Category Gardening
Denver!
I spent most of last week in Denver doing site visits within our logistics network. We do these periodically to make sure we (the legal team) stay grounded in the physical reality of world operations, as opposed to the Ivory tower of the corporate headquarters. My favourite part was a training centre for drivers, which […]
Meanwhile in the garden
Despite the chilly dampness of the last many months, the garden knows that we’re nearing solstice. The long days have coaxed the roses into their first flush of blooms. They’re so lovely. In the opposite corner the Mexican fleabane is as exuberant and joyful a ever, framing a wee pink dahlia. I just love those […]
Also at the little house: No trees!
A few weeks ago I got a text from one of my Boise neighbors: a late spring snow storm had broken a bunch of limbs on the trees in my backyard—some of which appeared to be resting on the power lines running into the house. Fortunately the parents were able to go over and do […]
Progress at the little house: Yard work!
With all that’s been happening with construction inside the house, the yard has been sorely neglected. Spring snowstorms brought down big branches of the trees in back, and the front yard had achieved peak hay-field look. So this weekend’s project was to bring it al back from the brink of nature. I asked if I […]
First roses
The pink-and-white speckled roses have started to bloom. Seems earlier in the season than last year, and the other varieties are probably still about a month out from their first bloom cycle. But the bush looks healthy and the flowers are a nice colourful addition in the dreary Seattle spring weather.
It’s finally garden season in Seattle
As March, April, and May plod by under chilly clouds with temperatures steadfastly in the 45-55 range, spring in Seattle can feel like quite a slog. But then a sunny, mid-60s weekend arrives and all the joy of spring comes rushing out at once. That’s how this weekend has been–and oh, what good it does […]
Urban guerilla gardening
There’s an old, fire-damaged house down the street from me with an overgrown garden that, in happier days, must have been a pretty little garden. Every spring amidst the overgrown brambles and roses, I’ve admired a crop of unusual oxalis plants with pink flowers rather than the typical white. Well, today I saw that the […]
The sunset matched my roses
My garden felt a little empty today without the pond fish (as predicted, the full population has now died), and I felt a little blue. But as I left the garden after dinner I turned for one last look at the roses—just in time to see the pink and yellow sunset in shades that matched […]
Death in the pond
Something went very wrong today. This morning my fish were energetic and seemed perfectly healthy. I fed them, checked their water and treated it for ammonia and algae; pruned the water lilies. By this evening half of them were dead—including my prized giant black one—and I fear some, possibly all, of the others will be […]
Also, my monstera is living up to its name
It is seriously going to take over the home office slash guest bedroom. And that cactus I got in Portland six years ago that was small enough to drive home with between Amanda’s feet in the front seat? Well, that’s all grown up, too. Almost taller than I am!
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 