Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – June 2011

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.)

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I don't have this cactus in my garden any longer. However, it is blooming beautifully in my neighbor's garden.

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The blooms are gorgeous but the spines are wicked. There is no glove I know of that will keep your hand's safe from the miniature barbs. The spines don't come out of the skin easily. Sage advice says to use tongs or newspaper folded several sheets thick when handling this plant.

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I takes someone much braver than I to weed a patch of prickly pear.

(A different color Prickly Pear in Bartram's Gardens in Philadelphia.)

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Check in with brave Carol at May Dreams Gardens  for a peek iinto more June gardens. Carol hosts Bloom Day on the 15th of every month. Thank you Carol.
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University of Arizona Cooperative Extension “Prickly Pear: Handle with Care”

Garden Bloggers Death Day

I’m a little late for Garden Bloggers Death Day started by Kate at Gardening Without Skills. Postings are usually done on the last day of the month.

I planted this little shrub, marked “Pinus - Pine Shrub”, in June. I don’t know what happened. It just didn’t make it. Purchased at Home Depot for $19.97 on a whim, I guess it wasn't meant to be. I'll try another evergreen in spring.

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Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - October 2009

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I’ll share a few October blooms with you and peek into other gardens through Carol’s May Dreams Gardens. Thank you, Carol, for hosting this monthly event.

The snapdragons and alyssum (above) fill in between Dusty Miller and herbs.

An electric blue Lobelia volunteer at the end of a window box of parsley

Rose colored mum – another volunteer



Mom’s mum - transplanted from her garden years ago

Dead Nettle (Lamium)

Purple Cleome

White cosmos

Pink Cosmos

Nasturtium

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"Just before the death of flowers,And before they are buried in snow,There comes a festival seasonWhen nature is all aglow."- Author Unknown

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Garden Bloggers Death Day

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I discovered Garden Bloggers Death Day through Donna at Mamma Mia Days. Hosted by Kate at Gardening Without Skills on the last day of the month, it’s sort of a requiem for lost plants.

Although I am late posting about dear Gardenia’s demise by spider mites, I decided to do it now to help me through its sad passing.

The story begins many years ago when I had a beautiful, three-foot tall gardenia growing in our bedroom. The scent was heavenly. It lived for many years – a gift from my grandmother taken from a cutting of her plant.

I have tried to replace it several times without any luck. Spider mites always win.

On May 1 this year, while picking up some annuals at my favorite local nursery, I passed a bench with several alluring gardenias. I had to have one. I brought it home and proudly set it on a table by the front window.

Imagine my disbelief when the leaves started to turn yellow and drop off. “It can’t be, not again,” I said to myself.

“Maybe I’m not watering enough,” I said to myself. “Maybe it needs to be transplanted to a larger pot.”

The plant continued to get worse. Little webs appeared on some of the leaves.

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“If I had only used the systemic houseplant insect control sooner.” “If only I had sprayed it more often.”

I sadly watched it die as I reminisced about the beautiful plant I had once grown. I mooned over it for days.

After weeks of clipping and spraying and general fussing, I finally gave up. Nothing seemed to help the damn plant. I decided to trash it and get on with my life.

Maybe someday I’ll try again.

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(“Gardenia: A Gardener's Challenge” by B. Rosie Lerner from Purdue Extension.)

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Have a fun-filled and safe Fourth of July everyone!

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