It's official now - I am seriously running behind. I saw this soaring over our house yesterday afternoon:
 |
| Barn Swallow |
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
It's official..
Today's weather: 78 degrees Fahrenheit, partly cloudy - a bit warm for this early in the year but it's going back down to more normal temperatures tomorrow.
It's official now - I am seriously running behind. I saw this soaring over our house yesterday afternoon:
Our yearly bird tenants are about to move in and I haven't even cleared the leaf bags. I don't think they'll be leaving any nice comments on the guest card this year.
It's official now - I am seriously running behind. I saw this soaring over our house yesterday afternoon:
Monday, April 9, 2012
New Season
Today's weather: 46 degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy with light showers.
It's still a bit chilly here but Spring is on its way. I thought I was a few weeks behind but after looking at last year's notes I see that I'm going to be on the same schedule as 2011.
This isn't anything to really be proud of, especially considering how late Spring came last year and how early it arrived this year. You know what I did that week of 80 degree weather we had a few weeks ago? Nothing - nada - zilch.
I'll be honest - my urge to garden is not strong with me this year, which really sucks since I had so many low-cost yet high-work plans. I want to focus on 'neatening' up my beds this year - extensive weeding, putting down weed blocker sheeting, cutting some turf around existing beds to make them easier to mow around, etc. Basically, I want to get that damn grass out of my way which isn't easy.
The bags will be pulled from the house in the next week or so. I am hoping this will motivate me at least a little bit.
It's still a bit chilly here but Spring is on its way. I thought I was a few weeks behind but after looking at last year's notes I see that I'm going to be on the same schedule as 2011.
This isn't anything to really be proud of, especially considering how late Spring came last year and how early it arrived this year. You know what I did that week of 80 degree weather we had a few weeks ago? Nothing - nada - zilch.
I'll be honest - my urge to garden is not strong with me this year, which really sucks since I had so many low-cost yet high-work plans. I want to focus on 'neatening' up my beds this year - extensive weeding, putting down weed blocker sheeting, cutting some turf around existing beds to make them easier to mow around, etc. Basically, I want to get that damn grass out of my way which isn't easy.
The bags will be pulled from the house in the next week or so. I am hoping this will motivate me at least a little bit.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Finally
I love Maine. It still has seasons.
However, being a gardener in Maine can be a bit frustrating. While much of the country is starting their gardening season, even if it's just Spring cleanup, we Mainers have to watch in envy while we wait for the several feet of snow in our yards to melt away.
So, that first day of relatively warm weather can really perk the spirits and today it finally came. The forecast a few days ago said it was going to get up to 58 degrees today which thrilled me but it looks like it's actually going to get up to almost 65 degrees which makes me ecstatic.
No, there's still nothing I can really do in the gardens, not even cleanup, because two feet of snow just won't melt in a day. But at least I can walk outside without taking five minutes to pull on the coat, then the gloves, then the scarf and finally the hat.
Spring can be a tease up here in Maine - giving us a couple of warm days only to plunge back down into the teens and dump another foot of snow on us - but I'm hopeful that we'll skip all that and the weather will be nice this year. After the winter I've had, I need an early, long Spring.
However, being a gardener in Maine can be a bit frustrating. While much of the country is starting their gardening season, even if it's just Spring cleanup, we Mainers have to watch in envy while we wait for the several feet of snow in our yards to melt away.
So, that first day of relatively warm weather can really perk the spirits and today it finally came. The forecast a few days ago said it was going to get up to 58 degrees today which thrilled me but it looks like it's actually going to get up to almost 65 degrees which makes me ecstatic.
No, there's still nothing I can really do in the gardens, not even cleanup, because two feet of snow just won't melt in a day. But at least I can walk outside without taking five minutes to pull on the coat, then the gloves, then the scarf and finally the hat.
Spring can be a tease up here in Maine - giving us a couple of warm days only to plunge back down into the teens and dump another foot of snow on us - but I'm hopeful that we'll skip all that and the weather will be nice this year. After the winter I've had, I need an early, long Spring.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
New Zone
The USDA has released a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map. I've moved from from Zone 4 (I can't remember if it was A or B) to Zone 5A. While this is even more proof to me of global climate change I can at least look on the bright side of us abusing our planet - I now have more plants to choose from.
