This Sunny Victoria osteospermum started blooming today. Deadheading not necessary for continuous bloom. This plant will “bury its dead” (new flowers will quickly cover old flowers) so no deadheading necessary. It is also hardy to -4C.
It is hard to believe that in just a few months flowers will be blooming, bugs will be all over, we have to possibility of eating fresh vegatables…
Inspiration for plant combinations come from all sorts of places for me. One place where I get lots of inspiration from is Disney parks. When I get a chance to go there I take hundreds of pictures so I can browse through them at leisure when I get home. Because Disney is a theme park, their plantings are also themed and I have learned so much from observing how they put plants together in their gardens or containers. People are starting to bring in their pots to plant them. I also find it interesting to watch what people choose for their plants. To me gardening is just another form of art, and I love to watch these artists at work, beginners or experts! –>
My husband usually picks me a bouquet of marsh marigolds on Mother’s Day but this year there were none blooming then. But today, he brought them - a little late but that’s OK. Wildflowers are still my first love among flowers. I find them fascinating and surprising. They made up my wedding bouquet nearly 27 years ago - wildflowers in a small water-filled glass jar trimmed with lace. I would choose the same bouquet today! –>
Winter in the Garden (Please click on picture to enlarge)
With so much of our year in a state of winter, it is important to be able to appreciate the garden even in winter. Hardscape components, which include fences and structures, can be beautiful covered in snow. –>
A beautiful patio tree rose- intriguing color! These tender roses need to be stored in a cool place such as an unheated garage over the winter but they are worth the effort! –>
The romance of lilacs! This one is a double pale blue lilac with the pure lilac fragrance… Lilacs still remind me of Mystery at Lilac Inn, a book in the Nancy Drew Mystery Series I read as a child. I can still picture a romatic old inn bordered by lilacs where mysterious and exiting things take place… –>
Yesterday, our grape vine reminded a lady of her childhood home in Italy and she had a short burst of homesickness and then she taught my daughter a bit about grapevines. I am amazed at how flowers or plants often remind people of loved ones or places that were enjoyed. Pansies remind me of my grandma and potatoes remind me of both of my grandpas. Evening scented stocks remind me of Mary, sweet alyssum remind me of Disney World, and green, green grass and spring remind me of childhood trip to Germany. There are many other plants that I see that bring a remembrance of people that I know and places I have enjoyed and they are precious memories indeed! –>
