Sunny And Cold

After a recent brief taste of Spring weather, we are back into freezing temperatures with much of our time spent indoors.  This afternoon a walk to the mailbox drew both of us outside in the bright sunlight.  We provide homes for a rather large group of chipmunks.  They are sassy in their determined statements that we are trespassing on their home ground.  They have eaten possibly all of our California Trout lilies over this winter and feed freely on other plants in our shade garden.  This pictured tree trunk supports barbed wire fence and has several openings at ground level providing the resident chipmunk with several entrances to his home.  A chipmunk crossing the driveway here is a common sight but it was not until today that Becky discovered its home.

Camassia quamash is a plant native to the western part of North America.  This plant may have been responsible for the winter survival of the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition.  Resident native Americans introduced this food plant to those explorers.  The picture shows that this single purchased plant has expanded generously but we have yet to see a flower.  The reason for this mixed success escapes us but we remain hopeful that flowers may sometime be seen here.   We have experienced previous failures with plants that also grow at much higher elevations.  I do not understand the impact of altitude on a plant but there is some reason why this plant does not flower.  New bulbs are produced each year with green leaves in evidence throughout the summer.  Little is written about this plant so no solution for this plant's struggle will likely be found.  The visible red stems may belong to a native wild geranium that produces beautiful flowers but is extremely invasive.  When the weather moderates, these invaders will be removed from this area.

There are many different varieties of Bleeding heart plants.  Neither the original source nor the proper name of this plant is known to us.  We do know that this plant has begun to grow while our other Bleeding hearts remain dormant.  For the moment the dead plant parts will remain in place to offer a measure of frost protection to this eager plant.  These two plants are located at either end of our garden bench.  Seated right next to these unusually shaped flowers provides us with an unforgettable pleasant experience. 

These native Rudbeckia trilobas have taken over extensive sections of our gardens.  Their yellow ray flowers sporting a brown center are waist high, wide and beautiful.  They successfully compete with the weeds that are claiming our garden ground but leave behind huge masses of dead growth and tons of seed.  The deer have not eaten them which is a tremendous advantage not shared by many of our desired plants.  This surviving cluster will likely be moved to a more open spot since we must encourage any native plants that can hold their ground from the weeds.  When the ground once again thaws we will return to cleaning up our growing areas.
 

Signs Of Seasonal Change

There is no question that our late August weather is less than fun to work in.  Searing heat and the accompanying heat advisories limit the amount of time that we are willing to remain outside.  The swarms of tiny biting insects are beyond unpleasant.  So far no broken safety glasses have accompanied frenzied moves to get the little buggers away from my eyes.  It might be considered heresy to wish for a frost but the thought has crossed my mind.

New England Asters are a favorite.  We enjoy them as do the deer and insects.  Deer pruning gives us shorter plants and slightly later blossoms.  This wire cage could be identified as deliberately placed protection but actually it is part of a pile of unused fencing.   

Goldenrod is an invasive weed beyond description.  Its root mass is so huge that a five foot pry bar is needed to loosen the plant for removal.  In short order it will choke out all of the other garden plants.  We would like it gone but it provides the last source of pollen for the newly arriving Monarch Butterflies.  Frost survival is an uncommon trait among flowering plants so we actually welcome extensive appearances of it.  Its yellow color is quite attractive if one can get by its invasive habit.

Becky found five different species of Goldenrod growing on our land when we first moved here.  Their names were easily retrieved then but those days are behind us now.  Even I recognized that this plant was different from the more common variety but I have absolutely no idea of its name.

 

The Clara Curtis chrysanthemums were deliberately planted here.  That small group has expanded wildly and they have been transplanted in many different locations throughout our gardens.  Cardinal Flower and Rudbeckia Triloba are both self planted and welcome.

Bow Season Starts Tomorrow

Our nearby gardens have suffered extensive deer damage this summer.  This group's ownership of our ground is so strong that their only reaction to the opening of the living room window was to look up.  That mother caressing her fawn is the one deer that I really want gone.  Each year she has twins and her loving bond with her offspring is so strong that they will still be at her side when the next batch are born.  It is possible that every animal in this photo is related to her.

Two additional deer moving down the hill got their attention.  Ground pawing and snorts sent the interlopers eastward.  Having never hunted we are unfamiliar with just how the thrill of the hunt builds.  I have suggested that the chosen hunters park near the road and walk to the house.  Stepping out of its shadow, an easy arrow could be launched.  If more of a hunt is desired, a stealthy approach through the undergrowth seen in the background would allow the hunters to experience a more traditional hunt.  In any event this group of deer both start and end their day on what is our lawn.  We are looking forward to a successful hunt.  There are simply an excessive number of deer here and they see this ground as theirs.

Here is a little seasonal color to help set the mood.  The two huge maples deeper in this side valley that usually glow orange have already shed their leaves.  We were late to drive here, but this small orange colored tree still holds most of its leaves.

My shadow falling on New England asters and Rudbeckia triloba growing in our garden near the road does not spoil this beautiful combination of purple and yellow.  We know what will follow but now we simply enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.

