Last month I did my ritual start of my garden journal. I often start my journal with a quote, drawing, some kind of inspiration for the garden. This year it was stamps and the word that FB gave me in one of those quizzes that you fill out for fun. Future was the word that came up for me. I thought that was appropriate since I retired the end of January and I have a 'no routine' future to look forward to. I usually end up with a few pages at the end of my garden journal that are empty. This year I hope to be busy enough to have all sorts of projects and observations to record here so I can fill it to the end pages. I have kept the same type of journal since 1996. So this will be quite the quest.
A couple of weeks ago when the snow began melting my mind started swirling with ideas. I have plenty of fodder for my new journal.
The past couple of days have been nice winter days. Any day during winter when the temperatures are in the upper 40s or 50s I just have to get out and do something in the garden. I did some trimming of some shrubs, cut back the perennials along the west walk. It looks better along that area of the garden. It really needed cutting back because you couldn't walk through that part of the walk without bushing up against half rotten stems. EEEwwwww. Even the meter reader will appreciate this effort.
The future of my garden is also in flux. I have so many ideas I want to try. I want to revamp almost every bed in my garden. I am torn as to which way I should turn. I want more conifers in the garden, more native plants, more edibles. I can't resist many of the flowers of the summer season too. Needless to say I will have a lot to do besides the regular maintenance.
As I open the gate and look back through the garden you can see a shot of green here and there. Other than the Hemlock and yew most of that green wouldn't be visible at this time of year but what with the warmer temperatures at the end of last month and the beginning of this month the early greens are popping out of the ground.
Green and brown is about it at this time of year, however the snowdrops are flouncing about in the wind. They don't need much encouragement. They are so cheerful even though they are bashful with their flowers and are always glancing down.
Diane
Jelena is starting some blooms but they are so low to the ground that you have to be flexible to get down there to catch a glimpse of them. I am tempted to cut off those stems and bring them inside. (Thank you Brenda for reminding me that this is Diane instead of Jelena.)
Annie and I hope you are able to get out in the garden some this winter. She must oversee anything that goes on in the garden of course. Do you have any garden thoughts to share with us at this time?
I hope you brought those blooms indoors. Enjoy them while you can.
ReplyDeleteSnowdrops! Yay! How wonderful that you've been keeping a journal for all these years.
ReplyDeleteVery neat pictures; especially the meditation walk in the snow. So cool! Spring is so close now. Keeping a journal is a good thing to do. I log dates of blooms and other important dates like when I see the first hummingbird on an excel spreadsheet. It is ever so interesting looking back at the dates. Keeping a journal for twenty years must be great to go back and look at them.
ReplyDeleteHi Annie!!
ReplyDeleteLisa, i am sure that whatever you decide to do with your garden it will be amazing.
And the journals...what a beautiful record to have. <3
Congratulations on your retirement, Lisa! I like the pattern in the snow and am feeling all nostalgic seeing your snowdrops.
ReplyDeleteSince you're in planning & dreaming mode, maybe a little snow and cold will be a good thing, letting the garden sleep while you think, rather than demanding attention to the emergence of each leaf and bud.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I wonder if that is Diane, Witch Hazel. Rabbits have eaten so much of mine, so it was great to see your photos and yours already in bloom. Lifted my heart and yours too I expect.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your retirement! I often note that I go back to old music and old movies but the garden is the one thing that always keeps me looking forward. My favorite garden journal stopped being published so I have two kinds; fairly similar but one is taller and they won't both fit on the same height shelf. Ugh. Love the way your labyrinth looks at this season. And I am totally jealous that you have snowdrops. Mine don't usually show up until about St. Pat's.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, I think you are right about this being Diane. I was straightened out last year too. Ha... I have slept since then. I don't know why I keep thinking this is Jelena. I guess because the tag said so but you know how those tags are. They migrate from pot to pot so you can't be sure of what you are getting until it blooms.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your retirement! I love snowdrops -- I really do need to plant some this fall.
ReplyDeleteThere are some snowdrops poking up out of the ground here, but no flowers yet. I also want so many different things for the garden that I may have to buy the neighbor's house so I have a place to plant them all.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 'retirement' moving into a new stage of your life and what better way than to spend it with a garden, a journal and photography ~ Wonderful post and photos and love the dogs ~ real and statue ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Happy Week ^_^
Congratulations on your retirement, Lisa! I can just imagine all the ideas for the garden that must be swirling in your head this winter. And now you have the time to do them all! Ha, maybe not quite:) Although I've been tempted to cut back some things on some of these warm days, I just haven't had time. About the only "gardening" I've done this winter is order seeds. I have a feeling spring will be early this year.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your retirement. A creative person like you will never be overcome with boredom.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting...retirement! and a whole new thought process of how you are able to spend your time. I am part of a neighborhood garden. We have a beautiful abundant garden and enjoy garden dinners throughout the summer. Each year I gather photos and put together a blurb book of the photos and recipes from our season of garden dinners. This years book arrived yesterday! and I am already dreaming of the change of season and planting.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same frame of mind. It is called the "in between" time. Your yard and garden always looks nice.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on your retirement, Lisa!!! Next, I always think of you when I see garden journals. I keep a day a page, diary in a journal style at times and enjoy looking back through previous years. I glue images etc that catch my eye too. I've seen your sketches in yours in previous blogs. I wish the 'Future of Greenbow' to be all you hope and more xo It's always great to read your garden thoughts - mine for this year? Bulbs - I should value them more and bring summer ones into my garden :-)
ReplyDelete