They really are an interesting animal built to survive in extreme cold temperatures, and the warm days of summer are not all that comfortable for them.
This guy is headed for the hay bin and looks very focused on it.Friday, July 30, 2010
Musk Ox
Yesterday we drove by the Muskox Farm. The Farm is surrounded by a tall chain link fence, and inside that is another tall fence. It is a little difficult to take photographs through that, but I thought you would enjoy seeing these guys, even with the shadow of the fence.
They really are an interesting animal built to survive in extreme cold temperatures, and the warm days of summer are not all that comfortable for them.
This guy is headed for the hay bin and looks very focused on it.
They really are an interesting animal built to survive in extreme cold temperatures, and the warm days of summer are not all that comfortable for them. This guy is headed for the hay bin and looks very focused on it.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Visiting the Garden
I visited the Georgeson Botanical Gardens a few days ago. It was a lovely sunny afternoon, and I was looking for ideas for my perennial border and also for a few specimen trees.
The Gardens were in full bloom and full of lots of beautiful flowers and other plants. It is a popular tourist destination, but also a spot for those of us who live here to get ideas for our own gardens.
I did several posts last year about the Gardens. In late June I posted Georgeson Botanical Gardens and Irises at the Garden and Bees Love Onions. In early September I posted Flower Portraits. I also included some photos from the Gardens in my Fireweed post in early July. You can tell I like to visit there! Now in late July the flower beds at the gardens are lush and in full bloom.
We have brightly colored Rudbeckia above, and below Delphinium, one of the stars in the late summer landscape in Fairbanks.
Another lovely plant is the Lupine.
The brightly colored Trollius was very attractive to the bees.
One of the trees that do very well here in Fairbanks is the Chokecherry, and this variety has purple leaves .
Another bloom that the bees found very attractive is an Ornamental Onion.
The Delphiniums come in many colors. The dark blue is the color seen most around town.
Peonies are being tested extensively at the Gardens and an attempt is being made to promote commercial production of Peonies here in Alaska. They bloom here in July, August, and September, a time when they are not available elsewhere, and there is a great demand for them in florist shops at this time.
Another attention-getter is the Foxglove.
All of these photos are just as they came out of the camera, with the exception of some cropping done on the Trollius, Onion, Peony, and Foxglove. Now I need to study my photos and think about what I want to add to my garden.
The Gardens were in full bloom and full of lots of beautiful flowers and other plants. It is a popular tourist destination, but also a spot for those of us who live here to get ideas for our own gardens. 
I did several posts last year about the Gardens. In late June I posted Georgeson Botanical Gardens and Irises at the Garden and Bees Love Onions. In early September I posted Flower Portraits. I also included some photos from the Gardens in my Fireweed post in early July. You can tell I like to visit there! Now in late July the flower beds at the gardens are lush and in full bloom.
We have brightly colored Rudbeckia above, and below Delphinium, one of the stars in the late summer landscape in Fairbanks.
Another lovely plant is the Lupine.
The brightly colored Trollius was very attractive to the bees.
One of the trees that do very well here in Fairbanks is the Chokecherry, and this variety has purple leaves .
Another bloom that the bees found very attractive is an Ornamental Onion.
The Delphiniums come in many colors. The dark blue is the color seen most around town.
Peonies are being tested extensively at the Gardens and an attempt is being made to promote commercial production of Peonies here in Alaska. They bloom here in July, August, and September, a time when they are not available elsewhere, and there is a great demand for them in florist shops at this time.
Another attention-getter is the Foxglove.
All of these photos are just as they came out of the camera, with the exception of some cropping done on the Trollius, Onion, Peony, and Foxglove. Now I need to study my photos and think about what I want to add to my garden.Monday, July 26, 2010
Summer Projects, Part 1
We moved into the house we are living in now in late August of 2007. There was a huge lawn, both front and back, but no landscaping except for two small lilac bushes in the front lawn. Around the yard are trees, a mix of White Spruce, Birch, Cottonwood, and Willows. As you may already know, I like to have lots of flowers around the yard in the summer. I had several perennial beds at our other house, and I had some plants I wanted to move. We quickly rototilled up a small area where I knew I would want a flower bed, and then we moved Rhubarb and my white Wild Iris, and along with that came Dwarf Delphinium, Russian Salvia, and a few other stragglers. The view below is looking towards where Marty's shop now stands, and off to the right is where the flower bed was dug up. 
