tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35151212592345560932012-01-30T19:13:49.768-04:00This will likely be a rather disorganized series of "musings", which may get better as we move along. The mundane "goings on" sometimes need to be addressed.Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.comBlogger1261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-31497276224585749122011-12-30T13:13:00.000-04:002011-12-30T16:07:23.625-04:00

Each year seems to go by faster than the last. We have had a mixed bag as we head into winter here in Antigonish. Bill prefers to think of it as heading towards spring, since the days are now officially getting longer. We had a white Christmas(as if that really matters!), but now have no snow to speak of.  The same scene as above taken on this sunny, cold day. There have been a couple of

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December has arrived in a very gentle fashion for the most part although we seem to have a "weather bomb" in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. We had a nice Christmas meeting with the ARHS folks in Halifax. Last week was busy "fudging" with The Jingle Bell Frolic held at St. Martha's Hospital. on Friday past. There are a few Christmasy outings in the next few days which will seemingly

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Here in Antigonish County we received a very significant snowfall yesterday and overnight. November storms aren't all that unusual, but this was a bit much. The temperature has been zero or below, so the full load of snow hasn't yet fallen from the roof.  Clearing the walkway is somewhat of a waste of time until the snow comes down. Some of the overhanging snow came down , but not all.

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Several days of this mid part of November have been a bit conducive to some outdoor chores. Bill spent part of one day cleaning out the gutters.  We can never remember when the last time was. We were at least not stuck doing it on a freezing day. Several trips up and down the ladder were a necessary evil. The leafy debris seems partially decomposed. Not bad stuff to deposit on the nearest

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We have been having quite an admiration for the development and continuation of fall color all this month. Even with a few vicious wind storms, some plants still have interesting leaves to share. The range of shades is quite something. Sometimes I find it hard to fully appreciate November. (Click on any image to bring another view or to comment on a pic)

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November has brought relative cooperation weather wise so we have actually got the majority of pressing tasks completed. Carrots are still in the ground, but don't represent a very big job. I dug part and ended up with a nice bucket full. One was very peculiar with three prongs. We get very few mis-shapen ones. Jodi got to snack on those that were very puny, assuming he didn't help himself to

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Remembrance Day always has a personal significance since my father was a veteran of World War II. Like so many, he seemed reluctant to tell many stories of his time overseas. One can only imagine the memories that would exist. We grew up with the annual ritual of the Poppy campaign, which my Dad looked after in our community. There were some jaunts to the Royal Canadian Legion in Hillsborough,

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Except for a couple of days on the past weekend, November has been quite a pleasant month weather wise. Daylight savings has come and gone, so apart from being dark at 5 PM , it is nice to have a little more light in the morning. Bright sunshine has been the order of the day for a few days, so we have been stimulated to get at some of the remaining fall jobs. Stowing all the miscellaneous pots in

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November is not the favourite month of the year, but yesterday was very bright and cheery. A few more outdoor jobs were done and some beautiful spots noticed.

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Sunday, Oct30th saw north eastern Nova Scotia being treated to an early season NorEaster. Most of Sunday was wet, but not very stormy. That seemed to change in the evening when strong winds came up. About 8PM we heard  a terrific bang and the power went off. When we investigated, we discovered the entire electrical mast and meter had been torn off the house and the power pole in the front yard

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There are various Hydrangea that are still putting on a reasonable show. One of the most peculiar performances is from 'Quick Fire'. It blooms a bit earlier than the regular PeeGee hydrangeas and turns a much darker pink.  It has this habit of putting out very vigorous shoots in the mid-season. It has been said these may bloom late, but I have seen no hint.  They have a tendency to give the

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Check out the link for some September Whites. Is white a fall colour? - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

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Finding spots of colour isn't as easy as it was earlier in the season. For more September pics , check the link...click slideshow mode. September 2011

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August lily season is getting into full swing. Enjoy the slideshow and check the link below for some comments. Some wonderful August Lilies - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums Boogie Woogie

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Growing rhododendrons may have an ultimate aim for beautiful flowers in the spring months, but other features provide interest at other times of year. Flowers only last 2-3 weeks, so it is good to have virtues all year.  Many of the rhododendrons we grow have been selected for interesting foliage. The emerging new growth shows  great variety in leaf form, texture and colour. One of our all time

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We have had quite a cool, wet summer. The day lilies are performing reasonably well, but often have a soggy look about them. Here is a slideshow with some of this years' candidates.

