Thursday Afternoon

The bottom photo is a species tulip, the top is something I dug from a woods near by house when they were going to dig a basement for a new house, I think it is wild ginger.

Mr Toad

While planting roses last Friday we unearthed this chubby little toad. We left him to get his wits about him and planted the rose further on in the bed.

Rain, Rain and More Rain

Well, the rain started Saturday AM and continued til the AM, we received almost 5 inches! They tell us that last year the ground was saturated before the spring rains started which is why we had the floods of June 12. This year the ground can supposedly take it but it still makes me nervous. I don't want any repeats of last summer. I took this photos before it really started raining............

Friday I saw and heard my first wren! The Baltimore Orioles should be back soon.

Easter Lilies

My hubby bought 3 Easter Lilies at Wal Mart the week after Easter, they were being sold for 8 cents each, I cut the flowers off and have been enjoying them ever since, the scent is wonderful and there were lots of buds that are still opening. I probably will plant the bulbs, I don't know why they do not grow in this zone, for me anyway, I have heard of others that get them to come back the next year and bloom.

More Moss Terrariums

The last photo is of a terrarium that has been growing for a few weeks, the top two photos are of ones that I just started last weekend.

They are really easy and fun to do..................

Put a layer of gravel, I used aquarium gravel that I had on hand.

Then a layer of charcoal, you can buy this in any Pet Store or the Pet Dept of Wal Mart etc.

Then a very thin layer of potting soil.

Then go out and pick some moss and lay it on top.

I have seen lots of them with stones, small figurines etc in them to make a scene.

LOTS of fun.

It was in the high 80s here today, I had the day off so I finished raking, weeding, planted 8 rose bushes, it was a great day!

Moss Terrariums

I have been making moss terrariums since the snow has allowed me to get some moss. They are really fun to watch come to life.

Sedums Starting to Awaken

Sedums are some of my favorite plants, good old Live Forever is still one of my favorite perennials, the butterflys and bees on it in the fall are always a favorite sight of mine. I took this pictures on Sunday, the plants are starting to come alive again.

Gloomy Monday

I have to tell you this gray cold damp weather is starting to get to me, I need SUN! My Clivia is still blooming which always cheers me up, the white flower is a winter jasmine, it is very fragrant and usually has many more blooms on it that it does this year. I think I will transplant it when it is done blooming.

Sunday Gray Sunday

I am starting to wonder if spring will ever really get here, it was a cold miserable weekend! Yesterday was not so cold but gray and gloomy. I did manage to get some raking done, my lawn chairs out and cleaned, and I was able to trim the Cavalier's, I like to do that outside as it is messy. Plus it gives the birds nest building material. Today it was gray, gloomy and cold, the wind switched around to the North. I planted some peony poppy seeds, froze my hands while planting. The rest of the day was spent inside cooking and making candles not an altogether bad day but I would rather have been outside.

Happy Easter!

Thursday

I posted these pictures last summer but still look at them frequently, I was so excited to actually hatch a black swallowtail butterfly! I hope to do the same this year. I want to give my daughter in law one for her kindergarten classroom.

I just placed a plant order with Bluestone perennials. I ordered Salvia, coral bells, veronica, dianthus, columbine, foxglove, and more that I can't remember right now. It was great fun.

It feels a bit more like spring, I am taking tomorrow off so will have a three day weekend. I have plans to make candles in the morning, then work outside getting some raking done and general clean-up done after it warms up a bit.

Shades of Cosmos

Most of the snow is now gone, thankfully, I am so eager for spring to get here, is it ever gonna happen?

Cosmos are among my favorite annuals, along with Cleome, they have to rank right up there at the top. I know for years gardening snobs would not even plant annuals, I have always planted them, nothing snobbish about me :). Ones that self sow are especially welcome, which comos and cleome both do.

It is snowing AGAIN! I can't believe this but then again I can, after all it is Iowa.

I bought this phalanopis orchid at Wal Mart for 15 dollars, it seems very healthy and has been blooming for a month now. The orchid I got for Mother's Day last may is at a temporary lull, but it is throwing 3 new spikes out, I have a white phalanopsis orchid that blooms once a year for me that is going to be in bloom probably within a couple of weeks, I have had it for several years.

TGIF

I am soooooooooo glad that it is Friday, it has been a hectic couple of weeks at work and home. Just sharing a couple of photos of houseplants I have in bloom currently and a picture of sweet little Rosie O.