Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 13.34: The Gardens of Wine Country / The Solar Eclipse

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday August 26, 2017 · 6:01 AM PDT

2017/08/26 · 06:01

“The wine was summer caught and stoppered ... sealed away for opening on a January day with snow falling fast and the sun unseen for weeks.” ~ Ray Bradbury

It may seem like wine drinking and solar eclipses have absolutely nothing in common. But when you think about it, both can lead to total black-outs under certain circumstances. This past weekend, hubby and i traveled through Oregon's wine country to taste the annual grape harvests and view a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse. As one might expect, we also saw some spectacular gardens along the way. Since it's too early for wine (As George Carlin said, "What kind of wine goes with Captain Crunch?"), shall we grab a proper morning beverage and have a look around at some of the gardens of wine country?

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday July 15, 2017 · 6:01 AM PDT

2017/07/15 · 06:01

“… wise men don't know how it feels to be thick as a brick ...” ~ Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull

We're finally entering our "summer drought" phase here in the Pacific Northwest, and the garden is pretty much on auto-pilot. Once the summer solstice is in the rear view mirror and the soil turns to concrete, i tend to focus my energies on little more than basic garden maintenance. Oh sure, i could work myself to the bone out there. Goodness knows, there's no shortage of things that need doing. But there's something to be said for kicking back with a glass of chilled tea on a gorgeous summer day; breezes dancing and a little music playing in the distance. Speaking of music, shall we refill our beverages of choice and simply enjoy eine kleine Gartenmusik? Who doesn't love a little garden music on a lazy Saturday morning ...

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday June 03, 2017 · 6:01 AM PDT

2017/06/03 · 06:01

“The two basic items necessary to sustain life are sunshine and coconut milk.” ~ Dustin Hoffman

The weather's been kooky here in the Pacific Northwest; 80 degrees one week and 60 the next. This is the time of year when you wake up with your teeth chattering, wondering if it was wise to leave the windows open all night; when the idea of eating lunch outside on the deck might actually be better than doing it; when flannel shirts and cotton T's both share a space in the washing machine. This is also the time of year when the garden quite literally shines. In the morning, the combination of sunlight and dew makes everything seem as if it's been sprinkled in fairy dust. By mid-day, the grass seems twice as long as it was when the day began. It all happens so fast this time of year. Around every corner is yet another weed to pluck; yet another beautiful bloom to discover and adore. Shall we grab a cup of coffee and have a look around?

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday April 29, 2017 · 6:00 AM PDT

2017/04/29 · 06:00

“Meanwhile, spring came, and with it the outpourings of Nature. The hills were soon splashed with wild flowers; the grass became an altogether new and richer shade of green; and the air became scented with fresh and surprising smells -- of jasmine, honeysuckle, and lavender.” ~ Dalai Lama XIV, Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama

If there's any truth to the old adage, "April showers bring May flowers," the Pacific Northwest should be swallowed in blooms over the course of the next few weeks. Spring has been sputtering along here, but mostly, it's been all about the rain. The forecasts have been brutal, but only this week, the little "sun" icon is consistently sharing space with the raindrops. Although much of the garden is still a muddy mess, shall we slip into our rubber boots and have a look around?

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday February 25, 2017 · 6:00 AM PST

2017/02/25 · 06:00

"What a surprise to see rain at the end of February," said no one in the Pacific Northwest, ever. It's still quite cold here, and very, very wet. But i actually enjoy this time of year, when the grays of winter can act as a canvass for the slowly emerging colors of Spring. This transition becomes increasingly apparent along the trails in the back woods, where mossy mounds and fallen stumps stand like sculptures among the naked trees. Shall we grab our rubber boots and have a look around at some of my favorite shapes?

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday November 19, 2016 · 6:00 AM PST

2016/11/19 · 06:00

20-President_Obama_lunches_with_Hillary_Rodham_Clinton_on_the_patio_outside_the_Oval_Office__July_29__2013._%28Official_White_House_Photo_by_Chuck_Kennedy%29.jpg — President Obama lunches with Hillary Clinton on the patio outside the Oval Office, July 29, 2013.
(Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Well, now. Are we having fun yet? Is anyone getting any sleep? Nearly two weeks have passed since Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost the presidential election. I don't know about you, but i'm still struggling to come to grips with the horrors of our current political landscape. It's difficult to understand how to move forward when we've fallen so far behind. But hey, this here's a garden blog! So for just a moment, let's set aside our fears, find comfort in the voice of Van Morrison, and plant some blooming bulbs ...

