Woodhaven Lakes will be holding a cabin fever weekend on February 13th and 14th for those that can’t wait to get out and enjoy some events. I will not be able to attend because I need to be available 24 – 7 until the end of March. But I will be out as soon as the first weekend in March when no snow is forecast . Trying to plan anything in February always backfires so I have given up.

I always get antsy at this time of year and can not wait till I can get back to the woodland garden. It will be soon though and I will be able to enjoy the spring flowering bulbs and early perennials as they start to poke their heads up out of the earth after the long winters rest. Before you know it the place will be ablaze in color and the sound of happy birds as they fill their stomachs and try to find a mate. Yes it won’t belong till the magic of the woodland garden takes over again….

Thinking about the woodland garden does bring a sense of peace but also it reminds me of balmy summer days and crisp early mornings sitting on the deck enjoying the wild life just waking up and starting to forage for the days meal.

Waking up just at dawn and taking a hot cup of coffee out on the deck sitting there at the table I have time to just relax and enjoy the moment. There is no sense of urgency or need to rush.

A great view above looking off the deck now that is a sight for soar eyes on a damp and cold Christmas morning. This is just a part of the attraction of the woodland garden the real attraction lives deep inside. It is a feeling of stability and calm that comes with being surround by nature and all her creatures and creations. It is a place to relax and dream and replenish  your soul. I can not wait for spring to get back there and once again enjoy time spent surrounded by the beauty and serenity.

Merry Christmas To All

From the Woodland Garden

Plenty of leaves and a good size chore but after a couple of hours it was tamed and the leaves were out by the roadside waiting for the vacuum truck to come along and take them away.

Of course there was other work to be done. The refrigerator and pantry had to be cleaned out. The bedding had to be removed as well as all the dishes and silverware stored away. Once the inside work was done it was time to shutdown the water. The water line was disconnected and air blown through the system until all the water was out of all the lines. Once the water was gone I pumped RV Anti freeze through all the lines and poured it down all the drains. That was it for inside.

The screen room was next!

The roof on the screen room has to come down or the weight of the snow would crush the room over the winter. The roof takes about an hour to unfasten and put away once that chore is complete the work is almost done. A quick walk around to make sure that everything is picked up and stored in the shed and it is good for another upcoming winter.

With all the work out of the way I sat down and enjoyed the fast fading afternoon sun. As it spread it’s warmth across the woodland garden I enjoying the calm and quiet of the unseasonably warm fall afternoon and reflected on the memories of this and past years at the woodland garden. Even though the woodland garden is preparing for a long winters rest I can look forward to Spring as it will burst back to life and welcome me back with all of natures beauty and surprises as it reawakens. That is probably the best as the new growth starts and the plants start to poke out through the soil and show themselves. The birds are all singing and zipping around courting their mates as the squirrels are happily jumping and chasing each other from tree top to tree top and another year will begin at the woodland garden.

As I drove away I was already counting the days till I would return to the special place known as my woodland garden

The winter will soon be upon us and I must be sure that the cabin is prepared properly to withstand the harsh weather. All of the fun and joy of the past season must now be put aside to be remembered on a cold snowy day that will provide hope for the coming of a new season at my beloved woodland garden. Over the winter I will be planning some new projects and changes. This will also give me encouragement that soon enough spring will arrive and I will be able to get back to the beauty and serenity of the woodland garden.

As I work on these new plans I will post periodic updates and also some more cultural information on woodland gardening.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the fall days ahead.

It was not as crowded as usual for a holiday weekend as school has started so not so many people made it out. There were 8 family’s out on our street over the weekend and lots of noise and clamoring . It seems as if everyone was having a good time. They are all very nice people and there kids are well behaved but it does get a bit noisy. But 2:00 Monday afternoon everyone was gone except one couple and the street was amazingly quiet. It was very welcome. The rest of the week was nice because I think I only saw 3 cars come down the street.

Being in the woodland garden when you are there by yourself is very calming and restful. I think it is a time when you can decompress and revitalize yourself. Everyone needs time to themselves when they can just relax and not have any pressure to do something or be some wheres. The woodland garden is truly just such an escape.

I did get some fishing time in which was very lucrative. The pan fish were biting so dinner tonight will be a fish fry. It has been a good while since we have had a fish fry but there is nothing like some fresh fried blue gill with home made french fries. Yum Yum!

Alas though it will not be to many more weeks before it will be time to winterize the cabin and bed the woodland garden down for another year. I do hope to get a couple more weekends though. Fall is the best time of year out there.

I will bbe posting pictures on the website when I return and update you on the happenings. Have a great week and get out in your gardens.

I will be trying to get a couple of projects done and also be taking a little time to enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the woodland garden.

So look for some new posts in September.

This weekend I will be spending a little time working on organizing and cleanup. But there will be time for a bit of fishing as well. I really have to modify the deck for that tree but it should not be that big of a project.

It is truly amazing what you can learn from your gardens. This year is no exception. I have found a lot more mushrooms popping up due to the cooler and wetter weather we have experienced. Also some of the plants have done much better than in the past I must contribute this as well to the extra rain this year has brought.

One of the biggest things I have noticed is that there are not as many birds feeding at the bird feeders but there are a lot more people using their sites this year so I have to believe the birds are getting well feed and that is why my food is lasting a bit longer. I spend a lot of time watching the birds they can entertain you for hours. All of the birds amazing they all have their own quirks and habits. I especially like when the young ones are out and about for the first time they are no so sure but they learn so quick.

Okay now it is time to head out so Have A Great Weekend and Enjoy Your Gardens!

I did see a new product on the shelf at the hardware store guaranteed to eliminate moles. I read the content 20% Castor oil 80% inert ingredients . I don’t know for sure but I do not see how this would get rid of the moles. The direction say apply to non infected areas day one and water in for 20 minutes. Day two you need to apply to affected areas and place two tablespoons into each tunnel then water in for 20 minutes. On day three you apply to all areas and water in for 20 minutes. Repeat as necessary to eliminate moles. Hmmm I don’t know about that seems like you can go through $50 or $60 real quick and I don’t know how good the guarantee is about refunds. I think I will need to do some research. Other than my moles I did enjoy the break and the chance to get away. Have a great week and enjoy your gardens.

There are always jobs and projects to be done at the woodland garden but I do not think of it as work. A lot of people who own places out at Woodhaven Lakes refer to it as Workhaven . I do not necessarily subscribed to that. Yes there is work and there are projects but I actually enjoy it. I get to be lost for a while out in my woodland garden and when I am finished with something I am working on I feel a great sense of accomplishment. If I had the money I would probably like a large piece of property where I could grow and sell plants and turn the whole thing into a self sufficient homestead. Sort of like the ideas I was exposed to back many years ago in my youth in the late 60’s early 70’s when I would read The Mother Earth News religiously. I think that a lot of the reasons I went into horticulture and groundskeeping stems from those days when I was reading a lot and trying different things. Oh well I guess my dreams may not really have changed as much as I sometimes think. Some people long to explore the world I am content to work and putz in the garden and let nature show me all kinds of new and exciting things.

Have a great weekend and get out and enjoy your gardens. See you Monday.