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Sunday, May 18, 2025
COLUMBINES & CARNAGE
After the last post I did from the garden, I really enjoyed the comments about all the columbines. This weekend I got much done in the garden and even had time for drinks yesterday with the Clan. Most of my planting is now done for the season with exception to a few Canya. The garden continues to grow like crazy this season. So I took a slew pics of the columbine and black Barlow that I planted last season... which finally bloomed this year. If you like columbine they are relatively easy to grow, and thrive in a variety of conditions, but generally prefer full sun to partial shade. They also need well drained soil and can tolerate various soil types. They also do well in dappled shaded area like under tress in a woodland area. If you prune and pluck spent blooms, you'll get a 6-8 extended period of blooming.
Black Barlow
My good deed of the day...this poor bumble I rescued from a birdbath. Yes, bees do use the birdbaths. This one fell in and almost a goner I suspect. After being on my gloved hand, I placed her in a potted plant. I'm happy to report after some struggles and drying from being waterlogged, she took flight!
In other news, Sophie was quite bad yesterday. Here she is on squirrel patrol. Later, I noticed she was consuming on something. To my horror she'd caught a bird, a sparrow, I think. Numerous times I demanded she drop it, alas to no avail. The last I saw was the tail feather and little legs sticking out before she swallowed the whole thing. I called the vet to see if I should bring her in, but they said the bird is so little and the bones brittle, it shouldn't harm her, but if a problem arose, bring her in. I told them I was in shock she did this, since she is a picky eater. They laughed. I'm still in shock and could get sick myself when I think of seeing the imagine of it all.
I mean look at her. Does she look like a bird killer???
Maddie, honey, it's the ones who don't look like killers that can cause the most carnage. Serial killers look perfectly normal you know. I hear a good stiff drink can help with shock. Indulge.
I'm not sure if I was more appalled she caught it, or then ate it. But the poor bird had no idea what hit it. So far I don't think I see any remnants in the yard.
Oh, that poor bird! Well at least the bee was saved. I had a cat once who caught a hummingbird in mid flight. It was amazing to see but that's part of a cat's nature. Cujo basically just followed turkeys three times his size just to eat their poop. Dogs can be very odd.
Maddie, your columbines are GORGEOUS! Plus, they're huge compared to wild columbines. I also suspect Sophie was a cat in a previous lifetime, UGH. Perhaps muzzle her outside so she can't kill birds and baby bunnies?
I've JUST started growing my own columbines from seeing them here. I'm hooked. So far they are doing good. And that Black Barlow is stunning! You best tell Sophie to leave your minions alone! The poor bird. Sophie does look cute, but mischievous.
Absolutely love these flowers in your garden! I've tried to no avail...I don't think the soil here is right for them. I might try one more location first. And Shirley Horn got a new fan tonight! What a voice.
Gorgeous pictures Mistress!!!! Fine specimens of columbine I'd say. The Barlow one is stunning of color.
When I bought my house forty years ago, I bought from a local nursery and planted a slew of them, one of which columbine I've never seen. It is not a typical columbine flower. The flower is fuzzy, powder-puff like, but the leaf is absolutely a columbine leaf. I had it in white and in purple, but one year after I cut it back, the purple didn't come back the next year. Have you ever seen a columbine like this? I'd love to get more, but I've never seen it again.
I love you people, you spur me on to dig deeper and research so I can continue to keep the brain active. 3 years ago I bought a bag of what was labeled Aquilegia at Costco, which I later found out they are Columbines. They've done well and many of them do not have the standard bloom like the Mistress grows. I found there are 60-70 different varieties of this plant and I have sent a few pics of mine with different shapes. Maybe one of them looks like the one Cap Chasen has grown and she can get a pic to you if you text with her. They are a no-fuss care lovely addition to the garden and they will definitely spread is you're not careful.
Yes Cap, Milleson is right, there are so many varieties of columbine hard to say. Mine, when I bought them were labeled Aquilegia, except for the black Harlow. I wonder if you're " powder puff like" blooms your looking for might be the Petticoat Aquilegia. I saw them once here at a upper end greenhouse but have not seen them in some time. You might want to see if you can procure some of their seeds online for a gardening site. If you email me, I can share some pictures Milleson was kind enough to text me. He has some beautiful ones. Columbines that is!!! My email is found on the side bar, click Mistress Maddie.
Mother Nature will thank you for saving that bee! You saved it, a good deed...indeed.
Excellent presentation of your columbines! I love them. One of the most unique of blooms, almost like an orchid. Thanks for the tips. If I ever grow them, I'll have to make sure they get watered good, my soil tends to be very dry.
Stunning Mistress stunning! I'd love to join you for drinks in your garden one day. Those columbine pictures are so detailed and pretty...they have made me happy to tonight.
A huge fan of Shirley Horn, who in my opinion never got near the recognition her deserved. No matter how many renditions of this song I hear, Shirley Horn's is absolutely perfect. She made it life's most beautiful serenade.
