Yet More!

Hershey Botanical Garden, Class 10 "A Rose Society or Garden", 1st place in Class and 3rd Best-In-Show!

Ok, now. I've finally heard from the National photography show I enter. The surprise was an ultimate for me. A huge win, I should say and I am really proud of myself now (slap on own back). Of all my photos, this Hershey Botanical Gardens was the one I had hoped would at least place in it's class. I never expected a Best-In-Show with it. It is a really great shot!

Another surprise was again the 2nd place win for Summer Fashion. It took Best-In-Show in the Districts, and 2nd in the Nationals. Again, something to be proud of. And to think that I almost didn't enter this photo in either contest. It was a last minute entry in both. First the Nationals since I had to have them in the mail first. Then I second guessed myself and entered it in the Districts. It did surprise me that it did so well, especially since I took it without props and I honestly thought that there were others that were better.

Chatting with some of the folks at the District Mid-Winter convention, I soon discovered that to get a picture of Summer Fashion like this one is almost unheard of in this area. Apparently the rose isn't considered a good one around here. We have to much humidity and it wilts with our temperatures. Some of the people were telling me that they've tried several and were totally disappointed in it's tenderness. That made me want to think twice about getting it for my garden.

On the other hand, Secret, the rose around the water bearer, has been at Hershey Gardens since I've been going there. This rose has also the reputation of being a fairly good one in this area. In my garden, I don't have Secret, but instead opted for Gemini, another of similar color, but I thought it had more substance in the flower petals than Secret. It is also slightly more salmon where Secret is pink.

So far, I don't think I'll be getting either Summer Fashion or Secret for my garden, though I do love that water bearer and might have to save some pennies to get one of those for my garden. Whenever we go to Hershey, the first place we head for is that water bearer to take pictures. I also have a water bearer fountain in the back garden already.

BEST IN SHOW!

Today was the annual Mid-Winters, sponsored by the Penn/Jersey District Rose Society. I will usually try to attend this. It is also one of the more major photo contests that I enter.

The entire day was wonderful with guest speakers, slide shows and general socialization with other rose growers from around the East Coast. Frank Benardella and Clarence Rhodes (two headliners in the rose world) were there as well as other renown rosarians from around the East Coast. While there I got the book Otherwise Normal People by Aurelia C. Scott. It is so far signed by Aurelia Scott and Clarence Rhodes. A very nice day.

Dinner was quite excellent with a choice of chicken or beef with roasted potatoes and green beans w/carrots. Annoucements were made at dinner as well as the raffle and door prizes. It was also the time when the winners of the photo contest were announced.

At the very end, my name was called for winning Best In Show for my photo of Summer Fashion. This was quite an honor for me to win this event. The trophy was several wonderful gifts.

It was a very good day indeed.

The Westminister Dog Show

The beagle won the best in show at this prestigious dog show. OK, I'm accepting that. This little guy was just a show stopper. Even with the 2 diamentional viewing of the TV, he was full of spirit and personality.

For the working class, I was hoping the Tibetan Mastiff, a new breed accepted into the AKC this year, would win. Now there is a dog! I seem to have a deep fondness for the working class dogs. They are bigger, stronger, powerhouse dogs. Just more impressive. http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2008/show/news/newbreeds_111607.html I was impressed with this dog. I can see the Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, Mastiff, Great Pernese and any number of other large working breeds in this dog. He is quite a beauty. The only thing I don't like about these impressive giants is their life span. 8 to 10 years is usually all you get out of them. They seem to have such big, wonderful hearts that burn out just a little to quickly. I know. I had a Newfoundland that died way to young. The Tibetan Mastiff seemed to be a favorite of the spectators of the show as well.

The Herding group was an Australian Shephard. A dog in the collie family. I like the collies too. I should. I have a Shetland Sheepdog. My personal feelings on this dog was his color. I guess I'm not much for the merils. I like the sables and tri-colors personally.

It was an interesting show. I enjoyed watching it this year, especially since I have no real preference for the dog what wins. The beagle was the cutest little guy and so full of himself, he was hard to resist.

