Garden Favorites in Early June

3 Jun

Much is happening very quickly in the garden this time of year.   Some of my favorite true blue flowers are in bloom.  This is Veronica austriaca teucrium ‘Crater Lake Blue’ and it is a real peach of a plant if you like perennials that bloom blue, grow at a moderate pace, need moderate water and are a perfect height for the front-mid border reaching about 12-14 inches in height.  The only drawback to this beaut is that it only blooms for a little more than two weeks and is then finished (meaning a nice mound of green) for the season.  Try as I might to get it to rebloom in the Fall by sheering it back right after bloom, I’ve never been successful. I have V. ‘Crater Lake Blue ‘ combined with some black foliage Antirrhinum (snapdragons) that bloom a deep wine color.  I am a little crazy for the combination of black foliage and blue flowering plants in the garden.  The flowers of the snapdragon are just a decadent topping (like vanilla-basil ice cream on a strawberry cobbler) when they arrive. Here is another shot of ‘black and blue’ in my June garden.  This is a Pacific Giant Delphinium and Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolious ‘Summer Wine’.   The foliage of this shrub can look black, brown and even a coppery deep wine color depending on the light of the day.

I really love delphiniums but have had a hard time growing them in previous gardens.  Maybe I have finally found the right spot with this east-facing bed that is semi-protected from wind?

Now a foliage favorite from the same east-facing bed.  The gray artemesia stelleriana ‘Silver Brocade’ at the back of this photo is a great front border perennial ground cover.   In early spring it is very pretty combined with the yellow/golden Sedum rupreste ‘Angelina’ that is seen peeking through the top left corner of the photo.

But I like it today combined with perennial Euphorbia ‘Tiny Tim’ and the foliage of echinacea ‘White Swan’ that will show large white blooms with yellow/orange centers in a few weeks. What’s funny is that I didn’t plan this combination, I just needed a place to put the euphorbia and decided to stick it here.  It’s very happy  and I like it with these companions.

An unplanned success!  A  gardener needs those now and again to balance out the planned uh…shall we say mishaps!

And now a few shots of the Edible Alley. This is the name I’ve chosen for  my raised bed food garden area.  This space is long and narrow sorta like an alley…

This is the smallest bed and it contains strawberries, onions, lettuce, herbs and an artichoke. I’ve  harvested a few strawberries so far and cut some lettuce and rosemary.  Oh, I also have a cauliflower planted and this is my first try growing this veggie.

Here is a photo showing the entire alley and the closest bed is the first one I planted this Spring.  It holds beets, arrugula, kale, lettuces, peas, carrots,  garlic, onions, broccoli, a cabbage and calendula flowers.  I’ve been harvesting lettuce, arugula and beet foliage for a few weeks.

The last bed I planted (just after the 15th of May) contains tomatoes ‘Juliet’, ‘San Marzano’, and ‘Navidad’ along with basil, peppers, lettuce, carrots, onions, kale, cabbage, and a new-to-me variety of snapdragon from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds that has black foliage.

The Edible Alley may look a little sparse now but in a few weeks it will be brimming with food to harvest.  I actually like it at this stage where everything is easily managed because come July / August it can be a force to be reckoned with! (daily)

My last favorite to show is a new clematis, ‘Romantika’ that is blooming on the trellis the ‘wonder builder’, a.k.a. my husband, built last fall.  The blooms are very dark plum reminding me of a yummy Port wine somehow.  Maybe this is a sign I should plant some grapes!

How about you?  How is your June garden starting off and what are your favorites?  Do you have color or foliage combinations you get a little ‘crazy’ over?  Do share!

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Now Serving…

24 May

I should probably start out with “Now Growing” but I am just in a “Foodie” state of mind today. It is such a treat to eat fresh tender greens every night. I have been fixing summer salads for our dinner and it feels great to eat fresh and backyard local! I even have a recipe to share for those of you craving or harvesting your own Spring greens.

But first, some exciting news in the world of legumes…Last week I harvested pea shoots for the first time. Did you know snow, sugar snap and shelling pea plants are entirely edible? We usually just eat the peas or peas and pod BUT the entire plant is edible…

I learned about the deliciousness of pea shoots from a great gardener, Willi Galloway at Digginfood.com. Willi grows many peas in her garden and eats the pea shoots as a Spring delicacy. She even plants small pots of peas just to enjoy the pea shoots as a snack in the outdoor eating area.

Inspired, I planted my peas (‘Oregon Sugar Snap’ and ‘Golden India’) very close together with the idea that I would harvest some of the shoots as a way of thinning the plants.

