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6-7-09: Broadcast saved holyhock seeds in the top one-third of the second prepared strip in field behind house. Bottom one third sowed with saved 2008 Gloriosa Daisy seeds. Middle third not planted. In the entire front strip, broadcast saved 2008 Gloriosa Daisy seeds. Strips are approx 3' wide and 120' long. Removed most of the large weeds from the front flower bed across the lane.  
6-10-09: Cut down large, woody weeds in the open spaces of the old main garden using the 'weed wacker' with special cutting head. (Ethan)
6-13-09: Started the following seeds in seed trays: CGS' 2008 saved columbine, dwarf marigolds and "Union" (?) holyhocks. Also, Stokes' 2006 "Calypso Mix" Portulaca, white Cleome "Helen Campbell" and  Gloriosa Daisy "Marmalade." 
6-14-09: Noticed that the lhybrid Martagon Liliums had begun blooming. Also the bushy, white clematis and the two Rosa "Red Grootendorst."
6-15-09: Started the following seeds in seed trays: Gert's 1993 PA heirloom tomato; CGS' 1999 Digitalis purpurea; CGS' 1999 'Queen Sophia' dwarf marigold; 2004 Snapdragon 'Dwarf Magic Carpet' mixed colors; 2001 dwarf marigold 'Petite Yellow;'  2004 Helianthus (sunflower) 'Colour Fashion Mixed;' 2004 sunflower 'Autumn Beauty.' The sunflowers are the multi-stemmed, multi flower "fancy" type. Also, in small pots- 1999 Cucumber 'Marketmore 76;' saved 2002 store butternut squash; saved 2004 store butternut squash; and a butternut squash of unknown origin and date. [NOTE: All of these out-of-date seeds were planted as a test of germination and for planting out, if any prove viable.]
Removed the large, woody weeds and self sown phlox from among the front rows of Liliums in the old main garden.
The old rose that grows at the foot of the rock garden began opening buds. Hemerocalis "Stella D'Oro" tight to the foundation at end of the house is blooming.
CGS' dwarf marigold seeds started  6/13 germinated!
6-16-09: Planted two rows of bird seed "black oil" sunflower seeds in the middle third of the second tilled strip in the field "out back."
6-17-09: Used a special grass killer, "Ornamec 170" that does not affect ornamental plants, along the front of the front wall and main borders, as well as in them. Also, around the railroad tie island planting and in the main garden on some very tall grass. If this works, a big problem will be solved!
6-18-09: The broadcast Gloriosa Daisy and holyhock seeds I sowed on  6/7 are making their appearance. The "Sundrops" (Oenothera fruiticosa 'Youngi') are beginning to bloom. Potted some sunflower and holyhock "volunteers."  In a flat, started many 2006 Stokes calendula 'Pacific Beauty Mix." Also, twenty 2009
Page similar calendulas in the flat. There was 1.88" of rain the night of 17-18th and all day on the 18th. Had 0.95" on the 14/15th, 0.67" on the 12th and 0.64" on 9th.  [Postscript: There was 0.32" of rain on the 20-21st.]
