February

Snippets of Gardening, February’s Mercies

February 7, 2017 by Ilona Erwin

One of the mercies found within an Ohio winter are those small windows of dry enough conditions and relatively pleasant weather. They are almost always very short, so the opportunities need to grasped. We have a short window at this moment and I have used it to carry on the weeding and garden preparation that the beautiful fall allowed in 2016.

I’m so grateful to be able to work in the yard, and it makes me hopeful that I will regain my garden from it’s state of decay and disarray. For the coming 2017 season, at least.

Proverbs 27:1
Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

I can’t promise that I will have a groomed garden next year or in the future beyond, but things are looking good for this year.

Back to February’s mercy:
We have mild temperatures and I have been cleaning out the areas under the shrubs where weeds and unwanted grasses took hold. I hope to clear a stubborn area of poison ivy from its hold under the quince bush. Removing buildup of grass and messy plantings near the fieldstone walk is bearing visible results, as well.

Remember this walk after I cleaned it of weeds some years ago?

You can see the Spirea at the base of the lantern post with the Alberta directly behind. Unfortunately the Hinoki cypress succumbed to an unknown disease a couple years ago.. The Alberta is so much larger that it has filled in .

Little Improvements

While out and working I am better at making plans. The large green urn will go in front of the Alberta spruce instead of behind it this year. It will sit on a troublesome part of the stone walk that always gets overgrowth. While I was down there clearing under the Alberta in anticipation of the urn setting there in the spring, I noticed old stones and coffee can that must have been where I had a clematis planting long ago.

The can is rusty now, and the stones are completely hidden by the Princess spirea that grows there now. It was evidence of the way I plant my clematis… learned from Dad back in the 70’s. The can allows for extra soil to be built up around the roots without suffocating the vine with too deep planting. The stones provide extra moisture retention and coolness and keep me from disturbing the roots.

It is a method that usually works extremely well for me, but this particular clematis had been lost. I will pry the rocks out when the ground thaws more thoroughly. Debating still whether to plant another vine there. I am sure it was to clamber up the lantern situated there.

Anyway, I am thankful for the opening in the weather and my time outdoors in the garden. Here is a look at my inspired new urn placement (I’ve been doodling in my Gimp graphics program).

I have plenty of Nepeta (Catmint) that I’m clearing from the stone walk, which will be planted underneath the Alberta.

I noticed over the years that Catmint surrounding the spruce staves off the mites that defoliate the needles, otherwise. There needs to be a thick planting all around the base for it to be effective.

Little ideas and small improvements add up.

Take-Away

Use the gifts that the garden and nature give you, even the little ones make a difference. Even a few days of February opportunity.

Everyone Talks About The Weather

February 26, 2015 by Ilona Erwin

I ventured out between the pine and the spirea

Wherever I go (the few times I can venture out), everyone is talking about the weather, how cold it is, how tired they are of it, etc, etc. Depending on just how cold it is I either find lots to do on my computer, or I have an excuse to sit and watch a favorite show with a hot cup of something.

Watched plenty of the British detective shows I like so well – I’ve watched most all of them. All of “Vikings”, caught up with “Grimm”, “Walking Dead” … I won’t bore you with the long list of why my seat is spreading into the legend of song.

and

I try not to think about spring too much.

One reason for that, is the fact that the last time my garden was this frozen I lost plenty of plants.

Sometimes it seems my garden is more of a plant cemetery. I have long lists of what I used to grow. But at this point I have no desire to complain or think about the negative side of weather aberrations.

Life has ebbs and flows and nowhere is that more obvious than in a garden that one cares for for a long period of time.

Having put all my efforts this past fall into the family holiday celebration, I neglected to mulch my garden.

That is another reason I am sure that those cold spells without snow cover will probably result in loss of my variegated lavenders, among other new plants that are marginally hardy here.

Well, I plant geraniums every year, and this might be a similar experience. I hope I find them in the nursery this spring.

Speaking of geraniums… I saved a couple that I actually kept living all winter so far! Not only that, but took cuttings that have rooted and are waiting for me to pot up. I think I should go ahead and do that.

Maybe I’ll start some seeds when I have the starting soil supplies out.

Actually this weather makes me in no hurry to start seeds. The ground is frozen so late this season that I don’t think it will warm up as early as it normally would. We’ll see.

I’m pretty sure I won’t be planting sweet peas on St. Patrick’s Day. I am often late for that anyway.

