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Recent Entries to this Blog
The hardest part of having a pet
Posted: 19 Feb 2017 Posted: 06 Feb 2017 Posted: 06 Oct 2016 Posted: 13 Sep 2015 Posted: 15 Jun 2015 All Entries |
Kay's Blog
A walk around my gardens
Category: autumn 2010 | Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:50 pm Took along my camera on my morning inspection. We have had some glorious weather. Cool nights, and mild days. Not typical for July in Nebraska. I hear the forecast is for more normal temps which means 90s and high humidity again. So, I am enjoying it while I can! 
Hydrangea ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Impatiens ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Hosta Guacamole ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Brunnera Jack Frost ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Diplodenia ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Rudbeckia ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Blue Clematis ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Verbena Bonariensis ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Lantana Confetti ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
annual Vinca ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Zinnia ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Penta ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Teasing Georgia Rose ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Luna Pink Swirl Hibiscus ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Gerbera Daisy ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 295 times
Crazy busy world of landscaping
Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 3:49 pm I am taking a few to jot down my thoughts. I have been SO busy. This has been a very interesting, long, intense spring landscaping season. And not over by any means. The weather has been giving us fits. Our usual frost date is around May 11, but this year Mother Nature is giving us the chill, with a little blast of heat thrown in briefly for contrast. We are still working to get the late calls for clean ups done, and have launched into our planting season. This year we are facing some unusual challenges. The winter here was long, very dry and cold, with frequent high winds. So now we are seeing the results it has created in landscapes. A higher than usual fatality rate for evergreens of all types; Yew, Boxwood, Juniper, Holly, Pine to name a few. Even old, established plants gave it up! This is from such a harsh winter coupled with drought stress from the past few summers. So, replacing all this plant material has created very high demand on the wholesale nurseries in our region. I am the plant purchaser for our company, and I have been having a lot of fun chasing down the plants we need. I am calling in all favors, and making contacts with all my friends in the industry to help us! Crazy days, for sure! This blog entry has been viewed 253 times
Goodbye to the "goal post" Pine Tree
Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:48 pm 
the old "goal post" pine tree ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) Since we moved in in 2006, this tree has been a source of curiosity and concern for us. It had an odd shape, and was known as the "goal post" tree on our neighborhood street. I never really liked it, but it was pretty healthy, and we couldn't see it looking out of the house, as it was next to the garage, away from sight of our windows. Bob's biggest concern was that it was very close to the garage roof. He's been keeping an eye on it, and of course, being a carpenter, he measured how close. Well, it was less than an inch. This winter (which seems to never want to end!) we have had a lot of really high winds. A few days they were over 60mph. This was a worry as we would rather not have a huge tree falling on our garage. So, the decision was made. It had to go. We sort of feel bad, after all it is not dead... but when you look at how close it is... So, I called up my boss. We waited patiently for the tree crew to get time to come . Weeks went by, I said my prayers to the tree gods, and apologized to the squirrels for taking away this habitat.(they can go to the neighbors!!) Finally they had time to come! 
here comes the crew ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) The ground is still quite frozen, so they just drove that big truck right up on the lawn. Four of my co workers got busy. Dustin went up in the boom and got started cutting. Branch by branch he cut it down. The guys on the ground drug the branches to the chipper. They sure do good work (if I do say so myself!) they worked for about 3 hours, and all that remained was this silly looking stump. 
tree almost gone ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) They took a break, and then Dustin did the wedge cuts and kaboom! down it came. 
no more tree ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
this will be my spring project! ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) It was so cold, I wasn't too motivated to get out there to do the final clean up. Spring is still a ways away here. I will have to re-position the limestone edging, and clean up sawdust. That's for another day. It's a bit bittersweet. It looks so bare now. But as you know, I will get used to it, and it will lead, I'm sure, to new gardening ideas and adventures. Bob is happy that he won't have to be constantly cleaning needles and pine cones out of the gutters. I just might miss those pine cones though! 
Dustin up in the bucket, cutting ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 394 times
Colorado flood recovery 2013
Category: Random Stuff | Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 8:12 pm I just returned from a week in Colorado.It was emotionally and physically exhausting!! I had to go out there to help my mom. We have a family home near Estes Park, and it was severely damaged by the recent flood. We will have to tear it down, the foundation is not safe. So, the future is not certain, but we'll decide how next to proceed. We have 3.5 acres, and there is another spot on the land that would be a perfect location to rebuild. It was sad to see the destruction and aftermath of this historic "500 year flood". I have to say, the people of Colorado have been strong and are picking up the pieces, cleaning, and getting roads repaired. It will be a long time until it is back to the beautiful way it was. My mom lost a lot of furniture and household items. It has been extremely hard on her. She was displaced and staying with friends and neighbors since Sept. 13th! I flew out there, helped pack up and then drove her back here to Lincoln. She has a home here too, so very fortunate! we have a cool old stone barn on the acreage, which was not flooded, so we were able to fill it with the things we could save. I had to throw out so much! It was amazing to see what damage and destruction the waters did. All this is so heartbreaking for my family, we will miss the cabin. But- we are so grateful for friends and family that have been so supportive and helpful! We are not sure what the future will bring, but we will be back there to figure it out!! *sigh* This blog entry has been viewed 379 times
Make way for more plants!
