What's Blooming This Week?

Turning a (Small) Tragedy Into Something Good

2012-01-31T15:57:00.000-05:00

My amaryllis, which I've nurtured since early November, broke. That's the tragedy. I was moving it to water it and knocked the flower stalk over and it snapped at the base. It was nearly ready to open and I didn't want to just throw it out. So I turned it into something good.

Cutting it off and using it as a cut flower, I placed the poor thing in a small vase, added some cut leaves and a few branches of rose hips.

I think I saved the day with something simple. Fortunately it was the second shoot that this bulb had put out, so it wasn't too big a tragedy. But I felt bad anyways. And then I didn't feel so bad.

Bringing Some Spring Inside - How to Force Flowering Branches

2012-01-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't it be nice to have something blooming in your home right now? For those of us here in the north, we have to contend with those pots of tulips and daffodils at the grocery store to bring some colour into our worlds. If we're really lucky and have planned ahead, you might have an amaryllis or some narcissus still blooming. And of course, there's always our flowering houseplants to keep us going through the dark of winter.

One of the ways that I like to bring some colour to the house and actually fool myself into thinking that spring IS just around the corner is to force some branches. This is a terrific way to get something going and make me feel like I'm a gardener again.

forsythia

So take a walk around your yard to see what could be used inside. Forsythia, flowering quince, dogwood, apple trees and even magnolia can be forced into flowering when brought inside. Here's how:

1) Choose a day in late January/early February when it is above freezing to cut the branches.

2) Cut branches about 3 feet long and submerge in warm water in a bucket.

3) Let the branches soak up the water for about 1 day.

4) Change the water and place branches in the vase/holder you will keep them in. Make sure to strip any buds from the branches which are below the water line.

5) Regularly change the water as it grows cloudy (about every 2 - 3 days)

6) Now the hard part - WAIT. It will take about 2 - 3 weeks for the branches to bloom. Longer for bigger flowers like the magnolia. But it will be worth the wait.

star magnolia forced after 3 weeks (last year)

I'm going to try and force some magnolia again. Last year I had great success by waiting until late February and then cutting a few branches from my star magnolia tree.

flowering quince

We have a couple of flowering quince on the property that I have yet to see bloom - we just moved here in July, so were well past the season. Think I'll cut down a few of these branches to see what happens.

I'll keep you posted about the progress. Hopefully in a couple of weeks there will be forsythia blossoming and quince well on it's way to bringing some life to the house. For now, I'll have to contend with these forsythia and quince branches I cut today.

A Bit of Spring in the Depths of Winter

2012-01-19T10:56:00.002-05:00

There is snow on the ground, the wind is whipping up and the plants are all frozen solid here in SW Ontario. Spring is 61 days away and it's only the middle of January. What is a girl to do?

Why grab a bunch of tulips at the grocery store, of course. Pop them in a vase and place them in the darkest corner of the house - in our case, the tv room. A breath of spring on a blustery day.

And while a girl is at is, she should dream......dream of summer blooms and perfect little garden sheds

.....and get inspiration like this Rose "Cinco de Mayo" which my friend Grace from Gardening With Grace posted about today

Rose "Cinco de Mayo"

.....or plan a new garden filled with beauties like this beautiful collection of hydrangeas.

Isn't that what January is for? A touch of spring from the grocery store, some inspiration from a fellow blogger and dreaming of perfect hydrangeas.

What are your January dreams?

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

2012-01-15T09:15:00.003-05:00

We're in the depths of winter here in SW Ontario with a fresh coating of 6 inches of snow and temperatures nearing minus 20 (0 degrees for you Americans), so there's nothing blooming outside.

But inside we're in full bloom with the "Red Lion" amaryllis bulb I planted in November. It started blooming at the new year and is just about to open it's second flower spike.

Next week, the narcissus should be in bloom giving us some more relief from the gray days of January. Happy Bloom Day!

