tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57466890187645949942012-02-16T02:11:19.558-08:00A sporadic accounting of the gardening & farming year at Paradise Gardens Rare Plant Nursery, including weather, flora & fauna, recipes and more.Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.comBlogger1051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-52055021872446901592012-02-02T21:34:00.000-08:002012-02-02T21:34:16.382-08:00

This year's catalog will be out later this month..... in .pdf form, on the nursery site for downloading.  I've done a papersaver .pdf each year for a while now, and this year, unless specifically requested, there won't be a print version.  Subscribers/those who have ordered recently will get a free copy mailed to them upon request, but otherwise there will be a charge for the paper version.  This

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-87309772340079837562011-09-11T18:25:00.000-07:002011-09-11T18:25:51.716-07:00

This year's rose crop was excellent (even the deer thought so :P ); it was a very good year for rose petal jelly.  I took photos this year during jelly making, as the transformation is fairly striking. The roses I use are primarily 'La Ville de Bruxelles', my favorite of my Damasks: I remove the petals from the calyces, measure, soak to rinse and remove rose beetles if

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-3843968564674427472011-09-11T17:36:00.000-07:002011-09-11T17:36:47.419-07:00

Though it's been down to 35F several nights, frost so far has skirted the farm, which is really odd, but then this season is the strangest one, weather-wise, I can remember.  It was cold and wet, up until mid-late July, and then WHAM, hot...then cold and wet again, then hot, and has stayed hot.  Truly, 90's, even 80's are just WRONG for this time of year.  The plants are confused.  I've seen

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-29567943822337786302011-07-03T12:23:00.000-07:002011-07-03T12:23:23.969-07:00

Yet another windstorm at market, and my canopy became a bumbershoot, I will save the top as a replacement, and try to find someone with the patience to fix the frame or reycle it.  For the market though, I need a sturdier one, eeking through windy days was a constant battle.  I did a lot of research, asked a lot of other market/fair vendors, and got a new one that is way sturdier, with some

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-33800190842341472932011-05-26T20:46:00.001-07:002011-05-28T15:23:40.706-07:00

It poured rain and howled a gale all day (again...argh!) so I stayed inside and soaped as I have done so much lately.  I woke up to crashing and banging, darted out at daylight to check on seedling flats (not washed way, thank goodness!), made coffee, and then hauled out my soaping gear. Curing or freshly made: I've been tinkering with a blend to mimic Lily of the Valley, and think what I came

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-49935711739873685642011-05-24T16:43:00.000-07:002011-05-24T16:43:14.661-07:00

It's a good thing I run a bunch of different anti-virus and anti-malware software, and that I was lucky enough to see the start of a virus on-screen and able to shut down my net connection.  Last week an email-propagated virus attacked my computer, and the backing hard drive.... chewed its way through the address book and a lot of emails, sent a bunch of spam (including to me! how I found it!  I

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-67779373548697074242011-05-18T19:48:00.000-07:002011-05-18T19:48:25.017-07:00

We had a two-day windstorm (Saturday and Sunday) with a fair amount of rain on Sunday.  The rain was expected to be huge and go on for days--- I thought I'd get some digging in of a last few woody plants, but that didn't pan out, as the wind just would not stop and the rain was only for a short time.  The market was terribly windy, one of those dirt in the face windy days, with vendors putting

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-71364256857304144622011-05-02T20:33:00.000-07:002011-05-02T20:33:32.774-07:00

Recently blogger lost all my entries in my blog reader (and there were a LOT, from science to art to news to science fiction and back to science)....... it's blank, empty, nada, nyet.  Which is fine, I had deleted a lot of them via the google interface (a person can't possibly read that many entries per day, Science Daily alone should be called Science Hourly). And yet, when I post here the

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-85351908254905803752011-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:002011-05-02T20:19:03.802-07:00

Rain turning to snow forecast for tonight, and snow for tomorrow... this afternoon I was just counting up the days since it had snowed, thinking we might go a week......and....nope.  This is the coldest spring I remember in many years, and my memory goes back over 50.  I am getting digging done, slowly, as the frost is well out of the ground, but on days when I get 4" of new snow, even if it's

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-10224805548361579592011-04-03T16:16:00.001-07:002011-04-03T16:19:31.761-07:00

In honor if it finally being spring (I have crocus blooming even if it snowed an inch overnight!), I made a new soap today, using cucumber and a blend of essential oils to give the fresh impression of cucumber, as while the lovely cucumber kept its fragrance through the lye and into the molds, I doubt it would last much beyond cure.  A bit of green French clay and teal oxide for swirls and a

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-27387768048849840572011-03-31T19:16:00.000-07:002011-03-31T19:16:42.160-07:00

Spring is finally here, the icebergs melting away from the gardens, and green sprouts peeking up between last fall's grasses and the fallen leaves and needles.  Tomorrow begins digging; the ground has also thawed enough to dig down further than two inches, which was the state just a week ago. First things to dig will be strawberries, followed by columbines, thymes, lavenders and of course, roses

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-4359649835632600232011-03-03T17:00:00.000-08:002011-03-03T17:00:50.697-08:00

Finally!  What with being on the blizzard-a-day plan for the last few weeks, it's been utterly impossible to do the usual garden evaluations for what will have wintered.  Usually by now I'm admiring crocus and hyacinth shoots, and counting snowdrops, but knee deep snow and subzero temps have put that off.  The catalog list is, therefore, a bit speculative, and will be changed as things are

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-28582826935485214792010-12-31T21:31:00.000-08:002010-12-31T21:31:20.158-08:00

The commenting got snafu'ed last week but I believe I have it fixed.  If it's still broken I'll have to peek under the hood again tomorrow.  Sorry for the difficulty!

