Keeping it Together with the Signs of Spring

To all my northern friends: Are you going a little stir crazy from all the snow that’s getting dumped on us this year? Sure when I was 10 I would have had a ball with the amount of snow we’ve had already. But my patience is wearing thin and I’ve done all the forced winter activities that I can stomach this year.

I’m ready for SPRING!

Just this morning my husband and I had a great talk about all the things we’re going to do with the back yard this year. One of the things I want is a really comfortable patio set. No more cheap-0 sets… I want to be able to work outside in comfort and entertain guests there more often than not - especially when the family room is overrun with my messy teenagers.

The one good thing I can say about winter is that it makes us so unbelievably thankful for our spring and summer seasons. It’s like all is right with the world when those first spring buds start to open up.

It’s probably nature’s way of trying to keep up sane. Push us to the brink with never ending snow, gray skies and more snow, with some freezing rain thrown in for good measure. Then just when we’re about ready for the straight jacket…tease us with some sunny blue skies and warmer breezes…

Even now, just a few steps behind me, my big, burly husband is about to break into tears of joy because he’s just spotted a beautiful red cardinal feeding from the bird feeder out back. Note to self: take husband out for a drink tonight.

Not quite straight jacket time yet…but spring better get here soon!

Tags: Gardening, Your Home

Counter Global Warming with our Trees

I just read an article in the Toronto Star that shared an interesting fact about our trees.

“…two 32 foot trees will produce enough oxygen to supply a person’s needs for a year” (Shelly Sanders Greer, Toronto Star, September 22).

The article goes on to note that trees and shrubs, if they are planted in the right places can “significantly lower heating and cooling costs and intercept rainfall, which reduces runoff.

Our backyard has two enormous trees that are at least 32 ft. and I can vouch for their effectiveness in lowering our energy costs.  Our maples provide lots of shade and pleasant breezes in the summer that cool off the back of our home eliminating the need for air conditioning on many days.

Unfortunately it appears that quite a few new home developments are not planted with enough trees and even when  there are sufficient trees planted often times they don’t thrive because developers leave behind poor soil. If you are in a new subdivision and can relate to this kind of situation encourage your local government to put in place more rigorous standards for developers regarding soil. You can also go to your local professional nursery with a soil sample to see if they can tell you whether your soil needs some help.

For those of you who are city dwellers and live in one of those communities where you have great old trees…take care of them! Make sure you don’t have any of those pests that ravage trees. Best of all enjoy the fall…even the raking since it’s great exercise for our waists and it gives you a great reason to relax with some warm apple cider or a glass of wine after the work is done!

Tags: Gardening, Green Living, New Urbanism