Say it Ain't So.....6 More Weeks of Winter

The last 2 weeks have brought two snows to our area, and unfortunately I was at work for both of them. As an ICU nurse, I can't just walk out on my patients when the snow starts, so on the first snow, I left the hospital and made a 1 1/2 journey home. It normally takes me 25 to 30 minutes. 1 mile from home I was stuck, and had to start out on foot, with my husband picking me up a few minutes later. The second snow, last weekend was even worse. No one on our night shift could get in, so the nurse manager and I worked 24 hours. I have decided I am too old to do this. It took me two days to recover! So.....when Panxsutawney Phil and Chattanooga Chuck both predicted 6 more weeks of winter I was in a foul mood.



We have never had groundhogs or woodchucks as they are also known as, in our yard. Maybe it's our area, or the fact we have always had outside dogs which can barely tolerate a squirrel. But groundhogs can be a nuisance to many people, and when they come out of hibernation in February, they set their sights on digging burrows in your yard, or waiting for those first vegetables in your garden as a tasty meal. After all, they have a hungry brood to feed after mating and breeding in March. Groundhogs produce their brood of 4-5 babies one month after mating.

There are a few things you can due to discourage ground hogs from taking over your yard and garden.



Scare them.

Groundhogs do not like shining things that reflect sunlight and move in the breeze. On article I read suggested tying Mylar balloons to shrubs around the garden. That doesn't sound too pleasing to my idea of how my garden should look, but if I was bothered by groundhogs, I guess I would try anything. There are also "animal scaring" balloons you can purchase at garden supply stores. These have faces with big eyes on them. If you come to my back yard you will see old CD disc hanging from fishing line in a few trees. This was my husbands idea of scaring off the crows. I think they worked pretty well, but my granddaughters used a few as pinatas, knocking them down with a garden rake.



Keep Them Out of the Garden
Groundhogs generally will not climb an unstable fence, so install a 3 to 4 foot barrier of a "floppy" fence around your garden.

Humanely chuck a woodchuck out of your yard.


Visit http://www.humanesociety.org/. Click on animals, then select Wild Neighbors, then
woodchucks. Information on permanently removing woodchucks from your yard using humane methods can be found. The idea is to remove their burrows after they have born their young and raised them to be independant.

Ever the optomist, I don't believe we are in for 6 more weeks. Today's high temperature is expected to be 51 and as I write this is 42. The sun is shining and the outside is calling me.

Hurry Spring
Karen

the woodchuck picture came from http://www.annerobertson.com/
Information on co-existing with groundhogs came from an article in our local newspaper timesfreepress.com

Moonflower Seeds

Whats a girl to do when you can't work out in the yard yet? Clean your office. Laying under a pile of "stuff" I found some moonflower seeds that someone had mailed me. The postmark on the envelope was 2007 and I have decided to see if they will germinate. I love to plant seeds that I know have been in someone elses garden and not just grown from seed. After researching a little about moonflowers I have learned a few things:

• Moonflower seeds need to be "nicked" and soaked in water prior to planting. I use a fingernail clipper. If you have older seeds like I do, place them in a moistened paper towel to see if they will germinate.




• While they prefer to be planted directly in the soil, you can start them indoors but should use peat pots that can be planted directly in the soil, making the hole two or three times larger than your peat pot. Plant your seeds or transplants after all danger of frost in your area.



• Moon flowers are considered an annual or tender perennial vine. They reach a height of 8-10 feet, so you will need to trellis them or have them grow up a tree or post.
  Plant your moonflower seeds in full sun.


• The bloom on the plant is white, so these would be a good choice for your "moongarden" or all white garden.


• Moonflowers are fragrant. Planting them near a open window, or near a porch or patio would bring fragrance to the area.


• Water moonflowers regularly, but do not overwater.


• They will bloom from late spring to early winter depending on your area.


• Moonflowers self sow, so if you are not interested in volunteer plants, deadhead the blooms and throw away.


• To save the seed, collect when the bloom fades and allow to dry, or you may allow the pods to dry on the plant and break them open to collect.


• One word of caution: If you have children or animals that may try to eat the seeds, they are poisonous.

I will keep you posted to let you know if my 3 year old seeds germinate.

Karen

If you are a gardener your New Years Resolutions always include plans for the garden. Start this New Year right and start planning now. What are your goals?

• Start your new garden journal now write down each goal on a separate page.


• What do you need to complete that goal? Order seed books? Get your seed starting supplies?


