Spring 08

Pieris Japonica

Blossoms coming (pear tree)

In full bloom (just don't smell them)! These trees are at the entrance of the plan we live in.

We have one by the driveway.

Daffodils: Jonquilla

I guess I should put some bird food in the feeder...

Update:

The Big Receive

Thank you all for your visit and latest comments. I will update you on my '40 matter' after i go to the doctor. No worries though, because i feel fine :)

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Hello, all!!! A few days ago, as I was getting my toddler ready for breakfast, I got a phone call from my DH. At his new workplace, there is a very nice woman who brought a bag perennials to work. Dear husband was a lucky recipient. I spoke to her and she said that in the bag are daffodils, blue grape hyacinths, evening primrose, crocus (if I heard her right), some ornamental grass and my dream pink coneflowers !!! Yay!!! I WILL find room for them in the garden.

And room for all my growing annuals, and poppies, lavenders, and....

What an awesome random act of kindness for an eager new gardener like me :)

Here are the latest pictures of my patio bed. It's boring and a little empty after I trimmed the ornamental grass and the mums.

BEFORE (last winter)

AFTER

AFTER THE BIG RECEIVE

And now for the not so good news, I will end this post showing you that a c-r-e-a-t-u-r-e comes to visit when I'm not looking. Grrrrr..... and this is the first time ever that I planted the bulbs. 75% of the bulbs in the bag were planted in my back bed boo hooo

I feel so helpless that I had to write Fredo the Owl at Garden of the Month. I asked for back - up!!! I am not bad to animals, so please, dear something rabbit?, don't eat my plants, please? There's so much food elsewhere...

Oh well, the gardening mistakes of a beginner!

Spring In My Mind

Mary of Little Red House asked how I bring spring indoors in the middle of winter. Well, I sing spring songs to Julian even if we are in his winter session of his Music Together Class. I spend a lot of time dreaming of things I want in my life AND last night I cut out pictures of my favorite green things that I will someday grow in my garden:





What about you? What have you been doing this winter, when you're not blogging? !

Gardens Visited 2007

My Open Gardens Day Tour

This isn't an ongoing affair, I thought to myself, it's already finished. I asked Judy and her husband, "What’s next?"

In celebration of spring and the arrival of new plant growth, blooms, butterflies, backyard birds, nestlings and their nocturnal concerts, the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania gathered people and nature together on June 10 for an annual fund raising event they call Open Gardens Day. On this occasion, several private gardens were opened to the public. As I look forward to the event with anticipation, there were no great expectations of exhilaration that occur when I visit public gardens. The opportunity to see what homeowners create in their backyard was enough motivation for me.

As I arrive in these homes, volunteers of the Botanic Garden warmly greet and lead me into the gardens, telling me the owner's names and the points of interest. The gardeners proudly show guests around while strolling along paths, talking about certain plants, flowers and trees, their gardens' names and history. Gardening tips are exchanged and questions are very much entertained.

The entrance to the 28 acre property is indeed enchanting. I hesitate to drive on what looks like a wooden bridge. The arrows and speed limit signs installed in front of a huge natural lake are quite reassuring though. As I walk into a blue and white garden, I am greeted by a happy Botanic Garden volunteer who introduces me to Susie Fitzgerald, a sweet woman in her early 70's, full of energy and enthusiasm. Her garden is one of color and romance, with lots of pink and blue, birdbaths, fountains, streams, ponds and decorative ceramics around her pool. I am not surprised that people go there for wedding photographs. Susie says she is fortunate to have a greenhouse that allows her to have a collection of tropical plants. In her garden I find something special: an annual strawflower called Bracteantha Sundaze flame. Its two toned yellow and orange colors are what attract me. The flower feels like straw and though the petals crackle when you play with them, they are soft and don't sound and feel as brittle as raffia.

Susie also showed me a snail vine, with flowers shaped like a snail. It smells like sampaguita, the Philippines' native flower. This is great, I thought, it reminds me of my country far away.

In a country club setting, there is a gardener who has her own backyard retreat. I think it is nice that she has her own peaceful and serene escape as her husband most likely plays golf in the far distance. On the side entrance to the garden I capture a mourning dove with my camera, with a little squirrel just sitting there waiting for me to do something. Birds are all around, so close that I feel like I am walking on their ground. As I tread slowly on stone in between fishponds, I listen to the refreshing sound of cascading water. If I were on a hammock with my eyes closed, I swear I would think that I am in a far away vacation resort. All I need now is a masseuse. This is why her garden is aptly called Serenity. I walk on slowly, and then hear a bird call. I look up and see nuthatches hopping up and down a tree in this home's private woods. I think of my 1 year old, who has never seen nuthatches, and my husband, who should be here to enjoy this. Here, in the woods of Serenity, inhaling the scent of pine, I all of a sudden find inspiration for my future retreat bench.
Here is a garden that I like most. The very warm and accommodating couple who moved from New York began creating their own little paradise 10 years ago. They gracefully curve the beds and think of everything to provide "contrasting textures and colors" year-round, as described by the Botanic Garden of WPA in the program. Though they call their garden a ten-year 'ongoing affair,' it looks finished to me. Every corner is beautiful and made. I could not find space for another plant. I do not know much about plants and gardening but this garden is it and this garden is complete. "What's your next big project", I ask. The couple look at each other and Judy's husband tells me of a home they are building at the beach, and they are "taking" their garden there. It is going to be their retirement home because their son is moving on to a private college. Disbelieving, I have to ask, “Could you leave this garden behind?" I know I couldn't. I like this garden because of the immediate intimacy I feel as I step into it, which best reflects the warmth of the family and their passion for beauty.

The end of spring approaches. I look forward to fall so I can sow seeds, transplant and cultivate. I am filled with anticipation for the day (or year) my garden will be made, where birds find food and shelter, and family and friends gather. It will be a warm, loving and graceful garden, hopefully a living work of art. The bonus is, someday, The Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania will be complete. A stone’s throw away, I will be a regular guest filling my senses and finding inspiration.