Wet With More Rain In the Forecast

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Yesterday when we went to the Tulsa Perennial Club's annual sale, we could see that the rivers were up their banks. Water was up to the bottom branches of the trees along the banks.
It's still raining.


The plant just left of center in this photo is Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki' or Dappled Willow, a variegated Japanese willow.

Of course the willows love this weather. They can soak their feet to their heart's content. MOBOT's page (link above in green) says it can have insect and disease problems but it has been a perfectly healthy lady or gentleman in our garden.

The beds that are slightly raised are still doing OK though I'll go out later this morning and make sure nothing is standing in water since rain is predicted for the rest of the week. There are a few plants that can handle some standing water but not many.

The seed trays I put out to take advantage of rain water's benefits will have to be drained or the seeds will be ruined before they can sprout.


The birds are thrilled to have lots of food in the feeders, puddles for splashing and wet soil to bring the insects to the surface. Their babies will have a plentiful feast of crickets and worms today!

CONFESSIONS AND EXCUSES
Plant sales are a great way to see what is working well for other gardeners in your area. Despite my best intentions, two bags of plants came home with me. Is there an addiction program for plant enthusiasts?

We expanded the shade garden this year and I found a couple of things I wanted to try. And, I, well, here's what I bought

Lizard's Tail for the little fountain garden
ButterBur (Bog rhubarb, Devil's hat, Pestilence wort) for a shady bed
Red Yucca for the hummingbirds
Yellow Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) for the butterflies and skippers in part sun back bed
Echinacea or Purple Cone Flower to replace the one that did not return this year

At the Farmer's Market I bought one pot of Variegated Basil, Ocimum xcitriodorum 'Pesto Perpetuo'.

If you have not seen it yet, check out the Promising Plant page of the Herb Society of America. Here's the link.

At the plant sale, club members offered concrete and hypertoufa containers that they made. I bought two shallow leaf-shaped ones to make butterfly feeders.

Comments

Dee/reddirtramblings said…
Those are some nice additions to your garden. I don't know if there is a twelve step program for garden lovers, but I'm glad I haven't found it yet. Yes, it's still raining here too. Doin' the backstroke.~~Dee
May 3, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Anonymous said…
Hope ya don't get too much more rain. I certainly know what you're going through after the wet winter, with snow and floods, that we had! Good luck!
May 3, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Sally said…
Thanks for the links; I'm always on the lookout for plants to grow in the shade.

I can relate to your problem with plant sales. That's why I try to avoid them!
May 4, 2009 at 12:31 PM
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