The Hearlds of Spring

Always, the hearlds of spring, in this area anyway, have been the robins. It isn't unusual to see them singularily or in pairs over the winter, but it's usually around mid-March when they start coming in flocks of a dozen or so.

Such was the case today. I was doing my housecleaning, outside shaking rugs when I noticed two robins in the oak tree. It's not the most common sight, but I've seen these birds when they've opted to stay rather than make the migration to the south. I mentioned them to Husband when I went inside to collect another rug. Almost immediately he called me in to look out the front windows. There were at least a dozen robins on the barbarry bushes, eating the berries. Now this was amazing. Husband tried to sneak outside around the house to get a picture of them, but they were rathe skittish and saw him first.

To have this many birds in the garden at once is a sign that they are migrating. Could it be that they are migrating now, the first week of February? Could this be due to global warming? I'll have to wait and see. March is usually our very worst of the winter months because it is starting to warm up and then will suddenly go into a deep freeze. February averages around 38º with snow. There hasn't been much snow so far (knock on wood), but there has been a good deal of rain. There has also been two ice storms so far this winter. I could live without those.

Today is a beautiful day, around 40º. The wind has a bit of a chill in the air.

Some Wedding Pics

My niece Rachel got married the other week. Today I received a few pictures to share. After all she's been through, this is a very good thing.

Thanksgiving Is Over

For the past couple of weeks, when I have to report to the workplace at 9:00 am, I stop at the stop sign at the bottom of Green Hill Road. Across the street, at the church parking lot, is a bus stop where three little girls catch the bus.

During these past couple of weeks, they've been at the bus stop along with a wild tom turkey that seems to have adopted them, or maybe it's the parking lot that it's adopted.





Anyway, today while out and about, there was the wild turkey, in all his glory prancing around the church parking lot. When he saw us, he chased the big red truck up Green Hill Road. Amazing.

Finally, we just couldn't take it any longer. We had to go get the camera.



We returned to the parking lot and got some amazing pictures of this very large tom turkey that was in full feather display and prancing round with his courting song, pretty as a picture and knowing it. He even allowed us to touch him.

A woman stopped by and asked if the turkey was bothering us. "Of course not." We just wanted pictures. "Yes, he is a wild turkey." "He has adopted the three little girls that live in the house next door." "He's the neighborhood turkey and everyone is feeding him." "We worry that he might wander into the road and get hit or someone will shoot him." "He sleeps on the little girls deck railing."

I have to admit, I do enjoy seeing this turkey around. He is just a beautiful bird, though be it a little strange. He just came around and stayed. I have an idea that when breeding season does start, this turkey will leave the three little girls that seem to love him so. He just needs practice to intice the girls of his own kind.

Yummy Chocolate!!!

I had promised Husband yesterday that I would make my chocolate tapioca pudding today. OK. This morning came and I did remember the chocolate tapioca I wanted to make. While waiting for the recipe to rest...it sits before and after cooking to let the tapioca become saturated, I went looking through the tiny cookbook where this recipe resides and found several other recipes that I had at one time and lost. Some of my favorite recipes and I wasn't aware that all this time I had them.

Once the tapioca was finished I started putting this one and all my other favorite in my personalized cookbook of all the recipes I love the best. No hunting for anything in this book. It is just my recipes that I enjoy cooking the most. I am filling this cookbook up now.

Winter Continuing...perennials

Finally, my last order to date was with Wayside Gardens. This possibly could be the most disappointing of all my orders, since I've had good and bad with them. I kept my order smallish, however, with the idea that I might order some other plants that I want closer to spring, or after this shipment comes and I can see what their stock is like. There have been years with Wayside that I've been impressed and other times when I wasn't. They do seem to run in cycles. Last year I was impressed.

From Wayside, I will generally get perennials. This year I ordered 3 Ajuga Black Scallop (Bugleweed). I've been getting about three of these a year for the past three years. I'm using it as a ground cover around the edges of one of my major flowerbeds. I like this plant and it's grown nicely for me over the past couple of years. I want it thick enough to prevent weeds from coming up and it's been good at this.

I also ordered 3 Hypericum 'Briggadoon'. I have one of these plants from last year and will move it to another major bed where I will use it as a ground cover. Another nice plant as a ground cover.

