Nichole's Garden

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-15T06:23:00.001-07:00

Free Range Chickens

2009-03-22T16:34:00.000-07:00

The girls had their first taste of freedom today. They were very hesitant to come out of their run but eventually got brave and walked right out. They didn't stray far from each other or their run but they enjoyed digging and scratching in the dirt and had to be stopped from digging up some crocuses. They even got to meet 2 of the dogs face to face and neither seemed to be bothered by the other. They can dig a hole pretty fast and trash a plant in nothing flat so I'm not to sure how often they will be running free in the garden! Next time I'll make sure to get pictures!

Spring has Sprung

2009-03-22T16:20:00.001-07:00

At least at Hick's. Although my yard is getting there, all the bulbs are popping up and the daylilys are poking through but there is not a lot of color yet. To be honest I was a little disappointed with the display's at Hick's this year. All of the color was a great pick me up but the only display that really got me excited was the vegetable garden. It was so neat and perfect. Maybe that will be my next project....

What came first...

2009-02-22T14:52:00.000-08:00

In my case the chickens came way before the eggs. I've been a bad chicken mom and haven't checked inside the girl's coop in a few days, well this morning I decided to clean it out and much to my surprise there were 4 beautiful eggs waiting for me! I thought I would have to wait until the spring to have eggs but one of the girls decided to start early. Now I just have to figure who is doing the laying.

Some Winter Color

2009-02-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

I've been going a little stir crazy lately and really looking forward to some seeing some color in my garden. I thought I would have to wait until Spring but I had a few very colorful visitors to my backyard. These aren't the greatest pictures since I took them from inside through windows that haven't been cleaned since the summer. There were six Cardinals flying between my yard and the neighbors.

The Girls

2008-12-26T15:27:00.000-08:00

I can't call them chicks anymore, the girls are almost four months old and huge. This picture was taken in October and they have grown quite a bit since. Unfortunately egg production slows down in the winter so I probably won't see any eggs till the spring but in the meantime they are still very entertaining and really easy to take care of. They each have their own personality and are very sweet. I am still terrified of birds especially the hawk the visits my yard but I love my chickens. They even put up with the dogs.

Winter Blues...

2008-12-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to get some garden catalogs in the mail over this past week. I sat down and read them and dogged eared all of the pages of plants I might order. By the time I was done I was completely depressed, I want to go outside and plant something!!!! I'm happy that Christmas is almost here and if it wasn't for all the baking, decorating, and crafting, I would probably lose my mind but it's just not the same. The only reason I have to get into the yard is to visit and feed the chickens (they are huge and I'll post some new pics soon). I guess Nichole's Garden is moving inside for the season!

Chick Update!

2008-09-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

The girls Lucy(Australorp), Eileen(Easter Egger), And Phoebe (Silver Laced Wyandotte)

The chicks are growing by leaps and bounds, they look bigger everyday and are almost fully feathered. Unfortunately we lost Millie (the black star) but the others are doing great. Lucy, Eileen, and Phoebe are hysterical, very comical and easily excited. I've been putting them out in the run during the day and back inside at night. As soon as they are fully feathered they will be moved into their eglu and my house will no longer smell like a barn.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-10T17:33:00.001-07:00

Baby Chicks!!!

2008-09-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

You would think a person who is terrified of birds would not want pet chickens but because of the thought of fresh eggs and all the wonderful chicken poo for the compost, I've decided to put my fears aside. I picked the babies up at the post office (yes they come in the mail) and brought them home yesterday. I was absolutely terrified, I was convinced they would jump out of the box and peck my eyes out. Luckily, I was wrong. They are actually very sweet and when they peck it doesn't hurt. I've had to handle them quite a bit as one of them keeps getting pasted up (poop stuck all over his little bum) which is very dangerous and has to be cleaned regularly. I chose four breeds that are said to be friendly and good egg layers: Easter Egger, Black Star, Australorp and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. They will live in the house for the next 3-4 weeks and will eventually move outside to their eglu. Hopefully this will help with my bird fear and I will stop running for the house every time there's a woodpecker visiting my garden.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Waiting For Spring....and some updates