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-72441304196278391012010-12-24T11:52:00.000-08:002010-12-24T11:52:12.513-08:00

A card from long ago, and some older music brought to you via the modern Christmas magic of the net, and some school kids: enjoy, and have a great holiday season.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-39062139127180051872010-12-21T19:54:00.000-08:002010-12-21T19:54:18.358-08:00

Introducing Wildwood Soap Company. (Still just me,) but it needed a makeover, and this will facilitate a shopping cart later on.  Plus it's easier/faster to say than SoapfromParadiseGardensRarePlantNursery.  And much easier to see what is there, with much simpler navigation.  I only use FF and IE (as a look-see), so if anyone notices anything amiss in Opera or whatever, please let me know. 

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-34872402045199787012010-12-17T20:08:00.000-08:002010-12-17T20:08:55.000-08:00

Wonderful, thoughtful, timely.  I bet this guy is a marvellous teacher; must be a great human being.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-40368210917179892422010-12-17T14:14:00.000-08:002010-12-17T14:14:16.769-08:00

Monday night, the moon disappears and turns red for a big chunk of the Northern hemisphere: Solstice Lunar Eclipse   This is the first time a total eclipse has happened on the Solstice in about 700 years.  It will be visible in all of North America (weather permitting) (ah overcast Idaho...), and partially, in Atlantic Northern Europe.  At the link you will find maps for that.  Quoth NASA:  The

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-46639330134513959232010-11-26T08:42:00.000-08:002010-11-26T08:42:15.161-08:00

Plowing the lane first, so I could be sure to get back in when I came home; a slippery drive; lots of smiles and greeting and meeting friends of friends (small world smaller!), a nice dinner, then coming home I successfully did not hit one of the (I counted:11) deer on the road on the way (had to go in the ditch though), nor the elk, flushed for some reason out of the woods, they thundered by

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-71065050089935607042010-11-23T16:07:00.000-08:002010-11-23T16:07:29.749-08:00

This was a longer hiatus than I intended, and it's not over quite yet, but I'm now able to believe there will be spring for me.  Seed catalogs are coming in weekly this time of year, and their cheer and hope are a restorative.  Things at the nursery will be different in the spring, to accommodate changes in ability, but my love of plants has not diminished.  Lavender will still be a star, and

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-22513656929338174992010-09-26T15:39:00.000-07:002010-09-26T15:39:12.856-07:00

Rather ominous red sunrise turned into not such a stormy day... though it's not over yet.  But the sounds of hail at dawn did turn out to be a flicker testing out the acoustic properties of the roof. :) Slowly, slowly getting my feet back under me... literally.  Friday I had feeling in both feet!!! Gives me hope. Soaping research today, making applesauce, napping in a sunbeam as though I was a

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-80270431833200718072010-06-30T21:11:00.000-07:002010-06-30T21:11:04.115-07:00

Before things came really unstuck, I got a bunch of new soaps made; I've been having fun with unscented varieties (oatmeal-honey; straight goatmilk), using herbs from the garden (eucalyptus, rosemary-lemongrass), local goatmilk (Idaho peppermint) and infused oils from the woods (evergreen).  I made an anniversary soap for friends to remind them of a favorite vacation they took to Corsica... that

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-33564804794886795342010-06-30T20:42:00.000-07:002010-06-30T20:42:37.215-07:00

...would make me cranky (I am a bad patient), if it didn't make me so tired.  There's probably a bad pun in there somewhere, but I cannot find it.  It is making the gardens, though, weedy as they have gotten, intensely beautiful to me.  The roses are in bloom, the pinks and iris...achingly lovely.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-1454792939098765382010-06-15T14:27:00.000-07:002010-06-15T14:27:13.889-07:00

...I don't actually have an office, of course ;)  but health concerns and family obligations will keep me away from nursery things for the rest of the month.  I hope to be back at full energy by late summer, but recuperating is taking a lot longer than I thought.  Shipping is continuing as I am able, and I appreciate people's amazing patience.  The cold wet spring has morphed into a wet early

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-10640748493271913792010-06-01T09:53:00.000-07:002010-06-01T09:53:15.765-07:00

. . .  the one where the links work and the images load correctly, and the email form does not deliver mails to the 4th dimension, instead of the inbox. I'm not certain what happened to the website for the nursery, but I think I have it fixed.  It's unclear if it was vandalism or a virus or just what, but things seem to be working better now. Luckily I had a backup copy of most of the images. 

