WiseAcre Gardens

I happened to make it to Carol’s garden in Amherst, Mass the other day.

It was a spur of the moment trip even though I’ve planned on going since there was snow on the ground. A combination of circumstance led me there. I just happened to stumble into blog world and was reading quite a few before I started mine. One of the first things I came across was talk of a ‘Spring Fling” at Pam’s Digging. Well it doesn’t take much to put an idea in my head. Unfortunately Texas was a bit too far to go just to have a good time.

By now Mr. Brown Thumb had managed to coax me into starting my own blog.  I’ve learned since then I better rely on my photographs.  A few one liner comments doesn’t qualify me as a writer. But still I try and participate since it’s a way of sharing.  It’s a world tour of personal gardens and I’m still waiting for someone to show me a gardener that can resist showing off theirs.

That’s how bloomingwriters – Garden Blogger Geography Project steered me to Carol’s place. No big deal. It was one of numerous blogs I visited. But going through some old posts of Carol’s I learned she had used her little car to haul some fairly large rock to build her steam and pond. Now there was something I could relate to. Anyone who drives around the countryside kidnapping rocks and putting them to ‘work’ is my kind of person. Not just anyone knows how to outsmart the big ones.

If anyone deserved another rock I figured Carol qualified. I pretty much made up my mind right then and there to make a drive by rock drop off. Sooner or later I was going to be within 60 miles of her place and figured it was a good excuse to revisit some old rock hunting grounds of my youth.

As you can see I made it to Carol’s and saw the pond. It almost didn’t happen. We both had limited time and mine was running out. Getting lost in western Mass. is not a good idea. Relying on memory of roads taken so many years ago isn’t a good idea either if the storage medium gets corrupted. I managed to make a 50 – 60 mile trip turn my odometer over 100.  At home, 40 miles isn’t considered a long drive but driving the back roads in western Mass is painfully slow. What really hurt was losing over an hour before I really had my bearings.

But i did make it and before you know it I broke off the conversation and chased another visitor out of the garden.  I only wanted a better shot but the butterfly refused to cooperate.

Turning the corner from the sunny garden I saw the fire pit.  It was very nicely done but I couldn’t help but feel a bit sad. It will never hold a ‘north country bonfire’ with flames dancing wildly 20 feet high. Carol’s fire pit is more reserved and I imagine the conversation will be a bit more subdued too.  She has neighbor’s to contend with after all.

In the background you’ll see why Carol better be discrete. Besides living in the center of town Carol has a big box of old folk living next door. Not the kind of people you want to build a huge fire or have a raucous party in front of. Note the progress being made to fence them out

If these come up missing don’t look at me. Go look in my garden.

I prefer Great Blue Herons but those Peacocks would fit in any garden.

This was new to me. I lost the note I made when i got back in the truck.

It was quick. The visit was over before we really had a chance to get going. I dropped the rock (it was heavy) and had a whirlwind tour before we had to part and go our separate ways. I’ll be back sometime. I never did get to the old rock hunting grounds. By the time I left I had just enough time to get home before dark. I figure both Carol and the rocks will be around a while longer.

Here is what all the fuss was about

- a stupid rock (none have a very high IQ)

DOH! I forgot Carol’s link and had to come back and post it.

Tera Nova Design

Now you can go and tell her I sent you to look at her ‘new garden tool’

The much needed rain has arrived. After two weeks of unusually warm dry weather things are looking to return to normal. Before temps drop back to into the 40s we getting that first warm spring rain. Overnight the lawn has turned greener and plants are looking so much more ‘alive’

I’m also happy to have the chance to catch up on some of the blogs I’ve missed since work/play season began.  It’s even tougher now that I want to ‘document’ every little thing I do.  I thought blogging was going to be just a winter addition. Boy was I wrong and have the withdrawal shakes to  prove it.

So today I’ll make the rounds and see what I’ve been missing. I can’t forget to poke some fun towards Joy at GardenJoy4Me. We seem to have a thing going and I’d hate to let it wither like our Astilbes did last year. 

I’ve already been to Water When Dry . Aiyana always has something I can’t have and her collection of Catus and their blooms are truly irresistable.

Feeling like some of the more southern gardeners are leaving you in the dust? Visit Northern Exposure Gardening . Go see what Spring looks like in zone one. A week ago her yard was covered in snow.

I just returned from Terra Nova Design . I was hoping to find more about Cab’s new garden tool. I finally found someone who thinks like me – can’t garden without a truck. But I found bad news when I got there. She lost a furry friend the other day. She’s out working hard in the garden trying to ease the grief.

