I had a weekend of pleasant gardening weeding and grooming because of company coming on Monday. I knew they would view my garden for maybe fifteen minutes and was happy to spend three days making it look pretty much autumn-tour-worthy.
Friday, 21 September 2018
I had debris from work to move through the compost process. Of course, I found sifting compost from bin one more enticing than beginning my weeding project. I had high hopes for bin one, because i felt I had not sifted it thoroughly last time I loaded it up. Sure enough, I was right.
The only compost material that has been in there since May without breaking down at all is this packing material from Digging Dog Nursery.
Allan had begun working on a request of mine, which was to make sort of an awning over the space between greenhouse and shed so I can put some plants there for winter and keep them from frost.
The cats enjoyed having us around.
I had a sudden idea when I saw this piece of driftwood that I’d used as corner edging for years.
Allan went off to run errands and I took the opportunity to get into HIS garden and dig out shoots and roots of an annoying running-from-next-door tree. Some kind of thorny invader. And I finally planted my back up Azara microphylla ‘Variegata’ which has been in a pot (up-potted, at least) since I got it from Digging Dog.
When Allan returned, he brought a book that had arrived in the mail.
Unlike my other Marion Cran acquisitions, it had not come from the UK.
Allan had groomed about half of the Ilwaco planters; they did not need watering because of the well timed rain.
As he watered the Ilwaco fire station garden, a good rain began.
Saturday, 22 September 2018
We had this much lovely rain overnight.
The soil felt so damp that I did not need to water.
I got an early (for me) start on gardening with the realization that my new driftwood planter needed to go into the front garden.
This led to a weeding and clipping frenzy throughout the front garden. I just wish I had taken before photos!
Under the variegated azara, I fretted over two dwarf conifers I planted in the dark corner back in 2010. Why did I do that? I tried digging one out but it told me it did not feel like moving today.
Allan shopped for supplies for my greenhouse awning.
He returned with lumber and then spent some time working on our utility trailer. Just as he finished up, this critter came walking by.
We ended the day with a campfire dinner.
An almost full moon rose behind the alder trees.
Sunday, 23 September 2018
Today most of the back garden got a good weeding and tidying.
I suggested to Allan that the beautiful lantern his mother made was hidden by new fern growth in his garden. He moved it to a showier spot. His mother loved to garden and was every so skilled at crafts.
He decided to repaint the trim on his shed before adding the greenhouse awning.
I got four new salvias planted. One, not shown below, is ‘Compact White’.
The back garden looked quite spiffing in the dusk.
Next year, I will plant white nicotiana to the south of the fire circle, to go along with the three other fire circle beds from which it glowed in the darkness of our Saturday night fire.
I think that tomorrow when guests visit, they will find all our paths enticing.
I put my wheelbarrows away by the compost bins, to say “Weeding, what weeding? The garden always looks like this!”
Tomorrow: garden touring from Ilwaco to Oysterville and back with Beth and Ketzel.
Love the new driftwood planter. Charming.
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I’m laughing at: “Weeding? What weeding? The garden always looks like this.” Ha! Seriously love the driftwood planter you made. I have an old burl that I tried to plant. May try again after looking at yours. Read Allan’s mom’s (Ruth) obituary.–Just wow. She sounds awesome. Talked w/friend who lost her Medicare and then got it reinstated. She said she contacted our ombudsman.
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Thanks!
I was thinking of contacting an ombudsman next. Fortunately, it got sorted before then. I recall there is an ombudsman who helps at the local assisted living place.
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Love the moon photo! . . . and the driftwood planter. I like your idea of adding more white blossoms for your fire circle evenings. I’m still laughing about the weeds. That must feel great to have them cleared. Now that we are getting some rain, the weeds are quickly returning in my garden.
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Same here; you’d hardly believe I had it almost perfect a week ago.
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Lots of lovely things in this post. The mossy topped lantern tied to memories, the new driftwood planter you made, a campfire circle that beckons one to sit awhile in the night, fall flowers fading but still beautiful, and nurturing compost.
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Thank you for another lovely comment.
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Skyler, would you like a small, concrete bird bath (18″ wide, 16″ tall)? I will be in Ilwaco on Wednesday afternoon. If you email me, I can send a photo.
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I most certainly would, thank you! We could probably see you if we knew the time. Was gonna work Long Beach but can rearrange.
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Wonderful! I love the bird bath, but my active sheltie dogs keep knocking it over. Would love to see you, but I would not want you to have to change your schedule. If you are not home, we could leave it by your house about 2 pm.
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Ok! Do I have an email address for you? I could send you my number and you could text me.
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Why the foil on the steps balustrades?
Love the drift wood planters. Gardens look great.
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Thank you!
Allan put the foil there because the cats use the wood as scratching posts and were actually making the posts thinner.
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Very fine compost pictures bringing delight to the heart of distant readers. Allan works very hard, doesn’t he.
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Yes he does. He has seemingly boundless energy.
Glad you enjoyed the compost!
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Is that foil on the railing to keep Skooter and Frosty from scratching the posts?
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Exactly!
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I just sent my mailing address to your email! Thank you for offering to send some of those Gladiolus papilio bulbs (if they nave not all been replanted already.)
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I think I should let them dry out first. They got rained on. Plus I am pulling some more from Long Beach soon.
I am going to go out and fetch the bulbs into the greenhouse to dry out a bit so they won’t molder in transit.
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Oh, there is certainly no rush. It is not even feeling like autumn here yet. My colleague just asked me about bulbs for the Post Office. I am hesitant to get too many, and I really do not want tulips if I can avoid them. Anyway, that is likely where your gladiolus papilio will go. Thank you so much. It will be rad to see what they do!
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You may curse them a couple of years from now but they are easy to thin and pull.
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I do not even curse the montbretia. They certainly concern me, but even the thicket of montbretia at work is nice in a way, and it actually keeps the English ivy back!
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