The Garden 03/28/11

The garden is well on its way to waking up and I’m really enjoying watching the life come back into it. This garden was created with love and you can feel it all over you when you walk around it! It’s become my new favorite place to read my Bible. I got the New Living Translation (large print!) and I can finally understand what I’m reading. It must put me in a really special place because this past Saturday morning while I was reading, a squirrel, two doves and a robin sat less than seven feet from me as if they expected me to read to them. I was actually a little scared of the squirrel because I didn't like the way he was looking at me. It was really strange because even moving my legs didn’t seem to frighten them. The cleanup is still underway, but I would say I am about 85% there. I almost over did it Saturday because Sunday after church I bent over to put a pizza in the oven and I had a sharp pain in my back. I’ve been assured everything is okay though; I’m just stretching nerves and muscles that haven’t been used in several years. It’s “to be expected.” On another note, the largest and oldest Japanese Maple may have fallen victim to the heat last year. Keep your fingers crossed, I’ll be in touch soon. God Bless~ Randy

Recovering In Style

Hello everyone. I’m in my third week of recovery from back surgery. I hope this fixes the problem once and for all! I tell you what; you certainly discover who the people are in your life that really love you when you go thru something like that. I’m so thankful to everyone that came to visit me and helped me thru the hardest part of it. The garden is really starting to wake up now, but it’s nothing you guys haven’t already seen so I’ll post pictures later after I recover more. I still have very strict limitations on what I can and cannot do. Meanwhile! I found something that really makes my back feel a lot better! Check out my baby; a new Cheverolet Camaro SS with the RS package. I decided it was time to treat myself. I haven’t been satisfied with my vehicles since I had my old green convertible. This sweetheart has a 400 horse power V8 with every possible feature you can imagine. I didn’t even know you could put a manual AND an automatic transmission in a car. It even has it's own phone number! It’s really going to help pamper me while I have to stay out of the garden. Give me a couple more weeks to heal and I’ll get you guys up some garden photos. Oh, Oh, Oh! Some of my photos were published in a book that was released in February; I’ll tell you about that too. God bless!~ Randy

Winter Garden Woes

Let us make an apology to all of our readers, but this winter in the garden has just sapped the life out of everything. Looking around at all the brown and withered flora isn't very motivating. I was strolling the garden this morning while Maxx scampered through the yard and realized there is much to do before spring arrives. Warmer weather is forecast for our zone this week, so I plan on getting out and doing some much needed work in the yard. Randy, however, will be sitting on the sidelines as I do a lot of the work as his back is in poor shape. Physical therapy will keep him busy while the yard will keep me busy. Photos will be up soon as well as regular posts rolling out again, too.

What Happened to Jeanette?

The photo above is Chrysanthemum ‘Frosty Jeanette’ and she’s been returning to our garden for three years now. I purchased them for seven cents a pot at the end of the growing season and they’ve always performed very well for us. Though this one looks haggard, they usually produce bold huge displays and the Gulf Fritillaries seem to love them.

Well this year I noticed the plant in the southern most section of the side bed is displaying two colors. Half of the plant is now a pinkish purple. It was really a pleasant surprise to discover.

Admittedly this is not the best photo; I posted it for the purposes of showing the plant and the two colors. I’m really curious to see what color returns next year. Has this ever happened to you before? I wonder if Schnauzer water has anything to do with it... Hmmm. Okay, Every one have a good week. I'm off to see my Reiki therapist this afternoon for some much need attunement. I'm so excited, I'm way over due for some relaxation.

Ending the Growing Season

Well,
These are probably the final “wide shots” of the garden for this season. Things are winding down and slowly the blooms are disappearing. In the background to the left you can just see a curly willow we planted two years ago. It’s already about 20 feet tall with a trunk about 8 inches in diameter. I’ve never seen a tree grow so fast.

It’s nice to see how much size the Crepe Myrtles have put on this year as well. We plated 8 of these trees in the garden in various sizes. They’re spaced so the canopies should slightly overlap forming a small canopy for us to stroll under. Our plan is to keep them limbed up so they provide nice gateway for us to pass through. Three of them are going to be a slight nuisance until they reach maturity, but the two in this photo or behaving just as expected.

The butterflies and bumble bees continue to flock to what is left of the blooms in the butterfly garden. They are most certainly welcome guest. Jamie and I are already planning a few changes for next year, but for the most part our gardening will be over for this season. All that will be left is cleaning up as it goes to sleep and maybe popping in a plant or two hear and there. That is, if we find something we just simply can not live with our.

In a final note, does anyone have any suggestions on what to get to control Iris borers?

Blooming 10/13/10

What is this strange flower I found blooming in the garden? I believe it’s a carnivorous schnauzer bloom. It usually sprouts up under the Mexican Bush Sage and can be found munching on unsuspecting bumblebees and random pieces of mulch in the back part of the garden.

We got outside and cleaned up in the garden some this past weekend and I can’t believe how much better it looks. It’s amazing how much difference mowing the lawn and picking up debris can make in the appearance. The lawn is COMPLETELY devoid of any color or life.

Jamie and I both have not felt very well the past week or two. Our energy levels have been nonexistent I blame it on allergies. My nose is constantly stopped up and my eyes have been burning like someone threw sand in them. The goldenrods are in full bloom and the farmers are also baling cotton right now so the air is filled with allergens. Once I got outside and got going on the grass cutting I started to feel much better.

We didn’t kill ourselves trying to get everything done in one day. We just tidied up here and there and I was so pleased with the way everything looked when we were done. I really enjoyed getting out and walking around the grass paths later that evening looking at everything. I try not to walk on them too much because the grass is literally breaking off at ground level and I’m seeing a lot of dirt where there was once grass. I hope it grows back fast next spring.

Despite all the climate has done to it this past summer our little garden still rewards us with blooms. I have a sneaking suspicion winter will be coming early this year. It will only be a short matter of time and the garden will fall asleep for some much needed rest.