The Life & Times of a Garden Geek

Your Hungry Lawn...Fertilization Schedule for Illinois

2011-08-11T08:14:00.003-05:00

A lush green lawn is the goal of most homeowners, including my lawn-jockey brother-in-law, who's grass is akin to green velvet. Not only is the emerald area beautiful, it is also healthy. Healthy soil equals healthy grass equals fewer weeds and, in the long run, less effort to maintain.

In central Illinois, we are instructed to use the following schedule for fertilization (not applying weed killer) to our lawn. This schedule is written directed by how many times per year you decide to fertilize:

September 1 - If money is tight, this is the most important fertilizer application of the year. Cooler weather insures that the Kentucky Blue Grass is growing rapidly, allowing the roots to become healthy and robust.

May 1 and September 1 - If you can fertilize only twice per year, this is the schedule to follow. Feeding the lawn in the early spring while it is still cool and the grass is rapidly growing insures it will have the energy to make it through the upcoming hot spells of summer.

May 1, September 1, and Late October - Three fertilizations per year may sound like overkill, but it is strongly suggested that the lawn gets one last boost of energy to keep the roots healthy and happy over the winter. During mild winters grass may continue to remain green.

May 1, June 15, September 1, and Late October - The June 15 suggested feeding is the least important of all, but gives your grass the extra boost to keep it healthy during the dormant hot summers.

Remember that all of these dates are approximate but try to stick to the schedule as much as possible. During mild autumns, I have been known to fertilize as late as Thanksgiving. If the spring has been hot and dry, avoid the June feeding.

Most importantly, more is not better! Applying too much fertilizer will burn your grass, leaving big holes in the yard that weed seeds will find for sure.

May your grass be healthy and happy.

shel

Water Garden Bliss

2011-07-31T10:11:00.005-05:00

My sister Shannon, the beautiful, intelligent, successful one, is also blessed with a green thumb. Her gardens are amazing, and rightfully so. Shan spends many, many hours each week with her scissors and gloves, trimming, dead-heading, and cleaning up the gardens.

The steaming hot days of central Illinois have taken their toll on regular gardens, but Shannon's water garden has thrived. The splash of the waterfall is music to tired ears.

Thank you, Shannon, for sharing your beauty with me.

shel

Pain, Pain, Go Away

2011-07-24T14:18:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it...all year long I have looked forward to the Women in the Outdoors event that was held this past weekend, sponsored by the DeWitt County Longbeards. I couldn't go! On Wednesday my upper left leg ached, like someone had taken a meat mallet to it while I was sleeping. I went to the chiropractor, Dr. Allen, who popped my back and massaged the mass of muscles that were tied in knots above my left hip. The pain spread to my right leg, then down to the bottom half of both legs. Luckily I had some pain pills that have knocked me out and kept me sane. I went back to Dr. Allen late Friday afternoon and he has decided that, instead of having a messed up spine, the pain in my legs is caused by an infection. Unfortunately my family doctor can't see me until tomorrow afternoon, so I'm stuck with this.

My niece Erin suggested that the shingles that I had in my left eye last month could have somehow traveled to other parts of my body. My left eye is still much smaller than my right, so I suppose that is always possible. I wonder how the doctor checks for that.

At any rate, I'm sorry that I missed out on the Women in the Outdoors event, and have been unable to help my parents. Tomorrow is another day, however....I'll feel better then.

shel

Women in the Outdoors Event

2011-06-24T08:53:00.006-05:00

Last year I was invited to have an adventure by attending the Women In The Outdoors event at Jim Edgar State Park/Panther Creek in Illinois. It was a BLAST!

This year the DeWitt County Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host their 9th annual event on Saturday, July 23, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in rural Elkhart, IL. There are a variety of classes offered over a four-session day. Classes includes Birds, Butterflies & Bugs, Duck Decoy Carving, Gun Safety, Dutch Oven Cooking, Nature Walk with Plant ID, Self Defense, Trap Shooting (beginning class in the morning, intermediate and advanced class in the afternoon), Nature Crafts, Beginner's Macrame, Canning & Preserving, Outdoor Survival (one I need to take!), Fly Fishing, Basic Handgun, and Dealing with Nuisance Animals. A fabulous lunch will be served, as well as snacks and drinks. There will be a raffle, door prizes, and a silent auction and the option to purchase gifts. The memories and friendships made will be priceless!

The fee of $45 (for nonmembers...$20 for members) includes admission to the day's events, lunch & refreshments, a one year subscription to Turkey Country magazine (a high quality publication) and use of equipment and supplies.

If you would like more information on this event, or would like to donate items for the day, please contact me ASAP. Registration deadline is July 18, 2011.

Join me...we'll have a blast!

shel

Companion Planting: Clematis in Weeping Cherry

2011-06-07T00:24:00.003-05:00

My grandmother, one of the world's greatest gardeners, never ceased to amaze me. When I was a little tyke she introduced me to sensitive plants, a fern-like annual that folded its "hands" in prayer when it was touched. It was like magic. After she & grandpa moved into town (I'll never forget the orchard at the country house) grandma had to really cut down on her growing adventures. Space was at a minimum.

One day I noticed a young tree blooming with tiny bright red miniature trumped-shaped flowers. That's the day that grandma introduced me to companion planting....putting two or more plants together for the benefit or beautification of all. Grandma had planted a cardinal climber vine (also known as a cypress vine) on a tree that had already lost its spring blooms and was otherwise just a boring stick with green leaves. Ingenious!

I have inherited my grandma's green thumb to a degree. The deer have eaten the apple tree saplings, the strawberry bed is now history, and I have weeds galore. I'm definitely not to the standards of my grandma, but I do try.

I have taken a page from grandma's book and planted a clematis next to my weeping cherry. The cherry is nine years old, and in partial shade. It has a tendency to lose most of its leaves and looks rather bare by the middle of June, so the clematis helps to bring excitement to the otherwise dreary plant. Hopefully the clematis will fill out even more in the next few years and I will have an umbrella of blooms to liven the garden.

I hope you try planting a climbing, vining flower with a small tree. Keep in mind that wisteria, as much as I love it, will strangle a tree. Ivy, creeping Jenny and euonymous will take over not only the tree but the entire garden and yard surrounding it.

Happy experimenting,

shel

Alternative Vegetable Gardening Experiment: Straw Bale vs. Potting Soil Bag vs. In-Ground Planting

2011-06-04T13:34:00.005-05:00

I live in an area that is cursed with clay; the heavy, worthless rock-hard tan rubbish that isn’t fit for much of anything. Therefore I must purchase plants that are tolerant of poor growing conditions or amend the heck out of the beds.

This year I decided to try alternative methods to grow my vegetables. As an experiment, I planted tomatoes and green peppers in two prepared straw bales, a large bag of potting soil, and directly into the ground. My goal is to provide the same amount of water, fertilizer and sunshine to each specimen to see which will be the healthiest, generate the largest quantity of tomatoes/peppers, and give me the best flavor of produce.

For the straw bales, I followed a 10-day recipe to “cure” the bale prior to planting. It went something like this:

How to Grow a Straw Bale Garden

By Kent Rogers

Www.nicholasgardennursery.com/strawbales.htm

www.county.ces.uga.edu/chatham/hay_bales.htm

www.co.clay.mn.us/Dept/Extension/ExAPHydr.htm

Day 1-3 Water bales thoroughly and keep them wet.

Days 4-6 Sprinkle the bales with ½ c. of ammonium nitrate (32-0-0) per bale per day, and water in well.

Days 7-9 Cut back to ¼ c. of ammonium nitrate per bale per day and continue to water in well.

Day 10 No more ammonium nitrate. Add 1 c. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bale and water in well.

Day 11 Transplant your plants into the bales. Use a spatula to make a crack in the bale for each plant.

I should have used a tarp over the bales to retain the moisture, but I didn’t think about it at the time. Instead I ran the sprinkler twice a day, two hours per session. The bales were soaked. Unfortunately, when I planted them I followed the suggestion and used a spatula. Later on, when I had to replace a green pepper that a bird had snipped off, I used a small shovel to make the hole. It was much easier to put the replacement plant’s root ball into the hole.

One of the greenhouses in Bloomington (I believe it was Owen’s) had a straw bale planted by their door. They had apparently scooped out enough straw to put in a shovel full of soil. After seeing that, I came home and forced soil around the root area of my plants. I think they perked up after that.

The mosquitoes LOVE to hang around in the bales. As soon as I bring out my watering can, which always contains a weak Miracle Grow concoction, the mosquitoes swarm up and attack me.

I have placed tomato cages around my plants. Only time will tell if the straw bale is sturdy enough to hold the cages in place.

For the potting soil planting, I used the biggest bag of high quality soil that I could find. Schultz moisture control is a potting soil that I use for container and basket plantings, so I felt confident that it was the right choice for direct planting. I used a piece or rebar to punch about a dozen holes through both layers of bag, allowing good water drainage. Next I cut an “X” near each end of the bag. I folded the ends under and planted the tomato plant in one hole and bell pepper plant in the other. I immediately added a small tomato cage, which I placed directly through the bag of soil. I pressed hard enough so that it was buried into the ground underneath by about 2”.

I did not use my Mantis tiller on the garden this year. Instead, I dug holes directly into the ground. They were big enough to bury the entire stem of the tomato plant, up to the first set of leaves. Roots will grow out the entire length of the stem, allowing the tomato to have a sturdy grip when the top is heavy with fruit. I always place tomato cages immediately over the plants. This avoids the possibility of future damage to stems or branches when the plants have become unmanageable.

Within days, a bird had snipped off one of the bell peppers that I had planted in the straw bale, and a deer or rabbit (both have voracious appetites, and both are prevalent in my country garden) had eaten off all of the plants that were in the ground.

I have purchased a six pack of small tomato plants and a one-quart size Early Girl to plant into the ground with hopes that the deer and rabbits will steer clear.

Every year I soak three to four page sections of newspaper in water, then layer them onto the garden between the rows. When I am short of newspaper I use corrugated cardboard pieces to block weeds. Rows that contain small plants, such as onions, are covered in cypress mulch. These preventative measures are not necessarily pretty to look at, but they do an excellent job of keeping out weeds and retaining moisture. PREEN also does a great job of stifling the sprouting of any weed seeds that may be present. Unfortunately, PREEN is not selective, and it will also stop radish, turnip, zucchini, and other seeds from sprouting, as well.

I originally planted my rag-tag garden on May 16, 2011. In the following weeks the only plant that has thrived has been the tomato that was placed in the bag of Schultz soil. Only time will tell how the rest of the experimental garden will grow. I’ll keep you posted.

Happy gardening,

shel

Baltimore Oriole Visitor

2011-05-17T08:30:00.004-05:00

This post goes along with the last blog that I made regarding birds that visit my feeders. I had focused so much on the feeder in front that I had been ignoring the back feeder...big mistake! There were two male (and one female) Baltimore Orioles at the hummingbird feeder, as well as Indigo Buntings, goldfinches, rose breasted gross beaks, and more at the regular feeder. The sun room is only about 5' from the feeding station so I can get beautiful, clear close-up pictures.

Take the time to install a feeder and use QUALITY bird food (like Fruit and Nut mix.) You won't regret the beauty and joy that it will bring to your life.

Enjoy!

shel

Bird Feeder Guests

2011-05-16T08:16:00.006-05:00

I have to admit it...I'm spoiled by my birds. Every day they grace my presence with their beauty. I am a bit of a seed snob. Never, ever would I purchase the packaged bird food that has the little round seeds (millet, possibly?) Long ago I read in a birding book that the bird food containing a specific seed was a waste of money because 1.) the birds don't like the 'filler' seed that is in there, 2.) the seeds get kicked to the ground and sprout very quickly, causing a MAJOR weed problem, and 3.) starlings and other "junk" birds are attracted to such seeds, and they wipe out a feeder in a matter of minutes and bully away the "good" birds!

With that in mind, I buy the fruit and nut mixture. It costs about $8 per bag but there is no waste involved and it draws in spectacular birds. Yesterday I had four male rose breasted grossbeaks and at least one female grossbeak, probably six different goldfinch, and a pair of brilliant blue Indigo Buntings. A downy woodpecker also visited the feeder, as well as a handful of wrens. I have also seen flickers, nuthatches, black capped chickadees, and even a red headed woodpecker come to the feeder.

If the birds are messy (or if I spill while I'm filling it) mourning doves help clean up the mess. It's fun to watch the resident chipmunks try to chase off the doves so that they have enjoy the feast, too.

In a nutshell (so to speak) the quality of birds that you attract is determined by the quality of food that is offered for the birds in your area, either permanently or on their migration path. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy nature's beauty...run out to the store and buy the mixture that has peanuts, sunflower kernels, sunflower seeds, safflower, pistachios, hulled pumpkin seed, and dried raisins and cranberries. You won't regret it.

Happy birding!

shel

Mower Washer Invention and the Man Behind It

2011-04-22T17:21:00.002-05:00

I am honored to cyberknow (will I see this word in Webster’s Dictionary in the next few years?) a resourceful gentleman that possesses intelligence, imagination, common sense, talented hands, and an armory of power tools at his disposal.

Ken Bryden o f Vancouver, Canada is always brainstorming how to “build a better mousetrap.” He has created bubblers and filters for his water garden to assist in water clarity, built exquisite furniture from downed trees, and constructed an ingenious device that should be in every lawn jockey’s shed.

Ken has unselfishly sent instructions on how to build his contraption used to clean the freshly mown grass from the underside of the deck of your mower.

Per Ken:

1. “Build the “mower wash” wide enough to accommodate your rotary mower, with wood on either side and end to keep the mower from rolling off. It shows the hose on top of the cross piece but it is safer to have it under that cross piece. This way the sprinkler head can’t hit the blade.
2. Start the mower.
3. Turn on the water and in a minute, all the cut grass is washed from the underside of the deck.

This way the underside of the deck doesn’t get plugged and doesn’t rust out.
DON’T USE IT ON ELECTRIC MOWERS! ZAP!!”

Thank you, Ken, for sharing your invention. A clean lawnmower is an essential factor for a perfect lawn!

(I have very clever mice that have invaded my home over the long, cold winter months…how about a better mousetrap?)

shel

Hydrangea Horror and New Way to Grow Veggies

2011-04-08T22:16:00.004-05:00

Last night we had heavy winds and rain that caused a huge oak to come crashing down. Fortunately, it missed the house. Unfortunately, it chose my three-year-old 'Limelight' hydrangea to cushion its fall. The upper branches also knocked down part of the leather leaf viburnum, bent my copper arch fence out of shape, and crushed the daylilies, iris, Lenten rose, daffodils, and hollyhocks that were braving the cold weather.

On the upside, I will have plenty of firewood for the fire pit. There's nothing better than ribeyes cooked over an oak flame.

Tomorrow I will sharpen my clippers and start trimming away the badly damaged plants. Hopefully the roots of the perennials still have enough "umph" in them to send out more leaves, the hydrangea will come back even fuller than before, and the viburnum will fill back in on the damaged side. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the spring.

I didn't get the chance to add soil amendments to the vegetable garden last fall (I haven't even cleaned it off yet!) so I have decided to try a new approach this year. I plan on purchasing the largest bags of potting soil available. I will leave the bag relatively intact; I'll use a screw driver to punch some holes through the bag to allow for drainage, cut X's in the top, and plant my zucchini, cucumbers, and green peppers directly in the bags. Newspapers will be placed in water then layered between the bags to create rows. I'll use cedar mulch (that's what I have on hand) over the top of the bags to help hold in the water.

I also plan on planting three straw bales this year. I've been reading up on how to "age" them (it takes 10 days) so that you plant directly into the middle of the rotting hay. All of the tomato plants, which have extensive root systems, will go into the hay bales rather than the soil bags.

In the fall I can cut the bags and bales open and distribute their contents onto the garden. It will help to enrich the soil for the 2012 garden.

Years ago I learned to use bags of mulch to plant impatiens. I put six impatiens per bag, watered daily, and used Miracle Grow every week. The impatiens flourished in the improvised planters, filling out so completely that you couldn't tell that they were in a bag. Try it for yourself...I think you'll be extremely pleased with the results!

shel

Clutter out of Kindness OR Why My House is Messy

2011-04-08T01:39:00.000-05:00

I have an inordinate amount of love and admiration for my 57-year-old sister Shannon. At 50, I still have high hopes that I can grow up to be more like her. She is beautiful, intelligent, successful, highly respected and loved by her patients and peers, and extremely adventurous.

There is one major difference between my beloved sister and myself that I wouldn't trade for all of the tea in China (and I love my tea!)

Shannon is a clean, clutter-free freak, almost to the point of being a minimalist. Everything is in its place at all times. I’ve never seen such a clear kitchen counter. Her home is like a beautiful hotel.

My house, on the other hand, is organized chaos. Oxymoron, I know, but it’s true. After Shannon, Mom, Dad and I returned from our month-long trip to Alabama, I took a closer look at my own house. I became aware, for the first time in our 10+ years of living here, that my house is tumultuous because I’m a giver, NOT because I’m a slob.

Consider the evidence:

 I collect the tabs from pop cans, soups, and so on to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield. My grandson was a micro-premie, and I utilized their facility before and after he was born. I try to show my appreciation for their services by making monetary donations and picking up tabs wherever I can find them. Thanks to my parents, sorority sisters and garden club friends for helping me.
 Max drinks approximately 14 cans of diet soda per day. (Ridiculous, right? It’s going to kill him but he won’t stop. It’s bad for the grocery budget, too.) We save the cans for recycling. The money that we bring in from recycling will go to Brianna, my beautiful, intelligent great-niece that will be taking a class trip to Spain.
 Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s Soup labels go into an antique pitcher on the counter top. (Mom saves hers to give to me, as well.) Every few months I will trim up the labels, sort them into Zip-Loc bags, and send them to school with Bryan. I don’t understand how anyone can maliciously throw away this money for our schools. Is it laziness?
 There is a considerate woman in our town that has organized a clothes closet for Junior High kids in need. While most of my clothes are “old lady” styles (according to my daughter and nieces) I do have some stuff that the kids will be able to wear. Jeans, sweatshirts, nice T-shirts, and a jean jacket (they never go out of style) are in a bag and ready to be delivered.
 I’ve lost 55 lbs. Recently and have gone down a few sizes. My “old lady” clothes are getting cleaned, packed, and delivered to Encore, a resale shop in town that hires the mentally and physically handicapped. I do this in honor of my brother Randy who was blind and mentally challenged. Why throw something away when someone else can get use from it?
 There are a few things for Freecycle, a not-for-profit group of Internet folks that share their items as well as their needs. Usually I don’t offer items on the site (Freecycle.org, part of the Yahoo groups), but if I see that someone posts that they need a particular item, I contact them.
 DOVE, a domestic violence program for the abused, holds a garage sale during their biannual garden walk. There’s a stack of freshly washed decorative flowerpots, a triple-heart grapevine wreath, and other garden-related tidbits packed in a box. In the next few days I’ll have to drop it off at Wilma’s house.
 Mom receives about 12 subscriptions each month. After she finishes reading the magazines, she passes them on to me. My daughter and I read them; I tear off the address labels, and then drop them off at the nursing home. Birds and Blooms, Time, Newsweek, Star, National Geographic, Better Homes and Gardens, and many more give the elderly and their guests something to enjoy. I hope they recycle them when they are done!
 Times have been tough for my daughter and her family so I have a tendency to purchase extra groceries when they are on sale and share them with her. I delivered some goodies this morning. Gabe was thrilled with the Pop-Tarts.
 As an ex-employee of Community Action, I know that there is need for extra food in many households in our area. They also receive my surplus groceries (Totino’s Pizzas were on sale for 74 cents a while back, so I filled the freezer.) I ask for extra IGA paper grocery bags and save them, as well as plastic bags from the local Mart store, for the girls to pack groceries from the food pantry for those in need. It helps the environment as well as helping the indigent. Unfortunately, it also fills up my sunroom.
 In a few years my grandson Gabe will be attending the local preschool. They collect used ink cartridges and old cell phones to help fund projects. There’s also a book in the bag that I had gotten from a garage sale for the teacher. It gives ideas on bulletin board designs, games, and learning activities that I think Mrs. Miller will enjoy.
 I have a bag of goodies for mom and dad sitting in the closet. When I see them on Sunday I’ll bring it to them. There’s a bag of diabetic candy for their very helpful neighbor Jerry, some paperwork that I need them to sign, and a few other odds and ends. If I get to the bread store I’ll also pick up a few of the thin buns for them.
 I have a bag of stuff for Erin’s house. It holds pink paper cups that she can use for Lari’s birthday party this weekend as well as Jaden’s toothbrush and toothpaste that he left her last weekend.
 In May I will be leading the Garden Club in making gazing globes out of bowling balls. There’s four big balls rolling around in the van and stacks of chipped dishes on the countertop, waiting to go through the dishwasher. I’ll still need to pick up the grout and other supplies to do the balls, print out directions for everyone to follow along, and collect the other two bowling balls that are currently residing in my gardens. I’m also the hostess for the night so bake up a bunch of goodies and make a fruit platter for nibbling. I think I’ll also take a bottle of red wine and some lemonade as the beverages. More clutter, I know.
 Alana is getting married in October and has planned a Halloween-theme wedding. Her old bedroom is filled with totes, boxes and bags of after-season sales of Halloween outfits (for the people that want to get dressed up for the costume reception), hundreds of skulls and other decorations, clear crystal candle and votive holders, and various designs of clear glass candy jars. There will be a Candy Bar where guests can fill their bags with dozens of different types of confections. The kids will love it. (Some day that room will be a guest room/office/craft room.)
 Easter will be held here. I have cut WAY back on the amount of eggs that I fill and hide, but they still take up lots of room.
 With three, almost four, grandsons, I have enough toys to sink a ship. Added to that is the high chair, two black children’s chairs for the dining room table, two child-size rocking chairs, and countless other baby-minded items and furniture. The kids have a blast and old Grandma here doesn’t mind cleaning up after them…for now.
 I currently have dial-up Internet service, but have high hopes of someday finding affordable high speed Internet. At that time I will sell many of my garage sale finds on E-bay. In the meantime they are stacked, along with Alana’s wedding goodies, in her old bedroom.
 The sunroom leaks like a sieve. It’s raining even as I type, so there are five large Rubbermaid containers catching the water that drips in. It’s supposed to rain for most of this next week so walking through the room will be a challenge.
 There are three cats and two Siberian huskies that live in the house. Need I say more?
 My husband is a slob, a real Jack Kluggman type of guy. (Wasn’t he the messy one from The Odd Couple?) Even though I am considered a housewife, I get very, very tired of pick up after him.

