Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Midwest Gardening 2025---Projects and Late March Spring

Ad-Free Blog
You know I crabbed about critters and bunnies last year, and last Fall I dug out our well plot of the 30+ year old Day Lilies...sifting the dirt and getting MOST of the roots out. We splurged and planted purchased Tulips, some transplanted Daffodils and lots Iris I got from a friend. Then the plot was covered with leaves, and we laid heavy plastic fencing over the whole thing and rocks everywhere to keep the edges down. 

Lo and Behold, there was a softball size hole in the fence last week, so that is why we built walls to try again.

oldnewgreenredo

Besides the hole, I very quickly saw the mesh of the fencing wasn't big enough for the sprouts coming up. So, I pulled it all up, replaced more leaves on my bulbs' growth and fenced the whole area in. We don't through anything away, so some fenceposts were new or used, and some really old. The blocks are holding the edge of the fencing down, and so far no critters have bridged my little plot of Spring bulbs.

oldnewgreenredo

The big black pot is currently covering our well, the saucer is balanced against a trellis for the Clematis. Here and there you can see the Tulips and Daffys unfurling. I heaped more leaves in here afte the photo as our night temps are still below freezing.

oldnewgreenredo

Honestly I can't wait....winter has been dreary here. 

TIP: I leave all the flower beds covered in leaves and old blooming stalks until it is warm enough to support the bees and helpful insects that are so necessary for polinations. I do clean up stairs, concrete, walkways and anywhere else that just leaves congregate in winter.

oldnewgreenredo

This is the extra stuff stored in the greenhouse I just had to pitch out for the moment.

oldnewgreenredo

I was so ill last Fall, the last of the garden pickup didn't get done, and Hubby was also dealing his friends illness, death, and then estate. 

oldnewgreenredo

 Literally the weed cloth is still down, and you can see the veggie garden really needs a clean up!

oldnewgreenredo

Moving around the yard...we had a DRY winter, very little snow--but we did have a lot of rain late last Fall. 

Everything is dry right now, we need rain.

oldnewgreenredo

How about the precision drilling on this branch...these holes are all @ 1" apart. Made me smile! The birds hard at work. This is the reason we have cement panel siding on the house...lots of Woodpeckers...LOL.

oldnewgreenredo

This is a LIME Heuchera or Coral Bells trying to come up in a patch of sun in our shady back yard. I covered it deeply with extra leaves after grabbing this shot.

oldnewgreenredo

I call this my squirrel feeder, supposedly a bird feeder four feet off the ground, LOL! Let's call it a dog, raccoon, possum feeder. Grins.
I'm going to put a vine plant in here, a good excuse to buy a different new plant.

oldnewgreenredo

The birdhouses along the fence are favorites of our little sparrows...and occasionally nuthatches.

oldnewgreenredo

I have so many Iris and new perennials planted here last year, I do hope everything made it. 

oldnewgreenredo

This was our crazy bush sunflowers that grew 10 feet high...I left the branches in the lax cleanup---and they have been filled with birds picking at the seeds all winter.

oldnewgreenredo

I'll pay for not getting this wreathe area cleaned up---that wreath had sweet peas on it. Planted some 40 years ago from a package of seeds. They are all pale pink now---but I bought another mixed colors package to start some near the veggie garden for pollinators.

oldnewgreenredo

The pond is always so sad this time of year. The fisher kids are all dark and cruddy, when the sun hits them they will brighten up. Everything needs new stain and paint this year. A whole year's worth of projects for sure.

oldnewgreenredo

My only actual SPRING blooms, a couple of crocus-peeking up-so dry-and skinny.

oldnewgreenredo

I couldn't stand the lack of color so I jammed a 90% off tulip bush from Michaels in a pot.. along with some fake grass plants I've had for ages. 

