Tuesday, July 3, 2012

My Garden Notebook - July 2012

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly


Note: We had a severe thunderstorm Friday evening that left many without power, including us. With temperatures reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it was an interesting adventure. Finally, our power was restored last evening. I was unable to publish this post on the 1st of the month as I usually do because of the power outage, so here it is.

stats


Gardening Zone: 7a
May High Temperature: 98 degrees F
May Low Temperature: 60 degrees F


Precipitation: 1.94 inches


We have had little rain this month, and things are looking dry. I keep hoping for a long day of rain. Some of the plants are beginning to look stressed even though I water them in the morning. It is usually the newly planted ones that have a hard time in this dry heat.

wildlife


The blackbirds have been very busy chasing away the songbirds from the feeders, so I  adjusted the weight on one feeder to close when they land. And I changed out some of the sunflower seeds to safflower seeds. This seems to be working well. They still come, but not in droves.



I have been attempting to get a photo of the heron that I often see at the nearby lake, and I was able to get some nice shots.



Great Blue Heron


I often see a few Eastern Box Turtles in the yard in the summer, and here was my first sighting.



Eastern Box Turtle


And the chipmunks have been very busy cleaning up the mess made by the birds around the feeder.



Chipmunk


 I have been trying to get a photo of a dragonfly or a damselfly for a very long time, and I found my luck.



Blue Damselfly




what's blooming


So much is blooming now, and there are still some flowering perennials in bud form.



Madonna Lily


Echinacea is one of my favorites.



Echinacea - PowWow White

Echinacea - Kim's Knee High



I wish gladioli bloomed longer.



Gladiolus - Scarlet


Yarrow is even beautiful when the blooms fade.



Achillea millefolium - Yarrow, moonshine







Achillea millefolium - Yarrow, paprika


Soon, there will be Susans!



Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum'


For several years, I battled the Japanese beetles as they nibbled and nibbled on my roses, impatiens, cherry trees, raspberries, bean plants, and other plants. In the late spring, I spread Milky Spore disease around the areas where I see them each summer. And I use the traps when there are a lot of them. Last year and this year, I do not need to use the traps because there are not enough to be trapped. However, there are a couple of areas that I have seen them. They seem to love roses.



Japanese beetles on rose bloom


After this photo was taken, I grabbed a bucket with soapy water and knocked these into it. The birds help by eating a lot of them as well.



In the garden:


Swiss chard, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, beans



Cucumbers - Miss Pickler Hybrid



Roma Tomato



Bell Pepper - California Wonder



Crookneck Squash



Swiss Chard

The Swiss chard will not last much longer in this heat. I have been making soups and salads with it.




completed chores


sowed bean seeds
sowed okra seeds
edged planting beds with empire edging
planted remaining calibrachoa in planters
added more echinacea to perennial bed
removed snowpea plants



chores for July


sow next round of bean seeds
continue edging planting beds with empire edging
feed pepper plants with Epsom salts
feed tomato plants with compost
check underside of squash leaves for squash bug eggs and remove
prune tomato plants
clean out bird nests


inspirations



Patio and Perennial Bed


After working hard in the yard and garden, my husband and I often sit and chat on the patio above. It is a nice break to sit here and see all that we have done. I am inspired by all of nature, and photographing it often is such a joy and a pleasure. Recently, I made some of my images available for greeting cards and postcards. I am still adding to the portfolio, but there are some images of blooms, birds, and other wildlife on the page.


