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| Sunday,
22 January 2012, Issue # 1201 Happy New Year from Rachel's Gardens!  We
hope you enjoyed a Happy Holiday season with family and friends.
Janet and I spent the holidays in Texas with her family. Back in
Northwest Illinois, we had a mild winter until recently, with
temperatures in the 50's. I was able to do chores that I generally
do in late March or early April. My new Troy-Bilt® 11hp chipper was
put to lots of use as I chipped up leaves and branches to create
mulch.
 The
prairie gardens now have a 2 inch bed so that nutrients are added as
the mulch decomposes and help retain moisture for the plants like
monarda and fillipendula that like to keep their feet wet. All
of the woodland gardens have been tended to with layers of compost
and I transplanted ferns and empherals to promote a natural look.
Some of my natural arbors were also repaired. Read
More In Rachel's Blog |
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Winter Wonderland Time  In
the past week we have had now about 11 inches of snow. Nature here
in NW Illinois has decided to pull up the blanket on the gardens and
go into a winter sleep. Though I no longer tend to my plants till
spring, I still tend to my feathered and furry friends. I keep the
pond waterfall going and put a bubbler in to keep a hole open for
oxygen for the fish and a drinking spot for wildlife.
 In
December I put out Holiday Lights that I like to keep up through
February to enliven the gardens at night. I try to keep up with our
walking trail, marked with bright orange blazes along the way.
Please feel free to enjoy the path if you are in the area. The
lights are on from dusk to 11pm. One lap is approximately .3mi. |
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