Laburnum in Bloom. Kitchen Garden Today, 5.8.19

Laburnum at 7 years.  5.8,19

I planted this laburnum as a sale tree from Home Depot, in summer 2012.

For some reason, it's never had the long trailing flower clusters of others that I have seen.  Still, it's a nice tree, with nice flowers, and has stayed a moderate size.  This tree now males it through the summers with no watering and receives almost no care.

In the kitchen garden today, I planted the rest of the sauce tomatoes (Ranger).  A dozen plants is plenty for me.  Getting them into the ground, they are less apt to dry out in their little containers.

Iris of the Day. Indian Chif. And Some Others. 5.8.19

Iris " Indian Chief".  5.7.19

Iris Alcazar.  5.8.19

Another iris in the woodlot border opened its flower.  This time, it's "Indian Chief".

"Indian Chief" was released to the public, some time in the 1920s.  In the years that followed, the country would need something bright and beautiful, that  could multiply and be given to others.

It's not a large clump.  I may move it out of te border and into the bearded iris bed, where it can have better care.

I did not appreciate a fragrance but need to check again.

Below, the clump of Alcazar shows off its vigor and pride.  The clump of Iris flavescens to the right, has just begun to bloom.

I weeded here, after taking the photo.

Iris flavescens.  5.8.19

Note: I initially identified "Indian Chief" iris as "Dauntless". Reviewing old blog entries, this is "Indian Chief".  The photos match perfectly.  I will move it to the main iris bed, where it will have more sunshine and better care than here, in the woodlot border.

An Ugly Iris. 5.8.19

I  bought this iris, "My Friend Jonathan" late last summer / early fall at Costco.   It was in a package with the variety " His Royal Highness".   The rhizomes were very vigorous, grew rapidly, got through the winter without problems, and just started blooming.

What can I say?  This color is like an old faded Kodachrome.  It looks like there is a layer of dirt covering a nicer looking flower.  But there isn't.  It has a faint fragrance.

Iris pigments don't always photograph true.  I think the photo is nicer than the flower in person.

I'm not usually one to dig up a healthy plant and throw it away, but this one will go when it finishes blooming.  There are countless better looking ones.  This cultivar has the advantage of reblooming, so you can look at ugly twice a year.

I hope "His Royal Highness" looks better.

Planting Sweet Corn Seeds. 5.7.19

Mesh to protect sweet corn seeds, planted 5.7.19

It may be too early.  However, this promises to be an early summer, hot and dry.  So I planted two blocks of sweet corn.  I generally plant a new block of sweet corn seeds, for 4 rows of 5 plants per row, every 2 or 3 weeks until late june.  If it does turn put to be too early and these either don't germinate or don't thrive, I can replant the beds in a few weeks.

I planted the varieties Burpee's  Farmers' First se hybrid, and Bodaceous se hybrid.  I placed mesh over one block, and fencing low tunnels over the other, to reduce herbivorous browsing of the seeds and small plants.

The soil is quite warm and dry now. Midday soil temp was in the 70s.  It feels like midsummer soil.

Yellow Jackets. 5.7.19

Yellow Jacket Trap.  5.7.19

There are more yellow jackets in the traps, every day.  It's almost scary.  Such ominous life forms.

I'm no expert, but some are huge.  I hope that means Im catching queens.  I also hope we don't get a repeat of last year, when they destroyed the entire breba fig crop.