Beauty, Anticipation, & Disappointment

The cabbage worms were wrecking havoc on my cabbage this year. It's my first time growing it. I've been spraying it every other day to every few days with neem oil and all of the new growth so far has been intact!

I was also spraying my grapes with neem until we had two weeks straight of rain and I did not spray during the rain. Soon as it quit, these spots showed up 😕

These Yucca flowers are unique.

Garlic is ready to harvest!

I've been seeing these for the last couple of weeks at the local grocery store. They have no name, but boy are they pretty! I finally caved and bought one!

This little cutie has been teasing me for awhile! Still waiting!!!

More May Market Finds

I barely made it back to May Market today! I did get the wrong tomato yesterday! I got the one I really wanted to try instead! Marvel! Yes, I picked it because of its comic name! Hopefully it is as good as its description says it was!

A few more plants! I couldn't help it! It's like a kid in a candy store! I found a red Bleeding Heart! I also got a Night Blooming Jasmine and a different variety of Mendenille, myriantha to be exact! 

I realized today at work that I forgot to water my plants this past Wednesday, my mid-week french! 😳 When I got upstairs I found my Amaryllis in bloom! Way late as it should've bloomed two Christmases ago!

I also found my peach Epiphyllum ready to bloom! Except the other two buds it had blasted 😫

We've been on a tent caterpillar rampage here on the apple tree! 

The garlic here is not doing as well as the other area.

Got new Hakone grass for the planter boxes planted! Just need ONE more!!! There are one box on each end that I don't know if I ought to fill in or not...

Bletilla striata is poking through the ground next to its seed capsule from last year!

May Market Finds

What happened to spring?! This year was the first in 10 years that I have been a master gardener that I did not volunteer at Phipps May Market. It wasn't unintentional...I did sign up, but a coworker took the day off to get a head start on her vacation and I did not realize the change so I had to work instead. Normally that wouldn't be an issue except that we are under staffed. Luckily it went on til 7pm and I managed to get out on time on a Friday! It was SO hot though! It is usually cold or rainy for this event! It certainly didn't help wearing my polyester uniform with wool socks and compression sleeves! 

These are a MUST when you visit May Market! Fondant strawberries!

Picked up Brugmansia Manifique, a new Tillandsia xerographica since mine rotted, and a cute little pig! 

Here's a close up of the cute little pig!

Got some must have basil and a Anise Hissop!

Got two new tomatoes to try, but then realized I picked up the wrong one, Manyel! Ugh! Snow White is a cherry that I picked, but the other is so not what I wanted! 😒 Maybe I will go back tomorrow and pick up the one I really wanted.

I also got this FANTASTIC metal topiary/frame! It's about 4' tall and it was only $29!!! Unfortunately the woman did not have any business cards or a website even. They only do shows! She did say they had bigger ones, but had sold out! Just my luck! :(

Phipps had more Hakone grass. I meant to ask Margie to order me some, but I forgot. I should've asked if she was ordering and if so to save me some, but again, I got busy and forgot! They had 9 left and I bought all 9! I just need ONE more! UGH! Oh well!

My grape vine has what looks to be eggs all over it. What I am not sure!

This popped up in the yard...not sure what it is though! It doesn't taste or smell like anything!

Close up of the leaves...

My Sugar Ann sugar snap peas are growing, but if this heat continues they aren't going to stay very long!

My Cyprepedium bloomed yesterday. Today's heat obviously stressed it out a bit as the tips of the petals are a bit crispy :(

Look how incredibly flat the dorsal is!

The mosquitos are out in full force already. I went to plant those Hakone grasses and got three giant bites already! Lovely! One of the two things I really hate about summer weather!

Epiphyllum Buds!!!

I can't believe it! One of my epics has THREE buds and they are still indoors!!!

Fall Happenings

This is my largest tomato! I'm pretty sure I got the tags mixed up somehow and this Pineapple! It's got a great taste! Definitely will be growing this again! It's so pretty too!

The bottom of the tomato.

The inside! See how pretty it is?

I think this is my Japanese Kobacha squash....not sure? Will have to look at my seed packets, but it is getting big! 

My little watermelon! It's gotten big, but it isn't ripe yet still! *sigh*

Found a baby pumpkin growing! 

Another small pumpkin growing on the tomato cage! This one is bigger than the last. 

My beautiful kale! <3 p="">

Dahlia 'Potluck'. Not very impressed by this strain...less colorful than I expected! 

My milkweed finally bloomed! 

Seven spikes!!! This is the second time this Pleurothallis convallium 'D&M' has bloomed for me and I only got it this past May! 

This little Masdavallia Peachie must be happy with me as it threw out a spike!

Papillio in full bloom

Garlic 'Music' all squeaky clean and ready to be eaten/planted! Most of it will be planted as I did not get nearly enough to get much to be eaten this year unfortunately! :( 

Globes, Pineapple, Spiranthes, Fungus & Tomatoes

Target had the smaller globes in their $1 section a few years ago. They were $3 each. I showed some restraint and only purchased two. I knew I'd regret it! Granted my hooks don't look the best, but I have to say I am really pleased with the look! The airplants not only look good, but they seem happier to does the winter in one too! 

I think this was Pineapple. What a beautiful and tasty tomato! Big too!

Spiranthes odorata blessed me with two spikes this year!

Some kind of weird fungus on my mushroom manure...?