"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, November 20, 2009

Fertilizer Friday - November 20th.

It's hard to believe that we're this far into November already. We've had a very wet and windy November so far in the Seattle area. Trying to get outside to do much of anything is difficult unless you want to be soaked and windblown while out there. I found that we are quite a bit above our normal November rainfall already. Our average for the whole month is 3.4 inches. As of a couple of days ago we are at 5.16 inches and believe me it's rained a lot more since that last measurement. There are rivers on flood watch, luckily we don't live near any, but I always feel bad when I watch the news and see all these homes that flood. Not everyone can afford to just move and really have a rough time during our rainy season. The wind has also been awful. We've had windstorm after windstorm this week. Ever since the big windstorm in 2006 people around here get very nervous. During the storm in 2006 we lost a lot of shingles from our roof, which led to ceiling leaks and blue tarps on our roof for the rest of the winter until the roofing companies finally had time to replace our roof.
Now for something much better than our weather, flowers! It's Fertilizer Friday which is hosted by Tootsie Time every week.

Oxalis crassipes 'Rosea' is too cold to open right now, but once the day warms a little all these pink buds will open. It normally blooms most of the year.

I feel bad that poor Rose 'Don Juan' gets forgotten about most of the summer, but this fall he's definitely calling out to us with these beautiful rosebuds.

Water Hawthorn (Aponogeton distachyos) has recovered since the raccoon "attack" last week. There are several new flowers. I've noticed it reseeds in my pond and have a couple new ones coming up.

I know I've show Kaffir Lily 'Fenland Daybreak' (Schizostylis) a lot lately, but it's just so pretty I can't help it.

Phygelius or Cape Fuchsia 'Croftway Coral Princess' is still sharing some blooms.

Some of the planters on the deck that are adding a little life to the yard. The Meyer Lemon tree (on the left) is just waiting outside until it's cools down and then I'll bring it in. This will be my first year trying to overwinter it.

One of the fall planters that the Littlest Gardener helped me with.

And last is this funny little Primrose that was already blooming. I think the slugs have already found the leaves, but so far the flower has survived their late night munching. I love these little surprises this time of year.

I hope you'll visit Tootsie to see what else is blooming around the world, inside and outside.
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37 comments:

  1. Hi Catherine, We've had a wet Autumn too! I still have roses blooming and I noticed some little flowes on our oxalis. Your photos today are so nice - I love the rose with the water droplets and of course, you know I love that lily. The Littlest Gardener did a good job with that big pot. I hope you guys have a lovely Thanksgiving week.

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  2. We are far behind on our rain.. I know how miserable it is for you to have dreary day after dreary day...maybe the sun will come out tomorrow. Your gardens still look good, love the corner of your deck, great blue! The first photo sure looks like one of our weeds we call a type of clover, blooms pink, purple and yellow, some of them even have burgandyish foilage..

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  3. Your Don Juan looks like glass. Beautiful. Too bad about the rain. I hope you soon get some relief.

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  4. Don Juan is very dramatic. I was expecting to see snow around the pond!

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  5. I think my cape fushia just up and died. Yours looks great! You can keep showing that kaffir lily anytime. Do stay dry and don't get blown away...

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  6. You captured beautiful raindrops on the flowers - Gloria

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  7. Love that little oxalis, it's so cute! The weather lately has been a real house rattler, that's for sure! The wind has actually kept me from getting a good night's sleep the last few nights. Where are you planning to put the lemon tree?

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  8. Hope the weather improves for you so you can have an enjoyable weekend outdoors!
    More lovely pictures :-)

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  9. Catherine, I always enjoy and love your posts..they always seem to have a spark of magical energy to them!I love the DonJuan Rose..gorgeous..!!And your display of pots..beautiful!!Basically everything! great post!!
    Kiki~ Have a beautiful wkd.

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  10. I love that lily more each time I see it Catherine. It is really pretty now. And you still have roses. Rain too. I know the house is clean LOL
    Have a great weekend

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  11. Your yard is like a breath of fresh air to me. Your flowers look like springtime, eventhough it's windy and rainy.

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  12. Catherine,
    The 'Don Juan' seems to be very happy for all the rain. Your primrose looks happy on the inside and sad on the outside, never had anything bother mine.

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  13. Catherine now I have to say you have some beautiful blooms on the go there girl ! ..
    I have never see Water Hawthorn before and that really struck me : ) .. I wish I could handle the work of a pond but I can enjoy everyone else's ? LOL
    The oxalis is so pretty too .. I used to have a couple as houseplants but they really got skinny ? LOL ! sad looking ? LOL !
    I don't blame people for being nervous with the wind and the rain .. you just never know what turn the weather will take !
    Joy : )

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  14. Wow! Your phygelius is still blooming! Mine is already in a sleepy mode!

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  15. Your blooms are beautiful as usual...I love the photos with the rain drops!!!

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  16. What lovely photos. They look so "alive" (I can't think of the right word) with the rain water... I love the Kaffir Lily - it's such a gorgeous colour and shape. The wet rose looks deliciously like glass!

    Thanks for sharing, and have a lovely weekend, Ev

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  17. Bad storms here too. Our coast got battered badly by Hurricane Ida. Lots of damage. Your garden is always pretty.

