Wild Beauties
We have power lines that go through the front of our property. The company is down there working every now and then, most recently they put in new power lines. They made a bit of a mess down and really tear up the natural flora. As I drove by the other day I spotted color out of the corner of my eye and stopped to check it out on my way home. This is what I found:
When I got home I looked up in my copy of Native Plants for Your Maine Garden and I identified it as Sheep Laurel. What a beautiful and interesting plant, I’m so glad I stopped and identified it. I’m so glad I purchased this book!
You’re not supposed to dig up wild flowers, but I’m debating rescuing this one. Since it’s on the power lines it will be sprayed with herbicide or be driven over by the atvs and trucks that like to ride up and down the lines. If anything I’ll try to gather a few seeds when I see them to try to get them going up here on the hill.
Do you have a local plant identification book for your area?
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Quote of the Day: Monty Don
“There is a group of plants that grow lustily every year, whatever the weather and however negligent I am of their care. They never fail, and never let me down. Almost certainly they are the same ones that are thriving best in your garden too, because they are all weeds. However you arrive at it, weeds are there in every garden and take up an awful lot of a gardener’s time and energy.
Tackle weeds when you notice them. In practice this means that it is a constant job. But – and I think that this is really important and underrated – weeding is at the heart of gardening. I use it as a chance to get close to my plants and to judge the state of the soil, s well as port of keeping the place looking beautiful. So don’t see weeding as a terrible burden imposed upon you but enjoy it as part of real gardening.”
Monty Don in Gardening at Longmeadow
It’s the season for weeds, which I don’t mind really. I like filling my bucket and then filling the compost pile. Many weeds pull up specific nutrients so they are valuable to have around. I spend a little time each day pulling weeds, this helps me stay on top of them and they never seem to get out of hand. My most prolific annual weed seems to be wild amaranth.
What weed do you pull most in your garden?
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Relax…
Today I’m taking the day off for a bit of rest, well technically taking yesterday evening off. Mr Chiots was up at midnight or so early Tuesday morning for a fire call in the next town over. Needless to say I don’t really sleep much when he’s away putting out a fire. He arrived home around 8:30 am or so. Yesterday I spent the entire day working in the garden, weeding, thinning, planting new plants, putting up electric fences and many other things; it was hot and I was tired at the end of the day.
After a night of no sleep and a long day of physical work I took a shower and realized I was tired and didn’t have much to say. So I’m hanging up my hat for the night, enjoying a calming beverage and I’m off to bed a few minutes early hoping to tackle today! What’s my calming beverage of choice in the evening, often it’s simply a glass of raw milk or a cup of herbal tea. Sometimes I add a splash of vanilla in my beverage because of it’s reputation for encouraging sleep.
What’s your favorite calming night time beverage?
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Quote of the Day: Louise Dickinson Rich
“Discontent is only the fear of missing something. Content is the knowledge that you aren’t missing a thing worth-while.”
Louise Dickinson Rich We Took to the Woods
I hope you are feeling content today, it’s definitely a process that you work towards. Simplifying is a part of the process of learning to be content with who you are, where you are, and what you have. That doesn’t meant that we aren’t working towards our goals, it means our reasons and motivations behind them are different.
Do you feel like you are content in your current situation?
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Quote of the Day: Jim Goodwin
The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.
~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris
Even when there are a thousand things to do in the garden, I try take a minute to pull out my lawn chair and sit in the garden each day. Sometimes I need to remind myself that it’s not a race, it’s a journey and I need to make sure I enjoy it!
Do have a spot where you can sit and enjoy your garden?
