When we were visiting our friends last week, Nancy asked me how I keep coming up with things to write about in this blog.  I told her I just find pretty things and take pictures.  She showed me the plants growing on her deck, and I took a couple pictures.  Now here I am talking about fun plants that grow in other people's gardens.  

 

Nancy planted this pot last year.  Of course, it didn't live on the deck all year;  it spent the winter in the garage.  Gerbera daisies aren't hardy perennials here, but they can survive overwintering in a protected place.  Kinda like my Amaryllis.  

 

And really, if they survive:  GREAT.  If not, just start over;  maybe try something new.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what we are calling our lawn these days.  Well, part of our lawn.  Best part is:  the deer don't eat it and we don't have to mow it. 

 

Ox-eye daisies grow all over our hillsides, and in our yards.   We love it.  

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Remember the raspberries we planted on Christmas?  Well, here is one of them growing in my garden.  We planted ten sticks, and eight of them started to grow.  This one looks the best.  It actually has a few berries set.  

 

We planted a few more last week;  we'll see how hey do...

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

Yep.  Here we are again, working in the garden, and what is this?  No, it's not in my garden, but it may be in yours.  

 

It is poison ivy.  I hope you can identify this plant at 45 mph, and especially up close.

 

These leaflets are about the size of a softball.  And you can even see the flower buds.  YUKK!!!  Just a reminder to be careful in the garden and on the trail.  It is everywhere.  

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

 

We were busy yesterday planting peppers and eggplants.  It was such a perfect day: 70 degrees, light breeze, and I thought about you, wishing you were here:  HELPING!!!!

 

That's OK, we got it done, and now all that's left is planting the beans.  And we will do that today.

 

No real pix of that.  Just poking holes in the ground and putting in the beans.  I will show you when they come up.

 

This is so exciting.  It's hard work, but the rewards are great!

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

 

 

Today is our official last frost date.  In coastal Virginia, where I learned about horticulture, the frost date is April 15th.  Wow!!!  That is a very LONG month for me.  

 

It is so tempting to plant the garden when the weather starts getting warm.  We have done that:  planted tomatoes in April, and had to go out and cover them with 5 gallon buckets because here came the last frost.  I've planted peppers and eggplants too early too, and they struggle all season.  Best to just wait.  I am learning about patience.

 

Well, we started a couple days ago planting tomatoes, but held off on the peppers and eggplants.  They want HOT weather.  But you can see that they are healthy and ready to go in the ground.  Yay!!!!  

 

 

HAPPY SPRING PLANTING!!!

 

Our favorite Mountain Laurel is blooming along with all the others.  We love all the Mountain Laurels, but this red one really spins me up.  I think she is so pretty.

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

The fringe trees in the park are blooming, so I am guessing that the ones in the church parking lot are too.  

 

That's the neat thing about trees:  they don't move.  If you've seen something blooming in the past, you can go back to the same spot and see it again.  Like the fringe trees on Fort Eustis Boulevard.  Time to go check.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

The whole time I was gone, Jon took care of the garden plants.  Check out my tomato plants.  They look awesome, and so ready to go in the ground.  But we didn't dare plant them before Mother's Day.  We have done that before, and had to cover them to protect them from cold weather.  Better to just wait.  

 

So, now that the danger of frost is past, we can get started planting.

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

And this is the arugula!!!  It has gone wild.  It stands about 2 1/2 feet tall, and is blooming its collective head off.  The flowers taste just like the leaves, so we use them too.  And with last week's soaking rains, it will probably continue to bolt.

 

That's OK, we love arugula.

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!