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dbjc364's April 2009 Entries

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Empty holes..

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Apr 29, 2009 | 2:18 AM PST
Tag: all is well in the land of nod..
Well- I brought those 10 bushes home,and mulled about it,by the time Jim got home-we decided it would be good to go back the next morning for 10 more,which we did.Instead of just plunking down the strawberry raised bed with the newspapers,- he decided to remove the sod this time with the tractor.Thats all done,just have to move the bed over about 15 ft.Thats as far as we got with that, with nice sunny days-but very gusty winds that halted the progress.Today is suppose to be a good day,so after he gets home from work, we move it. He also ripped up the baby spruce that were dying,leaving me 6 holes.So I'll plant 6 blueberry bushes in those,they should make a nice hedge,with their crimson color in the landscape in the late fall,and as their in front of the little fence,privacy in summer for the firepit area.I can get started on them preparing the holes today.4 holes are already poked in the orchard,so I can prepare them also and get 10 of the bushes in.While he's got the post hole digger on,I asked for a few additional holes should I find anymore on sale. My "Chariot" the lawn mower, died. No charge on the battery, and the battery charger died too.After getting a new charger,and recharging that all night,cleaning up the motor- its back up and running for another season.My previous landlord came to see me,I start another job this week,on my 2 days off from Landon,which will take me into quite a few weeks.A house of bachelors isn't a pretty sight,sorry guys-dont be offended-but men dont generally clean too good.Add a whole lot of construction dust to that,and its no small task.So- I'll be tied up with that for a good stretch.That leaves the weekends for any major projects to work on-like the house up north.I'm on cleaning-painting-cooking detail,while the 2 guys handle the brunt work,unless they need me to hold a board.Well-it should prove to be an interesting summer.The "Royal Crown Imperials" are about to break flower finally,once they started shooting up,they came fast.I couldn't remember where the "Red Hot Pokers" were,but their there in the rock bed.Which means they will have to be moved next year as their leaf growth is big,and they'll take up too much room for the space their in.Landon helped me move rocks to the front annual bed with his Deere & cart,since my "chariot"was down, and we got that raked out in short order. Dug out all my seeds to pick what I want to put in there today, and have my daughter pick what she wants for her garden.As I have a drawer full,neither of us have to buy anything for at least a couple years.There's not suppose to be any wind today,so my first chore is to spraypaint the metal arbor before planting the new Clemitis.My daughter has a hard time getting Landon down for a nap,but Jim says I just plum wear him out here.With all the fresh air- digging & walking all around-he still usually takes a good 2-3 hr. nap most days.We took him to McDonalds yesterday for a treat,with a good 1/2 hr. in the playground with Pappa and I taking a round ourselves up in the tubeslides with him.Well-actually it was pretty cool,so I can see why kids like it so much.The transplanted perennials latched on quick and are doing well,but I hope another round of rain is in the forecast soon.

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That man..

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Apr 22, 2009 | 4:19 PM PST
Tag: good rain..
Ok- the Tinman and I have issues...his eyes fell off again,and I used Gorilla Glue,but no matter,they still fell. This time I colored his eyes with a permanent marker instead.Whenever I have the black paint out again I'll go over them.I do wish I had another decent spot to hang him..An artist is their own worst critic,and I am certainly that.Whenever I am out there,I see a plant that needs to be moved,one thats not growing that great or looks a bit shabby, a spot that needs more color. We're all artists in the gardening world,creating- nurturing.Because I have empty nest syndrome-its where I happen to put most of my energy.I could never do all this if I worked a full time 40 hr a week job,I'd be too exhausted.But because I'm helping with the childcare since Landon was born,I decided I had at least 5 good years to pack a wallop into this property before I fly off and perhaps do something else.The blueberry orchard was started because I wanted spare change in my retirement years -so I had to start 5 yrs ago-so I could go to yard sales and buy more plants when I'm really old...! Plus I have good memories of childhood picking & eating & we're trying to plant anything edible that will grow good here.Today I couldnt resist the impulse,and ventured to one of the nurseries.They got to me.The price was decent for blueberries-so their saving out 10 bushes for me till Friday.I also came home with another Clematis.I do have a spot and arbor for that.I already have 3- I checked,and 2 of them have sprouted.I figured moving the daffodil bulbs now,when I'm suppose to do it in the fall- would put them in transplant shock,and they would look yucky. But I did it right before the rain-so that must have made a difference, as their all perking right up there and blooming.I never waste my potting soil,whenever I repot the houseplants-or outside pots,all that goes in the beds,and then the peat-compost-shredded leaves,shredded paper & some grass,screened loam-old horse manure..Tons of coffee grounds,and I pour the left over coffee from my morning pot into a gal. jug beside the sink,and into the beds or pour it around the blueberry bushes. I have a decent compost area now-but decided to try what the German folk do.They do their composting right in the bed that they're going to plant in, and I have till next year till mine turn into gardens,so I have time.I've also decided this year the little water garden gets started-even if I can only buy the pool for this year-fountain next year. The wonders of gardening & dreaming never cease for me,and theres always another spot for a bit of color.

