tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:31:09 +0000snow flakenative wild flowersblackberriesfrogdogwoodhoop housespepperssnow dropSandhilloutsidepennantsPoppyHenry's Elfinradishlady bugfleabanecamelliashosesparrowsbenchesporchfalse nettlecolumbineOcconeecheefoxtailArugulaLittle BannerprimrosepaperbushflickerMonsantoSwallowtailhalloweenwood stovelettucesun yard artBaccharissunflowersSatyrberriesSeaside DragonletmolehoneysucklemariposacatsBamboo grassodonatesmantispansiesrainpuffbirdicePurple FinchlupinemeadowhawkrobberfliesSpring Azurearandiipeachescosmoscereustrout lilytire planters.Citrine Forktailstained glassdamselfliesshrubscucumbersdog cookiesnuthatchesplantingGMOsorchidstrogonappalachian brownpinksteryard arthostaswildflowersSkimmerObamavarroa treatmentAcanalonia conicazucchiniplantMay AppleLittle Glassywingsunflowerold decksnapdragonPainted Buckeyepawpawweedsgivingplantsmorning gloryphloxSwamp DarnerlatticeAmerican ToadpondbanksPapilio polyxenesorganicMonarchsulphurElfin SkimmerlawnbloodrootmilkweedSpringtime DarnerMegCheckered SkipperfametreefrogSleepy Orangeearly springediblehawkpossumbee vacuumtuxedoNorthern pearly-eyebird bathcatusEastern Ringtaildamselflyflycatcherbottle wallviolasartwaterliliesspriteoccupygourdsbelizecornAmerican LadycicadaGreen DarnerflamingoRubyspotSely's Sundragoncrocuslive oakcarrotsairlie gardensmulchpeeperAdirondackice plantUmber Shadowdragonkittiesspring bulbsde-icerrootsspring ephemeralMonarch migrationrareGrumpywoodpeckersMallardsquashRattlebushvegetablesjewelwingbutterfly macroflowersturtlesJonquillafrostseedlingsdragonflybleeding heartlawn mowerBrown Elfinpollenspreadwingcatkinsirisapple blossumsnakepeasdaffodillandfill rescuevenus flytrapbluetpomegranateAzure BluetPlanthopperday lilyEastern Tiger SwallowtailemperorsringletfrozentreesCalifornia Tortoiseshelltulipsskippermintpotatoesasterssnaketailcrashharbingergreensrapebottle treeorange tabbyelfinwildflowerlambsquartersanddragonscheckerspotWhite Milkweedsapbutterfly. flowersinensiscold framesMeadow BeautySkinkbeekeepingmustardplumcyclamenHenrymidistreakYellow Flaginsectbirdsbleeding heartsTradescantiakittensDandelionfaslcateazaleatickseed sunflowercaterpillarsSpiketailorangetiphelleboressproutsspiderFalcate Orangetipscreenedfunny videokitegingerbutterflies. hairstreakconcrete counter topstablecopperheadgoatsplotchairsconesrain barrelspuppets. Paperhandmistletoefava beansazureSwift SetwingStream CruiserjunipherEarth Daysasanquafolk artbananaLorquin's AdmiralmuscariEastern Pine ElfinpersimmondaffodilssparkleberrychickensaddlebackDutchman's BreechesEat More KalePennantwaterlilyhollyhockpinkbullmaple flowersdaphneBlue dasherwood sorreltomatoesspinachDancertrash pick up. clematisSneezeweedspiderwortmetalmarkIce SpidersseedsgarlicKaleDuckMourning Cloaksalamanderspeonyhomemade paradephotographyskipper. hairstreakAurora DamselCommon BaskettailBullfrogoil spilltucanGiant Water Bugbaptisiasalviacurlinggardeningcrescentwoodsbutterfly. skipper. hairstreakyellowWidow Skimmerpeacocksletter boxEastern Newtgardendaisyblue bottlesKivahairstreakchanterellebee swarmfritillaryDuke Gardenscohosheggjacanamacrogazing ballrosecloverclematiscontestDurhambeetspieblueBlack Swallowtailmushroomdogsdarnerbenchpearlclothes linefallpondhawkQuestion MarkbeescompostLumber iverpotsbeaver queenDelphiniumchicken coopsOrnate Pennantbutterflycob cottagebottle chapelViceroyBlue CorporalorangeharvesterhyacinthdragonfliesbutterflieslilySouthern SpreadwingeggplantaninasturtiumAtlanticoconee bellstin manwinterredbuddotcoppersToad LilyCSAgordoniabrown snakesalivafarm tourconeflowermorelsnowdriftgreeningrain chainsSpring BeautyCherrysquirrelsLittle Yellowswiss chardherpsCarolina AnoleacornsbridgesmanureanemoneOhio Erie CanalspottedjaponicaHayhursts Scallopwingleaf-footed bugbistroMabry MillcomfreypotooclubtailCut-leaf Toothworthouselady's-slippersdonkeyFarmers marketDiminutive Clubtailsnowmagnolialeaveshost plantshttp://rlephoto.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)Blogger349125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-868437947950474391Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:16:00 +00002012-03-18T19:17:09.681-04:00camelliasprimrosehelleboresI missed March bloom day, enjoy these flowers from our garden.  I found this native anemone "Windflower" growing wild in the hellebore and camellia garden yesterday. There are lots of these growing wild in the garden.  My first baby hellebore bloom. Not sure where where it was collected, planted in the spring of 2010. I think it is a real beauty! There are 25 or so other hellebore babies not http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/56BQD8eQg7M/new-hellebores-primroses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/56BQD8eQg7M" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/new-hellebores-primroses.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5736129593043721077Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:29:00 +00002012-03-17T22:29:13.471-04:00bee swarmbeekeepingI thought some of you might enjoy seeing the new nuk beehive and the swarm traps I made.  