Recent Progress

Just realized that it has been more than a month since my last post.... In addition to some out of town travel, things have been pretty busy around the house. We're getting into some of the LARGER and more long-term outdoor projects at the moment, which means that the progress isn't as fast and quick to come as some of the early wins, but the pay-off's will be pretty good in the long term! Here's a quick look at a few of the more recent outdoor projects: Astilbe...

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So Much Rain... So Many Critters

Well the past weekend was a wash out... I did actually manage to mow the grass between showers on Saturday, but ended up inside all day on Sunday due to weather. Not the most enjoyable spring on record, but LUCKILY there's plenty to do inside too! If you haven't been keeping tabs, be sure to check out my other blog tracking the progress of our 1840 house renovation here: Between These Walls. ANYWAY enough complaints about rain... these guy's don't...

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Simple Beginings

Where to start? That's the question that's facing me at just about EVERY turn around here... The answer is never easy... it depends so much on the weather, my mood, the budget, the inspiration, and so many other factors. When it comes to the garden though it's pretty clear that the focus this year has to be on working through a decade or more of deferred maintenance and overgrown untended landscaping. Using that as a jumping off point I'm starting...

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We have a baby!

Little Baby Pax the Groundhog Working out in the yard this weekend and discovered this little guy hanging out around the shed (where I probably captured his mom earlier). He started off with quite a bit of chattering, but then warmed up to having us around and even let me pet him a bit. He made another appearance last night. He came right up to me and rubbed up against my boots and then followed me around while I knocked down some of the bamboo...

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Hardscape Archeology

Hardscape archeology is admittedly a term of my own derivation, but probably most accurately describes the challenge ahead as I try to literally unearth the hardscape features of the property after years of neglect and disrepair. First on my list is the pond out front. I decided to tackle this first because it sits pretty close to the road and is one of the larges focal features of the property. (Or it should be!) It was in such bad shape that it...

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Buh Bye....

Sadly the HUGE trees surrounding the house had to be taken out. They posed a number of problems. There was a lot of concern about the potential for damage to the house due to their close proximity to the foundation and the fact that they overhung the roof. Secondly the debris from the trees is the primary reason that we ended up with the need to make SERIOUS roof repairs. Not wanting to deal with that again, the decision was made that the trees had...

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Creature Comforts

I was planting roses out front on the trellis on Thursday night and went to clear off the ivy from the corner post of the arbor so that I could get it cleaned up and get some clematis planted and got QUITE a shock when I reached up to start hacking away at the ivy and a bird flew out right in my face! Seems a pair of turtle doves have decided that the ledge that the post sits on is a great place to set up home for their two little eggs....

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Up!

Dropteris (wood fern) emerging along the front foundation not sure what type yet! I mentioned it before, but one of the most exciting parts of the spring in any new house is waiting to see what's lurking out there... just below the surface.... just waiting to emerge... Out front it looks like we're host to an over abundance of volunteer ferns coming up out front where the large pine tree used to be.  They look like little violin necks as...

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First Day of Spring

A day of firsts... First day of Spring and first planting at the new house. We spent most of the weekend doing spring cleanup at the current place so we can get it sold, but I did make some time this afternoon to get over and turn over a little bit of earth. Nothing major. Planted some primroses in pots near the door and transplanted some mums that used to be in the front window boxes. I was actually surprised that they made it through the winter,...

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Where's Waldo

Where's Waldo? Some of our neighborhood wildlife seems to like to hang out at the pool.... In this photo... A black cat and a groundhog. I promise. Here's a better shot of one of the critters: Temporary Reside...

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Mysteries of Spring

One of the most exciting things about moving to the new house is just the grand mystery of what may already be part of the landscape and is just currently tucked away, hidden, just waiting for the right time to pop up and make an appearance. Some things like these naturalized crocuses are a welcome sight: Even more crocuses make an appearance. It's hard to tell in the photo, but they have pretty much covered a huge area of the back yard with...

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First Signs!

After a VERY warm couple of days last week it looks like there may be hope for the over-grown mess that is currently the new garden. In less that 24 hours the place seemed to suddenly spring to life with the arrival of HUNDREDS of tiny crocuses. Tiny crocuses make an appearance in the back yard They are literally everywhere you look. This is one of the patches just randomly appearing in the back yard. More spring time harbingers This little...

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On The Move!

The blog has OBVIOUSLY fallen into disrepair over the last 8 months! I could make excuses, but that's really not going to help! Let's just say MUCH has happened in that time period! The 2010 garden turned out to be one of the most productive to date and we still have a freezer packed with green beans and jars and jars of homemade sauce. That said, the 2010 season was a tremendous challenge as I really started feeling like I'd outgrown the tiny 16'...

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