Toadflax

Above left and right - Dalmation Toadflax

Left and below - Yellow Toadflax; Right - Butter and Egg Toadflax

Linaria vulgaris Mill., yellow toadflax, linaire vulgaire

A spreading perennial, toadflax has become a nuisance in the coulees of Lethbridge.  So much so that volunteers are in the coulees manually pulling them out.  Toadflax spreads by seeds and underground roots.  The pretty yellow, yellow with orange throat or white with yellow flowers grow on stems 6 inches to 2 feet (15 cm. to 6 dm.) high.  They grow in grasslands, cultivated fields, gardens, roadsides, and waste places and I've admired their blooms here in the nearby ravine.  They were introduced from Europe and Asia.
 
The bad news is this pretty little plant is a weed that is choking out desirable vegetation that local wildlife in the Lethbridge area depend on for food.  On that note, it has been decided not to use herbicides because of their effect on wildlife thus volunteers are manually removing them.  This plant can release 500,000 seeds per plant!  Talk about fertile!

Toadflax

Colour in My Garden

I seem to have a definite lack of colour in the garden this time of year.  Sure I have some colourful foliage in the barberries

Rose Glow Barberry

and the Summer Wine Ninebark

and there's the clematis

Nelly Moser Clematis

Jackmanii Clematis

and this little rush in the pond.

The Pink Diamond Hydrangea blossoms are still white, but gorgeous and the Endless Summer Hydrangea shows no signs of flowering at all!  Perhaps I need to fertilize that more through the growing season so it will mature faster.  Our season has been too short and rainy this year.  Too bad too, because other than some clematis, there's virtually no colour in that bed.  Note to self, I need to mix things up in the east bed!

Changing It Up

Welcome everyone!  My returning visitors will notice a bit of a change here.  I decided to freshen things up a bit on my blog.  Did you know blues are the "in" colour for fashion and home decor?  I saw it on CityLine so ..... it must be so.  Won't you leave a comment and let me know if you like it.

Fountain Views - My Fertilizer Friday

This fountain was a Mother's Day gift from my wonderful sons a few years ago.  Photo taken two years ago.

one year ago in the spring

Back left is my Black Lace Elder, to the right Jackmani Clematis

View from above spring 2010

Early Spring 2010,  The black lace elder has not yet started to grow, the clematis is straggly, but the rhododendron looks about ready to start blooming.  Fron right is a bird's nest spruce.

The heat of summer has encouraged a lot of growth and blossoms.  Next year the clematis will be even fuller! 

Looking through from under the deck.  An interesting angle I'd never thought to photograph before.

The Passing of Victory Garden Host Jim Wilson

Jim Wilson, host of PBS's Victory Garden, has passed away this last weekend at the age of 86.  A gentleman from Mississippi, Jim was well known in horticulture circles.  He was president of the Garden Writers' Association of America and lifetime honorary member of the National Council of State Garden Clubs.  His kind, gentle and geuine manner will be missed.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100804/COL0702/8040315/1020/feat/Jim-Wilson-leaves-a-bountiful-legacy

Summer Blahs?

Summer is so short here.  Sometimes it feels as if we have one month of spring, three months of summer (aka construction season), one month of fall, and the remaining seven months feel like winter!  Is there any better reason to make the most of summer?  Sit by the fire outdoors in the evening whenever possible.  Build that oasis in the back corner.  Enjoy the pond.  Put up bird feeders.  Deadhead annuals to keep them flowering.  Add that new plant you've been eyeing in the nursery.  Yes, that might mean digging up some more grass!  You know it!!  Add some colour to that drab spot that has been bugging you at this time of year, every year.  Go for it!  Make this summer a great one!  Do remember to take some time in your garden to enjoy the fruits of your labours and the gifts of Mother Nature.  Enjoy!!

And, if that is not enough incentive check this link:

http://www.canadiangardening.com/what-to-do-now/jobs-in-the-garden-by-season/banish-the-summer-gardening-blahs/a/22788?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cg_100803

10 Midsummer Mistakes

Common mistakes gardeners make.  I myself am guilty, by the sounds of things, of overwatering my lawn.  3-5 minutes?  Really?..................

http://www.canadiangardening.com/what-to-do-now/jobs-in-the-garden-by-season/10-midsummer-gardening-mistakes/a/31797?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cg_100803

Dreaming..........

I am dreaming of a vacation to the Hamptons............

like Something's Gotta Give.........

ora visit to this lovely plot in the movie It's Complicated...

or a beach....anywhere.....

like San Francisco (taken by friend)...

have a picnic on the sand like Jack and Diane (Something's Gotta Give)

(see my blog http://shirley-adventuresinanotsounusuallife.blogspot.com/)

or....

a visit to Cold Lake.....

but more than likely it'll be something more like this....

maybe with a little this.....

and a lot of weeding, gardening, and good fun.....

street performers earlier this month

walking the dogs

waterfights in the back

(my son and his friends)

Enjoying the dog days of summer......

and a little humour thrown in

Made in the Shade

Hostas look lovely in planters

The shade garden

Hostas, heuchera, ferns and astilbe

The soon-to-be flower of Francis Williams Hosta

Shooting Star

I love the juxtaposition of burgundy heuchera and the green of ferns, juniper, Alberta Spruce, and astilbe with a touch of pink in the flower of shooting star.

The heat of the last week or so has made me truly appreciate the shade!

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