Kathy’s Garden – Page 4 – movingforwardslowly

Garden Update for July: My First Cattail

I had good intentions for garden restoration this summer. So far, I’ve done little, partly due to a bad poison ivy encounter. You would think by now I had learned to avoid it. My last bad encounter was many years ago, so my caution level was low. The summer is not over yet, so possibly I can do more work on it.

Several in home upgrades have been taking my time and attention away from the garden. Also, I am beginning to research retirement since on November 1 this year I will have completed 25 years of service with my school system. This will most likely be my last year (24-25) with this system. This does not mean I will be fully retired from work. I am not ready to do that yet.

I have left the pond alone for the most part since the wildlife has been enjoying it in its current state of human neglect. This has led to the growth of a lone cattail in the middle of the pond. I never planted this. It must be a gift from the wind or a hideaway in the pot of another plant. I read up on preserving these cattails for decorative arrangements. In my younger days I might have pursued this; now, I think I will let it be. The pond is limited and within easy view of my kitchen. Winter will eventually come around, and next spring, hopefully I will be able to start early on a full pond clean-up. Though, you never can know for sure what the future holds.

Not a Cicada in Sight

This cicada is from my garden in May of 2021.

Now that school is out for the summer I had a chance to start some much needed work outside on Saturday and again this morning.

I had been previously reading about an anticipated double brood of cicadas emerging in my area this summer. I must report that as of today I have seen no cicadas nor have I seen any evidence of them.

What I have seen is an over abundance of birds, so possibly they have been taking care of the cicadas removal.

Today I had my first thought of hiring some help. Normally I have done most of the work myself with some help from my husband. Neither of us is getting any younger. Our daughter cannot help us.

I used to go all day working out in the garden. Now I have to pace myself. The weather early this morning was surprisingly not bad, and even an occasional breeze would cool me down.

The water lilies have been blooming since early May. I made the mistake of putting in another water plant that has been somewhat invasive within the pond. I cut most all the stalks down a week or two ago. The birds are absolutely loving the pond in its current state because it allows them to take baths inside the pond. The pumps are still running and algae is under control. I was going to treat the pond last week when I saw dozens of tadpoles swimming around, so I decided to wait.

I won’t continue my report because I need to get back outside to continue the work of restoration. If the cicadas do ever show up, I will report back.

April 2024 Garden Update

The cleavers, also known as sticky willy, was running wild with an invasive power, trying to smother everything in its path in and around the raised beds.

The dirt under my fingernails is evidence of my rescue efforts early this morning.
The Hostas and dwarf Nandina are safe for now.

A large trashcan is now full of goose grass, another common name for sticky willy. It has even more common names.

Its scientific name is Galium aparine, and it is an annual herbaceous plant.

It is claimed to have many medicinal purposes, and this was interesting to read. However, I have neither the time or inclination to learn and practice herbal medicine at this time.

My time schedule is currently full. I was lucky to squeeze in the time for early morning weeding.

When I was done weeding I spent a few minutes enjoying all the blooming azaleas in my garden. 
(I have posted a few of them.)

Then it began to rain.

Not all of the cleavers is gone. There is some left for the butterflies and moths to enjoy.
I will have to watch it so that it does not overrun its neighbors.