Last week, when the plants reached about 8-10 inches tall (before they get too big and tough) I simply pulled shoots until my plants were spaced appropriately – about 2 -3 inches a part. Then I cut up and washed the pea shoots and enjoyed a summer salad of homegrown butter crunch lettuce with a bit of extra crunch and sweetness with it. Not Foodie material but still good!

If you grow peas and haven’t tried this yet, make a note of it. It’s really fun and easy and the pea shoots are absolutely delicious. Sort of like a fresh pea but more tender and sweet.

Harvesting

Thinned

Dinner!

This week, I’m harvesting:

Also cilantro from my cilantro/calendula bowl.

Now for my humble attempt at being a Foodie! Here is a recipe that incorporates all of these Spring greens and this herb plus a few other things to create a very tasty dinner. The fun part is most ingredients can be gathered from a Spring garden.

This is my adaptation of ‘Gourmet Chinese Chicken Salad’ originally published in ‘Portland’s Palate’ cookbook. Since I’ve simplified it quite a bit I’ve decided to name my version, ‘Gardener’s Chinese Chicken Salad.’

Gardener’s Chinese Chicken Salad:

For the salad:

Good sized bowl of Spring greens (arrugula, beet foliage, mix of lettuces, etc…)
1/2 cup of sliced radishes
1/2 cup diced scallions

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup chopped almonds
3-4 tablespoons sesame seeds (if desired)
1 – 1.5 lbs grilled chicken

1/2 package of Maifun rice stick noodles

To prepare rice stick noodles, heat 2 cups of oil (we used coconut because it is supposed to be very stable under high temps as well as offer many health benefits. Google it if you want to learn more) in a pan or wok on high to 400 degrees. Put in one rice stick to see if it puffs up immediately. If so, put in small handful and turn rice sticks over to allow all sticks to puff. Remove immediately and set aside to cool. Continue until all rice sticks are cooked.

For the Dressing:

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon soy sauce or Tamari sauce

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 cup sesame oil

1/3 cup rice vinegar

In a small bowl, whisk together sugar, garlic, soy sauce, pepper, sesame oil and vinegar. Set aside.

Preparation:

In a large bowl combine washed greens, scallions, radishes, cilantro, almonds and sesame seeds. Add grilled chicken and rice stick noodles. Toss entire mixture with dressing or drizzle dressing. Enjoy immediately! Serves 4.

How about you? Do you have some favorite summer salads where you can get most of the ingredients from your garden? Do you grow a lot of greens in your garden? Do you grow more cool season crops or warm season crops?

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May Blooms Boom!

15 May

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day to Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by and special thanks to Carol at May Dreams for hosting this garden meme where gardeners from around the world post what is blooming in their garden on the 15th of each month.  Thanks Carol!

The bigger blooms in my garden are just starting to boom!  Irises and peonies are beginning to open.

Also, some newer plants, Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’, Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Burgandy Loosestrife’, and Geranium pyrenaicum ‘Bill Wallis’ are in bloom.  All of these came from Annie’s Annuals in case you’re interested.  Another quick note, this lysimachia is not an invasive type.

Now after showing all those ‘cool’ tone flowers I must give some time to the hot colors in my garden.  Here is a Geum from mom (so I don’t know the variety) , Ursinia anthemoides ‘Solar Fire’ and Genista lydia, ‘Bangle.’

This garden under my ornamental plum tree has gone from this to this in the last few weeks.  I  think it is interesting to see how gardens change so dramatically in a short time.  I think many times us gardeners don’t fully notice the amount of diversity and change in our outdoor areas because we are always looking at and working in them.  I thought these two photos fun to share and they illustrate how gardens change so quickly.
A gardener can’t show all her “pretties” all at one time though so I’ll close my May GBBD post with one last shot of some simple, sweet strawberries blossoms.  So fresh and eager to be a part of the May blossom boom!
Do you notice the rapid change and evolution of your garden within a single season?  Do you take photos of specific areas and compare them season to season or month to month?  What is your favorite season in the garden from the photos you’ve taken?

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‘First Cuts’ From the Garden

2 May

Last weekend the weather was beautiful and the weekend was even more beautiful because we enjoyed the ‘first cuts’ from the garden. Fresh greens…tender, light and so delicious.

Some of Johnny Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds arugula came from a small section of a spring pot I planted few weeks ago.  I like to mix edibles with ornamentals in pots and the arugula looks pretty with spring flowers and serves as a nice little flavor booster to the first salads.

