A Look Back on Gardening in 2012

It is the first gardening season in our new home and to say the least, it has been a very odd year at best.  When we moved here last September, I was quite excited to discover we had two peach trees and a pear tree.  Needless to say, I had a lot of plans but the weather simply did not cooperate.  Within a very short period of time, my gardening plans turned into a comedy of errors!

Our new house

The Heat of the Day

Now that we are back home from our three week spring vacation, attention has been turned to outdoors.  We have opened the pool, bought a few plants and we are getting to know our new property.  I actually discovered a gooseberry bush yesterday!  What I have noticed is this is definitely a hot property.  Unlike our last house, there is very little in the way of shade.  Our last house was so shaded

Unseasonably Warm Weather with Record Breaking Temperatures

The past two weeks have been unseasonably warm with record breaking temperature in the 70's (F) highs and lows in the 50's (F).  Now that is just unheard of here in southwestern Ontario this time of the year.  Folks are walking around in shorts and sandals.  Our neighbours actually had their AC on yesterday!  Folks have been out doing spring yard clean-up but at the same time some are really

The Home Gardening Season is Fast Approaching

Today is the last day of February, in a leap year no less.  I can't believe the first two months of 2012 have flown by so fast!  We normally have the furnace on late October to mid-April but this past winter has been extremely mild to a fault.  Just last week a couple of farmers were talking in the local ER waiting room about the lack of cold weather, specifically a hard freeze.  One said that

Another Winter Lacking Snowfall

Normally we have a light snowfall in late October, a bit heavier in November and quite often snow for Christmas.  We had just enough snow so far to barely coat the grass but it was gone in a flash.  The temperatures have been quite mild as well especially this past week with temperatures above the freezing mark.  In fact, we have yet to have a hard frost which translates into a lot of mud and

Turning Cold

It's turned rather cold here meaning that we aren't getting a lot done in the way of gardening at home or at the vacation home.  We left home in beautiful Ontario, Canada just before we had to turn on the furnace.  According to our kids who are housesitting and doing a bit of garden work there has been few days since we left that they could get anything done.  It was a balmy 90°F plus at our

A Few Thoughts on the Weather

We left for our spring vacation on May 8 returning home late May 25.  Actually we made a pit stop at home for about 18 hours between flights.  I have pictures to share and got a lot of novel growing ideas during the trips so will share those as well but to start off I have a few thoughts on the weather.  It was a long, drawn-out winter with ample snow fall.  There wasn't a spell of bitter cold

Not Quite Spring Weather

This Morning's SnowfallApril 18, 2011
We woke to about two inches of snow this morning.  I'm sure the daffodiles and tulips are not appreciating their wintery blanket.  The calendar says it's spring.  By this time last year the weather had been on the warm side enough to be in summer clothes to celebrate a couple of our grandkid's birthdays.  The sun was even warm enough to give that first glow

Bald Headed Eagle Visit

Bald Headed Eagle VisitFebruary 9, 2011
There is a family of Bald Headed Eagles nesting not too far from us.  They have been taking advantage of the ice floats but it is only by luck to get a picture as they don't stay long.  I took this picture from the kitchen patio doors.  Looking closer the eagle was interested in the carrion on the ice but within seconds of the second photo the eagle took

Horror Frost

Horror FrostFebruary 23, 2011
Last we had a very heavy frost, termed horror frost.  This happens during the winter when the temperature suddenly rises causing heavy fog then the temperature drops causing the fog to form heavy ice crystals over everything.  It usually only happens a couple of times during the winter.  It really is quite pretty to wake to.  The gardens were a mystical delight!

March Came in Like a Lamb

The first two days of March have been rather pleasant, bright and sunny but a little colder.  We have experienced a good amount of snow accumulation this year.  Overall the temperatures haven't been too cold.  I don't think we have even had a bitterly cold spell this year which is nice given the rising home heating costs.  It will soon be time to turn my attention to this year's gardens,

Our

Snow and More Snow

Here I was concerned over the lack of snowfall but earlier this week we ended up with about 35 cm of fresh snow total over two days.  They were calling for 10 cm on the second day but we only got about 5 cm.  A couple of hours ago it started snowing again.  I haven't heard how much we are supposed to get.  The cell isn't very big so should be finished here in an hour or so.  We've had about 3 cm

The Crows Visit

The CrowJanuary 31, 2011
Crows are large nuisance birds that cost local farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.  In urban settings they are such a nuisance that some folks have taken to shooting them with pellet guns.  Home gardeners can also have problems with crows.  Regardless where you live, crows can be a huge problem with getting into garbage bags set out for collection.  They

Snow and More Snow

Snow and More SnowFebruary 2, 2011
We heard warnings of an impending snowstorm to hit our area almost a week before it hit.  Monday evening the local cancellations started being announced with more Tuesday morning since the storm was to hit Tuesday evening.  Grocery stores were a bit busier than usual but that's the norm anytime a snowstorm is announced.  The snow started about dinner time

Winter on the Homefront

Winter on the HomefrontJanuary 29, 2011
This is a brief break in our vacation gardening photos just to let you know that life continues in the garden even during the winter.  Last year we did not get the snowfall we needed during the winter and as expected the growing season was not as good as it could have been.  This year has been a bit different.  While we were away during most of the month of

Adverse Growing Conditions

Looking back on 2010 we did nothing but battle adverse growing conditions.  The problem is battling these types of conditions can be rather difficult.  A dry growing condition can be compensated by extra watering, irrigation and shading but a too wet of a growing condition if difficult to battle.  Raised beds help somewhat but traditional row gardening is at the mercy of the extra moisture. 

Unseasonably Mild Temperatures

We are still experiencing unseasonably mild temperatures here, not that I'm complaining.  The lawns look almost the best they have all year with the extra bit of rain we've been having.  There have been a couple of squirrels skirting about the yards but still no sign of the wild rabbits.  I've been told that the rabbit population is cyclic but to not see any is rather discerning.  I suspect with

It Snowed!

I was up at 3 AM this morning to see a beautiful blanket of twinkling snow.  Pleasant thoughts filled my head as I drifted back off into dreamland.  There was still snow on the ground when I got up for the day but by about 9 AM it was all melted.  The first snow of the season is always exciting.  Everything looks so clean and pristine! 

Happy Gardening!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Now That We Have Had a Frost

It is time to clean out the garden.  Yesterday morning's frost has knocked down most of the plants which is always nice.  It rained last night so things are still wet and is threatening rain again today as well as rain predicted for the next couple of days.  Sunday is supposed to be dry and warmer so it will be a good clean-out the garden combined with rake the leaves day.

Happy Gardening!

Morning Frost

Morning Frost
November 3, 2010
I awoke to the most amazing sight this morning.  We had our first hard frost!  It had turned foggy overnight, something I could tell without even looking as the freighters were sounding their fog horns throughout the night.  The fog was heavy enough this morning that I could barely see the water!  The house was surrounded in the mystical mist.  The garden beds