Category Archives: General Gardening

Transition into Summer….

The garden has entered that transition period between Spring and Summer. A few of the Spring bloomers have one or two blooms remaining but the Summer bloomers are beginning their show!

Trumpet Honeysuckle

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Oakleaf Hydrangea

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Spiderworts – this is a wonderful blue seedling which appeared this year. They tend to seed all around the garden.

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The oxeye daisies are finishing their show and coreopsis are beginning to bloom in the wildflower beds.

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Around town, I stopped at a new bakery for the first time: Yellow Dog Bakery (https://www.facebook.com/yellowdogbread?v=wall).

I enjoyed a foccacia and mocha latte. The tomatoes are so sweet when roasted.

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On the way back to the house I stopped at the Water Garden at Fred Fletcher Park. The shrubs around the Redbird sculpture have been replaced with a grass. Much better choice than the shrubs!

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Recent rains have filled the basin and the frogs were singing loudly. There were ducks sitting on the overflow drain but they are difficult to see in the photo. Soon the cardinal flowers and other wetland plants will fill the area with blooms. This acre-sized area is much better than the ditch it use to be. It’s amazing that this is a man-made water retention pond adjacent to a major road. The water runs into the ponds and the sediment and pollution settles to the bottom and clean water exits out the overflow to the river and steams.

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But is anything better than a grilled pimento cheese sandwich?

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I think not!

atb.

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Now showing… What’s blooming in the garden now.

Now showing… What’s blooming in the garden now.

The gardening is becoming thick with foliage! Its so lush with all the rain and the increasing heat and humidity. The season has progressed from the Spring bloomers to the early Summer bloomers. The irises are really putting on a show.

This is a yellow water iris (Iris pseudacorus). It is growing in the lowest area of the yard in a pocket which is moist most of the time.

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Pink Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) growing in the front bed among German irises. It can be a little weedy but its a good thing!

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Blue Light clematis on the front side of the house. It opens up like below….

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Within a few days becomes this ball.

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And many German irises. The variety below is all over the yard. They were salvaged from a yard which some yuppies purchased and cleared everything out. They were all piled in the street.  I was glad I stopped and inquired!

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And no day is complete without a Iced Mocha Latte from Cup-A-Joe.

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And Oliver. Andy’s cat. He has a little attitude!

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atb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Birthday trip to the coast!

My birthday was May 1st so we took a three day trip to the coast of North Carolina. It’s been two decades since I left coastal North Carolina to attend East Carolina University and Morehead City has not changed much. I am more of a big city guy than a small town guy. I only miss the water…

The Morehead City Waterfront

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Beaufort, North Carolina
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Atlantic Beach and Fort Macon, North Carolina

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On the way back to Raleigh we stopped in Historic New Bern, North Carolina to visit Tyron Palace. You might recognize the former governor’s mansion as the backdrop for the Sleepy Hollow tv program with Tom Mison.

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And near by gardens-

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So much history!

We stopped on the way back to Raleigh in Greenville, NC where I attended East Carolina University, for Mongolian Grill food!

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I will welcome my own bed tonight!

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