Photography Note Cards


~~~~~~~~~


I will be linking this post to the following blogs:


Helen of The Patient Gardener hosts End of Month View. This monthly meme is where garden bloggers share their garden views for the end of the month.



Also, Town Mouse Country Mouse hosts First Views. This monthly meme offers an opportunity for garden bloggers to share their garden first views for the month.


The Gardening Blog hosts Garden Bloggers Harvest Day on the 5th of every month. See what others are harvesting all over the world.

© copyright 2012 Michelle A. Potter

63 comments:

  1. Beautiful things, except OMG those Japanese Beetles. Glad your electricity is back on. Who knows how we lived without it before.

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    1. Thank you, Cindy. We take electricity for granted. And as I get older, I don't handle the heat as well as I used to. The photo of the Japanese beetles makes it seem as if we have a lot of them, but there really are not very many this year.

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  2. Love that view of your patio, what a glorious spot looking into all that greenery. You must see a lot of birds and critters busy in there. I've never seen Japanese Beetles before, what a crazy big group of them, no wonder they do so much damage if that many come all at once.

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    1. I wish we did not have them because they can be so destructive, but we have gotten them under control...finally. The patio is a nice spot...we really enjoy it.

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  3. What fun! I especially always love your wildlife photos, and I'm impressed what you manage to catch with your camera!

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    1. Thanks! I enjoy photographing that wildlife. It is always a joy.

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  4. Sage, I love the photo of Echinacea PowWow, it looks like a ballerina!

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    1. Thank you, Nadezda! I am so glad we had our power back for the holiday. I feel for those who are still without power. And from now on, I think I will see that Echinacea as a ballerina since you mentioned it.

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  5. I love your "done" and "to do" list, although mine gets thrown away when it gets too hot :) Can I ask why you use Epson salts for your pepper plants?

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    1. I feel like throwing the list away sometimes in this heat, and sometimes things get pushed to the side for later. Sometimes pepper plants do not fruit, and my soil has typically been low in magnesium which helps the peppers fruit. So, I spread a little around the base of the plants, and it works well to keep my peppers fruiting.

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    2. Very interesting, I love learning new tricks, thanks and happy gardening! (Glad to know it's not just me who tosses the list out sometimes :)

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  6. Michelle, I'm glad you got your power back, and it sounds like you didn't have serious damage to your house or garden. Still, that vicious storm was probably not what you had in mind when you were wishing for rain! -Jean

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    1. Yes, Jean, that was not what I had in mind...a complete surprise.

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  7. So even advanced countries are not exempted from power outages, huh! But if typhoons are with us it took us days for electricity to be back, at least those times the temperatures are lower. Back to your posts, it is always an inspiration to look at your photos. I wonder if they are PS or because of the lens! I am still dreaming to have f1.4, or even f1.8 which is cheaper but i still cannot own. But even if my photos are not as beautiful as your, there are thieves too. So I am actually thinking of putting the watermark just like yours!

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    1. Yes, so many of us are dependent upon electricity and mother nature can take it out in one storm. I would like to think I try to take the best photos possible, but I do use photo editing software to bring out the best in them. Enjoy!

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  8. Gorgeous pics :) I particularly love your heron.

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    1. Thanks! It took me quite a while to get a photo of the heron.

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  9. Some beautiful shots, the veg are as pretty as the flowers. These monthly records are good to read Michelle and even better for you to look back on. have you ever thought of collating them into a book. Took a peek at your cards and prints - the blue hydrangea peeking out of the fence is so inviting!
    p.s. we still have rain (3 months of it) but still not hot enough to thunder. Happy 4th July nonetheless

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    1. Thank you, Laura. It seems it is so difficult to get just the right weather, but, then again, that is nature and there must be a reason. There is a prediction for rain tomorrow or Monday...I hope so.

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  10. Great post. And thanks for the tip on bird seed. Red-winged blackbirds have taken over my feeders as well.

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    1. Thanks, Mary. There is a Red-winged blackbird that I seem to threaten, or perhaps its nest, when I walk past the lake. It comes after me every single time. I keep hoping it will become accustomed to me, but so far it hasn't.

