This is good point to let you know that all the rain and snow melt that hits the roof of our house is funneled from the downspouts to the goldfish pond, so the pond gets a fresh water source and when it gets filled it overflows to the orchard to water the trees and feed the trees from the fish waste nutrients. As an organic and a green family it is a easy way of creating some great fruit. One of the great things I did when we bought our house is that each year at Christmas we bought a Balled and Bur lapped Evergreen Tree, brought it in for a week decorated it and then planted on Christmas Day. We did this ever year and landscaped our quarter acre and also created a wind break for winter keep our house warmer, made our yard aesthetically appealing and to save energy. The Last couple of years we harvested Red Cedar trees from our yard that have sprouted in our yard because the neighbor has Red Cedar that floats seeds through out the yard and I let some of them grow in areas with no impact to use as our Christmas trees when they got to Christmas Tree size. Very nice trees and the smell is great.
During the summer, it got warm and the frogs came to visit
I encourage you to feed your local birds and the migrating birds in the spring as they will eat bugs that are coming out in the spring to feed their young as they nest or stop off to their ultimate nesting area. This will help in keeping insect populations to a more manageable level without using pesticides. We planted a couple of types of Milkweed to help the Monarchs and since the first year each year we get Monarchs stopping off . Please plant Milkweed, you will be richly rewarded.
Ponds attract Firefly's (Lightning Bugs) which need our help which are great for the garden!!!
Please note we are 1 mile from the Wisconsin Border and mile and half from the lake front. But this is not always bad, as in Summer we often have more even summer temps and more precipitation do to the lake. Our temps may be 10 to 20 degrees different than 10 miles Inland benefiting us Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. This also means that we may be as much as 4 weeks later than the southern suburbs of Chicago that are in their growing season.
Jan 5th
It is cold, only thing to do, Seed Catalogues. Ordered 2 Peach Trees Alberta and Sun Crisp because because these 2 types of Peaches that are being slowly taken out of commercial use and the only place is left is the backyard grower. The reason is because of shipping and color, mostly yellow. They are great tasting Peaches.
Jan 19th
Well we have a real winter, 3 days above 32 since the New Year. Another bunch of Seed Catalogues to look at with snow slowly disappearing with sun out. Always fun to see what's new to grow.
Feb.. 2nd
It snowed over night and 50 degree weather by 4PM. This past week I have raked the whole front yard and started on the back yard. Started to clean out the Greenhouse so I can start seeds this month. Most likely Lettuce, Peas and Spinach seeds to plant later this month in the Greenhouse. I have spruce tree started by seed in there. The 5 spruce seedlings I got from the Arbor Foundation are struggling a little. Back to the Seed camouflages.
Feb.. 9th
Did some more raking of backyard and all raked into garden . Will be mulched with lawn mower and tilled in the garden in spring planting. Collected couple of buckets of Spruce cones and put in the front flower garden for to hold in the moisture in bed. Cleaned out some more of the Greenhouse. Bought some Lettuce, Spinach and Peas seed. Planting cold weather veggies in Greenhouse in a couple of weeks. More Seed Catalogues.
Feb.. 16th
Winter is truly here, we got about 8 inches total of snow in 3 storms and cold, back to the seed catalogues. Bought some Flower seeds to grow in green house and also to plant this spring Black Lilies and Blue Hostas.
Feb.. 23rd
We totaled 8 inches of snow and now the snow melt begins. Four days at least above 33degrees. Bought some Hostas to put under the Cedar trees in front yard. Going to put some new floor plywood in greenhouse. It has been just too cold to start seed in greenhouse but this week may be the week.
March 2nd
The snow is gone and temps got warm but it is now back to 30 degrees with the trend to back to normal March Temps. I replaced the floor section in the Greenhouse that needed it and also the entrance panel. I cleaned out the Greenhouse. I planted Peas, Lettuce and Spinach in the Greenhouse and in containers around the yard that I cleaned out. The Peas were seeds I saved last fall. I planted about 16 Varied Hostas around the front yard Red Cedars. The dropped Pine needles from Red Pine tree, I raked over to the entrance of the Greenhouse where it is muddy. It made the entrance real easy to navigate.
March 9th
This week was wet but planted Blue Hostas in between the rains. No seeds coming up in greenhouse yet. The Daffodils are coming up by the house, it is Spring!!! The Pond is thawing out. Paid some company to clean out my gutters. Always good practice especially since the water goes into my pond. Netted out the leaves in the pond. Planted a Shell Bark Hickey Nut tree to go with the one I have.
