"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Easter Surprises


Back in the city and having a terrible time identifying plants and perennials from weeds.  The weenies started barking and I saw a little female mallard fly out of an azalea bush and the bad little weenies had their noses in the bush and tails wagging.  Uh oh.  She did not - she did.  After being gone a week, a little wild duck came up to the top tier of the yard and started laying.  I can only hope that they hatch while we are at the farm.  The grandkids are going to be very excited over this find this weekend.


The former owner has many different clematis vines around the house.  I can identify those, but I've never seen this one.  They open a lime green then turn white.  About the size of a tangerine, they are smaller than ones I've grown and the petals have rounded edges.  I just hope I don't pull up perennials  and annuals as the house was a jewel box of plants and flowers when I bought it.  

Have a wonderful time with your loved ones this weekend.



31 comments:

ellen abbott said...

Just wait until they reveal themselves. then next year you will know and can pull up the weeds and not the perennials.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I think Ellen's advice is sound really Donna. Hope those eggs hatch successfully. If Beatrix Potter's Jemima Puddleduck is anything to go by - Ducks have always been bad sitters!

angryparsnip said...

I was just going to say what Ellen did. What to see what blooms. Your yard can wait a year.
Take photos now and after to see what is where.
Do you have any photos of the house before the sale. So you can see what plants
where planted ?

cheers, parsnip

Share my Garden said...

Happy Easter, Donna, and dig up nothing! I do hope the duck eggs will hatch. Until the fox took them we had Khaki Campbell ducks, such charming creatures.

Elephant's Child said...

Late to the party, but yes, wait and see. For at least a year so you get all the seasonal bloomings. Rip out what you KNOW is a weed and let the rest be.
Love those eggs and hope they hatch.

donna baker said...

I wondered. Previous owner used to use Preen in beds but I am afraid to use that.

donna baker said...

I didn't know that Pat. I do know guinea hens are terrible mothers.

donna baker said...

Her annuals were nearly all in pots which were so thick I didn't even notice the pots. I know what chickweed looks like but need to find a neighbor who knows weeds from perennials.

donna baker said...

Hope your holiday is wonderful too. I've seen opossums and raccoons but foxes and other dogs can't get in the yard unless they can swim.

donna baker said...

I had chickens and all fowl for 30 years, but only a lone turkey girl now. Chickens would get broody and sit forever if we let them. Guess the consensus is to wait on pulling up things. I moved to a house about 40 years ago and cut down an old crape myrtle so I should have learned from that.

Michelle said...

I would wait a year and see what happens. From what I read of your comments, looks like sound advice to me! Have a great Easter weekend!

La Table De Nana said...

Leave it all alone until it develops LOL..Patience my dear patience..could this be Huldine? Our climates are so different...no kidding we had snaow and hail today...

donna baker said...

You too Michelle.

donna baker said...

I will. Only going to pull what I know for sure are weeds. Huldine the clematis? It was freezing last night and again this weekend. Just want the cold to go away.

Doc said...

That looks like "Gandhi cream" clematis, l love that one. I am in the process of adding more to the gardens here

donna baker said...

Thank you for the info Doc. Can't wait to see what the others look like when they open. Special blessings to you this holiday.

Down by the sea said...

How lovely to discover this nest at Easter time! It will be fun to discover the new plants growing in your garden. That clematis looks beautiful. Wishing you a very Happy Easter. Sarah x

Sandra Cox said...

How exciting...duck eggs and hopefully baby ducks.
The clematis is gorgeous!
Happy Easter.

jerilanders said...

Donna, Glad someone recognized the clematis. I know how fun it is to have baby ducks about; never had little wild ones though. Tell those doggies to behave themselves!
You have some great antiques below! That trunk! We do have the same taste.

donna baker said...

Thank you Sarah and hope your's is wonderful.

donna baker said...

Something keeps getting her eggs and in daylight which rules out raccoons and opossums. It seems too cold for snakes to have come out of hibernation, so I am wondering if these large black grackles might be eating them. I need to get out and garden today before I head back to the farm for a week.

donna baker said...

Yes we do and I hope my emails finally went through. The weenies haven't been back to the nest, but something keeps getting the eggs. I wish I could find the culprit. If it is a snake, it won't have a head for long.

Deborah Nolan said...

Donna it will be such fun to see all that is growing at your new home. I have never seen a clematis like yours. Very pretty. Hope you had a beautiful Easter weekend with your grandchildren. Hugs!

Sandra Cox said...

Happy Monday!

jerilanders said...

Donna, I never got your emails...something is going on with my server and I couldn't even get into my email at all yesterday. It probably is a snake or a raccoon...do you have raccoons and possums in the town?

donna baker said...

I think the raccoon and snakes are in our email. I tried to send replies and they came back. The eggs disappeared during the day which was strange but it seems too early for snakes to be out. There was no broken shells or anything so that is what a snake would do (the whole egg in its mouth). I just don't know. I do hope the emails come through.

donna baker said...

Yes Deb, I can't wait to start planting all the annuals, but it will be a few more weeks due to freeze possibility. You are so kind. The grand babies were all very excited, hid all the eggs and trampled down my perennials and caught lots of fish - that is just grandkids for you. They had a good day. Hope yours was good too.

donna baker said...

Happy day to you also Sandra.

jerilanders said...

Me again, no emails, weird. I guess we'll have to communicate through your blog for now, or mine.

Cobalt Violet said...

Happy belated Easter! So exciting to see what comes up in the garden! So the eggs disappeared? Bummer!
I love finding a nest but sometimes they build them in such unsafe places!

donna baker said...

To you too Lucinda. Glad to see your retreat. You always do such fun things. The eggs keep getting laid and disappearing. I give up and hope the little mallard will too and move to another location.