Here is the new nuk entirely made by myself mostly from scrap lumber. I did buy a 1 x 12 to make the deep body. The roof top is left over aluminum flashing. The bees are getting adjusted as I only saw a few of them coming and going today. The glass jar is a boardman sugar water feeder.  Here is my home made http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/Ky1IdHc20t4/swarm-traps-and-nuk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/Ky1IdHc20t4" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/swarm-traps-and-nuk.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-758583731500616955Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:18:00 +00002012-03-15T22:18:18.161-04:00daffodilsbeekeepingThe past two nights and tonight included we have had several windows open and turned off the heat. We hear the American Toads calling most of the night, it is my favorite time of year, the frog and toad concerts. Also been hearing Pickerel Frogs calling once in a while, I had a photo of one in my last posting. Eastern Painted Turtles are now lining the edge of the pond, have been for weeks. OK, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/bvJ6D9qsZ6U/oh-my-what-crazy-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)9<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/bvJ6D9qsZ6U" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/oh-my-what-crazy-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-750023878649291896Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:53:00 +00002012-03-12T22:53:28.462-04:00froggardeningbeekeepingJust what no beekeeper wants to find in his beehives swarm cells. There were 5-6 of these on the bottom of the second box in my hive on Sunday.  I was giving my girls a powdered sugar treatment of varroa mites. I had to share with you this photos of  these 5 girls working on this swarm cell. Hoping they will stay put until Thursday, when we are doing a small split, by setting up a 5 frame nuk http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/CbCWRPuO00I/swarm-cells.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)14<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/CbCWRPuO00I" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/swarm-cells.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3064324250946974642Sat, 10 Mar 2012 01:29:00 +00002012-03-09T20:55:22.921-05:00Mallardstained glasshelleboresgardeningbeekeepingGot a surprise yesterday morning. I was treating the bees with powered sugar for varrora mites and all the sudden the female Mallard duck landed in the pond in a big huff. She was having a small fit, but I could not watch because I was in the beehive. A little recent history on the Mallards. They have been dropping in on the pond for about 2 months. About 2 weeks ago the male would be seen most http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/Pj8pA7zcfVs/march-garden-stained-glass.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)16<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/Pj8pA7zcfVs" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-garden-stained-glass.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-2765229911096135110Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:35:00 +00002012-03-03T16:02:08.047-05:00potscamelliaspollenbeekeepingHere is one of my girls gathering pollen inside 'R. L. Wheeler' Camellia japonica. Still learning to keep it in focus. You can see the bee placing the pollen inside her pollen basket!  If you did not know you can click on YouTube on the bottom right and see this video full screen. My second try on another honey bee, this time with the camellia flower in the sun. Listen to the sound you can http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/-chtK9Gz3G0/bee-gathering-pollen-inside-camellia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)12<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/-chtK9Gz3G0" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/bee-gathering-pollen-inside-camellia.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-9095961362082000264Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:49:00 +00002012-03-01T19:34:35.137-05:00peasearly springspinachAs many of you might recall I planted Super Sugar Snap Peas on January 26. Growing peas  we need to get an extra early start on them because it gets very hot by May here in North Carolina. I'm pretty happy with them thus far, Meg has barely seen them as she has long work days as a teacher. Here is what one of the rows look like.You just can not plant peas too thick. We had a few diggers that eathttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/734cndWH-A0/peas-update-march-01.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)10<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/734cndWH-A0" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/peas-update-march-01.