Garden Roundup

Pansies 

 Garlic

Snowdrops



 Fuschia

 Daylily and violets

  New lavender plant

What beautiful weather we've had this week. My attention turned towards the gardens, beginning with tuning up Troy, my Troybilt tiller, and replacing two oil seals and one gasket. The ground dried out enough yesterday and Troy and I took a spin around some of the beds.

I planted peas, onions, spinach, kale, chard, pak choi and beets. I transplanted tomato seedlings into the next size flat and started some shallots.

A trip to the garden center was also on my to do list. I came home with a fuschia plant, a new lavender plant (my old one didn't make it this past winter), a new thyme plant (also didn't make it) and another oregano plant.

I woke up this morning tired and sore, but happy that spring is here!
Until next time.....

Signs of Spring

Talk about a stormy Monday! We have some wicked storms passing through TN today. Our power has flickered on and off, but so far things have not been that bad. Fingers and paws crossed. The rain let up for a bit, so I have the windows open. Outside I hear a chorus of birds, light rain and thunder. All signs of spring.
A few photos from around the place this past weekend.
Pansies and spring onions
Lilac buds
Phlox
Day Lillies

Until next time.....

Rain Day

It's a beautiful rainy morning here in Tennessee. After spending two days pruning trees and hauling brush, it's just the break I need.
Spring is officially here. The mockingbird is sitting atop the Foster Holly outside my window, singing her sweet song. They sing so quietly this time of year, after not singing all winter.
Our daffodils are beginning to bloom. I love being able to bring the sunshine indoors.
Althea is tucked away on the futon. She looks so comfy. I'd love to join her. But I really should head into the studio and get some work done. I have numerous pieces in the making and finished jewels that need to be photographed.
I think I'll have a cup of espresso first though and sit here listening to the sounds of spring.
Until next time.....

Daffodils and Ditches

During our Sunday walk, which was cold, windy and gray, we noticed that patches of daffodils were in bloom. These are the heirloom varieties. The early bloomers. Varieties from years past that can be found along roadsides and around abandoned farms. They're always a welcome sight to see.
Until next time.....

Feels Like Spring

Today it was in the high 60's. It feels like Spring. Yesterday was almost as warm. I was out in the garden sprucing up the place, getting a jump on the season. I don't like the unseasonably warm weather. I'm probably in the minority here.
The rosemary is still alive. It is usually dead by now. I do love having fresh rosemary, but it's just not normal for the bush to be alive now.
I can only imagine how bad bugs will be this year! Happens when the winters are warm. Oh, did I mention that I got a tick yesterday? ALREADY!
Until next time.....

Snow in the Southland

Snow dusted the landscape this weekend. With camera in hand, I headed out to photograph trellises, sculptures and rusty bits that grace our gardens. I could use a few more snow days. Pretty please.
Until next time.....

Wordless Wednesday

60 Tons and What Do You Get?

Well, in our case, let's hope it's a dam that is repaired and no longer leaks. Back in '06, when we bought Crystal Lake, we did not know that the dam leaked. John got in touch with the local dam man and found out what we needed to do to try and fix the leak. This fall we called in the big guns. Heavy equipment arrived. The area where the leak is was dug out and repacked with clay. Trees were cut down. The roots are what caused the leak. Loads of soil were dumped on the dam and the far side of the lake. Then the topsoil came. 60 tons to be exact. It took us two trips up to the mountain to move it around, rake it out and seed/straw it.

It was nice to get this job finished. Now all we have to do is wait and see if this repair worked.
Below is a photo from the dam to show the depth of the water now.

And this next picture was taken a few years ago in winter. You can see how low the water is now. See the blue chair on the rock? The water should come right up to the rock and sometimes over it.

I found this horseshoe in one of the loads. Hopefully it brought us luck. Keep your fingers crossed. I wish that we had a dam cam set up so we could watch the progress from here. That or a Bambi Airstream. I'd volunteer to move up there to monitor the situation!

'Round Here

It's been sunny, windy, rainy, cool and warm. The perfect mix of spring weather for me and the garden. It's still too wet to till the garden. If we don't get rain this week, I may be able to till by Thursday. Here's hoping!

1. Black violas
2. Lilac bush
3. Onion seedlings
4. Bachelor Buttons

After The Rain

Garlic bed

Daffodils

Snowdrops

Thyme

Chives Rosemary Parsley

Wordless Wednesday

After The Storm

Two full days of strong storms, here in TN. Today, the sun came out. What a wild ride!
Until next time.....

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day from my garden to yours.

Until next time.....

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Snow Day!