oldnewgreenredo

Our Barberry Bush on the left seems to be the only severe winter damage. This is the south side of the house and under an eave. We water heavily during the green months, but clearly it isn't happy. I will trim is out and see if it survives. It's sister looks great they were planted at the same time. Iris and Daffodils are coming up here.



oldnewgreenredo

In the same bed, My Giant Sedum. I call them bushes as they get huge. Amazing how they start like teesny rosebuds.

oldnewgreenredo

This is where I have tried to clean up in years past and bees flew out of the debris...so now I leave it messy and alone. (Besides I'm deathly allergic to bee stings)

oldnewgreenredo

Another OLDNEWGREENREDO project??? This won't fit in the rock bed because the legs bow out front and back...DARN. It will land on the front porch. Everyone needs a six foot long planting bench? Maybe.

oldnewgreenredo

Out on our Mound (now a flat mound) by the street, lots of Daffys and Tulips should come up.  Our Evergreen bushes don't look very happy, they need water. We can't water yet as our exterior faucets may still freeze and hoses burst if water freezes in them.

oldnewgreenredo

Up by the porch I plopped another fauxTulip bush and some faux Grass, it really does help a bit.

oldnewgreenredo

PS our gray carpet on the porch pavement is fading to pink from gray. Oh Dear, in one year, pinkish really doesn't go with a yellow, brown red house? 


oldnewgreenredo

We need rain......and the kids need new poles again...they blow away 
to WHERE?
Happy March Chicagoland Spring! 

What's BLOOMING in 
YOUR NECK
of the WOODS??


Join me at these fine blog parties:




All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown.  








 

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Midwest Gardening: No Bunnies in MY Kitchen

 Ad-Free Blog


No Bunnies in MY Kitchen?



Garden starts in the kitchen are progressing, everything is coming up green and Bunny Free.


BARELY UP TWO WEEKS AGO.


I WAS PATIENTLY WAITING...



NOW.....


Quick video tour of our kitchen garden THIS WEEK after planting veggies and flowers, three weeks ago.

I could update the sprouting plants everyday, they are growing so quickly. The plants I missed naming while taking the video were Nasturtiums, Holly Hocks, Bell Flowers, Basil, Dill and probably a couple of others. 

TIP: Note to self....seal popsicle sticks before using as ID tags. Like a good REDO'r I was using what I had at the time. I did find some new plastic sticks that I purchased end of season last year. I will have to replace a few of my popsicle sticks. 

Tomorrow's Next Post! 
After taking this video--I ventured to the greenhouse to do some cleanup and setting up pots for more planting tomorrow. I did get my Peas in the Pot set up, tomorrow to be two pots--PEAS are soaking along with more Nasturtiums. 

TIP: Soaking hard seeds helps with germination. Nasturtiums even have to be filed with a nail file to break through their hulls.

How are your 
Spring Gardens,
Plantings, or Plans Going?


Join me at these fine blog parties:




All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle




 



Thursday, March 20, 2025

Hull Alpine Yellow Ware on the Buffet

 Ad-Free Blog

I know it is trying to be Spring, and we just had 4" of snow last night. I still have a touch of winter and some fun YellowWare on my Buffet. 

oldnewgreenredo

After the holidays, I put this sort of wintery yet social grouping of beer steins, pitchers, blue glass and the wood German Draught Wagon together. 


oldnewgreenredo

Last computer update lost the little erase tool for my photos...ugh! So cords will be present. I love the old Silver plate pitcher. (I'll share the big vase in the corner sometime after I find out more information about it.)

The Six steins are YELLOW WARE...HULL from the 1920's. They are substantial and in pretty good shape for 100 years old.


oldnewgreenredo


The Hull Pitcher that matches is huge and gorgeous...
full relief of an Alpine Beerfest all around.

