Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

Carol at May Dreams Gardens

invites you to join Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day
I don't have a hoe in my hand... but perhaps you might find me with a shovel?

In the meantime,

here are a few photos
of what you might see outdoors today:

"I sift the snow on the mountains below,

And their great pines groan aghast;

And all the night 'tis my pillow white,

While I sleep in the arms of the blast."

The quoted poetry is a portion of The Cloud by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Perhaps we'll find no blossom outdoors today, but the little wren house reminds us that Spring is around the corner. And if I squint just right, I can almost see the bright green, newly unfolded leaves on the trees, the sprouted astilbe, hosta, ferns and others in the bed to the left. And when I attune my ears very carefully, turning my head ever so slightly, I can almost be sure I've heard the little wren in her house.

:-) Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day! (Yes, go ahead and envision a little more snow here, too!)

Tall Tales or "Have You Got a Minute?"

Have you got a few minutes?

I have a long introduction before I get to the subject of my post! :-)

First, you need to check out this post by Kate at

Kate Smudges, in earth, paint and life

Her photo is the seedhead of a Clematis tangutica vine.
Hers is a beautiful verse -
A poem by William Butler Yeats entitled, 'The Old Men Admiring Themselves in the Water'.

My comment? Probably absurd, but it's what I thought when I saw her photo! The following lines are my comment and her (generous, tolerant) reply. :-)

"Shady Gardener said, 'That is a gorgeous seedhead. Not to interrupt the wonderful flow of the poem and its appropriateness, does it also look a little like a subject of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss?

"Catch!" calls the Once-ler.
He lets something fall.
"It's a Truffula Seed.
It's the last one of all!
You're in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax and all of his friends
may come back.' "

And Kate's reply?

"I love it, Shady! I'll forever think of Dr. Seuss and Truffala seeds - and await the arrival of Lorax and his friends!!"

Now, you must see why I made this post. Her photo has been in the back of my mind ever since I first saw it. As I am now wending my way through old photos and organizing many of them by subject, I ran across this photo! What do you think, Kate?? ;-)

Truffelas?
(please click on each of these photos to be able to receive full detail!)

Actually the above photo shows the seed head of the Pasque flower, Pulsatilla vulbaris. It blooms in April - May. It's suited to zones 4 - 8, and it likes full sun to partial shade.

Isn't it beautiful?Only partly shady, here!
:-)

Pulmonary Prognosis Re: Pulmonaria

Lungwort

"O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;" ---Shakespeare

And this plant, one of my favorites, by any other name
would be as wonderfully sweet! :-)

So... be still my beating heart as I do a Pulmonaria drumroll! :-)
(These are the varieties I have so far.)

'Baby Blue'

'Bubble Gum'

'Diana Clare'

'E.B. Anderson'

'Gaelic Sunset'

'Majeste'

'Milky Way'

'Samourai'

'Trevi Fountain'

I absolutely love these plants. You can tell which ones were new ones planted during Spring 2008 because they have only fall photos. Watching these plants grow and bloom is one of many reasons to look forward to Spring's arrival. ('Gaelic Sunset' is not new; I just couldn't find the photo of its flowers!)

I'm trying to take personal photos of all my plants for my (hopefully soon-to-be) "Wonderful Plant Log Notebook." This notebook is supposed to be one of my (many) Winter projects! Currently, it's in bits and pieces and my imagination. :-)

Pulmonaria love shade and dappled shade. They don't enjoy very dry conditions! Lungwort, like Virginia Bluebells, bud and begin flowering in shades of pink and turn blue as they mature. My wish list contains 'Raspberry Splash.' Doesn't that sound enticing? ;-)

For much more information, and for what seems like it must be a complete list of cultivars and/or varieities, check this site! You can see that if I'm attempting to make a complete collection, I have a Long Way to go! (I doubt that I'll try, but YOU could!) ;-)

Well, this COULD qualify as a shady subject! ;-)

Terrifically Silly over Blackberry Lily!

I mean to say, "rilly!"
I go willy-nilly
over such an interesting plant!

**This photo is from Wickipedia
(click on photo for their information)
Their photo shows how the petals twist after blooming,
and as they're creating seed pods.

(my photos)

It seems their consortium
sports unanimous contortion,
The likes before I'd never seen...

Creating a large pod
Not just a bit odd,
Containing their bountious seed.
Pardon my little poetic attempt...

FYI: I want to tell you that Belamcanda chinensis does pretty well in my fairly bright but continually shady spot. However, I harvested the seeds last fall and will be planting some in areas that receive sun from time to time (and perhaps dappled shade), just as an experiment. The plant itself grows much more sturdily in sunnier areas. My plant is very "leggy" and needs support. The plant itself adds a little "vertical" to an area that has other types of appeal (hosta, japanese ferns, trycirtis, etc.)

