Notes for January 21, 2009

My wife tells me that during the inauguration, we had a patriotic yard. We have a dusting of snow and had a bunch of bluebirds and cardinals at the feeders.

I think I finally finished looking through all the seed catalogs that I have received so far. Next I will probably take an inventory of what I have left and then make a list of what I need/want.

There are a couple of shade perennials that I may try. On the north side of my house I may try to get some ferns (although its not a low/moist area). I will just have to add alot of leaf mold to the soil and hope for the best. Its just another experiment.

In one of the catalogs (I think it was Kelly's Nurseries), I saw a Magnolia and a pink/red dogwood at a good price. Since I have been losing trees in my back yard I thought I may replace a couple with some flowering trees. I have a white dogwood in the front yard and have transplanted several of its offspring so a pink/red one would be nice. In the home where I grew up, we had a magnolia tree (not the kind with the shiny green leaves) and I really miss it.

Notes for January 12, 2009

I have been getting to enjoy watching the bluebirds in my yard. They are going to the suet cake feeder more often than the hedge or the dogwood (both with berries). I am noticing problems with the squirrels on the suet feeders. In years past the squirrels never bothered the suet feeders. I have a gallon glass jar feeder just for the squirrels and I put out whole corn as well. This year I am doing the same but noticing the squirrels on the suet feeder. I think its because that in past years I rarely had more than three squirrels in my yard. This year I seem to count at least 6 or 7 squirrels at a time, So there might be more competition for food.

I am starting to look through the numerous seed catalogs but I have yet to inventory.

Notes for December 19, 2008

Not much going on in the garden although the next warm day I would like to finish cleaning up the veggie patch. The tomato and pepper plant stalks are still tied to their stakes.

I have been getting a bunch of seed catalogs already. I usually start to look at them during the holidays when I'm not playing with any of my Christmas toys

Notes for January 11, 2008

The weather has been warm and wet and we even had some rumbles of thunder this morning. The dog is our thunderstorm proximity alarm and he visited us at 1:30 and 5:30 this morning.

I have started to look through the seed catalogs and painted daisies have caught my eye.

I think I might also purchase daylillies and iris from different companies several times this year. I will have the space for them and I want to keep the catalogs coming.

Notes for December 11, 2007

We've been cloudy since Saturday evening and getting off and on showers. It doesn't bother me now that I'm not trying to work outside. We need the rain but I would like to clean up the wind blown leaves that have collected along the fences and along the house before Christmas.

Saturday I did pick all of the carrots. Some were nice fat ones that were about 6 inches long. I hope they aren't too woody. We have a couple of nights in the teens and the plants were only slightly wilted.

Saturday I did get to make repairs from the wind we had a couple of weeks ago. I fixed my bird feeder wire as well as glued some flashing back onto a low roof. The chickadees and the nuthatches were scolding me as I was making the repairs (some nerve ).

I got another seed catalog in the mail this past week. Now I can start throwing out last years catalogs that are sitting on my bureau.

Notes for December 3, 2007

Woke up to a dusting Sunday morning but turned to all rain by the afternoon. However it was enough to send me to my knees on the front step as I was coming back into the house after starting my car before going to church. Luckily I didn't rip a hole in my pants but I got a nice strawberry on my knee.

Saturday I did run the mower over the leaves in the yard. I didn't do the whole yard, just the front yard and part of the back. I didn't bag them either, I left them in place.

I started getting seed catalogs. I got one from Totally Tomatoes. I was surprised that they had more than just tomatoes. They had peppers and cukes too.