Memory of a happy day in the sunshine

MAY, 2011 "NEWSY-LETTER"

The cloudy spring weather has me looking in the garden for a burst of sunny color to warm my heart. In an effort to focus on the positive, I’ve been thinking about all of the good things happening because our weather has been cooler than normal. With help from the garden and a few warmer sunny days, gray memories are beginning to fade. 

APRIL, 2011 “NEWSY LETTER”

Trillium augustipetalum with Anemone nemorosa

March 2011 "Newsy Letter"

Every year I think that the weather is either colder or warmer than “normal”; or I think that the plants are either ahead of or behind what is “normal”; or I could swear that at this time last year………………etc. This year I was feeling as though it is colder, wetter, and the plants are not as far along as they should be. Well, I decided to look at our “Newsy Letter” from March 9, 2010 and check out just what was going on in the garden at this time last year. I found that the magnolia blossoms were starting to open, hostas in pots were beginning to unfurl their leaves, hostas in the ground were poking their “noses” out, and I was being dazzled by a full display of daffodil blossoms in the parking strip out front. 

February 12th Outing at Treephoria

On Saturday morning thirteen of us gathered together to take advantage of this special trip arranged by Barbara. Earlier in the week, the weather forecast predicted rain, but it turned out to be a calm and dry early February day. How lucky for us! Coats and gloves were still needed for maximum comfort, but the cold front didn't begin to move in until almost the end of our outdoor tour.

February 2011 "Newsy-Letter"

 Hi Fellow Golden Years Gardeners,

Longer days and even some dry weather have been great for getting out in the garden and discovering all of those little treasures popping up everywhere!

During a January walk around, I was thrilled to see snowdrops in bloom - always the first sign that winter will be turning to spring. Crocus and daffodils were also beginning to poke their leaves up through the mulch.

December 15, 2010

Our first freeze followed by those windy days sure changed the look of the garden. Flowers on Fuchsias and on Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ have disappeared along with the canopy of color displayed on the trees above them. Between rain, wind, and cold I have managed to clean up most of the leaves and replace their slug infested blanket with a fresh layer of mulch. The idea is to reduce the number of slugs laying in wait for the young, tender growth of spring. Cleaning up all of the decaying plant material that was left behind in the wake of our first blast of wintry weather will also help to reduce their numbers – especially the babies that continue to hatch.  

The pathetic looking daylily with its base surrounded by fallen leaves in the picture at the right is a perfect example of just how opportunistic those young slugs are. When temperatures drop, they hide close to the ground, safely tucked into the folds of the fallen leaves. When temperatures rise, they slither up to leisurely dine on what is left of the daylily foliage. I will need to spend another eight hours cleaning up in order to finish the job.