Mexican Heather Has A Winter Coat

I guess this shrub oozes moisture when it gets cold? This morning the temps reached 26, but it's not the first time this fall. I've seen two days at 27 around 7:30 AM. Anyway it's all dressed for the cold. Not as green compared to a few months ago when it thaws out.

Dianthus still hanging in there although they look beat up with frost covering them. Give it a few hours and they look healthy as ever.

The whatchamacallit....Pineapple Sage continues along, although looking like it's no longer reaching for the sky.

Petunias take on a new look with the frost covering them...

And that thing in the middle of the hanging basket. No clue as to the name and how long it will last?

Few remaining Impatiens along the stone wall hanging in there...barely.

Wildflowers Expected To Shoot Up

By obtaining the names on the packages here's a photo list of what is being planted...scattered. Top going left to right.

Butterflyweed- also known as chigger weed. I already have this growing.
Prairie Aster
Farewell To Spring
Mountain Garland
Lance Coreopsis
Plains Coreopsis
Purple Cone flower
California Poppy
Blanket flower
Indian Blanket
Globe Gillia
Birds Eye(a)
Blue Flax(p)
Perennial Lupine(p)
Arroyo Lupine(a)
Missouri primrose
White evening primrose
California Bluebell(a)
California Bluebell(a)
Annual Phlox(a)
Black-eyed Susan(a)
Scarlet Sage(a&p)
Bachelor Button
Cosmos
Spurred Snapdragon

...and three or four that didn't make the photo gallery.

Corn Poppy
Gloriosa Daisy
Catchfly
Nodding Catchfly

A few months ago I bought (8) 2 gram packets of these. Offered by Ferry-Morse called Natures Rainbow Mixture and American Native Mixture, or enough to cover about 200 square feet. The area is now running at about 300 so I needed more. Now Lowes has easy shaker wildflower seed and more selections are added to what's above. And much lower in cost.

Bring on Cool Color Mix by Burpee...

Chinese Forget Me Not
Bachelor Button
Annual Baby's Breath
Cosmos
Virginia Stock- not sure about this one
Clarkia elegans

...and another bag to cover 1,000 square feet. Damned place! Now what am I going to do? Get some seed up on that other bank (opposite) that get's a lot of sun as well? This one is called Flagrant Wildflower Mix. Guaranteed To Grow!



The list...

White Yarrow
Sweet Sultan
Siberian Wallflower
Chinese forget me not
Sweet William- have already
Birds Eye Gilia
Candy tuff Amara
Sweet Pea lathyrus
Sweet alyssum
Evening Scented Stock
Four o'clock
Lemon Mint
Nicotina Alata- smells like cigs?
Evening Primrose

Good thing I don't have more full sun areas around here. This place would keep me busy!! Too busy.

Wildflower Gardens

Or at least that's what this area will be eventually. Wildflower area is planned to run around the corner, or about the fifth fence post. After starting yesterday, I thought the area in front of the fence would be an ideal place for the rest of the flower bulbs. Finally! I actually got tired of looking at them. Lost count of how many. Count 'em for yourself. The final tally below doesn't include the ones near the pressure treated wall.

And I said I got bored with the west side of the house, but dangit those bulbs laying around were annoying me. So there's something like 100 in that area. More crocus had to be planted as well, along the fence by the lawn. Should be an interesting spring...wondering how many will come up. Oh, the paperwaites are beginning to sprout (warm weather)

And the Dianthus is dropping seeds.

Muskogee Crepe Myrtle

I've been thinking for awhile about what to do up the driveway, Something that will stand out and grow fast. At first I had considered Hollyhocks then came across the Crepe Myrtle. Wow! Stunning I think, and the darned things grow 4-5 feet each year reaching 15-25 feet. What's more is they bloom for about four months. Definitely lot's of color in your face making the turn in the bend of the driveway.

Before...

After....

Expensive? Yes, larger ones, but I'm trying to get my hands on some 3 gal sizes, maybe in the $20 each range. I figure ten along the fence line. Seems there are some growers about an hour south of Atlanta that I may look into.

More information about the tree here.

Finally. Steps Off The Driveway

Forget that other idea of creating rail road tie steps. That project would have taken forever amongst a weave of roots and who knows what else. Not to mention the slope being extreme. With the chainsaw being out today and the blade/chain getting duller and duller I thought about putting it to rest by cutting some railroad ties. That usually puts them into the can't use again department. I'm not good at sharpening them anyway.

So, another project complete. It didn't take as long as I had thought either. I did think I would encounter some large rocks but it wasn't so bad. A few finishing touches needed but finally...steps up to the old logging road! Good place for the 30 or so daffodil bulbs left.

A view from above...