reBlogged to harvest on Dec 17, 2007, 12:32AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to harvest on 2007-12-18, 00:42:27

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One of the things I’ve started doing again after a bit of a break, is reading a lot more garden blogs. (Hey, it’s winter and I can’t garden) I had read about Blogger’s new policy of requiring you to have a Blogger site if you wanted to interact with other Blogger blogs but hadn’t run into it until this weekend. I read a post and decided to make a comment but then ran into the fact that I no longer have a Blogger account. . .

reBlogged to blogs on Dec 17, 2007, 8:34AM

Posted by Doug Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2007-12-18, 00:40:00

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Welcome to any readers of "Country Living" magazine! We get a mention in the January 2008 edition of the magazine, in "the good life" section. I subscribe, so when the magazine came in last week, I was browsing through it...

reBlogged to blogs on Dec 16, 2007, 3:23PM

Posted by Rosemary Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2007-12-18, 00:38:55

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It has been the most lovely day here - cold, light wind and sunny. Perfect for pottering in the garden. Or for killing chickens. Yesterday, Dan and I had our annual trip to Glasgow. Before we had pets and livestock,...

reBlogged to gardening on Dec 16, 2007, 2:58PM

Posted by Rosemary Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardening on 2007-12-18, 00:38:47

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reBlogged to organic

Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to organic on 2007-12-18, 00:38:36

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that the old poem "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple..." would be changed, in my world to "...I shall grow purple..."

reBlogged to plants

Posted by weeder1 Reblogged by Old Roses to plants on 2007-12-18, 00:37:56

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The sun has come out and the snow is over. We didn't get as much as we might have and that's okay. We started out with snow and wind, then freezing rain and wind, then more snow and wind, so that was enough for most people to slow down and enjoy the beauty that a storm like this brings. . . .

reBlogged to weather

Posted by Kylee Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:36:34

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I suppose that my orchid thinks that showing its cheery, smiling face is going to make me forget that it opened a whole day late. This tardiness, in spite of my constant reminders for the past few weeks that it had to be open by the 15th for December's Bloom Day, makes me say: "Harumpf!"
(I already used "Bah Humbug!" yesterday.). . .

reBlogged to orchids

Posted by Blackswamp_Girl Reblogged by Old Roses to orchids on 2007-12-18, 00:36:02

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I went Xmas shopping, bought presents for everyone, then went to Homebase to look for a bird table and honeysuckle.

Alas there were none, but instead I came out with a Nephrolepis.The Boston Fern I read years ago in the Doctor Hessayan book the complete house plant guide...

reBlogged to birds

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to birds on 2007-12-18, 00:35:14

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I took the ice out of my birds water bowl.I love the Sunday morning light. Country File is on Tv with John Craven.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/countryfile/
I need to go Xmas shopping once I have had a second coffee.
I actually heard garden birds singing this morning, and my ground seed mix has been nibbled, as seeds are now laid around the container on the paving slabs.
Maybe they have worked out their is food now in one garden!Just need a bird table now.

reBlogged to weather

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:33:57

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The Elusive magpie who has been chattering all day perches on the fir trees behind the hedges.I love these birds, despite their bad reputation. He seems to be solitary, chattering, and flying to the tree tops to admire the misty, cold view.
Are Magpies Newcastle united supporters? The football team is nicknamed after them because of the black and white shirts.
Ha way the Magpie!

reBlogged to birds

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to birds on 2007-12-18, 00:33:46

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I saw this silhouetted bird sat on a bare tree a few hundred yards from the garden.Even with binoculars he was not distinct.I think he is a crow due to his size.Black feathers, and black beak.

He makes a good silhouette against the bare winter tree. I was looking up garden birds last night and how to attract them to your garden. . . .

reBlogged to birds

Posted by snappy Reblogged by Old Roses to birds on 2007-12-18, 00:33:37

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I love Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica dearly; far beyond its small stature and modest visual impact on the garden. Perhaps my affection stems from the fact that it, along with the Siberian blue squill were the first bulbs that naturalized and scattered about when I first began gardening (in Zone 4, in a cold river valley 75 miles north of my present garden). . . .

reBlogged to bulbs

Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to bulbs on 2007-12-18, 00:33:17

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reBlogged to flowers

Posted by LisaBee Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-12-18, 00:32:10

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Winter and house plants always make for some unique challenges. Watering, light, temperatures dipping, heat and dry air all can play a part in the way houseplants hold up during the winter months. (...)

reBlogged to houseplants on Dec 16, 2007, 7:18PM

Posted by Plant Pro Reblogged by Old Roses to houseplants on 2007-12-18, 00:31:40

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I don't know how much we've gotten and the television weather reports give many varied amounts from as little as three inches to as much as fifteen. But the real story is told by the wind.

