This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
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YAY

February 7th, 2017

This time of year is when I notice that the days are getting longer. When I get up in the morning, the sun is starting to peek over the horizon, when Mr Chiots gets home from work there’s often a tiny bit of light left in the Western sky.

During the winter, I check my weather app daily to see how many hours of light we have. I watch it decline to below 9 hours and then steadily climb back up again. When we reach 10 hours a day I’m always happy as a clam, knowing that spring is truly on its way!

Do you have significant changes in number of daylight hours in your area?

A Fresh Look

February 2nd, 2017

I love it when a fresh layer of snow falls. this is when I find myself looking over the garden, thinking about structure. The boxwood hedge around the front and side of the house is fantastic, every time I see it I am reminded that I need far more hedges and winter structure in the garden.



Boxwood is definitely a favorite of mine, partly because it’s evergreen and looks fantastic in winter. I also love that it’s so low-maintenance and so easy to propagate yourself from cuttings! Every summer I take a few cuttings to make new plants and hopefully some day new hedges. Perhaps this summer as I scale back the vegetable garden a bit, I’ll be able to start hundreds of box cuttings for future hedges.

Hydrangeas are another favorite in winter. Even though they’re not evergreen, they still provide some much needed interest in the winter garden. I find myself seeing a glimpse of their summer glory when I see the dried blossoms covered with snow.

What’s your favorite plant that adds winter interest in the garden?

Winter Mix

January 25th, 2017

Even though freezing rain and ice storms are a pain, generally because we lose power, they’re quite lovely. Everything becomes jeweled with drops of ice. If the sun comes out the next morning it’s even more brilliant.
ice storm
This winter I didn’t get my rain chain taken down, so it was dripping with lovely icicles yesterday when the freezing rain was falling. Things like this are a good lesson to find beauty in the inconvenient.

What beauty are you noticing around you these days?

A Beautiful Day, Week, Month, Season

November 14th, 2016

This fall has been perfect, the days are in the 40’s or 50’s and the nights are in the 20’s or 30’s. The sun is shining most days, which is nice since it’s only out for around 10 hours a day now. With all the beautiful weather I’ve been able to get a ton of garden chores finished up.
fall 1
Usually, this time of year, I’m trying to prioritize the garden chores that need done vs. the ones that can wait for spring. This year I’m going to be able to get them all finished and extra things that weren’t even on my list. I’m enjoying every last bit of nice weather in the garden, it won’t be long until the snow flies. I am looking forward to swapping my garden boots for snow shoes when that comes!

How has this season been in your garden this year?

The Last Snow?

April 27th, 2016

When we lived in Ohio, there was always at least one snow in April. So when we have snow in April here in Maine, it’s really not anything out of the ordinary.
snow in april 2
snow on daffodil
Snow on spring bulbs
I appreciate it for the little boost of nitrogen it gives to the growing plants. I appreciate it for its beauty. I appreciate it for the day of rest that comes along with its stillness.

When do you typically get the last snow in your area?

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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