Tuesday, 14 May 2019
I waited anxiously last night to hear the predicted rain begin. Even at bedtime, the cat weather report (cat fur wet or dry when they come in from outdoors) said nothing of moisture. But when we woke, the view out the windows was delightfully sodden and the weather report said we had already had half an inch of rain.
Looking out the front window (note that the amazing Caribbean Parrot tulip is still blooming):
All the rain barrels had been dry for days. Now most of them were brimming.
Even the slowest to fill of the 9 barrels was almost full.
Each barrel has a topping of pine pollen washed off of the house and shed roof.
Next door lilacs:
Much as I longed for a rainy reading day, having barely begun a new book called Cultivating Chaos, How to Enrich Landscapes with Self-Seeding Plants, the rain eased off in the late morning so we were off to do more planting.
My Davidia ‘Sonoma’ by the driveway is still blooming.
It is special and wonderful. I wonder if any passersby notice it?
I love the oxeye daisies blooming at the curb across the street at the Js’ cottage.
The post office still has pesky bulb foliage. No time for that today.
We stopped first at the World Kite Museum to assess what new plants were needed for the blue pots.
We hared off to get some plants, with a work stop along the way at
The Red Barn Arena
(where Allan took all the photos). We got to see several good friends.
And Cosmo the barn cat.
The barrels got topped up with soil and had some new plants added, mostly hens and chickens and echeverias to reduce the need for watering. One that is close to a faucet got a pineapple sage to grow and hide the tatty old erysimum.
The Basket Case & Planter Box
Susie and Bill of the Boreas showed up, so of course the shopping trip turned into a social occasion.
At The Planter Box, we quickly picked up as many flats of cosmos as we could fit in with our already sizeable haul.
At both nurseries, the predicted wind storm swept through with strong gusts and heavy squalls. Because of it being a south wind, I had an idea of where we could do one more project with a building between us and the south.
We stopped off at home to pick up the fuchsias for Time Enough Books.
Port of Ilwaco
Weeks ago, Karla of Time Enough Books had presented me with two gallon sized Firecracker fuchsias to go in her garden boat. I had been caring for them at home till the tulips were done. I could not wait any longer for the ‘Strong Gold’ tulips to be completely over.
While Allan rearranged the fuchsias that were already in the boat and fit in the two new ones, I weeded the curbside garden and planted some cosmos there. Cosmos are supposed to be tough. I tend to treat them more kindly than they need. I am interested to see if they will work along the port.
Oh joyous rain! We’re getting some too, and it’s a wonderful sight!
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Wow! So much beauty and hard work!! Love the no WiFi in the garden tees!!! Your place is amazing. Thank you for sharing!!
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Thanks!
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Does the Basket Case kitty have a name? I haven’t seen kitty when I go there.
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Yes, but I couldn’t remember it.
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I liked the wi-fi slogan.
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