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couldn't help myself!

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 11:54 am

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yesterday was a rainy day. couldn't get much accomplished outside, so, thanks to uncle sam, went and did a little retail therapy at wal-mart. i had a few things i absolutely needed, but, always have to check out the gardening part this time of year. wasn't impressed with any live plants they had, but did find some small solar lights for a $1 each - bought 5. as i was wandering around, looking at just about everything from grills and tools to seeds and bare root plants, i was thinking how i wasn't that impressed with this store's set up. (there is a much better one elsewhere, but didn't feel like driving too far). but, i did get a couple of packets of perennial candytuft seeds, and a couple different kinds of lilies, namely a stargazer lily (5 roots) and a daylily called 'new toy'(3 roots-it looks like it's supposed to be a dark pink). i think the daylilies will be perfect in the wagon, which now has the daisies that are going to be moved to the corner of the shed where the holly hock is. i also have 3 daylilies in the front (pandora's box) which i will be moving to the wagon as well.each package was only $5.38. not a bad deal at all.
it doesn't matter how many plants i have, or how much room i do or do not have, i have to get at least one or two new plants every year. i also went wandering around the open air markets over the weekend, and saw a few plants i'm going to have to get for the front....good thing they're having a mother's day sale!

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best laid plans........yeah right

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:52 pm

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it's funny, you spend the winter going through ideas in your head, and when the weather breaks, and you start your new season, the things you thought you would be doing turn into something else. that is ok, i just take it in stride. i'm waiting for my load of manure, and hopefully top soil will go on sale soon. i don't want to get into too much, until i get a starter supply of these things. this year i have a new toy! my brother bought me a wheelbarrow! i'm so excited...considering i did most of the hauling with an old orange plastic sled..it is still useful, but has seen better days. i was perfectly content with it and even have a spare up in the attic! but now the possibilities are endless.
i decided to move my daisies to the corner of the shed and ditch the enormous hollyhock (maybe i can find a home for a piece of it in the empty lot next door). i'm think i'm going to put the blanket flower in the wagon. better view for me, then the daisies can get as tall as they want and still cover the corner of the shed, which is ugly. the only other definite (so far) is to move my tulips from the front of the house to the back. i don't think they like it there. and if they don't bloom in the back, well, then they are toast.
have been stocking up on seeds...sunflowers, viola, sweet william, wild flower, and of course cosmos. it is supposed to rain/snow at least through tomorrow, and then rain for the next couple of days. probably won't get much done except poop patrol. but that is o.k. too. it is still only april.

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patience - (part 2)

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:08 pm

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with the weather being ahead of itself this year, patience is the word. i can't get too ahead of myself, we still could get a frost/freeze. but, small chores this spring are in order. i look at it this way..i just have more time to accomplish the spring cleanup! my timing, is based on when the market starts bustling with vendors.(i figure when they start selling, it is probably time to get the 'gears' moving. well, i was running my saturday errands, and it seems i always drive down the road where the market is, and much to my surprise, there is some activity. not a full blown open market yet, but the vendors are starting to come in from the farms, selling some things, (i'm not sure what, i didn't stop), and i also noticed the one garden center is busy doing something, but everything is kind of covered, so you don't really see what (they are not open yet, just getting ready). i was excited!! with the beautiful sunshine today, and not much wind, would be a perfect day to spend in the back yard, i need to rake outside the fence and maybe do some weeding...i've seen some monster dandelions and queen ann's lace that i should pull (though i do like the queen ann's lace, just not in the middle of a flower bed).

Last edited: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:09 pm

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patience!

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:16 pm

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well, i accomplished everything i set out to do this weekend...always feels great!...BUT....it is only the middle of march, and i really can't get too ahead of myself....the garden centers aren't open yet, and i figured that when they start peddling their wares....i can start the serious digging and moving. that being said, plenty to do..cut the dead stalks, (and burn them)..get some nasty weeds that i can see better now before everything else gets going, they should come up easy as the ground is very soft. the birdies are having a great time picking pieces of dead stuff for their nests...it's so unusually warm this spring, somehow i'm still waiting for the other 'shoe' to drop, but take some comfort knowing that the more the days go on, the less likely that is going to happen.
did an up close check of the front flower bed and am happy to say, the columbine & foxglove are returning! right now the daffs are happily showing off, and the muscari & tulips are coming along right after them! the bleeding heart is on schedule..and probably could use some rain, but it seems to go everywhere but here. right now, i'm ready to do alot, but need to slow down just a bit, maybe i'll just wait for the lilacs to tell me when!

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it's a start!

