garden98011's Blog
garden98011's April 2008 Entries
Last Post 16 days, 8 hours Ago
Apr 16, 2008 | 11:06 AM PST
Well, almost done with spring garden clean up. I just have the weeding & sweeping of the courtyard then I can spread compost around the boxwood that edge it and I am DONE!! I love the look of new plant growth against fresh black mulch.
Last year we were unable to entertain due to a remodeling project so this year I am chomping at the bit to get everything done early so we can relax with family and friends. Now just have to wait on warm weather so DH & friend can finish the deck railing then paint the house trim & fence (my project). We had drainage problems in our backyard so it was torn up and again-need warm weather for the grass seed to sprout.
Thought I’d share spring photos then again when the season has peaked, such a difference!
Entry containers-should have cleaned the stairs before these were taken:
My new tree fern-huge 7'x6', way too big-possible mistake for my garden!
Planted fountain will be overflowing with foilage & orange begonias with warm weather:
Removed the bird cage and replanted with brugmansias & ostrich ferns:
Before:
AFTER:
Sweet Gracie Girl has grown and should be bigger by the next garden photo session as well:
Apr 12, 2008 | 7:49 AM PST
My sweet friend and her son are coming over in an hour. I hired him to work in the garden & get the furniture ready to stain and she wanted to come along and garden with me!!!!
I have a question about what to use for cleaning outdoor wood furniture, organically. This is our first year with wood (Balau) furniture; we had metal in the past. and the maintenance was simple. Unfortunately, we have to leave everything outside over the winter and the wood has discolored. Years ago, I would have mixed up a light solution of TSP & bleach-not now. I rarely use chemicals. I Googled solutions w/o success this morning so thought I'd ask you all for any ideas. Do you have a solution to kill dandelions (and not lawn) ?
The sun is out-what a great day! Hope to see some hummers, the feeders are so pretty with the morning sun on them. My husband took the camera w/him on a business trip otherwise I'd share the sun with those of you still experiencing winter-like conditions.
Thanks~Andrea
Apr 9, 2008 | 12:17 PM PST
Okay, on my way out to spread some more compost, but it occurred to me others might not know about a great tip I read a few years back. Before you go get dirty, scratch your nails over a bar of soap. The soap keeps the dirt from embedding itself under your nails for the whole season, it washes out with hot water! I make certain every area is covered with soap, then use latex gloves under my gardening gloves when doing the really messy maintenance-like compost We have sun today! After the compost I will reward myself with hanging the hummingbird feeders and maybe placing some of the glass rods out there~Andrea
Apr 7, 2008 | 1:52 PM PST
Finally took the time to learn how to add photos to my blog-courtesy of Bill Mitchell's directions.
These are the glass pieces I purchased over the weekend. They will be mounted on brass pipes of varying sizes and displayed throughout the garden. We may use low voltage lighting in the pipe for evening enjoyment as well. The bird bath is about 15" diameter and the rods are 24-36" tall:
New glass globe in the old fountain that I replant every year, couldn't ever get the water to sound right so it became a container-I like it much better:
Some of the whacked shrubs (surrounded by mounds of compost) that were full and lush until Saturday:
Apr 6, 2008 | 8:59 PM PST
What a great weekend; my oldest visited from Boise (soon to move here-June) to find a house to purchase- we looked at tons, made an offer, but she went home w/o purchasing. She is such a joy to spend time with, I have missed her immensely, all the more obvious when she was around (hard to keep from squeezing her every second!).
Yesterday, we went to an open house of a glass artist I met w/Mosaic 2007 at the NW Flower & Garden Show. The gal was selling seconds of her work, though it all looked beautiful.
(http://www.glassgardensnw
.com/galleries/public/index.ht
ml)
I am so excited about my purchases, but will have to post photos later, too busy w/J to stop and take any. The pieces will be arranged in the garden after the compost is spread. J just called and has made it safely in her driveway, I can relax-DH poured a nice glass of wine and I am checking my email & GG stuff before I have to answer his questions about the remaining tax documents he's been organizing all afternoon. augh.
The other photos I must take are of the extreme pruning my backyard took yesterday-almost made me vomit. Our regular yard guy trims everything twice a year, but he had his brother concentrate on the back while he tackled the monster hedge that insulates us from our neighbor's pool noise. His brother did not hear DH tell him the shrubs only needed a light prune, he totally whacked them. Yet another lesson learned, ALWAY be home when others are working in your yard.....DH thought all was under control, plus he was dealing with tax junk & my mother so J & I could be out and about together. Such a sweet man, I fret and he just takes care of things with a smile....lessons abound!
I love the compost that was delivered Friday and have several yards already spread, but will have to wait until the shrubs are "softened" tomorrow, before I work on the remaining heap. I did buy a wheel barrow w/two front wheels at Costco today-should save my previously torn elbow & shoulder from flaring up every other day.
Procrastinated enough-off to answer his dreaded (on my part) questions.........
Hope you all had time to enjoy your gardens this weekend!
~Andrea
Apr 2, 2008 | 4:46 PM PST
Okay, my husband counted all the pots we have been acclimenting (should have waited a month), we have seventy, plus I just planted several new vines, Agapanthus (6) and a Mediterranean Fan Palm. That doesn't include the many bulbs I have already planted (voodoo & surprise lily). To top it off I received my order from Plant Delights today, which thankfully I had pared down since the winter:
Poet's Laurel (Danae racemosa) x 2
Formosa Lily (Lilium formosanum)
White Giant Calla (Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Wht giant)
Sacred Lily (Rohdea japonica) x 3
Oriental Chain Fern (Woodwardia orientalis)
It's a good thing I cancelled my order from Heronswood. Well, only because Mosaic2007 & I found the same plants at the PNW Flower & Garden show, so they are part of the seventy pots-that justification didn't really work.....I really love all the other member's photos of their seedlings, but that would be a mistake for me as well.
I discussed w/C. that next year I absolutely do not need any plants (except a couple for the non-working fountain), he replied "it's not a case of need, it's your recreation, you will always find a way to fit more plants into the yard." Woohoo-bingo, but since he was no help, I really need your reminders over the winter months of 2008-09. This sickness has such a grip, made all the more obvious once spring has sprung. Maybe an obsessed gardener recovery program would help.
The truth is, I like my garden just how it is-I don't need to cram anything else in there. We have a small back yard and I don't want it to look stuffed, but am afraid it may this summer. Once the blah winter months hit, I forget and I order.....So next year I hope to be held accountable by other GG members! I really am serious. I think it could be a defining year. Next spring I will probably be quite surprised I actually survived. Though maybe we should move to a new house, then I can start all over...hmmmmmm now there's a solution. No, the reminders will be helpful or we can start a support group for all the other members in the same boat.
Andrea