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-11864275774185764392011-08-07T08:26:00.000-03:002011-08-07T08:26:26.446-03:00

A quick look at a few things from the garden this week. This is Hydrangea paniculata 'Quickfire', much smaller trusses than the regular PeeGee, but will show color sooner. Click the link below. Looking close in early August - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

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It seems to be getting to hydrangea season. This is Hydrangea serrata 'Bluebird', just getting started. Hydrangea serrata 'Bluebird' The tiny flowers that make up the centre of these lacecaps are quite intriguing. Blue hydrangea seem to be a challenge.  The hydrangea 'Endless Summer' which is touted as blooming on both old and new growth seems convinced it shouldn't

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-27242063885998793402011-07-14T11:17:00.000-03:002011-07-14T11:17:41.862-03:00

The Golden Star Gazer is the first of our Oriental lilies to bloom and is also quite damaged by the horrid Red Lily beetle... see more below. Lamentable Lily - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

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Peony 'Gay Paree', in way too much shade! Peony season has been just a little disappointing. Check the discussion.  Peonies seem a little subdued - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

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'Red River' is among our favourite rhodies, partly because of its late bloom time, partly because it is just plain beautiful!..... more below Could 'Red River' be our favorite rhodie? - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-75860622753972094802011-07-07T13:32:00.000-03:002011-07-07T13:32:41.076-03:00

The late magnolias....M. sieboldii and M. tripetala are favorite plants. Imagine the surprise when "tripetala" put forth flower buds this year. Check out the rest of the "story" below. A Magnolia surprise - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-70518035436941677682011-06-19T14:01:00.000-03:002011-06-19T14:01:38.116-03:00

Before June is behind us, a few azaleas currently in bloom.We are seriously behind in "blogging" this month!

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Here are some of the rhododendrons that are making life interesting these days.Some Late May Rhodies - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums Late May Rhodies Part 2

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A small dissertation on some of the early Rhododendrons in bloom the last week or two. Rhodie Season, the early part. - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

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A few pics of some early rhodies. We have been very busy getting ready for our annual Plant Sale this weekend. Hopefully we are pretty well prepared. Now we hope for a fairly nice two days.

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Plants seem to often continue growing year after year without much useful intervention from us. Most springs it is famous last words that say "we really should prune/trim/eliminate" that one. Such an out of control plant is a Barberry tree/bush which was getting very large and intrusive. I think I knew which one it was, probably the European Barberry(B. vulgaris). It has rather pretty, smelly

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Crocus groups are about at their best just now. A few of the very earliest are starting to fade. They will soon be joined by countless Glory of the snow.  Signs of those are with us now.

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-90958925297018376322011-04-10T16:55:00.000-03:002011-04-10T16:55:47.697-03:00

Today was a very lovely spring day, so I made my first foray to do a bit of garden work. I find doing a few necessary pruning jobs and some raking reminds my body it hasn't done this sort of thing for awhile. I take quite a casual approach. It is sort of pretending I am really not working! Bill has started his annual debris raking and will soon get the tractor and wagon going. Even though

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I have come to the conclusion that spring is a creature of habit. Looking back to other springs shows exactly the same things, the only variation seems to be the date certain things show up. I was looking at a blog post from a year ago.....other than the date being different, it could be a day from this year. Finding something new and original would seem to be a challenge. Not to say I don't

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I have spent a bit of time perusing pictures to pick out some candidates for prints over the last day or two. We don't get many done, perhaps a couple of hundred a year. It is still rather pleasant to have a "hard" copy of an image. We usually wait until there is a special offer at a retail printer rather than doing any "at home" printing. There are inevitably some rhododendron pictures chosen.

