This is the sister's new green house. She just has to haul it home. I'm jealous. She will be starting seeds before you know it, meanwhile my green house is still mid construction. Maybe this will goad me on. A little tlc and this little gem will be great. Way to go sis.

Rain, rain go away... I have way to much to do outside in the garden and this weather is dampening my spirits. Almost March and I'm looking forward to spring. Sister and I spent the day yesterday walking about Watson's Nursery in Puyallup. Totally inspiring. The seed packages are all like little botanical paintings. It was almost overwhelming. I need to sit down and make a list of things I would like to grow in the garden.

This morning I put on my rain gear and mushed about the backyard trimming the ornamental grasses and cleaning up the perenials. I lost a few plants this last winter. Not to worry though it gives me an opportunity to get more. Last Summer I actually brought home a few plants then walked around the yard and realized I had no space... nada. I ended up poking them in pots. I vow this spring to remove anything that isn't perfoming well or that doesn't "suit" me so I can gather more.

Projects:

Put roof on the greenhouse

Redo the pergolas off the back patio

Move the grapes

Finish staining the concrete patio

Redo the front entry way pots

Move around some of the naturalizing tulips that have gone astry

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.