Garden Paradise

I Love Tomatoes

2011-01-15T07:23:00.000-05:00

Did you know?

It is a proven fact that tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in gardens across North America with hundreds of varieties on the market.
The tomato has come a long way to reach today’s height of popularity. Originating in South America, the tomato was classified into the Solanaceae family, which includes the belladonna and deadly nightshade, when introduced into Europe. In the 16th century, botanists described the fruit as inviting as a peach but unfit for human consumption.

Today, tomatoes are found everywhere from ketchup, salsas, sauces, or fresh in salads or sandwiches. Not only great tasting and versatile, studies are now showing many health benefits, namely the antioxidant, Lycopene which is primarily found in tomatoes and tomato products. Lycopene has been shown to help counteract the harmful effects of substances called "free radicals" which are thought to contribute to many chronic diseases and age related processes in the body.

Tomatoes are very easy to grow. In order to produce fruit before the end of the summer season, they need to be started indoors around the middle of April and then set out when the danger of frost is past, however like myself I start them in February so I have them extra early. Nothing tastes better then a fresh tomato from the garden.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Sunrise

2011-01-12T06:42:00.000-05:00

Starting Annuals

2011-01-09T18:39:00.000-05:00

Yep, its that time of year again. It's time to start the seedling. Most annuals can be started in March or April for our summer gardens like one of my favorites, marigolds.

However, some need to started in January and February if you want them to bloom this summer. Most usually bloom within 6-12 weeks, hence sowing them in March and April and can be sown out in the garden hopefully with fingers crossed by the end of May in these parts of the great North.

Not all annuals are actually true annuals. Some are tropical perennials that we treat as annuals. Spring bulbs act the same way like my favorite dahlia. It is a zone 8-10 and would no way life here without lifting them in the fall.

Some do not always want to bloom the first year, so to insure that they do you need to start them in January or February to give them at least a 5 month heads up on bloom time.

There is also quite a few factors involved in starting our seedling and the major one being light. Sometimes mother nature is not always there for you this time of year so we rely on grow lights. Fluorescent lighting will also do fine providing they are cool white. They need to be set about 6" above the seed trays and moved up as the seedling begin to grow. Using a timer is also a great way to ensure they are getting the needed light.

So what are one of those annuals you ask. Begonias. One of the most popular begonias now is the Tuberous Begonia. The Nonstop Series of multiflora begonias are smaller but have numerous blooms and are quite expensive if bought at your local nursery. However, the seed is not cheap either, but spending $15-$20 in seed can give you hundreds of dollars of annuals if you were to buy them. Your gardens will be exploding with massive planting.

They are rather slow at starting and putting them in the pots is rather a challenge too. The seed is so tiny, you can barely see them with the naked eye. These gems need to be started in January. They grow best on the surface and them covered with a plastic dome in a well lit spot at about 24-26 degrees celeius. Becareful though, they start producing tubers then go dormant if they do not get up to 15 hours of light. So after all that you should see green in around 20-25 days.

They like to be warm and well lit and only need watering if the soil is getting dry. After your have reached germination leave the dome on as they like and need the extra humidity. Within a month of germination you can start to see the leaves and this is when it is time for their first transplant.

It is suggested to put a dome over them again for about a week. Fertilizing is recommended with a half strength all purpose soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

Soon they will need a second transplant and using a 4" pot is best. Once again water only when the soil is dry. Overwatering will most likely rot them. In late May they can start to be hardened off and by June they can be planted out in the garden in partial shade in hot summer areas or full sun in cool areas. Enjoy them for the rest of the summer. It will be well worth it.

Another begonia is the wax begonia. They are a little faster and a little less complicated to grow then the tuberous but equally as small and fragile in the beginning. They can be started in February but prefer longer days of light, up to 18 hours and can be grown a little cooler at 15-18 degrees celeius once they are up. Since they are a smaller plant, transplanting them into a 3" pot is sufficient.

Here are a few other annual that should have a earlier start.

Zonal and Ivy Geraniums

Annual Penstemon

Flowering Maple

Fushia

Lisianthus

Madagascar Perwinkle

Happy Gardening

Cheryl

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-05T17:50:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T18:20:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I am excited for the 2011 year as 2010 did not end so well with a death in the family days before Christmas. It sure can drag the Christmas spirit down but yet you hold strong for your young family as they do not realize what has really happened. So today as I was going through so pictures I thought it would be nice to recap some of the past year.

Long pasted are the days of these. Ahhh, spring. The glorious meadow of trillums, otherwise known in these parts as the Mayflower. I can already smell their aroma.

And the birth of nature....Killdeer eggs. These beauties were actually in the same field as our 400 cows and were never ever stepped on. They are simply stunning. Mom always tried to get me to turn the other way but faking a broken wing. Amazing how nature takes care of itself.

This is my favorite picture of summer 2010. Our three beautiful children playing at our beach. They always play till the sun goes down.

Tiger lilies standing tall. They are special to me since they come from my grandmothers gardens years ago. A little piece of her proud in the garden.

Fall, my favorite season however spring is just on its tail. Just some of the 200+ acres of corn to be harvested.

Natures beauty. The maple bush.

Sure don't blame this dahlia for not opening. I wouldn't either if I had a cap on my head like that. Burrr....

I hope you enjoyed my little recap of the year gone by.

HAPPY NEW YEAR GARDENING FRIENDS!

Cheryl

10 Things About Snow

2010-12-21T16:56:00.002-05:00

1. Lots of snow is good - seriously! Good snow cover is important for the winter survival of hardy perennials because it keeps the ground temperature stable. Uncovered ground is subject to rapid fluctuations, known as the freeze-thaw cycle. Freezing and thawing of the ground shifts the soil, which can heave plant roots up out of the ground. Unseasonably mild temperatures can fool a plant into budding; when the temperature turns seasonably freezing again, the tender parts get "nipped in the bud", which can affect the development of the plant or even kill it.

2. Every snowflake is symmetrical. When you examine individual flakes, some will be unsymmetrical, but this is because they have been damaged. Scientists are not certain why the crystals form symmetrically, though there are theories about surface tension and microcosmic fluctuations in temperature. (Huh?)

3. What to do with burlap. Covers and tents for evergreens in winter are not meant to keep them warm but to protect them from sun scald and the drying effects of the wind. The trees still need plenty of air circulation, so it is recommended that you not wrap your evergreens but build a frame around them to make a little tent that does not touch the branches.

4. Big snow. Snow takes up eight times as much space as liquid water. Try it for yourself: if you put eight inches of snow in a straight-sided glass and take it inside, you should have roughly one inch of water when it melts.

5. Plant 'em if you got 'em. Snow doesn't necessarily stop you from planting bulbs, if the ground isn't frozen. If you can dig a hole in the earth, you can put a plant in it, even with the snow flying around you. The same is true with bulbs. Planting season isn't over until the ground is frozen solid. (As a procrastinator, I know this from experience!)

6. Watermelon snow. Some snow is pink and smells like watermelon, but not around here. Watermelon snow is most commonly found in the high-altitude Sierra Nevada of California, where snow is present through the long days of summer. The colour comes from a kind of algae called Chlamydomonas nivalis. It's a cold-loving alga that contains bright red carotenoid pigment. The phenomenon of watermelon snow, which turns to deep blood red when compacted, was reported as far back as the writings of Aristotle.

7. Frost flowers are beautiful, ephemeral flowers made of ice. A gorgeous phenomenon in wetlands, frost flowers are the result of ribbons or hairs of ice extruded through plant stems. It happens when the sap in the stem of certain flowers freezes; high water content causes the sap to expand and squish out through thin cracks in the stem. They're very delicate, and they'll break if touched. To catch sight of them, you must find them at dawn before the sun melts them away.