Here's a closer view of the flower bed. These two shots were taken on October 1st, 2007, and it was pushing the window of opportunity for transplanting. Generally the snow is here to stay by mid October and will be on the ground until sometime in April.
Below is what it looked like on August 31, 2008. Along with the Iris and the Rhubarb, which survived the winter nicely, I planted some more perennials and also filled in with annuals and a backdrop of Sunflowers. That summer we put a flower bed along the front of the house and planted it with Ferns, Columbine, Wood Violets, and Dwarf Delphinium. We managed a few other minor projects that summer, and all the dirt work and foundation was put in for the new shop. 
On July 14th of 2009, things looked a bit better in the back flower bed, with a few more perennials and again some annuals and the backdrop of Sunflowers.
The main focus last summer was the construction of the shop, but we also redid the front entry. You can check that out by clicking on Summer Projects and you will also be able to see the front flower bed in that post. If you want to check out more on the construction of the shop you can look under the Label section in my Sidebar and click on the Shop label. Finally in June this year we began work on increasing the size of the back flower bed and also raised it up a little. The photo below shows the completed project on June 13th, with the shop in the background. This is close to the same angle that the first photo in this post was taken from, just a little closer in.
The bed divides the lawn from the wild grasses and weeds, and because the ground slopes off a bit towards the back of the yard, by raising the bed we have leveled it out, which helps when it needs to be watered. Several of the plants that were in the original bed were moved to the left into the new area, and new plants were added. We weren't sure exactly how the bed was going to lay out until we got the project started, and we were doing a lot of improvising as we went along.
In the closeup of the flower bed taken in 2007, you will notice an old wash tub. Some 30 years ago we went hiking back in the woods north of Fairbanks. There is no one living there now, but back during the Gold Rush there were a lot of people living there, hoping to make their fortune. Sadly, very few of them realized their dreams, and when they moved on they left behind cabins, vehicles, mining equipment, and all of the various bits and pieces of their daily lives that were not worth packing out. Near one old cabin was an old wash tub, and being younger and not as wise as I am now, I thought it was worth dragging that sucker home. After dragging it for five or more miles, it didn't seem like such a good idea, but having invested so much effort in it already I was determined to bring it home. Eventually it became a planter and had Rhubarb growing in it at our other house. When we moved it here, the Rhubarb went in the ground and the old wash tub sat alongside of the flower bed. This year I tried a new annual ornamental grass, Bunny Tails, which I started in my potting room in the new shop. Those went in the wash tub, and I really like the way they look. I think I will have to put Bunny Tails in the tub again next year.
I planted a few of the Bunny Tails in the flower bed, and here you can also see some Asiatic Lilies, Trollius, Yarrow, Iris, and at the far left you can see a Dianthus. I mistakenly identified it in the post Hummingbird Moth or Only a Dream earlier this month. I had a bit of a mental lapse and called it a Phlox. The Dianthus was planted in 2008, but didn't bloom until last year. I posted about it in Dianthus Fantasy last year.
Moving down the flower bed you can see the transplanted Rhubarb plants doing nicely in the foreground, and Sunflower plants in the background. I think the Sunflowers will also be something I will have to start each year and use as a background plant.
Further along are more Sunflowers, more Lilies, and some Yarrow, along with some small Iris and Delphinium and a few annuals.
Then in the back are a few tomato plants, a Siberian Onion (decorative), and some Marigolds.
At the end of the bed are Zucchini plants. They have started to produce, and with five plants I am sure to be overrun very quickly. In the tub is a Crab Apple tree that got misplaced during the project. It was one of three bare root Crab Apple trees that I planted last year. One died, one is doing well, and this one was rescued as it was being dug up as dead. I still have to find a place to put it, and we'll see if it will survive another winter.
This is the view looking down the flower bed on the 24th, about six weeks later than the photo from the same angle above. I was scrambling a bit when we finally got the bed completed, moving plants, trying to get others in the ground that were getting tired of being in little pots, and trying to do long term planning. Before we were finished I was more into the "let's get this done" mode.
There will undoubtedly be more moving done next spring, and possibly more new perennials planted yet in the next few weeks. I will spend a bit of time looking at photos over the winter and taking more time to plan, now that I know exactly what space I have. Maybe I will actually draw up a plan on paper and list where everything is. I have put in some plant labels and need to get more. That will help me to know where things are supposed to be coming up. I am very happy with this summer project and I think it is a big improvement!
