Lattice in Place

We decided to put two panels of lattice at each corner of the deck to provide something to support the vines. We made the panels from scratch (pressure-treated odds and ends), with Jen providing the bulk of the labor with the electric staple gun. We put them up just in time, with the summer storm season now in full swing, as can be seen in the background here. All plants are full of blooms and most have fruit.

Iron Planters Filled

Earlier this year we picked up three very heavy and very rusty iron planters from a salvage yard in Virginia. We finally got some flowers in them this weekend, and they look beautiful sitting above the upper pond wall. Jen selected geraniums, dalias and lobelia for each.

First Fruit Spotted

Seemingly overnight, several plants are now bearing fruit. The Sungolds (pictured) seem to be leading the way.

Tomatoes Topping Two Feet

Nearly all of the plants are now two feet or taller, and have at least one set of blossoms. We're suckering on a daily basis now. Things are really growing.

Delphinium - Good Idea or Not

We planted a delphinium plant (a.k.a. larkspur) in the backyard the other day. It is blooming profusely already. Unfortunately, I just found through a little research that all parts of this plant are toxic and are especially dangerous to cats (the same goes for day lillies, which we also just planted). I haven't seen any of the cats pay it any attention, but now I am wondering if we should pull it up, or at the least transplant it to the window boxes.

Roses Beginning to Bloom

Our roses in the lower yard started blooming in earnest this week. We look forward to a summer of blooms. There's at least 50 buds ready to go already.

Upper Pondscape Planted

Finally got some plants in the ground above the upper pond. Picked up two Hemerocallis Stella D'Oro Daylilies and three varigated liriope plants. You can see them in the background above the pond if you click on the picture to zoom in on it.

Creepy crawly

Creepy...we went to move some flower pots today and found this rascal on the side of one of them. She was about three inches in diameter. We think it was a Fishing Spider. Either that or a Funnel Weaver Spider. Either way, it's harmless but in no way very friendly looking. We tried to catch it so that we could move it to a more remote location...alas, that didn't quite work out the way we wanted, and this spider is no more.

Flower Power

Went crazy over the last few weeks buying annuals and perrenials. Just now getting around to putting them into some dirt.

Still growing...

Week two of being in the pots. Lots of growth this week, and a few of the plants are already setting out blooms. Also had to stake one of the Snow Whites already. The last three or four days have been HOT and DRY. Two plant are struggling a little bit with the heat this weekend - a Black Cherry and a Green Grape. Both are experiencing some dry leaves in the upper parts of the plant. The Green Grape also has some leaves that almost look scorched. It seems too early for this type pf problem.

Plants growing like weeds

Only five days in the pots and our plants have doubled in size (tripled in some cases). Looking forward to seeing what the first week of June will bring.