April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain.
Do you think he might really have meant March, but that April just sounded better?
Today's pictures are of the great meltdown and our creek flooding after the rain. Cruel indeed, but we need to get through mud season to reach spring. . .
While the "official" opening day for the nursery will be next Saturday, March 29th, we're working at the nursery quite a bit getting it ready and we'll be on-site this Saturday the 22nd and in and out quite a bit next week as well. If you find yourself in our neck of the woods, look for our signboard on NE Fremont at the corner of NE 51st Avenue. If the signboard is out, we're there.
For more information, including a map & directions go here.
We've brought in lots of great new plants this week! See you soon.
reBlogged
to nursery
Posted by Darcy Reblogged by Old Roses to nursery on 2008-03-20, 19:05:49
I hate myself when I do those stupid little puns. But I couldn’t help myself.
This morning, I was rocking out with Tim on the River Radio, acting the part of Dirt Diva to the stars. We are trying very hard to wrap ourselves around the notion that tomorrow is the first day of Spring 2008. Still quite cold and wet and muddy out there with snow forecast for later in the week. As I said then, and will repeat now, after being in bed sick for over a week a couple of weeks ago, cold and wet does not cut it for me. All the same, I am trying to clean up little parts of the garden, bit by bit. . . .
reBlogged
to berries
on Mar 19, 2008, 12:05PM
Posted by Mary Ann Reblogged by Old Roses to berries on 2008-03-20, 19:05:38
End of the day today. Its back to work tomorrow so thats it for this week I think.I am doing the wilderness clearing between hospital shifts. Two dug beds that need some edging and two ghostly beds that are outlined but not cleared or dug. The paths are visible that will need clearing of grass and weed supressing membrane laid down, so I can get around the vegetable beds.. . . .
Creating hanging baskets that ooze flowers from their very pores may seem a little daunting, especially if you've never tried it before. Yet, come the end of spring towards the start of summer and the 'Ooohs' and 'Aahhs' you receive from besotted visitors will make the challenge seem...well, less challenging I suspect. . ..
Rechsteineria leucotricha A caudiciform plant in the gesneriaceae family, which includes many flowering bulbs like gloxinia. Caudex can get to 8" across. Red blooms form a crown on top of the leaves that protrude up on gentle stems.
reBlogged
to cacti flowers
on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM
So I wasn't able to fix the blog yesterday. It is still slow loading for now. Does anyone know how to upgrade Serendipity? I have to call in the professionals. In the meantime, here's a picture.
I was extremely honored to be asked to give the keynote speech at last Saturday's School Garden conference held by the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. The conference theme was successes and best practices, so I shared the Program Model and the story of how Michelle's research study on school gardens led to this framework that guides all Urban Sprouts' work. If you haven't yet visited this amazing botanical garden, go now!. . .
My sister wrote me this week asking for advice about her new vegetable garden in St. Louis. They have loads of little bunnies. Apparently they’re extremely persistent and have been known to eat even jalapeño peppers! She’s worried they will eat her yummy new lettuces, carrots, radishes, and considering their track record, even her tomatoes. . . .
reBlogged
to pests
on Mar 19, 2008, 4:57PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to pests on 2008-03-20, 19:01:58
The Vernal Equinox and a mild weather forecast for southwest VA mean blooms from spring-flowering bulbs and blossoms from ornamental trees and shrubs for Easter Sunday.
reBlogged
to spring flowers
on Mar 19, 2008, 4:00AM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers, spring on 2008-03-20, 19:00:48
I have lots to mention, just not a whole lot of time to say it.
First, this tree shot was taken from the stairs of my deck. I had to dodge a couple of electrical lines and I wish I could have isolated it more from the glob of trees on the right, but I got what I got and that's all I got. . . .
reBlogged
to trees
on Mar 19, 2008, 8:54PM
Posted by Marie Freeman Reblogged by Old Roses to trees on 2008-03-20, 18:59:57
This has been the anti-spring; day after day, week after week of cold, damp, misty weather... it is as if we are trapped in the far north of Scotland, in some icy, wind-swept moor. Normally this might not be such a bad thing for a gardener; there would be something to be said for going out to view the crocuses blooming on the Fourth of July, but I do like to grow the occasional daylily, and we do have to get on with it, as we have a little something called winter coming in seven months. Now I know why the Scots are so glum...
reBlogged
to weather
Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-03-20, 18:59:16
Around here gardeners like to plan events in the garden according to Holidays. St. Patrick's Day is when they say you should plant peas, so I dutifully built my pea trellises and planted peas last Sunday (the day before St. Patty's Day).