Then I ordered 2 Aruncus dioicus 'Goat's Beard' for the back of the large perennial bed. This plant will get about 5 feet tall and resemble the other grasses in that bed. It should fill in the edges of that bed nicely.

Then, of course, another Heuchera villosa 'Encore'. I must have about 25 of these now of different varieties but am always looking for more.

Last but not least, I found this Paeonia 'Bartzella' very interesting and want to try it. It's a new variety that is a cross between my beloved tree peony and the herbacious peony. I'm curious to see how this one grows.

For now, these are my spring orders. Now for spring to get here.

Winter Continuing...roses

I've also ordered my roses for next spring. I got these coming from two different suppliers, one of which I've ordered from before and have always been totally impressed with their stock. Vintage Roses http://www.vintagegardens.com/. This company send own-root rose slips that are strong and grow into nice bushes in one season.

There are a lot of folks who don't want to wait a year to get a rose bush, but I've found that to get the own-root slips makes for a stonger, healthier bush that is less prone to the common blights of this area. Own-root roses can live much, much longer than grafted roses. I have own-root roses in the garden that are almost 20 years old now and have been moved all around two counties while I built my home and they are stronger than ever. Most of the grafted roses I moved have since perished.

From Vintage I ordered some lovely singles, Ellen Willmott, Mrs. Oakley Fisher, Vesuvius. Until recently I didn't realize that there were more hybrid tea single roses besides Dainty Bess that is already growing nicely in my garden. From Vintage I also ordered Smoky, virus indexed variety. I find the color of this rose quite unusual, a red with a smoky haze. I'm hoping the virus indexed variety will be stronger and better producing than the one I had before.

From another company I've never ordered from before, I ordered 3 climbing roses, Dublin Bay, a beautiful red, City of York, white, and Summer Wine, peach/apricot. Even though I've never ordered from Roses Unlimited before, they don't come without a great reputation so I'm fairly confident that the own-root rose slips I get will be very nice.

I am considering ordering one more City of York from Vintage Roses so I can compare the two. Besides, I really want two of this rose and two of Summer Wine. However, Vintage doesn't sell Summer Wine.

It's beginning to look like spring is going to be a good season.

Winter Continuing...seeds

It's 18º outside right now. This is the coldest so far this year. This is usual for these parts. Sometimes it gets even colder. But I'm near the Mason Dixon line here, surrounded by two major rivers and am usually warm compared to other parts of this same county.

We're reaching toward the end of January now. I'll have one more free weekend before the gardening fun begins. February starts the conventions and very early shows. March is completely filled now. Somewhere toward the end of March I must start finding time to get outside and start my late winter gardening chores. Things will begin to slow down by the end of April. That's when spring planting begins.

But for now, I think I have most of my garden ordering done for this spring. This year I went to a new supplier for seeds. Well, at least one I'd never ordered from before. Vermont Bean Co. From them I ordered Cranberry and Blue Lake bush beans for fresh and dried cooking, atomic red carrots, a mixture of loose leaf lettuce which we love and look forward to fresh every year. Oh, BTW, my co-workers have asked when I'd bring fresh salad greens in for a treat. I promised them and haven't done that yet.

All my seed packets I've ordered from Vermont Bean have arrived in good time and await planting when the season arrives. They are wintering in the garage where it is cool and dark. I've also ordered 25 Honeoye strawberry plants that should arrive just in time for planting. I've dedicated and entire raised bed in the garden for these little plants and will have some of the best strawberries around next year. In the meantime, I have some of last years crop frozen neatly in the downstairs freezer and they look sooooo good.

I have to admit, I've been pleased so far with Vermont Bean and hope that my strawberries come in good shape.

I'm making arrangements for a party in February. I'm planning on some light food and am thinking of making meatball sandwiches with cheese. Having the usual party food but also having some strawberry shortcake and a pumpkin treat which is my Husband's favorite, using both some of the strawberries and pumpkin that I have in the freezer. I'm looking forward to a really nice party.

