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.

Clematis 'Blueboy' - Plant Tag Information

'Blueboy' Plant Tag Information
Perennial
Clematis integrifolia 'Blueboy'
Blooms: Purple 4-5" flowers, June through September
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Mature Height: 5-6 feet, 1.5-2 m
Prune Hard Group C: Group C varieties bloom only on the current year's growth. Plants should be cut back in late February or March to two strong sets of leaf buds on each stem, normally within 12" (30 cm) from ground level
Watering & Fertilizing: To promote healthy growth, wait until the top 3" of your soil is dry before you water. Water thoroughly but not too frequently. Summer heat combined with overly frequent waterings or automatic irrigation can create and environment for unwanted fungi. Clematis enjoy a well drained soil, a neutral PH and a moderate to heavy feed.
Planting Directions: Dig 18" x 18" hole. Place 6" of well rotted manure mixed with good top soil in the bottom. Add a layer of good top soil and if soil has high clay content, add peat moss to this layer. Place plant in hole with top of root ball 6" below ground level. Backfill with good quality top soil mixed with a handful of bonemeal. If soil is high in clay, add peat moss to the backfill as well. Clematis need something to climb on: sweet pea netting, trellis or suitable host plant such as roses, shrubs or trees. Carefully but securely attach vine to cane and lead into the support. Where practical it is a good idea to plant a small shrub to shade the roots of Clematis.

Aquired: 2008
Planted Here: In Bird Sanctuary along white fence between Lilac and bird bath rock.

My notes: It has never done well in this spot but is the only Clematis that has survived a winter for me. I am trying two others this year and we will see what happens. To date, however, I do not like to grow Clematis. It seems fussy and is a LOT of work for the result when you consider that, although the flowers are pretty, so many other flowers are just as pretty with added scent and the bonus of being much easier to grow. It is not that I can't do the work, it is more that if I am going to invest the time, I'd rather invest it in something else equally fussy, like Tea Roses. So Clematis will have to figure out how to survive in my garden next year or it will come off my plant list. The decision is made and I am going to let it go. Famous last words, I suppose.

Knautia 'Mars Midget' - Plant Tag Information

'Mars Midget' Plant Tag Information

Perennial

Blooms: Red, June through September

Light: Full Sun

Height: 16 inches, 41 cm

Spread: 12 inches, 30 cm

Tag Notes: Long blooming plant for the garden or for cutting. Grow with bold textured or light coloured plants for best effect.

Aquired: 2004

Planted Here: in lower level Boardwalk Garden and clumps moved to Sun Gardens, in 2010

Daylily 'Stella de Oro' - Plant Tag Information

'Stella de Oro' Daylily Plant Tag Information

Perennial

Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'

Bloom Time: early Summer to Fall

Exposure: full sun or part shade

Water: adapts well to dry or moist conditions

Height: grows to 12" (30 cm) tall

Spacing: 24" (61 cm) apart

Hardiness Zones: USDA Zone 3 (-40F) to USDA Zone 9 (20F)

Tag Notes: A profusion of fragrant, long-blooming flowers attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. Ideal for shrub plantings, perennial gardens or massing as a small-scale groundcover. Attractive combined with spike flowers or bold foliage plants.

Aquired: 2004

Planted Here: Added to Sun Gardens when moved out of Orange Lily Garden in 2010.

Creeping Thyme - Plant Tag Information

Creeping Thyme Plant Tag Information

Perennial

Thymus serpyllum (TY-mus ser-PILL-um) 'Pink Chintz'

Best uses: Good for small groundcover areas or filler between stepping stones.

Soil & Water: Loamy, dry to moist, well-drained.

Size: 3" x 18" wide

Spacing: 12 - 15" apart

Bloom Time: Early Summer

Flower Colour: Pink

Temperature: Hardy to -40

Other Attributes: Deer resistant, Evergreen.

Tag Notes: There are a great many selections of Thyme grown in gardens, all of them with some degree of spicy fragrance. 'Pink Chintz' is a flat-growing variety that features fragrant fuzzy green leaves, smothered by soft salmon-pink flowers in summer. A strong grower, ideal as a drought-tolerant lawn substitute or for planting between flagstones, tolerating moderate foot traffic. Easily divided in spring or early fall, and even small pieces will take root and grow.

Important Planting Instructions: Dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the pot. Remove the plant from the pot and place into the hole. Replace the soil around the plant making sure the crown is level with the existing surface. Water thoroughly and continue to water regularly until plant is established.

Aquired: 2009

Planted Here: in Bird Sanctuary along right side of bird bath rock path beside white fence.

A Beautiful Day

We finally have beautiful weather and I spent the day cleaning up the Front House Garden. I lifted the 'Hot Lips' Dahlia and one of the Calla 'Flame'. I also planted Egyptian Onion in the Front House Garden and Lamb's Ears by the slide to the house side of the new Clematis from Calgary.I figure it should shade the root and it is far enough in front that it shouldn't interfere with the Clematis. Both the Lamb's Ears and the Egyptian Onion are divisions from Judy's Garden. Looking forward to another good weather day tomorrow when it is supposed to get even warmer!

