Bogturtle's Garden- August 1 to 15, 2022

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A different sort of plant, here for many years. 'Nekked Ladies' or Lycoris squamigira starts as a lush green bunch of leaves, each Spring. They die down and, here, by August 1, some were already in bloom on leafless stems. The clump of leaves is, perhaps almost 24", and the flowers, a month or so later, go up to about 30". 

The old sort of Hydrangea known as the 'Pee Gee Hydrangea' grows quite differently in Maine, apparently. The flower clusters are much bigger, there.  But after years, this one is trained into a little tree. I repeat myself, but I recall paying $2.50 for the little start at a big local nursery. The boss there said she was willing to make a dollar here and a dollar there, uncomplimentary to a competitor down the road. They are out of business, while the woman's children are running the place where I got the little Pee Gee. And I have said I admired one, trained into a tree, about an hour from here, and set out to do the same. 

How discouraging. I found a Woodchuck decimating the veggies inside the wire fence. If there's a way in, they will find it. Tried to block every imagined entry, and that over a couple of days. Finally set up the havahart trap, actually too late to save plants I have coddled all Summer.  Kale, Rainbow Carrots, Swiss Chard, Zinnias and Beans.  Also must have eaten all the Spaghetti and Yellow Squash I was growing. Other years no protection was needed, so they were unfenced. Deer or repellent spray did not seem to help.  Trapped that one and took it far enough away that it would never come back. But a trail camera, that had the cage containing the trapped animal in view, surprisingly revealed a second one. So the process was repeated. I set the trap up with apple pieces, so it would not spring. Then I repeated, the next day, but this time the trap was set to spring. Both were released miles from here.  I hope there are no more. I will never tolerate one again, but did, thinking it was only visiting what I throw out as table scraps. That to video Foxes, Skunks, Coyotes, Raccoons and Possums.The Kale may grow enough to be useful in Winter, but most leaves are munched or gone. At least they all have intact tops. I planted Dinosaur or Tuscan Kale, two days ago. It will hardly be big enough to use by Winter, I fear. More Beans were planted. The Carrots may recover, as may the Zinnias, but the damage is impressive. 


One of the modern forms of the Marsh Mallow. That native blooms all over the bay and stream areas here, but they are, of course, smaller in diameter. This one, in the classic pink of the wild form, is bigger than a dinner plate. It blooms just behind the pool and can reflect in the water.


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