I think I can, I think I can . . . . .

Do you see the cute sign below? The one at the feet of the rapidly growing chocolate mint? It's one I painted a few years ago, and it's got bumble bees painted all over it, and says "They can because they think they can".

You see, aerodynamically speaking, bumble bees should not be able to fly. Their chunky bodies are way too heavy for their tiny, sheer wings to lift and carry them. But you know what? Nobody ever told them that! No mama bumble bee ever said "Honey, your wings are too small for your body, so you can't fly around and pollinate the flowers"!

How many times have parents told their children they couldn't do something? Many. And how many times have their children worked extremely hard to prove them wrong? Thank goodness, there have been many of those, too. But I bet there have been even more who thought "Okay, if he/she says I can't, then I can't, so I won't even try". And that's too sad for words! Parents should never tell their children they can't accomplish something they want to do. Okay, so point out the challenges, but then support them and guide them as they go, and let them at least TRY to accomplish that supposedly impossible feat!

Sorry, I got off track a little (no, a lot) there! My real point about this is totally different, so here goes . . . . .

Yesterday I worked outside from about 8 am until about 6:30 pm with only a few short food/water/gatorade/potty breaks. I planted somewhere between 50 and 60 plants, cut back a few bushes, staked up a few things and washed, moved and filled up the bird bath. A few of the plants were in cell packs, but most were in 6" or larger pots. I was exhausted. And after a nights rest, I'm still exhausted!

I have only about 12 - 15 things left to plant, but most of them are in gallon or larger pots, so that means bigger holes to dig, and heavier lifting. I also have about 5 huge clumps of hostas to divide up and plant. I dug them up to save them from the voles, placed them on newspapers thinking I would get to them very soon. Little did I know we would have monsoon season here for about a month! They are thriving on the newspapers under the oak tree, where I intend planting them.

It is my goal to get this finished today. But with these aching muscles, the necessity to run to the grocery store, cook dinner and get a picnic ready for tomorrow, I'm just not sure it will happen. I'll try, but I'm just not too convinced!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!!!

Blessings, Becky

"The Big Island"

I have taken to calling the large island along the road “Hawaii”. You know, Hawaii is also known as “The Big Island”, and our island is really large! It's also sloping, and has a nice angled curve on one end. Well, yesterday we spent most of the afternoon working on Hawaii, and now it’s just gorgeous! Here’s a picture from the northern end, looking south. We live on a corner lot, and the island goes from the front of the corner, down along the side street.




I made the tough choice yesterday to take out a buddleia, a red pixie lilac and a spirea ‘brides wreath’ for the sake of some other plants that were suffering from lack of sunshine and being crowded too much. I did leave one of the red pixie’s - in fact, the smaller one. This one is about 5+ feet tall, and almost that big across!



When I planted these, the name ’red pixie’ somehow meant they were small, but that’s not the case AT ALL!!! They get quite large, especially in circumference, so if you don’t have a large space for them, I’d suggest you get something a little on the smaller size. They do bloom beautifully, though, and the scent is simply heavenly!!!

But as you can see now, the sun shines through nicely, and things aren't as crowded any more - of course you'll just have to take my word on that one!

Now I would love to share with you some of my favorite plants in this island . . . . .

Tulip Magnolia - blooms in early spring with pink and purple blooms.

Betony - she's about to bloom! A lovely purplish pink bloom, and they multiply easily.

Black and blue salvia - by July she'll be 4-5 feet tall and full of brilliant blue blooms! The bees, butterflies and hummers love her! I actually dug up a few babies from this one and planted them in pots yesterday for future use.

At our old house I had several huge rosemary 'bushes' and it took me 3 years to find the right spot where one would be happy here at this house, but I think this one is happy, don't you??? She's about 3 feet tall and at least that across, and this is only her 3rd summer!. To her left, a tall garden phlox, center in front is cat mint, and to the right is a lavender.

