Gardening 101

Although there's been little crafting, there's been plenty of gardening!  After consulting my gardening books and online guides, we visited the garden centre.  You know that "high" you get from visiting a really nice yarn shop?  Yeah, I get that way from visiting a good nursery.  

Front flower bed

Perhaps overly ambitious, I was lured by the promise of bright colours.  When I got home, I went straight to work, digging up the long neglected garden--covered in that yucky weed fabric (which never really works very well at keeping out the weeds) and tons of unappealing red mulch (I'd rather use natural or black-coloured mulch).  Love the feel and smell of soil between my fingers . . . and then there's the satisfaction of seeing the plants in their place.  Wow! 

View from above

There's nothing like caring for a garden, tending those little plants and watching them grow.  It's good for the soul.  And then your creative juices start flowing and great ideas swim 'round your head: Yup, I has plans--big plans!!  But I need to go slow and work on it a little at a time because (a) I'm no spring chicken and (b) I don't have enough funds to follow my dreams all at once.

That small flower bed at the front of the house took a few hours worth of digging.  There was nothing there and the soil needed lots of compost and good black top soil.  Whatcha think?  Pretty?

Detail of columbine flowers

Lots of shade loving perennials: columbine, bleeding hearts, lungwort and coneflowers.  There's also some dianthus and alyssum in hot pink and purple.  Hope everything survives.

Hanging basket detail

We added a couple of hanging baskets too--in hot pinks.  These will look pretty when they're in full bloom--if summer ever decides to officially show up (I'm lookin' at you Mother Nature.  After the long winter we've had, we need some summer, please.).


Hope your weekend is filled with sunshine. :)

Still Summer

Coneflowers in bloom in big garden under the honeysuckle

Yup, still summer, although the air feels crisper and the evenings are definitely cooler. There's still lots of growing left in the season: plenty of flowers left to bloom and I'm eagerly anticipating my red sunflowers.

Tall tiger lilies on the other side

Certainly can't deny that school is right 'round the corner--less than 3 weeks!  That'll mean work for my boys and me (although this year I'm excited 'cuz I've transferred to another institution that will hopefully be a better "fit' with my professional goals).

Wildflowers growing in garden along front deck

Meanwhile I can enjoy the loveliness blooming in the garden beds.  I love watching the seasons change and noting the season markers, especially the wildflowers.

Detail of poppies amongst the wildflowers

I found some great books on wildflowers in Nova Scotia.  One (Wildflowers of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & PEI) has been out for a while, but I love the photography.  While not exhaustive, it's a lovely tome to peruse.

Great coffee-table book with lovely photos

Excellent field guide for wildflowers in NS

The other one (Wildflowers of Nova Scotia) is a recent publication and quite exhaustive.  It's a great primer and handy reference for those of us who go for walks in the woods or near fields (the same author has a similar book on trees and bushes which I may have to pick up at some point).

How goes your summer? 

Slowly . . .

Frozen Lake

Amidst the gnarled tree limbs, you feel it.  Springtime slowly makes its way to our parts.  Not in big melts and sudden bursts of spring colours.  

Knarled Tree

Instead a steady sun slowly picks away at the snow piles, melting them ever so slowly.  The earth warms up and then it happens.  Brown, yellow and faded green peaks here and there through the white stuff.  Tufts of old dead grass poke through. . . 

Spring is coming.  Slowly.

Wintery Blast--Take 2

Ice on Window

So last weekend we had a blast of winter with snow and ice.  We only got 'bout 16 cm of snow, but the ice pellets and blowing snow made for treacherous driving.  And the frigid temperatures of -20 to -30 C did nothing to clear up messy roads (All week I had to drive on ice-covered roads.  And I hate driving on ice!!).

The View to our Neighbours

This weekend is no better.  Snow and ice again.  Not sure how much snow we've gotten so far, but it's still snowing.  And blowing.  Have I mentioned how much I hate winter?!

Tree at Top of Driveway

Thank heavens for the wood stove to keep us warm and cozy on those blustery days.  There's nothing like the warmth of a wood fire to chase the chill from cold bones.

Warmth of Wood Fire in Stove

Wherever you are, stay warm.  And have a good one. :)

On the Farm

Gardening Tools

We're busy here on our little patch (remember when the field got plowed?).  Now we're in the process of tilling, removing rocks and mixing in soil.  It's time-consuming to get everything established, but well worth the effort (come see me in the fall when we've collected our bounty--provided the local bunnies haven't nibbled everything).

