In the Garden: Grape Hyacinths

Showing posts with label Grape Hyacinths. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Loving this time

BY SKEETER

Little clusters of Grapes in the form of Hyacinths are blooming in my GEORGIA GARDENS! I planted a lot of these little bulbs a few years ago and this is the only cluster I found this year. Bulbs just do not do well in my neck of the woods...

The tiny blooms are so vibrant in color and easy to see where they get their name.

Hyacinth in the larger form are also blooming. Yes, Spring is here in south-east Georgia!

I am so glad the nasty cold weather is gone but not counting the eggs in my Easter Basket just yet. There's always another cold snap before or during the first week of April.

I have been getting a nice workout in the garden the past few days. I am pulling weeds and getting the flower beds ready. I have spread 25 bales of Pine Straw/Needles and have 25 bags of mulch ready to be spread as well. We Sprang Forward over the weekend and now my days are longer! LOVING THIS TIME, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Brainy Seeds

Brainy seeds indeed! There can be no other description for these large orange like fruits which contain the seeds of the Osage Orange tree, aka Maclura pomifera. While still in the Army I spotted these on a run route near our base at Fort Campbell. Being from the north and being a gardener I was both fascinated and curious as to what these big things were laying all over the ground (yes even while managing to fast walk-what I call a jog-on a physical fitness route). I picked some up and took them to my office. I asked everyone what they were and no one knew. That was until a good old country 'boy' from Kentucky said, "Oh, those are hedge apples."

"What the heck are hedge apples" I asked.

"I don't know but they grow in the woods around here and where I am from. We used to throw them at each other as kids. They hurt!"

Yup, I would imagine so as they are much harder than oranges, though about the same size. On a recent visit to Anonymous's place, I asked Boy #2 and Sidekick to pick up a few of these hedge apples for me. Both boys asked what they are and what do you do with them. What do you suppose I told them?

"Why you throw them at people" Of course!

No, just kidding. I told them they are brain seeds and make the squirrels smart when they eat them. Which really might be true since squirrels love the seeds inside of these 'brains'. Chipmunks appear to love them too, as I have found a few pieces of these brainy seeds scattered around the yard, and I know that pesky chipmunk is the culprit!

Boy, I sure hope Anonymous's kiddos don't start throwing these at people.

in the garden....

I have noticed the foliage of my grape hyacinths have begun popping up. If you see these small daffodil like foliage leaves popping up, do not worry as it is normal for established clumps of grape hyacinths to grow their foliage in the fall. This is a sure sign fall is fast approaching and we will soon be planting more bulbs for a nice spring show.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Loving this time

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Brainy Seeds