First 80 Degree Day of the Year

Only 2 days after hitting 70 degrees for the first time this year, we hit 80 degrees for the first time this year! The official high was actually 83 degrees today and it felt hot! It has been cold and wet for so many months on end now that we are unaccustomed to any form of heat. It was also the first time this year that I really had both the daylight hours and the sunshine to work on an outside project after dinner. The support tower for the "Wiltshire Ripple" sweet peas hadn't yet been wrapped with bird netting. With the warmer weather, the sweet peas are finally taking off and I really needed to get this task completed. So with a lovely evening to spur me on, I got out the netting and got this project done. I am really pleased with how lush and green the plants are looking and now they can easily latch on to the tower and start their climb.

First 70 Degree Day of the Year

Rhododendron "Seaview Sunset"

It finally happened! We hit 70 degrees for the first time this year today. May 2nd. mind you and we only hit 70, but at this point we are so glad to see "just" 70 degrees. The swallows were swooping, the flowerbeds are beginning to dry out and this lovely rhododendron in the front flowerbed was bursting into bloom. Welcome, welcome warmer weather!

Planting the Lettuce and Sweet Peas

Our second lovely day this month and it fell on the weekend - hooray! That meant that I had no excuse to stay inside. It was time to get outdoor and get some things off of my "to-do" list. I started in the Kitchen Garden. Dad helped me bring a load of Nature's Best around and we added it to some low spots in the garden. Then I got out my seed stash and planted the two remaining raised beds with lettuce seed. I planted one bed with nothing but "Heirloom Cutting Mix" from Renee's Garden. Then, in the next bed I planted 3 rows of "Sea of Red" from Renee's Garden, 3 rows of "Green Oakleaf" from Seed Savers Exchange, and one row of "Yugoslavian Red Butterhead" from Seed Savers Exchange. It appears that the worst of our Winter weather is over, and I am hoping the lettuce will germinate.

After I got the lettuce all planted and covered, I couldn't help but take a peak at the Spinach bed. The spinach is doing great and I really need to thin it soon. 

The "Gazelle" plants, that germinated first, are just now producing their first true leaves.

Last Fall, when the builders were completing our new deer fence, it was necessary to move my chives from the Kitchen Garden so they wouldn't be trampled on as the posts were set in. Today I dug up my clump from its temporary home in the front flowerbed and settled it back home in the Kitchen Garden. It is growing like mad right now. My hands and the air were filled with a strong onion scent as I dug it up and relocated it. With a good watering in, I don't think it will even know that it has been relocated once again. 

After finishing up in the Kitchen Garden, I moved over to the Sunset Flowerbed. I brought out the Sweet Pea tower and set it in a bare patch of ground that had some fresh Nature's Best worked into it.

Then I transplanted the two six-packs of "Royal Family Mix" sweet peas from Hayhurst Nursery. I also dug up and moved 4 sweet pea plants that had germinated from last year's planting.

They look so little now, but will soon attached themselves to the tower and quickly begin climbing upward. I can close my eyes and practically smell them already.

I finished the day by beginning to weed one of your two new flower beds in the front of the house. Over the Winter, the new grass from the lawn has invaded the bed and is taking it over. I worked and work and managed to get a 1' wide strip weeded all along the front edge of the bed. There is still a lot of work to be done but at least it is a good start.

The First Sunny 60 Degree Day

Of coarse it had to be on a weekday, but it was still so appreciated. The first 60+ degree day of the year! We actually hit 61 today and boy was the sunny day welcome. It was hard to believe that only 4 days earlier I was driving to work in the snow. Winter will not let go of its grip on us this year but today was at least a taste of Spring and the days to come - we hope!

Winter Storm Clean Up

After what seemed like weeks and weeks of bad weather, we were finally blessed with a sunny weekend day. So with no excuses left, Dad and I spent a good 2+ hours today down on the secret path, working on storm clean up. We started at the entrance along the driveway and worked toward the bridge. Most of the cleanup along this section involved cutting back blackberry canes and cutting down small limbs and branches. We did encounter one fallen tree but thankfully it wasn't too large. 

Eventually we made it to the bridge. I raked the bridge free of fallen leaves, so that it could dry out. It was still slimy and slippery even when that was completed. I had Dad whack back a bunch of brush growing on the left, right before the start of the bridge. Many, many years ago, Dorothy planted Bearded Iris here. Each year they return, but rarely bloom. I think the area is generally too shaded for them. I hope this removal of competing brush will allow them access to more sunlight which will hopefully lead to more blooms for us to enjoy.

After crossing the bridge we hit the stretch leading to the Big Garden. Thankfully a crew hired by Lane Electric had already been through here, clearing access to the power lines. They had cut down, but left on the ground, at least one fallen tree and piles and piles of black berry canes. While I worked on picking up that mess to clear up the path, Dad started work on the large fallen tree still blocking the path. After only working on it for a few minutes, the chainsaw started acting up. I took that as a sign to quit for the day. While we still have 20-30 feet of path that still needs cleared, we got a ton accomplished. 

Iras, one Week Later

It has been a week since our surprising 4"+ of snow and freezing rain. While the snow has melted or fallen from the trees, it is still very present on much of the surrounding ground; especially in the front of the house. For the last 2 days, the temperature hasn't made it above freezing all day and today is expected to be the same. Our driveway is still only passible with 4-wheel drive so I haven't been able to drive my car. But today the sun came out for the first time in a week and it seemed possible that this latest episode of Winter weather might finally disappear for once and all! We are all ready!

Another Sunny January Workday

Finally, a sunny day off with nothing planned. So it was time to get back to the mowing project that hadn't been touched since just after Christmas. We attacked the bank and "meadow" in front of the house. It was actually so warm, I had to keep stopping for water breaks and wore a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes.

