Where is everybody?

Lola and Clyde came looking for me.  

How do they know that I am in the greenhouse?

They can't see it from the pond.

As soon as I let Pasha (on the left) out of the greenhouse, 

Lola and Clyde are waiting for me at the top of the steps.

Sometimes Pasha even gives each goose a hug ...

Pasha sleeps in the greenhouse.  The rest of the time he keeps us company.  
Soon the snow will melt and he will spend his days outside.  

The greenhouse is heated by the sun and gets additional heat when needed. 

They know I'm going to walk around the house with them so that they can have their favorite ground up corn.

They beat me to the trough. 

I have to stand there until Lola and Clyde have their fill. 

After that, it's a free for all.  

Spring is a long way off. 

Stay warm!
Gina 

The last one.

You say you can't grow oranges in Utah!

 I can.

 In my little greenhouse.

My Meyer orange tree is just a small one but it grew 6 large beautiful and juicy oranges.
And now it is beginning to grow new buds.

My greenhouse is heated by the sun.

It is where my geraniums wait for spring to come. 

It snowed a little last night.  Must clean off the glass panes so that the heat of the sun can be trapped inside.  

And I can grow kumquats. Do you like kumquats?

I do.  
You have to pop the entire fruit into your mouth.  

The inside is very tart but the rind is sweet and very aromatic. 

This cactus almost didn't make it.  

A tiny cactus grew at the base of a larger plant.  One of my white geese came by and pulled it off.  I found the little piece in the grass.  

I potted it up. The next day the goose had yanked it out of the pot.  Again I found it.

I replanted it and moved it to a safe place. 

That was 2 years ago.  

My geraniums are very old...I love every one of them. 

Finished a new mural and sent it off to Virginia.  

And now I'm going to eat my orange. 

Have a wonderful day, 

Gina

Fashion Police

What you don't know about me. 

You don't know what I wear in my garden.

It's not what you think.

I garden in silks. An ankle length frilly silk skirt to be precise.  

Can you guess why?

When the wind blows just a little or a lot, the silk flutters in the breezes...

and scares the mosquitoes away.

What do you wear when you garden?   

Have a fabulous Sunday, dear Friends, 

Gina 

There will be more

Snow, that is

The horse trough fountain is without water,  the Christmas tree has lost its splendor.

Only a little puddle is open, the rest of the pond has frozen over.   The geese and most of the ducks have left. 

Looks lonesome doesn't it. It isn't.

As soon as the sun comes out the world changes.

Have to clear the snow from the windows. 

The greenhouse is heated only by the sun.  

The rest of the snow has melted from the glass. 

That is where my geraniums live during the cold months. 
Some of them are more than 20 years old. 

My greenhouse has blue walls...
they absorb the sun's rays and give off the heat at night. 


 

Petunias are like geraniums, they never stop blooming.

One of my most favorite greenhouse flowers are the Nasturtiums.  
They don't ask for much, a little water now and then, that's all. 

Iceland Poppies are easy.  I make sure that I plant a few in pots so that I can bring them inside.  

Many species of cacti. 

In other words, I can have flowers all winter,
even if only a little petite bouquet. 


Stay warm dear friends, 

Gina 

Surprise, Surprise

The first flowers growing outside

and Kumquats growing inside, in my greenhouse. 

 I had no idea that Kumquats were forming on my little tree. 
 I couldn't see them when they were green.  

Brought these candied Kumquats from Italy. 
Wish I knew the recipe. 

Have a lovely weekend dear friends, 

Gina 

Rain, lots of it, finally.

No snow this time. Hallelujah 

Calves are becoming independent.

The Pond is overflowing, the extra water is irrigating our dry pastures.  

Daffodils are still going strong. 

Will you join me for a little quiz at the end of this post?

My greenhouse is holding little seedlings waiting for the weather to improve.  

My Oleander tree is making a comeback. It's been in the greenhouse all winter.  I have given it copious amounts of water this year.  What a difference that made.  

Little lambs don't mind the rain, their woolly mothers keep them close.  




Now, here is the Quiz.

You might think that you know this familiar flower.  

It's the growth habit that might confuse most gardeners.  

I purchased this particular plant more than forty years ago. 
I started with one plant and now I have only one plant left.

I was successful in propagating it before and I will do it again.  

Have a great weekend my dear friends. 

Gina 

Very cold, very windy

Back to Winter

And to my greenhouse for a little color.

New snow in the mountains to the East. 

Waiting to be planted outside.

Theresa's hand painted rocks,  FROM HER NEWLY OPENED ETSY SHOP,  bring a little color to the inside. 

Theresa writes a very special blog ART'S THE ANSWER.
Please visit her.

Aren't these beautiful!

Each hand painted stone a masterpiece.  

My greenhouse makes waiting for Spring a little easier. 

Have a great week my dear friends. 

Gina