March 16th
Even though it snowed today, about an inch, it will melt tomrrow.This past week, warm week, I planted about 5 different Flowers from seed in the Greenhouse for my wife with the Purple theme. Planted some Tomato seeds to test out just in case we get allot of sunny days to warm up the Greenhouse to get the Tomato seeds (I saved from last year) to germinate. The Peas, Spinach and Lettuce in the Greenhouse are up. On Friday I rottotilled two thirds of the garden. It rained and it filled up the pond. Planted a couple bulbs and a Hosta at my parents grave. The two trees I planted there 15 years ago are 10 & 13 ft tall, just amazing. Raked up some more Spruce cones to use as mulch barrier to keep in moisture in flower beds by the house.
March 23rd
I bought our traditional Purple Pansies 2 hanging baskets (split into 4 with Sweet Peas seed planted with them ) and 3- 6pk Purple Pansies. Planted the plugs in our containers in our front yard. Planted some Gladiolas at driveway entrance. Hung the hanging baskets, 2 in front and 2 in the back yard. Planted some Pink Lilies next to Blue Hostas. Planted seed saved from last year, Marigolds. The Peas, Lettuce and Spinach are doing good in the Greenhouse. A variety of Flowers around the Barrel are coming up. The Fig tree that was in a container I took out of the garage is showing signs of life. Raked up some more of front yard that blew in on the last 2 storms.
March 30th
We got a couple good rains and one day in the 70's. I planted some Black and Pink and White Gladiolas. Also planted Black Hollyhocks and some more Black Lilies and Pink Lilies as this years front yard theme is Goth and Barbie. Planted another tray of seeds of Purple Flowers in the green house. Some more Onions and Garlic are coming up in the garden and raised bed from last year. I emptied one of the compost bins on one of a raised bed. I bought a Jack Daniel's Whisky barrel for a water barrel and a planter for the front yard. Did some more tree trimming. We have 2 Robin families at each of our quarter acre. We also have a Mourning Dove family. I ordered a Black Iris for the pond. My wife is back doing the videos after some health issues and I can happily hand it back to her as I and you guys will enjoy her view of my efforts. Below is her first 4 after her health break. She will get back to her usual naivety and fun quickly.
April 6th
Planted some more purple flower seeds in the greenhouse. Also planted some more "Black" Flower bulbs and tubers going with the Goth & Barbie theme. Did a little more tree trimming. Also bought a half barrel "Jack Daniel's" to match the one in the front yard barrel I bought 20 years ago and planted it out with the Theme. Planted some more saved Tomato and Pepper seeds in the greenhouse. I bought like every year 5 different Tomato plants (often ones I want to save seeds of) from the local nursery to planted in 2 containers on south facing side of our house (Micro climate) to get a head start on Tomatoes. Bulbs and Tubers are making their presence known, no sign of Hostas yet. The Alliums are coming up now and first flower to bloom Grape Hyacinth. Collected some more Spruce cones to use as a mulch.
April 13th
It has been busy as the weather gets warmer. We had 2 really cold nights and lost one Tomato plants in our Micro climate containers and replaced it because having Tomato plants 90 days ahead of in the ground plants is worth it if you lose one or two. This is because this Micro climate has worked over the years as I put in my videos's each year. If you find a place like this it is time experiment what you push the edge of growing early. I planted a couple more hanging baskets with Marigolds from a nursery. The New half Barrel planter I bought has been placed in the front yard and planted with a few Flowers with our Goth and Barbie theme. Our first half barrel has the flowers around it coming up, Tulips, Lilies, Crocus and Daffodils. The Rock/Rain garden is just starting to wake up, no Hostas yet but will be shortly. In the Greenhouse the Peas, Lettuce and Spinach are growing well. The Flower seeds I planted also are coming up. When Tomato seeds start coming up the Greenhouse is getting consistent temperatures during the day and when Peppers come up you have consistent hot day time temps. Rototilled more of the garden, waiting on dry up more plus last years Onions I missed are getting to size and we will have some Spring Onions. Planted a bunch of Goth theme Bulbs, Roots and Corms. Grape Hyacinth, Muscari, White Hyacinth and Daffodils are first to bloom. Planted some Califlower and Cabbage starts in rasied bed from a nursery.
