Cat Gone

A statement identifying me as not a cat lover must begin this post.  Their general independent nature sharply contradicts my sense of order.  Still, I recognize beauty when I see it and the only thing missing from this picture is the beautiful cat that was just moments earlier sitting in my garden.  A sharp and narrow gray stripe pattern covers the absent cat.  A huge white beard overlays nearly all of the exposed chest when this cat is sitting.  This visitor is in excellent condition carrying just enough weight to indicate a non-feral existence.  This attempt to capture it in a picture was discerned early on.  The sneak indirect approach was quickly understood and the cat pressed itself flat against the ground.  Despite the fact that the camera was on as I approached, when the cat bolted toward the trees it disappeared from sight before I could snap the picture.

This cat visited our garden earlier in the day.  It patiently sat motionless for quite some time but none of the furry rodents that call this place home ventured out.  The cat had to settle for a good long rub against the seed pods of this now dormant catnip plant.

The fix was followed by a bit of a nap on the fabric covering the lettuce cage.  Satisfied, the cat returned home or at least left the garden.  No pictures were even attempted while the cat was getting its fix.  It just did not seem right to disturb it during its euphoric state.

These pictures were taken just after the cat's second visit of the day.  My intrusion preceded the roll in the catnip.  My best guess is that we will see the cat again before darkness falls at day's end.

Black Friday In The Garden, Photos by Amy

  After a busy day with terrific food and family time yesterday, I awoke very early this morning.  It was not to hop in the car to go shopping.  I don't do that on the day after Thanksgiving.  I was feeling dizzy and queasy and thought the day was going to be a disaster. Then while sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast, I noticed brilliant flashes of blue outside the kitchen window.  I immediately thought of bluebirds, but that seemed like wishful thinking.  A few minutes later a bird came back and sat on top of one of the bluebird houses.  Both Amy and Ed saw him.  The brilliant blue, reddish throat and white tummy made it definite.  Bluebirds on November 24 would have to go down as something special in any garden journal!  Just seeing them made me feel a little better.

 Bluebirds and beautiful blue skies called for a walk in the garden with the camera and Amy.  Actually she did most of the walking and I spent a lot of time sitting on the garden bench in the sunshine. Here we have  the backside of a sunflower.  What an interesting place to leave your sunflower seeds.

Howling winds have blown most milkweed seeds away,  but these two pods are still waiting for these seeds to have a chance to fly away on their silken fluff.

This milkweed seed is hung up in the top of a catnip plant.

Cold has turned the hens and chicks a lovely red.  The prickles on the end of each leaf are perfect for snagging milkweed fluff.  I don't see any seeds here. Perhaps they have been eaten or maybe I will be pulling tiny milkweed plants out of the hens and chicks in the spring.

This unknown Sedum was a stowaway in the pot of another purchased plant.  I planted it on top of Ed's curved wall.  It shows an interesting tangle of textures, shapes, color and light. 

Prickly and soft, red and white, light and shadow make this photo a favorite!

Moss and lichens adorn the top of this stone wall.  Hazelnut catkins add a little more interest! 

The side view of the same rock adds another dimension.  There are always interesting things to see in the garden. Walking there with someone special who notices is perfect!

Making Tracks In The New Year!

The first day of 2017 is a beauty!  We woke up to bright sunlight streaming in the windows.  When I took a look outside I could see that something spent the early hours of the new year making tracks in the garden.  I did see a pretty tufted titmouse in the trumpet vine, but the tracks I wanted to check out were not bird tracks. There was no melting snow except for a few drips off the roof of the house on the south facing side.   Ed and I dressed warmly and set out to make some tracks of our own.  Tracks like the ones on the right of the picture seemed to crisscross the garden. Blue shadows on the snow reflected the blue sky above us.  I love the curved shadow of Ed's tumbled down wall!

I'm no expert at reading the signs, but there is a real clue in this picture.  The animal who left these tracks spent some time eating or rubbing against the remains of a big catnip plant.  We have seen bobcats here before.  But they have big furry feet and these prints seem a bit small but a feline is a good bet .

Imagine walking along the edge of a stone wall and then leaping fifty-four inches  to the other side of the ramp into the basement.  If I tried that where would be much more of a disturbance than a few footprints when I landed.  From here the tracks went along the edge of another wall, under the ramp and then down the driveway.  Now I was almost positive exactly whom I was tracking.

Sure enough there were footprints leading to Rainbow's tree.  The only remaining question is "Who let the cat out?"

Take What The Day Offers

An overnight freeze created a hard surface on the snow cover.  We went outside early so that a walk about on hard snow was possible.  If we avoided holes in the snow created by animals or dark leaves, no joint jarring drops into the snow pack were part of the experience.  By afternoon ever strengthening sunlight and a cloudless sky softened the surface of exposed ground.  This area near the house lies in full sun and gets more heat reflected from the white house siding.  This was a chance to start garden cleanup.  Working gently to avoid damaging frozen plant parts, dried leaves were pulled clear.  It is impossible to overstate the impact on my mind and spirit  that resulted from this simple task.