Tempestuous Sky - Skywatch Fridays

2012-01-12T20:00:00.001-05:00

I'm joining in with Skywatch Fridays where bloggers from around the world share a photo of their local skies.

The other morning, a tempestuous sky gave way to a sunny dawn and the trees lit up with the morning sun. Glorious greeting to an unusually warm and sunny winter's day as seen looking out over the neighbour's roof line.

Post Script - I got a couple of comments on how the trees looked against the blue sky. Interestingly the sky was a deep steel gray, but looks blue on the computer screen.

Early Morning Frost

2012-01-11T09:22:00.000-05:00

We've had such unusual weather here in Southern Ontario this winter with very little snow and warm temperatures. After another balmy day yesterday, we had an unusually heavy fog which coated the world with a lovely hoary frost this morning.

lilac

So I quickly went outside to capture a few pictures before the sun melted the frost away.

green leaves in January?

The garden is full of surprises this winter with some muscari pushing through the soil and these leaves still green even in January.

Rose of Sharon seed pods

I've never been a fan of Rose of Sharon - too "look at me, I'm blooming" with it's big flowers. But I am enjoying these seed pods as they create nice winter interest. I guess she's growing on me after all.

black mondo grass

Purchased last year at Vandermeer's in Oshawa, this black mondo grass looks creepy and spidery with it's white edged leaves amongst the protective covering of leaves in the Garage Garden. It's nestled under the "wedding" Japanese Maple. I think with a nice ornamental rock to contrast the black, it has found a happy home.

I'm Loving My New Camera

2012-01-07T17:10:00.000-05:00

My husband was so generous this Christmas and got me my dream camera - a Canon Rebel T3i.

Now having grown up the daughter of a professional photography, you would have thought that the shutter bug in me would have surfaced well before my mid-50's. But it had not and I have spent many years with a perfectly good "point and shoot". Until this blogging obsession overtook me and suddenly, I wanted ~~needed~~ more. And I am lucky enough to have a husband who understands this obsession.

Now, suddenly, I feel like a photographer. Learning lots still. Inspired by the wonderful memories I have of my father and his dark room in the basement, shooting everything and everyone. And many of you fellow bloggers and your amazing photos. Not the least of which is Donna from Garden Walk, Garden Talk. Donna's latest post is called Aerial Ballet and is full of photos of birds flying to and from her bird feeders.

So I thought "hey, you have a new high tech camera, maybe you can do the same type of thing". So after a quick tutorial from Alan, I set up the tripod at the window and waited. Think I shot about 500 photos - thank goodness for digital cameras - before I actually caught a few images.

I'm not going to say it was an easy feat . Every time I saw a bird near the feeder, by the time I pushed the shutter button the bird had landed.

Even on "repeat", I had to be very quick to capture even one bird out of 15 or 20 shots taken.

But it's a start. A step closer to improving my camera skills and creating something worth actually printing off and framing.

What do you think, Dad?

Up Early for Skywatch Friday

2012-01-06T12:47:00.000-05:00

The weather has been changing dramatically this week starting with a deep freeze on Tuesday and a balmy start to the weekend today. I was up early this morning and took some shots of the sun rising as seen through my kitchen window.

I linking in with Skywatch Fridays where you can see beautiful shots of the sky from all over the world. Thanks to Linda from Crafty Gardener for introducing me to this collection of photos.

Amaryllis Experiment Results

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Back in November, I wanted to try an experiment whereby I took an amaryllis bulb from last winter and tried to grow it so that it would bloom this Christmas. I had nurtured the bulb throughout the summer, watering it regularly and then giving it a dormant stage by putting it in a cool closet for 6 weeks.

last year's bulb just out of hibernation

store-bought bulb newly planted

All started off well. Each was given the exact same conditions right in front of the east facing window, watered regularly with the same amount of water at the same time. They each started to grow and within a week they looked like this.

store bought bulb after 1 week

last year's bulb looking promising

In fact, after a week they looked basically the same. Although on closer inspection, I can see that the store bought bulb on the right has a flower bud forming.