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-78874810023963592142011-03-31T15:31:00.001-03:002011-03-31T17:15:19.511-03:00

We have finally been blessed with a nice, sunny, relatively warm day. I decided to try for a walk through part of the garden out back. It is still an interesting mix of snow and bare patches. There is a lovely little patch of Crocus "Tricolour" blooming near the house. I guess you could call this a "circle of sedum" along the path.  The Octoberfest bed has a bit of one end bare so there

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Catalpa trees have been a part of our garden for several years. The very first effort to grow them came with seed Bill brought back from Holland. They turned out to be the Southern Catalpa(C. bignoninoides). They grew pretty well, but were and are very prone to winter kill. Subsequently they grow into a shrubby type of plant rather than a stately tree. Their huge leaves are a joy. We still have a

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We attended the Antigonish Garden Club meeting last Monday to give  a talk on Rhododendrons and Azaleas. We presented some of the varieties of both that are currently available to Atlantic gardeners, and added some information regarding cultural techniques. Here are some of the salient features of the presentation taken as screen shots from Power Point. Look for several links to external

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Spring is officially here as of Sunday past, but it has been a very cool few days and nights. The snow is slowly receding.  The snowdrops have fulfilled their role as the first harbingers of spring, with some crocus in a snow-free bed not far behind. James has decided to tap a few maple trees and make a little maple syrup. The theory being that Ava should know from whence the syrup for

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“Plants for Atlantic Gardens”                     Jodi DeLong We were privileged to receive an advance copy of Jodi's lovely new book to peruse and enjoy. Bill and I have read the entire book. We both agree it is exceedingly well done. Jodi should be very proud of her effort.  Being fairly experienced gardeners, for us it was a bit like meeting many old friends. The layout of

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I have been rearranging pictures at Photobucket. I thought this slideshow of Daylilies might brighten the day.

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This is the time of year we seem to be heavily into "seediness". We have just finished getting all the seed lots for the ARHS Seed Exchange cleaned, labelled and generally organized. The Exchange will be open in a couple of weeks and this years' list will be posted on our website. Our "home" seeds were also in need of some updating. One task which always pains me is actually throwing out old

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The New Year has come in with a mixture of benign and wintry weather. As usual, Monday gave us a mixed bag of rain and eventually quite a lot of snow. The mild temperatures lowered considerably, so this snow will likely be with us for a few more days. These views are towards the back arbor and out the front door.                                  We have been contemplating "

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This has been a more-or less green Christmas, with the exception of a few fleeting snowflurries....all that could change according to the recent weather forecast.>Stormy Monday could be upon us again. The dogs and I had a good walk around the garden today. In spite of winter there were many interesting things to see and actually admire. The combinations of green and brown seem quite pleasing

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I have been putting off "blogging" until we got high speed internet. That momentous event happened yesterday, so I guess I now need to play catch up. The fall is pretty much behond us, Christmas is looming, winter hasn't been too obnoxious yet, so I guess all could be said to be "well" I did a cusory rearrange of the Blog design, but I think it may need some serious tweaking. We have a new dog in

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Late August means our favourite bean is ready to be eaten. "Helda" is a romano type pole bean that has the sweetest, "beaniest" flavour of all the types we have grown.Bill has an interesting , rustic  set of poles for them to climb. (click for full size image)They soon do a good job of completely covering all the poles from bottom to top (and beyond). Here is the skeleton in late June.

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We have had quite a successful growth of basil this summer, probably due in part to lots of sunny weather. We have grown most of our basil in planters for the last several years, and seem to have better success doing so. These planters are located on our faithful potting table and get a reasonable amount of daily sun.We also have one pot on the back step which is handy for

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Early this Friday the thirteenth, the dog, two cats and I set out to pick a great assortment of floral material. It had been a very cool night so everything was very fresh and well hydrated. My neighbor had asked for some flowers to help her prepare several large arrangements for an outdoor wedding on Saturday. She didn't have to adhere to any great colour theme, so she will have a good time

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(Golden Stargazer above)This post to the CG Forum was done with a fair bit of griping! Slower than slow would be a good description. As if our "snaily" dialup wasn't bad enough, I have to turn off our dial-up accelerator to access and post. The season of oriental lilies is here and most are doing beautifully. It is proving to be a challenge to remember that I have to

