Good morning. Looks good here in Ottawa - sunny and not too hot. My car lost all its coolant yesterday; so it's in the shop. If I want to get to early aquafit (an hour from now) and my allergy shot, I'll have to drive DH to work first. Then I have an adult violin student before I can even think about getting into the garden.
Ann
What's Happening in YOUR neighborhood today pt 4
Good morning from Calgary!
The sun is shining and it is not raining! Maybe I will be able to cut the grass ( since my grass cutter has been unable to do so because of the rain) and get the last two clematis an the tree peony planted. And probably I will find a pot or two in the perennials beds not yet planted!
Maybe too Telus will get here and fix my phone line which has been out of service since Tuesday evening! I had a cell phone somewhere so duig ut out yesterday and went to get time on it - had not used it for so long the account was cancelled! Finally got that done so at leasy could call people again but anybody calling me gets a busy signal. Well at least this time the computor is not down - that is real deprivation!
carolvan
See some blue in the sky but there is more grey clouds than blue..no humidity so that's ok..finally shut off the A/C this morning..save some energy..Tay Hydro wrote me a letter saying my monthly $109. pmts will be increased to $117. so better start conserving a little more than I have..propably just a % increase everyone is getting..
Ann how did the coolant disappear, did you hit a hose?
Carol, enjoy your gardening today..we all must be nearly finished planting or are we?
Not me - I've been so busy trying to get the landscaping done that I still have plants sitting around waiting to be planted. I booked off tomorrow and Monday hoping to get more done on both, but now the forecast is for rain Friday, Saturday and Monday! Hopefully it won't be steady and constant and I can nip out in between showers :-)
A beautiful sunny and warm day here today with no humidity and hardly a wisp in the sky. Gotta love it!
Not sure that we are that far from each other, maybe the dark sky that's above me will stay here in the city and we'll have sunshine both in your town and mine...better go off and see what my forecast for the weekend says...
Already back..rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, cloudy on Sat. and rain Sunday...yuk..
JUst as I was thinking to get out the lawnmower I hear an interesting noise out front and lo and behold there was my regular grasscutter ( Monday is my usual day!)It has been a terrible year here for these companies - they have lost money big time.He told me he was able to get 2 crews out today and he is working alone just to try to catch up.
Got all the clematis planted and rseeded some more dog pee kill patchs on the back lawn - hoping it will look better by judging day which is in just over 4 weeks.
Sun is still shining! Yeah!
It will look great I'm sure fancyvan. We seeded our usual bald spots under the white ash and with all this rain poof instant grass. I thought the seed would rot cuz we top dressed too but not at all.
QUACK, QUACK .. literally .. not only because we're still rainy (misty) here .. but .. there is a drop dead GORGEOUS Mallard strutting around the back forty .. he seems to like the remnants of corn put out for the deer ...
I still have MANY flats of Annuals left to plant .. plus I bought a nice Azalea yesterday that needs a home and some Daylillies and Rudbekia ... since I am going to be 'party free' Saturday I am thinking I might be able to get into the gardens .. course .. the chance of rain is still going to be a force to be dealt with.
Kinda curious as there have been 3 ambulances (not all at once) go by the house over a 90 minute period .. that's very odd for this area. When you hear a siren out this way, it most assuredly 'gets your attention' !!
Taking the company for Chinese food this evening .. my kitchen is still semi 'BOMBED' moving slow today I guess .. but .. I'll get to it LoL
Ciao
~M~
I would like a duck in my yard. Actually I REALLY want a toad. Is one little tiny tree toad too much to ask in our reptile starved area I wonder?
Oh Carol........... no phone?????? To me, that's deprivation of a terrible sort!
ah well, as you say........ u have ur cell, and a definite plus is to have the 'puter lol
Just got home, travelling that 400 series is taking your life in your hand..about 1/2 hr. from home there was a terrible accident, if the trucker survives it will only be through the grace of God..a miracle to say the least..I almost think that perhaps there could have been a car or 2 under neath him, let's hope not..and then this aft. on 401 there was another accident 8 tractor trailers but I don't believe any were killed...most days travelling the 100 miles to work (one way) I feel as though I'm in the Indy 500..wow those cars travel at a high rate of speed...
So it's off to get something to eat, early night..only 1/2 day to work tomorrow..had intended trying to cut the grass tonight as they are calling for rain tomorrow and most of the weekend, but, it will have to wait so I can cut between raindrops...
night all
Well I have phone service again since noon - guess what - it was actually a birds nest inside part of the phone equipment up on 'my' pole! He cleared it out and while we were standing talking the birds( sparrows) were back again! So he wrapped the whole contraption in a plastic bag! Wouldnt be surprised if they pecked thru it. There were no eggs or babies in the nest - he said all the grass was damp and created a short and my line was the one that was out.
