gardening – robin maderich – write-brained scribbler and crafter-on-the-loose

A time for contemplation

That picture above? It clearly shows my mood. Of course, the dog’s thoughts might not be contemplative, but more about his next meal. Who knows? But let me get on with what I’m meaning to say.

The nights have been quite cool around here for a couple weeks. The forecast calls for more in the 40s coming up. It is September now, but this all began in August. The leaves on the trees are browning, although I can see some bright oranges and a few yellows from my window as I type this. The remainder of my tomatoes are probably NOT going to ripen. Fried green tomatoes, anyone? Or pickled? I’ve never cared for either, so I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them. Still, there are sunny daytime temperatures in the 80s this weekend (with a late storm), so a few more tomatoes could get enough color to ripen on the windowsill.

Second chance gardening

Hmmm. I’m not so sure how my spring/summer garden is going to fare–except the tomatoes. They’ve gone nuts! But here’s an article about planting for fall harvest. I notice they left out pumpkins. Seeds can go into the ground in August for those and then pray you don’t have a hungry groundhog around.

Here’s the article I read, prompting me to write this and share. 🙂 Enjoy! 10 Vegetables to Plant in August for a Fall Harvest

Life’s Little Surprises

Somehow, in the craziness of trying to accomplish all I’ve set myself this summer, I had forgotten my little pond out front. Not that I’d actually forgotten its existence. Fixing or removing the waterfall and making changes to the layout of this small body of water is on my to-do list. I’ve underlined that chore multiple times. Perhaps even hard enough to push the pen point through the paper.

Garden Restoration, Part I

I’ve decided to document the rebirth of the front garden (for starters—I may move on to brave the shed garden, the shade garden, the don’t-sit-under-the-apple-tree garden). It’s also a tale of my own rebirthing, from a rather nasty depression into the symbolically hopeful, soul-nurturing act of gardening.

Last year was a rough year for me. I know there are many out there for whom last year (or any year) was far more troublesome than mine. But I need to begin this blog with a quick explanation as to why my gardens came to resemble the forest surrounding Sleeping Beauty’s bower. I’ll be quick…the Reader’s Digest version, abridged and leaving you wondering where the rest of the story went. Ready? Two surgeries and nearly a year of physical therapy on my right arm. And I’m right-handed. Enough said? The weeds spent the summer proliferating and laughing at me. Winter did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm for mockery. They joyfully reappeared in the springtime for a repeat performance.

But I was ready for them this time…sort of.

Peony Perfection

I’m a little behind in my blogging, but I thought I would share these two photos of lovely white blooms I brought indoors a couple of weeks back. Alas, the bountiful rain and hot, humid days have all but eliminated my peonies outdoors.

I didn't have a short vase, so I put the peonies in this glass canister and loved the effect.

Those flowers I placed in a green glass container (as I had no vase available) were fairly ant-free and smelled heavenly, even after they had drooped and started losing their petals. I still have the unopened buds in a small vase for the scent alone. When fresh, they looked like the perfect bridal bouquet.