirds with ( I just don't have the right kind of location ) and moved around the garden until I settled on this corner between the Family Room wall and back wall of the garage. It's right outside a window,though we keep the sheers closed due to hot sun from this direction.

The house never looks occupied, but every year, Carolina Wren nests in this box. Unlike house wrens who tend to imitate Luke Skywalker, Carolina Wrens are very cautious about approaching their nest box. They flit from shadow to shadow, first landing in the apple tree, then in the blackberry patch, then the Swamp azalea. Sometimes (presumably when they have hungry mouths to feed) I hear their desperate calls of distress at finding me working nearby, and I temporarily switch tasks to let them go in the house and feed their babies.

Unfortunately, the entrance hole is big enough for cowbirds (but I can't limit the entrance since Carolina wrens are about the same size/girth. And I see them sneaking in this house, so I wait anxiously for the chicks to fledge and show themselves. I hate seeing the devoted parents gallantly feeding chicks that are as big or bigger than they are. But I see this more with house finches and house sparrows, and occasionally cardinals.

[told2b]

Haha that last photo is that terribly named fungus isn't it? I didn't know they grew here in NJ.

The devil's dipstick. That's not too terrible.

[Lindsaylew82]

[Lindsaylew82]

Mascara, Rosetta, Romaine, Red Oakleaf, Green Oakleaf, Escarole. Fresh from the sink.

[applestar]

Yummy!

My Mascara has gone to seed. Interestingly, the upper leaves have lost the dark color -- maybe due to heat.



I will have to be watchful and be ready to harvest. Apparently local house and gold finches have figured out I'm allowing my greens to go to seed and have stripped the first clump of Red Russian Kale seeds and half of the Japanese mustard spinach seeds.

[Lindsaylew82]

Oh no!!! Those little beasties! Don't they know those seeds have purpose?!?!


These mascara are fairly new sprouts. They're in the new pots! (Yay me for keeping things alive in pots!!!!) They only get about 4 hours of sun per day in that spot. I'm hoping they keep up as long as I keep picking.
The older lettuces are beginning to bolt. The Oakleaf, romaine, escarole.

[AnnaIkona]

When you notice the red part finally gaining enough courage to stop hiding and come out...

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[applestar]

This picture makes me smile

Elephant garlic, still wearing the scape "hat".

[applestar]

Arugula in bloom:

[!potatoes!]

the garden itself is a little rough this year. instead:

tea seedlings!


and even farther from the garden (had to haul a piece of wood out for contrast): one of the grafts I did this year on seedling american persimmon, in situ:

being on it's own original un-transplanted taproot should make it a seriously resilient and long-lived tree. I guess technically there are two grafts in the picture. this variety is a very large-fruited cultivar.

[told2b]

. . .

[applestar]

Where are my sunglasses

[applestar]

the garden itself is a little rough this year. instead:

tea seedlings!


and even farther from the garden (had to haul a piece of wood out for contrast): one of the grafts I did this year on seedling american persimmon, in situ:

being on it's own original un-transplanted taproot should make it a seriously resilient and long-lived tree. I guess technically there are two grafts in the picture. this variety is a very large-fruited cultivar.

OOOHHH tea seedlings, eh? I've been meaning to try that -- my potted little tea shrub blooms like mad and then fruits, but somehow, I've never gotten around to growing them from seeds. Are they difficult?

The persimmon -- American persimmon rootstock? And what's the scion?

Man, start a thread or two! Don't just show us tantalizing pics

[!potatoes!]

aw, but tantalizing pics is all I have time for!

I'll see what I can do...tea goes under trees'n'shrubs, I guess?

[applestar]

Herbs, please -- I know, but part of tea herbs, I thought. I think I might have started a thread somewhere and you could add to it, but you might want to start a new one a follow their progress?

[rainbowgardener]

Here's a thread we've had going for a long time on tea herbs: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... =tea+herbs

[!potatoes!]

oops, I had already gone ahead and put it in trees and shrubs - feel free to move it!

[Lindsaylew82]

[applestar]

[Lindsaylew82]

Pretty!!!

[rainbowgardener]

squash blossom:

[nltaff]

So many seeds, so little time...

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[applestar]

[LIcenter]

Monarda is doing excellent this year. Next year will be it's third year in the ground.
A true hummer magnet. It's not unusual to see three or four hummers at once on this plant.

[nltaff]

Kousa blossom

First Hyperion bloom

First Happy Returns

First summer squash

[AnnaIkona]

YUM! BLUEBERRIES ARE IN SEASON!

[applestar]

Butta (pale) yellow zucchini

corn silks

[nltaff]

Poor bee! I now know more than I ever wanted about Goldenrod Crab Spider!

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Apparently, it only spins web to provide itself a safety line. It hangs out on flower heads (goldenrod, milkweed, and QA lace) and feeds on pollinators as they land! It can also change color to yellow when it is on the goldenrod (but this chemical change takes a long time to occur-a couple months).

[applestar]

Amazing camouflage with a savvy touch of pink, too.

[applestar]

[nltaff]

Sweet

[nltaff]

Very pink.

[nltaff]

Happy Little Pepperface!