The Brilliance of Buckets for Mulching

What is it about guys and buckets? I think if I asked Mike if he wanted a steak or another bucket, he would pick the bucket. His eyes would light up and it would be an oh so easy decision. Actually, that would be because Mike doesn’t much like steak. But if he did, he . . . → Read More: The Brilliance of Buckets for Mulching

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – Enjoy It Anyway

The birds are singing, they don’t care, An inch of snow is everywhere. They’ll sing their song till day is done, Whether or not the snow is gone. I’ll follow their lead, enjoy the sun, The bright blue sky, the glistening ground. He will fulfill the promise of spring, The beautiful flowers He will soon . . . → Read More: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – Enjoy It Anyway

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – Louie’s Favorite Fragrant Roses

It’s automatic – We see a rose; we smell the rose. Seems kind of like a useless exercise these days, as so many roses have had the fragrance bred out of them. It’s not that hybridizers don’t like fragrance, it’s just that we consumers insist on roses that are disease resistant, survive the elements, and . . . → Read More: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – Louie’s Favorite Fragrant Roses

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – For Everything There Is A Season

A garden distinctly marks the passage of time. Kind of like life, with people growing and shining, and sadly over time, gone. We are experiencing this in both our garden walk and life walk in pronounced ways. Dahlias gone, mums shining, Linda failing, grandchildren shining.

In the category of ‘gone’, we have the dahlias. Mike’s . . . → Read More: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – For Everything There Is A Season

A Bit Of Garden Humor

Mike says “We plant flowers the old fashioned way – We urn them”… Cousin It came to the garden walk at the Olsen’s… A guaranteed way to kill the slug…

Is this what they meant when they said “A bird in the pot is worth two in the bush?”…

. . . → Read More: A Bit Of Garden Humor

Fingers Numb

I write to you with fingers numb. I think that I might lose a thumb. Chicago’s temperature is 33. Yet I was gardening – crazy me.

The sun was shining. The birds were singing. I was smiling, trimming, digging.

Digging through the shed so deep, my gardening tools buried in the heap. But out they . . . → Read More: Fingers Numb

Gardener’s Muse Day – February 2012

As I complete this monthly series paying homage to Edith Holden, I thank her for writing her diary and sharing it with us so many years ago.

February, per Edith Holden’s “Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady”…

This month derives its name from the word februare, to purify or from Februa, the Roman festival of . . . → Read More: Gardener’s Muse Day – February 2012

Garden Bloggers’ Muse Day – January 2012

The month of January, per Edith Holden’s “Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady”…

Named from the Roman god Janus, who is represented with two faces looking in opposite directions, – as retrospective to the past, and prospective to, the coming year.

And an interesting motto that Ms. Holden has been kind enough to share with . . . → Read More: Garden Bloggers’ Muse Day – January 2012

Garden Bloggers’ Muse Day – December 2011

The month of December, per Edith Holden’s “Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady”…

December was the last month of the old Roman year which was divided into ten months.  The Saxons called it ‘winter-monat’ or winter month, and ‘heligh-monat,’ or holy month from the fact that Christmas fell with it.  The 22nd of December is . . . → Read More: Garden Bloggers’ Muse Day – December 2011

Way To Go Susan!

I like to give credit where credit is due.  Today, credit is due to Susan Holland of Bismarck, North Dakota.  Susan’s and my friendship is a testament to the new world we live in – one connected over many miles thanks to modern technology. 

Susan took one more big technology step recently, as her credits now include . . . → Read More: Way To Go Susan!