The next cut was some Tom Thumb buttercrunch lettuce (lactuca sativa) from the raised bed garden. A few plants of this variety germinated last fall  due to my effort towards planting fall crops.  The little lettuces didn’t really do more than germinate last fall but they held on during the winter and began to grow in early March. They looked absolutely ready for harvest last weekend.

The final cut was the result of my seed planting efforts in early March and is Lettuce Rocky Top Mix from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  I made a light-weight hoop house for this raised bed which kept the temperatures just a tiny bit warmer and protected young seedlings from the cold spring winds.  (The strawberries have loved it too!) This lettuce should probably be thinned but this time I just cut figuring I’ll get to it later.

I was pleasantly surprised at being able to harvest enough mixed greens to make a salad for six allowing my family and parents to enjoy the freshness.  I topped the greens with shavings of parmesan cheese, roasted beets and pistachios, then drizzled with an olive oil/balsamic salad dressing.  Delish!

How about you?  What are you harvesting in your garden?  What was or will be your ‘first cut’ this season?

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Tulip Times

25 Apr

April is a fabulous time for admiring tulips. Each time a spot of brilliant color or a dab of a creamy pastel catches your eye it could very well be a tulip with its easy sway saying hello to you. Tulips are one of my favorite bulbs and easily my first choice in spring flowers.

Years ago I attended a lecture by the late great Christopher Lloyd who was very entertaining and I remember how he characterized daffodils as nice but “boring” because you get the same thing every year. They were too strict for him returning in their diligent manner with their limited color palette.

Instead, Mr. Lloyd said he preferred tulips because there was risk associated with them….you never know what you’re going to get! He said although the risk could be elevated (compared to daffodils) the rewards could be too. He then showed slides of gorgeous spring vignettes featuring tulips at Great Dixter.

The masterful gardener created a convert that day with his whimsical manner and pretty pictures because ever since I focus most of my fall bulb planting time on tulips. I do have a few daffodils in my garden too (and they are the first to excite me each Spring) but very few.

Last fall I spent some time considering where I could create an eye-catching tulip vignette in my mixed border bed. I remembered one of Mr. Lloyd’s plant combinations from years ago that I liked so much that included orange tulips with myosotsis ’Forget-Me-Nots’ planted all around it. I was drawn to the combination of blue and orange.

However, ‘Forget-Me-Nots’ would not work in this combination because they are not typically in bloom early Spring in my climate unless they are grown in a greenhouse or purchased from a nursery. Then I realized my creeping speedwell (Veronica umbrosa) ‘Georgia blue’ is an early bloomer along with my Euphorbia polychrome that offers up a bright chartreusey  yellow. A clear orange tulip could work with both of them nicely.

I ordered some Darwin hybrid tulip ‘Orange Queen’ from Brent and Becky’s bulbs and this is the result.

I like it!

Since April really is tulip time in my garden here are a few shots of other tulips in the garden. First the pretty pink ones…

Upclose

Midrange

From a distance…

These pink tulips have done very well under this plum tree and each year there are more and they are so nice and big.  The funny thing about these tulips is that I am pretty sure I bought these at Target on a whim.  I don’t know what kind or variety they are but they have been fabulous performers.  Target, go figure!

Lastly, Tulip Greigii ‘Fur Elise’.  These are a new type for me and were also purchased from Brent and Becky’s last fall.  Although I love the colors of the blossom they came up pretty haphazardly.  Some had tiny blooms, some blossoms didn’t form quite right while others were large and beautiful.  The verdict is still out on this tulip, I’ll wait and see what happens next year once they’ve had more time to mature.  I also need to think about a vignette I could create around these tulips.  Ideas are welcome!

How about you?  What are your favorite spring bulbs?  Do you prefer tulips or daffodils?  Do you let the tulip foliage yellow/brown for a couple of months before removing it so that the tulips bulbs have lots of energy for the next season?

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Being Versatile

18 Apr

I am so pleased to share I’ve been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award!

The kind and creative Elaine from rainyleaf.com thoughtfully nominated my blog for it’s very first award. Thank-you Elaine! I so enjoy your creations at rainyleaf.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect either as I find the middle of Spring demands versatility from a gardener. For me, early Spring is relaxed and I get so much joy in seeing signs of new life unfold daily. Poking around to see what survived the winter, what didn’t and what I might now have room for!

