Wisteria arising...

I took a few moments to stroll through the garden this morning, after spending so much time cooped up in the house this week. I am glad the birds have finally returned to the feeders. It is such a nice diversion to watch them flitting about...and the insects eaters have arrived to help keep the aphids in check as the roses start to throw off their new, tender growth.

I noticed today that the wisteria is showing the first few leaves of the season. This is a full 3 weeks later than 2005 and 2 weeks later than 2004, according to the notes I keep in my calendar. Everything has been delayed a bit this year, probably due to the lack of rain. We did get about an inch this week, though, and that seems to have jump started a few things in the garden

Photo: First wsiteria leaves of 2006.

Tags: : garden gardening plants plant wisteria vine flowers calendar notebook

Blogs are up, but I am down...

While the technology keeps running, I am down with a bad cold that is making me write nothing but gibberish and drink copious amounts of orange juice. (WEAK SMILE)

More posts and podcasts by the end of the week. Really! I promise.

(Shouting over shoulder)

"Honey, where's my warm sweater and slippers?"

Later

Valentine's Day 2007

Valentine's Day 2007
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

Valentine's Day is an interesting day for me. These are two gifts from my son, Joseph, that he made in his weekly after school art class. As you can see from the writing on one of them, Valentine's Day is also my birthday. Today marks my 43rd year on this planet. Since my birthday falls on a holiday, I am expected to give gifts, as well as receive them and it makes it very difficult to go out for dinner or hold any sort of party, as all the other couples are busy with their own celebrations.

That said, tonight some friends are coming over to produce a LIVE reading of Love Letters from History (more info below), so, while it won't be a huge party (I'm not that fond of birthday parties anyway) it will be a nice evening among friends doing something we all enjoy. Join us, online tonight, starting at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST. Again, full information in how to listen or join in is in a post below.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What I'm Reading...

Readymade is from the folks over at Readymade magazine, a great monthly available via subscription or on the newstand.



Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, grow, build, make, DIY, howto, how-to, creativity, outdoors, hints, tips, books, learning, education, read, reading, business

Elsewhere Online: Essential monthly gardening tasks

When you are a hobby gardener, like myself, fitting in gardening among everything else in your life, a monthly schedule like this can really come in handy. Everyone needs a few good reminders in their life. (SMILE)

Essential monthly gardening tasks

The Garden Helper has a practical monthly schedule of gardening tasks, green thumb or otherwise.

(Continues on original site)

(Via Lifehacker.)

Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, outdoors

Elsewhere Online: Koreatown Sidewalk Garden

A little garden patch in the midst of urban LA. Check it out!

Thanks to Annika for pointing it out.

Koreatown Sidewalk Garden

Annika Barranti:

Today while I was out walking with the baby I came upon this unexpected garden at Kingsley and 5th. Three more photos behind the cut.

Continued reading Koreatown Sidewalk Garden...

(Continues on original site)

(Via Blogging.LA.)

Technorati Tags: garden, gardening, hobby, california, grow, make, DIY, outdoors, losangeles

Rose pruning is done, thank goodness!

Rose pruning is done, thank goodness!
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

It's the same every year. No matter how careful I am, I always get cut up by the roses. The dead canes are usually the culprit. As they dry out, the thorns seem to become almost razor sharp. Ouch!

Thank goodness that is over for another year.

First Daffodils 2007 - PaD 2/3/07

First Daffodils 2007 - PaD 2/3/07
Originally uploaded by dewelch.

I happened to notice this bi-colored daffodils peaking out of the leaves in the front bed. I think these are the first daffodils to flower for 2007. I have a bunch of King Alfred Daffs coming up, but none have flowered yet. I might just be me, but they look stunted this year. This wouldn't necessarily surprise me, as we have had a very dry Winter this year, perhaps the driest on record, if we keep to the current weather patterns. Temperature are supposed to be in the 80's early next week, Yikes! I'm not ready for Summer yet. (POUT)