8. Frost is not bad for every harvest. Some wine growers love frost and snow. Some of the finest, most world-renown wines in Canada are harvested well after the first frost; ice wines require grapes which have spent two nights at -8 degrees Celsius. And those super strong dessert wines go for well upwards of $40 per 375-millilitre bottle. On the other hand, if you're a vintner not into ice wine, a good freeze before harvest will be disastrous.

9. Where did the snow go? Even if temperatures remain stable, snow does not. If it only snowed once but the temperature remained below freezing, the snow would disappear over time owing to a process called sublimation. Sublimation, essentially, is the phenomenon where a solid (the snow) changes to a gas (water vapour) without passing through a liquid state. For deeper explanation than that, you'll have to consult a chemist!

10. Pukak snow. You may have heard that First Nations languages include a great number of words for snow. One of those words is pukak, and it describes the layer of deep snow next to the ground. This layer, though it starts as an even mass, breaks down as heat rises from the earth inducing the snow to form into ice crystals, forming air pockets. Small rodents break through the walls of these air pockets and create a system of tunnels they use to get around.

**Note - When shovelling your walkways it is a good to pile snow onto the base of trees or your shrubs and perennials, keeping the roots covered. If a salt or ice melter has been used, push the piles away from trees and shrubs' dripline area as this could poison them when it is spring and the thaw is on.

10 Things About Dormancy

2010-11-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

1. Why go to sleep? In dormancy, metabolism virtually comes to a standstill to conserve energy. Dormancy is triggered by environmental changes, such as decreasing temperatures, but living things are also affected by light. In plants, dormancy can also be triggered by drought and heat, such as when lawn grasses turn brown in midsummer.

2. Hibernation. Plants aren't the only living things to utilize dormancy. Animals hibernate, decreasing heart rates by as much as 95%. Hibernating animals prepare for this state by building up reserves of fat to provide them with the fuel needed to get through the winter. (Is that why many humans gain weight before Christmas?)

3 . Diapause. Certain animals, such as roe deer (native to Britain) and marsupials, and some insects enter a state called Diapause. For higher animals, this results in a delay in the attachment of the embryo to the uterine lining, ensuring offspring are born in spring. Insects that enter this state simply suspend their development and growth.

4. Aestivation is almost the same as hibernation, but has opposite causes. Aestivation results from exposure to very hot or very dry conditions. Garden slugs, snails and worms are subject to this type of dormancy.

5. Brumation is similar to hibernation but it happens with reptiles, which can go months without food. They can stay in brumation for as long as eight months. They will occasionally "awake" long enough to get a drink of water, but they do not eat in this state. Brumation can be triggered by cold and reduction of sunlight.

6. Viruses can also go dormant, remaining quiescent in the cells of the human body for long periods. An example of this would be the V aricella zoster virus which cause chickenpox, then sleeps for years until it awakens as shingles ( Herpes zoster). Bacteria can also go dormant.

7. How do they know? Some plants have a kind of biological clock to alert them about when to take a rest. Houseplants, for example, often stop growing when the days get shorter, even though the temperature never varies. You should stop watering as much now and avoid fertilizing.

8. Seeds can also go dormant. When a ripe seed is given all the right conditions but fails to germinate, it is considered dormant, not dead. A 1,300 year old lotus seed was germinated after recovery from a dry lakebed in Northern China. Do you still believe in the end of the world?

9. Deciduous trees and shrubs, as you know, also go dormant, losing their leaves and halting photosynthesis. But they do still need some water in the soil to survive, so be sure to water in late October or when the tree has lost all its leaves. These trees store food reserves of sugars n their roots. (Cold-hardy deciduous trees will not survive indoors in winter, so bonsai growers let them go dormant before storing them in a cool place for the season.)
10. Evergreen trees. Evergreens don't go completely dormant in winter by they slow right down, retaining some moisture in their needles which are protected from desiccation by a waxy coating. They continue to photosynthesise at a reduced rate (which is why their leaves look grey or black as the temperature drops). Help them out by keeping late winter sun glare from drying out their needles. Build a sunscreen (but don't let the burlap touch the needles because it acts like a wick, drawing water away from the tree). You can even simply rough up the snow in front of your evergreen on a south facing lot to deter the drying effects of the sun's reflection off the snow.

Vegetable Colours

2010-04-16T19:38:00.000-04:00

Ten Things about Vegetable Colours

1. Orange. The many varieties of orange-curd cauliflower on the market now are all descended from a sport-a chance mutation-that was found growing in a farmer's white cauliflower crop in the Holland Marsh, near Bradford, Ontario, in the 1970s. Seeds from the sport were taken to Cornell University, where stable, tasty orange hybrids were developed.

2. Red. Carrots have been popping up in many colours lately, including red, purple, yellow and white. Orange carrots, however, were not the norm until the 17th century when they became all the rage in the Netherlands. A popular myth is that orange carrots were developed by Dutch botanists to honour William I of Orange, but the story doesn't hold up under deeper digging. (If you don't believe me, check out http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/history2.html for a good survey of evidence.)

3. Purple. 'Purple Royalty' and other varieties of purple pole beans get their colour from anthocyanin pigments, which are unstable. With certain balances of heat, oxygen and pH, they break down. When you boil your pretty purple beans, they turn green. The same can happen with carrots in the purple-red spectrum.

4. Blue. The colour of some of the dark blue and purple potatoes is not only skin deep-many have flesh ranging from pink to purple. Although this colouring comes from anthocyanins too, the colour doesn't break down when the potatoes are baked.

5. Green. Beautiful lime-green Romanesco cauliflower (sometimes called Romanesco broccoli or broccoflower) isn't a new variety at all. It's been in cultivation in Italy for centuries. The pointy spirals of the curd are entrancing and the texture of the vegetable when raw is superb, perfect for a crudités tray.

6. White. White asparagus is a delicacy in Germany. It is grown by hilling soil over the sprouts as they grow, denying them of sunlight. The spears grow quite fat and are fantastically delicate of taste and texture.

7. Fuschia. Swiss chard 'Bright Lights', an All Americas Selection for 1998, has stems with fantastic colour. It deserves full credit for reinvigorating chard in the modern mindset.

8. Pink. Pink peppercorns (okay, not really a vegetable, but a funny colour with an interesting fact) aren't properly pepper (genus Piper) at all. They come from a completely different tree, Schinus terebinthifolius , more closely related to cashews than pepper. And if you pay a fortune for them, you might be miffed to know that they are actually not hard to grow at all in hot desert climates; in fact, they're invasive.

9. Black. The chilli pepper Capsicum 'Black Pearl' is a real beauty. The leaves are a very deep purple-black, and the fruits are cherry-sized shiny black spheres that turn striking red when ripe. Generally grown as an ornamental, the peppers are extremely hot without being all that tasty.

10. Yellow. Tomatoes come in a vast variety of colours and sizes (including yellow), with a range of shapes and textures from smooth and even to slightly hairy and deeply ridged. These aren't genetically modified franken-tomatoes but tried and true heirloom varieties that fell out of favour because they didn't keep well for the commercial mass market. Many of the tomatoes have superb flavour, too.

All pictures and contect belong to Ontario Garderner/Pegasus Publications

Skywatch Friday ~ Sunset

2010-04-15T17:11:00.001-04:00

Sunset up against the storm clouds. The clouds evenually won to a cold snow shower and a very windy evening, as you can see on the lake.

