The CobraHead Cometh

Carol, over at May Dreams Garden was hosting a CobraHead weeder giveaway - and I won!

...so did everyone else who entered, which is fantastic. What a generous company CobraHead is! Ehem... did I mention that they are a Wisconsin company?

The handle is the kind of plastic that I really like, a warm, strong composite. The grip is ergonomic, which is really important since I have a LOT of weeding to do! Example:

Garden pathway before.

Garden pathway after.
Much better. Thanks CobraHead!

I found that the thing that this tool was best at was grabbing the break-away weeds that are so difficult to weed by hand. It cut through the compact soil of the pathway without any difficulty at all. I was able to get all the weeds out of this 10ft section of pathway in less than half an hour without any fatigue, soreness or blisters. Hurray!

Down and Dirty

I had read on a few blogs about the Picture This photo contest over at Gardening Gone Wild but had never thought to enter it until now. The theme for August’s Picture This Photo Contest is “Down on Your Knees” - a picture taken at knee level or lower. I LOVE those pictures! And I had the perfect subject out in the garden. So here is my first entry to Picture This:

GBBD August 2009

When I went out in my garden for photos for this post, I was sure there would be none to find. I was wrong.

Perennials

I had a White Swan echinacea a few years ago that looked to have been taken over by its purple babies. Now, this year, I have three white cone flower plants!


I have no idea what this plant is. It was labeled "Blue Lake" veronica.


I planted over a dozen Stargazer lilies, and I am left with three.


I always liked the way that the "Goldsturm" and the dwarf liatris looked together.

Annuals

I got a few Zebrina malva plants from my parents a few years ago and they have been self seeding the same area ever since. I move them where I want them in the spring when they start popping up.


I didn't think that these Empress of India nasturtiums would ever bloom.


These touch-me-not volunteers are very welcome in my garden since they help combat the affects of the gas plant.


Catchfly, one of my favorite volunteers.


Rudbeckia hirta, another of my favorite volunteers.


And, finally! My black eyed peas are blooming!

Go see what other gardeners are doing on the 15th of August over at May Dreams Garden's Garden Blogger Bloom Day.

BTW- I am going out of town for a few days, but will catch up on your comments and all your blooms when I get back.

Vacuum Sealer

Have you been looking for a low-cost vacuum sealer with a small footprint, that works? Go to The Obsessive Chef to see my new gadget review.