Andrea’s Garden Blog

Blogging during the quiet garden times

Dear readers,
I have been thinking all week what to blog next and find it so difficult. We’ve been having the most dreadful weather which kind of puts your mind on other things to do.

For us it has been working on our “office” which was in the basement but not used, especially in the winter I use it as a storage place for plants that could not survive outdoors. In the past months we moved around in the house and now there is a room on the second floor where we can put “the office” and set up the stationary PC again.

However, I went outside – in the wind- and during a break from the rain and got two shots for you.

Other than that, there really isn’t much going on. Maybe a nice snow fall soon with really pretty pictures. I will give you a “taste” of that today as well since that is not too far away.

Even our cat Stella rather stays indoors – preferably on our bed which I am not too fond of, but she is the ruler of the house (or at least she tries). As long as there is a spread on the bed, I don’t mind though.

I am wishing you a nice week with a lot less wind; at least for my German readers. I am not sure how it is in the other countries at the moment.

/ Andrea

Ich hab mir schon die ganze Woche überlegt, worüber ich bloggen soll und komme eigentlich zu keinem richtigen Thema. Draussen war es diese Woche nur eklig und man / wir haben uns im Haus beschäftigt.

Das Büro wird nach “oben” gezogen in den ersten Stock. Nachdem wir interne Umzüge im Haus hatten, war ein Plätzchen frei an einem freundlicheren Ort als dem Kellerraum, der z. Zt. noch mehr der Überwinterung meiner Kübelpflanzen dient.

In einer Regenpause bin ich aber heute mal raus und habe fotografiert, damit die Blogpause hier nicht allzu lange ist.

Ansonsten gibt’s keine Neuigkeiten zu berichten. Vielleicht bald ein Bild vom Schnee, was nicht allzu weit entfernt sein sollte? Da stell ich euch noch eins rein.

Selbst unsere Katze Stella mag bei dem Hundewetter nicht draussen sein und hat ihr warmes Plätzchen auf dem Bett gefunden, was ich zwar nicht zu sehr mag, aber sie regiert den Haushalt (glaubt sie zumindest). Solange eine Decke auf dem Bett ist, stört es mich nicht.

Wünsche euche eine schöne Woche mit weniger Wind für alle deutschen Blogleser. Wie es in den anderen Ländern aussieht, weiss ich leider nicht.

/ Andrea

End of October Impressions

October is almost over.

Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner? I have heard that some people are almost done with their shopping. For some reason I have the most difficult time to do that early in the year, even though I have quite a number of people I like to surprise on Christmas Eve.

Today the fog was lifted and it was sunny outside. My husband and I started putting the solar lamps into storage, but I can’t get myself to get my ceramic decorations inside yet. The oleander is still outside, too. It doesn’t mind a little frost. All others – like lantana – have been indoors for about two weeks. Just some dahlias and callas need to be dug up and put away.

I hope you have a nice week!

Der Monat Oktober ist fast vorbei.

Ich kann’s noch nicht glauben, dass Weihnachten schon wieder vor der Tür steht. Manche Leute haben sogar schon ihre Geschenke eingekauft. Ich kann das so früh nicht, obwohl ich schon einige liebe Menschen jedes Jahr beschenke.

Der Nebel hat sich heute aufgelöst und es war sogar sonnig draussen. Wir haben die Solarlampen eingesammelt und für den Winter eingepackt. Aber noch bringe ich es nicht übers Herz meine Keramikdekorationen einzusammeln. Der Oleander ist noch draussen, da er etwas Frost verträgt. Das Wandelröschen und alles andere sind schon seit 2 Wochen im Keller. Nur Dahlien und meine erste Calla muss ich noch ausgraben und ins Winterlager bringen.

Ich wünsche euch eine schöne Woche!

Ready for snow yet?

