Green Thumb Sunday - March 7, 2010

I do have things getting ready to bloom.
However, I want to first introduce a couple of new plants.

Mr. Spathiphyllum
More commonly known as Peace Lily,
and much easier to pronounce,
has come to reside at chez Shady!

This was a pass-along gift, that I was happy to accept. You might notice that he's trying to make peace with the blooming lot behind him, as well as camouflage a speaker.

Diminutive Miss Saxifraga sarmentosa (S. stolonifera). Saxifragaceae
does NOT own a diminutive moniker!
Otherwise known as Strawberry Begonia,
she also has come to reside here.

Pretty cute!
Just waiting for those sweet babies.

(Yes, I realize it's time to be rid of the Christmas runner!)


Miss Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Kalanchoe blossoms continue and increase in number.

Miss Phalaenopsis (moth orchid)
has decided to grow new "arms" and buds!

Pardon the fuzzy photo, Mrs. Begonia was commanding attention.

That's it for today, I think. Have a great Green Thumb Sunday. Should you want to participate, you may still have time! Head over to As the Garden Grows to learn how to begin, if you haven't already done so. Just click the logo at the top of this post or on my sidebar.

the GROW project

In conjunction with Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday,
(click on the G below to see her post as well as other participants)
and a Gardening project in which I've agreed to participate . . .

. . . here's my post-of-the-day. :-)

One of the first Garden blogs I ever visited, after I began blogging nearly three years ago, was Mr. Brownthumb of Chicago. He mesmerized me with his informative blog. Quite honestly, I felt that if I ever needed an answer to anything (and he being many years my junior!), he'd have the answer. :-)

He continues to hold my admiration. In his post of January 26, he included a information about a seed project GROW. (Click on the title of the project, at left, to view his post.) He also mentioned that there was still room for participation, should anyone desire to do so. Of course, I jumped right in - feet first, you might say!

The seeds are being furnished by an on-line seed catalog entitled Renee's Garden Seeds (click for transport to her website). Other than keeping records as to how and when I start the seeds, the growing conditions, etc., I am asked to post on my progress once-per-month. If you click on the logo below, you'll see a list of the garden bloggers (in the right side-bar) that are participating.

All that was to say, guess what I found in my mailbox last week? Yes! The items pictured below. Would you say I was GLADSOME BE? :-)

"I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project. Thanks, to Renee's Garden for the seeds."

However, do you see that there was also included a bonus package of Double Cosmos 'Rose Bon Bon' seeds? (Say, "Grateful!") Wasn't that a nice bonus, and incentive to try my gosh-darn-best? :-)

Watch for this same post title once-a-month. Oh! I hope I have something wonderful to show you each month! :-)

Garden Bloggers' Muse Day - March 2010

Click on the logo below to join the fun.

You'll also find more information at the end of my post.

It's March and we can, before long, look towards leaving Winter behind!

I'd originally created this post for February... but changed my mind. We'll just now have look back at January's weather while enjoying one of my favorite Winter poems.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.



My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.



He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.



The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


This is our little dog, Sidney... on his way to the Raised Beds Garden.

Perhaps not miles to go, anymore... if we're talking about Sidney (above). :-)

He is now 16 years old. He's been a great little pal and house dog. His hearing is no longer acute, nor is his vision. His naps leave him stiff and needing to "come to" before attempting to move very far or fast. He cannot negotiate more than a couple of stairs... sometimes needing to be carried up even those.

Sidney remains very affectionate, though. He continues to be good company and loves to go for a (non-challenging) walk. He's more of a "licker" than he used to be. He "talks" more than ever. And he likes to be where we are. He's still a good little friend.

Actually, perhaps there are a few more miles to go...

:-)

Want to participate in Garden Bloggers' Muse Day? Visit Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago. Join in by posting on the first day of each month and leaving your comment on her site. :-)

Photo Friday

Several years ago, I purchased this hand-thrown,
hand-made pottery bird feeder.

I put it out on Monday, Feb. 22 -
the only customers have been the Black-capped Chickadee.

'bye!

F for Fair-ness!

Shall we discuss "Fair-ness?" Let's!

One definition of the word fair is beautiful. It fits everything in this post.

Part of my front-of-the-house garden

In front of the lattice with the water walkway.
(I do tread on this little walk periodically, but it was constructed to direct rainwater away from the house.)

A glimpse of my backyard from the Woodland Walk
Another part of my backyard...

Another definition of fair is promise... to illustrate this meaning, you can see the contrast and purpose for change below.

One more view of a backyard garden that changed from 2008 (left photo) to 2009 (right photo) - click on them to compare. :-) I moved the Dappled Willow 'Salix integra' and replaced it with Hydrangea 'Quick Fire' - giving the DW a little more bright light. Click on the photos for nice enlargements, so you can see the changes for yourself. :-)

Now, another definition of fair is impartial. In the spirit of impartiality, I give you an example of how "Everything Might Grow Better in My Neighbor's Yards."

:-)

First, meet a couple of Friends located in the same shady neighborhood!
(wish I had photos of others' gardens!)

Dixie's Garden

Chris' Garden
(forgive my blurry photo)

Now - Friends in town.

Susie's Garden
Nancy H's Garden


Meet my friend that may have begun the 'gardening movement' in town years ago!
This is her berm...

Dorothy's Garden

looking at the top of the berm

A Friend on the way to town and back home again.

Suzanne's Garden

A gardening friend on the other side of town,

Kris' Garden

A couple of Friends in our little, local garden club

Nancy's Garden
(the photos of which will be changing, as they recently moved)


Joan's Garden


Kathy's Garden

Now... presenting

Family!

Dad and Mom's Garden

Our Daughter and Son-in-law and their childrens' garden

Our Son and Daughter-in-law and their childrens' garden
(note the markers - last Summer's project!)


Aunt MEA's Garden

Marilyn's Garden

My sister Barb's Front Garden
This stands for Fond memories.

And I've had a Fantastic time reminiscing about visits and walks through these gardens... Wish I could pick a Fistful of Flowers... but the time will soon come. For now, we continue to Forge through Winter's Fleet of Snow.

;-)

Are you ready to visit other sites in this ABC with Mrs. Nesbitt? Click on the logo below to visit her site. Click on the same logo there to find others that are participating. (You can join this meme at any time, yourself!)

Isn't this a Pretty Sight?

Even though we've had a lot of snow,
I had to share this photo.

"When snow falls, nature listens." ~Antoinette van Kleeff

Compare this photo to the first one in the post below.... same tree
with the result of yesterday's snow.

:-)