Barnaby's Nicknames


Barnaby joined our family a little over a month ago and he fits right in.  He loves to be in the kitchen while I cook.  He sits between my ankles while I write.  He begs to go sit outside on the patio furniture with me and chew on a stick.  And he loves to snuggle up on the couch with us and watch movies.

Barnaby has already earned a few nicknames.  And I love to sing his name to him, barn-A-beeee!

Barnaby's nicknames
1.  Barnabus--his vampire alter ego when he turns into a crazy toothy puppy
2.  My Little Piranha--quick, hand him a chew toy!
3.  Dude
4.  Little Boy
5.  Buddy
6.  And his favorite name of all...Good Boy!

Cut It Down


As a teenager, I would occasionally get a massive zit between my eyes that would ooze and crust over when I tried to pop it.  And no amount of makeup or futzing with my bangs could make it disappear.  It was the focal point on my face and I felt self conscious and miserable.  I winced whenever anyone commented on it.  


This rhododendron in our front yard has made me feel the same exact way for three years.  

My Pirate wanted to rip out the rhododendron the moment we moved into our house.  He was right.  
Our front yard in 2006, when we moved in.
I chose to keep it because I thought that it would help give our yard continuity with our neighbors.  Ha!  Like I worry about that now.  Our next door neighbors have gorgeous rhododendrons in their yard that I not so secretly covet.  Our neighbor even came over and trimmed our rhododendron one year to try and help it look better.  But it didn't help.

One example of our next door neighbors' gorgeous rhododendrons.
When a neighbor tore out a large fir tree, our rhododendron got sicker and I thought that it was sunburned, like all the other shade plants that I had to move. So, I gave it more water and compost.

Then last year, I noticed white insects and insect damage on the underside of the leaves.  With a little sleuthing I diagnosed them as azalea lace bugs.  I took a sample to Rob at Shorty's to confirm it, which he did, and he helped me pick out an insecticide.  I sprayed my rhododendrons twice last season.  And it still looked awful.

I hate to use chemicals in the garden because I treasure the tree frogs and other wildlife in our garden.  So, I made the difficult decision to rip out our sick rhodies.  Last week we ripped out three red rhododendrons in the backyard by the hammock.  

Before
After
Yesterday, I plugged in the electric chainsaw and cut down the big rhododendron in ten minutes.  My Pirate happily helped.  Just look at that smile! And I feel much better too.
I'm going to redesign and replant our flower beds by the house.  Time to go plant shopping!  If you have any suggestions and ideas, please let me know.
Before

After

Helpful links on Rhododendron and Azalea lace bugs
Kym Pykorny's recent article on lace bugs
WSU Master Gardener Hortsense--Azalea Lace Bug
WSU Master Gardener Rhododendron Lace-Bug article





Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: May 2013



Our May weather has felt more like July.  I've savored warm and sunny 80 degree days and I've already started my watering soaker hose schedule that I usually begin at the end of June.  The soil has warmed up and my summer garden has launched early while the spring flowers are swooning.  
Royal Wedding Oriental Poppy
The poppies started popping open this week.

Western Bleeding Heart, Dicentra formosa
 The bleeding hearts are starting to wrap up their show as the rodgersia are expanding. 


After blooming until Christmas, the hardy fuchsias are beginning to burst open again.  

 The geums are opening.  Pedestrians love to pick these as they walk by and I don't mind.  

Pagoda Dogwood, Cornus Alternifolia
The pagoda dogwood is blooming for the second time.  This is one of my favorite plants.
Add caption
 The rugosa roses are blooming and filling the garden with their sweet clove fragrance.  The blooms close up at night and open when they warm up.  This one looks like it needs a cup of coffee, or maybe that's just me.
 This weigela was a gift from a friend.  I put the name tag in a safe place, even safe from me, apparently. 

wild rose, rosa nutkana
 A wild rose bloom peers out.
salmon berry  thimble berry
 The native salmon berry thimble berry, known as natures toilet paper, is blooming.
Update:  Thanks for the correction, Portland Tree Tour.  This plant is thimble berry, not salmon berry. 
Chinese Fairy Bells
Rosa glauca
 The Rosa glauca is blooming, but I grow it for it's interesting blue and purple foliage. 

Rosa glauca


And while I was busy editing my pictures this morning, Barnaby, our 10 week old Great Dane puppy, raced down the hallway with toilet paper streaming out behind him.  And I laughed, took a picture, seized his contraband, and put the toilet paper out of reach...for now.   

Please visit Carol, our lovely hostess, at May Dreams Gardens to explore blooms from around the world.  Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day to you!

Good Morning



I am not a morning person, and most definitely not an early morning person.  Mornings are meant for sleep, pajamas, and strong French press coffee.  It just so happens that Barnaby, our 10 week old puppy, doesn’t agree.  He thinks that early mornings are filled with breakfast, potty breaks, play time, and then snuggles.  Barnaby loves early mornings.  I’m humoring him.

This morning, after Barnaby was fed and had started his morning wrestling session with The Assistant, I slipped outside with my camera and took a few shots before the camera battery died.  It doesn’t like early mornings either, apparently.  And I took in the beautiful morning light.  The Victory Garden was transformed and I watched joggers and pedestrians pass through and smile a good morning.  Suddenly, I was sold on early mornings, well, at least early morning light in my garden.  Then I went inside and drank really strong coffee. 



I Chopped It Up


Two years ago, I prepared homemade pork tacos for dinner and realized that I didn't buy any tomatoes for the salsa.  I scrambled around the kitchen looking for inspiration.  And my eyes landed on a moldering mango on my windowsill, green onions and cilantro in the crisper, and radishes in the garden.  I chopped it up, squeezed some lime juice on it and called it Radish and Mango Salsa.  And you know what, it was really delicious.  My Pirate reminded me to write it down and I'm so glad that I did.  Now, I make it every spring when the mangoes go on sale.

Today, I looked up in my hanging fruit baskets and eyed a ripe mango and remembered the fresh radishes that I plucked out the Hazel Dell Garden on Wednesday.  So, I made us a snack after My Pirate got home from work this afternoon. The salsa tasted sweet and spicy on the salty crisp nacho chips.  We enjoyed our snack while discussing our weekend plant shopping strategy.  



Mango Radish Salsa—inspired by the contents of my fridge


  • ·      Cilantro, rough chop--I use about a tablespoon
  • ·      Mango diced—ripe and juicy 
  • ·      Green onion—1 sliced or red onion, diced
  • ·      Lime juice
  • ·      2 large radishes sliced—fresh out of the garden is best, but store bought works fine
  • ·      salt

 Combine and serve immediately.

I recommend using this salsa with tacos, on a piece of fish, or even as a snack with nacho chips.  You can substitute any sweet fruit for the mango, but I recommend staying true to the radishes.  

Oh myy, what a big radish you have there! Yes, it's a real radish.