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GARDENS OF THE PAST

As we enter into the Year 2012 remembering some of our Flowers and Gardens of the past.  I put together two slide show’s of things, flowers and other resident’s at Liza and John’s garden that occurred in years past.   Not in any particular order or with any rhyme or reason just some of what we think are interesting.

I spent four hours today scanning the thousands of photos we have.  Did not even scratch the surface.    Started some “Save Files” today and already have over 500 Eastern Bluebird photos,  several hundred Northern Cardinal and lots of others.  Hope you enjoy the Slide shows.

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Click on the first thumbnail to start show, then toggle from side to side by clicking on the double arrows by the captions.  Click on the image to return to blog.

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GARDENS OF THE PAST 2

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LOOKING AT THE NEW YEAR

2012 is already looking better than 2011.  Working on a new blog theme and perhaps another blog.  Back problems getting better so should be able to work in the gardens more than last year.   Liza is slowly healing from the surgery she had last June.  Lots of nerve damage and that takes some time.  

That’s it for this time see you next post.  Have a wonderful New Year.

END

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FROM ALL OF US TO ALL OF YOU

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As 2011 comes to an end,  all of us at Liza and John’s Garden would like to express our thanks to those who read our blog and those who share their blogs with us.   Your comments appreciated and your blogs are wonderful.   As we enter the new year we are looking forward to new and interesting things. 

I close this post by expressing our love and appreciation to all of you for blogging with us.

          Liza                            Charlie                   Penny

                    John                           Bella                    Mozart

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FLOWERS FACE UPWARD AND THEY BLOOM ALL WINTER

‘HGC Jacob‘

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 Last Thursday an internet friend posted a picture of a Gold Collection Helleborus on her blog.  After a couple of reply’s to the Post I knew that the Garden Center where she works had two left.   The next day I called the Garden center and purchased them, made arrangements to pick them up some time over the weekend.  Liza said I was “NUTS” but she did not hesitate to take the 222 mile round trip to Country Gardens  Hyannis, MA.  that brought these Jacob’s to our kitchen table. 

Our plans are to keep them in the house for a while, will put them in a cool place near a window.  They should do good for quite while.   Will prep a place to plant them so if they have problems with being too warm, in the ground they will go.  May have to harden them off a little before placing them out side.   I can do that and if the winter prevents me from  planting them I have a cool spot for them to make it until spring.

Helleborus niger

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There is a lot of information about Helleborus Gold Collection on the internet.  A good place to start is at this connection HELLEBORUS GOLD COLLECTION.  Project for this weekend will be to set them up in the kitchen window hopefully they will be there until spring.

That’s it until the next post.  Have a wonderful day.

A LITTLE STORY ABOUT OUR BLUEBIRDS

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The past few years we have had a pair of Bluebirds with us year around.  Last year there was three a male and two females.  This past summer we did not see any Bluebirds.  Yesterday they are back.  It usually about this time of year we start to see more Bluebird activity.  2008 and 2009 we only had the pair, and a guest or two.  Last year we had the three and then during the winter we had many.  Best count at one time was eight at the feeders.  Most likely the actual total count was more but we could not see them all at once.

We had wondered all summer what happened to our Bluebirds.  Now that they are back we will have to put out some Meal worms and our Peanut Butter mix for them.  Also Heated Water’s will be set up.  This of course is great for the other winter birds as they all like what we are feeding.
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This winter I am going to try getting some Video’s of the Bluebirds.  So projects for tomorrow are Set-up Heated Water’s,  Put out first log feeders with Peanut Butter Mix.  Orange flavored Suit and Meal Worms are out.  Also start mixing fruit and nuts into seed mix. 

We don’t have any bird houses up.  There are thousands of natural nesting sites in our wood lots.  Have been thinking  some roosting boxes would be good in the cold winter.   Chipmunks seem to be gone until spring so Red and Gray Squirrels are the only problem.  Seem like only two Red Squirrels but 6 or 7 or more Gray.  Red Squirrels are not much of a problem as they mostly feed on the ground  with the doves and other ground feeders.  Gray Squirrels on the other hand seem to have no scruples and consume most all bird food.  We do have a feeding station for the Squirrels and as long as they stay there we have no problem with them but this year they are feeding heavily at the bird feeders so we are on the warpath for them.

As we bring this post to a close would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

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WE BEAT ALL RECORDS THIS TIME

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October 2011 went out with a bang.  Two snow storms during the last few days of the month.  The first one only dropped 3 to 4 inches of wet heavy snow on us.  Some power outages and tree damage but overall not too bad.  Snow was gone by the next day and all was looking normal.

Then came the next one, again wet heavy snow but didn’t stop at an inch or so just kept going.  The North East was getting hammered.  Some areas SW, W and NW of here reporting as much as 24 to 30 inches. Lots of trees and limbs down, power outages from New Jersey up into Canada.  It’s a week later now and there are still some areas without power.  We got about 12 inches here and some areas South east of here had no snow.

We did not get any photos of the tree top in the early AM.  The top of the trees where full of snow and many of them where bent over and touching the ground.   The last three photos show some of the damage to the trees and shrubs.

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That’s it for this time.  Hopefully this was it for this winter,  ha ha.  Comments are appreciated.