This weekend, I finally am getting to my garden planting. Usually I’ve put seeds in peat pots weeks before now, and planted my pots with annuals in early May. Not this year, so I had some catching up to do. My plants that survived the winter in the sunroom were moved to the veranda, but the other pots were still empty, and I didn’t have anything for my hanging baskets. I had swept the flooring of pollen, but it still needed a good wash before filling up the pots. So, after we played pickleball on Saturday morning, we dropped by Garden Jubilee, then came home and washed the veranda. I’m having friends over for lunch this coming week, and wanted it clean and fresh to eat on the outdoor table. I arranged the flowers I do have after the veranda was clean. The rockers are sitting in the yard ready for a bath.
Here’s a photo of the geranium’s deep pink flower, so intense in color.
Also on the veranda, this little purple calibrachoa survived the winter, and blooms happily on scrawny stems. I’m hoping that pinching it back just a bit will help it to grow a bit thicker.
The dogwoods are blooming profusely, this one is on the edge of the meadow. The creamy white flowers cover the branches.
This one is in the circle island in the middle of the driveway. Both are gorgeous this year.
Sitting in my chair one morning this past week, I was startled by movement on the veranda. Not little movement like Oliver, but big movement as a bobcat loped by the big sliding glass door! He stopped as he realized the railing was blocking him in, then turned around to go back to the steps to get out. He paused at the bottom of the steps, then dashed off, of course before I could get the camera focused to get a photo. I took this one in 2018, and it is the only one I’ve ever been able to get. He’s about 40 pounds with tufted ears and a spotted coat.
I was glad to see he didn’t make a dinner out of this turkey. She comes by pretty regularly, and I think is the one that was attacked by the red tail hawk some weeks ago. I haven’t seen any little ones, but I believe she spends a lot of her time in the cove to the west of the house. She gets tidbits of whole grain bread from time to time.
A rainy and foggy dawn Thursday morning, the clouds hung heavy in the valley, showing the layers between the hills to the next mountain ridge. The quiet of the early morning is relaxing.
Inside, the orchid has not really made any more progress in the last three weeks. It still is not fully open. A second flower bud is forming under this one.
I mentioned that this weekend is Garden Jubilee in downtown Hendersonville. The event covers about 8 blocks along Main Street, and in past years had wall to wall plant vendors.
This year was disappointing, as there were lots of craft vendors with some yard art, and things like jewelry and household items, but very few plant vendors. Only two were there that I recognized as being in this area. So we walked the festival in a very short time.
I got two tomato plants that went into the planter as soon as we got home. Did you know that if you bury a tomato up to its first leaves, the whole stem underground will make roots? This makes a very strong and vigorous plant. Here are the two, both Early Girl variety, one in the ground and one yet to plant.
And here it is planted deep. I placed tomato cages over both to support them as they grow.
The other plant I got was a pretty purple and white calibrachoa. I planted it in a container and put it inside the birdcage.
I noticed that the hydrangea is starting to bloom, and I am thrilled that it seems to be holding with the light purple color I like best.
The three pots of toad lilies may need to move from their spot, as brown leaves and spots may mean too much sun. I’ll keep an eye on them. They need a lot of water too.
Today, I’ll go to the garden center to get more plants to fill more of the pots on the veranda, plus more veggies for the planter. I want some cherry tomatoes, some squash and basil. Surprisingly, my parsley is doing great, having survived the winter. I want the veranda to be full of flowers as usual. I’m not sure what I’ll put in the hanging baskets this year, but it needs to be something hummingbirds like that doesn’t cost a lot. Perhaps petunias this year.
What is happening in your garden this week?
From My Carolina Home 
We had a bobcat visit four days in a row and caught on a trail cam. It was quite healthy looking. I know you are anxious to get everything planted. Happy Gardening!
What a lovely summer display…I think it’s finally here!
Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures. We also planted 2 Early girl tomatoes along with cherry tomatoes and a green zebra variety that my husband likes. I didn’t know about the planting deep trick and will have to try that next year. My husband also planted some lavender in a pot as it is one of my favorites and I love the smell. I also planted some shade loving coleus and begonias in the planters by our front door. I’m loving the color and looking forward to them growing.
I am so impressed, Carole! You are far ahead of me. My seeds are all sitting in packets on my bench — I doubt they’ll ever even come up now. I’m so behind and since I’m not “allowed” into places like the garden center or nursery (or grocery store or anywhere), I haven’t bought a single starter plant. We may do the cemetery graves today but Rick will have to go in to buy the geraniums, which I consider “my job.” Still, they’ll get done and I’ll get out of the house. So, what’s in my garden now are lily of the valley, buds on the peonies, six iris buds (which is more than last year!) and strawberry blossoms and even some green berries. I actually was able to cut back some of the spring bulb leaves and weed a bit yesterday, although the sweet peas and black-eyed Susans are coming up and taking over and I wasn’t quite sure what was a weed and what wasn’t. It will settle itself. And maybe I can plant some seeds in my pots this weekend.
I have one grape tomato plant in a pot on the patio as well as some herbs and lots of flowers. It makes me happy to see everything growing.
your plants and flowers are looking so pretty as usual. You have such a green thumb!!
Always fun to see what you’re growing! The dogwoods are beautiful. I just got everything planted this week, too. Hope I put my tomato in deep enough! Enjoy those beautiful views!
Your garden is so pretty. I keep seeing Earl Grey as the name on those tomatoes. Must be a subliminal message for a fresh tomato sandwiches & tea break. I love foggy rainy days, everything is so peaceful & smells fresh from the showers.
You have a lovely porch, it will be so inviting next week when your friends come! We learned about the tomato stem idea last year, but too late to use it this year. It certainly solves the problem of having tomatoes that are too leggy at transplant. We have lots of wind, so I am really pleased with how they are managing so far. Most everything is in now; I will plant a few green beans and some kale, and the pea war with the sparrows continues!
Kousa dogwoods are really heavy in bloom around here too! I have one hydrangea that is blooming pink, and I may try to add some aluminum sulfate to see if I can get it to change. Yours is gorgeous!
Almost total make over is the goal. Having joined “Growing Kindness” and the the remembering I don’t have many cut flowers I am going for more . Day Lilies just don’t make the grade for cut flowers….Maybe next year I will be able to enjoy sharing the results.
Photos are amazing! Garden looks picture perfect! So much rain here, creeks are overflowing, lawn is mushy, but the garden seems to like the extra moisture and no hot sun yet. Thanks
Pink and blue flowers with all shades of green, quilt colours. Love a walk through your garden ,always.
This past week, I planted my deck pot and Mom’s hanging basket with Gerbera daisy, moss rose, and something else I can’t think of the name. I’d already planted parsley and basil and my sage and oregano still look good from last year. I have rosemary that still needs to go into the ground along with a zucchini plant. I only just planted tomato seeds which I kept from my neighbor’s plant last year. The lettuce looks good, especially the arugula which I love, and beans need to go into the ground soon. So much to do always!
Wonderful garden works!!! Your weathers a bit ahead of us. I’m still planning on getting some geraniums–love the shade of fuchsia you have! And some tomato plants, too–thanks for the planting tip!!!
All your flowers look wonderful. So pretty. I did not know that about tomato plants. It’s been years since I’ve planted any; but tucking the tid bit of knowledge away in case I decide to plant again. Too bad the garden store didn’t have the variety and wider selection this year. Looks like you did well just the same.
Your plants look great. I bought some plants last week, but it’s too hot today and tomorrow to plant them. Maybe next week when we go back to the 70’s. A word of warning about your parsley. It is a biennial, so it will probably flower soon and go to seed. You might want to pick up a fresh one for later in the summer if you use it for cooking.
Lots of pretty flowers in the garden
Lovely to see what is happening in the garden.
A pity there were not a lot of plant vendors but I am guessing it is going to take quite a while to return to the way things were before covid.