Alas, the days seem to speed by faster and faster (how can this be since daylight is increasing) until a time comes when I realize I have about a jillion garden things to be done and they should all be started  - now. That’s where the versatility comes in since I can’t drop my other ongoing duties and commitments. (Sure, the kids could and would eat pizza for a week freeing up a bit of time but still not nearly enough!)

So I’ve been in extreme versatility mode in the form of:

My 'Elberta' peach right before bloom in need of a major pruning

After the pruning...sad to chop off so many flower buds but at least it is now open and should be in good shape if I get some fruit this year.

  30minutes of pruning here…get dinner started

Lots of veggie and flower seeds starting indoors

20 minutes of planting there…then take a kid to a practice

Transplanting tulips to make room for a new tree

15 minutes of transplanting…get to a meeting

Getting steer manure-based compost on apple trees, raspberries and rhubarb.

10 minutes…get a shovelful of compost here and there

An experiment of a cilantro and calendula bowl

5 min…check outdoor seedlings for water

60 seconds… pull a few weeds on the way out the door

This is versatility with a capital V and I imagine it is representative in some way of how many of us handle the “heart” of Spring.  Mind you, this is not a complaint about the busyness of Spring gardening, just a strategy to keep everything moving in one’s life and have an amazing food and flora garden too!

Now to the details of the Versatile Blogger Award.  Here’s a quick rundown of the “rules.”

- Include the Versatile Blogger button in your post
- Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to them.  (Thanks again, Elaine!)
- Include 7 random facts about yourself
- Nominate 15 other bloggers and notify them by leaving a comment on their blog
 
Seven random facts about me:

1. I am part Basque with dark skin, hair and eyes

2. I am tall (5’11′) and that does not go with looking Basque

3. I have always loved cities and an urban vibe

4. I grew up on a cattle ranch

5. I have always wanted to own a double lot in a large city to have enough space to garden to my heart’s content while the hum of the city surrounds me.

6. If I happen to notice the movie “Remember The Titans” on the television I’ll drop everything I’m doing and watch it to the end.

7. I don’t like to watch movies more than once.

My nominees (alphabetically) for the Versatile Blogger Award

I enjoy reading these blogs as each creator has a unique talent and perspective they offer to the world in a beautiful, engaging format.  Most of my nominees cover gardening but there are a few in my favored list that cover fashion, travel, food and more.  So have some fun and explore a bit to see if you may find a connection with one of these great blogs just as I have!

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San Francisco Spring Break – A Visit to the Japanese Tea Garden

6 Apr

I have a general rule of thumb when it comes to Spring Break. Get out-of-town. Why? Because it’s inevitable the weather will be better…most anywhere else.

You may think this an exaggeration but I think not. I remember a few years ago when we were spending Spring break in Phoenix, Arizona and I overheard two ladies discussing weather conditions. They were going on about snow, rain, wind, hail, sleet and an icy mix. Each was consumed with checking their phone weather forecasts and even their Facebook pages for weather updates from friends. After awhile I was finally curious enough to ask where all this crazy weather was happening and sure enough, it was Boise, Idaho!

Therefore this year when we had the opportunity to visit San Francisco during Spring break, we packed our bags and hit the road before the weather gods could get started…

One of the activities we enjoyed during our time in San Fran was a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden located in Golden Gate Park.  This was my first time visiting this garden and the timing seemed perfect.  Although I’m sure it is beautiful any day of the year, I couldn’t help but feel especially lucky to see the glorious Cherry trees in full bloom!  I have a major fascination with Cherry blossoms and these trees fed it well.

The delicate posture of the individual blooms is so alluring….the bold conviction of them amassed upon the branches is arresting.

There are so many  beautifully shaped trees in this garden.  The artistry that has gone into shaping the framework of the trees is so subtle that one may take it for granted.  However gardeners especially, know how to appreciate this art form.

No matter where you glance there is an interesting silhouette to consider.

And how can the contrast between the bright blooming azaleas in the understory of the classic deciduous and evergreen trees not be noticed?  The azaleas seem to serve several functions when taking in the garden scenery.  That of focal point as well as a layer of depth that highlights the plantings nearby, is what occurs to me.  But then again, I’m not well-versed in this sort of design so maybe this is just the way I happen to see it.  One thing I do know is that all of the garden scenery is comforting, relaxing and very pleasant to observe.

