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My Child-like Desires: Gargoyles

Category: Ramblings | Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:45 am

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I remember seeing a crazy hobbit-like creature hidden among the forested beds at the local university years ago. It was from the art department. There were several tucked into hidden spots along the walks. These temporary art pieces led me to hide some little gargolye creatures in my garden. They are all tucked around the fish pond in the plantings. They are shy so that you have to search for them


( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

I've never been able to get frogs to survive the fish in my pond so of course I had to add my own.


( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

He isn't as froggy as I might have liked, and his little brother hangs out with a friend in the picture before him.

My favorite is my biggest gargoyle. He stands about 2 feet tall and was a birthday present for my 50th. He gets totally hidden in the summer months.


( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Just something that makes me smile.




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One Door Closes and Another Door Opens

Category: Pets | Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:56 am

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Some years are just tough for whatever reasons: Work might be overwhelming, illness might take an incredible toll, family challenges and changes might occur. Though all of those things have happened I have always had an animal friend that has given me great joy, adoration and laughter in my life in difficult times and in good. It is a choice that not all people can understand, and I respect that but for me it has been as much a part of me as having a garden, plants, and breathing. I simply can't imagine life without these blessed creatures that share our lives.

This last year has been especially gut renching. We have not only had job losses, and huge economic challenges we have also lost a number of animal companions. We outlast our pets so have to come to grips with dieing and loosing a piece of ourselves each time they leave us.


Thomas and Rocky ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Thomas was my 18 year young tuxedo kitty. He was my shadow and never left my side when I was home. My husband could never be jealous because he had his own shadow in Rocky, a gray and white furball. We lost Thomas over a year ago, and then unexpectedly Rocky this last spring at the young age of only 8 years (kidney failure).


Ruby on her last week-end ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Ruby, my old Doberman, developed cancer and had to be put down this month. I had gotten her for a birthday present 12 years ago. She too was my shadow with a big and loving heart. It got so that during her last days I would try to stay in one room because it was so hard to watch her try to follow me where I went always with a big grin on her face.


Ciara and Ruby ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Ciara, was a rescued Doberman that kept Ruby playing and moving when she was well. Ciara's personality got sullen and crabby as Ruby got more ill. We had half-heartedly looked for a companion for Ciara, but didn't want to introduce a new dog into the household when Ruby was ill. The Doberman Rescue had what sounded like a perfect dog for our household about Ciara's age (4 years). I had emailed once, but did not follow through about the dog, Dakota.

We prepared ourselves the other week, and made the awful decision to take Ruby in for her last visit with the vet. Afterwards we brought her home and buried her. That day I wrote a note onto Craig's List about wanting to provide a home for an adult Doberman in need. It was an attempt to put my grief to some use, and my silly way of saying I had lost a dear friend, and her companion had also lost her friend. I was surprised to recieve an email the same day from the owners of Dakota. Changes in their circumstances had made it so that they had to give her up. They were desperate to find her a home. We met with both dogs, and the ladies (Dakota and Ciara) got on well. Dakota came home with us.


Ciara and Dakota ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )


Dakota and Ciara ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )


Dakota ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )


Dakota ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )


Kota ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

She is a good dog. Not Ruby. Dakota has a totally different personality, but a velcro dog none-the-less. Ciara and Kota are working out some minor pack order disputes, but play hard in the back yard when they aren't lounging on the sofas. Oh yeh, Buddy, our only cat now is doing just fine at teaching Kota manners. He is a second generation Doberman cat.


Buddy ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Though life has many changes...maybe because that is what life is...change...My sweetie and husband said, "Each time a door closes, another opens." As hard as it is to see sometimes it is definitely true. We just have to be willing to walk through it.


Walking on ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )





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Art and Garden Walk, Conclusion

Category: Ramblings | Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:05 pm

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The Art and Garden Walk was fun! Got to see the backyards of gardeners extra-ordinary. Most had been in their homes for decades so there was hardly paths to explore the bounty. Couldn't figure out how to take pics so only have a few (camera seems to be dieing anyway-isn't focusing like it should). Lovely drifts of flowers in alleys and along banks by homes.


( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )


Poppies and white ligustrum vulgare with lamb's ears ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

I really loved this grass. It was in a huge ceramic pot, set up on a small terraced backyard.


( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

A backyard stone fountain was something I have always dreamed about having. This one was eye catching and peaceful. The grass in the back was one I had gotten at the plant exchange. It was nice to see what it will grow into (if I can ever keep the dogs from munching on it).


Stone and water garden ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Wooly thyme cascading over rocks is something I would love to replicate.


