STOCKING UP FOR WINTER

So as we put the gardens to sleep for the winter and do the last bit of clean up, I wonder to myself if I will survive the long winter.  I guess I wonder that every year as this time approaches!

 

I was laid up with a bad leg most of the summer so I feel shafted out of a season plus it was so dry here the gardens just withered away......But.......

I HAVE BIG PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR!

 

I'm stocking up....yup, getting ready so to speak, with great new Ideas.  I'm going to be busy  busy, researching new plants and Ideas.

 

This is what gets me threw the harshness of winter.  Yes they are only books but to a gardener they are more then that, these chase my winter blues away! Every gardener knows what im talking about.

 



These are my new gardening encyclopedias....I'm not into clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc....I'm a book junkie!

 

These Garden Gate Magazine's are the best ever!

 

And of course we get Birds and Blooms AND Birds and Blooms extra which my hubby loves to read so I told him I ordered them for him (hehehe)

I'm feeling pretty good about the up coming dread of winter...I think I'm going to be just fine....Oh and Ill be cooking from my new veggie cookbook too!

Isn't she a beauty!

 

 



THE HOUSE DWELLING TREE FROG

Every year when I put out my bird house, it does get occupied, BUT...it has never been occupied by a bird.

 

Yes folks you are seeing correctly...it is a tree frog.  Not sure if its the same one each year, but it or they seem to prefer a house to a tree.



STARTING THE FALL CLEAN-UP

As most of you know, it wasn't a really good gardening season for me.  If you don't remember I will refresh your memory......

 

Ah yes...the boot.  I hobbled around with this on from June 5th until the beginning of September.  It is finally off but summer is pretty much done and I'm just in time to do the fall clean-up.

 

The filtration in the pond is pulled and only the aerators are running to get the fish threw the winter.  The pond is covered with the net to keep the falling leaves out.  Because of the hot summer...which barely happens here....algae was a big problem and the pond was never clear.  Oh well, theirs always next year.

 

 

I also want to thank my helpers.  I'm almost sure I couldn't of done it without them (not).

 

 

 

 

 

All in all I'm just glad my leg has finally healed and there is always fall to look forward to....which is my most favorite time of the year!



 

 

 



WE NEED RAIN!

I'm finally out of that boot and getting around on my own now...just going a little slower as to not irritate the healing bone. 
Things are not looking good in my garden...period!  I have tried so hard as I hobbled around, to keep every thing watered, but with no rain and the ground so dry it was hard for the water to even soak in.  To give you an idea of how dry it is here, I have not had to mow my lawn for a month, its all brown and crispy.

My pond is yuck!  We have not been able to keep up with the algae bloom and since we don't use chemicals its been a losing battle.

Mr pot man is fading fast and on his last leg,er,pot

And so much for my squash and tomatoes

So if everyone could think rain for us here, it would be greatly appreciated!

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SUMMER UPDATES

Hi everyone, hope your summer has been awesome.  My summer was going along so good until I got a stress fracture in my tibia and ended up wearing this boot up to my knee until now.  My gardening kinda came to a halt since it was hard to do anything...except sit and rest my aching leg and having my husband preach at me about it!

My boot is finally off for small stretches during the day and I am able to check out a few more things going on in the gardens.  It was so hot and humid here this year which is not the usual weather by Lake Michigan and my pond did not fair well with the constant algae bloom going on....it never did seem to balance itself out this year.  We tryed everything natural that we could and nothing worked....Never had this problem.

frog on a lily pad

The pond didn't fair out so well

Peas and beans growing nicely, until the hot spell came

There are still a few flowers left in the garden but most everything else has came and went...it was a very fast growing season.

As September fast approaches and my leg gets better each day, I do look forward to my favorite fall season and being hopefully in tiptop shape next year!





PARIDISE ON EARTH!

Need I say More?

POND UPDATE

The bullfrog tadpoles and our pond snails arrived this week, to say we were excited is an understatement!

13 tadpoles made it here alive.

Here my husband is releasing them

Some had legs, some didnt

Trapdoor snails

We also added 6 new Koi to the pond and some new plants...everything is looking good and the algae bloom is almost gone.  It has been cool here this week and feels like fall but is suppose to warm back up this weekend.   I dont mind alittle cool as long as things still grow,,,nothing will keep me from my gardens!