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Kay
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Kay's Blog




Stubborn remaining leaves

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 6:38 pm

This has got me curious. This Fall, we had a sudden cold snap and it seems to have affected the leaves on a lot of trees and shrubs here. Normally, by this time in December- we have very bare branches and the leaves are long gone. Not this year.



( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )
My Japanese Maple





( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



The neighbor's huge Silver Maple


( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



Diabolo Ninebark


( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



Redtwig Dogwood


( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



Forsythia


( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



Burning Bush

These are all in my gardens, and I have seen many more in my customers', and around my neighborhood.
Some say the leaves were frozen in place by the extreme cold and will hold these leaves until spring. I'm certain there is a scientific explanation, and I could probably delve deeper into this with my master gardener groups, or the county extension. I just thought it would be interesting to hear what you all think, and if it has ever occurred with your plants?

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It's white outside again

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 3:28 pm

Wouldn't you know it? Just yesterday,as the temperature soared to almost 60°F, I was commenting on how the snow was finally all melting. I was poking around in the flower beds that still have a protective layer of pine needles on them. It was beginning to feel like spring, just a little bit. The birds are singing their favorite mating songs, tiny green things are sprouting, buds on the shrubs are swelling. But winter isn't going away so easy. I've been back to work (mostly just getting ready) and have had some frozen extremities a couple of early mornings. The wind has been brisk most days, and the skies have been mostly cloudy.
These are the days that really test a gardener's patience! We know spring will come, one glance at the calender assures us.However, Mother Nature sometimes has her own ideas. Last year, March was warm and plants started growing unusually early! It was kind of weird! This year our weather is more typical. We just have to wait.
So after yesterday's warmth, I am watching out my window at the snow flying again. Birds are coming to the feeder for lunch, and I will wait until another day to get out to work in my garden. *sigh*

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First snow of the season

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:52 pm

It started as rain yesterday afternoon, then turned to snow and continued most of the overnight. We woke to 4.5 inches of the white stuff! We're fortunate not to have to go out, as the road are icy.The moisture is very welcome. I know it isn't going to fix this extreme drought we're in, but it can't hurt now, can it?
We have been watching birds coming to the feeders. We got them all stocked and full of nuts and treats. There is quite a crowd out there now. There was a Redtail Hawk sitting in the tree at daybreak, watching for breakfast, but Bob chased it off. I didn't want to see a hapless squirrel or bird become a meal. I know they have to eat too, but not in my backyard!
So, with cold temps, I believe we'll be having a white Christmas.


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Winter finally shows up

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:12 pm

It's been a very mild winter here this year. I am not really complaining, because the past several years, winters have been so cold and snowy. I have been enjoying the warmth and record highs and being able to be outdoors without layers and boots and all. However, it is dry, and starting to be of concern. We need moisture.
The weather people started to hint mid week that a storm would be headed our way. Well, the folks here in the central plains know how to prepare, and people were preparing. Groceries stocked up, gas tanks filled, de-icer applied to city streets, we even cleared out our rain gutters (maybe over-preparing?) So, it began with rain. Yeah! Wet, drenching moisture! Then turned to a wet, sloppy snow last night. I am always compelled to go out to see what has happened, so I began bundling up. As I was pulling on my boots, I heard a loud CRACK. As the garage door went up, we see a branch hanging in the yard over the neighbor's fence. His Crabapple has just suffered from the weight of the heavy snow.


broken branch ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






branch in our yard ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

Guess we'll have some cleaning up to do. Our big lovely Sycamore has lost several branches too, but none are very large. The trees and shrubs are really weighted down. It is pretty, but I did gently brush the snow away from my little Burning bushes, my precious Japanese Maple,the Dogwoods, Ninebark and Aronia. I know I have to be really careful when I do this so I don't damage them.
The snow continues to come down, I think we'll have about 10" when it stops.
We are having a good time watching all our birds at the feeders. They must put the word out, our backyard is a flurry of activity. wish I could take better photos, but the birds will not pose!
Finches, Cardinals, Jays, Doves, Juncos, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Cedar Waxwings are some of the hungry birds today.





heavy, wet snow in backyard ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






a blanket for the Spruce ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






feeders before we swept off the snow ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






snowy birdbath ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

So, this is the winter we're used to. We knew it was bound to catch up to us.


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A bit of nostalgia, looking back.