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-80219221851068187342010-05-24T19:25:00.000-07:002010-05-24T19:25:33.495-07:00

This is supposed to be good for stimulating the circulation and soothing puffy extremities; we'll see about that, but it is fragrant and pleasant, foams a bit in the tub and is simple and easy to do.  I did feel a bit energized after trying this!  It's from one of my favorite herbal books, The Pocket Guide to Herbal Medicine, by Kraft & Hobbs. I like Tunisian rosemary, but any nice Rosemary

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-44054114011952558282010-05-12T14:55:00.000-07:002010-05-12T14:55:53.033-07:00

It is outrageously beautiful today, the way spring is imagined in so much art: gold and green, Flora's breath exhaling flowers and birdsong, the sky so blue it makes you feel like crying, the snow still decorating the peaks and (mostly!) staying off the porch and up the mountain.  It takes the breath away.  The amazing luck to be alive in the spring, to be out of doors, to be in this universe

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-11588483819504757882010-05-08T19:17:00.000-07:002010-05-08T19:17:11.550-07:00

It has been a much colder spring than usual, and things in the gardens are quite a bit behind schedule here.  Being in a frost pocket near the mountain adds to this; I went to a friend's house last week for a bit of a visit and their apple trees and service berries are in full, while up here the apples are just opening, and the service berries are not open at all.  It's good because I have more

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-85486210991202341292010-04-18T02:23:00.001-07:002010-04-18T12:59:57.892-07:00

Last week's windstorm brought a windfall--literally; a falling spruce brought down a poplar, which was bad, but it gave me a harvest of buds for resin, which was good.  I had a lovely fragrant morning harvesting them, listening to the birds and the stirrings of spring.  I picked them until my fingers went numb and my shoulder spoke to me... The resin will go into salves and soap, and some just to

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-84119109007172923172010-04-09T21:58:00.009-07:002010-04-09T22:11:03.202-07:00

It's that time of year when we are thinking about feeding the wild creatures that pollinate our plants and give us so much enjoyment in gardening, the bees and butterflies and birds.  I've updated the resource lists on the nursery site, but for handy reference here are some links to sites listing plants which attract various beneficials and lovelies to the garden. Remember that all will need

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-36055697181710787952010-04-04T22:26:00.000-07:002010-04-04T22:26:24.700-07:00

Organic Farming Opens a Way for Farmers to Return to Their Proper Role as Innovators and Stewards of the Land "People yearn for greater authenticity and a genuine search for meaning and significance in life," said Hassebrook.  "They don't just want to accumulate things.  They are searching for community and meaningful relationships with people and with the land.  They are yearning for more

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-72004856588550865772010-03-14T19:53:00.000-07:002010-03-14T19:53:47.916-07:00

The catalog is in press, and the plant list and first availability list are up, sorry for the delay, but 'e'en the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley'. 

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-53935418981778922492010-02-26T19:14:00.001-08:002010-02-26T19:15:23.575-08:00

Reading in science and gardening blogs, I ran across this this evening and had to share it: Postcarden's stop motion video of their darling mini pop up garden: Wouldn't you love to receive one of these in the mail?  I know I would.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-32213939777151286452010-02-24T15:33:00.000-08:002010-02-24T15:33:57.320-08:00

...the smell of the foliage, that is.  Transplanting yesterday evening I noticed the different scents of the different varieties of heirloom tomatoes I have for spring--the Striped Roman paste variety being much 'greener' and fruitier smelling, even, than the Yellow Brandywine, and the mystery Japanese tomato more of the musky scent I associate with tomatoes, and then it hit me... I was smiling.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-33682340070251721702010-01-18T10:22:00.000-08:002010-01-18T10:22:07.934-08:00

The sun is wending its way back north, days getting visibly longer now.  In this neighborhood, though, sunrise is getting later each morning as there are a couple of mountains in the way.  Once the sun crests Black, things will speed up and then slow, and then--post Clifty---whoom! the days will get a lot longer, fast.  Today there is a generally pearly effect through the mist; we've had snow and

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-32854393375321732082010-01-08T00:24:00.003-08:002010-01-08T00:34:51.682-08:00

It's cold and clear, and while the plants are dormant, things are quietly going on in the background... seed ordering & seed starting, catalog editing, plans for new offerings for spring.  Spring.  A funny word it sounds, tonight at around zero.  But nevertheless, it will come.  It will be good to have time this year for my own vegetable garden, something I had to let go of last year while I

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-39435188001248002822009-12-13T12:01:00.001-08:002009-12-13T12:05:37.384-08:00

* from the Wildlife Spa & Nursery!  This morning the world's fluffy and white, the fawns are in their fuzzy winter coats while they munch on things in the yard, and everything looks like a greeting card.  While finishing my seed catalog perusing, and straining & warming oils for the last batch of this year's sweetgrass soap, I've set a jug of kaluha liqueur to work and may even put up

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-63717388306949272862009-12-11T22:18:00.000-08:002009-12-11T22:18:48.855-08:00

---We've had more than a week of circum-zero weather, with only the merest dusting of snow, which is hard on the plants if easy on the driver.  The ground was hard enough on Sunday to put the chains on the tractor without fear of tearing up the lane, and tomorrow I hope to get the last of the picking up around the greenhouse done so plowing won't be hampered when the snows commence in earnest. In

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-11051073479646003182009-11-27T19:16:00.000-08:002009-11-27T19:16:08.322-08:00

Who knew coins could be found with garden related images? I found these a couple of weeks ago, carnations and iris and birds, butterflies, leaves and grain and a woman planting.... and a dragon to watch over them all.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-5665355053228764322009-11-26T00:11:00.002-08:002009-11-26T00:14:37.617-08:00

Here's another of those lovely old postcards from Aunt Vera's book from last Christmas... I like the combination of the two holidays (and the black kitty of course, as I've just lost my Minnie.) Hoping everyone has a good Thanksgiving! I am realizing I have much to be thankful for, even amidst all my loss... good friends, wonderful place to live, lovely memories... and new friends and memories

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-26154611120724261982009-11-07T17:53:00.000-08:002009-11-07T17:53:59.133-08:00

If you've read me at all, you know I love Chickadees, and that they are special to me since I was a little girl.  Today I received two lovely Chickadee presents, and have to show them off right away.   and Gorgeous, aren't they? I've been needing to print new business cards, and ...ooh, how pretty! Thanks, Lez!