• If you want to build structures visualize them on paper with a vision board. Get out all of your old magazines (I know you keep them, don't let anyone tell you you are a hoarder! Garden magazines don't count) Cut out pictures you like and create a "vision" board of your idea gardenand the things you want in it, and where you want them placed. Cruise the web during these cold winter days for free plans or plans you need to order.


• Need to replace any tools? Go out to the garage or garden shed and take stock of what you need and write it down in your journal. As you attend spring yard sales or estate sells you may be able to pick up some for less money.


• Take a walk in your gardens and decide what can be divided or moved.


• Order seed and flower magazines for inspiration.
• Think back to last years garden. Too many tomatoes? Not enough green beans? Plan now for what you will need this spring.
• Visit your local library and get fresh inspiration from gardening books. Have you been wanting to learn to compost? Wondered about companion planting?

Hoping you the best garden ever in 2010

Karen

PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN

MERRY CHRISTMAS

KAREN

Mistletoe

My husband and I took my granddaughters to Christmas in the Streets in downtown Chickamauga last Saturday. Each year the street in front of the Merchants is closed, and vendors set up. One of the vendors was the local boyscouts who were selling reindeer food and mistletoe.

What does Mistletoe have to do with Christmas? Everyone has heard of "kissing" under the mistletoe. As early as the 16th century the custom of bringing the hostess a sprig of mistletoe to hang from the door or light fixture was documented. Any female lingering under the sprig was a target for a kiss.

Mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant, receiving its nutrition from other plants. The mistletoe plant has been describe as early as 23 BC by Pliny the Elder, who reported the belief that the appearance of mistletoe on the sacred oak was a cause of celebration since it occurred so infrequently. It was also believed that it contained the life of the oak tree after it had lost it's leaves in the winter. When cut from the oak tree it contained some of the sacred power of the oak. Many ancient religions including the Romans, Greeks, Celtics incorporated Mistletoe into their ceremonies and myths. With Christianity, many of the mystical aspects of the mistletoe were abandoned, but kissing under the plant was "okayed".

Mistletoe has also been used medicinally throughout the years for a wide range of conditions. Epilepsy, fertility and conception, healing of ulcers, were a few of the uses of Mistletoe. Most recently Suzanne Somers brought mistletoe to the forefront again, when she reportedly used it in her holistic treatment of her breast cancer. The drug used is Iscador, made with mistletoe extract.

Mistletoe is widely available around Christmas, and you would be better served to purchase it than try to start it in your own tree. It often harms the tree that it chooses as it hosts.

Winter Wonderland North Georgia Style

Saturday we awoke to a beautiful layer of snow. We don't see that much here, especially so early in the season. By 9:00 the sun had come out and the snow was almost gone. But, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures. Click on the pictures to get a better view. My oldest lavender next to the gate is covered with snow along with the new ones I planted this year. My calendula, which is STILL blooming, was untouched after the snow melted, and continues to hold on to it's blooms today. The chickens came out, pecking and hunting for bugs, oblivious to the snow which they had never seen, being born this spring.

Todays temperature? 59 degrees and windy. The low for tonight is a forcasted 28 degrees. No wonder my poor plants don't know what to do.

Karen

Where Did October and November Go?

Would someone please tell me where the last 2 months went? I last posted in September!!!. I did have two bouts with the flu which is unusual for me, the worst was after I received the H1N1 Vaccine. I work in an ICU, and we have had several cases so I thought it was best I received the vaccine. I have never received the flu or pneumonia vaccine, and am rarely sick, but this year....
Okay, that accounts for October, but no excuse for November. But to catch me up

• A new blueberry and rasberry bush were planted.
• My grapes and all the new bushes have been mulched for the winter.
• The garden is cleaned out and waiting for next year
• A carolina jasmine was planted in front of my house. I love jasmine and can't wait to smell it as I walk out the door this spring and summer
• A crape myrtle is still in it's container waiting for it's home
• All my outdoor plants are in the house, but on sunny days get to go out on the deck.
• Pansies were planted for a little fall color and are poking their little heads up from the leaves on sunny days.

On a sad note, my favorite little banty rooster was scooped from his perch by an owl right in front of my husbands eyes. He was out on the deck around 5 one morning, (had heard a noise), and out of the sky came an owl. We didn't find out until the next morning it was Roscoe.

Most of my Christmas presents have been purchased, but the tree is not up yet.

Looking forward to getting back on track with the posting and the upcoming new gardening year.

Karen