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A day off..

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Apr 22, 2009 | 2:42 AM PST
Tag: plenty of daffodils..
My day off from the grandson,but it rained all day Tuesday-which we badly needed.I looked out the window later on in the day- and everything had greened up that wasnt. The buds are now breaking open on all the trees.I told Jim probaly by this weekend I'd be mowing the blueberry orchard. Just heard the weather report-its 49* today-going to climb to the 80's this weekend!! I think thats a record this time of year for us! OK- its stopped raining-going to don the boots and check things out today.The earth just sucked up all that water.Monday,after JIm got the bamboo fence back up and good & sturdy,I planted-moved a line of Rudebeckia's to that. Thats in back of the raised rock garden.Now they'll have good support and I have some more color on that side.They grow 8-10 ft with nice bright yellow pom-poms of flowers and multiply like crazy.I'm looking around for another spot where I can start another line of them.The rock garden area is looking so much better this year-well enough of our sweat went into it-so I quess it should! Its amazing to me that 2 years ago that was our old garage demolitian site.After walking around a bit- I found daffodil bulbs up that I stuck in the ground last fall in a hurry. It turns out I have quite a few-so I dont have to buy anymore. I made a small bed encircling the honeysuckle tree with a small group of them,and I can fit in a few more.Repainted the small windchimes-trellis is done,also with 2 new small beds for something climbing,now onto the sitting bench that needs some "Krylon" paint for plastic. The bench has the 2 pots on the ends for plants but needs a new paint job desperately.During the heat of a summers day-I sit there in the cool shade of the small tree to check out the garden and contemplate what my next move is.Besides the window boxes needing attention,I've slowly been removing the perennials along all 4 fence lines. Much to difficult to keep weeding with the tall grass.They belong in raised beds,where I dont have to spend all my time trying to keep up.My garlic is up and the strawberries are growing good. I pulled off most of the hay-today I can finish that.But before I do that I need to check on Landons preschool,he's suppose to get signed up and start in August! Wow-what a change that will be! I can even have him go here in my town-instead of me going there all day,and losing valuable time in the gardens.He's talking up a storm now,and also in the "why" stage,which drives us crazy at times,and almost completely potty trained.Its been an interesting child year to say the least! In the events of potty-training,and stopping alongside the roads for emergencies,or in the yard working,now he thinks he can just pee anywhere at will-parking lots of stores,sidewalks,etc.,so now its directing him to be discreet,so he doesnt get jailed for indecent exposure...lol. We live on the outside of town with enough privacy here even with a busy road,but I'm trying to teach him that he has to be a bit more selective.Preschool should be just as interesting! He loves talking to the big fat worms we find underneath the leaves we rake,I should get him a worm farm house for his birthday in July! Since the "Bald Eagle" has made a comeback,we had one the other day encircling the property,looking for something to eat- it flew low enough to us so we could see its color good. Thats my second sighting in all my 50 yrs.What a magnificient bird!

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Flower power..

