ILUVWEEDS's Blog
ILUVWEEDS's Blog
Last Post 46 days, 3 hours Ago
Aug 22, 2008 | 5:57 PM PST
My Moonflower vine has finally blossomed!!! The creamy white blossoms are so ethereal with their beauty and heavenly fragrance that I am just entranced when they open.
This is the first blossom we got(this is also the first time that I have ever planted this flower. I started these by seed in early March--I am so happy with the results, I will be a lifelong fan of this flower.
I was sitting o the lounger on the lower deck where I have this vine planted (OK I was lounging--but only after a whole day of working in the yard!!!), it was around 5:30 and I noticed one of the buds starting to unfurl and in about 15 minutes as the shade was overtaking the lower deck I watched 3 blooms occur--it was like magic! I had o call for my daughter to watch it too. They smell just like Easter Lillies!! I am just so impressed with this flower, I want everyon to have one.
Please pardon the exuberance but I had to force myself back in the house after seeng these bloom right in front of me!!!
Aug 21, 2008 | 4:27 AM PST
I am not entirely sure BUT I think i know what they are doing, and I think I should be blushing???
I was rather amazed at this site, it appears that the slugs have faces. They stayed in this position for as long as I saw them (about a half hour before I had to leave for work). This is on my back deck and we see anywhere from 5 to 20 slugs on any given morning out there as the deck is lined with Hosta and they love the Hosta. I have never seen this before!!
Jul 27, 2008 | 2:42 PM PST
I have been so envious of everyone that has been harvesting their veggies for weeks already! I am so happy to report that I finally got to harvest from the potted Veggie garden. I am sure it would have been sooner if I hadnt been for that varmint Woodchuck that ate the entire first phase of output! I had to move all of the pots to a rock wall in my side yard so the little %&#^@$! wouldnt destroy the lot.
The first pickings - Big Bush Tomatoes and a couple of Bush Boys too. Also have Hot Potugal and Hot Banana Peppers with a handful of Supersweet 100's! This is a city harvest, so good thing we have the Farmer's Market ever weekend!
Our own harvest inspired lunch! Fresh tomatoes and peppers along with some Vermont cheddar and pepperjack and Perrier - What could be better?
I apologize that I havent blogged in forever and I have been slow to respond on the PM's. I have been super busy at work and bringing too much of it home with me. I will post a catch up blog as you can imagine Mother Nature waits for no one and the flowers have been putting on quite a show and I have been posting pics in my albums and want to showcase the lillies this year they were just grand.
Talk to you soon, Jo
Jun 15, 2008 | 5:20 PM PST
I knew today was going to be a washout, complete with cold and rain and lets throw in some more rain! No I didnt have to "Trust" the weather folks this time, lets say that I could just feel the change coming. We have had several days of hot (some extreme temps too) and dry weather. So dry in fact that we were starting to see those little dust tornado's in the parking lot! Late yesterday afternoon I felt the change coming! The air was so moist and heavy it was going to rain any minute (yeah right). So I put away my trowel grabbed the camera, snapped some pics and got ready to go shoppingf, after all if I cant be in the garden I might as well be at the mall! So we trekked to IKEA to buy some new office furniture. They actualy have office furniture thats made out of solid wood that cost under $1000! So we had an adventure at IKEA, that store is pretty awesome (once you figure out the little arrows on the floor and to follow them is your only route of escape!!!). We loaded up DH's truck with boxes of desk and overhead cabinets--the office is going to be GORGEOUS! Then once done at IKEA we ventured off to DICKS Sporting goods to buy a good badminton set--$99 bucks but it'll last all summer--we love that game so much! Then I spied the clearance BRUINS gear!!!!! Oh somebody pinch me I must be dreaming--so I filled up the cart with a bunch of black n' yellow. Also got a bunch of clearance tops for DD. After all that spending and still no rain.....I was going to give up hope for rain...
I woke up this morning to torrential downpours--water was gushing from yard to yard. The ground had been so dry that the water had nowhere to go! Its been raining ever since, the temp hasnt gone past 55 all day. I swear the grass is greener already and we have rain in the forecast for the whole week ahead! I am glad I snapped those pics yesterday, so at least I can remember the sunny afternoon in the yard.
