 |
| Pulsatilla |
Hyacinth
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Spring
After three months of attending to family affairs and then having the heart wrenching necessity of having our beloved Micky's remaining good eye removed, I am finally able to enjoy the anticipation of spring. Although Micky had extremely limited sight in one eye and none in the other, it has been so very traumatic for him to have no sight altogether. We are constantly encouraging him and trying to build up his confidence, so that he will enjoy walking the trails again. Yesterday I walked him over to our neighbors down the road for the first time since his surgery, and his old excitement of visiting them and their Gordon Setter 'Becky' was back...a big break through because he hadn't wanted to walk further than the end of our lane. It did him a world of good!
Never have I been so late in starting seeds, but I am finally caught up with only the morning glories and four o'clocks to plant. I soaked the seeds in water yesterday and noticed that they are now ready to plant in peat pots. Next on the list is potting up the Cannas, which I have had soaking in a pail with a weak solution of fertilizer to feed them after a winter of starvation in the basement.
Yesterday I was able to divide some grasses for two customers who placed their order last fall, but I will have to employ the muscle of my DH to dig up the Arundo Giant Reed and the Miscanthus Giganteus. The roots of these grasses, although I do not find them invasive, are tough to dig through.
I am hopeful that when all this rain ends I can start to move all the plants that I have on my to do list. I am just itching to get out there and dig. Although weeding isn't my most favorite thing to do in the gardens, I enjoy it in the spring, simply because it gets you right down there to see who is waking up and there are always surprises that you forgot you had planted in the fall!
With all this warm rain, the plants are growing quickly and there are beautiful spots of colour where the daffodils and a few hyacinths are blooming. Last fall, DH and I planted close to three hundred tulips and daffodils and it will be fun to see them in bloom!
Never have I been so late in starting seeds, but I am finally caught up with only the morning glories and four o'clocks to plant. I soaked the seeds in water yesterday and noticed that they are now ready to plant in peat pots. Next on the list is potting up the Cannas, which I have had soaking in a pail with a weak solution of fertilizer to feed them after a winter of starvation in the basement.
Yesterday I was able to divide some grasses for two customers who placed their order last fall, but I will have to employ the muscle of my DH to dig up the Arundo Giant Reed and the Miscanthus Giganteus. The roots of these grasses, although I do not find them invasive, are tough to dig through.
I am hopeful that when all this rain ends I can start to move all the plants that I have on my to do list. I am just itching to get out there and dig. Although weeding isn't my most favorite thing to do in the gardens, I enjoy it in the spring, simply because it gets you right down there to see who is waking up and there are always surprises that you forgot you had planted in the fall!
With all this warm rain, the plants are growing quickly and there are beautiful spots of colour where the daffodils and a few hyacinths are blooming. Last fall, DH and I planted close to three hundred tulips and daffodils and it will be fun to see them in bloom!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy Days!
Temp is -5 with a soft breeze, big fluffly snowflakes.
Yes, happy days! It's snowing! After all the warm weather and rain that we had the past few days, the snow cover on the flower beds was gone. Also, the ski trail the goes from our back door to our friends' four lots down the concession was almost down to nothing. There is nothing like having the opportunity to put on your skis when the mood strikes and not even have to drive to the location...just go from your door. The trails meander through woods, regenerating fields and down some pretty good hills, one that makes me scream. After a non windy, heavy snowfall, you can barely see through the heavily snow covered branches of the growth in the forest. It is so very peaceful and magical, and can do wonders for your soul.
Yesterday was spent taking down the Christmas decorations and trying to remember what went where in the boxes...done! Then the happy chore of going through my box of seed packets and the catalogues and making a list of what needs to be refilled. Sometime this week, weather permitting, DH and I will go down to Ontario Seed Home Hardware in Waterloo to pick up the majority of seeds. Because they are one of the major seed suppliers, their seed racks are up and full of colourful packets the first week of January, and their seed starting supplies are on the shelves. My list is just a guideline, as I am always tempted to try new vegetables, herbs, flowers or grasses, and temptation always wins! After we come home, I will order other seeds that are not carried by OSC from other sources such as William Dam Seed and West Coast Seed, and then it is time to sterilize the containers before I begin to plant later this month.
Yes, happy days! It's snowing! After all the warm weather and rain that we had the past few days, the snow cover on the flower beds was gone. Also, the ski trail the goes from our back door to our friends' four lots down the concession was almost down to nothing. There is nothing like having the opportunity to put on your skis when the mood strikes and not even have to drive to the location...just go from your door. The trails meander through woods, regenerating fields and down some pretty good hills, one that makes me scream. After a non windy, heavy snowfall, you can barely see through the heavily snow covered branches of the growth in the forest. It is so very peaceful and magical, and can do wonders for your soul.
Yesterday was spent taking down the Christmas decorations and trying to remember what went where in the boxes...done! Then the happy chore of going through my box of seed packets and the catalogues and making a list of what needs to be refilled. Sometime this week, weather permitting, DH and I will go down to Ontario Seed Home Hardware in Waterloo to pick up the majority of seeds. Because they are one of the major seed suppliers, their seed racks are up and full of colourful packets the first week of January, and their seed starting supplies are on the shelves. My list is just a guideline, as I am always tempted to try new vegetables, herbs, flowers or grasses, and temptation always wins! After we come home, I will order other seeds that are not carried by OSC from other sources such as William Dam Seed and West Coast Seed, and then it is time to sterilize the containers before I begin to plant later this month.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year's Day 2011
It is +8 degrees, cloudy, windy and rainy.
Here we are, the first day of 2011, and the feeling is one of "ahhhhhhhh", I can relax from all the preparations of Christmas and concentrate on seed ordering. It is time to bring out the seed catalogues, the list of what vegetables tasted the best and what plants performed well. This will take a while, as there are four catalogues to go through and last years' notations to read. Hopefully I can place my orders in the next 2 days and then the prepartions will begin in the basement to start sowing seeds, and dream of the coming spring.
Here we are, the first day of 2011, and the feeling is one of "ahhhhhhhh", I can relax from all the preparations of Christmas and concentrate on seed ordering. It is time to bring out the seed catalogues, the list of what vegetables tasted the best and what plants performed well. This will take a while, as there are four catalogues to go through and last years' notations to read. Hopefully I can place my orders in the next 2 days and then the prepartions will begin in the basement to start sowing seeds, and dream of the coming spring.
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Years in Blossom HIlls 2011
The New Year is upon us in less than an hour. We are celebrating with our friends and I am now posting my first blog thanks to Greg. A new adventure begins!
Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow I will begin to think about what seeds to purchase for the spring planting.
Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow I will begin to think about what seeds to purchase for the spring planting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)