Spring is Finally Here

Darmera is an interesting plant, this is the first sign off it in the spring, this freakish little knobby sprout which will become a rather attractive flower, before the leaves show up. It has really bizarre creeping tubers from which it all comes forth.



My plants are finally picking up a bit, poor things, they've been cold for way to long. It's made for some interesting combination's though. Like this akebia blooming right along with the tulips.

Has anyone seen the hummingbirds lately? Mine seem to have gone away to nest. I hope they return soon with their young.

Spring is on it's way

Winter was hard on the gardens this year but spring is on it's way . This is one of the gardens today, in a rather sad state.

The tropics are mush. Check back in June to see the difference.
The old chicken house in in dire need of a paint job, which it will hopefully get when the temperatures get a bit warmer. I think barn red, or maybe moss green.

My gorgeous Sambucus is tipped over and broken after having several feet of snow upon it. It all slid off the barn roof and piled up.

Whoopsy, she's sideways, but this is Witch hazel Dianne.
Things look more promising in the greenhouse.
I love babies!
Acacia blooming like mad, inside of course.
Plain old Witch Hazel. She's a beauty though.
Variegated Iris is quite happy, looks like I better get the weeds quick, thy are happy too.
Catkins.
Todays work. I started to completely re-vamp this area. Lots more to go but I think it will shape up nicely.

Winter Ramblings

It's been a long cold winter here in the pacific northwest. December was a snow lovers dream, more snow than in the last 50 years. January has brought the gray days of cold and dampness that the PNW is known for. With temperatures remaining below normal it feels colder and damper than usual. Too cold to spend time working outside, the greenhouse is refuge this time of year. So are the seed catalogs and websites. They are too tempting for people like me who are bored with winter and anxiously awaiting the spring breezes and bright green of new growth. I know that there is no logical way that I will ever plant all of them but it gives me hope.... I hope I don't go broke, I hope I can find room in the greenhouse for all the tropical things that I must have even if they need winter coddling, I hope that this year I will get those extra beds done and everything planted in a suitable place. Yes, I will be sitting here spending, dreaming and hoping that spring will arrive soon.

Painting the House

I've always wanted a red house. It's just taken me 25 years to convince anyone else that it would be a good thing. I finally got my way! I think it looks fabulous. Now to add shutters to the kitchen window and maybe small window boxes on either side of the door. I love the way the plants look against the dark color. I'm excited to re-do the gardens around the house as we had to cut down all the things that were growing up the house and remove trellises in order to paint. It gives me almost a blank canvas.
I think it looks so much more inviting now.

NWOSS #51-----#1 fan is mom

Being a race mom is not all it's cracked up to be. (Is it even cracked up to be anything?) My boys have a race car addiction. It started simply enough with go-cart racing, the daughter was the fastest one. Then it progressed to her racing a Toyota truck with her brothers as pit crew. Low and behold since she was having so much fun the twin brother had to have a race car. Older brother is the "Crew Chief". Now we are into the 3rd or 4th upgrade of race car, rpms, speed, leagues and all that. Oh and money, I cringe to think of how much money they spend!!
Do you know what it does to a mothers innards when watching your baby zoom viciously around an oval track at high speeds? It isn't good! The old adrenalin starts pumping, you want to close your eyes so you don't have to see anything bad happen but yet you do want to watch and cheer. If there is a problem or collision your heart falls into the very tips of your toes. But when he wins...... there is the huge smile on the face of your cool hot rod driving son that makes it all worthwhile.