Kaseys Korner

Amaryllis 'Exotica'

Opened the indoor 'bulb-blooming season' on Thanksgiving.

If the upcoming holidays are anywhere near as lovely, we'll be in for a treat.

Busy doing what many of you are also ~ packing up Thanksgiving

Above:  Moss covered terracotta pumpkins in cloche.

Below:  Berry filled urn & stone turkey.

Cornucopia

and moving forward to Christmas...

btw, Lucky am I to have already received a Christmas present!

Isn't it gorgeous???

My dear friend, MaryBeth thought I might like to have it early so I could use it!!  And I absolutely will!!!!  Thank you so much ~ you know me well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Pretty dishes & birds, what's not to love???

Having had that first taste of gift opening, I feel the holidays are truly "on!"  Not that I'm actually shopping or anything ~ it's too crazy for that!! But the decorating proceeds....

Edited to add:  In case you're interested, my gift is from Temp-tations (Cardinal 2 qt Baker with Figural Lid)

 

winterizing the apple espalier

After losing my weeping pussy willow standard last winter, I'm determined to have more success this year with the replacements standards & apple espalier (I'm not even sure you knew I had an espalier???)   We had an extremely windy fall/winter which may have been a big factor in that loss?? 

Whatever the cause, I don't want another repeat with more of my valuable plants, so I started researching (in late summer) steps to prevent more casualties.

Three 2012 additions ~ Apple Espalier, 'Miss Kim' lilac standard & David Austins 'Winchester Cathedral' standard ~ all concern me & therefore warrant extra protection (if for no other reason than my piece of mind!).

The Apple espalier has six different varieties grafted onto the trunk ~ Gala, Jonagold, Gravenstein, Braeburn, Macintosh & Fuji.  All are semi dwarf.

Each graft successfully bloomed & even produced a few fruit:

which were larger than we expected & quite delicious.

But I digress ~ back to the research!   Results concluded the best way to add extra protection was to wrap the trunks ~ especially at the point of grafts.  The easiest (& fastest) way is by using pipe insulation!

Perfect!  We like easy & fast around here...

Above, trunk wrapped, all that's left is a bit of extra detail to the graft points.

What do you think??  Will it work??  I sure hope so!

 

November color

Aside from one October snowstorm, fall of 2012 has been exceptionally nice.

We've enjoyed very few windy days, beautiful foliage, sunny skies:

& relatively warm temperatures.

Conditions ideal for coaxing the few lingering blooms to hold on and even produce a few new buds ~ like the scabiosa below:

Sweet Alyssum began blooming in April, had a lull during the heat of summer but really came "on" with the cooler temperatures of Fall.

Perfect weather for bulb planting, compost spreading, leaf raking & plant inspection. 

Buds on the tree peonies were found during the latter, a happy day indeed...

This weekend brought a second snowstorm with lows in the teens and a high today of 30.  Cruel reminders that winter is impatiently waiting.

I've been fretting over the Oranda's added to the pond (on impulse) this summer.  Concerned they are not hardy enough to survive the cold like their counterpart koi & common goldfish.  A decision is imperative...

The weather is forecasted to warm again this week.  Enough to rake a final round of oak leaves & finish up remaining garden tasks. With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away & the holidays closely following it will be time to move the gardening indoors.

which, as you can see, has already begun...

Election night 2012

A personal note as I watch the incoming election results.   Feeling so many emotions....

I feel lucky.  

Lucky to be born American where a peaceful voting process is the norm.  To vote without threat of persecution or retaliation is a not a right to be taken lightly.

Above:  Aquilegia 'Blackberry Pleat'

I feel grateful.

Grateful to the women who went before me.   Making it feel like going to the polls is a "given" when I know very well it's been anything but. 

In my lifetime, voting has always been a choice.  I never choose not to exercise that hard earned right...

David Austins 'Jubilee Celebration'

I feel excited.

I'm a resident of a swing state (Colorado) which makes me feel like my vote is all the more important.

Above:  Eurasian Collared Dove on birdhouse tuteur.

I feel proud.

However the night ends.  We have a democratic process, we all get a say. 

If we don't like what's going on, the power of our collective voice can create a change.

Above:  Miniature Rose 'Cupcake'

Did you use your "power?" 

I feel relieved. 

That the political phone calls and campaign ads will cease.  Whew!

Above:  Primula 'vialii'

It feels like it's been a loooonnngg election.  I wonder how the candidates feel???  They must be exhausted.... 

Props to them both for having the fortitude and conviction to run. 

Above:  Rufous hummingbird.

I feel hopeful.

I always do. 

I don't know why? 

Sometimes it's a state hard to maintain but without it, what do we have????