2008-08-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

I've been getting bulb catalogs for weeks now which has got me very excited. I started looking through some garden photos and have realized how much more I enjoy my garden in the spring. Everything is so lush and colorful. Don't get me wrong, I love my summer flowering plants especially my daylilys but looking through these photos reminded me how nice it is to work outside in the spring. It's still cool out not hot and humid. It's not buggy and the grass is actually green. I'll be happy to see my mums and asters bloom but there is nothing like the colors of spring. Now for some updates. I've been a very lazy blogger but have been very busy in the yard. Many beds have been expanded to make room for daylilys mostly gifts from my wonderful daylily friends. A few trees and hydrangeas have been moved and I've discovered the joy of taking cuttings. I've never realized how easy (and Cheap) it is. I've got several mums cuttings that have rooted and I am working on some hydrangeas. And last but not least I am awaiting the arrival of four baby chicks. I've ordered a coop and can't wait for them to arrive so be on the watch out for chicken updates.

Garden Critters

2008-07-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not really a bug person and usually lose it if I find bugs in the house but it makes me very happy to see them in the garden especially if they are helpful. The bees have been very busy in my yard despite all of the honey bee loss we've seen lately. I was very excited about the preying mantis until Janice informed that they get big enough to eat birds. I've seen huge one's but I always thought they ate bugs only. Hopefully I don't witness a preying mantis attack and eat a bird. I believe the butterfly is a black swallow tail. I'm not so crazy about the ants, slugs or snails but they take cute pictures and I just can't get myself to use any kind of pesticides even if they are munching on my plants. You may want to click on the images to get a better look.

Holy Daylilys!!!

2008-07-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

In the past week and a half the daylilys have just exploded. Most of them are first time bloomers in my garden so I have been very excited. Who couldn't love a plant that comes in 60,000 varieties, really only needs sunshine and water, can be easily split to be shared and you can easily hybridize. I would recommend daylilys to everyone, even if you don't have a green thumb. Enjoy the slide show!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

Some Recent Blooms

2008-06-29T18:21:00.001-07:00

Jamaican Me Crazy (Trimmer, 1999)

height 28", season M, bloom 5.5", Rebloom, foliage sev. , Tetraploid
yellow with dark purple halo above green throat
(CALICO JACK X UNKNOWN)

Touched by Magic (Salter, 2000)

height 26", season M, bloom 5", Rebloom, foliage sev. , Tetraploid
coral rose and peach blend with gold edge above green throat
(IDA'S MAGIC X WISEST OF WIZARDS)

Mildred Mitchell (Mitchell-K., 1998)

height 26", season EM, bloom 6.5", Rebloom, foliage ev. , Tetraploid
lavender with blue eye and edge above green throat
(EMPEROR'S DRAGON X ADMIRAL'S BRAID)

Tennessee Flycatcher (HARRIS-Reinke, 1992)

height 34", season EM, bloom 10", foliage ev. , Diploid , Spider Ratio 5.60:1
creamy lavender spider with dark burgundy eyezone above cream throat
(KINDLY LIGHT X sdlg)

Lullaby Baby (SPALDING-W., 1975) height 19", season EM, bloom 3.5", foliage sev. , Diploid
light pink with green throat
Jolyene Nichole (SPALDING-GUILLORY, 1984) height 14", season M, bloom 6", foliage ev. , Diploid
rose blend with green throat

Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-25T04:24:00.001-07:00

A few FFOs

2008-06-24T13:40:00.001-07:00

Little Wild Flower (Stamile-G., 1997)

height 13", season EM, bloom 2", Rebloom, foliage sev. , Diploid , Double
red coral blend with green throat
(BUBBLY X YOU ANGEL YOU)

Doma Knaresborough (Petit, 1994)

height 17", season EM, bloom 5.5", foliage ev. , Tetraploid
pink with yellow cream watermark above green throat
(BETTY WARREN WOODS X SHISHEDO)

Chippewa Bride (Kamensky, 1992)

height 18", season E, bloom 3", Rebloom, foliage dor. , Diploid
apricot blend with green throat
[(SDLG x GOLDEN SCROLL) X ZORA]

Nicole Enduring (Limmer, 2007)

height 31", season M, bloom 5.5", Rebloom, foliage dor. , Tetraploid
orange with red eye and edge
[(Martian Love x tetra Dragons Eye) x (Pumpkin Moonshine x Heaven's Glory)]

This is the first time any of these have bloomed in my garden. The first three were planted last summer. Nicole Enduring was won at the LIDS auction and planted about a month ago.

