Weeds, Wishing, and Wood Weary

Weeds: I spent sometime in the garden today. I hadn't done much weeding this year because it's been so damp and dreary. Then suddenly I realized that the weeds weren't waiting for a sunny day to grow so I'd better not wait for one to yank them out! I got my large back bed done, one half of my front beds done...and then fatigue hit. I'm hoping for decent weather tomorrow so that I can finish up the second front bed and the "little" beds around the yard.

Wishing: I'm still hoping for success in the veggie garden this year. But because I tend to have clay and more weeds than actual weed pulling energy I've decided to give Square Foot Gardening a try. The website was intriguing enough to get hubby to make the squares for me but I decided that before starting I really needed to get the book. I've just started reading it and I'm very hopeful that this will help me start a "manageable" size garden. I'll keep you posted.

Wood: I'm still making screen doors. And have several orders for more. It's keeping me busy but I'm really enjoying the learning process. I've found a great woodworkers site: Lumberjocks and this has been a wonderful place to get advice when things go wrong! I've had fun posting all my trials and tribulations there. Here's a look at my last two doors.

Insanity and the Love of Flowers

I am trying to find time again to get back into the blogging "loop".  It's hard to find time though.  But I will keep trying!  I never stopped believing that I would come back to blogging and to my friends and eventually be able to find a balance to my life again.  Just bear with me as I do.

So, forgive me my absence...and now on to the flowers!  Those of you lucky southern gardeners are enjoying your lush spring blooms while I lovingly await every single daffodil but I don't begrudge you (much~LOL). 

I've made my first visit to the Backyard Farmer for the season.  As usual I found Brian just before closing for the night.  He was headed out to a home show that they take part in every year.  This is the second year he has encouraged us to stop in and visit his booth and the second year...we just couldn't make it!  Aw, it's awful how badly we wanted to go but with the lights and crowd it might've been too much for our daughter.  So we hemmed and hawwed about going but in the end we just didn't want to risk it.  Ofcourse, despite my excitement over getting fresh mulch from Brian...the kids were more excited about Claire the dog!  And she seemed just as happy to see people.  It's sad when even the animals are suffering from "Cabin Fever".

Last year's veggie garden was a devastating disaster (late frost, lack of time, aggressive weeds) but I will not give up!  So I am planting seeds once again.  I'm a bit later than everyone else but...Time hasn't been on my side.  I've decided that it's not about obtaining a perfect garden.  After all, I'm NOT P. Allen Smith!  Nor am I Norm Abrams...but that doesn't mean I can't try, right?  And in that spirit I thought I'd show off some of my latest Rustic Garden additions.  I've begun making Rustic Screen Doors and have had quite a few people ask to buy one from me.  It's a great stress reliever for me when I can't be out in the garden (which is only about 6-7 months out of the year).  I hope your enjoying your spring and I hope to blog again soon.

Harris Seeds urges me back to the Garden!

After what could arguably be the most difficult year of my life I think I may be ready to rejoin the "rest of the world". My daughter's Epilepsy diagnosis nearly a year ago sent me into a bit of a tailspin. It seemed like living in the Twilight Zone. While she doesn't have good seizure control yet we are working towards the goal.

I was just beginning to think that maybe it's time to reconnect with those forgotten hobbies when I got a gift in the mail...My Harris Seeds Catalog. I thumbed through the pages and began thinking, "This year's garden will be better!" (Well, after the horrible results last year it couldn't be much worse!) Then just this morning Harris Seeds sent me a second gift...An e-mail invitation to a Seed Starting Seminar!

After watching this seminar I was impressed! While I knew (or thought I knew) most of the steps in seed starting this seminar answered all the "Why?" 's. I found it to be a wonderful, comprehensive, easy to understand, and thoroughly enjoyable seminar! So if you have some time (it is quite legnthy--in a good way) I highly recommend a visit to Harris Seeds if not for the seminar then for their seeds!

Crazy. Wild. Wacky! What else can you say about the weather when your daughter has her June birthday off from school because they've used the last "snow day"? While we didn't actually have snow we did have a State of Emergency in my town due to wild weather. We lost our power and didn't regain it for days. But finally life has begun to resume it's "normalcy". Yeah, right, my life isn't ever normal!

And neither are my gardens! I've gone from lush Iris beauty to well...less than lovely. It's that odd time of the season when spring blooms are over and summer blooms need another week or so. But still I can find beauty, peace and tranquility (and weeds) in any garden!

Like this last of my Iris beauties to bloom.

I was surprised by this lemon yellow Iris when it bloomed amongst it's already spent purple counterparts. I find that my gardens go through color changes throughout the year. You might think I planned for Early Spring to be yellow (daffodils, narcissus, and such)...Late Spring to be purples and blues (Bearded Iris, Siberian Iris, etc)...Summer tends to be more fiery with pinks and oranges (daylilies my one true love) and...Fall with it's deep dark solomn reds, oranges, and browns...But you'd be wrong. I simply toss everything in together and then marvel that I haven't made a mockery of the gardening experience. Yet, I've never been truly unsatisfied with any of my gardens.

Such is the case with my Compost Garden. Every plant in this new garden (planted fall of '07) was saved from a Gardening Friend's Compost Pile. I really had no idea of what I was "saving" I just grabbed anything that I could and shoved them in the ground. I am pleased to recognize many of my favorite plants (Siberian Iris, Daisies, and Daylilies) and even more excited about the plants I've never had before including Virginia Bluebells. I love the entire garden but I'm not loving the weeds creeping up over my rock border as they launch yet another attack on my garden bed.

However, this isn't the only gift from a Gardening Friend that is currently giving me delight.

Thanks Apple for this bit of fire in my "Adirondack Fire Garden".

And another "Thank You" to Marci for the gift of Sundrops making today Sunny!

My Iris Beauties!

I hate to Brag...But I'm going to anyways! I have even more Iris varieties opening every day. Because I received these as gifts after blooming last year I've never seen many of these in bloom. So each day is a bit like Christmas for me. Yesterday, I was surprised with this Pink/Peach beauty. And just like the best gifts it has some beautiful ruffles along it's edges.
I was stunned when I saw the coloring of this magnificent Iris this morning. The center is such a beautiful light blue with more traditional Iris colors on the outer petals. I think I'm in LOVE!
And Finally, the Iris that I tracked down for my husband has bloomed. I had heard rumors of an Iris named "Banjo Blue" and had to have it for my banjo-picking hubby. Although in this photo it might seem slightly lavender in reality it is a stunning blue.
I have no idea what the variety name for this Iris is. So I've decided until I find out that I'm going to call it Radish. Seems color appropriate.
We had a lot of thunderstorms and rain last night. I was worried about my poor flowers and rushed out to check on them at 6:15 a.m this morning. I was thrilled to see this beautiful Iris display!

And soon we will move from Iris time to Daylily time. Don't you love gardening?