back with saffron

CG wonders about a lot of things. After looking back through the blog, he wondered why, after planting less than a dozen smallish unique bulbs, would he apply the label 'Will Trade'? After all, it takes a few years and a more substantial initial planting before a gardener is ready to trade.

Turns-out that CG should be more trusting. While researching to find tips/tricks on how to harvest the saffron threads (and then what to do with them), CG read that people have been trading saffron for more than 4,000 years. 

To this day, saffron is among the world's most costly spices by weight.

From what CG can research on the blog, these crocus were planted in September 2010. They sprouted less than a month later, but never bloomed. CG might remember to order & plant more of these next Fall. They might grow well in the Farm Bed.

It may take a few years, but CG is bee-termined to have more saffron than he knows what to do with

(that may already bee the case- 12 saffron 'threads' were harvested today,

-they're drying on top of the fridge now)

(CG has no immediate plans for the saffron)

(except that they may have already served their purpose-

by allowing CG to correctly claim that he has grown

and harvested his own saffron)

Why the long dry-spell between blog posts?

The drought that hit was damaging not only to the plants.

CG was hit hard as well.

Not being able to keep-up with watering,

there was a lot of stress. 

Some plants seemed like they were unable

to survive the incessant heat -even with ample water.

This time next year...

• establish a spot where saffron crocus have plenty of room to spread-out
• plant at least 40 more dwarf iris
• have 100% of cannas remove from the cut flower bed
• establish a butterfly garden
• re-install & maintain bird feeders

Landscape Notes

• planted 60 dwarf iris
• planted 40 daffodils
• improved plantings of 7 forsythia
• completed Fall fertilizing
• Fall color of burning bushes was 'good'
• thinned-out cannas (40% complete)

A Cattail

can be found in the bog bed. It's of the miniature variety (maybe 8") and has multiplied since its initial planting last Spring. Louisiana iris and the mini-cattails have worked hard to fill-up the bog bed. It's something different that CG Jr enjoys.

elsewhere...

the mail-ordered daylilys that were planted this spring are blooming:

(thanks to the help of CG Jr)

April 18

today

the sky above

Morning Walk Around

Front Sidewalk

Saturday Blooms

Morning time is the only productive time that can be 

spent outside in the oppressive, humid heat.

On cloudless mornings, the summertime sunlight
can be too intense, even for photographs

the river birch planting area is holding-up well

(the white aster is blooming- keeping the bagworms far away)

the front south side planting area-

low-growing crepe myrtles have naturalized nicely

view from the back fence of the south side planting area

(red carpet stonecrop & ajuga are being established as ground cover)

creeping jenny has worked well

 in the back part of the burning bush planting area

daylilys are in full bloom throughout the landscape

Cut-Flower Bed

The cut-flower bed's perennials are nearing maturity. 

The planting area has filled-in nicely and will require extensive thinning in the Fall. 

(plenty of iris to trade/give away)

A crepe myrtle (Acoma, semi-dwarf) was planted in the middle area of the bed a few weeks ago.
This will provide some fast-growing height and structure.

Elsewhere: an autumn fern has been established 

under the canopy of the burning bushes

and, under the most dense part,

(very shaded -had to utilize a flash)

-a sprig of irish moss (Sagina subulata 'Aurea') is being tested

...hopefully, it will find the conditions to its liking,

and thrive & multiply!

(a few more sprigs will be added next Spring if all goes well)

Finality

(the final iris bloom of Spring)

Asiatic Lilys

Bog Planting Area

The bog planting area is enjoying its first-ever blooms!

The two different varieties of Louisiana Iris have really taken-hold.

 Maybe a later-blooming variety will be added in the future.

 But these still have at least another week of color.

CG is very pleased with the results.

 By late July, August, CG will have to divide these

and have some to trade/give away

(will be looking-up this variety of L.Iris)