WiseAcre Gardens

Rainday

Posted by WiseAcre on Apr 28th, 2008

2008

Apr 28

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.

8 Responses

Mark Says:
April 28th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Hi Wise acre,
What is it with you and rocks, I bet you even have some in your pocket…lol
Thank you for the plug and let me know if you would like a download of the daisy for your web site, I can offer you a special deal, but unfortunately it doesn’t have anything to do with rocks, e-mail me and let me know.

Cheers Mark

Mark,
Well I just have a thing about stone in the garden. For me a garden is not complete without stone and water somewhere. And piecing a walk or patio with sandstone slabs is just a real man’s version of a jigsaw puzzle without the photo on the box. OH – you would usually win that bet. I’m always finding neat little worry stones.

I could just steal that daisy and you’d never know. But it was a great reminder about keeping a solid colored background handy with the camera. I owe you one.

What plug? That was just a trick to get you over here.
Joy Says:
April 28th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Wiseacre !
You naughty devil, this was the sort of post I was going to do today .. it is great and I love you mentioning our ongoing “thing” for the season. Even though you have far more astilbe than I .. quality ? verses quantity ? may be the lead factor sweetie ! LOL
Alas .. this “post” that was my idea for today .. has not happened .. what did happen was house cleaning and laundry … followed by a faceplant on my bed with all my aches and pains falling down with me . now my fuzzy head can’t think in logic mode so I have to enjoy your format .. content .. and lovely plugs for everyone .. well done !
Now I have to wander on .. you are so right about the rain.. things are popping even more now .. things that must be done during this type of weather, well … they are banging on my door saying “HEY!!!”
Very good “rainy day” post and yes, I also thought this would be a winter past time ? .. boy were we wrong ? haha
Joy

Silly!
You must be if you think quality beats quantity when it comes to Astilbe. More is always better. I’m a greedy slob. I can’t help myself, it’s my hobby …Daffy Duck

Sorry about stealing your idea. But you stole mine. A day on the couch moaning would have done me good. I got to let these aging bones and muscles catch up to my mind. I think I still have fairly clean clothes on the floor somewhere so I’ll leave the laundry go another day.

Somethings got to give. I’m afraid it’s going to be regular visits to those places I like. Somehow I managed to find far too many nice places to keep up with even on a weekly basis. I just don’t have two full days (my internet days are usually 12 hours long) a week to spend like that right now. Besides, now that I’m busy I have too much I want to write too.

We needed the rain and i needed a day off. but still i can’t help but think what I didn’t get done today. It won’t be long before there is no tomorrow.

… no silly. I’m in good health. I just mean Spring doesn’t last forever.
Pam/Digging Says:
April 28th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Thanks for the shout-out, Wiseacre. I’m guessing you didn’t pass through Austin 30 years ago. Willie Nelson was bringing the long-hairs and the rednecks together at the Armadillo World Headquarters, and Austin is still a liberal oasis that revolves around the unique confluence of musicians, state government, tree-huggers, an enormous student population, and, these days, software engineers.

While the Spring Fling will be moving to Chicago in 2009 (morphing into a Fall Fling, I hear), you’re welcome to visit anytime you’re in Austin.

Pam,
No thanks needed. I just get a good ‘vibe’ from your blog. It must be that Austin influence.

I missed Austin – must be 35 years now. I only spent a day in north Texas.. I just figured if the natives couldn’t tell the difference between a guy with a ponytail and mustash from a girl then I should just move on before I met any of the women.

Now I’m really sorry I went to work instead of going to Austin.
Melanie Says:
April 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Now this was a fun post. You mentioned almost all of my favorite blogs. The ones I don’t know are ones I will try to visit tonight.

You are always welcome to visit even if there isn’t a plant sale. Also, would still love to join you on a perennial shopping trip out on eastern LI.

I can’t even imagine coming up on one of those buggies in the dark. They must almost be invisible.

Melanie,
I had fun visiting all these places this winter. It was just a way to give some back. or was it like I told Mark? just a trick to get you all here.

I’ll have to give you fair warning next time i go down there. Looks like next week end I might be headed down for 5 days or so. I must go to the Plantage and overload the truck. I’m afraid this time I would have to meet you there. (or you follow me) There won’t be room in the truck for a small mint after I’m finished stuffing pots in it.

God must ride with them. There’s plenty of close calls, some fender benders but a bad accident is rare.
Mark Says:
April 29th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Hi Wise acre,
You wont need to carry any dark backgrounds around with you if you get up early enough.The picture was taken around 6.30am with the sun coming up, as long as it is behind you you should get a dark background like mine. The green fingered photographer is all au naturel…

Cheers Mark

Mark,
That’s a good tip but I left that early morning stuff behind with the dairy farm. I’m used to using backgrounds too. I take ‘product’ photos and having a single colored background makes cutting the image out of the photo much easier. I’ve only done so a few times with flowers – I never remember to bring along some construction paper. Both light and dark depending on the subject.

Well who knew? I never dreamed you ran around in the nude snapping photos.
Mr. McGregor's Daughter Says:
April 29th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Thanks for the kind words! I share your problem of having so much to do out in the garden, & so many things sprouting & blooming that it takes nearly all my time. Rainy days are the perfect time to try a little blog-reading catch up.

Mr. McGregor’s Daughter,
Any use of kind words is only a feeble attempt to balance my Karma.

The day after – back to being a worker drone. After 8 hours of stone work I decided it best to play on the computer instead of the garden drainage project. I’ll say I’m making time to answer comments and start another post but really I’m just to worn out to deal with the black flies.
Mark Says:
April 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Do you mean you dont garden that way….I thought everyone did

Not me.
I’m too afraid of Hummingbirds to even think about it.
Aiyana Says:
April 30th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Thanks for the mention. I’m glad you find time to visit my blog. Now is the best time for cactus flowers–once the heat starts, there’s not much going on in my garden.
I can just imagine you in your little truck with the tail end dragging from the rock load–trying to drag with the Amish buggy. What a vision!
Aiyana