Here is a cardinal that was feeding....
This is the first dill blossom!
I just LUV when Dragon Flies visit--or as my daughter used to say when she was little "Dragon Fly just stoppin by"!
I bet I'll have 1000 Daylilly blooms by the time the season ends--they are just starting now.....STELLA, S T E L L L A ...
It may have rained all day but I still have yesterdays sunshine! I must also admit that I havent minded being housebound today at all!!! The office furniture is just about completed. I had the opportunity to cook three big meals for DH and kids on this wonderful Fathers Day. Im on a roll with wins....First the Red Sox smoked the Cinci Reds 9-0!! Then Dale Jr WINS at Michigan--thats the first win in 74 races--I almost balled I was so happy to see him win again--its been a long road for him and he has stayed the course--I am so proud to be a Jr fan!
Of course i am holding my breath still though coz my Dear Celtics are playing in game 5 against the LA Lakers, they could take it all and become the new world champs tonight!!!!! Do I dare to exhale!!!
This rainy day has been anything but dreary! Talk to ya soon, Jo
Jun 10, 2008 | 4:08 PM PST
I know that we are all feeling the effects of some extreme weather. Whether it be high temps or high winds we are finding it difficult or dangerous to go about our daily lives in normal fashion. I was reminded to put things into perspective when I received this prayer request in an email this morning. lease take a look at the weather forecast for Baghdad for the past 7 days! These are normal weather conditions in that part of the world. I know that there are weather threads in the forums, but I felt that this was material for the main blog area. I know how much you all care about each other and how caring the folks here are and I was certain that your prayers would make a difference for our troops and the extreme conditions they face on a regular basis. Also I do not litter cyberspace with chain emails -EVER, but I have forwarded this email several times today and have also gotten it back a few times - it appears that everyone is relating to the weather aspect (no surprise). Please keep an extra breath on hand for this extra prayer tonight. Sincerely, Jo
7-Day Forecast for Baghdad,Iraq
115�F
117�F
120�F
122�F
122�F
121�F
120�F
Thats 122 Degrees!!!
Prayer request .
According to the weather reports, it is our understanding that it is 122 degrees in Iraq right now -- and the low will be 111! Our troops need our prayers for strength, endurance, and safety.. If it be God's will, give these men and women the strength they need to prevail.
'Lord, please hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'
Prayer Request: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.
Just send this to all the people in your address book. Do not let it stop with you, please.
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine & others deployed in harm's way, Prayer is the very best one!
Jun 9, 2008 | 4:59 PM PST
I was up pretty late watching the Celtics beat the Lakers.....(WoooHooooooo). For all I knew that was the extent of excitment in my neck of the woods....
Little did I know that Mother Nature was holding an initiation ceremony right in my backyard! I never heard a thing.
When I woke up this morning it was still very dark outside so I hadnt a clue as to what took place 25 feet from my back deck! On I went about my daily rituals....Shower, make-up, Hair, Hair, Hair. By the time I bathed the bod, rouged the cheeks and teased the tresses the sun had begun to rise. Thats when something out back was getting my attention. Time to get dressed and wait for my ride (I carpool now and this week I get driven...) and wait, and wait. Now I am circling the house looking out all windows and doors hoping to peep a beautiful bird or maybe if I am lucky enough a hummer!!! Then my phone starts buzzing someons texting me--its my ride. She is running late and is just leaving her house. OK that leaves me WAITING another 15 Minutes---UGHHH So I kicked off my heels and went for a nature walk out back. Thats when I saw what had happended over night. These beauties were NOT here when I kissed my flowers goodnight last night, I make fulll rounds and gree each one as I water and these babes were not here last night! I am so glad that they did decide to show up though. I had to fight the most primal urges not towhisk them up and take em' to work with me!!!
Oriental Poppies. This is what I found when I ventured into the backyard this morning! They are so much bigger and more blooms tonight!
Close Up....
And the old fashioned Peony...
OK so now I dont want to go sleep or to work - i just wanna watch my gardens and watch the blooms ....just happen.