Skywatch Friday

A New Life is Beautiful

2010-04-15T07:43:00.000-04:00

As most of you probably know I work on the family beef farm. Right now is prime time for calving season, 350 + babies on the way. We are up to 167 as of yesterday. So yeah, its busy between the farm, the gardens and the endless dance practices for my daughter, I do not have much time for much. Yesterday though I watched as one cow mom gave birth and for some reason I looked at her differently. To me normally a cow calving is okay one more to write down in the book and one less to calve. It truly is a beautiful thing, no matter human or non human and sometimes you just have to stop and sit back and enjoy.

Okay now if any of you have a weak stomach I suggest maybe not looking at the pictures. I did not take any of the process but right after she had her little one.

Mom was not so sure if I should get that close. One can never tell with a mother sometimes, before birth you can pet them but right after they can give you a run. Instinct kicking in. She on the other hand was not cross.

Hey mom, watchya doing to me.

Now that I have you in stand up position lets try getting up young one.

Baby had a different plan. How about you clean the rest of me off and I'll try later when I'm dried off. This little guy was a lazy one and never got up for another half hour. Unfortnately as much as I would have liked to stay, I couldn't and had work to do.

Seagull looking on, almost congratulating her.

I hope no one was to disgusted, but life is a beautiful thing.

Wordless Wednesday - Sunset

2010-04-14T07:41:00.000-04:00

Macro Monday - Tulips

2010-04-12T07:04:00.001-04:00

Tulips. The sure sign of spring. There would be not spring without a tulip gracing your flower beds. So this is why I chose this one for today.

Happy Gardening!

Skywatch Friday #1

2010-04-09T19:14:00.000-04:00

This was one of our last snowstorm of the season. The skies parted and gave way to this glorious sight.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-07T18:24:00.000-04:00

Buds and Blooms

2010-04-06T22:14:00.000-04:00

Buds and blooms, a sure sign of spring and the future of a wonderful summer. It was a great day to take pictures of buds and blooms on a overcast day. They bring me so much hope as a new life is once again beginning.

One of my most favorite spring flowers is the Forsythia. They are a ray of sunshine.

The Maple Tree. Soft maple.

Lilac buds. I can already smell their sweet aromatic fragrance.

Apple Tree bud. Lets hope Jack Frost holds off till fall so we can have some apples this year. Last year the trees blossomed and the frost came days after.

The tiger lilies took a little beating already. We are having a early spring, but along with that can come the frost. The tips are frost bitten but the growth is still good.

Sedum. Love the look of the petit cabbages according to my daughter.

New growth on the junipter.

Boxwood showing signs of life.

Crazy periwinkle growing like a weed once again!

Cannot forgot the grass. What would spring summer be like without a fresh cut lawn.

Our newest bud. Meet Polar, our new Siberian Husky at 8 weeks old. He is a my new baby and I just love him despite the fact that he likes to ripthe bottom of my pants.

All about Bunnies

2010-04-03T07:37:00.000-04:00

Ten Neat Things about Rabbits

1. Dumb bunnies. Anybody who thinks rabbits are dumb has not tried to out-smart one. As preyed-upon animals, they are extremely observant, with keen hearing and olfactory sense. They will explore any new environment cautiously and gradually and rarely enter an enclosed space with only one entrance and exit.

2. Rodents. Rabbits are not rodents, taxonomically speaking. A key differentiation is found in their teeth: rabbits have a set of peg teeth behind their upper incisors (the front teeth, the ones you can see on Bugs Bunny); this is not found on rodents. Don't go looking for it on any rabbit you get close to, though. The incisors are razor sharp and a rabbit is unlikely to take too kindly to your poking around in its mouth.

3. Rabbit relationships. While cottontails (native North American rabbits) are generally solitary animals, socializing only during mating seasons, European rabbits are highly gregarious and maintain complex social structures. Dominant males mate with multiple females, but lower-status males and females will often pair off in monogamous relationships.

4. Rabbit groups. Often called a herd now, the old-fashioned word for a group of rabbits is fluffle.

5. Anti-rabbit plants. Try a hedge of currants or a row of cotoneaster around your garden to discourage rabbits. Plant basil, oregano or tarragon amongst your flowers; mint works too, but it may just replace a rabbit problem with a mint problem since it multiplies just as rapidly!

6. Other rabbit solutions. Smells of predators may discourage rabbits. Try hair clippings, blood meal or coyote urine (which you can buy; harvesting your own is not recommended) sprinkled around your garden and refreshed after rain. Establish the area as rabbit unfriendly early in the spring. Use a multi-pronged approach.

7. Rabbit pets. Rabbits were first domesticated for food and companionship in ancient Rome. Today, rabbits are kept as pets by many people who have found that they can be trained to use a litter box and come when called. While they can be a rewarding companion, they are best suited to patient people with very high sensitivity to animals. I say this as a former and none-too-successful rabbit-owner.

8. Rabbits in Australia. In 1859, 24 rabbits were released on the estate of a fellow in Australia, where there are no native rabbits, who missed hunting in England. Within 10 years, those 24 had increased sufficiently for 2-million to be killed per year without leading to a noticeable decrease in the population. They are destructive to the environment and a key example of why it's dangerous to introduce exotic species into an ecosystem.

9. Year of the Rabbit. In the Chinese zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, as were 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927 and 1915. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are regarded as conservative and wise, lucky with money, talented, ambitious, virtuous and gifted with excellent taste. They are inclined to gossip, but tend to be tactful about it.

10. Day of the rabbit. The Easter Bunny originated in the Alsace region of Germany and France and was originally a hare. Children would create nests in their bonnets or caps the night before Easter Sunday. If they had been good, the Easter Hare would lay coloured eggs in the nests. Not sure what the Hare would leave behind for bad children.

Happy Easter Friends!

Thank you Ontario Garderner for yet another wonderful read.
-Shauna Dobbie

Copyright © Pegasus Publications Inc.

Dog Pee and Lawns

2010-03-13T20:42:00.000-05:00

Ten Things about dog pee damage to lawns

I just love Ontario Garderner newsletters. They are wonderful, so I once again have copied for all to read too. Thank you OG for the great read.

1. Cause. The two components of dog pee that kill lawns are nitrogen and salts. It has nothing to do with pH.

2. Fixing early. If you see a dog peeing on your lawn, douse the area as soon as possible with water. Three times the amount (give it your best guess) within eight hours is recommended. If you see somebody allowing their dog to pee on your lawn, you might consider dousing them with water too!

3. Fixing later. If you don't know your lawn has been peed on until you see the damage, there is only so much you can do. Re-sodding the patch could be an immediate fix if the sod is a good match for your lawn. You can also seed over if there is a bare patch; you'll have to keep the seeded area continuously moist until it is established. Lime or gypsum, which balance out acidity, won't reverse the damage because the damage isn't caused by pH changes.

4. Gender. The urine of male dogs is as damaging to lawns as the urine of female dogs, but male dogs tend to mete out their pee in smaller amounts in order to mark more territory while females tend to squat and pee a bladderful in one spot. This is why owners of female dogs tend to suffer more turf damage than owners of male dogs.

5. Size. Obviously, small dogs produce less urine than big dogs. No correlation has been found between breed and damage other than that owing to size.

6. Supplements. Before you decide to give your dog any of the supplements advertised to prevent lawn burns, think about why your dog pees. Urine comes from the kidneys, which filter unusable materials from the blood. You want those unusable materials out of your dog's blood, right? Consult your vet before feeding your dear pet something that messes with biological processes.

7. Diet change. High nitrogen in pee can come from the dog's diet containing more protein than necessary. Many commercial dog foods have levels of protein meant for very young and active dogs. If you're dog isn't highly active, consider asking your vet what food would give an appropriate level of protein.

