Skhoot Studio

Merry scribbler. Monsters rescued; knights slain.

Category: gardening

Seeing potential

2023/06/07 /

We were gifted a chimenea in the shape of a fish that had broken at the top of the fish’s tail. It has since been carefully reconstructed but will never be safe for a fire again.

A red clay chimenea in the shape of a fish with red succulents trailing from the top and pale green and deep purple succulents in the mouth of the fish.

We took it, knowing it wouldn’t be safe for a firepit with the idea that we were going to turn it into a planter. It has sat by the doorway for a couple of years now, but I never made the time to plant anything in it. This year I bought some fancy succulents from several growers on Etsy.

I’ve had them all for about half a week. Yesterday I finally took the time to get everything planted.

A close up of the opening of a red clay chimenea with succulents planted along the opening.

I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen. The green ones are supposed to turn yellow as they mature, but I like the colors just the way they are if they don’t.

I might add a taller plant in the back that likes semi-shade, but I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet. I kind of want to see what happens with what’s in there now before I make any additons.

Everybody in the pool

2023/06/06 /

We’re doing some planting for the future. The 2020 Derecho took so many trees, so we’re trying to rebuild the population of native trees.

This wagon is the best. I love you, little green wagon.

Of course the bare root trees arrived well before we’re going to be ready to plant them, so I’m giving them a temporary home to help keep them alive and healthy until we can get them in the ground.

A mix of native species, straight from the DNR, just hanging out in the spa.

Everybody in the pool, friends. Enjoy your little mud treatment spa days.

And just like that, it was summer

2022/05/11 /

We lingered in the 50s throughout April cold, damp April showers, never once creeping into the 60s, and precious few sunny days. We’ve started seeing the promised May flowers and temperatures in the upper 80s.

Two violet blooms against a grassy backdrop.
Violets in time for Mother’s Day bouquets

Plants are starting to go into the garden spaces. We set up new planter beds up on the deck for herbs, finally replacing the smaller pots we lost in the 2020 August Derecho.

My tennis elbow persists, and it’s time to start the drastic measures. I went for a cortisone shot last week.

My doctor put me on light stretching and no repetitive activity. That takes out both knitting and crocheting, which I find inconvenient. Yarncrafting soothes the artist in my soul.

I need to schedule physical therapy again to continue working on this.

A single yellow dandelion bloom in the grass.
Or, if you’re patient, perhaps your preference is dandelions for wine.

Instead of picking up yarn and my hooks or needles, I’m using this gift of time to focus on building up my writing portfolio.

I’m also enjoying the perennials as they begin to bloom in my front garden. The early daffodils are almost gone, but the late spring daffies have taken their place. They’re blooming in abundance.

A closeup of three white daffodils.
I think this is the most I’ve seen my white daffodils blooming.

Given it’s supposed to be in the 90s on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, I need to enjoy them before the heat gets them.

Planning Ephemera

2022/04/27 /

We got a late start on planning the garden and started all the plants on Saturday, which is late for almost everything we’re planting.

a simple line drawing of a garden plan, with letter indicating plants.
BR is for BRoccoli, T is for Tomato, E is for Eggplant

We may end up with a late harvest on some of these things or need to supplement with purchased plants. This was done on the back of a page of notes, which included this kitten drawn on a tea stain left by some idiot (me) plopping their used teabag on the steno pad we take random notes on. (oops.)

Cat in pen and tea stain.

It’s really hard to think about planning the garden when the days continue to struggle to get into the 50s F.

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