Bees And Butterflies

When the thyme is in flower, this unfinished masterpiece demands attention.  We began here very early in the day to avoid what for us has become oppressive heat.  Once the sun reaches here the Bees and Butterflies take over.  Eighteen years ago the house was placed here.  We have yet to finish bringing the soil up to grade.  Deeply placed small stone is intended to keep the weeds away from the foundation and give us a place to walk to tend the plants that will someday be placed between the house and the lawn.  We have a Carolina Rose, the State flower, in a pot waiting for the perfect place for it to grow.  Inside of the right angle where the stone trench turns is being considered as the perfect place for this rose.  It is native and scented.  What more is needed to earn a place near the back door?

This view of the long north side of the house clearly shows that more stone needs to be placed near the house.  We wanted to lower the level of the lawn but that is a huge job that will remain unfinished.  Becky planted Red Creeping Thyme in the cracks between carefully placed field stones.  This has not worked out as expected.  I wanted my artfully placed stones to show with the thyme growing only in the narrow spaces between stones.  Mother of Thyme grows wild here claiming large pieces of the lawn.  It self planted itself between the stones and there is little doubt that it will displace the Red Creeping.  We think that the tall weed is Swamp Milkweed that also planted itself between the stones.  There is no way that this plant will be weeded out.  The tiny parachute on its seed dropped it in a very poor location, but its roots go deep.

Darker Red Creeping Thyme is growing to the left of the Mother of Thyme.  This corner photo was included to show just how small the cracks are between the top stones.  Another reason why the patio is surrounded by ditch is the amount of stonework that will disappear from view when the trench is filled to the appropriate height.  It would have made more sense to fill the area with loose stone and gravel and then build the patio.  Hindsight is sometimes 20/20. but I did enjoy placing these stones.  The upper surface remains solidly level and that is something important to me.

When we were removing tall grass in preparation for pictures that would speak well of us, we dislodged this female American Nursery spider and her egg cluster.  This insect is identified as poison bearing.  Neither one of us show any signs of a spider bite but she may have placed her egg cluster as more important than attacking us.  This is another species that extracts a high price from the male partner.  When he has completed his reproductive business she eats him.  Her values are in many ways admirable since all that she did during our attack on her home was to hold on to the developing egg mass.  As we work in the area, we will remain on the lookout for newly hatched spiders.  Then she may see the need to drive us away.
 

Thyme For Breakfast

Once again the garden is covered with snow.   So far there aren't even many deer tracks with  one exception.   Here you see red creeping thyme peeking out of the snow on the stone patio at the west end of the house.   The white stripe up the left side of the photo is the house so you can see it is right next to the house.  In  the upper right  corner of the picture you can see dirt.  What's up with that?

Clearly the deer had a meeting and decided to have thyme for breakfast.  The only deer  tracks  I can see lead directly  from the Norway spruce to my thyme covered patio.

The thyme changes color in the cold, but it remains fragrant and tasty all winter.  Since it has been warm and wet, the saturated dirt made it possible for the deer to rip up the plants and munch on them roots and all.

Only this tiny piece was left behind on top of the snow.  From clues left behind I think I recognize the morning munchers.  I caught  them the act a couple of winters ago.  I hope they have lunch and dinner plans elsewhere!

More Moss Covered Rocks

It seems that I stumble across more stones that will fit right in with the plans for the new woodland garden.  This beauty was partially buried at the base of the gravel bank close to the brush pile.  It seems unlikely that it was not spotted earlier.  Perhaps its location was simply forgotten.  Once again the rock was found some distance away from the garden.  Fortunately most of the way was downhill.  If this rock is partially buried, the moss should survive in its new location.  Garden rocks can be attractive additions to what needs to look natural but moss covered rocks are simply great.

Just why and where these primitive life forms grow is a mystery.  A long row of junk stones were piled along the steep slope of the gravel bank to form a safe place to walk.  One small section of this wall is covered with active lichen and moss plants while the rest of the wall is barren.  Moisture must funnel to this area as it runs down the face of the gravel.  Why that happens is hidden under the surface.

This stone had moss growing on it when it was placed in the patio.  We planted the thyme after the patio was finished.  In time the thyme will spread and cover the moss but now they look great together.

Back at the gravel bank, this seems to be the time of year when both the moss and lichens are in active growth.  Structures supporting reproduction seem common now.  Their timing seems off but they are a very old form of growth so their must be some advantage to doing this important work in the cold.

These rocks will not be moved.  The new location might not support this growth and we will simply not risk ending them.  We can always walk to this out of the way place whenever we fancy a peek at these fascinating lichens.

Remember Sleeping Beauty?

I didn't prick my finger on a spindle. I have not been sleeping for years, but the plants in the garden are growing so fast I feel like I've missed some time somewhere.  Vines have not yet covered the garden walls, but the pathways are disappearing. My garden paths are lovely to be sure. Thelma's yellow sedum and thyme have softened the hard edges of the stone path.

Here woolly thyme, red creeping thyme and snow in summer have nearly covered the path in the center  circle.