I realize the last few items that I have listed are things that don’t really match the rest of the excuses for my clutter. I can give more of the boys’ toys to Encore to help save room, give up on my E-bay wish and donate the collections, find new homes for the expensive and time-consuming animals (okay, I couldn’t really do that), teach my husband how to clean up after himself (tried to for years), and stop spending money on extra groceries and stuff for other people so that I can afford to have the roof leak fixed, therefore eliminating the whole Rubbermaid mess during rainy season… but I just can’t.

Instead, I will continue to deliver as much as I can to everyone that I can, ignore the piles of “stuff” that will all eventually go to a new home, and frantically hide boxes and bags in my bedroom (and close the door tightly) each time guests come over…. especially my wonderful and clutter-free sister Shannon.

Remember, there is need in this world. Please do your share to help. Oh, and if you have any spare time, I could use a hand with deliveries!

shel

2011 New Plant Introductions

2011-02-21T21:43:00.006-06:00

Each year I look forward to the announcement of the new plants that will be introduced for that gardening season. I have never been disappointed in the wide variety of perennials, annuals, vegetables, or trees/shrubs that have been offered. This year was no exception. Here are a few of the most interesting introductions.

Echinacea 'Guava Ice' - I love echniacea, and the interesting color combination sounds too good to pass up. This flower is advertised as having enormous double orangish-pink (or guava colored) blooms.

Echinacea 'Hot Summer' - This cone flower opens yellowish-orange, matures to a deep orange, and then, as it peaks, turns deep red. Very interesting.

Calibrachoa 'Blackberry Punch' - This tiny petunia is very dramatic with its coloring...deep violet-purple edges surround inky black centers which make the yellow eye jump.

Petunia 'Phantom' - This petunia is toted as having black flowers with a perfect yellow star shape in the center. It could be interested when planted in a basket with 'Blackberry Punch'.

Hosta 'Cherry Tomato' - I am a lover of hosta, with over 200 varieties residing happily in my shade-filled yard. This hosta is a mini with long, narrow lance-like leaves. They are yellow to creamy white with green, and have red on the lower part of the petiole and up the back.

Peony 'Bartzella' - 10 years ago I planted my first tree peony and I've never looked back. If you've never planted one, DO IT NOW. You won't regret the amazing flowers. 'Bartzilla' is a cross between the regular garden-variety herbacious peony and tree peopny. The gigantic flower is bright yellow and has a sweet/spicy scent. The bloom of this plant has the qualities of a tree peony; the leaves are those of the herbacious variety.

Crabtree 'Ruby Tears' - Weeping trees hold a special place in my heart. Combine the weeping form of this small tree along with the pink blooms and dark red fruit that stays on well into winter, and you definitely have a winning specimen tree for the garden.

For more new plant introductions, go to Goodsearch.com, enter the charity of your choice, then search "2011 new plant introductions." You'll not only get a ton of information, you'll also be giving free money to your favorite charity!

shel

Electricity, My Love

2011-02-03T09:03:00.002-06:00

Electricity, oh Electricity, how much I love you!

You never know just how dependent you are on something until you have to do without it. Yesterday our electricity was out for approximately seven hours thanks to the blizzard that central Illinois was blessed with.

Bryan woke up, crying hysterically, at 4:10 a.m. It was blacker than black in the house and I ran into the walls on more than on occasion as I stumbled down the hallway to get to him. I never would have imagined that it was able to be this dark. Usually I walk around the house at night without turning on the lights. I go to the bathroom three or four times a night, get up and get a drink, or check on the stove (did I remember to turn that burner off?) at least once.

I did a quick head count and figured out exactly WHY it is so light in here at night. (I never realized it was light until I had to do without these helpers!) The telephone has two red lights that stay on, the computer screen has a dash light and the monitor has one as well. The glow of the clock radio and the clock on the oven add to the illumination. There is also a pole light at the end of our long, long driveway that actually has enough power to shine into the dorm window above the door and through the gaps in the vertical blinds.

I couldn't heat anything up in the microwave or on the stove, nor could I safely open the refrigerator or freezer doors. The furnace wouldn't work, and I couldn't flush the toilets because I have well water, and the pump wouldn't work.

I never realized how important a part that electricity played in my life. Like many people, I took something that is important to me for granted.

Electricity, I am so glad that you are once again part of my life. Please don't leave me again.

Stay warm, everyone.

shel

Home Grown Tomatoes or My Love of the Beef Master

2011-01-26T13:50:00.005-06:00

Here it is, near the end of January (and awfully close to the beginning of winter) and I have a craving that can't be appeased. I desperately want to go out the sliding doors, across the deck, through the gate and over to my rather small and unruly garden so that I can pick a tomato. I wouldn't bother to wash it; instead, I would wipe it quickly across my t-shirt and take a big, messy bite.

My favorite garden tomato is the Beef Master. This tomato has the kind of face that only a mother (or tomato freak like me) could love; uneven and creased, often with tomato pieces protruding like a Jimmy Durante nose. These extremely heavy fruits are chalk-full of meat, making it a great variety capable of fulfilling a multitude of tasks.

I've used Beef Masters (aka Beefmaster, one word) to eat straight from the garden, on a BLT, diced and mixed with olive oil, mozzarella chunks, onions and basil, and made into juice. It's fabulous made into sauce to be frozen, grilled between a slice of garlic bread and provolone cheese, or cut daisy-like and filled with cottage cheese.

The downfalls of this variety? It's susceptible to disease, which can be somewhat controlled by rotating your crop, practicing good garden hygiene (clean up all dropped leaves and fruits) and watering at root level. The enormous fruits also have a tendency to weigh down the fragile plant branches, causing them to split or break. I use a good support system for each plant to help dodge that potentially fatal bullet.

Yes, I have a love-affair with my garden tomatoes. I eagerly away summer so that I can have a true garden delight. I'm not about to cheat with those mushy, mealy store-bought Jezebels!

shel

Happy (Gardening) New Year

2010-12-31T22:22:00.005-06:00

Oh, it's that time of year again. I've done as much as I can with my houseplants (have you ever heard of killing houseplants with kindness? I have the tendency to do that!) and am now chomping at the bit to get my hands in the good old earth. Luckily I have a few seed and plant catalogs to look through so that I can keep my sanity.

Every year I flip through the pages, scanning the pretty pictures but not reading names or descriptions. Then I go back through the catalog and read each word, circling the items that I think I'd like to order. My third time through the catalog is a reality check...I draw a line through the items that I really SHOULDN'T order (I'm in zone 5b, but there are some zone 6 plants I yearn for!) My fourth, but probably not last, time through the catalog I will actually fill out the order form. Money is tight, so I know that I can't REALLY order everything from each magazine. Instead I stick the order form to the refrigerator and hope that my husband will take the hint and order the goodies for me. (It never happens.)

Today I received my Gardening How-To magazine. It has an article entitled "New Varieties 2011" (go to www.gardeningclub.com for more information.) Hydrangea macrophylia 'Fantasia' is one shrub that I absolutely MUST have. The first big plus is that this shrub blooms on both old and new wood, much like the Endless Summer series. Each cluster of flowers is covered with a variety of colors ranging from light pint to apricot-mauve. The picture shows a close-up of a bloom that looks almost striped with the different colors...just beautiful.

There are two interesting new annuals for 2011. Calibrachoa Superbells Blackberry Punch, which has vibrant magenta flowers with almost-black throats is a must-have. It will look great planted in a hanging basket with another new introduction, Petunia Black Velvet/Black Cat (Ball Seed.) This full-sized petunia shimmer with a deep almost black color. The mounding habit of this petunia combined with the trailing Blackberry Punch would be stunning.

It's only 45 minutes until 2011. I still have time to salivate over the new coneflower introductions and welcome in the new year. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful night. Dream well...spring will be here before we know it.

shel

2010-12-23T06:16:00.003-06:00

Up since 5 a.m. assembling platters of cookies and candy. Today will continue to be a busy day with running, shopping for last minute gifts and food, and delivering the Xmas platters. Don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining. I absolutely love the business of Christmas.

At this time of year the people in the stores and on the streets seem much more friendly and compassionate. I love that I can say "hello" to folks as they linger with me in the toy aisle, and a conversation ensues regarding the child for whom we're shopping.

My wish is that it could be more like Christmas all year long...the caring and sharing are amazing. With that in mind, please remember to smile at your sales associates, stay off of your cell phone while you're paying for something, be friendly toward your fellow shoppers, and be generous with your donations of commercial items, money and, especially time.

Merry Christmas, my cyber readers. God bless.

shel

Catching Up

2010-12-22T00:08:00.002-06:00

It has been way too long since I have blogged. I need to make it a regular part of my routine once again. Perhaps that would calm my mind.

K-Mart was a big disappointment today. Mom got a pair of house slippers for dad and the price rang up higher. Unfortunately, I didn't think about it until after mom had already used her debit card. The sales lady ran back to check the sale price and when she returned she said "No, the $7.49 price is just for boys' Route 66 house slippers." I went back to the shoe section with her and showed her the sale sign, and she agreed; yep, the slippers were on sale. She took me up to guest services and told the very busy lady there that the shoes were on sale, and that mom needed a refund. The woman was rather snotty and argued the point. We waited and waited, but she woman kept telling everyone that she was too busy to help them, so we finally left. K-Mart service sucks. This isn't the first time that we have had a problem with incorrect pricing, either.

Bryan's Christmas program was last night. Chester-East Lincoln School did a wonderful CHRISTMAS show (not a generic holiday show, as is politically correct now.) They sang and did some acting, and many of them, including Bryan, did a little nose picking. At least his didn't go into his mouth! One of the songs that they sang was about Martha Stewart. It was hysterical! I suggested that Jessie send it in to Martha, but she's reluctant. (Yes, I'm a Martha fan.)

Tonight was Jaden's Christmas program. It was short, sweet, and to the point; not to mention adorable! The preschool kids were fabulous. After the program we had cookies and punch and visited. It was a very enjoyable evening. This program, too, celebrated Christmas and was not just a winter program.

It's 12:43 a.m. and I still can't get to sleep. Time to have a cup of hot chocolate with a shot; perhaps that will calm my mind.

Sleep well, my cyber friends. Dream of the magical time yet to come.

shel

Gabe's Toy Adventure

2010-11-27T07:31:00.003-06:00

My grandboys have hundreds of dollars worth of toys to play with at my house. I have purchased some new, got some from rummage sales, have had many handed down or from Freecycle.org, and have some from Happy Meals.

What was the toy of choice when Gabe was here last night?

My pots and pans were the hit of the evening. Gabe spent the better part of an hour pulling them out of the corner cupboard, stacking and re-stacking them. He then decided that every pan needed to go into my sink, and stood on his little tiptoes to drop them in. After that Gabe found my two cookie presses and their various shape plates. He got into the Tupperware cabinet and pulled out a big green container to hold all of those pieces. Perhaps we have an aspiring pastry chef on our hands!

Gabe missed picking up one dutch oven. It was on the floor between the dining room and kitchen. Little Jaxxon, in the beginning stages of crawling, made record time getting to it. He enjoyed picking up the edge of it and dropping it back onto the vinyl floor. It made a very satisfying sound for him from the way he laughed each time it "kling"ed.

Alana, Max, David and I were able to play two good games of Rummikub while the boys played nicely with their "toys".

This morning I had a full load for my dishwasher. I don't mind...Gabe and Jaxxon had a wonderful time with my cookware. Maybe I should get them a child-sized set for Christmas!

Hope you all enjoy your day.
shel

Change of Plans....

2010-11-12T21:53:00.003-06:00

When I die, my tombstone will have my name, date of birth and death, and the phrase that I seem to say more and more often..."Change of Plans..." It seems like something always comes up that throws my perfectly choreographed day into utter chaos.

Take today, for example. I had planned on following David to Springfield so that Alana's new car door could get painted. Since I had to be back at Erin's by 10:00 to relieve Shannon, I wanted to leave the house by 7 a.m. Nope. Didn't work out quite that way, but that's okay. Alana, Gabe & Jaxxon rode with me in the van to Maaco. David hadn't shown up yet, so we had to wait a short time, but that's okay. We still made it back to Clinton in time for me to drop David and Alana off at their new apartment. I hadn't planned on bringing the boys to Erin's with me, but that's okay.

I had planned on taking Jaden to mom and dad's house with me (Ady was in school) because he had asked last week if he could go. We were going to work in the yard. Jaden was sick, however, so we stayed here, but that's okay. Alana, Gabe and Jaxxon stayed and played all day. I was able to squeeze in cleaning the upstairs bathroom carpet (does it mean I'm a weirdo if I truly enjoy cleaning carpets, and find every excuse to do so?) I had planned on picking Ady up from school and going out to our house to start spaghetti for dinner, but Ady's father J.R called and said he would be here to pick her up for the weekend. We didn't get out to the house, but that's okay. Instead, I sent Alana out for Subway (love the steak & provolone cheese sandwich on wheat with everything except jalapenos and with extra, extra onions and a touch of honey mustard) and we had dinner here.

It's now 10 p.m., and Jaden is sleeping in a special spot. His NumNum (grandma Shannon) got a huge box for him and placed it in the library. He is now sound asleep in his "fort", dreaming of laughing dragons and dancing frogs. I plan on finishing here then watching my favorite channel, National Geographic.

Tomorrow morning I'll wake up early and shampoo the living room carpet. At 10:00, after Shannon gets here, I'll go pick up Alana, David and the boys and take them to Springfield so that they can pick up Alana's car. After that I'll either work in my poorly maintained yard, go to visit my father-in-law, or get much-needed groceries. If something comes up, there will be a change of plans, but that's okay. I have adapted and can now go with the flow.

Perhaps my tombstone should read "Change of Plans....But That's Okay!"

Hope everyone is having an agreeable day. Life is so much easier that way!

shel

Autumn Clean-up

2010-11-10T20:49:00.004-06:00

It was a perfect 72 degree day yesterday in central Illinois; perfect weather for tackling those dreaded autumn chores.

I spent the day closing down the gardens at my mom and dad's home. There had been a hard frost, so all delicate plants that were not protected had to be removed. I pulled out tomato plants (not easy to do as the doggone roots had really taken hold, which makes for a great tomato but also for a bad back!), clipped them into smaller pieces, and put them into the black standard compost bin. I also added armloads of silver maple leaves (more on that later), spent coneflower heads and stems, and dozens of Wave petunias, seed geraniums, coleus, nasturtium, and impatiens that had been killed.

There were many geraniums that were protected from the cold temperatures. I carefully pulled the plants from the potting soil, cleaned all of the soil from the roots, and pruned off the old growth to about 3". These geraniums are kept in my temperature-controlled garage (it is 3/4 underground, so the temps are rarely below 50 degrees) in a paper bag. During the winter I will check on them about once a month to make sure that there is not damage to the plant from either errant mice that have escaped the three cats and two huskies that reside here, or from fungus or disease. If the plant appears to be infected I throw it out; if it looks too dry I will lightly spritz it with water a few times a week until it looks rehydrated. At the end of February I will pot up the geraniums into a sterilized container that has been filled with fresh high-quality potting soil (please, do NOT put those awful packaging peanuts in the bottom of your containers!) and begin to wake the plants up by giving them a deep drink of water and putting them in my sun room. At the first signs of new growth, I will begin feeding my geraniums with a weak fertilizer solution. As the plant gets more robust, my fertilizing regime will increase. By the middle of April I will have beautiful, full plants, ready to be moved out into the sunlight on warm days. I have successfully overwintered standard geraniums like this for many years. They continue to get bigger and better.

Back to my leaf story...the maple leaves had blown into a corner area close enough to the compost bin that I didn't have to mess with a rake. Instead, I used my arms to scoop up masses of leaves. Mistake!!! I was totally creeped out when mom pointed to the hundreds of minuscule wolf spider infants crawling from the leaf pile onto the skirting of their trailer. Normally I am a proponent of spider survival (they do, after all, control the mosquito population) but this was too much. I ran into the house and grabbed the can of Raid Ant & Roach spray, the only kind under the sink. The spiders that were exposed got a good spray and died a quick death. Some of them escaped under the trailer, and I'm sure that there were many, many more in the leaf pile. That was the end of my composting for the day. I wasn't about to let any spiders crawl around on me, no matter how beneficial they are!

Before my day had ended, I had spread another four bags of cedar mulch onto the garden with the freshly-planted Cleveland pear. Friday I will continue with my autumn clean-up by planting the last of the bulbs (a few tulip and hyacinth, with some bloodmeal added for good measure), unhooking the garden hoses and putting them into the shed, pulling the last of the stubborn cool-weather weeds, and placing the snow shovel on the porch. Since the folks have two raised vegetable beds, I will add compost and additional garden soil to them, along with some peat moss, and till it with my Mantis. After that, I start in on my own two acres.

I hate autumn chores simply because there is so much death involved. But I truly look forward to a season of rest, where I can dream over garden catalogs and drool over my Horticulture magazine. Rest well, gardens. Spring will be here soon, bringing about the rebirth of beauty in our gardens.

shel

brrrrrrr

2010-11-05T20:46:00.002-05:00

Tonight I turned on the furnace for the first time without having the grandbabies here. Normally I just tough it out...a few extra blankets while I'm reading, a t-shirt under the sweats, and my fuzzy house slippers. It's hell having propane for your furnace, water heater, and dryer. Prices are out of sight, especially this time of year. I will be frugal with the energy (thermostat is set on 65 right now, but I'll turn it back to 60 when I go to bed tonight).

Tomorrow I will spread weed & feed at mom & dad's place. I will also need to pull the tomato plants from the gardens, mulch the newly-planted Cleveland pear, and do general winterizing.

I brought the banana tree, giant elephant ear, and one pot on light pink geraniums into the sun room. Hopefully someone will water them while I'm in Alabama in January.

Now is the time to plant new trees and shrubs. Just be sure to give them lots of water so that the roots can grow nicely before winter sets in.

Stay warm.
shel

I Voted...Did You?

2010-11-02T22:52:00.001-05:00

I have to admit that I got lost on my way to the polls....literally. We live in the country, and must go about 5 miles to get to be able to vote. I have always gone through the country to get there, but today I was in Clinton so I decided to leave from there. Silly me...I forgot that Lane is on Route 10. Instead of going there, I followed 54 almost to the power plant before I realized my mistake! Instead of learning my lesson and traveling the route that I knew, I decided to take a shortcut from 54 to 10. Max always cuts cross country to come home, so I thought I would do it to. Another mistake, as I turned on the wrong road and ended up winding around the countryside for about half an hour. To make a long story short, I finally DID make it to Lane and voted, which I consider a privilege and an honor. I hope that everyone else made their voices heard, too.

shel
p.s. I STILL have perennials to get in the ground, as well as quite a few spring bulbs. Hope the weather holds out!

