Wordless Wednesday: And it SNOWED

It snowed and it snowed and it snowed some more. To be honest we weren't prepared, yeah they said we'd get snow and I thought we might get light flurries. I....was.....wrong. The kids loved it, I hated it,the driveway got shoveled. Ikkk. Course now I hear it might snow again. I'm so hoping this is wrong. Either way look at that wonderful white stuff, it's fine on the computer, I no longer like

The Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame Contest

Have you entered in the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame Contest yet? Yes, you know the battery with the Energizer Bunny, the pink one. Yep that's the one. Currently you can enter the contest by nominating someone you know that is just like the Energizer Bunny. Honestly I thought of a few people but one friend really stuck out to me, that friend is AskewToYou. This is one woman that is

Spring Fever: Do You Have It, Too?

It's a good thing that I am a freelance writer with a flexible work schedule! It is difficult to sit inside an office (like I did for 32 years) when the sun is shining and the temperature is nice and warm. Perfect weather to be outdoors. I'm outdoors so much right now that I'm even struggling to sit down and blog!

The Musician and I drove out in the countryside yesterday to Hillsborough to shop at the Multiflora Greenhouses. It is too early to plant annuals, but the grower is so popular that the annuals will be sold by May. We picked up a flat of impatiens and ageratum, plus a few individual pots of coleus, fuschia, strobilanthes and a hanging basket of begonias. The annuals will stay on our warm front porch until the danger of frost has passed.

On this morning's promenade in our garden we found the daffodils, jasmine and akebia blooming. The winter daphne is still holding on to her blooms that began in December! The Japanese maple leaves are starting to unfurl. The Japanese and Siberian iris foliage have grown several inches already this week. The echinacea are sprouting leaves and I have monarda and bog sage spreading out in all the right places in the rain garden. The salvia 'Black & Blue' are showing tiny green leaves, too.

What shall we do today? The Musician and I are going to walk a mile to catch a free, UNC bus instead of trying to drive into town and find parking. We're going into Chapel Hill to meet our pharmacy student son for lunch. We'll walk a few miles from campus each way to our downtown lunch spot. It will be a beautiful day on Carolina's campus where the spring trees are in bloom. By the way, if any of you are basketball fans, make sure you watch the UNC Tarheels in the NCAA game on Saturday night! Go Heels!

What are you doing about your case of spring fever? I know that all gardener's have it right now!

Story and photos by Freda Cameron

My CVS Trip

Yes, I went to CVS again today, they had a new ad and I had a ton of coupons about to expire. For those of you that have been buying the Beauty Magazines (CVS one) you can use them today with their BOGO deals on nail polishes. Our cheapest was the $2.49 but when you pair that with the $3 off you make money. Course with CVS you can't go below zero so you will have to make it to $0.00 or higher for

Moving Water, Wildlife and Plants

After several days of rain, the garden is sprouting green. There are a few plants in my garden that like water all year and take to being planted directly in our water feature.

We keep the waterfall running year round. Our temperatures dip can down to 11°F in the winter, but the water doesn't freeze because it's moving. This enables us to provide a place for the birds (and other wildlife) to drink and bathe year round. The morning sun hits a shallow section of the stream that is within a few feet of a bird feeder. The birds have made a little path between some shrubs where they walk from the feeder to the stream. The large frogs don't like this shallow section, so they aren't a threat to the birds.

The bullfrogs are plentiful in the deep end of the stream by the front porch. The water there is too deep for the song birds.

I've not yet seen our one remaining goldfish this spring, so I don't know if the Great Blue Heron, who can wade in the deep end, has been snacking again or not.

Because the water is constantly moving, all plants have to be anchored in the rocks at the edge. Pots can be submerged and anchored with weights to keep them from floating away. Since the stream is shallow in most places, I've not found the pots to be concealed well enough, so I have removed those from the water feature and planted directly in the rocks. I have to put large rocks around the plants until they root. Once the plants develop a good root system on the rocks, they are very stable.

This year, I'd like to add more plants to the water's edge. Since our stream is fairly narrow, I have to select plants that won't rapidly take over the stream. The calla lily in the waterfall is growing rapidly. This calla was planted three years ago and has already been divided numerous times and shared with friends. Since it takes to division so well, a sharp knife (and a lot of strength) keeps it under control. New leaves sprout from the cut roots, so I don't have to be careful with the plant - it's tough!

At a previous house, I grew Louisiana irises, so that's a good candidate. Iris versicolor is another possibility. Since my stream is man-made and not natural, I can control this area and not introduce species that will invade any natural streams - always a concern with planting anything.

Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Politically Incorrect Trees

Over the years certain trees were favoured for quick shade or aesthetics.  However, some of these trees are no longer considered eco-friendly.  Rather than planting one of the trees listed consider planting a more appropriate tree for your planting zone.  If you already have one of the trees listed on your property consider replacing it with a more appropriate tree.Norway maple (Acer platanoides)

Spring Snow Storm hits Home

I swear they get some really strange weather out here in Missouri. I never would've dreamed of a snow storm hitting after the groundhog already appeared, but sure enough that is what happened this morning. Last night we got some really cold weather, this morning I awoke to the trees having ice hanging off them.Course as you can see by the picture above it began to rain. But then it began to....

Earth Hour 2009 Reminder

Please remember to turn your lights off for one hour beginning at 8:30 PM tonight in celebration of Earth Hour.  Voting with your light switch will create a strong mandate for our leaders to make positive and decisive action on climate change in Copenhagen.  Please vote with your light switch!Happy Gardening!Garden Gnome©2006-2009

Earth Hour 2009

Happy Gardening!Garden Gnome©2006-2009

Inspired by Spirea

For flowering shrubs that are small enough to tuck into a mixed border of perennials, I use a few spirea in my full sun, deer resistant, zone 7 garden. The bloom and leaf colors work well in my color scheme.

