Critter Clearing

With all the rainy weekends keeping Mom and Dad from getting out to garden the perennial gardens are becoming critter vacation spots. I have taken on the job of evicting out unwanted guests.

Friday Flowers: Oriental Lilies

Mom is so pleased to see these blooming this year. The last few years they've been under nasty attack by beatles. She doesn't know if it was a change in the weather of just a beatle cycle, but for the first time in ages, the Oriental Lilies seem to be doing well.

I am not sure why Mom gets so excited when she sees one in bloom. Hoewver, if she wants to give me treats for posing by one, who am I to complain?

Friday Flowers: Mystery Yellow Flower

Mom has a tendency to pick flowers up at the local garden club sales. She knows she got these there, but doesn't know what they are called.

She loves the bright cheerful colors, but these flowers grow like weeds. We had to go out and help Dog Dad trim them back a little while ago. They can take the whole garden if you aren't careful.

Friday Flowers: Lilies

Mom loves Lilies, both the Day and the Oriental. The Oriental Lilies are slowly coming into bloom. The Day Lilies are a bit slow this year. Mom is hoping the ones that were called 4th of July Lilies around here make it for the holiday.

At one point Mom in planning her perennial jungle garden Mom kept picking up just about every color of Lily she came across. She loves the way the bright cheerful colors decorate her garden during the summer.

Mom is rather surprised and excited to find the Lilies doing so well without assistance. It must be the weather because the last few years the Lilies have been under attack by bug critters and if she doesn't treat them in time, they don't even get to the blooms. This year she found them blooming before she even expected them to be ready to bloom. The bug critters must not enjoy the weather we've had this season.

Keeping Up With Mom's Veggie Garden

We went out to check on Mom's Veggie gardens yesterday. The weather has been odd, wet to the point of being almost tropical to really hot and dry this weekend.

The tomatoes have grown past the first level of their crates cages and seem to be liking this strange weather. They are at the highest point of all the three veggie gardens so they get the best drainage when the rains come fast and hard. This might be why the rain hasn't been as much of an issue for them, although heavy rains have caused the plants here to rot in the past. Mom isn't complaining.

So far, the middle garden is also thriving. The peppers and zucchinis are having a good summer so far. Mom is hopeful about the peppers. They've had a rough few years. She is hoping the new methods Dog Dad tried are going to bring them around.

The back gardens are having the most challenges. This is the lowest point in the yard and also the darkest. With the heavy rains and thus fewer bright shiny days the plants back here are not having as good a time. Dog Dad noticed a couple of lettuce plants had died over the weekend. However, the zucchini seem to be thriving despite the challenges.

Mom thought she had an infestation of weeds growing in the back garden. Turns out the trees sneezed and dropped all their pollen on our gardens. Who knew trees needed tissues.

Gardens are Not All Evil After All

Bailey and I have decided there are a few good uses for the gardens. The flowers in particular make wonderful hurdles and items to climb under when we play. Bailey is not as crazy about this as I am, but I love jumping over them in my zoomie phases.

Secondly, our neighbors have started a veggie garden and Dad and Mom have been giving them advice about the process. As a result, the Doggie Mom came over to our yard to visit. Bailey did the immediate meet and greet and I finally had the courage to go over and meet her. After all, if I want to meet the dog I have to charm the Mom. She really liked me and even petted my head. If this keeps up, I may finally get a chance to meet HIM. Our parents discussed some vague times for getting us together. This is the first time a play date has been discussed. I am so excited.