Lawn and garden – Page 3 – Connie Smithison

March 1, 2013April 17, 2018

Spring thoughts

While letting the dogs out this morning, I walked into the back yard and despite the snow and ice we had this past week, there were dandelions growing next to my old well. There they were…four perfect small yellow flowers poking out through the snow. That is what I call either determination or real hardy plants!

I happen to love dandelions. While the kids were growing up, we called them dandy flowers and to be honest, I still do. They are great for a lot of things and make tasty spirits if made and fermented properly. There is a convent of nuns or used to be, in Ohio that made the best dandy flower wine and used to sell it to help with the convents upkeep. I was too young to try it at the time, but I hear that it had an exceptional bouquet. (pun intended).

The dandelion greens are quite tasty also, if cooked the right way. I’ve never tried this with the family, but I like them. To me, dandelions are not a weed. I know people who battle dandelions every year trying to have a lawn that is dandelion free. The roots, which are good for you also, grow very deep and they are indeed hard to kill. Myself, I figure why try and kill them off. I like how they make the acreage in my back yard look. To me, they are a sure sign of spring.

February 27, 2013

Luxury patio furniture for this summer

Last year while putting away the things that I didn’t want outside during the winter, I decided to look at luxury patio furniture and find a set that I liked. I have even saved up some money to buy myself and my family comfortable chairs and perhaps benches to kick back on and also a big patio table with room enough for my whole brood and the grand kids, neighbors and friends. I even thought about maybe buying two sets, depending on if I could get a good deal and they weren’t really that expensive, yet they had class.

As everyone knows, I like to look on the internet to get ideas, prices and deals on things that I want to buy for my yard or home. I always consider items like this sort of home improvements. I found a place that sells luxury outdoor patio furniture, and has been in the business of furniture and accessories for about 35 years. They carry some really beautiful furniture and also besides being in business for so long, it is family owned and has that family type of atmosphere. This is something I like when I am looking for a place to shop.

I’m really looking forward to getting this furniture. I keep thinking about the kids having friends over and enough places to sit and eat, or just talk and hang out. Also I’m looking for some other patio furniture to go around the pool. If I can find something suitable for that space, I’d absolutely buy them. And of course because of the changeable weather here, I’d need the furniture and accessories to be sturdy and well built. The site I found seems like it is indeed going to fit all my wants and needs for this new home improvement. Looking for these kinds of items makes me want summer to get here even faster now!

February 13, 2013

Sunny skies but looks are deceiving

The sun is finally shining and all the snow and ice has melted, but it indeed is chilly outside. Much more cold than it actually looks, but one can dream that flip flop weather will soon be here. (Phil didn’t see his shadow, right?)

With the high winds we’ve had over the last few weeks, there is going to be a lot of clean up in the yards to do. My neighbor’s tree is nearly dead and the branches keep falling and then are literally blown into my side gardens. The neighbor just moved in last fall, and I rarely see her, but she should learn neighborly consideration. Of course she is indeed young, but that doesn’t mean she can’t pick up a few branches.

My yards are going to need the usual clean up, but with new gardens that will be dug and put in, I’m sure I’m going to be busy playing more in the dirt and have the guys here do the clean up work for me. They’ll earn money doing it, and every year they do a really great job, so that is covered. Just seeing this sun shine makes me antsy to get out and plant things, but in the mean time I’ll stick to starting my seeds

February 4, 2013April 17, 2018

Seed catalogs are arriving

It seems the seed companies are getting a jump on spring planting, since I now am getting their catalogs in the mail nearly every day. I had forgotten how many I order from, in search of new and interesting seeds to grow.

It seems strange to wade out in knee deep snow to the post box and find the spring seed catalogs waiting for me. Some with seed packets in them, which in these temperatures which are way below freezing I seriously doubt will grow but I’ll plant them and hope.

I have been planning my gardens since last fall so of course I enjoy getting the catalogs, but it just makes me antsy to start planting and growing now. Wonder if that ground hog is going to see his shadow or not…

September 26, 2012

Fall is in the air

The leaves haven’t started to turn yet, but the smell of fall is indeed in the air. There is a crisp feeling outside that this season brings, and at night it’s been getting down right chilly. No frost yet, but it’s to come sooner than normal, I have a feeling.

