gardenwitch's Xanga

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Wed, 27 Oct 2004 19:09:09 GMT

Note to self -- figure out where the rain gutter dumps out before you put your planter there. It poured last night and when I looked out the window the square planter (yup, the same one that had doggie adventures) was a swimming pool. The little root balls of the six-pack pansies and allysums were floating! I moved it and bailed them out with a cup and tried to snuggle the roots back into the mud. I'll have to replace a lot of dirt -- they just got pounded with the runoff. If they live these guys deserve a purple heart!

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Tue, 26 Oct 2004 13:01:26 GMT

The clover I mentioned isn't black magic & purple passion -- that is the grower (and the name of a great gardening book on black plants). It is Trifolium 'Dark Dancer' -- it is the photo in the lower right box.

Monday, October 25, 2004

Mon, 25 Oct 2004 14:24:24 GMT

I went to home depot on Friday to get some potting soil and annuals. Yesterday I started putting them all together with some of the bulbs I bought last month. Here they are so far

Pansies, allysum and ranunculus in pinks and purples and reds

Icelandic poppies and pansies

Iris (red and white) and sweet peas

Linaria and anemones (purple and white)

Rosemary, oregano, thyme and lemon thyme

I also got black magic & purple passion clover (I see it in the gardening magazines all the time and couldn’t resist getting it. Now I wish I got a black Iris to plant it with), St. Johns Wort, and Pennyroyale. I also managed to find (finally!) some grape hyacinths. I pitched them in the fridge with the rest of their chilly neighbors to rest until late December.

I ran out of dirt & need to go back to Home Depot.

One of my roommates had the cutest little dog, and when I was gardening he was watching me plant the ranunculus bulbs intently. Later, I went out to the backyard and he had dug them up from the planter! So my other roommate “punished” him and I repotted them. Later still I went out again and he re-dug them up AND the pot of pansies and poppies. He even dragged one of the pansies out onto the grass and chewed on it! So roomie “punished” him again (we are such softies with him) and I replanted again. I had to replace some of the ranuncs because I suspect he planted them elsewhere himself. Then I set all of the pots and planters on top of upside-down 12” pots so the are out of doggie nose reach. I’d be mad if it wasn’t so damn funny.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

Thu, 21 Oct 2004 00:04:34 GMT

I'm still alive. It is raining buckets here. I need to get the bulbs I bought that are not chilling in the fridge into containers, and repot some rosemary and oregano I got a few weeks ago. I also got some pathetic looking chamomile & already repotted it and it is looking perkier. I'm all moved into my new digs and my roommate has the most amazing patio/garden with tons of plants, windchimes and spots to sit. It is really beautiful.

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Sat, 25 Sep 2004 23:14:16 GMT

I really hate saying this. I hate saying it; I hate writing it; I hate thinking it. So I use "softer" words. "When things are final." "Splitting up" " Moving out"

The gardenwitch is getting divorced.

So I am moving in with friends; luckily, friends who are just as green and who have lots of patio space for my plants.

Movers are coming October 2. I'm sure I'll have little dignity left by then -- after all I weep at the drop of a hat lately. I wept in front of the apartment complex manager when I broke the lease. I wept in front of the bank lady when I set up a new checking account. I weep so much in my car I'm suprised it doesn't mildew. On October 2 I'm sure I'll be weeping in front of the movers.

After breaking the lease and going to the bank today I went to Armstrongs and got bulbs for spring -- ranunculus, hyacinths, daffodils, anemeomes, etc. (Sorry, I'm too tired to spell check). Call it a consolation prize. Or an eye to the future.

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Sun, 19 Sep 2004 16:01:08 GMT

Note to self for next year:

Best mint performers: Chocolate mint, apple mint (watch the sun), and pineapple mint.

Worst mint performers: plain ole mint

Lemon balm: needs lot of fertalizer.

Yesterday was the first cool morning since summer began. I went out and cut a bunch of chocolate mint and it is currently drying from the kitchen ceiling. Winter teas!

Monday, August 30, 2004

Mon, 30 Aug 2004 21:50:47 GMT

Addendum:

The field behind our apartment is just an empty field -- leveled and probably ready for a strip mall. But for now it is wonderfully empty. I love watching the local boys hop the fence and use it to ride bikes and have adventures.

Monday, August 30, 2004

Mon, 30 Aug 2004 15:40:59 GMT

In lieu of an entry, here is the garden:

front garden -- passion flowers are the main feature -- there are four, two big ones and two toddlers. This view is out the front door.

View from the kitchen window -- passion flower vine has adhered itself to the screen.

View of the kitchen window. There are four passions and three mints

Shade plants hiding in the corner. You can see the bleeding heart getting fried from the heat. But the toad lilies and ferns are okay as long as the cat doesn't gnaw on them too much.

very bad photo of the other end of the balcon. The australian tree fern in the corner is huge

Thursday, August 05, 2004

Thu, 05 Aug 2004 16:20:36 GMT

I think I am getting ready for Fall. Fall and Spring are my favorite seasons. I'm ready for the crips air, sweaters, hot tea and candles inside, mini pumpkins and Indian corn, early darkness and the promise of Thanksgiving. Last night we turned off the TV and read and listened to music. I made tea from my garden -- lemon balm, St. John's Wort, and apple mint. By the time I was done with my first cup I was almost asleep! It is so soothing to go outside and pick herbs for tea, and to go through the ritual for making tea. Heating the water, cleaning and tearing the herbs up and putting them in the pot, steeping the herbs and pouring the green liquid through the tea filter into my favorite purple mug that my friend bought me. A little honey, and I'm in heaven.

Saturday, July 31, 2004

Sat, 31 Jul 2004 23:28:05 GMT

Went to Home D. to get some soil, a few more 10 inch pots anda trellis for the new passions. Ooop, a six-pack of asters in the cutest purple, pink and white shades fell into the cart too. I put them in the plant stands in the front so add a bit of color. Besides, everyone knows plant stands should not go empty! I think I need to go for more cheap colorful annuals. They look so nice, fill in the nooks and crannys of the balcony and when they poop out it is no big deal because they were cheap.