ABC Wednesday - K - Kiss Me Once and Kiss Me Twice . . .

(Please note, before you continue with this post, the photos below were taken during the Springs of 2008, 2009, and 2010.)

Kiss me once,
(Dutchman's Breeches)
then kiss me twice
(Trout Lily)

Then kiss me once again.
(Snowdrop)
It's been a long, long time.
(pink grape hyacinth)
Haven't felt like this, my dear
(tiarella)

Since I can't remember when.
(bloodroot)

It's been a long, long time
(scilla - Siberian Squill)

You'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you.
(Heartleaf Brunnera)
Or just how empty they all seemed without you.
(Virginia Bluebells)

So kiss me once,
(pulmonaria)

then kiss me twice
(bergenia)

Then kiss me once again.
(pasque flower)

It's been a long, long time.

(Prairie Smoke)And I'm just patiently waiting for Spring's arrival...

This post property of http://yardisgreen.blogspot.com

ABC Wednesday meme is a fun challenge . To join and view other posts, click the logo at left. Enjoy!

"It's Been a Long, Long Time" - Lyrics composed by Sammy Cahn and the tune was composed by Jule Styne. It was recorded by Bing Crosby with the Les Paul Trio in 1945; Harry James & his Orchestra (vocal: Kitty Kallen) in 1945; Charlie Spivak & his Orchestra (vocal: Irene Daye) in 1945; Stan Kenton & his Orchestra (vocal: June Christy) in 1945; Frank Sinatra in 1946; June Haver & Dan Dailey (film "I'll Get By") in 1950; Perry Como in 1956; Al Hibbler in 1956; Chuck Miller in 1956; Peggy Lee in 1959; Keely Smith in 1959; Louis Armstrong in 1964; Doris Day in 1964; Tom Jones - 1966; and also recorded by: Chet Atkins & Les Paul; Eve Boswell; Guy Mitchell; Sammy Cahn; Etta Jones; Shelley Fabares; Helen Forrest; Adelaide Hall; Sammy Kaye; Ginny Simms; Ray Conniff Singers; The Ink Spots; Michael Feinstein; Sam Donahue; Al Jolson & Dinah Shore; Nina & Frederik; Tina Louise; Ron Merritt; Jimmy Roselli; Buddy Morrow; Mary Stahl; Brook Benton; Lynn Roberts; Lillian Roth; Rosemary Clooney and many others.*

*This information taken from International Lyrics Playground.

Cold Temps are Leaving??

Mar 27 (tonight) Cloudy 26°F 10% chance of precipitation

Monday, Mar 28 Partly Cloudy High Temp: 46°F Low Temp: 30°F 20% chance of precip.

Tuesday, Mar 29 Rain / Snow High Temp: 39°F Low Temp: 31°F 30% chance of precip.

Wednesday, Mar 30 Partly Cloudy High Temp:51°F Low Temp: 34°F 20% chance of precip.

Thursday, Mar 31 Cloudy High Temp: 50°F Low Temp: 39°F 10% chance of precip.

Friday, Apr 1 Partly Cloudy High Temp: 58°F Low Temp: 40°F 20% chance of precip.

Saturday, Apr 2 Partly Cloudy High Temp: 59°F Low Temp: 44°F 10% chance of precip.

Sunday, Apr 3 Showers High Temp: 67°F Low Temp: 49°F 40% chance of precip.

SILENT SATURDAY - March 25, 2011

Wildflower Wednesday!

I found a Virginia Bluebell! Mertensia virginica.
I haven't yet raked the leaves from the beds... we have a cold, perhaps snowy weekend forecast. However - SPRING is on its way. Just look at that little plant!

Click on this little photo to visit Illinois Wildflower Info:





You can visit participants of Wildflower Wednesday... visit Gail at Clay and Limestone. You can also choose to participate! :-) Click Gail's name above.

ABC Wednesday - J is for Japanese Fern

Please use the ABC Wednesday logo, at left, to be able to view other posts during this "J" week.

I'm sure you could join this meme at any week. Perhaps you should!
:-)

Japanese Painted Fern

Athyrium niponicum 'pictum'

Light: Part Sun, Shade; Zones: 4-9; Plant Type: Perennial; Plant Width: 1-2 feet wide; Landscape Uses: Containers, Beds & Borders, Ground cover; Special Features: Attractive Foliage, Tolerates Wet Soil, Easy to Grow.

