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 

The hopeful gardener.

Will it ever look like this again?

Asters blooming from seeds collected in Italy many years ago. 

New soil did wonders. 

And then I had the soil removed because a nasty little worm had invaded my flower beds.  

The good soil was replaced and I have struggled for two years to improve  the top soil that was delivered. 

Come Spring, I will begin again. 

Happy planning dear friends. 

Seed catalogs are arriving.  

Gina 

Let me begin where I left off.

  It was still winter. 

When my life changed.

And then the first bouquet from my garden,

Easter came and went 

Little Sadie, a Golden Labrador arrived.

She had me fooled right from the start. 

Daffodils and Tulips were next. 

Daffodils reaching for skies so blue. 

And Sadie is growing like a weed. 

Lilacs didn't freeze this year. 

Sometimes friends, sometimes not. 

A sheltered spot is still needed. 
The winds are fierce.

Daisies are back.
The garden is planted. Another garden year has begun. 

Take care dear friends. 

Gina 

Mein Sonntag Strauss

Lilacs

So prolific this year.

(smash stems with hammer before putting them in water)

Lilac "Sensation"

Unlike Lilacs, Iceland Poppies and Salpiglossis last more than a week in water. 

(singe stems of poppies before putting them in water) 

Wishing you a great week ahead. 

Gina 

Easter Egg Hunt

Happy Easter

How many Eggs?

How many Rabbits?

I will tell you soon.

Have a safe and blessed Easter dear friends.

Gina

http://www.lavendercottagegardening.com/
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ideas-for-decorating-for-spring-and-easter/?

Waiting for Spring

It will be a while .

Knowing that my Snowdrops and Hellebore are waiting makes me happy. 

Pansies were planted last Fall.  They will be the first to bloom. 

Friends brought lemons from their grove in California.

 Jonquils will make an appearance soon. 

A lot of snow will have to melt first. 

Our mountains have received record amounts of snow. 
Our Farmers are happy. There will be plenty of water for animals and crops. 

Wishing you a great week ahead. 

Gina 

Wishing you a happy week.

A few charming little pansies to lift your spirits. 

Have a great week dear friends, 

Gina 

Very promising

What's Summer without a Beet Salad? 
(partial repost August 1, 2014)

Instead of round beets grow cylindrical beets next year.  

They cook evenly and slice evenly and taste terrific. 

Bake them or boil them, but don't peel them. 

(Baking intensifies their flavor)

Also, leave the tops and roots intact, 
that way they won't bleed. 

When al dente let cool. While still warm twist beets in both directions.  Skin will come off in one piece.  

Season with coarse salt, toss in small amount of Balsamic vinegar

Finely chop medium sized onion and add to salad.

Have a lovely weekend my dear friends. 

Gina 

I have a question.

It concerns one of my favorite flowers.

The Hellebore shown here with daffodils.

When my garden has nothing to offer and everything looks neglected and sad,

I can count on Hellebore to show their fascinating faces.  

Then they bloom for months and love to be paired with other flowers.

Here is the question;

I have read that one must remove last year's leaves by the end of Fall to make room for new growth in the Spring. 

See the new flower buds in the middle?  They will bloom in a few days.  

I have always left the old leaves on the plant so that they would help protect the new growth from the below freezing temperatures. 

I think that it also protects the little seedlings which have volunteered from the falling seed pods.  

Every morning they are laying down, frozen solid, and by noon they have recovered.  

Do you grow Hellebore?

Do you remove all of the old leaves in the Fall so that there will be room for new growth in the Spring, as was recommended by a famous garden expert.  

I would love to know. 

Have a great weekend my dear friends, 

Gina 

It's blue Skies around here

It's nothing but blue skies 

and Daffodils around here. 

Have a fabulous weekend my dear Friends.

Gina 

Joining  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2014/04/mosaic-monday-parrot-tulips.html

Mein Sonntagstrauss

Mon Bouquet du Jour

Wishing you a happy Sunday on this 

beautiful Spring day. 

Gina 

Mein Sonntagstrauss and a small brain teaser

Very small, but sincere Sunday Bouquet

And, it's from MY GARDEN.

Look closely; what is NOT included in this bouquet that you will see in the next photo.

Have you found it?  

Have a wonderful week my dear Blogging Friends and thank you so much for stopping by.  I always enjoy hearing from you.  

Gina