There are so many spirea that I can't begin to give you a good summary on performance since I have only three varieties. At a previous house, I grew Spirea japonica 'Shirobana' (Japanese Spirea) that had pink and white flowers. However, the deer picked those blooms so I didn't plant that variety in this garden.

Spirea x bumalda 'Magic Carpet' (correct me if this is wrong as the shrubs weren't labeled) and spirea japonica 'Neon Flash' have performed well with minimal deer sampling of the flowers. The sampling seems to occur on the re-bloom in August rather than the more bountiful blooms in early summer. The summer leaves don't seem to be of interest and since these are deciduous shrubs, there's no winter damage. Although deciduous, the spirea are among the earliest shrubs to leaf out in the spring.

The 'Magic Carpet' starts out with rusty orange leaves that give way to green-gold as the deep pink blooms appear in May through June. It's a short, mounding shrub and hasn't exceeded 18" in the three years that it has been growing in my garden.

I have another spirea japonica 'Golden Elf' that I grow for the bright leaf color as a mounding ground cover. 'Golden Elf' quickly grows to 1' x 2' for a bright splash among darker leaves. It looks great as a companion with nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' in bloom with blue flowers.

My favorite spirea is 'Neon Flash' as the darker green leaf color and the deep carmine blooms make it a great companion for agastache 'Cana', echinacea 'Ruby Star' and salvia greggii 'Dark Dancer'. I also have monarda 'Blue Stockings' and 'Raspberry Wine' as well as chives growing in the section with the 'Neon Flash' spirea. This is the spirea that inspired my color scheme of shades of deep pink, magenta and blue.



Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Giveaways

WriterSpace, a place to catch up on all your romance authors is giving one lucky reader an Amazon Kindle 2. But you must sign up before April 1st, no fooling. Course if you are into romance books you should check out the 100s of authors there that are giving stuff away. You can find Autographed books by Catherine Anderson, a $25 Amazon GC from Barbara Bretton, $75 GC to Victoria secret and so

~*Thank You, Thrifting & Spring Tweaking*~

Hello again dear blogging friends...first of all I want to thank those of you who left well wishes for the kittens' surgery. They have recovered well and were so glad to get home. I don't think I ever posted pictures of them before so I thought I'd show you what they looked like when they were a month old.

The kitten in the front is Bubba (the only boy), Lil Mama is the Calico (she looks like Mama Cali), and Chewy is in the back. Below is Tinkerbell, Tink for short (she was the smallest in the litter). I'll try and get pictures of them now at six months old. They are my buddies. Every morning they are on the porch waiting for me to go to the barn to feed them.
Now on to my thrifting finds and tweaking! I found these milk glass goblets for .99 cents a piece. I'm not really sure they are goblets, but I don't know what else to call them. I may use them as candle holders.

I also found this small apothocary jar for .49 cents...I added faux eggs in pastel colors.

Would you believe the eggs in this nest are candy? Yep they are...they're the Cadbury eggs I've been buying to nibble on.

I've been tweaking my hutch in kitchen. I love sugar bowls and found this one thrifting, too. It was $2.99.
I found this stand at the thrift store several years ago and never used it. I never knew what to do with it and I saw on one of the blogs I visit that they had cups and saucers on theirs...I wish I could remember where I saw this idea so I could give the wonderful blogger credit (if it's one of my dear followers, could you please let me know...thank you!).

I added these little rabbit figurines to the hutch. They were thirft store finds from several years ago.

I was needing to see some green around my home so I picked up a few new plants on my excursion...

Do you remember this milk glass container from several posts ago? It is now home to a lovely little violet.

Another flower for an old crock...

As always, I appreciate your visits very much...thanks for stopping by!

Time After Time: Daylily Joan Senior

Gardeners quickly learn that one of the easiest perennials to grow is a daylily. The adaptable daylily (hemerocallis) grows in a variety of soil and sun conditions. I've grown them in partial shade to full sun in moist soil and average soil. Most daylilies are suitable for zones 3-9.

When it comes to color, there are pink, red, purple, yellow, white and orange... and many hues and shades for variation. The lily bloom can be different shapes. There are short, medium and tall daylilies. With a bit of timing, you can have daylilies in bloom throughout the summer.

What makes a daylily rank high with me? Repeat blooms on the same plant. Stella d'Oro (which I have) is the most commonly grown for repeat blooms, but the gold color makes it a bit more difficult to use with some color schemes. Stella works best with deep purple. 'Happy Returns' (which I have) is a softer yellow and blooms off and on all summer long.

My favorite reblooming cultivar has been around since the late 1970s, but it was the 1990s before 'Joan Senior' was on my radar. This 25-30 inch diploid is getting established in my cottage garden. By getting established, I mean that it has been growing for two years and will be ready to divide next year to create more daylilies.

Joan is a creamy white with a yellow throat. I decided to echo the yellow throat by planting companions of 'Happy Returns' and the shasta daisy 'Broadway Lights' with Joan.Taking the economical approach, I bought a few of each of these plants and must have a bit of patience until I grow enough to divide and group for impact.

Right now is the time to divide daylilies. Joan, Happy and Stella are looking all perky and green in my garden. The foliage was nipped a bit by rabbits recently, but they tend to leave the plants alone once spring arrives. My daylilies have already outgrown the nips. I grow the daylilies inside the cottage garden because there are deer outside fence. Although I see swaths of Stella growing in roadside plantings, I know that the deer will pick the blooms in my outer gardens. I've resisted the urge to tempt the deer.

With over 60,000 distinct varieties, there is probably a daylily for every gardener!

Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Wordless Wednesday: Outside Fun

What did we do this past weekend? That's easy, we enjoyed the sunshine outside. As you can see the two youngest drove around in a jeep and it seems Little A would rather talk on the CB or as he calls it, phone. BabyGirl loves the driving part of it, she loves to be in control....just as long as she doesnt' drive off the side.The other two were riding bikes/scooters and wearing helmets. We got

True Grit: A Garden Path

Obtaining a truckload of gravel to refresh a garden path was a bit scary. My husband and I drove our pickup truck down into a gravel quarry. A gigantic shovel dug the gravel right out of the hillside and dumped the scoop into the back of the truck. I have to say that the fellow handling that big machine didn't get a scratch on the outside of our truck!