With gusts up to 40 miles per hour and sustained winds of 25-30 mph, snow emergency rulings are in effect and many roads are impassable, due to drifting and near whiteout conditions. Our Christmas gathering for today has been canceled. . . .

reBlogged to weather

Posted by Kylee Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:31:32

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The Washington Gardener Enews 12/15/07 edition was sent yesterday and is now archived. This monthly online newsletter is a complement to Washington Gardener Magazine and is fully supported by subscriptions to the print publication. If you are not already a subscriber, please consider signing up for a magazine subscription today.

In This Issue:

Gardening by the Rules

Magazine Excerpt: Native-Friendly Holiday Decor

December To-Do List

Spotlight Special: Great Garden Plants

Reader Contest: Brent and Becky's Bulb Collection

Local Gardening Events

Read it online anytime here.

reBlogged to magazines

Posted by WashingtonGardener Reblogged by Old Roses to magazines on 2007-12-18, 00:29:29

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Though I usually don’t discuss particular garden products here, I’m making an exception of Shrub Coat for 2 reasons:
1. It’s the brainchild of a Western New York horticulturalist.
2. If it works, other zone 5 (and under) gardeners should know about it, because it might spare us some seasonal anxiety over our hydrangea macrophyllas, rhododendrons, and other marginally hardy shrubs. . . .

reBlogged to shrubs tools

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to shrubs, tools on 2007-12-18, 00:29:10

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reBlogged to trees on Dec 16, 2007, 12:38PM

Posted by Digital Flower Pictures Reblogged by Old Roses to trees on 2007-12-18, 00:28:42

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A giant finger poked a hole in the heavens and the stuffing is falling out. It's snowing hard.

This is a perfect time to look over the garden pictures from last summer.

The outside of my house resembles an army barracks. See for yourself.

I love puzzles and this was just one more to solve--how to make the place look more like, well, a house. . . .

reBlogged to landscape

Posted by J.P. Reblogged by Old Roses to landscape on 2007-12-18, 00:28:34

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Today we woke up to about six or seven inches of snow. Thankfully it was on the low side of what was predicted. I've had a wonderful time bird watching this morning and have quite a few pictures to share but I wanted to do these first. My feeders were all covered with solid sheets of ice, yet my yard was full of birds. Many of them were coming to the suet feeder which is right at my window, since it was less frozen than the rest. I couldn't believe it when this female cardinal landed right on the feeder. She was literally within a few feet of me. I wish my windows had been clear but they were splattered with snow and sleet. Shortly after this, I opened this window and cleaned it well. . . .

reBlogged to birds

Posted by Robin's Nesting Place Reblogged by Old Roses to birds on 2007-12-18, 00:28:01

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A

reBlogged to foliage on Dec 16, 2007, 5:38AM

Posted by inadvertentgardener Reblogged by Old Roses to foliage on 2007-12-18, 00:27:38

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reBlogged to cauliflower recipes on Dec 15, 2007, 11:18AM

Posted by inadvertentgardener Reblogged by Old Roses to cauliflower, recipes on 2007-12-18, 00:27:20

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I’ve posted a new video on “3 Things You Can Do to Start an Organic Lawn.”. . .

reBlogged to organic lawn on Dec 16, 2007, 10:20AM

Posted by Doug Reblogged by Old Roses to lawn, organic on 2007-12-18, 00:26:53

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I shoveled a path out to the garden this morning. Last night we got several more inches of snow for a total of 16 inches! Amazing. I have plans to harvest some kale soon for another batch of soup. With the path, at least I can get out to the kale patch.

reBlogged to weather

Posted by carletongardener Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:25:17

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It’s snowing… and sleeting… again. This is not surprising as we may not see sunshine for near a month at a time in the winter. Cleveland is not friendly to those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I have heard that we have more overcast days than any other city in the US, including Seattle. . . .

reBlogged to weather on Dec 16, 2007, 10:02AM

Posted by Hanna Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:24:58

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I am headed to the Southern Hemisphere for six weeks. I will return in early February to a mailbox filled with garden catalogues and hopes for spring. No doubt I will dream garden dreams as I return to high summer.