And that's where the comparisons end. Even though I treated them exactly the same, the store bought bulb shot up and finally bloomed over the weekend. A nice way to bring in the new year with a beautiful Red Lion amaryllis blooming on the kitchen table.

Sadly my little experiment didn't work. Last year's bulb is still sitting forlornly without any new growth since the initial burst of energy. Guess I'll have to stick to buying a new bulb every year (as I've done for the last 20 years). I'm feeling my green thumb turning brown as we speak.

Wordless Wednesdays - A Visitor

2012-01-04T11:35:00.003-05:00

I'm linking up with Tuesday Tweets where you can see some terrific photography of our feathered friends.

Cobrahead Winner Announced and a Look Ahead to 2012

2011-12-29T08:52:00.002-05:00

It's been a busy week around here with lots of visitors and I've just now had a chance to announce the winner of the Cobrahead giveaway. We didn't get a lot of entries but I'm really happy to announce that Holley Garden is now the proud owner of this wonderful hand gardening tool. Holley - please email me your mailing address at whatsbloomingthisweek@gmail.com so that I can send it out to you.

It's almost the beginning of a new year. And I don't know about you, but my mind is always filled with plans and ideas as we move into a new year. What will I plant? Which major project should be on the to do list this year? Where will I move this? Why don't I clean off my gardening tools after each use? I should start to do that and a myriad of other things.

My 2012 To Do List for the garden is lengthy, but here's a few that I plan on:

Roses - there are no roses in my garden and this year I need to remedy that by planting some roses. Maybe some David Austen lovelies. Definitely an arbor covered with some lovely "New Dawn" climbing roses.

Rhubarb - in my English eye, a garden isn't a garden without rhubarb - got to add that to the vegetable patch this spring. Already have the other "must have" - raspberries. With the addition of rhubarb, I'll feel like a REAL self-producing gardener.

A Sitting Spot Under the Maple Tree - we like to sit at the back of the yard under our big old maple tree and I thought a nice little seating spot would be nice - perhaps a little patio area with crushed gravel or stone with a little pergola over top to mark the area. A nice outdoor sofa and table would be great too.

Neatly Edged Garden Beds - okay so this is more of a resolution than a "to do". I love the look of a neatly edged garden and think that my half-moon edger might be my favorite tool.

Underplant the other Maple Trees - love the idea of underplanting with a ground cover of ivy or maybe some ferns and adding some of these blue urns for a pop of colour. Can't get any grass to grow under them anyways, so this might be a good idea.

There's lots of other things on the 2012 list - edge the vegetable garden with a small retaining wall, clear out the shade garden of saplings, get rid of the overgrown, wild junipers, add some evergreens for interest in the perennial borders and speaking of the perennial borders - add to them, take away what doesn't work, plant more bulbs for spring interest, add more peonies, make compost and add to it.

Hope you are all having a wonderful New Year's weekend!

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-23T08:34:00.001-05:00

National Geographic

As Christmas draws nearer and we get busier and busier, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for dropping by my little blog project. I appreciate each and every one of you for visiting, for commenting and for following the progress of my garden.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with laughter, love and happiness. And I hope you have a moment to enjoy the natural beauty around you, that the birds come to your feeders and that there is a calm around the land.

Merry Christmas

We'll be back after the Christmas break with winners from my first giveaway on December 28th. It's not too late to enter - just leave a comment below and your name will be entered into the draw. If you've already commented, don't worry you'll have another entry.

Cobrahead Weeder Givewaway

2011-12-21T12:49:00.002-05:00

This is the first time I've done a giveaway on any of my blogs, so I'm excited to see what happens. The kind people at Cobrahead asked me if I would like to try one of their weeder and cultivators. I knew exactly what they were talking about because I was lucky enough to win one in a previous giveaway from May Dream Gardens, one of my favorite blogs. I've used this little tool constantly for weeding and digging throughout the garden.