It is funny how preferences change and your eyes and heart hold beauty differently as you go through life.  I say this because when I lived in Portland, OR I would not even turn my head to look at an azalea in full bloom.  They were so common.  I usually thought of them as “leftover” plants from gardens that had seen better days or plants that were popular in the “old days.”  Now I see that was my “green” as in newbie, point of view.  Now, after several years of no azaleas in my environment I appreciate their tidy shrub-style and am impressed by the multitude of vivacious flower power they put out every Spring.

Here are some more shots of some of the lovely scenery at the Japanese Tea Garden.

The Japanese Tea Garden is not overly large, just big enough for gardeners to have a true sensory experience (much inspiration on many fronts) and non-gardeners to experience an interesting (so many elements), pleasant 1-2 hour  walk.  My family and I enjoyed the visit very much and it was especially fun to conclude our day having a cup of traditional Japanese tea (Sencha and Genmaicha) at the Tea House while watching happy hummingbirds at work and the cherry blossoms gliding to rest on the water.

How about you?  Do you have a fascination with a certain tree or certain Spring blossoms?  Do you enjoy touring public gardens?  What are some of your favorite open gardens?  Have you toured gardens in Japan?

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And The Winner Is…

3 Apr

Tiffany Boyd!

 

Thank you to everyone that entered the drawing celebrating 1 year of igardendaily.com

I look forward to sharing another year of gardening with all of you.

Congratulations Tiffany!

Check back soon to see some shots of my recent visit to the Japanese Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

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Plant Shopping, Tried-and-True Nurseries, New Clematises

27 Mar

When the first stretch of nice Spring weather arrives I get an itch. It’s a condition that could also be thought of as a ‘craving’ except for that it only involves food that is nourishing to the soul (and maybe the rabbits) and is much easier on the waist line. Yes, it’s an itch to do some plant shopping!

Being outside cleaning the beds and noticing little signs of life popping up all around me brings forth a bunch of ideas from last season and winter planning.

Plus, I’m starting with a whole new plant budget! At our house the garden is on an “unspoken” financial plan with expenditures closing out in November of each year and a whole new budget turning up around Marchish… This is the unwritten decree of gardening right? (Naturally, close out and start-up months vary by climate!)

This combination of pleasant outdoor afternoons, new ideas and the feeling of having a few bucks to spend gets me on my way. I drop by local nurseries to see what’s in stock but also turn to some of my favorite mail-order sources.

And even though purchasing from mail orders might not be the ‘in’ thing to do because of the heavy focus on buying local (which I support) I think there’s still plenty of cause to support your tried and true mail-order nurseries.

Many of these nurseries have been around for decades growing and supplying fabulous plants to gardeners long before the Home Depot’s showed up and maybe even before some of the trendy, local retail-only nurseries in your area opened. In a way these long-time mail-order nurseries are the ‘mom and pop’ stores of plants.

A few words on a favorite – Joy Creek Nursery

I first learned about Joy Creek Nursery through my a neighborhood garden club about 12 years ago. On a cold February evening I heard people talking excitedly about the new Joy Creek catalog arriving ( a stapled, black & white print on copy paper booklet) and how they couldn’t wait to look through it. Once I saw the catalog I realized these people were the real deal, they knew plants by name and variety. They didn’t need big glossy photos and paragraph-long descriptions to peak their interest.

If these people were the real deal I knew Joy Creek must be too. So soon I found myself driving out to Scappoose, toddler in tow to visit this notable nursery.

The display gardens were gorgeous and wound generously through the property. I still remember the most amazing patch of delphiniums in bloom… (Delphs are a fav and somehow hard for me to grow). Needless to say I made many more trips to Joy Creek.

Fast forward 10 years and I’m perusing the on-line catalog once again. For those of you new to Joy Creek, don’t be put off when you go to the website and don’t see a plethora of vibrantly colored pictures jumping off the screen at you.

Instead, head straight to the shopping tab and begin searching to your heart’s content. Seriously, with over 298 varieties of Clematis, 34 varieties of hardy geranium and 97 varieties of Hydrangea (yes, I counted all of these, don’t try to verify it takes a long time!) just scratching the surface of what Joy Creek offers, you really can search to your content. Oh ya, and pictures are included in the listing of many individual varieties, although not all.

I’ve used Joy Creek’s mail order service since moving away from the Portland, OR area and have never been disappointed. I even ordered when living in Pennsylvania and the plants made the trip happily.

Look at this beautiful rose, one of only two I grow in my garden. This is just the second season of growth and it started as a small 8-10 inch plant.

I bought this rose (rosa glauca) from Joy Creek after searching my local nurseries and not having any luck finding it. I even asked about getting it ordered in at one place but they were unable to find it.

