Blooming Flowers

The mystery bulbs are blooming, a beautiful riot of color. I bought a whole bunch of bulbs last fall on sale at Home Depot. I picked up this bag because the picture was pretty. I have forgotten what they are and didn't keep the package. They were the strangest knarliest little nutty bulb too, not at all like the typical "onion" bulb. If anyone knows or wants to guess at what the colorful blooms are - go for it.



Progress in the yard is still slow. The rain demon plagues us every Friday, especially the days when we have young men to help. The flagstone is still not done. Two thirds of the stone still sits on pallets awaiting a good day to set it in place. We did lay the weed barrier fabric and the base of decomposed granite to the edge of the veranda. Next time young men visit, stones will be set regardless of weather. Next will be to finish the plumbing, grade the landing and set the stones around the out door shower. Soon... maybe not soon but sometime in May, I hope.


Compost. Four, yes 4 cubic yards was spread across the soon to be lawn area and bermuda seed was planted. We used a hydromulch formula for the front yard area and a plain bermuda seed elsewhere. The green grass in the photo is the rye grass that is dying. It was planted last fall to hold the topsoil and slope in place over the winter. The grass will grow if it rains or we water. The challenge of being a part time absentee gardener is the worst during germination. Do I dare say, "Pray for rain." No because we've already had too much rain. So instead, I hope David will have time in the next 10 days to stop by and water. He does have several business meetings in the area next week and week after.




The Master Gardener's of Grayson County held their semi annual plant sale, it was a huge success. Members are the best customers. I bought two Marie Daly rose bushes -- an easy care shrub rose, few thorns, lots of very fragrant, double pink blooms. Successive flushes of bloom spring to frost and it was developed for Texas.

I bought three shasta daisy plants as well. All were planted in the west flower bed.





Time to mow.

The weeds and grass grew over a foot in just one week. Here is a picture of the pasture before mowing.
David mowed the pasture while I mowed with the small riding mower.
No after pictures -- too tired and in a rush for a pizza dinner date at Jen's house. But the yard and pasture are really beginning to shape up and look like a yard.


Busy busy weekend.

Tommy and Trip did work hard, they cut up tons and tons of firewood from the dead tree in the bunkhouse yard. They also tore apart the read end of the '53 Chevy. You remember my mention of "Tator -- Mater's cousin".

I transplanted the mystery seedlings (more mysteries) from the planter box to the east flower bed. Time will solve that mystery, I'll know when they bloom whether they are dahlias or coreopsis. The six strongest of the leggy straggly tomatoes were planted in the vegetable bed. The rest were tossed out. David planted his melon patch. Ten mounds, six with cantaloupe and four with pumpkins should be sprouting in a week or so. Eighty-six days for cantaloupe, not 90 but 86 according to the package and 120 days to harvest for the pumpkin. I'm sure we'll have a big weedy patch.

We had a lot of help from Bella and Molly all weekend. I swear I've cast more grass seed on Bella that she should start sprouting any day. The pair ran and rolled through the melon patch too. They love the freshly tilled soil, the feel, the warmth, the smell. They are dogs, they love to roll in anything.

Peaches, peaches and more peaches are clustered on the one year old peach tree. The fruit will have to be thinned soon to protect the young tender fruit bearing limbs.