A new shade of autumn color

When Autumn Met Winter

609 days to go

... and I'm still pumped.

I appreciate all the feedback I've received since I announced my big plans on Wednesday and I've had a few days to mull it over even more. 

Most people want to be able to live their life "one day at a time" and savor the moment. Not this cat. I feel completely the opposite way. I live "day by day" too much. I need to improve on my future planning and act accordingly. Just ask my wife. I'm sure I frustrate the hell out of her.   

This project, more than anything else, is a challenge to myself. It even goes beyond gardening. I want to prove that I am capable of thinking big and delivering on that vision. I will need to plan well, make the best use of my available time and work within a budget. And why not add pressure by making big promises on this blog. Hopefully, it will add to my inspiration. 

As the journey unfolds, I will reveal my plans that go beyond just improving my landscape. Some of these future plans may be unrealistic and far reaching but we'll see. I will try to reel myself in and not over promise and under deliver. 

After I wrote the post on Wednesday, I managed to sneak some additional work in before it got dark that night. Believe it or not, I've had a large mound of topsoil sitting in my front yard for over a year now:         

A perfect example of what I hid from you as I was sharing macro shots of various blooms. No more. Time to let it all hang out (well not all) without fear.

I attacked this pile of soil with a somewhat violent effort and completed the reshaping of one garden bed:    

And addressed the long overdue low spots in my lawn:

Baby steps.

600+ days is a long time and hopefully I don't lose you along the way. But if I want to match my grand vision, I need sufficient time to do it right.

Have a great weekend
John

Big blog announcement

June 29th, 2013

Mark it on your calendar now.

I'm serious, most everything written on this blog from this day forward will be with that date in mind.

I am here to declare that I will have my property in tip top shape, like "I can give a garden tour shape", by that date. And again, I'm f'n serious. I have a conviction to do this like I've never felt before and I will document every step along the way. It will be epic.

It all hit me while I was planting some bulbs early this morning. I found a spot where I could add some of my favorite daffodils:

            

A spot where the bulbs would fill in an empty spot in spring and also a spot where the decaying foliage would be hidden by emerging perennial foliage:

A simple task that gardeners perform all the time right? Yes, but today I never felt more invigorated while doing it. Let's call it divine intervention; a calling if you will. Maybe it is more accurate to say that I felt a challenge from the universe I couldn't resist. Too mystical and spiritual for you? Yeah me too, but I am gonna do it. All I needed to do was set a somewhat realistic target date and "Game on".

Enough taking photos of flowers up close, shielding you from the mess around it.

Enough showing you what I've done wrong, seeking your sympathy.

We are going to get down and dirty and if you stick with me, you will hopefully witness an awesome transformation. I have no choice but to be confident and cocky now. 

I'm thinking about setting a strict budget so it can be tracked along the way and I can make sure I make smart decisions. 

I may even throw a party when it is done with some surprises I'm mulling over as we speak. The brain is on overload and I couldn't be more excited.

611 days to go.          

      

Odds and ends

Some random thoughts on a Tuesday:

My wife and kids may be in the car and heading south as I type this because we've been infested with spiders in the house for the past two months. My solution:   

That's right, osage oranges. All entries into the house have been covered and we won't see another arachnid again. Yes, it may be folklore that this really works but I'm buying it hard. The "they eat all the bad bugs" line has worn thin and I'm desperate.

Mums really bother me. They're everywhere this time of year and they bloom TOO well. Worst of all, they don't have to work hard for your admiration (unless you've managed to get them to come back year after year and religiously pinch them - then you're cool as hell). You just overpay for them at Shop Rite, stick them in a container, throw some pumpkins next to them and voila - an autumn vignette. Color me not impressed:        

This past summer, I planted 15 Lamium plants ('White Nancy') and exactly one survived. That is the result of poor planning from someone who should know better by now but still hasn't learned. I'll tell you what though, I guarantee this one plant will survive and flourish so all of the other plants did not die without reason:  

On the other hand, some times it is as simple as sticking a plant in a pot and letting it go. These two 'Alabama Sunset' coleus have thrived from late April until now and I haven't given them a thought (although I don't tell visitors that):  

You know what never gets old? The zoo:

It thrills kids and grandparents to no end:

Ciao
John

Is the winter over yet?

See you next year my critter pals ... 

Please don't go

Yes, the end of the gardening season is near - OK fine, I know it can extend through the winter, blah blah blah - and I'm doing my best to enjoy it while it is still here:

The blooms of Anemone 'September Charm' are holding on for dear life:

The sedum blooms have transformed into their coveted brick red color:

Miscanthus 'Morning Light' is at it's peak: 

The Acorus gramineus 'Oborozuki' (also known as sweet flag but wanted to get my Latin on) are at their most vivid color right now and have truly enjoyed the sick amount of rain we've had the past two months:

Still loving the color of Thuja (Arborvitae) 'Rheingold':

And loving the sight of berries left behind as the trees shed their leaves:

Enjoy your weekend
John