For me, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is a bust this month. This poinsettia has been living happily on our dining table, in front of a big southern window since Christmas. At night we close the lined curtains, to slightly moderate heat loss. I've kept it watered, but yesterday I came downstairs and when I opened the curtains I saw that it was withered and drooping. I don't think it was below 32 degrees in our living space, but…
I planted these microgreens on February 2 and tonight I am harvesting them for our supper. Nothing could be simpler. Put seed starting mix in a container, press it down slightly, scatter your seeds which can be a mix from a company like Botanical Interests which I used, or seeds of any greens you have on hand - asian greens, radishes, beets etc. - and in two weeks or so you will have a harvestable crop. In addition,…
This view from the bedroom window, taken on Sunday has not changed much in the last few days. Temperatures have stayed very cold; minus 2 degrees this morning. Occasional snow showers and the frigid temperatures have kept the snow pristine and amazingly sparkly. Big storm predicted for tomorrow. We'll be prepared, but we'll see. For more Wordlessness this Wednesday click here.
I have written about the language of love before, giving it my own modern spin. Sharon Selz at The Country Woman Magazine has created several bouquets filled with loving messages in a more traditional tone. The bouquet pictured here says: I am lonely without you and desire a return of your constant love and affection. Flowers: hyacinth (constancy), jonquil (I desire a return of affection), rose (love), heather (solitude) I expect one could deconstruct her beautiful tussie mussies…
Slow Flowers by Debra Prinzing is the perfect book to be browsing through on this frigid day. The temperature is only 20 degrees, but the sun is brilliant and the ground sparkles with frozen snow crystals. As I turn the pages of the sumptuously illustrated book, my own summer garden exists in my imagination as it never has before. Debra's 52 weeks of bouquets from local flowers from 'garden, meadow and farm' are full of surprises and inspiration…
This is my post for the View from the Bedroom Window for the month of January. A continuing record. By January 5 we had 10 inches of snow and temperatures of minus 10 degrees last night. A Polar Vortex is promised in the next couple of days. On Monday, January 6 it was rainy and foggy and 50 degrees. The Polar Vortex arrived on Tuesday, January 7 with temperatures of minus 18 and WIND. The trek to the…
Spring is coming! I was inspired to repot this lemon scented geranium, which I have only done once before in nearly ten years. You can see I did cut it back some in the fall. I was inconsistent in my watering all winter, but as the days began to grow longer new shoots came up. I cut out all the dead wood and could see nice healthy growth more clearly. I took the geranium out of its pot,…
Before I end my discussion about garden planning, I want to add a few words about the view from the house, or more specifically, the view from a window. We spend time in the garden working, and time socializing in the garden, but we can also enjoy the garden when we are inside the house. Do you have a kitchen or dining table by a window that looks into the…
If I am counting correctly this is the 7th Greenfield Annual Winter Fare which will bring truckloads of fresh local vegetables to Greenfield High School on Saturday, February 1. Enter from Kent Street off Silver Street. Beyond vegetables there will be preserved products like pickles and syrup, honey and jams. Frozen meat! And to keep you shopping from 10 am til 1 pm music will be provided by Last Night's Fun, and soup provided by The Brass Buckle,…
Sastrugi is the word for the snow waves and caves. It comes from the Russian. Sometimes it makes very large, much larger than here, waves. I think it has been too cold and the snow has been too dry for that to happen with our latest snow fall. Sometimes the sastrugi takes the form of gentle ripples. For more (almost) Wordlessness this Wednesday click here