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April 20th
This week was about average for April and we got some rain. I planted Onions and also a bag of 16 types of Beans (just as a Lark to see if that 16 soup beans are viable). I would buy The Mixed bag of Fancy Potatoes in the food store because it was cheaper than buying them at a nursery or a Home Depot. When that was happening allot of the growers starting putting on a growth inhibitor on the Potatoes in the Food stores. We continued on Our Goth and Barbie theme on our front yard with "Black Lilies, Peonies, Irisis and Hollyhocks". I ordered some "Black Purple Butterfly bush too. The Apricot trees are in bloom, best show by them yet. The Trillium are up. Tulips seem to be a little slow. The Hostas in th Rock/Rain garden are breaking ground an we have drifts of Muscari. The original barrel garden just gloriest as the plants grow in this cool Spring. Gooseberries have flowers on them. The Stawberries are up. The Magnolia in front yard has its buds enlargeing. The plants in the greenhouse got some sun this week so they doing good.
We celebrate Earth Day & Arbor Day
April 27th
We planted a Purple Bloom Magnolia and 2 Giant Sequoias for Earth Day and Arbor Day. The greenhouse plants are doing great, only one tray of seeds not up. Th Peas are starting to climb the stickes have for them. The Rain / Rock garden and Barrel garden are bursting with life. To continue our Goth and Barbie theme I planted Dark Knight Butterfly Bushes. Planted 2 Black Hollyhocks. Planted a 3 sisters comb in the tub the Magnolia came in. The Peonies are up. The Apricot trees in full bloom all week. The Peach trees are next to bloom. The Cherries are showing signs of life as is the Golgi berry bushes. Tulips just about to bloom. 3 of the Trilliums came back. Irisis are up. Black Berries are coming to life. No real rain all week. The Red Bud is starting to bloom as is the Magnolia. The Crabapples not blooming yet but this their off year.
May 4th
We got some rain and the front yard has kick in to a new gear. Planted 2 Peach trees, 2 Giant Sequoias and a Purple Magnolia tree for Earth and Arbor Day. Onions are up in the garden. Peach Trees are all in Bloom. The Pear and Cherry Trees just starting to bloom. The Redbud is blooming. Magnolia is in Bloom. Mowed the Lawn first time this spring. As usual plants are coming up and I can't remember where are all at but that is the fun of it. Nature is never in straight lines. The greenhouse plants doing great, one tray not showing any signs of life yet and Tomatoes and Peppers by seed are a no show but it has not been cosistently hot in ths greenhouse. (see Video) It is going to be a good year the Trilliums are up. Asperagus is coming up still skinny ones, couple more years. Strawberry plants are up, something chewing on the Cabbage and Califlower. The Hostas are coming up at different rates. Gladiolas spikes appearing. The Evergreens just starting to grow. The Peas I planted all over from last year seeds are growing great everwhere.
May 11th
Been really dry, Onions in garden are growing. The Cabbage & Calflower are doing good in the raised bed as is the Chives & Garlic. A few good harvest size Asperagus for a dinner. We have had much sunny days so the greenhouse plants are doing great. The Rock/Rain garden is hitting its stride. Evergreen trees are starting to grow. The Peach, Cherry, Apple and Crabapple trees are in bloom. Stawberry plants are flowering. The Flower starts are doing good in the greenhouse. The new Giant Sequoias and Magnolia are doing good. There is some signs of life in the New Peach trees. Gooseberry and Golgi berry are leafing out. The Gladiolalas are poking up out of the ground as is the Hostas The Dawn Redwoods, Bald Cyptess and Rose Bush are also Leafing out. Tulips are almost done. The Tomato plants in the Micro climate containers doing good one has flowers on it. We are looking forward to see how our Goth (Black) and Barbie (Pink) Front Yard gardens turn out. I see many Pink Petunias in my future. The flowers in the green house growing from seed are some sort of shade of Pink or Black. This is fun, you need to try some out of your growing comfort zone. As the Theme progresses we will caputure the moments.
My Name and Address
Arthur Hillson
Zion Illinois
My Rock Station
For more info call 847- 731- 7301
OR
E-Mail me at ahillson000@ameritech.net
Trees of Great Environmental Value and Beauty
Web site Designer& Garden Photographer
For more info call 847- 731- 7301
E-Mail me at ahillson000@ameritech.net
Have Compost Will Garden