Category Archives: yard

May8

But I can dream…

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can’t I?

Make life easier

Mother’s Day is around the corner. I don’t think Sean will spend $89 on me. But, all is not lost! I have a Home Depot gift card worth $100! We do need a new toilet (the one we have is 47.5 yrs old and the inside is covered with rust from goodness knows what and I am always cleaning the bowl). What to do? What to do?

I want this as I am finding edging gardens to be a royal pain in my back. I like that clean edge. I just can’t do it anymore.

I am so sorry about the tornado that devastated the entire town of Greensburg, Kansas. They just called it ‘the perfect storm’ on Nightline.  It’s always a blessing when a survivor is located. Prayers are being said for the people there.

May4

Ferns and fluffy blossoms

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I am fascinated with ferns. I enjoy watching them do this:

Ferns opening

I have transplanted a bunch of them in all different parts of my yard, even some cinnamon(?) ones in my fairy/gnome garden. I should try to get a nice variety as they are so neat to look at.

Last night Bri was fascinated by the chorus of ‘humming’ coming from the two apple trees we have (and never get fruit from as they aren’t cared for properly and overgrown) that the bees were doing. They are loaded with blossoms-so pretty. The yard smells so good!

Apple blossoms
My tooth doesn’t hurt, but my gum in that area tastes metallic and my tooth is really smooth and slanted. I can’t believe I have to wait until the end of May for the crown. I know Dr. B was a bit upset because he couldn’t save it. I just am crossing fingers I don’t have to have a root canal. What he did yesterday hurt more than the two I’ve had already. He pressed this metal ring into my buggered up gum. I have a high tolerance for pain, but he said the only alternative was a needle in the roof of my mouth. Don’t ya love dental talk?

Back to gardening-got some annuals in the ground-Victoria Blue Salvia (one of my favorites) in my front garden that is under the evergreen (added a few apricot colored ones too) and also a dozen snapdragons in a variety of colors along the path in front of the house. I also potted up royal purple petunias and some white, light blue and blue lobelia. I had Cosmo the kitty out with me on his harness and he managed to tangle himself up good in my hedge. He was getting panicky, but I got him out.

Still a lot to do, but we’ve been blessed with gorgeous weather. I’ve had two larger ticks on me which I found crawling up my leg. You know ticks scare me as I have Lyme Disease from the little teenie deer tick. Better get out the DEET.

And to the writers of Grey’s Anatomy-women aren’t dried up because they like to do needlework-geez-that wasn’t even funny!

May1

Down a country road…or two

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I ventured out to the bank and post office and decided to go to my favorite nursery and do some more flower shopping. I went straight on a road that I thought would lead me to the correct road down in Delaware. Boy was I wrong! I couldn’t believe I was in like 3-5 miles of my house as I couldn’t get my bearing and saw nothing familiar. When I finally found a road that said ‘Old Kennett Pike’ I turned and then the sign said ‘to PA’. Geez, that was a 30 minute ride I won’t forget! I did go to the nursery down the regular back roads I know. I was happy I went as I bought a profusion of color in the form of petunias, dianthus, snapdragons, impatiens and a few more. So I’m all ready to start planting. The place didn’t have my red mulch, so I have to go back for that.

By the way, when I got home I looked at Google maps and some of the roads I saw I actually could get to the nursery-I think I went the wrong way on Old Kennett Pike. I do appreciate where I live even more-the landscape is gorgeous.

Finally, some snapshots:

Transplanted bleeding heart
I transplanted a bleeding heart plant that was hidden between bushes last year. What a treat to see the plant (separated into three new ones) blooming so lovely.

My 1st iris of the year
My first dear iris of the year called ‘Stitch Witch’ (don’t say ‘so appropriate’-lol). I can’t wait to see all the different colors blend together.

Apr30

Gardening to oblivion

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I’m a tired pup tonight. I did a mountain of yard work yesterday and today as the weather permitted (maybe a little too warm and a bit windy).The weeds were invading so much and I just didn’t have the stamina to pull them, so I used the weed whacker. I do rake and hoe the area afterwards. I swore I pulled up the invaders last year, but there they were again. The weeds mimic a spreading plant called Snow on the Mountain. I also get that stuff that looks like ivy with the little purple flowers. My kitchen garden/herb area was horrid. It looks 85% better now, meaning I’m not finished in there yet.

While the guys tossed a football after dinner (a little too close for comfort) I hoed the weeds around my roses in their new bed. They are looking good! I got Bri to hoe around my little box hedges in my iris bed. I had moved the huge hollyhock away from the garden across from my front door (I want a tidy look there not a towering plant). The hollyhock was divided into three plants and they all made it! I just hope they don’t get that rust on them like the mama plant did last year. I gave my perennials a drink of Miracle Gro too!

Still so much to do, plus 2-3 beds at my mom’s. She is complaining about how overgrown the lilies look. Her look better than mine, but I can divide them up and bring some here. My lily bed needs attention too.

My crush from high school, then and now. I downloaded the slideshow from my classes’ website and found this photo. I won’t type his name as I don’t want him to see that I have him on my blog. ; )

Soccer star and middle aged

Off to la la land.

