Last Post

I have had some technical difficulties and it brings me sad news to report that I have to start another blog.  No sense crying over spilled milk, I have to look onward and upward.  My new site I am still calling Ghetto Gardens.  I hope to see you there, and thank you for your time and support.

Hoosier weather.

I would love to post pictures and stories of DIY projects underway, or countless seed trays beginning to sprout, but sadly that is not the case.  However, we had a surprise snow shower last night.  It might not have been a surprise to others, but I personally missed a memo.  

Yesterday, the West Lawn looked like this,

this morning,

and this afternoon.

   I only wish I could have captured the snow covering all the trees and shrubs last night.  It was definitely a winter wonderland.  This is how I like my snow, quick, beautiful and gone. 

In a small bit of other ghetto garden news, our orchid is going to bloom. I am proud of this fact.  She was given to us as a present for our 10th Anniversary.  I have never grown orchids before so it is always a triumph when a plant blooms.

Another season kicks off.

I have not posted anything in awhile, but with a new season right around the corner, it was time to get with it.  The gardening gods sent some local tree trimmers to the neighborhood, so I had to jump into action.  I asked them if they were interested in dumping the wood chips in our yard, and they were happy to do so.  Lucky me!!!!

I am aware that the use of freshly chipped up wood as mulch is highly debated. 

We here at ghetto gardens say, "Whatever".  Its free.  It does its job. And did I mention, its free.  If I bought the amount of mulch I need @ 20-25 dollars a yard, with the price of gas to transport it, versus free, you do the math. Not to mention that this practice is quite common for me.

I hope this is only the first pile of mulch I score this year.

A little here,

A little there,

and even some here.

Now you'll see why I need even more mulch.  This backyard is a tragedy.  The greenhouse is a wreck.  That plastic only lasted one season. The moles have built a community in the lawn, and I have a ton of junk to pitch.  I think I have enough mulch to get this area mulched, but I have The West Lawn still to mulch.

Here is the mulch that I have left.

1st Plumeria bloom

I am preparing to bring all the plants in for the season and now we have our first Plumeria bloom.  Better late than never.  

As you can see, there are many more blooms to come.

I realize I have just posted an update of the little Coleus volunteer, but it had changed in just a couple days.  Try telling this little guy that the summer is over.

Change in the weather

Here is my gardening story for today.  I woke up this morning, grabbed myself a cup of coffee and headed outside.  That is my usual routine, but this morning, I started a little different.  This morning, I walked outside and directly to one of my Plumeria plants, as if it were beckoning me to come to her.  I immediately noticed, what I thought was a newly forming bud.  This bud looked a little different than the previous buds in the past.  I used my finger to push it off the stem in case it was fall debris, but to my surprise it wasn't.  It was not a newly forming bud or fall debris, but rather this horrifying Orange spider, that was all tucked up in a ball.  The moment I gingerly touched it, it uncurled itself, and that was when I knew it was a spider.  I cannot stand spiders, and I touched the damn thing, OMG.  I know, they kill garden pests, blah blah blah.  They freak me the F#$K out.  I know you are feeling this Cat.  Normally I would post a photo capturing the moment, but this time I will just move on.

I would like to start with Tiffany's rose.  I did not think it was going to bloom this year, but to my surprise, she did.  I did not even see the bee when I snapped this photo.

 Recap on the Coleus volunteer. 

It popped up in the pathway.

I slapped her in a container.

She is loving life.

Clearly this Croton thrives on neglect, as does the Night Blooming Cereus cutting, growing in the same container.  I was training the vines of the Sweet Autumn Clematis and broke off a piece of the Cereus.  I just dipped it in a little root hormone and shoved it in the dirt.  She seems to be growing fine.

 The first sign of a bloom on the Hawaiian Ginger.  Note to self, I should have painted the wire cage.

 Another White Rose of Sharon deciding to swirl.  I am loving this.

 Hardy Begonia's

 Does this look remotely comfortable?

A trip to Oliver Winery

Dad and I decided to go to Oliver Winery to check out their flowers.  If you have never been to the winery, I highly recommend it.  Here are some plants that caught my eye on this trip.

 Now the next few photos are taken in our backyard.  This little guy is adorable.  I can usually find him on the Banana tree every day.

 

September blooms

I do not remember the white Rose of Sharon blooms ever having shades of pink.  Regardless, I am loving the new look.

 The blooms of the peach Hibiscus are prettier than last year.

The 4 O'clock's  are still looking amazing.

She might not look like much, but I am elated that the Knockout Rose tree is blooming again.  She has had a roller coaster ride of a summer.  She bloomed beautiful this spring, then I moved her.  She was near death and I was about to throw myself on the ground, and she started showing signs of improvement.  She spit out a few more blooms but had lost her luster.  Here is her present state.

Odd photo angle, I know.

I have never successfully grown Celosia's of any kind.  Honestly, it was never one of my favorite flowers.  I am quickly singing a different tune these days.

 I want to mention again that this plant is over 4 feet tall.  I would almost guess her at 5 feet.

The Hyacinth bean vine is going to give me an abundance of seeds.  I have a couple trellis projects in the works to support the next generation of these beautiful plants.