So another great benefit of mail orders is being able to get the specific variety you have your heart set on and not being limited to what is in stock at the local nursery.

Last year I made an in-person visit to Joy Creek and picked up several things including these two beauties…

Clematis 'Dr. Ruppel'

Clematis 'Romantica'

I’m happy to report both made it through the winter just fine and are starting to emerge. I’m letting clematis ‘Dr. Ruppel’ sprawl along the ground amongst a small water feature and some ‘Forest Pansy’ Redbud (cercis canadensis). I’m training clematis ‘Romantica’ up a trellis my husband built that is located next to a 12 foot Cedrus deodara and if it happens to climb through it as well… it could be cool.

So if you’re still with me in this long-winded post, don’t delay! Enter my raffle celebrating one year of igardendaily for a chance to win a $30 gift certificate to Joy Creek. Just click here to see the details of how to enter and best of luck to you.

Go grab some garden joy, with Joy Creek!

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In Celebration of A Year of ‘Garden Speak’ and More…

21 Mar

Today is the one year anniversary of igardendaily! A year of ‘garden speak’ (in the Blogosphere) has happened right before my eyes!  And what a fun year it’s been…pursuing writing for the first time ever, getting creative with a camera and sharing thoughts and moments with fellow gardeners around the world.

Also a year of exploration, discovery and reward.  I’ve explored new growing methods and improved my practices by attending garden classes and discovering local experts.  I’ve become interested in entirely new species of plants by reading other garden blogs and learning from their experiences, both good and bad.

And I’ve been rewarded with your comments.  It has been a thrill to read each comment and develop a sort of ‘garden fellowship’ with all of you. Many thanks…

To celebrate my one year BLOGAVERSARY I’m hosting a raffle to win a $30 gift certificate to the FABULOUS Joy Creek Nursery located in Scappoose, Oregon.

I’ve teamed with Joy Creek nursery for this special giveaway because it is one of the best mail-order nurseries I have ever purchased from.  The Joy Creek retail nursery (Scappoose) is well-stocked and beautiful BUT my real testimony to Joy Creek is due to their mail-order service.  I’ve purchased plants from Joy Creek while living in Oregon, Pennsylvania, California and Idaho and have always been extremely happy with the quality and healthiness of the plants upon arrival and once growing in the garden.

There are several ways you can enter the igardendaily giveaway (U.S. residents only, so sorry).  For each one of these activities you will get your name or email address added to the drawing.  If you choose to do two of these activities you’ll get two separate entries in the drawing and so on…   More is merrier, at least in terms of winning a chance to pick out some fab new plants for free!  Here’s how to enter:

-Become a subscriber to igardendaily

- Become a Facebook Fan of igardendaily

- SHARE a post from the igardendaily FB page with your FB friends

- Leave a comment (including easily recognized identity) at the end of this post about what gardening means to you.  Anything from why you do it, to what you want to learn more about, to your projects or challenges for this growing season. You know, just some good ‘garden speak’.

Join me in celebrating another year of gardening (and the arrival of Spring) and enter to win! Raffle is open between Mar. 21 and midnight, April 1.  Drawing will be held on April 2 and winner announced April 3rd.

Joy Creek Nursery offers an amazingly large selection of perennials and flowering shrubs.  Another speciality is Clematis so even those of you with small spaces that may need to grow vertically can join the fun!  Look for more information on Joy Creek Nursery in an upcoming post.  

Additional notes from a year of garden blogging:

My favorite post: “How Do You Like Them Apples!”

Your favorite posts:  ”Friday Favorite: An Inspirational Garden in the Rugged Owyhee Mountains“,  ”Apple Espalier Makes The Day!“

My Favorite guest blogger and post: Karen, San Francisco garden gal, “Tribute Gardens Connect Us With ‘Loved Ones“

New Discoveries: I’ve discovered these specimens over the year and will be including in my garden this year.

Ruellia brittoniana ’Purple Showers’ (common name Mexican petunia) Thanks Christine @ The Gardening Blog!

Mina lobata, Ipomoea lobata  (common name Spanish Flag)  I spotted this growing in Leon, France.

Clarkia rubicunda  ‘Shamini’  Thanks Scott @ Rhone Street Gardens!

Fellow garden blogs:  I’ve updated the BLOG SWAP section to show some of the garden blogs I’ve enjoyed throughout this year.  Discover and enjoy…

Family: Thank you to my loving family for always being supportive, especially when I’ve asked them to get involved with an idea for a post!


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