This particular gravel has always been called "Chapel Hill grit" here in my area. The grit hardens enough that it stays put for years. After almost four years of using it for one of the cottage garden paths, we decided to refresh the look.

It didn't take long with my husband hauling it from the truck in a wheelbarrow. I used a garden rake to smooth it out and filter the large rocks out of it. In less than an hour, our path looked as good as new!

The path is now refreshed. The garden is starting to emerge from winter. The flower pots are placed and ready for planting when the danger of frost has past. Charm, the "gardening greyhound" approves of the new grit - it's easy on dog toes!

Story and photo by Freda Cameron

Collin, Denton debate future Dallas North Tollway extension

March 23, 2009

By ED HOUSEWRIGHT / The Dallas Morning News

A simple line on a map could translate into billions of dollars for either Collin County or Denton County.

That line represents a proposed extension of Dallas North Tollway, and the adjacent counties are squabbling over the alignment because of the economic bonanza it could bring as homes and businesses spring up around it.

Collin and Denton county officials had agreed the 7-mile stretch should be on the counties' common border to let each share in the riches.

Read Full Story

My CVS Shopping Trip

Yesterday I went to CVS with the kids, now they placed their orders and here was mine. I must say I really saved. I would love to read your CVS trips, please post a comment that links to your CVS experience below.#1 Transaction:$8.99 Schick Intuition Plus (this had the two Dove Shampoos in it too)$8.99 Schick Quattro for Women$3.49 Crest Pro-Health toothpaste$5.99 Renuzit tri scents starter kit2

CVS Shopping with Kids

Yesterday the kids and I tried out hands at CVS, they were really excited as they each got $1 to spend in the store. Most of us knows that when a child goes in they are more than likely to get a candy bar and leave, not mine.SoccerBoy:- Trident Gum .95- Coupon: .75 off- Total: .25BalletGirl:- Pack of 3 Stride Gum $2.99- Easter Coloring book .99- Coupon: $2 offTotal: $2.11I did give her the

Locally Grown: North Carolina Plant Nurseries

As a gardener, I am fortunate to live in North Carolina. Here in the Piedmont, I am surrounded by wonderful plant nurseries that provide everything from annuals to exotics to native species.

Beyond retail nurseries, there are also the plant experts who are breeding new plant varieties or going on expeditions to collect new varieties that will grow well here. The wholesale growers provide plants for many local retail garden shops.

The individual and family-owned gardening businesses in North Carolina are often well-known throughout the country. Additionally, our universities provide so much in the way of research and conservation to help improve plants for our home gardens and preserve native species.

Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill is one of the first nurseries to specialize in native plants. Visiting Niche Gardens is also a treat given their different display gardens that include wetlands/bogs, sun and shade gardens. Niche sells plants through mail order and are open most days at the nursery.

Plant Delights Nursery is located just outside Raleigh. Tony Avent, the owner, is well known for his plant finding expeditions and exotic plants. Plant Delights Nursery sells through a catalog, online and during open house days several times a year.

Camellia Forest Nursery in Chapel Hill is renowned for introducing their own camellias. The Parks family continues to expand their nursery to include other trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.

Rich DuFresne is a Candor, North Carolina plantsman who has introduced and bred salvia and agastache. He also goes on plant-finding expeditions for new salvia varieties.

Big Bloomers Flower Farm in Sanford has greenhouses that are overflowing with annuals, herbs, perennials, daylilies, hostas and so many other plants.

Green Hill Hostas in Chapel Hill is a reliable source for hostas, including new varieties. The Solberg family sells both wholesale and retail.

Holly Hill Daylily Farm in Moncure is a daylily breeder who also sells crinum and a few other plants like verbena and red hot pokers. As with many nurseries, they have special days when they sell to the public. Holly Hill is known for daylily introductions.

Multiflora Greenhouses in Hillsborough has six acres of container, bedding annuals and other plants that they grow for both wholesale and retail. The same family has been operating the business for over 25 years. They are a "green sensitive" grower using bottom heat and capturing rainwater, then recycling the runoff from the retention ponds.

Witherspoon Rose Culture in Durham has been selling roses for over 57 years! They have a display garden for their gorgeous roses. Witherspoon sells online with great photos and information about the roses.

Dickinson Garden Center in Chapel Hill is a local retail garden center and family-owned business has been in the same location for over 55 years. They use North Carolina wholesale growers, too.

Lowe's Hardware is a North Carolina company that was founded in 1946. They also sell plants that are grown by North Carolina wholesale nurseries.

The NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill has a daily plant sale (April through October) of native plants that they grow and propagate.

JC Raulston Arboretum performs research to determine which landscape plants perform best in our southeast gardens. There are sometimes special plant sales at the Arboretum that may include rare varieties.

Another wonderful source of North Carolina plants can be found at our many Farmer's Markets in towns and cities. There are flower farmers who sell at the larger State Farmer's Market in Raleigh and the Western North Carolina Farmer's Market in Asheville, too.

Story and photo by Freda Cameron

Spring into Action

How many gardeners spent the first day of SPRING outside, working in the garden?

It was a sunny day here. The temperature was in the mid-50s and that was great gardening weather. My husband (aka The Musician) even joined in the fun. This is the first time that he's been home (retired) during the spring season. It was great to see his enthusiasm for getting the garden into shape. The man hates weeds more than me!

The Musician went on his three-mile run while I dug wild onions out of the garden. When he finished his run, he went to work shoveling the gravel to pull out the weeds. We have had several rains recently, making the ground and gravel perfect for weed eradication. Using a flat blade shovel, he scraped off the top of the gravel to loosen the weeds. They came right up. He raked the gravel back into place. It has been almost four years since the gravel path was made, so it's time to buy a bit of gravel to freshen it up again.

