"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Numb hands, warm heart.

This morning we finally woke to a dry day.  I don't remember the last time we had a completely rain free day.  After my oldest daughter had gone to school I took the Littlest Gardener to preschool wearing my gardening clothes (who wants to waste time changing clothes when you have a limited time to garden) figuring that the teacher and other parents had seen me enough times to realize that I don't normally dress this way.  I practically ran home not wanting to waste a second of the 2 hours of uninterrupted time I would finally have to work outside.  The grass/moss was so soggy I felt like I was walking on wet sponges, but then that's why I usually garden in rain boots anytime before May.  My gardening gloves didn't keep my hands warm for long since it was only 39 degrees when I got to work, my hands practically went numb.  But all that was okay because it wasn't raining and I got to work in the garden.

Real live actual sun!!

  I was able to prune the out of control Butterfly Bush back.  I never worry about timing when I prune it because I'm pretty sure it can't be killed.  All of the "winter interest" was cut back and the leaves that were forming a wet mat over the ground were finally raked up.  I found several stakes that I have no idea of what they are marking or what they were holding up, guess I'll once again be surprised this year when the plants show up.  One day I just might make a diagram of what is growing where, until then the excitement of discovering a forgotten plant is still fun.

 Dianthus I started from seed last year, I'd forgotten about it.  Hopefully it'll bloom this year.

 Agastache that never died back, usually in my garden it dies all the way to the ground.

 Lots of new growth on Irises and Daylilies.

 Clematis 'Little Nell' is a type 3 and will need to be pruned in early spring, I was too happy to see the leaf buds to cut it back.

 I thought I had noticed some fruit trees with buds on them recently when I was out.  Both of the Pear trees have lots of promising buds on them.

 Verbascum and Hollyhock that were started by winter sowing last year look good.  Hoping for flowers from them too this summer.

 Here is an example of how much moss we have around here.  It is growing on everything;  in the lawn, on paving stones, on houses, on trees, on everyone's roofs and anything else that's not moving.  This Dogwood tree has never had so much moss on it, but I have to say I like the character it adds.

 Some Primroses came home with the girls and I a couple of days ago and I can't wait to get them planted.  I ran out of time before I was able to get them in the ground, but just seeing them sitting in their pots on top of the soil added a much needed pop of color.

It's amazing what a little time in the garden will do.  I felt so much more energized after I finished, although it's possible that it was the chocolate that I started eating as soon as I came inside...
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39 comments:

  1. So much excitement, Catherine - I could feel it all the way over here! I bet you put that mossy Dogwood in especially to get a reaction out of me ;) I'm just so envious! It's absolutely beautiful and a sure sign that fairies inhabit your garden! I love all the plump promising buds you show here and primroses are such wonderfully rewarding little plants, I love them too! Can't wait to see all the other plants in flower, especially your hollyhock! So glad to know you had so much fun in your garden today :)

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  2. Just being outside in the sunshine getting things done does make you feel so much more energized, doesn't it?

    I had a couple of hours out in the garden very much like yours today too. Pulled weeds (where on Earth do they come from in January?), cut back the winter interest ornamental grasses, pulled up some dead annuals that somehow were overlooked in the Fall. It was wonderful!

    No chocolate afterward though. Hmm...I'll have to remember that next time. They're predicting more sun om the weekend, hope it pans out.

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  3. This is something I can't wait to do in my garden. I still have frozen ground and half a garden with ice and snow on it and frosts every morning so it will still be quite a while before I can start the tidy up.

    That's a lovely sunburst up in that tree Catherine.

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  4. I am so happy you are still gardening even though it is winter. How lovely. It is summer here and we are experiencing the opposite. Which of course is also nice. :)

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  5. Sounds like a really nice day in a just awakening garden - at least a couple of months away in the northeast - nice to see all the emergent growth in your garden.

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  6. Hi Catherine,

    Gardening in January sounds so foreign to me, but believe me I would be out there if I lived in a more moderate climate. I love seeing everything coming up, almost forgot what it looked like.

    Eileen

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  7. I am glad you were able to spend a enjoyable day in the garden. The mosses are so pretty on the tree. What a gorgeous little primrose. Your dianthus should bloom this year. It is so hard waiting on some of the seeded plants to get age on them isn't it. I am always so impatient.LOL!

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  8. A lot going on in your garden girl! I agree that you can not kill a Butterfly Bush. I hope this holds true when I move two of them this spring. I should work on that now while the ground is soggy as that seems to be best when moving something so large.... We just need a weekend without rain or cold then the hubby will be more apt to work with me.

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  9. How wonderful to see all the buds and new growth - very exciting. I hope your hands are warmer now!

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  10. I loved seeing all of the budding and greenery in you garden! We have a layer of snow on the ground and don't anticipate any growth for some time yet. I am able to live vicariously through your blog!
    Beautiful pictures!
    Peggy :)

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  11. Dear Catherine, Your energy and excitement about being in the garden is contagious. Though I will not be able to join you for months yet. I am thrilled to see your new growth! I am like you and love the surprises that pop up around the garden . . . since I lack a detailed map too! ;>)

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  12. Oh my goodness! I can't imagine being able to garden in January. I thought I was perfectly fine with winter, but now you've got be yearning for spring.