Southwestern Treasure

2008-06-20T04:55:00.000-07:00

Southwestern Treasure (Salter, 1998)

height 26", season EM, bloom 6", Rebloom, foliage sev. , Tetraploid
orange self with green throat. The picture really doesn't do this flower any justice. Yesterday, 06/19/08 was the first time it bloomed for me and I love it. It was a very nice surprise especially since we have had so much rain and I hadn't checked the daylilies in a few days. So when I walked outside with my coffee, I spotted it from all the way across the yard. It made my day!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day......a day late

2008-06-16T04:38:00.000-07:00

That's what's blooming!

Release of the Ladies in Red

2008-06-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

While standing online at a local nursery, I noticed a little boy very excited about a bag of bugs. I was thinking they were selling plastic bugs but as I got closer I realized it was a bag of live Lady Bugs. In the past I have ordered Lady Bags through the mail and didn't have much luck with them. I guess they don't handle shipping very well. So, I was very excited to see them alive and very active in their little mesh bag. I bought a bag it's supposed to be approximately 1500 Ladies and for $12 bucks how could I say no. What can you buy for that cheap that will eat aphids, spider mites, thrips, white flies, and a multitude of other nasty things that like to destroy my beloved flowers. Not only are they cute and a totally organic pest control, each Lady Bug will lay about 1500 eggs so I will have tons of them working in my garden!! Fly Free Ladies and eat to your hearts content!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

Climbing Roses

2008-06-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

Two of my climbing roses are in bloom at the moment. I don't know the varieties off of the top of my head and because of the huge thorns on them I was not willing to climb under them to look for the labels. Last summer I was impaled with a vary thick thorn to the top of my head which I had to pull out. It was a very unpleasant experience. They are both David Austin roses. The pink one is huge and has covered a great deal of my fence. The red one has been moved several times so it hasn't had a chance to spread as far. Unfortunately it's going to be moved again to cover a bare spot on my fence. I have to wait until the fall but that will be it's final home. I wish these climbers bloomed like my other roses with a pretty decent show straight through September. Right now they are covered in blooms. They will bloom throughout the summer but with only a few blooms here and there.

Wisest of Wizards

2008-05-31T15:58:00.000-07:00

I finally have a daylily bloom!!! Wisest of Wizards opened up this morning! We were supposed to have terrible thunderstorms, so I was very worried that the bloom would go to mush. Janice convinced me not to to cut the bud or dig up the whole plant and bring it in just to save one bloom. I'm glad she did because it was a wonderful sight to see this morning. I did get up in the middle of the night and cover the whole plant with a big bucket to protect it in case we had an awful storm.

The Mystery Rose

2008-05-27T06:43:00.001-07:00

About 8 or 9 years ago, I planted 2 tree roses on the side of my house. By the end of the summer both were half dead. In the next spring one of them came back as a beautiful and very fragrant climbing rose, looking nothing like the original plant. It's very pale pink (original plant was peachy orange & looked like a hybrid tea rose).I have been enjoying that climber for several years. At the beginning of this spring I noticed a new rose coming up where I had planted the other tree rose. It's in bloom now and is also very fragrant and red, the original was orange and red, I believe it was called tropical sunset. So either a rose fairy is bringing me new plants or this has been hiding under the soil waiting to make an appearance. Either way mother nature is a mysterious lady!

Rain Drops

2008-05-27T06:33:00.001-07:00

I love how flowers look after a mild rain!

My First Scape!!

2008-05-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

I just noticed this scape on Wisest of Wizards last night. It's kind of short but it's loaded with buds! Can't wait for the blooming to begin!

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!!!

2008-05-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

A new may knight salvia and robinson's red tanacetum, aside from the new daylilys my favorite purchases so far!
I'm not sure what these are or where they came from but I like them!
The peonies are getting ready! If you look close enough there is a tiny little ant on the bottom of the bud.
A very hot pink azalea
A Polygonatum from Melanie's plant sale !
Lily Of The Valley
A dainty little english daisy
A Coreopsis, "Jethro Tull"

A yellow and white scotch broom and my new orange and yellow one.
Here's one of my first purchases this season Baptisia Australis or False Indigo. I planted it a few weeks ago and it's still blooming!

Some Violas, some just planted and some I grew from seed a few years ago

Here are some beautiful Alliums!!

The Patio Is Complete!

2008-05-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

It's finally done!!! I did start some of the planting before the patio was finished but I just couldn't help myself :) We're just waiting for the new table to arrive and it will be perfect!

