Category Archives: gardening

Apr29

A bit of a chill in the air

Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 by Dianne

So long to the balmy 70s! It is suppose to dip in the 30s tonight! I covered up most of my plants with an old shower curtain and brought in the tomatoes and coleus.

I haven’t been sleeping well, lots of bathroom trips. I used the heating pad and Bri got me some cranberry juice. I don’t have pain, so I’m thinking I may have injured myself outside lifting something, using the hoe or leaning over too much. I am seeing the word ‘prolapse’ a little too often when looking on boards. The old adage ‘it’s always something’ seems to apply to me all the time. I had a little afternoon snooze with the cat today. I hardly ever do that. Hopefully I will work that problem out, but I will say I was grumpy for a few days. I did start a gift to get me out of my cross stitch pit, but I cut the fabric just big enough’. Don’t cut fabric when you are tired.

I just proof read about 6-7 pages of Sean’s research paper on climate. It took me 2 hours today and 2 hours for the first 7-8 pages. He will be home next Wednesday and needs to get a job or his internship settled. He was turned down for the Delaware one as the lady thought a reference from high school wasn’t appropriate for a college student. I did question Sean about that too. Listen to your mama!

I see that Emily from The Floss Box received the postcard that I made for her (sent to Sweden), so I’ll share it here (as she did on her blog-thanks!):

and here’s an old one I found of Longwood Gardens from the internet

These appear to be the Italian Water Gardens that I didn’t photograph the other day.

Hoping for a warmer and heat pad-less day tomorrow!

Apr27

Chasing my tail!

Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 by Dianne

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Yep, what to do, what to do? Do I continue outside because that’s what I really want to do or clean my house? There’s so much to do in both locations. I did sort through a huge pile of junk mail, but I should have done that Thursday as Friday is recycling day. Now it will be sitting around all week.

My gardens are getting there. We had a cooler day and a little rain last night, so I was able to get to the lilies. There are so many weeds in there, I chopped off a few lilies by mistake. I do that every year!

I got my first iris today! It’s a pretty all white one! A few dianthus are blooming too. We went to Walmart and I must say their flowers and veggies are pretty decent this year and I bought a bunch last night. I planted more dianthus (Sweet William) that are named ‘Diana’ something. The ones from last year are coming along nicely.

Heard brother #2 has been planting a bunch of things at mom’s. This is good, but I use to help her with that. He also found her a nice used bed set (with a double bed) on Craig’s List and they went and looked at it and bought it! She has been sleeping on a twin bed and couldn’t stretch out right. I hope she is sleeping now as she was exhausted getting the room tidied up for the new additions. She is suppose to have a cat scan tomorrow and wants me to go along (I went with her when she had an MRI a few years back and waiting freaked me out a bit as I knew she was in that closed machine all that time). The weather is suppose to be rainy too.

That’s about all the news. I did sit after dinner and make one ATC! I haven’t made one for weeks. Speaking of dinner, I made the Rachael Ray turkey burgers which are so good! All you do is grate a small white onion in the ground turkey and toss in some seasoning like parsley and poultry seasonings. Next you make the patties and roll them around in pecan pieces and instant potato flakes and fry them up!

I am doing a little cross stitch at night. I am trying to finish off a Christmas ornament that I started back in ’05. I have to do birds over one stitch and it’s hard! Plus the design isn’t right at the top, and I can’t figure out why. It’s pretty though.

Apr24

Hoping for new flowers

Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 by Dianne

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My friend Zoey over at Perennial Passion blog was nice enough to send me a package of Rose Campion seeds last year. I figured since the Lilacs are blooming and the Lily of the Valley are unfurling their leaves, I might as well plant the seeds. I planted them in three different areas to see where they would do the best-near the pond, in my grass and lily garden and in the iris bed. All between sneezing and blowing my nose. My neighbor has a ton of flowering trees and I guess they are bothering me, but I guess a ton of things could be outside! I also threw in some flower seeds I had gotten from eBay last year-Butterfly weed, Bee balm and Columbine. If they come up, they come up-they hardly gave me any! I was going to start them inside, but I have had Columbine that has spread by itself.

Thanks to Barbara for defining the difference between ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ in the last post. I had to chuckle because a local tv ad for a dept. store says ‘Did you Boscov today?’ They are using a noun in a verb position!

Here’s an odd thing-my mom can’t get through to me on the phone, but I can call her! It’s been like that for a few days now. We both have called our respective phone service (we use Comcast VOI) I even had her dial my next door neighbor and it went through. She can call me on her cell phone, not her land line.

I really wanted to go to Longwood Gardens today, but too much of the nose problem. Maybe tomorrow. I can do everyday if I wanted with my pass. (There’s a tv commercial for Longwood on right now!)

Apr23

Get out the weed whacker!

Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 by Dianne

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It’s time for me to do a little trimming-actually a lot of trimming. I might as well get the hoe out too! The weather is fab, I’m feeling better good (except for an on and off itchy throat and post nasal), but it’s the spring and everything is blooming and leafing like crazy.This makes me think of Sean. Many of you know Sean is a Geography major with a climatology influence and he’s finishing up a 15 research paper on climate changes in the Northeast. I proof his papers and I learn a lot too. Actually what I proofed last night had to do with how early warming is causing problems with animals and their food chain. The example was saying that chickadee babies eat moths that need to hatch when oaks are blooming which are maturing before they hatch and destroying them and affecting the birds. (I thought it was effect and Sean’s prof says affect). Interesting stuff. He is going to be doing an internship nearby in Delaware at Ashland Nature Center where he volunteered in high school. It’s really pretty there. He tried to get in Longwood Gardens, but they didn’t need anymore interns.

I did make the pasta, arugula and cannellini beans for dinner. It really fills you up, but I was hungry at 6:30 this morning! I had to get a Special K bar then. I have to recommend this yummy peanut butter mix called Better n’ Peanut butter that I purchased at Trader Joe’s the other day. It’s not all peanut butter, but it’s only 2 grams of fat and tastes like roasted peanuts! I had some on whole grain bread this morning. I have to recommend their chocolate meringue drops again-if you love chocolate, these are a good fix!

Here’s a photo of our dinner from last night (with a topping of toasted walnuts):

It needs Parmesan to boost the flavor! Also, don’t overwilt the arugula as it gets stringy. The actual recipe looks like it uses more than I did.

Apr22

Hugging the earth

Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 by Dianne

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Earth day just happens to coincide with the PA election and my first look at annuals for my gardens. It’s a sunny day with a little breeze stirring up the pollen (ah choo!) I have to go vote solo as Bri and I are different political parties and his candidate doesn’t have anyone running against him! I think I’ll head to Sean’s old elementary school around 3:30-3:45 when there is more parking space. I get all mushy when I go back there as I spent a lot of time volunteering there for 8 years. I was even the corresponding secretary for the Parent/Teacher Org for a year. One of the things I helped create was the butterfly garden at the school. I brought some of my own perennials to fill in empty spaces. I’d love to see how that is coming along. If I remember, I’ll go look.

As for flower shopping, I saw that my favorite garden place’s other nursery (on the way to my mom’s) has a bunch of flowers for sale. That peaked my interest, so I’ll go take a look down in Delaware at the closer (and better) nursery.

Down at mom’s, brother #2 was doing some landscaping. Some was ok, but I was having nightmares over the placement of some big rocks right next to a path he was putting in. I could see my mom losing her footing and tripping. Seems bro #3 agreed and they are moving them. #2 also replanted daffodils and hosta under one of the front windows. The hosta are too close together and I think daffodils need to rest and get replanted in the fall so their bulbs can gather energy for the next bloom. This is correct I believe. I do have to thin out some of the lilies I planted along the one side of mom’s house a few years ago. They love the location! I’m about to order a mock orange bush and will have to order mom a new butterfly bush as #2 yanked up the one that we all loved.

So, do something for the earth today. Every little thing helps!

Updated:

I did some flower shopping! What a great selection too! For some reason, the nursery switched sides and the perennials were where the annuals use to be. Of course the perennials cost more and they are the first plants people see. I saw a perennial, Barrenwort, I have had since I lived here for $10.99-ouch!

Here I am with some of my new flowers:

And the mentioned Barrenwort which is spreading nicely

You know I was going to buy coleus! I was only able to save one plant from last year by rooting it in water.

I did vote, it was a great time to go. I was voter #277 and it was 3:30 in the afternoon. Not such a great turn out, maybe it was better in the evening. We had Obama ‘call’ us a few minutes before 8 which was pretty comical. Brian didn’t vote.

Apr5

A new obsession

Posted on Saturday, April 5, 2008 by Dianne

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Yeah, see my blogroll and look down at #6-thanks to my childhood friend Chris, I joined Facebook last night and have been playing with it off and on from late last night until now! We didn’t have internet access until around 2-3.

I decided that the mosquitoes had all moved in and were getting cozy in my water features, the pond and waterlily garden, so I went out and hooked up the one pump for the waterlilies-nothing-no whirl, dead. Then Bri came out and took it apart and it started to work. Finally. Then it was a terrible task with the pond. We couldn’t get the pump to sit flat so Bri bailed out all the nasty water, I got it situated and it started to work. He had to disassemble that one too and now I can report, clean water and a nice splashing fountain! It wasn’t really warm, but we didn’t have jackets on. I heard my mom had her menfolk cleaning up around her yard today-gets me off the hook a bit! I like to do her lamp post garden though.

