The October Sky

 

One minute there’s a smidgen of sun in the sky and within seconds, the leftover rainy remnants of Sandy push through; hampering storm clean-up and diligent work crews. On this last day of October, keep your resilience and stay safe. Just one word of caution: don’t take on what's better left for the professionals like removing dangerous, precarious trees. For the rest who dodged this storm unscathed, have a safe and happy Halloween.

Pema Chödrön’s quote sums it up best. “You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.”

Image by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Just One

 

Whether it is through the Red Cross or your own ability to reach out to someone who needs assistance from the aftermath of this ferocious storm, remember Mother Teresa’s words. “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

Image by Greg Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

What is Important

As the brunt of this powerful storm hovers over us, remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “For it is in giving that we receive.” Yes, we are all hunkering down but remember that your home is but a possession. Take care of those around you; your family, your neighbors and do not forget your pets. In case you need some hurricane tips for ensuring your own safety and the well-being of your pets, here's a pdf link.  http://www.mass.gov/agr/news/extras/2012/10-26-12.pdf
Pray we all remain safe.

Images from Assisi (One year ago today) by Greg Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Franken What?

 

You know the drill. It’s time to prep for what could be one of those unpredictable New England storms. The weather folks are calling it something frightful, Frankenstorm, which is certain to get the supermarkets and hardware stores buzzing. It's a search for batteries and gadgets, milk and bread. Don’t miss out. There might be a sale on Halloween candy if the storm hits the way the meteorologists predict, which is sometime Monday-iish for New England.

But let’s not take it lightly. There is lots to be done so don’t underestimate your outdoor chores. It’s always recommended to be prepared for any nasty weather and checking your landscape is always a priority. So without question, all that outdoor furniture should be stored away or secured but don’t overlook those newly planted trees. If it wasn’t done already, make sure all are properly supported with guying systems. If a guying system is installed, check its tension – not too tight, not too loose. Make sure any drainage areas like gutters aren’t stuffed with autumn leaves including storm drains at the bottom of your street. 

And as always, as you hunker down, if Frankenstorm should hit, it’s important to notice such things as wind direction. This past post http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2011/02/brain-freeze.html regarding winter storms touches upon the importance of wind direction and what you can learn for future plantings.

As Dale Carnegie reminds us, “First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst.”

Images by Ann Bilowz  (Past photos that just seemed to work!)

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

All about Red

 

According to the color wheel pro, “Red is a very emotionally intense color. It can bring text and images to the foreground. If used as an accent color it can stimulate people to make quick decisions.” And last but not least, the color of this season, “Reddish-brown is associated with harvest and fall.”

Most aren’t bold enough to use red as a predominant color in a garden design but when it comes to this season of turning colors, it’s all about red. Consider one of my favorite Maples. If you like the reddish-brown color of fall, it’s the Acer griseum, Common name, Paperbark maple that gives you colorful texture and interest all year round. You have to love its cinnamon colored bark, which is by far one of the top reasons to plant it plus it can handle zone 5! And for those of you who are humbugs about fall, grimacing and bellyaching that all in the garden is but gone, consider what Friedrich Nietzsche poignantly said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” Make your landscape pop year-round!

Images of Acer griseum (Paperbark maple) with its red fall foliage by Ann Bilowz

P.S. You can also do a blog search (left hand corner ‘search’ button) for past pictures and tidbits on this spectacular four-season tree! And if you need more info or details, there's always the feedback button. We love to hear from you, too.

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Wednesday’s Camera Roll

 

It is wordless Wednesday. And as James Dewar once said, “Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.” So let’s stay open to what’s left in the garden.

Otherwise, Charles M. Schulz reminds us that, “Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.”  I think there's a bicycle in there somewhere!

Images by Ann Bilowz 

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Starting From Seed

Alice Walker starts off our Tuesday morning with this profound insight. “And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see - or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.” So the simple question for today is what seeds will you plant today?

It's up to all the garden lovers to encourage the next generation about the simplicities of seeds, flowers and trees. Forgo the blisters from raking out the perennial beds, the veggie patch and cleaning up the fall leaves. What makes you get outside to plant, dig and weed? If you love to garden, it’s time to plant these seeds with the next generation of gardeners. And for anyone (including the 30 something category) that doesn’t like to get their hands dirty, here's a great link for everything you wanted to know about starting from seed. www.ezfromseedorg Try the top 10 easiest plants first. ‘Hand down a creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see.’

