We Finally Had Rain!

Here in Montana, we have been VERY DRY... a month ago, we were seriously concerned about summer pasture for the cattle. I mean: there just wasn't any grass even beginning to green up! It was severe enough, the cattle were turned into the hay/forage fields. That is a 'last resort' type of thing, as grazing hay fields could cut production by half -- or even more.
A week ago, it did rain... boy, did it rain! We got 2.3 inches! It came slowly, raining off and on for four days. Overnight, the hills began to show green! Things began to look up!
OH, I WAS GLAD I HAD PLANTED MY GRASS the morning it began to rain. I played in the mud, planting a few things as it rained.
It cleared off, and I began to move things from the greenhouse to the flower beds. The patio and front of the house began to take shape.
Yesterday afternoon, I got a phone call from my mother, saying a hail/rain storm was heading our way. It had been very severe in her area, with drifts of hail stones still laying in her yard.
The sky to the west of us was dark and blue... and I could hear thunder in the distance.
I frantically put up 'shingles' around some of the newly set plants, while I covered most of the roses with pots and garbage cans. Of course, I hauled in rocks and cement blocks to weigh them down. I carried the pots and misc. plants that I could lift back into the greenhouse.
Then I went into the house and waited. The thunder got closer.
It began to rain slowly and softly. Then a few tiny hail stones fell.
Suddenly the sky opened and it just dumped! We got 8 tenths in about 20 minutes.
I took a few photos from the front door.

At least it was a test of my grading away from the house! It all seemed to work! Everything ran away and didn't puddle up, considering we still don't have eaves on the house.
I was going to post a nice, pretty photo of the newly planted patio bed, but I guess this 'muddy' photo will do for now! :)

Patio is taking shape!

The total number of tractor-bucket loads of dirt and manure is now to 78! but I think I am nearly completed with three sides of the house. I actually 'heeled in' some perennials that my mother in law sent home with me.... and 99% of the patio and step is done.

I still have work on the sidewalk, edging between the gravel driveway and the lawn area, the beds around the patio and the foundation planting areas, etc.

Here is a photo of the 'patio'.... it is not completed yet, but I had to put out my table and chairs! :)

I have laid and then redone half of the walk to the driveway! I can't seem to keep it straight, and I am using lines, and squares!
I finally realized that the 'square' pavers I had bought at 'the cheapest place' were not exactly square! So now if one doesn't butt exactly up against the first, I just rotate it until it fits better.
Not exactly correct, but it will have to do, for this 'do it yourself' project!

Serious Landscaping Has Begun!!!

Spring is 'not yet arrived' here in Montana. Nights are still in the low teens (F) and the daytimes are lucky to get into the fifties. Just in the past several days, have the south-slopes of small hills begun to show a tint of green. Even the weeds are not yet sprouting along the south edge of the roadways.
However, I am hard at work around the new house. It is really in a stage of discouragement, rather than excitement.... but I am hoping any day will bring a turning point!
The official total of tractor bucket-loads of dirt, manure, etc. hauled in around the house is now at 63! That does include last year's efforts, but the 14 this year have been the ones that need to be spread around by hand shoveling!!!!!
I think that is what is so discouraging: For every load I haul in, I see where I need two more! And each pile of manure or dirt simply seems to disappear when I start throwing it around!

BUT, in reality, things are getting better, and I must keep reminding myself that all the time I put into the soil now will mean so much in the future success of any planting I will do for years to come!

In the past, I have tried to use 'shortcuts' in preparing a new planting area... and it doesn't work well!
Well, have to run now... lots of baby animals here on the ranch.... and that means hours of chores! And then back to more shoveling!
I'll be back soon with some 'before' photos and some graphics of my design plans!
Mrs. John

The Harrington babies are doing great!

This past weekend, I transplanted the last of the "Harrington babies" from the leaves....
WOW... I am so excited!!!
I sent out many Harrington babies last week, to Violet Voice members who are participating in our group's growing project. Of course, I saved several of each variety for myself! :)
This photo is of just a small portion of one tray!

Progress Report on the African violet jar:

In May, I planted a small clay 'strawberry jar' with extra plantlets of Darling BlueTrail.
Well, I must admit to having a terrible time keeping it watered!
At first, it was just like any other potted AV. But sometime in July, I began to notice it needed water every day... of course, it didn't get water every day!
I finally decided to really soak it, pot and soil, then fill the little saucer with water.
That worked fairly well... and by the middle of September, I began to see a bloom or two.
My other 'regularly-potted' Darling Blue Trail plants seem to love to bloom, so I am hoping with cooler house temperatures this fall... and maybe a larger saucer, these plants will soon begin to bloom more.

But this experience has been fun, and if I can find the way to care for it, I will do this again!

Window Plants Are Growing!

This is a fact that we should all keep in mind: African violets DO grow at a fairly fast rate, so don't get discouraged! And we don't have to buy large plants 'just so we can have blooms"! If we would just have a LITTLE patience, the blooms will appear in no time!
PROOF:
This is my bedroom window this morning (mid September):

and here is how it looked six weeks ago (late July):

There has been many blooms in the window before today, but I just didn't take time to take a photo!
~~~ So this 'photo diary' of this window has taught me a lesson I don't want to forget: our plants will bloom, so don't get in a hurry. Just go about your life, and one morning they will greet you with lots of blooms! ~~~