Tuesday, October 05, 2010

October Rose

The soil in my front yard is poor, to say the least. During WWII the Navy dredged Silver Lake harbor (Cockle Creek to locals) in order to create a basin deep enough for their vessels. In the process the spoil was pumped into the village. Much of it went into my yard. Although it did elevate my property, the sand has few nutrients. I have introduced a few decorative plants, but they are not really thriving (I'm also not much of a gardener). However, just the other day I noticed that there is one bloom on my Knockout Rose. I thought I'd share it with you!



Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke native Major General Ira Thomas Wyche. You can read the complete story here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news092110.htm.

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:37 AM

    Oh, there you go again, blaming the government for your "problem."is the deck stacked against you? why not try container gardening? then you are in control of the soil also why not try composing say Watermelon rinds and assorted garden "trash" to help amend the soil over the years?? Yes You Can have better soil

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  2. Anonymous1:28 PM

    Hi Philip- Can't think of a single gardening tip, since I have suffered for many years with "black thumb". Just wanted to ask about the Oct. newsletter subject & date . PS I think your flower is cute.

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  3. I have written several Newsletters to be published in the next few months -- Cisterns, the Doxsee Clam Factory, & Sam Jones. I will probably publish them in that order (for October, November, & December), but I might change my mind! I normally publish in the 3rd or 4th week of the month.

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  4. Anonymous1:52 PM

    OK- LOOKING FORWARD TO AN INTERESTING READ.

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  5. Anonymous1:58 PM

    Do a lot of people on the island have veggie/flower gardens? I know it may be tough, but raised beds or amended soil? I know of an area here in Virginia where they grow the most wonderful tomatoes in sandy soil! Just asking....may be a resident one day! Thanks for your blog, it's fantastic!

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  6. There are a number of beautiful gardens around the village, but not as many as there were many years ago (in the first half of the twentieth century, and earlier I'm sure, nearly every household had a vegetable garden). Unfortunately, one bad hurricane could wipe out an entire summer's labor.

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  7. I think your flower is beautiful. Don't worry about your flowers. You live in a great location and you may not have time to work on a flower garden. Just a few here and there are enough. If I live there I would want to line you property with beachy stuff - shells, bouyes (?sp), etc. So I can't help you out with the flower issue.

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  8. Debbie Leonard10:21 PM

    You have live oaks though...they are beautiful!

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  9. Anonymous10:31 AM

    hydroponic gardens -- it is the proper nutrients --no fertilizer/food for the plants and well, they won't grow-- fertilize the flower with the proper mix a 6-6-6 all purpose blend is good contact the extention agent for more information

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  10. Just put my photo of my last rose of summer. Lovely. (Notice my Ocracoke seashell in my Midwestern garden!)

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  11. Anonymous8:37 AM

    Philip, even weeds look prettier at Ocracoke. Your flower is sweet. Less is more, you know!

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