Almost May

May is only a few days away and I've been taking photos in the garden...AGAIN! You might be getting the idea that gardens and photography are my number one favs! Well, at the moment they are with all of the new buds coming up and of course if I am going to share the garden the best way is to photograph it. Here are the latest...
Hardy Geraniums, Oakleaf Hydrangea ready to bloom, Japanese Painted Fern with Celandine Poppies. The Celandine Poppies were in another location several years ago and did not do well. I thought I had lost them until new shoots came up under the Azaleas!                   

Ferns and Poppies

Japanese Painted Fern

The poppies seem to like it under the azaleas so I have let them stay. The ferns are looking great, too.

Calla Lily

Celandine Poppy

Bleeding Heart blooming and Calla Lilies  just coming up.

Bleeding Heart

   Aunt Mildred's Iris is looking                           gorgeous

Aunt Mildred

Wild Ginger

Native Hardy Geranium

 The Woodland garden is doing well. Here is some Wild Ginger and the Native Hardy Geranium blooming for the first time after a "plant rescue" five or so years ago. 

Christmas Fern

Northern Lady Fern or Northern Maiden Fern. I'm not sure which name it goes by but I like it! Last photo is Christmas Fern which grows every where in the Georgia woodlands along with May Apple in the background. 

April Showers continued

I was able to do a little transplanting and weeding this weekend. The weather was gorgeous! The husband mows and I garden. Adding more photos from my earlier walk through the garden, some photos of a trip to Tennessee last weekend, and my sister's photo of Grandma's peony that just bloomed this spring. 

My trilliums in the native garden did not last long since they are a favorite snack of the deer who frequently wander through my yard. I was thrilled to see these yellow trilliums on the weekend trip to Tennessee driving through the Great Smokey Mts National Park.

Obviously those Tennessee deer are not as hungry as the ones here in Georgia! 

Reading some of the brochures from the Park I am disappointed to read that one of the threats to the wild flowers and plants in the park are poachers. Specifically, commercial poachers! Knowing that the plants and animals on National and State lands are protected I would never dream of digging up plants. Now I have a concern about where I purchase the native plants I am looking for. 

Grandma's peony is lovelier than ever! My sister had a small start from Grandma years ago and has nursed it along for several years with fabulous results. I would have to verify how many years she has had blooms on it. As with most things I loose count of the years. 

I have been waiting patiently for a start of this for my own garden! Again...another pass along plant! From these same grandparents I have a horseradish plant and spearmint in my garden. I'll have to post photos of those at a later date as I have none at the moment. I have chocolate mint growing in a large cast iron kettle which was given to me by this same grandmother. So as you can see I have more than a few opportunities to remember as I enjoy my garden.

Bleeding Heart

Pincushion Flower

The last of the photos I previously took from my garden:

A bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) with two varieties of hosta. A purple pincushion flower (Scabiosa). Notice how the stamens resemble pins in a pincushion, thus the common name. Perennial geranium also called Hardy geranium or Cranesbill geranium. I have a native variety in the woodland native garden which bloomed for the first time this year! And last are the chives in full bloom! The last photo I posted they had just come up and had only a few buds! A few weeks makes all the difference! Until next time, I hope you enjoyed some of my favorite plants. 

Hardy Geranium

Chives

April Showers

More from my garden....

There is a light shower this morning as I take a walk through my garden. My last post in March was when the daffodils and hellebores were about finished and just a few new blooms were coming up. A month later the garden is in full bloom. Azaleas, English Dogwood, Iris, and Chives. Hostas are up and have been nibbled on. The Trilliums from March were gone almost as soon as they started to bloom. (Deer snack)

The first day lily to bloom... rain drops on day lilies! Another favorite of mine is photography. I am very much an amateur!! Reading photography articles for tips on photographing plants and flowers it was suggested to carry a spray bottle to spritz the plants with drops of water for interesting results. I'd say a walk in a light shower does the trick! AND you don't have to carry the bottle around either!

 My Azaleas started with two as a Mother's Day Gift from my son, Scott. One of them was pink and the other a light pink with a dark pink "throat". The light pink one died a few years after I planted them. I then bought five more pink ones . One of them is now half pink, half light pink as you can see in the photo below. I would be interested to know how that happened!

Encore Azaleas

Some older hosta and Japanese Painted Fern are planted in and around the Azaleas. A look that I very much like. The Encore Azaleas are deer resistant! Behind the Azaleas is an Oak Leaf Hydrangea which has suffered from deer eating it back every year. This year it has come back and has buds ready to bloom on the top. I can only hope!!