Top images of Sunflowers from the summer garden by Ann Bilowz
Bottom Image of a bee in the fall Chrysanthemums by Ann Bilowz 

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

A Reason for Blueberries

 

Whether it’s growing in the wild or taking shape in your backyard, there are seasonal reasons to plant blueberries. Consider taking the blueberry plunge and make it part of your edible landscape. 

In spring, its flowers are exquisite. During the summer heat, we get to enjoy the tasty fruit. When fall comes around, we admire its brilliant red foliage. And in winter, its cane color makes a white backdrop come alive.  Some berry good reasons to consider Blueberries as part of your overall design theme. Make it edible and colorful. 

And as the English Poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley pointed out, “There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!”

Images of Blueberry fall foliage by Ann Bilowz        

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

The Garden Perspective

 

Bring sunshine to the paths you travel.

And on those days you encounter grey, bring color, not the usual shades.

 

As Jonathan Lockwood Huie poetically said,
“Whatever you do, do with kindness.
Whatever you say, say with kindness.
Wherever you go, radiate kindness.”

As stewards of the garden, always maintain a bright perspective. Just think of all the places you can light up! 

Images taken yesterday, a beautiful New England fall day by Ann Bilowz     

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Thursday’s Garden Tidbit

 

Want to make the most of your fall weekends in the garden? Get it winter-ready for the potential of any storms. One tip many gardeners often overlook because we concentrate on clean and neat is taking the extra time to check the soil conditions and balance the soil moisture before the ground freezes. Exposing plant material to extremely dry soil conditions in the winter can cause stress to what looks like an otherwise healthy plant. Ensuring the deeper root system is plenty hydrated becomes critical as the season changes. Even after plants drop their leaves, there is still a fair amount of root growth and activity. This one small tip helps new plants be a less susceptible host to disease and insect attacks during the following growing season.

So before you winterize your irrigation system or put the hoses away, make sure all your plant material is in tip top shape - hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. And to celebrate Herman Melville’s 161st anniversary today, let’s take a quote right from the creator of ‘Moby Dick.’ “Is there some principal of nature which states that we never know the quality of what we have until it is gone?” Don’t lose what you just planted. Keep your material fresh and healthy all winter long.

Dare I ask for any predictions on this upcoming winter’s snow amounts? 

Images by Ann Bilowz (Cokie had to be today's star of the blog post!)     

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

2+2

 

Two images, two quotes for this wordless Wednesday. Best advice: engage with the outdoors and enjoy this stellar New England fall day.



Kahlil Gibran once said, "Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." 

Or as James Oppenheim reminds us, "The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet." 

Images of Ben engaging in nature by Ann Bilowz
P.S. This just happens with Ben. The 'living in the moment' dog always gives the best advice for this wordless Wednesday!

 If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Dream in Color

 

Need to get jazzed up by some fall color? Worried that the planting season is slowing down? There’s still time to take a nursery run. With plenty of healthy plant material waiting for a home, local nurseries croon for those last minute shoppers.

Fall is that perfect time to fill any wide gaps in your outdoor spaces. Whether it’s trees, shrubs, woody plant material you’re tracking down, there’s plenty to pick from and color abound. If you do plant shop at this time of the year, you can easily get carried away with the bargains. Just follow these tips from the Annie archives when you make your final purchases.

Check the materials closely. A low price doesn’t necessarily mean a good, quality plant. Take extra precautions with inspecting all plant materials. Avoid root-bound container stock. Inspect all foliage for health and vigor. Always look for good structure in any woody plant material. Avoid anything that shows signs of insect or disease problems. Suggestion: go to a few nurseries for comparison purposes. Healthy plant materials stand out and problems become more apparent.

To wrap up this Tuesday blog post, an anonymous quote works perfect with today’s image. “When your life feels black and white, make sure that you dream in color.” Before you know it, garden colors are soon to be snow white!

And check out our Facebook page for details on a Design New England Salon Series event where Greg is speaking tonight on 'Color and Light.'  There's already a full house but it may not be too late to register for this free event.

