pick my brain?

It seems as if spring is here earlier than usual. Actually, it also seemed as if winter never really came this winter. It snowed only about three or four times and the snow never really stuck. Though I am not known to like frigid, snow-filled winters, I have to admit, I kind of feel jipped [...]

This week has been the week of gardening, and today has been a very full day. Today turned out to be a blessing. We had several plans that all fell through and so we ended up with a day all to ourselves. It is finally past the last typical frost date, and it was a wonderfully [...]

The garden looked pretty nice this year. Unfortunately, the sedum visible from the patio doors did so poorly, they barely resemble plants. I’m not sure why they practically died this year. My guess is the ants that came early in the season to pick at the bird seed casings. Hopefully they will revive next year, [...]

This morning, I checked on our plants. Looks like some critter has come and eaten two of our three unripened strawberries. Phooey.

Oh what a weekend. I think this is the first weekend in what seems like ages that I actually felt some relaxation time. I am amazed. What’s exciting is that Hans and I went to the nursery after church today and got some veggies and fruits to plant in our garden. Our tiny back yard [...]

I have seeds from 2003. Wow, that’s old. We planted a bunch in the square foot garden we just set up today. I doubt any of them will sprout, but maybe we’ll be surprised. tomatoes beans black seeded simpson lettuce onion carrots radish broccoli Eh, we’ll see.

Some plants just don’t get cut down before winter hits, and at that point, it’s really difficult to motivate myself to get out there. Here’s a photo of the garden taken a few days ago. Today, Hans and I cleaned it up and cut everything down to prepare for new spring growth. It is very [...]

On March 11th, I took these photos. They are the first signs of plants coming out of the ground this spring. Knowing Chicago winters, I am hoping that if a cold snap returns, it won’t be so cold or long so as to kill these lovely shoots. Today, only a few days later, the shoots [...]

Last year, Sinee and her roommate Emily came out to the botanic garden for my birthday. It was a fun time of looking around. Then, Sinee surprised me with a gift: Narcissus ‘Sagitta‘Div. I — Trumpet Daffodillemon perianth with apricot-pink rim16-18″ early to midseason Ipheion uniflorum ‘Wisley Blue’Spring Starflower blue flowers3-4″ April – May The [...]

I split my worm bin today to prepare for worm poop harvest. Basically this means all of the worm poop and old bedding was moved to one side of the bin and fresh bedding was put on the other side with new food. I’ve had the bin for about a month now and wow, do [...]