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The first week of August seems to be garlic harvest time, and this year was no exception. Planting and harvesting garlic, not to mention eating it, is one of the favourite gardening pusuits. I was anticipating a very poor harvest this year. For some reason several rows grew very poorly. Most notable was the basic failure of the softneck variety. It was a pleasant surprise that several of the

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-46449795450740282852010-07-08T15:49:00.003-03:002010-07-08T15:55:18.622-03:00

Here are some samples of things encountered on a morning walk a couple of days ago...........via Canadian Gardening Forum.We are in the midst of a heat wave of sorts. It will hopefully not persist for too many days. some things from a July 6th walk - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-42523526209710534272010-07-01T10:25:00.006-03:002010-07-01T11:07:13.382-03:00

This weeks' rain gave many things a bit of a temporary droop, but the Beauty Bushes didn't seem to mind. Share some observations about that!Beauty after the rain - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening ForumsThere were many other things showing off this week. Lots of peonies that were , of course, laid low by rain. This is Festiva maxima in a typical pose!

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-78015263732319921512010-06-30T08:48:00.003-03:002010-06-30T16:22:22.285-03:00

This summer has blessed us with MANY Digitalis.We are having some mixed appreciation. They do make a good foreground for the Persicaria, which has its own lonely space. Share a few thoughts on digitalis. Deluged by Digitalis - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums This last day of June has seen things growing very speedily after a lovely rain. Overall June has been

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Summer is officially here according to the calendar. There are still lots of jobs to be done, but we  are getting there little by little. Regardless of what we do, the plants go ahead and bloom their heads off.  Share a few from the CG Forum post.Some first day of summer treats - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-38225904614617831212010-06-20T10:33:00.002-03:002010-06-20T10:38:15.717-03:00

Here is a post about some favourite rhodies. Sproeten and her sisters - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-80624084030380387982010-06-15T14:10:00.001-03:002010-06-15T14:12:43.505-03:00

This last weekend couldn't have been a better time to view azaleas here in our garden.A plethora of Azaleas - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-11876598467002154802010-06-11T06:02:00.009-03:002010-06-11T12:27:54.964-03:00

The bloom season for the rhodies and azaleas is in full swing. We have invited anyone who might enjoy them to come for a garden visit this Saturday and Sunday afternoon from~12-4PM. It often seems that people are more liable to visit if there is a "perceived" event. "Busyness" still seems to be prevailing here at The Willow Garden. If the cold nights ever let up, some of

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Spring is progressing and we are almost finished with tulips, but some are still very nice.'Chameleon' has been a very entertaining one this year. It will be interesting to see if it makes a comeback next year. Tulips seem to have a mind of their own wrt perennializing! Here is the lnk to a post from Canadian Gardening.Likely the last of tulip time - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-84465664782399095092010-05-18T07:16:00.004-03:002010-05-18T08:17:51.550-03:00

Spring has found us in what seems to be a frenzy of "busyness".We have just finished the marathon of Plant Sale preparation and execution. The very early spring meant we had more time to dig plants, and seemingly didn't quite know when to stop. All went well on the two sale days this past weekend, and we thank those who dropped by. Our next venture is a two part Garden Course on

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One of thousands of Glory of the Snow in bloom just now. The corydalis 'George Baker' seems to be the very first perennial to bloom here. We have another pinker one just out called 'Beth Evans'. It is new this spring. Our groups of Hellebores have been blooming very early and nicely this year. It is pleasant to see their foliage

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-84776214833260554232010-03-30T14:51:00.007-03:002010-03-30T15:37:37.036-03:00

This almost last day of March is wonderfully mild after a few very cold, snowy days. The snowdrops are looking a lot happier than they were a few days ago! Most of the recent new snow has disappeared and hopefully the forthcoming rain will be warm enough to remove the remaining patches. The edges of several beds in the back garden are still snowy.

