It's become clear to me through posts and PMs that there are some gardeners here just waiting for the chance to discuss gardening!
So, I was thinking... how do you use gardening, or how does it affect you if you need a break, need some respite, need to relax, need inspiration....how do you use it as a therapy tool in caregiving?
What are your activities: Do you go out and pull weeds, read a magazine, design new beds? Look through garden catalogues? Go to garden stores?
And what interests have you added to your gardening? Visit estate or garden displays? Do you go to garden shows?
Does anyone design and plant Knot Gardens? Raised bed planters? Assistive gardens? Pollinator gardens (and have you thought of ways to help the bees and butterflies?)
Are your gardens primarily for pleasure or food, or a mix of both? Do you grow plants for medicinal purposes? Which ones, how do you harvest and process them? Any suggestions?
Do you grow plants that can be used in crafts, such as grapevines for wreaths and lavender for lavender wands? Do you make herbal products such as creams, lotions, chapstick?
What else can you share about gardening and the means in which it nurtures your soul?
I have always been amazed at how crafty and fast squirrels are!
They are so cute with their bushy tails but can be little thieves! Hahaha
Now if only I HAD such a tree! I am tiring of apples, but cannot let them go to waste. It is apples with everything at this point.
I do admit to my mouth watering when today I went to the corner veggie market to find a big bin of persimmons, and enough limes as well. Lugged home sizable sack. Now that I see these beauties I know Thanksgiving isn't far away.
NeedHelp, the squirrels are ripping off my figs. They eat apples as well, but the figs they are real bad about, and every time I spot one getting really ripe (black Mission) it is gone the next day, or laying about half eaten.
My grandpa used to let me help in his garden and I learned about life through his wisdom during our conversations. He was larger than life to me. I adored him.
He had an ‘organic’ garden long before organic food became ‘cool.’ Gardening is a beautiful gift to share with children and grandchildren.
I was looking at my buttoned-down garden yesterday and making mental notes of which plants created happiness, which ones won't be invited back, and what needs improvement next year. Time to get out the notebook! Research is so much fun.
If you are happy then I am happy for you! I am sure that your arrangement looks fine.
Enjoy your hot chocolate. Can never go wrong with hot chocolate on a chilly day.
The next few days promise to be sunny but chilly. Perfect weather for raking leaves and drinking hot chocolate.
I know a man that started shooting cats in his neighborhood for getting into his garden.
He was arrested for abuse. I am like you. I could never shoot an animal for getting into a garden.
Got my bulbs planted yesterday, fully supervised by a squirrel. I could just sense him mapping out what went where. I guess we'll see who won when spring rolls around...or maybe when a roly poly squirrel trundles across the fence in a few days to laugh at me...cheeks and belly bulging and pulling a little squirrel wagon full of my bulbs...
Once, I had a can of natural bug spray, running out, it was hissing at the end.
Apparently, it scared a garden snake, and after I was finished screaming, it left the area.
Isn't nature both beautiful, and scary?
Every time I hear the word ‘blustery’ I have fond memories of reading Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day to my daughters.
The other time was sunbathing and I had sweet smelling suntan lotion on. I guess I smelled like a flower and the bee bit my thigh. Bee stings hurt!
My husband was attacked by a swarm of them while trimming our shrubs. That’s so much worse! I felt horrible for him.
So this afternoon is really, truly my last day for gardening - except for tomorrow, which will be The. Last. Day. Doing general tidy-up today and planting bulbs tomorrow. Hubs is raking leaves and I have forewarned him about ground bees -- I believe my advice went in one ear and out the other. Stay tuned! :(
While sitting outside last night to "guard" the treats table during our socially distanced Halloween, I was thoroughly struck by the beauty of the night: crisp fall air, gorgeous full moon, a few golden leafy stragglers still on our elm tree. I made myself a mochaccino, bundled up, and managed 2.5 hours before calling it a night. It did very much feel like a small slice of happiness in an otherwise difficult year.
I have today discovered that the term for "winter planters without plants" is actually "winter porch pots". Who knew!? (Please tell me I was not the only one...)
I've been doing a little reading trying to figure out what kind of yellow jackets are most common here, it would most likely be vespula germanica (german wasp) or vespula vulgaris (common wasp). The ones I have dealt with are always either nesting in the ground or in a crack in a wall and can be aggressive to anyone just passing by, which is a problem because usually you have no idea they are there (until you do, ouch!).
"Freezing weather kills yellow jackets.
In winter, a nest will only survive if it is in a temperature-controlled environment, like an attic space, garage, heated shed, or a wall void. When a yellow jacket nest survives the winter, the nest continues to grow."
Unless the nest is inside the garden shed....
One thing I realized later is that they attack in formation. There was a large "V" on my arm, created by their stings. Crafty little buggers, they are (as Yoda might say).
In California, my sister was stung around 17 times after putting the water hose in the flower bed for jasmine plants. They were in the soil. She had to take an antibiotic and Benedrill (sp?). Take care of yourself first.
Are you okay Cwillie?
You know that this is traumatic and you should rest, which means that any housework that might otherwise need to be done must now be put off until you feel better.
I've been stung too, once by a nest that left 26 stings!
Sending healing wishes your way. Hope you feel better by tomorrow.