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Aunt Mildred

Yellow Iris

The flower bed behind the Azaleas is full of yellow Iris from my sister a few years ago, a lavender Iris she got from our Aunt Mildred that she divided and passed along to me, a Strawberry Hydrangea she gave me for my birthday last year, and an English Dogwood from my friend, Sheila. Blue Iris from my daughter in law, Tiffany is located on the other side of the Oak tree from the Azalea bed. I love the "pass along" plants and plant gifts from friends and family.

Strawberry Hydrangea

English Dogwood

English Dogwood

A walk through the garden then is not only about enjoying the blooms, it's also about remembering the friends and family who passed along a favorite plant or gave a gift of a plant. I have more photos to post later from my walk into the garden today. Stay tuned!

Tiffany's Iris

My Favorite Granddaughter, My Only Granddaughter

March 2016

Easter is fast approaching. Only four more days. My husband and I are so looking forward to a visit with our favorite granddaughter who we have not seen since Christmas. At the age of 2 years and 2 months there are sure to be many changes that we certainly will notice since December. She looks so much older in her current photos, she is talking more clearly and is becoming more independent (if that is even possible)! She has a mind of her own and has been a very independent child from early on!

Those of you without grandchildren please bear with me. Hopefully those with grandchildren will understand when I tell you that MY grandchildren are the brightest, most creative, talented grandchildren ever! I don't even remember thinking my children were as bright as my three grandchildren. I know for a fact that some alien invaded the body of my father when he became a grandfather. There is no other explanation for the change in personality/behavior when he was around my children. That misbehavior that landed me in time out got a chuckle out of him when it was his grandchildren! Go figure!

March 2016

Easter 2015

So here goes my latest tale about my very bright and creative granddaughter.... In the bathroom with her mother she sees a bag of cotton-balls which she is determined to have. Being told no she persists in her attempt to have a cotton-ball. Finally, her mother gives in and shows her one hoping to satisfy her curiosity. She wants another one and so is given a second cotton-ball. At this point she jumps down and attempts to place one cotton-ball on the top of each foot and proudly announce to her mother that they are "Tinkbell" shoes! No stuffed bunny from Gramma and Grandad this year! She instead is getting a Tinkbell dress-up costume. I couldn't find the Tinkerbell plush doll I saw online and do not have time to order it before our Easter visit so I thought a dress-up costume might have to do.

Grandsons 2013

My Favorite Grandsons!

1st Easter 2014

So while most children might be thinking of soft little bunnies there is one little girl who will be dressing up like Tinkerbell. Possible photo in a later post. Not to leave out my grandsons, I will post more about them later as well.





While bunnies, baby chicks and Easter eggs are fun and festive let's not forget the most important reason for this time of year. As Christians we will remember Christ's death, burial and resurrection this Easter Sunday morning. Because of this one selfless act we are able to claim victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.

Blessings to all this Resurrection Day!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Saint Patrick's Day has come and gone and Easter is just around the corner. In planning an Easter trip to visit my favorite daughter, even if she is my only daughter, I find myself taking a walk down memory lane. For one, she and my dad always played the favorite/only game. He would ask, "How is my favorite granddaughter?" to which she would reply, "I am your ONLY granddaughter!"

My favorite sister, aka only sister, has taken to writing articles and sharing them on Facebook recently. Her article, Dreaming of a White Christmas, mentioned the time my daughter asked God to let it snow. We lived in Florida at the time. It happened to be January or February 1977. She was 4 years old and her Sunday School teacher had told them they could pray and ask God for anything. She asked for snow... in Florida! How does one caution a 4 year old that not every thing they ask for may happen. She is a feisty girl and has been since day one! Needless to say she was rather obnoxious about my lack of faith and even more so when it actually snowed!  Even so I do love those memories! Thank you to my sister for reminding me of a memory nearly 40 years ago!

My sister's article from December 13, 2015

She is a horticulturist and gardener. A former writer for Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners and The Newnan Times-Herald. 

