http://www.janetsgarden.com/ en Copyright 2008 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:07:36 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss December this year turned out to be a winter wonderland. The fitst snow came early in tthe month with 4 " followed by a couple more 4" to 5" snow falls and several days of light snow and flurries. The temps have been below 30 degrees almost all moth so we still have most of it- but compacted down to about 10 in. Jim snow -blowed by back yard where Lily uses and made paths to the bird feeders for me. Finally a good year for snowmobiles , ice fishers etc. Evergreens have had snow on their branches most every day. We have been on walks to all our favorite trails and the scenery beautiful-snowcapped trees, grass and seedheads peaking through the snow, animal tracks, ice/ qpen water on the river. Today it's 18 degrees and went on the Qx cart traill. The trail was nicely grouned woth semi packed snow which crunched and squeeked when walking. Lily loves the snow and gets so excited and goes off trail and plows thru the snow woth her snout and when she comes up her face and eyebrow have snow clingling. Her back problem (ruptued disc last year) doesn't hinder her very much. A couple of snowmobiles wew cruising on the snow coverd Rum River, no open water to be seen on this river. The Mississippi is open in the middle with ice chunks on the rest. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/12/last_day_of_the_year.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/12/last_day_of_the_year.php Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:07:36 -0600 Yesterday we took a day trip to Alexandria. One of the most unusual and beautiful days I've ever seen. Woke uo to fog and frost covered world. Luckily visibility was such that we could drive carefully and as the day progressed the visibily distance increased but the frost stayed. We took 94 but also backroads and the landscape was breathtaking and we were constanly ohhing and awing and pointing out exceptional elements alto the entie landscape was unbelievable. Looked like calendar pictures or Christmas cards. The sun only peaked out a couple of times which also added its own beauty with the gowing globe surrounded by frostt and now there were shadows of the frosty trees, fences, grasses. After these brief moments the sun disappeared again. The farms , occasional cows or horses added to the suprises of the day. With the back road routes we didn't get to Alexandria until late afternoon. We left after dark and were treaked to a different suprise. There were several farms lit with Xmas lights. One exceptional one had the roofs of the barn, sheds and other out buildings outlined with colored lights and the fence surrounding the farm was hung with lights, and of the course the house was all lit up. What a site. It will be a day I will never forget. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/12/fog_and_frost.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/12/fog_and_frost.php Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:41:00 -0600 Really glad for the cool weather. Horrible hot summer with record number of 90 degree days, even some in Sept. Moderate drought in summer with lots of pricey sprinkling . Seems spent a lot of time moving sprinklers and trying to keep cool. Early fall brought us a couple of weeks of rain every day for 2 weeks- wish we had gotten it spread out more. Lawn mower wheels actually sank into front lawn when mowing. Next door he put in drainage tiles from down spout around to down side of hill. Neighbor rototiled entire length of front yard along the hedge for 60 feet-I'm worried about erosion the the hill. Been going on some interesting walks to state parks. One to Minneopa near Mankato with a wonderful waterfall and trail, another to Lake Marian "big woods" trails. Both were fun walks with beautiful scenery. Yesterday we went on the Ox Cart trail and saw a golden tamarak which I hadn't noticed before and another diiferent evergreen with an unusal pine core that I didn't recognize. Have been collecting various specimens (acorns, bark, berries, leaves etc ) for an interesting visual potpourri. Yesterday Jim spied several Cedar Waxwings on some crabapple trees by the HS arboreum. We watched them for several monutes gobbling up the tint apples. These are beautiful birds that I don't think I ever saw until a couple of months ago when I found a dead one in the backyard. It was so beautiful- like a cardinasl with the feather tuft on top of its head, yellow belly, yellow wing tips, and red 'wax" splotch on each wing. Burried it in my pet cemetery. Also have a red headed woodpecker hanging around a lot this year. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/11/almost_thanksgiving_already.