 |
| Trumpet Vines are the model for hummingbird feeders. |
The first vines I ordered were Trumpet Vines, also called Cow Itch, a nickname never mentioned in the catalogs. They are known for their showy flowers which appeal to hummingbirds. Mine arrived separated from the pots, dry soil scattered in the box. I could ask for a refund, but I soaked them in rainwater instead.
All three vine starts filled out and sprouted at the roots, so I planted them. The first flower was so large and showy that it looked like a plastic one from the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby.
The remaining vines did well and should be quite productive this year.
 |
| If someone plants Honeysuckle vines, be sure to say, "Be careful, they can take over the yard." That seems to be a requirement, a rite of passage, a secret code phrase, the wisdom of the ages. My first honeysuckle got absorbed by the weeds the birds planted around it. |
The two newest vines are a version of Honeysuckle. They were packed like heirloom china and arrived in great shape. However, I gave them an all day soak in rainwater, with sun shining on the tiny leaves. Digging them into rain-softened soil was no problem. I marked their places so they would not be trodden or weed-whacked. Each one will use a bush to climb, one in the backyard, another near the mailbox.
The roses came in good weather, so I plunked them into the rainbarrel. I fashioned a kiddie pool umbrella over them so they would not be submerged. If they had been arrived dry, I would have been an immersionist, if only for a few hours. The roots took up the rainwater overnight and the roses went into the soil just before a series of long, soaking rain.
With a little foresight, Creation will do the work a gardener cannot.
The new roses sprouted leaves, which start out red and green up in the sun. If all goes well, I will place 1/2 bag of peat compost (Stinky Peat) on the base of each rose bush. That is close to the advice a British gardener suggested - but he used his own compost.
 |
| No creature is too abased to have its day in serving Creation, glorifying the Creator. |