*Sigh.* It's not much of a solace, actually.
Thanks to GrafixMuse for the head's up on the new map!
*Sigh.* It's not much of a solace, actually.
Thanks to GrafixMuse for the head's up on the new map!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Winter Project and Spring Planning
On some of the blogs I read gardeners are reporting some growth such as Daffodils and the like. Up here in Maine, nothing is going on outside except for coldness, some wind and brown lawns. We haven't even had much snow (yet - I'm sure that will change by at least March) so it's been a rather dull winter.
I do have one winter project. A Christmas gift from my in-laws included one of those Amaryllis bulb kits. So far, it seems to be doing well. There aren't many sunny locations in the heated part of our house (the kitchen has no insulation and very little heat) but I found a place for it.
I can't help but call it Amaryllith in honor of little Opie Cunningham's (Ron Howard) character in The Music Man. :)
As for planning for this year's gardens: I normally do a lot of planning this time of year. But, usually, nothing really feels 'right' for my plans. I hem and haw and wemble and never quite make up my mind on what I really want to do. I end up just throwing plants in when I can pick them up.
But this year is different. I've been having difficulty dealing with the death of my dog China but when I came up with this idea a couple of days ago, it made me feel a little better. I'm going to create a Red Dog Garden in her honor. There's an iron dog sculpture I've seen at the stores in the garden section (you've probably seen it, too) that I've always liked. I'm going to pick that up, figure out how to paint it red and build the flower gardens around it. Yes, it's sappy, but it's given me purpose and, as I said, it makes me feel a little better.
I'm going to try to stick to red and pink flowers but won't be too strict with myself about it.
The reason it makes me feel better specifically is because when the weather was nice China's favorite place to be was outside soaking in the sun. She loved it when I worked in the garden because it meant hours upon hours of sunbathing and exploring her beloved field. She would even sometimes stroll up to me, check out what I was doing and then leave me alone again. Except for a few times when she either forgot herself or fell off the steps when she was in a hurry (don't worry - there were only three) she always respected the garden boundaries and never walked or dug in them.
Damn, I miss that dog.
So, let the garden planning begin. I'll have to start doing my research on the best red/pink/magenta (etc.) flowers for my zone. Research - it's usually my favorite part of the planning. ;)
And hey, I never noticed this before. Wild:
I do have one winter project. A Christmas gift from my in-laws included one of those Amaryllis bulb kits. So far, it seems to be doing well. There aren't many sunny locations in the heated part of our house (the kitchen has no insulation and very little heat) but I found a place for it.
 |
| Amaryllith...I mean, Amaryllis |
As for planning for this year's gardens: I normally do a lot of planning this time of year. But, usually, nothing really feels 'right' for my plans. I hem and haw and wemble and never quite make up my mind on what I really want to do. I end up just throwing plants in when I can pick them up.
 | ||
| Me, when I do my garden planning (Wembley Fraggle) |
But this year is different. I've been having difficulty dealing with the death of my dog China but when I came up with this idea a couple of days ago, it made me feel a little better. I'm going to create a Red Dog Garden in her honor. There's an iron dog sculpture I've seen at the stores in the garden section (you've probably seen it, too) that I've always liked. I'm going to pick that up, figure out how to paint it red and build the flower gardens around it. Yes, it's sappy, but it's given me purpose and, as I said, it makes me feel a little better.
I'm going to try to stick to red and pink flowers but won't be too strict with myself about it.
The reason it makes me feel better specifically is because when the weather was nice China's favorite place to be was outside soaking in the sun. She loved it when I worked in the garden because it meant hours upon hours of sunbathing and exploring her beloved field. She would even sometimes stroll up to me, check out what I was doing and then leave me alone again. Except for a few times when she either forgot herself or fell off the steps when she was in a hurry (don't worry - there were only three) she always respected the garden boundaries and never walked or dug in them.
Damn, I miss that dog.
