Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Speaking of Flowers

Here is a photo-inventory of the current flower activity in the yard. I took these pictures on Saturday.

Japanese Maple Tree flowers - I never noticed they had flowers before (but then again, this is only the second spring we've had them).



Avocado Tree flowers - Turns out, the Avocado Tree flower is very unique!



There are a number of Tulip flowers opening up. Not as many as last year, but there are a few good ones...






Someday I want a really nice digital camera so I can do these flowers justice!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Poppy Planting

Some of the Poppy's have already sprouted!


I think there may be just a few too many in some areas... ;-) I thinned them a little today. We'll see how they come out later!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Flowers in the Front Yard

I spent a few hours in the front yard over the last two weekends. I pulled all the moss out of the flowerbeds, removed the sticks, acorns, oak leaves, and the occasional grub. I tilled most of the dirt in each flowerbed. Then I carefully sprinkled poppy seeds throughout most of the flowerbeds. Here's what they're supposed to look like -


Then I covered the seeds with a light layer of Miracle Grow top soil. Then finally, last night at about 7:15, I watered all the new seeds.

The dark dirt is where the seeds are planted -



I planted the seeds all around the tulips too, so when the tulips are gone, there will be Poppy's everywhere!


If you look closely in this picture, you can see Tracy peeking out the kitchen window!


I put some along the front of the long flower bed too. In this picture, you can see the CPPD (Cat Poo Prevention Device). It's the wire laying on the wall blocks - I cover the fresh dirt with this 'chicken wire' to keep the cats from pooping all over my poppy seeds.


Stay tuned... I'll post the 'after pictures' in a few months (if there's anything to take pictures of). The package says, "sow seed in the Fall / Winter for Spring / Summer bloom". I'm a little late. The package also says not to add "additional nitrogen fertilizer". I'm pretty sure that Miracle Grow dirt was loaded with nitrogen, so it will be interesting to see what happens. I'm guessing either I'll have 'the Poppy flowers that ate New York' or wimpy little pathetic things that look like they just need to be thrown into the compost pile.