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?
If they're the ridge sort, they will be a *dream* pickled. Also quite a bit hardier, though I don't suppose that's a problem for you?
I have to admit I am absolutely not, and I don't know why I don't learn. Never a pen when you want one, seed packets tend not to have standardised information, pigeons must have taken them out... Truth is, I can't be arsed.
I also don't know why I don't learn about courgettes/zucchini. I can just about manage the produce from one plant without being sick of the sight of the dang things by mid-July. With help from my neighbour, two. So why, again, do I have three plants monstering everything else in that flower bed..?
Shock therapy for your garden. The wrong cukes? omg.
Suck it up buttercup, borrowing another poster's recent wise words.
Really wish I could have grown even edible food, here in the high desert, but as you know, the squirrels, bunnies, and crows might have eaten them.
(You know I am joking, right?) Now I am scared I must have mis-spoke.
I have been clicking Like a monkey, and now I thought that I had lost all my friends, Lol.
Sheesh!
Last night the weather, sky, and temperature all were perfect for an outdoor walk at 8 p.m. Hubs was out there too, walking around, but ghosting. (Means he is there, but can't be seen).
Later, at 2:45 a.m., the crickets were chirping....mid-summer here.
Earlier this evening, the turtle doves were cooing. I almost mistook them for an owl, and on second thought, stopped myself before asking dH to come over and hear the owls.
Something about it all made me think, there are no bugs out at that special time-a one time only occurrence.
Will remember these brief, so very brief good times.
We had a wonderful weekend of rain, at least 2" over 2 days - just what we desperately needed, what farmers would call a million dollar rain! I have gherkin sized cucumbers and am watching anxiously for those tree rats hoping they don't come and destroy them, the plant and it's pot are too big to cover. My zucchini and pumpkin are also straining at their chicken wire enclosure and I need to decide whether to just remove it and cross my fingers or build something bigger and more permanent.
Had quite a bit of rain the last couple of days. Lots of flooding for some folks.
"The next full moon will be overnight on Wednesday and Thursday of June 27 and June 28. That's because the full moon occurs at 12:53 a.m. EDT (0453 GMT), so depending on which time zone you live in, the full moon will be at its best late Wednesday (June 27) or in the wee hours of Thursday (June 28). To the casual observer, however, the moon will appear full the day before and after it's peak brightness, so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the lunar sight, weather permitting. The June full moon is typically known as the Full Strawberry Moon, or the full Rose Moon and the Lotus Moon.", says Space.com.
I found a nursery that might have the roses, it is one I've shopped at before but it is a little more than an hour away so I still want to check some of the closer ones.
I suspect though that if they're the Country Gardens, Michigan Gardener or Fine Gardening magazines, they may not be available in Canada. I don't know how easy or difficult it is to order from American nurseries.
They are lovely - masses of beautiful flowers, so thick and lovely.
I've been thinking about getting some of the Knock-Out Roses as well. They're not as upscale or unique as David Austin's roses, but they are pretty, and from what I've heard they're quite durable.
We’re also in the middle of bird poop along the lakefront. Canadian geese, loons and mallard ducks are all nesting. Illegal to clean along the shore. By the time the babies leave the nest and fly there will be 3 - 4” of duck poop to clean up. Fortunately, not my job.
For tick repellent, I spray Cedarcide on me when I go outside.