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-7458360487241757262009-11-06T18:41:00.000-08:002009-11-06T18:41:13.132-08:00

If it's November or December, it means craft fairs & Festivals every weekend, or nearly so.  I'm doing three such weekends this year; the Cow Creek Crafters this weekend, down canyon from me in the firehall; my own Holiday Market (the one I organize for our Farmers Market) in town, and the Waldorf School one in Sandpoint. Soaps, lip balms, sachets, creams, jellies, vanilla sugar, rosemary plants,

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-6888073379953172892009-10-18T17:52:00.000-07:002009-10-18T17:52:50.009-07:00

Finally getting back into the swing of things... my recent soap binge includes an Espresso kitchen scrub bar, red apple with Kootenai valley apple cider, lovely lemon (lemon eo, lemon peel wax, a touch of litsea), and Evergreen, a mix of conifer oils and a swirl of green.  Coming up: rose, patchouli-rose, lavender garden, jasmine (with pure jasmine wax), rosemary-orange and a winter version of

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-50011972308195978752009-10-17T11:51:00.000-07:002009-10-17T11:51:41.538-07:00

One beautiful lesson in the past month or so has been the amazing kindness of people who care about you.  Sweet, exquisite things.  People brought me food, hugged me, listened to me cry--cried with me--told me how much they loved Mom--the darling ladies at the nursing home thanked me for letting them care for Mom! My vet clinic sent me flowers.  Marsha, my market buddy, came a few mornings after

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-5639239365898853062009-10-14T19:32:00.001-07:002009-10-14T19:35:00.109-07:00

Whoo, cold weather indeed followed that wind, it got down to about 9F for several nights.  That's more than a month early... and really hard on the plants.  I have hoses that need a day or so to warm enough to coil up, at two places. It has warmed up, snowed more, and rained buckets all day, keeping me inside.  I'm working on decanting and flavoring herb vinegars (Viet cilantro, lemongrass plus--

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-53400755849493533652009-10-04T16:01:00.010-07:002009-10-04T16:48:35.463-07:00

Windy today, with huge winds expected by dark.  They say on the radio the highway to the Coast is blocked by blowing dust and they don't know when it will re-open.  Here in my little clearing, it's windy--but they say 40-50mph winds tonight, ugh.  I'm glad not to have to go down to the road, I would likely be knocked down by the wind at this rate, it is so open out there. I have to finish

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-33835537521925757272009-09-25T21:22:00.008-07:002009-09-25T21:36:38.803-07:00

I lost my Mom last week, after a short sharp decline and many awful nights in the emergency room.  I had cared for her for the past several years, and I was able to be with her right up to the end; she died in my arms. She was 82, and it wasn't really unexpected, given her other health problems, but it is terribly sad and now I am truly without family.  But I have great friends here, and they are

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-77340687944704521402009-09-01T22:57:00.000-07:002009-09-01T22:57:19.201-07:00

When your heart's occupied with disaster, it is hard to think creatively, or even feel like speaking, let alone writing.  Summer became a cascade of bad things for my Mom, with several visits to the emergency room and now she's in a nursing facility.  This year's theme seems to be Renunciation: not only did I have to let the gardens go this summer, I've let this writing go, and I wish I had

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-41663104066900164482009-06-25T11:39:00.003-07:002009-06-25T11:55:42.947-07:00

Summer stormed in with a windstorm that has barely stopped for days now. The wind blowing the meadow looks pretty, like a silvery-gold sea, but it is hard on the gardens. We've had a few bouts of rain, a couple intense, but all that moisture has been vacuumed up and blown away by the constant wind. This is quite unusual for here; wind in the winter, yes, wind in the summer, no. This is very

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-38862533176769341102009-06-16T11:43:00.004-07:002009-07-02T22:00:55.125-07:00

A stretch of rainy weather that prevented any outdoor work getting done got turned into a soaping streak; some new essential oils & colorants collected recently added to the fun. This week's work includes:Sweetgrass & Spruce--infused sweetgrass and spicy Black Spruce essential oil make this outdoorsy, manly soap fragrant and inviting. I used to use white spruce but the black spruce is even "

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-76774415013580966302009-06-10T22:46:00.002-07:002009-06-10T22:54:33.128-07:00

One of spring's pieces of magic here is Cottonwood weather, when it is warm and balmy enough finally for the downy seed fluff from the Cottonwood trees to pour out across the air. We've had a few false starts, but today it began in earnest.Lazy, slow and swirling gently like summer snow, it makes the day feel like you're in a Cottonwood snow-globe. The down floats everywhere, gathers in the