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  11. Where to start...that patio is amazing for viewing and your chores and mine are similar these days...I love your gorgeous pictures...your veg garden obviously ahead of me but I can dream mine will soon look like yours. The Japanese beetles are out of control so we are forced to use traps for now and hope we can decrease their numbers...my garden helper just chases them off plants...I need him to drown them...baby steps! We just had our first chippy in the area...he keeps coming in the garage to see what he can find and there is absolutely nothing there...I do enjoy your posts and especially see what is going on in your gardens! Happy 4th!!

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    1. Thank you, Donna. I hope you had a happy 4th as well. Despite what others say, I think the traps help. I am glad I have them under control, for now. The chipmunks are such a joy to watch. They are just too cute.

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  12. Sounds like we're having similar experiences with heat, drought, crops, plants, and critters. I saw my first Japanese beetle yesterday--I think they're diminished this year because of the drought (one good thing about it, I guess). Your patio resting spot looks so inviting!

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    1. The Japanese Beetles have not found my beans yet, and dare I wish that they never find them. In the past years, they do nibble on the bean plants a bit. We just have a few more weeks before they are gone.

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  13. Wow, as always I love your photos. And unlike others, even the Japanese Beetles!

    Michael

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    1. It was hard to make that photo appealing, and sometimes when I look at it I am still grossed out. I thought the B/W might help.

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  14. I'm glad I uncovered your blog. I love the pix and your patience in landing that dragon fly. It looks like a 3D the way it comes out on you. Also, great pix of swiss chard. Favorite as a kid in Australia. Have you grown the Bright Lights mix? Love it. I'll be back

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    1. Thank you, Patrick. I have tried Bright Lights mix...love it.

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  15. How terrible to be out of power in this heat! My garden has suffered, especially since I was out of town for awhile. Some beautiful pictures - how wonderful to have a heron visiting nearby!

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    1. It was quite a challenge to be out of power with such high outside temperatures, and I am glad it is over.

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  16. Your patio is the perfect place to surevey your hard work! Love the heron photo!

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    1. Thanks, Jayne. I love the heron, too. He was a challenge to photograph because he kept flying away, but I got lucky one day.

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  17. I'm so glad your power is back on and that no trees fell on your house. I've seen a few Japanese beetles but not the hordes I've had in the past. I love that you have turtles and chipmunks. I've never had a turtle in my yard but I did find one in my mailbox once. I think one of my students was playing a joke on me. Fortunately, I put it back where it belonged!

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    1. That is funny to find a turtle in the mailbox. I don't think it could have climbed up there. You must have some tricksters as students. And I am glad the Japanese beetles are less in number.

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  18. Just love the colour of your photos - succulent and juicy peppers and love the tomato! Can't wait for my harvest!!

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    1. Thanks, Barbie. We have lots of tomatoes, want some? :)

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  19. Sorry to hear you've not had much rain lately. Would you like some of ours ? We've had a month's rain today and flood warnings galore.
    Those Japanese beetles look scary, like something out of a horror movie. Glad you fed them to the birds though.

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    1. I do wish we could have some of your rain and you can have some of our dryness. There is a prediction of rain tomorrow or Monday...cross my fingers.

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  20. Michelle, congratulations on putting your images on note cards and post cards! They are beautiful and will bring a lot of people joy ;)

    Your monthly garden journal is so inspiring and such a great way to document everything going on in the garden. I must try to find the time to document this. There are so many little things I tell myself to remember and just can't remember it all!

    We are praying for rain down here as well. Will add y'all to my prayers. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks for the prayers. We are hoping to get rain in a day or two. I hope the same for you. Even though I document as much as I can, I do forget things. However it is nice to look back and remember each month.

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  21. Your vegetables look as beautiful as any flower, Michelle! I love the photo of the heron as well; that's something I certainly don't see in my area. It's also ridiculously hot here, so I can't imagine what I would do without my A/C--glad to hear your power has been restored.

    I checked out your photo cards--lovely! I hope you have a great response for these.

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    1. Thanks, Rose. I know we depend on electricity more than we realize, but after our power outage I am glad we have it. If I were much younger, it might be easier to rough it.

