And Now it Begins
A wonderful shower of rain yesterday and today the humidity is climbing and . . . the mosquitoes have arrived. Two bites in just a walk to the back patio. Dang! It sure was the perfect spring, though short lived.
Updates from May, 2014 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
-
Noreen
-
Noreen
Perfect Timing
Right on target for the Fern Peony to open for Memorial Day.
Over the last several days Dennis and I had used the mighty Mantis tiller to wangle around all the perennials throughout the course of our acre. We were surprised how dry the soil was, and let me tell you, the Mantis will dig down until you pull it back. It only cuts an 18″ swat, but that is about all I want to handle as the pulverized dirt is flying towards the back.
Hopefully, this year we will have tomatoes, squash and cucumbers as the seeds were plunked into the mellow soil. We are starved for full sun, but Dennis scoped out the best spots possible.
As of late this afternoon we have received a generous half inch of rain for our newly-tilled soil to soak up. As I said, perfect timing. There was no chance that there would be run off. Of course, Dennis was right out there to wipe off the patio chairs for a “sit down,” but the heavens aren’t quite finished with us yet.
-
Noreen
Sunday – This is the Day the Lord has Made
Dennis and I are taking a quiet day embraced by
lilacs that literally take your breath away. -
Noreen
It Was a Great Spring Day
From high up in the Lilacs, Sweetie Pie
agrees it was a great Spring day. -
Noreen
A Glorious Day of Gardening
What a great feeling to be able to put away
all the garden gear as the square garden is ready
for the season. Photo by DennisWith Temps allowing for lighter weight clothing I didn’t need an invitation to hit the backyard. I put breakfast on hold for myself while Dennis enjoyed his usual breakfast of Oatmeal. I headed for the potting shed to get out the electric Mantis tiller. I had not been able to use it since the 2010 garden season and there was a bit of dust to blow off of it. After Dennis gave it a once over we were set to garden like there would never be another chance.
Over a period of time there was created a square garden in the backyard with multiple perennials. Dennis and I always make use of what we have on hand, thus using old bricks to outline the garden perimeter. It not only defines the area, it also was the boundary not to be crossed by wayward lawn mowers, grandchildren and grand puppies. As with anything, if it can harbor a weed, it will harbor a weed. Tipping the bricks out and using the tiller among the beautiful plants proved to be a balancing act as well as keeping a check on where that blessed electrical cord was. It was time for the bricks to be plucked out of the dirt they had sank into and nab those weeds that love to crop up in between them. The surprising thing about these bricks is that they are very, very old bricks. I swear they weight 5 lbs. each. My finger tips can attest to their quality. Tipping them out went much faster than putting them back down. Such a difference from the lighter weight terracotta new bricks used today.
A clean slat was achieved with Dennis helping out with the tiller. It can be a wily machine. It digs and will take a path of its own if not held back. I was fairly certain all of the plants that I had anticipated had made themselves known. It was the best time to use a sprinkling of Preen to keep down the volunteer weeds. Preen works wonderful when used on freshly tilled dirt and this dirt was fresh.What a great day with a light breeze and best of all we had beat the bug season. What would a summer feel like without swatting and dodging bugs? We can only wish.
After the square garden was tidied up, Dennis put the Mantis back in the potting shed − as he mandated this had been enough for one day. I easily said “yes dear.” Life on Stauffer is never boring, but it sure is sweet.
-
Noreen
Unsuspecting Finds
Two tiny Hosta struggling after the heart of the plant had
froze out in the 2012-2013 winter. Time will tell. I was amazed
to recognize them and their effort in make a showing. -
Noreen
Back To Mother Nature
Sitting on the patio and gazing up into the
crabapple tree it was hard to get up and keep
moving. This truly was memorizing.When I walked the gardens this morning with a cup of coffee the toes of my shoes did not get wet. The breeze from the north picked up the scent of Lilacs that were just beginning to open. After breakfast we were dressed and outside before 8:00 a.m. For me, I could have cared less about listening or watching media news.
Today was the third mowing of the yards for the year. The limp, new spears of grass that I had been mowing in the past weeks stood straight and tall and took their haircut with pride. Spring is in full swing and proof of that was having to get the weed whip out for trimming the areas where the push mower or the rider mower just can’t get at. Dennis and I were on the back patio by 10:30 with the mowers tucked away until the next cutting. The tomato plants that had been harbored in the garage porch begged to be put into the dirt. Shovel in hand Dennis headed out and I followed with some good garden soil, water and protectors until they got their feel of being out in the open.
We really wince at the price of lawn care providers when we are able bodied, but I noticed we had more dandelions than the neighbors. Out of the back garage came the pull-behind sprayer for the riding lawn mower and Dennis, not wanting to make me feel left out, got my two-gallon hand pumped sprayer ready to use. In several days I sure hope to see the fruits of our labor. Our hope is less clover, none of the creeping stuff that blooms blue, and a diminished population of dandelions.
Again the tools of the trade were tucked away and I will say we were both tuckered out and somewhat surprised that it was three in the afternoon. Where had the day gone? As great as sitting out on the patio felt, Dennis and I both knew if we didn’t move we would be too stiff to get up. Do Dennis and I really need an acre plus to take care of? Most likely not. We have acquired several extra lots and put in a lot of sweat equity hours to rid the area of varmint-filled vacant houses and backyards filled with garbage. Having the satisfied feeling that we did this afternoon makes it all worth while and lots of fresh air surely can’t hurt. Material items don’t trip our triggers, but we sure get a lot of happiness from the home we have built since we have been together. Life on Stauffer Avenue among Mother Nature is sweet and very green.
-
Noreen
A Fight to the Finish
Dennis has seen the squirrels jump up into the pots
and some plants have been broken down. -
Noreen
It Was Just Sweet!
Spring on It’s Way – Photo by Dennis
Thinking on this last weekend the word “sweet” comes to mind. Saturday, as I walked the gardens, some of the Hosta that made it through the winter gave an indication that they would not mind being shared via the splitting process. The winter of 2012-2013 left many bare spots in the perennial gardens after layers of ice proved to be too much for survival of many Hosta. The garden season of 2013 had me recovering from shoulder surgery, allowing me to be content enjoying that which had made it through the brutal winter.
Now Saturday, that was a whole new me enjoying dirty fingernails. Left shoulder was new as of April 2013. Right shoulder was new as of January 2014. This was the beginning of the first painless shoulder gardening season since 2010. Yesterday from the depths of the potting shed came the spade, shovel, rake and Miracle Grow to be added to the bottom of new holes for newly split Hosta to be plunked into. I was in my element. Dennis assisted in supplying water for the new plantings and refilling my coffee cup as needed. At the end of the day Dennis and I enjoyed the back patio and deemed it a good day’s work as we began making plans to enjoy Sunday as a “road trip date.”
Sunday did see us putting quite a few miles on as well as several stops for refreshments. You can take the farmer off the farm but you can’t take the farmer out of either Dennis or me. Seeing the difference in spring planting from one area to another gave credence to the differing amounts of rain fall after the late winter snowfalls. The sunset Sunday night with us sitting on the back patio knowing we had the best of best days for all we had seen and who we had been blessed to greet and share time with. Life on Stauffer is sweet.
-
Noreen
Sunday the 18th of May
This is the day the Lord hath made and I am rejoicing in it. Catch ya later.
