First Garlic of 2011

Yea! June 1st also brought my first garlic for this year. This is a variety new to me called Red Janice and, yes, it is an early one. Luckily, it decided to wait for my return from Baton Rouge. I just happened to look out the window and noticed one section of the garlic was leaning.

Upon further investigation (i.e., digging out one to look), I determined that, yes indeed, it was ready. Out they came.


I was pretty pleased with them! There's 23 heads (if I counted correctly) which is darn good for the small space they occupied. Plus, they're all decent sized. Finally, I may be getting the hang of this. Although, I'm not speaking too quickly (with fingers crossed), as I have more varieties still growing.

At any rate, I'm happy! Definitely a keeper and one to plant back this fall. Here's the label:


I also pulled a couple of lost names ones that appeared ready. I do love garlic! You can't have too much, I think...so useful, so tasty! Once you grow fresh, nothing else will do. I think I've been playing around with garlic for at least ten years....some years better than others. My new order was placed in March....as I just love trying new varieties or re-trying some that I think maybe I could do better with. Like daffodils, I order my garlic early for the best selection.

Okay, just another look....

June 1st...Already!

I'm back.....not that you knew I was gone...(laughing). I've been down to Baton Rouge, LA, for the AHS National Convention. This year, my DH accompanied me, sort of....he did the driving and enjoyed the hotel and great (I mean GREAT!) restaurant meals....while I took my usual zillions of pictures.

It was so fun! And, yes, despite all my vows not to...I came back with three new plants. Two bus plants from one of the tour gardens and an amazing (if I do say so myself) raffle win of a new (2010) Carpenter plant that Mark Carpenter graciously donated for the fund raising efforts. Shoot, I almost never win (exception....there was that marvelous win of Dorothy and Toto at Lilyhemmer...)....so, I just consider my raffle ticket buying as a little donation to support the efforts of club/clubs who work so hard to put on these events....but, I do (haha) go down and watch the drawings because you just never know. And, hey, I was a winner! Yippee!

Well, more about the convention later when I get some of those pictures organized, etc.

I came back to find that summer was in full swing here. Hot! And, the garden had simply exploded while I was gone. Plus, I still don't have my tomatoes planted...sigh...and most of the ones I had bought all seem have to have diseases which is discouraging. I don't know if I'll plant them. I do have some baby tomato plants that I started from seed...a few that I had to re-start after I fried them while supposedly hardening them off.

But, enough of all that...I have a few daylilies blooming! That's what we want to talk about!

A new arrival here, DELIGHT OF MY EYES is the first of Larry Grace's new efforts that I have acquired. Not especially new as a 2008, but I was especially interested in this one because...


...(a cliffhanger...haha...just for you)...of its pollen parent, JELLY MAKER...which was highly sought after on the LA Seed Forum a couple years ago....and ELISA DALLAS, its pod parent, which is simply a daylily I like...and that one day...I probably will acquire. I made a few stabs at it this spring, but didn't pay attention and was outbid on the LA. It can happen....especially if you forget when the auction ends!

Also a new arrival and also currently residing in the pot ghetto is SWEET HOME LOUISIANA....a new one from Nan Wilkerson who is in...duh...Louisiana.


Great color and size on this one. I'm sure it will be amazing when it gets to clump size.

From my garden....FIRESTARTER....which is beginning to show its height...


FIRESTARTER is the work of Jim Murphy...check out this...branching of the branch or something....


CAROLYN HUNT...


...in the blazing full sun just a little while ago. What do you think of my new polarizing filter? You'll see more of it in use when I get to the convention pictures.....

....And now, for the education portion of our program....(ha)....just in case this little piece of information has escaped you....here is....most unfortunately....a blasted scape....


....and it doesn't make one a happy camper. However, some duct tape might just allow a few blooms...might. Usually occurs in tetraploids after periods of uncertain moisture (at least in the plant's opinion) such as heavy rain followed by lack of rain or vice-versa. Some plants are more prone to this than others. Not a desirable characteristic, possibly genetic. Don't immediately discard a plant that has this happen....it could be a one time instance or something very rare. If you see if year after year, then definitely, it's not worth your time and trouble...as there are so many who never exhibit it. But, freaky things do occasionally happen...

Not wanting to end on this note, here are a few photos of other stuff....

The self seeding larkspur has been especially nice this year...and tall....originally from the Mary Washington House..


I call these the Mother's Day lilies as my family gave me them one year...an LA Lily of some variety....growing happily next to the emerging pineapple lily (lilies), Eucomis...


a bit closer....


Some eye-popping Asiatic lilies that I bought on a whim purchase last year. The daylilies are starting to overwhelm them, so perhaps they might have to be moved...unless they decide to have a growth spurt for next year (one can hope)....



These roses are a bit past prime, but such a wonderful color...


....which reminds me....where did I put those pictures of the roses?....The roses have been so nice....I do love English and old fashioned roses....so fragrant....which must be why I keep them around...lol...as they are a bit of trouble here....

Okay...until later....