Author: Joy Hurt

Gardening is a constant flow of learning. Each lesson imprints important information that you should remember from that point on. Lessons on life, perseverance, and faith cause one to draw on patience and a positive attitude. Just when you think you have the whole thing figured out, something changes.

Last Week’s Lessons—–

1. Lady Bugs have wings and will easily fly away when you release 500 of them from a tiny cup. Without tiny brands on their butts, your neighbor will enjoy your tiny little predators.
2. Aphids feeding on roses treated with systemic insecticide will disappear quicker than your Lady Bugs.
3. LB’s left to feast on aphids will leave when the aphid supply dries up.
4. The hundreds of birds attracted to Winterpast with food, water, and wren-tals (bird houses — rental — wren-tal — get it?) find LB’s a tasty treat. Basic biology and the food chain.

And so it goes. I never understood those lucky souls who claim to purchase Lady Bugs each year and find them to be beneficial. If you already have Lady Bugs in your yard, it’s good and bad. The good is that they are there. The bad is that there’s enough for them to eat.

APHIDS!!! EWWWWW!!!

This years Lady Bug experienced ended up as a big fat loss of $17.00.

When thinking about benefiting from this cute little bugs, remember that the larval stage is the one that does the majority of the feasting. If you are lucky enough to have larval Lady Bugs, it means they like your yard and will stick around. Otherwise, don’t waste your money. It’s a romantic idea that doesn’t always work well.

On to the Praying Mantids. This little experiment turned out to be a dud, too. Another $17.00 down the drain. Their hardened-foam egg case is gorgeous. It’s comfy on its little bed of sawdust. It’s been laying there for one week now. Nothing. Not any sign of life. A complete dud.

Buying Insect Beneficial’s can be pretty tricky. There’s no guarantee that the store took care of the insects as instructed. Whether my egg case got too hot or too cold, something happened to prevent the hatching of the tiny little Praying Mantids. Very disappointing. I’ll give it another week, and then, the nursery owner and I will have a little chat.

I wish I could say that I KNOW the microscopic nematodes took off and are thriving. We followed the instructions to the letter, soaking them for exactly 50 minutes in three gallons of water and then watering them in under our apple trees. Not sure that we’ll ever know if they took off to do their work. I’m choosing to believe that they’re killing Coddling Moth Larvae as we speak.

On a happier note, when Miss Lady Bee, (teacher of all new BEEK’s), came to see our hive, we had some important questions. Would granular Bayer Systemic Rose Food and Insecticide hurt our hive? To our excitement, we learned bees don’t like roses and won’t be harmed in the least. Happily, we gave each rose a dose of food and aphid killer. Pretty sure that finished off the remaining Lady Bug we had left. The roses sure look great as they begin to bloom.

HHH has been enjoying the manly-man chores in the yard. After planting eleven new roses, he’s spread about 100 bags of bark here and there. He’s on top of watering, while looking for broken sprinkler lines and emitters. From dawn ’til dusk, he’s out there dreaming up ways to make Winterpast even more of a show piece than she already is. The gardens have never looked so beautiful.

With a family reunion for 75 guests coming up in August, we have our work cut out for us. The seedlings are maturing and some are even blooming now. I still have a hard time believing I grew four outrageous tomato plants from tiny little seeds. They are so healthy, they put the store plants to shame. Similar plants in the garden center are now priced at $20.00 each.

HHH and I will be embarking on a new adventure starting August 4th. With our deep love for gardening, we’ll be returning to college. We’re now enrolled in the Home Horticulture Certificate Program, which is a prerequisite to becoming Master Gardeners. Co-ed honeymooners. Absolutely delightful.

Whatever you do today, remember that when you stop having new interests, you begin to decline. There are so many wonderful hobbies to enjoy in this world. Find something that interests you and run with it.

More tomorrow.

God works in mysterious ways.

Yesterday, HHH and I decided it would be a great day to make a huge batch of spaghetti sauce. We usually cook enough to make lasagna for the freezer. All day long, the house smells wonderful, while we pack a full day in the garden. Dinner is a simple as boiling some noodles and broiling a bit of garlic bread.

