We have a new tree.

by | Apr 29, 2017 | Journal

I’ll try to get a picture of it. It’s an Emperor One Japanese Maple, a nice tall one, pretty red leaves. There’s a little worry about sun exposure with this tree—they don’t like it hot or bright, but we have those tall evergreens and some...

Quick! what’s the name of the Kadagidi manor house?

by | Apr 29, 2017 | Journal

It was in the book with the kids’ visit to Tirnamardi. I forgot to enter it in the Little Black Book. It was where Aseida lived. And by that you know that Jane is doing a pass through the Hinder Stars and I’m outlining basic setup for another Bren book. I...

A walk through the garden

by | Apr 25, 2017 | Journal

Spring is springing forth, and the pond has water. It’s not as crystalline as we like but it’s alive, in the sense that the biological filtration is proceeding, and when it has fish, it will be good. The chemistry is good. The weeping cherry is going...

Going to need to take some pix tomorrow…

by | Apr 24, 2017 | Journal

The tulips are coming into bloom, weeping cherry in bloom, quince and peonies about to go, and the pond has reached the magical 58 degrees at which one can feed fish safely—if we had fish. But that’s getting closer. It means the nights are getting warmer,...

The garden and a new tree…

by | Apr 22, 2017 | Journal

The ‘contorted birch’ demised a season ago, and did not come back. It was the centerpiece tree of our front yard. Now, meanwhile, we decided to use a licensed spraying company for our gravel paths rather than kill ourselves trying to weed it all. This...

Dandelions. Not as wine.

by | Apr 19, 2017 | Journal

The spring bloom has happened, and in our rock garden, they are alien invaders. I was feeling better today—still not real great with leaning over, but we have to get them. I think I contributed a bushel basket to the Green can and they will become city compost....

It looked as if we had a basement leak…but…

by | Apr 17, 2017 | Journal

instead of us having to move a ton of stuff and Dri-Loc the basement wall— Jane discovered a tiny leak in a ‘winter shutoff valve’ that has a tiny drain-tap in the overhead near the wall in question. Jane has applied plumber’s tape to the...

Happy Easter!

by | Apr 16, 2017 | Journal

Temperatures are sliding up into the 60’s—still a frost a night, but we’re getting there. The star magnolia is in full flower, as are the pasque flowers. The lilies in the pond are sending up shoots, but have another half foot to go before breaking...

Juniper has my number, I fear

by | Apr 14, 2017 | Journal

It’s everywhere and it’s pollinating. We are not the worst city in the nation, but we’re competitive. And we’ve got a few days of this to go through. Despite an allergy pill, my eyes are watering and sounds and the rest of the world are at the...