Blooming

Blooming in my Garden

 

Pansies and 

Daisies and 

Salpiglossis 

Happy Sunday to you and yours, 

Gina

It's supposed to look like this

 But it doesn't.

They are still sleeping

No flowers for the house. 

Even too cold for pansies.

Not even a Hellebore in sight.

When are they going to show their faces?

There is only this and 

it is very cold. 

Enjoy your flowers, 

mine will come soon.

Gina 

Volunteers

Volunteers

The dictionary defines a volunteer plant as a plant that 

springs up spontaneously.

Volunteer Sunflowers are one of the best gifts from my garden.  They bloom early and those sunflowers which I planted at the normal time will not bloom for another 3 weeks. 

We had a fantastic electrical storm 2 days ago. 
I turned off the computer and every other electrical gadget.
And then I heard a very loud bang.  
It was close by. 

I went outside to check on things.  
The top of the main house looked all right.  The chimney pots were not smoldering. 

The pineapple architectural pieces on top of the Guest house were still in place. 
They hadn't toppled off the roof. 

The stork towers were still solidly attached to the barn roof.

The metal balconies had not been hit.

Chimneys had not come down from the highest spot of all the buildings. 
All appeared to be A OK. 

We didn't have to call the Volunteer Fire Department.  

The hail didn't do too much damage and the rain that came pouring down was a welcome change.

 When it was all over the telephone didn't  work, nor did the television. 

And when it was time to close the gate for the night it wouldn't open or close.

Our gate is about 800 feet up the lane. 
It is operated by remote control from our kitchen, or barn or car. 

The lightning hit the circuit board in the barn and 
fried it (not my words but the electricians).

I'm surprised that our chickens survived because their coop is right next to the box which was hit.

However, they only laid two eggs the next day.  

The entire mechanism has to be replaced.  It is already on its way.  

Why did the lowest building of all of our buildings get hit.  And what about those tall trees? 

Take care dear friends and get to a safe spot when you see a storm brewing. 

Gina 

Pansies

There are Pansies

and then there are pansies.

like these

and these that have charming names. 

like Lavender Shades.

or Chianti.

and then there is Frizzle Sizzle.

Or is it Sizzle Frizzle.

Get on out and look for some,

they will make you happy. 

Have a great weekend. 

Gina 

Wishing you a happy week.

A few charming little pansies to lift your spirits. 

Have a great week dear friends, 

Gina 

Welcome Spring

   It must be Spring. 

Welcome.

It's about time.  

Apple Blossoms are getting ready. 

Last of the Snowdrops nodding their heads.

Tulips are about to show their faces. 

Pansies follow me everywhere. 

The star for now is the Daffodil. 

Happy Spring to you my dear Friends. 

Gina 

This is a very short story.

It has to be a very short story because it is a story about a

WORM.

There, he is trying to hide. 

He is the tiny monster that eats my Salpiglossis.

He waits until they are in their full glory and then he eats their roots...

and I can never catch him.  

He does the same to my pansies.  They are perfect one day and then the next day they are dead. 

And I don't even know the little beast's name.  DO YOU? 

Need to see another picture?

He is a tiny worm (see the acorn on the left).  When disturbed he turns into a tiny ball.  

I really have better things to do than take pictures of worms.  

I have to pack my suitcase for Gay Paree.

Au Revoir

my dear friends.

Gina

I don't give up easily

Over the years I have discovered that many of my garden flowers do well in my winter greenhouse. 

Early in the year I pot up a few annuals such as poppies, snapdragons, petunias, pansies and especially nasturtiums.  They bloom all Summer outside and continue blooming in my winter greenhouse.

  

My "antique" plate, painted in 2005, is still around.  Just couldn't part with it.  It has all the right flaws.  

This petunia changes yellow and red combinations, all on the same plant.  Sometimes they tend do be a solid red, then they change to a solid yellow and often they are a combination of both and in different patterns. 

When all else fails my geraniums never stop blooming.  I must take new cuttings to rejuvenate some of the more special colors. 

Have a wonderful week.

Thank you dear friends for stopping by and leaving such lovely comments.  You are so appreciated.   

Gina  





Pomanders and much more...

Pomanders are pretty and  fill the home with fragrances of Christmas.

Pierce oranges with knitting needles first, then insert cloves.  Makes for quick and easy work.

Look what pretty dried roses. They will keep you happy all winter long.

 Roses are the easiest flowers to dry.  To ensure that they keep their vibrant colors place roses in a little water (only the stems not the rose heads) the night before.  The next day is when they go into a container. Slowly pour sand over the flowers until they are fully covered.  Place in dry and warm place for a week.  Pour sand off slowly. 

Our friends Christine and Steven drying Hollyhocks for the first time using sand from the Home Improvement store.  It is less expensive than the white silica type and actually gives better results. 

Can you tell which Hollyhocks have been dried?  It's those in the top left corner. Make sure that the sand is also dry or flowers will turn brown.

Dried Hollyhocks look fragile, they are actually quite sturdy.  You can glue them into Christmas wreaths.  But remember that they must be kept inside.

Pansies dry quickly and easily in sand.  However, these pansies, along with all the other little flowers, have been pressed in old books.  No need for a fancy flower press.

Think of all the special Christmas decorations you can make yourself. 

For a little extra inspiration you might want to order (Amazon) this very special book by Barbara Milo Ohrbach entitled "The Scented Room".  It contains easy-to-follow instructions.  Ms. Ohrbach has written several other fine books but this one remains my favorite.

You will find easy instructions and recipes for Floral Water, Wet and Dry Potpourri, Lavender Bottles, Scented Pillows, Pomanders, Wreaths and much more.  My personal favorites are the sachets made from antique floral ribbons. 

Happy creating, my dear Blogging Friends

Gina