tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-208319492009-07-12T16:24:55.502-03:00A ruthlessly eclectic cottage garden of thoughts, tips and occasional tantrums on gardening.jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.comBlogger411125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-61345906149752888122009-07-08T14:43:00.004-03:002009-07-08T15:51:50.987-03:00

Regular readers know that I’m just as crazy about interesting foliage as I am about flowers when it comes to my garden. So it will likely come as no surprise to find that I’m enamoured of ninebarks, partly for their whimsical name, partly for their reputation as awesomely handsome and tough, four-season shrubs. The ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is native to parts of Canada and the United

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-77302510012668912722009-07-05T14:08:00.006-03:002009-07-05T14:34:13.826-03:00

Today is Sunday, 5 July. Belated but heartfelt Happy Canada Day to my compatriots; hope everyone had an awesome Canada Day with lots of "true patriot love..." and lots of red and white!and belated but equally heartfelt Happy Fourth of July to my American neighbours. (My Red, White and Blue tribute follows...)Assorted bouquets, hugs and apologies to regular readers and to my fellow bloggers who I

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-82677024527571688802009-06-26T01:51:00.000-03:002009-06-26T07:35:09.746-03:00

As so often happens, life got in the way in recent weeks and I neglected to put up the most recent letter from Sylvia in our Letters Across the Pond series. My apologies to all those who are following our conversation and of course to Sylvia, to whom I think I now owe 2 letters. But she's in good company with other friends I owe correspondence to. Something like the shoemaker's children going

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-27048103747057157552009-06-20T12:22:00.005-03:002009-06-20T13:30:07.643-03:00

"People can only be found in what they do."  Timothy Findley, October 30, 1930-June 21, 2002.As we roam toward solstice/midsummer, I'm flashed with a bit of elegaic, bittersweet memory. Last week, June 11, was the 4th anniversary of my father's death from Alzheimer's, one of the most hideous of diseases. Tomorrow, June 21, is the 7th anniversary of my favourite author's death: Canadian novelist

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-34472600162222881832009-06-10T20:53:00.006-03:002009-06-10T21:09:44.957-03:00

Orange is such a bright, cheerful colour, isn't it? Don't you just love to see it everywhere? (Geum 'Cooky')It's a funny thing about orange. I don't wear it or have it in the house anywhere (except on flowers that are blooming) but in the garden, it makes me instantly happy. (Callibrachoa 'Terracotta')There are so many awesome shades of orange, aren't there? (Fireball Azalea)I especially love

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-75527928328354963062009-06-09T12:08:00.005-03:002009-06-09T12:36:43.041-03:00

I've had a few emails wondering where I've been the past week or so. The short answer is work and health clashed and I've been knocked flat by some sort of gastro-intestinal bug. Maybe it's goutweed, finally taking root inside my innards, but I've been very unpleasantly sick.So in lieu of a post about my garden, here's an interview I'd planned to get up on bloomingwriter quite a while back but am

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-57576815531846450362009-05-30T15:19:00.004-03:002009-05-30T15:54:27.900-03:00

While a significant number of garden bloggers are enjoying themselves in Chicago at the Garden Bloggers Spring Fling, some of us had to stay behind and tend to real life. Like finishing assignments and trying to make head and tail of our gardens. Nature has a sense of humour, however, so she decided to roll the fog in, and it's just too wet for my temperamental bones to be out scrubbing around in

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-62585462837153810522009-05-27T11:43:00.004-03:002009-05-27T12:06:24.493-03:00

So after work yesterday I went on a run to Lavender Hill Nursery in Jordan Falls, not far from Shelburne. They don't have a website but they are on Lake John Road in Jordan Falls and they are well worth a trip. I went with a friend who was after annuals for her container plantings, but what did my wondering eyes spy but three coveted coneflowers! Above, feast your eyes on the brilliance that is

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-4584351070090985352009-05-23T22:33:00.010-03:002009-05-23T23:26:37.590-03:00

Dear Sylvia:We had an unusually warm spell of weather for a few days this week, and the gardens went from trotting along to a full exuberant gallop. Everything, from the bulbs to the weeds, shot up in growth and maturity. Not everything is awake yet; a few later things like various asclepias are still slumbering, and a couple of later-blooming gentians that are in shade are just starting to yawn

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-24283274463609434582009-05-17T21:30:00.002-03:002009-05-18T11:50:48.002-03:00

It's no secret that I am completely and utterly besotted with coneflowers of all colours, and that I've been collecting and growing them for the past few years. Pollinators love them, which is a main reason for my collecting so many, but also, they're just glorious plants. Now that spring is well underway, the coneflowers are up, (but aren't yet blooming; these are photos from previous years or,

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-53211103060046043732009-05-16T22:17:00.008-03:002009-05-16T23:21:43.027-03:00

No, this isn't a diatribe against non-native plants. I was just out prowling around the garden last night and was struck by the marvels of plants in our gardens, especially when they're waking up, but also just...because they do what they do. Take the forget-me-nots above. They're mostly all blue...except when they're pink. Or white. A year or so back a friend gave me an Ohio Buckeye sapling, and

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-91357166527449101472009-05-13T08:16:00.006-03:002009-05-13T08:39:41.139-03:00

Isn't it amazing how our stress levels drop when we're in the garden? It's really hard to be upset while grounding ourselves in plants and soil and fresh air. At least, that's my experience. Even when there's goutweed to do battle with, or other annoyances, it's still a soothing, safe place to be.That's especially true on those perfect spring days when the sun is warm, the fog and wind have gone

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-43781502134856883302009-05-11T13:16:00.005-03:002009-05-11T13:28:37.750-03:00

