It's become clear to me through posts and PMs that there are some gardeners here just waiting for the chance to discuss gardening!
So, I was thinking... how do you use gardening, or how does it affect you if you need a break, need some respite, need to relax, need inspiration....how do you use it as a therapy tool in caregiving?
What are your activities: Do you go out and pull weeds, read a magazine, design new beds? Look through garden catalogues? Go to garden stores?
And what interests have you added to your gardening? Visit estate or garden displays? Do you go to garden shows?
Does anyone design and plant Knot Gardens? Raised bed planters? Assistive gardens? Pollinator gardens (and have you thought of ways to help the bees and butterflies?)
Are your gardens primarily for pleasure or food, or a mix of both? Do you grow plants for medicinal purposes? Which ones, how do you harvest and process them? Any suggestions?
Do you grow plants that can be used in crafts, such as grapevines for wreaths and lavender for lavender wands? Do you make herbal products such as creams, lotions, chapstick?
What else can you share about gardening and the means in which it nurtures your soul?
A walk in the garden in the morning is good for the soul. Good morning to all the plants and they will reward you with blooms and a bounty for fruit and veggies.
im busting some tomato seeds in my window box . i dont really have the energy for gardening this year but the official tally says ive got 4 quarts of canned tomatoes left . ill feel better when i have 100 quarts .
i dont even skin em anymore . the skins and seeds are great in tomato based dishes .
Hot chocolate is definitely on the agenda today.
I've thought of bringing a radio outside; at least it would block the barking of the poor neglected dog whose owners just plop him/her outside. Poor thing is shy and won't even come up to me to be greeted.
And it would also block out the baseball games from the neighbor who plays them so loud I can hear them from 200' away. What I think I might do is garden on Saturday afternoon and play the Sat. Afternoon at the Metropolitan Opera on full blast. Hopefully I can time the gardening with a day with the opera is Wagnerian and rousing.
I haven't played music for my plants but that's a great idea. I also like the idea of a Plant Whisperer. I'm going to start saying good morning to mine every time I go out to the garden.
I do like to bring a radio out with me when I garden. I think my plants like the attention from my cat just sleeping in their shade.
GA, too funny!!!
Now, Windy's tractor.....we could suggest he add stereo. I was thinking how appropriate Ride of the Valkyries would be as a theme song..... I can just imagine it now....revving up the engine, listening to the opening strains, and then away he goes, accompanied by the rousing and triumphal music of the Valkyries on their voyage. By that time any critters lounging around in snow piles would be far away, hiding in burrows or piles of snow far away from the musical tractor. They might even plow out some of the driveway as they flee in panic.
Windy, its those expectations that get us everytime! Then, nature goes and surprises us! But so glad there are multiple uses for that tractor, snow or spring grass. What else does the tractor do? Are there tractor races or competitions in your area?
When I went outside with my hot chocolate-do you want the good news or the bad news first? Well, there was a huge nest of possible flying termites hatching out of a pile of sand where the cement meets the block wall. Three lizards were in attendance, feasting. We wanted the lizards to eat, and did not spray the termites. Later, they were all gone, so many had flown away.
The real good news-The bouganvillas are blooming! A deep burgundy, on only one plant, but blooming.
And, go figure, when Sharyn explained how to cut back the rosebush to choose between tall or big flowers, I must have got creative so now there is one very tall bloom, and one short bloom with a big fat flower! Pink.
Irises are coming along nicely. Stocks are thickening up so am expecting possible blooms by end of month.
Aside from the snow it is supposed to get really cold over night... I hope the flowers can take it cause I don't think I want to run around covering them again :(
Then Dad called and said it's snowing! Checked the weather report - weather advisories issued, 1 - 3" this afternoon, winds 30 to 40 mph and gusting. A large band of snow is moving due East across Lake Michigan.
The sun is still shining; it's hard to believe there will be snow on the ground by tonight.
The lawn mower gets a reprieve, at least temporarily.
I just hope all my lovely little flowers survive this little weather event.
Want to see the poppies out by Palmdale/Lancaster area, soon.
We are on a water meter as well. Don't know the cost per CCF as it was on not Lister on our bill.
Happy gardening, good night.
Tacy, we saw little cut up bits of orange or brown "mulch" when it came out. It looked like it would be dangerous if a dog or cat ate it; have not seen it this year-thinking it did not survive the hot sun, nor would it have survived management's purview-would not be surprised if it was banned, first by management, then by the powers that be in government planning re: landscaping. (especially BPA issues.)
It looked okay at first, then there was none!
Oh, and all our water is fresh run through the water meter. If we want to use grey water, we have to make it grey-hence, capturing the shower water to lug outside.
Glad's purple flowers were identified way back, GA.
end.
We have a visiting owl that if there are any rats, they're gone, no evidence in area of rats. We do have possum, we have seen them, often on the back wall.
This Old House on PBS (or youtube) showed how to install the instant water heaters.
The water levels on our bill in CA are reported 3 CCF. Consumption is 257-260 which is billed @ 3 CCF. $5.22 plus $20/ mo. service charge = $25.52 for water. This used to be about $5-$7/mo.total, but when everyone cut back on water use, they added the fees.