Winter? It's still November.
We got through Thanksgiving weekend all right and then wa la! Snow and ice. This means snow days for me. I work outside and wet works but snow and ice doesn't. I was glad when fall rolled around. My garden was tired as was I. Now however I feel that I've been put into hyper- drive. I still have some bulbs waiting to be put in the ground. I need to tidy up the beds cutting back all the seed heads and dried up foliage.

Is Summer on it's way out?
The mornings are a little chilly and I'm noticing a little powdery mildew here and there. There are a lot of things that need to get done before it's gone. There's the scrape and paint the house trim project, the caulk and touch up the corners project, and oh let's not forget the finish the greenhouse project. There are leaves accumulating underneath the tinus viburnum and the tropical fern underneath is starting to die back a little. The anenome hasn't bloomed yet but its usually quite late. My burgandy leafed clematis has deteriorated before my eyes. It must be root rot or a vole. It was my favorite, I haven't had it very long. I was so happy with the effect. Arrrrrgh. I'll have to dig it up and take a look see.

Okay, so it's not about the garden.
I can't help it. So how do you like my new chandelier? We found it at a yard sale for twelve bucks. I know it's a little large but it will be perfect for holidays and seasonal decorating. Hooray.

The Greenhouse Progress
We've one more window left to install. We plan to use cedar fencing board and batton style for the siding. The roof will be polycarbonate running lengthwise across 2x4 rafters. Yeah I know it's meant to lay up and down but for our pupose I think this will work fine. We will be overlapping the panels to shed water. Whee. I think it's coming together. If it wasn't so hot out we would probably be working on it right now.













Here's our Pumpkin. Hopefully he will be ready for fall display.



I really like the look of scotch moss around stones. We are thinking of using some out in the front yard along the street. I will have to check on how well it will do in that location.

We Have a new grandbaby.
As you can see Gramps is proud. Welcome little Madelynn. 8/15/06

Projects, Projects, & More Projects
This is my trellis made from recycled parts and peices. The color of the stain I'm thinking of using is called "curry" not quite as orange as the original pressure treated post. I'm using a solid stain so that I can tie everything together. I'm thinking of using the same thing on the Play Set to help preserve it.





"Happy little Echinacea"
This little guy was a volunteer that I moved around the garden
I have to remember that I don't have to save EVERY volunteer. I'm quickly running out of space.








This is the greenhouse as of this morning. Spouse is working on it as I type. What a guy. It measures 8'x10 and 81/2' tall at the shed peak. We are using a combination of old paned windows found at a junk store, made even better by having storm windows attached, and a newer 8' slider window that will allow for ventilation. We started it with more imagination than plan and are using a lot of leftover materials. We (actually I) want it to have a nice cottage like feel to it and yet still be very functional as a working greenhouse. We haven't totally decided on our roofing material and will probably use cedar fencing "board and batton" style for the siding to match our garden shed.

Late Summer Blues
It's the middle of August, the plants are getting tired and I'm getting tired of pulling hoses. An irrogation system would be marvelous. It seems that every spring I say we'll put one in in the fall and every fall I put it off until spring. We've reduced the amount of lawn so it's not too bad to keep going but the beds sometimes suffer. Well that's another project for another day. This evening we will be installing windows on the east side of the greenhouse, and framing in the doorway and maybe installing the small window on the north side.

I need a new look for the garden. Hmmmm. Maybe lose the pearls eh?

Monday, Monday
Tough row to hoe today. After having a couple of days off I found it a little tough to get going this morning. Work went well in spite of myself though and the day went quickly. Spouse picked up the supplies we needed for the greenhouse and we will try to work on it tomorrow. The neighbors have listed their house on the market for 289k and are hoping to sell quickly.
In the garden:
I've cut the shrub roses down so that I get a nice Sept. display of blooms
Need to deadhead the daisies. I've planted a shorter variety that have done really well. The taller ones seem to fall over. We picked up three more "midnight" Salvias. The ones in the beds now are a little behind. I will try to remember to protect them this winter either by covering them or potting them up in the greenhouse.