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/11/almost_thanksgiving_already.php Journal Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:41:35 -0600 Heat is stiffling with temps in upper 90's and humidity and dew points both in 60's and 70 range and no rain to boot. High temps and dryness causing record number of forest fires in western US and SE Europe. But flooding in Texas and British Isles. Seems like spend majority of evenings moving sprinklers around , and we're on odd-even day sprinkling day. Barley keeping up- grass, flowers and now even the trees are stressed. Many trees with leaving turning yellow or drying up. Suppose to rain tonight- let's hope. Thank goodness we have 2 window air conditioners. But spend days with drapes, curtains and shades drawn to help keep the inside cooler. Since April I have had a sore knee which is getting better but if I overdo it at all it gets worse again. Trying to take it easy- used cane for the first month and still use it sometimes. Trying to go on some walks with Lily but unable to do so consistently. Jim is doing all the mowing. Started doing my Yoga and weight lifting classes a month or so ago but find I am restricted my by L knee in doing a lot of my usual activities. Hate it, but am being careful not to overdo so it doesn't get worse or become more disabled. Sally cat caught a young wren this am, darn her. Jim put in under a cool bush but it died a short time later and he buried it. She's aiming to be a 100% house cat. Last week driving the backroad to Maple Grove a turkey hen and her chick were crossing the road, luckily Jim saw it in time and was able to slow down in time. Such a cute , fluffy little ball on legs hurrying across under his mom's legs and she being careful not to step on him. There was just the one chick. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/07/long_hot_summer.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/07/long_hot_summer.php Journal Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:16:27 -0600 Yesterday was a windy day ( lucky here considering Kansas had over 100 tornadoes, including one cat 5 with 200 mph winds) and when Lily and I came home about 5 pm the red cedar on NE corner by the street was uprooted and leaning over my yard/garden. The neighbor whose yard the tree was in had topped it off thankfully but a lot of my garden was wrecked, flattened. The T hydrangea had several branches broken and looks terrible and lopsided. The rose tree of china is somewhat broken. The tulips, lavender, bleeding heart were crushed and the other perinnials somewhat damaged but will survive as they are just a few inches high. That's the 5th boulevard tree gone in 6 months. When street reconstruction done las summer/fall the city took down an oak and a elm on my boulevard and 2 trees on west neighbor's. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/05/windy_day.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/05/windy_day.php Journal Mon, 07 May 2007 11:48:23 -0600 Gorgeous spring colors are here finally. The lovely yellow green of spring is abundant everywhere - in the budding trees, bushes, grasses. Also the reds of the crab apples, peony stems, red bud of maples and whites of flowering trees and wildflowers. The colors along with the spring sunlight and long evening shadows make breath taking sites. Often I stop in awe just to look and enjoy what is around me. The gardens are doing well the early red tulips, species tulips, crocus are done and now my earlest peony is in bed. Blooming are white rock cress and tulips along with purple tulip tulips, small iris, and lavender phlox. I've added several yellow green/ chartruse plants to add add and unify some parts of the garden and are looking good, some hosta, coral bells, ground covers and a bush by the hydrangea. The garden really looks "put together". In back rock garden the 'spring green' tulips, white iris, rockcress, bleeding heart, pink tulips, crabapple, red stems of all the peony varieties look spectacular and enoy looking at it from the dining room window , deck and when I'm just outside. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/05/beautiful_colors_and_light.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/05/beautiful_colors_and_light.php Journal Fri, 04 May 2007 10:02:29 -0600 The last week of March brought 5 rainy days which were welcomed. We got about 4 inches of rain and the world got a washing. All that winter salt gone. Already had brought out the deck table, uncovered the bench, put out the birdbath in anticipation of spring. Had one day without rain and lo and behold we had rain and snow with 1 inch snow on the ground Tuesday after Palm Sunday. Then the north wind came and is still here. Easter week has been cold with single digit lows and warm ups to just above freezing for just short time in the day. Windchills with winds up to 30 mph. Mt birdbath filled with water froze solid up to the rim all week. Went to Easter Vigil at St S last night - too cold to venture to HC. Sorry I didn't go there though. Today it is 26 degrees, WC 7 degrees. Still has snowflakes in the purple tree, never did get the Easter Eggs out- didn't seem appropriate. Newman said Xmas was warmer than today's expected temp. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/04/is_it_easter_or_christmas.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/04/is_it_easter_or_christmas.php Journal Sun, 08 Apr 2007 11:52:05 -0600 In less than a week our temps have gone from highs of 40's, to a couple of days of 50's, then 60's, a day of high 70's yesterday and today its 81 degrees. Yesterday I was shoveling and spreading out this icy snow from our "glacial" ice packs to help melt it. Last evening it rained which helped melt the ice and cleaned up everything. So we went from winter to almost summer in a few day. Minnesota so often misses out on spring season. Instead of a gradual transition we get a giant leap into hot weather. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/03/too_hot_too_fast.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/03/too_hot_too_fast.php Journal Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:13:48 -0600 Finally temps above freezing. Temps still below freeezing at night but daytime temp 40 degrees yesterday and today. Still have lots of snow {glacial ice packs) but finally have running water in gutters. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/03/snow_melt.