At Cobrahead, they call it the "steel fingernail" because it weeds, digs, plants, transplants, edges, furrows and does just about any other task where you would use a hand tool. It's environmentally friendly because the handle is made from recycled polypropylene and agriculturally grown flax fiber, plus the blade made with a minimum of 60% recycled steel.

It's an essential in any gardener's tool collection and now you can have one too because I'm giving one away as a special holiday thank you to all my followers and visitors.

To enter, leave a comment below before December 28th. A random number will be drawn and I'll announce the winner on December 31st - just in time to start the new year off with a great new garden tool.

In the meantime, check out Cobrahead to see what other tools they have including a long-handled version, great turning forks and more great gardening items. And a great big thank you to Cobrahead and Geoff Valdes for providing me with this wonderful item.

Dear Santa.....My Gardening Wish List

2011-12-14T18:55:00.001-05:00

I've been a good girl. I weeded regularly. I planted bulbs for the spring. I didn't use pesticides but relied on good old fashioned know how to keep things under control. I bought vegetables locally grown. I shared clippings from my garden.

So, Santa, can I please write you a letter and ask for some things for the garden this year? Please? First on my wish list are these amazing Japanese flower pruners from Lee Valley. They would be perfect to cut flowers for arrangements and for deadheading.

Next on my list is this great combination stool and caddy. As I'm weeding, I really need to be a bit more comfortable, Santa. And this handy caddy keeps all my hand tools in one place.

I know you're always looking for new ideas for my stocking, Santa. This great sharpener will be a super stocking stuffer. I can use it to sharpen all my pruners and that old pair of clippers which are so dull I can't cut anything.

I found these cute little copper plant tags on Etsy. They are handmade by DillyBags. I hope it's not too late to order them and get them to the North Pole in time for you to bring them. Now that I've laid out the vegetable garden and actually planted the garlic and shallots, I could really use these find things when they start sprouting in the spring.

copper plant tags by DillyBags

And finally, Santa, because a girl can never have enough bling in her life. How about adding this one last item to the list? A beautiful copper and glass butterfly feeder. We have so many butterflies in the garden, it would be used every day Santa. I promise.

butterfly feeder by Glorious Glass Garden

Thanks Santa. I promise to continue to be a good girl over the winter and spend hours scouring through the seed catalogues planning the vegetable garden. I promise I'll fill the birdfeeder even on a snowy day. And I promise to fertilize the houseplants on a regular basis.

Hope you and Mrs. Claus have some quiet time this winter to plan your gardens together. I bet the growing season at the North Pole isn't too long.

Love Heather

Bird Feeder? I Think Not

2011-12-10T16:21:00.001-05:00

It seems we are the neighbourhood destination for all the squirrels. They spend hours each and every day ~~snarfing~~ eating all the food from the bird feeders. In fact we've gotten to naming them. So I introduce you to Queenie.

We're actually have no idea whether she is a she or a he, but she reigns the backyard making sure that she gets her fair share and more. Don't mess with Queenie. She means business. She makes sure that she is first in line every morning, taking all the good nuts and sunflower seeds before her underlings are allowed to the trough.

There seems to be no end to the positions and moves they will take to make sure they get fed each day. So I'm calling this one Nadia Comaneci after the great gymnast. Afterall our Nadia can get into most any position and still be able to reach the food.

Good thing that by 10 o'clock they have moved on and left some food for Joe Carter, Robbie Alomar and Kelly Gruber, the family of blue jays that also visit.

Hope you are enjoying some quiet during this busy season.

December Snow

2011-12-02T16:59:00.001-05:00

dogwood tree covered in a dusting of snow

Now that December has begun, I'm hankering for a snow to cover up all the brown in the garden. And who doesn't like a small amount of snow for the holidays? This morning I got my wish when we got a light dusting of snow. Just enough to hear jingle bells in the background. But not enough to worry about shovelling. In fact, by noon it was gone again.

