Gardening Question of the Day for Monday, September 1, 2008
(Via Gardening Question of the Day (from The Old Farmer's Almanac))
What process can I use to preserve and dry eucalyptus? (answer).![]()
What process can I use to preserve and dry eucalyptus? (answer).
From The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Blotanical Awards - Nominations are open
(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)
The inaugural Blotanical Awards have now started with nominations being sought for a myriad of categories.
Here's the link to start voting.
While the awards are only open for Blotanical members (aka Blotanists) you don't have to have a garden blog to become one. Just join up as a member and let your voice be heard.
Nominations close Sunday 21 September and final voting will close a week after that.
Spring Awakening
(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)
It was so much easier getting out of bed this morning. Why? The calendar had ticked over from winter to that most optimistic season ever - spring. Not that it was any warmer and huddling beside the fire as my hands defrosted made me question the validity of this spring awakening. Yet, we're finally on the right side of winter and afternoons basking in the garden seem a little closer.
While images of flowering annuals evade us at the moment there are signs that spring is awakening. Slivers of new growth are starting to protrude from their hosts and blooms are slightly unfurling teasing us with a glimpse of the season's offerings.
For me, spring is a time to relax. Winter has been hard work sourcing firewood to keep warm, coaching winter sports and helplessly watching the garden slip into some nasty habits. The 'relaxation' of gardening is like the proverbial cliche - 'change is as good as a holiday'. (Actually, that's probably not a good metaphor because we all know nothing's as good as a holiday - and change usually means more work - but you get my drift).
So, while most of my northern hemispherean peers are looking towards fall and then another bleak winter, it's days like these that make me thankful I live this side of the equator.
Photo source: annia316
It was so much easier getting out of bed this morning. Why? The calendar had ticked over from winter to that most optimistic season ever - spring. Not that it was any warmer and huddling beside the fire as my hands defrosted made me question the validity of this spring awakening. Yet, we're finally on the right side of winter and afternoons basking in the garden seem a little closer.
Spring arrived today
Aglow in spring time fashion
Spring fever follows
Spring's Dresser changed her
Into winter's chilled soft wrap
Without care or flare
Spring flaunted her smile -
Everything she loved slowly
Awakened in praise
Dorothy (Alves) Holmes
While images of flowering annuals evade us at the moment there are signs that spring is awakening. Slivers of new growth are starting to protrude from their hosts and blooms are slightly unfurling teasing us with a glimpse of the season's offerings.
For me, spring is a time to relax. Winter has been hard work sourcing firewood to keep warm, coaching winter sports and helplessly watching the garden slip into some nasty habits. The 'relaxation' of gardening is like the proverbial cliche - 'change is as good as a holiday'. (Actually, that's probably not a good metaphor because we all know nothing's as good as a holiday - and change usually means more work - but you get my drift).
So, while most of my northern hemispherean peers are looking towards fall and then another bleak winter, it's days like these that make me thankful I live this side of the equator.
Photo source: annia316
Box stores or Indies, Sunset Magazine gives you the answer.
(Via The Blogging Nurseryman - "The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery" by Trey Pitsenberger)
Sunset Magazine, “The Magazine of Western Living” has a small article they run regularly called, “The Crib Sheet”. This months crib sheet was, “Big-box stores vs. indie nurseries-what to buy where.” They list the box stores on the left and indies on the right. The first thing we learn is box stores are best for, [...]
Sunset Magazine, “The Magazine of Western Living” has a small article they run regularly called, “The Crib Sheet”. This months crib sheet was, “Big-box stores vs. indie nurseries-what to buy where.” They list the box stores on the left and indies on the right. The first thing we learn is box stores are best for, [...]
The Long Fall Slant
(Via An Iowa Garden)
As summer wanes, the sun's track is lower and lower in the sky, and its rays slant across the landscape, backlighting flowers and turning spider webs to gossamer gold, while deepening shadows bring an underlying sense of solemnity and of ending. The bees buzz more lazily, the flitting swallowtail butterflies are starting to look a bit tattered, and locusts drone mechanically from the dense treetops.
Yet the trees are also host to flocks of young birds; finches and chickadees, vireos and comically entertaining small woodpeckers... it is a season of excitement and noisy sociality for them, though they become quieter as the barred owls clear their throats in the waning afternoon and begin to cackle and to call to each other from their leafy perches: Who, Who, Who are you ?
The misty, cool nights are bringing some excitement to the garden also, as I see the new leaves of the puttyroot orchids and the wild cyclamens emerging; the arums can't be far behind. It all goes so fast now, though... I hope I don't miss anything.
As summer wanes, the sun's track is lower and lower in the sky, and its rays slant across the landscape, backlighting flowers and turning spider webs to gossamer gold, while deepening shadows bring an underlying sense of solemnity and of ending. The bees buzz more lazily, the flitting swallowtail butterflies are starting to look a bit tattered, and locusts drone mechanically from the dense treetops.
Yet the trees are also host to flocks of young birds; finches and chickadees, vireos and comically entertaining small woodpeckers... it is a season of excitement and noisy sociality for them, though they become quieter as the barred owls clear their throats in the waning afternoon and begin to cackle and to call to each other from their leafy perches: Who, Who, Who are you ?
The misty, cool nights are bringing some excitement to the garden also, as I see the new leaves of the puttyroot orchids and the wild cyclamens emerging; the arums can't be far behind. It all goes so fast now, though... I hope I don't miss anything.