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  22. That picture of the Japanese beetles is like a horror movie - you know you don't want to see what's happening, yet you can't seem to turn your eyes away from it. Glad to hear your infestations are getting better, though. What a horrible thing to have to live with. I hope those nasty bugs never find my garden!

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    1. I felt the same as you about the Japanese beetles...ugh! I hate seeing them in bunches like that, just eating away. I hope they don't find your garden either.

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  23. Michelle glad you were not without electricity too long, we depend on it so much (too much) incredible almost to think it's only been with us such a short time,
    I love your photo of the heron and how you have presented it, the sepia tone and soften edges just beautiful and timeless, all you photos are lovely though I don't like the beetles thanks for making B&W, glad you have managed to control them I take it from their name they are not native, I feel the birds are the gardeners friend they eat so many of the beasties, your evening patio looks inviting, good wishes for your chores in the coming month and may you get some nice rain, it's still dry here though there have been attemps at rain but nothing much, it's also very cool with the north winds, one of our news programmes was explaining how your warm spell and the rain in many parts of Europe are connected, Frances

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    1. No, Japanese beetles are not native. It sure would be easier if they were not here. The birds do seem to like them, however. The weather is such a mysterious thing, cyclical and unpredictable. Oddly enough, there is a part of me that likes that there is something that humans cannot control, but there is a part of me that finds it irritating when it is at its extreme.

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  24. Wow! Beautiful photos :)

    Impressed with the cucumber. I've just got blossoms right now (although I've been pinching some of the first blossoms off in the belief that it helps the plant to put more of its energy into growing roots and leaves and stem rather than growing fruits...)

    Can I ask what kind of camera you use for your photos?

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    1. Thank you, Aaron. I love cucumbers, and am glad they are finally here. I use a Nikon D3100 digital camera, and I enjoy it very much.

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  25. Astonishing green peppers..and the beetles . How do you do it...really? You stay hidden in the grass waiting for the perfect shot? You are an astonishing photographer...:).

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    1. Thank you, unikorna, for your kind comment. Sometimes I do wait in the grass, but many times I get lucky.

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  26. Very impressive photos and post! That's very nice place to hang out after all day work in garden! ;)

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    1. Thank you, Malar. We enjoy that spot, and we are glad we were able to make use of the slope.

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  27. So much going on in your garden, an absolute delight, and your photographs are really impressive.

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    1. Thank you, Alistair. I am so glad you enjoyed your visit.

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  28. Twój ogród jest śliczny. Są piękne kwiaty i warzywa. Fruwają też cudowne motyle. Bardzo podoba mi się patio. Życzę, aby spadł deszcz, bo jest potrzebny , jak piszesz. Wspaniałe zdjęcia. Pozdrawiam.
    Your garden is beautiful. They are beautiful flowers and vegetables. A wonderful butterflies fly. I really like the patio. I hope that the rain, because it is needed, as you write. Great pictures. Yours.

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    1. Thanks, Giga. I hope we get some rain as well. The garden really needs it badly. Things are drying out.

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  29. Great shots since my last visit!!

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  30. Imagens maravilhosas, mil vezes parabéns
    abraços

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  31. Great photos - as ALWAYS!!! My favorite are the blue herron (I love the soft haze in the foreground and the colors) and the blue dragonfly. I'm still trying to find the time - and brains - to figure out my new camera.

    And your vegetable garden is doing quite well, considering the lack of rain. Keep it up!

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  32. Your photography is exemplary! I love the heron photo, and many others here. Great art you have created!

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  33. Michelle:
    I love your blog and your list of activities and other data.
    For the beetles I have a "home remedy". Used to other pests like aphids and bugs.
    I do not speak or write English. I beg you to be patient with my translator ...
    Alcohol garlic:
    Water 500 c.c
    500 DC common alcohol of 96 °
    6 cloves of garlic.
    procedure:
    Put the garlic in blender and water. Blend. Add alcohol and store in a dark glass bottle for 15 days in the refrigerator.
    Applying a prepared part of water per ten plants by spraying on a weekly basis.

    I hope you find it useful.
    Thanks for your data, photos and the pleasure that you give us on your blog.
    Sandra

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'I see trees of green, red roses, too
I see 'em bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world'
--What a Wonderful World

Thank you for visiting The Sage Butterfly blog. I enjoy reading your charming reflections very much. Have a great day!

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