In the Garden Today

Miles found this little guy resting in the garden and had to save him from Summer. Spring is everywhere with all kinds of returning friends who were gone all winter. There are crocus opening in my garden today and the daffodils and tulips are starting to bud up. Still no tarda buds but I am watching. Today I started to dig up the plants for the sale. I immediately discovered I need a ton more pots! Guess a trip to Judy's shed is in on my list for tomorrow. There is a lot to dig and the weather is more than cooperating... sunny and warm all day today.

Muskrat Sam

The lake that used to be our back field has shrunk to become a very large pond and Sam has moved in. I have no idea how Sam pulled this move off with Tuk in our yard and his famous hatred of anything Muskrat. Yet, here is Sam, happily munching away and no Tuk to be seen. I have noticed that Sam does not tend to show himself in the early morning or mid-afternoon which is when Tuk is typically doing yard patrol rounds. However, once Tuk goes inside to nap, Sam can be seen swimming all over the pond. Still no ducks nesting and we have been actively discouraging that. We have been chasing the ducks away and as much as I hate doing that it is better than the alternative which would be baby ducks in the yard when the water does go down. The last time we had baby ducks in the yard, Summer brought me one a day until they were all gone. It took seven days. My heart broke for the Momma duck but there was really no stopping Summer despite our best efforts. That, along with the barn swallow couple that lost their nest (including babies) to Jake the same year, convinced us to chase away birds trying to nest right in the yard... before the babies arrived. So far, so good this year. 

Aberdeen Tarda

My Tarda Tulip are the furthest along in my garden today. They are always the first of the bulbs to bloom and they go for a good long time for a bulb, producing flowers that bud up green, blending in with the foliage so that you almost miss them until they open up wide... bright, sunny yellow, with a pure white edge. The foliage itself is also special. A bright green with a thin red edge that let's me know the patch is Tarda long before the buds arrive. The red can be seen on the tips of the leaf even when barely peeking out of the soil. My Tarda were in the garden at Aberdeen Street when we moved in. A small patch off the back step. From that original patch, I have given them to Judy, Linda, my Aunt Marilyn and then moved some here. Although I left the original little patch on Aberdeen, it has spread from there into my garden in the valley and all the way to Nova Scotia. I have decided not to take most of my garden with me since the timing of the move would have me doing nothing but planting this year once I arrive. I think I will be busy enough without an acre of plants to get into gardens I am not familiar with. Even so, there are a few exceptions that are coming with me. The Tarda are among them. Bulbs will be quick to plant... or so I keep telling myself!

Tulips Missed

Well, it has been a long winter but my garden is coming up for another season now. This season, we hope to move and in preparation for that, I dug up all the tulips last fall and shipped them off to Linda. I knew there were many that I did not get because I decided on the plan too late in the season. I only stopped digging them because the ground froze. I guess it was a faulty plan! The tulips I missed are all starting to come up now. It would seem that I missed most, if not all, of the Zurel so there are huge patches of them poking through. I did surprisingly well on the others though. Not too many coming up that I have to deal with this year. I am not sure which varieties they are so I will have to pull out my map. Regardless, I am taking all the tulips. They are easy to move.

Sleeping Dogs

Some days you just know it's better to let sleeping dogs lay. The dogs were all worked up today and had several little skirmishes over nothing. Cabin fever was setting in. Then, this afternoon, the sun came out, the temperature went up and the dogs all headed outside. Energy drained and back in by dark. The warm afternoon made a huge difference. With luck, we will have a few more of those throughout the real cold snaps that January usually brings.

Sorting

Sorting beanies and buddies today. We have 11 rubbermaid bins of them and want to get it down to 1 or 2 to take. Hopefully we will be successful but now that we have dug them out, there seem to be a lot that we want to keep.