Halloween

2010-10-31T21:50:00.003-05:00

It was a beautiful Halloween night. There was just enough of a nip in the air to make heavy costumes comfortable.

Earlier in the day Alana and David brought Gabe and Jaxxon over so that I could watch the boys while they put on their gory make-up. Papa Max was able to get grumpy little Gabe to sleep. With the help of a bottle of soy formula, Jaxxon soon joined him. Unfortunately Gabe's nap was not quite a peaceful one, as his mommy needed to get him dressed for his big night.

Jaxxon wore a stuffed monkey suit. While we were trick-or-treating, the poor little guy fell asleep in the double stroller. Technically, he's too young to enjoy the spoils of the evening, so I suppose it doesn't matter that he snoozed.

I had a great time walking with a rock star (Ady) a puppy dog (Jaden), my monkey and cowboy, and Erin, Steve, Alana and David. Thank you, God, for such a beautiful evening.

Fall is Failing

2010-10-29T13:22:00.002-05:00

Autumn is such a depressing time of the year for me. The only blooms that I have are the mums and asters, and everything else is pretty much brown or black. Leaves are falling by the millions (we live in the middle of the woods on two acres with thousands of trees and doggone Japanese Honeysuckle.) The pond, or what is actually left of it, is filled with 2' of leaves. Ugh.

I have many autumn chores to accomplish:

The grass needs to be mowed (and leaves mulched) again. Unfortunately the lawnmower has a flat tire and I can't get it to hold air.

There are hundreds of volunteer trees that have popped up in the gardens. I need to go out with the loppers and cut them as close to the ground as possible, then soak the little stump area with Round-Up. This doesn't always work, but I have had luck with it in the past. Green-X used to work well with killing the stumps of mulberries, but I can't find it anymore.

Over the summer a lot of junk has accumulated in front of the house, mainly in front of the garage. I must find a home for the 55 gallon aquarium (doesn't seal anymore, so it's only good for reptiles), convince Max to take the snow blower in to be repaired, and get rid of the straw that was around the horse trough that held the water garden. There is a multitude of white plastic garbage bags full of crushed aluminum cans forming a mountain of eyesore near the edge of the driveway. Critters - probably raccoons or possums - have gotten into the bags and spread the cans all over the place. Max was the one that insisted on keeping the cans, so I hope he will be the one to take responsibility and clean up the mess. I won't hold my breath, though. He's not much of an outdoor worker.

All of the dead coneflowers and black-eyed Susans need deadheaded. I usually keep them for the birds to much on during the winter, but the doggone things have taken over the gardens.

All of the wood from mom & dad's pear tree needs to be carted to the back yard and piled by the fence. Wish I had some help to do it.

The shrubs and tree branches have grown so that they block the view when backing out of the drive. They all need to be cut back

There was a heavy frost last night so I should pull out the annuals that were bitten. Luckily the banana tree and giant elephant ear planters made it inside.

So much more to do, so little time to do it in. Winter will be here before we know it.

Hope you are all able to work outside and then come in for a nice warm cup of apple cider.

shel

Drats! Foiled again!

2010-10-10T12:28:00.002-05:00

I can't believe how dry the ground is! It was quite a chore to dig a hole for the viburnum yesterday. I decided that, in order to finish planting the rest of the garden additions, I would water. Yesterday I had the sprinkler running for two hours in the garden where I planted the shrub, then switched it to the platform feeder garden straight off of the deck. It ran for about three hours there, then I switched it to the garden to the east that has Storm and the yellow magnolia tree. After Max got home we went to a clam bake (wow, the food was incredible!) and left the hose running. I forgot to turn it off! It ran until about 9 p.m. Now I need to water the rest of the two acres...a chore I don't look forward to. Hopefully it will rain soon. Those poor plants MUST get into the ground!

Tonight I'm making hot dogs and hamburgers on the fire pit for family members. I also made creamy ranch pasta salad with cheddar cheese and peas and broccoli cauliflower salad. After I hang up here I will make an apple pie to go with the vanilla ice cream. Hope mom and dad can come over too.

Have a happy day, everyone.
shel

Beautiful day

2010-10-09T10:25:00.002-05:00

Today is an absolutely perfect day. I couldn't sleep last night, so I have taken it rather easy this morning. I've done dishes, picked up remainders of the party, and did a belly dancing video (I'll be teaching a class soon, so I need to get back in shape.) As soon as I finish on the computer, I plan on going outside to putter around.

I have a viburnum 'Autumn Jazz' to plant in the west side hosta garden in the back. It's a great shrub with all-season interest. Already, while still in the gallon container, the leaves have turned a beautiful red and yellow. In the spring there will be highly scented clusters of white blooms, and all winter long the birds will be enjoying the fruits of the bush. I love this particular shrub because it's low maintenance.

I also have a rose campion to plant, 'Rolley's Favorite'. I love, love, love campions. They not only attract butterflies, but will also bloom and bloom. This plant, too, is relatively low maintenance. It handles heat and drought very well (we have plenty of that in central Illinois!) I haven't decided where to plant this yet, as it requires full sun and those gardens are pretty full.

When my government stimulus job was terminated on Sept. 30, my wonderful co-workers presented me with a mum the size of Kansas. I will plant it in the container in front, under the mailbox. It is a stunning pale yellow beauty that will attract the eye from quite a distance.

All of my containers need a good drink of water. It's been very dry this fall, so things are just limping along. I have two ivy geraniums that I have overwintered for two years that are absolutely gorgeous. They trail almost to the ground, and are very lush on top. I will have to find a home for these, as I won't be able to take them with me when we go to Alabama for the month of January. Max wouldn't water them here, and sending them for Alana or Erin to care for would be to give them the death sentence. Guess I'll post them on freecycle.org, and some lucky person will be blessed with stunning plants next year. I'll advise them to do what I do...cut the plants down to about 4" and water them sparingly during the winter. I keep mine in the sun room on the north side of the house, so they don't get tons of sunlight. I also start fertilizing near the end of February so that the plant looks healthy when I put it out in mid-May.

My last chore is to plant a thornless blackberry. I've had them in the past and was thrilled with the ease of harvest. I had stupidly cut out all plants when I put the greenhouse up, and now I am ready to plant again. This one gallon container has grown all summer long, so the canes are about 8' in length. I will spread them to the side and cover small sections of the cane with soil. Hopefully they can root before winter. This spring I will cut the canes from the mother plant, and have enough individual plants to give me a good harvest. Fingers are crossed.

I could paint the fence today, but I just hate the darn thing. I have always wanted a white picket fence (like you'd see around a cottage garden) but Max got a little carried away while he was building this. He made it 6' tall and put the pickets only a quarter of an inch apart. It also has bends in weird places, instead of being a straight or angled shot toward the shed. The fence is more of an eyesore than an attraction, and I just have spending hour after hour painting it. It is nearly finished, but I just dread wasting my time on it. Wish I had one of those spray gun painters.

Time to get busy. I hope you are all able to enjoy this beautiful weather!

shel

Alana's Birthday Weiner Roast

2010-10-09T00:57:00.002-05:00

Tonight was a wonderful night. We held a wiener roast to celebrate Alana's 21st birthday (hard to believe it's been 21 years!) and I think it went quite well.

I spent the day cooking and cleaning. I made potato salad, baked beans, pickles wrapped in cream cheese and ham, and Barb Bodine's 14 Karat Carrot cake. Yum. The only thing that I have extra of is the OM hot dogs and buns. I may have to have another wiener roast this week.

The best part of the evening was the laughter from the young adults. Max and I watched Jaden (almost 5), Bryan (just turned 5), Gabe (21 months), and little Jaxxon (5 1/2 months) so that Alana, Jessica, Steve & Erin could run into town. Bryan and Jaden had a wild time playing with the hundreds of balls (from a ball pit that had a leak) and running and hiding from Gabe. There were lots of giggles, and a few bumps and bruises as the play got more rowdy. We finally got them settled down to watch "Ice Age". Shortly after Jaxxon went to sleep, the gang came back from town. They sat at the dining room table while we were in the living room. It was great to hear them laughing so much.

Tomorrow I plan on doing yet another load of dishes, putting the house back in order, and planting a shrub, a perennial, and a thornless blackberry bush. In the afternoon Max and I are going to a clam bake. This is a big step for Max, as he doesn't usually socialize with the men from work. I look forward to meeting them.

Hopefully I will be able to get to sleep soon. It's 1:20 a.m. and I'm still wide awake.

Sleep well, my friends.
shel

Updates

2010-09-20T07:10:00.002-05:00

Please forgive me for my rant. I promise it will only be a short one, then I will continue on with life's updates.

Oh, what a busy life it's been. I wouldn't change it for all of the money in the world....what I would change, however, is the attitude of my husband! Unfortunately, we are opposites. I don't really have "days off". I will always have to cook, clean, do laundry, etc. even when I'm not technically at my job. In the meantime, the sunroom leaks in FIVE places, the tires on the wheelbarrow, lawnmower cart, lawnmower and Honda are flat, there is a 3' tree growing in the gutter in back, all of the garbage cans are full, and the list goes on and on. Yes, I could do some of this myself, but I just don't have the strength anymore after doing everything else.

There, I'm done.

Mom and dad are doing...well...they are doing. They are both still in pain on a daily basis. Dad is seeking medical attention at a back pain facility, and hopefully mom will soon be a patient there as well. Over the past two weeks they had a Bradford pear tree that came down a third at a time, so we spent many hours cutting and loading the wood onto a trailer so that I could haul it here. Jerry, the kindly neighbor, did the majority of the "heavy" work. He has a bad heart, so I worry about him doing so much. He, however, worries about mom and dad doing too much! I hope to get over to mom and dad's again this afternoon. There's lots of spring bulbs that need to be planted.

Thursday my parents will celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary. Shannon and I plan on taking them to lunch.

Bryan is doing well. He is now in half day preschool and half day kindergarten. The poor guy is worn out by the end of his day, but he still has enough energy to play dinosaur with grandma. He loves for me to chase him around the house, waving my arms and roaring at him. His giggles make every trial in life bearable.

Gabe is another pistol. He, too, loves to be chased around the house. The little stinker is 20 months old now, and into everything. He has discovered that if he uses Grandma's kitchen bench, he can carry it around and climb onto ANYTHING. You just can't scold this boy; he just flashes that 10,000 watt smile and all is forgiven.

Little Jaxxon, now five months old, is smiling much more now that his stomach upset is controlled with soy formula and Nexium. It won't be long and he'll be crawling (can you believe it?) If I put him down on the floor, he gets onto his stomach and scootches all over the livingroom. His face lights up every time that I talk to him. He loves his grandma!

All of my boys are very special, very unique. I love them to pieces.

Oh my goodness, I leave for work in five minutes and I am not even dressed yet!

More later.
shel

Back After a LONG Absence

2010-08-19T21:40:00.003-05:00

Hello, my long-lost blogger friends. I'm sorry to say that I am STILL on dial-up (although we are supposed to be getting broadband to the area very soon) and STILL going six different directions at once.

I am planning on having a weekend of fun. On September 10 and 11 I will be attending a "Women in the Outdoors" event. There are many educational (and enjoyable) classes offered. I think I'll take Intro to Shotguns, Nature Crafting, Outdoor Photography, Self Defense, Tree and Plant ID and Outdoor Survival. (Oops, that's too many...how will I ever be able to narrow down my coices?) It's been a long, long time since I've gone camping. I hope I can remember which way the tent goes! Any suggestions for what I should take to the potluck Friday night?

My gardens are in horrible shape. I had been getting up around 5:30 a.m. to water, deadhead, etc., but I have been naughty lately and have slept in. On Monday I went out in the evening to water my container gardens and found a nest of wasps inside of my watering can. OUCH. The little devils got me on the back. I was able to take two Benedryl right away, but my throat still constricted. Now I'm afraid to go outside. My poor containers are failing. (I can almost hear them...."heeeelp us, we need water!!!!") Somehow my heart just isn't into gardening this year. Maybe it's just exhaustion talking (well, that. and the fear of being stung again....I don't have an epi pen yet!)

My job will end on Sept. 30. It is a position that has given me much food for thought. In the 10 years of living in this town, I had never really opened my eyes to the poverty in the area. Yes, I see the world through rose-colored glasses. Now that my stimulus job is coming to an end, I realize just how much "need" there is in the area. I have always given to charities and fundraisers, but most of them were for clubs or catastrophic events (Hurricane Katrina, for example.) Now I realize that the need is also in the immediate vicinity, and I hope that I will be able to continue to help in any way that I can.

My weight loss journey has been successful. I've lost 8 lbs a month for the past two months. Tomorrow I weigh in again. Good thing my friend Vicki and mom and dad are keeping me supplied with tomatoes, as I've had tuna and tomato for two out of three meals just about every day. MMMMM, good!

It's 10:30, and I absolutely MUST get up early tomorrow morning to give my suffering containers another chance at life. Rest well, my friends.

shel

2005 GMC Savanna van

2010-05-01T16:17:00.003-05:00

I have a 2005 GMC Savanna 8 passenger van that, for the most part, is one of the family. I drive my van just about everywhere and haul just about everything. Most of the time, it seems as if I live in my van because it's always full. Sadly, the people at Douglas have brought strife into our lives.

In the past few years we have had trouble with the middle doors on the passenger and driver's sides. The doors get extremely heavy, and will not close correctly. I have taken the van into Douglas (where we bought it) and they have adjusted the hinges on the doors and all was well for a spell. Eventually, however, the doggone doors become hard to close again.

I took my van into Douglas this week and asked that they fix the door for me. It wouldn't shut at all, so anything was better than what it was....or so I thought. They DID get the door shut, and advised me to not open it again because they weren't sure they would be able to close it again. (How am I supposed to put the grandkids in the van if I can't open the door?) AND they gave me an estimate for over $1,000 to repair the door!!! They have to re-weld the hinges, and paint the area where they work. Really, $1,000 for a faulty welded hinge?

I believe that this problem is one that the company should be responsible for, because it is a flaw in the design of the doors. The $1,000+ price tag is absolutely ridiculous, and I refuse to ever go back to Douglas, or buy a GMC product again. If GMC won't stand behind their vehicle design, then I sure the heck don't want to deal with them!

I urge everyone to think twice before buying a GMC Savanna.

shel

What's Blooming

2010-04-07T18:03:00.004-05:00

I don't have a lot of time, but I wanted to let the world know (if the world actually cares) about the plants that are blooming at my house.

The 'Rustic Rubra' magnolia is putting on quite a show with her big pink and white blossoms. I hope that today's hail and wind didn't ruin the tree.

Grape hyacinth are blooming among the daffodils, hyacinth, and squill. The crocus are just about done blooming, but the violets are starting to show their color. My tulips, what few the deer and rabbit didn't get to, are going to bloom within the next few days. I love to cut tulips and put them into a clear vase in the living room.

Today my weeping cherry burst into bloom. Its long, draping branches are covered in pink fluff.

The Grecian windflowers are open; their little heads are nodding in the breeze.

In the backyard, the Cleveland pear is just opening up. It will be beautiful tomorrow. I hope the weather will be nice so I can go outside and pull a few weeds!

shel

Chores Completed

2010-04-03T08:25:00.004-05:00

The last few days have been windy but glorious nonetheless. I was able to mow the lawn (actually I just rearranged the oak leaves that had fallen last winter) on the west side of the house. All of the leaf dust brought on an asthma attack, but I survived.

Yesterday I planted two gallon containers of blueberry bushes. I will have to feed them well with an acidic mixture, or the bushes won't survive, much less produce. I put the bushes in the area between the Pekin tree (lilac tree) garden and my greenhouse. They should get plenty of sun there.

I planted huge bright yellow pansies and dusty miller in three containers outside. One is under the mailbox, the next is on the corner of the landing of the steps leading to the front door, and the third is in an antique wicker planter that is by the door. I also added branches from the red twig dogwood to that one just to give it some visual interest.

There are many bare spots in my yard thanks to the dogs and the moles, so I spread grass seed and covered it with potting soil to help it get a good start. This nice rain that we have today will be crucial in the root development.

I haven't gotten much done, but I do intend to work out in the yard more on Easter Sunday, after everyone goes home from our luncheon.

Oh, how I love spring, even if it means tons of work for me!

shel

Spring Garden Chores

2010-03-30T17:56:00.002-05:00

I absolutely LOVE spring, even though it's the busiest time of the year for the gardens. Day before yesterday I was able to burn off part of the slope garden (it has been sadly neglected for the last two years.) The numerous bunches of daffodils weren't so happy-looking by the time the fire reached them. Did you know that daffodils melt? I tried to rake the dead leaves away from each group of daffs, but couldn't quite stay on top of it. Sadly enough I had to let the fire go out and then do a breathing treatment because of my asthma.

I'm ready to till up the garden and put out radishes. There's already three hills of potatoes in the ground. Normally I wouldn't till in the spring because it just brings up more weed seeds, but last fall I didn't get a chance to till in the leaves. They sat on top of the garden all winter long, thinking about decomposing but stubbornly not doing so. I will also add a few bags of commercial cow manure and compost (from my own bed) to enrich the soil.

Tomorrow, if Alana doesn't go into labor, I plan on mowing the west side. Last year the leaves were allowed to lay where they fell (I ran out of time) so I want to get them mulched up before they kill out the Kentucky Bluegrass. It's important to get the lawn cleaned up because there will be an Easter Egg hunt in the yard.

I can't wait for the wood pile to dry out. There's nothing better than hamburgers cooked on the fire pit! The winter winds and heavy snow broke off many branches, so I will have to spend quite a few hours collecting them. It would be easier if I had a wagon to pull behind my Sears Craftsman lawnmower, but I don't. I've had one on my Christmas list (and Mother's Day list, and Valentine's list, etc.) for the past two years. I miss my wagon!

It's a little too early to fertilize, but I have gone ahead and put out grass seed in the obviously bare spots in the lawn. I take the easy way out...instead of raking or tilling up the soil so that there is good seed-to-soil contact, I sprinkle the seeds and then cover them with a light coating of potting soil. The birds can't see the seed that way, plus it gives the roots a nice easy soil in which to develop. (That was an awkward sentence.)

I have hundreds, if not thousands, of dead stems to remove from the gardens. I leave the purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan stalks on during the winter because the birds enjoy eating the seeds, and it gives interest to an otherwise flat garden scene. Obedient plant and hosta stems also need to be removed and put into the compost pile.

There are many other spring chores to do (spread mulch, distribute Preen) but my hands are going to be full over the next few days taking care of the basics.

I'm SO glad it's spring!
shel

Daffodils!!!

2010-03-23T17:24:00.000-05:00

A few years ago I planted 500 daffodil bulbs. Now I have hundreds of 'Baby Moon' in bloom, plus a few of the 'King Alfred' (at least I think that's what they are...the marker was missing.)

Crocus are still blooming in the back and east side yard as well. There are teeny, tiny bunches of lilac buds that are just waiting for warmer weather before they pop out.

I was able to get out in the yard yesterday and cut down more of the volunteer Japanese honeysuckle. That stuff is just horrible; it's terribly invasive. While the leaves are still a dream, I can get into the regular shrubs and prune out the junk.

Oh, how I love spring!

Hornbaker Gardens, Princeton, IL

2010-03-20T08:23:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been to Hornbaker Gardens? If not, you definitely should go. Yesterday I received their newsletter and I'm chomping at the bit to make the trip.

Hornbaker has a beautifully landscaped ravine that has new steps meandering down through hundreds of mature shade-loving plants like hosta, astilbe, bleeding heart, and more. There is a gazebo set on the side of the ravine about halfway down. It's wonderful to just sit in there and rest my feet after walking thought acres of gardens.

I'd like to go during peak bloom of all of the plants. Acres of iris will be in bloom during the last two weeks of May (weather cooperating, of course.) I haven't been there for the iris bloom, but I have been during the daylily peak time, which is around the first of July. There are hundreds of daylilies to choose from, and seeing them in bloom, rather than reading the description, puts me in hog heaven.

Hornbaker Gardens is also known for their vast assortment of hosta. If I remember correctly, there are 600 varieties offered. Since my property is shade for the most part, I really get carried away by their fabulous hosta. The 'SALE' table is depleted quite a bit by the time I'm done.

