'Tis the Season!

The sleeping garden in early winter here at Blooming Hill.

Holly, lovely holly. Just in time for December!

"Silly gardener! Summer goes and winter comes with pinching toes..." And, so the English poet, R.L. Stevenson continues to paint December in harsh terms, "When in the garden bare and brown, you must lay your barrow down."  This is a good description of  the gardens, roadsides and rolling pastures   that surround Blooming Hill as December approaches fast and furiously. Yet there are hints of deep winter greens in stalwart beauties such as boxwood, holly and ivy, pine trees and evergreens and even tender rosemarys.

P. Lorenz, in his "Christmas tree creating zone."

A choir of angels, caroling along in the kitchen.

Snowmen bearing garden gifts.

 Yule Tonkas dressed for Scandinavian weather. 

While any thought of summer into fall has all but faded completely from my memory, inside, December comes to life in the bright lights, glittered ornaments and all the trimmings of the Christmas Season. Glad tidings bloom in poinsettias and glow in the soft candlelight.  Angels pose serenely while snowmen never need worry about melting, even in the warmth of the kitchen and mischievous Yule Tonkas (Swedish Christmas Elves) make celebratory plans of their own.

Winter white repose in the dining room.

The living room Christmas Tree in all of it's indoor splendor.

Homespun family room theme complete with tiny reindeer.

Wishing you peace this December.

November's Bittersweetness

November is widely considered to be one of the most drab and colorless months of the year.  The golden harvest has been gathered and the peak colors of fall have long since fluttered to the ground and wind-swept away. Yet, autumn's last breaths cling to the gnarled branches of tall oaks and stately maples in the burnt oranges and reds of the Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatis) vines, hanging, twisted and tangled in tinsel-like fashion.  Oriental Bittersweet grows carefree, not caring that it is no longer welcome wherever it appears.

The roadside vignettes feature this colorful vine overtaking blackboard fences and twisting around tree trunks affording the grey days of November their own faded charm. Even though this vine is invasive and can easily choke out precious native plants and the strongest of trees, I love to see it growing like witches hair, tossing and swinging in the chilly, dry air.  It defies the onset of darkness as winter approaches fast and furiously.

Did you know that there is also an American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)?  Yet, as far as the Oriental variety is invasive, the American variety is not and is even a protected plant species.  It does not germinate as easily as its Oriental cousin and it's berries only form at the end of each branch of the vine, not along the entire vine.  American Bittersweet has been virtually overtaken by it's aggressive cousin that was introduced to North America, back in the 1860's, ironically, to help combat soil erosion along roadsides.  It now grows freely along the Eastern Seaboard and reaches as far west as the Rocky Mountains.  And, as we know, all too well, it is very hard to eradicate.  Even more surprising is that both of these vines are really false bittersweet.  The real bittersweet is actually a plant called Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) that looks markedly different and is a member of the potato family.

In the language of flowers, bittersweet  represents truth.  Perhaps because truth can hurt sometimes, but in the end, truth becomes a satisfying closure and, perhaps, even sweet.  It is a poisonous plant to humans in as far as it will make you quite sick if you eat it.  However, bittersweet is the survival winter food for many birds, especially Eastern bluebirds, grouse and pheasants.  Even those pesky squirrels who may have misplaced their stash of nuts will dine on bittersweet.

So, as fall gives way to winter, bittersweet tempts us to decorate our fall tables and doorways, reminding us that November will not go quietly into the night.  Bittersweet vines will decorate this month and climb,like Jack on the   beanstalk, into the sky and wave good-by, carefree and colorful.

New Cold Frame

Plants in the very crowded greenhouse.  Everybody needs a little breathing room.

Assembling the frame for the new cold frame.

What do you do when you run  out of every available space in the pretty petite greenhouse, fully stocked,  in the backyard? Why, you build a ten foot by ten foot cold frame, of course!  It's a place to help keep my happy place (a.k.a. the overflowing greenhouse) well--happy.

