Typical of this time of year, I made my pilgrimage to the garden store for flowers the other day. I go early in hopes of dodging the crowds and those pesky shopping cart drivers who block my view of every flower in the place. And then I have plenty of time and space to do my own meandering of those rows and rows of potted happiness.
Sigh. I don't think I'm ever so happy as I am in that darn garden store. Even if that cocky pond dude is working. I stop and say "hello" to him because 1)I like to annoy him with my pond stories and 2)he's the guy I gotta see for water hyacinths, tadpoles, and snails. It's sort of a weird win/lose kinda situation.
After 2 hours in that beastly hot place, I came home with the back of my car full of green while my wallet was a little emptier of the same. But if you count that I don't gamble or smoke, I'm figuring that is a healthy addiction--annuals and perennials.
Along with all those plants that now needed to be dealt with, I snagged me a couple of snails and tadpoles for the pond. And while the tadpoles were really small, those snails made up for it--they are ginormous. But they are hungrier when they are that large, and I've got me an algae issue, so everyone is gonna be happy with this purchase.
If you are wondering what the heck the turtle is looking at in the photo, it is the new snails. Aren't they lovely? They aren't too big on being out of water, so they have their little trapdoors shut. Once they are in the water, they'll sniff out all that yummy algae and come out of hiding.
And yes, that is algae growing on their backs. How ironic is it that they spend their days looking for algae to eat and it is right there on their backs? Every so often I'll find two friends working out a deal to solve that problem--or they were....uh....doing something else. I'm not sure. I prefer to think they are eating algae.
So, it's SlowFest here this weekend. I'm planting a cabillion flowers while the snails are working on the pond algae. And you just know that Hobbes will be supervising all of this from under a hosta leaf.
18 comments:
Oh, I'm addicted to annuals and perennials, too!!! But I've been on the bandwagon because... well, mostly because it's so heart-wrenching to watch all my beauties float away with the floods. :( I'm so discouraged about my gardens. An acre and a half of land, under water every couple of years. It messes with a girl's brain.
Lin, I can't wait to see pictures of all of your flowers.
How do two snails keep the whole pond clean or are they "fruitful" and multiply?
Don't snails have to make new snails sometime?
Erm, how do you think we get kids on the Farm? The goats are not really "dancing the rhumba."
Come fix my yard please?!
I want a pretty yard and a garden. So many ideas, so little time!!
I miss when the ponds not up...Is that weird?
That reminds me - last week I "planted" pinwheels, I still have the butterflys and daisies to "plant" in the front. All I need is some kind of metal cutter to get them down to size.
I want a pond...and you to come care for it every day
and I brought home 28 little plants from the garden shop, the planting of which totally exhausted this old man. good thing I don't have to depend on garden for my sustenance.
We went to the nursery last weekend for more plants and tomatoes and peppers too. I am horrible with plants but when I go there and see them growing so beautifully I feel like I can do that too so we'l see if it happens. Everything grows great in Oregon unless I have something to do with it! :)
Enjoy your weekend and smooches to the cutest orange stripey snoopervisor ever!
Bought some pansies and snapdragons....couldn't resist because the colours were so fabulous.
Rebecca--Oh, that is so sad. :( Can you plant near the house? And would that be more safe?
Chocolate--The snails eat ALL the time. In fact, if if I pick one up, they usually have a mouthful of algae--which is pretty funny to see. These are trapdoor snails and they don't multiply like those little black snails you see stuck on plants. These guys give live birth and I have seen their babies only a handful of times. And they usually don't survive the winter.
Pricilla--I'm not sure on how often they breed, but these don't proliferate as much as you think. They also give live birth, which is pretty amazing. I've only seen those little pearls of life a few times. They are incredibly small. I don't want to think about snail sex--but I'm not thinking its really fast or anything.
Jodi--We split in the fall, Jodi. Come visit the relatives and fill your trunk with plants. :) Oh, and you can meet Hobbes while you are at it!
Diana--The offer holds for you too--we split in the fall and I'm usually giving tons of plants away. If you want them, we have them!
Tracy--The pond never fails to amaze me. There is so much life brimming in there and you gotta keep one eye on it so you don't miss a thing! And the funny thing is that it is not very big.
Grace--Or just shove them deeper in to the earth. :) Whatever works, right?
Helene--I don't think it takes much work, but Joe will argue with that. I guess I don't view it as work, whereas Joe thinks I putter with it constantly. Mostly I'm just out there looking to see what is going on.
Vanilla--Hahaha! I planted all day yesterday and today I cannot move. Seriously. When did this become so darn difficult to do???
Oh wow I bet all of your flowers are so pretty. We also love to go to the garden center. So much fun! Sure look forward to see pictures of your pretty flowers!!
Oh I should have done some of that today. I was out and got half way home when I thought about going to pick up some plants. Oh well.
Have fun planting those flowers.
I would be a happy cat if food grew on my back!
I was at a couple of different garden centres yesterday. Isn't it glorious? The smells? The colors? I am heading out to my garden today to do some weeding and planting. Hooray!
xo Catherine
Am I warped and twisted or just hungry? I read this post, which left me with a strong desire for some escargot. I hope that's not wrong. It's fun to garden.
Beaded Tail--I always buy too much and end up trying to find places for all those plants. Ugh. I hope you don't kill this year's plants!!
Mary Ann--I love pansies and snapdragons!! They are easy and no-fuss. My kind of plants!
Alicia--Welcome, new pally! I always wish I had more yard and more money when I go to the garden center!
Ann--It took me all day, Ann! I'm pooped!
Daisy--Nah, Harley would eat it all anyway. ;)
Catherine--I always visit numerous garden stores because every one has different plants. Joe gets tired of visiting them all!
Chuck--That is sick, Chuck, sick. Next you are gonna tell me you like frog legs too?
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