Here’s the recipe for the World’s Best Lasagna sauce. I only know it’s the best because the internet told me so at the top of the recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• ¾ pound lean ground beef
• ½ cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

After browning the meats, mix everything together in a pot, allowing it to simmer all day. Then, use it for spaghetti or lasagna, whichever you prefer.

After discussing it, HHH and I decided to double the recipe, making sauce for the freezer. After running to the store, the sauce was already simmering when I left for Bible study.

Many of my Harvest Sisters were missing yesterday. Some had to work, and some had more pressing issues at hand. The final head count was three. Some days are the perfect opportunity to get to know each other better. I love those days.

As we sat talking, we discovered that a brand new sister had some pretty pressing issues of her own. Rather overwhelming. A loved one lays just this side of heaven and a husband that’s feeling under the weather. As we visited, our fearless leader had a question as she looked into my eyes.

“Just what is Harvest Sister’s about anyway, Joy?”

I got her message.

Immediately, I asked our new friend whether she could use dinner delivered later in the day.

Her answer without pause — “Yes”.

Husband’s favorite meal?

“Spaghetti.”

God has a sense of humor, doesn’t he? At home, on my very own stove, a double recipe of spaghetti sauce sat simmering. A double recipe. I had fresh French bread in my car. Plenty for both families.

If the man’s favorite meal is spaghetti, let’s give him spaghetti! And so it was.

Always remember —

The feeling of being able to help someone in need is healing. How simple to share a little spaghetti when someone is having a tough time and a Meal to Heal might brighten their day.

While visiting, we covered a lot of ground yesterday. From parents to kids, every day stories shared knit our church family together. How blessed we are to have found one another in this crazy world. Everyone should have such sweet Harvest Sisters.

Lasagna is in the freezer for another day. Our spaghetti dinner was fantastic, as well as the dinner we delivered, which was so appreciated.

Whatever you do today, think about the friends and family you know. Is there someone that could use the surprise dinner? Or a vase of flowers from the garden? Life is short. It’s nice to share.

More tomorrow.

Sometimes, something happens, so unexpected and horrible, no words comfort the grief that follows. That very something has fallen upon our little church family on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada, affecting all of us very deeply.

I’ve been in love with my Harvest Sisters for a year now. Every Monday, we meet to study more about the Bible, while learning more about each other. Every Monday, we discover more ways we are so similar, and yet many ways that we stand in different stages of life.

There are some of us that have already experienced widowhood and everything that goes along with that journey. We are a group of mothers, some having decades more experience than others, but all sharing motherly love for our kids. We are daughters, sisters, aunts, and best friends. Some need to miss once in awhile because of work schedules, while others are enjoying our retirement.

Our biggest similarity is a shared love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, precious Son of God. He’s the reason for everything. It is faith that ties our hearts together as we study and grow in our understanding of the Bible.

Sometimes God’s will isn’t something that we can understand or accept. Our faith and beliefs are tested while experiencing unthinkable loss.

One of my sisters lost her son last week. Hearing news of this yesterday, almost a week had passed. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting this young man, (24 years old), if he belonged to this loving and kind friend of mine, he was someone very special indeed. He was her baby still, even after more than two decades of life.

My beautiful Harvest Sister, I love you so deeply. In shock, tear-filled sadness and grief are packaged into prayers of love, comfort, and strength for you and your husband.

Take very good care of yourself right now. If you need to talk, call. Your Harvest Sister’s are all here waiting to help. Hug tight your family and friends and know that everyone loves you dearly. For your sweet son, best prayers for comfort and peace surrounded by angel wings and lullabies.

I send you love.

To my readers, if you are so inclined, please pray for my Harvest Sister and her family. As I send these words to the universe of the internet, my readers have the power to provide prayer-filled comfort and love to a stranger that needs it so badly right now.

More tomorrow.

Last week, HHH came back from the hardware store more than a little upset. Unbeknownst to me, he had planned to buy 500 lady bugs as a surprise. Destructive insect pests had disturbed the tranquility and peace at Winterpast. Aphids are prolific and destructive little creatures, so we were brainstorming bee-friendly ways to get rid of them.

Back in the day, I would’ve suggestive 1/4 cup of systemic rose insecticide under each bush. Unfortunately, we now have 50,000 friends that will visit every plant we grow. In killing the aphids, we might be killing our bees, as well. Insecticides can’t be this years’ answer to aphids.