Excessive Beauty

Our history with Oriental lilies spans several years.  Catalog listings described these plants as hardy to zone 4.  That is the number assigned to our location so we bought and planted bulbs.  Soon after new growth appeared a late frost turned it to sad mush.  We tried again with the same lack of success.  Finally we stumbled onto the need to provide these plants with covers when frost was likely.   Covering newly emerged plants was easy but when the lily was taller than a huge garbage can we were in trouble.  Any part of the plant that touched an edge of the plastic cans was frost burned.

Not known to give up easily, we searched for a new method.  Blocks of sod were cut and piled in the shape of a wide U.  Plastic pipes were driven into the ground and a single tarp covered everything under it.  Placing three dozen plants under cover meant that they had to be pulled from the ground and placed in three gallon pots at the end of their growing season.  That system worked well until the time came to plant them out.  By June  many exceeded three feet in height.  Imagine removing an inverted plant from its pot without damaging the flower buds then righting it and placing it in a hole.  Three gallons of soil is heavy and the move from standing to kneeling next to the planting hole became impossible.  Looking back, I guess we should have left the plants in their pots.

We have flowers this year because no frost found us after the lilies began their above ground growth.  Much of April and all of May were frost free.  We cannot remember a past year like that and will likely never see it again.  So for what may be the last time, we are surrounded by incredible beautiful flowers and wrapped in their unbelievable fragrance.

The first picture shows the single remaining Golden Stargazer.  It is just over six feet in height and the flower count is large.  Our 36 gallon garbage cans could not cover all three of the plants and space did not allow more than one can.  Slow to learn, I plan to buy three new bulbs and plant them closer together so that one can will protect them.  Their height is a problem since six foot tall garbage cans do not exist.

Table Dancer checks in at less than four feet tall.  Adjacent plants make placing covering cans difficult so the obvious solution is to enjoy the display while it is here and miss it greatly when it is gone.                         

Late Morning bulbs are placed on either side of Table Dancer.  This combination of colors is hard to find in plants that have even a slight chance of surviving here.  So we live in the moment and frequently walk away with pollen stuck to our noses.  Their scent simply must be deeply inhaled.  

The more than two inches of rain that fell on the day following the rest of this post prompting Muscadet to finally open its flowers.  They are more than worth the wait.  Typical of Oriental Lilies these blossoms are huge, brilliantly colored and carry a heavenly scent.  They combine a late appearance with a rather short stature so it would be possible to cover them with a huge plastic trash can if frost threatened.  All that needs to be done is to separate them from their neighbors so that the covering can does not flatten them.

Here are the last three lilies to open for us.  Casa Blanca has huge pure white blossoms that are loaded with a sweet scent.  Each year the stems are taller than they were the year before.  When these bulbs were planted a circle was carefully marked on the soil intending to guide planting so that one plastic can could cover the lot.  One bulb sent its initial growth sideways foiling that plan.  This year no protection was needed since late frost stayed away.

Scheherazade is a little flamboyant for our tastes.  Planted close to the house, it has not needed that much help to survive.  Its height exceeds that of the garbage cans used to provide protection from late frosts but one plant lives on in the garden.

Salmon Star has been a favorite here for many years.  Its short stature combined with a late appearance makes it easy to protect,  Its scent is delightful and the colors are rather subdued so it will likely be among the last to continue to grow here.

There is one final note.  We have experienced at least one deer that has developed a taste for lily buds.  We lost entire varieties just as the buds were set to open.  The number and height of protective wire cages made that route seem unpleasant.  Once before fresh urine was used to establish a line that the deer seemed reluctant to cross.  Now the garden is much larger so defensive applications were limited to the areas around the lilies.  We have to date lost no lilies to the deer.  Their hoof prints were close to the Golden Stargazer but no buds were eaten.  They did excessively trim a Rudbeckia triloba that was outside of the protective line.  It is amazing the actions that some will take to protect their treasured flowers.

Worth A Closer Look

After hard rain during the night, the garden remained wet today.  With the rain we are finally getting some green beans.  It's really not a great idea to pick green beans when the plants are wet, but if you take a closer look, there is another obstacle to moving the fence that surrounds the green beans.

Dripping wet but looking good, a monarch butterfly chrysalis hangs from the wire fence.

After the rain the Autumn Joy sedum has flattened out.  The weight of the water adds to the weight of all those flowers.  Their fragrance is heavy in the air.  It is not a scent that I find appealing.

A closer look at the sedum reveals a "Marge Simpson " spider and her web.  She has been there for several days and seems to find it a good hunting spot.

Fall is the time for lots of  purple and yellow composite flowers in the garden.  New England asters and Rudebeckia triloba add more than color to the garden.  They provide pollen and nectar for the bees that will be used to make food needed this winter.

A closer look reveals the tiny yellow flowers that open a few at a time, giving the flower the maximum amount of bloom time to produce seed and giving the bees the maximum amount of time to visit.
At first glance there is a lot to see in the garden, but if you just stop to take a closer look, you can see so much more!