    Thank you for participating in Operation Christmas Child. We raised $800 and made 20 boxes. The giving is over and the boxes will be delivered on Monday. i'll post about it on Tuesday. You may take down the widget if you like.

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  18. Your flowers are lovely! We recently got at least 6" of rain -- 5+ from Ida and another inch after that. We needed it, but those gray rainy days seem to last forever.

    Is that Culver's Root in your new header? It's gorgeous.

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  19. Hi Catherine

    That Kaffir Lily is worth talking about!

    Darn rain. Everywhere seems to have flooding at the moment. Cumbria in England has just had 12 inches of rain in 24 hours!!!

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  20. Alison - I'm not sure if I'll keep the lemon tree inside our house or garage yet, probably inside the house though.

    Sweet Bay - It's a type of Veronica 'Lilac Fantasy'. I'm so happy it's decided to spread itself around.

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  21. To be able to capture those raindrops on the flowers is just amazing. Glorious photos.

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  22. it is all just so gorgeous! we still don't have any snow since it snowed in Sept! it is really windy here and seeing your flowers certainly did brighten my gloomy cloudy, cold day! lol

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  23. There's something appealing about garden photos taken right after a rain, so fresh looking.

    There can never be too many photos of your Kaffir Lily. One of my favorites in your garden. And I really like the picture of the planters on your deck. Makes me feel like I'm right out there with you.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you.
    PS: I'm very thankful for the white enevelope that arrived in my mailbox from the Pacific Northwest.

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  24. The garden looks so fresh after rain. Your plants are gorgeous. I love oxalis, mine is about the same as yours right now. Do you have fish in your pond? And do the Raccoons get them? Any tips on how to keep raccons out of ponds? Dealing with that right now. I don't care if they come in the yard, just don't eat the Koi! They've gotten 2 so far.
    Your pond is lovely!
    *hugs*deb

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  25. Boy Catherine, you aren't a kiddin.' The storms just keep rolling in and hammering us. There was one gust of wind last night [Saturday] that was a little unnerving, if you know what I mean. I'm glad were getting so much rain but I agree that it is rough for the low lying dwellers. One of the canals in town overflowed its banks the other day and flooded the nearby houses--a mini New Orleans. Thankfully I'm on high ground. Mud slides would plague me before flooding.

    Your flowers are fabulous. Don Juan really knows how to woo his audience doesn't he? Your Oxalis looks full of life as do the rest of your intrepid blossoms. Too bad we can't bottle all this rain for next summer!

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  26. Your deck looks like one of those car commercials where they spray the road surface to make everything look all spiffy. :) Can you believe our weather? I hope your Doug firs stay right where they are!! Do you fertilize your phygelius? Mine never bloomed this year and I was very sad. I share your concern about the floodwaters and wonder how Daniel of SAGBUTT is doing, they are very close to the Snoqualmie.

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  27. Quite a different wet autumn from ours, Catherine; it's lovely to see so many things still blooming for you, where everything here is done and just resting til spring.

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  28. Lovely lovely garden.... I'm glad I've found you! May I add you to my blog roll? I'd like to come back...

    so nice meeting you

    cielo

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  29. This is a link to my main blog:

    http://www.houseinroses.blogspot.com

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  30. Deb - I wish I had a tip on how to keep the raccoons out. I do have fish but they seem to be able to outsmart the raccoons. They hide in the plants I think.

    CIELO - Of course you can add my blog and thank you so much! I'm off to visit your blog now.

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  31. Hi Catherine,

    There is an award for you on my blog. I hope that you will accept it but I won't be offended if you don't. You may have already received it, but you have been so supportive and I wanted you to know that I really appreciate it.

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  32. This is my first visit and must say you have very beautiful garden and yes the shots are very beautiful!!!

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  33. It seems surprising to me that there is so much still blooming considering how late in the year it is plus all the rain. I didn't think I would be anxious for the plants to die back but I really don't want to be out there in December trimming things back. LOL
    I really appreicate the rain stats you posted. I hadn't looked them up for myself but it sure felt like a soaker this month. We live up high so we don't get flooded but we are surrounded by the frequently flooding rivers so the roads are often impassable. Our view into the valley allows us to witness our neighbors below flooding out and it is so sad to see that happen to them.

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  34. We enjoyed a beautiful September and October on this side of the pond Catherine but we have had a very wet November with devastating flooding in Cumbria :(
    Enjoyed seeing your late flowering blooms especially Schizostylis 'Fenland Daybreak'. My dad was born in Norfolk in an area known as the Fens :) Very marshy land !

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  35. Hi Catherine - I just listed you on my site for Best Blog Award - You have probably received it before, but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate and enjoy your blog and your welcome when I first started. Gloria

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  36. A lovely post. I love it when the primroses bloom in November, as ours have too. It's been wetter here than ever too, and windy. I think we're having the same weather. I love that Kaffir lily, we just have the red one, I've never seen that one before.

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  37. I love photos of flowers with water drops, but I bet your blooms would be just as happy to get some sunshine at this point! Have you gotten some relief from the rain yet? I didn't post blooms last Friday, but was able to get some photographed while out for the sky.

    I don't think oxalises live over our winters, but I'm not sure. I sure like yours. I grow a kind with differently shaped leaves that can be green or reddish. I have one of each that I have outside in the shade in summer, and inside in the winter.

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