Lupines, grackles, shovels
Going out the other morning I was startled by all the grackles on the lawn. I must have been just as startling because most of them took flight as soon as I closed the front door. Phew, bird dander everywhere! They're not my favourite bird, but when the sun shines on them just right their feathers shine a glossy purple and/or greenish hue.
I'm not sure what they were eating but my bird book says their food includes insects, seeds, grain, salamanders, eggs and the young of other birds and even small fish. Since there are no small fish on my lawn, or salamanders either, my guess would be insects and/or seeds.
Grackles make the most annoying calls, somewhat like a rusty hinge being forced open...thankfully they're one of the less vocal birds around. I am, however, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the flock of pretty yellow finches that take up residence in the shrubs and trees around here every spring. I plan to set up a feeding station away from the flower beds, but close enough for my downstairs neighbour, Gladys, to continue enjoying the show.
I'm currently designing something that will look lovely as part of the outside decor, be easy to reach but more importantly, clean. I've heard the hummingbirds are back in some places, though I haven't seen my first one yet.
Now believe it or not, I've already seeded some flowers in my front step containers asters, zinnias and alyssum from seeds left over from last year. I haven't watered the containers yet, but drug them out from under the overhang to let mother nature do her best. We'll see what happens. If they come, then good; if not, oh well. On the flower bed front, tulips are popping up with a vengeance, along with all the other spring bulbs.
I'm heading out to the neighbour's back flower bed to finish digging up some perennials that I didn't see last fall for all the weeds. He's turning the flower bed into a vegetable garden next weekend, so I'd best get while the gettin's good! I saw a couple of lupines about an inch high along with a few other choice specimens, but I especially wanted the lupine. I know they grow wild along the side of the road, but I haven't been able to cultivate even one in my garden. I love lupines. They have the greatest peppery smell when in full bloom and they are a magnificent sight in droves. Lupines (Lupinus) are a member of the pea family, are extremely hardy in this region and flower in mid to late June. Deadheading will often result in a second flush of flowers in late July or August, although the spikes will be smaller than those in June.
Grow lupins in a sunny spot with light, slightly acidic soil and fertilize lightly. The will grow all right if planted in heavier soils but they tend to die out after a few years, even though they are fairly short-lived to begin with. You can start lupins easily from seed by firstly soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water before sowing. You can sow outside in the fall or indoors in the late winter or early spring after a period of wet/cold treatment (four-six weeks). Plants will flower the year after planting.
Well, time to put down the pen and take up the shovel that is, if I can find my shovel. I think I lent it to that pesky neighbour of mine. Time to reclaim the tools, so next week then.
Callie Canrinus is the author of "The Lazy Gardener" blog at http://thelazygardener.blogharbor.com/blog and "Callies Gardens" at http://www.calliesgardens.com.
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