Happy (Gardening) New Year

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

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

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

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....

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

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

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?

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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