Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day- April 2013

And now for something new and different–I  thought that I’d participate in “Garden Bloggers Bloom Day” this month. This is a group of garden bloggers from all over the world who share a post about what’s blooming in their gardens on the fifteenth of the month.  You can see all of the participants and link to their blogs here at maydreamgardens.com. It’s really fun to check out all of the beautiful gardens and see the huge variation by climate!

My one reservation about doing this is that it’s still early here in Salem, Massachusetts. I didn’t plant daffodils last year and everything is a few weeks behind due to the cold weather we’ve had. In spite of that I’ll show you quite a bit of green, and a little color. Don’t worry, in May and June we’ll be overflowing with blooms!

Since it hasn’t snowed or sleeted for the past three days the primrose popped out!IMG_0723This morning there was dew on the lady’s mantle.IMG_0695 And I had my first glimpse of the bride and groom plant that my mother gave me years ago.IMG_0699The chives are ready to enjoy.
IMG_0702 And the tomato cages are waiting. Our neighbors gave us the lupine plants last year. I’m hoping that these will be blooming as beautifully as theirs do soon.IMG_0705 This is largely a children’s chicken garden, as evidenced by the “sculpture” that Michael brought home recently and the three gnomes waiting for their summer assignment out in the garden.IMG_0706The chickens may not be blooming but they add lots of color and personality.IMG_0708

Lamb’s ear is poking out…IMG_0715 Siberian irisIMG_0716 And finally a little bit of bloom from the scillaIMG_0717and from the pansies that I planted a few days ago.
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Happy Spring from the Salem Garden! Thanks for visiting!

Enjoy everything!

Michele

The Edible Bus Stop

When I posted the link to Pam Warhurst’s talk yesterday the Mass in Motion Coordinator for the city of Salem left me a message about his familiarity with (and I dare say enthusiasm for) the concept of her work. He also mentioned a program called the Edible Bus Stop so of course I immediately had to google it.  Check out the great video that I found on their web site. You’ll love it!!

Good things are happening here!

Thanks John!!

Pam Warhurst: How we can eat our landscapes

Pam Warhurst: How we can eat our landscapes

Check out this link! This is an absolutely amazing talk given by Pam Warhurst, the founder of Incredible Edible, a group in England who have taken guerilla garden up many levels! I believe that this could change the world!

Guerilla Gardening

I love this! What a fun, new gardening trend. Watch out Salem, I’m looking around for my guerilla garden!! And if you see anything flying out of my car window it will be a seed bomb 🙂

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I love this! What a fun, new gardening trend. Watch out Salem, I’m looking around for my guerilla garden!! And if you see anything flying out of my car window it will be a seed bomb 🙂

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Things That Work For Me-The Flylady

I haven’t done a “Things That Work For Me” Post in a while, but I woke up (at 4am, but that’s another post) thinking about the Flylady and my need to start following her again. Have you heard of her? The “Flylady” at Flylady.net is a woman named Marla Cilley and she’s quite amazing. She and her website have helped me through many a rough day, week, month and year. Basically if your subscribe to her free service she sends you e-mails, lots of e-mails. As you read them and follow the plan that she’s laid out, your home and your personal life will get into order a little bit at a time. It starts with the most simple basics like shining your sink and putting on your shoes.   As you adapt the routine that she gives you to your needs and lifestyle you’ll find that your space will slowly start to become de-cluttered and cleaner. Then you’ll be able to find things when you need them, and before you know it your laundry will be caught up and  your family will be eating healthy, nutritious food. You might even end up following a calendar. The very end result is that you’ll have much more time to do the things you love (like get out to the garden!) and you and the people who live with you will be transformed into healthier and happier creatures. Fly stands for “finally loving yourself.” You may think that you love yourself but how you take care of yourself and your environment says a lot about where you truly are. Truth be told I’ve been kind of “off the wagon” lately. The challenge of working, raising a large family and being involved in the community activities that I enjoy has taken a toll on me. The good thing is, the Flylady is always there. I can start reading the e-mails, feeling the love and encouragement and getting back on track whenever I’m ready. She is really the secret to our success as a family. Starting today I’m going back to reading and implementing the basics so that we can all breathe a little bit easier.  If you feel the need to get organized, live in a happy, clean home and love yourself and your space, go check out the website, then let me know how it goes. I’ll be your biggest cheerleader, next to the Flylady herself!

Project 365: August 5 2007 - tangible FLYLady
Project 365: August 5 2007 – tangible FLYLady (Photo credit: Quack the Wooley Duck)

Militia, Daffodils, Ants and Sunsets

Here’s a little bit of my weekend, the part spent with camera in hand.

