Winter Beauty

Somehow bright Midwestern sunshine radiating down in January makes even 15 degrees seem OK. Watching some winter-hardy birds dart and hop, around and under, our bird feeder to obtain badly needed nourishment in the mid-day sunshine is most wonderful. The expense of buying wild bird seed, and the effort of filling a feeder in the winter cold, are more than offset by the enjoyment offered by these fragile creatures of the air! The varieties and colors (even in the dead of winter) are amazing. Cardinal red, Jay blue, Sparrow brown, and Nuthatch grey pop in the bright light, and afford the observer a most pleasant feeling.

What a Difference!

What a difference a couple of months make in our Central Ohio area. Here's proof:

October, 2011
and
Today

January, 2012

I think I'll grab a cup of coffee and read my latest issue of the Ohio Gardener magazine and dream........

The Last Salad of the Year!

It is really going to be hard to have to buy that first bunch of lettuce from the grocery store. I had to take a picture of the last salad from our garden.

It consisted of two kinds of lettuces, Baby Mesclun Lettuces/Cut and Come Again from Renee’s Garden and Buttercrunch from Livingston Seed Co., and a packet of baby spinach seeds (not sure where these were from). In September, we planted three deck planters with lettuce in them and one with the baby spinach .

It was so hot in Central Ohio in August that we put off planting these until September. Well, our weather here has been so unusually warm this Fall and into the first part of January that these cool weather crops did great! We ate lots of salads from these four containers. This January picture will have to be a reminder of that great home grown taste until we plant again in early Spring. Till then…………..

A Thanksgiving Gift

Look what bloomed on Thanksgiving! It's the common Shamrock plant (oxalis). I am thankful for flowers on any plant, indoors or outdoors, during the month of November in Central Ohio.

I did some research on bloom times and learned a lot in the process. Here is a link to some great information from the Iowa State University Extension on this plant.

Robins Twice in One Season

We feel lucky to have had two sets of baby robins born on this Delaware Green Acre. This last group of three (that's our best guess) was found in a nest in our front yard right in the middle of a Globe Blue Spruce on a Standard.

When we found the nest, the babies had already hatched and had some feathers. The babies had to be pretty far along because they were not in the nest for long.

Hubby making and sharing a discovery

What's for lunch?

Mom caught a worm and is getting ready to share it with her babies

A Special Trip to Schnormeier Gardens

Once a year Ted and Ann Schnormeier open their gardens for public viewing. The Columbus Dispatch did an article on this beyond beautiful Asian inspired garden and noted the dates that this would be open to the public. We checked out the weather for these dates and quickly decided when we would visit. We could not have picked a better day. The weather was wonderful. The temperature was in the low 80’s and a there was a light breeze all day long. Last time we visited these gardens, the temperature was well into the 90’s and no breeze. This visit was going to be just perfect.

Schnormeier Gardens are located in Gambier, Ohio. The gardens spread out over 75 acres. There are nine distinct gardens along with many lakes and large lawn areas. There are gently rolling hills throughout the property which adds much interest to the different areas. Every detail was carefully thought out when laying out these areas.

Enjoy a pictorial walk of the property and gardens.

A bronze sculpture of Ted and Ann Schnormeier commissioner for their 50th anniversary sits in a garden

A rolling hills view of Schnormeier Gardens

On the way to the Waterfall Garden

Experience the Waterfall Garden

Hubby on Chinese bridge to Swan Island

in the Waterfall Garden

A view of the lake from Swan Island
Japanese Teahouse

Rhododendrons blooming in early June

A view of the Stream Garden

Art in the Stream Garden

Schnormeier residence inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright along the lake

Gardens near the Schnormeier home

Container gardens along the lake side of the home

View of the bridge to Swan Island from the house

Japanese Garden

Chinese Cup Gardens with view of Chinese pavilion

Chandelier in the Chinese pavilion

One of the Cup Gardens

Japanese Garden House in the Serenity Garden overlooking one of five ponds

Japanese garden house in the Serenity Garden

Japanese Bridge

Some of the many rare conifers in the Serenity Garden

Snake-Branch Norway Spruce

Hinoki Cypress

Korean Fir

Japanese White Pine

Weeping European Silver Fir

Alaska Cedar

Vista of the Serenity Gardens

Hosta Garden surrounded by Sassafras trees

Trunk of a Sassafras tree

Woodland Garden with sculptures

Sculpture at one end of the Woodland Garden

Lupines in the Meadow Garden

Peonies in bloom

The zigzag bridge

Australian black swan

Lake view from the Meadow Garden

Quarry Garden

Along the lake edge of the Quarry Garden