Maybe it's not just around here where gardeners shoot for pea planting on the Irish holiday because peas were planted in Skippy's Vegetable Garden on St. Patrick's day too. . . .
reBlogged
to planting peas
Posted by Marc Reblogged by Old Roses to peas, planting on 2008-03-20, 18:58:10
Happy spring, everybody! I always feel like a Peanut on the vernal equinox -- the first day of spring -- when the day and night are equally long. In fact, I'm so excited, I'm posting this 14 hours early. From tomorrow at 5:58 a.m. until the first day of summer -- June 21 -- the days will grow longer and longer. ..
Lately, I've noticed that more and more designers are having fun with indoor planters. From miniature pink flamingos for your cacti to "treehouses" for your ficus, decorating your houseplants is definitely big. . . .
reBlogged
to houseplants
on Mar 19, 2008, 7:19PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to houseplants on 2008-03-20, 18:53:15
At least they remind me of my lovely yellow primroses back in Michigan. This is the Lady Banks Rose. The specimen shown here is clambering over the neighbor's fence into my yard. Later this year, I am going to take some cuttings to see if I can start a few of these plants. . . .
reBlogged
to roses
on Mar 19, 2008, 6:26PM
Posted by Jenn Reblogged by Old Roses to roses on 2008-03-20, 18:52:44
Today I continued with my front yard make over. I finished the long bed along the walkway to my front door. I got these ground orchids at a bargain prize of $10 for both. I divided it into 17 individual plants. The solar lights are from my back yard where they were not getting much sun. The front garden faces the west and it gets plenty of afternoon sun. . . .
Well, if they can't, I'm never going to get them planted.
Snow - rain - hail - rain - snow, and yes, it's raining again at a pretty decent clip but will turn back to snow tonight. There are a few school delays from icing. A quick glance at the forecasted temps for the week tells me things aren't going to warm up any time soon. . ..
reBlogged
to weather
Posted by Tina Reblogged by Old Roses to weather on 2008-03-20, 18:50:12
In a recent issue of Organic Gardening magazine, they quoted researchers from the University of Florida as saying that loosening the roots of pot bound transplants of annuals was an...
reBlogged
to planting
on Mar 18, 2008, 9:01PM
Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to planting on 2008-03-20, 18:22:47
It is ABC Wednesday again and today’s entry is ‘I’ for Ivy. I know a lot of people consider this plant to be a weed but we are lucky here in Connecticut because the winter often slows down the growth and spread of this plant. If the winter is bad enough it outright kills it. I have been places, like the US Pacific Northwest, where I could definitely see where it could be considered a weed. . . .
reBlogged
to foliage vines
on Mar 19, 2008, 8:48AM
Congratulations to garden blogger Nan Ondra, whose book Foliage was awarded a Garden Book Award from the American Horticultural Society. According to the press release, “books are judged by the...
reBlogged
to books
on Mar 19, 2008, 1:58AM
Posted by Kathy Purdy Reblogged by Old Roses to books on 2008-03-20, 18:21:12
Can we do it? Can we make it to 100? Just 3 more to go! Yes, we’re 97 and growing a whole lot of new food from seeds this year. Is this as fun for you as it is for me? I hope so!. . .
reBlogged
to vegetables environment
on Mar 18, 2008, 3:00AM
I'm not a fan of Bonsai. Something about the interference, the constant pruning of branches and roots, the wiring, its all such a morbid contrivance. This art of restriction, beautiful though it is, goes against the grain. If not for my friend, I would never have gone in to look at the Bonsais in the conservatory at The Brookln Botanic Garden today but thats where I found myself after our hearty lunch (the chili is wickedly good) at the cafe downstairs. . . .
I just signed off from a web seminar put on for the media and featuring speakers on water management in the garden. Let me summarize what I took away from the event. (more. . .
reBlogged
to watering
on Mar 18, 2008, 4:24PM
Posted by Doug Reblogged by Old Roses to watering on 2008-03-20, 05:59:56
via An Iowa Garden on 1969-12-31, 19:00:00
Everyone needs a tree that can take extreme cold, heat, wind, and is fast growing, so today we're going to list three trees that can do just that.
I just signed off from a web seminar put on for the media and featuring speakers on water management in the garden. Let me summarize what I took away from the event.