How are your gardens, seed starting, etc. activities going? On Facebook I see some people in other climate zones who have green and budding, even flowering in their yards, instead of crunchy white stuff.

Oh yes, I spent lots of time on Facebook lately. What do you do when the house is cold and you don’t go out on icy streets… or do you?

My Winter Sunflowers

Not that I’m a slacker… I learned some new software, made some new video, started organizing my life via the new organizer book my daughter bought for me, gone to Dr. appts, upgraded my phone and am learning to use that… did some planning. You know, life.

Here is something weird from the extra cold winter: ants have been invading. Don’t you think that is strange for this time of year? I do.

Asian ladybugs make appearances all winter.

I managed to steer the conversation from the weather, and am prone to do that.

But the deep freeze has impacted my desire to write the newsletter this month, too. That isn’t such a good thing I suppose. There just wasn’t much gardening going on.

Spring is edging closer, however, so I want to concentrate on the timely send-off of good tips, reminders and news next month.

I am sure it has plenty to do with my personal bias against February.

This is my least favorite month. chocolate and Valentine’s Day notwithstanding.

I always love blustery March for some reason… so looking forward to it- only a week more, albeit one of those frozen, cold ones (yes, circled back to the weather:)

Til next time Friends,
Ilona

What To Write About? We are still in a deep freeze.

February 13, 2014 by Ilona Erwin

A cold winter’s day

It has only gotten colder, and that is a rather boring topic, unless you live in the likes of Atlanta where this winter has turned things topsy-turvy for them. Midday here in the Central Ohio area, and it isn’t above 10 degrees. I am grateful for the light cover of snow which provides something of a protection for the garden.

Most of the excitement around here is in terms of animal life. Coyotes have been making ever bolder appearances, and I have seen numerous rabbits, too. Would you think me very cruel to hope that the coyotes reduce the numbers of rabbits who are doing winter damage to my garden? Instead of poor little dachhunds, as they are reported to have had for dinner last week.

I see many rabbit trails throughout the garden. And sited many during daylight hours, which is sort of unusual (or used to be… the past year must have seen a rabbit baby boom).

Rabbit trails

I took care of my daughter’s little French bulldog this past week. He is very cute, but can’t take these frostbite temperatures. So it is a quick in and out, and I think he got a little bored and under the weather with having to stay inside so much.

He doesn’t like the camera

My health hasn’t allowed me out much anyway, so I just have busied myself indoors. I’m thinking I could make some video, and I am behind in putting out a newsletter… but there isn’t much to write about, garden-wise, -in my little world, anyway.

One’s world seems so reduced in wintertime. I don’t mind, as a natural introvert. It is a time for percolating within, with sorting and sprouting ideas. Mental underground work, that is the way I describe it.

The snow outside is observed from the window, with a sparkling diamond-like quality. Only narrow shoveled trails now mark it with signs of human activity, the rest is left to the pawprints of cats and rabbits as they travel over the yard.

The birds have mostly stripped the Pyracantha berries, but they still come to the window to shelter from cold and winds.

I am going to set up my seed starting supplies this week, and hope for an open spring with no late freezes.

*A nice post with winter pictures I enjoyed from Pam Hubbard’s English Cottage Garden ( in Pennsylvania)

One of Pam Hubbard’s Winter Photos

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© 2013 written for Ilona’s Garden Journal by Ilona E. An excellent blog.

Mythical Spring

February 23, 2011 by Ilona Erwin

early spring snowstorm 2010

I am starting to understand ancient man’s reason to tell the myths of Springtime. The Persephone and Brigid myths represent the struggle felt as winter is wont to let go and spring must irresistibly arrive. The old stories of the struggle for power between the Cailleach (the old woman of winter) and Brighid ( whose day is celebrated as the first day of the Celtic spring, February 1st) describes the turning of the seasons from winter to springtime. “In the myths, Cailleach brings winter snows while Brighid brings the first spring rains.” That is how our weather, here, seems to act. We have a few days when it feels spring-like, only to be blown away with gusts of sleet, snow, and freezing rain.

Spring almost seems to be the myth, and we doubt our memory of the warmth, the resurrection of our green earth, and the growing season once again appearing. But it will, it will.

Probably the crocus flowers are the most indicative sign of spring, though the snowdrops precede them in blooming. The snowdrops have their milky white and green daintiness, not vibrant enough to declare the spring as the clear golden yellow, bold violet, and gaily striped crocus. the crocus, little as it is, sings of spring and gathers the accompanying humming of bees to proclaim the victory of spring’s warmth. Even an April blizzard can’t quiet the sound.