6-21-09: Other "Sundrops" blooming, along with Rosa gallica versicolor ("Rosa Mundi"}. Both the blue an the white perennial geraniums blooming, too.
6-22-09: Discovered that a chipmonk had eaten the tiny leaves off most of the Helianthus "Colour Fashion mixed" seedlings placed on the side stone wall.
6-24-09: Set out 55 birdseed sunflower seedlings (see above) along the top edge of the top third of the second newly prepared strip out back. 27 of the same in the upper part of the bottom one- third section. Started the following seeds in six pacs, etc.:Stokes 2006 Gloriosa Daisy "Marmalade;" Burpee 2004 Helianthus "Autumn Beauty;"  Stokes Helianthus "Colour Fashion Mixed;" and CGS' 2008 dwarf marigold. [All were planted "thickly," since previous germination was poor to none.]
6-25-09: In the lowest 23 feet of the bottom one-third section of the second strip of tilled ground out back, planted birdseed sunflower seeds along the top edge. In area below dining room windows, set out 12 golden yellow celosia 'plumosa' (sp?). In front of post lite stone wall, set out 17 coleus of two kinds.
Hemerocalis fulva (common daylily) has beguin blooming.
6-26-09: Potted the five rooted geranium cuttings. Potted earliest CGS' 2008 dwarf  marygold seedlings. After three days in the freezer (stratification), planted  in seed trays: CGS' 2008 columbine seeds;Stokes 2006 white cleome 'Helen Campbell; and 2006 T and M calendula 'Kablouna Gold'. ("NG" previously.)
Set out below the lower stone wall at the left end, two tiny "fancy" sunflower seedlings. (See above for the starting of these.)
6-27-09: Set out seven butternut squash potted seedlings midway in the front tilled strip out back and near the front edge, Three 'hills' of  2-3-2 plants. Put another 12 coleus "Wizard Mix" plants of a third variety in the area by the post light. Began edging and de-grassing/weeding the front wall border. Badly  needed after years of neglect. 1st of the Glor. Daisies that survived the winter began blooming.Also, Monada didyma.Yesterday rain= 0.49". Today=0.71".
6-28-09: First flower on a hybrid daylily in the main garden.
6-29-09: Bought two, very 'leggy' "Sweet 100" tomato plants and "potted'" them in a 3 gallon bucket. Bought three, very leggy "Marketmore" cuke plants and planted them individually in two large pots and one bottomless, but with screening, water pail. The sunflower seeds planted out back on 6/25 are beginning to show. The 'Kablouna' calendula seeds 'stratified' in the freezer and put in seed trays on 6/26 began "popping." Rain in late evening= 0.03".
6-30-09: Put the potted tomato and cuke plants at the southeast side of the blueberry patch, near end. Will stretch fencing on the blueberry bird netting framework on which the plants will grow vertically. Will also partially bury the pots in the thick leaf mulch. Started six, 6-pacs of birdseed sunflower seeds. First of the many holyhocks across the road in the back area are blooming. Rain from nearby T-storm in afternoon= 0.64".

