Pots pots pots

Some purty pots

Pots pots pots

This is what they pay the big bucks for :)

Spare time

The weekend before memorial day is crucial. I've been potting annual planters for the rich and famous like a wild woman. Trying to create something stunning, long lasting and unique for each little picturesque pot. I found myself using some of the usual characters, petunias, coleus, geraniums and inpatients- for their dependability and charm- but this year I've been inspired by my own veggie garden and so I'm mixing in lettuces, artichokes, sages to some of my favorite annual combinations. Pictures to follow.
Erik is away this weekend. He went to the mainland to take a kayaking instructors, instructors course. It's amazing how much time presents itself in the absence of a lover....I've spent it all with the veggies. Our little garden is really becoming something! I've already been picking arugula for sandwiches and salads. The snap peas are beginning to climb, nasturtiums, kale, cauliflower, leeks, chard, strawberries, sunflowers, and all the root stuff. Who knew radishes were so cool!? They are compact and leafy, I get all excited every time I peak under the row cover. The Swiss chard looks like Swiss chard and the strawberries came up with more buds than leaves. I planted cucumbers and squash not too long ago so I'm still waiting to see them emerge. I started an early crop of cabbage that is ready to be transplanted. I also started eggplant- a really cool heirloom variety from Johnny's- but it's been a month and nothing...maybe I need a germination pad? So that was a bummer, but I haven't totally given up hope on them. I'll keep you posted. I am in and out of the garden centers so often, I am always tempted to bring home some new and delicious seedlings to plunk in the ground. I am fearful that come July their won't be any room to move in there. Alright well, I am going to play in the perennial beds for a bit I'll let you know how it goes.

Liloceris lilii

The red or scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) is a leaf beetle that eats the stems, leaves, buds and flowers of lilies, fritillaries and other plants in the Liliaceae family. It only lays its eggs on Liliuim and Fritillaria species [1]. It is native to parts of Eurasia. It is known to have been introduced separately to Britain and Canada in the 1940s, possibly on imported lily bulbs. It is now a pest in most temperate climates where lilies are cultivated.
The larvae have orange-brown bodies and black heads. They carry their excrement on their backs in order to deter predators. Adults are bright scarlet in colour and 6–9 mm long.
When the adult beetles are threatened they emit a high pitched buzzing from their abdomen.

bastards.

May Flowers