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:13 pm

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perfect weather this week/weekend. the other day started with raking the front of sticks and debris from winter..got a good look at everything starting to pop...need to get my cayenne pepper out for the tulips....i saw a bunny and squirrels romping in the empty lots next door. started the cleanup in the back yard...moved the grill, got out the fire pit. and worked for about 3 hours...i'm done for the day, and am satisfied with the progress. it's only the middle of march...usually there is still snow on the ground and not much can be done..i'd say we're 3 to 4 weeks ahead of our usual weather. (i'm sure the ground didn't freeze). saw some bulbs i missed in the fall..and will dig them as soon as they have bloomed.
all the crocuses are up and happy looking. i put out 2 new solar lights ($1 each)and 2 decorations, a wind spinner & a gnome that likes hockey...speaking of which, am going to have dinner & then watch a hockey game....and think about what i'll do tomorrow..will try not to get into the garden proper..the dirt is very damp and soft...but you know how it is....got to get dirt under the nails sooner or later!

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getting in the mood

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:18 pm

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well, i saw my first robins today. i figured it wouldn't be too far away, when i saw a worm (a soggy one) on the walkway last week. that being said, it lets me know that very soon, will be outside getting my hands dirty...love it! not sure how much new stuff i'm going to get this year, but i really need to work more on the front flower bed. i'll probably spend more on dirt & peat moss than on actual flowers. i do want some primrose, though. (am going to ask my friend for another tote of old horse manure). my front garden is more of a shady spot, it faces south, and the ground is just awful. my back yard is mostly just a clean up of winter stuff, and i think i only want to move my penstemon. but, once i get going, that could change.
i'll be sharing alot of my garden with a friend who lost her son a couple of years ago. they built a nice garden down the street in the playground, not only to honor him, but to honor all the people in our neighborhood that have gone. she is getting a couple loads of dirt donated, and she would like to put in as many perennials as possible..it gets alot of sun, and well, so does my yard, and i have quite a few plants to give her.
i find gardening therapeutic. digging in the dirt seems to me a perfect time for reflection, working out frustrations and just getting my head in the right frame of mind for all kinds of things.
i know it's only the beginning of march, but time does go fast, and waits for no one...which means...get my butt in motion!......
oh, and by the way....full moon tonight!

Last edited: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:18 pm

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slow and steady

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:41 pm

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i'm glad this spring has had a slow (probably normal) and steady arrival. the daffodils are popping...they are so cute (only 6" tall). it's been sunny and cool...perfect weather for cleaning up the yard and preparing it for summer. had a fire in the pit over the weekend, burned the xmas tree branches and sang 'oh christmas tree' all the while it was popping and snapping!...planted my rose bush and it looks like it is going to be happy in it's new home..everyday i check it out it grows a little bit more.....yesterday was sunny and cool with a good breeze and i was able to dig out some daylilies, sea holly and yarrow that found new homes by themselves, divided them and put them in pots so at least i can give them away to anyone who wants them. did a quick check of perennials and am happy with their progress.....i did get a wonderful gift.....a friend from the country came into visit and brought me a large tote filled with horse manure....(old stuff...it doesn't even have an odor anymore) i was happy to say the least.....my garden is going to be very happy this year....and there is more to come....actually i can have as much as i want.....how nice.....maybe i'll give them some of my plants as a thank you. rain today, which is good..makes you slow down and think and plan.

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it better warm up soon!!

Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:21 pm

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with the weather rather on the cool side, and new snow last week, have not really been able to start anything significant. i did manage to get the back yard raked and all the debris on the lawn cleared, which is always my very first chore. i was so happy to see some crocus blooming, only to be covered in 6 inches of heavy wet snow mid week...good thing they are made to handle it. today, i went to my local wally-world to check out what was available (not a whole lot because here it is still kind of early)....got a new soccer ball for the dogs, some solar lights, also some nasturtium seeds, some bare root caladium (8 for 5 bucks) and a climbing rose bush (also bare root). i used to have hybrid teas, but they were very temperamental, and i ended ripping them out and just said, oh well, not for me. yesterday i had this bright idea that maybe a climber would be a better idea...so i pick up a nice pink colored one, came home, put all the seeds and plants into the 'cold' room to keep for a bit longer, and proceeded to see what kind of rose bush i had bought. my brother in law gave me a reference book on roses a while back, and what i found is the one i just purchased (called 'queen elizabeth') is a rather old variety, and is pretty tough as far as disease and such. i was very happy...i do love roses, and i hope that this one will be happy in it's new home. every time i go to the store, i buy more stuff for the garden/yard and am really running out of space to store....which brings me to my title....if it doesn't warm up soon, i'm going to just keep buying....i need/want to start digging, and planting.....keep me out of the stores...because i'll want one of everything, and i only have so much space to put stuff.....!(and no, i haven't found any pink flamingos yet...lol)

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