While we were working side-by-side in the garden, The Musician kept mentioning his enjoyment of the beautiful day for gardening. He's never had time to really enjoy gardening until now. In the past, it has been a weekend chore for him. He now sees the joy in gardening as well as the health benefits of the activity.

We went on to remove three lavender plants that didn't survive days and days of rain. When I say "we" this took on a new meaning - I pointed to the plants and he graciously dug out the very heavy shrub-size plants and dragged the 50 pound (they seem that heavy) off to the lavender graveyard that is used to block a deer path at the edge of the woods. He usually lifts weights before he runs. We both agreed that the heavy lifting in the garden is a great switch from indoor weights.

By lunchtime, we had cleaned up the cottage garden and the front pathway. I realized that I wouldn't have gotten so much done without my husband. I realized that gardening with him is more fun than gardening alone. He realized the fun of gardening when there is no rush to fit it into his spare time.

Gardening has always been enjoyable and The Musician has always been very supportive of my gardening activities and the results. I am so happy that he is so happy - to spring into action, too!

Story and photos by Freda Cameron

The Winner of the Disney On Ice is...

Actually I have a surprise for the two of you, both of you are winners.BabyBanz & LynetteI'll be emailing both winners immediately from homemom3@gmail.com if you don't hear from me today you may want to check your spam folder. Congrats to you both, I do hope you have a TON of fun at Disney On Ice.

A Sweet Little Shrub

I like shrubs that do well with little maintenance. A cute character that grows in my garden is itea virginica 'Little Henry.'

Before I purchased several of these shrubs in fall 2006, I only knew about the large, native itea, often called sweetspire. I saw the bright red fall leaf color of 'Little Henry' and decided to give it a try.

This deciduous shrub is versatile and can handle sun or shade, and a variety of soils. Suitable for zones 5-9. Standing between two and three feet high and wide, these are compact shrubs that take up no more space than some of my perennials.

I planted these in my rain garden since they can handle wet feet and sunshine. In mid-May, 'Little Henry' produces spirals of white blooms.

Itea 'Little Henry' is on the deer resistant list. A few blooms seem to disappear, so I do believe that the deer are sneaking a snack now and then. I've not had a problem with aggressive runners or spreading of this shrub, but always research whether or not a plant will be a problem in your area.

Amsonia hubrichtii looks like a good companion, so I need to do some rearranging to move the amsonia and itea closer together. Perennial ageratum and iris ensata are other good companions in moist soil areas.

Story and photo by Freda Cameron

~*Hello Again*~

I am still around, but have been working on my spring cleaning. I did manage to go to a thrift store last week. I found some milk glass and a small apothocary jar. I'll be posting about my finds later. I have to take our kittens to the vet to have them spayed/neutered today. There's a Salvation Army near the vets office so I plan on stopping there...wish me luck on my treasure hunting expedition!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thank you all so very much for your kind comments on the things that make me smile. I'm planning on doing another post because there are more things in my home that make me smile.

Graphic from the Gooseberry Patch Newsletter
http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/

A Perennial Planter

When I think of container plantings, I envision using seasonal annuals to provide long-blooming color. There are quite a few resources now for "recipes" for container planting success. These container plans include great color combinations, and tell us which, and how many, plants to buy.

I first heard the "thriller, filler, spiller" recipe for success in a special edition magazine from Fine Gardening® magazine. The nursery grower, Proven Winners®, also includes quite a bit of information on their website for creating beautiful container plantings from their plants.

In April 2007, I decided to use a few perennials that like part shade and moist soil to use in a planter on my patio. I've had the copper planter for several years, having brought it along from my previous home.

I used a purple heuchera and a Japanese Painted Fern as the basis for my color scheme and tucked creeping jenny around the edges for highlights.

I filled in with annuals of impatiens, dahlias, calla and a tall, spiky dracaena for height. Then, we had a very long drought (until March 2008) and it reached a point that using water for container plants was difficult, even with our own well.

When the spring of 2008 came, I was reluctant to create any container gardens due to the drought experience. I ignored the planter, except I moved the fern over to the left side to cover the bare spot vacated by the annuals.

To my surprise, the impatiens and dracaena came back! The accidental planting wasn't too bad.

While writing this story, I am looking out the window at the same planter. The heuchera looks fine. The jenny is turning gold. The dracaena is droopy from the weight of a few recent snowfalls. The painted fern is just barely starting to come up.

What will this perennial planter look like in 2009? To be continued...

Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Leprechaun in Alabama

How many of you have heard about the "Leprechaun" that is residing in some tree in Mobile, Alabama? Do you believe it and why?

The Leprechaun Boxes

Okay, yesterday I quickly mentioned the kids and I were making their St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun boxes. Here is a quick shot of what the looked like and they were all very proud of them.The boxes were bought at deal, along with most of the other arts and crafts. Inside the boxes was: a chocolate each, a coin and a pack of seeds. SoccerBoy got two mini models, by mini I'm meaning those skateboard

Garden Gnome©2006-2009Happy Gardening!Garden Gnome©2006-2009

Disney On Ice Kansas City Giveaway

Howdy ya'll, I have been lucky enough to snag four tickets (yes this is perfect for one family of four) for the Disney On Ice, April 1-2rd show down in Kansas City. So I am going to have a short giveaway. You will get to choose which day.So once again we will have the Disney Stars out here in the Kansas City area. (Kemper Arena)Kansas CityDisney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical

Making Our Leprechaun Boxes

Currently we are in the process of making our famous Leprechaun boxes. For those that don't know, every year the night before St.Patrick's Day the kids and I make Leprechaun boxes. Why? Because there is an old saying that the leprechauns that come across an empty box must leave a token inside as a thank you to S. Patrick for taking the snakes out of Ireland. So each year they decorate their

Disney On Ice Only a few Weeks Away....