It's That Time Again

Many years ago, I went to a seminar that a local, well-known nursery was having. There were several speakers and a number of subjects that I was interested in. After the seminar, I had the opportunity to visit with Mr. Stauffer, the owner of the nursery, with a group of other gardeners. After this visit and an inspection of the nursery's back 40, Mr. Stauffer offered each of us a plant to take home.

"These plants," he said, "are good plants. It's not that they won't be nice in your garden. It's just that they don't show well in pots. If they don't show well in pots, they won't sell."

Since Husband came along with me, I had a choice of two plants. I picked out two daylilies called Barbary Corsair. I took these two tiny daylilies home and chose a spot in my very front bed along the road. Within weeks they more than doubled their size and began to bloom. What little beauties! They were 3", rich velvet plum with a lime green throat. The plants were wonderful and the flowers seemed weatherproof. I really liked it.

When we sold that property, I left those little lovelies behind thinking that I could easily replace them. Of course for years afterward, I couldn't find them. But, now I have and I plan on purchasing a couple of roots for my garden. They are the perfect color and would really match my house. I'm also planning on another called Auroa Raspberry that does appear to match Barbary Corsair with contrast.

This will be my daylilies for this year. Of course, I might have to break down and order a Barbara Mitchell daylily as well. I'll see.

It's time to start ordering what plants I want for the garden now. My roses are ordered and waiting for planting season. I've already heard from both Vintage Gardens and Roses Unlimited about my orders. More on them later.

Winter

Well, it appears that winter made here to the homestead. We have a total of about 3" so far and it's hard to say if we'll be getting to much more.
It did make for a beatiful snowfall and I was awed as usual on my slow trip home from work. The snow is wet and hung on the trees and bushes so beautifully. It clung to my New Dawn rose canes over the arbor and shrowding everything in white.
However, this garden is no comparison to the wild forests around my property. Only nature can make anything that beautiful.
I can't say that it's bitter cold outside because it isn't. Still, even the sight of snow can chill one to the bones. So we stayed indoors this evening curled into a ball on the sofas in various spots keeping warm. Shalimar is taking advantage of the extra soft cushions of the ancient sectional in front of the fireplace. This girl knows what's good.

Florists Roses

Yesterday I received a bundle of 26 florists roses for the house. I also was taken to a rather nice resaturant for dinner. Of course I couldn't eat the entire dinner so a large portion of it came home for tonight's dinner.

Yesterday was my 26th wedding anniversary. Now, to look forward to 27. One year at a time.

New Things

Today was rather warm but not pleasant. This evening it is raining. So today was spent at the local mall. Some time ago, Husband had won a raffle that he played and won $1,000. Normally, I would cringe at this, but when he got the money, he had no idea what he wanted to do with it, so he put it in our joint account and it's been there ever since. Yesterday he decided what he wanted to use some of it for...he got a Bow-flex home gym what was greatly reduced at Sears. I was ecstatic! We'd had a Weidler years ago, but didn't want to put it in storage when we built, so we gave it to the son. I didn't realize at the time how much I would miss that home gym.

http://www.bowflexshop.com/bhg_microsite/products/xtremese/prdcdovr~100026/Bowflex+Xtreme+SE+Home+Gym.jsp

Today we went to pick it up and I got to test out the display one that they had set up. Oh, yeah. I think I'll use that machine as much as Husband will. I will still do my dance exercises as well and take the dog for a walk, especially since this Bow-flex doesn't have the stepper the Weidler did. The Weidler also used weights instead of tension but I think I'm going to like the tension. I also like my dance exercises and will like them more as I get to know the routines.

So today, I did my dance exercises, took Bratley for a power walk and did some playing around on the Bow-flex at Sears. I also played with the cat and made a flannel shirt for Husband. It's been a busy day.

I don't expect the Bow-flex to be set up for about a week. It will reside downstairs in the safe room where the temperatures are usually even at about 68 degrees, but that room doesn't have all the drywall and insulation up yet. The wall where the gym is going to go, needs done and next week Husband will be busy finishing that wall so he can set up the gym. I'm trying to talk Husband into inviting the son over to help with setup.

When we had the Weidler, we had that set up in the great room lower level and when we would have a party, it was also used as a seat. People would ask me if I used that machine and I would say "Every day" which I did. I had a routine that I used with that machine to stay toned. That's what we'll use this Bow-flex for.