The Cat's Meow!

This is Catmint, Nepata. I cannot, at this time, tell you the variety. Without support (I use grow rings) the plant falls over. It has a huge spread and fills in a space just beautifully! One main reason I really like it - it's a butterfly magnet!

I caught this Giant Swallowtail perusing the catmit June 8, 2008.

(These last three photos enlarge nicely! Just click on them!)

Gotta Love It! :-)

Not a 'Shady' Spot in Sight! ;-)

2nd family celebration

Complete with puppet theater!
click on photo to enjoy. :-)

Summer 2008 Inspiration - January Posting!

Star Light,
Star Bright,

First Star I see tonight
I Wish I May,
I Wish I Might...


The following is part of what I have added to my

"Wish List for 2009"

I know I've left a lot of my favorite bloggers out (Most of you are on my sidebar,
but I just can't list you all!)

Please Forgive Me!
But... even if I've left you out of the following list, please visit these peoples' blogs.
It's Worth It! :-)

I haven't provided links here, but check out my right sidebar under "gardening links!"

From Deb at GardenAuthor, I put anti-dessicant spray,
and the liberty of taking time for a poetic diversion (both in reading and creating!).
(She's so good at doing all those things, from taking care of her plants to having fun!)
and a sweater for Sidney (our dog)! ;-)

from Gail at Clay and Limestone, I'd love to have
Black and Blue Salvia (although I don't really have enough sun),
and 'Tojen' tricyrtis.

from Iowa Boy, at An Iowa Garden,
I put a couple more primroses,
(this is my only surviving from 2008)
one of several Japanese Maples,
and many other items he has described
and encouraged me to explore.


From IVG, at Urban Oasis, I've listed
'Kopper King' Hibiscus (yet to determined if it's practical)
and be "diverse."

from Kate, at Kate's Smudges in Earth, Paint and Life, I added
"Check out 'Clematis tangutica!'
and "remember to write about what's most important to me..."

from Kylee at Our Little Acre, I put
"More Butterfly Plants"
and "take more time to travel for inspiration!"
(Note to self: I will not be entering any marathons.) ;-)

From MMD at Mr. McGregor's Daughter, I've added
'Rozanne' Hardy Geranium.
'Tojen' tricyrtis received an additional tally mark here!

from Mr. Brown Thumb, I've put
"be careful, generous and note the details"

from Nan at Hayefield, I noted,
"visit more often and read carefully!"
:-)

from our friend at Northern Shade Gardening, I put
Chionodoxa and Puschkinia
as well as "Pay closer attention HER shady details!"

from Ralph at Homespun Headlines, I've put
"look for the humorous and share it with others!"

from Troutbirder, I added
"Make memories and tell the tales!"

from Gardening Gone Wild, I added
the note to participate in their inspiring
memes on garden features, etc.

from Kathleen, at Kasey's Korner, I wrote again
"take a closer look at details, get creative, and
assemble and add a few more
deliciously beautiful (shall I copy?) potted collections!"

from Cameron, at Defining Your Home Garden,
I've noted that I should print some of her posts!! ;-)
Somehow she speaks to the needs at hand
(Thanks Cameron!).

from Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago,
I noted "Generosity and an artistic eye."

from Kathryn, at Plant Whatever Brings You Joy,
I put "humility."

from Frances, at Fairegarden, I put
"be generous and helpful."

from Rosemary, at Rosemary's Blog Spot, I put
"share your cooking talents, too!"

From Lisa at Greenbow (and MMD and Carol)
"Journal! and there's no better time to begin than now!"

from Monica at Garden Fairie's Musings
remind me to use a sense of humor!

from Jan at Thanks for 2 Day
I added "Be Thankful!" and "share more!"

from Nan at As the Garden Grows
and
from Chad and Brandy at Our Backyard Life
"Don't forget the camera!"
(Actually, most of you inspire me with this one!!)
:-)

from Patsy at Garden Endeavors
I put "generosity and enthusiasm."

from Joey at The Village Voice, I noted
"Versatility with a capital 'V'!"

from Dirty Fingernails at Green Thumb Chronicles,
"take a break when I need to!"

for The Illustrated Garden, I wrote
"Note to self: Visit more often!"

from Carol at May Dreams Gardens, I added
"use that hoe more often!" ;-)

from Nancy Bond at Soliloquy
"Seek that calm Spirit"

This wish list turned into more than just plants and gardening, didn't it? But then... isn't gardening just one (important) part of life? And aren't all facets of our lives intermingled and interwoven within who we are? So... I know it's all applicable. And I thank you for your Inspiration in 2008 as we enter 2009!!!

Best Wishes, SG :-)