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday October 29, 2016 · 6:01 AM PDT

2016/10/29 · 06:01

Autumn is here, and moreover, it's the autumn of a presidential election year. It may not be the most uplifting notion, but it occurred to me the other day that my garden is looking as exhausted and fragile as i feel. Although we won't be able to fully exhale until November 9th, now that my vote's been cast, i feel a little less uneasy. So let's grab a mug of coffee that's been infused with autumnal herbs and have a look around my very wet backyard …

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday August 20, 2016 · 6:01 AM PDT

2016/08/20 · 06:01

Back when the earth was still cooling, i wrote my very first Saturday Morning Garden Blog about the adventures of backyard beekeeping. Like gardening, beekeeping is seasonal, regional, and definitely more of a marathon than a sprint. And not unlike gardening, muscles tire, accidents happen, and we recover as best we can. It was in this spirit, during what can only be described as an "Oh, shit!" moment, that we ended up harvesting our very first jar of backyard honey.

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday July 30, 2016 · 6:01 AM PDT

2016/07/30 · 06:01

*"Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration." ~ Lou Erickson*

Every year, it seems i begin the gardening season with a loose set of objectives in mind; keep up with the weeding (as if), plant for texture as well as bloom, expand the beds for pollinators, and harvest the edibles before marauding deer consume the lion's share. Every year, my various gardening goals are met with varying degrees of success. But working within a loose framework of objectives allows me to maintain my focus and fuels my gardening momentum throughout the season. This year, i added a new goal to my list: Use less water.

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday June 18, 2016 · 6:01 AM PDT

2016/06/18 · 06:01

*"The lovely flowers embarrass me,*
*They make me regret i am not a bee." ~ Emily Dickinson*

I wasn't born into a family of gardeners. For the most part, my father worked the land alone, mowing and trimming, spraying and clipping, lighting the caterpillar tents on fire. The grounds were always immaculately maintained, with varying shades of green and brown that coalesced like living sculptures around the house. As lovely as it was, there were very few flowers planted to color up the landscape. Except for the peonies. I remember the peonies - outrageous globes of petal-pink that stood like sentinels at the top of the stone steps. This past week, i brought a collection of potted peonies home from the garden center. I guess i was in the mood for something that connected me to the past. And the fact that a clump of peonies can live for 100 years or more is a notion that really appeals to me.

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday April 30, 2016 · 6:01 AM PDT

2016/04/30 · 06:01

*"I like it when a flower or a little tuft of grass grows through a crack* in the concrete.
It's so fuckin' heroic." ~ George Carlin

Allow me to begin today's blog with a confession: I'm behind in my weeding. Have i ever mentioned my gift for understatement? When i tell you i've fallen behind, i mean there are weeds on the side of my house that i whimsically refer to as "knee ticklers" because that's how tall they are.

Was George Carlin on to something? Should i reframe my thinking about the ubiquitous "weed" and reconsider its value in my garden? Or should i continue the struggle? Smother them under bricks. Burn them with a torch. Attempt to pluck them one by one, often loosing the tug-of-war with an especially deep network of roots and ending up with nothing but a fist full of foliage, scraped-up fingers and a defeated spirit. Until i decide to either embrace or eschew the ever-present weed, i must accept that they're a fact of life in my garden. Shall we turn a blind eye to this horticultural cellulite and have a look around at what's blooming?

estreya

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday April 02, 2016 · 6:01 AM PDT

2016/04/02 · 06:01

*"The pedigree of honey does not concern the bee -*
*A clover, any time, to him, is aristocracy." ~ Emily Dickinson*

If i could save time in a bottle, i might be tempted to shave a month off the dog days of summer and make Spring last twice as long. I love this time of year, when the sun conducts its daily symphony of restoration and rebirth. Here in my Pacific Northwest garden, there's new life at every turn. This re-awakening is especially evident within the wooden walls of a beehive. Shall we crack open the lid and have a look inside?

Newer
Older

RSS

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 13.34: The Gardens of Wine Country / The Solar Eclipse

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 13.28: Eine Kleine Gartenmusik

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 13.22: Here comes the sun!

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 13.17: Rain, rain, go away ...

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 13.08: The Sculptures of Nature ...

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 12.47: Let your laughter fill the room ...

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 12.44: The arrival of autumn color ...

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 12.34: Long Live the Queen!

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 12.31: The Summer Drought

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 12.25: Birds, Bees and Peonies ...

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 12.18: It's all O'koi with me ...

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging, Vol. 12.14: A Peek Inside The Hive