Placement of the cold frame is out in the back of the property, close to a water spigot.  Just because it's winter doesn't mean that plants, especially in cold frames, don't need an occasional drink of water.

The plastic covering  being positioned over the frame.

As the lavender cuttings root well enough to transfer from peat plugs under grow lights and close to sunny windows in the house, to 3 inch pots and spend a little time hardening off in the greenhouse, they can now go out and live happily in the cold frame, along with any other cold loving perennial that is spending this winter not firmly planted in the ground.  We covered the ground with a nice soft bed of pine needles for all of these little lavender lovelies to nestle down into and stay cozy and warm.  Soon, this cold frame will be much fuller as the days and weeks pass.

Placing plants out in the 10 ft. by 10 ft. frame that can be raised on warm days.  Don't worry-- a lot more lavender plants will be going in and filling up the space.

A floor of pine needles keeps everything dry and snug.

Ready for winter 2012!

That's what we did over this past weekend as we buttoned the gardens up and prepared for a much colder winter than it was last year.  At least, that is what the weathermen and the Farmer's Almanac are predicting for the Mid-Atlantic Area.  We will be ready!

Her Royal Hurricane, Sandy!

The greenhouse and Witch Hazel tree, ready and waiting for H.R.H.Sandy to arrive.

A footnote of October's whimsy and beauty before it all went south.

First, there was "Snowmeggeden," a couple of years ago.  Then, there was the longest, hottest July accompanied by the longest, hottest, muggiest power outage, this past summer, I think I've ever lived through and, in the last few days, we have faced and conquered "Frankenstorm" (a.k.a. Her Royal Hurricane, Sandy).  Geesh!  What's next?!  Okay...I already know the answer to that question..."DON'T ASK!"

Sure, last week's beautiful weather and lovely autumn colors lulled us into a false sense of security.  Yet, it seems that the extreme sports we see on television, like motocross, spelunking and skiing down mountains ahead of an avalanche now face some competition when it comes to the extreme weather we can all experience in our own backyards.

The gazebo, tied down and holding it's own in the pouring rain.

Just snoozin' while H.R.H.Sandy snuck in through the back gate. Some watch dog, huh?!

The last twenty-four hours ended a week-long wait for what the meteorologists warned us would be bigger than we could imagine and their warnings didn't disappoint us or, at least me.  Here at Blooming Hill, it all started out innocently enough and we were ready with our brand new generator that promised even running water for flushing toilets so, bring it on!

Leaves on the shop's front porch floor after H.R.H.Sandy's departure.

A river runs through it, around it and any way it pleases!

And, on it brought with the power going out around 7pm last night and not turning back on until around 10:30am this morning. (Thank you, Dominion Virginia Power Company, for not making it any longer than that.) Her Royal Hurricane, Sandy also brought with her a sloshing six inches plus of rain and relentless wind, here at Blooming Hill--PHEW!--What a night.  It was even raining in both the living room and family room fire places while water also decided to make a grand entrance in our otherwise always dry basement.  Surprise!  However, we were too clever and quick for H.R.H. Sandy to make any real appearance down there.  Thank goodness for lots and lots of old beach towels and especially the "Shop Vac."

Blooming Hill's umpteenth fallen tree of 2012.

The "Chainsaw Maverick" totally in his element

A tired and tentative labragator in the rain.

So, we awoke to find a river running through the property, down the hill, surrounding the shop and skipping over stones, branches and rocks, spilling into the culverts and ponds farther afield. Not only that, at the top of the driveway, H.R.H. Sandy left her calling card as only she could, a toppled tree.  At least the wind had subsided by this morning but, the rain just keeps on raining.  Even the resident "labragator"  was beginning to look a little tentative and thoroughly over all of this moisture.

Work, work, work! Always work!

Almost finished but never really done and, never boring here at Blooming Hill.

