Hostas, Hydrangeas, and Hummingbirds

What a relief! We had rain. Finally. There was thunder and lightning nearby, but the storm seemed to skim to the north of us. Even Ottawa had rain. Finally, at bedtime, Josephine came upstairs and said she heard rain. They are with us for the week. More on Gramma Camp tomorrow!

Hydrangea, common names hydrangea or hortensia, is a genus of over 75 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Korea, and Japan. Most are shrubs 1–3 m tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m by climbing up trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.

I transplanted it from another garden that I wasn't going to water. Every year the deer prune it up. I realized that if I let it grow some, the deer will nibble the edges, but won't be able to reach the plants in the background.

The hosta, however, is right there for the taking! One must simply laugh!

I decided to try and grab a better photo of the hummingbird and Tiger Lillies.  

The ribbon outlines the chicken wire, meant to keep the deer out! It rather ruins the composition, but what can I do?!

I couldn't choose just one, I just loved her antics! This, I think, is the best one.

Hydrangea, Weigela, Hummingbird,

It's Monday morning. Garbage day. It started a bit slowly, as I'd forgotten I'd noticed that the wheels were flat. Ain't old age grand? Me, no worries. 

I had a nymph in my navel Sunday morning. It was a bit strange. Itchy, I scratched at it and removed it. I had to fetch my reading glasses to check it out before I put it in rubbing alcohol in the tick jar. We haven't had many ticks this year => 🕷️TICK Totals . That has been a blessing. You can see how many we used to get. 

This is empty nesting box #1, the box to the right of the central tree. All of the saplings are grand habitat for ticks. They climb up and jump off from there. 

I am happy to report that the blackflies have lessened. The mosquitos aren't as bad on the back deck. Skin So Soft works, now. HOWEVER...

I had my first deerfly bite gardening Sunday, June 5th. I feel badly for the critters. 

Hydrangea

Our white hydrangea seems not to be growing from the middle. "Since flowers are produced on new growth, you should prune hydrangeas once their blooming has ceased." I am not watering it enough, nor fertilizing it. I don't know whether to trim it or no. 

I don't know if it blooms on new wood or old. This is how to know to cut it back. Going back outside to examine it more closely after my research I found my answer. It is growing from both new and old stems.

Down in the meadow:

I wanted to document this little plant (below). It was tricky. Caitlin's iNaturalist app nailed it. Ribwort Plantain!

It is known by the common names ribwort plantain, narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf, lamb's tongue, and buckhorn.

The video shows it better. They are scattered amongst the Blugloss and the Devil's paintbrush.

 

ribwort plantain from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Also in the backyard: Weigela. It is so pretty. The deer love it in the fall and winter. It doesn't have a great shape for that reason, and I pruned it last year. I was trying to photograph a bee in 2021, and totally missed it. (Photo, left!)

I was staring over the deck, whilst barbequing dinner, and saw the hummingbird. It was tricky getting it in the photo. I had to crop it to show you! 

I was set to BBQ, and spotted my little friend. It has been hanging around the upper deck. Usually it likes to hide in my Muskoka chair. I pulled the chair out the other day, surprising both of us, it both peed and pooped on my chair! 

The Hops vine is growing. It has reached the top of the railing. I am looking forward to the butterflies who like it, both Comma and Question Mark species lay eggs on it.

My Maggie Magnolia is done blooming. It was a really good year for it. We must celebrate it! She is getting tall.

And, finally, geese heading north!

canada geese from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Things are growing!

The garden is doing so well.  The garden continues to grow. Sadly, the hibiscus is as tall as me, but the roses are stuck in its shade. I'll have to ponder that one.

The tiger lilies have blossomed! They are just beautiful.  Isabelle likes the pollen! (Aug., 2020)

The goldfish are doing well. I have let the brown-eyed susans do their thing.

Out in the back, the cukes and pumpkins have blossoms, but I am not hopeful. Out season is so short.

The hydrangea in the morning sun. I tried to be artistic, but I'll leave that to others.

I went out to inspect the new driveway, and spotted a pair of scarlet tanagers in the tree. (You'll have to trust me! There were two.) 

Down at the highway, there were three birds, a pair of flickers and a robin, hanging out in the dead trees.