7-1-09: Another 0.83" of rain fell at "the farm" in the late afternoon. "Brushmark" lily and hybrid monada are blooming in the main garden.
7-4-09: Finished degrassing/deweeding the front border. Then planted 48 calendula seedlings of good size from two flats into the border in two rows, more or less. [Used electic drill and bulb planting auger to make the planting holes.] Put two butternut squash (or cuke) plants out back where others are. Cut off tops of the first Martagon lilies that are finished blooming. Staked/tied up various plants. 'Potted' 3 tiny calendula seedlings. More varieties of Gloriosa Daisies are blooming. Likewise, the pink hybrid martagon Liliums. Arranged the potted geraniums and dwarf marigolds on two planks about center on the side stone wall.  
7-5-09: Put 4 'potted' sflower plants below lower stone wall at birdhouse end. Transfered 15 'Kablouna' calendula seedlings from seed tray to a flat. (Derek).
Mulched salvias above the rock garden with grass clippings. Fertilized same, coleus, transplanted calendulas and celosia with 15-30-15 soluble fertilizer. Put up wire fencing to support the cukes and tomatos as they grow vertically. (Derek). Dug out some very large, woody, perennial weeds in the "main garden."
7-6-09: Dug out some more very large, woody, perennial weeds in main garden. Sprayed grass therein with "Ornamec 170" selective herbicide. "Potted" six  Iberis umbellata 'Dwarf Fairy' that had grown from self seeding in the planting area at the upper end of the side stone wall. These are a very hardy annual.However, they are hard to T-plant, because of a  long tap root and no side roots to speak of! Similar to calendulas.
7-8-09: Made the terrible discovery at 0700 that something had eaten off all c. 50 calendula seedlings in a flat placed in sunny spot across the lane. Chipmonk?
[Postscript: In the late afternoon one of the 'chucks was seen in the area where the calendulas had been eaten off. It will not eat anything else! Enough said.]
7-10-09: Discoverd that deer, most likely, had found the planting of sunflowers in the field out back and ate the tops off a number of them. Sprinkled "Milorganite" throughout the sflowers; it is supposed to act as a deer deterent since it is made from human excrement by the Milwaukee sewage plant. Did same with the front border calendulas and the sflowers below the lower wall. We shall see! Newly blooming perennials: Achillea 'Gold Plate'; second Monarda cultivar (purplish red); Astilbe 'red Sentinel'; perennial sweet pea on road bank; Lilium 'Connecticut Yankee'; and more hybrid Hemerocalis. Already blooming but not mentioned before: Achillea 'White Beauty'; Gallardia 'Goblin. and a small, rambling, deep pink rose just past the flowering quince "in" the upper wall.
7-11-09: Planted birdseed sunflower seeds in three close rows at bottom of the main garden. Seeds close and heavily planted. (Derek) Put  wire and baling twine supports in place for the tall & well budded hollyhocks at lower side of blueberry bushes, ,Also at the far end, including some around end on the top side  7-12-09: In 6-pacs, started 12 Swiss chard 'Rhubarb;' 12 spinach 'Long Standing Bloomsdale;' 6 each of lettuce 'Black Seeded Simpson' & 'Prizehead Early'.
7-13-09: Set out from  flat, 10 calendula 'Kablouna' seedlings to the top end of the front wall border; finished the top end of the border and around the end of  the wall with 5 bronze leaved, white fibrous begonias; degrassed/weeded NE side of power pole planting area and then set out 4 mixed colors fibrous begonias, as well as resetting a few "Feverfew" and xxxxxx. In a large, low pot, # mixed fibrous begonias. Put 4 marigold seedlings in the three planters in front of the breezeway, relacing 3 celosia self seeded plants and one lost mgld seedling. Put one very old, yellow mum plant from the pole planting into a pot. Also started 2 mum cuttings. [The number of these mum plants has decreased dramatically in recent years. Will have to create new from cuttings and off-shoots.]
7-14-09: Put three very small calendula seedlings on the southwest side of the power pole planting. Put 6 red flowered vinca plants in the end of side wall area.
7-17-09: Added six more vinca plants to previous planting. Lifted the few anemic, yellow, pon pon mum plants from that area for replanting in a flat and then over-wintering them well protected by mulch in hope of bringing back this wonderful, old plant of which there are only a few surviving specimens.
7-19-09: Put one well budded boughten coreopsis plant and a red and white achillea in the lower border. (Derek) Lower border showing much more color.
7-21-09: My 80th birthday! [Rained lighty all day!] Put up supporting string for tall plants at back of second, rear flower bed across the lane and for the tall, red, hybrid monarda under the Acer ginnala at front right crner of the old barn foundation. The monada was t-planted years ago on a whim. Doing fine!!
7-22-09: Started spinach 'Longstanding Bloomsdale' seeds in a 6-pac. Likewise in two pacs, lettuce 'Early Prizehead.' Neither germinated well from first planting. Therefore, several seeds were put in each section of the pacs. These then put under flourescent lights in the cellar at approx. 70 degrees F. Will see!
7-24-09: Several blueberry bushes loaded with ripe berries- Bette & Walt picked. Developing cukes on the plants in pots! Flowers on the tomato plants!
7-29-09: Picked two, perfect cukes! Plants loaded with blossoms, as are the two tomato plants. Clematis v. on front wall in full, magnificent bloom!

