Bearded Iris Beds, maintenance and unexpected blooming.

Sunny Disposition Oct 29 2013

Bearded Iris Bed #1 ready for winter

 Today did some minor cleanup of the bearded Iris beds.  Very superficial, using garden fork to break up the soil surface and remove weed seedlings.  Cut off dying leaves, using garden scissors.

Interesting, this is the first time I've had a rebloom for Bearded Iris "Sunny Disposition".  Nice thick petal substance.  Nice fragrance.

Bearded Iris Beds #2 and #3 ready for winter

And a few more....

Add caption

I forgot I bought the anemones and found them in the garage.  All of the others are also considered deer resistant and possibly rabbit resistant. 

Bulb season is about over.  Spring should look like spring....

The Camassia quamash was a good find.  I've been wanting to add them.  Native to Pacific NW, considered OK bee forage, and tolerant of conditions here.

The Hyacinthoides wasn't necessary.  I can move some from the yard in Vancouver, and probably will.  This looked like a colorful mix.

All are planted.  That took about 15 minutes.  Then it rained. 

Planted a few more bulbs

Daffodils and Fritillaria

I've tried in the past to grow Fritillaria.  No success.  This time, I planted it on its side.  According to the instructions, that will reduce the risk for water collection in the bulb's folds.

I planted the 15 Daffodils in groups, 3 clusters.

More color for spring.  If the Fritillaria does not grow, there should still be the Daffodils.

Brugmansia blossom.

 First blossom for brugmansia, which I started from cutting this Spring.  I did not know what the color would be.

Interesting.  White with pink blush, double flower.

Creating a Patina for Copper Beehive Roof.

First Treatment Oct 1 2013

 The copper roof of the first beehive darkened, but did not develop a light green patina.  The dark metal absorbed heat on sunny days, and was too hot to the touch.  I covered it with foam and reflective insulation, which helped.  But now I want a green patina, which will be much lighter, almost white.  That should reflect more light.

I looked up various recipes for creating a patina.  Just letting it weather, that could take years.

Most of the recipes called for various chemicals, especially ammonia.  I didn't want to buy chemicals just for this treatment.  I also saw historical information, and folklore, that sculptors and roofers pee on fresh copper to create a patina.

It sounds unusual, and to some might be unpleasant, but there's no reason not to use that approach.  I used a plant mist-er to spray fresh urine on the copper surface, then let it dry.  Each day that I'm at the Battleground place, I've been adding another treatment.


So far, so good.  A patina is rapidly forming on the copper top.  The first beehive, which is also outside in the same weather, doesn't have even a hint of light green.  Just dark oxidation.

I'll continue the spray treatment until the patina is more fully developed.  I like the effect so far.  There is no accumulation or discoloration of the white paint.  Despite what might be thought, no odor that I can appreciate.

The same liquid can also serve as deer and rabbit deterrent.  It has the advantage of being free.  The disadvantage is, it washed off in the rain.  I've been using up left-over liquid by spraying around fruit trees.

After 4 treatments Oct 8 2013