And it really was just a dusting. But nevertheless, there was enough to give the Christmas lantern a wintry look.

Of course the bird feed was empty when I went to take the picture. It's usually full of sparrows, finches, blue jays, some cardinals from time to time. And of course, it's main visitors......the squirrels. But, they heard me coming and scurried off to quieter pastures.

I just love the look of dark red sedums amongst the browns and yellows of a December garden. Add a touch of snow and they take on a magical glow.

But that's okay. It will be back. It's one thing I'm sure of in a Canadian winter.

Everbearing Raspberries

2011-11-22T08:58:00.000-05:00

It has always been my dream to have a garden with raspberries. One of my earliest childhood memories was visiting German-born friends who had a great garden. Gerda was a great cook (I can still remember her sauerbraten and potato dumplings) and a great gardener growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. I used to run to the back of the garden to pick the raspberries which were growing along her fence line.

The other day when I was driving home from a day of Christmas shopping, a sign caught my attention - "raspberry canes for sale". Suddenly images of those fresh berries picked at Gerda's came flooding back to me and I slowed the car down to turn into the small property where these beauties could be found.

I met the most charming lady who had lived on the property "for only 30 years" and who's garden had turned into a veritable raspberry farm. "We started with just one row of raspberries" has now turned into a garden about 20' x 50' full of our favorite fruit. And a just $6 a dig yourself raspberry cane, I couldn't resist.

"Did you know that this is the best time of year to plant raspberry canes", she said as we dug out half a dozen canes for transplanting. Great, I thought, it's not too late to get them in the ground before it freezes. Well, it froze. So my original plan of creating a small hedge line at the back of the (newly laid out) vegetable garden didn't come into fruition. I couldn't get my spade into the ground even where the sun had warmed it that morning.

So onto Plan B which I believe is always a gardeners Plan A anyways. These poor sad looking sticks have found a temporary home along the back of the garage. A spot which tends to be a holding nursery for those things I don't know what to do with. We'll let them rest over the winter, build some roots and get a bit more protection than out in the vegetable garden.

And with a lot of sun, regular watering and a bit of luck, my dream of a big bowl of raspberries each morning next July with come true.

Amaryllis Experiment Update

2011-11-19T13:41:00.001-05:00

The amaryllis experiment continues and so far, so good.

Just as a recap: I kept one of the amaryllis bulbs from last Christmas, watered it all year and kept it in storage for a couple of months before bringing it back to life. I also bought a new amaryllis. The idea is to see which one does better - which blooms first (if at all), which looks healthier, etc. Both plants have been sitting on the kitchen table directly in front of an east facing window, getting equal amounts of water, sunlight and heat. They've been there for 2 weeks now and this is the result:

The white pot holds last year's amaryllis bulb. I'm pleased to see that it has started to come back to life with some green leaves beginning to pop up through the white withered foliage. The new, store bought amaryllis, however is doing a bit better. If you look closely, you can actually see a flower bud (near base peeking through the layers).

Close-up of store bought bulb showing healthy growth with two leaves starting to set.

Last year's bulb is doing well also with some new growth showing through. Only one leaf seems to be appearing so far though.

The leader: I think the store bought plant is doing better so far. I've done some research and it would appear that the second year growth will not be as hardy or big as the first year bulb. Of course, that is to be expected as we know that in nature the second and subsequent blooming years on most bulbs is not as strong at the first year. And that is why we usually have to replant tulips after a few years.

Let's see what this week brings with less light as we get closer to the winter solstice. I'll keep you posted with another update next weekend.

Word for Wednesdays - Texture

2011-11-16T10:30:00.001-05:00

Once again I'm linking up with Donna at Garden Walk, Garden Talk in her Word for Wednesdays linky. This week's word is "texture" and I'm going to show you the textured leaves of one of my favorites, the lowly hosta.