Apr27

Hello down there

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Sean was checking out the weather on the web and went to the aerial view section and actually found our house and road…

Overhead shot

Not sure if I did this before-my house has the black rectangle around it. That looks like our old light gray roof too! Most of our yard is to the right. The road parallel to our road at the end of our property was actually moved so our yard looks bigger now. Before the development on the hill, this was all farmland. And down that ‘new’ road is another housing development. Within the last 6 months, another home was built to the left of the last house on our side in that green patch of land. The ‘house’ across the road and down a bit is a water pumping station. As you can see we don’t have too many neighbors right around us, not counting the new houses.

My allergies are kicking up big time. I think I ate something that didn’t agree with me either and my plans for today went down the drain. I did go outside to do a little more raking around my irises and to walk the cat. I need to get some groceries. Sean is taking off tomorrow as he had one class (next week is his last week until summer session). Maybe we can go out to lunch if the weather isn’t too stinky.

I’ll model my new outfit soon and have one of the guys take a photo for those who wanted to see it. ; )

Apr25

Solar power

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I did a little shopping in Big Lots earlier and you guessed it, I bought two new solar power lights for around the pond. They aren’t the ‘yellow glow’ kind, they are the blue LED ones which look neat. I also got a ball that floats in the pond as the one I have now doesn’t work anymore-it lights up at night too. I saw the manager and since I looked spiffy (I’ll explain why later) I told him that Sean was going to be free in a few weeks to work. He said to tell my boy to give him a call. I looked nice in my flowing peasant skirt and orange top that I found in a bag next to the closet. The weather has been so warm, I had nothing summery that is where I can get my hands on it. Mom got me the top last year and it even has beads and buttons that hang down in the front-I looked like a modified belly dancer!

We’re trying to decide where to stay for my friend Karin’s wedding in June. It looks like midtown Manhattan! I’ve never been to NYC, so I am excited and scared. It’s not going to be cheap, but the place where we will probably stay is within walking distance of so many places, especially the cruise ship where the wedding will be held. We were thinking of staying in New Jersey and getting a cab-but that’s about a 14 mile trip and would cost the same as staying right in the city. I have to book the place soon or we’ll get in a jam.

Update!!! We are staying here! It has parking garage near by and it’s about 1/2 mile or so from the ship. I was looking at the map and Allentown, PA, where I’ve been before is parallel to this area (like an hour away or so like us to Philly).

I must do some more yard work one of these days. I can’t do it in all this warmth and in clothes I don’t want to sweat to pieces in.

Squirrel and hyacinths

Apr23

Spring captured!

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My new gazing ball with the pond behind it
My new gazing ball
On this warm day, I spent some time clearing out dead branches in this evergreen so I could hang my bird feeder up again
Bird feeder in evergreen
A red tulip about to open…it’s suppose to be a giant one, maybe so…
Red tulip about to open

And finally…my viburnum bush is opening up it’s heavenly scented blossoms
Viburnum bursting open

Apr22

Flower shopping!

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The weather is warm and sunny! What a delightful change. Time to get outside.

On Friday I did a lot of debris clean up from my yucca bed, the pond area and my woodland garden in the front yard (under the evergreen tree). All with a green plastic rake. I felt like I worked twice as hard doing everything. Saturday there was a ‘Community Jamboree’ at the township park and I decided to check it out since the magic words ‘yard sale’ were included in the description in the newsletter. (By the way, I think many of my pals know I love trivia stuff and the newsletter also mentioned that the road I live on has only been paved since 1930! I can’t see this it as a dirt road with all the dips and curves it has.) So the jamboree was a big nothing-mostly people trying to sell their kids old clothes. I did chat with a few nice people, bought a raffle ticket from the KHS girls and headed down to one of my favorite greenhouses. Unfortunately, the greenhouse is under new management and I didn’t care for the new owner. I had a 10% off coupon and could use it if I spent over $25. I decided to grab one more of their outrageously priced plants (though it is hard to find) and he told me I was ‘defeating my purpose’, I guess from spending more to get the discount. To show him up, I picked up a garden pack, so that was actually going to be free. I also asked him if he planned to get snapdragons in (they were very understocked) and he said ‘I was told not to order them’. I just couldn’t believe that. I told him I love them. I won’ t be shopping there again. I decided to see if our local Ace Hardware had flowers and they did-snapdragons too! The flower packs I bought are a bit on the small side, but I’ll nurture them with Miracle Gro. The Ace place had the expandable rack I’ve been looking for! I was so happy I didn’t have to go all the way to Lowes or order it online.
I stopped off at Wawas for hoagies and headed home. After lunch, I got the pond up and running after bending too many times to bail water.

We went to church, Ruby Tuesday (for their salad bar) and Kmart to take back some slacks that were too big. I bought some 75% off florals and Easter things and also a gazing ball. It’s artisan glass with mostly blue swirls. You know you’ll be seeing a photo of it.

Sunday we are going to the 2nd day of a book sale in my hometown (probably very picked over) which is also hosting a sale along the main street.

Apr18

Maybe soon…

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…this pond will be running and the grass will be green and freshly cut. It is suppose to look like this.  (without the weeds!) You can see a branch (one of so many that have come down this year) and what’s left of my broken gazing ball on the orangey rock there. Last year at this time we had lots of days of nice weather. I have another water container with waterlilies and they were coming up nicely last year to greet the warm sunshine. This year I see no signs of the tiny leaves and I fear they are gone. I know I lost some mums near my front door. I blame it on the rock salt that was generously put down and probably pushed right into my plants.

Neglected pond
In the meantime, I can have colorful flowers on the table to look at and take photos of too. This yellow carnation was purchased almost a week ago and still looks pretty good. Yellow carnation