There are a heck of a lot of what-was and what-will-be posts being published right now. Having done my business planning in November, I can only add this bit of current thinking.
Life is – in all things – finding a balance.
When the “what was” fills your life, you’re at the end of life – [...]
Related posts:
Garden Networks One of the big buzzwords on the Internet has, and...
Has a year really passed since I was sitting here doing the review of 2008? It seems about five minutes ago. But in three days it´s going to be 2010, so here´s a look back at what has happened this year...
On January 1st we were in Germany and it was snowing. But that didn´t stop me getting myself to the local garden centre and stocking up on
seeds for the year. Sadly it wasn´t to be a particularly good year on the balcony - too much work and having to be away a lot meant that I had much less time to spend on gardening, and the casualty rate was high. So if you don´t remember having seen photos of many of the plants in the seed packets, well that´s why.
Back in Milan and the bad weather continued, meaning that most of my gardening happened indoors. At the end of the month I posted on looking after
Scindapsus - a plant which people often scorn, but which personally I love having around.
By February the weather was getting better, and it was time to start preparing for the year. A balcony may not be quite so time-consuming as a garden, but there´s still plenty to do clearing up after the winter and preparing for spring. See here for a checklist. February was also the month when I posted about how my cooking tended to revolve around the herb savory - and how I was planning to grow it on the balcony in 2009. Sadly it was one of the failures, but I´ll be trying again this year.
March arrived, and suddenly things were blooming again. Much to my surprise, the
tulip bulbs which I´d planted for the second year running were the greatest success of the season. So much for all the books which said that tulip bulbs planted in containers should be thrown away after flowering. They´ve gone in again this year - we shall see.
In April, I was also planting salad and veg. But we´ll draw a veil over that one. If my flower gardening wasn´t greatly successful this year, the kitchen garden was a disaster. It produced exactly two French beans ... But then, when your packet of lettuce seeds assures you you´ll be harvesting tomatoes, I suppose failure is to be expected. Confused? So was I - click here.
May. If the balcony isn´t looking good in May, then it never will be. My pride and joy this year was my little campanula, which bloomed its heart out for me all month.
June was pretty good too, with nasturtiums, petunias and surfinia, pelargoniums, hollyhocks and begonias all in full bloom. And for the first time ever, I managed to persuade the great tits and blue tits which live in the garden surrounding the flat to come on to the balcony to feed.
In July we were off to England - where I found my garden completely overgrown. The photo below shows what used to be the rose bed. Two months hard work followed, to get it back to some semblance of order. I planted a lot of bulbs and other stuff while I was there - and hope to get back soon to see how they are doing.
However, the overgrown state of the garden meant that it had become a haven for wildlife - including a family of foxes, who soon realised that dinner was on offer nightly. Not too much - we wouldn´t be there to provide for them forever and the young ones had to learn to forage for themselves. But enough to encourage them to come and check us out every evening.
In September my son and I went to the sea for ten days - to Eraclea Mare, not far from Venice. It was undoubtedly the best two weeks of the year.
On one of our many walks and bike rides into the lagoon, I spotted a buzzard circling high above us.
September also brought the honour of being voted "Best Container Gardening Blog" on Blotanical - something I truly didn´t expect as the competition was so strong.
In October I found a mystery plant had self seeded itself in one of the containers. But several people who read the post were able to identify it as Kalanchoe daigremontiana - or Mother of Thousands. Sadly it succumbed to the sudden drop in temperature we had in December. It was looking very sorry for itself when I left for Christmas holidays, and I very much doubt if it will have made it.
But on a cheerier note, October was also the month when the Hummingbird Hawkmoth visited the balcony.
... and it was also the month when Bilbo the garden gnome visited the Balcony Garden. for those of you who don´t know him, he´s doing a world tour, and visiting people´s blogs along the way. When he left me, he went off to Sweden to visit Gittan and play in the snow..
