Miniature Roses Bloom Again!

We bought the tiny rose plant at the grocery store at least three years ago. If anyone ever told us that it would still be growing and blooming three years later we would have been surprised. But if my husband has anything to do with it, that’s the key to the success of this miniature rose plant. We don’t have a lot of plants - or anything - anymore since we moved to the condo in northern Virginia. We had a small patio garden in our Capitol Hill condo, and a few houseplants now. On the balcony there are three coco lined window baskets that we try to keep going with seasonal flowers. But the crows and other birds keep throwing the dirt around - tempting us to remove the planters after this season. But the one outdoor plant that remains is the miniature rose. We used to keep it in the house but it seems to thrive in the humidity and west side of the building that gets full sun. My husband waters it twice a day. Currently there are three blossoms, and one of the branches was just cut back this week. We anticipate that it will bloom once again this year. Last year we left the plant outside over winter and it still came back. My husband prefers to have very few things. But he takes care of them so well. 

Staking the Tomato Plant

With all the heat, the vegetables in the garden are thriving- especially the tomatoes. We have two growing on our little patio garden. One plant is already staked, and the other one has outgrown the traditional silver round model. We tied some string to the fence to give the plant more support, but it looked bad and wasn't really doing the job. So we decided to get another assist device for tomato plant number 2. These supports are nice because they can be adjusted as the plant grows, blend in with the rest of the greenery, and are easy to store (even though we had a larger shed built this spring to accommodate these types of things along with our luggage and cushions for the seats on the patio). The garden has a southern exposure, and gets direct sunlight through 3PM. Then it's shady and very comfortable to sit outside later in the afternoon. As for all the vegetables, the cucumbers are also doing well, but I'm not so sure about the eggplant. There is nothing better than fresh vegetables from the garden-and we enjoyed one in Milwaukee as well on a much bigger scale, but with a much shorter growing season.

It works very well

This plant outgrew it's cage

First sign of success

The cucumber is crawling along

 

Plant number one was already staked

Plenty of room to grow

The second cucumber is heading toward the trellis

Acid or Alkaline - the Hydrangea Knows

In our patio garden are a few perennials. And the hydrangeas were pink the first year. When the garden was first installed, a lot of fresh new soil replaced the sandy, cruddy stuff that was in it originally. But then our 1890's building required some sealing around the base, so the garden was dug up and our new dirt was mixed up with some junk- again. All the plants needed to be removed before the work began and replanted when it was done. There was only room enough for 2 hydrangea plants, so the third one was placed in the courtyard outside of our fenced area. A funny thing started to happen... all of a sudden the pink flowers turned to blue and purple... some were half pink and half purple. I was never any good in chemistry, but I do know that some things grow better in either an acidic or alkaline environment. Whatever we have in our garden is a little bit of both. The best thing is that the blooms comes back every year- and we never know how they are going to look.

Just can't compete with Mother Nature

The hydrangeas stand out this time of year

A little bit of acid and alkaline in the soil

The original pink still appears



The birds love this place



Picture perfect

Melting in the Rain

Ever since I can remember I have always watched the weather to plan for the next day as far as what to wear and what to bring... like an umbrella or snow boots. Growing up in Florida, it was essential to have an umbrella on hand at all times. This week, the forecast has been for rain and thunderstorms. So, every day, I have been lugging around a raincoat as well- except for today. And, I rarely wear pants to work, except today. And of course, when I came home from work, it was not just raining, it was coming down pretty hard. I even have a more sturdy umbrella for the really bad days- but left that one at home. There is something about me and rain, and getting wet. I just don't like it. But when I got home, the garden looked so much nicer getting a bath. But I was looking at it from the inside- which made all the difference.

Drying off

An unusual sight-
most people around here never carry umbrellas and look like wet rats

The one day I wear pants....

