Azalea Bush
When under the stress of cold it is time to curl up with a book and blanket and wait it out.
We can stay in or go out by dawning the hat, gloves, boots and coat.
Here’s what the azalea does. Curl up their leaves and let the cold winds blow on by.
Azalea leaf curled up
You know when it is a nicer day by watching the leaves curl and uncurl.
{ 1 comment }
Did you see them? …the carnage? Christmas tree lots left with lying bundled trees.
It takes just as long to weave 2000 lights on a forever green tree as it does to go on the tree farm excursion.
Forever green 2000 light Christmas Tree
Just think….20 years from now we won’t be up on the 30 ft ladder putting up the Christmas lights…why? How old will you be in 20 years! We’ll have to hire those young kids or just forget it!
Do you see it? The wreath tossed up over the top of the tree?
Forever green wreath
First on the ground the strands of lights are pre-strung anchored to the forever green wreath and tested that all are working. Then up the 30-ft.ladder, leaning into the branches and over the top of the evergreen tree goes the forever green wreath.
Evergreen Winter Lights
Got an easier way?
Wreath Lights on Evergreen
{ 0 comments }
I’ve seen more birds this winter at the feeding stations that I did all summer. It is the sunny days that bring the most flocking to their plates of seeds. Among a flock of Red finches was a single Goldfinch. At least he was traveling in good company.
Recommended feed is the black oil sunflower seed. Best bang for your buck is a specialty birding store. They’ll get you the stuff birds flock too–fresh seeds, feeders for every occasion and ideas to keep the squirrels away—or just give them the peanuts.
One winter upon moving to a new house—snowed a record 9” that day—I thought the birds would flock to food. Out went the feeders and some cheap department store bargain food. Not one bird all winter.
Then I knew it was gourmet for the feathered friends. They pay attention to the details of good seeds from new crops. Give them the best.
{ 0 comments }
Entering the room…one inhale…and I know what has happened.
The Hoya blossom cluster has opened. I head with delight to my plant. It has started and the blossom opening will go on for a month or more.
Sad to say I’m waiting for this event to happen again.
House number one. The one leaf start from a friend found the perfect spot. A south window angled to get the west sunset. It grew in that spot for 12+ years. Managed a few blossoms. Had to move it.
House number two. Trimmed way back. Couldn’t find the right window. Just grew. Had to move it.
House number three. Just grew. Had to move it.
House number four. Hung over the tub in an east window behind obscure glass. It began to bloom profusely. Every year for three seasons. Had to move it.
House number five. Transplanted. Lots of new growth. Rewound around trellis. Still waiting. Need to move it around until it finds the right spot.
Blooming depends on plenty of indirect light, dry periods, and then watering with bloom fertilizer in the spring when the days become lighter.
{ 0 comments }
Wipe out
Annihilate
Swat
Propellant
This summer was the year of the wasp. After a hit and run to the elbow and tip of the nose they had my respect. Avoid all contact.
The first two days there was no reaction. Then the itching started and a headache and sick feeling. This was an allergic reaction—just five days late.
This summer was void of birds in the yard. The wasps took over. They had free reign of the insects. Their nests were in the eves, garbage can, bird feeders, bird houses, bushes and between the deck and porch railings. The paper hives were in the tree and under the deck.
Yellow jackets, bald face wasps—call them what you want—they don’t want you near.
In late summer all afternoon work stopped in the yard. They were just too busy and active.
Do they die? Some are dead before they hit the ground, depending on their position in the family. It’s the queen. She reigns. As they hunker down for winter she is the one that will survive.
They hibernate. Now is the time to get rid of garden debris and you may extinguish a queen wasp!
{ 0 comments }