Sea of Pink

There are days that I wonder if we are ever going to be ready to list the house. Today was one of them. Intermittent sunshine with rainy periods, or rain with sunny periods.... all day. In and out of the garden. Wait for the rain to stop. Out again. Wait. In again. Wait. Ugh! Then, of course, there is this sweet scented sea of pink that I have to walk by everytime I go out into the garden to work. It is hard to walk by quickly so there was once or twice today that I was caught standing beside it in appreciation when the downpour started. Between stopping to smell the roses and stopping to wait for sunshine, not much got done outside today. Good thing there was a lot to do inside. Maybe I should go do some of it...

Firepit Garden

One of the biggest jobs in getting ready to sell our property has been making the firepit garden smaller. This is what I have reduced it to and I am very happy with the results. The Iris entry to the 'Therese Bugnet' roses is the entire garden with the exception of two small circular beds marking the yard entry on that side. Each circle has a 'John Cabot' climbing rose, Iris patch and short lily.

On the far side I have planted the Weigela 'Rumba', white Lamium, Cerastium in the concrete block, Forget-me-Not under the slide, red and white Pinks beside the rock and two Clematis to grow up the slide ladder, one on either side. The hot pink rose with Baby's Breath growing behind it marks the yard entry to the inside of the yellow iris and there is a 'Hope for Humanity' red rose just behind the Siberian Iris from this angle. Between the two roses are 2 Peony, Carnation, Daylily, Viola, Poppy and I left two of the tulip patches behind, one patch of 'Zurel' and one patch of 'Gavota'. All done... next job is to finish the little house yard where I have pulled up all of the grass and am replacing it with groundcover. Not quite all done there!

Field Fish

This is our back field right now. The bushline on the left follows the river and is just on the other side of the river from where I am standing to take this photograph. The tank on stilts in the back centre is on the same side of the river as I am standing so the river winds back from the bushline. Typically, you cannot see the river from where I am standing because the bank is deep along here and you would have to be at the edge, looking down, to see the water. Recently, I mentioned that the flood waters have brought water wildlife into the yard. I never expected that it would fill our back field with fish!

They gather in groups of more than 4 and then create quite a spectacle with their splashes. They are beautiful and not shy about getting up close and personal either.

We spent the afternoon wading in the water and taking photographs and video. It is incredible and I have never seen anything like it. They are very distracting because even when you decide to stop watching them, everywhere you go in the yard you hear their splashes calling you to come watch some more. Seems were are destined for all kinds of new memories before we leave.

All Grown Up !

Baby Hammy is all grown up. We are going to have to come up with a new name for him, I think. He still visits everyday and now that the weather is finally nice, he practically lives in the bird sanctuary out the dining room window. He likes to chase Magpie and scream at cats. His personality has not mellowed with his age. We enjoy him anyway.

Dog Fight

I have no clue what happened or how but last night Summer and Maggie broke into a dog fight, right at my feet, that brought Didi and Moxie running to help. It was definitely mayhem. Fortunately, none of the other dogs felt the urge to jump in but still, Miles and I both hurt our backs in the fight break up process and both Maggie and Didi were injured. Didi ended up getting the worst of it but I think she will be alright. She has a puncture wound on her neck that I am cleaning, disinfecting and checking twice a day. Any sign of infection and she will be off to the vet. Maggie seems to be doing better than her but also has two small puncture wounds. They already look like they are healing up though. The terriers are relentless, even when it is so clear to us that they are the most likely to get hurt in these situations. Summer seems to have suffered less damage than even I did. Moxie is unhurt but did manage to bite my finger. There was blood everywhere in the kitchen/dining/living rooms and most of it was mine! We are spending the day recovering. I hope a day will be enough for that.

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.