After asking my gardening friends out there for help identifying a little plant, I have some results to report. Many thanks to Kimberly and Kat for steering me in the right direction. Kimberly left a comment saying that my little plant looked a lot like chickweed, but the flowers were not quite right. I did some hunting on the Internet and she sure was right. The leaves look just like chickweed, but the flowers are just wrong. After hunting online for different weeds and ground covers which have similar flowers, I suddenly had the thought that I was looking at two different plants. I went outside to look more closely and I was right. Kat's comment a few days later was right on. The bigger leaves belong to the chickweed, with these tiny flowers (which were not visible in the last picture):
But, the larger flowers belong to a different stem and leaf. Kat suggested that they are Pennsylvania Bittersweet, but I'm not one hundred percent certain. What do you think?
I guess it doesn't really matter. I'm glad they are not a poisonous weed and they will stay right where they are, at Our Blessed Mother's feet.
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In the vegetable garden, we have strawberries ripening. Mmmm. I mentioned over at Jamie's that the bunnies eat my berries just the second that they turn red. Jamie suggested that I use a trick that her grandparents used and I tried it. I set glass jars of water in the garden near the berry plants. Jamie suggested that maybe the water movement or reflection scares the bunnies away. I think it might be working because we now have these:
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The rain is pounding on my back door right now, which means my water elements are in action, my tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, and herbs are all getting a good natural drink, and the creek will be up later today. Lots of good stuff. What's going on in your garden?And in the back yard we have some new "water elements" as I call them. They are rock beds that Doug placed in spots that are washing out from draining water. So, sadly, if I want to witness my water elements in action, I have to go out in the rain. I do think the beds are pretty though.
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It must be some member of the mustard family (of which Pennsylvania Bittercress is one), there are very few white flowers with 4 petals.
ReplyDeleteI would put some straw or grass clippings under the strawberry plants to keep the mud from splashing onto the fruit. It keeps them cleaner and reduces spoilage.
I wish I had a garden, but being in a rental and moving in a few weeks... little tricky.
Well, in my garden, nothing has died yet, which is a great mercy! The daisies that seemed to be having trouble recovering from the transplant are now apparently thriving, the hanging baskets are (mostly) still lush and full, and there are lots of baby lemons swelling upon my lemon tree. The sprinklers are in good working order now, too, so hopefully, if I put the baskets on the ground where they'll get sprinkler watered, they will all STILL be alive when I get home two weeks hence. :-) This southern heat is brutal, I tell ya.
ReplyDeleteIt's raining here as well, and I was just thinking how grateful I am for it because I haven't had to do too much watering. (My motivation is a little low since we are leaving.) Maybe I'll get some pictures up after the rain stops.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Jennie. Living plants in our garden is, for me, a major accomplishment. I am so intrigued by your strawberry plants. I'd love to know more about how you started those, where they grow well and when they can be put in the ground...In the meanwhile, it's been raining like crazy here, too. Perhaps it's time we REALLY start building an ark?
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Jane
Kat,
ReplyDeleteYa know, I've been meaning to get straw, but it just hasn't happened. They clean up pretty well -- no complaints so far.
Jennie,
I'll send some rain your way -- we've had our fill -- flooded creek pics tomorrow.
Stina,
I'd love to see your garden!
Jane,
Well, the strawberries were pretty complicated. (KIDDING!) I actually found them at the grocery store a few years ago. They were sad and wilted and 88 cents for six plants in mid-June. I bought twelve and stuck them in the ground. I don't do much and they produce a big crop (as big a crop as twelve plants can produce) in the spring/summer and then a small crop in the fall. They are starting to spread now (they branch off) and we'll have more each year. I'm sure you've seen strawberry pots in the garden store and you can actually grow them just as well like that. Actually I might get more strawberries if I had potted them because the bunnies wouldn't be able to reach!
Beautiful pics, Barbara :)
ReplyDeletePlease send a little of your lovely rain our way....it's been way hot and dry here! Our garden is coming along nicely...we're picking cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and a small amount of green beans. I've also been cooking with lots of sweet basil and fresh flat leaf parsley.
Thanks Barbara,
ReplyDeleteI'm adding strawberries to my garden "wish list"!
God Bless,
Jane