Goat Boardwalk

We finally had some sunshine last weekend to work on projects outside.  And the first project on our list was building a goat boardwalk.  Our poor animals have been living in a very rain saturated, muddy yard this past month and we decided they needed some elevation out of the mud.  Our project was easy, cheap and quick to assemble.  And the goats and rabbit were very pleased with the result.

Heavy March rains make for a muddy goat yard.

Silver and Blackberry looking at their muddy yard, careful not to step off the plywood.

Four pallets from Bay Hay and Feed.  Cost:  $8

Brian cutting leftover plywood into thin strips

Fitting and nailing the strips between the gaps in the pallet

The goats begin playing on their new structure immediately.  They are truly "kids".

the second section of the boardwalk installed

Sweet Pea on her new boardwalk to the barn

The rabbit gets a front deck and dry entry into his hutch.  Of course the goats think this is for them too....

Heavenly Hellebore

Helleborus orientalis 'Lenten Rose'

In late January, when the garden is cold and somewhat dreary, hellebores push up through the soil.  These beautiful five-petaled flowers hang from the tops of tall, green stalks.  They begin blooming in late January and continue through March--right when we need some flowers and color in the garden the most!

The blooms tend to hang down much like a fuchsia blossom, but their flower faces are so pretty, you will want to take a closer look.  The best way to enjoy them indoors is to snip off a few flowers and float them in a bowl of water.

Hellebores massed on top of a rock wall--just getting started in early February

Hellebores massed along a walkway in early March

Hellebores naturalize when they are happy, and they are very happy in the Northwest garden.  They like partial shade and tolerate our wet winters and dry summers with relative ease.  The orientalis variety is the most common and is very easy to grow.  And so far they have managed to avoid being a part of the deer diet; but this of course, could change at any time!  The only pest problem I've experienced is a tendency to attract aphids in the summer. 

The orientalis variety comes in shades of white, pink and purple.

I like to mix hellebores with ferns, camellias, rhododendrons, sarcococca, astilbe and primroses.  They are a beautiful addition to the woodland garden and the star of the late winter garden show.

3.14.11 Happy Pi Day!!!

Sophie, our 7th grader, loves math.  And she loves pie.  So of course we celebrate National pi day (pi, the number) by baking a pie on March 14th.

I'd never even heard of this holiday before Sophie brought it to my attention.  And it's quite possible she's making the whole thing up just so she can have pie.  But how can I resist her enthusiasm?

We still have some of our berries from last summer in the freezer, and this is a delicious way to use them.

Sophie inscribed the first 26 numbers (from memory!) of pi onto the pie.

 
Life really does come down to simple pleasures.

Daydreaming...

lush gardens of Kauai

Our visit to the warm island of Kauai was well-timed.  I think I soaked in enough sunshine and warmth to get me through this last, hard stretch of winter.  And seeing all of the flowers and colors in Hawaii reminded me that we will have flowers and bright colors here too....eventually.  And I miss our bright colors.  The northwest is famous for the color green.  We have every shade of green here, but as we get closer to summer, our current shade of grayish green grows into a lush emerald green--close to the green of a tropical island.

So I have been daydreaming about flowers and foliage this past week.  And since working has been difficult with frozen soils, I've spent some time at my favorite nursery, checking out the new plants.  Shipments of new plants are arriving, but they are whisked away to the greenhouse for safekeeping.  Honestly, I can think of nothing better than wandering around a greenhouse filled with Spring's potential.  I highly recommend this activity for keeping Seasonal Affective Disorder at bay.

I did get some rain-free, slush-free time in the garden today, and I enjoyed seeing the primroses getting ready to bloom and the nodding heads of the beautiful hellebores.  We do have some pretty flowers now, but winter is holding on tight this year and the garden is slow to awaken.  So in my head I was anticipating the garden as it will look in May and June--filled with blooms and birds, sunshine and insects.

Return to Home, Writing and Cold!

Such a warm picture!  So different from the view out my window right now...

I should probably explain were I have been!  We went to Kauai, Hawaii for a week of vacation--just got back last Wednesday--and it was amazing.  I have never been to a tropical climate before and it's hard to imagine that such a beautiful, warm island actually exists.  Especially as we are now back on our very cold, somewhat snowy island in the Puget Sound.

Both islands are very lush and green but that is about where the similarities end.  I am so grateful for the warmth we felt last week.  It was such a nice respite.  Winter is definitely still here on Bainbridge and it looks like it is going to stay for a while.  My hope of an early Spring is fading with each weather report.

I will have more to share on the subject of tropical plants in my next post.  Stay tuned!

Snow in Seattle

I do love snow and snowstorms, but I am truly thankful for our mild, somewhat gray climate right now.  Seeing the satellite images of the massive storm which blew through 30 states last week, was somewhat shocking!

We have no snow to speak of in Seattle at the moment.  Just some rain.  Lots of clouds.  Occasional glimpses of the sun and temperatures in our usual 40's.  But we do have snowdrops!

Snowdrop bulbs take just a few minutes to pop into the ground in October and are well worth the effort. When they are massed, which happens naturally after many years, they do look like a snowdrift.  But even in little clusters, they are a cheery addition to the winter garden.

Winter Light

Hamamelis intermedia 'Luna'

With gray being the dominant color this time of the year, I look for light anywhere I can find it.  My brain is completely depleted of the feel-good chemicals that come from a sunny day.  I know the days are getting longer, but I am in the throes of Seasonal Affective Disorder (I love that this "disorder" is termed SAD!)  So, to combat my "illness", I head out to the garden.  I'm positive that if I spend enough time outside, I'll pick up at least a few rays of ambient light.

Hamamelis intermedia 'Diane'

Witch Hazels are my favorite garden plant this time of the year.  Their bright, spidery blooms light up the winter garden.  A little bit of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Hamamelis intermedia 'Jelena'

Witch Hazels were once primarily yellow, but new cultivars in shades of red, orange and copper have been introduced over the past few years.  All gorgeous.  AND, all softly fragrant.  And most varieties offer nice Fall foliage as well.

Hamamelis intermedia 'Firecracker'

I've never been able to put my finger on it, but these plants add some sort of intangible quality to the garden.  The winter blooms, the fragrance, the fall color...all of these traits make for an exceptional addition to the garden.  But they offer more.

Maybe it's the fact that witch hazels have been used medicinally for hundreds of years.  And that it was the women--the midwives, healers and "witches"--who knew the secrets of herbal medicine.  Maybe I feel some connection to this ancient garden lore?  Whatever it is, witch hazels bring that elusive quality that helps to make a garden.