Grow Your Own Herbs Workshop

Please join me at the Grow Your Own Herbs workshop at Pacific Park on August 17th at 10 am.  Eloyce O'Connor and Erin Harwood of  Garden Delights CSA and Herb Farm will share their herb growing tips and tricks.  Plus participants will receive free herb starts!  After the workshop, we'll get some fun hands on experience in the garden by deadheading and weeding in the herb demonstration garden.  Please dress appropriately.

I've attended two other Pacific Park workshops and I've laughed and learned at the same time.  The workshop is free. There is still room so register here!  I look forward to seeing you there.

P.S.  I'm making the refreshments and they're going to be yummy.  

A Muddy Toes Morning

I enjoyed a muddy toes morning in the garden.  Time stood still as I watered my plants.  I chatted with neighbors and pedestrians as I worked in My Victory Garden.  I even handed out a few onions.  And then when I moved into the backyard, Barnaby noticed the water wand for the first time.

He started licking up the water that trickled down the side of the water wand.  And then he chased the billowing stream of water while I laughed.  He even stuck his head in the water, pulled back in surprise, and a hummingbird launched between us and under the water wand handle towards the hardy fuchsias.  I even tried to take a few (bad) pictures of him on my phone. 

Barnaby taking a sip of water.

When I placed the water at the base of a tree on a slow trickle, he swiped his paw at the ground and snorkeled (blew bubbles) in the muddy water that gathered in the hole.  Then we both sat on the patio furniture and dried off in the sun.  And The Assistant  joined us once the water was safely turned off.  Barnaby might just be a water dog.   

Along Came A Spider...

A spider moved into the Chinese Ground Orchid bloom last night and took care of the ant problem.   Aren't spiders cool?  It's easy to forget how much life, death, and sex goes on around us in the garden.   

the orchid bloom yesterday

Chinese Ground Orchid is my favorite plant in my garden this week!

Chinese Ground Orchid, Bletilla ochracea, and ants

My favorite plant in the garden this week is my Chinese Ground Orchid, Bletilla ochracea.  Isn't it a stunner?  It's supposed to bloom in June, so I'm happy to see it strutting its stuff in August.  This spring, I added two Chinese Ground Orchid's to Maya's memorial garden bed in the backyard. Yes, this flower has survived Barnaby and The Assistant playing in the yard.

Chinese Ground Orchid, Bletilla ochracea, facts

• zone 7a - 11
• rich acid soil
• part shade to part sun
• even moisture--mine is watered weekly with a soaker hose
• perennial
• 14 to 16 inches tall

I purchased mine at The Rare Plant Sale, but you can find them at other nurseries listed here on Plant Lust.    Don't forget to stop by Danger Garden to see other garden bloggers' favorite plant picks of the week.  I love this meme!

Knock Knock

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Armageddon!

Armageddon who?

Armageddon ready to fix this door!

I love everything about our new (to us) front door except for one thing.  It won't open.  That's right.  The wood door swelled up enough in the warm heat to become completely stuck.  It won't budge.

It's a great excuse not to answer the door to salespeople that ignore my No Solicitors rock.  But, I'd like to be able to open my door.  So, now we are waiting for the wood to shrink back down so we can get it out and fix it.  Any guesses on how long that will take?  In the meantime, I can amuse My Pirate with knock knock jokes.