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-52189506842791696202009-06-01T21:26:00.003-07:002009-06-01T21:34:11.057-07:00

Spring has been slow and cool, leaving many plants far behind their usual progress by this date. For example the peppermint has just appeared, while we've harvested the last of the rhubarb already. Several other groups of plants have lagged behind; balloon flowers just emerging, the species peonies just finishing, and even a few Pasque flowers still blooming, a full two months and more after

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-43739309619705300462009-05-18T13:21:00.004-07:002009-05-18T13:35:14.849-07:00

Spring is lurching along, finally warm in a huge blast of sudden warm weather. The plants and I are astonished. We've been a solid 3 or more weeks behind, which made being under the weather myself seem not so urgent-------and now it's a flat-out race for the gate. It's good to be able to dig again, and to finally wave 'good morning' to little familiar faces: pineapple mint, lime balm,

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-71792251736986427622009-05-11T15:01:00.003-07:002009-05-14T10:17:12.392-07:00

They say time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once; if so, she needs to work on her game.This has been a bad week and it's only Monday: continuing freezing weather, emergency dentistry and now The Min, office kitty extrordinaire, had a gran mal siezure this morning, really scary. She's napping on my lap now and we are wondering how to deal with this new development in

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-38232121086517771912009-04-26T20:06:00.002-07:002009-04-26T20:14:57.555-07:00

The weather is its normal fitful self, 75 degrees one day, thunderstorms at midnight with hail, then wind and clouds. . . and inches of snow an hail. To celebrate the opening of the Farmers' Market, one supposes! But there are hyacinths in bloom, snowdrops, forsythia, drumstick primroses, the lovely furry Pasque flowers. And robins singing, chickadees greeting me, the great horned owls

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-70020494904410924332009-04-10T18:11:00.002-07:002009-04-10T18:18:11.776-07:00

This week's springs work includes setting out some new strawberry plants; I like to renovate the beds every few years with new stock, and this year I am going to put in new Honeyoye (to replace those in a bed that got eaten by quack grass) and new white fruited alpines.The latter I divide until I have a nice long row, but I've decided that rather than always do from one seed packet (or sometimes,

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-463125389779817632009-04-05T10:56:00.005-07:002009-04-14T18:59:55.248-07:00

I got some amazing Vanilla beans recently, and have been experimenting in the kitchen with ways to get the fullest YUM quotient from them. As the varieties were new to me, I first put up some in sugar and let sit for a week or so, then tested in coffee (and also just off the spoon, of course, need you ask? It's the Swedish Way). I have generally used Madagascar vanilla, a nice deep rich

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-86430155593829432402009-04-02T19:10:00.002-07:002009-04-02T19:19:42.702-07:00

(Besides the crocus outside!): Rosemary Tuscan Blue, Grape Sage and Texas Hummingbird Sage, Pulsatilla patens, Asarina procumbens, Primula cortusoides, frondosa, auricula & denticulata, Arabis Red Sensation, Lobelia, dwarf Narcissus and Salvia roemeriana---all in the cold (heated a bit) greenhouse. The Salvias have been blooming basically all winter.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-84052545796444864192009-03-30T15:02:00.004-07:002009-03-30T15:10:34.859-07:00

My mother and I spent a lovely winter afternoon not too long ago going through some of my great-aunt Vera's scrapbooks. One was mostly photographs and clippings, the other a wonderful collection of postcards from circa 1911-1913. The art on many of them is fantastic, detailed and splendid compared to the styles mostly in use today. As I work on scanning them in to pass on to family members, I

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-63298512539303141192009-03-29T22:33:00.003-07:002009-04-03T17:11:47.927-07:00

(In the greenhouse, at least). The Equinox has come and gone, and the snow is still with us: 7" of new this morning. Made the elk very frisky in the yard this afternoon! As most everything in the big greenhouse is almost as frozen as the gardens, chores today included transplanting, seeding, filling flats for more of both, and working on the spring soaping rush. I hope to get photos posted

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-77797445368650629772009-03-19T10:31:00.003-07:002009-04-03T16:55:10.505-07:00

It's still snowing every day, but it is also now melting every day, and yesterday I saw my first crocus! The snow is melting off the raised beds, and while the soil in them is still frozen below the top 1/8", it's a start. Lavenders looking good, some of the Primula not so much. . . just have to wait and see if that's the tops only. The equinox is tomorrow--the snowiest one in memory for me,

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-32216438346609609562009-03-15T18:57:00.001-07:002009-03-15T18:59:18.255-07:00

I'm testing spring scents for the upcoming season, mostly single flower scents and a few 'manly' ones to balance them out (not to say of course men don't love flowers, but to balance the sweetness of the floral scents with some tang and spice).  I'm planning on fresh, bright looks for the bars, as the love for flowers and spring is universal.  Thanks to the reviews & suggestions of many soaping

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-68207863386228129212009-03-15T18:15:00.001-07:002009-03-15T18:17:54.522-07:00

The spring rains have really begun in earnest, after a week of near zero weather.  The snow is disappearing finally.  Soon, after the ground thaws and can drain (right now the lane is 4" or more of squelchy mud on top of a frozen base and trucks can't get in (or out!))--we'll be able to start digging and shipping. The availability list has a few items on it from the cold greenhouses, which