The kids are starting to count down the days before they get to watch the magical show "Disney on Ice" down in Kansas City. For those that may not know, Disney On Ice will be headed down to Kemper Arena on from April 1-5th. We'll actually be down there on the 3rd and will be blogging all about the events. I'm not 100% yet if I'll be able to live-blog the event but you can bet I'll be taking tons

Birthday Boy

Over the weekend we had a ton of fun celebrating our Little A's birthday. Yes, that's right, he turned 2 this weekend and I missed posting it. But I missed it because we were celebrating.What did we do for the birthday boy? Well, we celebrated his birthday early so that daddy could be here. He had to go away for the military weekend, so we had cake and ice cream on Thursday and he opened his

Deer and Rabbit Resistant Perennials

My deer friends haven't been hanging around the garden much these days. I am using a 32" high wire edging fence around the garden to keep them from plowing up the seeds that I've sown. Yes, they can jump it, but since everything in the outer garden is deer-resistant, they are too lazy to go over the little fence to forage.

The rabbits are proving to be more of a challenge. I don't use repellants for deer, but I recently started using a rabbit repellant. Rabbits fit under my cottage garden fence and have been making nightly raids.

As gardeners in deer and rabbit country begin planning, here are my three favorite perennials that are reliably resistant for both critters in my Zone 7, full sun garden. These plants are relatively easy to find at local nurseries or online.

I always use this disclaimer: your deer and rabbits may like plants that my deer and rabbits won't eat.

Agastache

Agastache is a perennial for many color schemes. Agastache bloom from June through fall in my garden. I have 'Salmon and Pink' that looks good with coneflowers and salvia greggii 'Dark Dancer'. Agastache 'Cornado' is apricot and looks good with agastache 'Blue Fortune'. In the fall, I added 'Purple Haze' and 'Tutti-Fruitti'. I have seeds for 'Purple Pygmy'. Drought-tolerant, sunny locations and poor soil. There are quite a few agastache choices available for zones 5-9.


Nepeta

I rely upon nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' and 'Walkers Low' as easy, deer and rabbit proof plants that look good from spring through fall. The base foliage of these are already green, so I cut back the dead stems last week using cordless hedge trimmers. Nepeta will repeat bloom all summer if trimmed when the blooms fade. This is an easy perennial to divide by using a shovel in the spring.

Salvia

Salvia greggii has never been touched by deer or rabbits. I have several colors and sizes, including the generic autumn sage. I like the red and magenta colors, but have also added the white and purple. Salvia guaranitica 'Black & Blue' is a nice, cobalt blue. Salvia greggii and 'Black & Blue' are hummingbird favorites and do well as drought tolerant perennials. If you have a moist soil area in full sun, salvia uliginosa (bog sage) is another variety that is not eaten by the critters. The bog sage is pale blue and white. It grows quite tall and will spread rapidly by runners. There are so many salvias in the world, that I cannot begin to describe all the choices!




Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Triaminic to the Rescue: Sick Here

There should be a sign outside the house that reads one of two different things: Beware Germs are Near or Stay Away if You have Bad Germs.Yes, we came down with yet something else. We got all better and then the kids came back from school with .... the cough. I got to try out the Children's Triaminic Cold & Cough thin strips, thankfully we had these. Plus I was sent a link that Teaches one what

House Hunting

Spring is house hunting time. The new house must be perfect. It can't be too small or too large. A lavishly decorated house is nice, but a simple little cottage will do just fine. Of course, the house must have a garden!

The birds are house hunting again! The chickadees are scouting around the bluebird houses to select a nesting home. The bluebird population is very high here in our neighborhood, too.

There are bluebird houses mounted along the board fencing throughout our neighborhood of open meadows. We have two more birdhouses behind our house, too. When there aren't enough birdhouses to go around, the bluebirds nest in the wooden newspaper tubes below everyone's mailbox!

Each year, the chickadees are the first to nest in our bluebird houses. After they raise their young, a bluebird pair takes over the same house. Our birdhouses are four feet off the ground and positioned along the edge of our woods, facing the open meadow.

We've noticed a male chickadee standing guard on top of one of the bluebird houses. The female has been going in and out of the house for several days, carrying nesting material. However, the male chickadee isn't very territorial compared to bluebirds!

If there is a car parked in our driveway when the bluebirds are nesting, there is a problem. The male fusses at his reflection in the side mirrors for hours and hours at a time. My son left his car parked here while he was in college. I had to tie grocery bags over the car mirrors to give the poor bluebird a break from his guard duty!

Meanwhile, we'll keep the bird feeders full of seeds for the nesting couples. Nesting season is another reminder that spring is in the air!

Cityofoceanshores.com Newsletter ~ 03.2009

How to enjoy Spring Break in Ocean Shores
Spring Break is coming up for a lot of families and Ocean Shores remains a top destination for folks from all over the Northwest who flock to Ocean Shores to getaway from it all. Here's a few free activities to consider other than enjoying the beach of course:
1. Check out Damon Point State Park at the southern end of town. It's a good 3 hour walk to the end of Protection Island and back but well worth it.
2. Visit the Interpretive Center to get a sense of history of this place (educational).
3. Enjoy a nature's walk throughout the Weatherwax property.
4. Visit the North Jetty during low tide to visit the starfish, crabs, sea urchins and more as the low tides exposes these creatures.
5. Don't forget to get out and go sightseeing. You really can't get lost driving around in Ocean Shores. Just remember that there's only one road in and out of Ocean Shore. If that's not enough, head North and drive up State Route 109 to visit the tiny towns of Copalis Beach, Pacific Beach, Seabrook and Moclips. Some of the sights up there are just amazing.