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-8678358660997486963Tue, 28 Feb 2012 04:13:00 +00002012-02-27T23:13:10.788-05:00cyclamenhelleboresHope everyone enjoyed the last series of photos of Pine Knots best hellebores in their garden. Here are the 7 hellebores and 2 cyclamens we purchased at the hellebore festival.  This double hellebore (above and below are the same) was likely the prettiest one we picked out. Granted now we arrived 30 minutes into day 2 of the festival a lot of the best doubles had been picked over. This one is onhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/qQqX3OjrWYo/our-new-hellebores-from-festival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)12<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/qQqX3OjrWYo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/our-new-hellebores-from-festival.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3289527795087884175Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:42:00 +00002012-02-25T20:42:36.246-05:00helleboresWell we arrived about 30 minutes after the festival started, barely a parking space. A lot of the best hellebores had been chosen already. The plan was to get 2 maybe 3, instead we got 7. I'll show you in the next post what we got. The day was sunny, chilly and extremely windy, so getting good garden photos was a real challenge. Here are some of the hellebores from the gardens at Pine Knot Farmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/sVwjPvUzuk4/pine-knot-farms-hellebore-fest-2012.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)13<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/sVwjPvUzuk4" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/pine-knot-farms-hellebore-fest-2012.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-8247690818900242477Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:12:00 +00002012-03-09T19:31:56.717-05:00varroa treatmentcrocushelleboresLast Spring I purchased a Corsican Hellebore, I'd been admiring the same plant on Catherine's blog in the Pacific Northwest. Once I stumbled onto the plant I just had to have it. Corsican Hellebore, unlike most of the other hellebores in our garden this one grows many flowers on the same stem, there will be 4-5 other flower this year. In future years it should have a lot more than this first http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/9_OWsCaY-Jw/new-hellebores-blooming-in-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/9_OWsCaY-Jw" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-hellebores-blooming-in-garden.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-2359666198582740575Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:40:00 +00002012-02-23T20:45:53.864-05:00crocusbeekeepingLast Friday I did a hive inspection. The hive looks pretty good for the most part. The hive has plenty of honey stores almost 10 deep frames of honey. Pollen was less than I expected given the bees have been bringing in non stop on warm days. Surely they must be consuming it for brood production as they get it. Brood was light, no packed frames by any means, this should be OK as it is still http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/KiBtlbrj_-A/bees-update-febuary-22.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)10<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/KiBtlbrj_-A" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/bees-update-febuary-22.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-6439032590449304738Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:24:00 +00002012-02-23T20:47:38.883-05:00rain chainssnowhelleboresLast night we received almost two inches of snow. Today it mostly melted. It was wet snow and weighted down the hellebores and camellias to the ground nearly. No harm was done. As many of you might already know we have not really had a real winter here.  First time we had ice in the rain chains!!  This is the chair I sit in to watch the bees come and go at the hive. It did not take long for thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/zYj3s_z18UU/finally-winter-arrives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)11<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/zYj3s_z18UU" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/finally-winter-arrives.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5624180359744138990Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:30:00 +00002012-02-18T18:30:42.739-05:00beekeepingDeadline Tuesday: Save the honey bees! Dear Friends, Since 2006, U.S. honey bee populations have been in precipitous decline, with some estimates suggesting losses as high as 30% per year. While that's terrible, the problem is far greater than just the loss of a species. Without bees, our food supply is in serious danger. Pollination by honey bees is key in cultivating the crops that http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/qQth80Y0Uzc/urgent-save-bees-by-tuesday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/qQth80Y0Uzc" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/urgent-save-bees-by-tuesday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-1680804028478585509Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:11:00 +00002012-02-16T10:44:24.929-05:00peaspansieshelleboresbeekeepingI've been reading Bloom Day posts for years but have never joined in with my own post. Today I'm late but wanted to join. Hellebores in the garden are really going at it, many more yet to open, so I thought I would show you what we have right now, not all but some of our best. We plan on going on Saturday Feb. 25 to the Pine Knot Farms Hellebore Festival Any one else going let me know perhaps wehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/56p412JwQEk/bloom-day-my-first.