Cherry Time

69 and raining this morning. Heavy rain yesterday evening, and now showers. Thank goodness, I thought we'd have to be out there with the watering cans again.

Yesterday was cherry -picking time. At least a start at it anyway. Our efforts to keep the tree from freezing in April paid off--remember, we sprayed the tree with water early in the morning for a couple days to wash off the frost? We have more cherries than any past year. This time of year always reminds me of my childhood, and the cherry-picking days I wrote about in this post a few years ago.

We've picked about a third of them, I think. then quickly ran them through the cherry stoner and put them in the freezer. They'll be for pies and jam on another day. Next picking I will make a cobbler, the thing I look forward to all year. For pictures of the cherry pitter, etc. check out this post from 2015.

Yesterday was also snickerdoodles time. Why? No reason except that I got a sudden craving for them. So while I waited for paint to dry on a mantle I was working on, I made cookies. This was before cherry-picking or I'm pretty sure I'd have made cobbler instead! And guess what, there's an old post on this blog about these cookies too, and how to make them. Yeah, I guess I've been blogging a long time because it seems I've written about a lot of things. In this post my granddaughters are so young--now one is in the National Guard full time and the other is expecting her second child. How the years fly by.

Larry got out the paint sprayer and painted the yard bench that's been waiting to be done--a bright aqua color. I'd have preferred a darkish green but the mall owner suggested aqua as it certainly sells on outdoor furniture, so aqua it is. He's been busy with the gardens too, tying up all his tomatoes and putting in even more peppers. That and mowing kept him occupied all day. 

Today is booth work. We have so much to take in, we'll have to take both vehicles and take another load tomorrow too. I'll post photos of what we take in tomorrow, if I have time. I'll be working at the mall after my doctor's appointment in the morning. 

I may miss the writing conference this year. It's this weekend and I always look forward to it, but this year my heart doesn't seem to be in it. Maybe I'll go for one day, just to see everyone. It's been a long two years since the last conference. I really haven't been writing much; inspiration seemed to leave with the pandemic but perhaps now as things return to normal I'll get back to it.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

More Spring Flowers

49 and cloudy, after a day and night of wonderful rain at last.

I am so grateful for the rain of the past 24 hours. I know it probably ruined some plans but we needed it badly. I'll have to get out and weed as soon as I can, because this is sure to make them jump out of the ground.

I snapped a few more flower photos as we were on our way out to the yard sales yesterday. The sales weren't so good with the rain, but the flowers were just fine.

First, my new garden sign. Sage advice, my friends.

I was at the wrong angle for this photo of the rambling rose by the driveway. This, as I recall, was supposed to be a tea rose, but here we are, bright red and rambling.

I call these Japanese iris, but I wonder if that's the right name for them? I can't remember where I got them but they were given to me years ago and have spread well.

The red spirea looks like it will be beautiful this year. I gave it quite a haircut last year and I think that helped it immensely.

This little pink rose bush is about 40 years old. It doesn't bloom like it used to but it hangs in there.

I am not sure how these peonies ended up here, but I am pretty sure I didn't plant them there. And of course, they're the best ones I have.

Lemon balm makes itself at home anywhere. I have to watch that it doesn't take over my gardens because it would be happy to do so.

I've waited three years for a bloom on this peony. It's just gorgeous--and of course I have it planted in the wrong place because it is reaching for the sun. So I guess I need to move it but I hate to take the chance of losing it.

The last of the tomato and pepper plants waiting to be put out in the garden. A pity we didn't get them in before the rain, but it was so very hot and dry I was afraid they'd die even if we watered them.

Some new little shrub roses, called drift roses. The photo doesn't do them justice. They are all sorts of shades of pink, peach and yellow, just beautiful. I planted these last August, I think.

A view of the Japanese iris and the peonies behind them. 

A close-up of a red rambler that used to be the prettiest pink tea rose. The grafted dose died back, and ta-da, we suddenly have a red rose.