When HHH was telling me about the empty shelf that only hours earlier had held Praying Mantids AND Lady Bugs, he mentioned another biologic on the shelf. He didn’t know what it was, but it wasn’t Lady Bugs, so it really didn’t matter.

As it turns out, they were selling nematodes, or microscopic worms that live in the soil and attack Coddling Moth Larvae, which will attack our apple trees. Well, every garden needs some of those. I hope they get along with the worms we dispersed about a month ago.

Yesterday, we needed a few items. It’s dangerous for us to visit the nursery together. Along with 25 sacks of brown bark, we found six gorgeous roses. If they hadn’t been so healthy and beautiful, we could have refused. As our garden grows, we are running out of room in a quarter-acre back yard.

After making some phone calls, we found a nursery 30 minutes to the east still had some Lady Bugs AND Praying Mantids. Off we went. Of course, they had Portulacas, too. One of the must-have’s of any desert garden, HHH says they remind him of a bubblegum machine. That they do. Eighteen little plants were added to our purchase.

Private nurseries are such a fun place to visit. With knowledgeable owners and beautiful plants, we’ll be returning to this one. We could buy 500 Lady Bugs, but, by spending only $1 more, we could get 500 Lady Bugs AND Lace Wings. Both extreme predators, our aphids wouldn’t have a chance. Along with them, we purchased a Praying Mantid Egg case, which will first hatch on my desk and then be moved into the yard.

Yesterday was a busy day. We moved 14 bags of bark onto our Memorial Garden. We increased our rose bush count by six. We continue to see more and more Swallowtail butterflies floating about the yard. The hummingbirds continue to dive and fight for their place at the feeders. And, Oliver continues to heal from his dental ordeal while waiting for his beloved Wookie to return.

We did discover that dispersing Lady Bugs is a bit like nailing Jello to a tree. The minute the lid was opened, hungry little bugs came charging forth. As the Zephyr winds raced through the gardens of Winterpast, I hope some of the bugs fell into the rose bushes to feast on our fat selection of aphids. If you aren’t much into bugs crawling over your hands and arms, you might want to forego this experience. I prefer our quiet little bees any day of the week.

After all that, HHH had the energy to cook BBQ baby-back ribs, rice, and a 2024 zucchini. How lucky that he loves cooking and that I love cleaning up the kitchen after a good meal. Another way we’re a great match.

Whatever you do today, think about pests in the garden and natural ways to control them. There are so many new and natural methods on the market. It doesn’t always take a dose of chemicals to control pests. Sometimes, the natural methods are more colorful and certainly more dramatic.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a long time, you already know I love classic movies. There is something about the grainy film and orchestrated music that makes my heart sing. As the days around here get hotter and hotter, my afternoons may be spent watching a few of my favorites.

A typical day at Winterpast will find me gardening as soon as I can make noise, usually around 8 am. By 10, it’s just too warm. Getting older every day, I find the heat drains any extra energy I have. Those warm afternoons are great for housework or crafts while a classic movie plays in the background.

After 68 years, I can’t say I have a favorite. There are so many, it would be much to hard to choose just one. I absolutely love Alfred Hitchcock. Clint Eastwood’s held my attention for longer than I’d like to admit. And then, there are the romantic comedies of the 80’s and 90’s, which might be considered classics by now.

Every few years, I find the need to have a “Godfather” marathon. There is something so mysterious and alluring about the life of gangsters. Especially those coming from Sicily. I can hardly believe it came out when I was a Junior in high school.

HHH loves John Wayne and any good western. Good thing we have that in common. When we married, the similarities in our individual movie collections were a mystery. How could two people have so many duplicates of favorite movies? He also owned many that I loved, but hadn’t yet purchased. Between the two of us, we now have quite a collection.

The golden Age in film began in 1927, with so many great films produced in 1939. My personal 1939 favorite will forever remain “The Wizard of Oz”. Growing up, there would be a special spring night when television channels (of which there were three), would show the movie. Just once a year. There were no videos or computers on which to play the movie at will. On that big night, bedtimes were ignored as we all sat around the television in awe of the amazing story.

