Wordless Wednesday: Megan's Morning Shower

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The Tiresome Trifecta with a Totally Tasty Plan B

Thunder, lightening, drenching rain.

This trifecta can only mean one thing ~ it must be Memorial Weekend!

Like clockwork, every year, the teasing warmth of an early summer disappears at the precise moment I start dusting off the camping gear.

I've been prowling the nurseries. Drooling over the new flowers they have to offer.

But, I leave my purse in the car so as not to be too tempted too early.

And, I keep my big mouth shut when strolling past the happy lines of optimistic shoppers, scooping up cheery flowering baskets, tender annuals ~ giddy over the great weather we've been having.

I do not utter a word about how they're jumping the gun and Mother Nature has one more trick up her sleeve.

Because, nobody likes it when you rain on their parade. Including me.

So, I'm working on a Totally Tasty Plan B ~ Dry Rub Ribs for this Ultra Iffy Memorial Day BBQ. These cook better in the oven than they do on the grill.

* First, baste the ribs with 3 tbs fresh roasted garlic (those jars you buy in the supermarket) and 2 tbs spicy brown mustard. Then sprinkle the dry ingredients onto the ribs. Bake @ 300 for 2-3 hours. This recipe is good for 3 pounds of ribs.

Dry Rub Ribs

• 2 tbs roasted, ground cumin
• 2 tbs dark brown sugar
• 2 tbs smoked paprika
• 2 tbs onion powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tbs salt and 2 tbs pepper (or let your guests handle this when you're done cooking)

Have you ever wondered why BBQ joints 

feature dancing piggies in their logos?

If I were the piggy, I'd be making a quick exit from this party.

Wordless Wednesday: Mystery Wildflower

Can you guess the name of this wild flowering bush? Hint: It's a native to the desert southwest.

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Weeding Frenzy

I'm a sucker for heirloom Bearded Iris

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity." ~ N. Lellande

 I'm good for 30 gallons.

What does that make you think of? Gas? Beer? Iced Tea? Iced Cream? Well, I could go for at least a gallon of that to-die-for Chocolate Hazelnut variety but, alas, it's not about any of these things.

Windflowers

It's about weeds.

One weed, in particular. The dreaded Bermuda Grass that has taken hold of the Big Rock Garden. The 30 gallons is the size of the barrel that sits in the garden and that's the daily tally of Bermuda Grass I've been pulling up by the long, long roots and tossing into the barrel. For the last 3 days. All the while griping, moaning, complaining + trying hard to find someone to finger for this disaster.

Other than myself.

Linaria

Last summer, my traitors tenants had the audacity to politely request that we remove some of the flowers on their side of this duplex and replace said flowers with [say it isn't so...] a new lawn.

Apparently the kids need something to play on. Now, these kids haven't played on anything other than an X-Box for as long as I've known them but... that's the wonderful thing about parents. Optimists to their dying day.

Flowering Almonds are not supposed to grow here but they don't seem too unhappy.

So, I bitched royally pondered the subject and decided to evict them cave in. Because, after all, they're nice people even if they don't appreciate my flowers.

I know nothing about grass. Other than how to kill it.

When I purchased this home it had a 12,000 square foot Kentucky Blue Grass lawn. (In a desert environment. Go figure.) It's down to 2,000 square feet, now, which is still plenty of room for Bad Dog to enjoy an afternoon nap. And, I'm quite proud of that water-saving, back-breaking effort.

Now, I tried to do right by this grass idea. We cleaned the area of weeds and leveled the land because I paid an arm and a leg for certified, weed-free, screened top soil. Only this certified weed-free super fantabulous top soil wasn't weed free at all.

And, they brought me twice as much as I needed so ~ in my infinite wisdom ~ I decided to use the rest of it to amend the hard as can be clay soil in the Big Rock Garden.

Which brings me to another favorite quote of mine:
Right when you think things are going your way... something is falling apart and you don't even know about it. Yet.

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Wordless Wednesday ~ The Wildflower Ride

*It's not this summery in Utah. Not yet, anyway. :) These pics taken at Acacia Riding Adventures, in San Acacia, New Mexico.

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Search and Rescue

I don't do windows. Obviously! But, looking at this picture has prompted me to find someone who does.