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Apr 14, 2009 | 2:05 AM PST
Tag: ready-set-go..
ok- The lawn mowers are all charged * gassed up,Landons Deere is ready to roll. The 2 crocus finally decided to start its bloom,today I can snap a pic.Strong enough winds here last few days--had to stay inside. I quess I'm on windowbox detail next couple of weeks-go get some paint-and also repaint the trellis thats peeling-before I plant something to climb it. The trip up north is delayed till the end of month,so now I have to do something,else I'll go crazy...time to open up the shed doors,and venture inside, and start sorting,and cleaning up..need to bring the radio out there,for some jamming tunes. Quess I could pick up the line of leaves I piled,,and see what else is peeking up.Now have one daffodil bloom,Glory-of-the-Snow,and Hyacinths in a pot ready to bloom. Very bad winds here yesterday-so repainted the birdbath bottom in the gardenshed-and added pics to the album.When we have the grandson we have to pick projects he can help with, so today we put the bamboo fence back up-this time with posts, and fill 4 big holes.Maybe it will stay up this time..going to plant the Foxglove in front of it.I like the flowers but dont want the boy even touching them so their on the backside of the rock garden and out of the way.He knows he can taste the chives-parsley & berries,but don't want him thinking he can walk around and just pop anything in his mouth,and he's pretty finnaky-so I dont think he would.Jim put those "Areator" shoes on,and poked holes in one bed,I'll lay newspaper and start filling it with last years potting soil from the pots,he'll screen some loam for me.I told him those shoes were worse than cross country skiing,,now he knows. Shouldnt be too much longer for some blooms on the Hyacinths as the leaves are good size now. They won't be as big as the picture-but a good size.I put daffodils in one window box,in the fall I'll transfer them to the rock garden.They are such a happy pretty flower-sitting right near the steps,and in front of the big window-so can get 2 good views of them.Its really hard not to smile or be happy when you look at them.They multiply well- but want to plant more of these happy spring flowers this fall. I'll make a 2 ft area under the honeysuckle tree for some more.The Arbor is 3/4 done now- today on a hunt for more "Periwinkle Blue" to finish it-then make 2 small beds on each side for some "Sweet Peas".My first attempt last year was a flop,but I think I'm suppose to soak the seeds.My 6 dwarf spruce are worse than last year-so I'll be pulling them up and replacing them.Glad I didnt spend alot of money on them.The lilacs are doing well,and hope to buy more on sale,as we want to line the whole front with them.They're a small tree that holds up well in our climate.I'm pretty sure it was the groundhog nibbling at the base of the bushes and trees over the winter-so we'll have to put up the critter guards on most stuff, and time to start spreading some mulch.

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Once upon a star..

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Apr 11, 2009 | 3:08 AM PST
Tag: anticipation...
Since I no longer have to chase the gardenshed star-I have all kinds of time to rebuild the camper!! Imagine that..As with anything-once you start digging into a project it gets a life of its own and snowballs...one stud lead to another-taking out all the bad boards-insulation,etc. Now we're into the putting back stage at least 1/2 of one wall section.We started out with a tent in the beginning,and all its stuff-but after it taking so very long to pack up and unpack- we thought we'd go with a hard shell camper. We also thought we'd be frugal,as this is only a summertime thing,and buy 2nd hand even if it meant we had to do some repairs.I'm sure there are alot of gardeners out there who have campers & RV's.For anybody out there who is considering it-if you go 2nd hand-just make sure you get a ladder and look the roof over real good, and underneath at the floor.We knew there had been a water problem-but didnt know the extent-and didnt know a thing about campers really.Its been an adventure to say the least,and we havent even made it out of the driveway yet!...A slow-going project, Jim worked on it another 4 hr. stretch yesterday-finally feeling like he made some progress.Dividing his time between doing the taxes,camper,putting the woodstove together-he's not lacking any entertainment.Tomorrow we both have off,so we'll be back out there.I'm checking my flowers once a day,and the Hyacinths are in the lead so far. I counted at least 30 plus bulbs coming up in the 3 beds,many of them new-so I'm excited about their first showing. As I couldnt resist at Walmart-I bought 3 white Hyacinths for $3 to add to the supply,but am putting them in a pot first. That will give Landon a chance to play in the dirt today inside because of rain-and will also do up a pot of parsley.ok- browsing thru a catalog,I find out there are perennial tulips,and regular tulips.I always thought a tulip is a tulip,but no....your not done learning about this yet.So now-the next time I order tulips I will make sure I get the perennials for longer years of bloom. Even though mine are still putting out blooms-I did notice their not as vigorous as the 1st year I planted them.I dont want to have to plant tulips every fall either.Whether or not that bulb food actually works I dont know-but they all got some anyways last year.It took a year for the baby spruce we planted to grab hold,then it was a foot tall, we measured it, now a little more than 5 years later-its on its way to 6 ft. Checking it out yesterday-I can see its going to gain another foot this year. Its right beside where the property dips down & always floods a little-so its getting plenty to drink. The pussy willow { 3 years} is also in another flood zone area,as that loves water-I just hope it stays dwarf like the paper said. My moms sure didnt-but its a great tree. Update- Rechecking the spring bed yesterday,and I now have "Camassia" starting to bloom. As I sat on a rock,I also remembered buying some new bulbs at the country fair last fall- but as I cant remember what they are or which ones they are,,I am excited watching them on a daily basis.Today I'll be able to snap a few pics finally. I also have 2 crocus ready to burst open!! so I quess the Hyacinths arent in the lead anymore...

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