Rebirth, Renewal and Rejuvenation

These early spring days have been so welcome after the winter we've had.  Last Sunday the "family" went out for a drive in my (new to me) Geo Tracker.  I always wanted one!  We explored the back roads of the county while enjoying 85 degree weather...no I didn't stutter.  Very warm for March.  I have been smacked back into reality today though it is rainy/stormy/50s outside my window.

I know this rain we're having will continue to make things leap up even more.  I continue to be amazed at how fast things are coming on up and out! I changed the tablescape on our main entry porch a few weeks ago but just now have had time to post the pic. 

Bleeding hearts.  I love these flowers and if you didn't know it, they are easy to propagate from cuttings.  I broke a few accidentally last year so I stuck them in a plastic shoebox with moist potting soil and they rooted in a couple of weeks.  That "plant" was planted in the fall and is now thriving in my woodland garden and has a few blooms on it's tiny branches now.

The spring house facade.  The climbing euonymous had reached the roof peak so I decided to train it over the doorway for the "cottage-y" look I love.  It is so pretty with the chartreuse new growth in spring.   

Long shot of the garden featuring pink charm daffodils and goldmound spirea for contrast.  Gee, I need to turn my birdbath top right-side-up don't I?

The pond is finally cleared of leaves and debris.  Soon the cannas will fill the blank spots.  We also found 2 "residents" besides my 2 goldfish.  Glen was cleaning out some leaves by hand and dragged out 2 very large frogs!  I always joked that I had a frog named Charlie down there because I would hear a splash everytime I walked down the hill.  I guess Charlie has a bride.  What should I name her?

View from the opposite end of the garden.  I was shocked to find that some of my old fashioned white iris had tall bud stalks and fat buds.  Wow, I'm ready to see them again.  So has spring "sprung" where you live yet?

Spring Roll Call!

White Lenten Rose?....."here"

Pink Lenten Rose?... "here"

Sedum?... "here"

Archangel Lamium?..."here"

Crocus?... "here"

Bleeding Heart?... "here"

Daffodil?... "here"

Well, it looks like the early arrivals are here at last.  Let's hear it for the Class of 2011! 

May the Force Be With You... (and Me!)

I thought I'd share my "forced" forsythia branches with you.  Nothing like fooling mother nature a little bit!  She sure has had fun with me this winter..ha.  We are enjoying temps in the 60s this week so the real thing will appear in a couple of weeks.  Till then...may the force be with YOU.

SNOW LAUGHING MATTER

Well this is round #7 according to the weather-people.  This was only a couple of inches but it has made the roads treacherous to the point I called in work today (which I never do).  Regardless I am continuing to see signs of spring even in the snow which I'll show you in a bit.  I am waiting with "baited breath" for Sunday through next week...50s then 60s!  Now that's what we are used to here in my area in February.  That will be the green light for so many things to grow and bloom.  Here are today's discoveries:
                                                 SUMMER SNOWFLAKE (HOW IRONIC)

NOW ISN'T THIS A CONTRADICTION?

LOOK!  A BUD ON MY DAFFODIL!

WINTER HONEYSUCKLE BLOOMING BRAVELY

I SEE COLOR ON MY LENTEN ROSE!

HEY!  WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?

I'm looking forward to March 1.  It's like my oasis in the desert, my checkered flag so to speak, an ending and a beginning.

Wordless Wednesday- Can't Garden= Baking

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.