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getting anxious...
Posted: 21 Feb 2013 Posted: 02 Jan 2013 Posted: 18 Jul 2012 Posted: 30 Jun 2012 Posted: 07 Jun 2012 All Entries |
Annette's Blog
patience - (part 2)
Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:08 pm 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 This blog entry has been viewed 280 times
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patience!
Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:16 pm 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! This blog entry has been viewed 624 times
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it's a start!
Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:13 pm 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! This blog entry has been viewed 265 times
getting in the mood
Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:18 pm 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 This blog entry has been viewed 650 times
this is winter?????
Category: a new year | Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 4:14 pm happy new year! one week into the new year, it's almost 50 degrees outside, and no measurable snow to speak of. it makes you confused and impatient, we should have a couple of feet of snow and temps in the teens and twenties. oh well, mother nature does what she will! had a sort of good garden year last year, moved some plants,the monarda doubled in size after i moved it to the back fence, so i guess it likes it there. this spring will be moving the penstemon(?)and maybe i'll finally find the right spot for the yarrow which wants to take over the side spot by my sweetpeas. my front garden bed still needs alot of remedial work to it...will be asking for more horse manure from my friend. but i did plant some foxglove and columbine which should do nicely there. am also thinking primrose would be nice and will be looking for some when the markets reopen in the spring. i moved alot of bulbs this fall, mostly tulips, muscari & merry bells (alliums), and am anxious to see them pop up in their new spot. (though i had noticed that with this wacky weather, some are confused and popping up already). had some weird thing happen to 2 of my clematis this summer, after they bloomed they just dried out & died. i don't know what happened and will have to see in the spring if it was a fluke. very odd. i want to blame it on the woodchuck that decided my garden was a salad bowl this year, but can't say for sure. that woodchuck was horrible! ate all of aunties cucumber & bean plants, she said she'd never in all the time she's planted that she'd never had trouble with anything like that. from what i was hearing, they were all over the neighborhood wrecking everyones gardens. oh, well, just makes you more vigilant. one thing i did do is figure out how to get my pictures posted....all i need to do is have my film developed onto a cd and take it from there....resolution for this year....get a digital camera! am looking forward to the new growing season....always grand plans...if i get one or two done i consider it a success. i almost forgot (well actually, i did) after 3 years of looking like nothing my toad lilies finally had blooms this year..not until the end of september, but they were there, i was so excited. i do have pictures and when i get the film developed, will post. Last edited: Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:03 pm This blog entry has been viewed 926 times
bummer
Category: memories | Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:29 pm it's been a rough week. on friday, i had to euthenize my cat, ricky. he had a seizure a few weeks ago, and i thought he was coming out of it, but after a week or so, he just started going downhill. he had a good life, was with me for 14 years, and the best mouser ever. was just catching my breath, when on the tuesday after, had to have my oldest dog (9), sonny, put down. he was the smartest dog i knew. just a big fluff. (he even helped me in the garden, i would be pulling dead stuff out and throwing to the side, and he would grab it and take it away.) i had noticed about a month ago that he had lost some weight, (it was hard to tell with all that fur), and these past couple of weeks was starting to have labored breathing. easter day he spent all day on his feet! (stubborn) and was even falling asleep standing up! he finally laid down about 3:30 in the a.m. it's always a tough call the the vet, thankfully, they are caring, understanding and compasionate people. i still have one pet left, ginger (6)...i can only imagine what is going on in her head.....today, we're going for a ride in the car...something i couldn't do with the two of them...sonny never sat still, could never make his mind up if he wanted to sit in the front or the back....lol...drove me nuts......have some adjusting to do in the household.....and i think i'll just keep the one pet for a while....if i had none, then i would have to get another, because i believe a home without a pet is an empty one. This blog entry has been viewed 1248 times
slow and steady
Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:41 pm 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. This blog entry has been viewed 1220 times
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it better warm up soon!!
Category: springtime stuff | Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:21 pm 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) This blog entry has been viewed 1279 times
watching for daffodils
Category: one thing at a time | Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:00 pm well, daylight savings started yesterday...more daylight in the evening.....the bulbs are poking through nicely...most of the snow is gone except in extreme shady spots.....i love that this time of year any snow you get doesn't last. found the dog's ball that got lost this past winter....flat as a pancake....lol, it was on it's last leg anyway....off to walmart for a new one....i saw all the summer stuff appearing in the stores, snap pools and water toys, and plenty of garden things....thing about all that is if you see it now..you need to buy it now.....those things don't last long on the shelves....all i need to do is find some new pink flamingos! (must have at least one in the yard, lol) This blog entry has been viewed 1295 times
what a tease!
Category: a new year | Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:36 pm well....we've just had two days in a row of 50 degrees......tomorrow, back to the 20's & 30's.....but that being said....it was a good day to get the ice off my back walkway....and at least i now have a clear path to the gate....so, now with all this melting, it just makes me impatient! am anxious to see the first robin....that will be a sure sign...and on a good day (which means no wind) can have a small fire and burn some of the yard debris that is going to start revealing itself with the melting.....hope we don't get a big spring storm.... This blog entry has been viewed 363 times
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