Monday, 29 April 2019
Yesterday, I went out for a walk and found sunshine and ramps (Allium tricoccum).
Today, I found overcast as I stepped out the door, and a minute later, heard small noises on the leaves…white stuff…not rain. It quit within fifteen minutes. Still.
Now, the wood heater is keeping us warm, and I’m hoping for fine solar gain tomorrow.
Wednesday, 24 April 2019
Having already demonstrated that The Foot is a functional gardening appendage, I did more, mostly removing unpruned azaleas. Also got soil amendment mixed in around the quince and lavender, here with added basil plants—both regular Genovese and Thai. Watered everything in, and hope all will settle in and produce!
Hit 83°F yesterday, and only a mere 82°F today. Yup, AC is on upstairs in self-defense (skylight accelerates the solar gain!), although night will be cool-ish.
Sunday, 21 April 2019
Lily posing on Easter. On our dinner table.
We got outta town and drove into the mountains…where spring is a couple of weeks behind ATL.
And major rain over the last three days made rushing streams and puddles to reflect the blue sky.
The azaleas and dogwoods are in their prime here. Thank you latitude and longitude magic.
Assertive infrastructure above.
Friday, 19 April 2019
Sometime after midnight the rain started. I figure it rained, sometimes a lot until well after dawn (obscured by rain clouds), then off and on through the morning. This bucket was empty when it got dark last night. I tried a keep-the-phone-safe photo, attempting to use my feet for scale. Hrrumph. Not a big success. So, I headed off on my walk.
When I returned, I got serious about science and measurement. That’s an honest measurement—almost six inches of rain accumulated in this bucket since last night. That’s a darned lot of rain. Glad we live closer to the hilltop than any valley drainage.
Okay. Flowers from our traffic island. I don’t thank my neighbors who care for this area enough. Or help them…I COULD do that.
Wednesday, 10 April 2019
Last night was night one of having the AC on. And something like 30 inches of snow are expected less than one thousand miles north of here. A yikes-ian contrast.
Meanwhile (hey, this word was around before Stephen Colbert!), we got a tad of precip overnight…as these Mahonia berries(?) show.
And the Japanese maples are responding to the heat and growing queeeeeeekleeee.
Rather taken with the fragment of lichen on this spiderwort. Nice shadows, too.
Friday, 29 March 2019
Nice clear, warm weather this time of year means huge pollen accumulations…I think of the yellow as mostly pine….
Certainly, there isn’t much iris pollen accumulating!
I know this as a snowball bush, although these snowballs are mighty green. Viburnum?
Thursday, 14 March 2019
Somehow I got the weather prediction wrong yesterday—the line of storms is due tonight. Here are more tree-blooms that will be damaged.
Today was the third day in a row reaching the 70s (whew!), and I admit that after I got going on my walk, I began looking for a bit of shade—first day of the year I can admit/report that!
I believe this is a Lady Banks rose; it’s a vine, as you perhaps can tell. The blooms are small for roses, perhaps an inch across. Delicate.
Found several azaleas beginning to bloom today. This white specimen shows small buds, large buds, and open flowers. Lovely!
Wednesday, 13 March 2019
Tried my fave bison meatloaf tonight in the new range; loving the convection oven! Still have to fine-tune my understanding of how the convection-y part works…. More fun menus ahead!
Botanist’s daughter’s evening report: redbud buds and blooms may not survive tonight’s weather without becoming ragged or dropping. [Sigh.]
Sunday, 3 March 2019
I left earlier than usual, having heard the meteorologists say: rain later! I set off on a typical wander, looking for photo potential. Mmmm, maple “helicopters.” Perhaps for red maples? haha
Mmmm, a lion detail on a planter…. Hmmm? where’s the traffic?
Oh. Foot race. Hence, streets closed off, so, hmmm, an especially traffic free neighborhood, even for a Sunday!
Tranquil until the thunderstorm! Which now has passed. Whew. All is well. Wet, yes, but well.
Thursday, 21 February 2019
Right in the nearby neighbors’ yard I found a cabbage…already bolting! In February! Crazy WARM rainy weather….
However, I was encouraged when I found a hyacinth still in bud farther afield. Or a-yard.