Author: susansdailygarden

Funny story time

I am constantly editing what is in our home. But believe me, I did not always have that time. Stuff collected – intended and unintended. I say my husband is a Leverite – puts something down and leaves ‘er right there – but believe me , I do the same. I just hide the stuff in storage cabinets – lol. Oh, and I have to give credit. I did not come up with the Leverite. I heard it in a sermon. Truly 🙂

Onwards …

Last weekend I decided it was time to go through the Easter “shelf” in the storage closet. Oh, my, goodness. About 1/2 had nothing to do at all with Easter. This sweet little candle holder is an example. Back in the day I started something with my sisters that we would trade off buying matching Christmas ornaments. One year I was more adventurous and bought this – not an ornament, but it does have a hanger, right? Love!!!

How this got on the Easter shelf? I think I remember keeping it out after Christmas, thinking I would burn it during contemplation time. But it was so strongly scented! So I thought I would use it outside on the patio, but it kept blowing out. In the cabinet it went, until this past weekend.

When I saw it I remembered the strong scent. But then I had a moment. I could remove the strongly scented wax and put in a taper. So I did. All went well. Until I thought, whoa! that flame is high! And the wick is not reducing. I put it out. We trimmed it. But the taper got so hot in the glass I put it back out.

Still, I love the way the holder looks. Maybe I can get a flameless, very short, batter-operated candle.

Not giving up. Not yet.

So what about those seeds?

So much has happened in the past 6 months. We decided the little house on the north shore, although a long-term bucket list experience, was not a long-term option, we condensed all the things we had up there and let go of a lot of that as well. Soon after, my husband went hunting and came home with a really bad case of influenza A that laid him up for weeks. In Feb we went on our first ever planned “down south” vacation, had an absolutely fabulous, peaceful, relaxing time – and then came home with COVID immediately after. I have heard it said, and it seems to be true, the “stories” are in the unusual, the unplanned, the whackadoodle.

Now it is spring, and it is time, once again for outdoor time. Thoughts turn again to the gardens. I am going to try out the whackadoodle theory with the daylily seeds.

Last year I once again harvested our pollinator created daylily seeds. Hundreds are viable and have been in the refrigerator for many weeks (for stratification). At the end of April/early May I will sow them directly into soil in pots, where they will stay, and hopefully germinate and grow, for the summer, in the covered seedling planter – because we have cute little diggers with grey furry tails. In the fall, whatever did well will graduate to our tiny little seedling garden here, and whatever seedlings from last fall made it through the winter and spring and summer will go — up north.

I know, I know. But they are bird and butterfly created, and I have decided I do not want to leave them in the townhouse gardens. So up north they will go, in a sunny spot, that gets a decent amount of natural watering, and hasn’t seemed to have attracted deer munching – at least on the bulbs we have planted there so far. The deer have plenty of osier, and we also have hundreds of pictures from our trail cams of the deer eating the abundant wildflowers. They LOVE them! I do have daffodils to deter eating in that area in spring, and I will plant other deterrents as well. If I can, I will see about a fence with a gate. But that may be down the road a bit. Short-term, I am letting them go, to blossom in their natural environment with woods floor mulch.

My joy with harvesting seeds is in the activity. The seeds, if left unharvested, would have become bird or squirrel food. They are progressing farther. And if something weird, or funny, or just plain whackadoodle happens along the way, I will share 🙂

Amur maple update

The amur maple out front was heavily damaged in Friday night’s ice and snow storm. In addition to the large limb that fully broke off, another large limb twisted and cracked lengthwise and is now just hanging there. It looks so sad 😔

I cannot imagine the tree cleanup crew that is coming this week will be able to save it. My guess is it has reached it’s tree lifespan.

Fun memories. Awesome bloom scent in the spring and gorgeous color in the fall.

Almost (Spring 2023)

Oh boy! Where do we start? I do indeed love our seasons, but this year, in my humble opinion, has been a very long winter. It probably doesn’t help that we took our first ever planned warm weather actual vacation this year, and I still have “beach” on my mind. But alas, beach gardening is not a thing, I don’t think, so no plans to move just yet 😉

I like to say I am a “Thursday” sort of girl – the whole (weekend) yet ahead, but right … almost … there … I feel that way right now. The snow is melting, and I do see the grass and garden emerging. I suppose in July I will miss all this snow. But for now, sooooo done with this view.