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)18<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/56p412JwQEk" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/bloom-day-my-first.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5795701538289764439Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:54:00 +00002012-02-14T08:03:41.946-05:00benchesDuke GardensValentines Day is supposed to be a day when you share a little extra love with your loved ones.  Wanted to pass on that love to everyone that visits my blog! These days we seem to live in a world of the politics of fear... We need to get beyond starting wars with the rest of the world and work towards world peace. I was at Duke Gardens a few weeks ago and found this ancient garden bench that http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/IfGOPq6M070/happy-valentines-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/IfGOPq6M070" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-valentines-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3390402984282771287Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:11:00 +00002012-02-11T12:11:44.829-05:00camelliasbottle treeblue bottlesAbout a year ago I saw this huge bottle flower in Durham, NC. Did not have the camera with me, but promised myself I'd return with a camera. It was a nice cloudy day and I  was close by with some free time and I finally took some photos for your enjoyment. Just might have to get my plumber buddy who enjoys working with scrap steel and a welder make us one of these. I wondered how the bottles werehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/-pyllFjbNLo/giant-bottle-flowers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/-pyllFjbNLo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/giant-bottle-flowers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-45407902304438453Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:31:00 +00002012-02-09T10:33:41.330-05:00coppersstained glassbutterfliesThis blog is a week away from our third year anniversary. Never would have thought it would last this long. One post on yard art has seen 2900 visits  and we have had 4550 comments thus far! Any way I wanted to share some of my butterfly photo collection, I have been photographing butterflies since the fall of 1997. Here are an assortment of all the different copper species I have photographed.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/RRyz94vJFCU/this-blog-is-week-away-from-our-third.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/RRyz94vJFCU" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-blog-is-week-away-from-our-third.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3876677244634639622Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:15:00 +00002012-02-06T17:15:30.109-05:00camelliashelleboresgardeningIt has been almost like winter around here. Yesterday it never reached 50 degrees, last night we had a frost. Still no real winter to speak of, the pond froze over for a few days in December I think.  Wanted to share a few newbies in the garden. This is one of those cloned named double hellebores. I got it last fall for $8 a steal at a tiny home nursery! It is called Cotton Candy. Looks to havehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/VS5Dy7y3Wgo/hellebore-double-cotton-candy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/VS5Dy7y3Wgo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/hellebore-double-cotton-candy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-150839670403999084Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:55:00 +00002012-02-02T08:55:53.027-05:00Duke Gardens A few weeks ago I visited Duke Gardens and mentioned the new gazebo. Here it is, appears to be mortise and peg built, I saw no bolts securing it together. The arched timbers I would surmise they were 6 x 12 or larger and cut on a huge bandsaw to make the curves, very cool.  Can you imagine what this will look like when the garden gets going?  This is the new stairs at the main entry to the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/dCZPb7fOGic/new-gazebo-at-duke-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)13<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/dCZPb7fOGic" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-gazebo-at-duke-gardens.