chattycarnation's Blog

Touring the nurseries
Apr 26, 2008 | 8:09 PM PST
Tag: Weather man predicts frost Monday night

How does one control themselves when they visit the local nurseries this time of year? I went to three this week.. purchased a few things, but just enough to satisfy an urge to plant. It is early yet and we have frost in the forcast on Monday night..:(

So I will protect the plants I purchased under the deck and wait for a few days, but wanted to take advantage of the seasons open houses. I got a couple of things I am excited about.. a new Yellow blooming baptisia and a new Endless Summer Hydrangea. Really nice plants on sale too!!

Sunshine in the forcast!
Apr 20, 2008 | 4:11 AM PST
Tag: Spring in the midwest and an earthquake.

Well we had an earthquake this week. 5.4 on the Richter scale. Actually two of them and several aftershocks. The 1st one was 4:37 AM and shook us out of bed. It lasted about 15 seconds or so. The second one was later in the morning about 10:30, it registered at 4.5. NO damage, although my aunt who lives near Springfield had several items fall off her mantel onto her arm and she has cuts and bruises and broken frames and knickknacks.

We have had so many dreary days here lately that it is kind of depressing. Today however the forcast is sunny and 70 degrees. I am SO READY. i want to retire my winter coat for the season and get out my spring clothes and enjoy the outdoors for awhile. Maybe we can even sit on the deck and actually have a cookout soon.!

My daffs are all in full bloom. I did not realize it but I do have several different kinds. The daffodils on the long berm are mostly cream...some are all the same color and others have a yellow or orange center. The daffodils over the tank are mostly yellow, but some have different centers. This fall I want to plant some more as daffodills do not seem to entice the rabbits much.:)

I do have a few tulips getting ready to bloom. I went around the yard several times this spring and sprinkled creole seasoning on the emerging plants as the bulbs were coming thru the ground and I will continue to do that so the rabbits wont like my tulips. Since today is not going to be rainly I plan to do that this afternoon.

We have already mowed once. The grass was really uneven and thick. We mowed it really high and now we have had anoteher 2 inches of rain.. so the soil is soft and the rider will leave ruts..might have to wait a day or two to mow it again. Lots of dead grassy areas in the lawn due to last years drought. So we bought seed and will get the soil ready to reseed and when the next round of showers come thru, which is supposed to be Tuesday we will get that seed out. So much to do and not much cooperation from the weather!

The nuerseries are full of new and exciting plants. I cant wait to get going, but in the midwest .. you have to be careful. The last frost might not have happened yet! So will get a few containers going and enjoy them while we wait til Mother's Day.. that is about when our average last frost date comes aroudn. Happy Spring everyone!