Image of Korean Maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum) in full fall color by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

A Late Fall Surprise

 

Still resting in the midst of the Fennel, waiting to bloom – it’s a butterfly. Or rather, it’s a caterpillar waiting to fly. It seems a bit late for this. But it certainly is a wonderful late fall surprise. Maybe this serves as a reminder as George Carlin playfully pointed out, “The caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” Enjoy your Monday and look for your fall surprise! There’s bound to be one waiting in the garden.

The other Monday reminder: the fall season is meant to plant your bulbs, Peonies and garlic, too!

Image of the last of the Butterfly Blooms by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

The Sounds of Autumn

 

Sometimes in the midst of October, the birds sing but not to find a mate. Those songs are kept for springtime when the mating calls are loud and clear; it’s one of the beautiful signs of spring. It’s unclear to me why the birds in the back field belted out their tunes so loudly this morning but it was as though there was a story to tell. Maybe it was the words of the Native American leader, Tecumseh repeating something we should all know.

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks,
the fault lies in yourself.”

Take it from the birds on this gorgeous but chilly Friday morning. Enjoy the beautiful stretch of fall garden weather coming our way. And if you see no reason to be thankful, take a moment to listen to the fall song of the birds. And if you want a quick learn on birds, check out this Cornell University site. You can even download a tune for your phone.  http://www.allaboutbirds.org/

Top Image by John Harding (BTW -  a Bird Migration blog to follow) http://btomigrationblog.blogspot.com/
 (I’m just not skilled in getting those beautiful shots of birds with a smartphone.)

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Crystal Clear, Frost in the Air

 

With these crystal clear blue skies and changing leaves come the cooler temperatures. And if you missed last night’s weather warnings, a chilling frost is heading this way. Which means all those delicate plants, including houseplants you brought outdoors must be carefully transitioned inside to a new warm, sunny place. Here are a few tips for indoor plants posted on our Facebook page last night. http://blog.gardenmediagroup.com/2012/10/tips-for-bringing-your-houseplants.html The two biggies - transition slowly and check for bugs.

 As Cat Forsley reminds us, "What we give our attention to – stays with us. What we let go of – will let go of us." Time to transition the annuals, the tender herbs you just can’t part with while other plants willing or unwillingly become part of the compost.

Images by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

The Last Wink of Flowers

 

Yes, it is wordless Wednesday. So it shall be a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote and the last of the garden flowers to fill in the words for this rainy Wednesday.

“Never lose an opportunity to see anything that is beautiful. It is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, every fair sky, every fair flower. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too!http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Hands Down, it’s Liberty

 

If you’re into baking, tasting and cooking with one of fall’s most delectable treasures – apples, than hands down, Liberty takes the prize. This disease resistant apple is not only crunchy and sweet but it makes some of the best baked apple goods. Although this crunch master has been around for a while, it’s a quick Tuesday tidbit for those who still think Macs or any other variety takes its place. So look for Liberty at your local apple haunt. Pick up some seconds and get cooking. As Will Rogers reminds us, "I tell you, all politics is apple sauce." Which, by the way, is a great way to use Liberty, too; making apple sauce, that is. Can it for the winter months; apple sauce goes great with a roasted dinner accompanied by fresh potatoes stored in a cool, dark area from the summer garden.

Top Image of Liberty Apples by Ann Bilowz
Bottom Image of a recently made, half-eaten Liberty Apple Pie and freshly canned Liberty Apple Sauce by Ann Bilowz

Thanks to Clearview Farms in Sterling for the tasty fall treats!
http://www.clearviewfarmstand.com/
Great apple cider and warm cider donuts, too!

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Too Early for Mittens

 

If you want to know how to identify this ambitious native, Sassafras albidum in our New England woods, just think about mittens. Simple little tricks like this can help you identify plant material.

While this morning’s chill may have you contemplating a pair of knitted covers for your paws, let’s enjoy the beautiful fall foliage dotting our landscape. Whether you are celebrating this holiday as enjoyment or work, take heed to the words of one of my favorite inspirational speakers, Leo Buscaglia. “I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things... I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.” Because as Christopher Columbus once said, “Riches don't make a man rich, they only make him busier.”