When dealing with a shade garden that is primarily green and white, I like to use hostas to bring out different shades, patterns and textures. According to Wikepedia, there are about 45 species of hostas with approximately 3000 varieties within those species. Every year there seems to be a hot, new hosta that is at the top of every collectors wish list - some of them can be as costly as $50 or $60 and more.

hosta "fire and ice"

My little collection started in the old house in Oshawa, where these pictures come from. I was lucky enough to bring along a few of my favorites which I potted up and have been nurturing till I find a home for them.

hosta "beckoning"

The leaf patterns are innumerable as you can see from the green, yellows, whites and even blues in these pictures. But it's the textures that draw me back time and again. Look at the crinkling and rippling of the hosta above - "beckoning" us to take a longer look.

hosta "blue angel"

"blue angel" has long been a favorite for it's deeply textured leaves. Forget the blue colour, forget the large size of the plant itself which is so good to use as a foundation plant in a shady spot, it's the texture that makes this the more interesting.

hosta "northern exposure"

Paired with "northern exposure", who's leaves are much smoother but still have that blue tinge, you have a stunning corner in any garden.

So when I'm planning the side yard between the garage and the fence (a spot about 10 feet wide with some existing plantings), I'm thinking not only about colour and bringing life to a shady spot. I'm thinking about the textures and how they play against each other in a collection of one single plant species.

Early Snow

2011-11-14T12:40:00.001-05:00

It was a little early for me when we woke up on Friday morning to this......

I was certainly not ready for snow, no matter how small an amount and how little it lasted. Nothing like the enormous storm that the NorthEast U.S. got a few weeks ago. Nevertheless me AND my garden were not ready.

The burning bush has just come into it's glory, but was covered in a light dusting.

I've heard of frost on the pumpkins, but snow on the gourds....this is ridiculous.

My dogwood had also come into it's glory after producing some wonderful seed heads. The colour is a beautiful bronze.

So, what to do when Mother Nature throws us a curve ball? Go for a walk and enjoy the scenery. Lake Lisgar look beautiful and different with it's light covering.

By noon it was gone and the weekend turned warm and sunny for the most part. Winter had not settled, just a tease to remind us that there is more to come.

A Little Experiment

2011-11-08T17:28:00.001-05:00

Every year, like thousands or should I say millions of others, I purchase that wonderful coloured box at the grocery store promising a reward of indoor blooms of amaryllis. Every year, I empty the contents of the box - pot, soil and bulb - water it and pray that something will come up. It usually does grow and by early January I have a beautiful plant - right when I need it in the depth of winter. I always choose red because they look so majestic against the green leaves.

red lion amaryllis January 2011

But I always feel a little inadequate. As a self-professed gardener, shouldn't I be able to force this bulb back to life? Every year I go to Canada Blooms and see the beautiful amaryllis plants that others have forced and wonder why I can't do the same thing.

new amaryllis bulb (left) and red lion bulb (right)

So this year, I'm conducting a little experiment. I kept last year's amaryllis bulb, lovingly watered it throughout the spring and summer and then put it to bed in August for a little hibernation. Well I actually put it in a closet in the basement and forgot about it for 3 months, creating a false winter and forcing the bulb into dormancy by depriving it of light and water. Dutifully I marked down on the calendar to take it out the first week of November, right about the time I usually purchase a new bulb. Which I did this weekend.

"dormant" bulb

It looks pretty sad right now - all white from lack of light. But it does look like there's still some life in it.

Each week I'll post a photo of each bulb's progress. I love a little science experiment every once in a while - feels like Grade 4 and those beans we grew in wet paper towels and baggies, remember?

Word for Wednesdays - Ephemeral

2011-11-02T17:10:00.000-04:00

Once again I joining with other bloggers in "Word for Wednesdays" which is sponsored by Donna at Garden Walk, Garden Talk, a terrific blog based in the Niagara area of New York. This week's word is "ephemeral".

ephemeral |əˈfem(ə)rəl|
adjective
lasting for a very short time : ephemeral pleasures. (from Greek εφήμερος – ephemeros, literally “lasting only one day”) And… a day only lasts one day, so the day is ephemeral as no two days are the same.