This plastic bunny belonged to my grandmother 'Mama Cliffie', and after she died, my dad gave him to me.




Another lavender, just full of buds!

This little scrap is just precious to me! It's a flowering almond, and it came from one that has been in my parents yard since I was a small child! (They've lived in the same house for almost 59 years!) We carried my parents our old sofa last year, and hubby ran over the small bush in their yard. One piece broke off, and I brought it home and planted it. Strangely enough, the parent plant has done the best last summer and this spring that it's done in years, so maybe being hit by a truck was good for it! I thought this baby didn't make it, but one day, there she was, up from what I thought were dead roots! I put a tomato cage over her to protect her for a little while.

Also precious is this mama and two babies. They are what I call 'old fashioned' lilacs. Daddy gave me the lilac a few years ago to thank me for being there when he was in the hospital. This variety doesn't grow too well here, and the mama has fought valiantly to grow, and apparently she is going to be okay, because the center baby is about 2 year old, and the one to the right is brand new this spring. My dad (who knows about these things) told me to leave them where they are and not try to move the babies. That's why the buddleia had to go yesterday!

On this obelisk are three vines that will give me blooms around the clock! Heavenly Blue morning glories, hyacinth beans and moonflowers.

And on this obelisk is a clematis that was in the back yard, but never grew much because it was too shady. This spring I moved him o the front and on this obelisk, and he seems very happy now. To his right is a foxglove baby transplanted from another part of the yard.

This is a three trunked oak tree where I hang a couple of bird feeders. You can see the rosemary there to the right. We trimmed some of the lower hanging limbs to give the rosemary some more sun and to make it easier to walk around that area.

This is a Chinese Snowball vibernum, and since it was finished blooming, I trimmed the lower limbs and shaped her up a bit. She was looking pretty straggly at best!

I have quite a few new things to plant, especially since there's more sunshine there now. I've got 4 tomato plants that will go in there, 4 hollyhocks and several other things that I'll be placing throughout the island.

I hope you've enjoyed this tour, come back again soon! Becky

What I'll Be Doing This Weekend . . .

Raking leaves from flower beds . . .

Pulling weeds from same beds . . .

Planting new perenniels . . .

Fighting voles!!! See the damage they are causing to my prize hostas . . .

Digging Holes . . . . .

Fertilizing . . . .

Watering . . .

Digging up, dividing, and re-planting established perenniels, like these daylilies . . .

Note - the white stuff to the right of the daylily is the shells from safflower seeds. There is a feeder hanging just above this plant!

Here are some things I've already planted . . . . .

Pineapple Sage - a true performer in the garden!

Black and Blue Salvia - see the hostas the voles are eating??? Oh! And does anyone want any spearmint plants???? I pull them up by the trash bag full several times a year and put them in the garbage!

Heuchera - Peach Melba

Now blooming!!!

One of my two (identical) new bird feeders!

Vole Holes >>>>

Yesterday I spent $16 for a 10 pound bag of 'mole/vole repellent'. I'll let you know how it works, because obviously the traps are NOT working! The varmints are licking the peanut butter coated traps clean nd never once tripping them!

And things I still have to plant >>>

Pin Cushion Flower - it was almost dark when I took this - it looks like I spent tons of time clearing the background, doesn't it!

Heuchera (Coral Bells) Key Lime

Heuchera - Midnight Rose (My Favorite!)

And all of this >>>>>

A fairy rose, peach colored flowering quince, English dogwood, sage, parsley, thyme, dill, oregano, fennel, basil, hyacinth beans, moon flowers, heavenly blue morning glories, black and blue salvia, foxgloves, hollyhocks, more pineapple sage, gaura, dianthus, and who knows what else is in there! Oh! and on the newspapers, the goodies my aunt gave me yesterday - lemon balm, monarda and shasta daisies!

So, if I don't get back for a couple of days, please know that I'm having fun 'playing in the dirt'!!! Have a great weekend, doing what you love most! Blessings, Becky