8. Drinking water. Dogs that drink more water will have more dilute urine. If you already give your dog all the fresh clean drinking water it likes, you might be able to increase water consumption by moistening dry food or switching to canned food. Adding salt to encourage more water intake could damage kidneys and will add more lawn-damaging salt to the urine anyway. You could try offering salt-free broth if you're desperate.

9. Repeated damage to the same spot. Dogs have their favourite spots. If your dog is the culprit, you should be able to train it to pee in an area that works for you if you're determined (and your dog is not so stubborn as my dachshund). If you don't know what dog it is, try sprinkling the area with dog kibble. Dogs tend not to go where they eat.

10. If all else fails.it may be time to put a scree garden in the affected area!

From top to bottom: (1) The pee patch.(2) Assuming this position is natural. Consult a vet before considering supplements for your pooch. (3) Great amounts of consumed water does any body good. (4) Just when you save your lawn and get the peeing under control, the darn thing digs!

-Shauna Dobbie
Copyright © Pegasus Publications Inc

Sweet Potato Update #3

2010-03-10T15:25:00.000-05:00

Well since planting the sprouting potato back at the end of January, my little experiment sure is doing quite well. I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with it, but if it can hold on till after the last frost I will then move it outside. Not sure if it will produce any tubers but it is no loss since it was only an experiment. So here it is 6 weeks later.

More updates in the future.

It's Maple Syrup Time!

2010-03-07T20:05:00.000-05:00

The nights are cool plus the days are warm. You know what that equals? Maple Syrup time. Nothing beats Canadian Maple Syrup. We only make enough for ourselves, but even at that it is alot of work. Considering it takes approximately 40 Gallons of sap to make 1 Gallon of Maple Syrup. A ratio of 40:1 That is alot of sap. Boy, is it worth it though. Since I work full time I do not have the time to have a actual sugar bush cooking house, so we cook it with propane. Still get the full taste and aroma but I do not have to sit in the bush into the wee hours and wait for the syrup to be ready. Come with me as I show you what I do.

The great sugar maple. She sure is lovely. In spring you give me sap and in the fall you give me a beautiful show of colors.

Time to drill the hole. Have to put some muscle into it.

The spoil. It brings the sap from the tree to the bucket ( which by the way can be pretty much anything, I like to use coffee cans because they are not heavy and easy to handle )

Little helpers looking on as it starts to drip in the bucket.

Here is what I cook the syrup in. Just a simple propane burner and stainless pot. Pretty simple.

The sap is a cooking. Soon it will be on yummy pancakes, but we will have to wait since its still cooking. Hope you enjoyed my day in the sugar bush

Interesting Facts about Trees

2010-03-04T07:05:00.000-05:00

10 Neat Things About Trees

1. Pharmacy in a forest. Aspens produce a fuzzy white coating on the south side of their trunks that acts as a sun block. This powdery substance was used by Aboriginal people to prevent sunburn. The inner bark of aspen contains salicylic acid, an ingredient in aspirin. It was used in a tea to relieve rheumatism and other health problems. Aspen leaves can also relieve insect stings.

2. When is a tree a forest? We are often amazed at the gigantic size of the famous redwood sequoias, but that's measuring only vertical growth. Since aspens send up shoots (ramets) that become new "trees", the largest aspen "trees" are actually huge forests that can cover tens of hectares. Once such near Salt Lake City, Utah is estimated to weigh over 5,000 tonnes, many times larger than the biggest sequoia.

3. Do trees talk to each other? Lots of people think so and some even say they talk to humans, but that's another story. In fact, while trees don't speak in comprehensible sentences, they appear to communicate through several different means. Some trees (elms come to mind) appear to exchange information and even nutrition through the network of mycorrhizae that populate their roots systems. Others (acacias) appear to be able to send either a chemical or an electrical message to fellows in their vicinity when they are under threat from a leaf-nibbling animal. And trees such as the black walnut certainly send chemical signals with a toxic substance called juglone that wards off competition from certain other plants.

4. Trees produce oxygen in exchange for carbon dioxide. A large tree puts out enough oxygen to sustain four people every day. On the other hand, it takes about 100 trees to capture and store one tonne (2,204 lbs.) of carbon dioxide in a year -- two reasons why we need more trees than people.

5. Pruning trees roots will not necessarily kill a tree, but don't go too far. Never cut more that 30% of the root system of a mature tree, which means leaving a minimum space of 1.2 metres from the base of the tree for those with trunk of 30 cm or more in diameter.

6. Tree roots grow in proportion to the size of its crown above ground. The roots of a paper birch, however, will spread at least twice the height of the tree. Elm roots have a similar range.

7. The idea that tree roots maliciously seek out your sewage system to exploit any cracks is only an urban myth. What some tree roots will do is grow more vigorously in areas where they encounter moisture and nutrients (wouldn't you?). If the piping has perforations or openings, then tree roots may grow in that direction.

8. Most tree roots, the fine feeder roots, exist within the top eight to 12 inches of soil. Trees with deep roots least likely to cosy up to your pipes and weeping tiles include bur oak, black walnut, common hackberry and some types of hickory. Trees that like dry conditions and so will avoid moisture-laden drains include beech, Black cherry, Black locust, European and Paper birch, Norway maple, many pines and spruces and Staghorn locust.

9. Trees can clean up groundwater contamination through a process called phytoremediation. Poplars and willows are particularly good at this. Trees can clean up contamination in three ways: One is by changing the chemical composition of organic contaminants such as PCBs through interaction with bacteria at the root level. Two is through a similar process with heavy metals such as mercury, but where the changed chemistry is them expired into the air through the leaves. The third is by taking the contaminants into the above ground growth and storing them. The recovery of heavy metals stored and reclaimed in this way is being studied in a process called phytoextraction.

10. Lilacs, elms, oaks and beeches can all live 200 to 300 years or more , common firs and spruces can live as long as 800 years, and sequoia are well known both for their bulk and their great age, but the champion grower is the pine, one of which, Pinus longaeva, has been clocked at 4,900 years. Long-lived trees generally grow slowly -- as slowly as just one inch per century!

From top to bottom: 1. Aspen leaves take out sting. 2. An ancient Oak in England. 3. Aspen trunks near Aspen, Colorado. 4. Eastern Elm. 5. Oak tree. 6. Phytoremdiation. 7. Tree roots.

-Dorothy Dobbie

Thank you again Ontario Gardener for such an interesting newsletter again. I enjoy them very much.

Cheryl

Beautiful Mysterious Blue

2010-02-27T07:13:00.000-05:00

I subscribe to Ontario Gardner and every Saturday morning I always receive a wonderful newsletter from them and I found this one to fit in just perfect for the way I've been feeling lately "Blue". So I am sharing with you today. Must get my hands on the blue impatien. Thank you Ontario Gardner, now my spirits are starting to rise considering it's snowing again.

Ten Neat Things about Blue

1. Blue impatiens. Impatiens namchabarwensis is a semi-woody, branching, one-foot tall plant with delicate true-blue blooms that was discovered in a small region of the Himalayas in 2003. Today I received notice that Dominion Seeds has a limited selection of plants available for purchase by mail order. It's a tender perennial, so you could either treat it as an annual or, given the $15 apiece price tag, try overwintering the fleshy roots indoors.

2. Blue nasturtium. Tropaeolum azureum is a species of nasturtium with a lovely blue colour tending toward violet. It's from Chile and was brought to Europe as early as 1843 by a collector named William Lobb. I'm not sure why, but it's devilishly difficult to get hold of; I know of no Canadian dealer.

3. Bluest blues. Blue is the most difficult colour to breed into plants. Blue pigments have a tendency to shift toward pink, purple and red in different pH levels.

