Tomatoes and Peppers Thrive

Many of you will recall the post back on May 15 where I talked about planting tomatoes and peppers.  Here is a picture from that post.

Beefsteak Tomato and Banana Pepper (planted 5/15/2012)

Here are a couple pictures of that tomato and banana pepper plant today.

WOW!  Lots of sun.  Tomatoes and peppers like to get lots of sun.  It shouldn't be long until we are harvesting Beefsteak tomatoes and Banana Peppers.  I cannot wait.  Can anyone say "fresh salsa."

Tomatoes and Peppers Thrive

Many of you will recall the post back on May 15 where I talked about planting tomatoes and peppers.  Here is a picture from that post.

Beefsteak Tomato and Banana Pepper (planted 5/15/2012)

Here are a couple pictures of that tomato and banana pepper plant today.

WOW!  Lots of sun.  Tomatoes and peppers like to get lots of sun.  It shouldn't be long until we are harvesting Beefsteak tomatoes and Banana Peppers.  I cannot wait.  Can anyone say "fresh salsa."

Upgrading the Begonia Baskets

Begonias are beautiful.  They are one of my favorite flowers.  Some things to know about begonias - few of them will tolerate full sun; they like well drained soil which is not kept constantly wet nor allowed to dry out; many begonias are grown as perennials in temperate climates.  I have not had good luck with them as perennials in Maryland.  The winters are too cold here and they just don't make it.

These begonia baskets were originally planted and hung where they received direct morning sun.  They did not like that.  I have moved them to this location in the back over the deck and they are much happier here.  I have read that they require "bright shade."  I would say this location offers bright shade through the bamboo garden.

I usually go with the philosophy that "simpler is better"; "less is more."  Except in this case.  While I think the baskets of begonias are pretty, I think the baskets of begonias with asparagus fern are prettier.  I love asparagus fern and use it frequently in potted plantings.  It adds texture and interest without overpowering the main plant.

Give asparagus fern a try the next time you are planting.  I think you will be pleased with how they look in your garden.

Upgrading the Begonia Baskets

Begonias are beautiful.  They are one of my favorite flowers.  Some things to know about begonias - few of them will tolerate full sun; they like well drained soil which is not kept constantly wet nor allowed to dry out; many begonias are grown as perennials in temperate climates.  I have not had good luck with them as perennials in Maryland.  The winters are too cold here and they just don't make it.

These begonia baskets were originally planted and hung where they received direct morning sun.  They did not like that.  I have moved them to this location in the back over the deck and they are much happier here.  I have read that they require "bright shade."  I would say this location offers bright shade through the bamboo garden.

I usually go with the philosophy that "simpler is better"; "less is more."  Except in this case.  While I think the baskets of begonias are pretty, I think the baskets of begonias with asparagus fern are prettier.  I love asparagus fern and use it frequently in potted plantings.  It adds texture and interest without overpowering the main plant.

Give asparagus fern a try the next time you are planting.  I think you will be pleased with how they look in your garden.

A "Microburst" Hits Cheverly

Well, . . . where do I start?  We here in Cheverly have had quite an interesting 48 hours.  As we all know, we had record breaking heat here in the greater Washington, DC Metropolitan area last week.  Wednesday and Thursday were unbearable to put it mildly.  Friday we were a few degrees cooler and the forecasters were predicting milder weather for the weekend and next week and the chance of thunderstorms Friday evening.  I don't know if you could call what we had in Cheverly a "thunderstorm."  I think the news people have referred to it as a "Microburst."  Whatever it was, it wreaked havoc on our little town.  I watched most of it from the front door and I can tell you that it was particularly brief but extremely powerful.  I don't ever recall winds like we had and it has been many years since I've seen hail the size of quarters.

We were without power on Crest Avenue from about 7:30 on Friday evening until 1:00 AM Saturday, a brief period of five and one half hours.  Others in Cheverly are still without power as I write.  Although the power came back on early Saturday morning, I have been without cable, internet and telephone until just a few hours ago.

What follows is a pictorial of what I witnessed yesterday morning.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

At the height of the storm.

Someone lost their trashcan.

Another tree down.  It seems to have been twisted off the trunk.

Tree down on Euclid Street tangled in the power lines.

