Recently in house Category

It looks like my first attempt at planting bulbs may be a success! The zoom to the right is in the front of my house where I've mostly not touched the modest landscaping the prior owners designed/planted. As opposed to all the other landscaping that I also haven't touched. *snort* I do need to figure out something to do in the front as one of the species planted is both very hearty and expanding. I can't really say it's my favorite of what's there. The front of my house faces East and neighbors of mine have used their small, similar slope to plant vegetables, but I'm not interested in doing the same.


I've had modest success with the vegetable beds in my back yard. I took a flying leap this year and planted winter beans that are supposed to provide nutrients to the soil before the real deal veggie starts show up in the spring. At least, I think they are winter beans. I planted them months ago and didn't save the packaging. Anyway, some sort of winter ground cover. <--- See?? It seems odd to start the summer planting seasons by yanking all these guys out, but so it goes.


Also, this will be year two for the one successful hop plant that has made it from my prior two attempts (of four rhizomes each, so I'm one-for-eight to date). No hop cones flowered last year but that is to be expected in the first year. This summer -- sun permitting -- I should be able to harvest a handful or two of Goldings. And I bought more rhizomes to plant this spring. Finally, I learned that I need to have two cherry trees if I actually want any fruit.

Now, if I could only figure out why I can't grow a Columbine to save myself. I may have to trade in my claim Colorado roots if I can't grow the state flower.

X wrote "Year 1." We'll call this year two.

Over the past two weekends, I've spent about 4-5 hours in my yard hoping for a better outcome than last year. Mr. Sun, this is on you, too. Into pots, instead of the ground, went hop rhizomes; two each of Fuggles and Goldings. Hopefully have found a sunny corner of the yard and will worry about the needed 10'-12' trellis later. The balance of time was spent weeding. Oy, weeds and dandelions, the bane of my existence, horticulturally speaking, of course. The Columbine seeds (you can take the boy out of Colorado...) I planted in the fall did nothing. I'll chalk that up to more 2010 bad mojo. But on the bright side, my cherry tree has the hint of many blossoms to come. Will cherry blossoms lead to actual cherries?


So, it's April. April showers and blah blah blah. And we've had more than our fair share of rain so far this month and year, Seattle or no. Can I amend the couplet to read, April showers brings May beer? Breaking out of my usual home brew experiments in English ales, I'm attempting my first German-style beer, a maibock, or May Bock. With adequate lagering, I should be able to sample by Memorial Day.


Happy spring!

Just about this time last year as the final negotiation over the selling price of my house was concluding, the inspection was basically a slam dunk. For a 100-year old house, the inspector found little to be concerned about. The number one item on the list was the front stairs and landing where the lovely Seattle rains -- and some questionable prior construction -- brought on some significant wood rot.


All along, I knew it was going to be the first serious expense for me and then as the summer wore on, I seemingly saw the stairs worsen by the day.