It was a lovely Spring-like day today - in the mid 50's (*F), sunny with just a few wisps of clouds, and barely a gentle breeze. The kind of day that makes you believe that Winter will eventually be over. But - I must remind myself, that it is only the beginning of February, and last year Jack Frost and Lady Snow hung around until May!Took advantage of the lovely weather to spend some time outside with my few, precious trees. The pines and the fruit trees all got a deep water (15 gallons each or more) early enough in the day that they were well drained of surface water before night fall and the return of freezing temperatures. I will take care of the trees in the back yard tomorrow morning, since the weather looks like it will be similar.
Don't know what type of fly/wasp this is a picture of, but they absolutely love sunflowers. Their bright green eyes and body glisten in the sunshine. They must come from at least 600 feet away to visit my sunflowers. I wonder if the sunflower scent carries on the breeze a mile or two to the lake, beconning these sparkly beauties? If I have 50 blooms or 100 blooms next year, will they be covered in shimmery green? But these are not the only pollinators to visit the sunflowers. Giant Hawk Moths, also known as Humming Bird Moths, also visit. But they visit at dusk and during the night, and so far, I have not caught any with my camera. But I will stalk them more diligently this Spring, and perhaps have a trophy photo to post to this site.
3 comments:
Hi...I, too, had started a web site with the exact same name, and then promptly forgot about it. I live in the High Desert of Idaho and have had similar problems except that our sand has clay beneath. We, too, have winds that are frightfully often and hard, cold and hot, night and day. I love it when it is calm. I have found that ice plant grows quite well in the sand, holds up well against the winds, comes back year after year, and has beautiful flowers in the summer. Sometimes the rabbits will bother it, sometimes not. The deer have never bothered it. I have a small area with a southern exposure and the plants love it there. I would think that bulb plants would grow well there - mainly daffodils as the critters don't like them. Onion type plants, too. Euphorbia (spelling?) bushes are wind hardy, some have great flowers, and they can make great wind breaks. I have pine trees, too. I have also ordered plants from the Idaho extension office that are hardy on slopes (we are on a hill), have long roots, and don't mind arid dry climates. You might try that, too. I can't remember the names right off hand...odd sounding, though. Also, a greenhouse is a wonderful way to help with the plants. Overwintering as well as starting trees. There should be lots of pine type trees and bushes that you can adapt to your area, and with wind breaks (large rocks, bushes, fences, pines) you can get some plants you like to stay. Oh...forgot...the mallow came up here, too. LOVE it! Good luck from Idaho!
Hi, Cassie ~
Thanks for the great plant suggestions and encouragement. After having gardened in the lush farm belt of Georgia, it's been quite a challenge to turn a bit of our property into a green oasis.
Good luck with your "high desert challenges," too!
Hey again...another thing about you and your site. I lived in Georgia, and California. Atlanta area, Marietta near the Cobb County line, as well as other places; In San Diego and around the area, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Now...those CA cities are great for having year round gardens...but it's wonderful to have the winters to do other things. Neat!
Cassie
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