If you want to see some beautiful pictures, or would like to find out more about this incredible garden center, go to www.hornbakergardens.com or visit them in Princeton. You won't be sorry.

shel

Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Oh What a Beautiful Day

2010-03-17T16:41:00.003-05:00

I felt like singing today because the song was just so darn appropriate. Today WAS beautiful. I got to work outside all morning (after popping an apple crisp into the oven) and loved every second of it.

The black pussywillow is in full bloom. Unfortunately, I didn't trim it back last year so the branches are much too high for me to be able to cut them for a centerpiece. I will give the shrub a pretty strong pruning after it finishes blooming. (Spring bloomers like lilacs and pussywillow should always be trimmed right after blooming, so that you have a strong show for the next year.)

I was lucky this year. The rabbits missed eating about 20 of my crocus, so they are happily blooming in the back and side yard. Only the dark purple and bright yellow blooming plants were spared for some reason.

This morning I raked up all of the leaves from the garden area on the west side of the driveway, between the cars and the koi pond. I was able to get them burned, thank heavens. The bad part is that I have asthma and it really acts up when I've been playing in the smoke. I've had to take quite a few hits from my inhaler.

The ruts in the driveway are getting deeper and deeper. Pretty soon my van will fall in and disappear. Max wants to hold off on spending money for new gravel to go into the drive, but I'm afraid we'll end up with big problems if we put it off again. We have lived in his house for almost 10 years and haven't had the drive re-graveled, so it's well past time to do so.

I hope you were all able to get out and enjoy this wonderful spring day.

shel

I think I'll pick up some pansies tomorrow to put in the freshly emptied containers (I burned the evergreen boughs today as well.) Pansies and snapdragons thrive in cool weather, and can even stand light frosts. I hope I'm not jumping the gun, but I just can't help myself.

Flowerbulb Fundraiser...Oh, My!

2010-03-16T18:43:00.003-05:00

My sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, is having a fundraiser through van Bourgondien. (They have both a spring and a fall fundraising packet.) Man, am I in trouble! There are many different flowers offered, both annual (glads and dahlias) and perennial (oriental lilies, coneflowers, phlox, and more). It's going to be tough trying to keep my order down to a respectable amount.

I think that I will order the 20 single Freesias mix for $10, and the 3 summer daffodil 'Erlicheer' for $10, but I'll have to quit there, darn it.

I've done this fundraiser many times before, for a variety of different clubs that I belong to. It's a great one because you get 50% as profit, and the bulbs/flowers are guaranteed. Van Bourgondien is also easy to work with, so I don't mind heading up the fundraiser each time.

For our other big fundraiser, Beta Sigma Phi will probably be hosting a 'Taters and Tea' booth at Clinton's Apple & Pork Festival. It brings in about 100,000 people each year and involves the entire city.

If there are any other great fundraising ideas out there, please let me know!

shel

Bambi Strikes Again!

2010-03-11T18:25:00.002-06:00

I went out to the west side of our property today and was greeted by my five year old bald cypress. Instead of looking healthy and happy (and bald) as I expected, it was a mess! Apparently one of the many deer in the area decided to use my prized tree as a rubbing post. The bark was peeled from the tree all of the way around in a three foot strip. Doggone deer!

The tree will have to be removed, as the bark and vascular system were destroyed beyond repair. My only consolation is that I will be able to replace it with another tree. Hmmmm ...there are so many wonderful varieties to choose from!

On a side note, I received a catalog from Crintonic Gardens today. They specialize in hybridizing daylilies. There are many beautiful new daylilies offered, most in the $150.00 range. (Yes, you read that right...$150.00 for a daylily!) The plants are extraordinary. I won't be able to order any of the new introductions, but the older varieties are much more affordable. Oh, how I love daylilies and intensely dislike deer!

shel

Signs of Spring

2010-03-10T17:02:00.003-06:00

It was a beautiful day today, the kind of day that makes it seem like winter is behind us. I had a leisurely walk in the front yard and noticed that the daffodil foliage is about 3" tall. My 'Rustic Rubra' magnolia has buds that are beginning to swell, and the two redbuds do as well.

Chickweed gives everything a nice green appearance. Oh, how I hate that weed! Saturday afternoon, if the weather holds, I will go around with my five-gallon bucket and dig out as many of the pesky weeds as possible. They will go onto the burn pile instead of the compost pile.

Today I noticed a red winged blackbird and a robin. Spring can't be too far away! I can't wait to get out in the gardens.

Happy day,
shel

Another New & Exciting Garden Catalog

2010-03-05T18:15:00.004-06:00

I just received my Wayside Gardens catalog and WOW, I'm in love! There are so many fabulous plants featured that I'm drooling all over the keyboard.

Whenever I get a new catalog I grab my pen and settle down for some quality dream time. I first go through the catalog and circle everything that I like (there are 33 circles in this 55 page catalog.) Then I go through again and weed out what is really silly of me to want, like the $89.95 Phyllostachys nigra, which is a black bamboo and the Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam', which is readily available at garden centers in his area.

This morning I narrowed my list down to two items. Origanum rotundifolium 'Kent Beauty' is an ornamental Oregano that is a spectacular plant that drips bracts which start out lime green, fade to lavender, and then change to bright pink. The foliage is heart-shaped silver that trails.

I also love the Larix decidua 'Pendula', a weeping Larix. This is an evergreen that grows up to 6' tall, perfect for the garden that is in the front east side of the yard. I fell in love with weeping Larix years ago and have always wanted one.

I have never seen an orange tree that is listed hardy in zone 5, but Wayside Gardens offers Washington 'Naval Orange' in a one-gallon container that is good for our area. The tree sells for $29.95, and I'd love to have it, but I just can't justify spending that much money for something that I'm not sure would actually thrive here.

I'll hang my order form, filled completely, on the refrigerator with hopes that hubby will surprise me for Mother's Day. Of course, I'd appreciate any hints that you guys give him about this! Otherwise I'll end up with a vacuum.

Happy spring,
shel

Weed Prep Time

2010-02-27T09:37:00.000-06:00

Well here it is, almost March 2010. Where does the time go? Days are starting to get longer and warmer, so now is the time to think about weed control.

Cool weather weeds like Chickweed are getting ready to rear their ugly little heads (if they haven't done so already.) I am going to go out next week and sprinkle Preen, a product which keeps seeds from sprouting, everywhere that weeds are a problem. Keep in mind that Preen, or it's generic counterpart, will not hard perennial weeds like dandelions. They come back from the roots every year, so perennial weeds must be either hand cultivated or sprayed with a Round-up product. Chickweed is a perennial with a hairy root rather than a tap root which puts out millions of seeds, so I will have to use both methods of control for this pest.

I can't wait to get started on my outdoor work. Come on, spring!

shel

Starting Seeds

2010-02-16T18:10:00.003-06:00

It's official....spring is almost here. I can tell because there are so many seed packet displays set up in all of the stores that I've visited. So far I have resisted buying handfuls off of each rack, but it's been tough. There are many new varieties I'd like to try.

Each year I buy vegetable seeds like radish, lettuce and zucchini to plant in the garden. They are easy to grow and have a relatively short time to grow before producing, so I don't mind seeds. Tomatoes, however, are another subject. Since I have room for only five or six tomato plants, I buy them from the greenhouse. (Now I want garden tomatoes - YUM!)

A common mistake made is to start the seeds too early. I'll wait a week or two, then buy some perennial seeds to start in a soilless mixture (found at Lowe's). I'd like to plant more hollyhocks this year, as well as painted daisies and coreopsis.

I will simply plant the seeds of annuals like Dreamland zinnias, cypress vine a.k.a. hummingbird vine, and Castor beans directly in the ground. They do well as long as I keep the area watered and keep the dogs out!

Starting next week...after payday...I'll be able to pick up the seed packets I've been lusting over. I can't wait!

shel

A Beautiful Winter Day

2010-02-11T17:28:00.003-06:00

Normally I'd be bit**ing and complaining about winter, but today I have to change my tune.

The snow is the perfect consistency for snowballs and snowmen....not too dry so that it crumbles, and not so moist that it gets your gloves wet. Overhead, the sun is shining brilliantly. I can hear kids playing outside of my office. There's lots of giggles and shouts.

In the few spare minutes that I had free today, I walked down to the end of the lane (garbage day, don'tcha know) and admired the beauty. A deer or two meandered across the yard, cutting from the woods on the west to the few trees and pasture on the east. One set of prints must have belonged to a buck, because they were pretty good size and spread far apart.

I swear that I saw mountain lion tracks.....or maybe the St. Bernard or Mastiff that live in the neighborhood came nosing around. The tracks were HUGE! (I know, I know; there are no mountain lions in central Illinois!)

What a lovely winter day.

shel

Another Garden Catalog, Another Day of Wanting

2010-02-05T17:44:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I received the Breck's catalog in the mail. Last night, after a long day of working both jobs and caring for my helpless husband, I took my ink pen and catalog into the bathroom. I filled the tub with hot water and Amber Dreams bubble bath, and settled in for a long soak.

There's SO many things that I'd like to buy! I'm interested in 'Double Trouble' Helenium which is a bright yellow flower (the petals remind me of a ruffled poppy) with a deep gold cone-shape center. I've never seen this plant before so of course I want to have it.

I loved the 'Myrtle's Folly' Dahlia. It has a HUGE 8" bloom that resembles flames shooting out of a red-hot center. The petals are yellow, orange and red, and come to a sharp point. I usually stay away from oranges, but I really like this bloom. It looks like it's hyper-active. (I would probably dig up these bulbs in the fall. Dahlias aren't normally perennial in Illinois, but I have a micro climate that allows me to use glads, calla lilies, and dahlias as perennials, but I'd hate to take a chance on this one.)

'Sherbet Drink' Phlox is STUNNING. It is pink with white and green picotte. I inherited the love of phlox from my mom, and I would be thrilled to add this to my collection.

There is a coupon attached to my catalog that allows me to pay $25 for a $50 order...too bad I can't take advantage of the offer! For some reason, bill collectors don't seem to care about the flowers in my garden.

Oh, to be rich...

shel

2010-01-30T11:38:00.003-06:00

Man, I HATE being broke, especially since it's garden catalog season.

I got the spring catalog from Gilbert H. Wild and Son and immediately started circling things that are on my wish list. I've ordered from them before so I know that they're reputable. In the past, I had ordered 100 hosta for $100. Most of the roots had two or three eyes to them, so I actually got at lest 200 hosta after cutting the starts. The hosta plants have matured beautifully.

It was about five years ago that I placed the order, and the prices haven't gone up. (Unlike everything else in the world.) As much as I'd like to get another 100 hosta, I have to be strong and use the money to pay bills (and repay debts) instead. Darn, I hate being practical!

By my calculations, winter is not even halfway over. That's SO depressing!

hoping for spring,
shel

Is It SPRING Yet?

2010-01-26T18:15:00.003-06:00

Oh, how I long for those warm spring days. In early March I will spread Preen in all of my flower gardens. The doggone birds drop Japanese honeysuckle, poison ivy, and mulberry seeds each time they defecate, and the volunteers pop up at the drop of a hat, so I have to stay on top of things.

Chickweed is trying to take over the place so I'll have to stay on top of the young plants as they green up early this spring. It's a cool-season weed and the bane of my existence.

The geraniums in the sunroom are looking leggy. I intend to cut the fresh shoots off, dip them in rooting hormone, and then stick them in a tray filled with soilless medium. They should root relatively quickly and will be ready to transplant into six pack containers within six to eight weeks. By mid April, I should have a lot of nice FREE geraniums to plant outside.

I'm dreaming of an early spring.

shel

My Love of Garden Catalog from Plant Delights

2010-01-14T17:35:00.005-06:00

Caution: this blog is aimed at the TRUE gardeners...

Here it is, the middle of January, and I'm ready to get outside and work the soil. It's too bad the ground is covered with 6" of snow.

My gardening need is somewhat satisfied by the arrival of one of my favorite garden catalogs from Plant Delights Nursery. I have a puddle of drool on the floor just thinking about (and lusting for) the pictures and descriptions of the thousands of plants that are featured .

This catalog is far from the ordinary. I'll try to explain a little about why I love it so much...

First of all, you don't have to send money to get a catalog. Instead, the original-thinking owners ask that you send either a box of chocolates or a book of stamps to be put on their mailing list. I sent a box of Fannie May Trinidads (more drooling and lusting) last year and have been blessed with a couple of their catalogs. Each one comes with a politically incorrect cartoon cover which laughingly applies to the ardent gardener, as well as the issues of the day. The covers are a hoot. They are so funny, in fact, that you are able to purchase them as a t-shirt!

Open the catalog and find a plethora of information. There's a "welcome" section that tells you a little about the Juniper Level Botanic Gardens, their policies, and gift certificates, to name a few of the paragraphs.

Page 6 & 7 hold a handy guide of "Hostas Grouped by Color, Width and Fragrance". There are charts that boasts the merits of each hosta in the group (Blue, Bluish Green W/Gold-Cream Edge, Green w/Gold-Cream Edge, and much more.)

Pages 8 & 9 contain a "Guide to Plants by Group or Common Name" which is worth its weight in gold. If you need to find groundcovers, for example, you can look under that title and find a list with the variety name, common name, and Latin name.

There's a delicious picture for every plant listed in this catalog. Smart move for the nursery; who can say no to such beautiful pictures?

I have to admit that I have a fondness for echinacea. Plant Delights offer 15 echinacea in the most recent catalog. Out of that 15, I absolutely, positively MUST have 'Coral Reef', 'Hot Papaya', 'Avalanche', 'Fatal Attraction', 'Green Envy', 'Milkshake', 'Pink Poodle', 'Tiki Torch' and 'Tomato Soup'. Prices are from $16 to $18 each. Will I get them? Nope, no matter how blue I turn from holding my breath, or how hard I kick, I will not be able to purchase them all. I will have to remind hubby that Mother's Day is coming up, and that he didn't get me anything for our anniversary, so I deserve at least three or four of the coneflowers!

I enjoy reading the descriptions of the plants. Tony has that wild and crazy sense of humor that really carries over to his writing. An example: Helicondiceros muscivorus (Pig Butt Arum) "You can bet this common name wasn't coined by a Wall Street marketing firm....The open flower resembles the backside of a flatulent pig...in image and in fragrance. If you grow this, it's best not to mention it on your eHarmony profile." (page 59) The entire catalog is full of surprising wit, making the literature worth reading cover to cover. Kudos for the original thinking behind the marketing!

If you decide that you simply cannot live without getting a copy of this catalog, go to www.plantdelights.com or write to them at 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh, NC 27603. Tell them Shelly sent you!

Happy drooling,
shel

Elephant Ear and Banana Tree

2010-01-08T10:24:00.004-06:00

Tropical plants are excellent additions to our Illinois gardens. Each year that I go to Alabama I plan extra cargo space to be able to bring home exotic and inexpensive plants from the southern garden centers.

Last year I purchased a small $7.00 pot that held one banana tree. I placed it on the corner of my deck along with pots of elephant ears, nasturtium, and hot pink Wave petunias. (This provided the Tall, Fill and Spill portions of the recipe for a successful planting....the banana tree is tall, elephant ear fills that middle otherwise empty area and nasturtiums and Waves spill over the side to cover most of the pot surfaces.) The plants grew like crazy and looked great, unlike the rest of the gardens.

Before the first frost, I brought the pots into the sun room. They still look healthy and lust. I water infrequently and will hold off fertilizing until spring, just before the last frost.

The geraniums and impatiens that I brought in are just limping along, becoming leggy and weak. Luckily the tropicals are lush and beautiful still. With their help, I will be able to control my mad gardening urges.

If you haven't tried growing a banana tree or giant elephant ear, you should do so. Winter days aren't quite so dreary when you have the tropicals around!

Hope you're all safe and warm.

shel

Puffball on Steroids

2010-01-06T13:28:00.004-06:00

I've been looking through some of the pictures on the computer (I have a few thousand) and came across the giant puffball that I found in my husband's shooting range earlier this year. It was amazing.

I remember my Grandma Ketcham eating puffballs. I don't remember how she fixed them (fried? sauteed? raw?) but I do remember finding young fingernail-sized puffballs in the garden and around the farm, and giving them to her. I also remember stepping on the dried up puffballs, causing greenish spore to float into the air.

I don't know a lot about puffballs, but I can appreciate their unique beauty.

shel

Pajama Party

2010-01-02T16:41:00.004-06:00

My sorority is holding a pajama party at the end of the month, and I am in charge of it. I've been planning what a bunch of 30+ women can do without breaking a hip....I guess Twister is ruled out, even though it would be a blast.

Erin taught me how to play the paper game "MASH" (mansion, apartment, shack, home) so we will do that. I'm also going to pick up some wild fingernail polish (and remover, just in case someone decides that Passion Purple is not for them after all) and cheap but gaudy make-up. We may do some charades with the theme of "I'm dreaming that I am.....". Shucking corn is one idea, but I could sure use more.

There will be gift boxes for the funniest, ugliest, prettiest, and most unique pajamas. I have little take-out boxes (like you get from a Chinese restaurant) that will be filled with chocolates, microwave popcorn, lip gloss, and other goodies that I happen to think of. (Movie rental coupons may be pretty good.)

Does anyone out there have any other ideas for the party? Please let me know.

I hope you are all staying WARM during this awful frigid weather.

shel

A Little of This, A Little of That

2009-12-18T17:55:00.003-06:00

I'm on break at work, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to play catch-up with my blog. Since I grow such a wide variety of plants, I thought it would be fun to write about some of my favorites.

'Limelight' hydrangea is a true marvel. I planted a rather puny start last year in the late spring, hoping that it would thrive despite my poor clay soil. The bush has far exceeded my expectations, blooming in a rather show-offish manner and putting my 'Endless Summer' to shame.

I used the blooms of 'Limelight' in three different centerpieces in the height of growing season. In late fall I cut quite a few of the blooms to use as dried flowers. I have four glorious clumps of blooms as the focal point (along with a huge maroon bow) in my antique wicker planter box that resides on the front porch. Frasier fir boughs and cedar form the backdrop and twigs cut from my red stemmed dogwood add height and interest.

I have many hydrangea....'Lady in Red', 'Endless Summer', and a few others that shall remain nameless (in other words, I have forgotten the names....but I'll remember them tonight as I'm trying to sleep!) None have performed as well as my 'Limelight'. It's a definite must-have for long-lasting beautiful blooms and vibrant green leaves.

When I have some free time at home, I will try to download a picture of my beautiful 'Limelight' shrub.

In the meantime, it's back to work. I hope you all have a chance to grow this proficient plant.

shel

Give the RIGHT Way

2009-12-09T09:10:00.005-06:00

I work at Community Action, a not-for-profit organization that helps those less fortunate. Services offered include gas cards, car repair, rent assistance, commodities from the state (monthly), LIHEAP energy assistance, Angel Tree, and food pantry, among others. Certain criteria must be met before receiving any of these services (income guidelines, unemployment, etc.)

During this season of love and sharing, many businesses and organizations are hosting food drives, which is a wonderful thing. Our food pantry items go out almost as quickly as I can stock them, so we truly do appreciate the drives that are held. People are extremely generous.

Last week we had a donation of approximately $500 worth of groceries from a local business. It is my job to organize the donations and restock the shelves. While doing so I check the packages carefully to make sure that none are rusted, opened, or damaged beyond use. I also check the expiration date of the product.

I had to throw away dozens of cans and boxes of food that were more than a year past their expiration date. If something has expired less than a year ago, I give the product to DOVE. (Per regulations through the State of Illinois, they are able to give away food that is dated up to a year past expiration.) Food dated prior to that must be resigned to the garbage.

Our last donation held cans that were dated 1988 and Jell-o packages that didn't even have a UPC and had the blue cost stamped on it! I could almost hear the bacteria through the cans.

My point is that giving is a wonderful thing. Helping those in need is the greatest gift of all. Please remember, however, that no one wants to get sick from eating grossly expired foods, so please check expiration dates.

Your generosity is very much appreciated. Give not only at Christmas, but throughout the year. You're not only helping your neighbors, you'll get a warm feeling that money can't buy.

Hope all is well in your world,
shel

Medical Madness

2009-11-21T22:05:00.004-06:00

Do you ever feel that when one thing goes wrong, EVERYTHING goes wrong? It seems to be happening in our family right now. Quite frankly, it sucks.

Dad will be having surgery on his heart. Actually they are replacing the aortic valve. Without the surgery he would have two years at most to live, and would be in extreme pain. There are risks with him having the surgery as well. He chose to have the surgery, and Shannon, mom and I talked with him about it and we all came to the same conclusion. It's worth the risk of surgery to have him with us, and to not be in pain.

