Our Love of Gardening

February 8, 1999
Winter in North Carolina is so unpredictable. This year we had the first White Christmas since at least 1960, which was the year Hugh was born. It was nice, but it also meant that both Hugh and Cindy had to work, and Carson spent the days with Grandparents.

Since Christmas, the temperature has gone below freezing just a few times, and we have been having days that resemble April and May instead of January and February. As this is being written, the sun is out and temps are expected to be in the upper 60's and may even see 70.

Our crocus has been blooming for several days, and the daphne odora has been in full bloom for several weeks. It has a fragrance that brings hope to the garden during the dreary winter days - assuming we actually have some. Most perennials are peeking out from the crowns and the ryegrass is begging to be mown about every three days now.

Time has been at a premium here with the baby coming. Hugh has been able to get most of the miscanthus and pennisetum cut back. The calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' has been cut back, and one clump was divided into 20 one gallon pots to be placed into the garden later. Cindy badly wants to get into the herb garden, but pregnancy keeps her from long workouts that the garden would surely bring. Watch out, though. When the baby's here and she's regained her strength, the herb garden will be immaculate!

There's a difference around here this year. Ordinarily we would have about 30 or so different pots of seedlings growing in the basement. This year, reality says that we will probably buy what we can, when we can.

There will be some new additions this year. We had a lot of new things come our way via the plant giveaway at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum at NCSU in Raleigh. We maintain our "Friends" status, which can send a lot of plants and knowledge our way. We recommend membership to anyone who even knows what a plant is . . .

An order from Kurt Bluemel Nursery in Baldwin, Maryland awaits a stamp and a check to get it on it's way. We will be trying some new perennials and grasses that Hugh came across at the NC Green and Growin' Show back in January. An order for 15 rabbiteye blueberry plants went out Saturday to a fellow in Morven who had an ad in the Agricultural Review. Carson's pretty excited about this one!

Ahhhhh . . . the sun is beckoning. There is little time before the trip to the doctor and hospital for the good ol' prenatal care. It should be spent outside. Maybe we should get a laptop and a really long telephone cord . . .

We'll be back soon. We want to go over some of the new plants with you.

February 13, 1999
Did we say the weather is unpredictable? What a difference a few days can make. Yesterday the high temperature was in the low 70's, and today it is in the 40's. We got a good frost last night, but it didn't appear to do any damage that would amount to much.

A prunus serrulata 'Okame' at the Zoo was in full bloom yesterday, and was absolutely stunning. The lonicera fragrantissima is living up to its name. The fragrance of this shrub is heavenly, and it seems to float away from the plant. It's fun to try to find the source of the smell.

Things at home are reaching a standstill as the baby gets nearer, and Hugh's surgery is scheduled for day after tomorrow. He is constantly asked what the condition is that warrants a surgical procedure. All we can say at this point is that he will have a hard time sitting when it's over. If you still require more information, click here but be sure you really want to know before you do.

If some of the housework can get done before this afternoon we hope to get some light cleanup and pruning done. The blueberries aren't here yet and it's still a little early to set out brassicas, so yes, we're kinda bored.

Maybe those christmas wreaths and lights can come down today . . .

February 18, 1999
The surgery was Monday and went well, but yesterday was a bad day for Hugh. They say the third day after being put under is the worst, and now the world has one more victim to testify that it is indeed true. Now the baby comes soon. We hope to have a wing of the hospital named in our honor, but of course the insurance company would probably come first! How does the "Martin Family $250 Deductible Maternity and Surgical Unit" sound? No? Maybe they can just name one of the snack machines after us then.

The blueberry plants came in the mail today. They were ordered from someone in North Carolina but had a return address in South Carolina. It seems that someone may be bending the Agricultural Review rules just a bit. But we're not telling. They appeared to be healthy and well-rooted and we don't want to lose this source. You never know when you may need more!

Hugh located a source for some good, rich acid topsoil. Don't ask, 'cause it's a secret! We hope to get a whole dump truck load for a real reasonable price. The blueberries should love it. We know we will!

The search for tomato seeds is on! We may be able to coax some of the leftovers from last year to come up. We also feel the need to set out some cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Is it Spring yet?

February 23, 1999
Boy, the surgery has really kicked Hugh's butt . . . literally! He can't seem to shake the woozy feeling and seems to always have a good case of nausea. So instead of doing light yardwork it must be heavy webpage work instead!

A recent cybertrip on a pillaging voyage resulted in the confiscation of this neat little gif:

A lot of work has been done in Hugh's mind, like how to lift that old building just enough to get it on more stable footing, how many bricks to bring over from the old place to put a floor in the "Rabbit Haven Garden Room", what to plant there to give a little privacy, drainage?, what's that?, sandpile for Carson, etc., etc. Busy, busy, busy!

Garden fever must be getting bad. Hugh went to both Home Depot and New Garden Nursery today looking for brassica transplants. So what if it's supposed to get down to 15 degrees tonight? It's time to garden, dang it!

Maybe these two packets of tomato seeds will do for now, or at least until the transplants are for sale . . . gotta get that greenhouse moved over here soon . . .

March 27, 1999
I cannot believr that it has been over a month since I last wrote here. I have a lot of excuses, the recovery from surgery, but mainly the birth of Elijah just over two weeks ago.

On February 24th I happened upon some brassicas at Montgomery Farm & Garden, and purchased enough to fill one bed. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts were transplanted under the watchful eyes of the local wild rabbit gang that seems to be unable to dine on anything other than what I put in the ground.

This time I plan to foil their cravings with an ingenious device that I have had under my nose for at least three years. Wire hanging baskets, the type you line with sphagnum moss, make perfect little plant cages. As of this writing, over a month after planting, the plants live on!

Until next time . . .

(If some of the links on this page don't work, it's because Hugh was too lazy to find the right address. They'll be there, sooner or later.)

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