Cottage Gardening
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More Orchids!
From the Conservatory at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. I wish I knew the names of these, but there were no tags on many of these orchids. I also wish I had a better camera when I took these shots, but I didn’t want to juggle the big Nikon. So, these will have to do. … Continue reading
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Atlanta Botanical Garden
I went to a conference in Atlanta over the weekend. How wonderful to wander around in a skort, tank top, and a light shirt. My friend Maja and I went to the Botanical Garden Saturday afternoon. It was lovely. And, how wonderful to learn that my membership at Meijer Garden here in Grand Rapids allowed… Continue reading
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Squirrels
When I saw red skin peanuts in the bird food aisle at Meijer, I knew, despite the cost, that I had to buy them. I think I’ve now purchased four bags. It takes the birds and squirrels about four days to eat a five pound bag. I set out cracked corn, too, and any stale… Continue reading
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Ground Hog Day Blizzard
It was quite a storm. The day before the storm arrived the university announced there would be no classes the next day. The blizzard warning had been issued. I taught the night the storm hit and let my class out an hour early so that everyone could get home before things got really bad. Only… Continue reading
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In Bleak Mid-Winter
Actually, today isn’t that bleak. We got fresh snow last night and now the sky is crystal blue. My semester is over and so are all my holiday concerts. There were six this year, and I did some extra caroling with a small group in the lobby before several of the concerts. But the wind… Continue reading
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A Moment for Education
For almost 30 years I was a high school and middle school English teacher. I am now a teacher educator, teaching teachers to teach reading and writing. In my 37 years of education I have never been so discouraged. We are about to launch into a dangerous era of Federal intrusion into the classroom. And… Continue reading
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Bloom Day, September 15, 2010
And the garden keeps on tickin’! Today the Sweet Autumn Clematis and the Caryopteris are the stars. But the hansa roses continue to bloom, as do the hydrangeas. Though, the hydrangeas have all gone into their late flower mode where the petals darken. But this is the perfect time to pick those flower heads for… Continue reading
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Japanese Beetle Porn
They are doing it right there in the middle of Wild Spice. In broad daylight. And, you can tell they’ve been snacking between, um, sessions. It’s too breezy to spray, and I haven’t noticed that spraying does much good. And, spraying can kill bees. I’ve tried picking these things off and stomping on them, but… Continue reading
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Name this Bug!
I’ve never seen this critter before, but I found it feasting on the White Dome Hydrangeas in the front garden. It has a long proboscis that looked to be slurping up nectar. I’m not much of an insect fan. I do enjoy watching all the buzzing insects on the hydrangeas, but I do all gardening… Continue reading
About Me
I haven’t always been a gardener, but I have always loved gardens. It has taken 16 years to get my gardens into the shape they are today. And, I’ve had help. I’m 74 years old, have rheumatoid arthritis, and had a late stage cancer six years ago. I am, though, intrepid. I’m the kind of person who plods along, tailoring my goals as I go. Last November I had a long overdue knee replacement surgery and I’m hoping this spring, summer, and fall will be able to maintain and find even more joy working in all of my garden beds. Full disclosure, though. I have a garden guy who comes once a week to work in my gardens.
Garden 337 