Getting ready for 2014 season

Rains in April end and May brought out the lovely blue of Jaquemontia.  Taken early in the morning. 

Our milkman Subramanya calls this as 'blue lights' and is his favourite too.

Hemerocallis fulva bloomed nicely for 15-20 days.  A gift from a gardening friend in Jamshedpur, Jasmine who shares the same birth date.

Next to my pond I prepared this bed.  I had bought some plastic mesh to try for the purpose of growing small vines. I used two 'vine support poles' one of my earliest garden projects [10-12 years ago] to erect this mesh.  I planted volunteer seedlings of Cypress vine and Orange Morning Glory to grow on it. In the bed, I sowed seeds of Dwarf Cosmos along the kerb and in the centre, sowed a line of Marigold from seeds collected last year. 

Look beneath the green gate.  I replaced those 'hollow bricks' [left picture] with rocks [right picture] that I removed and needed a place to keep. 

The pot of Epidendrum had overgrown roots. See there, it has been kept ready for some attention.  It had not been repotted in many years and I think it is with me since almost 20 years now!  

I removed the excess growth of roots and spent plants.  The one half seen on the left and the one next to it were repotted last year.  They usually bloom between September and April - long duration.

I also cleaned the excess growth in the pond.  The old water lily plant had grown too big inside and it was removed.  The younger plants will take over.  Towards the bottom right, see how clear the water is.  It can get clearer. I removed the thin silt on the 'level' there so that we can get a good view of the small fishes. 

This small-pot stand was not being used properly.  I painted it and kept it beside the brick container [near the pond] and displayed the cacti and succulents - just a small number of them.  

That brick container that once held Evolvulus had been idle since a year.  Now I filled with seedlings of Fortnight lily and other plants.  Kept Hydrangea and Day Lily plants around it. This allows me to water all of them standing in one place!  Now this is an option for keeping some pots around.

Tomato cage is ready, pit is ready. I will use the small area near the edge to grow coriander. Have to find tomato seedlings.

Red whiskered Bulbul perches on the wedge I provided near the birdbath.  It is thinking of splashing into the water again. It just had one splash - the day was quite warm towards the end of May. 

The tailorbird picks up cotton I provide just for that.  Easy pickings for them as they need not waste time to search!  It has a nest in a leaf of the almond tree. 

Beds are ready for plants.Things are in place. 

Expecting monsoon to arrive any day.