From the Garden
Bone Dry
Posted on Jun 25, 2010 by DaMan
It would appear that we will make it through June without any rain. This is somewhat significant, as it also appears as if it will be the hottest June on record. It could be that I have had it this bad before (there was a really bad spot in the Fall, a few years ago, that went on for months), but it's hard for me to imagine it. The grass is actually brittle, breaking under my feet as I walk across it. There are several weeds that are actually dying. It's really amazing.
I am making my way around the yard, watering most items with 5 gallon buckets or soaker hoses. For the most part, I am focusing primarily on those items that I planted in the last 6 months, although I have given some help to things like hydrangeas and so forth.
This lack of water (and extreme heat) is taking a real toll on my desire to garden. It is sort of the final straw, as I will reduce my future garden activities, starting next year, and continue to do so until I get to the point where I am done planting by May.
Hopefully things will look up, but I honestly do not believe that we have any possible rain for the next two weeks (going into July), and maybe not for the remainder of the Summer. My well is going to take a beating this Summer. Hopefully it can stand up to the challenge.
Raspberries Coming On Strong - Blackberries Star
Posted on Jun 16, 2010 by DaMan
Over the past week or so, the raspberry patches are coming on very strong. Neither were properly maintained, but I am still getting a lot of fruit out of both. I will have to dig up a lot of roots next February, to bring the patches back into order. Maybe some folks at work will be interested in them.
The blackberries seem to be a bit early this year, as with most thing. They have just started to come in, providing the occasional sour fruit (even though it is huge, plump and black.) I expect that they will really start to roll in next week or so. There is no doubt that cutting the canes back during the first Summer of their growth increases the yield substantially. I need to check on fertilizing them soon.
Outstanding Daylily Seedling!
Posted on Jun 01, 2010 by DaMan
Life has been incredibly hectic this past month with most of my time being consumed with gardening and beekeeping (my blog can be found here : Beekeeping in Varina, Virginia.) In truth, it has been an outstanding month with enough rain to get by (I can always use more) and a lot of good weather. Gardening in Richmond, Virginia this year has been a blast!
The weeds have not gotten too far ahead of me, like years past, as I have toned down some of my Spring activities to account for it (plus, a lot of my mulching and straw beds have helped with keeping weeds to less of a threat then they were last year.)
One of the more exciting events is the blooming of my daylily seedlings from last year. Several have bloomed and I have recorded nearly all of them (tracking height, bloom color, bloom width and buds per scape). Nearly all of them have some merit, but a couple have been outstanding.
The one pictured here is really outstanding. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it does show the unique color. It is more of a peach color with a darker undertone. I am very excited about this one and a couple of others. Plus, only about a fifth have bloomed so far, so there are many more to come!
I have also put in a row of this year's daylily seedlings already and put down the straw around them. There are a bunch more to get in the ground and that is my goal for June. Next year, I will tone back my daylily seedlings substantially, as I wait to see what these two bunches have in store for me.