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  13. Oh those swelling buds, a sure sign that Spring is on it's way!

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  14. Ha! Real live actual sun! THose were my thoughts Wedn morning also! Would have been a great day to call in sick and get my garden prepped for more dirt this year!!!

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  15. It's so exciting and encouraging to see all the green coming up in the garden! I've found Agastache for me are strange while overwintering...some die all the way back , some form clumps of basal foliage, some die partway but keep a bit of green...they are really variable!

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  16. Oh, what a wonderful morning, numb hands and all! There's nothing like seeing buds to get my heart racing in anticipation of Spring!

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  17. Your garden looks great to me everytime I see it! Real live sun huh? It cracks me up you get as excited about that as I do about the real live rain! LOL Moss? Wow, I don't know if it's supposed to be good or bad, but it's green, so I LOVE it! Beautiful photos and garden visit, thank you!

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  18. It's me again, how did you get that Seattle Fling 2011 button on your side bar? I have tried with the code they provided but haven't been able to get it to work...any ideas? thanks.

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  19. Looks very similar to my garden right now. Same stage of green leaves and life. It is so exciting. I'm ready to get going.

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  20. I always like seeing new growth and buds in your garden, because that usually means mine is not too far behind :D

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  21. Your garden is so green in comparison to mine that I am jealous. The pink primrose is spring itself. Everything here is under a blanket of snow.

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  22. Those buds, so exciting ... could warmer weather be in the cards? (a winter's day wish)

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  23. Hooray for sunshine! Glad you got to go out and enjoy it! I'm jealous :) I love the mossy shots...have a wonderful week ~ Jenni

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  25. So much fun looking at these pictures -- it makes me excited to do garden chores. I actually love that moss, I wish it grew like that at my house. Kudos on the butterfly bush, I have an unruly one, too.

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  26. When our rain clouds finally broke here, I was so excited too! I'm glad some sunshine finally found you. It's amazing how in the desolation of winter we gardeners can still find so much to do. I don't know about you, but all that rain, followed by a little sun, has resulted in a sudden weed explosion here. Let's hope the rain stays away for a while so I can get them all pulled!

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  27. My first question was going to be what do you garden this time of year and then you answered it. Looks like you got a lot accomplished. It's fun to see some buds coming to life. I love primroses, too. They are so bright and cheery. I wish they last through the summer. Spring just isn't long for them to shine.

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  28. How lucky you are to be able to garden at this time of year. What a difference in climate from us. It always amazes me, considering you are actually north of us! We just got about 6 inches of fresh snow, and it's only 6 degrees right now. So absolutely no gardening around here. You have a lot of nice, fresh green growth. We'll look like that in about two months!

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  29. The moss on the tree is so cool! I can imagine there would be tons growing with all the rain. Seattle must be very green-a lovely color!

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  30. A foretaste of what's to come for my own garden! It's out there under a blanket of 5" of snow, but following you through your garden gives me encouragement! Don't you love every new green shoot that you find? Each one is a promise of what is to come! ~~Rhonda

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  31. I totally get your excitement. I'm the same way. Living out here in the PNW makes winter so much more bearable knowing that you can get outside as early as January. I just started working on my gardens and yard this week and it's heavenly! I get so excited, I swear, my neighbors must think I'm totally crazy because I get thrilled when I see new buds or "happy plants". I can't help but say "oooh, you're doing so good! I can't wait to watch you grow!"
    I look forward to following your blog, I just found you today! Keep up the good work!

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  33. Always visiting your blog, I realize how much you possess creativity, emphasizing the culture so diverse.
    I am from Brasiliam.

    www.vivendoteologia.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Looks like everything is springing back to life and another promising year is ahead. I have a few clematis seeds that I gathered from my mom & dad's place- not sure what the variety is, but I think I'm going to try and start some and see what happens :)

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  35. Yay for garden time! I feel the same way after even a little bit of time outside. I think that's why it's so depressing to have everything buried under snow. Your garden will be "up and running" in no time. It's already off to a good start. All that rain is good for something, right?

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  36. Catherine,

    The garden will be green and full of flowers there before you know it.

    You posted the 3000th comment on my blog. Fitting that you posted it as I looked back and your first comment was on my fourth posting, over 200 back!

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  37. Randy - That's cool! I remember when I first found your blog too, I love it.

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  38. The fairy door is so precious. I want one. I'll have to put out a notice that I have space available for fairies.

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  39. I am glad I came across your blog. Your gardens are beautiful and it is so nice to see everything coming up. We are buried under a foot of snow here in the Northeast and more on the way. I can't wait until spring and your photos are giving me hope!
    http://landscapedesignbylee.blogspot.com/

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