Thursday, August 31, 2017

Perfect Light For The Almighty

Much needed rain has begun to gently and steadily fall. I was washed out from work. While that is a minor pain schedule wise, I'll live. Since I was in the neighborhood and had the time, I stopped by to check on my fish.





















The Almighty Falls is getting its first real bath post construction, thank you very much. Cleaner wet rocks and the flat light were perfect for picture taking. This monolithic creation is settling in to being.





















The baby fishes are doing fine. You have to approach slowly and view from a distance to make sure most of them are still there. It is astounding how well fishes can detect movement above the water. The koi in particular are skittish and head for cover immediately.

That is a good thing since a heron ate way too many fishes from the three other ponds this year. I lost one large koi to a bear or raccoon mauling. Somehow it ended up back in the pond still alive, but severely damaged. After a week of no improvement I gave up. Watching it suffer was too much.





















The falls continue to run on operational overflow. The spring is mightier than the splash. I also anticipated that splash and made sure there was wide and plenty rubber liner to catch it. Being the pond scum maintenance technician, that operational overflow is seriously the thing I am most happy about.





















I am getting used to the not so great fake rock hiding the skimmer, hence the papyrus to deflect attention. The one for the filter falls up top blends in much better. I've had this notion of finding a scaled to size turtle head to attach to the thing. Then it won't be a mismatched fake rock anymore.

It is light and very easy to remove. I have to give it that.





















The island ended up with a cave of sorts that opens all the way down to the solid slab of rock beneath. I noticed today it has started to grow some green fuzz. I'll need to check and see how thick the layer of mud on top is. I might be able to stick a plant in there.





















So your luck ran out. The Almighty Falls was looking rather fetching today with a nice gentle rain and here it is again before next year and any growth on the plantings. The 'Black Gamecock' Louisiana Iris are the one thing that are showing signs of growth.

Overtime I will likely add more plants to the stream channel. That will help soften the monumental rockiness. Just as important, plants are crucial to keeping the water clean, clear and healthy.


Tuesday, August 29, 2017

In The Tall Flower Meadow

I will leave you to wander on your own. I need a bath and a good night's sleep.































































































































































































































































Sweet Dreams are made of this. Who am I to disagree?


Sunday, August 27, 2017

It Is Mowed

A modest touch of civilization has returned to the wild cultivated gardens after a short period of neglect. The gardens are now ready for company. I hope the civilized lasts for the next six days.





















The last few years I have been less concerned about whacking wild flowers in the quest for some order. In this abundance a little loss is not noticed. The cabin side bed looks much better with a sharp edge.





















Plenty wild left.





















Creation and the Great Lawn are visible from above. It is a clue that this is a garden and perhaps you can go explore.





















In places the Tall Flower Meadow completely obscures the network of paths the lead through it.





















The view from above is still nice for the timid.





















I did say a modest touch of civilization.





















This is an example of why I aim to add big foliage and other textures to the meadow. Left to itself it leans strongly in the direction of little leaf syndrome. Color becomes the one variation and that only lasts while things are in bloom. The time of vegetation is longer than that.





















Texture can even be added to the flat green of the Great Lawn. Nature gave me those. I mow around them.





















There is order in the contrast of the negative space of the lawn to the tall wild of the meadow.





















September approaches. The cool has already arrived. It was sixty nine at mid-afternoon.





















There is probably only one or two mowings left in the season. I'm good with that.





















Pink, white and yellow. I wait for the blues.


Saturday, August 26, 2017

The Roadside Vegetable Garden Has Turned

It looks innocent, a quiet country lane, not mowed, not sprayed, but well used.





















Much is hidden from view.





















Inside a wall of wild, the roadside vegetable garden has turned. The rapid decline indicates the season is ending.





















Sacks and sacks of tomatoes ripen. Peppers need picking. Potatoes can be dug whenever.

The roadside vegetable garden is a fickle thing. After a decade of growing fine produce, I still can't be sure of anything. Particular items can have on years, off years, bumper crop years and complete failure.

I expected a good year for okra after an unpleasantly warm start. It got cool again at exactly the wrong time. The world's finest cantaloupe failed with the okra unless golf ball sized melons count.

This will go down as the year of Spaghetti squash. Big buggas this year. They will feed a family of six.





















Ironweed thrives on dung. This is after I did a pretty ruthless culling at the beginning of the season. It is trying to take over the entire roadside vegetable garden.





















It is too dramatic to give up completely. I'll cull more next year, but it is in the potato department and they were up and gone before it blocked out the sun.





















There is also a giant Joe Pye. It was kind enough to self sow on the edge of the daylily patch.





















Further down the lane a smaller shade tolerant goldenrod and Snakeroot are coming into bloom. The blue asters will follow shortly. If they all combine, it is going to look amazing.





















The vegetable garden has turned while the Tall Flower Meadow strives to achieve the peak of perfection.





















It was a productive day. A major layer of crud was scraped from inside the cozy cabin and the Great Lawn got a long over due haircut. Many odds and ends were tended to. Tomorrow there will be path mowing. I need to pace myself. Productivity is still tiring.





















Is this the look of innocence?


Thursday, August 24, 2017

Wild

The past week has been relaxing compared to the last two months of pond building. I even came home a little early a couple of days. But I have had zero energy when I get home. My body is still recovering. A nap has been the best use of my free time.

Thank goodness for the wild cultivated garden. It grows on in beauty and asks nothing of me.



























It does need a fresh mowing before Sister #1 arrives next weekend. I'll get to that.





















And sure, there are a few things that need pulling. A stand of Giant Ragweed up by the scenic byway needs to go before it sets seed. Most everything else is optional. If I feel like pulling something when I walk by I will if it doesn't take too much effort.





















For the most part I am doing what needs to be done to get through the work day and not much else.





















The difference between tending a proper garden and a wild one is rather stark right now.





















There are no weeds that have to be pulled to make a wild garden look good. There are no flowers to dead head or bushes to hack.





















It grows wild and I let it be, to be what it wants.





















There is a path in there. My only job is to keep them open and mowed.





















Nice paths make for nice comfortable strolling through a garden growing wild.





















The asters are beginning to bud. Soon they will be joining the riot of color building across the Tall Flower Meadow.





















Even unmowed, the Great Lawn is a nice respite from walking though a head high meadow of wild flowers. It is a much needed element of order and calm in the wild.





















I have a week left before company comes. Wish me some energy to get moving.





















Because I am content to gaze down on the Tall Flower Meadow from my perch on the front porch.





















The garden doesn't need me right now. Just enjoy it says.





















This too will pass I tell myself, but I have been gazing into my decrepitude and wonder.