Another poor photo of a pink rose, planted  years ago. I need to find a way to get better photos of pink flowers. 

There are still more things in bloom. I'll be grabbing more photos soon.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Around the Gardens, a Little Bit

69 this morning and getting hotter. It's been a hot week, with temps in the 60's at night and high 80's during the day. And humid.

Seems that we jumped from spring right into mid-summer. I think the old pagans had it right--spring really begins February 1, Summer on May 1, Fall on August 1 and Winter on November 1. These dates make a lot more sense that our current seasons that are basically based on the Solstices and Equinoxes. 

We have been watering almost daily for over a week, trying to keep the new plants and gardens going until it rains again. We seem to get too much rain, or not enough anymore. So far everything looks okay, but cherries are starting to ripen when they are still way too small. Rain is forecast as storms in the next few days. Now, if it just doesn't come as a gullywasher. We're so picky, aren't we? We want enough but not too much.

Booth and furniture work has kept us hopping when we're not trying to keep up with yard work. This is indeed the busiest time of year, and the continued spike in sales at our booths have meant we are scurrying to get new things ready--that, and of course finishing up work on our new space. I also worked a day at the mall since the owner needed someone to fill in. It was an interesting day, seeing what people were buying, where they were from--California, Michigan, Ohio, and the Carolinas in addition to local folks--and running into three old friends during the day. 

The flowers are struggling with this heat, but are still making a pretty show. Here's a few of them around the driveway.

The red rambling rose mixes it up with the fading dame's rocket.

Spiderwort with the pink primroses. In the background you can just see a coreopsis blooming.

Rampant chamomile and dill have taken over this garden. That's fine with me.

The last of the irises to open, and the first year for this one.

Wild yarrow has taken up residence here.

I've never had this petunia before, but isn't it a beauty?

Color, color, color...

The back view of the dame's rocket, with my new rhubarb in the foreground and that huge overturned stump in the background. I'm sure that stump will still be here when I'm gone.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

A Week in the Life

56 this morning, with a light drizzle occasionally and overcast. Supposed to clear up later on.

The week never slowed down, and right now I am glad it is Sunday and we can take a slower pace for a day or two. 

Tuesday, as I last posted, the roofers came. Wednesday I was back at the antique mall, helping to clear out my new booth and beginning the process of moving in. I mixed in some training while I was there too, trying to absorb as much as I can before I work a full day on my own. This was how the booth looked after that day. As you can see, we'd just barely got started, really. 

We spent Thursday at home, working in the gardens, finishing up some pieces to take to the booth, and catching up on housework and laundry. It was a perfect evening for the firepit, and that's how we ended the day. You see the broken flowerpot by the firepit? That's what happens when the dogs get too rambunctious, wanting to be the one to be closest to us.

Friday was back at the mall. I got there in time to learn the opening procedures and Larry arrived a little while later. Then it was back to work on the booth, with a few breaks to work behind the desk, once while the owner went out to lunch which left me on my own for an hour. I only had to call her once! Credit card sales still intimidate me. This is how things looked when we left. Making progress.

This is the table I finished on Thursday. Sofa tables have been a hot item lately.

The green recliner is already sold, I think, to a neighbor. It was a great find.

The shelves are still a little sparse, but coming along.

And this is the project Larry finished. He had to do some repair to the frame, but it's now sturdy and almost good as new.

Our display window. I'll have fun setting this up each month.

We spent Friday evening at the firepit again, a perfect end to the day.

Yesterday we were in Ohio, near Columbus, picking up some furniture and cruising yard sales. The van was full by the time we stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at Shade Winery, which is not far from the Ohio River. We both had their house salad with grilled chicken. The salad was enormous and delicious, and so was their Chardonnay. I bought a bottle to bring home. 