• having a very short life cycle or existence, not lasting.

My first thought was to show you the ephemeral beauty of falling leaves or a misty morning. But then I remembered all the ephemeral moments from our recent trip to the Caribbean aboard the Oasis of the Seas. So I thought I would share some of those images.

This tidal pool at Magens Bay in St. Thomas is ephemeral in that it is only there while the tide is high. A haven for small fish and crabs, it was gone by the time we left the beach that day.

Seeking the shade under a palm tree - the light was moving all the time

creating moments of ephemeral beauty in the patterns.

The shore line changes every moment - another moment of ephemeral beauty.

This fishing boat was resting - a fleeting moment I'm sure.

This view in St. Martin with the clouds casting shadows in the ocean. Ephemeral beauty by it's nature of moment to moment change.

The whole week away was filled with ephemeral moments - seeing my husband in a tuxedo for the first time; swimming with stingrays in Nassau - their skin like velvet to the touch, laughing with my best friends, quiet walks on the top deck as the sun rose over the next port. The week only lasted a week, so it was ephemeral in that it is gone already.

This Is Where I'll Be Next Week.....

2011-10-20T21:32:00.000-04:00

Sitting on a deck chair, soaking up the sun, enjoying the blue skies and turquoise waters of the Caribbean as we cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten on Royal Caribbean's "Oasis of the Seas".

Will be back the first week of November. Have a terrific week.

Word for Wednesdays - Evolution and Evolve

2011-10-18T17:56:00.000-04:00

I'm joining with "Garden Walk, Garden Talk" for the Word for Wednesdays series. This week's word is actually two: Evolution and Evolve. I must admit that this is a tough one to photograph and blog about.

evolution |ˌevəˈloō sh ən|

1 the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
2 the gradual development of something, esp. from a simple to a more complex form.
3 Chemistry the giving off of a gaseous product, or of heat.
4 a pattern of movements or maneuvers.

Instinctively, I wanted to post about the 250 bulbs that were planted yesterday, about the reworking of the back border, of the new fence we put up this weekend creating a home for my future "secret garden". But I wanted to show you something that has really evolved over time.

crustose lichen

This is the old fence which runs along the original property line of our yard. Even though we've built a new fence along the back property line (a bonus of nearly 20 feet in parts), we've decided to keep some of the existing fence. Partly as a reminder to the history of the lot when it was reconfigured to allow for a new roadway. Partly because we love the weathered, lichen encrusted wood that adds so much character to the yard.

lichen on lilac tree

Lichens are actually a fungus, consisting of small organisms that create these charming patterns and colours. Some lichens actually form a leaf like pattern while others (like the ones on the fence above) produce a crust which protects the delicate layers beneath. Most lichens reproduce through spores, like mushrooms, that travel airborne to their next home.

I chose to show you these lichens because a rock, tree or as in our case, a fence that has lichens it's appearance evolves into something new and unique. And because it travels by spores, it is one of the earliest forms of evolution.

Maple Leaves - Red or Yellow?

2011-10-14T11:55:00.000-04:00

red maple tree

What's the difference? According to an article I read on the Internet the other day, the red leaves on a maple are because the tree is a "male" and the yellow or orange leaves are because the tree is a "female". Those trees that are both red and yellow/orange are both male and female.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resource website, most maples are monoeciouc (both male and female), but some red maples can be either. Today most breeders are propagating female maples because they have a limited fruit set - in other words, less of those pesky (but beautiful) maple keys.

What do you think? All I know is that right now I can't see my driveway for all the maple leaves - yellow, orange and red all coming from one tree. Right now is optimum leaf viewing time in Ontario and I'm enjoying the view. With all the rain we've had lately and the winds predicted for the weekend, this show won't last long.