Wordless Wednesday

Everyone seemed to like last weeks relaxed squirrel picture so much that I figured you’d probably enjoy this photo of a chipmunk being fed a snack.

I didn’t not take this picture, nor is it me in the photo, but I have feed a chipmunk like this in the past. They are fairly timid, but once they get used to you they’ll come up and take peanuts, bread or other snacks right from your hand, or as in this case, right from your mouth.

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Well it seems that my garden has finally got the message that winter is coming. There are still some stubborn roses sticking around, but they are no longer alive. The cold got to them and they are just there. Actually I’m hoping that I can take some pictures of them with frost or a light coating of snow on them one of these days as I think that will probably look pretty.

There’s also one single clematis flower on the vine at the front of the house. Like the roses it’s dead, but it’s still holding it’s color. I’m sure it fooled a few people that might have noticed it.

Since I don’t have any pictures of frosty flowers or snow covered plants to show you today I’ll have to fall back on pictures that I took earlier this summer.

One flower that stands out is the annual asters that I grew this summer. They were so pretty! Such vibrant dusty rose pinks, purples, blue and white flowers.

They started blooming in late July (if memory serves me) and continued to produce lovely blooms until early October.

The annual Aster plants are 12 inches or less in height so they are the perfect size for a garden border. I planted several of them in the open spaces at the edge of my raised garden beds, beside lavenders and hostas and they looked lovely.

Did you grow Asters this past summer?

Wordless Wednesday

There’s nothing like lying down with a snack. Obviously squirrels like doing this too!

I think this is some kind of red squirrel. It’s not one that we have around here in Ontario though! Actually I think red squirrels are either very rare or extinct in this area. We don’t even see all that many grey squirrels, the area is mostly populated with black squirrels.

I’m sorry. I’m not doing a Green Thumb Sunday post on this blo or the other two blogs I normally do GTS posts on today.

A friend of ours had open heart surgery on Friday (schedule surgery, not emergency) and we’ve been in and out of the hospital since Thursday visiting her and her husband and seeing other friends there as well. Plus I’m still sick. Darn Crohns - it’s acting up terribly …

So for once, I’m giving myself permission to not do a GTS post. ‘Cause if I do one I’e got to do three … LOL

I do hope that most GTS members are participating today. It seems GTS might be dying down and I think that would be a shame. So please do participate, otherwise let me know and I’ll take you off the GTS list.

Thanks!

Hydrangeas are a favorite shrub of many gardeners because of their eye catching blooms.

The majority of Hydrangeas originate from Asia and North America.

Hydrangea Macrophyllia (Mophead and Lacecap) are common in the Atlantic border states. They have big leaves, and their blooms come in colors of blue, lavender, pink and white. Other common hydrangeas are Paniculata or panicle hydrangea (PeeGee and family), Hydrangea arborescens (Annabelle) and Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf). There’s also Hydrangea anomola-petiolaris (climbing hydrangea). You can find this last hydrangea growing on the northern side of buildings. Depending upon which variety you purchase, you could have blooms from Summer to Autumn.

If you’d like to have a garden that almost always has something in bloom, plant hydrangea near rhododendrons, azaleas and or forsythia and you’ll have blooms and color from spring through to fall. I also have my hydrangea growing near a lovely clump of peonies.

Some species of Hydrangea, the Macrophylia in particular, will bloom either pink or blue depending upon the PH of your soil. Acidic soil will produce blue or violet flowers, while a slightly alkaline to neutral soil will give you pink or white blossoms. Hydrangea blooms can range from 5 to 10 inches in diameter depending upon the species.

How to grow Hydrangeas:

• Hydrangeas prefer light to medium shade, although large leafed hydrangeas seem to be able to handle full sun if they are given enough water.
• Hydrangea’s need moist well draining soil.
• Hydrangeas don’t require a lot of fertilizer. A good feeding in the spring is often sufficient. Compost or manure mixed into the soil near the plant will often be sufficient. You might also want to try Liquid Seaweed extract. It’s an organic fertilizer.

Pruning:

Big leaved Hydrangeas flower on old wood (previous seasons growth) so if you must prune only prune about a third of the weakest growth in early spring. Otherwise, prune immediately after your hydrangea has flowered.

You can visit this site to learn more about the proper care of your species of hydrangea. You might also want to visit the Hydrangea Forum at GardenWeb and talk with other hydrangea owners and gardeners.