Blueberry Plants

 Over the past five years we have planted blueberries four times. The first three years the plants did not make it through the summer.  Our fault entirely.  Did not know how to grow blueberries.  Got advice from many sources and tried again.  Last year we did a lot of work amending the soil and watering and fertilizing etc following the recommendations of the nursery where we bought them.  Last fall, same story:  nothing but sticks.  I decided not to yank up the dead plants just in case they miraculously resurrected.

Early this spring I went down to look at the spot where they had died.  Nothing.  Last month I went down again and found a few green leaves on two of the plants...of course it was the plants who no longer had their name tags on so I do not know what varieties they are...but there are green leaves.  Last week they still had a few green leaves but did not look like much.

Today: 

Okay, they don't look like much but you can see there are green leaves.  I have renewed hope in raising blueberries right here!

Anyone with suggestions?  They are welcome.  I do know I should pull up all the dead grass...

Another Wildlife Post...

 Years ago when we used to visit Dear One's mom and dad we might see a beautiful bright lush male cardinal.  He was called Pierre.  I have always loved cardinals since then.  Since moving to South Carolina we have had a few cardinals visit us.

Here is a picture of the current neighborly cardinal...who we call Pierre, too!

Okay, it is not much of a picture but you can see a red blob in the middle of a not-so-lush lawn with the pond peering through the bushes and trees we have left on the bank of the pond to discourage the alligators from coming our way. The next-door neighbors have all cleared away their brush...

 The blueberry plants are just a few feet to the left of Pierre in this picture though of course not visible.  (Yesterday I went down there where the blueberries struggle, braving the threat of reptilian wildlife who were singing in the background, fortunately a little distance away, and pruned off the lovely little blueberries that were growing.  I spoke with the owner of Edible Yards where we purchased the plants last December.  She said it was unwise not to prune new plants.  By pruning then fertilizing and keeping them watered we have a better chance of the growing plants to become happy plants.)

No other excitement here to report...