Janet's Garden News

Here it is the end of Nov and we've had a week of 50 degree temps. one day even hit 60. Early this morning it rained quite a bit. First real measurable amt since early Oct. Grateful for it because the gardens need a good soaking. Have been reluctant to drag out the hoses and turn on the outside water again. Also. it cleaned up all the dust, dirt left over from the 3 month street renewal project. Our street lokkds beautiful with new curbs, asphalt and it's widened 2 feet on both sides. My car needs a good cleaning next spring. There is dust inside the car in every crevice, even though I never left the windows open during construction. Lily is still recuperating so the mild weather has been kind when she needed to go outside too do her business.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day. Had to take Lily to ER vet because she was having trouble walking. She had difficulty going up the steps when we came home from a long early am walk. She Has a ruptured disc. She is on prednisone and Robaxin along with minimal activity . She is restricted to small area , boxed in with chairs and laundry baskets etc on cahairs, couches she she doesn't jump. Cannot go up or down stairs and needs to be carried outside.

Lily and I went walking on the Ox Cart Trail and came up a "Hidden Stairway" going down to the river. It's just before the big curve by the big trees and looks like it was very recently cleared out. Signs of recent brush clearing. Before it was in dense overgrown underbrush. We found it by Lily sniffing out the new trail made just a few days ago by the looks of it. It's a cement stairway of 30 steps with large river rocks cemented on both sides, At the bottom there are long stone/cement benches on either side of the stairs. Beautiful area overlooking the river. My guess it was built in the 40's or so by the State Hospital. This area of the trail is on the Hospital grounds. Lily , of course, explored the area and enjoying running up and down the stairs.

Lily and I have been on several of our favorite trails this past week. Temps have beeen in the 40's which are great for walking. Sky has been pretty much overcast, cloudy with just a few peaks of sun. We went to the Big Woods trails yesterday which is Lily's favorite i think. She gets so excited when we arrive at this site. Also we've been on the Maple Grove, Ox cart, Coon Creek, and Coon Rapids marsh trails all within the last week. The street renovation project is finished on this street for the year. Next spring the city with put on thw 2nd asphalt road layer. The sod is still green and I wonder if it's rooting- being so cold now. My hosta garden and driveway garden are both in need of repair next spring. The roadwork and grading took their tole on them. I need to make new boarders/edges on both and restore the plantings. A lot of work ahead.

Today was the latest open house at the Green Valley Greenhouse in Ramsey, MN. Free popcorn, cookies and coffee too.