While we were out we stopped for a lunch. Now, at dinner time, I'm not really hungry but most likely will be in about an hour. I'm strongly considering pancakes for dinner. Something easy to eat.

Let's Party!

Today I hosted the family Christmas party. After at least one other party this week; getting ready for this party;being on my feet from 4:00 am to 11:00pm each evening; baking 40 dozen cookies; a turkey; sweet potato casserole; cleaning the house; wrapping all the gifts; getting party favors ready; setting up for the party; baking biscuits, gravy, and a pumpkin pie; doing a load of laundry, I am beat.


But the party went off without a hitch. Well...maybe one. The great grandfather of my grandchildren is well into his 80's and rather set in his ways. I think he was expecting a traditional turkey spread and instead, we had a pot luck dinner. My Husband's ex and I both made turkeys (neither of us had one that was big enough for the entire group). She brought the cold turkey for cold turkey sandwiches. I had the hot turkey for the hot turkey on biscuits with gravy. She brought the stuffing and some gravy. I had some gravy too.


Each of the kids brought something as well. Jennifer brought a wonderful green bean casserole and Christina brought the most delicious baked corn I'd ever eaten. In the end it was a really nice dinner and after I explained to great grandfather that he could have his choice in hot food or cold, he ended up having a wonderful time too.

After dinner we spent 2½ hours opening gifts. Now, mind you, we, the adults had swapped names at Thanksgiving. The gifts at this party were for the grandbabies of which there are 4. Those kids made out like bandits!

Both the little ones, Laura, the blond and Sarah the brunette, are now pretty much walking. However, it is tiny Sarah that is motoring all around. Laura still wants to crawl around a good bit, but will stand and balance herself. She seems to be a more deliberate child, taking her time with the packages and ripping the paper carefully.


Sarah, on the other hand, is quite the character. She is already practicing to be quite the vixen, standing here peeking over the stool seat, her little butt swinging back and forth like in a provocative dance. Now, remember, she is only 1.

Both of my stepchildren make us proud, but of my stepchildren, Jennifer is the one to be most proud of right now. She has lost about 50 lbs. so far and is still loosing. She is finally starting to look really good and I know she says she feels much better too.

The party was fun as usual. I must admit, I do know how to throw a party. The hot turkey and biscuits with gravy went over very well too. Much of the food left after dinner with everyone, but I did keep some to make with other meals and the left over hot turkey will be remixed with the juices left when I roasted it and I will make turkey noodle soup, most likely Christmas day. Oh, I can hardly wait for that! I've been so hungry for noodle soup and now I have the stock to make it. None of that turkey went to waste. All that went into the trash were the bones.

Now it's time to go visit the neighbors for a cocktail party.

The Holidays

The presents are wrapped; the lost gift receipts are found; the cookies are baked; the office x-mas party is prepared for. I think I'm caught up for now. Saturday will start the cooking. A pumpkin pie; the turkey; the sweet potato casserole will all be prepared and some made. I'll be wiped out until the party gets here, but I will have a good time hosting it.

Sunday is my Christmas party. What happened to Christmas Day? Well, some of us are working so the day of will be a quiet one for me. I've gotten so used to even not having Christmas Day off that it's old hat to celebrate it any time during the week between and around the winter solstice. I was telling my boss about the winter solstice celebration today. He'd never heard of it before. But he did seem excited about the idea.

I'm tired. I've been getting up at 4am every morning this week and on my feet until about 10pm each day. Dinner tonight was soup and sandwich because I was to pooped to cook. I did take advantage of a beautiful day and walk around the yard after work. It was nice to walk around and look at all my sleeping plants - seeing all the stuff I didn't do this past fall. I'll get it there.

It appears that I will be so busy this winter that I won't have time until March to do much in the garden. I have things going on each month, and almost each week. My weekends in January are filling up quickly.

Bratley pulled his shoulder this morning. Right now I'm just watching him. So far, I've not seen a reason to take him to the vet, but if his shoulder doesn't clear up in a day or two, he'll be going. It was to sudden to be anything but a stepping injury. He went out the door just fine but came in limping.