This fern type prefers moist, well-drained to loamy soils. They will tolerate dry soil, and they will tolerate some sun if they have ample water.

Remove dead foliage in early winter or early spring. New growth will come up from ground each year.

Good companion plants would include astilbe, heartleaf brunnera, columbine, coral bells, ginger, hosta, lenten rose (hellebore), ligularia, lilyturf, black snakeroot, or sweet woodruff.

Japan

There were three strong quakes Tuesday the 23rd near Japan. Here is a link to details.

May our thoughts, prayers and able assistance continue for the people of Japan, Christchurch, New Zealand, and all people who have experienced natural disasters around the world in recent days, months, and years. This link is provided by the USGS, listing the latest earthquake activity in the past seven days.

Green Thumb Sunday - Stupendous

It happened!
One amaryllis bulb stays out of the compost pile! :-)

this post property of http://www.yardisgreen.blogspot.com/

ABC Wednesday - I is for Invicible or Irritating?

"I" would like to encourage you to click on the logo above to see the posts by
other bloggers that are participating in this meme.

Invincible - incapable of being conquered, defeated, or subdued.

Invincible describes the Iris.
Irritating might also describe the Iris.

When we moved here 8 years ago, the Sunny Corner Bed was completely filled (and overgrown) with Iris tubers. Thus, there were very few blooms. During our second Spring, I dug and dug and dug tubers out of the bed... and gave up. I filled two good-sized boxes and three paper grocery bags full - and gave them away.

I covered the rest of the bed with about 6" of soil, planted other perennials, and covered the bed with 6" of mulch.

The next Spring? Iris were growing through - all over! I dug and pulled, etc. every Spring for the next few years. Finally (8 years later) I think I have a handle on the situation. I did leave two or three spots of iris (dividing and spacing them) that are very pretty - and manageable.

Intermediate Dwarf Bearded Iris
(name unknown - lost tag)
I purchased this iris. It's very pretty, and I need to divide it this Spring.

Bearded iris
(inherited with the property)

Reticulata irises, Mathew's subgenus Hermodactyloides from western Asia, are another section of bulbous irises. Leaves of this section are grey green and square or almost cylindrical in cross section. Bulbs have netted tunics and the flowers long tubes. They are small plants that are mostly very hardy, flower in early spring and are dormant in summer. They are suitable for rock gardens, bulb frames or alpine houses and should be planted in well-drained soil that can dry out in summer. (I'm guessing all these iris listed below are about 6" tall.)

*Iris danfordiae is from mountain locations in Turkey where it flowers near the snowline. It has bright yellow dotted green flowers with a deep yellow or orange crest. Bulbs need to be planted deeply or they will split into smaller non-blooming bulbs

*Iris 'Harmony' is a popular hybrid of Iris histrioides and Iris reticulata with a nice contrast of blue and yellow

*Iris 'George' is a hybrid of Iris histrioides and Iris reticulata

*Iris 'Sheila Ann Germaney' - is a another desirable hybrid between Iris histrioides and Iris winogradowii. It is similar to 'Katherine Hodgkin', but more even pale blue toned and showing less influence of the yellow palette.

Below: This is a Species Iris of some type - it was in flower beds when we moved here. I don't know what type it is... but I do know that it has a very long, narrow tuber. The tuber continues to grow long and narrow and spread throughout the bed... thus the iris move all over the place. It takes a little time (a couple of years), but you might find them crowding into other plants' territory. (They are beautiful, though, aren't they?)

*Credit given Pacific Bulb Society. Click this link to view other varieties and more information.

this post is property of http://yardisgreen.blogspot.com

Green Thumb Sunday

GTS (Green Thumb Sunday) - Something in which I enjoy participating... when I can. :-) Not always is there much blooming here during the Winter. Especially this Winter. However, you'll find a few items below (and can compare a couple of them from last Sunday, as a progress report!).

The two African violets below are the 'Kitchen Window Sill Sitters."
I posted photos of them last week, as they were just beginning to show signs of buds.
Today, one is in blossom. Is it interesting that two petals are smaller than the other three?

This "Christmas Cactus" was moved to the dining room. Pretty.

The first of my big amaryllis bulbs is getting ready to blossom (compare
to last Sunday's photo).

A second amaryllis has two stalks with buds growing...

And this is my ever-blooming begonia - variety unknown.
(I forgot to note the name when I purchased it.)

Looking towards Spring!!