Pansies
As many of my readers put their gardens to bed for the winter, I stopped by a local garden center for some annuals. It’s easy taking our moderate California weather for granted having lived here so long. I do remember the frigid winter days in Ontario, Canada, but as a child, not an adult.
I enjoy reading gardening adventures from around the globe. It’s enriching. My friends in the Southern Hemisphere are busy planning spring gardens. To the far north, snow is already falling, and seasonal clean-up is under way. In the warmer climates, things are fuzzier around the edges, but the four seasons prevail.
In gardens everywhere, nature and nurture duke it out. Tiny little seeds arrive with imbedded DNA. Tuck one under some healthy soil, add water and sun and the seed will take it from there.
Sometimes, it is that simple. Often, it’s not. Birds vie for those seeds while small critters eat the seedlings. Insects take a bite out of leaves or host on tender stems. This can kill a young plant before it gets a foothold on life. Mold, fungus or unwanted pesticides from a neighbor’s yard can wreak havoc on a garden life.
Yet year after year, we gardeners garden. Like the tiny seed, we too have our own gardening DNA. I know gardening is in my genes. How about you?
Chrysanthemums
Halloween Countdown
Today’s pumpkin is brought to you by the letter “B”
Gardening Nirvana 
You know, I bet I’d have to learn how to garden all over again if I lived in California. Going out to buy annuals in the fall would be so different. I bet northern gardeners think it’d be an easy bit of business to have a glorious garden where the sun shines a good part of the year, I know I was guilty of that. Since I’ve been visiting Gardening Nirvana, I can see that you have all the same challenges (maybe more) that we do. It’s the ol’ “grass is greener” syndrome. I always loved my flower gardens but honestly, the break from yard work when winter came around was a relief. I see the joy you get from gardening 365/52 and think it’s really inspiring.
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Thank you so much for your always thoughtful and lovely comments. I do get a lot of joy working with plants. When I rented, I still found ways to grow things in pots on the patio or in windowsills. I had about 25 house plants that I took from place to place. I’m one of those odd birds that enjoys pulling weeds, pruning, raking, etc.
It is certainly less in the winter months (I don’t usually have to water the outdoor potted plants) and once leaves are off the two deciduous trees, their isn’t anything left to rake.
We have a tiny suburban lot,too, whereas your lake front property must have been a lot more work. I guess we all find the balance when we can in our corner of the world.
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You’re quite right… the gardening seed doesn’t germinate in everyone (and then only after a long time in many cases). Many people love to have a nice garden but don’t like the chores but, like you, I find the seemingly mundane tasks relaxing, almost meditational.
No matter where we live there are challenges – England has just has it’s wettest year for over a century but I know that parts of the US have had terrible fires and droughts so I’m thankful that we had the rain!! Loving the pumpkin Alys – B is for Beautiful (in it’s own way) x
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, PJ. It is therapeutic. I’m so happy that you’ve found your niche. It can be positively therapeutic.
I’m so glad we’ve connected here in the blogosphere. Let’s hope for moderation this year, less rain on your side of the pond, more rain on ours.
Have a terrific weekend.
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Let’s say you’re an exotic bird 🙂 Wow 25 house plants sounds like a mini jungle. I only keep two, and they are way up high because Petals refuses to let them alone. We’ve seen a few homes on our long hunt that have such great hardscapes in their landscaping. I’d like to incorporate more of that and compliment it plantings. I hope we can hire a professional to help.
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The only plant our kitties like is the lucky bamboo. Lindy got up on the bathroom counter now and again to help herself. The plant died after about a year though. Not so lucky, eh? 😉
I’ve been growing indoor cat grass for Sharon’s kitty KT and he devours it. I grow a new batch every week or so. We keep passing the little planting pots back and forth. I bought planting medium (it’s shaped like a brick, but expands with water) for about $3, and the seeds were $6. I’m down to my last few seeds, but I’ve been keeping him in grass for several months. Perhaps Petals would like some oat grass?
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Funny you mention that. I bought a little kit, it came with seeds and growing medium. I didn’t trust the munchins to stay out of it and put it out on the front porch to get max sun all day…silly me, I just ended up feeding the magpies…I caught one red handed and the kit was dumped everywhere. I know the kitties would love it, so I have to get more and maybe put it in our storage room window (they don’t go in there).
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Lucky magpies!
Putting in your storage room if it has light is a great idea. You could also greenhouse it with a clear bowl or glass till it was ready to eat. They grow really fast.
Please let me know how it goes.
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Now, why didn’t I think of that? Seems so common sense…oh no, I have Romney fever. I’ll take pictures of my kitties mowing the lawn.hehe.
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Romney fever! LOL.
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How is the house hunt coming along? It sounds like you’ve seen some fun places?
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Aren’t you thoughtful for asking. Sadly we haven’t been to a showing in over 2 months, seems no one is listing once school starts…we’re resigned to spend our second winter downtown or until something comes along. We’ll love the yard and not the house or vice-versa. It’s an exercise in patients.
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It’s a tedious process looking for the “perfect” house, or at least the house that will work for both of you. I know the market generally slows down from November through January here. People get settled into schools, then caught up in the holidays. Some things do make it onto the market: relocation’s, family deaths, divorces, etc. or even people who’ve been remodeling and then move into the new house.
I know you’ll make the most of your winter in the condo. Don’t be too discouraged.
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We are so lucky to be in a secure and comfortable townhouse and there’s so much going on downtown, so we indulge our pickiness. Housing is so expensivie here, we figure we should at least wait for something we’re in love with -vs- settling. Thanks for your encouragement. 🙂
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That is a very good point! Good for you.
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;0)
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