So, let the garden planning begin. I'll have to start doing my research on the best red/pink/magenta (etc.) flowers for my zone. Research - it's usually my favorite part of the planning. ;)
And hey, I never noticed this before. Wild:
 |
| Wash and Wembly, two of my favorite goofballs |
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Obligatory New Year's Post
NOTE: This is the same article I posted on my personal (non-gardening) blog at http://www.brandimills.com/blog
It’s 2012. I am so glad. To put it bluntly, 2011 sucked rocks.
Sure, it could have been worse – things can always get worse – but 2011 was a low point on the line-chart of my life. Winter lasted several weeks longer than usual, our car developed an oil leak, my vegetable garden was a failure and we still did not lose any substantial weight.
But those were the minor disappointments of last year. I also had to deal with the fact that my department supervisor left, leaving our IT department with three people to manage eight stores. And then, we got three new stores so now there’s three people supporting eleven stores. Despite the fact that the amount of work we now have will remain higher even after things settle down, there was no raise and no substantial bonus to compensate for it.
But worst of all was the loss of China. Even if my gardens had been award-worthy, and even if I had gotten a large raise and year-end bonus the death of our beloved pooch would have made it a terrible year.
We’re still feeling her absence – piercingly so – but we have hopes that this next year will start to look up. We’ll be taking the car into the shop to fix the oil leak and heater in the next week or so and we hope to keep things moving positively from here on out. Unfortunately, no one can control the universe and there’s no telling how it’ll all end up. I’m very nervous about the upcoming elections – the level of intelligence of the American public has been disappointing me since 2000. Add to that the fact that people are already freaking out about the 2012 ‘end of the world’ nonsense and you have the makings of a really bad 12 months.
But as for me, personally, I will do my best to keep things moving forward and in a positive direction. Happy New Year to you all and here’s hoping that we all try to do the same.
It’s 2012. I am so glad. To put it bluntly, 2011 sucked rocks.
Sure, it could have been worse – things can always get worse – but 2011 was a low point on the line-chart of my life. Winter lasted several weeks longer than usual, our car developed an oil leak, my vegetable garden was a failure and we still did not lose any substantial weight.
But those were the minor disappointments of last year. I also had to deal with the fact that my department supervisor left, leaving our IT department with three people to manage eight stores. And then, we got three new stores so now there’s three people supporting eleven stores. Despite the fact that the amount of work we now have will remain higher even after things settle down, there was no raise and no substantial bonus to compensate for it.
But worst of all was the loss of China. Even if my gardens had been award-worthy, and even if I had gotten a large raise and year-end bonus the death of our beloved pooch would have made it a terrible year.
We’re still feeling her absence – piercingly so – but we have hopes that this next year will start to look up. We’ll be taking the car into the shop to fix the oil leak and heater in the next week or so and we hope to keep things moving positively from here on out. Unfortunately, no one can control the universe and there’s no telling how it’ll all end up. I’m very nervous about the upcoming elections – the level of intelligence of the American public has been disappointing me since 2000. Add to that the fact that people are already freaking out about the 2012 ‘end of the world’ nonsense and you have the makings of a really bad 12 months.
But as for me, personally, I will do my best to keep things moving forward and in a positive direction. Happy New Year to you all and here’s hoping that we all try to do the same.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
2011 Year in Review
2012 is crowding its way in and will be here in 5 days leaving 2011 in our rear-view mirrors. Good riddance, I say.
No, 2011 wasn't my best year in almost all aspects of my life but here on this blog I'll just focus on the ups and downs of my gardening world to recap the past 12 months.
Spring was a few weeks late this year so January through April were my planning months - plans that I eventually didn't use. I rarely ever do. The one plan that I did follow through with was my back yard shade garden.
As you can see it didn't really end up as I had hoped but I know that it will most likely fill in and I plan to add a few more Hosta to it this year.
Overall my flower gardens did quite well in 2011. I didn't move the Iris as I planned or plant more roses but I did do more fill-in with Hosta. My existing plants flowered nicely and for the first time in years my front flower gardens didn't look lopsided or sad.
The vegetable garden, however, was pretty much a failure. The only vegetables that grew were the Peas and the Crookneck Squash. I got about 3 tomatoes from the 5 plants I planted, I got just a few Buttercup squash and they rotted quickly. Those strange Squmpkins had shells so hard I couldn't cut them open except for one tiny one and no one really wanted to try eating them anyway. My cucumbers were a malformed mess and although I got plenty of Strawberries, the ants ate them before I could pick them.