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-43289545136160217282010-03-19T15:27:00.012-03:002010-03-19T19:12:17.662-03:00

Two or more weeks of functional spring-like weather has meant the emergence of a few of our harbingers of spring. Even though the untrodden path of snow presents itself....Dog, cat and I took a little stroll. The brightest of the bright as far as crocuses are concerned are these C. ancyrensis. They literally

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-716611110410248082010-03-12T15:55:00.006-04:002010-03-12T16:36:04.622-04:00

This winter we have accessed a site from The Netherlands called hirsutum.info which has been providing a gradual compilation of information on a very large number of rhododendron hybrids, species, azalea and other "rhodie cousins".Anyone can access the basic information.  There is an option to sign in to create an account where you can compile a "My Garden" area. Here you may choose from the

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-65274509380399299822010-03-06T12:23:00.009-04:002010-03-06T13:36:10.702-04:00

This is the first beautiful sunny day we have had in awhile. It seems possible spring might not be too far off. With temperatures just above freezing, the sap should be flowing today. The fine folks at Sugar Moon Farm in Earltown are likely "in business".All in all this winter has not been too onerous.February really went by without huge wintry incidents and temperatures were quite mild.Seed

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-80932824604668406942010-01-05T19:28:00.004-04:002010-01-05T19:48:29.103-04:00

The New Year has started and we were lucky enough to miss the brunt of a major storm. We have had some "unscheduled" flurries which have re-whitened our domain. The annual Seed Pursuits are starting.I prepared the first lot of seeds to be sent out today.The online list for the Rhododendron Seed Exchange will be the next task. Contributors have

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In the midst of this pre-winter cold, windy blast, we are busy getting our annual seed lists in some sort of order. The list for the 2010 Atlantic Rhododendron and Horticultural Society Seed Exchange needs to be submitted for publication in a day or two. I do hope there are no seed contributions that will necessitate a redo. The Order Form and little introduction "blurb" are ready to go. I

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-45498106418461253762009-11-18T14:49:00.006-04:002009-11-18T15:22:44.378-04:00

November is usually THE most unfavourite month, but so far it has been quite pleasant from a weather standpoint.The essential garden chores have been done.  The bulbs have been planted. The stray plants have been stowed in the "ditch" for the winter. The pots of peonies slated for our spring sale have also been "entrenched".We always have things that can be done , it

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-18403486313408393952009-11-18T14:30:00.002-04:002009-11-18T14:44:37.034-04:00

I just noticed this little box on I-Google. I very likely had it put here, but hadn't paid much attention. Expcect there isn't much flexibility from this posting standpoint. I did discover it doesn't recognize image code! An after the fact image insertion.

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October has ended and we are on the way to winter. Still lots of lovely vistas though. Quite a lot of changes in a week - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums Posted using ShareThis

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The annual begonia "harvest"  was accomplished(at least partly) October 15th. Not much different than usual, but we managed not to have early snow make things a mush. There were still lots of blooms, but things were looking a bit tired. Click for a pictorial of the process. Begonia Season at an end - Garden

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-74545573618316111782009-08-18T15:38:00.003-03:002009-08-18T15:43:34.407-03:00

Another "lazy" posting from our mid-August garden. Some other August miscellany - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums Posted using ShareThis

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Another little blurb to supplement this area on a very hot day. The many Oriental lilies are sending fragrance throughout the yard. It is amazing how far the aromas seem to spread.It is also amazing how many green beans are now ready. mid August Garden - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums Posted using ShareThis

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An excerpt from this 2009 Daylily season. 'Hello Dolly' is doing the intro! Some Daylily Progress - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums 'Silk'n Honey' and 'Pardon Me' below Posted using ShareThis

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Perhaps this can be inserted with one batch of "work". Annual Garlic Harvest - Garden Gallery - Canadian Gardening Forums Posted using ShareThis

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-35273383791288075712009-05-09T08:36:00.008-03:002009-05-09T09:35:06.326-03:00

We are very busy these days getting ready for our annual Plant Sale which will happen on May16-17th. I expect we are about 90% done with plant preparation, but there is still some logistical work to do.The garden is bursting forth on a daily basis. The Forsythia have been especially lovely this year.The first rhododendrons are in bloom. R. mucronulatum, April Rose, and good ole 'PJM' are making a

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-12304302507520566962009-04-16T13:29:00.007-03:002009-04-16T14:03:52.927-03:00

