Moonflower

I was surprised the other night to find this blooming in my garden.  I had planted a morning glory mix, and obviously they must have thrown some moonflowers seeds in the mix.

Lack of Hosta Seeds this Year

It just hit me this week as I was walking through the garden, and I can't believe that I did not notice it sooner.  Very few of my hostas have seed pods this year.  I know it's not a lack of bees; I have bees a plenty in my garden.  I'm guessing the lack of rain and the extremely hot temperatures are to blame.  Hostas that bloom very early like Elegans and Borsch #1 have seed pods but those mid-summer bloomers just have dried up scapes.  Hosta 'Dragon Lady' is one that usually a prolific seeder, and look at it this year....so sad with it's dried up scapes.

I also have noticed that I only have one daylily with seedpods, and I even went out and tried to hand pollinate them myself.

Visit to my friend Jill's garden

I finally got around to visiting my friend Jill's garden.  It is amazing - AMAZING!  It makes me wonder just how many more wonderful gardens there are hiding out in Wisconsin.  I might just have to find out next summer!  But for now here is a photo journey through Jill's gardens:

Morning Glories in Bloom

 Ao muraski zyouhanten shibori Morning Glory

Succulent Picture Frames from Goodwill Find

While at Goodwill the other day I found these two picture frames and just knew they would make great succulent planters.  When looking for picture frames that can easily be recycled into succulent planters look for shadow boxes or picture frames that are fairly deep, because you will need to add soil to your planter.  

Here is what you will need:

Picture Frame

Water Sealer

Soil

Hardware Cloth

Various Succulent plant cuttings

Caulk or glue

Scissors or wire snips

Duct Tape (optional)

Here are the steps:

1. Find a picture frame (Goodwill and other thrift stores are great sources).  You then need to take apart the frame.   Recycle glass, but make sure to keep frame and the backing of picture frame.  Spray or paint anything that is wood with a water sealer.

2.  Using a scissors or wire snips cut hardware cloth to fit inside of the picture frame.  I then caulk around the frame and add the wire inside the frame.  I sometimes will put something heavy on wire to keep it in place until caulk dries (usually 24 hours).

3.  Once caulk is dry place the back on the picture frame.  You may have to caulk the backing on to the picture frame if it doesn't have metal tabs to keep it in place.

4. This picture frame I had to caulk into place.  I had put duct tape on it just to keep it in place until caulk dried.

5.  Next fill the picture frame with soil.  You don't want to use any kind of moisture retentive soil, since succulents like it dry and can rot if they are too wet.  You also want to make sure to really pack the soil into the frame, as it will compact as time goes by.

6. Then start adding your succulent cuttings in any pattern you see fit.

7.  Then set picture frame in shade for a few weeks while cuttings take root.

This is another shadow box frame I found at Goodwill that day, and here is it's transformation.

Wisconsin State Fair Visit

Here are highlights of my trip to the Wisconsin State Fair.

The Fat Elvis: Deep Fried Peanut Butter Cups in a Banana Batter topped with Bacon

Award winning Gladiolus, if anyone knows the name of these please comment below!!!

Not a great picture but Christmas Tree decorated with 6 pack boxes.

Awesome metal palm tree lights for the backyard.  Too bad my yard is so small.

Can't go to the Wisconsin State Fair without eating a cream puff!

Cheesehead Gardens 8/7/2012

It's been a rough summer with the lack of rain, cutworm damage, and high temperatures, but here is a peak at my garden right now.

Hosta 'Ginsu Knife'

Hosta 'Ventricosa' sport

Hosta 'Velvet Moon' & 'Borsch #1'

Hosta 'Gumdrop' & 'Liberty'

Hosta 'Night Before Christmas'

Hosta 'Pilgrim'

Hosta 'Golden Gate'

Hosta 'Striptease'

Hosta 'Satisfaction'

Hosta 'nigrescens'

Hosta 'Sum it Up' my largest leaf hosta

hosta 'nigrescens'

Hosta 'Dream Queen'

Hosta 'Lakeside Surf Rider'

Hosta 'Parhelion'