I’m getting tired Thursday, Oct 31 2013 

Esperanza and gardening acairfearann 10:24

of having to water certain plants in the spring and fall…for the last few years, we have had dry springs and dry falls, which is the worst timing for any plants that are trying to establish themselves or which are prone to desiccation in the winter (the broad leaved evergreens, roses, azaleas, and the like).  I am hoping this fog actually turns into rain.  .

Although Not hoping that hard, we currently have an almost hole in the roof, as we are putting a skylight in a room.  They haven’t actually cut through the outer roof yet, just the interior wood. For those who know the house, it is in Aunt Carlotta’s room on the second floor, south end, two skylights on the east side near the peak.  A bit of a trick getting up there…it turns out that the peak is solidly over fourteen feet (i.e. a man standing on the top of an eight foot ladder could only just brush the top of the peak with his fingers).  Some ingenious re-use of old lumber and the scaffolding was high enough.  As always, size in this house is very deceptive!

 

 

Photo of the Day Tuesday, Oct 29 2013 

gardening and Landscapes and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 16:04

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Fall Cleanup Thursday, Oct 24 2013 

gardening acairfearann 19:28

Continues! I took the Morning Glories off the pergola today, I suppose they might have managed one more day; though I think it is too cold tonight.  A fiddly job, carefully cutting them out of the clematis and grape. I have also finally gotten the last few crocus and daffodil bulbs planted, probably not enough…never enough! Mostly in the daylily fence-line, which meant a long break because my horse was adamant that I ought to be on the lookout while he took a nap leaning against me.  It is very hard to ignore a horse that is leaning over the fence and wondering if daffodil bulbs are edible.

The meadow grass areas are all cut as well, slowly the bare bones of the landscape are emerging.  It is a fascinating process; it reveals what has happened during the summer far more clearly than would other wise be possible.

The big garden and long garden are also clean and sharp in their shapes, though I can take no credit for them; everything is Neat.  It should pay dividends next spring!

 

(now, if I could just finish off the bushels of apples and tomatoes….)

 

American Beech Tuesday, Oct 22 2013 

gardening and Landscapes and Trees , , acairfearann 23:12

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It took its time getting established, but it is now growing steadily, at about seven feet tall (when planted it was shorter than the stakes).  They Hate being transplanted and they Hate any sort of chem-lawn environment, which is why one never sees them in suburbia.  It is just opposite the big bay windows, and at this time of year looks like a metal sculpture, all bronze, silver, and gold.  The red maple to the right has yet to turn color this year.

(and why the formidable old style t-post stakes? Because the drive is right there in the shadow of the house, and people are utterly incapable of staying Off the lawn)

 

Falling gold Sunday, Oct 20 2013 

gardening and Trees acairfearann 18:01

This year, is a golden year.  At least for fall color. The maples didn’t really do much, so we have been content with the sassafras (which is gold this year, instead of psychedelic orange), hickory, beech, birch, tulip-tree, and witch-hazel.  They are being followed hard by the oaks, in the standard shades of bronze. A lovely fall day, even if we have yet to have a frost!!!!  I’m cutting things down anyway, enough is enough.

Fall is a time when the bones of the forest are suddenly revealed.  For those who live here, a New England forest can never be mysterious*, unlike a tropical forest or jungle, because each year the trees and the land are stripped.  Late fall and early spring are when a landscape can be truly understood.  Each tree stands alone, even in the densest stand.

*assuming, of course, one goes regularly into the woods!

 

(in other news, I recall commenting about the road and the probability of having to scrape people off of it a few days ago….a rear end collision in broad daylight, with no major injuries, doesn’t really count I suppose?  I feel bad for the black car trying to turn into the neighbour’s driveway, which was solidly rear-ended by the idiot behind them.  Stop texting and Keep Your Eyes on the Road!)

 

 

October Nasturiums Friday, Oct 18 2013 

gardening and Modern Photos , acairfearann 13:19

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Bulbs! Tuesday, Oct 15 2013 

gardening , acairfearann 21:30

And more bulbs!

I like planting spring bulbs…possibly because I don’t have to water them? In any event more blue crocus and white daffodils along the fence, pink tulips in the garden, various oriental lilies here and there, and a small smattering of blue chiondoxia and squill here and there.  A promise for the next year in the dying days of fall.  Either very profound or simply very enjoyable depending on one’s whimsy!

oh, and an attempt at garlic.  Have to try everything once!

 

Mega Gardening Sunday, Oct 13 2013 

gardening and Landscapes and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 19:20

We have an over-sized tree: namely a lone hemlock towering about seventy feet over the little summer kitchen, Minnietrost (the smaller of the two cottages), and even over the south end.  It is beloved of the birds, in the winter because it is a good roosting spot; but in the summer because of the Woodbine (Virginia Creeper) which is now managed to get well over halfway up it.  For much of the summer it blends in (though when it flowers, the hum of the bees is audible from the ground) but in fall….  We can’t take any credit for the impressive display, a happy accident.*

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From below

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From two high stories up, the little summer kitchen is visible below.  The south end is about thirty-five/forty feet tall.

 

*The woodbine, perhaps more than anything, is why taking it down isn’t really something I want to do.

 

 

Hydrangea and Lilac, Fall Thursday, Oct 10 2013 

gardening and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 21:51

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Old Hydrangea paniculata and lilac by the west stairs.

 

Golden Lawns Tuesday, Oct 8 2013 

gardening and Landscapes , , acairfearann 15:26

The rather ferocious (if needed) rain combined with high winds yesterday stripped the ashes of their leaves entirely.  It also caused the white pines to drop their old needles, which had been hanging up in the branches making all the pines look quite ragged and ill.  The end result is that the lawns, and the tennis court in particular, are completely covered in golden needles.*  The roads are similarly covered, there was an actual drift several inches high along the centerline through the S-curves this morning.  The needles will quickly sink into the grass, but for the moment it is really quite impressive.  I am not sure how the pines decide to shed; since it occurs every few years it ought to be spaced out, with some trees shedding heavily each year.  But for some reason, they all follow the same schedule.

*The tennis court is not a tennis court anymore, it is a pine grove and (since I mowed it recently) there is little vegetation to break up the needles.  A few volunteer dogwoods and such here and there, the rest is a golden carpet.

 

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