Time for... "Night Moves" 📚

 I don't know about you but I have "just the right time" with some (re) readings of Nora Roberts' Books.

At this time of the year - I find myself tired of people (hence wanting to move to the country; to that almost off-the-grid country), wishful of Summer days (while enjoying these first hints of Spring), craving gardening like crazy (but in that creator-like role) - I see myself pulled for "Night Moves". And Dream...

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If she stood very still, if she closed her eyes and didn’t move, she could hear the music all around her. Not birdsong but the ruffle of air through branches and tiny leaves. If she concentrated, she could hear the faint trickle of the narrow creek that ran along the other side of the lane. The quality of silence was rich, flowing over her like a symphony.

🍃

There was just enough breeze to carry a hint of spring to her. Far back in the woods a bird she couldn’t see sang out as though it would never stop.

🍃

Louella ran a hand over the front of her purse as if she were wiping something away. “I used to have a rock garden. Sweet William and azure Adams. There was wisteria beneath my bedroom window, and roses, red roses, climbing on a trellis.”

Night Moves

🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃🍃

Garden Overhaul: Which Plants Should Stay, Which Should Go?

Photo by Richard Clayton Barrett - Search landscaping pictures

HOUZZ

Gardening with Kids

 

He stepped back, took a clear breath, and studied his work. His mother was pretty damn strict about the gardening. It was all about respecting the earth, harmonizing with Nature, and that stuff.

It was also, Fox knew, about eating, and making enough food and money to feed a family of six—and whoever dropped by. Which was why his dad and his older sister, Sage, were down at their stand selling fresh eggs, goat’s milk, honey, and his mother’s homemade jams.

 

Blood Brothers

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Seattle Municipal Archives, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Make your plans and plant seeds now and, come summer, you’ll have your pick of flowers and food. You’ll also cultivate some essential life skills: When kids tend to plants, they learn to care for the little things—and one another.

PARENTS

__________________

 

And he knew enough about people to be sure the planting of it was another mark of ownership, of settling in. Her place, done her way.

A good sign.

 

The Witness

Why Gardeners Need to Be Outward-Looking

 

“Gardening’s good for you. It gets you back in touch with nature.”

Night Moves

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Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Gardening is solitary work, but it's beneficial to think beyond one's own borders.

Tree Hugger

Moon Garden Marvel

"Blooms picked in moonlight carry the charms and secrets of the night."

Captivated

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By Photo by and (c)2014 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) -
 Self-photographed, GFDL 1.2, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37324239

What Is a Moon Garden? (And How You Can Start One)

A moon garden should consist of flowers and plants designed to reflect moonlight but also remain visible and fragrant during an obscured or new moon. White flowers should occupy most of your plot, along with plants with silver and gray foliage. Other pale hues to consider include pink, yellow and lavender.

MSN

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Down in her garden, walking, almost gliding through the silvery light, with the

gray cat slipping in and out of the shadows. Her hair loose, sprinkling gold dust

down her back and over the sheer shoulders of a pale blue robe. She carried a

basket, and he thought he could hear her singing as she cut flowers and slipped

them into it.

Charmed

4 Easy DIY Structures to Accentuate the Garden

"But I've got to build me an arbor tomorrow, out in my yard. I could

use a couple of Saturday slaves."

"We can be slaves." Luke tugged on Logan's pant leg.

"I know what an arbor is, too. It's a thing stuff grows on."

"There you go, then, I've got a couple of expert slaves.

We'll see what your mama says."

Blue Dahlia

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Build a Sturdy Arbor

A weekend’s work and a few pieces of lumber yield a handsome home for vines

Build A Copper Pipe Trellis

Simple techniques transform plumbing pipes into functional garden structures

Build a Rustic Tuteur

Branches, glue, screws, and string are all it takes to put an informal spin on this classic structure

Build a Bamboo Trellis

Ten dollars and two hours later you’ll be wishing you had more vines

Spring Flowers in Winter?

She'd take cuttings and root them, 

force bulbs so that she could have

spring any time of year she liked.

Born in Ice

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By https://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel_addict/ - 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel_addict/384732136, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17076396

Bring spring indoors early for winter color and fragrance

After all the Christmas decorations are packed away the house looks drab. So instead of letting the winter blues kick in, we make our rooms warm and inviting with flowers. We force the usual amaryllis, paperwhites, and tulip bulbs, but we also force branches into bloom to add even more color and fragrance to our suddenly quiet home. It is very satisfying to sit in our breakfast room early in the morning and observe the daily progress of forsythia buds as they swell and burst open. We cannot think of a more economical way to raise our spirits.

Fine Gardening

How to force Bulbs?

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“My mom goes for tulips.

She—what do you call it—

forces the bulbs in little glass jars 

every winter.”

Heaven and Earth

Stop Killing All Your Plants

"You're killing that plant," he murmured.

"I know. I always do." She had to swallow, and that surprised her. Something in the way 

he'd been looking at her just now. Something in the tone of his voice, the set of his body. 

She could always be mistaken about a face, but not about a body. His was tensed, and so 

was hers. "I keep buying them, and keep killing them."

