Slug Feast!

The month of June has been a bust here in New England. Usually it's a wonderful month with warm breezes, cool nights, and low humidity. It's one of my favorite months. But this June has been nothing but clouds, rain, lower than normal temperatures, and high humidity. Nothing seems to get much sun or dry out. The garden plants are all lushly green but the blooms are lagging behind desperate for some rays of golden sun.

Here's the rain gage after just a few hours of showers. If I were to measure all the rain we've had this past month I could probably fill up a small bucket.



It seems I can't get ahead of all the fungus and mildew problems my plants are having. Black spot disease seems to be every where. I spray and cut back but I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. Some of my phlox, which is normally susceptible to disease, may be a goner. Even the cosmos which were beautiful a week ago are clearly complaining about their "wet feet."

But the thing that seems to be enjoying this weather the most are the slugs! So much so that we've renamed our garden "Slug Feast 2009!".

Here's one munching on a sweet green pepper leaf. How brazen.... in the middle of the day he's feeding!



My usual methods of controlling don't work in these rain forest conditions. Beer in cups, copper, slug bait, netting, cages, hand picking, - you name it I've tried it. The sad fact is that slugs are breeding faster than bunnies (I'd prefer bunnies at this point) and there's very little I can do but hope for some drier weather.

Here's what they've done to the bok choy and basil. I've never had problems with them eating basil before.





I could have taken more pictures to show you what they've done to the delphiniums, bee balm, hostas, lettuce, cone flowers - but it's too depressing.

Well at least today the sun is out!



Ahhh... it feels good.... but in the background while making breakfast I heard the weather man on TV say that afternoon showers are expected. It took all my strength not to throw my coffee cup at the TV.


PS - As you know from my Houston post I've been away all week. Sorry I haven't had a chance to read your blogs and comment on them while I was away, but I'll be catching up on them now that I'm back. Thanks so much for continuing to read my blog. I really do enjoy and appreciate all of feedback!

Bird Happy

If you listen and watch carefully the earth speaks to you. I often get giddy as the beauty of Mother Nature unfolds around me. Like a child with bright eyes and a heart opened wide I'm fascinated by the ripples in a brook, the softness of lush moss growing up the side of tree, and the sparkle of a spider web wet from the morning dew. When I am bestowed with a "God Gift" I get especially excited and will run like lightening to retrieve my camera so I can freeze a moment in time.

Two such occasions happened over the weekend and I was so thrilled to have caught them both in stills - which is rare for me since I'm usually so shaky with excitement that I can't get a clear picture.

First up it was feeding time at a popular bird house in our side garden. So far this year we've hosted 3 bird families here - a titmouse family, then some chickadees, and now sparrows.

As though catching a feeding on digital wasn't thrilling enough I was soon to be treated to another God Gift as I weeded a raised bed. While I knelt down next to the bed I felt something ever so lightly brush up against my leg. It was so soft that at first I thought it was just the wind breezing by (or maybe delirium from too much weeding). But then I caught something out of the corner of my eye - a hoping fluffy ball like a cotton puff dipped in ink. Hop, hop, and hop again - I watched as it bounced by me chirping ever so softly.

My heart started to race as well as my thoughts. "My God it's a baby robin!" I yelled. "It must have fallen from the nest!" I said out loud even though no one was around to hear me. I followed the little fluff as it hopped away - I noticed its feathers were still wet with newness.

Immediately my thoughts turned to how I would rescue the baby bird. Should I pick it up and take it home? Surely it wouldn't survive without some assistance. Thankfully I didn't have to think too long as Mama and Papa soon arrived on the scene thoroughly annoyed (or should I say furious) at my presence. As loving parents should they protected their young by squawking at me and diving for my head - I was never so thankful to be the target of a bird attack!

Amazingly Mama and Papa guided their baby back to the nest in the thicket of a conifer where its siblings waited for the lost one's safe return. Finally the fledgling took its place back in the comfort of its protective family. I then let out a loud sigh of relief as I thanked God for allowing me to experience this precious gift.

Houston Bound

I’m heading off to Houston on a business trip. This trip is bitter sweet for me. I’m excited to go since I’ll have the opportunity to meet new co-workers that are in another state, but at the same time this trip is due to the closing of our Massachusetts facility where I currently work - another casualty of the weak economy.

I work for a large technology company that services the financial industry – companies you would easily recognize. The division I work for handles print mail for many large banks, lenders, and other financial institutions. For example, your credit card bill, 401k statement, dividend check, car loan statement, mortgage coupon, or even your electric bill was very likely printed and mailed from one of our facilities around the country. Before working in this industry I had no idea how complicated it was to produce a credit card bill and get it mailed out. But, after working here for almost 2 years I’ll never look at a piece of mail in the same way again.