Until we got a colored television, I never know Kansas showed in black and white, while the Land of Oz was in flaming technicolor. Such an amazing development in 1939.

Characters in classic movies inspire us, like John Wayne in The Quiet Man. They’re relevant in a timeless way, even though they may have been filmed decades before. They’re often filmed in beautiful locations we’d all like to visit. These movies maintain a fan base, while gaining new fans as time goes on.

One thing is for certain. Classic movies are special and the ability to watch the greatest actors of all time is a true gift.

So, whatever you decide today, you might want to take time to grab some popcorn, a drink, your favorite chair, and relax with one of the greats. Heck, I won’t tell if you spend the afternoon with Clint. I’ve been know to do the same. A classic movie is memorable, makes an impact on society, and withstands the test of time. They’ll remain loved for generations to come.

More tomorrow

Some parties end well, and some don’t. Oliver’s had a “ruff” time of it since he returned from puppy camp to an empty house. When he left, Wookie wasn’t feeling well. He couldn’t begin to understand that in one week’s time, she delivered six wooklets and took a trip across the Sierra’s to California. Heck, he was off enjoying his own party.

The first two days at home, HHH and I wrote off Ollie’s depression to loneliness. The house IS pretty quiet now. We feel her absence, as well. But he continued to be very somber.

Monday morning, while enjoying my coffee, I caught a glimpse of him from the side. Ollie missed his last visit to the groomer, so his fur is longer than usual, hiding the true curve of his neck.

Oy.

Vey.

A huge lump covered his entire lower jaw. Tennis ball sized, the first thing I suspected was a bee sting. First, we tried was a dose of Benadryl, which works on pets as well as humans. As the morning went on, the lump was growing, not affected by the medicine in the least bit.

By 1:30, it was obvious Oliver needed the immediate help of a vet. HHH got right to work and called Wookie’s vet, who practices one hour to the east. Thankfully, we were granted a small miracle, as there was a cancellation at 3 pm. We were off.

After looking at Oliver, the vet concluded that the most probable cause was an abscessed tooth. He’d start him on pain meds and antibiotics. He advised us that Oliver needed his teeth cleaned, ASAP. If there were any bad teeth, they’d be pulled under anesthesia.

It just so happened they had a cancellation for the next day. How lucky we were to be taken in so quickly by a vet that had never seen Oliver. Oliver had been overweight for some time, so he’d been dieting for weeks. We found that he’d lost five pounds to put him at a mean and lean 23 pounds.

After hours of waiting for news, Ollie returned home minus three abscessed teeth. The swelling will take some time to go down. After an afternoon meal, settled right into his very own bed. HHH bought him some wonderful canned food to enjoy until his wounds heal.

Although we all miss Wookie tremendously, things worked out for the best. Ollie will need this time to heal and rest. He’ll be ready for her when she returns to us in June.

During the exam, two puncture wounds were discovered from his time at the kennel. Those didn’t help either. Sometimes Oliver is too mouthy for his own good. While we were at the vet, he didn’t bark or growl at anyone. Maybe he learned a good lesson.

After everything was said and done, we needed to settle the bill.

Dental Cleaning, three extractions by a veterinary surgeon, pain meds, antibiotics, anesthesia, and micro-chipping. Medical services from 7:30 am – 2:30 pm. No IV’s.

Total due — $568.

We did what any dog owner and lover would do. Thank the wonderful staff, pay up, and take our precious pup home. Thank goodness it wasn’t more serious or expensive than it was.

So, that’s the latest news from Winterpast. I may need to change Oliver’s name to Gummer. For now, he remains the prestigious Sir Oliver of Antworth Hall. Just don’t ask him to smile for pictures any time soon.

More tomorrow.

No doubt the bees take center stage around Winterpast these days. With our prolific queen and plenty of nursery space, the population of bees around our house has increased. These bees are quiet and kind. They are curious, but respectful and so far, no one has been strung.

The Bee Lady stopped by Sunday evening to enjoy dinner and some conversation before checking out the hive. Months have gone by since we first decided to keep these interesting insects. During that time we’ve learned so much about the art of bee keeping. The easiest part was purchasing all the supplies. It takes years to understand why a particular colony does what it does.