"Too much sun." He hadn't meant to, but brushed the back of her hand with his 

fingers. "And too much water. It's as easy to overlove as underlove."

"I hadn't thought of that."

Dance to the Piper 

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Don't despair, here's how to become a green thumb

House plants are a great way of making your living space feel more alive. At least when you can manage to keep them alive. If you have a penchant for killing anything green, don't worry. Just follow these tips and you'll feel like a green thumb in no time.

Popular Mechanics

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“You’ve got a nice hand with flowers.” She flicked a finger over the

soap-wort, johnny-jump-ups and artesia sharing space artistically in a stone tub.

“It shows my sensitive side.”

“It shows you know what looks good and how to keep it that way.”

“Actually, I learned out of compassion and annoyance. My mother was always

planting something, then killing it. She’d go to the nursery, and the plants would

scream and tremble. Once, I swear, I heard this coreopsis shrieking, ‘No, no, not

me! Take the Shasta daisies.’ I couldn’t stand it,” he continued when she laughed. “I

started having nightmares where all the plants she killed came back to life, brown,

withered, broken, trailing dry dirt that crumbled from their roots as they formed an

army of revenge.”

“Zombie zinnias.”

“Exactly.” He beamed, delighted with her, fascinated by the way her face warmed

when she was amused and relaxed. “Vampire violas, monster marigolds and

gardenia ghouls. Let me tell you, it was pretty terrifying. In fact, I’m scaring myself

just thinking about it.”

“As a naturalist, I can certify you’re safe. As long as you keep them alive.”

River's End

Replant a festive tree

"I'd say we're ready for the tree. Let's go find one."

You want to drive into town now?.

"Of course not." Pandora was already pulling coats out of the hall closet.

"We'll go right out in the woods and dig one up."

"We?"

"Certainly. I hate it when people cut trees down and then toss them aside after the new year.

The woods are loaded with nice little pines. We'll dig one up, then replant it after the holidays."

A Will and a Way

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By Randi Hausken from Bærum, Norway - The Christmas tree, CC BY-SA 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29876120

By the time you purchase a tree, it has already been cut for weeks, or maybe even months. However, even a freshly cut tree has been separated from its roots and replanting a Christmas tree without roots simply isn’t possible. If you’re determined to plant your Christmas tree, purchase a tree with a healthy root ball that has been securely wrapped in burlap. This is an expensive alternative, but with proper care, the tree will beautify the landscape for many years.

Gardening Know How 

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“You know,” he said a few moments later, “it suddenly occurs to me that you‟re going to expect me to dig a hole

to put this thing in after Christmas.”

Shane sent him a guileless smile. “What a good idea. 

I know just the place too. You‟ll probably need a pick though. 

There are an awful lot of rocks.” 

Ignoring Vance‟s rude rejoinder, she waved over an attendant. 

With the roots carefully wrapped in burlap and the tree itself paid for—

by Shane over Vance‟s objection—they headed home.

First Impressions

Guide to a Dog-Friendly Backyard

Mia arrived with a bouquet of freshly clipped daffodils, 
and helped herself relax by sitting on the floor playing 
tug-the-rope with Mulder.

“I think of getting a dog now and then.” 
She laughed as Mulder lost his toothy grip on the rope 
and went tumbling ears over tail. “Then I think about my gardens.” 
She snatched the puppy up, holding him high. 
“You’d just love digging up all my flowers, wouldn’t you?”

Face the Fire

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Dogs are your best buds, honorary members of the family and protectors of the pack. But as they rambunctiously romp around the backyard, they may be wreaking havoc on your outdoor space. Live peacefully with your beloved doggos by following these simple tips for a delightfully dog-friendly backyard.

Birds & Blooms

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In the spill of light from the windows, she noted 
that a bed of petunias had been recently and ruthlessly dug up.

"I think Ivan has been to work," Mikhail commented, 
noting the direction of Sydney's gaze. "If he is smart, he hides 
until it's time to go home again."

Luring a Lady

On the rocks

“What the hell do you think's going to grow in that rock?”

“You'd be surprised.” She took a moment to wipe at the sweat that was dripping in her eyes. “See those lilies on the bank there?” She gave a little grunt as she dislodged a rock. “I planted them two years ago in September.”

He glanced at the profusion of tall, colorful flowers with grudging admiration. He had to admit that they were an improvement over the rough, rocky soil, but was it worth it?

Suzanna's Surrender

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By Mabroukelm - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68864084

A Lush Garden on the Rocks

Create planting pockets between crevices that work in tandem with nature

Fine Gardening

_____________________

The plants were in place, the ground smoothed and mulched. Where there had only been rocks and thin, thirsty soil 

were bright hopeful young flowers and tender green leaves.

Suzanna's Surrender

Guide to growing Hydrangeas

“I hope you like hydrangeas.”

“I surely do.”

“Then pick your spot, and tell me where I can find a shovel.”

She wanted it right in front, where she could see it when she sat on her porch.

While he dug, she went in the house, came back out with a plastic container.

“Coffee grounds, some orange peels I haven’t taken out to the compost yet. You bury these with the roots, boy. They’ll help keep the blooms blue.”