After a busy week with my young nephews visiting us it is once again quiet in the house. We had a lot of fun though and hope to repeat a visit soon. It is fun to have younger children in the house and I noticed how I missed that now that my twin sons are grown up. There is a time for everything though!

Liatris spicata (white) / Weiße Prachtscharte

Three beautiful Indian Summer Days allowed us to do some gardening and excursions in the surrounding area.

My new phlox / Neuer Phlox

We have had snow in the forecast for this weekend. Usually the meteoroligists are not correct, but this time they were. Though it is not sticking to the ground it is the herald of what is yet to come.

Since it is cold outside, what’s better to ring in the weekend with some great red wine? That is exactly what we are doing now.

Have a nice weekend!

P.S.: Stella-The-Cat had to drop a few lines in her blog about the visit as well.

Nach einer Woche mit meinen Neffen, die bei uns zu Besuch waren, ist wieder Ruhe im Haus eingekehrt. Wir hatten viel Spass und hoffen, dass wir es bald wiederholen können. Es macht Spass, Jungs in dem Alter (9 + 10) im Haus zu haben und ich merkte, wie sehr ich es doch vermisse, jetzt wo meine Zwillinge erwachsen sind. Alles zu seiner Zeit!

Drei wunderschöne Herbsttage erlaubten uns im Garten zu arbeiten und auch Ausflüge zu unternehmen.

Für dieses Wochenende wurde Schnee angekündigt. Normalerweise stimmen ja die Vorhersagen der Metereologen nicht, aber dieses Mal lagen sie richtig. Gott sei Dank, bleibt nichts liegen. Aber der Schnee ist der Vorbote dessen, was bald noch kommen wird.

Wenn’s schon mal kalt draussen ist, gibt es nichts besseres, auf das Wochenende mit einem guten Glas Wein anzustossen. Genau das tun wir jetzt.

Schönes Wochenende!

P.S.: Stella-the-Cat musste ihre Erlebnisse in dieser Woche auch in ihrem Blog verewigen.

Friends and Gardens / Freundinnen und Gärten

That is the best combination – don’t you agree?

I participate in two German garden forums which I enjoy very much. For the past few years we have been meeting twice a year -spring and fall – in a garden center in Munich. This year’s fall meeting topped them all. One participant came from Berlin and another from Vienna, the remaining gals were are all from Bavaria. Even though, I have never met three of the ladies there, it was not like meeting strangers, it was like meeting a friend I have had all my life.

The trading part of it was great! We parked our cars on the same level in the parking garage, loaded with plants we traded with one another. Before the meeting we have exchanged our plants lists, bagged and potted everything and carried it to the meeting. What a blast!

Of course, it was hard to avoid all the garden center had to offer and lots of new plants jumped in the basket. My nephews are visiting all of this week and the youngest one was my helper today to plant most of them.

Monkshood – Aconitum – Eisenhut

Fall is the season for Aconitum. Its quiet blue color differs so much from the usual bright colors of fall perennials.

I have gotten my first monkhood from a neighbor who didn’t want to have it in her garden anymore. She didn’t know when she planted it that it was very poisonous and was afraid of having it around her children. Rightfully so, I’d say. My children are grown, but I handle it with care after having had a rash working with it. The plant is among the most poisonous plants in Europe, but it is also known to be a medicinal plant.

When I rearranged my shady corner, Aconitum was the perfect plant to put there. The one I have grows over 5 ft. tall. It is a beautiful contrast during the fall season to the leaves of the hedge of Carpinus Betulus (sorry, don’t know the common name in English) I have planted back there to keep “busy” neighbors from looking into my backyard all the time and providing some privacy.

I have also received a type of monkhood which blooms earlier in the year at the same time my lupines are having their prime time.

Blue is my favorite color of all, but there are so few plants which are “true” blue. I wonder if a garden in one color would look boring?

At the moment I am trying – really trying – to arrange my garden by colors. We’ll see if I succeed in the years to come.

Have nice week,
Andrea