Me too! I had to transplant one that was being overtaken by the bleeding heart. I may add in more next year, they are doing so well. And nice to have you back Dinah!!!
Who knows what evil lurks ... behind the facade of sweet Sophie?!? I do love columbines. We had some planted in the pool gardens in Connecticut. The woodchucks liked to mark their territory by breaking off their stems, and usually just before the buds opened. The little shits.
I have resorted to putting upturned wire hanging baskets over some of my young plants to prevent them being trampled by Bitey while he's in pursuit of a bee/frog/bird/mouse/feather/squirrel/deer/[insert anything else that might move in a garden here].
I have thought of that Mr.DeVice or a small wire fencing to keep her out. But once the garden grows more, she generally won't go in the garden at all. At least last years she didn't. Sophie likes bees too. She jumps at them trying to eat them. Let her get stung once, that will end that.
The CBS Sunday Morning Show had a feature on flower leis, you have the flowers to create beautiful leis, and you could weave in a few sparrow feathers. Dogs will be dogs. Deedles made me laugh, there is a line from one of the Adams Family Movies, Wednesday dressed a serial killer for Halloween saying, "they look just like everyone else."
This week Wolfie has presented me with 2 half eaten mice, a pile of sick and a dead rat, not forgetting tje squab. And this cat has had arthritis for the past 11 years+ (he's 16 now). he's eaten rabbits (very fond of scrunching their skulls), birds and all kinds of stuff without it upsetting his stomach. Before now he's brought in live adult ducks and bats, totally unharmed, although bemused.
Wolfe sounds like a terror in the garden. I had no idea cats went after such things...except for birds and rodents. And I panic if Sophie brought a live critter in the house. Boy I never have these problems with Buster.
From experience with Bitey, I am not surprised at Sophie's murderous streak - no matter how much she might look like butter wouldn't melt! Bitey would eat a bird if he could catch one (he's not very good at stalking, fortunately), but he has caught and eaten bumblebees much to my horror. Why they don't sting him is a mystery.
I swear, I think Sophie thinks she's a cat. She even stalks like a cat, crouched down, and moves in slow with stealth. Luckly she's hasn't caught a squirrel...yet. But here we are 5 days later and I still feel sick thinking of her chewing on the bird...tail feather and little feet sticking out of her mouth.
Maddie, honey, it's the ones who don't look like killers that can cause the most carnage. Serial killers look perfectly normal you know. I hear a good stiff drink can help with shock. Indulge.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I was more appalled she caught it, or then ate it. But the poor bird had no idea what hit it. So far I don't think I see any remnants in the yard.
DeleteOh, that poor bird! Well at least the bee was saved. I had a cat once who caught a hummingbird in mid flight. It was amazing to see but that's part of a cat's nature. Cujo basically just followed turkeys three times his size just to eat their poop. Dogs can be very odd.
DeleteWell, I had to put the bee in a potted plant too, because I have also seen Sophie jump at bees to eat them too. Odd indeed Deedles.
DeleteThe Black Barlow looks like an evil flower and I am here for that!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it though? Perfect for my Poison ivy Garden!!
DeleteMaddie, your columbines are GORGEOUS! Plus, they're huge compared to wild columbines. I also suspect Sophie was a cat in a previous lifetime, UGH. Perhaps muzzle her outside so she can't kill birds and baby bunnies?
ReplyDeleteAnd bees! She jumps and tries to eat them too! Thanks heavens I stashed the bumble in a potted plant.
DeleteHowie had a sparrow last week, luckily it was dead when he brought it into the house.
ReplyDeleteAt least he didn't eat it. Or did he?
DeleteI've JUST started growing my own columbines from seeing them here. I'm hooked. So far they are doing good. And that Black Barlow is stunning! You best tell Sophie to leave your minions alone! The poor bird. Sophie does look cute, but mischievous.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love these flowers in your garden! I've tried to no avail...I don't think the soil here is right for them. I might try one more location first. And Shirley Horn got a new fan tonight! What a voice.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures Mistress!!!! Fine specimens of columbine I'd say. The Barlow one is stunning of color.
ReplyDeleteWhen I bought my house forty years ago, I bought from a local nursery and planted a slew of them, one of which columbine I've never seen. It is not a typical columbine flower. The flower is fuzzy, powder-puff like, but the leaf is absolutely a columbine leaf. I had it in white and in purple, but one year after I cut it back, the purple didn't come back the next year. Have you ever seen a columbine like this? I'd love to get more, but I've never seen it again.
Naughty, naughty Sophie!!!! Tsk tsk!
I love you people, you spur me on to dig deeper and research so I can continue to keep the brain active. 3 years ago I bought a bag of what was labeled Aquilegia at Costco, which I later found out they are Columbines. They've done well and many of them do not have the standard bloom like the Mistress grows. I found there are 60-70 different varieties of this plant and I have sent a few pics of mine with different shapes. Maybe one of them looks like the one Cap Chasen has grown and she can get a pic to you if you text with her. They are a no-fuss care lovely addition to the garden and they will definitely spread is you're not careful.
