We had our first snowfall overnight and I'd say we're off to a pretty good start for winter with about 3-4 inches here in Noblesville. I noticed that there was a lot of bird activity first thing this morning and the bird feeders were almost empty. I quickly changed out of my warm fleece pajamas, got dressed, put on my snow boots and braved the wind and snow to get the feeders filled up. It wasn't too long before several surprise visitors showed up on this snowy day. . . .
Posting will be a bit light as we get into the winter months; I tend to use this blog to chronicle my own garden, and, as joyful as the four seasons are and all that, the fact is, the garden is not terribly … active. At the moment, that is. . . .
reBlogged
to bulbs
Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to bulbs on 2007-12-07, 00:55:31
I was content. Yeah, so maybe I was in denial about my indoor jungle... but I was quite happy there until Heather asked people to share what kind of indoor gardening they were doing this winter. I thought it would be fun to catalog my efforts, so I dutifully created my lists:
With an accumulation of snow in excess of six inches, the gardening season is officially, completely, finally over here at Squirrelhaven. Beneath this white blanket the garden will sleep. . . .
I live in New York City and have a three-year-old fig tree. It bore fruit for the first time this year, but it failed to ripen. Why? What is a good fertilizer? (answer).
What's the Inuit word for "snow too heavy and wet to make the calamintha look pretty"? That's the kind we had today. This isn't all that bad, but the Calaminthas need something fluffier and lighter to look their winter best. Maybe we'll get another chance later in the season, if they're not totally flattened by then. Here's an antique video for the first snow of the season. For you folks who aren't from the Chicago area, have you ever seen it?
reBlogged
to weather
Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-07, 00:53:34
Selecting and cutting our own Christmas tree is by far a richer experience than simply choosing one from a lot. Our tree this year carries with it the memories of a bright and chilly first day of December, laughter in the field as we set out on our search, the neighs of the horses in a pasture nearby, and whiffs of fresh fir catching our cold noses as the tree was sawed from its roots. A complimentary cup of hot apple cider afterwards completed the full sensory experience. . . .
reBlogged
to trees
Posted by Christa Reblogged by Old Roses to trees on 2007-12-07, 00:53:16
One book about growing vegetables indoors ("The Indoor Kitchen Garden" Joy O.I. Spoczynska) that I didn't own myself! One book about growing herbs indoors ("Fönster med basilika" Marguerite Walfridsson, title translated "Window with basil", probably only available in swedish) where the use in food for the herbs are thoroughly discussed. I still have a problem with bountiful harvests where I know nothing about what to do with the stuff.
The third book was called (translated from swedish) "Keep your container plants healthy!" ("Håll krukväxterna friska! Maj-Lis Pewttersson). I took the title as an order and borrowed it, eventhough I had only returned two other books. My second excuse was that the books I was borrowing was awfully thin...
reBlogged
to books
Posted by Rosengeranium Reblogged by Old Roses to books on 2007-12-07, 00:52:27
I'm a sucker for trees and shrubs with interesting bark -- bark that begs to be touched; in hues that command attention; or catches the light just so, such as the delicate, translucent peeling sheets of the river birch (Betula nigra) and paperbark maple (Acer griseum), which are especially attractive with the sun at their back. . . .
reBlogged
to trees
Posted by Darcy Reblogged by Old Roses to trees on 2007-12-07, 00:51:57
My garden maintenance area is finally well under way. After years of moving temporary compost bins around as each section of the garden was landscaped they have now taken up their final residence behind the kid's cubby house.
This is one of only two sections left that still need to landscaped. This area will eventually cater for our vegetables and aquaponics setup but will most likely be the last area completed. We're still researching the whole backyard aquaponics deal and are noticing many others are starting to take it up - so we can learn from their successes and mistakes. . . .
reBlogged
to compost
on Dec 5, 2007, 6:45PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to compost on 2007-12-07, 00:51:35
These are my first blooms of Hoya macgillivrayi, I must say I was quite impressed by the size of the flowers. No wonder its a favourite with people. Hoya obscura looks happily at home under the pergola, the flowers are very dainty but attractive. I was glad I placed the Hoya carnosa at the base of our potted fig tree. It think the foliage of the fig makes a nice backdrop for the Carnosa blooms.
reBlogged
to hoyas
Posted by roybe Reblogged by Old Roses to hoyas on 2007-12-07, 00:51:11
I took these photos at the greenhouse while shopping for our poinsettia. I love bromiliads but I do not have the room to grow them. I do have an earth star, I always think of my aunt when I water it, she had one growing in her kitchen window for years. I bought mine at Wal Mart a few years ago, I was surprised to see it there, but there it sat just asking me to purchase it.
Here's a new page on my Sustainable Gardening site - about tools for digging. It includes all my favorites but I'd much rather it include some of yours, too. Any suggestions?
Digging is our most basic gardening task, and
here are my favorite tools for getting the job done, and some others
you might try. . . .
reBlogged
to tools
Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to tools on 2007-12-07, 00:49:30
Vincent A. Simeone, director of Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, has has written a trio of books. His third, "Great Flowering Landscape Trees" (Ball Publishing, $24.95), is a real gem.
Born in Islip, Simeone, 39, has lived in Oyster Bay 14 years. His passion for trees began when he was a student at SUNY Farmingdale in 1986. "The first class I took was on trees and shrubs," he explains, "and it immediately just appealed to me.". . .
reBlogged
to books
Posted by Jessica Damiano Reblogged by Old Roses to books on 2007-12-07, 00:49:03
What does the first snow of the year mean for our garden? One, it gives a blanket of insulation believe it or not. That means that in addition to the mulch that covers the gardens, the snow also helps keep in the warmth that still exists there. Two, we can bring the garden indoors. . . .
Wish I could say I was walking in the woods and happened upon this scene, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. I was shooting people ;) at Grandfather Mountain's wildlife habitat and grabbed this shot just as I was leaving. The naturalist explained that 'Beau' buck was entering rutting season and was a bit more aggressive than usual. I saw him chase the doe around the habitat. But she prevailed by out-dancing him. She clearly wasn't interested in fullfilling any of Beau's needs. . . .
reBlogged
to pests
on Dec 5, 2007, 6:23PM
Posted by Marie Freeman Reblogged by Old Roses to pests on 2007-12-07, 00:48:11
Aphids those pesky house plant and landscape pests are sometimes called plant lice. You’ll find them on the tender new growth or on the undersides of leaves. (...)
reBlogged
to pests
on Dec 5, 2007, 2:08PM
Posted by Plant Pro Reblogged by Old Roses to pests on 2007-12-07, 00:40:41
Dream no more: it's here! Deep drifting mounds of fluffy white snow. the kind that is soft and packable and holds the large crystal shapes in fragile sparkly points... just visible long enough to astound you with their beauty before they melt away. . . .
reBlogged
to weather
Posted by Ilona Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-07, 00:40:24
We're having our first snow of this season today. It seems early, but I heard on the news last night that today's snowfall is the fourth in six years on this exact date...so, it isn't really.
But, the truly exciting news is that my Redspire Pear Tree is gone, gone, gone! I cannot believe how much it has opened things up (although I did expect it would)! Some other pruning was done and some large shrubs were removed. . . .
via Photos from everyone tagged garden on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
