Choice Morsels

Last weekend I talked about the juvenile Mockingbirds being taught by parents to come to the suet cage hanging on my feeder. There were 3: one set of parents had 2 and the other only 1. Now that they are "on their own," they spend all their time harassing each other and chasing one another off the suet cage, each trying to be King of the Hill.  Garden Pics: First, I have a nice shot of my newest Lace Top Hydrangea in bloom. It's called "Cherry Explosion."  It was my one new garden item I ordered this spring. It's a compact variety that won't get larger then about 36 inches in circumference. I love Lace Tops. Many years ago I had a blue one I adored that was not only a blue Lace Top, but also had lovely variegated leaves. I've not seen anything like that since.   And I have Blackberries... Lots of pump, juicy Blackberries. Tame, thornless all on tall, upright stems I tie up, I used to make jam, but I don't really need that much jam any more, so I ...

Blackberries are on!  We're picking handfuls daily and have collected a pint already! So today's Garden Pic is a collage showing both blossom & berry: These are upright, thornless blackberries that range in height between 4 and 5 feet tall. (They have to be tied up) I fertilized them well last year, so the berries are big and fat this year. For best results, I dig in some granular garden fertilizer around the roots after fruiting is finished to nourish the new growth, then again in middle fall before it's cold. Today's Garden project was cleaning up the large back rain garden. It needed a bit of raking & weeding, a little thinning out of the Flag Iris and Liriope and the addition of some fresh river pebbles. *** Stop back tomorrow for Mama Kat to hear a good sleepwalking story!

Because for tomorrow's Mama Kat I'll be doing the "illustrate emotions with photos," prompt, which will involve flower pictures, I'm not using any flower pictures today! So for today's Garden Pics I have a nice shot of my Blackberries, which haven't turned "black" yet and also a Purple Finch! The Promise of Blackberries: These are a thornless hybrid breed of blackberry with an upright habit. They get around 5 feet tall, so I have to keep them tied to tall stakes. I have around 9 stakes worth with 2 to 3 stems on each. They propagate themselves easily by root underground, so I'm always having to dig up and move little sprouts, which is how I get so many.  My plan for these once I harvest them all: blackberry jam. The Beautiful Purple Finch: I captured this photo in Alabama actually, in March on the way to Indiana.  This was in front the motel, where a small flock of them were flitting among the trees.  A sparrow size...

Wednesday Garden Photos! Today I have a two views of some of my garden beds to show you: First my Hosta Lily and Ivy bed that runs along the shady north side of my house. These particular Hosta's are called "Giant Hosta's" because they grow into a wider spread then most----but they're not the largest Hosta you can get. There is a huge type. Mine are in bloom right now---3 foot stalks lined with pale lavender blossoms. Strictly an outside display flower. Not for cutting. The green stuff between the blooming Hosta's is a type of ivy for outdoors. It looks nice, but can be invasive. I have to use the hedge shears on it a couple times a year. This bed runs between the A/C unit and the back porch. The trellis you see at the far end of the picture has a red climbing rose on it, something I put in last spring. It's pretty carefree. I just snip the ends finished blooming. The next picture below is the bed that runs along the landscape block wall we p...

  On to the Garden Pics of the Day: Below are some Gardenias. Gardenias are a flowering shrub that ranges in size from regular to dwarf. This one is a regular, full size blossom type, which can grow into a tree if you don't keep it pruned and shaped. This bush is, oh, eight feet tall and 10 around at least. It's due pruning this year once it's done blooming.  (Someone asked if it's currrently blooming and it is and has been for nearly 3 weeks now--but is nearly done. The photo is this years bloom.)   I'll probably trim off at least 2 feet. I never got around to last year. Like Azaleas, it must be trimmed quickly after done blooming and not cut again, because it sets next years blossoms before the end of summer. The flowers on this bush range from 3 to 31/2 inches in diameter. Not all gardenia bloom so large. The greenery is very shiny and I find it generally a trouble-free shrub. I really don't do anything to it, but pruning. The flowers sme...