I haven’t taken vitamins for two days now and my tummy seems calmed down. I really hope the ones I get for sensitive tummies will be okay. If not, I told Bri we’ll be eating lots of salads and produce. I’m hoping the blood work will be ok, didn’t hear anything after 3 days…so far.

Back to Facebook-it’s actually a fun place! If you want to join, be sure to click my link and hook up with me there.

Mar14

Watch this space

Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 by Dianne

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I hope by the end of today to get the zebras finished and posted-AMEN! What a chore they were, and I so dislike XS to be talked about in those terms. If I had just thought to do the darkest color first in the bodies, I would have saved myself much grief. The grass wasn’t easy either. I think they will be a nice addition to the quilt(s) for the twin boys. I can’t wait to do a few Christmas ornaments soon.

Sean and I enjoyed our afternoon shopping, though both of us have been ‘off’ in the tummy dept. Wonder what that was? We did go to Fridays for dinner as my friend Karin had given me a gift card for that restaurant. We are sitting there and a large group of people sit behind us. One guy said, ‘Save a place for Mike D!’ That’s Karin’s husband’s name! What a coincidence!

We got some nice things for Brian (can’t say what as I see him looking here) as his birthday is on the 24th. Need to look for one more thing.

I treated myself to a few things at Michael’s crafts and Kohls as I haven’t been to these stores for a while. Shopping is fun!

Update-no stitching today-yet. I decided since it was near 60 degrees I wanted to rake out a few more areas/gardens. I created about 6 huge piles and Sean helped me pick them up. I was so happy to get his help!

Then I was trying to do the Photo Hunt for tomorrow (I finally picked a few I will use) and took some extra photos for your viewing.

I took off the netting that was over the pond and thought this leaf looked interesting:

Part of my neighbor’s huge wood pile. Notice the older wood next to the newer.

These are wings from an angel lawn ornament that I was trying to take an interesting photo of. This is next to the pond and I photoshopped it. Notice the reflection of the barren trees in the water:

Mar8

Photo Hunt-Different

Posted on Saturday, March 8, 2008 by Dianne

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I so miss my flowers! I was out this past Monday raking around my little box hedges and irises as they looked so forlorn. So this photo hunt had me thinking about how I love different colors when it comes to choosing flowers for my various gardens. I really like a rainbow effect, but these green hued flowers are so unusual! They are easy to grow and not hard to find. The lime color zinnias are Envy and the greenish irises are Kiwi.

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

If you like my floral photography, many are available on neat merchandise at Cafe Press and Image kind (links at the top on the right).

And… Sean arrived home safe and sound about 3 Friday afternoon. He looks good. He gave the security deposit for his studio apartment today before he left. When his dad got home, he gave his boy the biggest smile I’ve seen in ages. : )

Jan30

Sunny roses

Posted on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 by Dianne

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On Tuesday I mentioned how nice it would have been to receive flowers from Bri the day before as I had been to the eye doctor and was a little bummed. Last night I got these (my favorite color too!)

And since I was on the floor next to this pile photographing the flowers, thought I’d share:

I better get busy going through these! I signed up for some garden catalogs and got all three yesterday. Honey Girl Studio used hers for Art Trading Cards and I may copy her idea, though there are a few things I want to make a note of.

Then for those of you who didn’t know, we have a mascot for the PA lottery-Gus the Groundhog. Some west coast friends sent for this calendar and never received it. So here he is:

The wind woke me up today-it’s wicked. Soon Mr. Cosmo the kitty came in and snuggled next to me. He’s my alarm clock too. Unfortunately my sinuses feel like they are full of cement-heavy though very dry. A friend suggested a vaporizer. I use to have one for Sean who suffered until he was 10 with winter respiratory illnesses (knock wood). So I may have to locate the old one or buy a new one. My above friend uses a warm mist one every night and it helps her and she has gorgeous skin!

Oct17

Splendid fall day

Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 by Dianne

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Mom came back from my uncle’s house and we headed over to Longwood Gardens. Most of the pretty beds that were there in September are gone. Not to say there wasn’t a lot to look at! We were there about 3 hours as it was in the high 70s.We got a wheelchair and I definitely worked out every muscle in my bod! Mom did get up a lot. I let her use my Power Shot digital and she had a blast using that until the battery died. We had some food in the restaurant (Mom a full lunch at 3! and me a half of pita with hummus and portabella mushrooms) The following photos are mine (out of 75!)

Mom looking lovely in her floral print top-perfect for today!

Bulbs laid out for spring. They really plant them heavily!

Awesome carved pumpkins
Autumnal display at the Pierre DuPont house
Bee on butterfly weed? Waterlilies
Waterlily gardens outside the conservatory. They were absolutely stunning this year!