Sweet Pea Seeds

The Sweet Pea seeds from the front plants are 'Miss. Willmott'.

2011 Sun Garden Dahlia

Plant together: 'Ferncliff Midnight', 'Wine & Roses' and 'Kari Fruit Salad'

Weird Weather Year

Well, now that the gardening season is over, I can officially say... what a weird weather year! In fact, we have mushrooms, large mushrooms, in our front lawn. I can never remember a time when we had mushrooms in our lawn in Saskatchewan. Same with so many slugs in the garden. Normally, we are far too dry to grow mushrooms anywhere but under trees and slugs, if a problem at all, are usually a small problem. Not this year. Slugs and mushrooms but no need to worry about watering. I think I'd rather go back to watering more often next year and have no mushrooms with few slugs. If I am given a choice, that is my vote.

Frost Arrived

Good thing the Fall foliage is still so pretty because frost destroyed the garden last night. Spent the day cleaning that up. Dahlia will have to be dug next week. Calla will come in tomorrow.

Preparing

Overnight forecast is for -4 which means frost tonight if they are right. I went out and cut all of the Dahlia flowers that were worth taking and made arrangements for the house. It is full of flowers in bowls, vases and even a juice glass! I also cut buds in various stages to test at what point they will not open but die in the vase. I don't normally cut buds unless I am going for a specific look and they are well into starting to open. Better they are in the house with a chance to open than outside tonight and dead in the morning. Looks like digging Dahlia tubers is on the agenda for early next week along with bringing in the Calla this weekend. Oddly, I found a fully open Lupin flower and two buds by the 'Therese Bugnet' roses. Obviously, it is confused so I cut the flower and left the buds just in case the forecast is wrong. It has been a very strange weather year and although the rain was mostly appreciated, we had far too much of it and not nearly enough sun. This year was closer to gardening at Linda's than home. Wet, wet, wet. Maybe that will mean late snowfall. Let's hope.

Sweet Pea

This is the Sweet Pea that is full of seed pods. I can't remember what it is called because I ordered 'Apricot Sprite' which ended up being substituted with something else. I have it written down somewhere and will look it up in the winter... planning on doing a lot in the winter, aren't I? No rain today and sun for about an hour this afternoon so I should be able to dig tomorrow in the Bird Sanctuary at least. I am not going to dig anything else, other than Lily, this year because it is starting to be obviously too late for anything else unless I want to take a big chance. Lily prefers late division. Of course, there are still already dug things to plant from both my garden and Judy's; Jacob's Ladder, Lamb's Ear, Knautia and yellow Sedum. Once I get that in, I am going to move Lily, Winter mulch, Fall clean up and get rid of the stumps in the new front garden. That will be it for this year but it will be a good headstart on next Spring which I am sure I will appreciate then. All of that assumes no more rain for at least a week. I wonder how likely that is.

Fall Shows Up

Fall colours are showing up and if we had any sun, I would have taken some photographs of that. Tomorrow is another day... you hear that Mr. Sun? Had Yehoni at the vet today. His bloodwork came back normal so he goes for a chest xray on Thursday. More diagnostics but so far, results have all been good news. It was cold, wet and rainy again today. It would have been a beautiful fall day to be in the garden if it had not been so wet. I have started to get desperate and take pictures of everything that is left, eventhough today it all looked pretty waterlogged. Still, not many days left to enjoy blooms I think. Only advantage to the rain at this point is that if it keeps up overnight, it will keep the frost at bay. We turned the heat on for the first time last night. It is getting cold at night now.

Work Day

It was cool today but the sun was out for most of it. Another perfect garden weather day. I planted the last of the Calgary Purple Iris in two patches in the Front House Garden. The viola in that garden have done a great job at spreading. Here, it is at ground level behind the Bleeding Heart, on both sides of the Dahlia, in front of and in between the Iris. Miles hauled all the bush away that I cut down in front. The 'Ferncliff Midnight' is starting to open. Wishing tomorrow brings similar weather. I have to run into the City but the better the weather, the faster I will be back.

Sunshine Today

No frost last night and sunshine today. The reward in my garden was that 'April Heather' opened all the way. The first bloom and a little beat up but I might not get a second bloom. It is getting much colder at night and there were at least 20 bees dying in the dahlia today. Only cold makes them slow down to a stop right in their tracks. I am grateful for every day now though. If we can manage no frost again tonight, I might see another new dahlia tomorrow.

Frost

Looks like my Dahlia story may be over for 2010. I picked today to watch the news and they say that if we don't get frost by the end of this weekend, we will definitely get it by next Friday. Apparently our current cold front is to be flollowed by a colder front. Unless we get at least 3 days of sun between then and now, I won't see any of those in bud before they frost kill. I was waiting for 'Ferncliff Midnight', 'April Heather', 'Sandia Showboat', 'Holly Huston', 'Yvonne', 'Hy Cutter' and 'Parkland Glory', all of which are all in various stages of bud today.