Dog Watching

Solomon, as usual, with his shadow MoeMoe. They were bird watching on the window sill until Maggie and Didi started a commotion inside that caused them to switch to dog watching. All of the cats are just waiting for spring. They are constantly at the windows and poking their heads out the door but not wanting to actually step into the snow. It is OK now but by spring they will be wailing up and down the halls with impatience for the grass.

Bows, Ribbons, Paper & Bags!

Can you believe that once it was all pulled out, sorted and added up... I had almost $400.00 worth of wrapping stuff?!? Spent the day sorting and getting things ready to sell. The more I go through it, the less I want to haul out to Nova Scotia. Really thinking of selling everything except the couch, ottoman and table. It would be nice if all we had to move was that, us and the dogs.

Peace

One of the fun side effects of packing... I am finding all kinds of things I like :)

Dr. Seuss

For some reason, he always makes me think of a Dr. Suess illustration when he sleeps like this.

Bluejay Stops

The Bluejay arrived the day before yesterday. He usually only stays 3 or 4 days before he is on his way. Miles was able to catch him through the window this morning.

Winter Rays

The little girls already do not like the winter weather. They stay inside a lot more than even a week ago. The only sunray they could find to share was on the dining room floor.

Amazed

I am stunned and amazed at how little I want to take and how easy it is to let go of everything. I am so looking forward to so much less clutter! I only have one bookshelf left to go through and all the books are packed in less than 3 full boxes... I should get away with only 4 total. Considering how many books I had, that is real accomplishment!

Sunset

The time change must have confused me and midnight came and went! This was today's photograph though not quite what I had hoped. By the time I noticed, the light was really changing so I had to take it from the deck with the branches in the way. Sunset out the kitchen window... bright pink sky and the fields were all orange-gold. It was prettier than this but you get the idea.

You might ask...

...what ever happened to step 1b but we are all over the place! Jumped forward all the way to step 5 and went to Sean's today. This gate and yard clean up are on the list for tomorrow. Feels like we are getting tons done... I hope the weather doesn't break for awhile.

Tools!

Skipped to step 2 and all the photographs today were of tools. Ticking off the "to do" list we got most of the tools sorted. Feeling progress all around me. Miles' dead car was picked up today. After two years on the drive, it looks empty out there now but since that was step 3, we are flying through the tasks ;)

We will definitely be ready for spring with yard clean up.

For Sale

Moving along with the "to do" list, I got the car washed and photographs taken today. Put plates on it for another month. Tomorrow we will clean the inside and post it for sale. Step 1a complete ;)

Another Garden To Go

We are listing our property this spring and as can be expected, my garden is too big! Anyone who is not a gardener would have a hard time keeping up to the size so everything in this photograph that is garden, has got to go. In this view, that includes the fence. Looks like I have busy days already lined up for spring!

Cool Story, Short Article

This seemed like the kind of thing I'd want to share on a blog :)  Enjoy!

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/101104/national/lotto_millions_gone

Books!

...and magazines. That and cleaning up in the yard were on my agenda for today. The littlest stack is coming to you, everything in front of it is sell/donate and everything beyond is coming with us. It was two boxes of books so far and I think maybe one more to go. If we have under 4 boxes of books to go, I will be happy with that. Kind of fun going through my books, and that the snow has melted :)

Coffee Anyone?

Ran out of K-cups today and we are two days from a trip to town so I hauled out the coffee pot. This is the first pot of coffee I have made in a couple of years... nice to know I remembered how though :)

Out of Control

My "to do" list has gotten totally out of control! Do you know how much there is to do? Yikes!

Happy Halloween!

Oh my gosh, his face has caved in!! We had some fun with the 'tickle trunk' this evening ;)

Happy Halloween!

Beautiful Day with Frost.

+16 with frost today. It is a beautiful day although the birds are snowed in. They are saying now that by end of the week this snow will be gone and November is going to be warm. Here's to hoping they are right!

My New Best Friend

A skunk has moved into the yard somewhere. Penny was sprayed yesterday and today it was Wile E and Tuk. It's awful!!