Mom has surgery next Wednesday. They are going to make small incisions near her fractured vertebra, insert a balloon, pump it up so that it lifts, and inject cement into the space that is created. I can't remember the name of the surgery, but it is used for lumbar purposes. She thinks she will be able to go home the same day, but I'm going to ask the doc to keep her in at least overnight, if not longer. That means spending Thanksgiving in the hospital, but if it takes care of the constant pain that she is in, then it is worth it.

Little Bryan has been diagnosed with osteopenia. He is in the very early stages of osteoporosis (the precursor) at the tender age of four years old. Already he is suffering bone loss. The doctors are talking growth hormone shots for him which would mean one shot a day every day for I believe two months. The sad part is that insurance will probably NOT cover the cost ($2,000 per month) for the shots. You can't keep Bryan down, though. He is curious about everything, and "I got it" is one of his favorite sayings. Nothing holds him back. I love, love, love that boy and hate to think that anything could be wrong with him.

My father-in-law Bill had prostate cancer two years ago, (or was it three?) colon cancer last December, and now has stomach cancer. He is malnourished because he hasn't felt up to eating since Phyllis, my mother-in-law, passed away in July. He was down to 129 lbs.a few weeks ago when he was hospitalized for pneumonia. He is gaining weight slowly. We don't know yet what course of action will be taken for the cancer.

On the up side, Alana's sonogram revealed that the developing bundle of joy is touting a penis, so little Gabriel will be welcoming a little brother at the end of April. I'm thrilled with the thought of another boy!

It's quiet in the house right now. Bryan likes to wake up bright and early, so I should hit the bed and get some sleep. It's going to be a busy week this week with the upcoming surgery and holiday, so I need my sleep!

Hoping you all have good health,
shel

oops....I Hit a Parked Car!

2009-11-05T21:21:00.003-06:00

Well, the last few days have been kind of crappy (pardon my vulgarity.) I had a big meeting to go to on Wednesday, and as I pulled into the parking spot with my big old 8 passenger van, I scraped the Hyundai Santa Fe in the spot next to me. I'm almost 49 years old, so I suppose I was due. I've never been responsible for damage before. Luckily the cop and the owner of the other car were nice folks.

On the same day my daughter told me that the Honda broke down in the IGA parking lot. I was very fortunate that it was just out of gas.

Tonight I found out that a Master Gardener friend (and the one that figures my taxes) passed away suddenly. Also heard that my pen pal of nearly 35 years is requesting prayers for her pregnant niece that was bitten by a copperhead snake. How tragic. Sometimes I whine around about my life, but when I compare it to others I realize that my life is full of lumpy potatoes...in other words, it's full of stuff that is really nothing compared to the tragic lives of others.

Today I took dad to the doctor's office to get his heart monitor removed. I hated hurting him as I pulled the tape off, but I had to do it. Poor pop.

Wal-Mart is down to two jars of Vlasic Baby Kosher Dill pickles. If I had any money, I'd buy them both. DARN the luck!

Ady & Jaden were here for a few hours tonight. We had hamburgers, cottage cheese, and chips. Not the most nutritious of meals, but the kids loved it. They were both very good and had lots of fun playing.

Last night little Bryan and Jessie came over. Jessie typed up her resume' while Bryan and I had a good time. He's definitely Gramma's Boy. I hope he can come over this weekend.

I got to see little Gabe for a while on Wednesday. He, too, is Gramma's Boy (although he does love his Papa and will jump out of my arms to go to him.)

Leaves are all over the place here. I hate autumn...it's so depressing. Most of my trees are naked, with the exception of some stubborn oaks that drop their leaves in spring. Tomorrow is a FREE DAY!!!! I plan on coming home right after work so I can mow. I'm SO excited! In the next few days I'll have to get wood for the frame of the koi holding tank. It's going to warm up enough that I'll be able to work outside.

OH, I'm excited about Saturday. I'm going to meet Shirl in Decatur at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We'll go Xmas shopping after that. I can't wait!

Enjoy your evenings,
shel

Garden Gab and Pickles

2009-10-28T20:40:00.005-05:00

I have a two-headed chicken planter that I absolutely love. I'm the ONLY one that loves it...everyone else thinks it's pretty awful. This year I planted impatiens in it, and stuck it in the Weeping Cherry garden out front. The impatiens were wonderful and grew into a mound of bright color. A few trailing plants would have been a good compliment to the impatiens, but I just didn't think about it at the time. Anyway, when I came home today I noticed that the chicken was naked. Either a deer or a rabbit ate all of my impatiens, almost to the soil line! I don't cuss very often, but I did have a few choice words for the wildlife today.

The okra plants have withered into pathetic little leafless stems but the tomatoes are still hanging in there. I pulled a few more green tomatoes from the plants today. They sure taste good when fried.

Chickweed has once again invaded my gardens. It appears in the early spring, dies off during the heat of summer, and is reinstated again in the cool fall weather. I absolutely hate it. One day soon, before it flowers and sends out seed, I'll have to get out there and start pulling the hated weed. I can't remember what the chemical cure is...either 2-4D or Dicamba (spelling?) perhaps. It's been too long since I've used a chemical on it. I've been trying to control it by good old fashioned hand pulling. The problem with that is that chickweed has a very tough, fibrous root system and I have to get it ALL out. The chemical way sounds kind of appealing right now.

Speaking of appealing, I have had horrible cravings for Vlasic Sweet Baby Kosher Dill pickles. I can't get enough of them. Today I bought three jars, and while in the Wal-Mart parking lot, I did the unthinkable...I opened a jar and pulled out pickles WITH MY BARE HANDS! You know how I hate germs, and the thought of contaminating pickle juice makes me shudder, but I just couldn't wait until I got home to get a fork. I HAD to have a pickle. I ended up eating about a third of a jar. Just to prove to myself that I have SOME self-control, I refused to give in to temptation and eat another one for almost three miles. Luckily, you get one and a quarter pickles for only FIVE calories. Sadly, the sodium content is enough to send my blood pressure soaring. I just can't stop eating them. It's like my summer cravings for cucumbers and onions in vinegar....mmmmm. If I hadn't have had a hysterectomy almost 20 years ago, I would wonder if I were pregnant! (There's probably all sorts of grammatical errors in that sentence!)

Sleep well, everyone. Just talking about the pickles has made my mouth water.
shel

Rain, Rain, Go Away AGAIN

2009-10-23T10:21:00.005-05:00

Seems like we've had an awful lot of rain this year. I'm quite tired of it, and am ready for some sunshine and mild autumn weather.

The green tomatoes that I've brought into the house are slowly ripening, but they just don't have any flavor. Okra plants are dead, as are the zucchini, so there will be no more harvest from them.

I plan on piling lots of shredded leaves onto the garden this year (if it dries up) and adding bags of cow manure, if I can still get it. Down by the end of the driveway I have a pile of chipped wood that the power company gave me a few years back. Deep in the pile the wood has decomposed, creating a nice rich compost. On the next good day, if I don't have little Gabriel, I will wheel the compost to the garden and spread it evenly around. It should break down more over the winter and add lots of richness to my otherwise crappy garden soil. I sure wish I had a wagon to pull behind my lawnmower, as it would make the job much easier.

Max mowed the lawn last week but it sure needs it again. I look forward to a dry day because I really enjoy mowing. (I also think that I do a better job than he does because he races around like Speedy Gonzales...he's a crazy mower!)

Last year I just couldn't get in the mood to bake. I was pretty depressed for most of fall and all of winter. Now I'm ready to start baking, but I don't have the extra freezer downstairs to put the goodies into. I miss having the refrigerator/freezer set. We still have the deep freeze that came from Max's grandmother, but it is nearly full. Unfortunately it is also an energy hog. The thing must be nearly as old as I am.

I went into the koi pond the other day to try to catch the two remaining koi and I nearly froze to death. The water was so cold that my legs burned. I have to ask myself...is it worth getting pneumonia (or worse) just to save two koi that aren't even show quality? The practical side of me says to leave them out there and let nature take it's course, but the koi lover in me says 'GET IN THERE AND SAVE THEM!!!!!' I still need to get to Menard's or Lowe's and buy boards so that I can insulate and enclose the horse trough that the other two (yellow) koi are in. I am determined to keep them over the winter. I will transfer my big air stone from the pond (which has about 6" of water in it) to the tank to keep a hole open in the ice so that my koi will survive. I may even build a temporary greenhouse over the top of the tank.

I hope you all stay dry and happy. If anyone is in the mood, come on over and go fishing for koi! I'll even give you a cup of hot chocolate to warm you up after you climb out.

shel

Just To Catch You Up....

2009-10-15T22:08:00.005-05:00

Well, it's been a busy few weeks. I have started my new job at Community Action (my official title is Community Worker....not very impressive, but a title nonetheless) and I am still in the training mode. Until I am fully trained, I will work mornings. After I work I either pick up Gabe, like I did today, or go to mom & dad's house or Erin's house. What I SHOULD do is stay home and work in my house. I can't believe it's gotten so messy.

Today I went to mom & dad's house and onto dad's dr. appointment with them. Gabe kept everyone in the waiting room entertained as dad had his eye check-up. Later in the evening I went to Bloomington with Alana. It's been so long since I've been at the mall I couldn't even remember where to park! I did purchase two blouses for work (from the clearance rack, of course.) Gabe was a good boy as usual.

I'm still waiting for the test results from my whooping cough adventure. Tomorrow after work I will go to Dr. Rauch's office for my whooping booster, tetanus, flu and pneumonia shots. After that I go to Erin's house to decorate the gingerbread haunted house with Ady and Jaden.

Garden-wise, well, everything sucks outside. It hasn't frosted here yet so many of my annuals are trying to make a comeback. The mums are in full bloom as are the pansies, which got a bit leggy over the summer. I hope that it dries up enough in the next few days so that I can mow again and cut off all of the seed heads from the coneflowers and black eyed Susans. I have WAY too many volunteers of both. I know that the birds enjoy the seeds during the winter but they'll just have to find some other garden for them.

The tomatoes are goners. I still have some green ones out there that I should bring in. I love fried green tomatoes! Zucchini plants have died off sadly enough. This fall will be a good time to add lots of compost to the garden, so that it will be well incorporated into the rather poor soil that is there now. Fingers are crossed for a better garden next year.

It's been raining so much that the sunroom is leaking again. It's so discouraging to think that we reroofed HALF of the sunroom two years ago (Max, as usual, wouldn't listen when I said we should do it all at the same time.) The carpet is now ruined because of the leaks. Hard telling what the wood under the shingles looks like. When we reroofed we found that when it was put on, the contractors didn't use tar paper; just shingles over plywood.

Time for bed.

Sweet dreams, my family.

shel

Whoops! Whooping Cough

2009-10-06T21:45:00.006-05:00

The tests from the state have come back positive for Whooping cough for little Gabe. Yesterday I had to go to the hospital to have my nasal cavities raped, as well. I suppose I'll hear next week if I too have the whoop. I have felt crappy enough during the last three weeks, that's for sure!

When I have recovered, I have to go to the doctor's and get another booster for whooping cough. Alana will after she has the baby, and Will has to get one as well. Little Gabe is feeling better now, and only coughs occasionally.

I have started my new job at Community Action. It's a bit on the slow side right now, as I am working 8 a.m. to noon, and most of the activity takes place in the afternoon. Anita is trying to get my hours changed so that I can learn the paperwork as needed.

I hope that I will be able to get into the koi pond tomorrow afternoon to pull out the two big boys that will die this winter if I can't get them out. I had really hoped that the koi pond would get rebuilt this summer. Maybe now that I have a job I can get caught up on some bills, then get the pond fixed. *sigh*.

Autumn is definitely here. It was 54 degrees outside this evening. BRRRR. I'm ready for spring.

hugs to all,
shel

p.s. Before much longer I'll need to get the tomato plants pulled from the garden and spread bales of hay over it. I want the hay (and leaves, grass clipping, and whatever else I can find) to be able to decompose over the winter so that the soil will be richer next year. If anyone has bags of grass clippings I'll take them! People think I'm weird when I drive around town and pick up the bags from the curb. It's rather sad that I get so excited about landscape waste....

I'm Still Kicking

2009-10-03T21:44:00.005-05:00

Well, it's been a while since I've felt up to blogging. I've THOUGHT of blogs to write (full of wit and wisdom in my codeine-induced mind) as I shiver and sweat on the couch. As I sit here tapping away, however, I find my mind a complete blank. Guess it's time for some more of the cough syrup that has kept me going.

I have had two full prescriptions of antibiotics (Levaquin and Azithromicin; please forgive the spelling) and am now on steroids. I absolutely hate to take them as I can't sleep for the first few days, but I hate even more that I cough like a sickly seal with nearly every breath.

Wouldn't it be ironic if they discovered I have lung cancer? Think about it. I've spent most of my adult life lecturing people I love, as well as total strangers, about the deadly side-effects of stinky, expensive, disgusting cigarettes. I've been married to two smokers and both of my children have smoked (I don't know if Alana is or not since she's pregnant...that would REALLY burn my butt). Get the whole irony thing?

I snuck outside to the garden while Gabe was taking a catnap today and got a small zucchini, eight tomatoes, two green peppers and a handful of banana peppers. I noticed that some ballsy insect is munching on three of the heads of cabbage but there were none of the culprits in sight, and I didn't want to spend any time looking. It will have to wait until it's either warm and dry outside, or my bronchitis is gone, whichever comes first.

Monday I start my new job. I'm a little nervous as it takes me a while to catch on to new stuff. Once I am comfortable in the job, however, I'll be a kick-ass worker.

Boy, do I miss little Bryan. I haven't seen him in forever. I hope to see him for a short time on Monday, depending on what time I get off of work. I'd stick around for dinner but I have to be back in Clinton by 7:00 p.m. There's a meeting for the social committee of Beta Sigma Phi and I can't miss it since I'm the chair. I bet Bryan has really changed since I've last seen him. Children seem to grow so quickly!

For the second time this week I've lost the t.v. remote. Luckily there were good chick-flicks on all day. Suckily this channel has started showing a reality show now, and I would much rather watch Family Guy or some other mindless show that will make me smile.

The leaves have started falling in a major way. It's time to get out the rake and clean up leaf carcasses. Out of all of the seasons, autumn is my least favorite.

I hope all of you are still kicking, too.
shel

Rainy Day

2009-09-25T14:31:00.003-05:00

Once again it's a wet, miserable day fit only for snuggling up under a fuzzy blanket with a cup of hot tea and a good book.....and that's exactly what I've done today. I sat out in the sun room, listening to the rain gently hitting the roof (and dripping into the bowl....never install a skylight in your sun room) and watching the birds while between pages. This would not normally be my routine. Yesterday Dr. Rauch told me I have bronchitis, prescribed an antibiotic Z medication and cough syrup with codeine, and told me to REST and drink lots of fluids. I'm glad it's raining because it would be hard for me to stay down otherwise. Tomorrow I'll be back to my routine, whether I'm ready or not.

I hope that you are all able to do something comforting today.

shel

p.s. Our lawn was dried and cracked, so I can't really complain about the rain. I planted grass seed in the back a few days ago so this will really help it take off. The tomatoes are ready to be picked again, but I don't want to go out in the damp air. I hope they don't start to crack due to the excess moisture.

Busy Times, Sleepy Times

2009-09-23T19:46:00.002-05:00

Oh, how I wanted that ADM job. Guess it wasn't meant to be, as I received a "Dear John" e-mail from them last Friday. Man, how I wanted that job. I had already ruled out the Community Action job as it was past the deadline for receiving their call.

I was really bummed for a few days, feeling totally worthless and loser-like. Max was definitely NOT supportive. He headed downstairs as soon as I teared up (as in my voice went up an octave and my eyes started watering.) A few days later I got a call from Community Action...I got the job! I will start on Monday, October 5. I'm kind of nervous, but I plan on giving this job 100%. (Happy Dance is inserted here!)

Right now I'm coughing like a hyena on pepper. I can't stop. I've been coughing so hard that my jaw pops out (I have TMJ) and my head hurts. I made a Dr. appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I am guessing Bronchitis (is that spelled correctly?) or pneumonia. Today was the first day I ran a temperature. I haven't changed any plans thus far, but I'm worried that I won't feel well enough to go on Jaden's field trip to Weldon Springs tomorrow. I took Ady when she was in preschool, so I was hoping to continue the tradition with Jaden. It would be a blast.

When I haven't had Gabe, I've been asleep. Usually sleep is the only way that I can heal. It doesn't seem to be working this time as I am still coughing constantly. I haven't even been able to do the work-out video CD thing.

The Sears repairman came to the house on Monday. He wasn't able to fix the lawnmower completely, however. I didn't go outside (Max was on vacation again, so he went out) but from what I understand he didn't order enough parts. We're another $80 in the hole for the repairs, and I still can't mow. It's frustrating. He ordered the part and told Max how to install it. That REALLY worries me!!! What can I say...he's not the most mechanically-inclined man by far.

The Sears representative read my blog and called to talk to me last week about my disappointment in the design of the Craftsman Anniversary Edition mower. It felt good to air my grievances, even thought it probably won't make a difference in future mower designs. He did offer to send me a Sears gift card. In that aspect, they are trying to make things better.

There have been so many things happening this week that I just can't remember them. (Well, that and the fact that I'm doped up on NyQuil and ready to nod off.

It's my parent's anniversary today. I need to hang up here and give them a call. Having dial-up sucks....having only one phone line sucks, too.

Happy autumn (I hate autumn)
shel

Today's Interview

2009-09-16T20:32:00.002-05:00

Well, today was the big day...I had my interview at ADM. It was quite interesting, and somewhat fattening. We taste-tested everything from chocolate chip cookies to peanut butter, smelled cotton balls, and drank questionable liquids. I don't consider myself a picky eater, but I'm really not crazy about chocolate milk or Cheese Nips. That's right...we tasted and compared different brands of both items. Ugh.

The best part was a sample test. I guessed correctly that the last cup of dark m&m's matched the first cup. The word "dark" printed under the 'm' was a clear giveaway.

The HR people will call Friday afternoon if they are interested in me. If not, I will get an e-mail Monday afternoon with the usual Dear John letter. Sixty-seven people applied for 12 positions (plus two more for another department). Keep your fingers crossed that I'll be chosen, okay? I would really like this job.

Hoping you're all enjoying your jobs to the fullest extent of the law!!
shel

Garden Gab

2009-09-15T19:15:00.006-05:00

Today I picked fifteen of the most beautiful tomatoes I've ever seen. Unfortunately, like with so many humans, their beauty was only skin deep. I've eaten four tomatoes, and every one has been bland and tastes like a January grocery store version. I know that tomatoes like hot summer days and warm summer nights, so basically we're all screwed in central Illinois. On the bright side, my electric bill has been low!

I also picked four sweet banana peppers and two 'Chocolate Soldiers', which are black peppers (like green bell peppers, but black...they taste marvelous.) A few weeks ago I lost my favorite sunglasses, and today I found them among the tomatoes. I guess the fates were smiling on me today.

My asters are budding nicely, and some of the early mums are really showing off their colors. Everything else is just sort of limping along. I did get weed & feed put on the front lawn today, but ran out before I could get to the sides. Next week I am going to seed the back, where the dogs run wild.

Little Gabe just went to sleep, so I am going to brush my teeth and climb in bed with a good book. It's hard telling how long he'll be down.

Tomorrow I have my ADM interview. I'm very excited about the prospect of working as a taster.

Life is good.

shel

A Weekend Gone Wrong

2009-09-13T22:59:00.003-05:00

Darn the luck!! I had SUCH an exciting weekend planned, but a bug hit, and with a vengeance. I spent Friday night at my sister Shannon' s house while they had a romantic evening away. Unfortunately, I was on the bathroom floor most of the time.

I haven't thrown up since about 6:30 p.m., so it's apparent I'm on the road to recovery. For now I'd rather go to bed and just dream about the blogs I'm going to type.

I hope no one catches my cooties.

shel

Computer Blues & General Update

2009-09-11T09:26:00.003-05:00

Well, I've done it again. I tried to hook up Xanado to my computer (oh, how I long to be off of dial-up) and messed up my computer. After many hours of cursing, I was able to do a system restore to go back to the day before I hooked up Xanado. I am finally able to get online. Yippee!

The Sears repair man had bad news. My lawnmower is in bad shape. The last time Max put new blades on it, he didn't put them on correctly, so the star-shaped bumpy things that rotate the blades got worn off. The shafts need to be replaced. I had to pay over $200 up front, and will have to shell out another hundred when the repair man works his magic. I really miss having a lawnmower, and am regretting purchasing this Craftsman.

