10 May: a little garden disaster

Wednesday, 10 May 2023

Diane’s garden

My mission, which we did accomplish, was for once getting the driveway corner garden fully weeded and edged.

But first, I thought I would check on the sweet peas along the picket fence, only to find that everything along the fence was scorched, including sweet peas that I had planted last autumn and nurtured through the winter in a cold frame.

I thought it was from weedkiller. I rousted Diane out of the house to have a look.

It turned out that the culprit was this product, sprayed on by someone who is going to paint the fence, which she was having done early before the sweet peas grew up.

I see no clear warning there that it will kill your plants. Diane and I mourned the sweet peas together.

Allan clipped back the destroyed perennials. Others look distorted and may need clipping back or removing later.

Fortunately, there are five of sweet peas in the big planter by the back porch.

Holly got her biscuit, and the driveway bed weeding and edging was accomplished.

The edging soil was so hard that I turned it over to Allan with the (true) excuse that I knew better what I wanted thinned out of the garden.

The weeded bed is still at the awkward bulb foliage stage and awaits a planting of cosmos, next week.

Red Barn Arena

We remembered to photograph the garden today as well as Cosmo the cat.

Then we had to pack and go to our next job.

Long Beach

We did the weekly deadheading of downtown street trees and planters. It looks like watering will have to start next week, so I asked the parks manager to please make sure the water is on in the parks and planters.

Cerinthe major purpurascens reseeded at the curb::

I look forward to seeing this nice guy on his walks sometimes, as he really appreciates the gardens and is a good conversationalist.

Allan did horsetail patrol in Fifth Street Park while I did the last of the planters. The camassia in the park is wonderful right now.

We decided we had enough time to pick up some plants for Long Beach.

The Planter Box

At the Planter Box, I did get plants, but also I got to meet Madison’s new pet, Mr. Duck Duck, a delightful and friendly bird.

Mads hatched the duck from an egg in an incubator and said that the duck foot came out first and held his hand like a baby’s hand would. The duck is, of course, thoroughly imprinted and follows Mads everywhere

The Basket Case Greenhouse

We picked up more plants and this time socialised with Roxanne, Veda, and a cat (Izzy, I think).

On the way home, we stopped at the post office, where Allan took note of the Dutch iris.

Locals, and Olympia and thereabouts residents, might want to go to this garden show in Elma. It’s too far for us at this busy time of year.

Speaking of Master Gardeners, our friend Terri of Markham Farm was recently among three gardeners honored for their leadership roles in the WSU Extension Master Gardener program. From this article in The Daily World newspaper:

“Terri Small of Ocosta joined the Master Garden program before she retired. She is the mainstay behind the program’s two largest fundraising events, The Home and Garden Show and the Annual Garden Tour, both to be held in Elma this year. Terri and her committee have the challenge of finding amazing local gardens and convincing the home owners to share them, for one day, with the public. The funds from these events support the local Master Garden Foundation which in turn supports the local Master Garden program. Terri has been serving on the Foundation Board for the last 10 years.”

Well deserved! It’s the best garden tour in SW Washington and one we look forward to every July.