Lilac Bouquet and George

I went outside this morning, before the rain, to gather some lilac blossoms for my first ever lilac bouquet. The lovely fragrance just fills the room. I can't wait until my small shrubs grow and I have more of these delightful blooms.

On my way back to the house, I noticed that something had been digging in one of my winter sowing containers,(#22 Hollyhock), I bent down for a closer look and jumped back when I saw the dirt move. I slowly moved the container around with my foot...


and this toad poked his head out of the dirt.

The first few springs and summers in our new neighborhood we had a lot of frogs. So many, that when I would walk in the evenings I would have to really watch my step because they were constantly jumping across the sidewalk. As our neighborhood grew and people began to use chemicals on the lawns causing runoff into our neighborhood ponds I saw fewer frogs, (at least that is what I believe has caused the decline). In fact for the last two or three years I haven't seen a single one. So, I am very glad to see this fellow here today. When my children were young and I would find a frog I'd call them all George. I'd use a funny voice and for some reason George just sounded like the frog name that fit with the silly voice. I hope "George" sticks around Robin's Nesting Place for a while.

Blooms on Parade

Lilac

Lantana

Azalea

Echinacea

Allium

Salvia

Purple Wave Petunia

I worked outside most of the day yesterday and somehow hurt my back. It was probably when I dug out the three arborvitae and carried them across the yard and replanted them. I forget that I need to ease into the gardening season. My time is more limited right now and I wanted to get so much accomplished. I did get a lot done, but boy did I ever pay for it today.

My neighbor put her hummingbird feeder out yesterday and had hummers visit today. I immediately washed and refilled my feeder, hopefully they will visit me tomorrow.

Dragonfly

Lilly, our golden retriever, loves to go for walks. This evening, I put her leash on and we headed out the front door. I stopped in my tracks when I spotted this dragonfly on the front porch clinging to one of the plants I grew from seed, (I think it is the milkweed).

I only saw a few of these last year and never could get a good picture. Poor Lilly, I had to literally drag her back into the house, so I could get my camera and try to get a few pictures. It was the perfect model and even though I placed my little Canon A630 right up next to it, it didn't move.

A few minutes later Lilly and I were enjoying our walk on this gorgeous evening. We even saw a rabbit, which was thankfully in a neighbor's yard and not my own. I got pictures of the rabbit too, but those pictures didn't turn out so well.

Spring Pictures

It was so nice to have the day off today. I got up bright and early and headed outside to take pictures of my spring blooms. It was quite windy so the pictures weren't crisp and clear but I had fun playing with them tonight anyway. The pink rose picture is from my new Knock Out rose, I desaturated the color and framed it.

This picture of the tulips was blurry so I used the Adobe watercolor effect on it. I don't usually use these features and was just playing around and trying something different.

The tulips were beautiful this morning adorned with rain drops.

Another flowering crabapple in full bloom today.



By the time I finished my errands and got around to gardening today, the weather was not the greatest. It was in the forties with wind gust of around 30-35 m.p.h. It was cold, but I was desperate to get some things planted and just to be outside near all of these gorgeous blooms. The pansies that I planted in the fall are really starting to bounce back now. I love this blue one.

I planted several of the impatiens that were grown from seed in the front flower beds, and I planted the calibrachoa in the front porch containers with some trailing vinca vines.



All but one of the lantana plants are now in containers. I didn't find the pink multi-colored one I really wanted, but the gold one performed well last year and the butterflies like it just as well.


I also planted the pink Knock Out rose, the red salvia and did a bit of weeding.
I don't have to go in to work again until later in the week, I hope the weather will be nice so I can get the rest of the stuff planted and do a considerable amount of weeding and edging.


The 'Karen' azalea is just beginning to bloom. I really miss the azaleas in Alabama during spring and was thrilled to find this one last year. It survived the winter and has lots of buds! Now, it really feels like spring to this southern gal!

A chipping sparrow gathering nesting material this morning. I haven't seen the bluebirds in several days so they must have chosen another place to nest.

Ouch! Lesson Learned the Hard Way!

After work today I stopped by the garden centers at Lowe's, Meijer's and Home Depot, mainly to look for lantana and Calibrachoa, (Million Bells). I was successful in finding lantana at Lowe's and the pink and purple calibrachoa at Meijer's. I still had the Lowe's gift card from January 25, and finally spent it today on three Knock Out roses, several lantana and red salvia.

I have grown so much from seed that I can't tell what some of the plants are anymore. I was moving some of them outside tonight and picked up this plant; as soon as it touched my skin I started stinging like I was being stung by bees. It actually left whelps on my arm and it really hurt. I'm thinking that it must be Stinging Nettle. I know I didn't plant it, but I also made a huge mistake and tried to cut corners on the planting medium this year. It wasn't sterile and I've not only had damping off disease but I've obviously got weeds too. Ouch! Another lesson learned the hard way!




The Swizzle zinnia that I grew from seed is not pretty like the mother plant. Another disappointment. Although I was warned that it might not be true to seed, I just had to try. Hopefully, I can find it again this year.



The petunias are blooming. Some have already been planted outside, and the rest will hopefully go out tomorrow.



The anise hyssop has really been neglected because it was never transplanted into a larger container.It is still beginning to bloom in spite of the poor treatment. I've enjoyed the licorice smell!

I've uncovered some of my winter sowing containers and I'm very happy to report that I have sprouts in every container except one. The only thing not successful was the lantana and I knew it was a long shot when I attempted it.

I'm hoping to have some breaks in the rain tomorrow to get some much needed planting done. It's pouring right now and I'm concerned about the young, exposed plants I have on the patio. Hopefully they will be all right.