4. Blue mushroom. Lactarius indigo is a remarkably blue wild mushroom that grows in coniferous forests of eastern North America. When broken or cut, it exudes a blue milk that slowly turns green after being exposed to air. Not sure who figured it out, but this mushroom is edible.

5. Blue butterflies. The beautiful iridescent blue colour of some butterflies tends to come not from within-from actual pigments in the insect-but from refraction of the scales on the wings. The oranges and yellows, on the other hand, are pigmented scales.

6. Blue frog. The okopipi frog of Brazil is a poison dart frog that is a lovely cerulean blue with black spots that differ from one individual to the next. It exudes poisons that will paralyse or kill a predator that doesn't heed the warning blue colour.

7. Appetite suppressant. The colour blue is a natural appetite suppressant, and not only in frogs. It is theorized that loss of appetite is a common reaction to the colour because so few naturally occurring foods are blue. Perhaps I should paint my dining room blue.

8. Blue for spring. Blue is the colour of grape hyacinths, one of the loveliest flowers of spring. It looks stunning against the bright yellow of daffodils.

9. Blue for shade, blue for sun. Many blue flowers are shade tolerant. Some examples: forget-me-not, browallia, Siberian bugloss, periwinkle, Jacob's ladder, some pulmonarias, baptisia, and violets. For sun, try Victoria Blue salvia, many veronicas, many campanulas, delphimium, blue flax, blue pansies, many cranesbills, blue asters, nemophila (baby blue eyes), convolvulus, and borage to name just a few. Lobelia prefers part shade.

10. Blue roses. There is also the elusive blue rose which rosarians have been trying to breed for years. Roses lack the gene to produce true blue colours so blue roses have come to stand for the impossible quest. After much failure, some have taken to dying the roses, but in the last few years, a Japanese company has used genetic engineering to insert a gene, taken from a petunia, into the Cardinal de Richelieu rose. Sadly, the true blue still eludes the breeders. The new rose marketed by Suntory is a mauve colour.

From top to bottom: (1) A rare royal blue flower. (2) The edible Lactarius indigo. (3) A flutter of blue butterflies. 4) The beautiful yet lethal dart frog that hails from Brazil. (5) Sure it make look cool to children...but for adults, milk should only be consumed when white.
-Dorothy Dobbie

Winter Blah's

2010-02-26T23:07:00.000-05:00

Oh boy, it has hit me. The Winter Blah's. The recent snowstorm that hit yesterday sure is not helping matters. For awhile I thought maybe spring was just around the corner. The days are getting longer, the snow is melting the sun is shining and then the snow starts falling and falling and falling. I cannot even take a picture of it I'm so blahhed. Not sure why I am, the seeds are coming in the mail daily, the new seedlings are doing fantastic and I'm even growing some things I've never tried before and still I'm in the winter blues. So how do I get myself out. Not sure but I'm hoping tomorrow will be better. Some of those seedlings need to go into their bigger pots. Please spring come soon! How I ache to have this again.

The Sweet Potato Experiment Update

2010-02-15T08:11:00.000-05:00

Remember a little while ago I found a sprouting sweet potato and had the idea of trying to grow it inside. Well this is what it looks like now.

It is growing into a beauitful lush vine. I just love the purple leaves with the lime green veins going through. I cannot wait till it grows even larger. But what is really making me wonder is will it actually produce tubers? Truly that is my goal. So stay tuned.

I thought this was a really neat looking picture this morrning. The sky is just a lovely place to look for beautiful pictures.

Oh Boy, February is Flying by!

2010-02-10T18:29:00.000-05:00

As you can see I have not been very active these past couple of weeks. It has been absolutely crazy around here. Between 3 kids sick, dance classes, competitions and speech making, there has been not much time to garden or blog. I will be back soon as the indoor greenhouse does have sprouts. Yeahhhh, so in the meantime I hope you enjoy the pic.

February, the month of LOVE

2010-02-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

February the month of LOVE and what better way to express your feelings to one another then by flowers. Here are the top 10 flowers representing Love.

10. Iris - The Iris is one of the loveliest flowers, and has the meaning of faith and hope. The three points of the Iris are said to symbolize faith, wisdom and valor. In Ancient Roman times, it was used for purification.

09. Sunflower - The gorgeous and luminous Sunflower stands for adoration. Long ago, women who wished to conceive would eat sunflower seeds. Sunflowers are also known as the emblem of spiritualism.

08. Gardenia - The sweet smelling Gardenia symbolizes love and peace and along with the daisy, is one of my favorite flowers. Scattering dried gardenia around a room is said to stimulate peaceful and loving vibrations.

07. Lilac - Lilacs have been loved by many generations, both for their breathtaking beauty and for their irresistiblearoma. The Lilac is said to ask the question "Do you still love me?" to the receiver. The Lilac is also a symbol of protection and was first planted in the New England region to protect against evil.

06. Carnation - The promising Carnation, very popular in corsages, stands for fascination and should be given to someone who holds you captivated. The Carnation also has healing properties and in Elizabethan times, was used to defer sickness.

05. Orchid - The orchid is commonly one of the most used floral symbols of affection in the West and stands for love, beauty and seduction. Be careful to whom you give this flower to, as it's message is clearly put across.

04. Lily - Lilies (excluding Lily of the Valley) stand for beauty and are extremely popular in wedding ceremonies. Lore surrounding the Lily states that whoever finds the first Lily of the season will bring strength to him or herself.

03. Tulip - The highly popular tulip also stands for love as well as protection. In fact, Middle Eastern countries wear this flower in their turbans for protection.

02. Daisy - Daisies, a personal favorite, symbolize innocence, purity and loyalty. The Daisy is said to bring love to the receiver. It is also said that whoever picks the first daisy of the season will be possessed by flirtatious spirit beyond their control.

01. Rose - The rose is a classic and a staple involving anything to do with love, especially Valentine's Day. Roses simply mean, "I Love You" but they also have other wonderful qualities. Rose petals sprinkled around the home are said to calm personal stress and household turmoil. You could go even further and add Rose Oil to make a sensual bath for two.

Here are the meanings of some other flowers.
Primrose (love), Sweetpea (friendship and chastity), Magnolia (fidelity), Pansy (love), Passion Flower (peace and friendship), Hibiscus (meaning lust), Periwinkle (love and lust), Hyacinth (happiness), Lavender (love, longevity, happiness, and peace), Plumeria (love), Violet (love, lust and peace) and Jasmine (spiritual love) would also all be great additions to any bouquet.

First Love
· Asters symbolize beginnings.
· Azaleas represent first love.
· Daisies mean innocence.
· Hyacinths are representative of young love.
· Purple lilacs represent the first experience of love.
· White roses symbolize innocence and purity.

Long-Time Love
· A Red and White Rose combination represents unity.
· Baby's Breath means ever-lasting love.
· Honeysuckle symbolizes the bonds of love.
· Lavender means devotion.
· Pink roses symbolize lasting friendship.
· Stephanotis, or Madagascar jasmine, means happiness in marriage.

Unrequited Love
· Sunflowers mean adoration.
· Pomegranate symbolizes unspoken desire.
· Yellow Tulip represents hopeless love.

Passion and Desire
· Anthurium means intense attraction.
· Calla lily symbolizes magnificent beauty.
· Orchids represent ecstasy.
· Pansies symbolize the unspoken thoughts of lovers.
· Peach roses expresse desire.
· Red roses represent passion and love.

Missing You
· Agapanthus, or African lily, symbolizes love letters.
· Astilbe, or False Spirea, means "I will wait for you."
· Heliotrope inspires thoughts of devotion.
· Gladioli represent strength of character, a necessary asset to anyone far away from their lover.
· Ivy means fidelity
· Violets represent faithfulness.
· Zinnia symbolizes the thought of absent friends.