This hilarious picture was emailed to me recently with the following headline:
"Trampolines Banned in Ocean Shores!"
Real Estate Update


Real Estate activity is still busy out here with lots of people looking at property and a few are actually buying again... and that's good. Land & Condo sales are still very slow however. There are some screaming deals out at the beach right now!
I'm always surprised by the number of people who say that they're familiar with Ocean Shores, but have no idea that there's 23 miles of freshwater in town featuring two lakes and miles and miles of connecting canals. Then again, I don't know why I'm surprised as I didn't even know that when we first started looking for our home down here either. I guess it's a big secret. There's not many places on this planet where someone can own a home, condo or a lot and have 60+ feet of waterfront footage on a freshwater canal or lake and still only be a 1/2 mile or so from the ocean beaches. For hundreds and hundreds of people who own a piece of Duck Lake, Lake Minard, the Bell Canals, the Grand Canal or some other section of fresh waterfront in Ocean Shores, this is real and it's awesome. With that in mind, prices are down and that's something to think about (now is the time, buy low, sell high?)....

* Lake front homes are averaging $319,552 these days ranging in price from $114,900 for a double wide all the way up to $639,000 for a 3,000 sq ft beauty.
* Lake front lots are down to $108,416 on average ranging in price from $62,500 up to $159,000.

* Canal front homes are averaging $241,813 right now ranging in price from $129,900 on up to $449,000.
* Canal front lots are averaging $80,617 these days ranging in price from $49,888 on up to $139,900.

Let me know if you'd like to see what's available on the water. Click on any of the pictures above to search for properties. Next month, I'll have first quarter '09 real estate stats to report... Ugh.

Upcoming Events
Four-day razor clam dig approved starting March 27th!
The state Department of Fish & Wildlife has announced dates for the next razor clam digs, one in late March and another in April. Four beaches are set to open this month if marine toxin tests find the clams are safe to eat. Twin Harbors and Mockrocks will be open March 27 through March 29, while Long Beach and Copalis will be open March 28 and 29 only. All digs on those beaches must be completed by noon, officials said. Dates and low tides for the March dig are:
Friday, March 27 - (7:49 a.m. 0.0 ft.) Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Saturday, March 28 - (8:29 a.m. -0.4 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Sunday, March 29 - (9:12 a.m. -0.6 ft.) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, MocrocksAyres added more digs will likely be announced following the April digs.Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 Washington state annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the department's Web site at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

Razor Clam Festival - March 27-28The Ocean Shores/North Beach Chamber of Commerce will host the Third Annual Razor Clam Festival and Chowder Cook-Off March 27-28th. This two-day event will celebrate the natural bounty of "coastal life"-it's community, conservation and culture. The event will kick off Friday evening, March 27th at the Shilo Inn, with a Coronation Dance in honor of this year's Clam King & Queen. Tickets are available in advance by calling the chamber at (360) 289-2451.

On Saturday, the festival will run from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Convention Center and will feature both amateur and professional chowder cook-off divisions and a professional only "creative clam entrée" contest.

The Chamber is very honored to have celebrity chef Kathy Casey with them this year as head judge for the professional categories. Casey is celebrated as a pioneer in northwest cuisine and has gained national prominence as one of the first female executive chefs in the United States. Kathy is also is a razor clam digging enthusiast!

The winners of the cook-offs will again enjoy boasting rights for an entire year as having the "Best Chowder and/or Creative Clam Entrée on the Washington Coast".

Other activities will include a pancake breakfast, the awarding of the "Best Decorated Clam Shovel or Clam Gun"; a salute to the businesses of Ocean Shores; the Artisan Craft Marketplace, featuring over 40 Northwest artists and crafters with unique and indigenous works; children's activities and games; live entertainment; information about coastal heritage, conservation and cultural exhibits; a beer and wine bar; and great food all setting the stage for the low tide that morning and the scheduled clam dig.

Admission is free with nominal fees for chowder sampling.

About Kathy Casey
Kathy Casey is a celebrity chef, mixologist, TV and radio personality, and author of nine cookbooks, including the James Beard-nominated Kathy Casey's Northwest Table. Her newest book is Sips & Apps. As one of the first female executive chefs in the United States, Kathy was featured as one of Food and Wine's hot new American chefs. Kathy founded Kathy Casey Food Studios and Liquid Kitchen, a food and beverage consulting firm and research and development facility. She is also owner of Dish D'Lish cafes and specialty food line. When not dreaming up the next big thing, Kathy can be found foraging for wild mushrooms, digging razor clams and harvesting kiwis from her urban garden. For more information, visit www.kathycasey.com


Shorebird Festival - April 24th - 26th
Discover the incredible variety of shorebirds that pass through Grays Harbor in April at this 14th annual event. Multiple locations for viewing around Ocean Shores include Protection Island, Damon Point and the North Jetty! Join scheduled watching tours or set your own birding agenda and enjoy the view!

News
Again, this is the beach and not much happens out here and that's the way we like it. Maybe next month something will happen.

* www.cityofoceanshores.comThe website has been redesigned and mainly severely updated to serve property buyers, sellers, visitors, vacationers and anyone interested in Ocean Shores or the North Beach area. I've added a few new sections to the site. Please check it out and feel free to share any comments with me if you want. Thanks I'll see you on the beach!



Jeff Daniel Associate Broker
Coldwell Banker Ocean Beach Properties749 Point Brown Ave NW/PMB 1568, Ocean Shores, WA 985691.360.581.9020 (cell) - 1.888.469.3100 (toll free) - 1.360.289.3111 (fax)PROPERTY SEARCH: http://cityofoceanshores.postlets.com/
PROPERTY SEARCH: http://www.coldwellbanker.com/local/jeffdaniel
OCEAN SHORES INFO: http://www.cityofoceanshores.comOCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://oceanshoresrealestate.blogspot.com
OCEAN SHORES BLOG: http://activerain.com/jeffgdaniel

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Making Our Own Sparkling Water and Sodas

With another small step toward going green, we started making our own soft drinks and sparkling water this week. I had read enough information to make me feel guilty about buying bottled water in plastic bottles. Stop! Okay! Filter water. Reuse bottles. Save money.

However, I like sparkling water. For some unknown reason, flat water doesn't sit too well with my stomach. We have been buying sparkling water by the case for several years.

A few days ago, my husband announced that he had found an item that we must purchase. He had already run the numbers to compare what we spend on bottled sparkling water with the high price of this device. He showed me the video. I read the rave reviews. We were both convinced. We headed out to Williams-Sonoma to buy a Penguin.

