Field Notes for January

Welcome to Field Notes! I'm experimenting with a "journal" format this year, in which a single post includes brief entries made throughout the month. Entries may run the gamut from photos of landscapes, gardens, or wildlife; interesting articles, films, or books; evidence of seasonal change; night shots of the moon; fun projects to try; experiments; and so forth. I plan to publish the Field Notes before month end, but may continue adding entries and updating the Notes until the next month begins (so check back periodically)! The format may evolve over the year, or vary from month-to-month or season-to-season. In the spirit of "Sabbatical" and trying something new, let's give it a shot!

January 1, 2024

Happy New Year! Time for a fresh start in a new year. After weeks of cold, rain, overcast skies, and short days, today is clear, beautiful, and sunny. The temperature forecast for today is a high of 58 degrees F., and a low of 49. It's a perfect day to finish my thank you notes, start some good intentions, and enjoy the morning sun on this flower bulb collection from Mom and Dad in Alaska!

The bulb collection may include Crocus, Hyacinths, Iris, Narcissus, Daffodils, or Tulips.
The fresh green leaves look so beautiful in the morning sun!

Bulbs are a winter favorite because you can force many of them to bloom out of season in the right conditions (including Amaryllis, paperwhites, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, tulips and daffodils). Bulbs are easy to grow, fun to watch, and many have a lovely fragrance. What a treat!

January 6, 2024

Winter rain brings mushrooms! Some people associate mushrooms with decay (which can be the case), but mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal fungi and can also indicate healthy soil. I'm always glad to see mushrooms after winter rains (see Mushrooms and Winter is Coming for a couple of posts).

Mushrooms are popping up through the wood chips all over the yard!

January 8, 2024

I'm reading an "antique" gardening book that I've been carrying through time, The Complete Book of Garden Magic, by Roy E. Biles (it was published in 1935 and 1940, and then republished by M.E. Biles and J. G. Ferguson in 1941 and 1947). My copy of the book was previously owned by two gardening sisters, Martha Fuller and Irene (Fuller) Baird, and left for us when we bought their house in Southern California. Martha and Irene were childhood friends of my Grandma Char and her three sisters (Mary Bina, Rachel, and Blessing) when they all lived in South Dakota. Later they continued the friendship after everyone moved to California!

Garden Magic includes many charming illustrations and infographics
(the artist is most likely Joseph Ebertz, according to the Preface)

The book is historically interesting, for seeing what practices, tools, and products were common, what beliefs were held, and what was considered new and cutting edge in the 1930s and 40s! The book was updated in the 1970's, but I wanted to read the original version.

January 12, 2024

Birthday flowers for a January birthday girl!

Pink carnations in January

January 16, 2024

Our gardener, Mr. Nguyen, gave us a beautiful poinsettia for the Christmas holidays. The bracts are an especially deep red, which made me curious about whether they could be used for dyeing. From the growers' label, I learned that the Aztecs used poinsettia bracts to create a pink dye! I haven't wanted to remove the beautiful red bracts from the plant, but I have been collecting any that drop off. I wonder if any pigment is left once the bracts dry and drop (might be a good solar dyeing project for warmer weather)! For more information about poinsettias, see History, Facts, and Care of Poinsettias, from North Dakota State University.

Festive Christmas Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

January 20, 2024

I'm notorious for seed starting that goes wrong. I typically overwater the tiny sprouts and end up killing them with kindness (and dampening off disease). Still, I feel compelled to "try it again" this time of year (it's either that or clean something). 

 

Preparing to plant some lettuce and spinach seeds indoors using coconut coir pellets

January 24, 2024

All month I have been enjoying the bulb collection from Mom and Dad. The pot is in a sunny corner window in my home office. Every day there is something new to see. The Muscari bulbs (Grape Hyacinth) emerged first, with their tiny blue/purple bursts, and then the cheerful yellow-orange tulips started unfolding. It's like having a spring garden right on my desk!

Enjoying my desktop garden!