But today,the winter’s quiet rules my garden. And only memory allows that spring is coming, and the hold of frozen cold cannot stay. Spring is silently marching northward. My heart hears its approach.

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A child’s rhyme ( children love these, and this is like the itty bitty spider):

My Garden

This is my garden
[Extend palm.]
I rake it with care
[Pretend to rake with three fingers.]
And then I plant flower seeds in there
[Pretend to plant.]
The sun will shine
[Hold arms in circle over head.]
And the rain will fall
[Wiggle fingers on both hands as move downwards.]
And my garden will blossom
[Cup hands.]
And grow straight and tall
[Stretch arms/hands up slowly.]

Bits of February Trivia

February 9, 2011 by Ilona Erwin

Ruth Kirk, the author of “Snow“:

“Snow not only insulates against low minimum temperatures but also against fluctuations.
A bare soil surface may be heated by direct sunshine, then cooled in seconds as clouds pass overhead, and its temperatures often surge drastically from day to night. Snow moderates these swings and that can be a crucial advantage.”

She also corroborates the old saw that snow is the poor farmer’s fertilizer. Ms. Kirk found evidence that snow, drawing on ions from the upper atmosphere, adds nitrates as well as some sulfates, calcium and potassium to the soil. – NYTimes

The beginning of Groundhog Day extends back to the Imbolc, by the Druids.

It has also been called the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word “oimelc” which means “ewes milk.” The festival is celebrated on February 2 and marks the midway point of winter.

The name “February” is from the Latin word “februa” which means “expiatory offerings? An expiatory offering is an offering to atone, or cleanse. – Jean Wise

Odd Thing Or Two About This Late Winter Time of Year

February 8, 2011 by Ilona Erwin

Pink, Red, or Fuchsia?

Most gardeners have gotten a catalog or two, or three…or more! Garden catalogs have their own language and after awhile one understands the lingo, but at first it can seem almost misleading. I wrote a page about deciphering catalogs a number of years ago. Garden catalog advice. Essentially the two major things to look out for are color descriptions and the florid hyperbole which leads you to believe that you just can’t do without this plant, and that, and yet another…. Colors like red and blue are the most problematical. I have my stories, do you?

In the old days, before we were all aware of the Photoshop software, (which I love to use for my own photos, by the way), you would often be tempted by the bulb catalogs that showed crocus, tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils all blooming together in a bouquet sort of clump. Real life never gives you that. Never in the garden… I suppose a talented indoor gardener can force the issue to produce something like that.

This time of year is a great one for the appearance of skunks. I don’t as much see them as sniff out their presence, and if you happen to have a curious dog- you might be giving a tomato juice bath in the near future. The poor skunks become roadkill this time of year, too. Their natural protection works against them when it comes to stupidly crossing roads in front of careless drivers -who always travel our back roads a bit too fast. I don’t know what the squirrels excuses might be, although they are in danger later in the year. I never see much of them until spring or later.

The odd combination of snow, warming air, and wide spaces makes for fog. Today, all day, the eye simply sees white as a soft cover of fog is upon the fields. The roads are fine and there is no danger, but the background is cloudy white from ground through sky. No horizons and only the charcoal colored trees are held in contrast against the great expanse of open fields.

A February Day

Yesterday

I was sitting outside in that pleasantly cold, yet still, type of afternoon common in this time of year, and the faintest tiny particles of snow were falling. I like the way that sort of snow feels on my face, and the texture of it accumulating upon the barn roof was as the finest sheared white velvet. It softly veiled the craggy bark of the maple which is deepest gray, while the backdrop of the sky was the tenderest dove gray. It was a vision of hyperbole, the effect of texture palpably impressing. The snow finely dotted the tree bark with delicate coatings on the upper sides of the branches, filling in the crooks and crannies with floury powder. I tried to think of a metaphor for that sky, but it eluded me. It was so soft and very homogeneous in color, maybe like a very plump mattress covered in silken cotton sheets of gray. Something of a comforting look to it, despite the gray of heavy skies. It was a still aftermath to the forces of nature that were experienced not so long ago. Feels like an age, now. Peace can be like that, I think; so blessed when it arrives, and all the worry and turmoil forgotten.

Maybe that is one of the things I most appreciate about winter… the peaceful enveloping quiet that follows the storms.