I can’t forget my favorite Nova Scotia retreat. Jodi at Bloomingwriter always has something interesting posted. But today I found too much about annuals. I’m a perennial pest and leave the annuals to others. But her photos are almost enough to make a convert out of me.  Any cat lovers out there? Jodi’s cat children seem to make regular appearences too.

Mark at The Green Fingered Photographer always has something going on besides great photos. I suggest digging into the blog and pulling out some of his wildflower and ‘green roof’ projects.  Enter his Wednesday Wanderings   photo pick and you might end up with a framed copy of your favorite. If you go today be prepared to meet some bees.

I couldn’t help laughing when I arrived at May Dreams Gardens.  The other day she posted – “One of the secrets to being happy as a gardener is to embrace weeding.” I couldn’t help but to think of my wife and her lack of weeding enthusiasium.  But Carol is right. If you look at weeding as an opportunity to relax, meditate and just enjoy being in the garden it is it’s own reward. (ah who am I trying to fool – weeding is a chore. Better than mowing the lawn but still a necessary evil)

I’m a frequent visitor to Digital Flower Pictures too. I find inspiration and hope that at least a few of my photos reach that standard of excellence. I don’t comment there much – I just don’t have the words since the photos leave me speechless.

 Next on the list is Kris at Blithewold . I like to visit and see what’s happening at Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum . I envy Kris’s job and she makes it even worst by making it sound like so much fun. But the pressure of keeping up with all the demands a place like requires is enough to scare me.

If anyone can change the bad first impression I got of Texas 30 years ago while hitch hiking with a ponytail it would be Pam at Digging . From there you can take a virtual tour of all the Austin, Texas blogs.  I wasn’t able to get to ‘Spring Fling’ and am sorry to have missed all fun. Maybe next year I’ll put off work and go. Everyone down there sounds so inviting. But right now go look at her ‘Little John’ dwarf bottlebrush. It’s enough to make northern gardeners think about moving south.

I have to admit it was the title of the blog that caught my attention. How can you not visit a site named ’Mr McGregor’s Daughter’. I’m so glad I had the time today to visit again. Her post: Where the Wild Thing Are is a reflection of one of mine. Go see some early spring wildflowers in the Trout Park – Nature Area that she photographed the other day. With posts like that there is little wonder I return.

 Arrgh! I’m too late. I have a Long Island blog I like to visit in order to see what’s happening down there since I have a “job” in the area. When I got to the site today I found out I’m going to miss a “Plant Sale”.  Not only will I miss the sale but a good reason to meet Melanie from Old Country Gardens .  I’m just not sure I’d want Calie licking my toes.

Cold Climate Gardening garners a Mouse and Trowel nomination  Go see why I am not the only one who thinks this is a great blog. But I still claim colder temps!

Here’s another blog with a title that’s hard to resist. This Garden is Illegal caught the attention of the troublemaker in me. I arrived just in time to see the rant about Earth day marketing. Spending money does not equal saving the Earth. Stop by and vent a little yourself. You’ll feel better letting some steam escape.

Whoot!

Ok the rain has let up and I need to get a few things done. I’m sorry I can’t get to more blogs right now but I’ve got things to go and places to do. Spring is keeping me busy and all I can hope for is another chance to blog around again soon. I get to much enjoyment from this addiction I picked up over the winter. All I can do is try and keep it under ‘control’.

I’m getting slower with age and that includes my driving. For proof I offer up this photo of a race I was in yesterday. It wasn’t even close.

Well he did have a 2 horse powered buggy and I had almost a ton of rock in my little 4 banger pick-up. And for real excitement you need to try this at night. Those buggies don’t have lights and like this fellow most refuse to put reflectors on their vehicles too.

Old Man Winter has me under house arrest. 

The doors are blocked with snow, the driveway has been erased from view and hope for an early parole buried under wind blown snow drifts. County officials have co-operated by sealing off the foot of the driveway and ‘removing’ the mailbox. My only hope is to tunnel out. When I hit Albuquerque I’m taking a right.

 I’m packing some photos to remind me of warmer days.

Now this would make a much more pleasant ‘cell’

Someone who knows where to find a good hideout

Nothing like a cooking out on the patio.

Bird Watching at the Upper – Lower Lakes Wildlife Refuge 

Enjoying a day by the Grasse River in the village of Canton

I’m grabbing my sweetheart and splitting before I go completely Looney