Summer rains

The summer rains were a much welcome sight, at least for me.  I finally finished planting the cutting gardens which seemed to take forever this year.  I know it's just because I plant more and more each year and in fact, this season I've run out of garden room!  I'll find somewhere for all those bedding plants wanting to be planted but for now, the main gardens are done.  So, the rains came at the perfect time -- a good solid soaking and now we're ready for some warmth. 

The perennial gardens are looking awfully lovely this season, even if I do say so myself.  Especially following a good rain.  Living on a well, I don't tend to water the perennial gardens unless it's absolutely necessary and when nature takes care by giving us a good soaking, it's one less chore.  One of these days when I have time (lol!) I'm going to get some kind of gravitational water tank up in the cutting gardens with attached soaker hose - any ideas?   Until then, the occasional soaker of a summer rain is very welcome here.  Forecast is for a lovely weekend so enjoy.  I plan on attending the Thunder Bay Potter's Guild annual Spring Pottery Fair after market tomorrow.  My husband Brad is an exhibitor there for the first time - way to go Brad!  And, speaking of the market, I've got a post planned about some of my favorite vendors - coming next week.  Until then . . . enjoy.  

Not so welcome visitors

It's been like a regular animal kingdom around here this week.

Yup, I know, cute as a button.

And even cuter here . . .

The problem is, those cute as a button babies get bigger appetites and even 

better at jumping fences.  Mom was showing the little one the produce aisle of the grocery 

store today.  Uh, huh, cute. 

Then there was this fine young lady found nesting in the rafters of my 

husband's shop.  Unfortunately, as pretty as she is, she and all her

siblings and babies create incredible amounts of damage in no time flat.  So, she

had to go and we had to call a professional in to round her up.  She'll be taken in and 

tested for rabies and whatever other things they test for.  I hope she finds a new more appropriate 

wild life style home.

  Yup, the animal kingdom.  

Here's to furry little friends . . .

Hard but joyful work

I Enter this day with a peaceful heart . . .

Yesterday was a great day in the gardens.  The sun was shining, there was a just right breeze to keep those nasty black flies at bay and the heavy duty weeding has begun.   I say begun because in these country gardens the weedin' is never done!  I'm beginning to mulch more than I have before to reduce the task and help retain moisture.  The pathways between the potager garden of the studio are being covered in weed cloth and at this point I'm leaning towards a pea gravel covering.  Almost all of the seeding has been done.  With the somewhat rainy forecast it will be great to get the rest of the seeding finished off and then mother nature can take care of the chore of irrigation.  Every little bit helps. 

The bedding plants, destined for the cutting gardens, are really ready to be planted out and we'll see what time and temperatures have to say about that this week. 

The perennial gardens are in the works for a work-over.  The potager studio garden is being geared toward becoming almost entirely fragrant.  The planning, the preparing, the planting . . . hard but joyful work indeed. 

To watch as our gardens grow this season, click on the GARDENS button a little later on in the season and watch for OPEN GARDEN DAYS.  We will be opening the gardens for your walk about pleasure. One day you may find us weeding, another planting, another creating decorative pieces like cement leaf water bowls.  Who knows . . . We won't be planning ahead . . . take a seat, enjoy. 

Here's to hard but joyful work!