Kathy’s Garden – Page 5 – movingforwardslowly

Garden Update April 2025

https://birdfact.com/articles/northern-flicker-vs-red-bellied-woodpecker. Picture is from this site.

My husband has been regularly filling the bird seed feeders and the suet feeders. This has attracted all sorts of birds to our garden. The other day I was very surprised to see a Northern Flicker at the suet feeder. I have never seen a live one nor a live one in our garden. It was big for the feeder compared to the little Downy woodpeckers that come around regularly now. When I was in the kitchen baking this morning, I looked out the window and saw the big bird again, but now I am not sure whether it was a Northern Flicker or some other type of woodpecker. The reason I wondered this is because the bird seen at our feeder had a very red head. The red started at the back of its neck and extended up to the back top of its head, and flickers don’t seem to have so much red on their head. However, looking at the comparison pictured above, the bird at our feeder did have the black patch and a mottled look on its front. It must be a Northern Flicker that it is coming around these days, and perhaps its redder head is a variation. In any case, I am very thrilled to be seeing it. It is almost too big for the suet feeder.

The Skip Laurel (Schip Laurel) hedge that is on two sides of our deck is blooming heavily this year. See picture below that was taken with my cell phone today.

Another surprise that I noticed today is a very old tall pink honeysuckle blooming. It was in the garden originally; however, it had been stunted with lack of sunlight for many years because another tree had been crowding it out. The offending tree was cut down a couple of summers ago. The pink honeysuckle is taking advantage of this and is spreading out and blooming. Gardens are always full of ongoing competitions. Next week I will be on break from school, so my plan is to get out in the garden.

Bless, Blessed, and Blessings

I have several thoughts on my mind this Sunday. I think I posted about the cardinal flower yesterday because Pope Francis has been in the news.
My thoughts and prayers are with him.

Last week I received my Virginia Real ID. This is my birthday month, and it was time to renew my driver's license, so since the law has changed regarding this, I upgraded to a real ID. I am good now for eight years before the need will arise again.

My inside joke is that I will be blessed next week since adding one year to my age will make my age 'code' for blessed. I see this word written on clothes, garden stones, garden fairies, etc. Making it a joke is one way to lessen the thought of 'older age' or 'old age'. I don't feel old.

This hypertufa planter I made 14 years ago is still standing strong.
The inside needs to be redesigned with new plant material and fun features.
I found the recipe online at gardeners.com. Here is a picture.

You can find directions at the above mentioned website. I did not follow these exact directions when I made mine years ago. If I remember correctly I found the directions in a book or magazine. They were not complete directions, so I had to improvise with how to make the form. I used a big old picnic basket that I lined with a super-sized, plastic, heavy duty garden refuse bag. I used gloves to slap the mixture on the sides. It was much harder to make than I expected. Once you start the process, you have to finish it. I was very blessed that it turned out as well as it did. The only reason I made one is because I kept seeing them at an upscale garden center, and I really wanted one, though their price was more than I could justify or felt comfortable paying.

Since I will be blessed this year (ha!), I should redesign the planter with some new mini or dwarf plantings. It currently holds a dwarf azalea, and some dwarf hostas named "Mouse Ears." These are drought tolerant. I still have the faded fairy with the word "Bless" on it. I will look for more garden decor with the words: bless, blessed, or blessing. Also I need to look for an automatic way to water it.

Looking ahead with plans to improve some things is a good way to feel positive right now.

Cardinal Flower Attraction & More

The cardinal flower likes to have its feet in watery mud.
The cool refreshing environment keeps it hydrated.
The nectar filled flowers are pulsing with life.
The hummingbird comes consistently during hot summer days.
The flower's nectar helps power its flight.
The swamp milkweed in the background has its own special suitor.
It arrives later in the summer and lays its eggs under the leaves.
The monarch's eggs will develop into caterpillars that eat and eat.
The excitement of the chrysalis is payment for the patient gardener.

Unusual Development

The other day when I was looking for monastery pictures,
I found this picture buried in my files.

This allium bulb shot upward in the spring, and then an insect or worm intervened.
The resulting curl made it stand out in its warped appearance.
Another type of beauty came alive. Its development continued.
Its flower came out the best that it could under these circumstances.
A very unique looking flower stood proud. It did not fold.

The flower's story is an inspiration. Disruptors exist all around us.
We can continue to bloom to the best of our ability, or we can give up.
In the end the Earth always takes us back and prepares for the future.
Continue to pray for all of us. God is with us when we pray.
The rain outside gives me hope. Life is possible.

Sweet Olive Whispers

Sweet olive flower artistically designed as a drop earring. I imagine it can whisper.

Osmanthus fragrans is its scientific name.

This flowering plant is native to Asia from the Himalayas through several provinces in China, Taiwan, southern Japan, and S.E. Asia as far south as Cambodia and Thailand.

In China, it is the “city flower” of several cities, and in Japan it is a “city tree” of several prefectures.

In Chinese mythology it is said that it grows on the moon. Wu Gang was a Chinese character who is known for endlessly cutting it down. It is seen as a divine punishment for him because this “self-healing” Osmanthus could and would regrow an equal amount every day.

I was inspired to look up this flowering plant when I saw this pair of earrings today. All the information here I have gleaned from Wikipedia. The picture has been edited from a picture on the Etsy website. Wikipedia did not suggest this flower can whisper. This thought came from my imagination, and when I read about the mythology, it confirmed to me it must have magical powers. Ha!

I even looked to see if I could grow this fragrant flowering plant in my garden. I think it needs a slightly warmer garden zone than where I am located. In the future when I get the chance to seriously renovate my garden, I will explore this possibility again.

A Change of Seasons

First day of fall surprise– Two blooming “Going Bananas” day-lilies.

Last night desire was running with the undercurrents in the room.
My senses were on high alert. That sensual feeling that seeks me out now and then was reaching through the invisible walls around me.
And then I fell asleep.

I woke to the first day of fall which can also be called autumn.
Out my window I was surprised to see two bright yellow day-lilies blooming once more.
It does not look like a change of seasons from the past.
The rain last night brought renewal in its wake.

I also spotted a little chick-a-Dee and a tufted Titmouse.
I have not seen either in quite a while. It is a joy to watch these birds in flight.They look like they are jumping through air.

Katherine Phlox back from the mid-summer browning.

Another surprise this morning was the blooming Katherine Phlox.
It had dried out in our summer heat. I had cut it down and watered it well, and then it was forgotten. Today it is blooming again.

I have a feeling that this fall will be full of renewal.
Happy Sunday!

Charlotte’s Web

My mother's first name was Charlotte. She was never called by this. She was called June.
It seems as if Charlotte has become a popular name these days.
My sister's name is Diane and my daughter's middle name is Diane.
After finding the book about Diana I have been reading a little bit more about the royals.
Prince William and Princess Kate (Catherine)have a daughter named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
Princess Diana's younger brother, Charles Spencer, has a daughter named Charlotte Diana.
Chelsea Clinton's first daughter is named Charlotte.
My name is Katherine, spelled with a K.
The coincidences are weird. I have not decided if it is a good weird or a creepy weird.
It does not really matter because it is what it is, and your perspective depends on your position.

Monarchs in the light. Another picture from the past in Kathy’s garden.

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.