But the garden loves it

The National Cathedral Bishop's Garden

Right next to St. Albans is the National Cathedral. And tucked in between is the Bishop's Garden. It was designed by Frederic Law Olmsted, Jr. as a garden of the Bishop of Washington's residence. It is enclosed by a high stone wall, and is on a steep hill. Some of the stone was quarried from George Washington's Creek quarry. It is all very Medieval looking. The plans were not carried actually out until the early 1900's. It is a very pleasant walk through the grounds. We happened upon it when we visited the Cathedral's May Flower Mart Festival. I had an acre of land in Milwaukee to plant and garden. Here in DC, we have a very small patio, with just enough space to plant some vegetables, flowers, and perennials. In fact, the older I'm getting the less garden space I need. Near here is Monticello, with fabulous gardens. But the city itself is filled with wonderful gardens and fountains, and everything grows here. They say that if you do not have allergies before you come to live in DC, you will definitely have them within five years. So far I have been lucky not to have that problem. Let's see how next year goes.

A steep incline

A lot of visitors

I love hollyhocks, but have no luck

A very serene place

Many stone arches

And stone paths

Cathedral back drop

National Cathedral Flower Mart 2012 May Festival

It was really hard to find parking for lunch yesterday. All the way there were crowds and activities on just about every street and neighborhood in sight. There were Embassy tours, and stand still traffic, an art festival at the Islamic Center, and the Flower Festival at the National Cathedral. And of course, Cinco de Mayo activities on the Mall. We drove around the usual area to park and after about 3 spins and expert parking, we found a spot. After lunch we took a walk over to the National Cathedral. It was really humid, but all in all an interesting place to visit. We didn't plan to go there, but in this town, you can't help but notice all the action, and once in a while, can't resist taking part in it.

Held on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral since 1939, the Flower Mart is sponsored by the volunteer organization, All Hallows Guild. The festival encircles Washington National Cathedral with its tents and includes more than 50 booths offering gardening items, handbags, jewelry, and more. Embassies and international floral designers produce an extraordinary display of floral arrangements. Each year one embassy is selected as the honorary chair. In 2012, the country of Jamaica will be honored. Jamaica and its ambassador, Her Excellency Audrey P. Marks, will showcase the very best of the country's tropical plants and flowers as well as its history, cuisine, artists and performers.(from DC about.com)

We saw the tents and knew something was up

These orchids were spoken for

Is this appetizing?

Something for everyone

 

It was really crowded

Still fixing earthquake damage above the strudel

An organ grinder but no real monkey

A lot of folks dressed in white

St. Albans is located right next door

Quite the back drop

A lot of things to see

The kids are always having fun

The Mockingbird

We have a little tree/bush in the patio garden that is safely tucked away in the corner. It has a lot of good sized blue berries of some kind growing on it. Since the fenced in area is a relatively safe space for the birds that come to visit, they also pick up a lot of peripheral nest material, and stop off at the solar birdbath for a sip of water and a bath. It's interesting to observe the behavior and rank order- the mourning doves, sparrows, cardinals, wrens, and mockingbirds. The other day I saw the mockingbird swoop in to the corner where he rested and treated himself to a snack- in one gulp. When he was done, he went to the birdbath, and had a sip, to get that huge berry down, and then flew off to who knows where. This space does not compare to the relatively large patio and acre of land we had in Wisconsin, but the birds continue to put on a show, which is always a treat to watch.

Grabbing a berry

Must be good because he's back every day

Taking a sip of water before the next move

Our Own Secret Garden

Two blocks next to a very bustling political scene is our quiet street that feels like any good old suburban neighborhood. The unusually warm weather has inspired us to get the garden in shape. And to that end, we managed to chop back everything that looked like it needed to be chopped, and were left with what seemed to be early blooming bulbs and vines. Yes, just down the street are all the cherry blossoms that deserve all the attention that they get- but right here, in our little backyard, with our own patio, is a place that not a lot of folks can say they have in a condominium. There's nothing better than to just sit outside when the weather is just right. We had a patio in Wisconsin, and along with the gardens, needed a lot of time an energy to maintain. The older we get, even this little space seems to take more time and energy than you might want to spend. But in this neighborhood, it is really worth the effort.

The yellow vine is in full bloom

The neighbors can enjoy the view from the main courtyard

Cutting it back last year really made a difference

Hope it lasts a while

It'll be awhile before the myrtles can compete