Oddity of Instant Winter

Normally, all these leaves would be long gone before we had this much snow. Instant winter has made the yard edges quite pretty for winter.

Amaryllis

I can't believe it but it's true. Both my Amaryllis are coming back! Now to see if they bloom...

...and just in time!

Winter arrives in my garden.

Closing Up for the Season

Got the roof put on the Love Bus today and most of the black plastic pots organized. Aside from a few final fading blooms, Fall foliage is all that is left to look at. We have snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow. I hope not too much because I still have things to get into the shop for the winter like chairs and a wheelbarrow.

Found My Frog!

He is gettiing really beat up after all these years but every time I misplace him, he always finds his way back :)

Days are getting shorter....

This is 6:30 p.m. today.

Judy's Rose Garden

We have finished moving Judy's roses and there is nothing left to do in her Rose Garden this season except to cover a couple of the more tender roses but that has to wait because it is still too warm to cover roses. There are also things to do that are best left until Spring so for now, they are moved and composted. Everything else will wait until next season.

Getting Ready for Winter

The box under Sol is full of books as well. Starting to haul in winter supplies and one of Judy's contributions to fight the boredom was books! Between you and her, I should be set for reading which is awesome :)

Statistic

Not the greatest photograph for the day but I have been reading this over and over. The article does not say where the statistic comes from but it is Canadian. Hmmmm.

Three More Glads for Judy

Her's really did last so much longer than mine. She had three more blooming stalks today :)

Lift in Fall is Lifted!

Easy record notes today... it's done! Whoo Hoo!! Everything lift in fall is inside. All that is left is a few Iris and Lily to get in and a couple things to move if I don't run out of time. Then, of course, general clean up and the garden is put to bed for the Winter.

More Fall Garden Record Notes

Another busy day in my garden. Fall chores seem endless but it was a beautiful day for gardening again and forecast is for a few more of those yet. Good thing too because despite getting a ton of work done today out there, I probably have twice as much to go before I can say the garden is put to bed for the winter.

Lifted Dahlia 'Parkland Glory', 'Ferncliff Cameo', 'Hy Cutter', 'Taratahi Ruby', 'Yvonne' and 'Wine & Roses'. My Spring map was good but not quite good enough. I have two Dahlia tubers of which, one is 'Taratahi Ruby' and one is 'Hy Cutter' but I don't know which is which. Good thing 'Hy Cutter' is white so it will go with anything and I will figure it out next year when they bloom.

Lifted Gladiolus 'Passos', Border Gladiolus, Calla 'Picasso' and all the Freesia. Potted up two more Geranium cuttings. Planted Speedwell from Judy which is different than the one I have here already. I put the Speedwell beside the two patches of German Purple Iris at the rock edge towards the Knautia. Planted Bouncing Bet in two spots: beside the Stargazer Lily in the Bird Sanctuary (to the house side) and right off the front deck beside the trellis where the Euphorbia was planted this year. Planted Monkshood beside (lawn side), the Knautia that went in the Bird Sanctuary. Moved the 'Angelique' Tulips marked in Summer to two places: in front of the furthest Delphinium in the Front House Garden and immediately right of the sidewalk where the bushline was taken down. Dark came too soon today. I was on a roll.

Nesting Again

Baby Hammy is still trying to build a little log house in the bird feeder. We keep trying to discourage it, he keeps rebuilding. I really hope he has built an alternate winter house somewhere because there is no way this is going to keep him warm enough in -50!