Summer Pickin's

2010-01-31T08:16:00.000-05:00

There is one season I just cannot wait for and that is in late June early July. Strawberries...They are my absolutely favorite fruit of the season and now that I just opened our last jar of jam I'm really anxious about the season that is not too far off in the distant.

I'm getting my strawberry palette drooling for those ripe, juicy, sun sweet berries. I find this is the one fruit that you can do so much with and when you have a chef in the house he can really whip up some simple dishes that are just simply delicious.

I apologize for getting anyone spirits up for spring by looking at this pictures, but I had to look at something that was not white.

Enjoy!

Baby it's Cold Outside

2010-01-30T09:38:00.000-05:00

Burrrrrrrrrr....is all I have to say. It is the coldest its been all winter so far. Started out not too bad, then the very short blizzard set in.

You honestly could not see more that 15 feet in front of you. Crazy! Then the blizzard stopped and the wonderful wind set in.

60km gusts that is. There was mini tornadoes all over the fields. Pretty but just a little chilly. Then the skies parted.

It was heavenly how the rays of sun were beaming down.

So the temperature still sits at a warm -27 C with a windchill of around -39 C. No playing outside today.

The Sweet Potato Experiment

2010-01-27T15:09:00.000-05:00

Well, I did not intend on this little experiment, it just sort of happened. I was cleaning out one of my annoying corner cupboards and found this.

A sprouting sweet potato. And as you can see not just one. I've never had one sprout before, but perhaps since it was lost it had the time to do this. So now what?

I'm going to attempt growing it inside. Crazy huh! Well I have nothing to lose. I'm actually kinda excited about it. However, I have never grown sweet potatoes before so this is going to be a real challenge for me. Watch for updates on my Sweet Potato Experiment.

Provincial Floral Emblems

2010-01-21T22:41:00.000-05:00

Today as I was doing my chores a faint smell came across me in my daydreams. And that is the scent of a woodland filled with our provincial flower which is a trillium. When they are in full bloom you have nothing but a white carpet of a 3 petaled flower and along with that that spring floral scent. Just beautiful.

So I wanted to know what the other provincial flower is for each. So here we go.

Alberta Provincial Flower Wild Rose

BC Provincial Flower Pacific Dogwood

Manitoba Provincial Flower Prairie Crocus

New Brunswick Provincial Flower Purple Violet

Newfoundland Provincial Flower Pitcher Plant

NWT Official Flower Mountain Avens

Nova Scotia Provincial Flower Mayflower

Nunavut Official Flower Purple Saxifrage

Ontario Provincial Flower White Trillium

PEI Provincial Flower Lady's Slipper

Quebec Provincial Flower Blue Flag

(replaced the fleur-de-lis)

Saskatchewan Provincial Flower Western Red Lily

Yukon Official Flower Fireweed

Well I sure got a geography lesson and I'm sure glad I did. I wonder why I never looked into this before. Now I could have learned this way back in primary school, but that was a long time ago and it's just not something I would remember then.

Hope you all enjoyed your lesson today too.

Happy Gardening

Bloom Darn it!

2010-01-20T19:43:00.000-05:00

Wandering what I'm referring to. My non blooming WYSTERIA of 13 years. Yes in 13 years it has not produced on single bloom. All I want is that beautiful bloom that I know it can produce. Are the blooms not just perfect. This is what I want but.....

This is what I get. Just a lush vine. If I wanted a vine that only had greenery I would have planted a ivy. Darn you wisteria, I'm losing my patience with you. What can I do with you to produce me one bloom. It does not have to be big, at this point I will take anything. URRRRRR

Oh, that is one of the twins if you are wandering.

But she sure likes to climb. We were hoping that it will cover the gazebo now and give me some wonderful blooms. However, after this long I'm not sure it will. I have tried everything and nothing works. So I will have to settle with a vigorous vine, don't get me wrong it is still very pretty but it is not what I planted it for.

Bloom you darn Wysteria!

or I may have to end your life.

This is my first threat, so you better start soon.

Happy Gardening Friends.

Fact or Fiction?

2010-01-17T08:08:00.000-05:00

Peonies

Grandma once told me that peonies needed ants to open up the blooms. This some 20 years ago. As a child I would love to sit with her and garden. Perhaps that is where my gardening talents came from. Peonies were her prized flower. She waited those long winters just to see those gigantic blooms open and the heavenly scent that came from them. So she told me that ants were needed to open the blooms. Well I believed that until recently. Why shouldn't I. Grandma was a very smart lady.

So I did some research on them and this is what I found.

If you’ve been growing peonies, you will notice that ants tend to congregate on peony plants, especially on the buds. There’s an old myth that peonies need ants to help them open their flower buds, but this is not the case. Ants visit peonies to dine on a sweet substance that is produced by the flower buds, but the ants do not eat or harm peony plants. Ants will hide in the blossoms and hitch a ride into the house on cut peony flowers, however. Avoid bringing ants inside with your bouquets by harvesting peony blooms before they are fully open.

So I guess it is a myth, but deep down inside I believe there must be some truth to it. Grandma was a wise old lady.

Peonies are also my favorite flower. I just wish that there beautiful blooms would last a little longer. And oh Grandma if you could see my peonies today you would be so proud. I have cherished your peony since the day I brought her home to live with me. She is doing very well.

2010 Weather Prediction

2010-01-11T19:43:00.000-05:00

So it is the beginning of the New Year and we sit and wonder what this year will bring in the line of weather. According to the Farmers Almanac, Quoting

Canada's Frigid Forecast: 2010 Winter Weather

After a late start to summer, and a soggy one in many areas, the new, hot of the presses, 2010 Canadian Farmers’ Almanac is here, and within its pages is a prediction for an “Ice Cold Sandwich” winter.

Last year, the 2009 Canadian Farmers’ Almanac predicted an exceptionally long, cold winter for most regions. As promised, bitter cold and heavy snow punished much of the nation, coming on early in the season and lingering through the start of spring. When spring finally did arrive, it came bearing heavy rains, with twice the annual average falling in many regions.

How Cold Will this Winter Be?

The latest edition of the Canadian Farmers’ Almanac warns that this winter’s frigid forecast offers no respite in sight, especially for provinces in the center of the country. “Colder than normal” and “bitterly cold and dry” is how the Canadian Farmers’ Almanac describes the winter in for provinces above the Great Lakes, the Plains, and the Canadian Rockies, while temperatures on the East and West Coasts will be more in line with average to normal winter conditions.

For residents of the East Coast, who bore most of the brunt of last winter’s fury, this may be good news, but the prediction of an “ice cold sandwich” is sure to send chills down the spines of those in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Snow Forecast

While parts of the country are expected to see near or below average precipitation this winter, significant snowfalls are forecast for parts of every zone. Residents of Eastern and Western coastal provinces can expect some a major snowfall in mid-February, with possible blizzard conditions in parts of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.Annual Weather Summary: November 2009 to October 2010

Winter temperatures will be 1 to 2 degrees C below normal, on average, with the coldest temperatures in early to mid-January and mid-February. Precipitation will be near normal in the east and below normal in the west, with above-normal snowfall in all but eastern Ontario. The snowiest periods will be in late November, mid-January, and mid- and late February.

April and May will be cooler than normal, with precipitation below normal in the east and near normal in the west.

Summer will be cooler and drier than normal, with hot weather in mid- to late June, mid-July, and early August.

September and October will be cooler than normal, with above-normal precipitation.

Temperature and Precipitation November 2009 to October 2010

Well this certainly does not look promising. Hopefully they will be wrong and we will get a beautiful not to rainy summer after a not so great looking winter. As a reminder of what summer looks like. Ah, a sea of green instead of white.