Wooly Thyme Cascading on Rocks ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Our neighborhood is older, working-class, and as lots have been subdivided some of the newer homes are right in keeping with the overall feeling of the neighborhood (small and cottage like). This house used brick-lined gravel path with an inset of tumbled blue crushed glass. It was picture perfect with the drought tolerant plants that were planted around it (I especially liked the flowering thyme).


Blue Glass and Gravel Walkway ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

In one awesome garden I couldn't find a way to capture its beauty with only one picture, but this little bed of Deadnettle was just perfect.


Spotted Deadnettle - or pretty flowers ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

It was fun talking with other gardeners and sharing. Spent the afternoon visiting in the backyard with old friends who stopped by. Divided up a few plants to share with other gardeners.





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Plant exchange! Why not more????

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 7:44 am

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Last week-end I went to a plant exchange that I had been invited to attend. It's true that I had been potting up extra plants all spring for friends and co-workers. Many flats of red blooming strawberries, bleeding hearts, corisian mint, angel tears, sweetwoodruff, mini iris, golden bamboo, chinese ground orchids, italian plum trees and anything that was encroaching into the walkways or onto the patios.

Wow! It was exciting to find out I'm not the only person who hates to compost good plants in the need to maintain a garden. I managed to give away over a couple hundred pots of varying sizes during the spring, but I had a few left overs. I just don't seem to know when to stop potting and to start recycling/composting. (the night before the exchange I potted up another flat of hellebore starts that had self-sown in the front yard)


plant starts ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

After my last flurry of potting I packed up the car (oh dear me, it was full of plants) and headed off the next morning at the prescribed time to attend the exchange. WOW! There was about 50-75 wonderful gardeners of all ages at the exchange. The variety of plants was awe inspiring and some of the pots were five gallon size. I really didn't want to take too much, because I was feeling "planted-out", but how could I resist.

There was a real pretty little sedum/succulent, shasta daisies and fall asters in two gallon pots, and perennial sun flowers, tall white/green ornamental grass and bell flowers (Campanula) I felt I made out like a bandit, but compared to others took very little.


Succulent ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

It was such a pleasant morning drinking tea/coffee, eating a scone and visiting with other gardeners discussing the pros and cons of the plants that were there. Everyone got to chose twice (making sure everyone got two plants that they really wanted), and then have whatever else they wanted that was still available (which was quite a lot).

I can't wait until next year, and I can continue potting plants knowing someone will want them.


Perennial Sunflower start ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

I can't wait to see how my new arrivals (bell flowers, perennial sunflowers, and sedum) will do in my yard, and it is good to have old friends (shasta daisies and fall asters) growing in the yard again.

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Changing Thoughts - Rhododendrons

Category: Ramblings | Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 2:20 am

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It has been a cool/cold spring so most things are a little late in blooming. Rhodies are usually in major show from Mother's Day to Memorial Day. Here it is Memorial Day and I have a couple of Rhodies not even blooming yet.
Red Rhodie ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
I used to think that the rhododendrons were pretty garish all bursting with color like the one above, but am finding them rather like old friends now. Year after year the provide blooms and don't take any work like perennials who need consistent dividing and maintenance. The one below I have never done anything to except give it a pruning every year or so, so that it doesn't block the backyard gate.
Old rhodie ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
The little one below I had in a pot for ages on the patio. I was into making bonsai out of everything. I think it enjoys being in the ground better.
I have also found I now enjoy the bright to brilliant colors I once found garish about rhodies. Funny how tastes change.


( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )





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Orchids Fun, Frustrating, Dependable, or Finicky???

Category: House and Home Plants | Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 6:40 am

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Orchids have gotten really cheap, at least the ones on the discount tables of some stores. A nice looking orchid under $5 could be a temptation. I can never pass up a perceived bargain, and have had many an opportunity to try orchids. Some grow/work for me and some have come and gone. Working for me means that they not only have to live, but they have to stay within certain space limitations. My home is only 800 square feet, so....plants have to stay small or move on to larger abodes.

Mixed planting/pot of Phalaenopsis ( photo / image / picture from Jewell _2009's Garden )

I never dreamed that moth orchids (Phalaenopsis or phals) could get so big! I love their thick fleshy leaves and the pink varieties that have flowers last for months. I picked up three phals on one of those "sale" tables. They did well in a south window (its very cloudy in the Pacific Northwest) and once I got their water requirements down (a good dunking and draining out in the bathtub every ten days) they began to flourish. Unfortunately they got a little big when their leaves got over a foot in length and six inches wide. Three plants crammed into my window sill began to keep our beloved sunlight blocked. A charity auction/plant sale was my rescue for finding a new home for them.