I wish my days were as magical as their nights are!
Jun 8, 2008 | 11:41 AM PST
My oh my it is sooo hot outside - 97 the last time I checked! Its too hot to be out there working on the yard so I decided to work on my photo album.....
I get so excited when a plant blooms for the first time and I am so happy I have somewhere to share all the excitement!
These two pics are the first blooms of Peony for me this year. My other peonies are the old fashioned varieties and arent ready to open just yet..
These are the first Iris' in my garden this year. These are yellow and I cant wait for the Purple and Mottled varieties to open now! The mottled are mostly white with flecks or purple and yelllow in them!
This is the first rose in my garden this year, there are many others just conjuring a bloom, cant wait to see them!
These are almost poppies--they're gonna be huge and glorious! I have several colors all icelandic varietals--just magical.
I cant wait too see what the garden has in store for me next week...
May 28, 2008 | 6:10 PM PST
Ha! I did have the day off yesterday and YES I did miss my peeps--but I did NOT "Miss" work!!!! In fact I spent the day capping off my looooong weekend (which was spent wrapping up many big projects) I was sore, cut and scraped not to mention sunburned and had the skin eaten off my hands (thanks to some faulty gloves I used when we applied the stone veneer to the front of the house)! Yah so I took full opportunity to lollygag and meander around the yard--ALL DAY! I took advantage of the absolutely gorgeous weather to take some pics of the beauty that is there when I am usually at WORK "Missing" my yard!!! Please take a look at what I work on when I am at home....
Nelly Moser--this bloomed for the first time yesterday!
View from my lower deck looking up over the yard--thats Roxxi wondering if I might be picking up her football for a quick pass with her!
This is the pathway going from my pergola to the lower deck--I havent planted my annuals along the pathway yet! Just had a frost last week!
Here is the same path--only going up! Still no annuals!!!
This is the view from my back patio-this is a slope at the top of the yard.
This is the pathway in and out of the backyard--this is on the side of the house.
More pics in my albums--Thanks for looking! Jo
Apr 27, 2008 | 7:52 AM PST
Yesterday was planned in advance as schedules had to be made and kept. We planned to install the post and beams in the main living area (Imagine I planned to stay indoors on a Saturday!!!???). We enlisted the help of my Father in Law (he wouldnt have it any other way) and would start once we got back from the supply run. Sooooo off we go to Home Depot for the post and beams and every other thing we would need to compete the job. We are early birds and were there when they opended the doors. We quickly went about filling up the akwardly shaped rolly cart-I dont care if Leonardo DaVinci himself designed these things they dont hold 26' lengths of timber, so I had to enlist the help of an orange apron--which ended up being way beyond the scope of Customer Service! We gave him a list of timbers we needed and he set about getting everything we needed. During the time he was shagging the list full of items I noticed the garden center had opended (you cant tell because the doors open and the birds fly into the store--its like a call of nature--the birds are in and I'm headed out to see whats in stock!) Well there was plenty to look at, smell and work into my garden plans.... They had so much so I figured I would run back in and get ANOTHER rolly cart (just in case). They had 1 Gal Arborvitae for $6--I needed 4 for the front yard anyway.....Then I passed the Herbs and Veggies--since its too early to plant the vegs I focused primarily on the herbs. They had all my favorites! So in they go. Ok this is crazy I did not plan to come and buy plants and what would I do work in the garden on Sunday - its gonna rain! Drats why did I plan Saturday indoor work?!?!?! Well as I conemplated my fate the orange aprons cordened off the grass seed/brid seed section--leaves my only exit to be the annuals, ughhhh in they go. I was partial to the yellows, purples and oranges. These will surely lift my spirits while planting the rain ....tommorrow.....
We wrapped up the excursion and headed out to the truck, securing the load, tied on our neon pink flags when my husbands phone started rining. Hmmmm who could that be? Its way too early for the kids to be up? It was my Father in Law. Wanting to know if we could reschedule the post and beam work for Sunday?!? Heck YES we can! He must have been on the radar as me - he was wanting to take full advantage of the gorgeous day ahead. He had to reseed his lawn (the grounds!!) and prepare his veg garden plot for planting in a couple of weeks. I am sure we can find something to do today!