Happy Gardening friends!

It's that time of year again

2010-01-03T10:51:00.000-05:00

The most wonderful time of the year. Time to order seeds for the upcoming year. It is hard to do when we have had snow for the past 5 days with no sun in sight. Kinda depressing when all you see is a sea of snow both on the ground and in the air. However, I need to see past that since some of those seedlings just cannot wait for the snow to disappear. So here I am today placing my order. Oops, there is a Greenhouse catalog in there too. Guess santa did not get me a greehouse this year, so I'm on my own now.

On the brighter side of things I can look forward to this. Yummy, fresh veggies.

Since this picture has been taken, the garden has moved and is twice the size complete with the kiddy patch. That is how I started gardening. Every year my mom would leave me a little corner in the garden where I could plant whatever I wanted but I also had to tend to it. I remember telling my mom, my peas are doing better then yours. It is a great childhood memory and I hope my children will have the same great memory as I did.

Happy Growing

Castor Bean Explosion

2009-12-31T13:55:00.000-05:00

Well not quite a explosion, but I sure had a gigantic castor bean this past summer. Within one week it grew over 2 feet and the spread was almost the same. Take a look...

I had a extra plant and did not know where to put it, so I put it at the front of the house beside the door. Never expecting it to get this large, we had to pull it out. It was too dangerous for the kids to be around being that large. Well maybe I should emphasize that it had to be dug out. Boy do these roots go down deep and get large.

It was not the height that astonished me it was the width of the leaves. It measured in height just over 7 feet. However, I found that this past year was the year of stalky plants and less height. Previous castor beans I've had reached a whopping 11 feet plus.

This gigantic leave measured 28 inches in width. Its't is just a beauty.

Lets hope 2010 brings another year of gigantic castor beans. I know 2009 is going in the books as a record for me.
HAPPY NEW YEARS my friends!

Little Piece of Heaven

2009-12-30T08:07:00.000-05:00

Going back on my pictures on my camera today I found this one. Now this is perfection. Who could ask for anything else. I remember this summer evening like it was yesterday. My twin boys birthday party. It just warms me to think about it.

I thought there could be nothing more peaceful and perfect then this. I long to see this again. Until today.

Since the ice storm that fell apond us on December 26, the days just keep getting more beautiful. The day after the storm it was a very fogging morning, the sun desperately trying to make its way through the fog. The result stunning picture taking.

As the day progressed the scenes were even more breath taking.

The sun was out in full force only to please the eye more as the minutes went by.

The sun came down to give us a magical show of shimmering branches. Just beautiful.

It was magical. Almost not real it was so beautiful.

Then the fog rolled in. Now that was a sight. My header pic is another shot of the fog.

And a fabulous pink sky to say good night.

I have so many pictures that I just cannot post them all, and boy do I want to. I hope you enjoyed my picture story.

Icy Wonderland

2009-12-26T12:37:00.000-05:00

Watch your step! I thought today I was going to write on what I got for Christmas and what I did not. But we woke this morning to a icy wonderland. Thank goodness not like the Ice Storm of 2008. As beautiful as it looked with all the trees and fences and.....coated with a thick layer of ice, I really do not want to see that again. I figured in the middle of the night that it was going to be a lovely picture taking day after hearing the ice hit the windows that woke me from my slumber. This morning the windows were coated also with a layer of ice. Unfortunately someone did not charge the batteries from Christmas so I could not get that pic.

Our beautiful shade tree in the summer was ghostly this morning.

This guy always gets hit hard and this morning we were leaning to the side.

Christmas cedar decor was hanging beautifully with a coating of glass like material.

The spirea I'm sure will look stunning tonight with the lights on. The glow will bounce off the ice.

The junipter also was prettily decorated, with what is left of it from the snow.

The great swing bearing pine tree was a stunning umbrela this morning.

Well that concludes my icy morning and hopefully the wind will not start up like last year after Christmas. I do like my lights but if we are destined to be without hydro so be it. Have a great Boxing Day!

Winter Solstice

2009-12-21T17:32:00.000-05:00

December 21st, Winter Solstice. Shortest day of the year that seemed like the longest today. Go figure. Busy day on the farm today.

To celebrate this new time of year I am offering a giveaway. All and anyone can enter. The only thing you need to do is leave a comment to the post "Winter Solstice". Let your family and friends know and fellow bloggers too. So what is up for grabs you ask?

This lovely Winter Solstice sign. It measures 6"x 18". The winner may choose his or her choice of color for the sign and the lettering. Closing date to enter is Dec. 31. I will draw a name randomly on January 1st, 2010. Good luck to all that enter.

www.yesterdayscountryandprimdecor.com

Here is just a quick snap shot on the eve of Winter Solstice. Such a lovely evening. Crisp and cold.

Autumn Garden Stroll

2009-12-20T14:17:00.000-05:00

Well today is the last day of autumn. So I thought I would take a quick stroll and look at the wonderful AUTUMN scenery.

But wait. Something is just not right!

Looks a little white to me. Are we sure it is still autumn?

Funny, but our Autumn's are pretty short here. Just a couple of months if we are lucky. None the less it is still pretty ( the blanket of snow ). I am new at winter gardening, but I sure hope I enjoy it as much as I enjoy gardening during the other seasons.I just love how this pic turned out. A small pile of snow on top of the globe thistle.

To think that this was beautiful sea of colors was really only weeks ago. The seasons sure do change fast.

I call this one the ty dye tree. Isn't it just lovely.

Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful day!

Spring Signs

2009-12-19T17:54:00.000-05:00

It is not even Christmas yet and I'm full steam ahead with spring. Perhaps it is to relieve some of the Christmas tention that goes along with the season. I'm in the process of completing my spring line of garden signs. These are the only 3 I had last year and they were very good sellers. Hope this year brings the same or even more.

There is one for each season, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter. Alot of customers like to buy the set.

I like this one. It is so cheery on a gloomy summer day.

This one I made for my brother. I have one and my mom does too, but they are both on a stake. Cannot wait to see what my imagination comes up this year.

You can also visit my website to view more selection www.yesterdayscountryandprimdecor.com

Enjoy and Merry Christmas.

All I want for Christmas is.....

2009-12-14T17:30:00.000-05:00

A GREENHOUSE

Yes, I have asked santa for a greenhouse. Whether he comes through or not is yet to be seen. Oh the plans. I can see it now. Complete with a private patio just for me, where I can sit and relax with a cold water and a wedge of lemon after a hard day at work.
Okay back to reality. It would never be just myself. I would have 3 little helpers right on my heels. And you know I probably would not have it any other way. I love my kids and love having them around and teaching them what my mom and grannie taught me.
So in less then two weeks we will see what Santa has in store for me. Till then I will continue dreaming.

Where has the year went?

2009-12-13T08:16:00.000-05:00

It has been a very long time since I last posted on here. Not sure where the time has gone. The past summer was sooooo busy, we never had a chance to even sit down and enjoy our beautiful gardens, not even so much as a picture this year. I wonder if perhaps twin boys and a daughter that are very active many contributed to this. LOL.......and now the Christmas season is right around the corner and the New Year waiting to ring in. Hopefully this year I can be more faithful to the blogging community and once again meet some new folks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Walk with Nature

2009-04-02T20:44:00.001-04:00

Today ended up as a rainy day and not much to do outside. So my 3 kids and I went for a nature hike before and during the rain. We have alot to explore around our home and we try and take different directions daily. Take a journey with us today as I show you one of our adventures.

We do not live right on the water, there is a small lot between us and the lake but this is at our summer time neighbor's cottage. The shore on the other side belongs to my parents in the first picture.