Onciduim Hybrid Orchid Sherry Baby ( photo / image / picture from Jewell _2009's Garden )


A very reliable orchid that I have had for years is an Oncidium. Its bulbous base makes it drought tolerant. I have not been successful with all varieties of this species. I quickly killed one with a pretty white flower. I can never tell how well or poorly plants will do. My old Oncidium with yellow and rust blossoms has reliably bloomed in November for 8 years. The blooms on this one are short lived compared to the phals lasting only 2-3 weeks once they are open.

Paphiopedilum Lady Slipper - bi-colored flower ( photo / image / picture from Jewell _2009's Garden )


My very favorite is the two varieties of Paphiopedilum, or lady slippers. They grow in more of loose soil versus the wood bark of the other orchids, and I treat them pretty much like I do my other house plants with a scheduled watering once a week on Sundays. They bloom regularly with flowers lasting a good long time and will rebloom on the new starts up to twice a year. I really like their mottled leaves also. The best part is paps are fairly easy to divide if they begin to get too big. For a house plant they have everything that I like in a plant: unusual qualities in the long lasting bloom, interesting foliage, and easy care and they don't get too big.

Paphiopedilum - Lady Slipper ( photo / image / picture from Jewell _2009's Garden )

I have a couple of other varieties of orchids that I have had for many years. They are either on the rebound or they are dieing. I am having a hard time telling the direction they are heading. I have definitely had more failures than successes with orchids, but the joys of the blooms lasts so much longer than any cut flowers. For this reason alone I simply have to give it a "try" when I find them on a "sale" table.





















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No Till Gardening - Lazy gardening is good gardening

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:44 am

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As I get older and work more hours with less free time I have developed a bed method of gardening that layers organic matter over the seasons. Surprisingly I keep coming across articles of other people using similar methods with a variety of names. I have heard it called "Lasagna gardening", "No-dig gardening" and "No-till gardening". I just call it the "Lazy Gardener's Gardening".

At any rate it is becoming popular and is actually more healthy for your garden. Soil is a fine network of bacteria, microbes and earthworms all working together. If we don't disturb it we actually keep more organic matter in the soil.

Some of the best things about "lazy gardening" is that you are mulching and mulching and mulching which is keeping the weeds down, less weeding and the moisture in so less watering.

Below is a couple of links for anyone interested. A Google search will turn up lots.

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=870&storyType=garden

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2008889169_zhom19gardennotill.html

www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/no-till-gardening.html

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Starting and Maintaining a Garden - Lazy Gardening

Category: Starting and Maintaining the Garden | Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:25 pm

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I am a lazy gardener getting lazier all the time. I have favored bed gardens and have had beds of varying sizes through out the yard over the years.

When I first started gardening I always double dug the space burying any sod face down to add nutrients to the soil. Haven't done that in years. I used to be totally organic. The worms and ladybugs do their jobs and I provide the organics. Now I occasionally resort to using Roundup to keep an area clear for moss and groundcovers, and to keep morning glory and blackberries in check (a nasty combination that will take over a yard in short order in this area).

We have always composted the yard clippings right on the beds. I especially like the ivy hedge trimmings that get run-over with the lawn mover until they are nicely chopped. We do that with the fruit tree, and bamboo timmings also. All make a nice cheap mulch. Lawn clippings always go in the recycling barrel, since they tend to restart themselves in the beds.

This last year I planted a vegie garden for the first time in years. Our old dobie, T.M. passed away in October of 1997. T.M., ate most my garden every year. I got tired of planting just for him. He was quite the vegetarian, and fencing the garden didn't seem to slow him down. After 4 years of focusing only on herb, and ornamental beds, and laying bricks for patio areas I was ready to try vegetable gardening again.

I laid out cardboard to kill the weeds, and overlayed it with leaves. Last spring I composted the remaining cardboard that hadn't decomposed and sowed the seeds or poked holes in the cardboard to plant the starts. It was so easy. (Never again will I double dig my beds to start them.)

I also put up the fencing around the gardening space. (We still have dobies and although they aren't as persistant as old T.M. they can eat their weight in fruit and vegies.)

There were some nice surprises with this no dig method. The area where I set out onion sets had the most beautiful stand of volunteer annual poppies. Along the edges of the garden sunflower seeds provided a colorful display and additional bird/squirrel food in late summer.

It was wonderful having a bumper crop of tomatoes, fresh sugar snap peas, kale in the winter, and seeing/eating my favorite scarlet runner beans. There is nothing like having squash blossoms to saute up; and grilling those baby squash on the grill.

If any of the dogs get greedy with my garden again I might be tempted to put up an electric fence to keep them out. T.M. WAS cute standing on his hind legs to reach the last of the runner beans or apples.

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