The Hardest of Lessons

This is the Gerald & Alice Allen Garden at the Lodge. It was the first garden put in and it has already undergone several transformations. I am beginning to understand that the term, "The Trial and Error Gardens of Pam Allen", is not a bad name, and that in fact, most gardeners, save the unadventurous, should name their gardens the same. What is deemed to be "invasive" and what is not, is quite bewildering. My Bee Balm (Monarda) for example, or Feverfew which were both planted in this garden started out as well behaved fine specimens who are now vying for virtually every square inch of unplanted (or planted for that matter) soil that they can find. I am to deduce that they escape the label "invasive" simply because they are easy to pull up unlike some of their weed friends with tap roots half way to China! So, my dilemna becomes, how much of these renagade plants do I want? Is it wise to transplant them to yet another garden where they will torment me with their prolific nature, or do I (contrary to my nature) ... pull & discard?
I think this to be one of the great questions in gardening!

Daffodils Fading, Tulips Take Over

"To everything there is a season...", seems I've heard that somewhere before. Well, no sooner has the color of the daffodils faded from a brilliant, scorching sun yellow to the color of butter pats; than my tulips have pushed open their indescribable, molten red petals to show off their yellow throats. The gardens begin Stage 3 of their spring bloom. The crocuses, pussywillows and forsythia gave way to the daffodils who have now surrendered to the tulips... and the peonies are not far behind!

Ahhh, the Return of Spring to Oak Hill

Gardening is a lot like banking... every year, I make more investments in bulbs, and every year I am paid back in the spring with dividends in the form of gorgeous spring blooms. I keep adding... they keep multiplying... and slowly but surely... Mother Earth pushes forth a more spectacular show than she did the year before. There is no more fabulous reward for the toils and cold fingers of the fall planting than the April, May and early June garden.

Oak Hill Lodge Celebrates Kat's 30th Birthday!

Saturday, May 2 was the day we celebrated Kat's entry into her third decade of life! The Lodge played host to a barbecue in her honor. Pulled pork roasted on the grill tickled guests appetites as they played corn hole and bocce ball while enjoying a perfect, warm and sunny day! Barbecue King Eric served up hamburgers and hot dogs, Wisconsin folk brought along brats and sauerkraut, and there were salads and condiments to round out the menu. Kat made a fabulous sangria, aided by advice from Erica to grant reprieve from the first round of summer ales. Guests were convinced they had arrived at the right spot by the large "glowing" 30 displayed (much to Kat's chagrin) on the front of the Lodge as well as the pink balloons and streamers.

One More Picture...

that says it all... the teamwork... the cold... the AMOUNT OF WORK to be done! We must have been CRAZY! I wonder how we had such confidence that it would all work out when I look back at these pictures. We never blinked, never doubted ourselves. The kids must have had their moments, but they never let on. Thank goodness! If we had seen the reality of the situation instead of the dream, we might not have had the courage to pull it off.

From the Ground Up

I take you back now to the time when the foundation went in. We were fighting the coming of winter as it was to be poured just about Thanksgiving time, leaving us precious little time to cap the basement before the snow would fly. Thank goodness Pete had introduced us to the power of air guns! There were to be over 8,000 nails in the decking boards alone, a crazy job to do with a hand-held hammer. Larry Hallowell of Chester Rice Co. had done a great job with the excavating allowing us the largest possible basement despite hitting ledge; 8 foot on one end and 6 foot at the other. Randy McClintok followed right behind putting up the foundation forms and pouring the cement. What a thrill it was to see it go in. Then, it was time for Eric and I to swing into action and get the rear above ground basement wall up. The whole gang arrived soon after to help us get the floor joists and sill boards in place so the long and grueling task of getting the decking boards on could be accomplished. The snow had already begun, so each time we worked we spent half the time removing snow from the tarps which covered the joists and whatever had been laid of the floor. I remember more than once when the snow had mixed with rain and we were left with enormous chunks of ice which made the tarps sag between the joists and proved exhausting to get out. Naturally, the tarps did not completely prevent snow and ice from getting into the basement, so by spring we were left with a frozen skating pond in what would someday be Root Cellar Pub. Our hands would get so cold that we would use the exhaust of the generator to try to warm them.

The Whole Reason for Building...

... was to make sure there is always a place where the entire family can gather and just "BE TOGETHER". We do so love being together! Now there are two very important, ever-changing reasons to stay close. Their names are Alexa and Lawson. What fun it is to watch them, hold them, love them! We have a ways to go before the Lodge will be finished, but in the meantime it is sure fun to gather there as often as we can. Next time will be on Easter. Erica will be missing, but she will be home again soon. Meanwhile, the oaks of Oak Hill will be jealous as she stands amongst their mighty kin the Redwoods, and Lexi and Lawson will eagerly await her hugs!