Here's a closer view of the flower bed. These two shots were taken on October 1st, 2007, and it was pushing the window of opportunity for transplanting. Generally the snow is here to stay by mid October and will be on the ground until sometime in April.
Below is what it looked like on August 31, 2008. Along with the Iris and the Rhubarb, which survived the winter nicely, I planted some more perennials and also filled in with annuals and a backdrop of Sunflowers. That summer we put a flower bed along the front of the house and planted it with Ferns, Columbine, Wood Violets, and Dwarf Delphinium. We managed a few other minor projects that summer, and all the dirt work and foundation was put in for the new shop. 
On July 14th of 2009, things looked a bit better in the back flower bed, with a few more perennials and again some annuals and the backdrop of Sunflowers.
The main focus last summer was the construction of the shop, but we also redid the front entry. You can check that out by clicking on Summer Projects and you will also be able to see the front flower bed in that post. If you want to check out more on the construction of the shop you can look under the Label section in my Sidebar and click on the Shop label. Finally in June this year we began work on increasing the size of the back flower bed and also raised it up a little. The photo below shows the completed project on June 13th, with the shop in the background. This is close to the same angle that the first photo in this post was taken from, just a little closer in.
The bed divides the lawn from the wild grasses and weeds, and because the ground slopes off a bit towards the back of the yard, by raising the bed we have leveled it out, which helps when it needs to be watered. Several of the plants that were in the original bed were moved to the left into the new area, and new plants were added. We weren't sure exactly how the bed was going to lay out until we got the project started, and we were doing a lot of improvising as we went along.
In the closeup of the flower bed taken in 2007, you will notice an old wash tub. Some 30 years ago we went hiking back in the woods north of Fairbanks. There is no one living there now, but back during the Gold Rush there were a lot of people living there, hoping to make their fortune. Sadly, very few of them realized their dreams, and when they moved on they left behind cabins, vehicles, mining equipment, and all of the various bits and pieces of their daily lives that were not worth packing out. Near one old cabin was an old wash tub, and being younger and not as wise as I am now, I thought it was worth dragging that sucker home. After dragging it for five or more miles, it didn't seem like such a good idea, but having invested so much effort in it already I was determined to bring it home. Eventually it became a planter and had Rhubarb growing in it at our other house. When we moved it here, the Rhubarb went in the ground and the old wash tub sat alongside of the flower bed. This year I tried a new annual ornamental grass, Bunny Tails, which I started in my potting room in the new shop. Those went in the wash tub, and I really like the way they look. I think I will have to put Bunny Tails in the tub again next year.
I planted a few of the Bunny Tails in the flower bed, and here you can also see some Asiatic Lilies, Trollius, Yarrow, Iris, and at the far left you can see a Dianthus. I mistakenly identified it in the post Hummingbird Moth or Only a Dream earlier this month. I had a bit of a mental lapse and called it a Phlox. The Dianthus was planted in 2008, but didn't bloom until last year. I posted about it in Dianthus Fantasy last year.
Moving down the flower bed you can see the transplanted Rhubarb plants doing nicely in the foreground, and Sunflower plants in the background. I think the Sunflowers will also be something I will have to start each year and use as a background plant.
Further along are more Sunflowers, more Lilies, and some Yarrow, along with some small Iris and Delphinium and a few annuals.
Then in the back are a few tomato plants, a Siberian Onion (decorative), and some Marigolds.
At the end of the bed are Zucchini plants. They have started to produce, and with five plants I am sure to be overrun very quickly. In the tub is a Crab Apple tree that got misplaced during the project. It was one of three bare root Crab Apple trees that I planted last year. One died, one is doing well, and this one was rescued as it was being dug up as dead. I still have to find a place to put it, and we'll see if it will survive another winter.
This is the view looking down the flower bed on the 24th, about six weeks later than the photo from the same angle above. I was scrambling a bit when we finally got the bed completed, moving plants, trying to get others in the ground that were getting tired of being in little pots, and trying to do long term planning. Before we were finished I was more into the "let's get this done" mode. 
There will undoubtedly be more moving done next spring, and possibly more new perennials planted yet in the next few weeks. I will spend a bit of time looking at photos over the winter and taking more time to plan, now that I know exactly what space I have. Maybe I will actually draw up a plan on paper and list where everything is. I have put in some plant labels and need to get more. That will help me to know where things are supposed to be coming up. I am very happy with this summer project and I think it is a big improvement! Saturday, July 24, 2010
Junco Family Outing
This afternoon the Junco family that have made their headquarters under our deck had the family out and about.
