IN Carmel

            Old fashioned Iris.  If I could remember correctly I think they came from Dougs dad's garden. A cool start to this Thursday.  I had three layers of clothing on for most of the morning never feeling very hot.  I started the day thinking Dahlias and space.  So I checked out my idea of moving plants and whacking off some Lambs ear plants making more space available.   But first Kathleen arrived.  I dug up one more Lenten Rose plant and cut everything into more clumps.  There were a total of 9 I think.  She arrived and we did a complete walk around.  Kathleen loaded up and additionally I gave her two kinds of ginger.  One came from a mutual North friend, no longer on this earth but remembered with great memories.   After Kathleen left, it was time to attack the soon to be D. Bed.  The Lambs Ear lost some of their width and once again the stepping stones were moved to make mor...

                                                                                             Now there are more. This morning I woke up with sore hips.  Over use reminded me that something different needed to happen today.  And it did.  I spent time thinking and came up eventually with a plan.  But first there was the walk around with wet feet as usual.  It became clear that there must have been a good rain again with all kinds of leaves evident in the ditch running past the house.                  Yogurt lovers.  Not really but support comes from many places for the Butterfly Weed.   There was a little TV and a whole ...

                              Another mint tea plant is shaping up for a cooling off time on a hot summer day. Today's walk around proved beyond a doubt that plenty of rain was delivered last night.  All survived but probably could have done with a little less of the grand shower.  The ground received a good patting down and all the transplants said it was a good thing to received after giving up their first place of business. Not today but in the days ahead I'll be getting rid of some Lambs Ear.  Speak up if you want some.  I hope to take some to North's plant swap in May.                          A first time for us gifted to us by neighbor Bill and Kathy.  A beautiful white Iris. Today was designated as weeding day.  A god rain storm makes it so.  And any plant in the wrong place if not ...

            Picture from my Kathy friend.  This is why we like to watch birds.  Always something interesting.  Today, I tackled something I have been putting off in the garden.  I ran out of other things to do and this one came to the top like heavy cream.  Maybe it was sour cream by the time I got to it.                                                          I never get tired of looking at these each year. You have heard me write about creeping Charlie.  Then there is creeping Jenny and there is another creeping something that I can't remember the name.  Charlie is around but under control in the garden.  Well, at least so far this year.  C Jenny is way out of control.  I think the early spring helped that along.  I love Je...

 And as usual, we were off to church again at 10.  Earlier, I walked the garden checking on the plants I was too lazy or tired to water yesterday. The ground had a lot of moisture evident when planting.  They seemed to be doing great.  So early to church allowed us to hear the choir rehearse.  They did a wonderful piece that brought tears.  Some things do that knowing how fragile life is. I grabbed one of the parishioners who helped me make some changes to the front of the church.  This was one Sunday without altar flowers.  We filled in with better banner placement.  I think all was an upgrade after the first service. The morning service celebrated Earth Day.  A new Eagle Scout was recognized having planned and implemented a butterfly garden in the children's former play area.  The service was excellently planned with everything themed to the gift of the earth.  Hymns, choir selection and a whole lot of liturgy was selected wi...

Sleep lasted long last night.  I would say it's a gift beyond measure that started the day.  The usual things happened and then I was off to a walk around.  The rain did it's magic and the walk was a pleasure beyond measure even when accompanied with wet feet.   I discovered the primrose would not work where I thought I would put them.  The place is overflowing.  So I found new places and split them up.  It's a first year for me with primrose so we'll see how this goes.                                                          All tucked in and ready to grow...I HOPE.                                    Just a little farther down the path the rest of the Prim Rose family plo...

 Another day started with a garden walk and then down the street to the garage sale.  They are hard to ignore when they are practically next door.   I must admit today was an easier day on the body.  It rained more than once and every time it was a real down pour.  Just what the garden needed so there was no reason to complain.  I managed to get the garden cart filled and dumped in the B Blue.  And before the next rain the cart made another contribution.                  My infusion nurse getting the medicine of month ready for her patient.  I am grateful. Then I made a trip to IU North for the monthly infusions.  They are painless when administered.  The "after time" was a bit different for the first time. Tomorrow will be better.  I still managed to keep on keeping!  It's just part of living. My Rosie friends.  I'm looking for Swamp Milkweed for Monarchs.  ...

 Well, wouldn't you know.  The neighbors had another garage sale.  I looked around again and thought I'd go back later.  I was too late.  The garage door was down.  I shared a picture of grandson Eli in his vintage leather jacket in the morning visit..  I did bring home a free watering can.  Then it was back home to the work with the slave driving Mrs. R. Today I tackled the front of the house on the north east corner.  It's the Lilly of the Valley place that has absolutely taken over some pretty nice ground cover.  The roots of the L of the V are massive. I wanted to enlarge the bare areas around my Sum and Substance Hosta.  It's a beauty and one I told Doug it would be his responsibility to hold an umbrella over it if hail came. The leaves are huge.  I guess I wasn't thinking of the umbrella holder. I've divided the original one into three plants. The deer did a big munch earlier in the year on one but the plant is beginning ...

 Well, the best laid plans have gone a rye.  Or something like that. The plan was to work till noon taking the half day off.  Nope.  It didn't happen.  Almost but not quit.  I DID sit down but then I got up again.   The morning started with coffee on the patio.  Woo.  There was a second treat bigger than the coffee.  A huge bird flew from our Smoke Tree to the neighbor's tree.  What was it?  So I scrambled to see and took the following picture.                                         My best guess is a Great Horned Owl.  They are huge with ear tufts.                                                   What a blessed way to start the day. Late in the ...

 Today was another work day.  I've had a few of those lately.  It must be spring.  So, I added another one to the previous count.  The work included moving a million, not quite but it seemed like a million Lake Superior rocks from their winter nesting place.  Then making a clean edge.  Adding Preen to knock down weeds that might be lurking in the seed form and then relaying the rocks.  Lots of work but looks good when finished.  I dug out a big clump of Sea Grass in that same bed making it a contribution to the b blue containers.  That was almost as much work as the rock stuff.  The roots told me they were going to make the job as hard as possible.  Yes, they talk to me.  But I won!  The bed is ready for dahlias.  How many?  I'm not quite sure.  Maybe 8.  If all goes well it should be quite a show for late summer and fall.                  ...