Well the first Herbs hit the dirt. A row of Rosemary and one or the pot, I love the pine like scent so clean and fresh and it does take me to a Christmas place for a moment-then a readjust my sunglasses and move on...
The bed of Basil that makes me excited to tend it as I know I will be sharing the harvest all summer long with my boss who frequents Italy and cant Basil as good..A bedful down and two for the pot....
Now my favorite smelling herb--Marjoram. So dainty, delicate and yet so pungent--it is pure perfume. I actually place these in groups of three in all corners of the yard so it is readily accessible. I like this in sauces. This herb gets potted in a little cauldron cuz I think its "Wicked Awesome"!!!
Ok now time for Thyme. I plant with exceptional care due to its magical properties. This gets spotlight placement in my fairy garden - love the dainty flowers and misty appeal. On May 1st you should collect the morning dew from the thyme leaves and pat your face with the dew--this will bring a year of prosperity to you. Why chance it--not to mention it smell sreally good and its a wake me up. no potting of this herb--I let her tear it up in the flower garden!
On to the Sage--I mixed varieties in the sage bed, Purple, Pineapple, Lemon and good old fashioned "sage" sage. I am intoxicated by this herb, you cant help but be transformed to Thanksgiving. I smell sage and I want to cook! The "sage" sage went in the pot!
Finally - As I always save the best for last--I plant the Oregano. This is the herb we planted as kids--even in the early 70's we had pizza gardens--if it went with tomato's it was worthy of planting. At the first smell I am taken back decades to tending the little garden we had with our old rusty hoes and trowels, hey we tried. Not only is this permeated in my brain with memories of outdoors, I remember being a brownie scout and going on a field trip to make pizza--and taking handfuls of oregano to top off our masterpieces - it was bliss. I cannot escape that memory everytime I come in contact with this, my favorite herb! This gets planted on my sunny walkways and a pot of its own and it gets deadheaded everyday!
I even found Catnip at Home Depot so that got planted up under my Japanese Maple a favorite spot for the kitties to frolic.
I finished planting the rest of the lot and went about mowing the grass--this was the first mowing this year--that smell is pure ecstacy, combined with the sweet smell of freshly planted herbs it is pure XXX-stacy!!!
What a day - one I did not plan on thats fer sure. I wanted to share so I went out after clean up last night and snapped some pics--during the day while I was so caught up in the planting bug--mother nature was hard at work and I had a few surprises at the end of the day....
OK I had to put the pics in my photo album as every time I tried to post the blog I kept getting an error--so please feel free to look--I left the captions on this blog but the pics are in my album-sorry bout that!
These are herb pots that I placed right off the kitchen--this is where two paths meet and as they get bigger you have to turn sideways to meander--that big ole' Hosta doesnt help that either! These are the Pink bleeding hearts that suddenly appeared when I wasnt looking. This is the first plant I every purchased and it has given me about 20 offspring, I have also planted some White ones. This plant I share the most.
This is a random white tulip that just came up this year in my Lilacs--I cant imagine where this came from or how it came to be as I have never purchased or planted a white tulip! I am wondering if this might be scared like the "white bull"! I guess time will tell--I hope it doesnt come back black next year!!!
Well I know I planned on doing the post and beams today! But I dont feel like it--good news is that it is about 50 degrees and FINALLY raining--it smells good. We havent had rain since April 14th!!! We need this and now I need to get to work on those beams!!! Have a great day no matter what you are doing!
Apr 23, 2008 | 6:26 PM PST
Finally Spring has sprung! We have nothing but warm and sunny all week long! We reached 80's here today! Its been so warm and dry that I ihave to start my regular watering schedule. I didnt dare not water after I planted new summer bulbs and translanted so many perennials over the weekend--they needed a a good watering every day...
In fact it has been so warm and dry they had "wild" fire in Boston--that just doesnt happen around here!
I took full advantage of the summer like weather today and left work early--wanted to get home and spend some time in the back yard--did that! Not only working but I also grabbed my camera and snapped some of those first blooms that we have been waiting to see. I posted some of them and will share one here....
