Saturday, August 30, 2014

Gardening for wildlife in the city

Over the years my gardening style has evolve several times; lately I find that I garden with wildlife in mind.  I get as much joy from seen the different type of wildlife visiting my garden, that I do from the plants and the flowers. 
The greedy city developers have made our neighborhood deserts for wildlife.  I believe is up to those of us with small city gardens to make them wildlife friendly.   In my garden I make sure that there is plenty of water available, full birdfeeders, plenty of hiding places for birds and reptiles, bees and butterflies friendly plants, and the most important ingredient a pesticide and chemical free garden.

This is wildest corner of my garden, the 4 by 6 foot area of the garden is anchor by an old hallow coconut tree trunk.  This part of the garden is home to a garden snake, an opossum mom made the tree trunk home and many frogs and lizards.




Unintended consequences, the air plant on this palm has over the years been home to many bird’s nest.  It also has become home of many of my bromeliads and orchids collection.





Happy Labor Day 

Saturday, August 16, 2014

New this year a kitchen garden

This year I’m doing a winter kitchen garden instead of a vegetable garden.  Last year most of my vegetables did poorly while the salad greens and herbs did well.  I’m tired of growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other vegies and end up getting little in return. 
I’m starting early this year, weeding and turning over the soil, later in September I’ll add more soil and some additives and will start planting in early October.  I need suggestions as to what will do well in the shade; this area of the garden only gets a couple of hours of sun in the winter.



Before

This week at the DragonFly garden.

Blooming this week
Dragonfruit




August is a good time for butterfly watching; here are a few I was able to photograph this week.




Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Testing my new Blogger App in my I Phone

Waiting in a Dr. office with nothing to do, why not do a post on my blog.  
I am back from a rested vacation in Sanibel Fl.
It rained in Miami almost everyday so the garden did well during my absent, back to the soil on Saiturday. 

Sunrise at Sanibel beach