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-15850597938392647402009-03-04T14:12:00.003-08:002009-03-13T21:51:03.316-07:00

(Update: catalog mailing pushed back (not only is the weather uncooperative, [9F this morning], neither is our printer, nor the commercial printing machine we took the master to. With good luck going forward, they should mail out by the end of the week. Apologies for the lateness of this.)Our 2009 catalog is online (finally!) and the pdf version available too. There are lots of new plants this

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-31437395300977004362009-02-11T21:31:00.004-08:002009-02-11T21:42:25.840-08:00

I have always loved Delphiniums, that's not news. What is news, is the fabulous gift of species Delphinium seeds in many varieties from one of my favorite seed catalogs, JL Hudson. Depending upon the crop I get, and how they like this climate, there should be several new entries in the plants catalog next season. These I have not grown before: D. glaucum, occidentale, and virescens, so they

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-10091297562638187242009-02-02T15:47:00.007-08:002009-02-02T16:06:40.434-08:00

With the snow covering everything, it's hard sometimes to remember what's going on underneath.While I try not to think about voles, I am happy to think of plants slowly snoozing along getting ready to burst forth, while I begin the seed sowing for the year.Catalog editing is coming along too, and plans for some new plant ranges for spring.I've been doing some sketchbook work for myself on more

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-43871065938866012682009-01-18T16:17:00.000-08:002009-01-18T16:25:20.845-08:00

I was given a packet of tomato seeds (many packets actually!) by a kindly fellow gardener recently.  This package is all in Japanese, which I don't read, and neither does she.  If anyone does read Japanese and can tell me what this package says, I would really appreciate hearing from you.  Clearly by the photo, it is a yellow cherry, but I would love to know the name, and anything else about the

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-91341322473410055862009-01-17T13:09:00.001-08:002009-01-17T14:41:08.045-08:00

Winter allows more time for reading than the rest of the year, and I have been checking out books from the library and purchasing some as well.  The stack I'm reading right now includes: Landscaping with Herbs by James Adams, Fragrant Gardens: How to Select and Make the Most of Scented Flowers and Leaves by H. Peter Loewer, An American Cutting Garden: A Primer For Growing Cut Flowers Where

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-58403843271229061292008-12-28T17:34:00.001-08:002008-12-28T17:47:43.406-08:00

I don't think this has anything to do with plants, but I can't resist. Japanese scientists reproduce images directly from brain scans  You have to love science first reported in a journal called Pink Tentacle, right?  And when it involves fringe science, you have to look.  I have to ask my favorite neuropsychiatrist what he thinks of this.  Pink Tentacle has an image here. via  Massive Dynamic's

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-73109388939809081992008-12-23T14:51:00.006-08:002008-12-23T16:22:07.323-08:00

As seed catalogs are filling up mailboxes all around the Northern hemisphere at this season, here is a piece on seeds & seedage I wrote several years ago (2002) for the now defunct North American Cottage Garden Society magazine Small Honesties, edited a bit to bring it up to date. Growing plants from seed is a chance for experimentation, investigation, and even excitement.  Sometimes we gardeners

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-46253428798484348092008-12-13T14:08:00.000-08:002008-12-13T14:13:32.514-08:00

Winter finally hit last night.  Oh, it's been cold, in the teens already, and a few skiffs of snow here, with plenty up above on the mountain.  But it dumped a foot overnight, and commenced blowing about 5:00 am, the windchimes tinkling and treetops began to unload.  Supposed to hit 40mph winds this afternoon.  Think I'll stay inside and think seed catalogs....glad I am not on the road to craft

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-44498492733107834422008-11-24T09:17:00.001-08:002008-11-24T09:24:22.548-08:00

We got 'em for your brain.  According to Critics' Rant readability gadget, the reading level required for this blog is Genius.  Since we know hard-core gardeners are usually avid readers, that's not going to be a stretch for this audience.  Maybe it's all the Latin that keeps our brains charging--what do you think?

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-80824015616066807462008-11-09T15:43:00.001-08:002008-11-09T15:56:41.150-08:00

It's fitting for this post that it snowed this week.  I'm in the midst of finishing organizing the Holiday Market for the farmers' market, finishing my own work for it, and finishing outside pre-winter stuff.  So of course it snowed before I quite got the chains on the tractor!  All that is left to do outside though is to finish the inventory for spring in the gardens & greenhouse and put down

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-17261723176181480702008-10-16T15:06:00.000-07:002009-04-03T16:58:48.440-07:00

After an odd spring and summer, we're having an odd autumn so far.  Finally getting hard frosts, about a month overdue.  I've discovered some of my late season bloomers needed frost to help them flower, and so didn't until it was too late (S. azurea for example) and the Porcelain berries had only just begun their color cycle by the first weekend in October.  Usually they are gone in a flash of

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-55832158692056657582008-09-26T11:37:00.000-07:002008-09-26T11:41:32.367-07:00

My friend Betsy is quite the photographer, and for a couple of years she has graced my inbox with luscious photos of wildlife & scenery.  Now she is sharing with a wider audience at Idaho Island Girl; take a look at her work; she has a great eye for nature.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-3788295082643895352008-09-04T12:38:00.000-07:002008-09-04T12:45:13.616-07:00

It's seed collecting time, and these pods are fascinating.  The one on the left is Paeonia anomala, and fairly typical of Peony seed pods.  That on the right is P. mlokosewiczii, the yellow Peony, and the seeds are nestled in what looks like pleated red silk.  I'd love to know what evolutionary advantage there is to such colorful extravagance.  The seeds are about the size of peas or large corn

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-8197479451693903462008-09-02T00:11:00.001-07:002008-09-02T00:28:27.365-07:00

Here's a nice photo of my great-grandmother; proof the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  She was a Swedish immigrant who was a farmer both there and here, and in her diaries every spring there is an entry "I plant my svit peas".  The caption reads "Home from the carrot field".