The same day the Sears repair man was here, the Dick Van Dyke guy came. My extra fridge in the garage is kaput. It would cost $150 to replace the two pieces that are burnt out, but in all likelihood they would burn out again because the compressor is probably shot. A new compressor would cost $500. It's just not worth it. I'm going to try to give it away on Freecycle if Chuck doesn't want it.

On the GOOD news side........
Shannon and Rick are going to a Winery for the night and asked me to babysit Phoebe. I'm so excited I'm giggly. Their place is like a spa...I can go there, sit in the sun room and read my book, take Phoebe for a walk, and drink hot tea all night while I soak in the tub. I love going there.

Bryan has been ill but is now feeling better. Darn cold! Little Gabe is sleeping on Max's chest right now. I don't' know which one is snoring louder.

The garden is actually starting to put out. I got ONE zucchini yesterday, and picked four tomatoes the day before. If I got out later on today I will probably get a dozen more tomatoes. They are finally starting to turn. They look beautiful, but still have that grocery-store taste. I never thought that I would wish for hot weather, but the tomatoes just aren't the same without it.

Last night I repotted Erin's peace lily (the poor thing will probably die as it was rather abused when I got it) and two of my three Christmas Cactus. I set the CC's outside so that they will bloom during the holidays. By putting them outside, they are subjected to the shorter days and cool night temperatures, which is required for bud formation.

Dad had surgery for his cataract. He's doing well. I will go over there Saturday to pick up their lawn mower. My grass is long and is in dire need of a haircut.

Oops, the cell phone just made the 'you have a message' noise, so I'd better sign off. Someone may be trying to call me on my home phone, and I have only one line.

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves.

shel

Stoneless Soup

2009-09-03T23:24:00.002-05:00

There's a children's storybook entitled 'Stone Soup'. It is about a wandering man with a sharp brain and an empty stomach. He tricks the villagers into making soup for him...his addition to the pot is a stone, and everyone else brings veggies or broth.

I recently attended a meeting with Dean Adams. He is always full of interesting stories. This time he told about his grandmother's soup which, in his opinion, was the best soup ever created. The secret? His grandmother always put ALL leftovers into a huge container in the freezer. When the container was full, she would empty the container into a stock pot and add a can or two of diced tomatoes and throw in a fistful of spices.

I decided that, in these hard economic times, I should give it a try.

My most recent pot of soup contained leftover pork chops that were fixed on the fire pit (I diced the meat finely), about a half cup of shredded beef, quite a bit of leftover roast chicken, part of a can of corn, two whole potatoes that were roasted with the chicken, some green beans, part of a package of Healthy Choice veggies (I think it was white beans and yellow carrots), a cup or so of pork fried rice, and some Mongolian beef. In my opinion a meal isn't a meal unless onion is on the menu, so I chopped up a small yellow onion to add to the broth. I also added the leftover chili and about two cups of tomato juice (leftover from making chili the day before.) To add even more flavor, I added sweet basil, fresh and dried garlic (no wonder no one ever wants to kiss me with all of the garlic & onion that I eat!) and some freshly ground black pepper.

I let the soup simmer on low heat for an entire day. When it was dinner time, I ladled soup into my Campbell's mug (I still think of Phyllis when I use it) and added freshly chopped onion for a little crunch. Instead of crackers, I like to tear up a piece of bread in my soup. MMMMMMMM. The soup was delicious, even without a stone!

I've had many meals off of it including breakfast!

Thanks to Dean for giving me the idea for this soup. It uses up leftovers (Max hates to eat leftovers) and is relatively good for me.

In the meantime, I have started another big Rubbermaid container. There's a few pieces of leftover steak from the fire pit and a bit of corn and green beans. By the time it's full it will be chilly outside and the stoneless soup will be a welcome treat.

Happy eating to all of my family & friends.

shel

Plight of the Bumblebee continued

2009-09-02T11:22:00.003-05:00

I forgot to add that another reason for bee decline could be the excessive use of pesticides. I try to keep Round-Up usage to a minimum, but I tended to use more this year because of the rapid weed growth. I would never, ever spray if there is an insect present, but farmers don't have that option. Whether death by pesticide is the cause of the shortage of bees or not is hard to tell.

I avoid using insecticides outside as well. If there's a spider around an area where he shouldn't be I either move him with a stick or, if he's particularly evil looking, squish him. Otherwise I don't want to kill outdoor insects. (If I were to find termites, however, all bets are off...spray those bast#$&!!!)

shel

Plight of the Bumble Bee

2009-09-02T10:49:00.003-05:00

My zucchini crop is nonexistent. The plants bloom beautifully, but that's about all happens. My hypothesis is that the blooms are not getting pollinated, therefore fruit does not develop.

I decided to do a little investigative work, so camera in hand, I toured the yard. After nearly 15 minutes I had discovered only one bumble bee and one honey bee. Usually the sedum are covered. Here is a picture of the bee on a morning glory.

In the spring the power plant had an infestation of wild honey bees that had swarmed on a portion of fencing. It was not in a location where people would be bothered by the bees, but the poor things were sprayed and killed anyway. How foolish the men were to have killed such helpful creatures! I have learned that it was not illegal for them to do so. Their reasoning was that it was better to loose the life of a colony of bees than for one bee to terminate the life of one allergic human. (Depends on the human!!!!)

Our wild colonies that were in the woods behind us are gone. I don't know if they succumbed to the virus that is destroying many of the colonies that beekeepers own, or if it was the extremely wet spring & summer that caused a fungus. There's no aardvarks or bears (supposedly) in the area so I have to rule out the natural predator thought. Birds just wouldn't be able to wipe out so many colonies.

I hope that I just picked a bad bee observing day. Since I will be outside painting the yucky fence in back...I hate that fence...I will keep my eyes and ears open for my buzzy friends.

Happy gardening,

shel

Christmas Cactus

2009-08-30T12:57:00.002-05:00

Now is the time to move your Christmas Cactus outside if you have not already done so. Be aware that naughty rabbits will nibble on the poor cactus if you have it on the ground. A macrame holder or table top is the best location.

Cool nights and short days will help bring the beautiful blooms during the holidays. Make sure that you continue to water your plant, and bring it in before the first frost. I've had great luck with this technique (as opposed to the closet or paper bag technique) for years.

Oh, and it's almost September, so be sure to start singing carols and decorating outside so you can keep up with the retail businesses! I actually DO put out Xmas lights early because no one can see that they're up from the road unless I turn the lights on (that comes after Thanksgiving) and I don't have to be outside freezing my buns and fingers off when the inclimate weather arrives.

Merry Christmas,
shel

An Odd Thought...

2009-08-28T22:10:00.003-05:00

Before I climb into the bathtub (or shower, depending on my mood and the condition of my wild hair) I always go to the bathroom. (At 48, almost 49, peeing seems to be an hourly event.) Here's the "odd thought" part...I wash my hands before climbing into the tub.

Really, I'm asknig you, is that odd???

I'm not a germaphobe, contrary to popular belief. My family is laughing at that part. Just because I carry around a few bottles of antibacterial stuff with me, use paper towels to open restroom doors when I use a public restroom, and pull my sleeve down over my hand to open other doors does NOT a germaphobe make! If I were, I'd have a sterile house.

My house is far from spotless. It's basically clean, but MAN do I have clutter. One of my favorite fantasies (I won't go into the other fantasies...trust me, it's better that way!) is that the HGTV people from Cash in the Attic would come here and take all of my "stuff" away, and give me an organized, beautiful home. Then the HGTV gardeners can come and redo my yard and gardens, and the good ol' folks on the Today show (oh, how I love the Today show!) would give me a head-to-toe makeover! Yes, late at night I live in my own little fantasy world. It's about the only time that I have free.

I went to the doctor the other day and he said that I have stress-induced depression. TRD was one term given (sounds an awful lot like something to be flushed, but it stands for Treatment Resistant Depression) but he used a different word that, for the life of me, I can't remember.
He has prescribed a combination of two pills that, when taken together, are the equivalent of Symbyax. I go back in two weeks for a follow-up. "Get rid of the stress in your life" just isn't going to cut it, so I have my fingers crossed that the prescriptions will do the trick.

I think I'll go wash my hands........sweet dreams, dear readers.

shel

No Surgery for Gabe!

2009-08-27T23:07:00.002-05:00

Today I took Gabriel, Alana and Will to Peoria 9oh, how I HATE driving in Peoria!) to see a specialist. Gabe has had an elongated bump in his stomach for quite some time and Dr. Clay thought it should be looked at. Luckily, it turns out that his muscles just aren't developed yet. He will follow up with the surgeon in six months and again in a year.

I hope Max gets the lawnmower fixed tomorrow as my yard is getting very tropical and overgrown looking. The mower deck is hanging down on one side so that a trench is cut into the earth when the blade goes around. This does NOT make a pretty picture in my yard!

It's just about time for us to use a weed & feed product on the lawn for Central Illinois. I hope to get that done next Tuesday.

I also need to climb into the koi pond and fish out the last two koi. They won't be able to overwinter in the puddle that is left, and I sure don't want to go fishing for them when temperatures are low. I have plans to build an enclosure for the horse tank that holds the koi on the driveway...It will be a 2 x 4 frame with plywood attached, and stuffed with fiberglass insulation in preparation for the cold winter months. They'll be here before we know it.

I am taking new medication now that helps me sleep and I find myself nodding off at the keyboard. I guess it's off to bed for this little Chicky.

Sweet dreams, my friends.
shel

Sister Olympics for Beta Sigma Phi

2009-08-26T10:44:00.003-05:00

I am the social chair for our local Beta Sigma Phi. As such, it is my responsibility to organize events for six of our meetings. Monday night was the first meeting of the season, so I wanted it to be extra special.

Everyone that attended was given a country to represent. I printed off name tag sized flags from around the world and wrote the name of the country on the back. Each flag was pinned to the shirt of the gal representing the country.

Dinner consisted of food from around the world...a yam and squash dish made with coconut milk from Africa, Swedish Klimp, Jajek from Armenia, and more. I made little tents with the name of the food and country of origin for each dish. The ladies ate up, but there was lots of food left over.

During the meal sisters tried to figure out who was representing which country. It was quite a challenge...everyone knew USA and Canada, but it was pretty much a guessing game for most people after that. Becky and Melissa each answered nine flags correctly.

When everyone's stomach had settled, we started the games. The balance beam was actually a 2x4 board set up on bricks, just a few inches from the ground. It started out easy enough; walk from one end to the other without falling off. Each time the competitors crossed the beam, the challenge was slightly harder. For example, they had to cross keeping their hands behind their back, then hands behind back with eyes closed. The hardest part was going backward with their hands behind them. We had an awards ceremony with handmade gold, silver and bronze medals.

The next game was a HOOT. We did a plunger relay. I divided the group into half, and then into half again. Twelve ladies in all played this game. They had to put the plunger between their legs with the handle sticking out the front. I placed a roll of toilet paper over two of the handles and the ladies had to run across the yard (hard to do with a plunger between your legs!) and put the toilet paper roll onto the opposite side's plunger without using their hands. A lot of wiggling was involved! The athletes then had to repeat the process, taking the t.p. to the teammate on the opposite side. I was able to catch the action on a video camera so I hope I can download it to the computer. I think you will like watching the antics as much as the women liked participating in the relay.

Our last competition was called Hillybilly Golf. There was a plastic frame set up at one end of the yard, and 20' away was the throw line. The ladies had to throw a rope with a ball one each end of it so that the rope wound around the plastic frame. Their warm-ups were hysterical.

The evening ended with Happy Bucks and Whiny Bucks.

Last night one of the sisters called to thank me for such a wonderful party. The funny part is that I had dreams that no one would show up for the event! It's been a while since I have felt good about myself and the things that I do. Thanks, sisters, for making me feel like I am worthy!

Hope you can all laugh today. Look on Utube for the original plunger relay game.

shel

Yesterday's Big Storm

2009-08-20T21:24:00.002-05:00

I guess the title says it all....

Yesterday Central Illinois got bit** slapped by Mother Nature. Williamsville was badly slammed (I hope that my relatives that live there are okay; I haven't heard otherwise), as were a few other towns. During the brunt of the storm I was in town helping to prepare for a birthday party.

After the festivities I climbed into the van and headed home. The turn that I normally take was blocked by four or five trucks with flashing lights...the brave men and women of Corn Belt were working on the poles, lines, and transformers that were hit. I had to go around the country block and creep along the back roads in order to get home.

There was a pretty good size branch in the driveway, so I had to climb out of the van and pull it out of the way. My headlights illuminated more branches and tons of leaf debris, but I was able to drive the rest of the way up our long driveway.

After rounding up a flashlight, four candles, and my tap-on light, I settled on the couch with my new garden catalog. I can't believe how quiet it is without electricity! The normal white noise of a running refrigerator, the hum of the air conditioner, and even the steady buzz of the computer were sorely missed...I'm much too used to background noises.

I also noticed how much darker it was without electricity. Sounds silly, doesn't it? I went around the room today and found all of the lights that remain on even after I turn off the overhead and lamps.
1. phone has a light
2. answering machine light
3. power strip light
4. 2 lights on the VCR/DVD combo
5. 3 lights on the computer tower
6. one light on the monitor
7. another power strip with a light
8. speaker light
No wonder it looks really spooky when the electricity is off! What did we do BEFORE electricity?

I walked around in the daylight hours and found that the wind had been very mischievous indeed. It blew the bench and pouty doll (Bryan calls it his "Bryan's Bad Guy") from the front porch, the kid's swing got blown over, and my tomato plants in their cages were all blown over. I found one garbage can at the edge of the woods on the east side of the yard and another in the front near the neighbor's house. Before I mowed tonight I picked up armloads of branches wrist-size and smaller (enough to have another cookout!) The biggest surprise concerned the double gate in the back. Somehow the wind picked the gate up off of the hinges and, while the gate was still locked in the center, placed it down in one piece. Max was able to fix it before the dogs got out.

I hope that everyone else survived the storms with a minimum amount of damage.

shel

At Last! Veggie Garden Bliss

2009-08-18T22:49:00.004-05:00

Today Bryan and I walked around the yard, taking pictures of everything that was slower than us. (I took about 60 pictures.)

We got to the veggie garden and took pictures of my beautiful green tomatoes, just hanging out on the vines, waiting for hot days and nights in order to ripen. Oh, how I wished they were ready.

When we got to the greenhouse garden, Bryan said "Wow!" and pointed to two red tomatoes. I was so excited to see them that I almost peed my pants! I picked them from the plant and Bryan immediately said 'I got it". He wanted to carry the tomatoes to the house.

Now, those of you that know me know how very, very, very much I love Bryan. I absolutely adore him and admit to spoiling him just a little bit. However, the mean old gramma in me said "No, I got it!" and gave him the digital camera to carry instead. Cameras are a dime a dozen (well, this one was close to $200 a few years ago) but garden tomatoes are hard to come by this year!

I had to take pictures of my first two ripe garden tomatoes of the season. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Bryan was perfectly happy carrying the camera. I can't wait to have a BLT for breakfast!

May all of your tomatoes be wormless,
shel

p.s. Where would I be without my digital camera? I have hundreds...probably close to a thousand...pictures of the kids, the gardens, and everything in between. I rate the creation of digital cameras right up there with the invention of underwire bras!

p.s.s. I've tried three times to download the pics of my beautiful tomatoes, and it just won't work tonight. grrrrrr

All Around the $^*%!#!! Mulberry Bush

2009-08-17T23:00:00.004-05:00

Have you ever tried to grow a Japanese Maple or Weeping Larch? You can pamper them with regular waterings, just the right amount of high nitrogen and potash fertilizer, and even winter protection, but if you look at them cross-wise the things will die.

I am certain that Mulberries, however, are the devil's spawn. My beloved birds eat the ripe berries and then poop out the seeds (giving the tree/bush a healthy dose of fertilizer so that it gets off to a good start) all over the gardens. I have used my Fiskars loppers and cut then down to the ground, only to have them shoot up again within weeks. I've used a shovel and sliced through them at the base and have gotten the same effect. I have even cut the mulberry tree with loppers, poured Round-up on the fresh wound, and drove my lawnmower over it repeatedly, crushing it under the tire.........and yes, it came back with a vengeance. Any day now I'm expecting to look up and find one of the cursed trees in my house, seeking revenge by holding a knife to my throat. You just can't kill the darn things.

A few days ago, after I had thoroughly watered the garden, I decided to try to pull up a 1 1/2' mulberry tree. My feet were firmly planted on each side of the offending stem, I grabbed hold near the ground, and pulled with all of my might. Imagine my surprise when I was able to pull the darn thing out! There were two taproots on the mulberry. I brought it in the house, put it on the island along with my broken-off yardstick, and started snapping pictures. (See? I TOLD you I was a garden geek. How many other people would do such a thing?)

I think that the mulberries have actually been mutated by the nearby nuclear power plant. Soon they will take over the world, choking out all of the maples, oaks, hickories, pines, and so on. It's a plot hatched up by the ever-hungry birds!

Happy gardening,

shel

p.s. Of course I'm only kidding about the power plant mutating the trees........!

Attack of the Robins

2009-08-16T09:20:00.002-05:00

I'm not feeling well again today (it started yesterday afternoon) so I haven't worked outside this morning. Instead, I was sitting on the couch giving Gabe his juice bottle when I heard a loud THUNK. As soon as Gabe was in a sound sleep I put him down and went to the dining room window to access the damage. Luckily there was not a bird carcass below the window, as I feared. Then I looked up. WOW.

There are hundreds of robins in my yard! It's an amazing sight, reminiscent of the Hitchcock thriller "The Birds", but not nearly as intimidating. Robins are on the tree branches, hopping around in the soft, green grass, and even perching on the front porch. I wonder if they are here because I left the sprinkler running on the garden/grassy areas. Everywhere else the land is as hard as a rock, cracked and dry because of the lack of rain. My soil is still moist from the thorough watering that it got day before yesterday, making it, I presume, easier for the early birds to catch a worm.

I was very disappointed about missing the Ketcham-Crosier reunion today, but seeing the robins hopping around in their clownish manner has brought a smile to my face.

Hope you have something exciting outside of your window!
shel

Do As I Say, Not As I Do OR Iris Borer Blues

2009-08-15T19:46:00.007-05:00

I've heard that saying SO many times and have rolled my eyes on each occurrence. Luckily they haven't frozen at the back of my head, like my mother warned me! Now I'm afraid that I am the say-ee. For the past few days I've done everything wrong, but on purpose. Go ahead and roll your eyes. I have to take the opportunity to do my gardening when the opportunity presents itself.

I've been outside working quite a bit in the early morning before the arrival of little Gabriel, and again in the early evening, after his mommy takes him home. For the most part, I have been watering and then weeding (I STILL need to get more mulch spread!).

Last night I planted about 150 Narcissus bulbs and a few surprise lily bulbs (both of which should be planted in the autumn) and three peonies (which should be planted in September). I also dug up and transplanted a clump of iris (July was the time for that.)

My iris had been invaded by the dreaded IRIS BORER (said in a spooky voice). It is a pinkish grub-like creature with a darker head and nubby legs that run nearly the length of the body. If your iris have dark spots on the spear-like leaves, with many of the leaves in sad shape, you quite likely have the same uninvited guest. Dig up the iris and check for a big hole. Take a sharp knife and cut away any stinky rotted parts. (Honestly, a rotted iris smells worse than Gabe's and Bryan's diapers put together!) KILL the borer, which can be found deep in the iris, happily munching away. In my case, I drop the little buggers into the water garden and let the koi feast. Otherwise, I squish them underfoot. They give a disgusting but somehow satisfying POP when you destroy them. I (usually) cut off the top of the leaves at an angle, forming a fan, leaving only about 4" of green. The plant can then expend energy growing roots rather than trying to feed the leaves.

At the top of the page you'll see an iris borer enjoying the last minutes of its life on top of my purple paint can. YUCK, borer...cool paint.

A quick dip in a 10% bleach solution makes sure that the plant won't harbor disease, and will kill anything bug-wise that you missed while cleaning. Let the iris dry before replanting it. Remember, iris like to have their toes "sunburned", so just plant the root part and leave the rhizome slightly above the soil. Here's an important message...do NOT mulch iris. Keep mulch, dried leaves or grass, weeds, and all other debris from the plant. That way the iris borer won't be able to overwinter, which makes it harder for them to invade in the spring.

Tomorrow is the much anticipated Ketcham-Crosier family reunion so I will not be out in the garden until late evening. My plan is to spread more mulch on the vegetable garden and in the Weeping Cherry Garden, where most of the bulbs were planted.

Happy gardening,

shel

Job Interview for ADM?

