A Gardener's Notebook

Archive for the ‘Photos’ Category

Click to enlarge

In the midst of the daytime hustle and bustle of Bath, just a few steps from Bath Abbey and its busy square, lies Abbey Green, overarched by this large tree. It was a cool and quite respite in the city, and would be well duplicated in any garden. It is a lovely open, yet enclosed space that remains cool in the summer and provides a quiet place to sit and ponder

Gurney’s Seed and Nursery and Spring Hill Nurseries is continuing their photo contests started last month. “For the remaining photo contests, the companies have decided to raise the stakes, giving away two $100 Gift Certificates for each contest; one for each brand.”

You need to be a fan of the Gurney’s or Spring Hill Nurseries Facebook page to enter the contest.

Here are the upcoming topics and closing dates:

August:

Topic: Rainy Day Photos
Dates: August 9th, 2010 – August 16th, 2010

September:

Topic: Kids in the Garden
Dates: September 6th, 2010 – September 13th, 2010

October:

Topic: Pumpkin Carvings
Dates: October 18th, 2010 – October 27th, 2010

November:

Topic: Birds of a Feather (Bird Photos)
Dates: November 15th, 2010 – November 22nd, 2010

December:

Topic: Christmas Decorations
Dates: December 8th, 2010 – December 15th, 2010

January:

Topic: Winter Wonderland
Dates: January 10th, 2011 – January 17th, 2011

Foxglove in Kensington Gardens, originally uploaded by dewelch.

A shot from our recent trip to the UK. The white foxglove was growing in Kensington Gardens immediately adjacent to Kensington Palace. The palace ground are undergoing a large renovation at the moment.

Update: I have renamed this. I couldn’t think of “foxglove” when I posted this and had the name all wrong. I meant Foxglove from the very start. Oh well.

Nasturiums have sprouted!, originally uploaded by dewelch.

Almost to the time listed on the seed package I see that most of the nasturtiums I planted have sprouted. A quick count shows around 80-90% germination.

It is good to see them come up. I can only imagine what they will look like when we return from our 10 day trip to the UK. We have friends housesitting while we are gone, so I will instruct them to pay special attention to this area.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is happening this week near London and I am so jealous. I will be there in just over 2 weeks, but all of this will be gone. (Pout!)

Still, I can live vicariously through this Flickr slide show from those that DID make it.

There is also a lot of video on YouTube.

Passiflora – Passion Flower – 4, originally uploaded by dewelch.

A neighbor has this extremely healthy set of Passiflora vines growing on a wall along the sidewalk. It never fails to put on a great show every year.

I took some time to finally transplant these Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) I got from a landscape designer friend several weeks ago. Here are some pictures. Video coming soon!

As always, click for a larger version

Here are a few things that are blooming in my garden this month. Click to view them larger.

Geranium | Rose, “Mikado” | Rose, “Mikado” (opened)

Rose, “Bewitched” | Lavender

Azalea (the last of them) | Fortnight Lily (Dietes)

Gardenia | Rose “JFK”

I spotted this swarm hive in this business sign at 5800 Van Nuys Blvd while we were out for out daily walk a week or so ago. The bees were concentrated around the point where the pole meets the sign, so I am guessing the hive is in the sign itself. I informed the manager of the lot about this group, but I am guessing these bees are in danger of extermination if something isn’t done quickly.

I posted an email to our local Backwards Beekeepers group here in Los Angeles in hopes that someone might be able to come out and save the bees for a members hive.