Enough about my lousy housekeeping ~ meet my $5 bargain. Do you recognize what's taking over my sunny window? It's a Clematis. I've got 8 of them growing in my living room and may I just say? It's a jungle in here!

I was picking up supplies, over at Walmart a couple months ago, when I spotted a rack of little green bags. Nearly dead Clematis roots inside. One enterprising little plant had wiggled her way through a hole in the green bag and was sprouting. So, naturally, I had to rescue her. And, then I went back and rescued all of her friends.

I would not have guessed that dead, dry Clematis roots could make such a fab comeback but if you look.... real.... close... you'll see that she's budding!

* Safe planting date, at my elevation, is Memorial Day so it won't be long until I can set them free.

Wordless Wednesdays: A May Day Walk in the Garden

Heirloom Daffodils

Soon to be Lilac Blossom

Flowering Plum Tree

One extra early Tulip ~ jumpin' the gun.

Don't forget to pet the pony!

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10 Hard Working Perennials for Mountain Gardens

Primrose is a very early bloomer, loving cold temperatures.

Bright sunshine inspired a whole lotta work in the gardens yesterday ~ in spite of the fact that it was blustery and cold... Sitting here, this morning, tired, and sore, happy as all get out. Having dedicated an entire day to playing in the mud.

What's your favorite time in the garden? Mine is right now. When tiny green shoots are poking up all over the place, promising pretty things to come.

Sad to say, it's too early to plant. And, of course, that makes me itchy. Trying desperately to avoid the local nurseries, tempting me with new flowers that will surely freeze ~ should I lose control and jump the gun.

So, while I'm spinning my wheels, waiting ever so impatiently for Memorial Day to come, here's a salute to the 10 hardest working perennials in my waterwise gardens. These gals bloom for at least 8 weeks, some 12 or 16 weeks. All are drought-tolerant, much-loved by hummingbirds, butterflies, and most everyone who bikes past the Street Garden.

May Night Salvia

Salvia x superba

Flowers: June - August, with deadheading

Full sun
USDA zones 5-9

Tickseed Coreopsis

Coreopsis lanceolata

Flowers: June - September, with deadheading

Full sun

USDA zones 5-9

Munstead Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Flowers: July - October

Full sun

USDA zones 4-10 

Bellflower Deep Blue Pearls

Campanula carpatica

Flowers: June - September

Full sun

USDA zones 3-8 

John Cabot Roses

Flowers: June - October

Full sun

USDA zones 3-7

Johnson's Blue Geranium

Geranium himalayense x pratense

Flowers: May - September

Full sun
USDA zones 4-8

Redbirds in a Tree
Scrophularia macrantha
Flowers: June - September
Happiest at 6,000 feet or higher
Full sun
USDA zones 5-10

Six Hills Giant Cat Mint

Nepeta x faaseenii 'Six Hills Giant'

Flowers: June - August

Full sun
USDA zones 4-9

Jupiter's Beard
Centranthus Ruber
Flowers: June - August, with deadheading
Full sun
USDA zones 4-9

Corkscrew Ornamental Onion

Allium senescens 'Blue Twister'

Flowers: June - September

Full sun/Loves clay soil
USDA zones 3-8

 

Do you have a love affair with 10 special flowers? Do tell!

A Brief Interruption

After a deep, drenching, rain I woke to a temporary drift of snow. And, while these stops and starts to the garden season can be annoying, I'm not terribly unhappy about it.  

Glory of the Snow (early spring blooming, naturalizing bulb)

This high up in the mountains, things are different. When it's raining on your garden, it's often snowing on mine.

I don't mind and neither do my flower bulbs. To me, snow is just a happier form of much-needed moisture.

People run when it's raining. They slow down when it snows. They linger, perhaps even to the point of admiring the artistic beauty of a snowflake, or two.

Oh, I know my attitude doesn't sync with most gardeners. They want spring to come early, with no interruptions.

Crocus

Where I live, that's just never gonna happen. So, perhaps it's a blessing in disguise. My hard work will begin soon enough.

More Crocus!

* If you live in the mountains, you've probably already figured out that bulbs are a gardening girl's best friend. Bulbs add bright, beautiful color to the garden right about the time you're convinced that spring will never ever arrive. In my crazy, micro climate gardens, Crocus and Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) get the party started. Next up: naturalizing Blue Siberian Squill and, with any luck, some perky yellow Daffodils.

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