Happy Easter

It's another gorgeous day here in southern Ontario. Barry's such a trouper ... he painted our trellises yesterday in the window and fluctuating temperatures without any complaint. We're trying to get all the painting outside (planters, brackets, trellises) done as quickly as possible. Fortunately the vines haven't really started to grow much yet so we can do this but pretty soon, they'll be clambering up the trellis walls. We bought some solar light fence post caps and a new gate. Those will make such a difference and just everything together. We just need to get that blasted patio fixed. So much to do, so little money... oh yeah, and time. I think we're on track to get this place done but the end of May so we can actually enjoy our summer. I've never been a "produce" gardener ... flowers are my gig. But 2 years ago, I grew herbs, last year I added tomatos (in the contaner) and this year I think I'm going to add some fruit. In containers. Lots of new growth around the gardens. A few surprises. I don't appear to have lost anything other than Foxglove but that's expected. I've got something growing in my garden that's trying to take over completely. I thought it was Spiderwort which is supposed to be great but what I ended up with was Transedenia (something like that) and OMG I sends runners out EVERYWHERE! So my mission today is to obliterate that crap from my gardens. Happy gardening!

What an awesome day ...

I know a lot of people celebrate Good Friday and I totally respect that. A lot of people might think it's sacriligious to work on Good Friday but oh my ... what a gorgeous day out there! I spent the afternoon removing a eouynomous (sp?) from the front garden, moving irises, primrose, etc. Barry spray painted a bunch of containers on our patio, sprayed the obelisk that I moved from the back yard to the front yard, relocated a porcelain vine that I bought last year (I hope it survives) and sprayed brackets that we'll be installing on our pergola (here's a picture) to hang baskets from. We have 2 hops vines and 2 bittersweet vines growing up the corners ... the baskets will be on the other posts. Tomorrow Barry's going to paint more metal and I'll be digging, weeding, moving, weeding, primping, weeding, weeding, weeding. I actually had a nice surprise today. I discovered that my purple sandcherry had a "baby". Free shrub! Woo hoo! So I know where I'm going to put it and it'll look great. It'll take a couple of years before it really takes off, but that's ok. Gardens are constantly evolving, so I'll have something to look forward to. The above deck was last year's project. All freeking summer. In between the torrential downpours ... the weather last year sucked in Ajax ... and yet Barry and I both managed to get the best tans of our lives. Go figure. Until tomorrow!

Time to Garden!

YAY! The snow is gone, temperatures are almost "normal", the sun is out and supposed to stay out for at least the next 4 days ... YAY! Lots of time this weekend to get outside and stock up on that wonder Vitamin D. I think it's safe to say the snow is gone ... it had to make itself known one last time ... always does. Time to start digging and dividing perennials, moving anything around that needs to be moved, hardscaping, etc. I always feel like I come out of hibernation at this time of year. It's so good to get outside again. So enjoy the weekend, have fun, be careful of your backs, and don't forget the sunscreen if you're going to be outside for a long time. That's the rockcress from a year or 2 ago on the above right ... I can't believe it's just starting to bloom again this year. Another couple of weeks and it should look this this. Happy gardening everybody.

Winter surprise

Well ... it is only early April. And it could be worse. We could be buried ... although it's a little early to think we're out of the woods. They've been changing the forecast all day. I don't think I'll be doing anything outside for the next few days ... although it's supposed to get much better by Thursday. And be a beautiful Easter weekend. I sure hope so ... there's SO much to do. Here's a picture of our patio and more importantly our trellis wall. This was the remnants of our first metal and canvas gazebo which collapsed (I think this was the first of second year they were available ... they've come a LONG way.... It's a little difficult to see but Barry and my brother attached the corner panels to 4x4's and used spikes in the ground. Barry's painting it all black, hopefully this weekend... Amazing what a little thought can produce. We have honeysuckle growing up the trellis wall to give us some privacy. The patio is higher than the fence at the back which faces Pickering Beach Rd. so it gives us some privacy while we eat. Until next time ....

Spring Cleanup

So we've finally sort of dried out. Got the lawn raked (more or less - I think I have to do it again next weekend) and the shed sorted out so now I'm ready to get going moving plants, planting news ones, etc. .... and now they've forecast snow and cold temperatures for tomorrow and Tuesday. Weird, weird weather this winter...but it was sunny and mild (a little windy but nothing like Saturday!) today ... worked indoors most of the weekend, partly because of the weather yesterday and party because we added some cabinetry to my home office. FINALLY! So now I'm ready to devote myself wholeheartedly to our gardens. Of course Barry will help with the "projects" LOL but he leaves all the plant related stuff to me. Which is great 'cause that's what I love to do! Even the deck is ready for summer. Maybe Mother Nature will get the hint LOL Until next time.....

Better call Noah

I think we need an ark here in Ajax. I was wondering why I saw 2 of most animals, birds, etc. all heading in the same direction .... but seriously, we got a TON of rain today. My intent was to get in the garden tomorrow. Don't see that happening. So instead we'll get some cabinetry installed in my home office. I may not be able to get into the garden on Sunday either. It just might take until ... oh, I don't know ... JUNE before it dries out! Yikes! Tomorrow's another day...
Happy gardening ....

What a gorgeous day ...

It would have been a perfect gardening day if it weren't for work. Many more gardening days ahead. I can't wait to get working in the garden. Hopefully this weekend I can finish prepping the beds. I'll keep you posted...