These hens and chicks are self planted in the gaps in the stone wall leading up from the basement.  Still partially trapped in the ice of melting snow, these colorful plants appear alive and well.  If any plant can display strength of spirit, these certainly do.

Bluets grow like a weed in the proper conditions.  We have tried several times to introduce them here but they do not flourish.  This clump is growing at the edge of the stone wall forming the shade garden.  One rogue deer has the nasty habit of feeding in the shade garden.  It took out the center of the bluets but left young growth at the outer edge.  Our wire cages remain held fast by the snow so there is nothing that we can do other than yell at the deer.  Like talking to a group of eighth graders at lunch time, our voices here have little impact.  A physical approach is usually necessary to move the deer away.

This spot has enjoyed several seasons of growth with no interference from us.  The daylilies should have been removed from above the daffodils planted here.  We have allowed these plants to go their own way but when the ground truly softens the daylilies will be removed.

This catnip was found growing wild here when we first explored this land.  It resists our attempts to tame it and simply grows in locations of its choosing.  The extra potency of this freshly dried catnip has made Becky's knitted and stuffed cat toys wildly popular.  She has often received reports that Fluffy opened the package containing the mailed toy without human help.

This perennial flax was deeply buried in snow removed from the driveway.  Sand was thrown with the snow and the dark color hastened the snow melt.  New green growth under the snow must impress any who see it.  I do see a weed well into the crown of the flax and that is annoying since it will always be impossible to remove completely.  So far it looks like this flax will be magnificent this year in spite of it.

Fierce winds removed much of the snow cover from the shade garden as it fell.  This area cleared early and open ground pulled the deer in to feed.  A wire cage was found that could be moved here to protect these Dutch iris.  Deer do not usually eat these plants before they bud so protection is in order.  This day helps us believe that spring flowers will soon be ours.

First Garden Weeding

Snow still covers the ground in the shadow of the high meadow but this gently southward sloping garden bed has thawed and is ready for weeding.  Daffodils have claimed most of the planting with snow drops and Dutch iris along the edge.  This planting receives diligent care.  A fall weeding was followed by a top dressing of compost.  New weeds appear under the snow.  They need to be removed now while the flower growth is small.  A foot long piece of quack grass root was pulled from under a group of snow drops.  Quack grass persists here and it is difficult to remove.  Any broken piece of root develops into a new plant.  Still, I hope that none remains in this small area.

We have no luck with plants that finally find ground late in the season.  This English thyme spent much of the summer in a pot on the wall.  It was finally planted but its roots had no time to reach beyond the pot.  Which of our many frosts pushed it out of the ground matters not.  Today it was pushed back into the soil but its survival is unlikely.  If we hold to our promise of ordering fewer new plants, we might be able to plant all in a timely fashion.

Another shortcoming involves our collective inability to discard perfectly good plants.  Many catnip plants were found growing in what had been the carrot patch.  Despite the careful preparation that preceded last year's sowing of the carrots, sizable catnips were interspersed with the carrots.  Clearing out the mess yielded several small plants.  We have little luck transplanting catnip and all of these should have been dumped into the compost pile.  Five were tucked into the freshly weeded ground.  If they live, we will have to find a home for them.
 

The tray of lettuce plants spent some of today outside.  We believe that exposure to a light breeze builds stronger plant stems.  As we move closer to our last frost date, these walls will become covered with plants in pots.  The four pots in the picture contain plants that never found a spot in the garden last year.  The garden bench needs new wood and the day lilies need attention.  Last year by this date, the daffodils were in bloom.  It appears that this year's season in the garden may finally have begun.

Our To Do List Grows

As the sun climbs higher and its light grows stronger, the gardener stirs and finds activity among the plants.  These hens and chicks have had a good winter and look ready for the next growing season.  Sited adjacent to the ramp leading out of the basement they receive almost daily attention because we walk there many times each day.  Any weed that tries to grow here is quickly removed.  The growth habit of the hens and chicks tends to claim an area as its own.  Either way weeds have no chance here.

We found catnip growing wild here when we first came to this place.  Every year since then we have tried to transplant catnip wanting it to grow in open places.  Every year our transplants die while self seeded plants flourish.  This catnip is growing among the Siberian squill.  We will find out if squill plants can be reset after we remove the catnip.  The root mass of the catnip is huge and dozens of squill will be displaced when it is levered out.  Or we may just keep the catnip cut to the ground as this area belongs to the squill.

We expected that our snowless winter would be hard on the cardinal flower.  Repeated unprotected freeze thaw cycles have pushed the crown of this mature plant out of the ground and many of its green leaves have already turned to grey mush.  Still the plant is alive and it will soon get some help.  One tray of new cardinal flower transplants will be placed on the stone wall near the basement ramp.  If a freeze threatens the tray will be moved into the basement.  In the past this method has been foolproof.  We really love the intense red color of cardinal flower blossoms and find them well worth the effort needed to help them survive here.

These thyme plants on the patio outside of the west door have received frequent attention.  When Becky finds the morning sun oppressively hot, she moves to the shade of the house to tend her plants.  Seated on the edge of the patio, she moves with the shade and beats back the weeds.  In most areas of the garden the weeds appear ahead of the cultivated plants but here the favored plant grows alone.  Outside work is close at hand and we are itching to get out there and start again.