8-1-09: Put many lettuce, Swiss chard and spinach seedlings into large pots, with several in each pot. (Derek)
8-3-09: First two of the 60 calendulas are flowering. Found a lilium stem in front border chewed off at base and a hole leading down to bulb.
8-7-09: Cut down many daylilly spent flower stems & tied up/supported numerous tall hollyhocks.{Derek} More calendulas flowering. Phlox need deadhead'g.
8-9-09: Put spinach seedlings in two medium sized pots. Earlier transplanted lettuce plants have taken off! Picked two large cukes previously overlooked.
8-11-09: Picked two nice cukes. Gave them to the staff at "CPs" in Hagaman. Calendulas blossoming very nicely.
8-13-09: Picked seven more cukes, including two very large previously overlooked. Gave all good one to "CPs'" staff. Also picked first "Sweet 100" cherry tomatoes-7 of them. Put all the potted geraniums along the front edge of the end of house flower bed. Four potted, btfl, golden dwarf marigolds by breezeway.
Ran 5/8" garden hose from the connection 100' below the reservoir tanks all the way to the apple tree, with valving to allow disconnecting at crucial locations.
8-14-09: Put lettuce seedlings in three pots. (Derek) Put acquilegia seedlings into end of house bed. (Derek) Put up support string for the calendulas. (Derek)
The first of the birdseed sunflowers set out as seedlings in the "second strip" in the field outback are blooming! Very short plants with bright yellow flowers.
8-15-09: Decided to begin mowing the two fields near the house. Had trouble last year with weed seeds plugging up radiator fins when mowing late.
8-16-09: Moved all remaining potted vegies and flower plants, some very small, to large trailer parked in full sun across the road at edge of field. Mowed more
8-19-09: Finished mowing (brush hogging) the field behind and below the house, plus the two small, corner areas far out back and up above the house. Salvias in the 2 pots & planted above the rockgarden at the road end are blooming nicely in response to some 15-30-15 soluble fertilizer. Coleus responding well, too.
8-21/22-09: Harvested a # of cukes. These are now coming along faster than I can eat them, so regularly giving them away. Out in field sunflowers very showy
8-27-09: The perennial asters 'Treasurer' and 'xxxxx' are blooming. Also, the hardy white hibiscus out back and the woods asters around the large front yard maple tree and elsewhere. Spotted a cluster of  the shrub rose  "Pink Grootendorst" peeking thru and above the large Rugosa rugosa below the lower wall.
8-28-09: Put two grown on "volunteer" celosia plumosa plants in a pot. Set out below the lower wall at birdhouse end, 4, small, potted hollyhocks. T-planted four 'volunteer' white Cleome a foot apart between the four hollyhocks. Oldest of these "volunteers" at very end of the wall is blooming. Sprayed "Roundup" heavily on weeds and grass in the front part of the out back perennial area that is devoted to Liliums. T-planted one small phlox to very right end of the lower border. Hostas above the rock garden- large, white- are all blooming and a fine display. The "blue" hostas in the center of the lower border are blooming for the first time. These have white flowers, too, but plants are not large. "Late blight" is now affecting my tomato plants, just like everyone else's in the northeast.
8-29-09: In three "six pacs," started seeds of "Black Seeded Simpson" and "Prize Head" lettuce; also "Long Standing Bloomsdale" spinach. 2-3 seeds/cell.