2009-08-13T14:38:00.004-05:00

I have been sending out resumes and completing applications for the past two months or so with not so much as a phone call for an interview. With the economy the way it is, I knew that the job market would be rather limited and prospective employers could be extremely picky about getting the best applicants. My last "real" job was with the U of I extension office in Macon County where I was the Master Gardener Coordinator. I was with the extension for four happy years. Since then, I have held a few part-time jobs including two that were part of my schooling; an internship with Grimsley's Flowers and a work practicum with Richland Community College (both were in the floral design field and both were very enjoyable). the other job was a temporary one; I was a specimen collector for POST during the outage at the power plant.

When the ADM job for a Sensory Panelist came up, I was thrilled. I knew that it would be perfect for me. Basically, it's up to 12 hours per week from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday with no holidays or weekends ever. If hired, my duty would be to taste new products that ADM will be introducing. I'm not picky at all (I love the food most people hate...brussels sprouts, liver & onions, and so forth) and am relatively literate (necessary to describe the tastes, smells, etc.) The big kicker for this job is that the applicants had to be non-smokers. That's me!

I will not find out if I will be hired until after my interview which will be sometime in September. In the meantime, please keep your fingers crossed for me. With a job like this I can continue to care for my parents and grandchildren, and bring in the MUCH needed extra money so that we can pay off a few of the bills that are killing us.

Yea! I'm donig the happy dance with my fingers crossed!
shel
p.s. I'm running the hoses today as we haven't had rain for quite a while. My poor plants were begging for a deep, deep drink. If you water at home, please be sure to water deeply. Don't stand in the middle of the yard with a watering can and think that your oak will be happy.

A Day in the Garden

2009-08-12T20:44:00.004-05:00

Today was a rare day...I was able to stay home alone (no grandchildren or, more importantly, no husband) and work outside. Heaven!

Mowing the lawn was first on my to-do list. After filling the flat front tire with air, I started mowing the front yard. The east side was finished without a hitch, but when I went to the west side I, for reasons unknown, mowed in a different pattern than usual. I shouldn't have messed with my routine because I got stuck in our gully, to the point of almost tipping over! I'm lucky the mower didn't tip and crush me. The lawn will have to wait until Max gets off work and is able to get the mower free. In this picture, the gully doesn't look deep and the lawnmower doesn't look like it's stuck and ready to tip, but trust me, it is.

I moved onto the next chore on my list...pruning. There are mulberry, hickory, oak, elm, chokecherry, Russian olive, Osage orange, Japanese honeysuckle and dogwood trees that are planted oh so generously by the birds. These junk trees pop up everywhere! It's a full-time job just keeping the Japanese honeysuckle in check. I got the majority of the junk trees cut out of most of the gardens (I still need to do the greenhouse garden.) The weeping lilac (a Miss Kim splice, I believe) had started to revert to the original base, so I cut all of the offensive branches out. This should have been done as soon as the tree had finished blooming, but time just got away from me. It probably won't rebloom this year, but I hope that I will still get a good show on it next spring. If you have the chance to buy a weeping lilac, do so. It is just gorgeous when it's blooming!

The garden on the front west side of the driveway got a quick once-over today. I had to come into the house twice and scrub with Zanfel because I got into doggone poison ivy. I'm hoping that I got the oils washed off in time.

After three hours of working outside, I cam into the house and took my shower, then made a BLT. YUM. My tomatoes are still as green as can be. I stole a tomato from mom's raised bed...shhh, don't tell!

This afternoon I have to run into town to get my RX and some more weed killer for the offensive poison ivy that I've discovered, then it will be back outside to spread mulch and pull weeds.

It's been a wonderful day. I hope to have more like them.

shel

Garden talk

2009-08-10T19:33:00.007-05:00

The heat has finally hit central Illinois and my gardens are feeling it. The container plants are looking rather wilted, even with deep waterings every single day. My banana tree and elephant ear are actually thriving at this point. I'll have a nice tropical feel in the sunroom when I bring them into the house in a few short months.

'Alaska Nasturtium' is one of my favorite annuals. Earlier in the spring I soaked the hard, large seeds in warm water for two days. Then I stuck my finger into the soil in my planters, dropped in the seed, and pushed the soil back over it. Easy as pie. I am now rewarded with jewel like blooms in vibrant red, yellow and orange. The real star of this annual, however, is the leaves of the plant. The 3" round leaves are splashed and segmented with creamy white on the yellow green. Planted in a hanging basket with bright pink Wave petunias and 'Diamond Frost' euphorbia (trust me...you must plant this next year), my nasturtiums are a sight to behold. I'll try to download a pic of one of the baskets.

I've stopped pruning back the mums and asters. Quite a few years ago I learned from a pro that the best way to prune them is to use your hedge shears and just whack the tops off about four times in the season, with the last time being the first part of August. This will give you a spectacular professional show in October.

The black-eyed susans and echinacea are blooming like crazy. I love the "messy" comfortable look that they give the gardens. I do need to deadhead them because they will completely take over the world...okay, the garden...if I let them all go to seed. The goldfinch love to eat the seeds, but so many get away that I end up pulling out starts each year.

Have you seen the commercial elderberry 'Black Lace'? It's an interesting plant. I don't have one, however...instead, I have a love-hate relationship with the elderberries that are so generously planted by the birds. I love the elderberry jelly my mom makes, but I hate the mess that they make in the gardens. I consider elderberries a noxious weed. Same with poke weed. Be careful that you don't mix up the two plants. Elderberries are clusters of berries that are pointed UP, and each berry has its own stem. Poke berries are extremely poisonous. The hang down in clusters like grapes do. Avoid them at all costs.

I need to mow the lawn again. The mower blade is set at the highest setting. I keep the grass higher so that it can shade the roots and retain moisture. It also keeps weeds choked out. Well, most weeds, anyway. Creeping Charlie is pretty hard to discourage.

The good thing about the heat is that it will help the tomatoes ripen. It will also give them that great home-grown flavor that we have all been missing.

I can't wait to have a BLT.

Happy Gardening,

shel

Gutter Getters OR The Case of the Mysteriously Clean Gutters

2009-08-06T16:28:00.002-05:00

This morning I heard a weird scratching, tapping noise that sounded like it was coming from the roof. "Squirrels again," I thought to myself.

I went outside and looked down...my clean porch and steps were covered in decaying leaves and other debris! I had been after my husband for nearly a YEAR to clean out the gutters.

As I walked out I looked up. All of the sudden, with scratching and flapping, a flock of juvenile robins few away from the roof. My only guess is that the leaves had decomposed enough that red worms and insects were living in the debris, and the robins that that they found a smorgasbord.

Thank you, kind robins. You did something for me that my husband refused to do. Now if I can just find a gorilla to build the hand railings in front and step in back, a beaver to cut wood for the firepit, and some other animal to clean up the mess that he left in the garden from re-roofing the sunroom! Who needs a man????

shel

Surprise Lilies, Resurrection Lilies, Naked Ladies

2009-08-06T15:37:00.004-05:00

If you look out the big bay window in the livingroom, you look down at an unfinished watergarden (sigh...I won't whine about that today) and across the driveway, and you'll see clusters of pale pink trumpets, on long, long naked stems, nodding gently in the breeze.
Surprise lilies, aka naked lilies or resurrection lilies, are one of those plants that you either love or hate. I happen to love them. About this time every year the hollow bright green stem pops out of the ground, leafless and lonely. Lonely unless, of course, they are planted in a clump as they should be. There are usually five flowers topping each stem, accessorizing the stem like the cherry accessorizes a banana split. The stall stems seem to lean on each other as friends should. The clumps are a welcome sight in the garden as the daylilies have just about finished for the season and asters and mums won't appear for a while yet.

The bulbs for these perennials are quite expensive, up to $10 each via mailorder. Instead of shelling out a bunch of money for five bulbs (there really shouldn't be any less than that planted together, but more is fine) drive around the area and look for abandoned farms and homes with the lilies. Mark the bulb area and remember where it's at...in a few months, go back and dig up the bulb, which is probably planted very deeply.

Monday night I threw a baby shower for a sorority sister. I cut eight of the surprise lilies so that they were exactly the same length and dropped them into a plain, tall crystal vase with just a few inches of water. The simple arrangement looked very elegant on the cake and punch table.

I hope that you have all survived Tuesday's bad weather. It was pretty hard on my poor surprise lilies.

shel

Mowing Mullings

2009-07-31T23:12:00.005-05:00

Unlike most Americans, I do my best thinking while on the lawn mower. After Alana picked up Gabriel tonight I filled up the mower and started on the yard.

Now that I'm sitting here typing about my thoughts, I can't remember any that I had! LOL It's hell getting old.

The lawn is still green and lush, which is very rare for this time of year. Usually only the Creeping Charlie is happy. The cool temps along with the generous amounts of rainfall that we've had here in central Illinois have made for a good lawn. Unfortunately it has also made the weeds happy! Now is not the time for me to use Weed & Feed, though. I will wait to do so during the first week or so of September. In the meantime, I use Round-Up in spots where the Creeping Charlie is really bothersome. My mower blade is set as high as it can go. I won't lower it again until fall, when the grass is actively growing.

I wish I could have a lawn mower designed especially for me. I love the Sears Craftsman special anniversary edition that we have....for the most part. I would be happier if it had arms so that I don't slide around on the seat when I'm trying to mow on a slight slope. I'd also like the blade mechanism to work easier, and to be closer. Each time I turn the blade on I am almost off of the seat, and the lawnmower stalls. This thing wasn't built for a 5' tall woman. (Oh, it wouldn't hurt if the mower were pink instead of shiny gold.)

The darn poison ivy is popping up all over the place. Oh, how I wish I could clone a Japanese Beetle that would dine exclusively on poison ivy and Japanese honeysuckle! All of the other Japanese beetles would breed with them, and the normal beetles would become obsolete. My roses would be safe forever! (Yes, I think crazy thoughts while I'm mowing!)

I couldn't finish the back yard as I found a baby Downy or Hairy woodpecker. I'm not sure which it is. The poor thing was on the ground with his head twisted oddly to the right. I thought perhaps it was dead, but the loud mower scared it. The fledgling tried to fly but couldn't do so. I didn't know whether I should put the bird over the fence and into the woods in back so that Sioux and Lakota, the dogs from hell, couldn't get him or if I should let Mother Nature decide the bird's fate. I finished mowing around the dog kennel on the east side of the back yard and, when I got back over to the bird area, the thing was gone. I hope it found safety somewhere.

There have been two or three sick raccoons in the area. The conservation folks said that distemper was the culprit. While I was mowing near the woods I got the strangest feeling of being watched....I started thinking "What if it's a sick raccoon watching me, and it decides to try to attack me?" Silly, I know. Just to be on the safe side I went to another part of the yard.

People in Alabama tend to name their homes. I decided that this place should be called Hickory Hills. I can just see a big sign hanging above the driveway....

I know there were at least a hundred other random (and some pretty weird) thoughts that went through my mind, but I just can't remember them. Maybe next time I mow I'll take along a little hand-held tape recorder. With my luck, I'll probably run over it!

Happy mowing,
shel

This, That and The Other

2009-07-29T22:28:00.002-05:00

The last few days have been relatively busy for me so I haven't done much online. Here's a few highlights of my days:

I shook things up a little bit by going to the 9:30 p.m. showing of "The Ugly Truth" with some gal friends. It was a blast! The movie is FULL of foul language (thus the rating) and I could have done without most of it. However, I enjoyed the plot and the skill of the actors/acresses.

I painted the front door deep purple. Yep. I still need to put on another coat, and paint the Adirondack chairs to match, but I think it's going to look perfect. I don't know if the purple was an act of defiance against my husband (he hates change) or in honor of my deceased mother-in-law, or just a touch of HGTV getting to me.

Today I went to my parent's house and trimmed the holly, yews, and spirea. I brought back many boxes of landscape waste to add to my compost pile (the big stuff went in the burn pile, though.)

The daylilies are starting to peter out, unfortunately. Luckily the rains have kept the other perennials and annuals looking healthy so the gardens, although they are weedy, look great. My hosta is really filling out nicely, and the fallopia japonica is stunning. My roses are showing off, too. Part of my success with them this year is due to the lack of Japanese beetles. I've been very fortunate.

I am going to take my hedge trimmers and give all of my mums and asters one more good trim. The blooms will be great toward the end of October, when I want them to really shine. This will be the third or fourth time that I've trimmed them back so they should be nice and bushy.

The vegetable garden is, well, just sitting there. This fall I'll have to till in a lot of the compost. I hope to actually do a raised bed next year. Either way, the surrounding trees are going to have to have a good haircut. There's too much shade in my yard!

I hope you're all enjoying your gardens during this mild July.

shel

Morrisonville Picnic/Frog Jump

2009-07-27T00:07:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, Max and I took Bryan and Gabe to the Morrisonville Picnic. There was an hour long parade (I was impressed!), a carnival, and the much-anticipated frog jump.

Bryan loved the tractors and fire trucks that went past. He didn't care much about the candy, but he came home with a bag full nonetheless. During the parade, little Gabriel sat on Aunt Kara's or Aunt Kayla's lap. Bryan latched onto Holly and stayed at the side of the road.

We let Bryan go on the airplane ride and the car ride, but he was just as happy running around. Gabe watched all of the people passing by and slobbered.

shel

I tried to download a picture, but once again my computer wouldn't cooperate. Darn the luck!

"Are You Grumpy?" YES!!!

2009-07-21T23:35:00.002-05:00

Little Bryan loves to ask the question out of the blue..."Are you grumpy?" in his cute little sing-song voice. Normally he asks because I tell him "no" about something. (I know that my family members are saying "You NEVER tell Bryan no!" but I do...really I do!) My answer is usually no, Bryan, Gramma isn't grumpy... but if I were to be asked tonight, I would give a resounding YES.

The day started out well enough. Gabe spent the night and slept like an angel. Alana got here early to pick him up and invited me to go to Bloomington with her. We had a good time shopping for bargains and I was able to control my urge to splurge.

Things went downhill when I got home.

I went down to the freezer to get a roast to thaw, and the floor of the garage was slick with chicken juice, blood, and other gross freezer-type liquids. Everything inside the freezer was thawed, including the peach sherbet. The freezer was running and everything was slightly cool, but I didn't trust any of the food to be safe to eat. Everything went into the garbage can. I had three big beef roasts, a few t.v. dinners for hubby, four Cornish hens, a bag of chicken breasts, a bag of french fries, three bags of frozen mixed veggies with asparagus (yummy), the sherbet, a half of a box of frozen biscuits from Market Day, and so much more that I'm starting to get depressed all over again. It's hard telling how long things were thawed out.

We have a $500 deductible for homeowner's insurance, so we're out of luck with making a claim. I have a few ideas of what could have happened...I think Max was browsing and didn't make sure the door was closed. It's happened before on the upstairs freezer and on the 'fridge, so I wouldn't be surprised. That, or the evil garage gnome decided to play a trick on us!

I spent the better part of an hour cleaning freezer juices. It was disgusting. Thank heavens I had two rolls of paper towels handy! Everything had to be disinfected, and then put back together. Then I had to mop the garage floor because the meat in the garbage can leaked out through the split in the bottom, and the can was drug outside leaving a slimy trail, almost like we were visited by a gargantuan snail.

I turned the freezer back on and am hoping that I will go down in the morning to a frigid area. The side-by-side set is in good shape, and I just LOVE having the extra room for storing the pop, water, platters for parties, hundreds of cookies and hordes of meat. I'm sure that it was human failure instead of mechanical failure.

There's been a few other incidences tonight that have made my grind my teeth, but I won't bore you with all of the details. I'm not grumpy often, but tonight I definitely am. Guess I'll go suck on a few peanut M & M s and work on a crossword puzzle before I go to bed. I'm glad my grumpy day is almost over.

shel

daylily pics?

2009-07-18T23:29:00.000-05:00

Here's another try...

YES! It worked!

Okay, I give up for tonight. I tried to download another but it wouldn't work. I hope you enjoy the pictures of my 'pretties'.

shel

daylily pictures

2009-07-18T22:52:00.000-05:00

I am having luck with downloading tonight, so I'll put in a few pics of the daylilies that are blooming.

This first daylily is an unnamed variety that is up by my mailbox. It has lots of buds and the flowers are huge. They are a soft peachy orange with yellow toward the eye.

Let's try to insert another picture...oops, that's a picture of Gabriel!

LOL, that's ANOTHER pic of Gabe! I can't see which pictures I'm getting when I download. I look at the number, and remember which ones I needed.

I'm going to publish this and try another one. Really, my daylily shots are beautiful!

shel

I Cleaned the Front Porch!

2009-07-18T22:27:00.000-05:00

I was outside working by 6:30 a.m. this morning. The first thing that I did was start the burn pile going in the gully. Boy, did I regret that later on. I have asthma and by late morning I couldn't catch my breath. I had to use the nebulizer and the inhaler.

Before the lack of oxygen to my lungs hit, I was able to get the front porch cleaned off. Somehow it accumulates all sorts of junk up there. We're far enough back from the road that people driving by can't see anything, but when folks come to visit it's an embarrassment. So today I took everything off of the porch, swept well, threw out a bunch of junk, brought the Adirondack chairs up, and finished planting impatiens in all of the planters so that it looked nice.

Hey, look, I was able to download a picture! Cool!!!

I didn't do too much after the asthma attack today. I did, however, take care of the world's best little baby boy. Gabriel is SUCH an angel. He made new noises today, kind of like a motor boat. Since his teeth are trying to come in, he is a real slobber box. Poor kid!

Tomorrow Brandon, Jessie, and Bryan are coming over for a nice lunch. They are bringing steaks to put on the fire pit. I'm going to ask Brandon to cook them because I want to be able to do stuff tomorrow and not be connected to my inhaler or nebulizer. I plan on making a homemade chocolate cake for dessert, potatoes, corn, and a salad. In the early morning I'll start a loaf of bread in the bread machine. I look forward to visiting with the kids.

shel

Poison Ivy!!! Zanfel, Save Me!

2009-07-17T10:51:00.000-05:00

Since we live in the country, I have an overabundance of poison ivy that pops up just about everywhere, included in my planters! I am one of the unfortunate people that gets poison ivy VERY badly. At least twice a year I have to go in for a steroid shot in the butt and a Z pack (prescription steroids).

Last year I picked up a tube of Zanfel at the mom and pop drugstore in Decatur. It cost an arm and a leg...over $36 for a little tube...but man, is it worth it! Zanfel reminds me of the old Lava soap because of the coarse texture. As soon as I discover that I've been into poison ivy, I run into the house, start the water, squirt on an 1 1/2" length of Zanfel and start scrubbing. So far (knock on wood) I haven't gotten 'the itch'. Supposedly, if you DO have poison ivy already, you can use Zanfel and the itching will ease and you will dry up quicker.

Today I have little Gabriel. The weather is absolutely spectacular, so I hope to get outside and plant a few hanging baskets before he wakes up.

Erin gave me a few Japanese eggplants, and I cut them into chunks last night. I also cut up zucchini, summer squash, green pepper, an onion, and some garlic and threw a marinade over the veggies. I am going to roast them and have a sandwich with Swiss (I'd prefer Provolone, but am out) for lunch. mmmmmmmm, I love veggies! I have a jar of roasted red peppers so I'll use a few of them as well.

Tonight, after Alana picks up Gabe, I'll spread more mulch and put Preen on top. Using Preen discourages the seeds from poison ivy, dropped by birds in their poo, from germinating. If I can stay on top of that this year I hope to have a smaller ivy batch next year!

shel

Daylilies Part II

2009-07-16T19:07:00.000-05:00

I walked around the front yard tonight and picked out a few more of my favorite daylilies.

'Burgandy Babe' is a heavy producer. The dark Burgandy blooms with the even darker eyes are about the size of a half-dollar. They really show off early in the lily season. I have crossed them with 'Little Sioux' with good results.

'Little Sioux' is another mini lily. It, too, has a heavy bloom. The flowers are slightly smaller than 'Burgandy Babe' and they are a dark peachy color. The petals are more rounded and chunky looking than most daylilies. I love them!

'Texas Sunlight' is one of my other minis. It is a sunny yellow, proficient bloomer.

There's another daylily in the same bed as the 'Texas' lilies. When I purchased it, the handwritten tag had rubbed off part way. Therefore I'm not sure what the name is, but it is two words with the first letter being C and the first letter of the second word being J. It has HUGE dazzling yellow-orange flowers that seem to be covered in diamond dust. I can't bring myself to divide them yet since they are so beautiful.

I have a 'Gordon Briggs' in the garden by the greenhouse. I've always loved the color of this dark flower.

