28 June 2013

And time how she flies . . .

 . . . and then, it's July!  
The sunshine is all set, the rest is up to you.


Enjoy a fabulous July long, see you next week.

* * * 

{images:  thelittlecorner.tumblr.com, agirlsgotarighttodream.tumblr.com}

21 June 2013

Summer . . .



It may be raining outside but in my mind . . . 
Enjoy this first weekend of summer, rain or shine, it's official.

{Source:  agirlsgotarighttodream.tumblr.com, thelittlecorner.tumblr.com}


14 June 2013

Oh Me Oh My . . .

I've been absent and I've missed you. 

There has been much needing to be done around here. 
The spring gardens continue to slowly unfold and I took a very quick trip about . . .


The epimedium rubrum (because Barrenwort seems like such an unlikeable description) continues to delight me with its early appearance, ever increasing size and dusted red edges.  It has reached about 3 feet wide and charms me every spring.

It has also been a breath of fresh air to gaze upon the crab apple tree in full bloom ~ finally.  

The Trollius 'lemon queen' is shorter this year but its delightful color always welcoming.  Its nearest relative "Alabaster", a much paler yellow follows a few weeks later.  

I am quite certain that I'm hearing the honeybees breathe an audible sigh of relief for I do believe that spring has finally sprung and the heavenly scent of honey wafting across the flower field is indeed a sign of things to come.  

I hope you have managed to take a quick 'trip' around your little corner of the world.

I'll be back in a few days.  

{Images:  theurbanfarmchick.blogspot.com, pinterest}


07 June 2013

It's officially . . .

official.  
The blackflies have hatched!  And the wasps appeared seemingly out of nowhere today.  I guess that makes it almost summer.  Whew, thought that was never going to happen.


We'll be moving the outdoors in . . .




Enjoy this gloriously summer-like weekend.  

{Source:  thelittlecorner.tumblr.com, theurbanfarmchick.blogspot.com}



05 June 2013

Just askin'

A bunch of you have e-mailed and called, dropped in to say that you had missed the 'DIG IN' outdoor learning event and wondered what future learning events were in store.

  Well, the answer is ~ we definitely have plans brewing for workshops that will take place once the gardens are in bloom and then fun DIY shabby furniture workshops for early in the fall.  In the meantime, I'm throwing it out there . . . suggestions are always welcome. 
 Any ideas?  

You can e-mail me or leave a comment or post on the facebook page.


{image:  pinterest}

04 June 2013

Finding patience

For a gardener, patience is a two way street.  

Speaking solely from a perennial gardening perspective, I have to say I'm not minding the cooler, wet weather.  Unlike last year, the perennials are coming along nicely at a slow and steady pace, allowing me to do other necessary annual cutting garden work and that's a whole other story around here this year!

Generally, the perennial gardens get a very basic tidying up early in the spring and are then left patiently, no picking, raking or fluffing.  Many of the perennials in my gardens are left to go to seed in the autumn with the promise of seedlings the following spring.   This year, in order to prepare for 'DIG IN', the outdoor learning event which took place on May 25th, I cleaned up the perennial gardens a little more than I would have, even doing some "fluffing".  

Following the most recent rain and slightly warmer temperatures, lovely little plants began to poke their heads up, a gentle reminder of what's to come.  This included a precious little Hepatica 'americana' that I moved to its new location late last fall while re-doing the perennial gardens.  I was so happy to see her little face and horrified at the same time for it was then that I recalled having also set in 6 tiny little Hepatica seedlings at her side of which I could now distinguish but one.  My early fluffing had no doubt damaged the remainder beyond reclaim.  Hmm, huge bummer.  


Most gardener's I know are patient.  We patiently await the arrival of spring.  Patiently await the bursting forth of our precious perennials.  Patiently and joyfully water and weed and dig.    Perhaps not so patient enough to await the spring garden's true arrival in a year when our patient nature is challenged beyond its 'normal' level.  

The honeybee's are very patiently awaiting the arrival of dandelions - one of the first flowering sources of nectar.  While most of us curse this "weed", and many of the lawns in the city are ablaze in a sea of yellow,  I'm patiently awaiting its full-blown arrival in my yard so that the bees will have a fighting chance at survival in a year when there have been huge hive losses in this region.



So, while we wait, the bees and I, in between the digging and the preparing, I'm hoping to take a seat, enjoy a cup of tea and allow the gardens to show themselves, all in good time, at their pace.  The reward is always worth the wait.

And remember, no fluffing!