We stopped again on the way home to visit with Leah, the antique mall owner. She was in town with her camper at a music event where her husband's band was playing. It was nice to sit there, not far from the river, and chat. Across a small field from us was an older home, and we had to laugh at seeing a Black Lab come out an open window onto the roof of a lower addition to the house. He was such a good boy that when the owners, who were outside, called to him to go back inside, he would---only to pop out again a few minutes later. That black thing on the addition roof is the dog, not the best photo I'm afraid.

And then, of all things, behind the same house, a huge hog suddenly appeared in the doorway of a small garage. When we realized that there was nothing to stop the hog from walking right out into the street, Larry ran across and called to the owners, who were quick to hurry the hog back inside. Apparently they are planning to breed her, and have a place out in the country where they have other hogs. Why this one is a town girl remains a mystery.

We left before it got too late, and came home. We'd only been home a few minutes when we heard a car coming down our driveway. It turned out to be some neighbors we hadn't seen in weeks, so we had a great visit as the evening waned to darkness. Then it was inside to read a while and just unwind before bed.

Today we're having a slow start. Sometimes I have to remember that we're both almost 70! It seems like we should be slowing down some but it's not happening yet. But right now it's 11 am as I write and we've just finished breakfast and having coffee. I am determined to do as little as possible until noon. Then I'll be out to the garden. It's time to get some seeds and plants in the ground.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

In the Gardens, Part 2

45 again this morning, with rain. Eventually cleared up but never really warmed up.

Back to the gardens today:

This beautiful iris is from a friend's garden. It's had a struggle to live, as the cat and the dogs have chosen its location as a good sunning spot. I finally guarded it with wire last year, and this year it's coming into its own.

The peonies are almost ready to open. There will be few blooms this year due to the late freezes, but I am so happy that the pink one I planted 2 years ago has a bud this year.

My one azalea, surviving because it's in a protected, sheltered place. 

Pansies planted a month or more ago are looking lovely now.

Oregano is ready to harvest, as soon as we get a dry day.

A friend gave me a start of a hydrangea that blooms on new wood. It has taken very well to its new home.

The same friend gave me these Lenten Roses, which are thriving just below the red spirea.

The blue flag irises, and red spirea, which should start blooming next week.

This garden is a shameful muddle right now. I am in a quandary what to do here. There are many asparagus seedlings beneath the henbane weedpatch. I think I may just leave this alone a while to let the henbane die and the asparagus seedlings get more established. There is also a big patch of dill in here that has seeded itself, and a few calendula and chamomile, also self-seeded. I will start working on this area next week, and see if I can sort it out a bit.

My most prolific iris. I've had it for years, but don't know the name of the variety.

Weeds, a plentiful crop. I've pulled loads of the gill-over-the-ground so far, and curse the pioneers who brought it over from Europe to brew their beer. Ah well, what did they know of the pest it would become?

Dame's Rocket--I dug up a few plants, and very carefully scattered their seed, so now we have a large, fragrant patch of this sping-bloomer. Mixed in with it is more asparagus.

Waiting to be potted up, geraniums and purslane. I ran out of potting soil, so this will be tomorrow's job.

My sister Theresa gave me a start of this purple iris, which has spread happily in my garden.

Lamb's Ears also spread themselves around, and I'm happy to let it. 

Here you can see the trellised grapevine. We kept it sprayed with water, along with the fruit trees, so we're hoping to have grapes from it this year. Larry gave it a good pruning earlier in the spring.

In the forground here are lilies of the valley, which have also spread easily in my gardens. I pull it up at will, but always have plenty more every year. I do love its sweet scent.

As I was photographing my gardens I happened to notice a patch of lavender-colored flowers in the woods. Shamrocks--how they got there is anyone's guess, but they're doing very well all on their own.

 

Not far away in the woods was a patch of little bluets. We have these everywhere here in the spring. They are one of my favorite spring flowers.

Looking from the woods toward the house.

And from the woods looking up the driveway. Lots of shades of green, but the promise of more flowers to come.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.