9-1-09: One of the pots of  Snapdragons is blooming. Earlier the perennial white hybicus in the "main garden" began blooming. Front border Calendulas are btfl. Lettuce is being "harvested" from the potted plants. Squash plants out in the field planting are a pale yellow- sick! Glor. Daisies there have come in thickly.

10-12-09: First frost/freeze at 29.3 degrees F.  Calendulas OK, as well as other protected annuals.
10-15-09: Hard freeze at 25.9 F. Calendulas still OK, as well as protected annuals.

November 2009: Brought 13 potted geraniums indoors and placed them in front of the SW living room windows. Some were in bloom. Also, brought in the large pot of fibrous begonias and placed on a five gallon bucket to the left side of the rear LR SE window. These were in full bloom.

December 2009: All three varieties of  holiday cacti bloomed. Two were early and one late, which indicates that the early ones were "Thanksgiving" types and the late one a "Christmas" type. Just a guess on my part!
12-29-09: Cut down the spindly growth on the fibrous begonias. Hoping for new growth and eventual reflowering. 10 of the 13 geraniums are flowering anew.
12-30-09: Ate the last lettuce plants. They were still in the "six pacs" where the seeds were sown! I had brought them indoors a while back; put by kit. window

January thru March, 2010
The geraniums by the LR southeast windows were pinched back occasionally. They grew well and are very heathy looking. Some small flowers appeared.
Had repeated, limited blooming on the three "holiday" cacti. Houseplants overall are doing well.

April 2: First crocuses bloomed. Many groups of leaves showing. Daffodils are up some 6-8", with buds showing. Forsythia "Meadowlark" showing color.
4-4-10: Daffodils across the lane in front of layed up rocks of old barn ramp bloomed. Likewise, the two forsythias came into full bloom. 
4-8-10: Moved the indoor flowering geraniums outside onto the cart. Will push into garage when necessary. Temp yesterday was 81 at the farm; NWS= 87.  
4-9-10: The daffodils at the edge of the field across the road & on the 'bank' across the road and above the driveway began bloomg. Crocuses going down.
4-23-10: Both the Japanese flowering quince and the Magnolia s. began flowering. M.s. had had unopened flowers for a number of days. Daffys going down.
4-25-10: Phlox subulata began blooming in the "rock garden." Small flowered "Bridal Wreath" (Spiraea prunifolia) showing some color.

May 2: Blooming now are: Old apple trees; Dogwood trees (2 native transplants); Daffodils; Tulips; Hyacinths; Japanese flowering quince; Magnolia s.; Lilacs; Narcissus; Spiraea prunifolia ("Bridle Wreath") descendant from 99 N. Corona Ave., Valley Stream; and "Jacobs Ladder" from Ketzes' Union College garden.
5-4-10: "Lily of the Valley" began blooming above garage and in rock garden, to which it is spreading from its orginal site above the tractor shed..
5-6-10: Aquilegia canadense blooming across the road and at the end of the house. Just a few plants from self sewing or saved seeds. Originals from Mary F.
5-11-10: This morning there was a hard freeze with a low temp at "the farm" of 27.7 F. Liliums may have had flower buds damaged. All else OK.
5-13-10: Finished deadheading and removing developing seed pods from the daffodils and a few narcissus. Total count was 2540! 
5-20-10: The small leaved, small flowered, yellow, single shrub rose Alice L. gave me years ago began blooming. It was almost lost in recent years.
5-22-10: Shrub roses Rosa rugosa and the cultivar "Therese Bugnet" began blooming. Also, the hybrid columbines at the end of the house are flowering well.

June 1:  Pink peony in lower border began blooming.
6-5-10: White Siberian iris blooming in two places in the lower border, joining purple sort at lane end of the rock garden.
Note of 7/7: I just didn't have time to record new blooming plants the rest of June. Maybe I can add some info later.

July 7: Currently in bloom: First phlox and hollyhocks; hosta; "feverfew"; common daylily (Hemerocalis fulva); first of the hybrid daylilies; monarda; Gloriosa Daisies; perennial sweet pea; Achillea 'Goldplate'; Oenothera fruticosa 'Youngi' ("Sundrops"); Hemerocalis 'Stella D'Oro;Gaillardia 'Goblin'; and  Lilium "Connecticut Yankee."
7-10-10: Hem. 'Hyperion' in full bloom; other "hems" beginning to bloom; first hollyhocks. Some monara and phlox have drooping leaves. Need rain!
7-13-10: 0.51" of badly needed rain. Need another inch or more. Last good rain was June 28th. Thankfully, June was above normal with 4.41" rain.

 

Rose "Peace"
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