Note from jodi: Things are more than a little hectic with me right now, from talks to deadlines to a garden exploding in glee. Happily, Sylvia has come to my rescue and written a new letter, which I'm sharing with you. Please take the time to comment as we're enjoying doing this and hope our readers are enjoying it as well. It's fun to have a dialogue between a gardener in England and one in Nova

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-40943871443463196482009-05-05T21:48:00.001-03:002009-05-05T21:51:32.614-03:00

Got anything on this weekend coming? Maybe you'd like to pop down to the Harrison Lewis Centre in East Port L'Hebert for the 'Tree-dy Saturday' seedling exchange/sale. You can find out more about the Centre at their website, and I will tell you more about it in the not-too-distant future. I haven't been there yet, and won't get there this weekend because of a previous commitment, namely a talk at

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-32903225734721107672009-04-30T06:51:00.000-03:002009-04-30T07:22:35.960-03:00

The unseasonably warm weather of the past few days has really brought some plants along, especially down on the south shore of the province. In Liverpool and surrounding area, the magnolias have burst into fabulous (and sometimes, fragrant) bloom. Meanwhile, back at home, mine are still snuggled in their sweaters, not ready to blossom just yet. I took a drive at lunchtime today, and went out past

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-39881180243993389352009-04-28T08:51:00.004-03:002009-04-28T10:43:54.868-03:00

Over the weekend, while I was in Halifax having fun at the Saltscapes Expo (and meeting a delightful woman who LOVES goutweed!), my garden was bathed in warm sunlight. Things woke up, yawned and stretched, and got blooming in a hurry. These pink Glory-of-the Snow just keep spreading beautifully every season. This is Puschkinia, or striped squill, which I love for its cool blue and white flowers.

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-13488416698039988222009-04-25T04:18:00.006-03:002009-04-25T05:00:01.644-03:00

Dear Sylvia:Doesn't everyone write blog updates and letters at 4 in the morning? Probably not. But when I wake up from a sound sleep in a hotel room, sans cats and LSS, I know there's absolutely no point in going back to sleep any time soon. So since I'm behind in my correspondence with you, as well as with my blog posts, this seemed like a good time to catch my breath and catch you up with life

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-69445426875649716402009-04-23T22:14:00.000-03:002009-04-24T00:41:12.209-03:00

This is Spunky Boomerang. He often looks reproachful, especially when he wants attention from me. His favourite trick is to get up on the computer desk and stand in front of the monitor, but sitting on the steps wishing I'd come for a nap works too. This is part of the very tidy garden. You (and I) can thank Long Suffering Spouse for this. He knows I'm beyond overworked right now, and he took it

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-46955524166099203512009-04-17T20:53:00.007-03:002009-04-18T09:52:03.172-03:00

In talking to my long suffering spouse on Wednesday or Thursday evening, I heard something that made my heart leap. "You've got a parcel from the US," he said. I could hardly wait to get home on Friday afternoon. First, there was Anna's lovely card and apron, thoughtfully made with the cat-children in mind as well as the gardener. Then there were the letters and cards...normally, my snailmail

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-17889647231494741002009-04-16T18:30:00.004-03:002009-04-16T18:51:43.114-03:00

I went for a walk last evening in Pine Grove again. This time, the sun was out, it was mild, and everything was touched with a brush of golden light. This place reminds me of a giant's playground, the way the massive, elegant pines tower skyward, amongst massive boulders that resemble a child's dropped blocks, scattered every which way. Imagine my delight when I found bluets awake and blooming in

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-69695745505478137292009-04-09T20:36:00.008-03:002009-04-09T23:19:39.907-03:00

Last Sunday, Longsuffering spouse gleefully announced we had 99 snowdrops in the garden. Yes, he counted them. He was very glad to see them, popping up in clusters as the snow receded. Last night on the phone, he upped the count to 135.When I got home this evening, I walked around the yard. Remember all that snow? It's GONE. All of it. The grass and ground are very, very VERY wet, sodden,

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-65991442556626775472009-04-06T08:30:00.004-03:002009-04-06T20:56:12.245-03:00

Dear Jodi,As you say the response to our letters has been lovely, I really should start this Dear Jodi and friends. I intend to incorporate some of the questions and comments into my letters to you. This letter will be more about my garden which is so different from your, first and foremost in size. Think pocket handkerchief!When we were looking to buy a property the demands of the family took

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-83401950860140270382009-04-04T19:57:00.003-03:002009-04-04T20:40:52.936-03:00

Never underestimate the determination of a spring-flowering bulb to get itself back on schedule. Yesterday afternoon, I walked around the yard (where I could get through and not end up with too-wet feet) and discovered the lower garden was relinquishing its snowdrifts quite nicely. In the morning when Longsuffering Spouse went out to do chores, there was snow all over this bed. By 2 pm, the

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-61362411610433842422009-04-03T08:35:00.003-03:002009-04-03T09:00:37.719-03:00

A few housekeeping observations, if I may; I've been unable to do much blogreading or commenting this week because the place I've been staying at night has not-very-speedy internet. Better than dialup, but not much. So I'll play catchup this weekend. Also, these photos are from my iPhone, since I didn't have my real camera with me yesterday. Hence they couldn't be focused or corrected for

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20831949.post-29395731458471843942009-04-01T06:45:00.000-03:002009-04-01T08:57:32.614-03:00

I was intially greatly disheartened to read in the latest issue of Green Thumbs and Green Hearts: The Magazine of Gardener Envy that botanists and geneticists have finally made a breakthrough in developing an easy-grow Blue Poppy. Seems these wise guys have managed to clone a Meconopsis that doesn't rot, throw hissy fits if the weather and soil and humidity and moisture levels aren't exactly to

jodi (bloomingwriter)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com26