Healthful neglect

In 2007 I discovered a clematis thriving under some overgrown weedy vines in an area of the garden I had been ignoring for a couple of years. Planted in '04, the clematis had never bloomed, and I assumed it was long dead and gone.

It thrived in neglect, and nearly immediately upon care -- I pruned it, cleaned up the root area, watered it, etc -- it died.

There's a lesson in there somewhere.

I began this blog as way to keep a garden journal (when I did what, where, & why) and share that information. But, I have other priorities in my life right now and for the coming year, so I'm going to ignore this blog for a while.

To wit, my travel blog: http://mercatorial.blogspot.com/

Tasks - 2/27/10

Today:

* Sowed seeds into blank spot in the kiwi bed: poppy Shirley Single blend. These may too old to come up, but if they don't, I'll do nasturtiums in that spot instead.

* Cleared out compost tumbler onto ground beneath, prepped for new batch.

* Engaged in "grab'n'go" weeding: In other words, weeding in a tangential and haphazard manner. The unusually early & warm weather has caused the weeds to get out of control already. But I don't really want to weed unless I can mulch at the same time. Need to get on that!

* Finally finished removing the old potted pine from yard.

* Noticed root rot on Manx memorial mondo. :(  Must be a drainage problem. Removed dying mondo.

* Removed edgeworthia, also dying from root rot. Also sad. :(

* Removed more branches from dead eucalyptus in backyard. The wood is brittle and easy to pull down and snap into pieces. The remaining two branches are large however, and will require a cunning plan.

Tasks - 2/20/10

This weekend:

* Weeded hellebore bed

* Weeded kiwi bed -- kiwi survived December's freeze!

* Weeded herb bed

* Removed new blackberry growth from all parts of yard

* Cut back some encroaching ivy

* Pruned laurel growing over north fence

Before & After - Basement

Cleaning and organizing the basement - Quadrant 1 - Before:

After

Rip van weather

January 2010 in Portland, Oregon, is 6 degrees warmer than the normal average for January -- the second warmest January on record, going back to the mid-1800's. Furthermore, long range forecasts indicate February will be the same.

Winter is over.

And if January is acting like March, that means I'm 6 weeks behind in the garden.

Tasks - 1/23/10

Today:

* Continued cleaning and organizing basement. Working on shelves near staircase, which is the majority of items in the basement.

* Began cleaning both BBQs -- one my first Weber, the other a small portable camp stove found on the "freewalk" (walking around the neighborhood, finding free stuff on the sidewalk). Gave the second, bigger Weber to Darrell in exchange for a couch.

* Pruned the honeysuckle bush.

* Pruned spent flowers off the lilac, and cut back some ivy threatening to choke it.

* Looked for hosta buds, nothing yet.