We could be talking about the weather, or our ability to get outside and do some spring chores. We were blessed with a few rather pleasant days, followed by the inevitable threat of snow, rain, real snow, and then cold winds. Last Friday we accessed our potato pit and removed part of the potatoes and the bucket of carrots stored there. It was a lovely day with lots of wonderful crocus in full

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-89767441370112322002009-04-09T18:32:00.012-03:002009-04-09T19:08:49.292-03:00

The Wednesday walk had lots of company. Jodi, Voodie and Slayer accompanied me on the stroll.Cats have a tendency to always be looking the other way. They are having a little "meeting" in the front perennial bed where today I found some actual flower buds showing on a group of HelleboresBoth have been spending more time outdoors than usual, but still want to come in and out a dozen times a day.

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-4174401372640955252009-04-08T10:28:00.010-03:002009-04-08T11:13:47.828-03:00

Before the last couple of wet days, we had a chance to look over the yard in the sun. Bill chose to start on the "pick up" of woody debris that is always a harbinger of spring here. Winter winds prune the birch trees all too well.The sun had the various crocus patches absolutely glowing. These Crocus ancyrensis hold the glow record" as far as I am concerned. It was lovely to see many other

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-42451628744876125762009-04-04T14:53:00.017-03:002009-04-05T11:34:26.651-03:00

High winds and rain have magically brought us a glimpse of "real" spring. Part of this day was spent doing a little transplant job of the first seedlings under the lights. Basil, parsley, petunias, thyme and Buddleia were moved to bigger quarters. Jodi and I had our first real walk about in the back garden areas. The lovely little patch of Crocus Tricolor are in full bloom. It is about

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-26681831245031021722009-03-31T15:21:00.008-03:002009-03-31T15:52:43.919-03:00

The last week has been pretty busy. We had a nice jaunt to the Garden Club in Prospect Bay Road.Bill took  some baby azaleas and rhododendrons for everyone to take home.The weekend had visiting and an outing or two.Ian and Gina were here. Ian was doing two concerts with Hector MacIsaac at StFX. He plays bass(and other things) with the group. This was the Antigonish debut of The Legend of the

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-27813258860942513552009-03-24T11:01:00.003-03:002009-04-05T11:34:55.911-03:00

This week has certainly taken a turn for the worse.White stuff everywhere.Don't think that even seedlings can take our mind off of this.Hope it clears a bit before our scheduled jaunt to Halifax tomorrow. We are to give a talk to the Garden Club in the Prospect Bay Road area.

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-87724468974421868712009-03-21T13:29:00.012-03:002009-03-22T16:19:51.451-03:00

Not the "springiest" sight on earth. March 20th has come and gone. Spring has to be more of a state of mind than a state of weather here at the Willow Garden.There has been enough sun and a few moderate days to partly rid the driveway and part of our pathway of treacherous ice.There is still a heavy layer on the path at the front which never gets enough sun to help in its demise. Time and higher

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-90821133586339394362009-03-15T12:59:00.010-03:002009-03-15T13:39:52.618-03:00

We have had a rather long recess from blogging. Winter seems to have a dampening effect upon the "creative spirit".This Blogger site has also proven beyond my patience in its slowness to load.Perhaps as the spring progresses, so will the possibility of eventually being able to get Highspeed Internet service. The days are lengthening, Daylight Savings has happened, and there are some signs of

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As of this date we have escaped any real frosty nights. Temperatures have been very close to freezing for the last few nights.The only evidence of chilling is some leaf damage on the cucumbers.I have been making a start at retrieving those plants that need to come indoors .Our pots of hot peppers are brought into the sunporch so they can continue to ripen. The three Brugmansia are not cold

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-55579221776690528932008-09-25T10:14:00.004-03:002008-09-25T10:29:07.106-03:00

During the last several weeks, we have had a very generous cucumber harvest.Most days I would find the occasional cuke that I considered too big, so these I heaved over the back fence.Our dog Jodi thought this was a fine game for a dog with some retriever instincts, so he would invariably go tearing off after the cuke; and, as often as not, bring it back.The last few days on our garden visit, I

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-30808767012454052242008-08-18T10:18:00.005-03:002008-08-18T10:27:23.204-03:00