I can actually live reasonable well without the phone - it is the computor I hate losing - then I really feel out of contact!
Les maybe if you put in a toad house a toad will come!
Got the rest of my clematis planted and a few other stray pots but the Tree Peony still sits unplanted. Tomorrow is the day!
Woo hoo! Got in a couple of lovely hours of gardening this evening, what a treat to get my mitts dirty again! Planted up the big containers in the front of my house. Small cedars for height, gaudy orange marigolds and fluorescent pink petunias for color and some golden creeping Jenny for good measure. Good for the soul after all this crappy weather we've had. Good night all....
Joanne (jo-north)
Glad thast you are safe from your commutes, the deluges, and company and the mozzy;s.
Tommorrq will be Friday the 13th!
Linda
AKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk .. until I read your post Linda, I had forgotten about it being FRIDAY the !3th !! I USED to get frazzed about it .. but decided it is just another day .. but some people do suffer from 'Tristadecaphobia' (fear of the #13)
Betty I watched Global news last night and saw the mess on the 401 .. yumpin yimminy !!! We have no roads or thoroughfares in Thunder Bay wider than 4 lanes across in TOTAL .. when I go down east I NEVER drive .. leave it up to friends from down that way ...
Today will be plant the Azalea day .. going for the east side of the house .. gets half a day of sun ..
Notice I haven't said the "R" word ... today it's the "F" word .. FOG :-) Around 5am it POURED .. then stopped .. there are varying reports at each site I look at .. never know which one to take seriously.
Company has 2 nights left .. tonight we very well may be having dinner with an electrician working away putting in a light fixture in my dining area !!!! Once this guy is done .. POOF .. I can get at it .. fait accompli .. :-)
Mind you .. one of the sides of the new double sinks is NOT draining correctly .. it was for one day .. then slowed to almost a halt last night .. I know nobody put anything weird down there .. we have a septic field so we're pretty conscientious about that .. keepin an eye on it ..
Off to make another coffee and go and have a look at whatever Smokey has brought home for me at the backdoor .. he is doing his ever FAMOUS .. CATTERWALLING out there .. that means he has a mouse .. or .....
Enjoy your day
~M~
Just getting ready to leave for the city..I'm driving today that always make it exciting..lol..
No rain as yet but you can feel it in the air..got home around 7pm last night, had wanted to cut the grass - 3 hrs. worth, but was just too tired..this morning as I'm walking around the gardens coffee in hand, dreaming of the beauty that is yet to come, I think to myself, 'don't know why I'm in such a hurry to cut the grass, it hasn't grown much' when I realize, someone must have been here yesterday and cut it all...
Now friends laugh because I leave my door open, people just drop in while I'm in the city, sometimes it's to let Sailor out, sometimes to leave a meal, sometimes just for a rest by the pond but someone must have been really energetic yesterday, the entire grass is cut...sooo now I'm on the lookout for who it could have been..need to thank someone...
So off I go, take that big 400 hwy and hope for the best...didn't hear about the other accident 1/2 hr. from here that we saw, wanted to know if driver was ok..will have to check the news later...
Enjoy your day
Might drop in later - it's a work till 1:00 day..always enjoyable...
First date with DH was on a Friday the 13th. We go out to dinner each Friday the 13th.
Car lost it's coolant because a hose popped off. Why is anyone's question. They may have disturbed it when replacing valve cover recently, but say it probably would have come off anyway. They DO say I should replace water pump and while they are doing that, the timing belt since most of the labour to do one is the same as to do the other. $$$$$ I guess it comes with driving an 11 yr-old Audi which I still love and which has low mileage.
Busy day today - aquafit group has brunch but I'll just go for coffee because Music Teachers' Association has annual luncheon. haven't decided whether I'll go to aquafit or work in the garden.
Ann
Nice to see we all seem to have taken a 'bit of time' today to putz in our gardens :-)
I was able to pot 7 more pots . mostly assorted pansies and Dusty Miller .. got a really nice LACEY kind as well as the standard one this year , and of course .. LAVATERA :-) which will be joined by a few pale yellow Petunias when they arrive.
Am NOT happy as I seem to have put my right knee out :-( .. course .. being a nurse is, at times, a real drag .. I am trying to ' heal myself, and not doing all that well .. DH brother is a doc so may have him have a boo to see if he feels I need a more invasive fix up .. don't often do that .. but .. busy days ahead with the company .. at least til Sunday when they wing back to Toronto.