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-43856659450683369682008-08-21T18:02:00.005-07:002008-08-22T22:43:28.509-07:00

My closest friend is dying, and will be gone by the time you see this post.  She and I have known each other since college, and through over 30 years of shared experiences, laughter, tears and wonder, we have in a way been our own little country.  She has a darling family, raised two wonderful children, and yet there have always been things only we understood about each other. I have other good

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-60967692707513013732008-08-15T08:31:00.000-07:002008-08-15T09:15:50.119-07:00

While it sounds good to increase funding for the FDA and its food protection capabilities, this act as currently written would put most home business cosmetics makers out of business with enormous fees and burdensome manufacturing and paperwork requirements.  A $2000 yearly registration fee (even if you only make lip balm!) plus separate facilities, inspections for them, and registering each

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-70692987365893241022008-08-10T14:02:00.000-07:002008-08-10T14:26:03.437-07:00

It's raining--enough to drip off the roof, even!  This hasn't happened for a month or more, and it is amazing and desperately needed.  Likely it won't last much longer than it takes to type this, but it's good to remember it can rain.  Yesterday at the market, it poured and hailed briefly--enough to soak all the vendors and our displays. I got Chioggia beets from another vendor for Mom, and she

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-34624830028967177062008-07-31T10:59:00.000-07:002009-04-03T17:01:30.146-07:00

I hope you folks are getting vacations.  Nursery folk don't get them in the summer, and often not at all.  So go swimming for me!  It has been a very busy summer here, between watering everything in the 90+ heat, the market and caring for my Mom.  Soapmaking slowed down a bit, and then there was a cool few days and I got rose petal, lavender and pansy jellies made--hope to get fireweed and more

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-30003395655766735712008-07-03T13:26:00.000-07:002008-07-03T13:33:38.606-07:00

Not only is it wildly hot (circum 100F daily) but it's also humid, something we usually reserve for the winter rainy spells.  Maybe not so ghastly for the plants who are losing more moisture than they can take up by their roots as they slow down photosynthesis in shock, to be enveloped in a blanket of moisture, but it is ghastly for non-plantlife.  We've switched to siesta rules here, darting

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-32550416542153743052008-06-27T13:02:00.000-07:002008-06-27T13:05:24.541-07:00

for a while; family medical problems are occupying my time and brain cells.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-84689019478992995782008-06-22T18:33:00.000-07:002009-04-03T17:05:04.741-07:00

has started in earnest. Mowing, weeding, chasing voles. . .shade cloth is on the greenhouse and seen at the farmers market on half the stalls--we're all more used to cloudy weather than the sudden heat. The roses are coming on strongly now: Rose de Rescht, then Harrison's Double Yellow (known as Deb's Rose here), and now La Ville de Bruxelles is starting. The Rugosa seedlings are sporting

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-25184070131486784222008-06-16T15:33:00.000-07:002008-06-16T15:50:57.264-07:00

This is a standard conversational opener round the world, in any language, for gardeners. I mean the vegetable garden, of course; even here in ultima Thule we have beans coming up now, and it looks to be an increasingly important activity nowdays. If you know what you have put on your garden, and when, you can know there isn't E. coli on your tomatoes, along with knowing they are fresh and tasty

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-80548614690729723322008-06-08T22:00:00.000-07:002009-04-03T17:05:04.742-07:00

--one of which is that flowers last longer. The Rosa primula has been in full glory for over two weeks, even Friday's hailstorm didn't faze it. This is the most floriferous it's been in its dozen years, much to the delight of the bees. Unless it really does snow this week, as is forecast, it should even be able to ripen seed, as there hasn't been a killing frost since the flowers opened.

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-25814380893564683842008-05-31T15:10:00.000-07:002008-05-31T15:21:17.784-07:00

Last night a bear tried to get into the house. I'd heard clumping and banging, and thought it was a raccoon maybe, and stomped on the porch and yelled a bit, then went back to prepping for market. When I sat down for dinner, I heard the noise again, around the back this time; I looked out to see a black bear at the window, standing up and trying to get in. That window was closed, and I raced

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-50618828047594923702008-05-14T13:52:00.000-07:002008-05-14T14:20:25.017-07:00

Two batches of soap, both "tree" scents, and the house smells amazing. Balsam poplar, my favorite warm incense scent, scented only with the infused oil of poplar buds (pictured here);and cedar (western red cedar), with essential oil and infused cedar frond oil, so sweet and crisp and green it makes you smile. Loving trees as much as I do, I often joke I must be descended from a long line of

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-76911679670694157042008-05-06T09:44:00.000-07:002008-05-06T10:15:47.624-07:00

Plant name pronunciation is often a hot topic for gardeners. I often get asked for the correct way to pronounce names like Clematis, Agastache, and so on.Latin names, necessary for correct identification of plants and international discussion (Rosa muscosa means the same thing to a Swede and a Pole and a Japanese: a type of rose bearing moss on its buds, that is, fragrant hairs; but Moss Rose is

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-80987852948133126862008-05-03T17:10:00.000-07:002008-05-05T10:01:06.252-07:00

Yesterday I saw one of the strangest things in wildlife viewing I have ever seen. The Canada geese were doing their evening flyby (they turn left by a certain tree behind the greenhouse). Sometimes one will perch in that tree and act I suppose as a flagger for the rest--I hear the calling from the tree and soon others come in, following his call. That was weird enough. Geese don't have the

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-12827615654939950732008-04-28T14:47:00.000-07:002008-04-28T15:00:16.971-07:00

a few sunny days--after snowing right through last week. The long cold spring has slowed everything down, the drumstick primroses are only now flowering, for example; they should be long since done. Digging is proceeding, but not at the pace I would like--being sick hasn't helped, either, but at least I can work half days now. I think it will be a long crawl back.Everything suddenly says

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-55204945618352498242008-04-19T19:01:00.000-07:002008-04-19T19:06:20.439-07:00

you know it's a spring snow because you can hear the robins clucking in dismay.More of this forecast for the rest of the week!

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-15657618089064018472008-04-16T17:08:00.000-07:002008-04-16T17:19:02.652-07:00

Not that I needed anything to add to the vegetable garden, but I found a nice Oriental vegetable seed catalog that had some herbs I needed, and you can't not wander around and see what else there might be. . . like fragrant lettuce, and sword leaf lettuce, spinach beets (??!) and Thai and Indian melons. Evergreen seeds has a lovely amazing list, more varieties of things like cabbage than you'd

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-6897828600050540402008-04-13T17:17:00.000-07:002008-04-13T17:24:47.420-07:00

. . . starts in less than two weeks! (April 26th). If I didn't have such a huge cold I might be panicking. But that and today's transplanting and potting, things that are starting to flower, and the new projects I have percolating, all make me rather calm and steady. And I am looking forward to seeing everyone again; in a rural place like this, socializing about stops in the winter, and the

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-82264267431242079122008-04-13T17:10:00.000-07:002008-04-13T17:16:37.918-07:00

In between digging and seeding and weeding, I have gotten some more soap made, including the last batch of the original formula for the Damask rose. Until I get a few more roses back in best blooming shape, there won't be much rose oil for soap. But I'm not despairing; I found several lovely rose waxes and have some very promising test batches working. That and the white lavender (my new

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-75709925679174644552008-04-13T16:52:00.000-07:002009-04-03T17:05:04.742-07:00

Digging & potting has started in earnest, with peonies and woody plants going first (roses and other shrubs), followed closely by berries, primula, mints and clematis. As I suspected, the strawberries got whacked a bit over the winter (there will be some cancellations), as did the huckleberries and sweet grass--neatly sheared off from underneath.The 4+ feet of snow left a lot of room for

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-17969239442871432732008-04-04T09:51:00.000-07:002009-04-03T17:05:04.743-07:00

It was warm enough to commence digging yesterday--for the shallow-rooted things in the sunny raised beds, at least. The shady beds are still under mounds of snow. It's always a mystery to see what wintered well, what did not, and what became the winter's taste treat for the rodentiae. Dianthus seemed to be the preferred winter bedding, piles of it were harvested for mousey nests.Lavatera

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-80533728650444630722008-04-01T08:55:00.000-07:002008-04-17T12:29:21.101-07:00

The Capron Musk strawberries are now all spoken for, for this year. Profumata di Tortona we have in abundance, as well as many types of Alpine strawberries, and mountain huckleberries. Sorry to disappoint seekers of the Capron.Update:When we dug the Capron, there were not as many as it looked like there would be, so there may be some cancellations. Our apologies.Update II:There is now a fedex

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-82331730711049352472008-03-27T19:18:00.000-07:002008-03-27T21:24:32.533-07:00

In the midst of transplanting & sowing, the spring soapmaking is underway as well. First up: orange-tea tree shampoo bars, an invigorating, sweet & clean scent that presented itself one morning while tinkering with eo's. Next is balsam poplar; harvesting the buds has made my hands fragrant and sticky--this has to be done quickly as once the leaves begin to open, the sap will be gone till late

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-906196561811076212008-03-21T10:50:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:57:25.359-07:00

. . . we got 'em. We're not on the coast (well, the Pacific Coast of Idaho ;-) but we got a nice squishy snowfall last night and it's squalling today, the trees flailing about and casting big blobs of snow all around. I'm potting things on and could not resist taking a photo of these iris (variegated sweet iris, I. pallida variegata) against the snowy outdoors. There were swans on the

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746689018764594994.post-73366503055521943302008-03-14T22:06:00.000-07:002008-03-14T22:10:53.586-07:00

The catalog is delayed (again) due to printers' errors. It should mail out finally next week, but there are updates to the website, and the availability page, as the thaw has begun in earnest. The ground is still frozen, but there are green nubbins now!

Judithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02314011419246739540noreply@blogger.com0