Something borrowed, something blue...

In keeping with the hype about the royal wedding, I'm going to make the old adage of weddings the theme of today's post.

Check out this fantastic blue glazed ceramic pot that I picked up at Bayers in Imperial.  It was love at first sight, and the sale tag helped solidify the deal.  I was there with my parents and Tyler, and since we had no way to fit it in my car, we went back to my parent's house and me and my Dad returned with his truck (Thanks, Mom & Dad!).

This pot has major potential.  It's sitting at the corner of my wrap-around porch.  I'm wondering if I can keep it outside in the winter without it cracking.

It would be ideal if I could fill half of it with packing peanuts, but nobody seems to use them anymore.  They're great for large planters because you don't really need to fill the whole pot with dirt.  You need enough for the roots, especially if you're only housing annuals, and the packing peanuts provide excellent drainage.  In this case, I could probably get away with filling the top 1/3 with dirt.

I was able to breathe new life into this old urn (which previously occupied the corner spot on the wrap-around porch) with these yellow Superbells.  They have been in the pot for a few weeks now and the blooms don't stop.  It's the first season I've tried them, and I'm so pleased, I'm considering purchasing some for the pots that flank my entry.

I bought the Superbells as a hanging basket and replanted them into the urn.  This is a great trick for getting a very established look on the cheap.

Here's something new (also from Bayers).  The shape captivated me.  I'm also a sucker for wrought iron garden supports, so this was an easy purchase.

I'm not sure what exactly to do with it since it's so narrow.  I was considering growing cucumbers on it because they might be able to climb up the outside.  I know it would be perfectly suitable for a Mandevilla.  I haven't had a chance to do a return visit to my favorite garden shop for annuals and herbs, so I'll have to go soon to see what they've got in stock.  They usually have great looking climbers.  Another possibility, that I've always wanted to try, is Black-eyed Susan Vine.  They come out later in the growing season.

At least this obelisk looks great on its own.  Eric stuck it in this pot of Mint, and I thought it looked so nice, that's where it has stayed.

I've been stalling on "borrowed" but I think I've finally come up with something.  How could I forget about our spectacular borrowed views of the hill behind us?  It adds a wonderful element to our garden and home.

Coyotes, Owls & Rainbows

While I was digging out those pesky burning bush seedlings, and trying to dodge the raindrops from intermittent bursts of rain, I heard a coyote off in the distance.  A few minutes later, I heard an owl hooting across the street.  They're regulars.  It's the first time I've heard the owl this season though.

I raced to the porch as one of the bigger rain clouds passed overhead.  I looked up to see which way the clouds were moving, as this is a good sign of how long the storm may last and how severe it will be.  Out of all this rain we've gotten, I've yet to see a good rainbow.  And out of nowhere, one faded into view.  If I were on a taller hill, or didn't have as many tall trees surrounding my house, I probably could have seen both ends.  It was faint, but it was nice to see, nonetheless.

Most people in the St. Louis area share my sentiment about the rain.  We're done.  It's time to get on with it, Spring.  The temperature was already dropping when I snuck out to do some weeding, but the rain brought it down even more.  If it were July or August, I could have stuck it out, as the sun almost instantly evaporates the water from your skin after the rain stops.  But the combination of 60 degrees, wind, rain and working in the shade are too much.

As I type this, the sun has popped out, and is blaring through my back window making it hard to see my computer screen.  I guess I'll head back out there for 15 more minutes or however long the rain stays away this time.

Plant Invasion

A couple of years ago, I noticed a number of seedlings growing underneath my burning bush in the front yard.  They start out looking like sunflower seedlings so I ignored them for the most part, thinking they were sunflowers from winter dwelling birds enjoying a treat while in the protection of the shrub.

You may not be familiar with the name burning bush, but I can guarantee that you've seen one.  They are very popular in corporate landscapes because they're so hardy. The leaves turn a wonderful crimson red in fall.  The stems are sort of square shaped, as compared to traditionally round ones.

The seedlings really started to take root last year, so I took corrective action.  I pulled them out, one by one, until the numbers were greatly diminished.  Any leftovers quickly burned in the sweltering August heat.

This year, I noticed the seedlings were getting tall very quickly.  I decided to do a search for burning bushes in Missouri to see if other people were experiencing the same problem.  MOBOT recently put this shrub on their list of invasive plants because of the seedlings it can produce.

It seems that the problem isn't widespread, yet.  I don't know if it's the micro-climates, or the maturity of the shrub that causes the seedlings, but I decided it had to go.  We live in a rural area and the last thing I want to do is contribute to the desecration of the woods from a nasty invasive shrub.  The shrub in my yard was about 6' x 6'.  And that was after pruning at least 2 feet in every direction each spring.

Eric jumped at the opportunity to assist me.  Of course this meant using a power tool and the four wheeler.  He made quick work out of cutting down the shrub and then gave it a few yanks with a pull strap wrapped around the stump and attached to the back of the four wheeler.

I now have a huge sunny planting area in my front yard, which I think I'll fill with tomato plants and some other vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

If you have a burning bush in your yard, please consider removing it and replacing it with a more Missouri-friendly shrub.  If you need any suggestions, just ask.