Near the end of the first tank of gas, I took a break up by the flagpole. Tom-cat and Solomon joined me and were soon snooping about a stump behind me. After some serious sniffing about, Solomon suddenly looked startled and quickly trotted back to the safety of the front porch. I couldn't imagine what upset him but later, when I was mowing near that stump, a HUGE drift of skunk odor rose from the cut grass. Phew, it was strong. I ended up mowing for 2 1/2 hours total today, until I was too hot and tired to do any more. Such a funny thing to say in January.

I was really pleased with all that we accomplished today and it was just in time. After I mowed behind the Sweet Gums, I found this clump of daffodils pushing upward. The blade had just missed them. Later, when I took a walk down to the big garden, I pulled back some leaf litter and found the "Passionale " daffodils are just starting to come up as well. 

First 60 degree Day of the Year - and a Record

I caught on film the tail-end of an amazing, if slightly worrisome day. Today, while the East Coast turned white under a winter storm watch, we enjoyed sunny blue skies and a high of 68 degrees! Yes 68 degrees. That broke an 80 year old record. It certainly wasn't a day to be inside and everyone was enjoying the balmy weather. And for the third night in a row, we were treated to a lovely sunset.

Garden Cleanup and a Cold Sunny Day

Today I went down to the big garden for the final clean-up of the year. I still had in the ground nine varieties of dahlias that I chose not to dig and save this year. All of these varieties displayed some unusual markings on their leaves, most likely the tell-tale signs of dahlia virus. In reality, I should have pulled these plants as soon as I noticed the first sign of virus. But instead, I waited until I had safely dug all of the other dahlias, just to be certain that I wouldn't transmit any virus from contaminated plants to healthy plants as I dug. Then I tossed them all over the fence. Again, I didn't want to toss them in the compost pile and risk further contamination. Then I covered the compost pile for the year and the garden was officially put to bed. A blank slate - except for the weeds - once more.

Although the high temperature was only 41 today, it was sunny and a very pleasant day to be working outside. As you can see, all of the cats were enjoying the late Fall sunshine.

Glorious Weather

The weather has been just amazing the last five days. Since Friday we have enjoyed high temperatures of 80, 83, 84, 85 and 85 again today. This is just what we were wishing for all Summer when it was 95!

The cats are especially enjoying these Indian Summer days. They are spending as much time as possible outside, in any odd spot of shade that they can find. I think they know that the sunny days won't last forever and need to be enjoyed to the fullest.

A Warm Spell & a Second Mowing

Tonight after I got home from work, Dad and I went down to the big garden and mowed. We hadn't mowed since early April, due to the weather and commitments during the sunny spells. Needless to say, the grass was very, very tall! In some areas, I had to go over it three times to get it cut cleanly. It took us over two hours of hard work, but we finally have it looking like a garden once again.

In the hedgerow that surrounds much of the garden, the oso berries are starting to ripen. It won't be too long before the birds strip them all from the bushes. I also caught the False Solomon Seal just as its pretty white blooms begin to fade.

May Day and Warm Weather

Another beautiful day today. We hit a high of 86 degrees! Our pink oriental poppy "Princess Louise" is always the first poppy to bloom for us each year. It has been blooming now for a few days and is loaded with buds. So often in the Spring, the rain ruins the petals and knocks down the blooms. But with all of the nice weather we have experienced in the last week, the blooms are just perfect.

The First 80 Degree Day of the Year

Today we experienced the first 80+ degree day of the year! We hit a high of 83 degrees and tomorrow is suppose to be even warmer. I am ready for Summer -bring it on!

The Neighbors Maple

About half a mile from our house, our neighbors have this volunteer maple growing on the edge of their property. For the past week it has been at peak color. I kept telling myself, every time that I drove by, that I needed to stop and take a picture of it ASAP! Thankfully the leaves hung on and today I was able to take a walk down to capture its beauty before it was too late.

Week #2 of Digging Tubers & Mowing

Today I dug another two rows of dahlia tubers; 4 rows up and 14 more to go! It was another warm, sunny day to dig. I could get use to this! The ground is finally drying out from the deluge of late September. Before I cut down the next four rows that I will dig up, I took some time to take pictures and cut some last bouquets from these varieties.

"Embrace" a BB Semi-cactus in Yellow

"Ms Kennedy" a Miniature Ball in Orange

Four plants of "Cornel" a red Ball

"Raeann's Peach" the coloration on this Single dahlia is getting a little strange as the season draws to a close.

"Red Velvet" a Waterlily form in red

I placed all of my cut blooms into a container to take back to the house.

I thought it created one last beautiful, autumnal display.

After I finished down in the big garden, I worked on mowing the bank across from the house. It is always a lot of work and I still have much to do. But even mowing this first section feels good. It looks so much nicer now and it is much easier for Tom-cat to explore! That's what really matters.

The "Last" Day of Summer

Tomorrow if officially the last day of Summer. Once again, how fast it has gone!

For me, certain flowers really represent summertime. Among those are Zinnias and Sunflowers. Happily I have both of these plants growing in my garden and as Fall quickly approaches, they are just beginning to bloom.

My two long rows of "Persian Carpet" Zinnias are really starting to look good. Almost of the plants are in the process of opening their first bud. Soon, they will all branch and the row will be a sea of color. This variety is so easy start from seed. For an investment of only $5-6 dollars, you can get a 20+ foot row of brilliant color that will last until the first frost. The more you cut, the more they bloom.

My July sowing of "Bright Bandolier" sunflowers is also beginning to pay off. About 1/2 of the flowers are now in bloom and I have a nice mix of yellow and deep red blooms. It is interesting how much taller the red sunflowers are then the yellow ones. I love how the three rows look this time of the year, back-lit by the late afternoon sunshine.