Garden Fun in the Sun

It was a beautiful day to be in the garden. I did some weeding, planted a few plants, watered all the plants that are still in pots and took a few pictures in the garden. It's not often that I actually catch a butterfly with the camera, but this tiger swallowtail was so interested in the pink painted daisy that he ignored me. Look how fuzzy he is.
I also cut catnip for drying. It's a.regular thing for me to cut catnip on a dry day. I use it to stuff catnip mice that I knit. You can see them here!

Ed  pulled weeds, planted plants, cut the scapes off half his garlic, took cuttings of a pink wild rose, hilled the fall planted potatoes, and mowed the grass. We both had a very happy day in the garden.

Holiday Color

From a distance the garden is beginning to look kind of dead. Shades of black, brown and gray seem to predominate. Many plants are waiting to be cut back after the ground freezes. Dead stalks and seed heads abound. But this year Thanksgiving Day is warm and sunny. It's perfect weather to be outside taking close-ups in the garden. Amy's photo of this pink and purple catnip plant with its soft textured leaves surrounded by other green plants, shows that the November garden isn't drab at all. It all depends on what you choose to focus on. Those catnip leaves almost beg to be touched. If you could do that, you would find their pungent aroma is still present. All of these plants with their ground hugging habit, are waiting for the cold and snow. These green and pink plants all plan to be back in the spring. It will be great to see them then, but it's especially nice to see them now.

Catch Fly And Rain

This picture of catch fly was taken yesterday. I got my first catch fly from Mary Jo. Anything that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds attracts me. This interesting plant gets its name from the sticky sections on the stems that trap small insects.They are the brown areas about 1/4 inch long in the picture. The plants self seed every year. The hummingbird loves these bright pink flowers.

It's been raining all day. We've enjoyed watching rain falling on the garden from the comfort of the living room. Ed has the last of the plants in, and is looking forward to getting back to the shade garden wall. I still have a few more seeds to plant, and plenty of weeds to pull. A walk through the garden reveals strawberries, spinach,radishes, mesclun, lettuce and fresh herbs are ready for picking. The catnip drying has begun. I'm beginning to dry herbs for tea. New flowers are blooming every day. It's a glorious time for the garden!

Just A Little More Catnip

It's coming down to the wire and I always think I need to dry just a little more catnip. The plant you see is drying now, I cut it right after I took the picture. I've been knitting catnip mice and the level in the dried catnip container is down. I hate to disappoint all those cat owners who count on me for kitty's Christmas buzz. My knitted mice are a staple at the Christmas sale at the Shaker Heritage Society in Albany, NY. I'll check the garden, and if I find more catnip ready to cut, I'll get it dried, just in case. Besides, sometimes I like a cup of catnip tea myself!

The Broccoli Revival

This morning the weather was perfect for gardening. Cool , partly sunny, and breezy enough to blow most of the bugs away. I had to get out there . We have had great broccoli this year. I even put some in the freezer. Left alone those little green buds we like to eat, develop into this mess. It looked like a good place to start.

This morning I trimmed the plants, removed any yucky looking leaves, picked up all the debris under the plants, and pulled the weeds.

One thing I noticed about this year's broccoli was the absence of cabbage worms. Any organic gardener is familiar with those little green worms that turn beige when they are steamed. The other thing I noticed was that the great majority of weeds around the broccoli were catnip. Coincidence...I wonder? There was no shortage of the white butterflies here this year. Next year we plan to plant the broccoli where the catnip is growing.

This broccoli is ready to eat. If the side shoots are kept cut, the broccoli will still be around even after we have had some frost.

The first flock of geese flew over heading south this morning. The yellow shafted flickers are back in the yard. Best of all the Northern Harrier landed and perched right on the ridge of the house roof.

Plant Eviction

It's after Memorial Day and the catnip plant in this bed has lost its lease. It's beautiful mound of leaves has been cut and are spread out on a sheet to dry in preparation for their next assignment as stuffing in catnip mice. The roots are headed to the compost. Beans and tomatoes are the new tenants for this garden bed.

Oh yes, about that other plant, a hollyhock that will bloom this year. It gets to stay.

Now the beans and tomatoes are tucked in their bed. The straw mulch is on my cherry tomatoes and yellow pear shaped tomatoes. I love to mix them in a salad for the color combination!

Inside the cage are asparagus beans on the end wire and yellow, Italian, and green beans in the center. We'll have to access the plants from one side because of the hollyhock, but I love flowers mixed in with the vegetables.

Ignore the man behind the curtain, I mean on the right of this picture. He's the magician that makes this garden happen.

WILD Catnip

It's nice to see the return of the catnip. It is the one thing growing here that is a "cash crop." This strain of catnip was growing here when we came. It is a potent strain, and although I had no cat, I did have a pattern to knit catnip mice. I have made hundreds.

All my little kitty friends will be happy to get a new mouse with fresh catnip. Last year's supply ran out some time ago. The catnip will need some time to grow. It's at its best around the time it flowers. I have some mice all ready, just waiting to be stuffed.