Our first stop was at the muster down on the common. We got there at the very end but still saw soldiers marching in formation. As the daughter of a career army master sergeant I get a thrill whenever I see this, which isn’t too often these days.
IMG_0562There were horses…IMG_0565The colonial militia men..IMG_0571And tanks that fired. What is it about boys and tanks? He loves this stuff, it’s just in him. Maybe it’s a piece of his grandfather.IMG_0579Of course we had to visit the playground for a minute. It was very cold and windy. My older kids played here every day when we lived a few doors down.IMG_0587We checked into the Derby garden and found that I was correct last week, this is indeed a daffodil! I thought so!IMG_0600Here’s the next mystery plant… I think this might be a tulip, believe it or not. I’ll check back soon.IMG_0608I spent a good twenty minutes on Saturday night photographing this ant. Perhaps I need to get a life, lol.IMG_0632They are fascinating creatures if you stop and look at them. I started this project in my quest to figure out where their coming into my kitchen from. I continuously look down to see an ant looking up at me. They are really driving us all a little bit crazy.IMG_0634Of course, by the end of the twenty minutes the ant was named Wilbur and had a framed portrait in sepia finish. I think I need help here 🙂IMG_0626Out on the deck last night my little guy took this photo of one of thousands of planes heading into Logan over our house. Their so close that we can see the landing gear come down.IMG_0646But to our left we were really enjoying this.IMG_0647I’m hoping that this helps anyone who’s still recovering from the ant photos.
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Today it’s going to be in the sixties with less wind. I’m hoping/planning to get out and plant these!

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Seed packets are buy one, get one free at Home Depot! It’s a great time to stock up on anything that you need.

Happy Monday!

Enjoy everything!

Michele

catching up with witches

Check out this beautiful daylily named the Salem Witch. I’m not sure if the gardener/blogger (who specializes in day lilies) bred it or not, but I just inquired about it’s availability. I think that my garden would love this plant!

John Hric's avatara north east ohio garden

you can’t catch up with witches, at least not if they are using broom power… however we know better than to try to compete on that level.  we are merely resuming the topic of pretty witch named daylilies.  this morning’s witch is Salem Witch, a lovely purple round flower.

salem witch det

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Monday Morning In Marblehead

Here’s a little gallery of photos that I took yesterday while on a quick trip to Marblehead with my Mom and Mother-in-law. Marblehead is only a few miles away but it feels like a different world.  I love these little right around the corner vacations! Click on any photo to enlarge and view as a slideshow. Enjoy!

Happy Easter! It’s Time To Plant The Pansies

Usually I’ve planted some pansies by Easter, but this year between the late snows and our crazy schedule I almost didn’t make it.

This morning I managed to pick them up at the garden center, just in time.

Be not afraid!

Their very hardy and they’ll be just fine!

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Every March when I put them out people roll their eyes and tell me that they won’t make it, but they do…

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Give this pot a week or two and it will fill in with a mass of happy little pansy faces.

You can even eat the flowers if you’d like to!

Have I mentioned that spring is here?

Happy Easter!

Love,

Michele

A Spring Morning In The Derby Garden

I had a chance to pop into the Derby garden this morning. This garden is really precious to me. Michael and I helped with it’s installation about 23 years ago. At that time I had an appreciation for gardens but no experience or knowledge.  This is where gardening really started for me. The young couple who created it worked very hard to design it to represent a garden typical of this setting and the early 1700s time period. I should back up a bit and explain that it sits behind the home of the first American millionaire, Elias Haskett Derby, hence it’s name the Derby Garden. 

At first glance over the fence it may look a bit barren and gray, but if you slow down and look closely you’ll see that the beds are about to spring to life.IMG_0415

I believe that these are the first few leaves of hollyhock.IMG_0409There are plenty of snowdrops.IMG_0384They really are one of the first signs of spring. These will be there for a few more days before it’s time to say goodbye till next year.IMG_0385I’m pretty sure that these are small daffodils. I’ll have to try to check back in a few days to confirm.IMG_0387Something from the allium family? Time will tell us exactly what.IMG_0388CrocusIMG_0390A beautiful carpet of green, maybe grape hyacinths? IMG_0407

This apple tree bears small, tough fruit but I’ve made a pie or two from here.IMG_0406

Here’s the view looking out toward the water. We lived in the blue building to the left when we were first married. It was a perfect honeymoon loft for us. We have lots of good memories from our days on Derby Street.

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I loved thinking about how we were looking at the same view that the Derbys did when they lived there.

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It has changed a bit but their spirit is here.  I can feel it. Especially when I spend time in the garden and imagine what they might have grown and raised in the yard.

Enjoy Everything today!

Michele