In December the weather turned chilly and it was time to cover up the balcony before the first sprinkling of snow fell. Everything was covered with fleece and moved back against the warmth of the walls of the flat. But temperatures were about to fall to a record -14C (that´s 7F). That happened the day we left for Germany again, so I´ve not yet seen what damage it´s done. Will anything have survived? So, the year has come full circle, and in a couple of days will start again. It was a busy, and at times hectic year, but without real ups and downs. I had little time for the balcony (and some months even less for blogging) and it showed in the results. So my goal for next year is to find the time again, and to have the balcony looking as good as it has in some past years. And of course, to get a few more than two French beans ....
To everyone who´s followed the Balcony Garden over the past year, I hope you have a very, very
This was kind of a fun plant to grow this year. I purchased seeds from Baker Creek, which came highly reccommended from them.
It’s called a tomato, but is a totally different species and has little to do with normal tomatoes aside from the color of the ripened fruit. It should grow in almost any climate, [...]
Photographer David Perry has given a new assignment just for fun, a color study of one photo of each color red, green and blue. Here's what I found around the house.I had so much fun photographing the Paperwhite Narcissus roots in the blue vase, that I got a bit carried away. I'll be posting more of those soon.
Originally posted by empressofdirt@gmail.com (M.J.Will) from empress of dirt.
We've had some very beautiful days lately. Gorgeous light. I like to check on the garden during the winter to make sure the wind and cold have taken no hostages. I was happy to see my chandelier is still hanging in there (punny!):
You never forget your first piece of homemade garden junk:
That's the closest I'll ever get to bling. And that suits me just fine.
Meanwhile there are some major squirrel battles going on. Apparently there can only be one reigning monarch and there are a few contenders.
This guy sits up top and makes incessant clicking sounds:
Meanwhile, this guy down below on the bird feeder meticulously stuffs himself with birdseed, occasionally climbing up the porch wall to chase away Mr. Clicker:
And then they trade positions. And the game begins again.
Originally posted by Gotta Garden from Gotta Garden.
By now, a good week plus later, the snow has receded to just the shady areas and the piles where snow was pushed aside. Just this morning, I heard of the chance of snow on New Year's Eve to New Year's Day. No matter. Having made it through 'the big one', the rest will seem small potatoes.Not that I've really ventured forth, but I have had a bit of a chance to see what the Big Snow has left.As
You must see the newly discovered videos of Ruth Stout. Who is Ruth Stout you may ask? Well, thanks to fellow blogger Margaret Roach, and her recent post on Ruth Stout which had me reminiscing and running to my library, she was the author of the 1962 classic organic gardening book The No Work Garden Book. Born in 1882, and living to the age of 96, Ruth Stout was highly influencial to many of us who lived and gardened in the 1960's and 70's. He methods were so simple, use mulch, lots of it, and only use hay as mulch. No fertilizers, no insecticides, and no work ( unless you call spreading hay and harvesting loads of vegetables, work. I remember my mother buying me the Ruth Stout No Work Garden book back in the early 70's while on a summer vacation in Maine, and I read the entire book in a few days. It changed how I garden forever. Her use of hay as a mulch is a method I still use today. FInd her book on vintage book sites, and try out her methods which are simply timeless, and perhaps, more relevant than ever, today.
I can't think of Ruth Stout without reliving her stories about Asapragus, her methods for raising annual Phlox, sweet peas, and tomoatos. If you are a new gardeners, track down her book. And now, Margaret Roach shares her long lost videos! Visit her blog to check them out.2010 resolution: a ‘no-work’ garden?
Originally posted by Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen from BLISS.