Category: Spring 2013 | Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 1:06 am This spring I have been telling myself I wasn't going to be creating any more planting beds. I connected the two back beds last year, and it was a lot of work. It was well worth it though, as I have been enjoying the shrubs and perennials that I planted. Well, last week I adopted 3 Tardiva Late Panicle Hydrangeas. They were in my plant holding area at my landscaping job. They were purchased a year ago, never planted and have been sitting around there. They looked dead after winter, then when I appeared (from my winter dormancy) I began to nurture them and they started to grow. I talked my boss into letting me bring them home. I gave them all a good trim and planted them on June 15th. I put them in along the fence that has Sweet Autumn Clems growing all over it. The grass is not very good there, it is shady and well, I don't take much care with the grass. So- I decided to cut out all the grass between the newly planted Hydrangeas. Didn't take very long. I am impressed with the great quality of the soil there. Very loose and loamy! The kind of dirt you love to sift through your fingers and play with :) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
one of 3 Tardiva Late Panicle Hydrangeas ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) So, now I have several feet of new space that will need plants in it... I am also brainstorming another tier to expand my flower bed in my front yard too. I wonder if I'll ever be done?? This blog entry has been viewed 343 times
Mother Nature threw a curve ball
Category: Spring 2013 | Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 4:12 pm My friend Mother Nature is showing her sense of humor here. The calender says spring, but she isn't so sure. We have had some greatly appreciated rain, but yesterday it turned to snow. The thermometer sank, and we woke to a frosty scene. 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) Even the Pansies are shivering!!! This blog entry has been viewed 430 times
Finally some color!
Category: Spring 2013 | Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 10:00 pm I have been so patient. Usually by this time of year, spring is in full swing, but not 2013. It has been chilly and we are still waiting for the Tulips, Forsythia, Lilacs and all the sweet smelling tree blossoms. They're coming! I can feel it in the air. I have been raking out the winter pine needle mulches off my flower beds and discovering my old friends in the ground. Daylilies, Columbine, Heucheras (all 40 of them :)! ) Geraniums, Rudbeckia, Coneflowers, Salvia..... OK You get the picture! The grass is turnin green finally! Geesh! Wish we could get some much needed rain now! Doin a rain dance out there! Winter is officially done and better be gone for good! 
Daffodils ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Crocus ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Crocus ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Crocus ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 418 times
Such a late spring this year
Category: Spring 2013 | Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:34 pm The calender says March 25th. The first day of spring was last week. I should be a lot busier than I am! There is snow on the ground, which makes it seem just silly to be out landscaping and cleaning up and laying fresh mulch. It is taking every bit of patience this year waiting, waiting, waiting for the warm weather. I just heard on the local weather, last year 2012, the high temperature was 81°F, today the high was 30°F. I'm all rested up, ready to go! Have to let the snow melt... Come on Spring!!!! This blog entry has been viewed 404 times
It's white outside again
Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:28 pm Wouldn't you know it? Just yesterday,as the temperature soared to almost 60°F, I was commenting on how the snow was finally all melting. I was poking around in the flower beds that still have a protective layer of pine needles on them. It was beginning to feel like spring, just a little bit. The birds are singing their favorite mating songs, tiny green things are sprouting, buds on the shrubs are swelling. But winter isn't going away so easy. I've been back to work (mostly just getting ready) and have had some frozen extremities a couple of early mornings. The wind has been brisk most days, and the skies have been mostly cloudy. These are the days that really test a gardener's patience! We know spring will come, one glance at the calender assures us.However, Mother Nature sometimes has her own ideas. Last year, March was warm and plants started growing unusually early! It was kind of weird! This year our weather is more typical. We just have to wait. So after yesterday's warmth, I am watching out my window at the snow flying again. Birds are coming to the feeder for lunch, and I will wait until another day to get out to work in my garden. *sigh* This blog entry has been viewed 368 times
First snow of the season
Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:52 pm It started as rain yesterday afternoon, then turned to snow and continued most of the overnight. We woke to 4.5 inches of the white stuff! We're fortunate not to have to go out, as the road are icy.The moisture is very welcome. I know it isn't going to fix this extreme drought we're in, but it can't hurt now, can it? We have been watching birds coming to the feeders. We got them all stocked and full of nuts and treats. There is quite a crowd out there now. There was a Redtail Hawk sitting in the tree at daybreak, watching for breakfast, but Bob chased it off. I didn't want to see a hapless squirrel or bird become a meal. I know they have to eat too, but not in my backyard! So, with cold temps, I believe we'll be having a white Christmas. This blog entry has been viewed 323 times
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