By Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS
(Independent architectural histor'n)
It is not raining and the sun is out, so it was time to look around the garden and pull a few weeds today. Then I caught sight of a garden worker shaking the pollen out of a hellebore--a big fat bee! I had never thought about hellebores and bees before, but sure enough, he was hard at work!And the grape hyacinths had popped into sight after staying low earlier in the week, and they were a welcome burst of color. The tulips were just starting to open, and the daffodils were in various states, depending on the variety. Some still perky, and some wilting.Farther down the hill, I had forgotten about the flowering quince. It has been about 5 years since I planted it, and a few more flowers appear every year. Nothing like the ones at Winterthur gardens. I wonder how old those plants are. T...
By Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS
(Independent architectural histor'n)
Just listed is this move-in condition split level in popular South Graylyn Crest. With 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, there's plenty of room inside this home. Plus, there is a spacious yard leading down to a branch of Shellpot Creek.The original oak floors have been refinished and the walls are freshly painted. 1023 Faun Rd. is on a quiet street that ends at the neighborhood swimming pool. Adjacent to Graylyn Crest is its shopping center with Ulysses Gastro Pub, and nearby Vincenza & Margherita Italian Bistro (great pizza!).Cross Silverside Rd. to Branmar Plaza and its supermarket and hardware store are only two of the many businesses there. Listed at $344,900, this home is certainly worth looking into!
By Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS
(Independent architectural histor'n)
It seems I have been laboring under a misapprehension. When I saw a praying mantis, I thought, "How nice--they are eating bugs."Backing up--I have had a mealy bug problem with my Gerbera daisy plant. The flowers are shriveling up and there are white bugs all over. I don't like to use insecticides, but I found an old spray can in the garage and went out to the patio where the Gerber sits on the wall. What to my wandering eyes should appear but a praying mantis, perched on a flower. "Great--he's going to eat the bugs," I thought. So I went inside and Googled mantises. (Now this gets gross) Those buggers kill hummingbirds, sometimes sucking their brains out. And my Gerbera is next to a honeysuckle loved by hummingbirds. Looks like I have to move the darn plant now. Sigh.
By Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS
(Independent architectural histor'n)
I must admit, this latest effort to save my tomatoes did not cost anything. I already had this netting in the garage from some long-forgotten project.So I wound the netting around the two tomato cages and tied them to the cages with some wire. Who knows what the varmints will try next. Someone suggested that it could be a groundhog. I can't say I have seen any around here, but I did see a mole or vole the other day. Another suggestion was marigolds around the veggies. Tried that years ago and found the local slugs love marigolds. And something has been snapping off my green beans. Wonder if I should cover them with a layer of netting. Tomorrow is another day. At least my flowers don't seem to be someone's dinner.
By Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS
(Independent architectural histor'n)
Today was the Presidential Primary in Delaware. I was going to vote absentee, but they sent the ballot so long ago, that it got misplaced. So I had to go down to Brandywine H.S. and place a vote in person. I was impressed at the number of both volunteers and citizen voters. 3 cheers for all of you!And then I came home to face a problem on the home front. A few days ago I took a picture of a nice GREEN tomato in my garden. Then I found that it was completely gone 2 days later. Not still there with a bite taken out. GONE! Must have been a fairly large squirrel? rabbit? something!So I looked at another green tomato, not quite as large as the first one. How to protect it? First I wound a piece of binder wire from a bunch of broccoli. No, still not enough. Then I wrapped it in plastic wra...
By Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS
(Independent architectural histor'n)
Actually, this is not much of a report, since it is so warm outside. I chose to stay inside and avoid the heat and occasional drizzle today and send this remotely from hiding.Luckily, the garden is doing fine on its own. A new variety of pepper looks great--Italian Frying pepper. And the Better Boy tomatoes are still very green. But the bush beans have already provided a tiny harvest and look like there are plenty of blossoms waiting to become beans. And the perennial lily is trying to outshine everyone.
By Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS
(Independent architectural histor'n)
Between my plant buying at garden centers and a masks for plants trade with a horticulturally inclined friend, I have been busy putting in new plants and potting others. Luckily, they all seem to be getting along with each other and the current garden occupants. (clockwise starting from top left: Clematis Vivienne, Knockout rose, Columbine or Acquilegia, Bluestar Ansonia, Dahlias, Yellow Twig Dogwood, Petunia and Golden Leaved Pineapple Sage.)