Iceland Poppy From HD

Hello again!

I love this plant. This is the first year I have tried growing poppy from seed. My seeds are for oriental poppies and they're very fresh. Approximately 20 have germinated. I am eager to see how many of those survive and produce flower.

But silly me, today, as I was poking around the Home Depot, I came across this iceland poppy beauty and could not resist! Such an unusual color pink.

I can't wait to see all the flowers I've seeded and the old, well established flowers grow this year. Cannot believe how long we've lived here and how old some of my plants are. However, despite the fact this is an older home, the yard was a clean planting canvas. The previous owner really didn't plant much beyond what the builder put in (and let most of that over-grow or become choked by other plants and trees). I am having a wonderful time buying and growing a variety of plants from seed, cuttings or root division.

Thank you for checking in and seeing my latest flower!

Old Man of the Mountain

It's been 10 years since New Hampshire iconic face fell off the mountain. Still hard to believe the image that represents NH is no longer. The old man only exists on our state's coin, state signs and in our hearts.

So Very Excited!

My girls and I are meeting up with my cousin and her girls in Newport, RI! We're going to be there from May 17th through the 19th. I haven't been there in so many years and have such great memories of going there while I was in college.
OK, we are actually staying in the Ramada Inn in Middleton, but with all day in Newport, we will hardly know we are sleeping in the town next door...

I am so excited for the girls to see Newport. Maybe I can show Laura Salve Regina and let her consider that college, when she's ready to decide.

Crazy Hazy! She's So Lazy!

It's just not a relaxed Hazel unless she's hangin' like this!

When she's happy like this she always has a huge smile on her face. First dog of mine to ever smile like she does. And both Meredith and I are convinced she sometimes purrs when she's being cuddled and loved!

Hazel can really brighten up a room.

Aaaah, Sunburned and Achy

Hello again!

I cannot believe how much my muscles ache and how my shoulders, arms and face are sunburned! BUT, it's a great feeling... I had such a wonderful weekend enjoying the weather and getting the gardens ready for Spring. I just love to plant. So rewarding to grow yummy things to eat however we end up eating most of it RIGHT IN the garden - especially the tomatoes and green beans. Good thing (with some plants) the more you pick the more the plant produces!!!!

Along with all the seedlings started this spring, I am so eager to put out the plants wintered-over in the basement; like my ranunculus! I've been growing them for a few years. I usually plant them in planters however one year I sank a bunch into the ground but when I was digging them up that fall, I didn't do a great job finding them all and left a few over winter. I was told in my zone they cannot survive in the ground during such low winter temps although low and behold the following summer I found a couple blooming right where they were left! Unfortunately, I don't trust my whole collection of bulbs outside like that and usually just bring the planters in and bag the bulbs.

This year I am trying to grow passion flowers. Not sure if I'll be successful because I hear they take a while to germinate and not all seeds grow. But, if I grow the vine flowers/fruit, I hope they too can be brought in the for the following year. Hopefully, I can grow some in a pot and some in the ground. Next year, see which come back! I've been lead to believe the plant might handle this zone's winter temps. It will be fun to see.

That Time Of Year...

Hello again!

It's that time of year for planting and gardening again! I love putzing around in the garden and growing fun things; flowering bushes, flowers for cutting and veggies! Most of the plants I have either started from seed or purchased the plant, then took cuttings and rooted the cuttings for more!

Last year I had an premature start on the gardens. Spring seemed to come so early and everything started to bud. I took that as a sign it's time to plant my seedlings. Big mistake that was... a week or two after all the gorgeous weather, we had frozen precipitation which killed most of what I planted and all the buds died off my well established perennials and flowering bushes; hardly any lilacs in the Spring nor hydrangea in the late summer.

This year, it's been such a successful crop and the seeds were so fresh - in the event that we have a sudden attack of winter, I'd hate to see them with frostbite. So, I have been holding off planting until Mother's (or later).

However, no one told my plants that they are not outside!!! Soaking in the southern window's sun and absorbing the wood stove's heat, The tomato plants think it is ready for action and the plants have started their tomato flowers already. (Guess I started those seeds a bit early).

Among other plants I also seeded some thyme which as soon as I turned my back, they sprouted their first leaves! It was less than a week and "POP!"

LOL, and to think I considered kicking back and not planting seeds this year. But, when that certain time of year came around for soaking and sinking seeds, I just couldn't hold back.