Spring Break Pt.2

BY SKEETER

I told you about our wonderful Spring Type weather on Tuesday. It continues to be warm here in my Georgia Gardens and the temp is currently 65 degrees at 6:00am this morning. The front has finally started to move our way and we slept with the windows open again last night and I fell asleep to the sound of gentle rain falling. The temps should drop as the day continues and we are expecting a temp of 39 degrees by tomorrow morning. Not good as I have things blooming as I type this morning. Just look what all I spotted while out in the garden the past few days! Tina, remember this pretty plant you saw when you visited us back in November? Well, here she is continuing to bloom.

This beauty continues to bloom that you saw back in November as well! Susan in January, imagine that.   

 On the East side of the house the Purple Queen is hanging on and showing new growth as well as some blooms.

 I love the Queen's tiny blooms.

Spring bloomers one expects to see in spring but not in January. 

Such warmth in the air and soil that the Bridal Wreath is showing a few blooms.  

 Wild Violets are blooming all over the Wishing Well Garden.

I do not know how the Violets got there but I enjoy these little flowers so they shall stay where ever nature places them. 

 Phlox in pink is opening up.

 Phlox in white and purple is opening as well. 

 And look at this crazy Yellow Iris! Could that be blooms trying to spring up in January? Yes, the same Yellow Iris that bloomed during Summer and Fall. Is this a year round Iris? Ha... The Camellia bushes continue to bloom as well and have been since late October being the longest bloom time I have had for them. I failed to snap a pic of them though.

The Rye Grass looks ever so green and lush after I mowed it Tuesday. I had to get the Weed eater out as well due to weeds starting to pop up around the edges of the gardens. I plan to stay on top of the weeds as spring arrives this year as they really got away from me last spring. With our mild winter thus far, no reason why I should not be out each day plucking them. Yesterday, I was out spraying down the siding to the house and also cleaning the windows while wearing shorts. It was another day of near 80 degree temps but today is another day and the rain falls and temps are dropping which shall keep me back inside tending to house chores. I hope all survives the wrath of mother nature. I have enjoyed our little 7 day SPRING BREAK, In the Garden... 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Green Grass and Babies

BY SKEETER

A few weeks ago it was Rye Grass Seed Scattering day here in my Georgia Gardens.

A few weeks later, we have green grass!

At this point, the young Rye Grass blends in with the St. Augustine and Centipede grasses which still have some color in our lawn. Can you see where our resident Mole has been busy at the bottom of the picture? Grrrrrr, you little stinker.



I love the green color to grass year round thus, we spread the Rye seed each Fall.

On Tuesday, I heard a hammering sound outside. Thinking it was my handy neighbor working on a project in the yard, I just ignored the sounds. After about 30 minutes or so, I decided to investigate a bit closer. Lookie what I spotted.

A female Pileated Woodpecker hard at work. Not sure if she was just enjoying a meal or making a nest. I am pulling for the nest as it would be awesome to witness the progress of GREEN GRASS AND BABIES, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Experimenting with Grass

By SKEETER Last Fall we tried an Experiment with Grass in our Georgia Gardens. I had seen on other blogs how some gardeners sowed their lawns with Rye Seed for a green lawn in the winter. We decided to give it a try and see what would happen for us. With rains the day of the sowing process, it sprouted quickly for us. Then the ice and snow arrived.
I was concerned about the grass with the inch thick ice covering it for about a week. Yes, we had ice and snow sticking around for almost a week! That is so unheard of around these parts. It was a very cold and strange winter in Georgia. Soon after the thaw, I could see the grass was fine. Along with those willow oak leaves that are the last to fall from the trees.
Look at that beautiful green lawn today!
We are so pleased with the outcome that we plan to sow more rye seed next fall.

If you look beyond the brick wall, hedge and driveway, you can see the front yard which we did not seed. This grass is dormant and blah looking to the eye compared to the lawn around the house. The Tri-Angle Planter has been cleaned and should reseed with Perwinkle. I also planted some Cleome Seeds I collect last fall. We had one inch of rain last night so I am sure the seed liked the drink.

Which would you rather have, Green lawn or Dormant lawn? By the time the annual rye dies out, hopefully the Centipede and St Augustine grasses in our yard will be green.

We had one issue with the seed...The Saint used the broadcast spreader instead of the drop spreader around borders. Yikes, I was not happy when I saw the grass in the Drainage by the house. I had redone that area last spring and it was a difficult job.
On our first nice warm day, I started plucking the sprigs. As I plucked I was thinking about the way the Saints brain operates. After 23 years together, I find it fun to try and figure him out at times such as this. I had my ideas as to what he would say about this mishap and I had to see if I was correct in my analogy. I asked, "Honey Why did you use the broadcast spreader instead of the drop spreader?" Yep, I was correct. The Broadcast spreader did a faster job. But he saw no big deal as Rye Grass is a annual so it will die right? Yep, I knew that was coming also. He cracks me up that Saint of mine.
He redeemed himself by joining me in the plucking of the sprigs. We sat on our tarp and filled the bucket with grass sprigs.
The drainage area looks all pretty once again.
Now I shall move on to the Rock Garden and start plucking. (Can you see my little chipmunk?) Then to the Angel Trumpet Garden and start plucking and so forth and so forth.. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr....

We had success EXPERIMENTING WITH GRASS, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden