By Carol Cichorski, on August 11th, 2011 You may have heard of the Law of Attraction. The basic idea is that you are giving off vibes whether you realize it or not. The vibes can be good, or bad, and you get back what you give. So if you are having a bad day, you are likely giving off bad vibes, attracting other folk’s bad vibes and thus worsening your day. You learn from this, and make a conscious effort to give off good vibes. You get back good vibes, and all is well.
 I contend we can take this a step further. I thought about frogs. I got frogs. If you read I Want A Frog, you know that I wanted one for our pond. If you read Someone Make Those Frogs Shut Up! you know that just days later I went to Orlando, and had so many frogs in the marsh behind the hotel that the noise was bothersome.
My vibes attracted more frogs than that. Our group went out to lunch at Amigos. Guess what? 6 foot tall frogs (not live ones of course) for decoration.
Then I’m packing. Time to pick out one of the change purses I bought in St. Augustine and claim it as mine. You guessed it; there was one with frogs on it. I apparently sent out subconscious frog vibes when I was shopping.
The best news of all – Mike sent me a picture of our very own pond frog. Mike didn’t have to rely on my vibes; we had talked about it. He read I Want A Frog and went to work. Minimal work was required, as Mike was hiding something from me. He already thought our pond had a frog. He did build up some areas to make it easier for the frog to come and go from the water. Next thing you know, we’ve got this:
Hmmm … maybe its time for me to start thinking about going back to St. Augustine. Perhaps I can vibe us there.
Do you think this is the end of our frog saga? For now, yes. But aren’t you wondering how Mike is going to get rid of the ugly green gridwork that is protecting our fish from predators. Take a look.
By Carol Cichorski, on August 9th, 2011 Just two weeks I wanted a frog. Last week I wanted the *(&DF*&!p; things to shut up. I had a million of those dang frogs. They were either all peeping, or all quiet. Then all peeping. Then all quiet. I know this about frogs because I had soooo many of them. A whole marsh full of them as a matter of fact. I had an egret too, and heaven knows what else was out there.
How can that be you ask? Two weeks ago, no frogs. Last week, too many frogs. Was Mike really that good at building the frog-friendly environment I outlined? He’s good – but not that good. I was on a business trip in Orlando. This was my fourth week here this summer. Same hotel, different room, different view. This time, I had the marsh view. Hmmm…I don’t remember seeing that in the promos. One thing for sure, I can say that Orlando marsh territory is clearly (in a mucky sort of way) good for attracting frogs.
I jest when I say I want the frogs to shut up. Frogs come with good memories for me. Many years ago, we enjoyed an unplanned vacation at the end of a business trip because I had to have the family come to Hilton Head. It was both frog-friendly and family-friendly. We had a great time, and each night I fell asleep to the sound of the frogs. I still have a picture on the wall of Kevin playing in the sand. I can picture him even now at the age of 2 in his red swim trunks.
Then there is Devil’s Lake. I know John remembers looking for frogs when we camped there. He has camped there since and mentioned it.
The kids have long since grown, and still I’m making new frog memories. When Mike and I drive past Busse Woods in April, we open the windows in anticipation. Eventually, we are rewarded with the sound of peeper frogs and we know spring is coming. We smile at each other and repeat frequently.
So, yes, I want a frog. And no, I don’t really want my borrowed frogs to shut up. You have to find your memories where you can. And mine, well, I find some in frogs.
Do you think this is the end of our frog saga? Think again! Read Use The Law Of Attraction To Attract Frogs.
By Carol Cichorski, on August 4th, 2011 I’ve done it before, and I’ll probably do it again. I am admitting that I am not the only garden blogger out there. I know, of course, that you are loyal, and wouldn’t intentionally read another blogger’s material. So when I wrote 5 Articles That I Like, I’m sure it was painful for you to click on the links. I’m going to give accolades again. So prepare yourself.
Photo Overwhelm
By Saxon Holt
Let’s analyze how to take advantage of that foliage on this day in this garden and work on one idea, to make the camera lie to tell a story, to slow down and “see” when photo overwhelm overcomes us. Stay in one area and work it. Allow your self to “see”. Read more at Photo Overwhelm.
How to make a birdhouse and decorate with seed catalogs
By Anna Looper
Botanical Interests Seeds has the most beautiful catalog. Not only do I grow their seeds, I recycle their catalogs. Sitting on my repurposed twin headboard bench, sits the aqua birdhouse embellished with little hearts. Read more at How to make a birdhouse and decorate with seed catalogs.
Have You Completed Your Summer Bucket List?
By Amanda Olsen
This is a cautionary tale.
I had a whole great list of things I wanted to do this summer. Ambitious, leave-the-house kind of things. The things that grown ups do; planned activities. But you know how summer is; Read more at Have You Completed Your Summer Bucket List?
Weed Control
By Laura Lee
We all know, to make weeds go away, you get out and pull them. That’s pretty easy advice. But there are other things you can do to control weeds. Read more at Weed Control.
Wildflower Wednesday: Well Worth the Wait
By Ramble on Rose
How’s that title for some alliteration?? Well, that’s how I feel right now. My midsummer natives are taking their time to bloom, but their eventual arrival has been sweet. Read more at Wildflower Wednesday: Well Worth the Wait.
By Carol Cichorski, on August 1st, 2011 The month of August, per Edith Holden’s “Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady” …
This month received it’s present name from the Emperor Augustus, and was selected not as being his natal month, but because in it his greatest good fortune happened to him. As July contained 31 days, and August only 30, it was thought necessary to add another day to the latter month, in order that Augustus might not be in any respect inferior to Julius.
And from the collection of poetry Ms. Holden has been kind enough to share with us …
Fairest of months! ripe Summer’s Queen
The hey-day of the year
With robes that gleam with sunny sheen,
Sweet August doth appear.
Author: R. Cambe Miller
Whereforth cometh the inspiration to wax poetic? Garden Bloggers’ Muse Day, where Carolyn Choi of Sweet Home and Garden Chicago has invited bloggers to share our favorite poems, songs, verses and quotes about gardening on the first of the month. Carolyn is leaving Chicagoland and her blog to follow her heart to North Carolina. Thanks to Carolyn for her inspiration.
By Carol Cichorski, on July 27th, 2011  We have been to some magnificent gardens lately. Should I write about the one in Barrington that had waterfalls and ponds, a forest-like backdrop, and this idyllic fireplace area? No, not yet.
How about the garden you see below? That doesn’t look like a garden to you? That’s because this 50 acre site, with a 2 acre prairie, was way more than a garden. It was a piece of history, complete with a captivating collector as a host. He himself was a piece of history, and he had a building full of great local memorabilia. I have lived in Chicagoland my whole life and didn’t know that Elgin had been the dairy capital of the U.S. I fully intend to tell you about it…later.
 All those interesting topics and I instead decide to write about frogs. Yep, frogs. I want a frog. I’ve wanted one before. Mike saw to it that I got a tadpole, a tadpole who later did morph into a frog. We only saw him that year.
Mike will have to work some more magic next year so we can try again. The magic will consist of making a frog-friendly environment. That is supposedly what it takes to get a frog to move in. I’ve read that before and now I’ve read it again. Margaret at A Way to Garden wrote that the ‘frogs add themselves’ to her instant water gardens. And About.com says ‘Build It and They Will Come’.
So what is a frog-friendly environment? About.com lists some requirements that will be easy for us to meet:
- Frogs need easy access to water. Not deep water, but something that includes a shallow spot for them to climb in and out of.
- And plants in and around the pond. I can do that.
- Chemical free – a given.
- I can even keep it ‘not too clean’ which will be more natural for them, and easier for me.
- Extra shelter – sure. I can dig through my shelves for a clay pot to pot on its side.
Some of the requirements are going to be tougher. Maybe we’ll think of them more as ‘guidelines’ that don’t need to be strictly followed:
- Fish – no fish. How can you tell me no fish? About.com says they’ll eat my tadpoles. I don’t know how we’re gonna work that one out, but fish and frogs co-exist out there in the wild. Same for other animals – my frogs are just gonna have to make friends. Margarets writes that hers did.
- Quiet, still water. Just when we were thinking about making a real waterfall next year. Margaret said not to worry. She wrote me that small “falls” (really just outlets from the pump/filter) in both of her pools are loved by the frogs. They even sit on the spillway of one, with the water streaming over and around them. They don’t want really hectic water, but you can have a little action.
The good news for me – Mike is my ‘figure it out’ kind of guy. My ‘make it happen’ kind of guy. My ‘I’m gonna make you happy’ kind of guy. I like those qualities in a guy! I get to sit back and exercise the patience that About.com talks about.
So yes, I’ll write about the other gardens. Those other gardens that had frogs. But for now, I’m going to go to sleep. While others dream about Prince Charming, I’ll be the one dreaming about the frog.
Think this is the end of our frog saga? Think again! You’ll just have to come back to see where this all leads.
By Carol Cichorski, on July 23rd, 2011 This is the beauty we get to wake up to each morning. (And looking at the title, you thought this was not going to be family friendly. Shame on you. This is a gardening blog.)
13 years ago we moved into this tiny house, and even with the addition we’ve since put on, the house would count as tiny. The yard, not. We did not do a lot of splurging on the addition. If we spent extra money anywhere, it was to get as many windows as we good. You can see why. Money on draperies – not so much. You’re looking at an embroidered tablecloth from a garage sale.
What’s not to like? We can even see the Fish Creek sign. Ok, it’s not the real Fish Creek in Door County, but the memories come home with us each year, and we love the reminder.
Last night, our garden was pelted with almost 7″ of rain. The beautiful Rose of Sharon looks even better when it hasn’t been mistreated like that. Not your average Rose of Sharon, you say? Au contraire, mon amie. Tis your average Rose of Sharon, just not your average presentation. It’s all in the trimming. We got ours from Usha, who, like so many gardeners, had tiny volunteers popping up in her garden. I trimmed it to keep it to one stem, and now this ‘tree’ blooms beautifully for a good month. You can read more about it in last year’s Rose Of Sharon Surprise.
 Bet you didn’t even notice there isn’t a lot blooming. Bet you didn’t even miss the flowers. In this easy care area, we certainly don’t. There is plenty of year-around color from the spruce, barberries, and ivy. Sprinkled during good weather with the contrasting solomon’s seal and tall grasses.
 We’re lovin’ it, and even willing to put up with the racket from all the birds at 4 AM, including the bird on the left who is checking out the view looking in. Ok, sometimes we aren’t willing to put up with the racket, and we close the window. But we love their presence, and the beauty, none-the-less.
By Carol Cichorski, on July 20th, 2011 What is going on in my garden? Take a look at this picture and play the guessing game. Well, if you’ve read the title, you probably know I’m not expecting rain. I had to transplant something on a really hot day and I wanted success. Though there is no guarantee that transplanting in the middle of summer will work, there are things you can do to put the odds in your favor.
I didn’t always know this. Going back some 15 years ago, I didn’t garden much. Ok, I didn’t garden at all. When Mike and I were dating, he said I did all of my gardening in the house gutters. So I not only didn’t garden, I didn’t clean helicopter seeds from my gutters. Mike married me anyway. Apparently I had other endearing qualities. I did try to garden, a little. I’d move a plant and a few weeks later it was dead. Same thing the next year. The problem wasn’t the heat. The problem wasn’t the plant. I hate to admit it, but the problem was the gardener.
Fast forward to today. This is what my garden looks like now when I transplant something on a hot day.
Like the first picture, the plants are in the shade. Never mind that they are sedum, plants that are perfectly happy in full sun with minimal water. They got water and they got shade for a few days. So simple, and it works. I do have a plan for that green grid you’re seeing over the pond. It’s there to keep my fish safe from predators. Stop back in and you’ll soon see what I learned this weekend on one of the Aquascape Pond Tours. Ugly soon to be gone!
Success planting on hot days doesn’t mean that I look for trouble intentionally. When it is seriously hot, I am more likely to exercise patience than stupidity. This week has qualified as hot. I know this for a fact. Our air conditioning was out for a few days and it was 88 inside. Today, the temperature will be 97, with a heat index of 110. I won’t be doing any transplanting. Even I have limits.
By Carol Cichorski, on July 15th, 2011 I was afraid. Very afraid. Afraid that inviting the Dahlia Club, Elk Grove Garden Club, and Bloomingdale Garden Club to visit our yard in mid-July would be a time of green. As in green everywhere with nothing much in bloom. After all, the garden was spectacular in late June with the roses and Asiatic lilies blooming for Alex’s birthday party. By mid-July, they would be gone, and I’d be left with green.
I suppose there are bigger and badder things to be afraid of than green. I should (and do) truly consider myself blessed that my life is filled with a healthy loving family, and that we have jobs in this downturned economy. So if the worst thing I have to be afraid of is too much green in my yard, I’ve got it good. So yes, I’ve got it good. I know it. I do appreciate it. Hugely.
Still, I also wanted more. More than just green. And I got it! Let’s look at just this one area of the garden, and then dissect it.
I could also be afraid that my color palette is not perfect. But I’m not. I read the books that show which color combinations go best together. I’ve seen the color wheel. I just don’t care. God knows what he is doing with color. The sky is perfect with blue. The sun is perfect with yellow. And my garden is perfect with whatever colors He has me put there. So when my pink phlox is next to dark red daylilies, I’m lovin’ it.
 I’m also not afraid of putting something in the wrong place. The yellow evergreen we bought for a pittance from Rich’s Foxwillow Pines was tiny. We were at a flower show and Rich had $5.00 pines. That is in my price range. It was tiny for years. Like one foot tall tiny. We’ve moved it a few times, and you wouldn’t call it tiny anymore. Mike teases me that my plants are on wheels. Eventually, I get it right.
 How about invasive? Should I be afraid of invasive? Ok, you’ve got me. I’m afraid of invasive. Well, maybe not really afraid, lets call it aware. I’m aware the goldenrod is invasive. You just have to look around to see that. What I needed to be was educated. Solidago, which you see here, is not invasive. I also learned that goldenrod gets a bad rap for causing hay fever. No more fear of goldenrod.
If you’re afraid of getting it wrong, don’t be. Gardening is a process. A very much continuing process. You make mistakes. You learn. We did. And we still do.
What else is blooming in the July garden? To see what other bloggers have blooming on the 15th of every month, visit May Dreams Gardens for our Garden Bloggers’ Bloom day entries.
By Carol Cichorski, on July 12th, 2011 A beautiful pond eludes us. We try. Really we do. Mike put in a pre-fab pond several years ago, complete with a small stream and headwater. But we can’t seem to really get ‘there’. By ‘there’, I mean it just doesn’t look like a miniature version of this one that we saw on a pond tour several years ago.
To see ponds like this one, you need to go on a pond tour. It just so happens that the Midwest Pond and Koi Society (MPKS) has not one, but four, pond tours coming up.
Saturday, July 23, 2011: Southwest & West – Aurora, Batavia, Bolingbrook, Downer’s Grove, Geneva, Lisle, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield, St. Charles, Warrenville, Wheaton, Woodridge.
Sunday, July 24, 2011: South – south side of Chicago, Indiana, Joliet, Lemont, Lockport, Mokena, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Tinley Park, and Willow Springs.
Saturday, July 30, 2011: North/Northwest – Arlington Heights, Addison, Carol Stream, Elgin, Des Plaines, Glendale Hts., Glenview, Kildeer, Mt. Prospect, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Palatine, Prospect Hgts., Roselle, Schaumburg, Streamwood.
Sunday, July 31, 2011: Central – Berwyn, Brookfield, Chicago, Countryside, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, La Grange Park, North Riverside, Oak Brook, Oak Park, Riverside, River Forest, and Westmont
The tours are open to all, with guidebooks being sold at a variety of places. You buy the book, then make the rounds at your own pace.
Mike and I were members of MPKS for a while. Learning about ponds seemed like a good idea before building one. Mike was interested in the technical end. He needed to know what to do to make it work without spending a lot of money on equipment, and of course he wants to do it without chemicals.
See this picture we took on the pond tour in 2005? See the water flowing through the stream, down the waterfall, and into the pond? See the equipment that makes it happen? See anything cleaning the water? Appropriately, yes, you see the picture, and yes, the water is flowing. Also appropriately, no, you don’t see the equipment that makes it happen or the filter.
 I was interested in the aestetics. I don’t want to see pond liner. I don’t want the pond to look like it was plopped down in the middle of nowhere. I don’t want it surrounded by an avalanche. I want it to look natural, like it has always been there. That’s how this one looks. This stream flows from somewhere unknown. Is there a liner? I don’t know, and that’s how it should be. Lots of groundcover. Natural grading.
The ponds on the Midwest Pond and Koi Society tours have been done with a variety of expertise – everything from ‘I did it ALL myself’ to ‘This was done professionally’. If you want to see water features of the professional caliber, Aquascape is a Chicagoland design and installation company who sponsors mini-tours. Like MPKS, there will be a group of ponds to see in one area.
July 16th, 2011
City: Palatine
Self-Guided Tour Times: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
August 20th, 2011
City: Downers Grove
Self-Guided Tour Times: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
September 17th, 2011
City: St. Charles
Self-Guided Tour Times: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
This might just be the way to up your game if you’ve been considering a pond. Or maybe its just a way for you to enjoy someone else’s pond. Either way, plan a day or two to visit.
By Carol Cichorski, on July 7th, 2011 The question ‘1 bucket raspberry bush + 7 years = ?’ is one to give serious thought to if you are considering planting raspberries. No, this is not one of those questions like ‘If a train leaves Boston at 8 AM, and travels 52 miles per hour, what time is it in St. Louis?’. Believe it or not, the answer to the raspberry question is Continue reading 1 Bucket Raspberry Bush + 7 Years = ?
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