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5192254108248768390Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +00002012-01-31T06:45:18.497-05:00crocushelleboresdaffodilsThis morning I found our first double hellebore blooming in the garden. It is a Pine Knot Farms 'Southern Belles' Double Pink. I purchased it late is the season last year and this is our first ever double bloom in the garden! It is a tiny bloom perhaps at best 1 1/2 inches across. Other news in the garden on Saturday we had 5 different crocuses blooming in the garden and our first daffodil. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/xips1wU5Zjg/first-double-hellbore.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)16<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/xips1wU5Zjg" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-double-hellbore.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-1319150254448896117Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:23:00 +00002012-01-26T19:47:39.588-05:00peascrocusgarlicanemonehelleboresbeekeepingThe best crop of sugar snap peas we have ever had here were planted early, on January 21th. Here is central North Carolina it gets pretty hot by the end of April, peas do not like warm weather. So given my work schedule was open today I went out and got my hands dirty! It is supposed to rain the next two days so it was now or wait til the soil is dry enough. I worked the two 8 foot strips were Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/HMraNbcx2Ds/planted-sugar-snap-peas-today.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)13<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/HMraNbcx2Ds" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/planted-sugar-snap-peas-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-2113133538444655078Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:22:00 +00002012-01-25T19:57:12.802-05:00snow dropDuke GardenshelleboresgardenbeekeepingThe cold frames have had some new stuff planted. I removed what was left of the nasturtium (which froze) and planted Detroit Red Beets, Early Blood Turnip Beets, Mesclun salad mix. These were planted in the solo cold frame nearest the beehive. This was on January 21. In the double cold frame left side I harvested(pulled out) half the mustard greens and half the Lactino Kale. I then planted Whitehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/QaJN18bOlXo/garden-update-3rd-week-of-january-ect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/QaJN18bOlXo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/garden-update-3rd-week-of-january-ect.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-8210648262568979298Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:50:00 +00002012-01-23T17:35:16.445-05:00camelliasMallardDuke GardensThanks to all that kindly commented on the passing of Grumpy the cat, Meg and I were lifted greatly by your wonderful support. Valentine is trying out for coffee kitty, she is a leg kitty, only when you have been very still. Thinking about fostering another cat from Independent Animal Rescue in Durham for now. On January 20th I walked around Duke Gardens to see if any camellias were blooming. I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/aCjtd9w_FWI/january-camellias-duke-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/aCjtd9w_FWI" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-camellias-duke-gardens.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-965031716350735421Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +00002012-01-20T09:04:37.607-05:00Grumpy  Here is the very first photo I took with my new camera on Christmas day. Yesterday day morning about 6am Meg found Grumpy on the dog's bed with his back legs paralyzed. I heard him in the middle of the night screaming loudly, but ignored it as he does this often. By 7am he was at the vets office. His legs were 93 degrees and it did not look very good for him, likely a blood clot was the cause.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/N-F6uELGlpo/sad-day-yesterday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)28<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/N-F6uELGlpo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/sad-day-yesterday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3050146948038201669Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:37:00 +00002012-01-17T17:48:21.688-05:00crocusanemonebeekeepingToday it reached 65 degrees after 4 very cold nights down into the 20s. On Thursday I grabbed the hive and lifted it to check the weight. I thought it was getting light, bees need 10 pounds of honey a week when they are raising brood, that is 40 pounds for just February. With all the recent pollen that has been brought back to the hive I suspected the bees were raising brood so I was a little http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/S8Gl8Sb8--g/spring-like-day-here-looked-into-hive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/S8Gl8Sb8--g" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/spring-like-day-here-looked-into-hive.html