The Bee Lady is helping two new BEEKs (short for Bee Keepers) with our new hobby. So far, we haven’t had any questions, as the bees are doing what bees do. Every morning, they begin their day. Around 2 pm they are the busiest. Watching the consistency of their work schedule, we’re beginning to know them a little bit.

Yesterday, there was a bit of a scare. The first day in the 80’s, a large group of bees were hanging off the front of the hive. This is called “bearding” and is totally a normal thing. While stationary, they beat their little bee wings, creating ventilation for the hive.

We did need to move some of the down-stairs’ brood frames upstairs’ so the queen gets the idea and moves to lay her eggs there. They are still eating pollen patties and syrup provided by us. I guess HHH and I belong to the Bee’s, as well as the dogs.

Last week, while looking around the yard, I decided the bird houses were pretty shabby. No one moved in last year, probably because I didn’t clean and paint. At any rate, I figured out how to open the houses this year. Oh. My. Goodness. They were full of feathers, grass, twigs, and leaves of past families. No respecting bird would want to move in there.

With a fresh coat of paint and plenty of room, we noticed a finch that took a liking to the place. He sat on the chimney guarding his find for some time. Several times, he went inside and then back out, telling everyone he’d found a nice home for his family. Soon, we’ll be able to tell if a family will again occupy the Wren-tal.

Of course, with HHH around, the birds have everything any bird would want. There are feeders brimming with only the freshest bird seed. The hummingbird feeders are topped off with a 1:1 simple syrup. All the trees are watered and fertilized to provide habitat. Everything is ready for our new families.

Along with the birds and the bees, we have butterflies. And then, there is the SQUIRREL. Not an adorable grey tree squirrel with a fluffy tail. This is a dirty little ground squirrel. HHH has lived here since the 1900’s, and never has he ever seen ground squirrels living around these parts. Never. Why is Winterpast the place to which they would move????????

We did have a pest control guy who was canvassing the area. He was so worried for us that when all the other houses are treated, the bugs will move to our house. (Not the way bugs work.) Well, did HE bring in the squirrels to drum up business? Not sure about anything in this day and age.

Hopefully, now that Oliver is back from puppy camp, he’ll make sure the squirrel finds another yard to bother. Ours is full enough.

If you’re not sure about gardening, think about hanging a bird house or feeder outside. (Unless you live on the Central Coast of California, where things like that are frowned upon.) It’s fun to watch the hummingbirds chase each other like flying saucers from another planet. And who can resist a Mourning Dove and their mournful calls? Life is a beautiful thing!

More tomorrow.

Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious.

On September 2020, a very sad, lonely, and new widow was clawing at anything and everything to keep afloat. After 32 years of marriage, she was alone in a brand new town. In a dream, it came to her that she should write a little blog to help others. She would call it “Grieving Gardener” . By doing this, she ultimately saved her own life, while amusing others with her words.

That “she” was me.

What a journey it’s been! Walking alone through the wilderness of widowhood isn’t an easy thing to do. With only a little dog at my side, a new road stretched out before me. It was up to me to write my own script and then, star in the leading role. Looking back, some things were hilarious, while other ideas were left by the wayside. Some of you have been there, along for the ride.

My readers were my reason to keep going. Those of you that contacted me if I missed a day here or there will be forever remembered. I chose to get up at 4:30 am for years to let the universe know I was still here, even those my husband wasn’t.

In the beginning, I knew nothing about writing a blog. I didn’t even consider myself a writer. I just remembered something a professor had told me long ago. Don’t worry so much about the grammar and spelling. Just tell the darn story. That’s what I’ve tried to do. Tell the story in the best way that I could.

Through the years, I’ve discovered much about blogging. I’ve learned that no matter how many programs you add to your account, you still need a story to write. I’ve also learned the value of something isn’t in the dollars you earn from it. While finding a place to share the most personal details about losing a best friend and mate of 32 years, I began to find my authentic self. The one that I’d lost track of over the years. Self acceptance was a priceless gift I gained through writing.

In the beginning, I’d squeal if I had ten daily reads. I’d carefully write down IP addresses and look up every one of them , learning where my readers lived. Slowly, without fanfare, I picked up a reader here or there, until, I found I was read in 80 foreign countries.

