Truly I’m in awe of this hardy little snapdragon. He is descended from a plant about 15 feet away – – also growing in a rocky crevice. His parent bloomed all summer, but this fellow popped up in summer & started to bloom by September. Now, in late December, he’s still holding on! How he’s surviving is a mystery. I reckon he’s some kind of natural mutant out to prove survival of the fittest.
Long live the mutants! 🙂
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© copyright 2012 SVSeekins
Last year the Parks department hauled away the big leaf pile from in front of my house. They vacuumed all the leaves off Richard’s boulevard, too.
I was happy about it, but Richard had wanted to keep his leaves.
Instead of grass, Richard has planted his boulevard with drought-tolerant decoratives.
A thick layer of mulch protects against drought in summer, as well as insulating from the cold in winter. Leaves make great mulch, so Richard had intentionally raked his leaves onto the boulevard garden.
I suppose that because most of the perennials had died back for the season, and because Richard had raked the leaves so thickly onto the boulevard, the garden bed was obscured. The vacuum guys must ‘ve thought it was just another curbside pick up.
This year Richard was in his yard when the Parks truck came by. They were thrilled to hear he was making good use of his leaves. Then they asked, “Would you like some more?”
Richard was in heaven! For mulch, leaves are great, but chopped up leaves are superb.
Better still is a big truck delivering them – – free!
It was a win-win.
A couple of years ago, Richard had a dirt-mart deliver a couple of truckloads of mulch (about the same amount). It cost $800.
I’m told the Parks Department accepts requests for leaves, and are happy to schedule a drop off when they’re vacuuming in the neighbourhood.
Of course, there’s still the chore of moving it all from the driveway & into the beds. That’s a whole lot of wheel barrel trips.
Indeed, a big task is less daunting when shared with friends. It was fun to pitch in. It was also excellent exercise. 🙂
As long as I’ve known Richard as a gardener, he’s never been shy about mulching the beds. It always looks a little thick to me.
Over a couple months, the heavy rains will compact all that mulch down. The spring bulbs will be shooting through it. I’m really looking forward to seeing that.
But for now, I’m thinking of calling Parks for myself.
Is that crazy?
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© copyright 2012 SVSeekins
It’s taken a couple of years for me to really appreciate Forsythia in all seasons.
Yes, Forsythia is at its best in spring. Every morning through March, I sit with my coffee & ponder the coming growing season. As I’m peering out the kitchen window, my anticipation builds as the buds on the Forsythia show more & even more promise.
I’m energized by the sunny yellow blossoms in March & April.
Each year I feel so desperate to see any spring colour. Forsythia will never be challenged over its prominent real estate between our driveway & the kitchen entrance.
For all that hoopla, it’s easy to forget about Forsythia for the rest of the year. But that would be ignoring the assets.
In April & May, the yellow blooms give way to yellow-green leaves. Like the rest of the garden, the shrub begins to fill out, supplying much-appreciated privacy.
By June, Forsythia is a steadfast background green and working hard to compliment the new flowers in the garden parade throughout the entire length of the summer and into the fall.
When the brisk winds of October arrive, Forsythia again steps up for a more significant share of the garden interest. The yellow, apricot and red leaves add lovely colour to the fall palette.
For Halloween, they’re even more vibrant. No wonder Forsythia has become one of our garden mainstays!
By December, Forsythia is naked again. That’s not my favourite look for a shrub… but I understand that without the barrenness of winter, the spring probably wouldn’t be as exciting.
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Other indispensables:
Garden Variety Life 