Yet, I know it could have been worse, I mean way worse and my heart goes out to those in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut with a prayer for them to be safe, take care and be vigilant...extreme weather is only getting started.  We still have to get through this coming winter that's already throwing out all kinds of extreme cues and while H.R.H. Sandy has left the building, so to speak, Her Supreme Highness, Mother Nature, is rolling up her sleeves and getting down to work.

What are Sisters For?

"Fall into Lavender Dessert Tea under the garden gazebo.

Tucker and I sharing a quiet moment.

After four events in three weeks and through all kinds of fall weather from sun and wind to rain to freezing frost and back to sun and wind again, Tucker and I need to sit down and take a breather.  Don't get me wrong.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself but I haven't sat down for more than ten minutes since somewhere around October 2!  In fact, by early last week, I had to call in the Calvary (my sister Chris) in order to get soaps, pomanders, pumpkins and everything else in order for one of our last big celebrations of this year's lavender harvest...The 2012 Loudoun County Fall Farm Tour!

Chris already in action after just arriving last Wednesday night.

Ohhhh...my artistic loved ones!...sighhhhh.

Who remembers TAB?  I didn't even know they still made it!

The Calvary, you say!?  Yes!..The Calvary and she arrived all smiles and full of energy.  We wasted no time in getting her started, before her energy could even think about waning. After all, what are sisters for if she can't come to your rescue and start painting as soon as she sets her suitcases down and grabs her favorite beverage...I did mention that she is my older sister, right?...TAB?...REALLY??

Tote those chairs, lift those tables!

I'm not sure, but I think I heard Chris whistling while she worked.

Chris with her current favorite nephew...sorry Kevin!

We had her doing everything from organizing cards to cleaning windows...And then, she, for whatever reason, noticed that she was the only one working as I piled on more and more tasks. So, I threw in P.Lorenz, just for good measure in the crafting process, just so she wouldn't think we were taking advantage of her.  I even got her to Tucker sit a little.  Then we gave her a Blooming Hill Shirt to wear. It made her feel all the more special...Older sisters, they are so gullible.

 The fork goes on the left side!

P. Lorenz and I were really busy!  Of course, we had to do some taste testing!

Anyway...where was I?  Oh yeah, then I made some more sad, sighing sounds and laid the back of my hand to my forehead, which totally worked, and she immediately went down and whipped the shop into Farm Tour readiness just in time to set up all of the chairs, tables and teacups on the patio for lavender-honey ice cream and apple pie or lavender scones and vanilla ice cream, topped off with tea and lavender-infused apple cider, all for Farm Tour guests to savor and enjoy!...MMMM....MMMMM....Good!

Loving sisters and the calm before the storm.

Back to the sister saga...We weren't through with her yet.  When the guests started coming, we had Chris running solo and after a few technical difficulties with the IPAD,  and us completely ignoring her desperate phone calls, only from time to time, for help (she is a retired elementary school teacher--she should be used to crisis management, don't ya think??) Okay..Peter and I  were really busy serving up dessert, lavender style for two days of lavender-infused bliss.  And we had to make that look effortless, too...oh Chrisssss!

Tote those chairs!  Lift those tables, again!

Never a younger sister to waste a single moment of older sisterly love and sympathy, I again sighed and ran my fingers through  my hair and tried to look my most tired so big sister Chris, never hesitating, once again jumped into action and helped clean up.  I tell you..this little sister thing is a sweet deal!

So, I'm thinkin' that will not fit into her suitcase.

Of course, the best shopping is right here at Blooming Hill.

Oh, don't feel sorry for her...I did give Chris the day off this past  Monday after the Farm Tour and let her browse a few shops, but, for whatever reason, it seemed as though she could hardly wait to be on her way back to Wisconsin, her own home and possibly some peace and quiet.  See you in the spring for that Farm Tour and Virginia Garden Week and The Leesburg Flower and Garden Show and.... and...Miss you already, Chris!