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:36 pm

Although Mother Natue is giving us some wonderfully mild weather, it is winter and the gardens lie dormant.
I was just taking a trip down memory lane with a viewing of my garden photos here at Garden Stew. Looking at the shots, I can remember the days I was out there, enjoying and feeling proud. *sigh*
Do any of you do this?
I can't wait to get out there again, and considering how fast time seems to fly by, it'll be before we know it!

This blog entry has been viewed 315 times


vacant birdhouses

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:10 pm

It all started when I had to go out to feed the hungry and mischeivious squirrels ( to keep them off the feeder)
After the recent snows, the landscape is looking rather bare. I happen to notice the vacant birdhouses still out in various spots. Some of them are pretty old and I wouldn't blame a bird for not wanting to take up residence... but they do have a certain charm, and I leave them out over winter.
I'll probably need to buy or build some new houses before my spring birds come back to nest.


winter birdhouse ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






snow covered birdhouse ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






old birdhouse ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Wren house ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






star birdhouse ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )





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New shower in progress

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 8:22 pm

Almost 10 months have gone by since we chose tile for the new in-the-works bathroom in our not-so- finished basement.
We finally hired a very talented, professional tile guy to do the job. I was beginning to wonder if that shower was ever going to really be a shower! It still needs the fixtures and ceiling light cover (all in good time) But the tile is up, and it is beautiful! Mick, the tile guy did a great job. It is a very custom design (have I mentioned that my Bob is a very talented carpenter?) It is nice and big, lots of room to splash around and get washed up!
I don't think my photos can really convey just how cool it is.
The terra cotta accent tiles are special to us. Bob's brother gave us a box of salvage tile from a job he was the construction manager for. It is a huge church and seminary for Catholic priests near our city. This tile is the flooring there, came from Italy, and was actually blessed by the Pope.
Now, his brother did not make a practice of taking away salvage from his jobs, ever, but this time he did. This was to be his final job; as unfortunately, he lost his life to Leukemia not long after the job was completed. So, we feel honored to have it, and honor him by putting it up.


accent tile ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






shower ceiling ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






new shower tile ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






new shower tile ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

We have a long way to go before the room is finished, cabinets, sink, toilet, lighting.... But the shower tile is up and I love it!



This blog entry has been viewed 1650 times


A Visit to the lake

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:06 pm

Over the weekend we decided to drive out to the cabin to check things out. This is about 12 miles south of town. when we arrived this is what the gate looks like.


snow buried gate ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

So, we have to hike down to get to the cabin.




cabin ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



It was sunny, but still pretty cold. We fed the birds, and took a walk around to check up on everything. All is well. Can't wait to be out there this spring and summer! The lake is under 20" of ice. We walked out on the ice, and saw various critter prints criss crossing the snow.


frozen lake ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

I was enjoying the view, and breathing in some brisk, fresh air. Then, wouldn't you know, my camera tells me the battery is exhausted! So, I can't share any more of the day's experience. Oh Well, maybe next visit!



This blog entry has been viewed 452 times


Fun in my Garden Stew Garden!

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:27 am

I have been having a lot of fun with my web garden here at Garden Stew :) If you take a look at my plants, you can see that I have quite a large garden!! I either have all these plants or have cared for them in other's gardens. I am partial to shade gardening, but where there is sun, there can be so much color! I love container gardening because there are so many possibilities, and you can change things each year. That is where most of my sun loving plants are. Today, I was obsessing about Hostas! I love them, and miss the REAL ones so much!!! I miss my ground, and digging in it. I miss the smell of dirt!
We had more snow last night, and the forecast is not improving. I'm feeling like we're living our days like in that movie "Groundhog Day". We shovel snow over and over and over! Perhaps I'm experiencing a bit of seasonal affective disorder, or just cabin fever....Hey, I'll be OK, you'll see... I will come back to life when spring finally arrives!

This blog entry has been viewed 387 times


Another snowy day

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:06 pm

Well, here we go again... More snow! We've gotten about 3 inches so far, with more coming. It is wet and heavy. I've been watching the birds coming and going this morning. Actually, I like the pretty white covering everything, all the snow still on the ground had turned dirty and ugly. My garden beds that were beginning to emerge from their cover are once again under a blanket.
These birds flew in and out of the tree so quickly, I grabbed my camera but couldn't even tell what they were! We've had a lot of chickadees, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, woodpeckers and juncos today, looking for a bite. We always clear off the feeders before we shovel the walks!
I'm so glad I don't have to go out to slip and slide on the roads. Guess I'll go study the puzzle!


( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 373 times




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