Once again, I am not having luck downloading my pictures. When Steve comes over (he is an absolute genius with the computer...I'm envious) I will ask him to help me share my pictures.

shel

Daylily List and Descriptions

2009-07-15T22:58:00.000-05:00

I think that it was 18 years ago or so that my sister Shannon purchased a group of mail-order daylilies and planted them in front of her cottage-like house with the white picket fence. At the time I (foolishly) wasn't impressed with them, simply because I didn't have enough experience with the flowers.

Now I can't get enough daylilies.

A friend of a friend crossed daylilies and sold the undesirable (to her, anyway) offspring for a mere $5 a clump. Hornbaker Gardens in Princeton, IL had a $10 a clump sale a few weeks later. After visiting both of these places, I was officially hooked on daylilies.

Somehow the tags on my named lilies in the back yard are AWOL. I suspect that the two huskies, in one of their many Wild Dog moments, have kicked them up. Either the lawn mower has eaten them or the mysterious canna stealing critter walked off with them. Hard telling.

Here's a list of some of the daylilies that jump out at me:

I have a sunny yellow, rather tall lily with an extraordinary amount of buds that I thought was 'Karen Sue' but is not (according to the google image search that I just did.) This is one of the daylilies with the tags missing The show this daylily puts on lasts for at least two weeks. I have tried my hand at making my own daylily crosses (which is discouraged by the professionals...sorry, I can't help myself) and have found that this daylily is a good parent. I'll see if I can find the original sale tag to find out her true name.

'Fuzz Bunny' is a medium-sized double yellow daylily. There are only two to four buds per stem, but the unique bloom makes this variety a must-have. I haven't had any luck with crosses.

I believe the daylily on the other side of the deck is 'Little Grapette'. I LOVE the dusky purple-brown bloom with the darker eye. It is a small flower, and cute as can be. When I crossed (both ways) with what I thought was 'Karen Sue' I got muddy, disappointing blooms. I think 'Little Grapette' should be left as it is...just perfect.

'Ice Carnival' is a REAL work-horse. It is a tall, proud daylily that produces bloom after bloom after bloom. The flowers are large, pale yellow (almost white) beauties that are easily crossed. I have divided and shared this daylily many times, and it still gives me a full bushy plant each season. If you have a large area to fill in and want a mass of solid color, try 'Ice Carnival'.

'Winnie-The-Pooh' was purchased in honor of my niece Erin. She loved the fuzzy little bear. Too bad the lily isn't nearly as cute. It is a medium-sized plant with a orange-tan color. Personally, I don't think it's the same color as the Pooh bear, but maybe I'm just color blind. This plant hasn't multiplied much, and I've never tried to cross it.

'Strawberry Candy' packs a punch. The smaller plant has a medium-size flower that is a bright strawberry ice cream pink with a darker center. It has three to four buds per stem, so the show doesn't last long. It is a desirable plant simply because it's so darn cute.

'Exotic Love' is a WOW for sure. I have a great close-up picture of it that I will post if I can. (Darn it, the computer won't let me attach the pic. It says 'error' across the top in a big red band. Perhaps you can do a Google image search for it. I'll try to do another post with that picture, and pics of other daylilies as well.)

'South Seas' is a very tropical looking lily. It produces only a few buds and I haven't tried to cross it, but I do enjoy the flower when it is in bloom.

I have an unnamed cross from Hornbaker's that I like to unofficially call my 'Shelly Lily'. It is a bright pink with a bright yellow throat. I have shared this lily with many, many friends.

I haven't had the chance to write down the daylilies from the front or east yard. I will do so, and blog about them, at a later date.

Daylilies start blooming around the last week of June and put on a show for about a month in my yard. They are easily maintained, grow well in my clay soil, and demand little attention once established. If you haven't given daylilies a chance in your gardens, you should really do so.

shel

p.s. I still can't add an image. Curses!!! I did a Google image search and got pictures of all of the above-mentioned daylilies except 'Winnie-the-Pooh'. Notice how the 'Ice Carnival' blooms looks different in each picutre...sometimes a camera just isn't able to capture the true color. 'Little Grapette' is the same way.

If you get the chance, go to Hornbaker's in rural Princeton in the next week. The fields of daylilies will be in full bloom...it's a glorious sight! Get information by visiting www.hornbakergardens.com

Iris Borer Blues

2009-07-14T21:56:00.000-05:00

Now is the perfect time to thin and transplant your crowded or diseased iris. If your iris have failed to bloom well, it is possible that they are overcrowded.

Dig up the rhizomes, cut off any diseased parts, cut the green leaf spears off at an angle so that the foliage forms a fan shape about 4" in height, and replant the rhizomes. It is said that iris prefer to be sunburned, which means that you shouldn't actually dig in the soil. Instead, use a trowel to dig a shallow trench and place the iris parallel to the surface of the soil. Cover the roots with soil but leave the top part of the fleshy rhizome above ground (if it were skin, it would sunburn.) Water well to get rid of air pockets, and wait patiently for next year's show.

Do NOT put mulch on or near iris!!

I have noticed that my iris foliage is in sad shape. There are dark brown oval spots over most of the foliage. That's a sure sign of the dreaded iris borer. If you look closely at the picture above, you can see the borer.

I will dig up my iris rhizome and carefully inspect it for signs of damage (a hole, rotten spots, or a tunnel like area). The iris borer is a ugly, naked pinkish-brown fat worm-like borer that has one goal in mind...eat every bit of the rhizome that it can before it must pupate then turn into a month. Rotten parts can be cut away with a clean, sharp knife that I dip in a water/bleach solution between each cut. If I do cut into an iris, I leave the rhizome unplanted for a few days so the wound can heal over. When I find a borer, I dig it out of the iris and destroy it immediately. Any damaged parts are cut away. Some people dip their iris into bleach water, but I have never done so.

Mulching iris is a no-no because the mulch overwinters the borer. I have been lax in keeping the oak and hickory leaves off of my iris in the fall and winter, so I am guilty of providing the perfect habitat for the dreaded killer borer.

Did you know that the original big portion of the iris will never bloom again? You can cut off the "fingers" of new plants that grow out the sides of t original and replant them. Put the original potato-looking piece into your compost.

I love iris, and have at least 30 varieties that I need to dig up and divide in the next few days. Luckily iris multiply well so I will be able to share the beauties with friends and family.

For more information on the iris borer and for great gardening education, go to the Master Gardener's web site at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state/hort.html You'll love it!

Happy gardening,

shel

Is Anyone Out There?

2009-07-13T21:25:00.000-05:00

Is there anyone out there that reads my blogs? I know my niece Erin does, as well as my Aunt Sue (big hugs to both of you) but I really want to know...are you interested in what I have to say?

I blog because
1.) I enjoy writing.
2.) I talk too much, and my husband and daughter ignore me so I have stopped unnecessary conversation with them. I need to tell SOMEONE what's going on in my brain before I explode from too much pent-up jibber-jabber.
4.) I have discovered that I'm lonely. I shouldn't be, but I am.
3.) It's cheaper than therapy.

Please give a shout-out if I'm not alone here.

While mowing tonight, I thought of many subjects that I need to write about. Tomorrow I'll work on the iris borer problem that I'm having. The next blog will be a list (with pictures) of some of my daylilies (favorites, most productive for crossing, prettiest, etc.) I think that I'll also do a garden chore list, and then blog about what I have crossed off of the list for the day. It's a BIG list, believe me. Here's an interesting one...a list of 100 wishes that I would like to have come true. I'm not talking about the obvious (world peace, end of hunger, etc.) but of trivial wishes that would mean SO much to me!

What are yo ur wishes?

shel

The Case of the Missing Cannas

2009-07-12T20:30:00.001-05:00

Cannas are multi-talented plants. I appreciate them not only for their flowers (my hummers love them) but also because of the exotic foliage that they offer. They also come in various heights, which gives my garden layers of the WOW factor.

In my zone 5B garden, I am instructed to dig up canna bulbs each year before the first frost, but I never seem to get around to it. I live in the middle of the woods so my gardens are actually in a microclimate which allows them to come back after mild winters. This year, however, my cannas, dahlias and glads failed to return.

A few weeks ago I went to a garage sale that offered large, healthy canna bulbs for only fifty cents each. I purchased six of them, and planted them in the ground as soon as I got home. A few days later I wandered around the garden to find that the cannas had all been dug up and stacked neatly beside the empty hole! I replanted them immediately and went on my merry way, thinking that perhaps a skunk, possum or coon had been playing tricks on me.

Tonight I went outside while the baby was sleeping, and to my horror I found just an empty hole. There weren't even any canna carcasses to be found...not a root, shoot, or skin!

I have no idea of the guilty party, but I do know that if I find a critter lurking around my cannas next year I'm going to have to kick some butt. (Of course, it could be my bah-humbug husband playing tricks on me!)

shel

Mulch vs. Rocks - The Great Landscape Debate

2009-07-11T21:42:00.000-05:00

I tend to be very outspoken when gardeners ask my opinion on whether they should use mulch on soil or rock with landscape fabric when creating or redesigning garden areas. Instead of yelling "NO ROCKS!!! STAY AWAY FROM THE ROCKS! NEVER USE ROCKS LIKE THAT!!! DOOM ON YOU! DOOM ON YOU!" I try to calmly point out the pros and cons of each and let the questioner come to their own decision, but I admit that I can be rather theatrical when pointing out rock cons.

ROCKS - Pros

*Rocks are cool (but not in the temperature way).
*They never need replaced.
*You can get everything from white marble chips to tumbled river rock to pea gravel to lava rock.
*They are successful at keeping the moisture in the ground during dry spells.
*For the first year or two, rocks used in conjunction with landscape fabric will be weed-free.

MULCH - Pros

*Mulch breaks down, and therefore adds nutrients (especially much-needed nitrogen) to the soil.
*You can get mulch in many colors, sizes (chips to nuggets), and wood types.
*Mulch keeps the moisture in the ground.
*A proper layer of mulch will keep the garden weed free.
*It does NOT attract termites contrary to the rumors. If you read up on that, do an advanced google search using the domain .edu or go to uiuc.edu.
*If you have a garden walk or guests coming over just throw a sprinkling of mulch on the beds to make them look freshly groomed and remarkable.
*Mulch bags are easily handled. Even when wet, I can carry two bags of mulch.
*You can get mulch in bulk.
*Phone or Electric services will occasionally offer mulch for free when they are cleaning lines in the area. (Note - I have a huge mountain of wood chips in my front yard, behind some bushes so that no one can see it, that I will be spreading on my gardens this year. ALWAYS age fresh wood chips at least one year before spreading it on your gardens. If you sit on it long enough, it turns into a beautiful and nitrogen-rich compost.)

MULCH - Cons

*Mulch must be replaced each year. The first application should be approximately 4" thick (not touching the stems of the plants, however). Subsequent years require only a top dressing of mulch to make it look good and work properly.
*If you leave a bag of mulch sitting at the edge of the garden and forget about it, a baby garter snake may take up residence inside the bag and scare the s*** out of you when you open it up a few weeks later. Yes, I'm speaking from experience here. No harm was done to the snake, but I ruined a good pair of shorts that day!)
*Unless you spread Preen over the freshly mulched area, you can still have the occasional weed pop up.

ROCKS - Cons
*Dust particles are everywhere. They land in the cracks between the rocks and create tiny pockets of soil. Weeds LOVE to germinate here. You won't notice this for the first year or two, but after that it's all downhill.
*If you have rocks and landscape fabric, it's next to impossible to plant NEW perennials or annuals in that bed. You're stuck with what you have.
*Removing rocks from an area is a back-breaking, time consuming experience.
*Disposal of the aforementioned rock is difficult, unless you'd like to bring it over to me and drop it into my rut-filled driveway. Please.
*Rocks add absolutely nothing to the soil. Soil breaks down because plants use the nutrients, so you must use a liquid fertilizer to spot-treat if you want good blooms, root systems, etc.
*Face it...rocks are heavy. You can get a truck load delivered, but be prepared to have Ben Gay applications for days after distributing the rock. You'd better be in pretty good physical condition to shovel those babies around.
*Bags of rock are available, but ditto on the heavy part.
*Bags of rock also tend to rip. It's a pain in the patoot trying to clean up the spill when it happens on the lawn.
*Rocks soak up the heat from the sun. This can be good in the spring, but deadly in the summer and during breaks in the weather in the winter months. (Heating the soil causes plants to heave, which is one of the leading causes of plant loss.)
*If kids play in the rocks and happen to throw them onto the lawn, and you happen to run over them with the mower, the rocks can cause great damage to windows, the skirting around a trailer, or the eye of your pet dog...again, speaking from experience.
*If you use too many rocks, you'll cause the Earth to go off of its axis and we will all die. Okay, that's where I tend to get a little theatrical.

I love to see rock WALLS, or decorative boulders strategically scattered around for the zen aspect, or even football-size rocks used as a border around a bed. Rock Gardens are beautiful, but there is a combination of boulders of various sizes, as well as pea gravel, for this special garden.

Rocks DO have their place in the garden, but, in my opinion, they shouldn't be used as mulch.

I'll get off my high-horse now!
shel

Annuals Out My Ears

2009-07-07T19:56:00.000-05:00

I still have tons of double impatiens, rex begonias, and Waves to plant. Today (since we didn't go to Morrisonville) I went to mom & dad's house and planted some of the impatiens and left left the nicotiana and some begonias for mom to use in a planter.

Tonight I am totally exhausted as I haven't slept well since Phyllis' passing so I didn't have any energy to put the annuals in the ground. Perhaps in the morning I will be able to at least do a few containers.

In the meantime, I will cut the top 4" or so of the leggy impatiens, dip them in a rooting hormone, and stick them in a soilless medium. This will give me even a bigger crop to plant and share with friends, and will make the original impatiens bush out and become full.

I look forward to a day at home so that I can start my Phyllis garden, which will be filled with nothing but purple flowers.

shel

Phyllis A. Klinger - Her Life and Death

2009-07-06T16:53:00.004-05:00

At 12:15 this morning, Phyllis A. Klinger, my mother-in-law, passed away at the Taylorville Hospital. Unfortunately, we had left an hour earlier, and were not at her side. My heart bleeds to know that she was alone.

Phyllis was an excellent mother-in-law...she never interfered with our private life, hosted Thanksgiving dinners that were delicious beyond belief, and was incredibly easy to buy presents for.

In the past, she collected apple items for her kitchen. Recently her passion turned to Campbell Soup stuff. I had a blast looking for the familiar red and white can in unique situations..did you know they made a porcelain Campbell's Soup Christmas tree? Yep, she had it. Phyllis was passionate about the color purple, and loved just about anything in that color, except for lavender. I could never go wrong with purchasing for Phyllis.

I loved to hear the stories that Phyllis liked to tell, even though I'm not from Morrisonville and had no idea of whom she was referring to. She loved to stay abreast of the latest news from Morrisonville, Taylorville, and the surrounding towns.

Before I married her firstborn, Phyllis was a teacher. She dedicated many after-school hours with projects that would make the lives of "her" kids better. At the funeral home today, as we were making arrangements, one of the sisters (Kara, Kristy, or Kayla) told a story about how Phyllis used toilet paper to "tie" one of her problem students to a chair after she had done yet another destructive thing to the classroom. The original story was hilarious...I left out a lot in translation here. The girl ended up learning her lesson, grew up to have two children of her own (hopefully as ornery as she was) and be a productive member of the Morrisonville area.

Phyllis has been in and out of the nursing home in Taylorville for quite a few months. She was diabetic, with septic ulcers on both legs. I didn't know that she had been in renal failure for quite some time; she was very closed-lipped about things like that. The infection in her legs had pretty much overrun her body, making it impossible to bring her back to our world. I could look into her eyes, clouded over with agony, know that she wanted the pain to stop whatever the cost. It was hard to feed her ice chips, pat her shoulder, tuck in her blanket, and keep up a positive attitude. All that I wanted to do was yell at the nurses (they were only following doctor's orders and protocol, I know) for not being able to give her more morphine or change to a drug that would ease her pain.

On the whine side, I just have to say how unfair her death is. There were people that had been in the nursing home for years, minds and bodies gone, just waiting for their hearts to stop. Some wandered the corridors, singing songs and calling out for long-gone spouses, having no idea of even being there. Others sat in their wheelchairs, heads draped forward as they slept the sleep of the forgotten. Phyllis was still mentally alert, and, up to that point, only slightly out of whack physically. She used a wheel chair due to the condition of her poor legs, but was able to feed herself, go to the bathroom, and roll around to catch up on the happenings of her "neighbors". My selfish side thinks " WHY HER?????" In my heart, I know that she is in a better place, and, most importantly, out of pain.

Phyllis, I love you. You will be missed.

shel

Counting my Money Before It's Hatched

2009-07-04T14:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I spent all afternoon in Lincoln giving my resume to any business that I am even remotely familiar with. (Not Auto Zone, as I don't know my cam shaft from my rear end.) After depressing hours on my feet, dressed in a professional manner...terribly uncomfortable...and smiling my fake confident smile, I was ready for some good news.

Jessie brought Bryan to me at Wal-Mart so that I could bring him home for the weekend. Foolishly, I drove the Honda Civic instead of the van. We made the exchange and then I was on my merry way.

The portable greenhouse that was set up in Goodie's parking lot called to me as I tried to drive past it. "We're Making Deals", the sign beckoned. Although I had less than $20 in my pocket, I had to pull in. Good thing I did! The lovely young saleswoman was in a VERY generous mood. Annuals were $1.59 each, buy one get one free. The majority of the plants looked marvelous and weren't root bound, so I started packing in Rex begonias and double impatiens. Then the gal advised me that it would be cheaper to buy a flat for $8.99 and she'd give me one for free. To make a long story short, I ended up with four flats of+beautiful double impatiens and yellow, orange and red Rex begonias, a big planter overflowing with Wave petunias, four ten inch hanging baskets of ivy geraniums, two large tomato plants, and a few odds and ends. Out of the original $20, I came home with $4 plus some change!

Poor Bryan was surrounded by flowers as I tried to pack everything into my already loaded Civic. He probably got dizzy from the scents.

My original plan was to sell all of these plants at Farmer's Market this morning. It's held on the square in Clinton, and costs a mere $10 to participate. Last night I made price signs, cleaned up the geraniums, loaded everything into the van, and prepared to leave bright and early this morning. Unfortunately, rain started falling sometime in the early morning, and it hasn't let up! With both Bryan and baby Gabriel in my care today, I was unable to go sell my wares and make some extra money to pay for gas and groceries for the next week.

My mother always told me not to count my chickens before they were hatched. Guess I should have listened to her!

shel

Vegetable Garden Blues

2009-06-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

I pulled into the driveway at my parent's home today and noticed that the veggies in the 8'x4'x12" raised bed (built on their concrete drive) had grown dramatically in the three days since I had last seen them. The tomato plants did not get confined to cages, so they are lazily drooped over the sides of the box, their bright yellow flowers weighing them down. At the opposite end of the rectangle the two cucumber plants have engulfed the garden and have started climbing up the wall of the trailer. Green onions are ready to be enjoyed, as are the leaves of the three sage plants. In short, my mom and dad's veggie garden looks spectacular.

I schlumped my way through the shaggy lawn to my garden as soon as I got home, eager to admire the future bounty. What the HELL???? My tomatoes look just as scrawny as the day I planted them! Onions, which were planted at least a week before I planted at mom's, have tops that are already on the ground while the white part is still puny and tasteless. One zucchini plant has a bloom, but the plant is only about 2" tall so I have no idea if it will actually produce or not. All of my plants look stunted and pathetic.

I have to own up it my garden failure. Last fall I didn't till....didn't this spring, either. I haven't added organic matter, fertilizer, or mulch. Due to the extreme rain we have had this spring, I didn't water. I have never had the soil tested. In other words, I'm a failure as a Master Gardener! I didn't do anything right!!!! (Excuses are abundant...too much rain, was out of state, mom had eye surgery, took care of grandkids, and on and on.)

My plight is my own fault. The garden gets too much shade, so I will try to trim back branches that I can reach. I will add fertilizer and compost to the soil to try to get nutrients to the hungry plants, and top with mulch to help control moisture and temperature swings of the soil. It may be too late to do much for a summer crop, but I hope to clear out the failed plants and plant cold weather crops for the fall when the time is right.

The veggie garden is in the low part of the yard, and we had too much rain this year, so I will get wood to build a raised bed for next year. By doing that, I will be forced to add new soil, compost, sand and manure. The soil will be able to sit all winter long and "cook". Maybe in the summer of 2010 my garden will provide a plethora of vegetables!!
shel