I accented this area with my porcelain mustard pot and a shaker in brass. You just know all those people on the steins are enjoying sausages and mustard with their Beer.

oldnewgreenredo

The steins have pewter tops, some are from the 70's and some from the 40's. I haven't found the wooden Draught Wagon with the little figures and mules...I know it's from Germany and probably from the 50-60's.

oldnewgreenredo

Behind the wagon is a wooden maid figure, dressed much like the people in the steins.

oldnewgreenredo

The cookie tin has an Alpine theme...and snow covered mountains.

oldnewgreenredo

The only break from the Alpine theme, are my Royal Copenhagen/Bing Grondahl Mama and cubs Polar Bears.  I think Polar Bears are my spirit animal, so I really like to keep her visible at least through our long winter.

oldnewgreenredo

To balance out this side are two glass candlesticks and a blue Vase. Another stein and another yellow ware HULL stein. The silver plate coffee pot I discovered earlier as an India version of a Sheffield teapot probably made for the military stationed in India.

Meanwhile Our lives have been consumed for 5-6 months with repairing, moving, fixing stuff for selling the executorship house. It is sold, and hopefully the closing will be by next week. All I can say about it, if you are 50 or over...UPDATE and clarify your wills, NOW!  Don't leave a disaster behind you, double check everything, and ask questions, have a good, NO, an EXCELLENT attorney taking care of it. 

Phew!... enough about that. I hope to get some home decorating done by next week, but in the meantime I am relishing in my artwork, maybe 3-4 hours a week. Now to post the Paintings and Plants...for my sanity sake.


Join me at these fine blog parties:


All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle







 








Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Mather Abstract Watercolor Class: Painting With Music

Ad-Free Blog

Last week's class was very inspiring in my FREE Mather Abstract watercolor class for Seniors.

Mather Classes for Seniors can be explored HERE.

Ruth showed us several paintings by different artists. Many artists worked to music, Kandinsky, Chagall, etc.

Ruth played samples of instrumental music, this and that for us to paint to. Here are my results. These are quick pieces done to music under 5 or so minutes.

oldnewgreenredo

My palette is a mess....I'm trying to use what is there so I can give it a good clean up and a fresh start.  

oldnewgreenredo

I'm finally doing all my paintings and exercises on REAL Water Color Paper. Strathmore 140# in various types of paper from a sampler pack.  I may buy a few more when the Buy 1 get 1 sale is on at my local craft store. Good paper just takes the paint, the water, and the 'working over' better than the multi-media paper I use from my notebooks.

I'm also more confident from all the techniques I have learned. So, I just simply let myself go with the music prompts

The music was extremely varied....

oldnewgreenredo

Magic Walk, I couldn't find a copy of the music...but it was rhythmic and a bit bee-bop...if that helps. Very bright and fun. Definitely some ethnic vibes, Caribbean, Soul, and Street sounds. I started with the dark yellow and worked outward.

oldnewgreenredo

Clair de Lune.  I waited a bit before I started painting...when the orchestra really starts to swell and almost closing my eyes I started painting.
Below is link to YouTube Frankfurt Symphony Orchestra..
This is a very slow version. Lovely and elegant.

oldnewgreenredo

This piece was swoops of thick water tinted lines left to right to this music in the beginning...then each color was a theme section and carefully applied with the notes. Intentional yes, but strokes with the music's movement. Later in the piece when it repeated some element---I worked over the colors. 
 I think this is the piece..

oldnewgreenredo

Turned on its side. Most Music is repetitive or with variations upon a 'theme' or series of notes. The key may go higher or lower, the Color of Sounds or (colors changed when I painted during these), with the tempo of the notes also giving you inspiration (quick strokes closer together when they are speedy, wider when slower ). 

I really loved doing these.
I received a stack of classical CD's for Christmas and I think I may go through them and paint an abstract painting every week and see what I end up with. Besides this is totally relaxing and being lost in the process...

Phew!
Thanks to my Mather Senior classes Painting is such a respite in this world of chaos! 

Free Mather Classes for Seniors can be explored HERE.

How are Your Projects 
or Artwork Coming Along? 

Vintage Charm


All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle