The Rock Garden

The Rock Garden










Total Recall bearded iris














Theresa Bougnet hybrid rugosa rose














Rimpo tree peony














Loving Touch miniature rose











Fimbriata hybrid rugosa rose

Blanc Double de Coupert hybrid rugosa rose

Deep Purple Rhododrendron

Mid Spring Garden Shots

The patio is now finished except for some curing of the cement edging show here with plastic over it to help it cure properly. That will be taken off in about 5 days. Sand will be applied between the cracks of the paver stones for the next 12 weeks or so until it is time to put a sealer on the entire thing. There is an arbor to angle over the curved edge where the urn is and a little bench will sit beneath it. The urn too just where it is. The arbor may not come until autumn. Right now, this project was very heavy, filthy and hard work. With the cement edge it finished to a 15'x21' patio. I swear I will never do this again.

Celestrial Dogwood










Cranesbill


Gilliard Rose ~ Azalea












Josee ~ Dwarf Lilac






Theresa Bugnet ~ Hybrid Rugosa, Rose





Liberty ~ Hosta





Theresa Bugnet bud ~ Rose











Viburnum

Yoshino Gawa ~ tree peony

Zurel tulips

What people think

When I'm outside, usually in the front near the road, people driving or walking by will often stop and tell me what an awesome garden I have. Often they will stop and ask about different plants I have in the garden and what the growing requirements are and how they do as a garden plant. I always answer the questions, discribing each plant and what or how it does for me.

Now when I work on my garden, I usually see it with different eyes than someone just walking by. This is probably due to the fact that I'm up close and personal with each plant, weeding it, pruning it or whatever.

It's nice to see how other people react to my garden. I guess the best compliment of all are the neighbors, all outside in the evenings working on their garden to keep it looking as nice as the Saurbaugh's. The neighbors across the street planted seven purple trees like mine.




I know. This will get old now, so I guess I'll stop. I hope you enjoy the snaps.

Muscles!

I got real close and personal with my muscles today! I can't tell you how much they ache. Today we put down most of the patio except for the decorative paver which still need to be set in. The patio finished out at the 14x20 area that we had designed and with just a few exceptions is pretty much laid out the way I had it drawn up and scaled.

We left two corner bricks out to make little raised flower beds that I will keep steppables in. The little plants thrive on being stepped on and will grow over the hardscape to soften it a little. We decided to go with two sets of decorative pavers instead of four. I think it is still enough to brake up the intense space of stone and still define the fire pit that will sit between them.

These are two of the decorative pavers trimmed and set into their area. So far this is all we have done of these. The pavers are made, but need some small adjustments to fit in the spot. For the next few days, or as long as we have good weather, we'll spend time sweeping sand into the cracks of the patio and washing it down every evening to set the stones.

Each of the flat stones are 24"x24" and weight approximately 84 pounds each. There were a couple of them that I ended up carrying myself. Believe me, they didn't go far! I had no idea I could even lift anything that heavy! My muscles are telling me now that maybe I shouldn't have either.

We started this morning bright and early at 7:00 am and finally finished for the day around 6:30 pm. We were tired, thirsty and covered in cement dust. Who wanted to eat? Not me. I was to tired to cook or even try and not hungry anyway. We ended up running out to the local grocery store to throw together a light salad about an hour or so after we finished putting things away and sweeping in the first round of sand. Afterward we sat on the little bench at the Tulip poplar and looked over our work before finally heading out.

Oh, that plant on the arbor is a two year old New Dawn Rose. That is such an amazing plant.

Garden shots

Lilac ~ Beauty of Moscow

Daffodil ~ Tahiti

Prim Rose ~ Alpine Primala

The Work Begins

As I sit here it almost sounds as if the toads are right at the my office window. They must be close as the window is closed.

Today we started the patio. We had spent our time healing and gathering the materials we were going to need to do this project. We got a total of 5 1/2 tons of 1" stone to finish the 6 tons that was put in the hole last year when we had it dug. We got the 24"x24" pavers delivered as well as enough sand to do this project. All this had been waiting for at least a week. We spent the past two to three weeks laying out the patio and making a form. When the materials came, we spent the past week putting in the stone, leveling it and getting it ready for the next step. Today Husband rented a compactor and we compacted the stone into a nice solid base. Tomorrow we start with the sand and the laying of the pavers.

Also today, as we were finished with the compactor and had returned it to the rental place, I noticed a bunch of cars in the driveway of the vacant house next door. I had heard some time ago that it was under contract but there were issues. The builders considered the property sold and it was totally vacated. There was one car and two SUVs crowded with people. One man, as he got out of one of the SUVs saw me watching and waved. I returned his wave. After a bit, he was outside with a handful of flags, so I introduced myself asking if he was the new owner. He was a pleasant fellow by the name of Frank; tall, lean athletic built; early 30ish. He introduced me to his lovely wife; lean, athletic and redhead. We chatted for a bit, both Husband who joined me when he heard me chatting and I were trying to get away so they could finish their inspection. It was hard though, since we seemed to have so much in common with these people. We work in the same field; we have passions for the same interests and conversation flowed. The entire family got involved and a party started. This young couple will come the end of May with their two Huskies. I gave them some hints and questions to ask at the settlement table. These were questions that they shouldn't have to ask but no information was ever given to them. I had watched this house being built and knew where the drainfield was, the well, the septics. All this is important if you have a passion for planting as they said they did.

It was a good day. Rain isn't expected until Wednesday so we have until then to get this patio together.

A Rose Society meeting

Pearl Palace ~ Listed as a miniflora but probably more like a floribunda in size and shape. It is disease prone and the blooms have a tendency to burn in the sun, but it is a strong rose and does well for me.

Today was the meeting of the rose society that I belong to. I had been asked in February if Husband and I would do a presentation on photographing roses for the club. Between me being sick, Husband getting his hand caught in the press at work and later sick as I was (I gave him the viruses) and trying to put together the materials and money to start the patio, it was hard to get a presentation together. But one day we actually did sit down to discuss what we would talk about and I put it together in it's final stages last night during a slow period at work. I think I threw Husband a little when I started talking today because at the last minute I had gotten the latest issue of the American Rose and broke into the presentation with a discussion of the pictures in that magazine. I prompted Husband to jump right in and the presentation turned into a question and answers on photographing gardens and roses/flowers. I had taken along two of my cameras to demonstrate the differences in the cameras and which type of camera we would recommend. I didn't realize that there was a professional photographer in the group but he only backed up everything we were saying. It was a very fast hour with everyone getting involved. There wasn't one yawn in the entire group as well as the discussion going on far longer than I could have hoped. It went very well.

Later, the president approached us and asked us if we would consider giving a hands-on class at the meeting at his house in July. Everyone who attends is to bring their camera and we will all practice taking pictures of his roses so folks can get a better understanding of what is a good shot and a bad one and how to get the good ones. This leads to the next thing that was asked of us. We are to put together a photo contest for the York Area Rose Society, getting a plan for categories and rose classes for the year 2007.

Today was a good meeting to do all this because it's been rainy here and there was a large attendance. Husband said to me later, "I thought there would only be about eight." My response was, "That's about the usual number of folks who attend." It was a good day.

However, when I got home, I was disappointed that the rose I was to get Friday hadn't come yet. On the UPS website they have it marked as being delivered 2:25 pm Friday. At that time I did see the UPS truck out front, but the driveway was blocked with the delivery for the patio and UPS just seemed to drive by. I remember looking at the clock when I saw the UPS truck out front. I never got my rose. So, my guess is that I will have to call the company I ordered it from and tell them the situation. They will follow up with UPS to locate it. This rose is Sharifa Asma, the favorite rose of a close friend who passed away this February. I ordered it in his memory so I am quite upset that UPS screwed up this order.

It has been raining pretty steady all day here. I spent the rest of the day resting and catching up on sleep, reading and taking it easy. Even dinner was the wonderful turkey dinner the fire hall serves up this time of year. The fire hall has three dinners like this throughout the summer. The turkey, today, then later there will be a ham dinner and a roast beef dinner. Comfort food all the way around!! I don't think we've missed one yet. If you eat at the fire hall, it's all you can eat. If you get take-home, there's enough in each meal container to feed about 2 1/2 people. They feed you well. The local cub scout troop is there to make sure you get your order and it's fun to watch the kids trying so diligently to make sure you are satified.

It was a good, quiet day.

Thoughts of Spring

Flowering Almond

Alpine Prim Roses

Cold hardy Camellia

Crabapple tree, Flame

Some Things...

...are just worth waiting for. This little woodland wildflower was planted in this spot four years ago. I just wandered outside yesterday to see what was going on in the front flower bed on the other side of the magnolia. In front of the house there I have a number of wildflower cultivars, mostly started from root stock such as this little bloodroot. I hadn't seen this little plant in years and feared it's demise, but there it was with not just one flower, but two! Not only that, but there were three other young shoots coming up close to the mother plant. I almost missed it's pretty flowers. This particular plant is a native of the area but I've never seen one in the wild. They seem even less rare than the Virginia bluebells which I also have growing in the same bed. They aren't in bloom yet but are pushing buds nicely. When both these plants are done with their flowering, they will quietly go back into dormancy until next year. The Virginia bluebells are also spreading with the same slowness as the bloodroot. I just have more of them.


A picture of the magnolia through the screened window. Also in this picture is a pretty Warbling Vireo, a bird I'd never encountered until we moved here. He and his mate have a nest just above the front door of my home and he sits in this tree as a sentry over the family. This bird is extremely shy and will fly away at any movement, so to get this shot took time and effort. I will address the fussiness with the RAW photo that I have in the computer and see if I can't bring him up any more than this.

There is a beautiful breeze blowing in from the open window by my computer. The sun is shinning and the day calls me outside.

Weather and Work

Today seems like an early April day. It's a bit more blustery than I'd like to see it but the temps and rainy conditions are appropriate. The early plants that should be in bloom are. Spring is here in all of it's glory.

Though not fully recovered from my illness, I was able to get outside over the weekend and enjoy the unusually warm weather. I must say, we got a lot done considering all the problems we've had in the past two weeks. We got the mulch put around the garden where it was needed. I got all the roses out of the garden and into permanent homes in the new bed which was finally ready for them. I started pruning the roses and got most of the front ones done, the OGRs were also done. I need to fertilize these soon. Hopefully I will get outside to shape and prune the new ones I just planted and get those fertilized. I'm also hoping to get the garden tilled and the compost in it to prepare it for the summer's produce. I have onions, peas, carrots and lettuce that need to be gotten planted. The compost bins need to have the red wrigglers set aside, emptied and the old brushy stuff mulched and put back in the bins with the worms on top. By autumn, the new stuff will be ready to top dress the beds for winter. Oh, BTW, I didn't purposely put those red wigglers in the compost bin. You know what they say, "You build it, they will come." And I have tons of the wigglers in the compost bin.

Yesterday was my first day of classes for the new software we will be using at work. And we're supposed to be able to operate it with a six hour seminar. Oh, yeah, like that's going to happen easily. There are a number of coworkers on my shift who are familiar with Photoshop, including myself. Armed with this knowledge, we have a better chance of figuring out the new InDesign software we are getting. What makes matters worse, however, are the new computers, the Mac Tigers that we're also getting. The operating system is very different from the OS9s we're used to using.

It's funny. When we got the G3s and G4s about 10 years ago, everyone complained about them. Yes, they were different from the old Harris system we had been using and many of the people couldn't see the ease that these new computers and software would make job. Everyone thought I was weird when I tried to explain how these computers would work compared to the old system. Eventually, people became comfortable with them. This time, however, things seemed different. Sitting at the back of the room, as was not necessarily my want, but that I had been one of the last people in, I could hear everyone as the instructor began to talk. There were tons of questions for the tech folks as he explained the different software formats that were compatible with this new system. It didn't take long at all before people began to see how easy this new software could make the job. A lot more room for creativity. It's just going to be tough without formal training to get used to these new Tigers and the new software; to get used to feeling our way around the new system and get the work done at the same time. Right now it looks like we're all getting the new Adobe Creative Suite 2. That would be a dream come true! I used a lot of the software that is featured in this new suite as it is but to be able to tweak my own photos in a pinch and send stuff to Illustrator for adjustments would be heaven! Especially for specialty text formats that I can't do now. The computers also feature a new dashboard for our convenience. I have big plans for this dashboard!! I used the Internet a good bit for stuff we need to do the job and I'll be able to set up the dashboard to make getting these things easier.

Now, if things just fall together....

Something New

I'd been feeling so sick that I decided I needed to pamper myself some. I bought myself a new dress for $28.99. Husband thought he should pamper himself because I'd been so sick leaving him to clean the house and cook the meals. He decided on a new truck for $28,000. What's wrong with this picture???

We had argued Thursday because he wanted to go out and test drive trucks. I wasn't willing to leave the house. Yep. I stayed home. I told him he was more than welcome to go out and test drive all he wanted and inform me of each when he returned. Friday morning he decided to do just that and came home with this beautiful fire red GMC Canyon. No, he didn't buy it. He brought it home for the test drive which lasted until today.

I got to test drive it without all the time and stress of the sales people. I was feeling better Friday and even went back to work for the first day. It's still going to be a long recovery for my illness, but I'm making progress daily now. We drove the truck all day Friday and into Saturday before returning it to the dealership. However, I must say that it now permanently resides in our driveway.

One of the biggest things I had about this was that Husband was giving up his Wrangler. That Sierra had been in the family for the past seven years and we did enjoy the "top down fun" of it in the summer. But we really did need some hauling ability. The Cherokee provides some, but for tall stuff, there was a problem. Being gardners, we often lug a lot of tall plants around and even with the top down on the Wrangler, we were still limited on how big we could go.

Husband hasn't said a word about the Wrangler since he decided to do this. It sat at the dealership while we test drove the Canyon. We cleaned it out today and realized the Wrangler was a nice looking vehicle with less than 50,000 miles on it. They'll have no problem getting top dollar for it.

I drove the truck home today from a birthday party. I like it. It doesn't drive like a truck but handles nicely and has a great suspension on it. Yes, it is a 4x4. We couldn't live on this mountain without it. I think we're going to really like it.

New Family Members

I know I don't talk about the aquarium much and there isn't much reason to. Since we first set it up in January, we've lost no fish, no snails, replaced nothing, the plants have grown. We started it with three bunches of plants, ten fish and four snails, one round one and three pointed ones. I was more interested in watching the aquarium today than the TV. In it I saw three bunches of plants, one not doing so well, ten fish, all healthy and let's see, three round snails and over a dozen pointed ones. What am I going to do with all these snails!!!!!

My energy level is still riding on pretty low, but at least I've seemed to stop getting worse. I can't say I'm any better, but I'm not worse either. It's been a long time since I've been this sick. I'm not happy.

Bob's doing better. His finger is healing nicely and so far it doesn't look infected. This is something we have to watch closely. Since he has an exposed break, it is possible infection could set into the bone. The doctor is very concerned about this. He had initially given Bob antibiotics to help prevent this but he had a violent reaction to the drug and was immediately taken off of it. Now we're doing this the old fashioned way. He puts neosporin on his thumb twice a day and keeps it wrapped. So far, we're good. No sign of infection. Not to much pain either. He has an appointment Thursday with the doctor and I'm thinking every week until the doctor is satified that the thumb is pretty well healed.

Latest Health News

I finally broke down and went to the doctor this morning. This virus I've been fighting isn't getting any better; as a matter of fact, it's gotten much, much worse. My voice is totally gone, even my hair hurts and I feel like death warmed over. This virus is a cold with complications according to the doctor.

It's a beautiful day today and I'd love to be out there working on the garden. Alas, I can barely stand and have become depressed as well. Furthermore, it appears that my Comcast or Internet Explorer is doing funny things to the email I'm sending out. I was wondering why I have recieved only 1 message the entire weekend.

I'm just not a happy camper.

A Pretty Spot to Read

I can only wish for a place like this in my own garden some day. A spot where I could be comfortable just to sit outside and read.

I am longing for warmer weather and lots of sunshine to beat this cold out of me.

Not such a good day

I left work early the other night because I wasn't feeling so good. It seems that a nasty bug is trying to take hold but isn't quite there yet. I'm not feeling much better today either.

Then yesterday morning, after a full night's sleep, I was feeling fairly good but still not quite energetic, so I sat to look for a picture I'd seen in one of the magazines I had laying around. I couldn't find that but noticed that Shalimar was looking over the empty side of the cuddle chair. I've always enjoyed her attentions when I'm sitting up like that. After a bit she started mewing so I looked over the edge of the chair to see she had a claw caught in the string edges of the rug at my feet. Then I realized she was really caught. I crawled off the chair to help her. She was more than just caught but actually impailed with no means of escape. She had her leg twisted all around to the point of it snapping. I grabbed her and twisted her body to match her leg and tried to untangle the string. That wasn't working so I tried to undo the knot. That wouldn't work either because she kept pulling on it. Her mews turned into screams and hisses and she again twisted her leg almost backward trying to escape. Once again I grabbed her and twisted her body to match her leg and she bit at me, not actually biting me but letting me know she was in pain. I couldn't help it but I started to cry too as I pulled up the rug and scratched her jowls to comfort her some and take the pressure off her leg. I couldn't seem to get her undone. She would quiet and as soon as I would stop, she would start pulling again, screaming again and hissing again. I kept trying to unknot the string and suddenly, she was free. Before I left her go, I check her paw and noticed that the entire claw was missing. It had been ripped off, down to the quick but the quick stayed in tact. The claw didn't bleed. She limped on it for some time, but seems fine now, but the claw is still missing. I will watch her for a few days to make sure the paw doesn't become infected. By afternoon she seemed to have completely forgotten the experience and I found her sleeping on the cuddle chair where I normally sit.

Last evening, Husband called me to tell me he was going to the hospital, stating that he had gotten his hand caught in the newspaper's press. Now, mind you, this is more than serious as this machine can remove limbs without hesitation. There was only one serious accident at the newspaper that I can recall in the past 27 years; a young man got the sleeve of his shirt hooked on a pin at one of the rollers by accident and before he could hit the stop switch the press had rolled his entire hand into it through two rollers that were for one sheet of paper. The newspaper directors called in a team of doctors from one of the best medical facilities in the country to try and save this boy's hand and wrist. They did what they could and this young man was on medical leave for two years going through some very painful surgeries and therapy to try and save his hand and wrist.

As far as my husband's injury. It was nasty but he won't loose his thumb. I think recovery will be quite a while and the doctor even told him that. Today we spent the day at the company's doctor. He was impressed that Husband went right to the hospital and had it looked at immediately. It made his job easier. The doctor's biggest concern was infection since he has an open fracture. The final assessment by the doctor was that Husband would live. However, this doctor wants to see him again next week to check on that hand and will most likely see him every week until it's healed.

I'm still not feeling all that well. The nasty virus is still trying to get a foothold. I'm still trying to keep it at bay.

A Gardening Symposium

Monday is the first day of spring. With this, I will now start to get busy. Today was a garden symposium that is sponsored by local nurseries, businesses and internet businesses (mostly stationed in PA). It is put on by the horticulture branch of Penn State University. I had found out about this last year but to late to go. So, this year, I sent my money and went.

Having never been there before, we really didn't know what to expect. We were surprised to see the volume of people that attended, some of which had been attending for 14 years. It took us close to a half hour to get to the continental breakfast buffet table.

We got there to start the day with breakfast. Coffee and donuts and pastry. We also received a packet of catalogs, magazines and information, all of which had some great news and instruction. There were five speakers all from more local areas and all associated with Penn State, Longwood Gardens and the University of Delaware. All were master gardeners and authorities in their fields. We listened to talks about vegetable gardens, native plants and decorative gardening. Then we stopped for a lunch of chicken breast, salad, vegies and red rolly potatoes. It was very pleasant and topped with some of the most delicious desserts. After the lunch break it was back to the speeches. This time we heard about height in the garden and another talk about designing gardens.

I have to admit it was great fun. We met a number of people who were simply wonderful as are most gardeners I've ever met. We got some really great ideas to try and I especially liked the last talk about designing. After all, I am an artist and already know how these things go. It was also nice to hear someone offer encouragement when things don't seem to be coming along quite as quickly as we think it should. The symposium was over about 4 pm. I didn't win any of the door prizes. There were some there that I would loved to have -- three Peace roses and a redbud had really caught my eye. I did come home with two very lovely lettuce plants that need to be planted soon in the garden so I can start eating them.

Afterward, before we left, I filled out a paper telling the chairwoman about our experience today. I mentioned some ideas of types of gardening that I would like to hear about in the future, told her what I thought of today's symposium and am looking forward to attending many more of these. It was quite the wonderful day. Now, to go rest in front of the fireplace and read the Horticulture magazine and the Garden Gate magazine and check out what plants Plants Delights has on special. I ordered from Bluestone Perennials this year, but not Plants Delight; at least not yet.

A Pretty Plant

As I look through my gardening books I keep running across the Japanese varigated willow. In each case it is reported that this bush has three seasons of interest. I have three of these plants and in my opinion, this discription isn't exactly accurate. I think this bush has four seasons of interest.

This plant starts very early such as mid March or about the same time as the forsythia. In spring, the plant starts out with the varigated leaves and new growth of a varigated pink hue. It stands out among other green or even still brown shrubs. The pink is most prominate in the early spring but the new growth will continue to be this color though it will slow down as the weather gets warmer. The plant holds it's color until the frost takes the leaves away. This is when nurseries tell you that the plant looses interest.

In my opinion, this is not the case. As you can see in this picture, the Japanese varigated willow is the large red twig bush in the foreground. When the sun is shinning, it will shine through these twigs making them glow a brilliant bright red and is the winter interest. The base of the twigs, especially the older ones are bright yellow.

This past weekend it was time to prune and shape these three lovelies in my garden. I hated to do it because I would cut off most of the beautiful red. But it had to be done or the plants will not have the summer interest that I want them to have. These plants are tough and hardy and like a severe prunning each year or they will lose their varigation and lovely pink color. They need to be seriously shaped as well or will become unruly. I find they want to become unruly even when they are heavily prunned and shaped. I prune them along with the butterfly bushes and the vitex. The butterfly bushes are ready to start now, but the vitex will not be ready for another two months, at least. Both the butterfly bushes and vitex will not bloom if not heavily prunned.

This is just my opinion and the way things are working in my garden.

Next Year's Project

Here we are, still putting together the project for this year - the patio and today we were out looking at next year's project. Well you know how it is. As we finish this year's project we need to look forward to next year and start planning for the next major project.

We had decided that next year we will begin to tackle the hill behind the house. We've already started this with a couple of flower beds last year, but after the patio goes in it will be time for the water feature.

Today we went to the Garden Expo in Harrisburg. The theme for today was the water garden and wow, did they have some really beautiful ones! We found about four that would/could possibly be an idea for the one we will design for our garden, a water fall coming down the hill to a small pond - or not. This one has a butterfly pond at the base of the waterfall. I liked it even though it wouldn't support fish. We have a run off at the base of hill and a pond just might flood out every time it rains. This one could have a run off area so the pump isn't to stressed. It will still draw the butterflies and toad to the little puddles around the stones. It is also a natural scene and even though my patio will finish out somewhat formal, the little rill wil soften that formality. Rustic is not on the menu though Husband would be totally happy that way.

This second pond would be the water feature of my choice. Now this, I really like just the way it is. It is just formal enough without being to formal. The pond at the bottom could be kept a little more shallow if necessary and trail off to the water easement that follows the property to the road.

Husband will have a problem, I'm sure, when I tell him I want the work hired out. This is going to be more than we can handle, I'm sure but he will still argue that it is to expensive to have it done. I will plant the plants and arrange the design but some of those boulders are heavy and the digging for the pumps could be tedious and discouraging. Knowing Husband, he won't ask for help either except for me. I keep thinking that to get it done right without cutting corners it would be nice to have a little help. The water feature will skirt around the patio in spots and once the trees grow in, it will make the patio the perfect spot to relax.

We went to the expo rather late in the day because we wanted to stay for the auction later on. The hulticulture society usually purchases plants each year for this event and then will auction them off at the end of the show. The money then goes to a nonprofit organization. The plants were being sold in carts. If you buy one, you but the entire cart. We bought one cart that had on it four boxes of tulips, daffodils, crocus and grape hyacinth and I believe there are several odds and ends in one of the boxes. There was also a lovely white lilac too. But more on that another day.

In the Garden

It is time for me to get dressed and head outside. It's in the 50s here bright and early at 9:00 am and the garden awaits. I just wanted to leave this first...

Yesterday I was out for awhile and cut down the grasses. It's time to do this you know. Today it will be the butterfly bushes. I'm also thinking of pruning the forsythia and pussy willow and bring cutting inside to force. I'm also seeing the forsythia's buds are pushing away from the stems and the stems are getting a yellow/greenish hue; a sure sign that spring is here.

I had a window open and the patio door this morning to let the fresh air in. To keep the house warm, I burned the fireplace. It is so enjoyable to be able to run the fireplace with the windows open. It kept the conversation pit warm and relaxing while the rest of the house cooled off some and aired out. The noises of the spring birds filled the house and made the atosmphere even more relaxing. Most of the birds are back now. The red-winged blackbirds are definitely here; the bluebirds and the small songbirds. I've seen robbins as well, though I don't get many of them on my property. The trees aren't mature enough yet.

The Peace Rose.

If I bring forsythia in and it roots, I should be able to pot it up and sell baby plants at my rose society's booth at the herb festival in April. I also have some OGR roses, Bayse's Purple, that needs dug and potted up. I doubt very much that the rose society will let those go. Everyone will want one. I have four or five new plants that need homes.

In an inspection done yesterday, I'm afraid I lost three roses, two of which will break my heart. They are Peace (heartbreaker), Playboy (heartbreaker) and Forgotten Dreams (I'm not sure what I thought of this one). Both Peace and Playboy are strong roses and should easily take the winters here. But, in this garden, I've not had the same results as I did in the Browning Road garden. I have hardpan here and many of the roses are not starting out well. It will be a few more years until I can build this soil into something more plant friendly. The weeds love it though.

Mister Lincoln.

I have a lot of transplanting to do this year, so I'll add a few more to the list. Where Forgotten Dreams is/was, I have Mister Lincoln who is far to large for in front of my fountain. A more perfect spot would be to hide the part of the deck that was designed for the hottub. There Mister Lincoln and Touch of Class can grow to their full 7 to 8 feet and fill in the entire area. For where the Peace rose is, I have a pretty sport of this historic rose called Chicago Peace. It is the same colors only backwards, expressing the salmon pink mostly with the yellow highlights. It waits in the garden for a permanent home. I will get another Peace for the garden because of it's history more than anything else. There is a reason the Peace rose has become the most well known rose in the world.

To replace Mister Lincoln in front of the fountain, I have a lovely smaller rose of darker red called Taboo. This small rose has struggled the past couple of years, but is feeling the effects of the Mills Magic Mix fertilizer I feed. It more than doubled it's size and I'm much more comfortable transplanting it now.

Playboy.

Even though I have 2 Lavagluts and a Little Darling that need homes and will do well where Playboy is now, I just might have to replace this one. I've been promising myself that I will take cuttings of these grafted roses ASAP and haven't started it yet. Own-root roses do so much better for me once I can get them started. I think this year will be the exodus for this project. I go out today to get 2 qt. peat pots from a local nursery to start them in. I've also seen some interesting ways to try starting them in a catalog I recieved yesterday and I just may try this. It looks interesting.

There is a lot of transplanting I want to do this spring. A new large flowerbed going in will be the start of it. I'll be moving a Quince that will get to large for the area it's in and I have a lovely small polyanthan rose that will do wonderfully there. It is a strong little rose, is already own-root and will be perfect with the larger OGR roses I have already there. It will also add much needed color to the bed as it blooms all season whereas all the other plants have a spring blooming cycle.

These are just some thoughts on this early morning. It's to beautiful to be inside right now.

The New Trees

My new dogwood trees acquired at the Mid-Atlantic Garden Show last weekend. They are very young trees so I plan on keeping them in a pot until they are large enough to survive the garden. By that time I should even have a place for them.