When I can, I will be recording my adventures down under in my travel blog. Please feel free to visit there.

Reflections Away From Home

Until then, rejoice in the season and in the promise that comes at solstice as the earth faithfully begins her journey back to springtime.

reBlogged to blogs

Posted by Leslie Reblogged by Old Roses to blogs on 2007-12-18, 00:23:33

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reBlogged to weather

Posted by Nickie Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:23:11

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reBlogged to weather

Posted by Carol Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:22:38

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reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Carol Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-12-18, 00:21:14

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This is really old news but I've only just caught up with it. The BBC has teamed up with YouTube and now has a site dedicated to showing short clips of its own programmes. Browsing through them the other day I came across a collection of clips, each 2-4 minutes long, from

documentaries by David Attenborough, many of them from his series The Private Life of Plants. Two particularly caught my attention - one about the Giant Waterlilies of the River Amazon (with super time-lapse photography), and another about the Titan Arum. The photo above shows the water lily leaves, and was taken by my son on holiday at Lake Maggiore some years ago. . . .

reBlogged to plants shows

Posted by Sue Swift Reblogged by Old Roses to plants, shows on 2007-12-18, 00:20:50

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There was a lively debate here yesterday between me and myself about whether to post anything for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. It went something like this.

Me: Why on earth would you want to show those pathetic flowers to anybody?
Myself: But they're flowers. In December. Outside. And it is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Just as it was getting dark, myself prevailed and went outside to snap a couple of photos of two very long-blooming alyssum varieties - 'Snowdrift' and 'Navy Blue'. (Navy Blue isn't, BTW; it's quite purple.) Checking my previous bloom day posts, they've been blooming since June 15 at least (probably earlier) from an early spring direct-sowing. I don't think I ever planted alyssum in the ground before this year - always in containers. They grew much better in the ground, and didn't curl up and die in the heat of the summer.

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-12-18, 00:20:02

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January - November 2007 statewide temperature rankings. Credit: NOAA The year 2007 is on pace to become one of the 10 warmest years for the contiguous U.S. ... The year was marked by exceptional drought in the U.S. Southeast and the West, which...

reBlogged to weather

Posted by Xris (Flatbush Gardener) Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:19:23

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My Coconut Fiber Pellets arrived this week! Let me just go ahead and tell you that I totally messed up the reference to these things in previous posts. I think I called them "Cocoa Cocoa Hull Pellets" What the hell is that? I think I was thinking of cocoa cocoa mulch? Maybe? Hell I don't know. Anyway, I'll be using these to start my seeds indoors in a little while if I can figure out how to use them. I think I need to do something with them and water but I don't exactly know what, yet. I believe only one seed goes in each one and I'm hoping that I'll be able to start one seed in these, then transfer them to a larger container without having to re-pot the seedlings. This appeals to my inner lazy gardener ;). . .

reBlogged to seeds containers tools

Posted by Gina Reblogged by Old Roses to containers, seeds, tools on 2007-12-18, 00:19:06

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Icy weather is in the forecast for our area today. I am crossing my fingers in hope that some of it will come in the form of snow. This gardener relishes the occasion to swap out the muddy shoes for a pair of cozy slippers, pull on a puffy woolen sweater, and wrap clean hands around a piping hot cup of cocoa. Time to curl up inside. . . .

reBlogged to flowers

Posted by Christa Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers on 2007-12-18, 00:17:04

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Near the end of a long, "chilly but too lost in conversation to fret much about it" walk with a frie

reBlogged to gardens on Dec 16, 2007, 3:34AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to Gardens on 2007-12-18, 00:16:38

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reBlogged to books

Posted by Jane Berger Reblogged by Old Roses to books on 2007-12-18, 00:15:19

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We are getting a Currier and Ives landscape again - bane to Ohio drivers, but boon to those (like me) who get to look through their windows at a winter wonderland. I am so glad I got to heel in those plants last week! Now I can fully enjoy the pleasanter aspects of winter. . . .

reBlogged to weather

Posted by Ilona Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:15:04

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The Big Snow started here around noon today. It's been snowing off and on ever since, with winds out of the east, but it doesn't seem like we're getting nearly as much as they said we would. It's supposed to intensify later tonight, though, and the winds are to pick up, so who knows what we'll see when we look out the windows in the morning?. . . .

reBlogged to weather

Posted by Kylee Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2007-12-18, 00:14:39

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