The sunflowers did well. There was that, at least.
By the end of the growing season I was glad to clear out the garden beds and put them away for winter. I can only hope that I can do better next year. It's going to be lonely, though, without my garden helper.
She kept the Hottentots away, you know.
No, 2011 wasn't my best year in almost all aspects of my life but here on this blog I'll just focus on the ups and downs of my gardening world to recap the past 12 months.
Spring was a few weeks late this year so January through April were my planning months - plans that I eventually didn't use. I rarely ever do. The one plan that I did follow through with was my back yard shade garden.
 |
| It'll get better...hopefully |
As you can see it didn't really end up as I had hoped but I know that it will most likely fill in and I plan to add a few more Hosta to it this year.
Overall my flower gardens did quite well in 2011. I didn't move the Iris as I planned or plant more roses but I did do more fill-in with Hosta. My existing plants flowered nicely and for the first time in years my front flower gardens didn't look lopsided or sad.
 |
| Needed more mulch but otherwise quite nice |
The sunflowers did well. There was that, at least.
By the end of the growing season I was glad to clear out the garden beds and put them away for winter. I can only hope that I can do better next year. It's going to be lonely, though, without my garden helper.
She kept the Hottentots away, you know.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Sad Times
I didn't post about her much here on my garden blog, but our dog China was much beloved and very much an integral part of our family.
We had to let China go this past Sunday. She contracted Lyme disease about a month ago – the worst case the vet has ever seen – and over the weekend she went into acute renal failure.
We adopted China on December 7, 2002 and the past 9 years of our lives have been enriched because of her presence. She did everything with us including camping trips, vacations and everything in between. Although she was never a cuddler – in fact, she pretty much hated to be touched, although she would put up with it – we knew she loved us.
It’s going to be very hard living without her but we know that we did what was best for her. The only thing worse then putting China to sleep was watching her suffer.
We’ll always love you puppy.
We had to let China go this past Sunday. She contracted Lyme disease about a month ago – the worst case the vet has ever seen – and over the weekend she went into acute renal failure.
We adopted China on December 7, 2002 and the past 9 years of our lives have been enriched because of her presence. She did everything with us including camping trips, vacations and everything in between. Although she was never a cuddler – in fact, she pretty much hated to be touched, although she would put up with it – we knew she loved us.
It’s going to be very hard living without her but we know that we did what was best for her. The only thing worse then putting China to sleep was watching her suffer.
We’ll always love you puppy.
 |
| China Mills: 2000 (?) - November 13, 2011 |
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Not gone, just busy
Sorry for the lack of posting. I have been so busy with work that I can barely breathe. The company I work for just acquired 3 new locations...and anyone who lives in Maine probably knows who I work for now. :)
The garden has been 'closed' for the year anyway, so there's not much to report. Here are a couple of shots of the garden and surrounding trees.
The garden has been 'closed' for the year anyway, so there's not much to report. Here are a couple of shots of the garden and surrounding trees.
 |
| Prepared for next year |
 |
| Golden front yard Maple |
Monday, October 3, 2011
Early October Garden
Weather: The past few days have been total yuck. Chilly, rain, rain and - oh yes! - rain.
It's already October - September just flew by, didn't it? - and yet again I have failed to keep up with my garden reporting. But really, there hasn't been much to report. The flowers are still doing well, the vegetable garden is done and all that's really left to do is Fall clean up...which I'll get around to if it ever stops raining.
Here are some visual highlights of the current state of the garden:
It's already October - September just flew by, didn't it? - and yet again I have failed to keep up with my garden reporting. But really, there hasn't been much to report. The flowers are still doing well, the vegetable garden is done and all that's really left to do is Fall clean up...which I'll get around to if it ever stops raining.
Here are some visual highlights of the current state of the garden:
 |
| Late season Hydrangea bud |
 |
| Iceberg Roses |
 |
| Sunbright Roses |
 |
| Welcome Visitor |
 |
| Sunny Flowers |
 |
| Ripening Tomatoes |
 |
| Zinnia Flower |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)