Great lilly


Corn in the cutting garden


The greenhouse progress

Whew it's hot.
Lazy Sunday afternoon and no ambition. No I take that back. No energy. Lot's of projects I wanted to complete before the new work week began. Blogger dashboard isn't letting me upload my pictures so I will add them later. We're making progress on the green house. we've installed the large window on the west side and are ready to frame in the door and add the rest of the windows. We have decided to make the door a sliding one so as not to block the path or take up space in the greenhouse. The door was given to us by Jim, Dan's fishing buddy and work cohurt. It has been cut down in height a little but will work really well for us. The fact that it has a large window is even better. "Thanks Jim"
Still to come this evening is the promised mowing of the grass. It is really growing these days and it's a joy to walk on it with bare toes but if it does'nt get shorn soon we'll be haying for sure.

It's August already.
Where have I been and how's the backyard doing?




Things are definately popping.

This is mom's little cabin in the woods. And of course the Famous outhouse. It's been a great summer. I've run out of room in the back garden and much to the Spouse's horror I am moving to the frontyard next. I've already shrunk the lawn and am in the process of adding more "stuff". Don't worry honey... I'll be kind.























"The Throne"

Mulch... a lot of it.
We ordered 5 yards of Composted mulch and 4 yards of 4-way ( a blend of mulch, sand, and soil) Looks like hubby will be busy for a while.

PEEP PEEP...

Happy Easter,

It's a wet sometimes, blue sky sometimes kind of day. Went hunting for "peeps" in the garden and Hubby mowed the lawn.

Back to work tomorrow. I did get some wire doo-hickeys to hold the bellflowers up, and plan to get a few more for the peonys. Ahhhh... the sun is peeking out again. whee.

Another Rainy Morning in the NW.

Woke up to the sound of drizzle. I don't know that I'll get much done in the backyard today. Another cup of coffee, a little lazy and still in my jams. I did clean out the plastic lid drawer though. I wonder where all the containers went. I was merciless. No matched set and out it went. Ahhhhh. the cleansing. Always a nagging thought of someday finding the missing element. I've added a link to a menu generating site. Great, simple food. I am tired of the wondering what's for dinner routine. The rhodies and azaleas are beginning to bloom. This is the time of year when everything seems to speed up. I went to lowes and was shocked to see geraniums and bedding plants out already. I feel so behind. Must remind myself it's only April 8th. Was really tempted. I will I'm sure succomb to a few hanging basket plants. Ah what the heck What are the odds of a real cold snap anyway. Okay, I'm up and moving headed for the shower. Well maybe just one more cup of joe.

Things I saw while out and about on the job today...

Did I mention that I love my job, prancing about, taking in gorgeous veiws. See the fireplace up above? It's all that remains of a house or cabin on the Sound. You can see that the water level comes up quite a ways. I wonder what the house was like... there's certianly a lot of craftsmanship in the stone work. Click on the photo to get a better look. Trillium and salmon berries. Totally a NW treat.

Now that's some blue sky!!!

The cherry tree is beginning to bloom. What a beautiful day in the NW. I want to be out working in the yard but work today has left me pooped. I did however manage to snap some pictures. Maybe I'll accomplish something tommorrow.

Little rhodie has bloomed

The afore mentioned cherry tree

Sedum basket beginning to pop

April Showers...
But not today. This was a great day. Blue sky. All is well with the world. I ran accross this great idea for garden edges at work today & snapped a couple of pics. Making the best of native rocks.









Kendal's pumpkin seeds. They will be quite large by planting time.

What a Haul!!!



Thanks to my freind Cathy I have an el camino full of treasures. It's always a treat when other gardeners are re-doing their yards. I've inherited 2 spirea, a large kerria, a fragrant climbing rose, 2 large new zealand flax, a couple of barberries, and a handful of sedum. Oh, and a clump of iris. Whee!!
I've planted the Kerria next to the tuscan garden gate. I love the pea green stems. I planted one of the spirea on the hillside and the other nest to the terrace. The barberries I planted up along the fenceline and a large flax between the patio and the flagstone terrace. Oh and I did get those lilies planted.




Thanks Cathy... I owe ya.

It's Friday. At last.

A breezy, rainy, blue sky, grey sky day in the NorthWest. Came home from work and walked around the yard with the camera to record the latest outcroppings.

Windowbox on the shed

Tulips in the compost bin

Peonies popping

Little cherub

Wooden shoes waiting for summer blooms

The little side yard...
the only afternoon shade I get

Waiting to be planted