2011 Bird Sanctuary Dahlia

Dahlia for the Bird Sanctuary 2011 in pinks: 'Ferncliff Cameo', 'Gerrie Hoek', 'Preference', 'Yvonne' and 'April Heather'.

2011 Front House Garden Dahlia

Dahlia for 2011 in Front House Garden in oranges and yellows: 'Raeann's Torch', 'Ferncliff Fuego' and 'Baron Katie'.

Another Disappointment

It is my own fault for buying a bare root zone 5 plant knowing full well that it would not likely do well as an annual in my zone 3 garden. Sometimes, in the heart of winter, I can convince myself that I can do the impossible in my garden and that tends to be when I am placing orders but bare root perennials do not have enough time in one season to display their best show. If they are to be grown as out of zone annuals, it is best to start with a good sized plant rather than a root. Couple that with the fact that we have had so much rain and almost no sun this year and this Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln' becomes the least showy fountain-type grass I have ever grown. It was described as being a good choice for short season gardeners because the plumes appear early but they clearly meant short season, zone 5. In zone 3 this year, it is just developing plumes now and their sad display is not worth the space they are taking up at the firepit. I absolutely blame my own unrealistic expectations when this kind of thing happens in my garden. The catalogue was pretty clear it was zone 5 and bare root. I just chose to ignore them. I can be stubborn like that.

New View

The front bushline is gone and has it ever opened up the view! I love it already and the stumps are not gone yet. I can see the new garden here though. The Front House Garden, in oranges above, will stay all oranges and yellows. I am going to move the pink peony from there into the new border on the other side of the sidewalk. From the sidewalk around to the fence, all through the Bird Sanctuary will be exclusively pink and white with a small amount of pale yellow because I can't resist putting 'Ferncliff Cameo' up at the house with its' soft, delicate colour blend.

Calgary Divisions

The Calgary divisions, with the exception of the Clematis, are all going to make it. All of them have bounced back and have new growth. The Chinese Lantern has several pods that turned brown but many also turned orange and they have new leaf. The Lamium ended up being three divisions planted in two spots and has new growth in both places. The Iris are in and since I have never lost Iris, I can't imagine why they wouldn't come back but even if that happened, there are enough patches that I should have no worries. The Sedum 'Autumn Joy' ended up being three divisions also planted in two spots and looks like it is going to bloom in both spots. I have had 'Autumn Joy' winter kill on me before so I plan to mulch it this time and cross my fingers for its' survival. I won't know about the Clematis divisions until Spring. They look dead but the root should have lots of time to set before winter and I have mulched them well. I doubt I will see new growth above ground this year though so it will be something to discover when the snow melts.

Half Done Earlier Today

This is at the point that the half on the house side of the bushline is removed and was taken earlier today. By dusk, this was all gone too. I finished cutting all the Caragana down and have a clear view to the lawn. On to step two: stump removal. That won't happen until the Knautia, Lamb's Ear and Calgary Purple Iris are in though. No rain and a little sun today means that I can probably dig tomorrow.

Other Side of the Front Path

The sun showed up today! It wasn't until the afternoon and it rained again all night so it never did dry up enough to dig but it was dry enough to cut down bush. This is the bushline on the other side of the path from the front deck. I see this out of my dining room window every day. It is 98% Caragana which is not even close to attractive for a shrub. Even as a hedge it is ugly. The only thing it has going for it is the popping sound it makes as it drops seed but I have a lot of Caragana in other places that I can listen to. These are taking up too much prime garden space that is full sun and right in my view. This bushline runs from the front sidewalk in a U shape along the top level of the bird sanctuary and down through to the bottom level in that same garden. There is lawn on the other side of it. For the last two days, I have been cutting it down. About half of this is gone already. I can already see at least one rose here and I haven't even started to dig up root. My view to the lawn is opening right up and a further result will be that the bird sanctuary will be opened up to the morning sun now. It will give me a new sun border without changing the conditions in the already completed part of that garden. This will mean I don't have to move any of my shade plants and can add sun plants in front of the house in the new area created on both levels. It is only half done but I am excited already. I probably won't feel this way on the day we dig out the roots but that will pass when the tulips come up next year. The 'Angelique' from the Nursery are going here once it is done.

The Birds

No rain today but it rained all night and it was cold and wet all day. No sun. No digging. Our yard was like The Birds today except a lot less dramatic. It was actually very cool because every time I went outside, all I could hear was wings. At first it was kind of creepy and then I realized what they were doing. Remember the fly swarm of the other day? Well, every bird in the area moved into our trees and started feeding on them. We had at least 50 gulls over the firepit for two hours, two days in a row now. There were at least twice as many smaller birds in a couple of varieties that moved into the tallest tree off the back deck for the whole evening. Even the short pine off the front deck was full of bug eating birds. Not only was it a bunch of fun to watch, the little flies are hardly noticeable out there now. Maybe the sun will show up tomorrow.