A Life Lesson Gleaned from a Spider

In my perfect world I would have taken a wonderful picture of the post I'm about to share.

I did not, so in place of a picture, here are my "a thousand words".  

May you see the picture within them!

I don't like spiders. 

There, I've said it. 

Let me say it again with more emphasis... I don't like spiders.

They have never been invited guests to my gardens. I have actually formed an alliance with all garden snakes, whom I don't really like either:   

"All garden snakes may live here 
as long as they eat the spiders."

They do quite a nice job, as I rarely see spiders in my garden.  But on occasion I do. 

One such occasion happened last week as I sat on the grass, carefully removing the debris from the garden's edge. Little children often roam my gardens, so at times, I  find all sorts of hidden prizes among the crackling leaves. On this occasion, my eye spotted a curious looking quarter inch bead.  It was easy to spot as its brilliant blue seemed to shout "I do not belong in this garden." 

I scooped it up with the surrounding debris with my gloved hand for further inspection.  I was intrigued by the pattern of indentations on the surface of this little bead, somewhat like that of a golf ball.  I brought it closer to my eyes to view the tiny details. As I shifted the handful of debris in my hand to view it more carefully, I quite suddenly became aware that there, in my hand, next to the bead, was a spider.  I could not empty my hand fast enough! 

As the contents of my hand fell to the earth, I discovered that the spider was actually connected to the bead.  "How curious", I thought.  As I strained to look closer from my now safe distance, I soon realized that the bead was not a bead at all, rather it was the spiders egg sac.

My first instinct was to step on it... fair consequence for all spiders who enter This Grandmother's Garden.  No sooner had I thought the thought when a wave of unexpected compassion spread over me. I found myself pausing... "You can live," I said to this little mama with her expectant babies. I gently replaced the cover of debris in which she was hiding.  "You can live." I repeated aloud, somewhat surprised with my actions and I slowly walked away.

I've reflected on this experience several times since its occurrence and each time a smile comes to my face as I feel a sweet connection to this little spider family... to all things living, all creatures great and small, the Lord God loveth all.  Hm-m-m... not so sure I can love spiders, but I've certainly taken a step toward tolerance. Is there a greater lesson to be learned here? 

New Neighbors!

What a delight 
to see our

"Guest House" 

occupied this morning. 

Our new little neighbor is singing 
his heart out, 

hoping to entice a fair maiden to join him 

in his lovely new home.

Garden of Stones

I walked along the edge of the Puget Sound yesterday with my grandchildren. The sand was dotted with gardens of smooth stones, just waiting to be picked. Can there be such a thing as a garden of stones? Oh, yes! For me there can be, for my love affair with stones is nearly as strong as my love for all things flora. The colors of this garden were equally inviting... shades of creams and glistening white, ebony, jade and burgundy. Carefully I picked my "keepers" as I walked along with my grandchildren until I had collected a handful of delightful reminders of my walk on this soothing beach, beach that begs me to stay. But alas today I must leave and return to my home far away, leaving behind my beloved little ones, and the beautiful gardens of stones. I must come visit again!

Spring Forward Spring!

Rain with possible snow again today.  

Old Man Winter longs to linger
as Spring patiently awaits for Winter to admit defeat.

Yesterday began with snow, enough to stick for an hour or two
(see yesterday's post picture),

but the old guy couldn't withstand the youth of Spring

and the afternoon was lovely.

I used this dose of sunshine wisely and finished my Spring Clean-up. 

Every bush is pruned, every flower bed is free from the leaves and debris of Winter 

and my Perennial Garden stands ready to do her thing,
unencumbered by dead branches of the past.

I've done my part to welcome the new Season, now it's up to her: 

Spring forward Spring!

 

A tender peony patiently waiting for sunshine

Earth Day Celebration

In Celebration of Earth Day

Mother Nature is proclaiming

she is in charge.

Our role is to care for this beautiful world

and leave it better than we found it.

Are we doing our part?

"The promise of Spring

is there

beneath this blanket

of snow.

Be patient

tender blossom.

Have hope waiting

bud to bloom.

For Winter's cold breath

will soon fade

and the Dance of Spring

will resume."

                      ~Meredehuit

Set your Forsythia Free!

 

If you were to ask me what my favorite plant is, it would not be a Forsythia. I have never really liked Forsythia's.  Until maybe now.  This picture is from the garden of one of my sweet neighbors. What is it about these Forsythia that seem to be teasing me into finding place in my garden for a forsythia or two?

These Forsythia are quite different from the bursts of yellow I see everywhere this time of year. These Forsythia are not pruned to death into unnatural globes with their flowers constrained to bloom in a single layer around their circumference. Nor have these Forsythia been neglected for many years and allowed to grow into a massive bush with sparse branches of yellow flowers on the outside of a deep mass of dead.

These Forsythia are vibrant and vigorus! Thoughtfully planted in a space where they could fill the measure of their creation, their graceful branches reach heavenward unencumbered by crowding plants and structures around them. They  delight in their very creation inspiring all who view them to do the same... what more could a gardener hope for?  These Forsythia are blessed with a gardener who understands the secret desires of a Forsythia bush and is allowing them to be all that it can be... free and beautiful! 