In my fifth widowed year, I no longer consider myself a Grieving Gardener. These days, I’m Glowing, or Glorious, or just Glad, Always and forever a Gardener, but not Grieving. At some point in the healing process, one accepts. I’ve accepted what is. With that comes peace and a huge amount of comfort. It’s impossible to move forward in life without acceptance and release of the past.

In the midst of widowhood, I met the most wonderful gentlemen who was also a Grieving Gardener. Together, we decided to figure out the rest of our forever. Whatever may come, we’ll make the best of it. If our seedlings fail, we’ll plant again. If the rains come, we’ll share our umbrella. When the worst happens, together, we’ll find our way. Each day, we celebrate our miracle born in the midst of two tragedies.

Today, I celebrate 1,000,000 reads. Although I can no longer track every single read (due to a website malfunction), I’ve averaged the daily reads for the last six months. In doing the math, TODAY is the day to celebrate a huge accomplishment.

It seems like only yesterday I celebrated 250,000 reads with Bible Study friends. I awarded myself the Golden Pencil award and they gifted me a beautiful tiara to commemorate the occasion.

When I reached 500,000 hits, I bought myself the Lego Typewriter Kit. (Something I’d wanted for quite some time. ) I even bought the light kit.

But, 1,000,000 reads?.?.?.?.?.?.

There really isn’t a physical item to mark this milestone. I just want to keep writing life as it unfolds here at Winterpast. It’s celebration enough to share this milestone with all of you on this lovely spring day, May 13, 2024.

You can accomplish anything you put your mind to. It takes patience, perseverance, faith, hope, and a positive frame of mind. If I could make it through the Wilderness to the far away meadow of Wonderful, so can you.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. I couldn’t have done it without you.

More tomorrow.

Warmest greetings and best wishes to all the mothers out there! What a well deserved weekend to be pampered and spend time remembering. Mothers handle the heavy lifting of life. This is our weekend.

Here at Winterpast, we’re celebrating the fact that Miss B is out of the hospital and safely back home. As the mother of five boys, she’s earned her place as the Matriarch of the family. We’ll be spending the weekend making sure it’s perfect for her as she continues her recovery.

A special Motherhood Award 2024 goes to Wookie and her six little Wooklets. One week old this morning, they are healthy as they continue to be a very vocal bunch. Wookie hardly leaves their side, caring for their every need. She’s a wonderful mom.

Without other news, here are some pictures of the projects we’ve been working on at Winterpast. Very rarely, I include actual pictures. Today is the day. These are from the gardens of Winterpast and I send them to you with best wishes for a gorgeous weekend.

Mother’s Day is a great day to enjoy some flowers. Enjoy

Back Yard Patio — Left

View from our patio. These plants came from various trips to the hardware store when we couldn’t resist the lure of the garden section. Columbine. Gerber Daisies. Lavender. The very tiny orange Marigolds to the left of the screen were from seeds. The tulips are from bulbs we received as wedding presents. They are planted with a purple pin-cushion plant, which is one the bees love to frequent. The beautiful plant in the cedar planter is Foxglove (Digitalis).

Cherry Tree

This cherry tree is a favorite of our bees. The seedlings above are growing into respectable plants. The alyssum seedlings are starting to bloom. These tiny flowers will feed the bees later in the summer. Four small cherry tomato plants will provide snacks on hot summer days. The interesting red cement tubes are actually painted geological core samples.

Garden Shed and Green House — Potatoes and Seedlings

Three oak 1/2 barrels are full of potatoes. The planters are full of of floral seedlings, including Calendula, Bachelor Buttons, Cosmos, and Shasta Daisies.

Patio — Right

Our beloved bees live behind the chain link fence, built to keep Oliver and Wookie away. The plants in the greenish pot are marigolds, raised from seeds. The bulbs by the flamingo were wedding gifts. Such a thoughtful present for aging honeymooners as they start their life as man and wife.

Greenhouse/She-Shed

Our precious greenhouse! We haven’t named her yet, but this is definitely my She-Shed. 10′ x 14′, it’s the perfect size for two to work. The shelving came from a close-out sale at Walmart. The winds did remove the back window, which now provides for the perfect amount of ventilation for our little building. Our plants are thriving under the 70%-sun-blocking-shade cloth.

