Category: Uncategorized

We’re supposed to have snow tomorrow night into Sunday morning.
Yesterday, it was in the 60’s in the afternoon after a wild rainstorm. I was able to finally poly coat the front railings.
I think I have everything needed for the floor except for the accessories, which should be arriving next week. It’s been a challenge to get everything in order: underlayment, cement.
I bought several shades of paint for the walls and woodwork.
James and his friend Ethan are here. They are fed and happy, watching a DVD.

Finished dead heading and pruning today, at least for now; mulched the rose bushes and the skimmias. Glad I planted them, they are the only bit of color left.
Cut down more grasses. Wind advisory. The garden looks fairly tidy, but it’s depressing, and I’m missing summer.
With the solar lights on, the garden at night resembles the bow of a ferry, as seen from the wheelhouse.
Changed out the flower boxes on the shed Thanksgiving morning. I like the colors, green and white.

Thanksgiving. Started pruning today, made a good sweep through all of the gardens. Things look much neater.
This year, I’m especially thankful for Mr. Fluffles.
Planted some pretty skimmias the other day, and fortunately for them, it’s been raining off and on ever since, and expected to do so for the next several days.
Done with the lawn for the year except for raking and probably one last mowing.
Tried to Thompson’s the deck, but I waited too long, temps have been too low (below 50).
Nice Thanksgiving dinner at Sandy’s, was good to see everyone.
NOT looking forward to the flooring project. I have three bids, and have been trying to ensure that comparisons are equivalent. Worn out with home improvements.

Frost this morning. It stuck to the bluegrass in the sod but not to the rest.
Grass got its fall fertilizer earlier this week.
I won an eBay auction for a stainless steel gazing ball. Got a glass globe at Home Depot, but it’s too small. Might find another spot for it.

Placed more sod yesterday, then Peter drove us to Framingham to sign off on our checks, which we deposited last night. Mine has already cleared. We saved at least a week by picking up the checks rather than mailing everything back and forth.
Weather wasn’t too bad on the way up, but it was raining pretty hard on the way back.
Took everyone to lunch at Fugakyu in Sudbury. We were about ready to leave when the power went out.
One of the lenses in my glasses popped out while I was getting ready; Peter got it back in.
Refilled the bird feeder the other day, thinking about rigging up a large plastic tray to discourage the squirrels. Put up the Halloween decorations; yesterday’s crazy wind blew a couple off.

April and Tony worked on the front yard on Saturday (24th), didn’t have a chance to finish with the rain; got over an inch.
Nice day on Sunday, drove to Wellfleet for the finale of the 2009 conference.
Still undecided about whether to put down more sod in the back. It’s such hard work, I hate the thought of it.
Big puddle in the back at #11 where Rich removed weeds and other “junk”, need to talk with him about that and the hydroseeding at #20.

Continue reading Gardener’s Diary

Woke up this morning to find the umbrella knocked off its base and another inch of water in the empty tuna can that serves as a rain gauge.
Very happy that I decided not to venture forth last night.
Accepting one’s limitations is part of middle age; some may call it wisdom, some, risk aversion or even resignation.

Continue reading Bets, Good and Bad

Warm and pleasant yesterday, mowed for the second time. The new sod seems to be doing well. Cold and windy this morning.
Put in a new little garden two days ago in the newly loamed area that used to flood in front of the blueberry patch. Found two gorgeous purple asters on sale at the Dennis Agway, and a nice little half-price white Butterfly Bush, two Montauks and some pretty annuals at Pondscapes.
It’s nice to have that formerly dismal spot so pretty, especially since it’s the first thing seen when you pull in to the driveway.
Counted them up the other day, I’ve put in over 100 plants this season.

It’s supposed to warm up, but this morning, there’s frost on the ground.
Soggy weekend, and yesterday afternoon, I finally got the 3 yards of loam distributed. Looks like I’ll need to fill in more areas that were swamped by the rain.
Put down some more sod on Saturday.

Last night, I dreamed that I witnessed something I’ve always wanted to see, the migration of monarch butterflies.
There were thousands of them, flying in a narrow formation above a sandy path to the ocean, where they landed on the beach.
The butterflies were big, with wingspans of about a foot.
The butterflies weren’t at all menacing. In fact, in dream interpretation, they are a symbol of positive change and transformation.