The Penguin uses refillable CO₂ cartridges to turn flat water into sparkling water. Each cartridge makes 60 carafes (620ml/20 ounces) of sparkling water. The machine includes two cartridges and two carafes, so the price includes enough CO₂ to make 120 carafes of sparkling water.

The carafes are glass and they are dishwasher safe. The carafes come with airtight caps, so you can easily store these in the refrigerator. We will return the empty CO₂ cartridges to Williams-Sonoma when we need to buy more cartridges. The Penguin does not use batteries or electricity! Another way to go green!

We use our filtered well water to make the sparkling water with the Penguin. The taste is wonderful! Since I am a fan of San Pellegrino®, I am so pleased that our homemade fizz tastes great to me.

Today, we learned that we can make our own soft drinks, too! Diet soft drinks or sweetened. More savings. No plastic bottles or aluminum cans.

We bought Torani® Italian flavored syrups (sweetened with Splenda®) for $6.99 for 24 ounces. I used one ounce of flavor in a glass, then poured in the sparkling water and stirred. Perfect! You can make the sodas with more flavoring if you like. I made diet black cherry, diet cream soda and diet black cherry cream soda by mixing the two flavors. I love the taste of all three.

The machine will pay for itself in twenty weeks. The price of the supplies will be much less than what we have been paying for bottled water. We won't be buying soft drinks either... and we'll use the glass carafes over and over again. Better for our budget. Better for the environment.

Photo and story by Freda Cameron

Triple Threat Winner

The triple threat winner was picked by Random.org and the winner goes to.....I'd like to try the Counter Clockwise: Under Eye Treatment.Dina Dina if you could email me your mailing address I can have this out your way.

Have iPod, Will Travel and Garden

With nice weather, I won't be inside chained to my computer! It is time to be out and about in the garden, around town and on day trips around North Carolina.

I have the Apple iPod Touch, 2nd Generation. Operating like a tiny wireless laptop, iTunes player and an organizer, I'm finding many convenient uses for the iPod. Owners of an iPhone have these capabilities, too.

When I am in a wireless hotspot, I can check my email, surf the web and respond to comments on my blog.

I am getting my iPod ready for our upcoming vacation to France, too. When I'm offline, I can read ebooks using Amazon Kindle for iPhone. I just purchased and downloaded Rick Steve's Paris 2009. I won't have to carry a large print book with me to Paris this spring. I can easily access the table of contents and click to the chapter that I want to reference while walking around Paris. As a traveler who likes to travel light, this is a real benefit to me.

I have also downloaded a French language reference ($0.99) that provides audio so that I can hear the translation. This is quite important since I speak (a little) French with a lot of Southern drawl!

Using Safari on my MacBook, I can save a web page to be read offline, too. To store the page on my iPod, I use Airsharing software ($4.99) that I purchased from the iTunes online store. This software allows me to copy documents from my MacBook to my iPod. I store pdf, MS Word and Excel documents that I need for my travel and day-to-day activities.

Gardeners can carry their plant lists around without any problem! I also store map images and directions to public gardens. I really like having a copy of the web pages to reference while visiting a garden. I can make notes on my iPod about a plant and look it up on the web when a wireless connection is available.

Thin and light, I carry the iPod Touch in my pocket while out in the garden. I can make notes on the spot (including blog story ideas).

I guess you can say that I use my green thumb for typing, too!

Story and photo by Freda Cameron. All products mentioned are owned by their respective companies.

If A Frog Sees His Shadow...

Is it spring?

The sounds of the frog chorus are so loud and constant, it is difficult to carry on a conversation over the raucous. The bullfrogs emerged this weekend to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather.

Why do we rely upon the groundhog to predict spring? Why not the frog songs? There are a lot of frog reflections in the water today. Thinking about this, I answered my own question.

The groundhog is all furry and fat. He has that cuddly and c-u-t-e factor going for him. The bullfrog has that e-w-w factor going against him. Who wants to pick up a slimy frog to pose for photos every year? The critter just doesn't have that same Hollywood appeal as a groundhog.

What's the most disgusting thing a princess does in a fairy tale? Kiss a frog! What about trolls under bridges? We have two bridges over our stream where the bullfrogs congregate. It doesn't take much of a stretch of the imagination to think that these may be the models for trolls in fairy tales. Our bullfrogs are the size of chihuahuas! Really.

If you think that I'm being too harsh, fellow gardeners, know this... bullfrogs eat butterflies... they eat birds, too!

Story and photo by Freda Cameron

The Circus is Coming!

Barnum and Bailey Circus is coming to a town near you. Will you be going? I missed it both times it was in town so I'm definitely going to make some type of plan for the next one. I miss watching the trapeze acts and my daughter loves those elephants. As a little girl my favorite part was watching the clowns and eating cotton candy, cotton candy is still a favorite of mine. Course now it gets

Home on the Screened Porch

What gorgeous spring weather we're having here in North Carolina this weekend! The screened porch called us. With just a little tidying up, it was ready to be used.

For me, a screened porch with a ceiling fan is required for our Southern climate.

The porch (photo from summer last year) is located on the northwest side of the house. This is our breakfast and lunch place everyday in the hot summer months. When we built the house, we gave up the space for a breakfast room in order to give the kitchen more space and to add the porch. As a gardener, I'd rather dine outside anytime the weather permits.

I designed a pass-through window from the kitchen to the porch. I bought an inexpensive potting bench and painted it dark green to use for serving. It is a perfect fit under the window!

Like most potting benches, the top can be moved aside to reveal the trays meant to hold soil. Instead of soil, the trays make a great ice bin for keeping drinks cool! The outdoor string lights are dragonflies. They provide just the right amount of light to spend an evening on the porch.

With the wide overhangs, this is also THE place to sit during a spring or summer rain shower. Overlooking our woods, there is a sense of green and tranquility. The sofa makes for a great place to nap, too!

