Sparty Oak?

There are a half dozen trees in our side yard, the yard that our living room window faces. While the trees don't yet provide shade for us, they do screen our window from nearby streets.

Over the summer, a man in his 30's or so, parked his car, and walked over. He told Dave that he had planted the acorn for the oak tree 15 years ago. The acorn had been from a tree near the Sparty statue on MSU's campus.

I've been to the campus a number of times, mostly for MPFA conferences and plant ID classes. What a great opportunity it was for the man to see his legacy. I appreciate his planting work those yeas ago. Perhaps the next generation will as well.

Sometimes I think we forget about the good things we've done in the past and how it will affect people after we're gone. Who hasn't planted an acorn? It's never too late. What's your story?

Yay, a website is born!

Finally, the day we've been waiting for. Websites
are always a work in progress and what fun
it is to finally see it in place.
Let us know what you think and
what you'd like to see more of.
Thanks for reading!

www.trilliumlandscape.com

Wildlife Abounds

Oh my gosh...is anyone else having issues with wildlife? I don't think there will be anything left to our garden, come spring. Rabbits and who knows what else are having a field day. The shrubs in the perimeter of our perennial garden must be the equivalent of "Fancy Feast" to those pesky rabbits. They are so bold that we stare at each other, then usually they slowly hop away. Based on their foot prints (animal tracks)there must be an army of 'em.

The up side? we get to try different repellents. So far nothing organic has worked, well, except for our dog. He only deters the rabbits while he's outside in the garden. Being so cold out, he's not outside for long. What's your favorite remedy to discourage those varmints?

The Tail Wags the Dog

Walking through the snow covered fields with our canine family member today, reminded me of how grateful I am to have him. He's a golden retriever mix that insists on burrowing his muzzle into every varmint track and hole that he can find. His tail wags incessantly, increasing in speed, the fresher the tracks.

The grasses that stood tall all summer and fall have been packed down by the snow, rain and wind, making walking through it very easy. I looked for the hawk that carefully balanced itself on a tiny branch a few days ago. What stood out from this walk was a single drop of crimson on the snow that interrupted a mouse trail.

Yep, grateful because I let my canine friend take me for a walk.

What stood out when you walked your canine friend recently?
Please tell us.

Go Fish

Our landscape company recently installed a small pond, beautiful waterfall, and patio in St. Clair Shores, MI. The owner purchased 4 fish, about 4-5" in length, a lot of fish for a pond this size. By the end of the summer, the fish were easily 6-7". For the winter we installed a specialty heater which kept a small hole open even when the rest of the pond was iced in.

During the last warm spell, we noticed the fish moving around a bit. After a few more days of the glorious 40+ degree weather, the owner told us he had scooped two of the fish out. So, two are left, probably the optimum number for this pond's size. I hope all goes well with the weather and conditions so the fish survive. While feeding them daily in the warm months may have been a chore, this homeowner had a new found enthusiasm for his outdoor living space.

Saline Garden Club

Another fabulous meeting last night. I continue to be impressed with the quality and thoughtfulness of the presentations. The topic: Herbs, and each speaker enthusiastically told how they use herbs in their gardens.

Great prizes for the raffle, too. I wished I
didn't have to leave early for a conference call.

Yikes--The Plants!

It's gotten so cold out, and the plants do not have the insulation that the snow provides. The only thing good about the cold is that the indoor plants
get the extra attention they need. Re-potting, extra watering and pruning is fine for most plants and they are looking great. Dave constructed an indoor fountain/water feature. The humidity is welcome and so is the water noise; a sort of babbling brook sound. Nice. Let me know if you want instructions on the feature. I'm sure Dave would love to share. Take care and keep healthy.

Sunshine, Blue Sky

Sunshine, Blue Sky That title reminds me of one of my favorite Temptations songs: I Wish it Would Rain. Isn't it amazing how much more we can accomplish with these sunny days. This Michigan winter has seemed more dreary than usual.This last cold spell may have finally killed off some of the weeds in our garden. They've been green up till now.

The rabbits continue to wreak havoc on the plants. Leaving the house or arriving, almost always provides a view of bunny rear ends, as they bound for cover. Fuzzy bunny...that's a whole different blog entry!

The saving grace for this winter has been sorting through our photos. What fun! Sorting with digital files is a lot different than physical photos. Being able to view the photos, at my fingertips, makes it more fun, I think. I'll post a few.

Dave's (Garden) Tool Time

jo ann said...
Dave Marshall spoke at the Ann Arbor Garden Club last Wednesday. He did a good job presenting the how's and why's of the tools he brought. Funny how everyone has a favorite tool--one that we are so passionate about, that you couldn't pry out of our hands if you wanted to. What a great garden club too, people were warm and friendly. I'm thrilled with being a member of the Saline Stone and Thistle Garden Club but think I may double my fun and become a member there too. I know that A2 Garden club prez, Bonnie Ion will be speaking in Feb. on gardens of (corrected)Eastern Germany. She is quite the traveler and gardener. Bonnie was also a classmate of mine at UM's SNRE '97-98. I'll be speaking at the A2 Garden Club on (updated again) April 9th: Landscape Inspirations, stay tuned and bye for now.