Garden Blues

Hello again everyone. 

I am shocked that it has been so long. The last time I wrote I was heading out to the garden almost one year ago. And there I did stay for quite a while. One project led to another...

Stones were pried from the ground, walls were built, plants were divided, pruned, moved, deadheaded. Then 32 weeks of teaching began followed shortly by a drought unlike anything I have experienced before. By the time October rolled around I was one stressed out, tired, sunburnt garden warrior actually looking forward to the relief that a winter respite would bring. 

I rejoiced when fall finally allowed me to put away the garden hoses, sprinklers and pumps, to empty the very large collection of rain barrels and water tanks, to put to bed a garden that was looking as battered as I felt. 

But, as the saying so wisely goes, that was then. 

During the winter I dedicate my time to lesson planning, marketing, designing websites and compiling new safety training manuals for my husband. With the end of February upon us I am ready to relinquish my position at the keyboard and create with plants instead of pixels.

Though I have not forgotten the torture inflicted by the weather last summer, the pull of the seasons has me ready to start anew, to hope, to plan, to dream of sun-filled days blended with enough rain to see us through. 

I am so craving the perfumes of freshly turned earth, sweet spring breezes, laundry blown clean on the line. I long for the sweet faces of violas, the tiny cabbage-like buds of sedum, the curl of the fern under the shade of the twisted maples. Yet the garden still sleeps and impatience will not hasten the arrival of spring.

So to celebrate the garden blues, literally, I choose to share some of my favourite azure beauties. Blue in the garden is restful, a wonderful classic compliment to whites, a pastel friend to pink and mauve, and stunning when paired with vibrant hues of orange and yellow.

We'll begin with the pretty spring bulb: prairie lily, Cammasia 
pictured here from the garden of Claus Dalby 

And who can resist the perfect simplicity of the pansy.Here planted in zinc containers.
sjarmerende-gjenbruk.blogspot.com

...and the sea of forget-me-nots floating behind
the gentle wands of heuchera

or the lush carpet of creeping phlox, 
the vibrance of ajuga chocolate in bloom
http://www.obsessiveneuroticgardener.com

Until next time - wishes for peace, love & joy!

Spring Forward!

Did you remember to change your clocks? I know you, like my teenage daughters, might meet this grand day with some moans and groans as you realize you just lost an hour of sleep. But for me, today has all the excitement of Christmas morning, the clocks moving ahead that wonderful hour means that I have the gift a "normal" life again.

For reasons unknown, my body decided four years ago that it simply didn't care what time it was anymore. The time would change, but I would not. I have always been an early riser, and grateful for it... up before the sun, usually between 4 and 5 a.m. With a house full of kids, a very busy husband, two cats, a dog and a japanese fighting fish named Princess, two hours alone every morning with my coffee and my thoughts is a much cherished ritual. In the fall when we turn the clocks back an hour, my body wakes itself up at 3 a.m -  not nearly so desirable and it can be hard to keep busy that early in the morning when there is nothing but snow and darkness about.

But today I am just giddy with anticipation and I hope wherever you are that you can share in my happiness! In addition to the time change, it seems Mother Nature has finally decided to smile upon us and deliver a balmy day of 9 C and with a warming trend the rest of the week. As far I am concerned, today is MY first day of spring, and I am already wandering around in my blundstones waiting for the sun to come up so I can get outside and do something.

And there is so, so much to do!

My list is rather long - I will be out there brandishing the pruners, tackling the shrubs, cutting back the grasses, and picking up all the stuff that was left behind in the fall and tossed around in the wind storm two weeks ago. No doubt I will calling out to my son to pick up dog poop he missed over the winter and for my husband to please help me clean and sharpen the tools. The patio chairs will receive their cushions, the bbq will be cleaned, and perhaps the waterfall will be started up in the pond. We will be looking (praying) for the coi and trying to decide if the frog floating around on its back is just sleeping or has met an untimely demise (whereupon we will distract my five year old so that said frog can be gently removed).

I will walk the gardens seeking signs of life...the sweet cabbage-like buds of sedum, the dainty strands of crocus, buds swelling on the lilac, plum and apple. I have been writing this long enough that the song of robin and whip-poor-will have started up and it is now time to go.

It is going to be a glorious day!

So until next time when I may have some lovely shots of my own garden to share, all spick and span, and bursting with life, I would like to share some photos from other gardeners who have been enjoying spring a little longer than I have.

From the lovely blog Wife, Gardener, Mother we have these gorgeous snowdrops and crocus...

Just love this cheerful little crocus surrounded by sedum acre:
http://wifemothergardener.blogspot.com

And from Sweetbay are these shots from her garden taken last April and May - she has the most beautiful woodland gardens...

White iris are stunning

A lush planting

And an elegant Alabama Azalea

And from a blog I found just yesterday, Rhone Street Gardens, we have these beautiful photographs from Scott Weber...

Snowdrops

vibrant hues of sedum welcome spring

I hope you enjoy this glorious Sunday and all that it has to offer. Happy gardening!

Blue Wonder

It is yet another blustery snowy day here and the only signs of spring are blooming sweetly on the dining roomy table. But I do know spring must be coming because my favourite little campanula has arrived in the grocery store again. 

Campanula Haylodgensis 'Blue Wonder'

'Blue Wonder' is smothered in dainty double blooms that I find irresistibly romantic. Though she is hardy to zone 3, I will have to admit defeat when I have transplanted this pretty girl outside to the garden in past years, perhaps I was a little too hasty in the acclimatization process. I am quite content to enjoy her presence indoors for the moment.

Sitting pretty in a pot purchased at Neil's Flowers.
These french inspired containers are waterproof
so I can use them for cut flowers as well.

And what would spring be without the heavy perfume of hyacinth. She looked lovely by the kitchen sink but the scent was overpowering and so she had to go - finally landing in the faraway corner of the dining room.

The garden is sleeping outside, ready to awake in all her spring glory.  Blue is such a relaxing and peaceful colour to include in the perennial garden, and I love the soothing contrast of blue and whites offset with the freshness of chartreuse and apple greens. Soon will be the tulips, muscari and iris leading up to the sky blues of phlox, centaurea, and baptisia. Just to be patient a little while longer.


Love your thoughts and feedback.

Have a lovely day!