Garden Record Notes

It would seem that between my notebook, my maps and my blog journals, I have once again lost complete track of my garden. No time to figure it out now though. Still things to lift and plant. Was a busy day in my garden despite the cool weather and wind today. I planted the Knautia 'Mars Midget' in the Bird Sanctuary at the start of the rock edge behind the chiminea. Planted another patch of German Purple Iris beside the first that went in that same garden next to the new 'Henry Hudson' Rose. Planted the last patch of German Purple Iris left to go in at the Saxifraga 'Purple Robe' in the Sun Gardens. Put four of the Geranium cuttings into pots to root. Lifted 'Kari Fruit Salad', 'Babylon Purple', 'Baron Katie' (all dahlia), the yellow Calla 'Flame' and several of the Calla 'Crystal Blush'. I would have got them all but it appears I have lost track of a couple for the moment. Time to read my notebook. Planted my new Explorer Shrub Rose 'J.P. Connell' which is a yellow climber from Judy, in the Bird Sanctuary top level towards the house from the yellow/purple Columbine. It needs something to climb. I need to remember that.

Cerastium in the Sun

If I recall it was Linda who told me that I should move my Cerastium that was here when moved in, into the sun. Wow! Was she right or what? I can't believe that I saved a little piece back in its' original shady spot just in case it didn't survive the move. I'd say it more than survived. I guess I'll move that little saved back piece out into the sun in the Spring.

Woodpeckers Return

Not sure where they go for the Summer but they are back in droves for the winter. So many of them, the birds are sharing the suet and one little guy had to wait in the hanging bird bath for a turn to eat!

I have been waiting for this all day...

My back is sore, my legs are sore, it was cool and windy today and even colder tonight. The best part about the photograph above is what you can't see. It smells like grapefruit and the mirror is all steamy. Hot bubble bath... here I come!

At it until dusk...

Helped Judy with roses today and when I dug her yellow climbing rose to move it, it was two separate roots. I have a yellow climbing rose now. I wrote down the name but then left it on her table. When I got home, I stayed outside until dusk when Jake came along to scream at me in an attempt to remind me it was getting dark. It was another beautiful day. Forecast is for rain on Sunday.

Aster Blooming

The Aster is blooming at Judy's today. They are really pretty. I have to get the divisions she gave me into the ground tomorrow. I also got some Bouncing Bet she was going to compost for the new front garden that will need to go in tomorrow as well. There were Clematis blooming in her sideyard, Sweet Pea on the back fence and Geranium everywhere! She has a lot more blooming that I have out here. More about that on intwogardens.com later tonight.

Everything Darkens in Fall

The Dropmore and Catmint are still blooming. Along with Sweet Pea in the front, Hope for Humanity Rose and Viola, of course. I have noticed from these that everything seems to get darker and deeper in colour in the Fall. Must be the cold. I managed to get a lot done yesterday... planted 'Dragon's Blood' sedum inside the little hole in the cement block with the 'Kabitan' Hosta in it, planted half of the German Purple Iris from Judy in the front towards the house from the 'Henry Hudson' Rose, separated the Geranium cuttings and hope to get them in soil tonight. I also lifted the 'Gerrie Hoek' Dahlia which has probably tripled in number from what I planted originally. Then general clean up like moving branches to the firepit and other maintenance things that are not very exciting. Today was a different story because I had to go into town and give Judy a hand with errands. It is supposed to get warmer again though and be +20 by Thursday so it looks like I might be able to get another weekend to garden this Fall. Good thing too because just over half of what I have to lift is still in the ground or pots!

Nerine Opening

My Nerine Bowdenii is opening and there are two!

Happy Birthday, Sean!

Hope you have a good one :)

Sunday, Fun Day

Today was an awesome day. The weather was beautiful as we seem to be getting our long awaited Summer this Fall. Better than +30 today but I wasn't keeping track so I don't know how much better. We went into the city for my Dad's Birthday Bash. A good time was had by all and I got great photos of smiling faces. Then we popped over to Gordon's and took photo's of Herb for him. Sean was there so we visited for a bit before heading home. I did manage to get the Henry Hudson Rose cutting in the ground, watered and mulched so now it is just cross my fingers until Spring on that one. Still drying Dahlia, Calla, Begonia and Ranunculus. Still more to dig. If we have many more days like this, it will be no problem. It has been absolutely perfect gardening weather for more than a week now. I am lovin' it!

