Blackberry Lily

This was one of my wild card plants I bought this spring - a blackberry lily. Apparently the seed pods look like blackberries when they are mature.

The first bloom opened yesterday and I can't believe how exotic it looks, almost like an orchid - pretty boy!

Peaceful Morning

Today is the first day of my week-long vacation...at home. Who says you have to travel somewhere to get a little R&R?

I slept in a little, woke up to sunshine and birds singing, slipped on my flippers and snuck outside to say good morning to the yard. Since most normal people are at work this week, the neighborhood was very quiet and peaceful. I watered the beds that needed it, dead-headed a few old blooms, and snapped a few pictures.

My "Empress of India" nasturtiums have been blooming solidly the past week or so - stunning colors.


Very excited to see the first baby female butternut squash on the vine - hopefully when this little lady finally blooms she will take fruit and start plumping up.


And of course, who wouldn't swoon to wake up to this sight?


I have a feeling these days off will do me good!

CSA: Week 8

It's been roughly two months that we've been picking up our CSA shares from Eaton Farm, and this week they really seem to be coming into the "summer crops". We had a bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumber, potatoes, onion, garlic, swiss chard, carrots, beets, and eggs.

The basket was much heavier than usual - quite a haul!

The Ethics of Digging Wildflowers

I've always admired the wild orange daylilies that grow rampant in southwest Ohio during the summer months. Their brilliant orange old-fashioned blooms and slender lime green foliage can be seen cascading out of roadside ditches all across the tri-state area this time of year.


I've been to several plant nurseries the past few years and have never actually seen these specific flowers for sale. Once I get fixated on something it's hard for me to let it go, so the past couple of weeks I had hatched a plan to covertly pack a shovel and some containers into the car and go on a little "adventure" of sorts.

Well, I was on the way home from our local Lowe's this afternoon and slowed down the car to go over some railroad tracks. As I rolled through, I looked to my left and happened to notice a patch of orange daylilies growing rampant right next to the tracks. There was no house immediately nearby, and it was obvious that noone laid claim to this land or these flowers. This spot was only 30 seconds from our house, and I knew that if I were ever going to act, now would be the time.

Zipping home, I packed up my tools and quietly drove back to the spot. I scoped out the sidestreet to make sure there were no people outside to give me a hard time. Once I found a spot to park, I started working fast. Within minutes I had dug three nice clumps of lilies and was back in my car headed home.

I'm not the type of person to routinely do risky or adventurous things, so it was comical to feel my heart thumping. It would have been nice if the theme to "Indiana Jones" was playing in the background.

So my question is, is it ethical to "share the wealth" of wildflowers when it is clear that they aren't on someone's property or in a protected park area? After all, I am giving them a good home - probably a better one than the rocky oily patch by the railroad tracks.

Either way, I planted them in the front sunny bed and am hoping they will establish themselves and be carefree and happy for years to come. One more locally-sourced addition to the yard!

Eye Candy

In celebration of the beginning of summer, I thought I'd share some of the beautiful blooms that I've been admiring lately in the yard...

Echinacea "Firebird"
Nasturtium "Empress of India"

Blanket Flower "Gallo Peach"

Evening Primrose

Daylily
Iceplant

Yarrow

Hyssop "Sunset"

Lavender "Provence"

Daylily "Siloam Double Classic"


Hosta "Blue Mouse Ears"

Eating Crow

They said it couldn't be done...they said I was doing things the hard way...they said it was crazy to grow rhubarb from seed...well feast your eyes on this...


...and this is only one of five plants that are thriving. I think it's safe to predict that beginning next year I'll never have to pay for rhubarb again.

CSA: Week 7

This week we have some freshly dug potatoes, a nice medium-sized zucchini, and a cute personal-sized head of cabbage.


So far this year, I have been blown away by the quality and quantity of produce that we receive each week. Eaton Farm is bringing the goods!