Route 202 at the merge to 295 South

The cranes in the background are replacing a utility pole that fell across Route 202.

An uprooted tree in Cheverly.

A tree down on the power lines on Carlyle Street just feet from Crest Avenue.

We were very lucky at Crest Avenue.  We sustained no damage to the house.  However the back yard did not fair so well.  Some of these limbs and branches came from the age-old Sweet Gum Tree in my yard.  Others came from neighboring trees.  We will work diligently this week to clean up and get back to our important work here at Crest Avenue.

A tangle of limbs and branches.

Some branches from the neighbors.

This gives you some idea of the size of what came down.

A tangled mess atop the garden shed.

It is going to take some time for us all to get cleaned up from this storm.  The town has been very conscientious.  There were trucks out patrolling the streets and picking up debris in the early morning hours on Saturday before sunrise.  Let us hope this is the last of these storms we will see.

A "Microburst" Hits Cheverly

Well, . . . where do I start?  We here in Cheverly have had quite an interesting 48 hours.  As we all know, we had record breaking heat here in the greater Washington, DC Metropolitan area last week.  Wednesday and Thursday were unbearable to put it mildly.  Friday we were a few degrees cooler and the forecasters were predicting milder weather for the weekend and next week and the chance of thunderstorms Friday evening.  I don't know if you could call what we had in Cheverly a "thunderstorm."  I think the news people have referred to it as a "Microburst."  Whatever it was, it wreaked havoc on our little town.  I watched most of it from the front door and I can tell you that it was particularly brief but extremely powerful.  I don't ever recall winds like we had and it has been many years since I've seen hail the size of quarters.

We were without power on Crest Avenue from about 7:30 on Friday evening until 1:00 AM Saturday, a brief period of five and one half hours.  Others in Cheverly are still without power as I write.  Although the power came back on early Saturday morning, I have been without cable, internet and telephone until just a few hours ago.

What follows is a pictorial of what I witnessed yesterday morning.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

At the height of the storm.

Someone lost their trashcan.

Another tree down.  It seems to have been twisted off the trunk.

Tree down on Euclid Street tangled in the power lines.

Route 202 at the merge to 295 South

The cranes in the background are replacing a utility pole that fell across Route 202.

An uprooted tree in Cheverly.

A tree down on the power lines on Carlyle Street just feet from Crest Avenue.

We were very lucky at Crest Avenue.  We sustained no damage to the house.  However the back yard did not fair so well.  Some of these limbs and branches came from the age-old Sweet Gum Tree in my yard.  Others came from neighboring trees.  We will work diligently this week to clean up and get back to our important work here at Crest Avenue.

A tangle of limbs and branches.

Some branches from the neighbors.

This gives you some idea of the size of what came down.

A tangled mess atop the garden shed.

It is going to take some time for us all to get cleaned up from this storm.  The town has been very conscientious.  There were trucks out patrolling the streets and picking up debris in the early morning hours on Saturday before sunrise.  Let us hope this is the last of these storms we will see.

A Corner of Wildflowers

Some weeks ago I tilled the earth using my Mantis Tiller and sprinkled a wildflower seed mixture in this inhospitable area between my house and the neighbor to my left.  I was not certain at first that this would be successful.  This area is surrounded by concrete and is in a common area between the two properties that does not get a great deal of attention.  I used the Pennington Butterfly & Hummingbird Mix from Lowe's.

To my surprise, they took and it actually looks like this will be one of the most beautiful gardens at Crest Avenue this year.

I am very pleased.  If any of you are thinking of planting a wildflower garden, I would highly recommend the Pennington brand.  When they say "Guaranteed To Grow", they mean it.  

A Corner of Wildflowers

Some weeks ago I tilled the earth using my Mantis Tiller and sprinkled a wildflower seed mixture in this inhospitable area between my house and the neighbor to my left.  I was not certain at first that this would be successful.  This area is surrounded by concrete and is in a common area between the two properties that does not get a great deal of attention.  I used the Pennington Butterfly & Hummingbird Mix from Lowe's.

To my surprise, they took and it actually looks like this will be one of the most beautiful gardens at Crest Avenue this year.

I am very pleased.  If any of you are thinking of planting a wildflower garden, I would highly recommend the Pennington brand.  When they say "Guaranteed To Grow", they mean it.