Fall Work Begins

Well, I finally got started in my garden today with the Fall work. I got about half of the dahlia in pots lifted as well as the 'Raeann's Torch', 'Hot Lips', 'Ferncliff Fuego' and all of the gladiolus in the front garden and bird sanctuary. I planted the Lamb's Ears in Benedict's upper level where the Coleus 'Coco Loco' was pulled out. I also pulled out the Diascia that was with the Japanese Painted Fern and covered both Benedict's upper level and the Painted Fern with leaves. I started covering the lower level boardwalk garden with leaves as well and when it gets a little colder, I will put mulch bags on the Painted Fern and on the Boardwalk lower level Coral Bells.Tomorrow we have a brunch in town for my Dad's birthday which is the same as Sean's birthday so it will be a dual celebration. Sean is working all weekend so it will be our only chance to get together with him.

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Loraine Sunshine'

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Loraine Sunshine', 30" X 30", full sun, Z2

In Judy's sideyard. From Leona.

Pushing the Deadline

See, this is exactly what happens to me. I give myself a Wednesday deadline and by Tuesday at bedtime, I have not even started and I have to go into the City tomorrow. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Guess I'll have to push that self imposed deadline back. Watch, I will be digging in snow again, trying to save something I forgot because it all came down to a rush!

Garden Schedule Reminder

By Wednesday, all my lift in Fall tubers and bulbs need to be lifted. Not that I need a reminder but at this time of year, I tend to try hard to deny Winter is coming and have been caught digging in the snow in a previous Fall or two. This is to keep reminding me that there is a deadline that is not mine to set. I need to dig potatoes as well. Today was beautiful. +26, sunny and hard to imagine snow.

Survivor Nicaragua

Everyone knows that I am a huge Survivor fan. I have seen every single second of the show as it first aired and I have purchased every season that they have put up for sale and watched them over and over. There has been a season or two that have almost made me stop watching. Mostly because they were boring. For example, I had to look up who Danni Boat-something-or-other was the other week and she won a season apparently! Guess that one sucked.

Over the seasons, I have been ticked off. Like when Tom won. Other things have gone my way. Like when Sandra won. Twice!! Go Sandra. Always, it has been entertaining.

But there have been things that have been bugging me and more so than ever with Survivor Nicaragua. Here they are so I can get them off my chest, so to speak.

1. Why are they feeding them already??!? Gone are the days when they had to actually survive. Remember Australia? Borneo? More importantly, I think the fact that they get so much food has changed the psychological dynamics of the game. When it started, people could hate each other but they were still forced to bond because they needed each other to stay alive. Build shelter lasts awhile but getting food was an everyday thing. They had to work together whether they hated each other or not. It was a more interesting dynamic in my opinion.

2. I hate immunity idols. I don't think the drama around the clues to its' whereabouts make the show any more interesting and I don't think there should be an escape from being voted out if the tribe has spoken. I have learned to live with them though. Not my choice and I still like the show. What I hate more is a "Medallion of Power". Even the name sounds stupid. They really need to get rid of the thing. It is putting me in danger of not liking the show and I can't even imagine that.

3. Stop with the dividing the tribes into some sort of 'subgroup' of what it is supposed to be; a group of Americans. Mixing it up was what made it interesting. Segregating them is making it way less interesting.

4. What is this double challenge crap? Don't like that at all.

5. Why are they feeding them already? Seriously, why?

So all these litte irritants had me browsing the web to see if any other hard core fans were feeling the same way. Apparently not. Just me. Except for a couple of posts about not liking the double challenges, most seem to be enjoying this season. So maybe it is just that I hate NaOnka so much, and Marty, and Jimmy T, and Jud, and Chase, and...and....and... maybe I will recover next season. I really wish they would go back to the original format.

The upside of the websearch was that I found Jeff Probst's Suvivor blog and it was an interesting read.