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/03/snow_melt.php Journal Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:28:41 -0600 So much for our relatively snowless winter. Last weekend we got 11 inches with wind and drifting. Our roof has considerable drifting under eves by front and back doors and drift overhangs on all the roof edges with subsequent icicles and water dams. I got the overhanging drifts off and cleared the gutters on the lower roof so water could drain. It took hours of ladder work and snow shoveling to make room for the ladder too. I hate doing this because of feet of roof damage but another storm was approaching which was to last 3 days with blizzard conditions and lots more snow and TV reporting that we should remover snow 6 feet from edge. So here we are 5 days later after getting a least 14 inches of new snow with wind and drifting again. Today is the 3rd day of the storm and its still snowing- expecting 4 more inches. Have been out shoveling multiple times each day and Jim snowblowing, but it it still accumulating. Drifting on roof as before only more so and icicles. I imagine I will have to clear lower edge of bottom roof again. So much snow and weight up there. When Jim comes home from work today he'll snowblow again. Snow piles along edge of driveway taller than me in some places. Snow thigh deep were I had to walk to brush off bird feeders. Snow depth 1 inch below top of sundial in herb garden. Garden and holy bushes now winterproof with good snow cover needless to say. Hand snoveled large area for Lily to use by back door. To be continued. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/03/snow_lots_of_snow.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/03/snow_lots_of_snow.php Journal Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:52:07 -0600 After our almost snowless December and warm January we are now getting below zero temps every night for 10 days and it barely warms up during the day. We had a 60 hr stretch of around the clock below zero temps s week ago. But its almost Valentines Day so spring in within reach-almost. Garden catalogs keep coming. I"ve ordered a birdfeeder and some metal sunflowers for garden decoration. I also picked up some seeds- nasturtium, zinnia, globe amarrath and a couple others. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/02/mid_february.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/02/mid_february.php Journal Sun, 11 Feb 2007 15:06:00 -0600 Our meek and mild winter turned bitter cold last week. Starting last saturday we had below zero temps. Had to really warm up our cars. Yesterday Jim's car wouldn't start (minus 17 degrees) so he took my car to work. Had motor club tow truck jump start the car and then took it and got a new battery. Tow it snowed maybe 2 inches thank goodness. So far we have had minimal snowfall and I'm sure some of the plants are gone, The holly is looking sunscalded. My gardens are pretty much how I want them so I hope I don't lose too many plants- some of them are hard to find and then its takes several seasons for them to get a mature size and full flowered. Today after shoveling the driveway I spent considerable time shoveling snow on my gardens- better late then never. Lily Beagle is doing well and we are going on some walks of 1/2 mile or so. She still hesitates sometimes when doing some things, like going down the bedroom stairs, but she has no trouble going up the same stairs. When she jumps up on a couch she sets herself just right before jumping. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/02/arctic_blast.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/02/arctic_blast.php Journal Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:50:06 -0600 Happy New Year. With the change of 06 to 07 came a change of rain to snow. As the temp dropped started getting huge snowflakes, wet slushy show to an accumulation of about 3 inches. First shoveling last night was a heavy slushy snow mix and this am fluffy snow. Beautiful winter scene Ice and snow draped over tree and bush branches that sparkled in the bright sunlight. Lily loved it and enjoyed romping through the snow and putting her snout into the snow and throwing it off her head. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/01/change_over.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2007/01/change_over.php Journal Mon, 01 Jan 2007 14:14:52 -0600 Last day of 2006 and it's been raining for 2 days. Temp was 40 degrees overnight and even higher yesterday. It's a record year for one of the warmest winters since 1870 something. Only measurable snowfall was 12/21 when we got 1 1/2 inches which lasted only a few days. Temps in Dec have been in the 40's frequently and 50 's once or twice. News mentioned the "annual ice fishing contest' in Forest Lake won't be held because the lake is not frozen- or the rivers in Anoka. Polar bears are in danger because there is it's not cold enough for ice to form in their hunting areas. Glacial ice is melting and huge chunks of ice breaking off in Arctic region. Kinda scarry. Of course the freeze/thaw cycle is not good for my gardens either. Hope I don't loose plants. Happy New Year. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2006/12/wheres_my_umbrella.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2006/12/wheres_my_umbrella.php Journal Sun, 31 Dec 2006 08:09:49 -0600 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. http://www.janetsgarden.com/2006/11/amazing_weather.php http://www.janetsgarden.com/2006/11/amazing_weather.php Journal Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:54:20 -0600