New Project - Making Bricks

A TV program last night detailing how the great Wall of China was built got me to thinking. I have oodles of dirt around here and a shortage of rocks except for what's in the creek but they're too large and irregular. Sure would be nice if I could lift some of those out as they could create some nice scenery.

In any event, on to making bricks and blocks after creating a mold from a 2 x 4. The secret is getting the right mix. The first test is using one shovel full of sand, six dirt and one 1/2 shovel of cement. As you can see one has already cracked (I did try to move them because of rain) and it is not bonding at all. Perhaps take it up to 20% cement? I can think of all sorts of ideas with this method including finishing off a walkway area below. Simply dig out some molds in the dirt, fill, and replicate a stone look. Maybe saran wrap would work providing a texture?

Not crazy about the clay color though. Going to have to find a way to tone the color more to a grayish natural stone much like the walkways around here. There must be some natural element around here to get the desired look. Ground up wood bark, leaves? Trying not to spend money on this project except for the cement.

Better Sights This Year - Blooms

I've captured most of them; the highlights of each plant growing around the property. Let's go through the collection. You've seen this one before but it always captures attention each May. Dianthus. These are basically annuals that survive near the warmth of the house.

Japanese Viburnum or snowball- April 18. Three are scattered from last Mays planting. Only one bloomed this year. Currently about four feet in height. Expected 8 foot by 8 foot at maturity.

Pansies along the north side of driveway. April 25.

More...

Tulips in barrels April 11. Not sure if this one has been shown before...

Knockout Roses along drive May 9...

Azaleas above wall with Creeping Jenny..June 5

The lone Astilbe in with some Caladiums that have about three more weeks to reach full height. Too bad the Astibes will be gone by then...

Day Lilies. First one came out quite dark. Planted last spring, first time bloomer...

Others, some loaded with buds and finally the Calla Lilies...

Hopefully Hosta pics soon once the Caladiums are out in full force

Don't Worry. You Won't Kill It

That was the popular consensus when it came to trimming back this fine Clematis vine. Only time will tell. It looked great in late April....

But once I got the scissors to it...another story.

And about those Coleus. I may just get lucky and have them reach decent size when the first frost hits. Then it's over for the season. This is almost four weeks progress.

And another well thought out purchase online, but I probably won't be able to enjoy them until 2012 considering it's getting late for seeds(received last week). Bunches of Petunias that if I'm lucky once again may show good size in mid October.  Oh well, they make it well into the colder November weather in these parts. Going to have to start some of this stuff in Florida next January providing I get out of  Google's Panda Prison.

Shown here is the status of some trailing wave Petunia seeds started the last week of March. They took forever to get moving but just the past few days with very warm temps have they made some good progress.

Daylillies planted from root last year. Calla Lillie's in the background also planted last spring that have yet to bloom at all. Perhaps a few weeks?

Young Seedlings

A few more months and we'll find out if this perennial seed starting thing is worth it. I'm hopeful, but it does take quite a long time for results. Take for instance the first picture. This is Sweet William Sooty a chocolate colored flowering Dianthus. It was sown first week of March last year. It didn't do much for months and it was ignored until I saw some life and just stuck it in this area in front of some bearded Iris that were supposed to be a different color. These guys took a year and a half from root. Planted October 2009.

The results so far this year with trying perennials from seed. Ten Purple Cone flowers were moved to larger pots along with some Salvia Sage. Quite frankly I don't know where to put some of this stuff if they all make it. Few full sun spots around here. Most will go into the Alpine (hill driveway garden) garden, but will they survive the dryness? That probably won't happen until much later this year.

Trying my luck at Coleus from seed. Ordered from Swallowtail Seeds there are about 160 cells (about 50% shown here) with six or seven different colors. If one fourth make it, they will have plenty of places to call home. A bit late on starting but only time will tell. Started May 3.

And how about some Nasturtiums on the porch. Got the idea from Mom who mentioned an old friend had luck with them cascading down a basement wall. Incidentally some Moonflowers have been planted to climb some of the lattice on the west side, and a grouping near this step area. I don't think I'll have trouble with them growing. They exploded from seed with a vengeance already.

Up along the driveway will be plenty of large Zinnias behind the fence along with some giant Sunflowers. In front will be Marigolds and a few sections filled with African Daisies. No idea how how latter will do but the others love it around here based on last years growing. I'll have Zinnias out my ears in August. Maybe too many, including a Red Spider Zinnia.

Oh yea, some Blue Morning Glory has been seeded at the fence posts. Will it look like a jungle later this summer? I hope so. I just wonder if I'll be cussing myself out in 5 or six years with Morning Glories spreading everywhere.

One last spot along the lawn at the fence are more Marigolds in a few raised beds.

Mid April Goings On

Not a whole lot of things to report. Tulips were a bit of a failure this year or maybe I expect too much from them. I'm also here to report they're over rated in my opinion. A few decent pics from earlier in the month. They're scattered here and there.

Made the trip to the dairy about the same time for some cow manure.

Twelve bucks, or 200 shovels fulls from my count. About 70 still left on the ground. If I didn't have the topper shoveling wouldn't be necessary, but it's good exercise with four small breaks in between.

There's actually much more going on but I've had no interest keeping the blog updated of late.