Have a question. Do any of you have an Azalea? I went to plant mine today and prior to digging THE spot I looked in my gardening book only to see it likes ACID soil. I was just going to plant it in my east garden and call it good .. but am now re thinking that.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Off to re wrap my knee .. sitting here with an ice pack on it ..OH .. BTW .. am now dealing with the "W" word (wind) .. it blew away the fog but is sure playing havoc with stuff in the yard !!
Take care all .. specially when you crouch and bend at the knees !!!
~M~
Marilynne - sorry about the knee. What a bummer when you want to garden!
Have coffee and lunch down. Spent the afternoon puttering around various places. Couldn't find the Habitat for Humanity Re-store though I know I was within a block or two, but on a very busy 4-lane road. Will have to Google them for next time. Meanwhile, at Home Sense, I found a CHEAP shallow metal container which will be deep enough for my mini-hostas and look good in the garden too. Have to drill or punch some drainage holes in it. Why are so many containers WAY TOO DEEP?
I have my entire back yard garden to plant, but have some Lavatera to put there too.
Ann
Geez M, get that knee looked after.
Well, after my physio and accupuncture, not it's time to get out and con't with the move. I'm not sure what's going with the weather, there's no wind, and theres this strange yellow orb in the sky
Linda
OOOOHHH 'M' do go get that knee looked after..
When are enough flowers/plants/shrubs enough..lol..
went shopping on my way home, took a different route and wouldn't you know, there was another nursery..just had to go in, came home with 2 more flats of perrenials and 2 large castor bean plants already about 2 or 3 feet high..had them planted before sundown so with this rain falling, they are all bound to get a new start...
Know just as with your garden, things are starting to get colorful, not a whole lot but each day a new plant shows it's color..i.e. yellow orb...
I know that when I was young the native indian lady who lived a few houses away from us used to show me the 'moondog' in the sky..she'd always say 'a storm is brewing little one' and each and every time I see a moondog I'm reminded of her kindness to a child and also of an impending storm...never fails, it's a good weather sign...sometimes better than the weatherman...
Hope you all can spend time in your gardens today...I've many inside projects I can work on as it's just pouring, main storm missed us last night..
Linda, with all the different weather conditions going on it's frightening when you see something different in the sky...
Ann, I often stop in Barrie to the re-use it store, love browing..they have one also in Midland which is about 10 minutes away that just opened, not a lot there but still interesting..bought a chandelier that I converted into a candle lamp a few weeks ago, thought I got a good deal for $15.00 and then went to a garage sale and bought 2 at $1.00 each...
Well it's off to feed my tummy, get materials together to make some of those 'coolant bandana's' then on to some decorative painting..homework on muska chairs...
Enjoy the day wether you are in or out...
LOL Linda .. hmmmmmmm .. 'orb' ..'yellow' .. could it be THE SUN :-) Hope you were able to enjoy it !!
Ann .. I'm glad you saved some space for Lavatera .. such a beautiful flower. Good luck with the metal container ... great job for a Dremmell OR a nail and a hammer in a pinch !!
Started my day with Tylenol ES .. the knee is still not in a HAPPY place :-( but .. it's going to HAVE to hold me up today as I have far too much to do. Good thing I did cancel the party .. the guests would have been looking after ME !!
The electrician was a NO SHOW last evening .. .. I had dismantled my dining area light fixture to the point that all that had to be done was loosen off the screws .. unhitch the wires and put the new fixture in .. however .. it didn;t happen .. very disappointing .. the SECOND electrician in 2 weeks who has not shown up !!! DH won't attempt the job as it involves a dimmer switch, plus there's a recepticle in the garage that blew up last year and needs replacement. Have learned to be PATIENT, however, can't quite get a handle on how NOT to be disappointed. So .. have placed an ad on Kijiji for a RELIABLE non FIBBER FACE electrician who is UNDAUNTED by a trip into the country !!
Sun is shining at present, but TStorms are expected to begin just past noon.
Hope everyone enjoys their weekend :-)
~M~
Rained overnight. Overcast here today but not supposed to rain again until late today into tomorrow morning. So far the weather has been - mostly - cooperating with me quite well.
Bulbs to plant today that should have been planted 2 weeks ago. I also have to repot my early starts (tender perennials and tropicals for the most part), plant purchased stuff in the gardens, and get back at my landscaping project. So overcast is good. It will keep it cooler for the plants and for me.
Ditto here on the rain overnight and somewhat overcast conditions...need to go get some more container mix and get at those plants! Have a great day gardening all...
Joanne
A bit rainy here. Still have to work in the garden. Having been away for 3 weeks at peak planting time, I'm playing catch-up.