Though I love colors of fall, I don’t like the fact that it means summer is over and that winter is just around the corner. It seems like we didn’t have much of a summer, despite of the drought.

We’ve been doing some home improvement around the house and outside in the yards. There were some walkways that needed tending to, as the stone was starting to get loose in places, so I hauled in some extra that I had saved, and made it fit where the loose ones were. I should say they aren’t really stone like most would think. These are actually flat rocks that the walkway is made of, and I’m glad I had the foresight to keep some back for just the purpose I needed them for.

All of the storm windows are now up and the glass windows are washed, the covered with padding and put away safely. Gutters will continue to be cleaned as the leaves come down and nearly all of my flower beds have been put to sleep for the winter. It sort of makes me sad, but it is what it is.

There of course is a lot more to do in order to make the house winterized and toasty for the winter, but I’m getting to it slowly but surely. Winter is not a good season for me, since I really hate snow and the cold, but if I have to live where we do indeed have lots and lots of snow and the temps get down below zero, I at least want a home that is warm and the next step is to start my winter survival shopping.

September 7, 2012

Yard cleanup and missing summer

Every year when I clean up my yard and put all the summer things away, I get a dreadful feeling about winter weather. I love summer and since I despise winters here, I know I’m living in a place where I feel totally misplaced.

Already I’ve raked leaves in the front yard. Granted, not to many but they are falling off the big tree. I also have been collecting seeds, and pulling up dead annuals.

Closing the pool isn’t happening just yet, as my kids swim even if it is chilly out. The water has stayed semi warm but the air still has a chill to it that is obvious when they get out of the pool and have goose bumps all over their bodies. I’m going to miss summer so darn much I’m thinking about buying a heater for the pool

August 18, 2012

New lawn furniture

By putting off buying lawn furniture until now, I’ve been looking at all the styles and sets on sale and there are some awesome buys and deals out there to be had now that summer is nearly over. There are two sets I’ve sort of got my heart set on, but haven’t decided which I’m going to buy yet.

I would like to get a set that will go up on the deck around the pool, since the furniture I have now, doesn’t seem like it’s going to last through another summer. It’s starting to look worn out, because it’s been bleached by the sun and the fact that the chemicals in the pool are on it from everyone sitting on the furniture while they are wet. One will have that and I’m glad the seat coverings aren’t made from fabric.

There is a set that I particularly like, with a table and an umbrella, that would be perfect for this deck also. The seats are made out of a sort of woven non fabric material that I think would last longer than the tufted and stuffed cloth type material that I have. Decisions, decisions…

July 28, 2012

Shopping for porch furniture

Yesterday when I went to the stores for some things I needed, on a whim I went into the garden section to look at furniture for my porch. Everything is on sale! From chairs to the glider seats that I love so much. Even the porch swings are on sale, which I really love.

If I check on finances, and all is semi okay on that count, I’d love to have at least a couple new chairs and the porch swing. The kind of porch I have would be perfect for the swing.

Growing up, we always had a front porch swing and as I’m writing this little add to my blog, I’m even more convinced that I want the swing more than I do even the new chairs. Hopefully there is still one at the store I went to left tomorrow when I go into town again. On the flip side…I just may go get it later on today! I think the family would like it as much as I would.

July 23, 2012

Garden planning for next year

This years gardens and lawns did not do well at all. It’s sad because I had seeded, planted and even reseeded in hopes that my plants and flowers could or might do well despite of lack of rain. I was wrong. Even watering from the hose didn’t help.

I’ve been looking at various seeds and plants that might do well despite the lack of rain, in case next summer is anything like this summer has been. In our growing area, it’s pretty sparse pickings. No pun intended.

In the mean time, I’m trying to get the remodeling of my bathroom finished, so at least I’ll have the extra money to plant new flowers, plants and veggies next spring. Hopefully, that will be finished toward the middle of next month if all goes well with the plumbing. As far as my gardens go…I’m still trying to water, but it’s a loosing battle.