Saturday Gardening And Puttering Thread [KT]

From Lizabtha

Moonbow shot, with the Pleiades. NW Illinois, in deep winter.

Hi, gardeners, putterers, and dreamers. Although it is winter, The Horde still has some nice things to offer us as a respite from, well, you know what.

The night sky has its attractions this time of year, except at my house, where it is usually foggy. Here are some additional, spectacular photos of Northern Lights from Jake Holenhead:

Seed Catalogs and Seeds

I just got some catalogs in last week. Seems late. Still fun, though. Have you ordered any seeds or plants?

Gordon in Minnesota got in a special order of pepper seeds. Must be a contrast to the garden scene outdoors:

Attractive packaging. And these look like they could be used as ornamental edibles:

Vacation Opportunities

Got vacation plans yet? While you're dreaming by the fireplace, Gordon has sent along some information on working vacations. Meet new people!

The UK National Trust owns a bunch of properties all over Great Britain and Ireland. They range from great estates with manor houses (and minor castles) to a fisherman's croft cottage on the shore of an inlet. Folks can stay in these properties, and the prices are usually quite reasonable. There is even overnights in bothies, which is described as "camping with walls." Considering how often it rains, it might be nice to have a roof when camping.

They also offer working holidays to be part of the team that does the upkeep on these places. One pays--usually about 200 UK pounds per week--and gets to stay onsite (usually a shared room), all meals are provided, and the working day is eight to ten hours.

Some of these offer some interesting skills: how to build dry stone walls, or a serious woven designed-for-centuries hedge. I got the brochure, and there was even a holiday for kids with Down's Syndrome. Some are just weekends. Learning how to build a dry stone wall seems like a useful skill to have, and I'd pay $300 to do that (my wife is less enthusiastic).

But after reading their 51-page Terms and Conditions, it appears one needs a European Economic Community or Swiss passport to participate. Don't ask me why, but perhaps this will change with Brexit.

For the attached picture: One holiday, now fully booked, has a team working to move fences and clear paths to open up a spring on the property in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The site is surrounded by place names your American tongue and throat will find utterly unpronounceable.

Spend a week working on the gardens at Millbeck Towers, in the Lakes District, and just a jaunt from Greystoke, you know. There's a ten-year plan, and bring sensible footwear!

Puttering

Larro reports that it is winter even in Texas. He is cutting firewood. He has taken some photos of his first Pain au Levian Made in a dutch oven for a crispy crust. Good with butter and early radishes in the French style. Maybe even some Diakon radishes like Wee Kreek Farm Girl grew.

There is also a photo of a visiting red cardinal. Cheery.

On a more sober note, he took a follow-up tornado photo:

On that street that the tornado came down a few months ago...

I was looking down the street where it came from and the sun was setting. It shows what's left of many very old trees; some had to be over 80 and 100 years old.

It is so sad to see these torn trees; I don't think they will ever grow back correctly, so do you hang on or remove?

Perhaps I can get another shot a year from now to see.

Hope some of them recover.

Gardens of The Horde

We have grass growing, and the vacant lots are looking good (except for the tumbleweeds that are now coming loose in the wind). I am picking a little chickweed to nibble on.

Anybody got snowdrops yet?

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to remain a lurker.

posted by Open Blogger at 01:06 PM

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