Straw Score

This year, my wonderful husband helped me acquire some straw bales for the garden.  Neighbors had the bales as part of their Christmas display.  The bales were still sitting in their front yard in February so WH asked them what they were doing with the bales and the husband responded right away with, "do you want them?"  WH told him, "sure, for the garden."  Six FREE straw bales for the garden.  We just had to move them.  If I get to put any water on the garden, this straw will help keep the moisture.  If I manage to get any produce, some will be going across the street.

March is always up and down at Garden on Sherlock Street.  Snow, warm, rain (maybe), wind, sun, etc.  Anything can happen.  I'm hoping to start cleaning up the perennial beds soon and making some real plans on what will actually get planted considering the watering restrictions we now have.  I have a cool new sculpture piece to add to one of the beds too.  Photos will come when it's ready.  Hopefully, the early seeds will hit the soil as well.  The March tour photos will come soon.

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GonSS Is Four Years Old

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Water Warning

In the midst of a severe and unrelenting drought, our city commission approved a Stage 2 water warning declaration at its meeting Thursday night. The warning means the city will reduce water to just enough to keep the roots of the grass alive on all parks and ball fields that utilize potable water.

Outdoor water use will be prohibited from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and connections to the potable water system for irrigation also will be barred.

The move implements the second-tier fee for heavy water users, increasing the rate from $7.42 to $10.30 per 750 gallons. The fee will effect March water usage.

The city decided to move to water warning early due to the upcoming spring planting season

"Knowing that a lot of people plan their lawns and gardens now, I would hate to see somebody plan a garden or a lawn replacement program and then penalize them later from a monetary standpoint through the conservation tier fee, " the city manager said. "This gives people the opportunity to plan or not to plan knowing they’re going to pay more for that water usage outdoors."

The drought is weighing heavy on the minds of city officials.

"If we never have droughts, our water sources would last us 100 years." the city manager said. "But we do have droughts, and we have to rely on the fact that, at some point, there will be rain again."

The next step in the city’s water conservation plan is a Stage 3 water emergency, which would implement even stricter conservation rules including a complete ban on outdoor watering and closure of municipal swimming pools.

Since I go to bed at 9 pm, get up at 4:30 am, get to work before 6 am and get off work at 2 pm; it looks like I'll be watering Fri night/Sat morning and Sat night/Sun morning with potable water.  I'll use whatever I catch with the rain barrels and bath water at other times.  Time to reduce the planting list for the vegetable garden and the containers.  

We have cold air and snow in our forecast for the weekend.  March is going to come in as a lion for us.  Here's to the moisture at least!

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Sweet And Short

We are now enjoying the sweet scent of hyacinth flowers in our home.  My bulb is blooming.

However, the blooms are competing for space with the leaves.  I don't know why the stalk is so short.

At least is smells good.

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Perfect Pruning Weather

We were given a warm Saturday afternoon today.  My wonderful husband did his yearly monkey impersonation and climbed into the locust tree to do some pruning.  I worked on some smaller trees and a couple of bushes.  Pruning is done.

I noticed some daffodils, tulips and surprise lilies starting to peek out of the ground.  Some perennials are starting to send up new shoots too.  

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The Crocus Are Always First

Saw the first bloom of 2014 outside in the garden today.  A crocus, as to be expected.

We've gotten so warm the last few days that the snow is melting fast.

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The Orchid Blooms Again

With all the winter weather lately, I thought it was time to check in on the plants in the house.

I have some plants in the living room which stay in all year.

I overwinter geraniums, asparagus ferns and anything else I think I can keep alive through the winter in the family room.  They compete for space in the sunshine by the windows.  I also have a couple of lights attached to the plant stand.

I did get a hyacinth bulb started this year.  Anticipating its sweet scent.

The indoor plant with the best show currently is the orchid.  I purchased it in February 2013.  It was blooming at the time.  Those blooms faded and I've kept caring for it.  Several weeks ago I noticed it starting to form buds.  Now, it's blooming!

The orchid stays inside all year.

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