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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...
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Deck and pergola update


Two full days of work and we are about 99% finished with staining the new deck/pergola. We took the supposedly "rain free" opportunity to get the job done and of course we got sprinkles yesterday afternoon and evening (the weather people here are the WORST!). No worries, however, as it did not seem to spoil anything.

When we had it built in January, Michael said that it would be nice if we could have stained the wood beforehand, especially the 2 x 2 slats that go across the top. Of course he was right as usual. It was a nightmarish job trying to get all the slats stained and I realized that in order to get the top of the slats covered, I would have to climb up on it and do the job sitting on top. Not much fun and very hard to move around. We can hardly move tonight.

I am smiling but I would rather be planting the plants I got at Hortlandia.

This is Michael on day #1. He used a car wash brush with an extension handle to apply the stain to the floor. This made the job go fast at first but of course those pesky slats on top would slow us down to a snail's pace.


Exhaustion and running out of stain ended the day with only a small portion of the slats remaining. Michael is planning on finishing the job tomorrow.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowApril 24, 2019 at 4:44 AM

    It looks like it will withstand any weather and any plants climbing upon it. I can't wait to see all the plantings around it. All of those slats make it a beast to stain no doubt. Won't it be fun to sit out there and watch the garden grow!

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  2. http://whatsitgarden.blogspot.comApril 24, 2019 at 4:32 PM

    You'll be finished just in time for the nice weather this weekend ...we hope ? It looks just right in that position , can't wait to see it all furnished .

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  3. KatrinaChicagoApril 25, 2019 at 11:29 AM

    wow this is stunning!! 2 Pergolas ?? Love it


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