Shelter in Place

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By Dwight Sipler from Stow, MA, USA - Blue Hydrangea 

(Pink Hydrangea?)Uploaded by Jacopo Werther, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25225962

Low-Maintenance, Long-Lasting Hydrangeas

Find out which panicle varieties are so amazing, you'll never want to plant a bigleaf type again

FINE GARDENING

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“Reed. That’s a nice hydrangea. Nikko Blue. Needs acidic soil to keep it that way.”

“Then I’m passing it to the guy who knows.”

Shelter in Place

How to Design Your Garden for More Meaning and Connection

She gestured, waited until he stopped looking into her eyes, followed her direction. 
“You’ve got a couple of rosebushes over there. You should dig them up. 
Make sure you get good root balls, cover them with burlap, 
and take them to your mother. 
I bet your sister would know how to get them going again. 
It would mean something to your mother.”

In his throat, emotion lodged with gratitude. 
“There are times I don’t know what to say to you. Times you just blow a hole through me.”

He drew her in, held on. “I’ll dig them up,” he told her. 
“She’ll like that, and I wouldn’t have

thought of it.”

“You might have.”

“I’d throw it all out,” he stated, looking over her head at what might’ve been his. 
“That’s the wrong way. There’s some of those daffodils trying to come up on
the side of the house. I could dig them up, too. 
Savannah always liked those when we were kids.” 

Come Sundown

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Photo by Marian Boswall Landscape Architects - Browse landscaping photos

Gardens can connect us to the natural world in meaningful ways, whether we’re plucking the first ripe berries of the season or pausing to watch wild birds flit through foliage. While we most often talk about the nuts and bolts of landscape design — the shrubs, pathways and irrigation systems that make them work — let’s take a moment to explore the less tangible ways we can design our gardens to foster connection with nature.

HOUZZ

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She trailed off, stopped. “There’s a bench,” she murmured. “There’s a
beautiful bench exactly where I wanted one.”
“That’s your surprise. Welcome home, Abigail.”
Her vision blurred as she stepped forward to run her hands over the smooth curve of the back, the arms. 
It looked like a log, hollowed out, polished to a satiny gleam, and on the middle of the back was a carved heart with the initials A.L. and B.G. in the center.
“Oh. Brooks.”
“Corny, I know, but—”
“No, it’s not! That’s a stupid word. I prefer romantic.”
“So do I.”
“It’s a beautiful surprise. Thank you. Thank you.” She threw her arms around him.
“You’re welcome, but I get to sit on it, too.”



The Witness

How to Attract Butterflies to Your Yard

🦋

Nora's back into the Garden!  
YAY for (the) Spring(s of LIFE)




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“You must’ve worked half the day putting that bed in.”

“Not quite that long, but it took some time. I want butterflies.”

“You’re going to get them. It’s pretty as it can be, Abigail.”

The Witness

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By © Derek Ramsey / derekramsey.com, GFDL 1.2, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1612827

Create an inviting habitat for butterflies with careful plant selection and placement.

MidwestLiving

Tackling your garden makes you happier

She trundled her wheelbarrow back to the greenhouse, wandered through the

smell of rich, moist earth; burgeoning flowers; sharp, strong greens, selecting the

plants she’d nurtured for this particular project.

Good, steady physical labor in the warm afternoon. That made her happy, too.

Who knew she had such a capacity for happy?

The Witness

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By Si Griffiths - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24430196

'The repetitive nature of a lot of gardening jobs allows you to really be in the moment and forget your worries. It may sound corny but the way it clears your mind helps you notice the beauty around you, and in our busy, hectic lives we have filtered out a lot of that, so just getting back to nature can be a real tonic.'

DAILYMAIL

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An hour later, she stepped back and checked her progress before going inside for ice to add to the tea she’d left steeping in the sun.

“It’s going to be beautiful,” she told Bert. “And we’ll be able to sit on the porch and watch the butterflies. I think we’ll draw hummingbirds, too. 
I’ll love seeing all this grow and bloom, the butterflies and birds. We’re putting down roots, Bert. The deeper they go, the more I want them.”

She closed her eyes, lifted her face to the sun.

Oh, she loved the way the air sounded, loved the way it smelled.

The Witness

Planting a Tree this Spring?

“I don’t know much about planting trees.” 

She swiped the back of the work glove over her brow.

“In fact, this is my first. Do you?”

The Search

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By USFS Region 5 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfsregion5/3598029211, 

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39320123

DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES WHEN PLANTING A TREE

Reap rewards from your investment of time and money by planting a tree correctly. Avoid these costly mistakes—all of which will impede, if not kill, a tree.

The Family Handyman

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Together they dumped in topsoil and peat, mixed it.

“Shouldn’t we cover it more?” she asked when Simon stopped.

“No, just to the height of the root-ball.” He lifted a bucket. “You want to deep-water, and do that about once a week unless we get a good rain.”

It had been fun, she thought, planting a tree with him in the cool morning air. “Once a week, check.”

“I didn’t get mulch. Figured it was going in the woods and I could just use pine needles. You’ll want to mulch it.”

“Okay.” She stepped back. “I’ve got a dogwood tree. Thank you, Simon.”

The Search