These are the dainty darwins that grace my front walkway. Yes I have to ward off the overwhelming feeling to just swipe em and stick em in a vase to enjoy all night! But lets face it-I have spent the last few weeks watching the inch out of the ground just for this kodak moment! I will enjoy them on groundleven as long as possible--I give em' one week then that Hosta is going to eat them!!!
Once Spring arrives its like something new is blooming everyday! I look forward to posting more pics as that happens--I am also creating a Garden Journal that logs each plant in order of chronological bloom. I will also keep a side journal of the variuos wildlife species that visit and how the two affect each other. I am filling my hummingbird feeders this weekend and will hope for an early arrival....
See ya! Jo
Apr 15, 2008 | 4:52 PM PST
I'm not complaining about my job which I actually love very much....I'm just saying how difficult it is to go into the office when the spring peepers are heckling you! We have a little brook out front of our office and it is packed with wildlife, from spring peepers to bull frogs, from chikadees to hawks--it runs the gammet. I have been finding myself taking a long pause in the parking lot to take it all in. I am constantly looking out my office window (that doesnt open!!!) to see what else has stationed themselves there. I can be heard at any given moment yelling "WOW theres a red wing blackbird" or "Hey look a pair of yellow finches" everyone's gotta stop and look....Tonight as I was leaving the peeper raucus was soooo loud I had to call the staff (from the parking lot) and give em a listen--they were amazed, they came out to give a listen and we had to yell just to hear each other--it was wild kingdom. I think the peepers need a bigger bowl....Needless to say it is hard to stay focused on WORK when there is so much nature going on without you!
Apr 13, 2008 | 8:29 AM PST
Well the weather folks have done it again! We have yesterdays forecast today! Cold, Grey and Gloomy! Yesterday we pulled one over oon them though--this was their forecast for yesterday and we ended up with SUN / 70's!! It was such a delight. Warm sunny breezes that no-one predicted.
I had to offset the gray glooms by popping some cinnimon buns in the oven--It Worked!! :) I chuckle while looking at the temps in the low 40's and the fuzzy cold mist in the air (gross!!) - My morning glories and Moonflower are crawling out of their peat pots - I only planted them last weekend and they sre sooo leggy. Looking to underplant the clematis' and other flowering bushes that loose their color early--hoping to extend the garden color well into fall!
Being so gloomy outdoors opens up opportunities indoors. I will spend the day reviewing my notes from last year - making those changes I founjd so necessary to make when the gaardens were blooming and I couldnt move anything--I will plot those changes now. Mostly just color coordinating and choreographing the symphony of blooms.
Update on the second most important thing in springtime. RED SOX 4 / Yankees 3!!!!! Celtics 99 / Hawks 89!!!!!YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Boo that Bruins lost to the Canadiens again! Habs 3 / Bruins 2 (in O/T).
Jimmy Johnson (#48) won the SUBWAY 500 in Phoenix with awesome fuel conservation. My beloved Dale Jr (#88) finished with a solid 7th place finish (he didnt fare so well on the fuel calculation--but not a bad finish)
I will be cheering on the SOX and BRUINS again today--GO BOSTON!!!!
Apr 12, 2008 | 1:30 PM PST
Spring is springing all around in the northeast! The urgency I feel when I watch all of my plants bursting from their long winters nap--come on, BLOOM already!!!. This overwhelming feeling coupled with the sound of Joe Costiglione calling my beloved Red Sox vs. The Damn Yankees as I listen to the BoSox game on the radio as I flitter about the back yard--BLISS! So much for the weather reports that I have watched all week that said we were going to have a washout weekend--Chya Right! Sunny/70's I'll take it, I just wish I could convince myself not to fall under the weathermans spell since they are mostly guessing in these parts anywho! See, if I knew it would be so gorgeous out I would have made plans to reseed the lawn this weekend and get to getting on the flower beds! I still managed to get all kids of dirty and did some preliminary deviding and replanting, totally impromptu--I cant wait to see how it turns out in a couple of months!
GO SOX!!!