I'm thinking I may need to plant a Forsythia or two.

You may enjoy this link: The Right and Wrong of Pruning a Forsythia

Black Gold

This was meant to be Saturday's Post, but as you can see, we spent the day working. We finally had some lovely Spring days, and to think that it snowed on Tuesday.

On Friday, we had 15 yards of compost dumped on our driveway and yesterday, we woke up with the sun to spread it in our gardens. We call it Black Gold because of the many benefits it brings to our gardens. The obvious benefit is the deep brown color it adds to our planting areas, like frosting on a cake it makes our landscape more beautiful.  The greater benefit is the nutrients it adds to our soil and that makes our plants happy. It also helps to keep the weeds at bay, especially if you sprinkle PREEN over the surface when you are done spreading.

If you live in Utah County, and you'd like to know our source for this amazing Black Gold, send me a note through the "Have a Question?" link on the left.

WANTED: Ideas for Re-Design

No use whining about the weather, 

I've got some gardening to do!   

This Grandmother's Garden has a small space that needs a new design. It's the long narrow strip of garden just below the patio that's surrounded by lawn and separates two levels of our landscape. The picture shows this area from last summer.  

The current residents of this space include two seedling blue spruce trees that my youngest daughter brought home from school from an Arbor Day Celebration five years ago. They have grown from a single stem or branch to nearly two feet.  Their potential growth is 100 feet, so they can't stay.  The area is also covered with a New Zealand groundcover with sweet little blue flowers in the Spring and beautiful heart shaped leaves throughout the summer.  This also needs to go as it is quite invasive.  The picture also shows annual pink and white vinca's that have died from the winter freeze. 

I've actually been thinking about this spot all winter long.  I'd like to further define the adjacent  patio area by planting this strip with some type of shrub or bushes that would lend an air of privacy to our very large and open landscape.  We love the open feeling but feel that a little more height in this spot would further enhance the area. Today I am going to spend some time with my gardening books to come up with a plan.  I would like a mixture of  evergreen shrubs and flowering deciduous bushes to give year long appeal. The ideal height will be three to four feet.  So, what to do?  I would love your ideas!

We Need a Little Sunshine Here

"No Winter lasts forever, no Spring skips its turn, for April is a promise that May is bound to keep."

Doubt is creeping into my mind regarding that phrase, 

as it's snowing in my garden... again.  

My perennial garden longs for loving attention

and how I long to give it some. 

The Tulips and Iris are braving the cold, 

the Lupines and Delphiniums are bravely peaking up from the soil 

and all else lies in waiting... 

waiting for the warmth of the sun to motivate them into existence.

We need a little sunshine here.

Time to Prune the Roses

When you see the forsythia blooming, it's time to prune your rose bushes. If you don't have forsythia, then watch for when the leaf buds begin to swell on your rose bushes, that will indicate it's time to prune. Pruning is an essential step to assuring your rose blooms will be abundant and beautiful. Watch for future posts to this blog for more tips for creating and maintaining a beautiful Rose Garden.

Follow this link to learn how to prune roses:
Basic Pruning Techniques for Roses

Speaking of Beautiful Lawns...

It's time to fertilize! Always put the first fertilizer of the season down the week of Easter. The holiday serves as a great reminder that it's time to feed the lawn. If crab grass is a problem you may want to put down a pre-emergent as well. Be sure to zap any dandelions at first glance. One little parachute will spread up to 400 seeds giving you 400 wishes that you didn't let that pretty little yellow flower bloom in your lawn.

Stay tuned for another post that will give the fertilizing schedule for the year.

To Sod or Seed? That is the question.

And here is my answer:

Always seed if given the choice and by that I mean Hydro-Seed. Hydro-seed contains a perfect mixture of seeds, mulch and fertilizer. This Grandmother's Garden used a seed blend that included several varieties of seeds that greens our lawn up in the early Spring and keeps it green throughout the Fall. It is heaven to walk on, especially barefoot. The advantage of Hydro-seed over sod is quality, appearance and cost. Sod does hold the time advantage so if your in a hurry, lay sod, but if you want your lawn to look amazing, feel heavenly and cost much less, HYDRO-SEED!

Here's a couple of links you may enjoy:

To Seed or Sod? 

Hydro-seeding

I Have Finally Found Spring!

I took a walk on this beautiful Easter Sunday with my little grandchildren in a beautiful town off the coast of Seattle... my two week old grandson snuggled softly in my arms. Tulips, Bluebells and Daffodils are blooming and every tree and bush are leafing and stretching their branches high toward the heavens. It is as if all of nature is exclaiming "He is Risen!"

I have finally found Spring, it is here in the San Juan Islands with the green grass, rhododendrons and azaleas! Oh how I wish she finds her way to my home soon... it was snowing when we left.

New URL for my blog

 The URL for this blog is now

www.ThisGrandmothersGarden.com