I've been editing travel pics and have posted a few of them on the Coffee thread on the Parking Lot forum both yesterday and today.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/862566/#top - yesterday
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/862956/ - today
gotta get into the garden.
Ann
What a day yesterday was. No rain in am - able to walk the dogs, then got to looking at one spot in a front perennial bed that I know needs something with height. Decided this last year but the shrub I moved there did not survive. So having decided to do something off I went to Canadian Tire and found just what I wanted, a Barberry that was already about 36 " and a Gold mound Spirea( not very big yet but love the color, have some in the back) So home to plant and of course first had to move some small annual s and perennials out of that spot and rehome them. Anyway that was done and I got the rest of the clematis in the ground and I do belive everything is planted.
In the afternoon I went off to 'Spice' for my whole body vibration session and also my introductory massge- first time in my live to have a massge. Wow! Could hardly walk when I got out - needed somebody to drive me home! LOL!
Anyway while waiting the big black storm clouds moved in and then Bam! Heavy rain and hail - the car windshields were covered and water flowing like a river down the street! Hail only lasted maybe a minute or so but since I was only about 10 blocks from home I was some worried! Fortunately no significant damage - seems like the sweet potato vine in some of my containers is the only victim .
Thats 2 hail storms so far in my area which is generally called Hail Alley - I have been lucky only once many years ago now was I hit and plants stripped but did not have much planted in those days. Keeping my fingers crossed .
JO get out there and get those babies in the ground!
AHhhhhhhhhhhhh .. Ann .. the pics are wonderful .. brings back that feeling of total AWE and wonderment that I got the first time I crossed a parking lot and stood staring out at the vista before me at the edge of the Grand Canyon. It was surreal fer sure .. almost as though if I reached out I would feel a screen and the vista would be painted on it ..
Have had several bouts of rain on and off this morning .. prevents me from doing just about anything outside .. but .. like Betty .. have quite enough INSIDE to keep me occupied ..
Enjoy your day
~M~
Hey Carol - guess no spreading the compost/manure thingie today, cuz it's too wet, eh?
Anyone on here from Vancouver? We're gonna be out there July 3 - 10. DD who lives there is expecting a baby - due today and we are also at a conference, but DH says there's nothing much planned for accompanying persons like me. So other than getting acquainted with my new grandchild, I might have time on my hands. I expect that too much togetherness with DD will lead to friction though.
Ann
No spreading compost today Susan - had to arrange to do something else.
Ann, you could always make a day trip over to the island as a foot pasenger. We'd meet you at the ferry, tour around with you and send ya back. Think about it.
Linda
ohhhhhhhhh i wish it would warm up,its raining again today,spent the day in my greenhouse planting up hanging baskets.i love playing in the mud a left over from childhood i think lol
Got the soil I needed and planted up a storm today! Just had a sprinkle of rain just now, but other than that, has been a decent day for gardening for sure. Can't imagine where all these darn plants keep coming from. I plant and plant and plant, but my inventory doesn't seem to be dropping. LOL.
Fancy - awesome plants at Cdn Tire this morning; they must have just got a shipment in. That's sure the time to catch the good stuff. ...
jo-north Ü
Dont tempt me Jo!
It has got to the point the staff at Richmond Rd store all know me!
Glad to see I;m not the only Canadian Tire Junky :-)
Just cleared away the hub bub of 10 for dinner .. was supposed to be 5 .. but .. my son and the 2 grands popped by and DH brother the doc who summarily said I should be RESTING with my leg elevated and ice on my knee .. yeah right !!
No gardening today .. the rain came in spits and spats .. and the mosquitoes in DROVES !! There is just the most awesome breeze coming through the window behind me .. reminds me of SUMMER ... can smell the Lilacs ..
Shower and bunkies is on my 'to do list'
Night all :-)
~M~
Don't buy Hostas from Canadian Tire. At least all the stores in the East are carrying Hostas infected with Hosta virus X.
I think a lot depends on the garden centre manager. There's a new one at my local store and the plants are not nearly as good as the last few years.
Ann
I bought Hosta "June" at Canadian Tire last year; didn't see any problem with it last year, but I'll be sure to look at it closely once the foliage matures this year...
Maybe you will be lucky. But there are reports of infected plants over on Hallson's. I've seen Gold Standard infected at my store twice this season and in a Quebec store someone indicated that the Sum & Substance were all infected. If one of a lot is infected, then ALL of that variety from that supplier should be presumed to be infected. And very likely other varieties are as well.
However, it is quite likely that the suppliers are different for western stores.
Ann
i think canadian tire has some great plants this year and new and different kinds as will,walmart sucks the one here only has pansys as dusty miller blaaaaaaaaaaaaaa