Sorry, it's been awhile, but when I last blogged, I said I was going away for a couple days. And you know how that goes ... take a few days off and pay for it when you get back. So it's taken my a couple more days to clear the piles off my desks (yes, I said "desks," I wear more than one hat at work).


But work's not the only thing that I needed to catch up on when I got back. Although my family did a great job of watering the gardens while I was gone, things needed to be tended to when I got back ...


Like the pond: It seems that another vacuuming is in order. Unless you experience it yourself, you'll really never know how much waste 30-odd goldfish can make! And there's eggs hanging onto the roots of the floating water hyacinths! Not sure if they're from the fish or the frogs, but I can only hope that the fish are making a smorgasbord out of them!


At least I came home to find a couple of beautiful waterlilly flowers! Aren't these blooms beautiful? And the water Canna are coming up nicely. They'll be blooming in a couple weeks.


Hopefully (and I know I've said this before) this weekend will be the weekend we FINALLY install that new waterfall (weather permitting, of course). It seems that every time I try to schedule this task, it rains or the temp is way too high to be doing it in the hot sun. I'm thinking Sunday might be better since Saturday's going to be a scorcher!!


The "hill" where the waterfall is going is really getting out of hand, since I really haven't done any gardening and/or weeding there. I figured why plant anything new there, it'll just get ripped out doing the waterfall. So it's getting quite overgrown now.


Weeds are invading the stone path and brick patio. This happens every year, yet it always seems to just appear overnight. I'll have to buy some extra vinegar at the store this weekend.


The petunias are in desperate need of dead-heading. And we're fast approaching July, when in my garden the petunias get leggy and the blooms are few. Every year I vow to figure out exactly how all those wave petunias in the professional beds at the malls and businesses, not to mention in the hanging baskets in downtown Pottstown, stay so full and blooming, maybe this'll be the year it works for me!

And if that's not enough, I'm not in the middle of a HUGE computer issue at home ... I can't open any programs. I can already tell that fixing this will take a pretty big chunk out of my weekend.


Well, it's not all bad ... I was happy to come home to a pretty established pepper on one of my plants, and there are also some cherry tomatoes and a couple of early girls on the stems. My cucumbers are coming along great this year. They're really taking to the twine-vine I stapled to the shed for them.


And the daylillies! What can I say about one of my faves? They are a great plant that needs absolutely no care at all! They don't take a lot of water and when they bloom, it's show-stopping! I'll blog more about these fantastic plants next week. But for now ... take a trip to Manatawny Creek Daylilly Farm in scenic Oley.


This weekend will be a perfect time to see most of the daylillies in bloom. The farm is located at 64 Fisher Mill Road, right across the street from Glick's Greenhouses. Or visit their web site www.manatawnycreekfarm.com for more information. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; closed Sunday.


Also next week, I'll be featuring my neighbors fabulous garden ... here's a sneak peak.
Well, it looks like my weekend's all planned, see you Monday.

OK, you've made your plant selections, carefully chose the right spot, gently planted, mulched, fertilized and watered and ........ NOTHING'S HAPPENING!!
Yes, this can be very frustrating, but unfortunately, there's nothing more we can do except to wait until the evening temperatures warm up. Plants do most of their growing overnight, just as our bodies replenish while we sleep. And even though Sunday will be June 1, we're again having a cold spring (I know, we'll all be complaining soon enough when the average temp is 90 degrees). As long as everything stays green, continue to water and, eventually when the temp goes up, things will grow!
And while you're waiting, take advantage of the many sales being offered now that the May rush for planting is over. There's plenty of surplus at nurseries, greenhouses and garden centers so go ahead and check it out. This is the time to get that certain plant you weren't sure would do well in your garden, now that it's discounted.
Today begins Glick's Greenhouses (in Oley) sale. 3-, 4- and 6-packs of flowers and veggies will be half price. Hanging baskets, one-quart perennials and wave petunia's will all be discounted as well until June 30.
And if you go, take the time to cross the street and check out Manatawny Creek Daylillies. They have the finest and most diverse selection of daylillies you've ever seen. And the prices are right too, depending on whether or not it is a registered plant. I bought six different varieties there over the last two years and they've thrived. And the colors are fantastic. Some are even proven show winners!

This weekend I hope to get around to some much needed pond maintenance. I'm starting to have an algae problem, and we still need to install the new waterfall. I also plan to get my Earth Boxes planted as well --- what are Earth Boxes you ask? Well, you'll have to wait until next week to find out ...