I have the combination of patio stones we will be using to make our patio. The decorative stones are the ones we are pouring. We have 10 of them so far and need 16. The little moonface will go on a pileaster either under or above a built in light. There are two of these. I'm not sure I like the antiquing and may have to change that. I think it looks a bit to orange. We'll see. We will use one of the 24"x24" tiles for the top of the pileaster and I want to get on French Country style bowl urn to sit on top of that. It should be pretty when I'm finished with it. Oh, I did find a place that has urns in the style I'm looking for.

It's official now. Spring has sprung. My home lies beneath a main migratory lane for all kinds of geese, ducks and swans. Go here -> http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/21227. This story is about the main hotel for migratory birds. It is only minutes from my home. It isn't unusual for me to see huge flocks of geese and swans, sometime thousands of indiviuals strong fly overhead in the early mornings. I guess this is something you have to experience for yourself. Most people don't believe me when I tell them this.

Did I ever tell you the story about how I put Bratley out one morning. He ran off the deck and right into the middle of a gaggle of Canadian geese who happened to be hoofing their way through my property to the frog pond beyond. That's when I decided that the dog had a serious problem with his eyesight. How on earth can you miss those animals? Of course, with his short little legs, he was probably looking between theirs. BTW, that gander was a gander I wouldn't want to contend with. That boy was BIG!!! He was looking me square in the eye. I was glad when he decided it was time to take the girls and hurry off to the frog pond.

March

March. The contrary month. The saying goes "In like a lion, out like a lamb." Yep. I guess you can say that March entered this year like a lion. All winter has been quite warm. March comes in with the usually gusts of winds the rawness of winter, the dryness of August and just plain down miserable. Even the little Juncos have huddled among the thick branches of the forsythia trying to escape the wind.

March is also the beginning of spring and right now, all the landscapers are putting on shows to encourage people to depart with their income tax money and ward off the cabin fever by displaying their wares and designs in preparation for the spring. It's the month I solicit my cards for summer and join the masses to view the displays put on by the landscaping companies.

All this actually began last weekend when we went to the PA Home Show in Harrisburg. This weekend was the Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia and the Mid-Atlantic Garden Show in York. I worked at my job this past Saturday, a rare event, and also worked the club stand at the Mid-Atlantic Garden Show yesterday so I missed the Philadelphia Flower Show this weekend. Well, you can't have everything. Next Sunday is the Garden Expo in Harrisburg which we are planning to attend, then a week full of appointments until the Penn State Symposium in Lancaster, Saturday the 18th. Then Sunday the 19th is the Spring Home Show, again in Lancaster. Early April is the Herb and Garden Show (I don't have a date on this yet) and it is another one I'll probably be working. Then, April 22nd I have a presentation on how to photograph roses and plants in the garden. I'd say I'm a little busy.

To top it off, the weatherman is forecasting that the temps are to reach into the 70s by weekend which means I must make it a point to get outside and start prepping for the spring. All my winter pruning needs done, the grasses need cut down. Some old flowers need pulled or cut and Husband wants to start working on the patio, getting it ready for the sand bed. We also need to order the plain pavers we're not pouring.

Yes, this month's calendar is getting marked up, but I still have this week, the third week and the fourth week to work outside and get stuff done around the house, prepare for soliciting my cards and just all around getting stuff done. This pace should keep up until about the middle of June. Once we've finished with the patio the calendar should lighten up. But there is also my perennial that will be enlarged this spring, again. It should soon be finished and expand the entire width of our back yard. Then there is also the big rose garden we're planning on making. We have the grass killer ready ready to start these projects . There's not much grass there since the beetle grubs destroyed that spot last year.

While at the Garden Show yesterday, I took some time off watching the stand to shop a little. I can never go to this without purchases. I bought two white dogwood trees for $2.50 each and an obelisk for another large pot. I have one obelisk that was given to me a number of years ago, but never used it. This year I ordered two passion flowers for pots and plan on using the two oblisks I now have for them to climb on. The two dogwood trees will be potted in large pots for a couple of years or until they are ready for a spot in the garden. I also got info on a place in York that sells antique urns and fountains for my patio. Some of this stuff is breathtaking and I'm looking for a matching set of French Country urns. We stumbled across a beautiful firepit with seating at a local Home Depot that I might consider getting. It's the nicest one I've seen so far and is exactly what we want.

It's definitely a busy month but I can handle it. I like being busy.