Footnote

This shoe planter and pansies was my Mother's Day gift from my daughter.

Do bunnies like hostas?

A number of years ago we were always hearing neighbours and friends complaining about the rabbits in their gardens. We didn't have the same rabbit problem back then but they must have migrated and found our yard too. We started seeing them - usually munching away on the fallen seeds under the bird feeders. Now and then I would notice plants which had been nibbled on. Ours were "hunny" bunnies; not gluttonous pig rabbits. Our hunny bunnies just nibbled. It was kind of cute. Well it's not cute any more. I am not saying that I actually saw the gutinous pig rabbit chewing on my hosta but what else could it be? Slugs?

Frost

Overnight temperature went down to 2 degrees celcius - and yes, we had FROST!

Three good things:

1) I hadn't yet planted my impatiens in the ground

2) we covered everything

3) it didn't snow!

Hot and Cold

I started hitting the garden centres a couple of weeks ago. Last week I picked up quite a load - the annuals needed (yes, it is a need) to fill my containers. The weather wasn't exactly being cooperative, so every night we hauled the trays into the shop to avoid them being damaged from the wind and the cold.

So when the nice weather arrived on Sunday and it being the 25th of May, I was in a state of high excitement and proceeded to plant up all of my containers. There are a lot - ask Craig. Hanging, window boxes (11 in total) and various pots. I have to say they look wonderful. I am quite pleased with the outcome and look forward to watching them become established.

Well, I guess if I want to see them grow, I better haul them back into the shop tonight! After the temperature soared to a humid 27 yesterday, it dropped - this morning's temp was 5 degrees celcius. Today's forecast isn't pretty.

Craig is out in the shop now preparing a temporary depot for which to house pots and hanging baskets. Anything that cannot be moved will have to suffice with a covering of plastic or sheets. The sad but true life of the gardener - those better (warmer) days to come will make up for this, right?!

Almost Black & White

Fooling around with my new camera last year and took some neat shots. The feature I was using is called colour accent.

April Showers bring May Flowers

My dear friend Andrea gave me this trillium. Three stems, three flowers every year, guaranteed.

Solomons' Seal. Looks great in the shade even after the flowers fade.

Oh my bleeding heart.

Magnolia (I think it's "Betty") buds.

Bergenia flowers.

Lilacs scent from heaven. Can't wait to cut some for indoors.

Movie Review - Gardening and more

So if it is rainy and cold where you are... like it is where I am today, you may want to wonder out and pick up a copy of a "feel good" movie. Greenfingers dates back to 2000 and if you haven't seen it, you should give it a chance.

Colin Briggs is a man who has given up on life. Nearing the end of a long sentence for murder, Colin is transferred to Edgefield, a minimum security prison in the Cotswolds. Once there, Colin meets Fergus Wilks, an eccentric "lifer" who gives Colin an unwanted packet of seeds as a Christmas present. He begrudgingly plants the seeds in Edgefield's hard, infertile soil and, much to both men's surprise, the seeds flourish along with the two men's friendship. Impressed by the sight of the blooming flowers, the prison Govenor commissions Colin, Fergus and three other inmates to cultivate Edgefield's first garden. When the prison garden attracts the attention of flamboyant gardening expert, Georgina Woodhouse, she offers to sponsor the inmates in their first garden show. As a result of gardening, Colin gains a renewed lease on life, a newly found love for Georgina's daughter and a chance to compete at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show--the largest outdoor garden event in the world.

Let's Face It

this tree has personality

Pretty Primulas

This little spot where the primulas grow gets sun only in the spring, before the giant maple trees leaf out. Once the blooms are done, the epimedium, ferns and hostas will grow up around and the primulas will almost be forgotten.

Splish Splash...

..robin taking a bath

After the Rain

Oh so colourful in the spring... should I cut some to bring inside?

This random bunch opened once the sun came out.

Sleeping All Day

This racoon came down from a spruce tree, climbed over the neighbours roof then down and up onto another roof where it decided to take a nap in the sun. What a life.