Quick one today.

I have been carefully monitoring the two Monarch caterpillar chrysalis that were chilling on the side of my house the past week. Well, I missed the first butterfly emerging but was psyched this morning, when I captured the other one on his way out.

Here is the cycle in photos: 

Pretty cool, huh? The kids have been mesmerized by it and what an education for them. All it took was planting a few Milkweed plants picked up at a native plant sale this Spring.

Good times
ONG

I got the awards itch after watching last night’s Emmy extravaganza and in true blogger narcissistic fashion, I decided to dish out my own awards from this gardening season. I may lack the humor and swagger and aw-shucks-ness of Jimmy Fallon, and the race for victory may not be as dramatic, but I will tell you, it was a tense scene this morning as the nominees were announced.

In the interest of time, I will only announce the winner in each category and some of the runner’s up where applicable. So sit back, let the show tape for a while so you can fast forward through the commercials on your DVR, and enjoy!

Best lesson never learned no matter how dire the consequences
Winner – My never ending attempt to remove poison ivy, even with gloves and long sleeve shirt and not expecting to get the rash. I am now going on four different instances since the Spring began. “Leaves of three … it can’t happen to me.”               

Plant photographed most often to the point of unhealthy obsession
Winner – The oats on the Northern Sea Oats

Most disappointing development as a result of the downturn in the economy
Winner – The lack of hot air balloons over our house. What? You expected something of more substance? Not here my friends.

The plant least likely to be deadheaded as much as needed despite my claims to the contrary
Winner – Daylily ‘Happy Returns’

The greatest recovery from near decimation
Winner – The Swamp Milkweed was destroyed by all of the Monarch caterpillars (to my delight) and just like that it has rebounded in a week’s time. 

The tree with the most promise that continues to disappoint
Winner – The Weeping Cherry – the blooms are fantastic but once they are done, blech! This one needs some serious help.       

The greatest development this gardening season.
Winner – adding more and more native plants. Like the Milkweed discussed previously, more Eupatorium cultivars and Helenium, to name a few. 

First Runner-up to greatest development – taking a greater interest in birds and their fascinating adventures. This is the early leader for next awards season. 

Worst case of planning for someone who really cares about their gardens
Winner – not accounting for someone to water while I was away for a week in the dead of summer. I continue to be baffled by my own stupidity. 

The best mini-makeover performed by yours truly
Winner – the bed along my back deck

Runner-up – My parents front bed

And finally …

My most bizarre post of the year
Winner – a new take on Eat, Pray, Love – not sure what I ate that day: http://www.obsessiveneuroticgardener.com/2010/05/dig-plant-grow-introduction.html     

I would like to thank all of the nominees and best of luck next year.
ONG 

I’ll try to keep the words to a minimum today.

I had the camera out early this morning and for whatever reason, felt a jolt of awesomeness as I proceeded on my walk.

Here are the shots I took, hope you enjoy:  

Don’t forget to enter my CSN Stores giveaway from yesterday’s post. The contest ends today at 5:00. Give it a shot … why not?

ONG

The task for this morning was to divide some of my Siberian Iris ‘Ruffled Velvet’ which were in dire need of being divided. Here are a few photos of these beauties in bloom:  

It was the perfect morning to get down and dirty and divide like a champ; it was very cool and overcast – the perfect weather for accomplishing the task and not putting too much strain on the newly transplanted divisions:  

As you can see in the photo below, a hole has developed in the middle of the Iris and that screamed “division time” to me:

In went the shovel and like a hot knife through butter, the Iris split into three divisions on it’s own (hmmm … interesting I said at the time, should that really happen? Bigger issue? … no time to ponder … let’s move on):   

After I moved these on to the tarp (always useful) three became five:

I cleaned each new division up by removing any debris, large clumps of nice NJ clay but careful to keep the roots in tact as best as possible:

Each division was placed in it’s new location in a hole at least two to three times the size of the root ball:

The foliage was cut down to about 4-6 inches so the plant could focus most of it’s energies on root growth:   

BOOM! One Siberian Iris became five and an empty spot in my bed was quickly filled. These will be mulched a bit more and will be well watered for the next month or so to ensure they get off to a nice start:

Soon after, another Iris became four divisions and I filled in another bare area in one of the beds:

I’ve still got four more to divide but that was all that could get done this morning.

These may not bloom next year (or even much the year after that) but I am OK with that. The foliage still provides a level of interest and with their new locations, I am not relying on them to provide much impact in the overall scheme of the garden bed they are in.

It had been awhile since I had a chance to get my hands dirty out in the gardens and it immediately got the blood and mind flowing. Dirt under the nails, on the knees, in the ears – GOOD TIMES! I feel good and ready to conquer more. Bring it!

ONG 

You know what I hate? Seeing Christmas decorations out in the stores in September.

You know what else I hate? Planning for “next year” at work when it is still early in the current year.

You know what else I also hate? Clowns … but that topic is for another day.    

I really try my best to “live for the moment” but also realize that planning is a necessary evil in life. What makes me nuts is always looking back on a prior event and thinking “wow, that really kicked ass” but not enjoying said event like I should have at the time it was happening.

This applies to my perspective on gardening as well. And I must admit I strayed from my “live for now” mantra big time today. All it took was a quick scan of some photos I took of the garden beds back in the early Spring to set me off. Holy crap’n crap were the beds bare. Winter interest be damned! While I have made some strides taking winter interest into account this spring/summer, I still have a way to go. The proof is in the photos:               

It is so easy to get caught up in the flourishing new growth of shrubs and perennials and then the explosion of blooms. What is easily forgotten is that here in zone 6, we have about 5 months out of the year where you would kill to see any signs of green growth or anything of interest out in the yard. While I really should enjoy the lushness we have now and the impending fall blooms, I can’t help but think of the dark days of winter to come.

Some more photos:
 

And some more:

OK … one more set:

Like everything in life, it comes down to a balance of enjoying what you’ve got at the moment, but not forgetting to plan for what is to come. So I’ll love me some of the blooms forming on the Miscanthus while at the same time make room for some hollies I can pick up on the cheap this fall. Problem solved just like that!
 

Happy Halloween!
ONG