Spring is suddenly here.  There are crocuses and snowdrops up in my yard, with buds.  The daffodils are just starting to break the surface.  I started my first seedlings last weekend (foxgloves and leeks), with more planned to start in another two weeks.  It might be time to start fixing some of the winter storm damage soon.

Is anyone else interested in seeds from Seed Savers Exchange?  I'm going to put in an order real soon.

frolain and I are trying to remodel the downstairs bathroom and replace the floor in the downstairs kitchen.  If any of you remember it, the downstairs bathroom is the one with the square pink standing shower stall that doesn't fit the space, so that water hits the floor when it's running without a carefully rigged shower curtain, the rough 2x4s that were ( Read more... )

SJ helped me rip out the extra cabinet in the downstairs kitchen last week, where we found this delightful green linoleum tile on the wall. We also discovered the kitchen was wallpapered under the pink paint. Who knew ( Read more... )

It is a very strange fall. On wed, I had raspberries straight from the bush. They were good too. The blue bearded iris is trying to bloom again. SJ and I cut all the other irises back for iris borer control, but let this one keep its leaves so that it doesn't use all its energy on the flower. I felt strange cutting so many strong leaves but, it ( Read more... )

Off to Maine to be not-in-Boston for a few days.  Hopefully this will be nice.

Things I did not want, but got anyway (a partial list): Iris borers.  I feel like the yard is a losing battle this week, with the squirrels (I don't know what it is, but I'm blaming squirrels) digging up both established plants and vegetable seedlings, the return of fungus infections, everything stressed from the heat and dry, and now nasty insects ( Read more... )

Zoe caught a bird yesterday.  I was working on the big veggie bed (which is sadly pathetic this year, the last of the zucchinis just died, and I'm trying to figure out what to plant in its large, empty place) when I heard her walk by behind me, peeping.  I thought that was a rather odd sound for her to make, and looked over to see that she had a ( Read more... )

I found something in my yard that seems to like the current weather: the bamboo.  It's finally hit its growth stage.  (It does all its growth for the year as one spurt over a few days.)  The new canes are at least a foot taller than the old ones on most of the plants.   Yay for it finally settling in, I'd been worried that it wasn't doing well, and ( Read more... )

Yesterday was the deadline to nominate gardens for the 2010 Somerville Garden Club garden tour.  I went on the 2008 tour, and had been interested in being part of a future tour, but was being somewhat angsty about it, and only found out about the 2010 tour yesterday.  Yes, on the due date.  I was convinced to sent in a nomination last night anyway ( Read more... )