Bulbs are so delicious you could eat them with a spoon. Well, not eat perhaps - although this has been done in the Netherlands in WW2 during the Hunger Winter of 1944 - but certainly plant them with it.I do, I plant most of the small bulbs like crocus, muscari, fritillaria, some alliums, snowdrops, winter aconites and anemones with a spoon.I love bulbs, they are such powerhouses, aren't they, and
The first snowfall waited until last night to appear and don't think we aren't appreciative. That it waited, that is. We got through the month of November with nothing more wintery than heavy frost. Last night the wind rattled the windows followed by banging sleet and that was followed by quietly falling snow. Now it's spitting ice pellets with a promise of plain old rain to follow. It's also garbage day. I'd already stacked it in the front hall last night so it had to go out, slippery walk or not. The fish snuggled around the pond heater and I can relate to that. So winter has happened. It pretty well had to some time.
Originally posted by Kylee from Our Little Acre from Our Little Acre.
I don't know how I missed the forecast, but the weather guys are saying they told us it was going to happen. When I awoke this morning and opened the blinds, I was surprised to find that we've got snow! Not a lot, mind you, but enough to whitewash the landscape and produce a smile on my face. I've always said, if it has to be winter, then let there be snow.
The thermometer said 26° F. but if I was going to get any photos, the outside wasn't coming inside to me, so I bundled up and headed out. Snow was still falling lightly and I was aware of how snow hushes everything. It's a special kind of quiet that allows even the smallest sounds of nature to be heard.
Cyclamen coum 'Something Magic'
A woodpecker was hard at work off in the distance, and a nuthatch much closer, chattering away. As I walked across the lawn, my boots produced that familiar squeak that only snow can make. Though the air was cold, it was crisp and fresh and it felt good to breathe it in.
Gaillardia 'Oranges and Lemons'
Any of the flowers that were still blooming before the snow - roses, gaillardia, xeranthemum, dianthus, mums, petunias - had breathed their last. The succulent-type vining plant in the flower boxes that I couldn't decide if I wanted to overwinter or not, made that decision for me as they hung limply over the sides of the boxes.
There are things to love about winter, but a few weeks of it are enough for me. By the time Christmas and New Year's are over and January has set in, I'm ready for spring and the appearance of those bulbs I planted just this past weekend.
In the meantime, I'll try to focus on the good things and in just three short months, the snowdrops and crocus will be pushing their way out of the ground and the promise of warm weather will be a reality.
Originally posted by bizplanr@hughes.net (George Africa) from The Vermont Gardener.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It's already into December but one would question that this morning. It's 52 degrees, there's a 3-5 mph variable wind, and the rain is coming down in buckets with slight interruptions that last only long enough for a short walk. Karl the Wonder Dog and I just returned due more to his insistence than my desire. Reports across the nation from garden writers indicate rain and flooding prevails most everywhere.
Karl and I cheated a bit and started the walk in the truck until we got to the end of the big field. He seemed bothered by the shortness of the trip as he is a dog that loves truck rides. For him, today's ride ended in a question mark. I coaxed him out and we headed up the back woods trail. Two more fir balsams had come down during last night's windstorm. The beeches along the field's perimeter are obvious with leaves bleached by the rain but still holding tight in places while other branches are already forming next year's buds.
We walked to the top of the first road and I stopped without choice when Karl came to an abrupt stop. Coyote, fisher or bear had obviously come by recently as there was no moving this dog, his feet implanted like big bridge abutments going nowhere. Straight ahead was the last of an old spruce that has been falling apart for years. Since we had visited last the top arms dropped to the forest floor in final rest. It used to be fun to climb and peer from but now its age has made that unsafe and just a memory.
We half trotted down the hill on the back woods road. The wind blew water drops sideways and they dripped from the visor of my cap. Karl stopped often to shake. He sneaked under the lower branches of a spruce as I stooped to pick the spent scape from a lady's tresses orchid. Karl
showed no amusement for the old orchid as I made a mental note of its location for next spring. Vermont has a number of orchids and some are growing secretively in open fields or along woods roads begging to be seen but at the same time hiding coyly from disrespectful shovels of harm.
We stopped for a moment as Karl picked up the rustling sound of birch bark catching errant breezes. He couldn't figure out where the noise came from but it was uncommon to his ears. White birch are interesting to me but Karl could care.