Dreaming of a White Christmas

By Carolyn Fjeran

Surprisingly, Buffalo, New York is without snow for the first time in 116 years! Not to worry - there are several days until Christmas, so chances are good they will see a White Christmas.
My young niece, while living in Tampa, Florida dreamed of a White Christmas and prayed for snow fully believing it would happen. Children hold the delightful ability to believe in the unexpected, the extraordinary, the supernatural. She was undeterred when her mom suggested it doesn't snow in Tampa - Tampa after all is in a warm climate zone. Shortly after, it snowed in Tampa.
This led to some interesting perspectives. Children also have the "delightful" tendency to declare their victories  with, "I told you so!" But, as we all learn with time and experience, perspectives change. "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust.
Southern landscapes covered with fields of cotton can take on the semblance of a white dusting of snow.  Delightful, and warm.
Cotton grows only in warm climates. Soil temperature needs to be 60 degrees for planting and the growing season requires 160 degrees of frost free days.Flower buds, called squares appear two months after planting and open white. Flowers change to pink once they are pollinated. A green pod known as the cotton boll appears after the flower withers. Fibers inside the boll swell and burst open to reveal white fluffy cotton. The decorative qualities of the cotton boll make it desirable to many home gardeners.
While passing through south Georgia, I forgot to take a close up of the cotton boll - so began my search in Newnan. Not only did I find a good sample at a local antique shop, the gentleman working the floor reminded me that cotton is one of the traditional anniversary gifts (second year). I'm impressed.
Another vendor at the shop overheard us and shared that her husband, while in college, worked as a scout in the cotton fields. Scouts methodically search the fields for evidence of pests and when found, they identify the specific insect to inform the crop dusters so they will know exactly how to treat. She noted it was long hard work in the hot blistering fields. And important work - the boll weevil devasted the industry in the 1920s.
Websites provide detailed information about growing cotton, but due to the boll weevil erdication program, it is illegal for home gardeners to grow cotton in states where it is a cash crop. Some states in the eradication zone issue permits to grow cotton in a home garden - your local Extension office can provide information about your state.
Fields of fluffy white cotton stretch for miles this time of year. Dreams of a White Christmas south of the Mason Dixon can and do come true. We've learned to see through different eyes.
Carolyn Fjeran, horticulturist and gardener - former writer for Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners and The Newnan Times-Herald.

 Well done, Sista!

 

Spring Has Arrived

Another favorite...My Garden in Spring

Spring is slowly arriving in my garden. I took a walk around this morning to see what is coming up. The Daphne has lost her blooms and the daffodils are almost gone. The Hellebores were blooming in February thus the common name of "Lenten Rose". Also sometimes called "Christmas Rose" I would then assume that some varieties bloom at Christmas. Mine still have blooms and are going to seed. The few I planted a few years back have spread like nothing else. Except maybe the Lemon Balm which is now a weed popping up every where. 

Daphne is a genus of between 50 and 95 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs in the family Thymelaeaceae, native to Asia, Europe and north Africa. They are noted for their scented flowers and poisonous berries.

Hellebore bloom with seed pods

Genus, Helleborus, comprises approximately 20 species of herbaceous or evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae.

Hepatica

 I have a lovely native bed at the edge of the woods at the back of my yard where I have planted only native plants. The Hepatica,Trilliums, and Dwarf Crested Iris are the first to come up. Since the Hostas haven't come up yet the deer will munch on the Trillums until their favorite Hosta snack arrives. I will have to see how long they last if I don't hurry up and buy some more "Deer Off" spray. It works until I run out.   

Trillium

I love this flowering Quince. I was afraid I wouldn't have any spring blooms on it. The warm weather at Christmas (70 degrees here in Georgia) caused the daffodils to come up early as well as the Quince. However, it has not disappointed me this spring. I even think it has more blooms than ever. 

Last photo for today is my garden rooster. Lovely gift from my grandsons last year. He is watching over the chives which are ready to bloom. I don't need to buy dried chives any longer as I have a good supply already! 

Until later, enjoy a few of my favorite plants from my spring garden. 

Grandma's Favorite

Peonies, my grandmother's favorite flower

Ten months later and still trying to figure out what to do with a blog. I might have to ask my sister's permission to post some of her articles here. She is hoping I might do a little photography and come up with some interesting shots to go with her articles. Possibilities? I did mention photography as one of my faves! Yeh well, something to consider!

Still looking for that big old house I dream of and wanting to move to small town, USA! Or so I think I do.... I suppose it's the "grass is always greener" dilemma. Tired  of the traffic, crowded stores, waiting in line, waiting in traffic. However much I think I would love  life in a small town away from city life the question remains, "Would I miss the convenience of life in the suburbs?" Oh, one more thing...a husband to convince! 

And on that note I will close my post tonight with my one and only attempt at poetry. It has been revised a few times and this is the latest. Inspired one morning in May 2010 by a dragonfly in my garden and my dad's cancer diagnoses a few months earlier. 

I saw a dragonfly In my garden this morning and it inspired me...           

MY GARDEN IN MAY

A dragon fly flutters by

Lavender in bloom

Whispers softly to sunrise and the fading moon

My Garden glistens in the early hours with dew upon her skin

Serenaded by the sparrow's sweetly whistled whim

Ladybugs are feasting on aphids as they rise

While the cardinal and his soul mate watch a chipmunk scurry by

The daffodils are gone now as the roses linger on

The promise of a new day has only just begun

Little footprints in my garden bring a smile to my face

Footprints on my heart that will never be erased

A promise of a new bloom if only for today

Promises new life that will never fade away

My garden whispers softly,

"Come sit awhile, come stay"

S Baker

May 31, 2010 … revised Feb 24, 2016