Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost

Winter Morning

                    We woke up to a winter morning in Denver, NC (17 Degrees)!

One week Away from Winter

My husband and I spent a week in the Virgin Islands this past week.  What a great relief from the winter weather.   Here are a few of my favorite pictures:

St Thomas beach on east side of island

Bougainvillea

Ixora

Ixora

Ixora

Bougainvillea

Frangipani

Sapphire Beach

Local Iguana

Bougainvillea at the Golf Course

SimplyLoveGardening is offering a free Bakers Rack Plant Stand in a Pre-Spring Giveaway

I have copied the links for the giveaway below:
Free Bakers Rack Plant Stand

Valencia Indoor/Outdoor 5-Tier Wicker Bakers Rack
Designed by International Caravan
Product Dimensions 69" Height, 31"Wide, 16 Deep

Tools for Planning Your Spring Garden

Here are a couple of great tools that I found on the Farmers Almanac site.  The garden planner has a free trial and then a minimal cost thereafter.    

Powerful Interactive Garden Planner

http://gardenplanner.almanac.com/

Planting by the Moon: 

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/

Preparing Your Soil for Spring Gardening

Clay soil is plentiful in our area and preparing the soil is essential for a healthy garden.  I have tried the local cooperative extension and received a report back through a website.  This did require going to the local agriculture extension office and picking up the forms and boxes.  After sending in, it took a few weeks to see result.  The report was free and the results were recommendations on fertilizers based on the makeup of your soil.  

Below are a couple of other resources that I like: 

1.     I found this detailed soil analysis at a United States Department of Agriculture website. They’ve mapped the country, analyzed soils and made the data available to all in a free detailed report. Click here to access it.

To use application click on the big WWS green start button; then click on address and enter yours. A map will come up of your neighborhood. Click on the AOI button and place the red box around your yard. Then click on the Soil Map tab and follow directions.

At the end, click on Shopping Cart to order your custom report. Download it immediately or have it sent later via email. It’s free.

Once you know your soil type or types, you probably will have to improve the ground before planting.

2.    Great directions on do-it-yourself soil testing is available at http://organicgardening.about.com/od/soil/a/easysoiltests.htm

How to Test Soil

Sitting by the Fire by J.R.R. Tolkien

“I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen
Of meadow flowers and butterflies
In summers that have been

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
In autumns that there were
With morning mist and silver sun
And wind upon my hair

I sit beside the fire and think
Of how the world will be
When winter comes without a spring
That I shall ever see

For still there are so many things
That I have never seen
In every wood in every spring
There is a different green

I sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago
And people that will see a world
That I shall never know

But all the while I sit and think
Of times there were before
I listen for returning feet
And voices at the door”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

Looking for the Right Fire Pit for our Backyard

One of the things that l look forward to this time of year is a fire in the fireplace on a cool night.  We have a gas fireplace in our home so there is no mess to building a fire.   We are thinking of installing a gas fire pit in our yard so we are looking at different kinds that are available.  Do you have any recommendations?  

Winter Birds

by Andrew Downing

Fair is the sky, for the cloud-rack is lifted--
Bright will the day be, though dark was the morn;
Warm was the morn, but the strong wind has shifted
Into the north--where the blizzards are born.
White coward mercury goes down to zero--
Darting about flies a veteran jay,
Braving the breeze, like a blue-coated hero--
Seeking his supper, I venture to say.

Neighbors pass hurriedly, mantled and muffled--
Great coats, and seal-skins, to keep out the storm--
Plump little quail, with their plumage beruffled,
Search in the hedge for a nook that is warm.
That latest blast from the boreal bellows,
Drifted some snow-birds the garden below;
Always their coming, the wise-acres tell us,
Tokens cold weather, and flurries of snow.

Warm sheltered corners the cattle have chosen,
Shivers the pine in its evergreen leaves;
Pools by the roadside in wrinkles are frozen--
Bayonet icicles hang from the eaves.
Five English sparrows, defying the weather,
There in the pathway a conference hold;
Ho! merry midgets in doublets of feathers!
Why do you rally out there in the cold?

Little you care for the riot and rattle--
Little you heed--let the mercury fall!
Brave little fighters, go on with your battle--
Here is a friend who will welcome you all!
Fly to my window--I'll feed every comer--
Hail to the comrades that constancy show
Loving and loyal, in winter and summer--
With us, alike, in the heat and the snow!

Andrew Jackson Downing (1815 - 1852) was an American landscape designer and writer.

Planning for the Spring Garden

As I examine the catalogs that keep coming in this month, I am planning and dreaming a bit about the spring gardens at my house.   One of my resolutions for 2014 is to become more eco-friendly.  The goal is to work with nature and not against it.  I have read that the ideal eco-garden is made up of native plants and often becomes a habitat for birds and butterflies.

I have a great bluebird house in the yard and we enjoy it through the year.  A nuthatch house and a birdbath are on the list for this spring.

Low water plants that I have had luck with over the past few years 

• Sedum
• Yarrow
• Lavender
• Salvia
• Juniper
• Yucca
• Holly

A great site to use for planning to landscape with native Plants: 

http://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=N   C

An article dedicated to landscaping for wildlife in NC:

http://www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/ag636_03.pdf

Help a Bird in Need of a Home

We went to a neighbor's New Years get together last night and enjoyed visiting with friends, sharing some good snacks and playing a little pool. 
Now it's time to concentrate on the New Year.  I am getting anxious to work out in the yard, but the weather is a bit chilly yet. 

While looking for some ideas on homemade bird feed, I came across an article about the NC Audubon Society's effort to provide homes for the Brown headed Nuthatches.  Urbanization has taken away some of the  natural homes of this tiny bird and they are in need of help.  I plan on putting up a house and will let you know how it goes.  For more information go to:  NC Audubon Society