Tilling the soil

Picking out the big rocks

 And of course I have to share the apple blossoms!  We have approximately 50-60 apple trees on the property.  We've begun pruning some of the ones we'd like to bring back into production.  The blossoms have just begun to bloom--and they are just lovely!

Blossom Detail

Aren't the pink and white flowers pretty?  And everything else is slowly getting green and lush.  Thankfully this year we've been blessed with beautiful spring weather.

More apple blossoms

Have a great weekend!

Summer Whimsy

My Niece and Her Freshly Picked Flowers

Whilst summer is here, enjoy the warmth, the light and the bounty: smell the sweet scent of wildflowers wafting in the breeze; listen to the enchanting calls of feathered friends; blow bubbles and watch them float away; savour the sugary sweetness of a popsicle as it drips past your chin.  Yeah, summertime is the best.

Nova Scotian Wildflowers

One weekend, I picked wildflowers with my niece.  We found daisies, clover, buttercups and other purple varieties I haven't been able to identify yet.  Aren't they just lovely!  Most people consider them weeds, but really they're wildflowers.  Just because they grow where you don't want them, doesn't mean they're any less beautiful or less fragrant than something planned (dare you to stand near wild roses and not succumb to the intoxicating fragrance).  Maybe sometimes we just need to see the world through the eyes of a three year old. 

Is It Summer Yet?

I only ask 'cuz in my little corner of the world (on Canada's east coast), summer is sadly lagging.  Sure the grass grows and flowers bloom.  I need only look at my wee flower beds to see the evidence.

Corner by Front Steps



Front Flower Bed Overflowing with Life

Unfortunately the temperature has been unseasonably cool (and down-right cold a few days); there's been lots of rain and nary a sunbeam to bask in.  Sunny days have been few and far between.  Day-in and day-out of nothing but cloudy days can get a body down.  I need me some sunshine!  

Okay, enough ranting.  Hope its summertime where ever you are.  And if you could send some sunshine my way, I'd be ever so grateful. ;)

There's Proof

Gradually the big piles of snow have melted (although there has been white stuff on the ground a few mornings that thankfully disappeared by mid-day).  The only remaining stuff is leftovers of the biggest of the big snow piles.

Leftover Snow

Spring is supposed to be here (afterall it is April), but I never quite believe it until I find some proof.  And today I actually found some proof. Viola!

Sprouting Crocuses (or Croci?)

Now it should be told that my wee front garden only recently lost the heap of snow covering it.  The front garden gets little sun (just some rays in the AM).  So my plants aren't as far along as my neighbour's.

Neighbour's Garden

Bring it on.  Bring on the Springtime! :D

About Winter . . .

Ummm, it's not totally gone.  For some reason, winter doesn't want to go away.  In a desperate bid to hang on, it dusted us with white stuff and sent blustery winds our way.

More Snow

Here's hoping it's winter's last gasp. 

Crocuses?

Sadly my crocus buds have disappeared under a thin blanket of snow.  I hope the weather warms up again.  I'm soooo ready for spring.

Hope the sun is shining wherever you're at.

Maybe Spring?

It certainly feels like spring.  'Round my neck of the woods, winter dies a slow death, often bringing on a snow storm as late as the end of April (I've been witness to that).  'Course, some old-timers assure me they've seen early May snows too (usually wet snows that don't hang around much, but still . . . snow in May?  That's so wrong).

Happy to say that I've seen small glimpses of spring this week.  First, lots and lots of sunshine--and that sun is warm!  I'm hearing so many new bird calls, songs that have long been absent all winter.  I saw my first cute little squirrel scamper across the road and clammer up a huge maple tree (they hibernate, right?).  And I think I saw the first sprouts of crocuses in not one, but four  gardens (not my garden as my flower bed is still covered under a snow pile, albeit a melting one).

Crocus Buds from April 8 2009

The picture above was actually taken in early April 2009 from my own flower bed.  Mine always seem to sprout and bloom after everyone else's--probably because my wee garden sits under the shade and doesn't get much sun.

More buds

So wherever yee may be, bask in the sun's glow and savour the warmth.  Springtime will soon be upon us.

Happy days!