They were very hungry and were searching for food.
They found a few of the sunflower seeds that had fallen from the winter feeders that hang above the deck.
They tested the lawn furniture and found it to be a good vantage point to see what everyone else was doing.
They spent a lot of time flitting about here and there. It will take a lot of practice to be ready when the big day comes that the family packs their bags and makes the long trip south. That will happen in a few short weeks. I will be sad to see our summer birds go, but when they arrive at their winter destinations they will receive a warm welcome from all the people who are glad to see their winter birds return.
They were very hungry and were searching for food.
They found a few of the sunflower seeds that had fallen from the winter feeders that hang above the deck.
They tested the lawn furniture and found it to be a good vantage point to see what everyone else was doing.
They spent a lot of time flitting about here and there. It will take a lot of practice to be ready when the big day comes that the family packs their bags and makes the long trip south. That will happen in a few short weeks. I will be sad to see our summer birds go, but when they arrive at their winter destinations they will receive a warm welcome from all the people who are glad to see their winter birds return.Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Dragons and the Bees
Yesterday I saw a Dragonfly on my Gladiolas. He was one of the seven different varieties of Blue Darners that are seen in Alaska, but the differences between them are very slight. My best guess is that he is a Variable Darner, but might be a Sedge Darner or a Subarctic Darner. 
I am always happy to see a Dragonfly land on a flower as the flower makes a good background for the shot. However, it was shortly before 4:00 p.m. and the sun was shining directly on them. When I loaded the photos on my computer, I was disappointed that the wing pattern was faded out from the intense sunlight against the red flower. However, when I took a closer look I saw something very interesting. Do you see it too? You might want to click on the photo to enlarge it so you can see it better.
The dragonfly was feasting on a Bee! It didn't take him long to devour it and be off looking for more food.
Then I saw a Bee land on a Snapdragon, so I focused my camera on him.
As I watched, he crawled around on the Snapdragon. 
He crawled in a little further.....
And then he disappeared inside of the Snapdragon!
He turned around and crawled back out.....
Covered with pollen from the Snapdragon.
And then as quickly as he appeared, he was off to sample another flower. My first shot of the Dragonfly and the last shot of the Bee were all taken in the space of two minutes.
I am always happy to see a Dragonfly land on a flower as the flower makes a good background for the shot. However, it was shortly before 4:00 p.m. and the sun was shining directly on them. When I loaded the photos on my computer, I was disappointed that the wing pattern was faded out from the intense sunlight against the red flower. However, when I took a closer look I saw something very interesting. Do you see it too? You might want to click on the photo to enlarge it so you can see it better.
The dragonfly was feasting on a Bee! It didn't take him long to devour it and be off looking for more food. 
Then I saw a Bee land on a Snapdragon, so I focused my camera on him.
As I watched, he crawled around on the Snapdragon. 
He crawled in a little further.....
And then he disappeared inside of the Snapdragon!
He turned around and crawled back out.....
Covered with pollen from the Snapdragon.
And then as quickly as he appeared, he was off to sample another flower. My first shot of the Dragonfly and the last shot of the Bee were all taken in the space of two minutes. I really do love Dragonflies even more than I did before. We have a very active Bee and Wasp population, but fortunately we have a very active Dragonfly population too. I am glad to see that the Dragonflies are on patrol!
In the last couple of weeks I have been stung several times by Wasps. I always have a lot of swelling when I get stung, but this last time one got under the strap on my sandal and stung me one or more times on the toe, and I also got stung on the arm. My whole foot was swollen and inflamed and I developed several large blisters. This is the first time I have had blisters, and the first time I have made a trip to the doctor's office. I learned that taking Benedryl will help with the swelling and itching. If you are having breathing problems, you should use an EpiPen, and if you don't have one of those you should head for the Emergency Room immediately. Most people will not have a problem with a Bee sting, but if you have an allergic reaction it can be life threatening. About 40 people die from Bee or Wasp stings in the US every year. You can Google bee sting to find out more, or click on this link to emedicinehealth.com. Bees will generally not sting unless you disturb their nest, but Wasps can be more aggressive. Bees feed on pollen and Wasps feeds on insects and such. If they are landing on your food at your picnic they are most likely a Wasp. If you or someone around you is stung watch carefully and monitor their reaction. Be ready to make a trip to the ER if necessary because time can be very critical. Don't just shrug it off as "just a bee sting" as I have been prone to doing.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)