Last Thursday proved to be a bit on the dry side amongst many wet days, so we decided it was time to harvest Garlic. It isn't such a big job, and is overall quite an enjoyable task.We grew several known varieties of Hardneck garlic, one group of unknown hardneck, and a few softnecks of unknown origin.In this wheelbarrow load are the named ones, and the softnecks.I just hose off the residual soil

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-889618947587263942008-08-09T11:53:00.005-03:002008-08-09T12:21:47.056-03:00

Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea) seem to make themselves very much at home this time of year, and we likely have a few more than we need in some spots(and less than we need in others). Most are simply variations on the theme from Echinacea purpurea. It is quite interesting to see the many different flower forms. We do have one of the 'Double Decker' types, but it seems to ignore the fact it was

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-79561032915960892732008-08-09T10:46:00.005-03:002008-08-09T11:53:23.615-03:00

This year we have grown some Castor Beans and three Brugmansia. Both are, of course, quite dramatic plants that from a sheer vigour standpoint make them quite interesting. The Castor Bean is one called 'Impala', a hybrid which doesn't get quite as gigantic as typical castor beans, but the foliage is a wonderful burgundy colour. The seeds came from Dominion Seed House.The new leaves start off

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-75790017017537808322008-08-08T09:27:00.005-03:002008-08-09T12:26:25.341-03:00

The oriental lily 'Barbaresco' is one of our favourites. A couple of years ago it condescended to make seeds, which were sown, and some actually grew. This summer we have a plant blooming from those seeds.It certainly has characteristics of the parent plant. Seedling(1st).....Parent(2nd) Now the bulbs should be moved to a sunnier spot than the nursery bed area they now inhabit. A lot of leaning

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-77384146888430794472008-08-06T10:46:00.013-03:002008-08-08T09:51:16.692-03:00

Lily season really began way back in July, but the most outstanding of our lilies are the later blooming Trumpets, Orientals, OrienPets, and several species. The very first Oriental types to bloom was our 'Golden Star Gazer'. The fragrance is amazing, and seems to have a "citrus" hint. We have no idea why it is so much earlier than the pink Star Gazers. Three weeks earlier to be precise. They

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-51274603508335614892008-08-03T11:29:00.005-03:002008-08-06T10:46:07.710-03:00

Time seems to fly once summer gets here in earnest.July flew by with no blogging done. It was for the most part a very hot, dry month for the garden, and the gardeners.We got rained on towards the end, which was a saving grace. Daylily season seems to dominate these days, but we are looking forward to a wonderful August display of Oriental type lilies.Each year we try to keep track of the daylily

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-81405827043338757492008-06-27T19:41:00.007-03:002008-12-10T06:36:42.907-04:00

The catch up for June continues. There are always many gardening chores for the entire month of June that one often wonders if they will all get done.Bill spent quite a bit of time getting areas ready for vegetables (here and there!), and plantings of Buckwheat. The potato crop looks quite good so far. The grass always seems to be needing a haircut. We finally got our "birthday" Pine

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-29033818759436169912008-06-27T11:21:00.005-03:002008-06-27T11:38:32.901-03:00

We had the unfortunate loss of our old golden dog '"Jake" on June 5th. He had been with us for most of his twelve years, and was a fixture throughout the gardening year.Reclining in the Glory of the Snow ...and beside the Impatiens bedChasing sticks was a life long occupation.....small and big......Helping with the fall potato storage....Winter was a sometimes thing.....indoor reclining was most

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The whole month of June has pretty much come and gone, and no blogging has been done! It was certainly not an uneventful month, but perhaps we shall have to deal with it in a few little "reprises". Early June saw us just at the beginning of rhododendron season, which was overall a bit disappointing due to the loss of flower buds. Winter played a nasty trick at some stage.R. schlippenbachii

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-65318789493437279092008-05-29T19:04:00.002-03:002008-05-29T19:18:04.587-03:00

The tulips seem bent on having me change "my favourite" designation.This new one called 'Akebono' bloomed in the last few days. I think it is quite spectacular. I was surprised at the height, expecting 18", rather than the ~24". Most years 'Ouilliles' is near the top of the list, and she still is lovely. Shirley's Dream is making a nice appearance....shown here with an oak trunk. This is a new

