@ Oreti Autumn is over looks like we are all headed into some chilly windy weather . Winter is coming in like a Lion with the full power forceful presence of a bomb cyclone and atmospheres river. Could they show any mercy describing these up coming storms. Yikes .
Yes I've just seen your forecast post ( sorry to have to 'like ' it) Looks like you're in for a tough time ahead. It always makes me laugh over here .....first sprinkling of snow and havoc arises!! I'm listening to the news,as I post this.....the radio presenter had to abandon his show this morning...and his car apparently and they are giving out warnings of train delays!! It would raise a giggle with all you folk over your way if you could see the amounts they are talking about...guaranteed!! Keep safe .
Pac— i so enjoyed your autumnal tree scenes. Breathtaking really. I was looking at that scene with the blue bench with acer. I thought that I saw two pots of Indian pottery there to the left. Would I be right about that?
@Oreti it’s the same issue here in the PNW . We get a tiny dusting of snow and the drivers and roads are unprepared. It’s time for snow tires all wheel drive or 4 wheel /chins in the car if necessary, and driving with common sense. I lived in the mountains of Colorado that state had tons of snow plows to sand the main roads and highways. Unless you have driven in a blizzard in Colorado you’re never prepared for the other drivers on the road. Driving with zero visibility is an experience and in a sports car no less. When we are young we have no fear. Well that theory has caught up with me. I will not even try to go down the mountain road here … it’s the wacky other drivers that really are the culprits causing accidents - ill prepared on the roads not the snow. @Logan I plan on staying at home. The only storm related problem is a power outage. Set up the back up system all ready to go. @Sjoerd that is a water fountain with Native American design sitting on the front porch. I have a collection of real hand made pots from my travels to New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming , Montana, Utah, Nevada other states that elude my memory . There are many states across the US …where Native Americans live and sell their beautiful amazing works of art.
So many schools closed today , plus train disruptions.....I can remember this back in the early 60s, my Dad still rode his motorbike to work, Mum still did the shopping and hung the laundry out to dry ( daily as there were 6 of us)....and we all walked as usual to school!!! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20785406
@Oreti after reading that storm link it was a storm to remember. Snow shuts everything down. I worry about the wildlife. Even the deer…some past storms were like your storm in the 60’s. We have had way too many of those that shut down several states . Ice storms, snow drifts , ocean foam that can cover homes . It’s ithe whole gambit with not just an every 20 year storm. The past several years it’s the climate change we are all going to experience more severe winter storms as the oceans warmer currents affects everyone. @ Sjoerd Thank you. The designs are very prominent thruout this country. and familiar designs for you too..… could be a memory from your travels ?
Packers— you could be dead right about that. I have been in the Southwest part of the country there and visited many Indian ruins, and shops. I purchased a “sand painting” and a few other things. I have that small sand painting on the wall and a couple of rugs in the bedroom. It is a style interesting to me. The art that one sees up in Canada and Alaska are from different types of native groups and so look different. Yes, I do like that style very much. In fact when I lived in the u.s. my Bride and I would ask farmers if we could look in their fields for interesting things. It was a great way to unwind from a stressy work week. The same thing here when we would look for migratory bird nests to record data and enter it the data base. Cor, we walked some kilometres.!
@Sjoerd I would imagine that from your many travels you have collected a lot of treasures & mementos to remember. A display of these keepsakes is a time travel diary expressed throughout our homes. Very important to share those experiences as many of those past experiences connected to our collections have helped define our personal development of who we are today. Ahh—ha discovered your pre-history on your early surveys walking thru farm land in the US which helped to create your interest in gardening ? Enjoyed your story very much , I bet you have a lot more to share about the bird watch group you experienced ? Thank you for sharing that exciting experience with us.
Ahh, you are welcome Pac. I expect that the gardening interest was developed through several experiences and discoveries throughout my life.
This post was inspired by @Sjoerd His story of some of life’s experiences that lead to how gardening was inspired. . “ I am curious to hear more of his story and how it all came together for his passion of gardening today?” *** Wouldn’t it be interesting to list all of our early life experiences that inspired us all to garden .*** I’ll go. first.. Not a particularly interesting story but here goes. Short and sweet….. Since about 10 years of age I always spent summers with my aunt and uncle in the Colorado wheat belt. They had 160 acres of farm land to grow wheat and a huge garden for veggies and flowers. I learned how to drive a combine thru rows and rows of wheat . Learned how to drive tractors , rototil huge sections of land and learned how to manually control the irrigation system . Saw lots of rabbits, snakes and prairie dogs. Also experienced the introduction of a life long luv for horses and rodeos. Which all lead to the life long passion to live in the countryside. After all I was a city kid from Los Angeles, California country living seemed like a dream to me as a young girl.
Very interesting post Pac ...what lovely memories those years have given you. What ignited my love of gardening...and well just being outside? My Mum probably , she was, as most women were back in the day, a stay at home Mum of 4 and every chance possible would find her out in the garden. She grew from seed and propagation mostly but also loved visiting famous gardens that opened their gates to the public. She enjoyed Garden Centres and especially visiting our local aboretum that we are very fortunate to have on our doorstep here . We kids loved exploring it with our parents. My Mum became a very valued customer of theirs over the decades so much so they sent a stunning wreath for her funeral and on our return home afterwards they had left a beautiful Rose bush on the porch for my Dad to plant in memory of Mum in their garden. https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/hilliergardens/our-story My paternal Grandad use to love growing Dahlias and my maternal Grandfather had a bit of land attached to their garden and kept Chickens, Geese and Ducks. Like you Pac my Mum absolutely adored Horses and use to ride a lot but later after having all of us she found it hard to find the time. One of my nieces has inherited a love of horses from her Grandma and has her own horse and her 7 year son is fast becoming an accomplished rider too. My niece has won many show jumping medals.Her Grandma would be so proud. We spent most of the Summer holidays down on a dairy farm in Devon ...they had horses too....and a lovely river than ran through it and that allowed my Dad to enjoy his favourite pastime and teach us ....well he tried his best....to fish. We learnt to sit quietly and observed the wildlife that a well established river attracted. Oh happy days. I have inherited all of my Mum's gardening books. My Dad passed away 4 years ago and was well into his 90s , I use to help him in the garden and for the last 3 years I took over it's care completely as it was a very large garden and became too much for him to manage. It was a daunting task for me caring for their lovely garden that my Mum( mostly) had created with the weekend help of course from my Dad too. So I guess somewhere along the way I too developed a love for growing and nurturing plants and just being outdoors....even in cold wet weather I prefer to be outside. However not during a thunderstorm or ( as we have this coming weekend) gale force winds.....scary because of all the nearby trees. Sorry a bit of a long winded tale but it 's how the seed was sown within me that grew into my love of one of my happiest places....outdoors.
@Logan luv the city life, and once adjusted to country life I can’t go back. @Oreti your family history is very similar. Lots of exposure to horticulture and many treasured memories . Nothing better than hands on experience watching the magic of seed sowing , planting and learning the process from your parents. I bet their gardens were absolutely gorgeous, if anything compared to your huge garden. Horses have taken over my heart , like dogs & cats , it’s a special bond. Such a great story I really enjoyed each and every word. Thank you so much for sharing your heartwarming story. Also appreciated the link to Sir Harold Hiller’s gardens. I will explore all the gardens represented on the site. I have seen video’s of his garden years ago.