Getting the right data on a credit card bill is no easy task, and then getting that bill printed properly on the right paper, inserted in the right envelope with the correct address along with any other materials is accomplished through large printing presses and postal machines based on barcodes and machine-readable digits. Ever wonder why there are barcodes on your bills and statements? The barcode counts the number of pages in your statement and makes sure all pages get inserted together in the right envelope with your mailing address. It’s really quite amazing and without that barcode nothing would get mailed.



The reason for my trip is to assist with the transfer of work from the Massachusetts facility to Houston Operations. I work on the technology side of the business managing projects. Over the past few months after learning that our facility would close I was told that I had two options – I could move to Houston or accept a severance package. For me moving was not an option so I’ve been looking for another job. But then a blessing came. About 2 weeks ago they told me that since I was part of the technology team and didn’t need to be onsite with the operations in Houston they were going to let me keep my job and allow me to telecommute from home. I couldn’t think of anything sweeter when I heard this wonderful news.

As the closing of our facility doors grows nearer I’m thankful that I still have a job but so worried and sad for the almost 200 co-workers who are not as fortunate. Each day as I walk around our facility more large machines leave our building on route in a truck headed for Houston. Every time a machine leaves a person who worked that machine loses their job.



I’ll miss the spirited gentleman that manned the check writing machine. We always had the best conversations about politics. And the funny guy who ran the postal inserters – he always told the best jokes. The forklift machine sits idle like some museum dinosaur. The operator’s wife used to bake the best brownies. Then there is the cute white-haired lady who is 75 years young and hand stuffed envelopes to supplement her social security retirement income. I’ll miss them all and I pray for them each day.

Although this blog is about gardening and decorating, I felt compiled to share what is going on in my life right now and to pay tribute to the people who have lost or will be losing their jobs. Each time I go out into in the garden it’s a blessing for me since I could have very well lost it without having a job to pay the mortgage. I never take anything for granted especially now when so many are in dire need of help.

As a sign of hope for all those who have lost their jobs during the finanacial crisis of our country, I'm posting this picture of a banyan tree.


In Hindu religion, the banyan tree is considered sacred and is called "Ashwath Vriksha" ("I am Banyan tree among trees" - Bhagavad Gita). It represents eternal life because of its seemingly ever-expanding branches. In Hindu mythology, the banyan tree is also called kalpavriksha meaning 'wish fulfilling divine tree'.

Fertilizer Friday - Cheery Cosmos

It's Fertilizer Friday! Please join me and our host Tootsie over at Tootsie Time and enjoy all the wonderful blooms and lush greenery.

For this week's installment I'd like to welcome you to my Cosmos patch.





Cosmos are a cheerful cottage flower that stand out in wildflower mixes. They are one of my favorite annuals because they are so easy to grow. I adore the bright large blooms, tall stature, and ferny foliage.

Look at this quaint cottage garden on Martha's Vineyard.


This is what I think of when I see Cosmos. I took this picture a few years back when we were visiting the island. It don't remember exactly where the picture was taken but I do know it was outside of an inn. You can see the chef standing on the steps taking a break from cooking. Imagine how lovely it would be to stay there.

Cosmos stand tall in a cottage garden. Depending on the variety they can reach anywhere from 3 - 6 feet tall. Some are bushy while others need staking. Cosmos love full sun and are drought tolerant. They are great in areas with poor soil. If you plant them in soil that is too rich and moist they will get lanky and not bloom as well. As an added benefit Cosmos are also pest and disease resistant. Now that's my kind of plant!



Cosmos are usually the centerpiece of my container plantings. They do well with other sun-loving annuals and drought-tolerant perennials like Echinacea, Zinnia, Lavender, Dianthus, Rosemary, Sweet Potato Vine and Thyme. This year I decided to plant them in the ground along my front walkway. I'm so glad I did because I love the way they sway in mass when gentle breezes blow by.



I always purchase my Cosmos from the local nursery but next year I'm going to grow them from seed. The seeds look like pine needles and are one of the easiest to grow so it's worth it for me to give it shot.



Did you know that the word Cosmos is derived from the Greek word meaning "balanced universe. " What a perfect name for one of the most perfect annuals!



Finally to wrap up this week's Fertilizer Friday I'm sending all my blog readers a big beautiful bouquet of peonies.



Thank you all so much for visiting my blog, adding great comments, sending me wonderful emails, and offering up this newbie gardener great advice.

Happy Friday!!