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-35249403155232752992008-05-28T10:02:00.007-03:002008-12-10T06:36:44.700-04:00

Mid-May seems to find the garden growing in leaps and bounds. The early rhododendrons are making their temporary splash. Several species rhododendrons are the first to bloom.R. mucronulatum blooms in pink and white shades. This is a seedling from 'Cornell Pink', more of a candy pink than the usual mucronulatum types.'April Rose' is perhaps the most vivid of the early bloomers. It is very

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-4126528871154088532008-05-28T09:46:00.002-03:002008-05-28T10:02:02.456-03:00

We had a very successful Plant Sale this year.It does monopolize our efforts in the early spring, but such is life. Bill even had to build a new set of steps, as the others had seen the end of their life.There were approximately 8oo plants prepared, and less than 3 dozen left. This is what was left . Even these have dissipated, as a few people dropped by after the sale days.We also had a few

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-81271612903849826992008-05-10T12:09:00.008-03:002008-12-10T06:36:46.935-04:00

It is a rather chilly day here on this Saturday, and the outlook is not nice . The weather forecasts .... "From Saturday Afternoon to Sunday Morning we expect 5-10 cm of snow and 25-30 mm of rain."Not the words we like to hear. Looks like tomorrow will be the day that gets devoted to some indoor transplanting.The tomatoes need some attention. There are also a lot of little Four O'Clock seedlings

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-24580466802563671942008-05-01T17:24:00.004-03:002008-05-28T11:09:28.897-03:00

Here we are at the first of May, rushing in with a cold rain that chills to the bone. We have barely crept above 5C today, and the drizzle is continuing.Our Days have been, and will be, spent getting ready for our Plant Sale that happens on May17th and 18th. Prior to that we are participating in a Member Sale for the Rhododendron Soc. in Halifax this coming Tuesday. The Member Sale for us is very

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-58826251621168164502008-04-23T19:40:00.005-03:002009-04-05T11:42:42.117-03:00

The last week or two has had us in very busy "spring-mode", so there hasn't been much blogging going on. Each year in April sometime we dig out the potatoes we had stored in a pit overwinter. Bill starts by lifting off the Tarp that has kept the insulating layer of leaves nice & dry. Layer by layer the leaves, a bit of soil, the metal cover, and the final boards get removed to reveal the stored

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-40064284513363192022008-04-13T16:31:00.007-03:002008-04-13T17:18:11.054-03:00

This last week has enabled us to get a fair number of early spring chores undertaken. Winter came very early last November, so there were some things that might have been done then that weren't.Bill has judiciously finished cleaning up all of the back garden areas, and trucked many loads of debris to the refuse pile behind the deer fence. My introduction to work in the spring is usually an

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-53267792289351497232008-04-11T10:46:00.005-03:002008-04-12T15:09:30.335-03:00

We have been enjoying several nice days this week, and the crocus took full advantage....popping up in many places...this early Crocus ancyrensis is among the most vivid. Without them things would be very dull. Various other patches were also doing their thing. It was the first day that I saw bees among the crocus. These paler yellow ones are called 'Romance' I wish the Snowdrops wouldn't

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-39120614547200561612008-04-07T16:16:00.004-03:002008-12-10T06:36:47.688-04:00

We have been blessed by two days of rather pleasant, if not overly warm, April weather. The wander about the garden has given some cause for optimism.Crocuses are in bloom here and there. This nice patch is usually ahead of the others.There are signs of noses in the Hellebore patch. It is still quite cold where these particular ones are. There would also appear to be a lot of work to do, but

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515121259234556093.post-73845744853914620312008-03-24T16:29:00.004-03:002008-12-10T06:36:48.437-04:00

We were blessed with a bright, if cold, day today. It is quite deceptive to have the warm sun, and then be presented with very cold air. The ground is still very firm, and temperatures are low enough that most of the Rhododendrons are still in "droop" mode.The first hint of crocus were apparent(slightly) in the little bed next to the house. They pop up here first each year, making their way

Sharon Bryson / Bill Wilgenhofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12387676083874602085noreply@blogger.com0