Peconic River Herb Farm

2008-05-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Instead of doing the usual boring dinner for mother's day we decided to go to the Peconic River Herb Farm. It's a nursery located on the Pecoinc River and it's wonderful. Janice and her mother joined us, we had a great time. Not only do they have wonderful plants to buy but the scenery is beautiful! You would never believe that this place is only minutes off the expressway. It's 14 acres and there is something to look at every way you turn. It's definitily inspired some new garden projects. Next time we plan on packing lunch and bringing the dogs. I think we've started a new mother's day tradition.

The Patio Project, So far.......

2008-05-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

The deck is completely gone!!! The pile of mud that was under the deck was more attractive than the big ugly deck. We've decided to put down pennsylvania bluestone and pebbles. My husband built a staircase and we started to lay the stone. The dogs absolutely love laying on the stones in the sun. I can't wait until it's finished!

Cherry Trees

2008-04-23T17:51:00.001-07:00

My absolute favorite flowering tree is the weeping cherry. They look like giant pink umbrellas. A few years ago I planted one on my front lawn (along with a Kwanzan Cherry) and it is doing great. It's the first thing I see when I walk out my front door. It just makes me smile and it helps to block the view of the very unattractive house across the street. I wish it would bloom all year! Over the weekend I was lucky enough to picnic with some good friends under a huge weeping cherry at the planting fields in Oyster Bay. Here are some pictures of my tree and the one at planting fields.

Whats blooming at the moment......

2008-04-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

My tulips still haven't opened but I have some beautiful daffodils, hyacinths and muscari in bloom. The yellow and peach daffodil are the same. It opens yellow and turns to peach. It's called apricot whirl, so pretty!!!

Compost

2008-04-13T17:38:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately no planting got done this weekend but I did clean and organize my shed and build a new compost pile. This is much neater and more contained than my old pile which was just a pile of clippings and scraps in the corner of my yard. I did have a copost tumbler but that didn't work out for me. It was always mushy and smelled disgusting. Eventually, I'll plant some hosta and other stuff around it to pretty up the compost pile. I'm pretty sure this is dog proof!

Some More Spring Blooms

2008-04-06T17:16:00.001-07:00

Still not too much blooming in my yard but I am very excited about all the plants peaking out of the ground. The daylilys and hosta are bigger everyday and it looks like most of my perennials survived the winter and are making an appearance!! For all the daylily enthusiasts I am up to 13 seedlings!!
Here's what's in bloom at the moment

Hydrangeas In The Tub

2008-04-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

I don't see anything wrong with this. My poor husband came home to see this and thought I had lost my mind. I on the other hand thought putting these hydrangeas in the bath to water was a great idea. It's too cold to have them outside and it was much easier than leaving them on the floor where I would have had to worry about making a huge mess. I put them in there, watered them, and let them drain, no mess!!! He thought I was going to keep them in there forever :) I think I'll do this with all of my plants.

Daylily Seedlings

2008-03-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

This past summer was my first go at hybridizing daylilies, so far I've only had four seedlings pop up but I'm keeping my fingers crossed ;)

The deck demolition begins!

2008-03-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

While I was enjoying working in the front yard my wonderful aunt (who loves demolition) was thrilled to be destroying the hideous deck in the backyard. I hope to create some new flower beds and a smaller much more attractive patio. The pets were very interested in the mess and a little confused as to how they were going to get off the deck.

First full day of gardening

2008-03-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

Today was wonderful!! I was finally able to put in a full day in the yard(plus a quick trip to home depot with Janice). I finished cleaning up all the beds in the front, they got weeded and edged. There are tons of daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and muscari almost in bloom. Can't wait to see them! I have to remember to put in some earlier blooming bulbs for next year. Here are some pictures of what is blomming right now!

Spring is here!!!

2008-03-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I am all too excited that spring is here! I've been able to get out in the yard and do some cleaning and preparation for all of the work to come. I can't wait to mulch and put in some new plants as well as start the deck demolition! It's a hideous eye sore and can't wait to get at it with a saw. I might even be tempted to use a chain saw, I will post pictures of the progress. It's been very hard to get myself to work each morning when all I really want to do is walk around the yard and look at all of the bulbs that are popping up and do some digging. I've already started buying plants, I have three hydrangeas sitting in my living room and five daylilies coming n the mail not to mention the daylily seedlings and other seeds that are growing in the basement. Here are some past photos of my garden!