One note of caution. This greenhouse continues to be an extreme project that has taken patience. Unless you are living with a craftsman, consider this project a long time before attempting it. Although this looks serene and gorgeous, many hours of repairs and redesign have gotten us to this point. Remember, the price of the greenhouse is only the beginning of a very labor intensive and expensive project.

Garden Bed of Seedlings

This box was last year’s purchase from Costco, deployed this year. The middle section is full of Black-Eyed Susan’s which will grow rhizomes and return next year. There are also Dwarf Sunflowers on each end, Lupine, Echinacea, Bachelor Buttons, and Siberian Wall Flowers. (48 sq. ft.)Our “Banyan” Apricot Tree

Our “Banyan”/Apricot Tree

This is the most beautiful apricot tree in the world, which holds court right in the middle of the Gardens of Winterpast. She’s 20 years old. To Carson’s Apricot Angel from the West — Be ready! We have another bumper crop.

New Seedling Bed

A newly planted bed of seedlings, including Zinnias (regular and small), Echinacea, Sunflowers, and Marigold’s. A few unknowns were planted for fun. For this project, HHH used our small, electric roto-tiller. Not every project needs a farm size tool. This bed is approximately 25 sq. feet.

Our Memorial Garden

Last, but not least, our Memory Garden. Two Japanese Maples, a Rhododendron, and some bulbs were planted in remembrance of our loved ones. It’s nice to have a shady place to rest in the afternoon.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour. I promise to include pictures during the growing season so you can watch our gardens grow!

Happy Mother’s Day!

I’ll be back on Monday!

Life with the Wookies is changing every day. They’re a vocal bunch, always humming away whether eating or sleeping. Sometimes it sounds a bit like whining, and others like a bit of singing. You always know if something isn’t quite right. Then, they squeal like the house is on fire until they’re happy again.

These littles will be going to the very best homes, so they need to start photographing early. These days, people find everything on the internet. Even adorable puppies. Many of the earlier Wooklets have their own Instagram followers, living life large on Ventura Beach California. Yes. Only in California are dogs internet influencers.

While HHH gardening yesterday, I decided to try my hand at puppy photography. It did help that they’d just finished eating and were a bit sleepy. Before I even started, I had a theme in mind. Gardeners. Little Gardeners. I found the smallest pots and tiny tools that I could find. Of course, they all needed washing.

Advised to photograph pups on something white, we scurried off to Walmart to find a blanket. Better than that was a fuzzy white bath math marked down to $.25! How lucky was that???

Avoid all shadows when professionally photographing anything. With care, I set up overhead lighting and prepared the white bath mat. On the mat, I placed a galvanized pot of my favorite Johnny-Jump-Ups (one of the few plants that wasn’t grown from seed this year). Two empty pots completed the gardening scene. I was ready for my first victim. I mean puppy.

Well, this puppy was not having the pots, or the bath mat, or mom’s absence. She squealed in distress until Wookie came to the rescue. Nope. I wouldn’t be starting with that one. Angry as a little hornet, she was returned to her nest.

Off to the side, one slept soundly. And so, the process began. The secret is to swaddle the pup with your hand until they go back to sleep. With one deep breath, she was off to dream land and I could position her in which ever way I wanted.

I’m not sure that I got them all photographed, as there were some minor hiccups along the way. Nobody was happy about being placed in a plant pot, so that cute idea went out the window. What I did find was a tiny little basket that served as a puppy bed. Once cuddled inside that, they were out.

Adorable.

Now, I have twelve absolutely great pics locked inside my phone. No matter what I try, they will not transfer to my computer. My second best plan was to share them all with you. Unfortunately, they aren’t shareable with anyone right now. Being a better writer than puppy photographer, it’s back to the drawing board for me.

At this writing, they are screaming again, hoping that mom will come in from the garden. They rarely stop eating and are growing like the weeds of Winterpast. HHH and I marvel at their ability to cry and eat at the same time. These are a healthy little crew of Wooklets.

Tomorrow, they’ll be one week old. How fast they’ve grown and changed already. In a few days, it’ll be time for them to head for California. Until then, I’m off to figure out another theme for their next photo shoot.

More tomorrow.