The shore.

I just loved the way the lake looks so I took lots of pictures.

If the island was not in the picture, I'm not sure whether you could tell which was sky and which was the lake. They look the same. The ice is sure breaking now and after the rain is done I'm sure there will be none left.

Coming down the hill was easy but going back up is not. Very steep hill. Glad I do not live on the bottom of this one in the winter.

Another pic of the steep hill.

Yea, we made it to the top. Now we are at our back entrance driveway. Very beautiful sight in the fall.

Main driveway. Yep, looking a little muddy now. Had to add this one. My little fella's like to take a push toy with them sometimes so today it was the wheelbarrow for this guy. Frustrating though for him. It kept getting stuck in the mud. Poor dude!

And to end our adventure today, the only pretty color showing yet. A beautiful red sumac seed pod.

Gardens are Begging

2009-04-02T07:19:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately all I can do in my gardens right now is LOOK. I had a bad fall this past winter and my wrist took all the damage. I guess we can now call it a flare up which means I cannot even put boots on my boys, it hurts so much. And then I look at my gardens who are begging for some attention. At least one of them is for sure.

It is a complete mat of leaves. The tulips, daffodils, muscari are trying so hard to break through their barrier. Even an iris is trying.

And then there is this to be finished. Still lots of raking and a elm tree that had to be cut down still needs the bush man (yes that would be my husband) to finish cutting it up.

But look what is coming up there on the side of the hill. LOTS and LOTS of lilies. So there is some hope. Now if my wrist would just cooperate.

Another thing that is not cooperating right now is the skies. I've had enough rain but the sky says something else. Like the old saying goes April showers bring May flowers.

A Walk in the Past

2009-03-26T08:09:00.000-04:00

When I lived at home this was the most favorite place of mine. It was where I would go when I was sad, mad or just because. It was so peaceful and QUIET ( I had 4 older brothers). THis is the place I would play for hours and I was in my own little world. I would sit on the edge of the big rock cut and it would drive my mother crazy. She was afraid I would slip and fall and she was right to be afraid. It was at least 30 feet in the air. A fall would have been awful, most likely something broken.I took a stroll through it again the other day. It has aged like everything but ever so beautiful. Now I see the potential it has for a woodland garden. Why did I not think of this place when we built our house years ago. It would have been perfect with all the maple trees towering over us in the summer with there umbrella's. Oh I can see it now with the daffodils poking through right now. Maybe one day.

These are just some pics of some fungai growing on a tree that has fallen. They were just perfect! Not sure what made me drawn to this place again but it was well worth it.

Perwinkle "Out of Control"

2009-03-24T22:20:00.000-04:00

Today as I was raking away some of the leaves I discovered the most amazing sight. I recall 2 years ago I pulled out some perwinkle and threw it over the fence. Now I know I seen a little bit of it growing back there last year but never imagined there would be this much now.

Sorry it appears I added 2 of the same pics and cannot figure out how to remove them. Anyway I realize the pictures are not great but the area that is covered is approximately 8' x 12'. And thats not all the leaves raked away. Wow is all I can say. Maybe it's invasive enough to kill out my poisin ivy problem. I'll just throw some into the ivy and watch it grow.

Red morning, sailors warning!

2009-03-22T10:49:00.000-04:00

My dad used to tell me that. Red morning, sailors warning, red night sailors delight. So does this mornings sunrise mean we are in for bad weather. Well my knees say not, so perhaps this little tale is not true, however my knees have been wrong before and the saying has never been wrong. What do you think? It is was alot redder when I got up but I could not find my camera. OOPS! By the way you will find I LOVE sunrises and sunsets and I do take a lot of pics of them.

During my daughters ballet class yesterday I went shopping at the local discount store"Giant Tiger". I was so excited when I seen these seeds. We LOVE hot peppers in this house and I only plant normally one or two varieties, but I found the perfect seed pack. 5 varieties in one. Whoo HOO. I planted them immediately when I got home. Just cannot wait to see which ones come up. Oh I picked up some old fashioned Canterbury Bells. You know I have not planted them in years. Cannot wait to have these beauties in the Garden this year.

Spring Moon

2009-03-20T19:40:00.000-04:00

This morning I woke up at the usual time. Have seen the moon many many times and am reminded of it nightly from my little ones. But this morning it caught my eye. Why...I do not know. Perhaps because today is the first day of spring. Who knows but I had to take a picture the best I could.

It was just such a beautiful sight to see.

Rescued Lilies

2009-03-19T07:07:00.000-04:00

While cleaning up the yard I found some lily bulbs that were washed up from the past rains and thawing. So I brought them inside, was not sure if the frost had got to them first and planted them. Well I guess not. They are doing quite fine. They sprouted a couple of days ago.

Beautiful Day

2009-03-18T17:03:00.000-04:00

You can feel it in the air. Spring is for sure around the corner. This was the pic I took while feeding the cattle this morning. Caught this one sitting in the tractor. I was hoping that they would fan themselves out, but nope, they were just enjoying their grazing.

Wild Turkeys

Caught this little guy having a rest. He fell on the ice this past winter and has a bad hip, so he took a break inbetween. No wonder it was plus 13 degrees today. Ahhhh, sit back and soak up the sun!

Later when I came home we all came out to play. I had to take a picture of this. My little guy didn't want to sit on the ground. Smart so he pulled over one of the sleigh's and sat in it and played in the puddle. Couple of minutes later sis did the same thing. Looks like their out fishing. LOL

Looky what I found. One of the first traces of SPRING. My daffodils are coming up. Hooray!

What's Up March?

2009-03-12T07:09:00.000-04:00

So far March has given us plenty of weather conditions and I've just about had enough for the past week. So lets start here. A very snowy, snowy day early in the morning.

By early afternoon we had this. A very beautiful sunshine afternoon. The boys are playing in leaves that will soon become a new garden and a new fence added too. We raked up some leaves and pine needles. That's how excited we are for summer.

Then the following morning. Same scene as the top picture, but before the fierce winds came. Where's the snow?? Again it's gone, but for how long this time?

The skies are changing for the winds. Kinda creepy isn't it.

The winds have arrived and are gusting at 90-100km. We live beside a lake and I had to take a picture of how the snow was blowing. It was just incrediable. Look how it is blowing through the trees. Here at my place we still have lots of snow as you can see.

At least this morning looks promising at 6:45am, minus the frigit temperatures. Soon the sun will be up.

And what the future holds. Hard to believe that this is the same pic as above. Yep, thats 15 acres of corn. That is what we look at from our living room window in the summer. Beautiful isn't it. This year it will be a sea of alfala.

I wander what is in store for today?

I Have Sprouts!!!

2009-03-08T13:35:00.001-04:00

Well a little more than sprouts, but I'm behind. What else is new. 2 weeks ago I brought my indoor greenhouse upstairs and started putting my seeds in. I always like to start my tomatoes early and they sprouted in a record 3 days. WOW...that is the fastest I've ever had them sprout. So I'm waiting for their secondary leaves and they will be transplanted. My datura's, and some other perennials have made their appearance too. For the next 2 weeks I will be sowing everyday. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

I snapped this one quickly today. The maple tree buds are growing bigger everyday, but as you see in the backround still lots of snow. Boo hoo.....Spring please come SOON!

Just when.....

2009-02-19T16:53:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought spring might just around the corner and I'm getting really excited I look out the window at more of this.....

So on this lovely winter day I decided to start a diary of my gardening. I have been a advid garderner for more then 10 years and am always looking for a challenge in my gardens. I have had successes and failures, but all is trial and error and I always learn from my mistakes. We live in eastern Ontario and our zone is 4a. Join me as I begin this years adventure.