Worth the Watch

This is very cool. Click to watch. Link goes to Youtube. One of my favourite new advertisements.

Shorter Days

The days are getting shorter but that just seems to have launched me into action. I have finally been getting the last of the bulbs and shrubs in. About half of the things going in for the winter are in and leaves are covering everything. One more day and Judy's garden should be finished and put to bed for the winter as well. Maggie is still suffering from her allergies and I am at a loss as to how to help her. Test after test and we still don't know what she is allergic to! Poor baby is what she is these days. She looks all beat up from scratching. Fall has definitely arrived and every day we go without snow now is bonus.

for Andrea...

Oh, you are so lucky, Andrea but first... where are you going to store 700 of them for the winter? What a nice problem to have. Remember not to store them in a refridgerator with fruits and vegetables. It will ruin the glads by spring. I am new to glads myself but I really like them. I plant mine like tulips; 3, 5 or 7 all in one hole. That way they grow like tulips - in a patch, although, they look more like iris coming up. I find patches makes it easier to stake them too. I can just use a peony ring or tomatoe cage. I am not that fond of staking. Since glads bloom later in the season and last to frost, you can put them all through the garden just like spring bulbs. It makes it easier to lift them if they are planted together in big patches or in rows but I don't have enough to worry about that yet. I put them throughout my garden and have no trouble rounding them all up when it is time to lift in fall. If I had 700 though, I might consider using them for a border or even in a wavy line through the middle of the bed or border. Enjoy your glads and post photographs next season, I'd love to see them.

Coral Bells

For years, I have been back and forth on coral bells. Mostly because they look like this in my garden and they look stunning in Linda's garden. If I could grow coral bells that looked like Linda's, it would seem well worth the effort. Plus, they often winter-kill in my garden. I am sure they are one of those plants labelled for my zone - just barely. The kind of plant that makes you wonder if someone is snickering into their sleeve when they label them! Of course, everytime I think of giving up on them, I catch a scene like this. With the light coming through the leaf, this little thing is a fall stunner! Now if I could only get it to grow taller than 3 inches and have more than 3 leaves.

Maggie

The last few days have been a whirlwind of animal care. Tuk has developed a rash on his inner thigh, Didi hurt her foot on something outside and Maggie's allergies are flaring up really bad. She has to get cream twice a day and wear a t-shirt. Although she prefers the t-shirt to a cone, all her confidence disappears when she wears it. The back actually says "Porchlight" but on her, no matter what angle you look, all you can read is "orchlight". I feel bad for her because she is really suffering with the itch of allergies but darn it... she is just too cute in her little t!

Time for Bed

It is time to drop the last of the tulip in, get the few shrubs still sitting in pots into the ground and get the garden ready for its' winter sleep. All putting the garden to bed really invovles is watering everything really well and tossing all the leaves from the drive and lawn onto the beds. We had three days of rain though and eventhough it did not rain today, it was grey and overcast so everything is wet. Before the rain came, I got this catmint bed and one other by the drive completed. I need the rain to stop long enough to get the rest done. It should take about 2 days total so I should be able to squeeze that in somewhere between now and snow. The upside is that at least I can skip the watering part. 

The Grackles Stop

On Thursday, Miles stepped out onto the back deck and discovered hundreds of Grackles in our yard. They filled the chokecherry tree and the drive and the campground and the shop yard. We haven't seen any since then so they must have been on their way somewhere.

John & Reena Host Thanksgiving

John & Reena hosted Thanksgiving dinner tonight and the food was excellent. Reena and her sister Sherry did all the work and all we had to do was play with the kids and keep them smiling until it was time to eat. Gordon and I caught a ride with Sean, Destini and Lily because Miles had to work and couldn't make it. We had a great time and brought a plate home for Miles that is in the oven now waiting for him to get home from work. It was good to see Reena's family and Jack and Myra again. That usually only happens at Christmas.

Baby Shower

Lily's baby shower was today at her house. I finally got to see both of her eyes open at the same time. There are two of them and right now, they are both blue. She got way too much stuff, the food was great and a good time was had by all. As usual, in those situations, I got home much later than planned so no gardening today. It was worth giving up for our baby girl though. She already seemed to be enjoying her new playpad.

Fall Colours in the Yard

The yard is showing signs of fall everywhere. I came around the corner to find the sun hitting these willows seemingly to remind me that winter is coming. The boardwalk Dogwood is also turning and everywhere you look in the Valley there are reds, golds and oranges.