In another month, I'll add a few plants to the porch for the summer. Farewell to cabin fever!

Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Carpet Fresh Room & Odor Eliminator Blog Tour

Momcentral and Carpet Fresh teamed up and wanted a few bloggers to try out their "Carpet Fresh Room & Odor Eliminator: Quick Dry." I got apple and cinnamon, one of my favorite scents I mean how can one NOT bake when the house already screams it. Well the kids loved that idea and so did I. Cookies were made and brownies as well.My opinion of the product: A quick and simple way to make your room

Ocean Shores Home Owner Asbestos Prevention Info

Located on the Pacific Northwest of the United States, the use of asbestos became widespread due to the variety of industries stationed in Washington. Industries such as chemical plants, paper mills, shipyards and oil refiners used the material because of its fire resistant and ultra durable qualities.

The known affects of asbestos exposure have been documented since the early 1900’s. It was not until the late 1970’s that the fire retardant insulation was banned from being manufactured in the United States (mostly).

In the world of real estate and home ownership, there are many things that need to be considered and decisions to be made. Owning a home will bring many memorable moments to families, but also additional responsibilities. Many homes and buildings built prior to 1980 can still contain asbestos. Potential Ocean Shore home buyers or those seeking to remodel older homes should be aware frequent exposure to asbestos can potentially cause health concerns.
This is not to make you incredibly frightened of asbestos because exposure it easily prevented by taking simple precautions. Asbestos that is left un-disturbed and is in good condition almost always will not be cause for alarm. When it becomes damaged and its fibers become airborne, where significant worries arise.

The frequent inhalation of asbestos can cause a rare, but severe lung ailment known as pleural mesothelioma. Current research indicates it can take up to 20 to 50 years for this illness to develop. Although significant progress has been made with mesothelioma treatments, patient prognosis is usually poor. If you locate any suspected asbestos, most experts advise to leave it alone. A home inspector can determine the validity of toxicity present. In most cases, the best action is no action in regards to asbestos. However, if removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained and licensed to deal with hazardous materials.
The Washington Foundation for the Environment is a nonprofit corporation striving to provide projects and education focusing on environmental awareness. It also provides detailed information to citizens, schools and public facilities about the health hazards of asbestos.

Once the asbestos removal is complete, you should consider green insulation alternatives as viable replacements for asbestos. These options include cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose, which make the use of asbestos obsolete. Studies show that these recycled building materials can even reduce annual energy costs up to 25 percent. Citizens and organizations in Washington are doing their part in nurturing and prospering their mountains, natural springs and fresh air. There is no need for innocent by standards to put their health and lives at risk for obsolete and dangerous building applications.

Two Years and Still Blogging

It started out simply enough. My son was attending graduate school in archaeology in London. He was blogging. While he was home on holiday, he showed me how to start a blog. This gardening blog was started in March 2007 as a way for my son to see what was happening in the garden... but the blog grew and grew...

My blog continued to be mostly read by friends and family until September 2008 when I decided to quit or kick it up a notch.

I kicked it up a notch! I began blogging almost daily. I joined Blotanical and began interacting with other garden bloggers. I realized something about my writing, too. When I include other events, places, people and gardens, I find it very rewarding - especially for good causes.

Since September 1, 2008 (six months) there have been 35,333 page views of this blog! With 52.84% new visitors and 47.16% returning visitors, I realize that almost half of my readers are regulars. I thank you for your time and interest! As for the new visitors, I hope that you'll like the blog well enough to become a regular reader, too.

Gardening is very important to me.

I can't imagine my life without a garden. I get so much joy from the activity of gardening, writing about gardening and getting to know other gardeners. Most of all, I enjoy just "being" in my garden.

Travel is very important to me.

Getting to know my own home state of North Carolina or the people of another country enriches my life. I like to share tips on travel - where to visit, great gardens, restaurants or just the experience of travel. I pride myself on packing light, too! My son claims that he is an archaeologist because he went out into the world with me to see ancient and interesting places.

Home is very important to me.

In fact, it is difficult to leave home to travel! I like to cook. I love how we use our rooms, indoors and outdoors. My husband and I put a lot of thought into building our "forever" home for comfort and energy efficiency.

These other topics are fun for me. I intend to continue as a garden blogger, I just want to bring in more of my world. I hope you'll find it interesting to read...

Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel

Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Triple Threat Giveaway

This past week I've been having a ton of fun watching entries at other sites I blog at for this contest. Now I get to have it here at The Life of a Home Mom. I hope ya'll are just as excited as I am. How many of you have ever dealt with Stretch marks? No, okay well you will or you will worry about it. What about aging? Does anyone here feel worried about growing old? For the next week you'll get

Life's Ups and Downs

Why is it when life seems to be going right on track something has to come along and bump it off? I swear I hate that type of stuff, but this time I've decided instead of dwelling on it, as that only puts negative energy around me I'm going to look towards the future. I'm smiling at the moment and trying to focus on the month ahead of me. Hopefully this will work out, but I'm not sure as I've

~*Things That Make Me Smile*~

Hello dear friends...I wanted to share with you some of the things in my home that are special to me...

a jar full of buttons that belonged to my "Gram"

my first pincushion...my Mom bought it for me when I took home ec in 7th grade...

I have always loved wooden spools...

my dear Gram spent many hours sewing on this Singer sewing machine...if I close my eyes I can hear the steady hum and her laughter!

this special porcelain shoe...

celebrating the birth of my dear daughter, Emily...

a tiny wooden rabbit carved by my Uncle Bud...I remember that he was a big man, with big hands (and a wonderful laugh)... I often wondered how he could carve something so very small

a picture of me, my Gram and my Mom from 1977...I never went anywhere without my denim hat (lol).

a jar of shells collected by my daughter, my baby shoes and several of my favorite books...

a small pill box with a four-leaf clover and a powder box...

yes, these are a few things that put a smile on my face today...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Thanks for stopping by...I really appreciate it that you all take the time to visit and leave such sweet comments!

Love, Kim