I hope the holidays bring some meaning to everyone.

Things Have Been Busy

Things have been busy here, but I was still able to have a very nice holiday. I spent the day with family and friends with turkey, ham, greenbean casserole, brussell sprouts, mashed potatoes with bacon, filling the entire works! After dinner as well as before there was wonderful comany.

I got a handmade card from granddaughter Abigail, as we all did, but I was rather surprise at mine and what she remembered most about being at my house. Of course there was Bratley. He's always someone to be remembered but she also remembered the day she came over and we cooked dinner for her Daddy and Poppy. I guess I just didn't expect her to write about that day.

When I have her and her sister, I always try to do something with them rather and sit them in front of the TV for entertainment. That particular day, stepson Jim came over to help Husband move a tree. I took the girls since I didn't want them to get in the way and possibly get hurt. We took Bratley for a walk and while on the walk, a herd of doe ran across the street in front of us. It was wonderful and the girls were awed.

As we returned from our walk, I noticed that the men were nearly finished planting the tree, so I took the girls in the house and we started dinner for them. I gave Abigail a knife to cut the hot dogs (she was old enough to be responsible) which she did very carefully and well. Hanna, little sister was standing on a stool to stir the maccroni. That became a little difficult for her after awhile and the noodles got thick so I had to help her stir. The dinner turned out to be a great success and the men made a big fuss over the girls cooking it for them.

Hanna is a little more doplic but both girls take their jobs very seriously and are usually very careful when they're asked to do something. They're both great kids and wonderful to have around. Now that they're getting older, they're even more fun to have around. Abigail loves the theatre, museums and history. Hanna loves gardening which totally surprised me since once she was asked to help pick strawberries and she had a tantrum when she was told to pick only the fat, bright red ones. She liked the green ones better and was sent pouting to sit with her mother when she refused to listen. She is a little older now and has found an appreciation for it.

The two youngest granddaughters, Sarah and Laura, are only getting started with their lives and it will be interesting to see what interests them as they grow.

I just sent out the CD for the ARS photo contest. I have my fingers crossed. I know I have some beautiful shots on that CD. I just hope I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Right now I'm working on Christmas cards and birthday cards. I need 4 birthday cards and oh, my, I'm not sure how many Christmas cards. I need to get the birthday cards done this week and the beautiful Christmas card envelopes addressed. I just feel so busy right now.

The Little Pumpkin

Although my little Halloween pumpkin was born October 31st, we celebrated her birthday today. She is 1 year old. It is the duty of the grandparents to not forget the 1st birthday of every grandchild and this one is #3. We call her Sarah and when born she weighed in at 5 lbs. 7 oz. Now she is weighing about 15 pounds. She is a very tiny little thing.

That's me holding her. The look on Sarah's face is typical for her. Though such a tiny baby, she is always happy and giggly, curious and healthy. She will fuss like any baby, but that lasts only a minute or two and she's back to her smiley, happy self again. She can catch on quickly when she realized that Poppy's thumb could turn a ring that made her new phone sing and she didn't have the strength to. She would grab Poppy's thumb and put it on the ring. That is probably the only thing of concern with her. Her strength. She doesn't seem to be a very muscular baby and is still trying to gain balance. She will scoot around on her legs if there's someone who will willingly go with her. She still needs to hold on. But then, she is only 15 lbs. She'll probably be on her own by Christmas.

It was a nice party and a lot of fun. Baby Sarah is just a joy to have around.

A Fun Day

This is the last American Elm tree standing at Longwood Gardens. It is checked for health periodically and so far has remained healthy. I understand that the disease was mostly spread through roots of trees that grafted with each other. There is also one bore that can spread the disease, but they are easy enough to fight. As a specimen tree, they can survive and stay healthy. Beautiful tree isn't it?

It was a great day, all day, very nice. Lunch was at lunch time at the cafeteria, grilled chicken, broccoli/carrots, red potatoes and a lovely lemon glaze.

Rain

It's been raining here for the past three days. We got a total of 3" here out of the 6" that we need. This is a very good thing. Now the temperatures are dropping and it promises to get rather chilly tonight. A good night to sleep and I think I'm going to take advantage of it.