Forget The Rain Umbrella - IT IS SNOWING

I thought it was going to rain, maybe. But, not snow!  What a surprise to wake up to brightness reflecting into my bedroom window from the white pristine snow! It is so very beautiful. However, it does not thrill me at this time of year like it does in the winter. After all, this is Spring. My garden is going to be very, very confused. And, of course, the weight of the snow has already caused many plants, especially the rose bushes to droop to the ground.

White on white is quite pretty. Don't you think?  Especially, when it is white snow on a white camellia.

I wonder how the flowers  in my garden are going to do with all the snow. Mother Nature has a way of challenging "us gardeners".  We may have plans for our garden by planting certain plants at special times of the year for special bloom time and Mother Nature has different plans and tries to teach us patience and flexibility.

It was just a couple days ago that I was talking to My Special Man about having an afternoon drink sitting at the garden table.  Who knew?

Yes, the white tulips are white before I expected them to be. I was posting about them yesterday. But, had no idea I would be posting a photo so soon, especially with snow instead of open blossoms.

Just look at those snow tipped lovlies!

Have a Great Day.

Get The Umbrella Out

The storms have returned, just like the weather man reported. And, we are suppose to have more tomorrow.  I am so glad that the major garden cleanup was completed yesterday. The rain is going to give all of my new plantings a nice boost.

The white tulips in the White Garden are just about to burst into full bloom. It looks like there will be more blossoms this year.  Some of the plants have as many as ten blossoms to a plant.  I will certainly be posting some photos when the time comes.

 I hope you have a warm an cozy day if you are having rain storms where you are. Stay dry and warn.

Come Join Me In My Secret Garden

I think I have the neatest little area in my garden that lends itself to a cozy little Secret Garden. There is a large mound of dirt and rock at the edge of my patio. The front door opens out onto the patio. When this house was built they excavated a flat area for the house to be built on and left the natural ground level which is about six feet higher in the front of the house beyond the patio. Actually, the hillside was excavated to build some homes. 

 My house is the first house beyond the original little gold mining town lots. I think they were trying to save the many trees that are growing on my lot. There are pines, oaks and cedars, and they are beautiful.  There is a informal rock wall which I had rebuilt because many of the rock were starting to fall.

 

Look at the nice patio privacy from the street after I planted (years ago) one-gallon size Photinia plants that have grown to be very nice and tall. I planted the plants around the mound so there would be privacy for my little Secret Garden. The plants at the front have not grown as tall, but they are still growing a little more each year.

Come walk with me up the stepping stones I placed when I first moved here. Recently, I added the railing that I acquired years ago at a yard sale. The railing's first life was at the entrance to a mobile home. I fastened the two pieces together to make it one piece.

 

This is a little bench we can sit on. This bench was on the property when I moved here. I had it moved up here on the mound when I started thinking about a Secret Garden. The bench appears to be very old and so perfect for the area.

This past weekend I cleaned this flower bed and planted some border marigolds. I need to plant some more Indian Hawthorn plants to fill in the bare spots. I had planned to do it last year when I refurbished this flower bed.

And, I replanted my Tipsy Pots!

These Tipsy Pots will look more interesting when the plants start cascading down the sides.

My primroses are still giving me more flowers. I think it is because my garden has a lot of shade and is not getting very warm as yet.

I hope you have a Wonderful Day.

A Day To Play

Out 'n' About is becoming a common activity of mine - - - and I like it! Today we went to see a movie. But, before the movie we had lunch at a favorite restaurant of mine that is known for its outstanding hamburgers that are prepared with fresh and organic (whenever possible) ingredients. Oh, so good. A little red wine and a side order of deep fried onion rings and you just can not go wrong. If you are in the historic town of Sonora in the Sierra Nevada foothills, stop by Diamond Back Bar and Grill. You won't be sorry.

The movie was Bounty Hunter with Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler. A really fun movie!

I hope you have a Good day.

Time For Wheelbarrows

I have this very old wheelbarrow that I rescued when someone was going to throw it in the dump. I have planted it every year for about ten years. This year when planting some six-packs, I noticed that the bottom is totally rusting out at the front corner! It makes me sad because it probably will soon loose the entire bottom. I thought about lining it with plastic but the weight of the soil and plants would probably cause it to fall apart anyway. So, we will just watch the colorful flowers burst into bloom this year and enjoy it while we can. ------- And, maybe, I will come upon another "old beauty" that needs a restful home.

This is a photo of my wheelbarrow at the end of last season. This year there will be lots and lots of color and variety!

I think I am getting a good start on having a few home grown vegetables this year.  It is a little early for tomatoes, but I have had these "WallOWater" plant protectors for years and never used them. The outside perimeter of the circle is filled with water and left to warm in the sunshine. After about a week, tomato plants can be planted inside each cylinder and be protected to 16 degrees F.  Plants can be planted earlier and not be severely effected by the chilly nights that we usually get at this time of year.

Since I am going to be away on vacation the first two weeks of June, I thought it would be a good idea to try the "WallOWater" this year. I know I am a little crazy trying to add vegetable gardening into my current schedule with a Special Man in my life. Oh well, I try!

And, look at this empty refuse box. It is the second one to be delivered, The first one was filled in two hours by two very good workers I was able to hire. It is a tremendous help to me. This way I can spend my energy and time having fun in the garden doing the things I most enjoy instead of the heavy clean-up work from the winter storms. Oh, it makes me so happy.

 

If you are a gardener and have sunshine, I hope you have a happy day outside enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

               

Busy - Busy Day

This is another very busy day starting with walking with a neighbor friend to the Bakery on Main Street for coffee and some kind of bakery goodie and chit-chat. Then back home to meet with a yards person to help with the huge job of cleaning the garden that is in need of racking of all the leaves and debris from the winter storms. A three-yard refuse dumpster was delivered yesterday for disposal of the yard waste. As soon as I have the yards person "squared-away", I am off to the dentist for a scheduled appointment. Then, I'll check back at home to check out the progress before heading down the hill to my Charity Knitting Group (aka, Knitters and Hookers). And, most likely I will be having dinner with My Special Man. I am so busy and so happy.

I hope your day has a little time for relaxing!

The First Pretty Faces Of Spring

Today I was able to spend some time in the garden cleaning some flower beds of weeds and leaves. Also, I planted some six-packs of pansies, petunias, marigolds, primroses and calibrachoa flowers.  As I walked around the garden I snapped a few photos of some of the blooming faces of spring.

Daffodils

 

Camellias

Stellata Magnolia

 

Forsythysia

 

Flowering Rosemary

I hope you had a wonderful Spring day.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

And, may we share many, many more together!

Beautiful Birthday Brunch

Beautiful friends and family are one of God's greatest blessings.  And, I have been blessed with the wonderful new fortune
of a Special Man along with great friends and family. The loving hostess of this beautiful Eggs Benedict Brunch is an incredibly busy lady  (full-time pastoral student and part-time nurse) who finds time to take very good care of her family and friends, one of who is My Special Man. 

They made me a two handed beverage guest.

Three generations with beautiful baby, Aiden.

Great-grandparents completing the family .

The "Birthday Boy" with a wine glass holder birthday gift from the hostess.

I feel so blessed!

The Irish Are Out 'n About