Dear Dahlia,

I am still waiting.


But I did pick up the quilt batting, backing and binding yesterday for both the stacked coin and dresden plate projects.

The mailman brought me these wonderful twills all the way from France too!

Today I must leave,,,

my garden in the hands of my darling husband. Need I say I am a bit concerned?

I know he "can" do, now "will" he do it? It takes some discipline to water every day those hanging plants and the morning glory out on the front step. If the weather gets warm, I may come home to a bunch of twigs stuck in clots of dried up dirt.

The hydrangea is about to bloom so I guess I'll miss that, and I know that stinking Wisteria won't bloom again this year so I have nothing to worry about there.

There is something muching on the dahlia's in the front bed and I may come home to those being wiped out.

Should I really worry so much?

Nature

Nature has a way of making just stand back and go "how did you do that?" Like when I look at little seedlings and think about having planted the seed into the dirt and now it's all green and poking up through the earth.

Then when it's getting it's own personality and roaring up to see the sun, I just wonder how it happened. Oh remember all that stuff from biology but it really truly happens all the time and in my own front yard.

I showed you the sprouts of gladiolas, but look at them now? all tall and bold.



They've almost caught up to the dinner plate dahlia behind it that I planted a month earlier.

Then look I already have pole beans too? There were 3 but I snacked on one :)


Here's a Dahlia by our front door that I bought as a plant. It's it all cheerful to greet visitors?

You won't believe what's poking up!

The Gladiolas I just planted a few weeks ago!


And the Iris is about to bust open!



Check out these pole beans!


Are you sick of my garden yet?

May 1st!

It's already the first of May! Where has the year gone?

Today is the day I plant my sunflowers. Do you have your seeds ready? I do and will have them in the ground very soon.

Waking Up to some Spring Time

Today when I was out watering my flowers before I work, I noticed how many of my plants have sprouted blooms. Here are just a few.











And remember those morning glories I planted in the front planter thinking they were the Sweet Peas - well here they are! See that peaking out?

Less Travel means I have a problem

I'm not traveling as much this year for work and it's been a very nice break. However, it has lead to two things happening (1) I see all kinds of things at my house that MUST be changed/fixed/updated/painted (2) My garden is becoming an obsession.


I know this doesn't sound like real problems, but it can be more expensive than traveling let me tell you. Buying paint, paint stripper, driving to El Segundo just to buy one particular plant - the Peony! Trust me it's adding up.



The benefits are blooming in the front yard this year. I have had time to do a full on Grub Worm War and so far I still have plants that are alive. Now if the grasshoppers will just stay away.


I, however, need a 12 step program from buying plants. I am just out of room now in the beds and keep eye balling the grass going "if I take it up 6 more inches out, I can get more flowers planted." This will not go over well with the hubs if I start ripping up the lawn.

Even the little side yard garden in the back is full of plants. I sacrifice the fennel in order to have a good spot for the peony I brought home. Here is the view now and the few bare spots are where I have seeds planted.






I'll end with my French Gray Shallots - I can't wait for them to finish up

A While Back I WON!

A CSN Stores gift card for $60 from Valerie over at YarniGras. I thought I'd get a new rug for my bathroom - been trying to find a runner that is hook and loop that will fit and haven't been successful at it yet. Then today on Facebook, CSN posted about this Garden Tool Center. I fell hard for it. Like A Stone. My tools are kept outside (not allowed in the Garage per the Hubs) on the side of the garage all every which way. It drives me nuts. So I ordered the Garden Center today and used my winnings from Val. I am so grateful for her for posting that giveaway and solving my biggest gardening challenge all at the same time! Thank you Val!

Could it be Spring?

I am a little bit anxious to get out in my yard and do some planting.

Burpees got me good last week and I ordered a bunch of stuff to get in the ground. I want to be a better gardener and now that I'm not traveling so much for work, I hope I can spend time working on this.

Here are some pictures of last years garden. My spot is a bit challenging as it only gets partial sunlight - my Squash does great but then it ends up getting mildew as it doesn't get enough sun. I'm going to move things around this year and see if I can figure out a good combination.