You should...

You should plant paperwhites now. In the humdrum of winter you won't regret having fragrant flowers blooming in your home. You can get bulbs, like these Ziva Paperwhites, already pre-chilled at your local nursery and they will bloom in 6-10wks or you can pot them up, like I did. I put these or hyacinths in the fridge and take the pots out 1 week at a time to have a succession of blooms over winter. Pre-chill for 9-14 weeks. Occasionally check on them and give them a little water, but not too much so the bulbs don't rot.

Wrap in a plastic bag, close the box & tape shut.

Check on them every couple of weeks.

When the tops start breaking through you'll need to pull them out.

You should...notice Fall right now. It's been spectacular. Cool temps, no frost, good rains.The colors are outrageous.

 Dogwood.

Pond by Foggy Bottom Refuge

 Cups of spiderwebs in the Asparagus

Devil's Walking Stick- Aralia spinosa

 The sky and the leaves oh my!

 Nature watch with Smokey

 Panicled Aster

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum

Harebell in the wheelbarrel

Drummond's Aster

Blooms after Short's Aster

 Symphyotrichum drummondii

You should....buy from the end of the season deals now

Tent sale= Mr Poppins Winterberry bush $10

and 6 Blueberries, $2.75 each. 

You should go outside and see something that you've never seen before. 

Notice.

Climate Strange

Just a pictorial view of the day. It's my birthday. It's January 6th and it is 68 degrees outside. It's officially Climate Strange. I got to hike and work in the yard today AND I got very warm and had to strip down to my tank top. Ridiculous. Views of the day:

 Nero Kale. Made some awesome Kale, Pumpkin and Tofu lasagna for dinner last night with this gem of a plant.

Overwintering Rosemary. Window overhead. Concrete blocks behind and old afghan to wrap up with on cold nights.  Not pretty.

Brussel Sprouts looking good.

Alpine Strawberry- planted itself in the concrete block hole. Must plant more of these lovelies, including in the landscape.

Marjoram NOT happy with the nights in the teens and 20's. (front right)

Deformed turnips- grown too close together. Still very tasty.

Witch Hazel in bloom.

Garden Companion 1- Smokey illustrating the use of cardboard to keep weeds out of the paths.

Companion 2- Kiki. Notice the blanket to protect the green onions. 

Today's Hike: Stemler Woods

Rattlesnake Master

Sycamore bark is so cool.

Liking the lichen.

Shelter me.

Green with envy.

Who's there?

Happy 2012 everyone!