Before & After

I am bored today so I turned to my "old" garden photos for comfort.  I started photographing my garden in 2006 and I am so glad I did!  I was really in awe of the transformations that have taken place.  You know as gardeners you are constantly working and adding and editing and the effect just seems to creep up slowly over years.  In other words, you don't realize how far the garden has come until you reflect on those first images.  I thought it would be fun to share a few with you.
 This is 2007....

This is 2010....

This is 2007...

This is 2010...

This is 2007...

In 2010...

And another from 2010... 

In 2007... 

In 2010...

In 2007...

In 2010...

and more 2010...

In 2008...

In 2010...

I sure am inspired to continue this journey now.  This garden is entering it's 5th growing season for 2011.  I am often so envious of those 10+ year old gardens featured in all the magazines.  I have to stop to realize though, that a gardener's quest for perfection is never truly realized.  All we can hope for is that "snapshot" in time, when the garden echoes the vision we have imagined.

Seed Spree

Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed.  Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.
-Henry David Thoreau

Well put Mr. Thoreau!  It takes great faith to expect a plant to sprout from the tiniest of seeds doesn't it?  We gardeners are a believing bunch.  I can buy 6 packs of plants all day long but there's just a special satisfaction I get from one plant started from seed.  It's like my own private miracle.  Yes there are disappointments but that doesn't stop me from trying again (and again, and again).  January is fast wearing out it's welcome with me, so to fight off severe cabin fever Glen got me out and about today.  Here is where I ended up--  at the Wal-Mart seed racks of course.


Yes, I am a sucker for the "cheap seeds," but I figure if I get at least one plant..it will have been worth the .20 it cost me.  I plan to have a whole row of sunflowers if my father in law will let me share his garden space.

Apparently seed sowing is like childbirth, you give yourself time to forget the pain and you're ready to go at it again.  I didn't have success with watermelons last year but I'm going to try again.  Also I want to try growing basil because I had the most delicious pesto-type dip at a plant swap I attended last year. So I'd like to try my hand at that.

I paid a little more for these seeds.  I always like to try something I have never tried before, thus I bought the stock.  Anyone grow this before?  I also LOVE love love zinnias so this purple one intrigued me.  I can just envision big bouquets of this.  I have had Johnny Jump Ups before but they quit jumping after a while so I plan to get them going again.

More cheapies.  I have had great luck in the past with salvias (plus the hummers love me for planting them).  Nasturtium is another easy one for me.  I am giving Lupine another go even though they were a no-show last year when I sowed them.

We also stopped and prowled in the thrift stores since I am also having yard sale withdrawals.  I like kitschy stuff so I picked up these smiling faces to hang in my kitchen.  They go with the rest of my retro stuff.

 Stay tuned and hopefully I'll show you the results of today's purchase in a few months. 



How Far We've Come, My Garden and I

  I came across this "garden" photo while cleaning in my office today:

... and "I" was even surprised at how much things have changed in the past 5 years.  It has truly been a labor of love.  I saw the potential in this spot of land even then.

Now let's fast forward through a lot of sweat and aching muscles to 2010.....

This photo was taken last May when the world was fresh and wearing new green clothes. You can't see the spring house in the second photo, it is directly to your left here. 

As my garden has grown, I have grown.  I have learned many lessons such as: sometimes a propagated stick (when given some years) rewards you with a feeeling you don't get when you just buy that plant,  some plants just don't like my garden no matter what, that your brain makes plans that are usually rough on the rest of the body (in those times keep ibuprofen handy), there will always be a weed to pull so sit on those benches and swings and appreciate your hard work!

Here's looking forward to a good growing season in 2011.. and shaping our own patches of land to reflect who WE are.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day January

We are slowly thawing out from our big snow that slammed us Sunday night.  That's it..I've met my quota for snow, now I'm ready for it to melt and to see the daffodils spring up!  It was a "balmy" 45 degrees out so I ventured outside to see what was going on for Garden Blogger's Bloom day (sponsored by Carol at May Dreams Gardens).  I was hard pressed to find a bloom but I did find some signs of life to photograph

.

WINTER JASMINE

WINTER HONEYSUCKLE

Not in bloom now but I did have 2 blooms before this snowfall.

WITCH HAZEL

I mail ordered this last year and although it's not very tall (maybe 18") it has put on some buds! I say hoorah for ANYTHING that has winter interest.

FLOWERING QUINCE

Just waiting to make her "big" debut.

These shoots breaking the ground....

Will later turn to this in April- SUMMER SNOWFLAKE

(leucojum aestivum)

 BRADFORD PEAR

has fuzzy/fatter buds 

One last thing to check before heading indoors...

Hm, apparently the birds DO appreciate my first try at making homemade suet.  Like my sister said, " what's not to like about fat and peanut butter?!"

Garden Frosting

It's a rare day in southern middle Tennessee when you wake up to 8+ inches of the white stuff!  My school is closed so I get to enjoy a snow day---Yay!  I haven't had one of those since high school (and that was in the 80's.)  I love a pristeen/un-walked on snow so I hurried out to snap some pics before the landscape becomes defiled.  I also love the lone sound of my boots going crunch crunch in an otherwise hushed atmosphere.  By the way, thank you sister Donna for buying these boots for me 2 Christmases ago...they are awesome!

MY HOUSE LOOKING UP FROM THE GARDEN

SNOW ON MY BIRDBATH LOOKS LIKE A WHITE BUNDT CAKE

SNOWY ARCH

I'VE HEARD OF FROST ON THE PUMPKIN BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

THE "SNOWBIRD INN"

OUR BACK ENTRY

THE ABOMINABLE PIXIE..ALL SHE NEEDS IS A TINY WHISKEY BARREL UNDER HER CHIN! 

HECK SNOW EVEN MAKES "ME" LOOK A LITTLE BETTER!   

Hope you enjoyed the walking snow tour at the Frazier house.  I know our friends farther north wonder what all the fuss is about but it's a rarity to have this much snow this far south.  I think it's about time for some snowcream and a snuggie! See y'all!

Starting out the New Year With a Bang!

I just spent 4 days in balmy Navarre Beach Florida where the temps were in the upper 60's!  It was overcast and rainy most of the time, but this was a trip to visit my sister and not so much about the beach.  I did a lot of shopping and eating to close out 2010.  However, I am strong in my resolve to move more and eat less in 2011 so I can continue to do the things I love, especially garden well into my old age (however much that ends up being!)  I came home and went straight down to the garden to see if anything was happening and took photos of a few things.

WINTER HONEYSUCKLE

WINTER JASMINE

VARIEGATED SEDUM

BLEEDING HEART

I am afraid these brave souls will regret sticking out their tender heads since it's supposed to be in the 20's by morning.  I carefully covered up the bleeding hearts and sedum with leaf cover and told them not to wake up just yet.  The 2 tiny winter honeysuckle blooms smelled so sweet.  It was like a breath of spring to see and smell the stirrings of life already.  God's magical cycle of life is truly amazing in the plant world.  I'm so blessed to live in the South where the winters are not so harsh and long.  Happy New Year everyone and may your gardens (and YOU) prosper!