DeleteYes Cap, Milleson is right, there are so many varieties of columbine hard to say. Mine, when I bought them were labeled Aquilegia, except for the black Harlow. I wonder if you're " powder puff like" blooms your looking for might be the Petticoat Aquilegia. I saw them once here at a upper end greenhouse but have not seen them in some time. You might want to see if you can procure some of their seeds online for a gardening site. If you email me, I can share some pictures Milleson was kind enough to text me. He has some beautiful ones. Columbines that is!!! My email is found on the side bar, click Mistress Maddie.
DeleteYour columbine, Cap Chasen, sounds like it my be a Thalictrum aquilegiifolium as seen in Madam A's & Jon's garden, here (scroll down a little).
DeleteThose puff pink balls are fun!!! I've never seen those before.
DeleteMother Nature will thank you for saving that bee! You saved it, a good deed...indeed.
ReplyDeleteExcellent presentation of your columbines! I love them. One of the most unique of blooms, almost like an orchid. Thanks for the tips. If I ever grow them, I'll have to make sure they get watered good, my soil tends to be very dry.
Stunning Mistress stunning! I'd love to join you for drinks in your garden one day. Those columbine pictures are so detailed and pretty...they have made me happy to tonight.
ReplyDeleteA huge fan of Shirley Horn, who in my opinion never got near the recognition her deserved. No matter how many renditions of this song I hear, Shirley Horn's is absolutely perfect. She made it life's most beautiful serenade.
First we had “They’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats”. Now we have murder dog eating the birds.
ReplyDeleteI'm still in disbelief. LMAO!!! She a Bird eater!!!!! Flashback to Maneater- Nelly Furtado.
DeleteI love columbines! And I will definitely see if I can find one of those dark doubles (scrolls back to take notes...)
ReplyDeleteMe too! I had to transplant one that was being overtaken by the bleeding heart. I may add in more next year, they are doing so well. And nice to have you back Dinah!!!
DeleteYou definitely have a green thumb! Everything is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThose hands look rough dear..best put some hand cream of them!!! LOL.
ReplyDeleteGlorious! If you're not careful, I will put you to work in my garden when you come to PTown!.
Who knows what evil lurks ... behind the facade of sweet Sophie?!? I do love columbines. We had some planted in the pool gardens in Connecticut. The woodchucks liked to mark their territory by breaking off their stems, and usually just before the buds opened. The little shits.
ReplyDeleteBut the age old question is, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
DeleteGlorious eye-feast of purples and pinks - which even the bee joins in, unawares.
ReplyDeleteDogs, eh?!!! It's when they eat the flowers that you need to worry!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, your columbines are glorious!
Sx
Not to worry Scarlet, she has already torn through the gardens on pursuit of squirrels already, narrowingly missing glorious plants from a disaster.
DeleteI have resorted to putting upturned wire hanging baskets over some of my young plants to prevent them being trampled by Bitey while he's in pursuit of a bee/frog/bird/mouse/feather/squirrel/deer/[insert anything else that might move in a garden here].
DeleteI have thought of that Mr.DeVice or a small wire fencing to keep her out. But once the garden grows more, she generally won't go in the garden at all. At least last years she didn't. Sophie likes bees too. She jumps at them trying to eat them. Let her get stung once, that will end that.
DeleteThe CBS Sunday Morning Show had a feature on flower leis, you have the flowers to create beautiful leis, and you could weave in a few sparrow feathers. Dogs will be dogs. Deedles made me laugh, there is a line from one of the Adams Family Movies, Wednesday dressed a serial killer for Halloween saying, "they look just like everyone else."
ReplyDeleteThe Bee Goddess will reward you for saving her Bumble Bee!
ReplyDeleteThis week Wolfie has presented me with 2 half eaten mice, a pile of sick and a dead rat, not forgetting tje squab. And this cat has had arthritis for the past 11 years+ (he's 16 now). he's eaten rabbits (very fond of scrunching their skulls), birds and all kinds of stuff without it upsetting his stomach. Before now he's brought in live adult ducks and bats, totally unharmed, although bemused.
ReplyDeleteWolfe sounds like a terror in the garden. I had no idea cats went after such things...except for birds and rodents. And I panic if Sophie brought a live critter in the house. Boy I never have these problems with Buster.
DeleteFrom experience with Bitey, I am not surprised at Sophie's murderous streak - no matter how much she might look like butter wouldn't melt! Bitey would eat a bird if he could catch one (he's not very good at stalking, fortunately), but he has caught and eaten bumblebees much to my horror. Why they don't sting him is a mystery.
ReplyDeleteI swear, I think Sophie thinks she's a cat. She even stalks like a cat, crouched down, and moves in slow with stealth. Luckly she's hasn't caught a squirrel...yet. But here we are 5 days later and I still feel sick thinking of her chewing on the bird...tail feather and little feet sticking out of her mouth.
Delete