Showing posts with label fuchsia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fuchsia. Show all posts

Friday, 17 May 2024

What a week!

It was a busy week for us! Me, especially. I get so frustrated in stores, and driving, and then get anxious and upset. JB does the bulk of the shopping. However... Monday I went out to buy plants, Tuesday I went to my client's house, Wednesday we went to the dentist (JB drove), and Thursday, out to my new hairdresser. From there, we went out to dinner. I am feeling a lot better this season. 

 It was been a cloudy/rainy few days. I prefer doing my planting in the sunshine! That said, what can one do? Out back, the fuchsia have been put in the hanging planter. I broke off two branches of the little plants. I feel so badly. 


This pot has the giganticus petunias, as well as Diplademia. We'll see how this goes. I overwintered on once, but it brought bugs into the house. The expensive ones at the nursery are 3' tall and blooming. I couldn't justify that.

Caitlin was cleaning out around her veggies, and brought me some forget-me-don'ts for my garden. I have to plant them, but the little bees are swirling around in great delight.  


Caitlin brought me a hanging planter for Mother's Day. It is up, beside the cherry tomato plants. There are 4 tomato plants stuffed in the original pot. I transplanted it into a bigger pot. Last year I staked the tomato plant, and it worked really well. With all our critters, this is the best way to grow veggies here!


I must admit that I didn't get to this one. I may put a new liner in it first. I have some petunias and lobelia to go into it.

I think I won the Candytuft war. The deer nibble it in the winter, the clump at the end of the sidewalk, and prevent the buds from forming in spring. I had put some protection around it, but they don't produce as many flowers as the other plants. 


This is beside the goldfish pond. Several clumps. Not pruned by deer and they are thriving.


Dahlia and petunias in this planter!

I toddled down to the frog pond. There are tadpoles of a good size. The mosquitos were cruising over the top of the water like little spitfires.


Tuesday, 21 May 2019

How to make a cat collar, and other tails

Annabelle needed a collar as she is quite well-hidden from the birds when she nestles into dead foliage. This is what I did awhile back. My friend, Nancy, showed me how.

Buy a breakaway collar, sew a piece along the long edge, about twice as long x 6" wide, and put the collar inside. Easy peasy!




Hooper is the main culprit. It helps having him outdoors at night. Annie found a mouse in the basement. Hooper lost out with a mourning dove! (R = released!) I was at my client's house and her barn cat snagged a grouse. These are cats citiots have dropped off at her barn. Such a shame.


All about birds...

It's a busy yard. Just as I walked out, I spotted what I thought was a red-eyed vireo looking for a home. Later, after a great video, Bobb-ll Know ID'd it for me. A house wren. I've never seen one! They are wee, and aggressive. We'll see what shapes up here. Chickadees nested here one year.


It's a house wren.


This plant was a gift from Caitlin on Mother's Day!
hummingbird on fuschia from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The trailcam tales

The trailcam revealed the wood duck entering the nest #2 –on the far right. I've been trying to figure out a setting to capture the moment when the ducklings launch themselves out of the nest after the mom. Photos work best, as opposed to video. I think. Wish me luck! They only stay in the box for 24 hours, then they are off.


 See if you can count the eggs! When I took my stepladder, I think I counted 22. They could hatch Tuesday!
wood duck eggs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The meadow has been busy, as well. Bless their little hearts for eating the bugs. You can hear the peeps of the wood ducks. They make such a funny little noise!
Meadow magic from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The only other critters I've seen on the trailcam has been coyote. OK, Butch raccoon, and the scrawny bucks, but they are pretty regular.


The goldfish are doing well, despite the low temperatures. I checked it yesterday morning and it was only 6 C. Monday it was 10 C, and the fishies are merrily zipping about.