From the Farmers Almanac 

 

 

Tomorrow is the start of Daylight Saving Time.  I read that the correct way to say it is Daylight Saving Time, not savings.  We are saving daylight.

 

Interesting trivia on DST:  In the US, only Arizona and Hawaii do not recognize DST;  40 countries around the world DO recognize DST.  

 

Here is the Old Indian joke reference:  he said:  "Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

These tête-à-tête daffodils are blooming in my garden.  They are only about 6 inches tall.  

 

I think we planted about 25 bulbs, 10 years ago, and they are sprinkled about here and there.  Little splashes of sunshine all over our yard.  I love that the deer don't bother them, and neither do the squirrels.  So they've been able to multiply.

 

When somebody asks me what my favorite flower is, I have to reply:  Today it is daffodils, but ask me again another day, because it changes.  They are ALL my favorites.  It just depends on the season;  ok, it just depends on the day.  Yesterday it was Pieris.  Today it's daffodils. Tomorrow......TBD

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!  

 

 

 

One of my favorite shrubs:  Pieris japonica.  It has several common names, Japanese Andromeda and Lily-of-the-valley shrub.  Whatever you call it, it is a fabulous plant.  

 

Pieris is a woody perennial, and blooms late winter into early spring, with chains of white or pink flowers that resemble Lilies-of-the-valley.  They grow best in part shade, and generally grow 4-6 feet, but I've seen them in Norfolk's Botanical Garden as high as 12 feet.  

 

There are two in Carol's garden planted in oak barrels, and they seem to be quite happy.  I love seeing them.  Especially this dark pink variety.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Look at this beautiful Camellia japonica in bloom.  

 

While I was visiting with Jim and Roxanne, laughing about our gnome naming contest, they showed me this Camellia that they planted 15 years ago.  It blooms every year, and the deer usually leave it alone.  Well, it's blooming now, and is absolutely gorgeous.  I looked for the garden tag to find the variety name, but couldn't find it.  They told me that all their camellia bushes came from the Ace in Blairsville.  

 

We love Camellias for lots of reasons.  They are evergreen, they bloom in winter, and the deer don't bother them too much.  AND they are beautiful foliage for Christmas decorations.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

OK!!!  I found out that this gnome has NO name.  Let's have a contest.  Name the no name gnome.

 

Submit your ideas for a name for this guy, and we can vote, and ultimately let Roxanne have the final say.  

 

You can text or email me, or use the comment section to enter your thoughts.  :D  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I'm not sure which part of this picture I like best:  the crocuses blooming or the gnome watching over them.  He sure takes good care of them year after year.  

 

Before Jim and Roxanne moved here permanently, they came up on long weekends.  Every fall when they came up, they planted bulbs.  Unfortunately for them, there aren't any long weekends in the early spring, so they never got to see them in bloom.  Well, they are enjoying them now.  We all are.

 

It's worth the walk over to Beaconhill to see their bulbs in bloom, under the watchful eyes of the garden gnomes.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

This one is at Meeks Park, but if you look up anywhere, you will see the Red Maples starting to bloom.  They look fuzzy from a distance.

 

I love seeing the branches full of red blossoms poking up into the blue sky.  Lets me know that Spring is almost here!!!

 

HAPPY ALMOST SPRING!!!

 

Miss Gerry is up to her crafty mischief again.  Patty started it a couple years ago on Halloween, and I'm just keeping it going.  

 

I love playing with this haybale.  It is so fun and easy to paint.  The painting process took 45 minutes.  And I think the flower decorations were made years ago by Kim and Rick.  Glad they left them here for us to enjoy.  I hope this makes you smile.

 

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

 

Look at this beautiful stained glass piece that Jim made for us.  For perspective, it is 13" x 18".  And it hangs in the top part of the window just below the stairs.  We LOVE it, and it's especially pretty when the sun shines through it.

 

When I took him a thank you note yesterday, he told me that Roxanne drew the design.  What a team they are!!!!  She creates the designs, and he turns them into stained glass.  What a fun craft.  And it keeps them out of the pool halls.  ;D

 

 

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

 

Patty's Hellebores are blooming.  It seems funny to see flowers in winter, but this is their normal bloom time.

 

Hellebores are perennial, and tolerate some shade.  Their genus name is Helleborus and there are many species.  Lenten Rose is named Helleborus orientalis, and has maroon colored blossoms about 2 inches wide.  Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger, has large white flowers and may bloom from November through March.  I'm not sure of the species in Patty's garden, but they are beautiful.  And look how pretty they are, nestled in with the flagstones and river rocks.

 

Another reason to love Hellebores:  they are deer resistant!!   Fall is the time to plant Hellebores, so you have plenty of time to figure out a place for them in your garden.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!