This carpet of thyme has overflowed into the path.  I admit there is a part of me that likes a formal garden with hard lines and symmetrical beds.  However, my garden will never stay like that.  I have far too much difficulty removing my old sentimental favorites that pop up here and there.  Actually I like the uncontrolled wild feeling in my garden. It's never boring and there is always plenty to do. Every day there are more flowers and more weeds.  It's a delightful place to be!

Beautiful Moments In The Garden

There's so much to do in the garden now!  It's nice to stop for a few moments and appreciate some of the incredible beauty there.  A Skipper loves the delicate blue Amsonia flowers and so do I!  Skippers flit about the garden all the time, but it is a rare treat to catch one still enough for a photograph.

Pink Ontherea and Dianthus co-mingle in the same space making a mixed pink bouquet right there in the perennial border.  No cutting is needed.

Rose campion with its pale grey foliage and magenta flowers makes a bold statement!  This striking volunteer is a plant I always let grow unless I have a reason to pull it.

Campanula portenschlagiana flows from the spaces in Ed's wall around the shade garden.  We could never have too many of these lovely lavender and white stars around!

Ahhh... Nothing is more satisfying than taking a moment to enjoy  freshly weeded red creeping thyme on Ed's stone patio.  It feels so good, I think I will do another patio today!

What can say about this picture?  Wow!  I guess in my fantasy garden I might have a lovely lady with the hens and chicks for a hat and the dew covered spider web for a veil over her face.  But this is our garden and reality is already perfect for us.  You could never count on a spider to cooperate anyway!

Oh Deer! When Will It Be My Thyme In The Garden?

The thick layer of snow in the garden is finally beginning to recede.  It's moving a little like a glacier, but faster thank goodness.  We never got a cage on my tree peony last fall.  When the snow uncovered it, the deer gave it a hard trim. It  happened before in 2008.  I have never been sure if or how to cut it back.  This year that decision has been made for me.  Either way what's done is done!

These two deer  have spent their time close to the house and garden since last summer when they were beautiful spotted fawns.  Apparently their Mom is smarter than average and knows a safe spot when she finds one. We see the three of them often.  I spotted these two nibbling on the magnolia bush.  I said, " Please leave the magnolia alone, we won't have any flowers.  Come over and trim the thyme instead."  Yes, I talk to the deer, but imagine my surprise when they did exactly what I suggested.

There she is looking at me with that doe-eyed look and my red creeping thyme dangling from her mouth.  Mother Nature has been hard on us and them this year. The deer are so hungry that they are eating plants that they usually ignore!  I guess I can wait for my thyme in the garden.  We have a temporary truce as long as they leave the magnolia alone and stay out of my shade garden.  I will be watching, ready to speak sharply to them when necessary. I save Ed for back-up!

A Look Back At Our Most Popular Post

The sun is shining and it is warming up outside.  The red creeping thyme peeking from beneath the snow on the patio reminded me of our  all time most popular post.  I seriously doubt if another one will ever catch "Past Thyme To Weed The Patio".  It has more than twice as many hits than any other post and its  numbers continue to climb a little every single day.   This post  above all others  describes Ed's amazing stonework.   It represents  best of Plants and Stones and it deserves a  look back.  It's easy to go back to 2009, just click on the title of the post and you'll be there in a flash.

Our To Do List Grows

As the sun climbs higher and its light grows stronger, the gardener stirs and finds activity among the plants.  These hens and chicks have had a good winter and look ready for the next growing season.  Sited adjacent to the ramp leading out of the basement they receive almost daily attention because we walk there many times each day.  Any weed that tries to grow here is quickly removed.  The growth habit of the hens and chicks tends to claim an area as its own.  Either way weeds have no chance here.

We found catnip growing wild here when we first came to this place.  Every year since then we have tried to transplant catnip wanting it to grow in open places.  Every year our transplants die while self seeded plants flourish.  This catnip is growing among the Siberian squill.  We will find out if squill plants can be reset after we remove the catnip.  The root mass of the catnip is huge and dozens of squill will be displaced when it is levered out.  Or we may just keep the catnip cut to the ground as this area belongs to the squill.

We expected that our snowless winter would be hard on the cardinal flower.  Repeated unprotected freeze thaw cycles have pushed the crown of this mature plant out of the ground and many of its green leaves have already turned to grey mush.  Still the plant is alive and it will soon get some help.  One tray of new cardinal flower transplants will be placed on the stone wall near the basement ramp.  If a freeze threatens the tray will be moved into the basement.  In the past this method has been foolproof.  We really love the intense red color of cardinal flower blossoms and find them well worth the effort needed to help them survive here.

These thyme plants on the patio outside of the west door have received frequent attention.  When Becky finds the morning sun oppressively hot, she moves to the shade of the house to tend her plants.  Seated on the edge of the patio, she moves with the shade and beats back the weeds.  In most areas of the garden the weeds appear ahead of the cultivated plants but here the favored plant grows alone.  Outside work is close at hand and we are itching to get out there and start again.