We returned to the truck in time for my friend to jump inside and then begin to shake water everywhere. With all the outdoors I don't know why dogs do this but one is no different than the next. Karl couldn't wait to get home to the warm fire. Lunch and a hot coffee sounded good to me.
Writing from the mountain above Peacham Pond where a second flock of snow geese has passed overhead this morning.
Meems at Hoe & Shovelcame up with the idea for the 12 Days of Christmas in the Florida Garden.
Lucky for us we can grow veggies through the winter months. On a couple of frosty nights, I may have to toss a blanket over my broccoli and wrap one around the tomato bush, but the collard greens are unaffected.
It looks like the first head of broccoli is just about ripe! :-)
RATS! I can never go to this, because I'm sooooo busy at this time of year my husband becomes a single parent. If I could go, however, I would go with the charming and knowledgeable Michael Warren Thomas. Details below.
Submitted by Michael Warren Thomas
The 2010 Philadelphia Flower Show Tours
Passport to the World is the theme for the 2010 show,
also visit Longwood Gardens & the Brandywine River Museum
March 3-4 (Wed.-Thurs.) or March 6-7 (Sat.-Sun.)
The Philadelphia Flower theme for 2010 is Passport to the World. For more details, please visit www.TheFlowerShow.com. The Show will transport visitors to dozens of destinations covering the globe. Among the most impressive will be India, which will come to life amid a shower of flowers in an Indian wedding scene. The Netherlands will be portrayed in a floating flower market filled with over 100,000 blooms. The natural wonders of South Africa will be depicted by the vivid colors and patterns of Zulu costumes. The Amazon jungle of Brazil will unfold in a canopy of sparkling waterfalls, tropical flora and exotic wildlife. Singapore, the “Pearl of Asia,” will have a tribute to the orchid, and New Zealand will feature the wild flora and traditions of the native Maori.
In addition to Longwood Gardens, we will also visit the Brandywine River Museum which highlights the artwork of N.C. Wyeth and his family. The museum is along the banks of the river and beautifully displays the famous original paintings from books like Treasure Island. We last visited this museum on the 2007 tour.
Please pass this info on to your garden club, as well as friends and neighbors that enjoy gardening. Send your deposit as soon as possible to reserve your place. In sixteen years of leading this tour, no one has ever lost a deposit because they had to cancel their reservation – even the night before. Bring family and friends for a two days of flowers. We have even had three generations attend together!
First Day – Philadelpia Flower Show
7:30 Depart Bristol’s Garden Center in Victor, bagels & cream cheese in their greenhouse
11:30 Lunch included near Scranton, PA at The Inn at Nichols Village
3:00 Arrive Philadelphia Flower Show
9:00 Leave show for Hampton Inn in Wilmington, Delaware, 9:45 arrival at hotel.
Second Day – Longwood & Brandywine River Museum
8:10 Leave for Longwood Gardens (continental breakfast at hotel)
9:00 Arrive Longwood Gardens (lunch included – the mushroom soup & cornbread are fabulous)
12:30 Leave for the Brandywine River Museum
2:30 Leave the Brandywine River Museum for dinner in Scranton.
5:30 Arrive at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel for an elegant closing dinner
11:00 Return to Bristol’s Garden Center
The 2010 price is $395 per person (double) includes everything except dinner at the Flower Show. Add $55 for a single. A deposit of $50 per person will hold your place, remainder due by January 10, 2010. Call Michael at 585-328-8300 if you have any questions. Please send a check payable to Michael Warren Thomas, 19 Trafalgar Street, Rochester, NY 14619.
Michael Warren Thomas, Host & Producer
“Naturally Green,” “For the Love of Food,”
“Discover the Finger Lakes,” “Savour Toronto” & “The Grapevine”
19 Trafalgar Street, Rochester, NY 14619 (585) 328-8300 www.SavourLife.com
