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Post by whollygoats on Jan 15, 2021 13:24:20 GMT
Midsummer Night's Dream takes place on the summer solstice, a reminder that the midsummer was in June. I don't know when or why folks started thinking of these dates as 'the beginning' of a particular season when they were often referring to them as 'midseason'. If one starts with that point and pushes the seasons around on the calendar, one winds up with a rough approximation of the seasonal calendar of Europe, to whit:  |
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Post by Mari on Jan 18, 2021 7:39:36 GMT
I only knew about 4 of those. The other points are wholly unfamiliar. I'll look it up.
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Post by whollygoats on Jan 22, 2021 15:42:48 GMT
Waiting for the arborist.
I contracted a professional arborist to do the pruning on the trees along my western border, the one that abuts the duplex. They're due early, with the utility boys soon after, to turn off the power, because the power to the house runs through both trees. I'll be power down for six hours at most, prolly less.
After setting up the contactor, I'm going back to bed.
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Post by Mari on Jan 25, 2021 7:46:57 GMT
I should probably get one to do my tree as well since the previous owners butchered it at some point, but I'm pretty sure it's not a priority list for funding. It'll live till it is I'm sure. What time did they start?
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Post by whollygoats on Jan 27, 2021 3:06:33 GMT
The two-man crew arrived about 8:30 am and were gone by 10 am. They did the job without shutting down the power. It looks like acceptable trim work...it cost me $400.
And, yeah...trees can wait.
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Post by whollygoats on Feb 2, 2021 18:51:41 GMT
'Tis Imbolc....The first day of spring.
I still have winter rose buds, trying desperately to bloom in the cold.
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Post by whollygoats on Feb 7, 2021 1:19:59 GMT
CROCUS! Multiple screaming yellow blooms in the front, next to the public walk and next to the lower course of front steps, in the western front slope.
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Post by whollygoats on Feb 17, 2021 14:11:03 GMT
Every thing is under 5 to 8 inches of ice-glazed snow.
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Post by Mari on Feb 19, 2021 8:47:49 GMT
Our snow is gone! Not too many crocii yet though.
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Post by whollygoats on Feb 19, 2021 13:49:27 GMT
The snow is melting, but it is still present. I have screaming yellow crocii poking up through the icy spots.
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Post by whollygoats on Feb 23, 2021 18:28:42 GMT
Iris reticulata blooming in the spring bloom pots!
My first Tete-a-tete miniature daffodils, too!
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Post by Mari on Feb 26, 2021 11:10:15 GMT
My heather seems to have pulled through this year, but one of my hebes is a goner.
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Post by whollygoats on Mar 1, 2021 1:29:39 GMT
Oooooooo what an exquisite day in the garden.
Shirtsleeves. I had to wear a hat to protect my baldness from the sun. It was glorious.
Tomorrow, I plant sweetpeas!
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Post by Mari on Mar 2, 2021 7:53:39 GMT
Ugh, I don't like sweet peas. The flowers are lovely, but they grow everywhere and are difficult to remove. I'm still hoping for some daffodils but I'm afraid they didn't make it. I do have some tulips popping up though.
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Post by whollygoats on Mar 2, 2021 14:44:06 GMT
Ugh, I don't like sweet peas. The flowers are lovely, but they grow everywhere and are difficult to remove. I'm still hoping for some daffodils but I'm afraid they didn't make it. I do have some tulips popping up though. Grow everywhere and are difficult to remove? That has NOT been my experience. I planted last year and a few shoots emerged, but I never got a flower and they all died. I'd love to see this 'grow everywhere' trait of which you speak. You think sweetpeas are bad? I'm planning on planting morning glories in pots along the same line as the sweet peas. Now, when folks say 'morning glory', that 'grows everywhere and is hard to kill' typification immediately jumps to mind. But...I am assured that these 'heavenly blue' morning glories are not the same as the white bindweed morning glories which are the bane of local gardeners. Nonetheless, I'm planting them in pots, just to be safe. |
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Post by Mari on Mar 3, 2021 13:10:05 GMT
I checked Google just to be sure but we are talking about the same plant. The one I have in my garden is tenacious and not near as bad as ivy, but it does have similar tendencies. It grows through and around several other plants and through my fence. I don't think I have the odoratus variety in my garden though.
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Post by whollygoats on Mar 3, 2021 14:26:35 GMT
Well, I'm talking about Lathyrus odoratus; in this case, the variety 'Old Spice'. They are annuals. I'm hoping that they are climbing variety, rather than bush variety. You may well be talking about Lathyrus vestitus, the wild sweetpea. I note that it is listed as a perennial, and I think I know to what you refer. We have it growing alongside major interstate highways which don't get enough grooming (along with Scotch broom, another pest). It has a characteristic soft carmine pink color and covers a fair amount of ground. To get rid of it, you will have to track every vine to its root and dig up the root. Before it reseeds. What I'm planting, for their scent, are annuals which will not return unless I do a monumentally poor job of maintenance, or replant each year. Their ability to generate volunteers the following year is not vaunted. |
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Post by whollygoats on Mar 3, 2021 22:34:11 GMT
The plum two lots east is starting to bloom. Niiiice.
Today, I spent time grooming the rosegarden in the back; pruning and clearing away undergrowth. Most of that time was spent in the company of a pair of nuthatches, who look like they might be scouting to set up nest nearby. They were quite chipper and a mite intrusive. The hummers also made an appearance. This time not just the female, but Mister Hummer, complete with the shiny ruby ascot, as well. They are sipping their way through my offering and I see I now need to 'refresh' it.
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