Blog entry
May 10, 2018
Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
How quickly the days, weeks and months rush along! Every day there are new amazements. I like to spend my time in the garden and pay close attention. The only trouble is that I don't get much done indoors.
Milkweed (Asclepius syriaca)
As I was emptying the old potting soil from a flowerpot, I discovered several pods of milkweed that had dropped into the soil and been covered up.These seed pods had overwintered here and are now sprouting.
Back to normal...(cold!)
After two days of sunshine and warmth, the cold winds and gray skies have returned. I'm trying to keep the sweet pea youngsters from getting too cold while still giving them light.
I know they don't mind cool temperatures, but surely they don't like freezing. I've been carrying them outdoors in the daytime and back in at night. This morning I made a little tent for the containers with clear plastic to let in the light and keep out the very cold wind.
Happily, the scilla doesn't mind at all. Patience, endurance, gratitude and cheerfulness live in the garden.
Warmth and inspiration!
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Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Suddenly it's warm! The garden is joyful and beautiful. The back-yard colors inspire natural dyeing.
These silks were dyed with walnut hulls, coreopsis flowers, weld and indigo
Crocus
Violet shades from madder, lac and indigo
King Alfred Daffodils
Greens, yellow and blues from weld, coreopsis flowers and indigo
The very brave Scilla
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Indigo
Warm morning sky
I'm very grateful for this rare, lovely and warm Spring day.
Still cold
It's still cold here without the occasional warm days. In spite of this, the brave daffodils, tulips, scilla are holding on. Some are even blooming.
Scilla
For the first time in ages, I'm growing sweet peas. Thought they are prefer cool temperatures, I don't think they'd like to be outdoors in 20 degrees and ice.
Spring green
Snowdrops
Daffodils
Silk, indigo and weld
January wonder
Just when it seemed too cold for anything but cozy indoor projects, an outdoor wonder appeared.
When the ground is frozen and the world is ice cold, I toss seeds and crumbs to the birds. Today this fine feathered beauty was waiting and watching the festival of sparrows and pigeons from the power lines
Those feathers!
I think this is a red-tailed hawk.
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What surprised me the most was that the birds on the ground didn't seem to mind him at all. Also that he simply watched them for nearly an hour.
Steady...
After all of the Thanksgiving visiting and joy, it's time to get back to normal.
The days have become soft and gentle again. I finished planting the daffodil bulbs!
I'm still working on emptying the silk fabric storage baskets. Since I'm so busy with dyeing all the time, they fill up fast.
Winter has fallen!
Most of the peach tree leaves have fallen straight down without changing color.
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Hiding in the leaves
The temperature fell to 17 overnight. The rhododendon is a good weather gauge - it really shrivels in the cold.
The first snow has fallen. As usual, I'm in the middle of an indigo dyeing project. The cold complicates this a little - mostly it's just less pleasant to work outdoors.
There are still dozens of daffodil bulbs to plant. Winter is beautiful, but I'm just not ready yet.
First snowflakes
The first snowflakes arrived this morning. The Japanese indigo is finished growing.
Dogwood bush
Redbud leaves and bits of snow
Frozen indigo dyed linen on the clothesline
Cold feet!
November
It was quite cold this morning, with beautiful yellow sunlight.
Sparrows warming themselves on the windowsill and mock-orange branches.
Maple tree in the neighbors' backyard
Late rosebuds
Almost ripe
Elsewhere