Image of Sassafras albidum by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Fall Travels

 

As the long weekend arrives on our doorstep, it’s about this time we notice the transformation of leaves changing from green to shades of yellow, orange and hints of red. Finally, a tiny stretch of sunlight is coming our way to enjoy the magnificent changes of autumn taking place. Make your outdoor travels safe and remember, as Thomas Jefferson pointed out, “There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.” I particularly love to walk in the woods at this time of year. There’s so much life beneath the understory.Transformation occurring everywhere!

Image by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Cut and Paste

 

On this drizzly New England morning, when the clouds are heavy and grey, get out those glue sticks. It’s the perfect day for ‘Cut and Paste’. Why wait for a winter storm to snow you in? Let’s call this first Thursday in October ‘Garden Collage Day.’ Get visual with what you want in your outdoor space. 

What’s needed? A collection of your favorite garden magazines accompanied by a willing spirit to start clipping what inspires you. There’s always Pinterest or other online garden candy for gathering some awesome images, too. And if you need a zippy refresher course on making poster board collages, turn off the smartphones or whatever other electronic devices are getting in your way. You can peruse an ‘Annie Archive’ written last winter to inspire you and give you some additional design clues. http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2012/01/collage-to-live-by.html   

So rather than watch an old flick or rerun on TV this evening, find that quiet space mentioned in yesterday’s post and then clip, paste and create! As the famous French filmmaker, Robert Bresson once said, “Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” You are the artist of your outdoor space!

P.S. For any folks not stuck in the damp and grey, get out and enjoy your outdoor space and snip some pictures of your current garden area for a creative facelift on a rainy day! This collage activity can also work for an apartment balcony or an indoor sunny space. 

Image to help you set up your collage ‘cut and paste’ space by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Wordless or Quiet

 

You decide. Yes, it’s wordless Wednesday but perhaps we can call it ‘Wednesday’s Quiz Question’ instead. Where is your quiet space? Maybe it’s a stroll through a garden or park when no one else is there or contemplating a beautiful piece of art in a museum, or discovering that first apple blossom in the spring air. Should you need a little assistance this Wednesday morning, Norton Juster provides us with a few suggestions. 

“Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn? Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends? Or perhaps you know the silence when you haven't the answer to a question you've been asked, or the hush of a country road at night, or the expectant pause of a room full of people when someone is just about to speak, or, most beautiful of all, the moment after the door closes and you're alone in the whole house? Each one is different, you know, and all very beautiful if you listen carefully.” In all the noise of this busy Wednesday, find time for you and your quiet space.  

Image of a colossal Coleus with Amsonia and Daylily foliage in the background by Ann Bilowz

It's the best splash of color I could find on this raining morning in the garden.

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Rose Tips from the Hip

 

While the last of the Rose blossoms still bring a colorful shout to an early fall morning, it’s just another reminder that the leaf debris must be cleaned from the plant beds. And before you tend to the garden equipment before a winter’s sleep, the Roses will need mounding before the first frost sinks in beneath its roots.  Just what you need today - another fall garden chore list to peruse. Yes, a post from the archives including a link on mounding your roses, too. http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2010/11/garden-chatter.html

As Hephzibah Menuhin pointed out, “Freedom means choosing your burden.” So if you choose to garden, what must be done, especially before the first snow flake falls could be considered freedom or burden. There’s always a garden list to chip away at, despite the season; be it winter, spring, summer or fall. 

Image by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, hope you check in daily. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie P.S. You can now follow with visuals on Pinterest, too! http://pinterest.com/bilowzassoc/

Subtle Changes

 

Winston Churchill once said, “If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.”

So if you haven’t been paying attention, the subtle changes of fall surround you. And at any moment, especially in New England, you can be hit with that point more than once. It only takes a light frost to damage the delicate, fragile annuals or take out those last few standing tomatoes that struggle to hold on. So while these subtle changes may be moving slowly through your city or town, don’t let them hit you with a ‘tremendous whack’. Best for gradual progression; chip away at the fall to-do lists. Here are a few links from past blog posts so you can ease into the subtle changes of fall rather than have it hit you all at once.

http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2010/10/time-to-pull-plug.html
http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2010/10/to-do-or-not-to-do.html
http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2010/12/yards-annual-checkup.html

You can find more of these nuggets by using the blog’s search button but these links should give you a head start and an ending point, too. In the interim, make time for a cup of the delicious fall cider from your local apple stop because just around that subtle bend - winter garden chores to boot! 

Images by Ann Bilowz
 
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