garden lady's blog

Now that the snow has left, I can see where some neighbors leaves blew into my yard. Instead of raking them to the curb I am going to plant the rest of my yellow tulips and cover them with the leaves. Hopefully that will discourage the squirells that are still trying to fill there nest for the long winter. I bought my yellow tulips at the annual Plant Sale put on by the Holland Horticultural Club. All of us members try to either divide or start perennials for the sale we have during the first part of June. This sale is one of the biggest fund raisers we have.

Believe it or not there is still time to plant bulbs. If you are like me, you wait until they really go on a big sale. Well the sale is here but it is really cold. If you can find where you want to plant them do it now. I had to settle for planting in pots of various sizes. If you take your 4 tine hoe you can really get the soil worked up just fine. Only the top soil is frozen. The problem is where I want to plant the ground is covered with snow. I really hate to disturb the bulbs that have been planted due to me not marking the area.

Thank you one and all. I am sure that you read the column, written by Gary Brower, in both the Holland Sentinel and the Zeeland Sentinel. I know that some of you read it because I received several phone calls about the pictures Gary posted. Thank you Gary for a job well done.

I just sent a email out to the Master Gardener volunteers who will be digging and planting the Gilead Garden at Haven Park Christian Nursing Home. I am sure that by now you read the wonderful article, written by Gary Brower, for the My Zeeland Sentinel in the Thursday addition. I am inviting you to come and watch or help us on Thursday October 30, 2008 as we start the first phase of the newly named Gilead Garden. We will be there starting at 10:00 am.

It is happening. The Gilead Garden at Haven Park Christian Nursing Home has two new clematis vines. So much has happened since the first visit to the courtyard at the nursing home that those involved are amazed, although we shouldn’t be. Everything is falling into place. We are thankful for being blessed. Two new clematis have been planted by the chain link fence and hopefully by next year most of that fence will be covered by white, blue, pink and violet blooms.

If you are like me and can't wait for that first hint of spring, try this trick. Plants bulbs in pots, in the ground for a spring bloom you can rearrange, Just follow these easy steps:

Watch for news this week on the start of the Gilead Garden at Haven Park Christian Nursing Home. We hope to transform it into a place of beauty, colorful flowers, and a setting where visitors can take their loved ones outside in a calm, quiet and peaceful setting. A place to enjoy the outdoors. It is going to be transformed from plain to colorful and enjoyable. A place where residents can enjoy and have a voice in what will be planted, if they so wish.

Fall is in the air. The weather changed very quickly. Monday, Labor Day the air was humid and the thermometer hung around 90. One week later the weather did a fast turn-around and it was 60. Things like that happen in Michigan. It has been raining long enough and now the weatherman has stated it will be sunny for the rest of the week. Yeah!

I think I am back on the correct page. This is going to be short because I need to see if my screen is back where it should be.