Flower Nest

Thursday Daffodil

Wednesday Daffodil

For PJ

I just wish I lived close enough to take these to her office today. These are blushing lady, PJ's favorite tulip. I always think of her when they bloom. They don't look like they've been frozen, do they? Love you, Sis!

Spring Morning

I went out to survey the damage from all these freezing nights. There is plenty of that to see--frozen hostas, pitiful shrubs, mushy bleeding hearts. But some things look pretty good. These hellebores probably think it's warm.

Some of the daffs are still trying, even though they look pretty ratty.

Hopefully the peonies and asiatic lilies will still be able to bloom. The foliage doesn't look too bad.

More Frozen Tulips

This was supposed to be the "stop the car" planting. Of course, it's in the back yard, so no one would actually be stopping their car to look. And it's not one of those massive plantings that actually makes you want to stop your car for a look. But still, I was picturing a nice splash of purple and orange right there at the back door. I don't know if the orange ones are just later (a common problem I have with blends--they don't always bloom at the same times as advertised) or if they decided it was just too cold and wouldn't even try. I will have to hand it to these purple ones. They've been in bloom for the last week and haven't given up yet. Tonight's forecast says it will be 32 degrees again. Lows for the next few days look better--37 tomorrow night, then 40, 41, etc.

Sweet Picture

I found this picture of JD and Rach in among hundreds of garden pictures. It made me smile and think about how much I love them so. It's a good Thursday.

Down but not Out

Another shot of Dreamland--they're still going even after those 19 degree nights. It's 44 degrees this morning, and tonight might get down to 35. That's better than last week. . .

National Siblings Day

I just happened to be home a little early today and learned from the Oprah show that today is National Siblings Day. I just love this picture that we had Gene Boaz take of us back in 1975. We were all so pretty!

Happy Birthday to Jeff

Late birthday wishes to Jeff, whose birthday was Friday. Here he is after playing Danvers in Jekyll & Hyde. Jeff is a talented actor and singer and has been in lots of community theater productions. He loves my sis and his kids and my mom. He's funny, works hard, and builds beautiful ponds. He's a terrific brother-in-law!

Happy Easter

Brrr

These are dreamland tulips. They start out a pale yellow and gradually darken to orange. Of course, it helps if you have nice tulip weather rather than the artic freeze and strong winds we've been having.

Epimedium

Also called bishop's cap. They're just so cute.

Cold and Windy

It's amazing how fast things go once spring comes. Seems like we wait and wait and wait and then. . . zoom! Like a car race. The PJM rhodies have been pretty for the last week and this morning almost all the blossoms are on the ground. I'm so glad I went out, even tho it's really cold. If I had stayed inside, I would have missed this beautiful purple carpet.

And Sweet Pea Sunday

Sweet Pea Saturday

I dearly love sweet peas. These are the "permanent botanical" type, from Jo-Ann Fabrics--and when I saw them I just had to have them. And then there were fresh ones at the florist this week. Same thing--I'll take every stem you have.

Thank You

These went to the folks who were so generous to host our social work gathering this year.

Happy Birthday to Christine!

Sunday Bud Vase

These hellebores were bred at a place called Pine Knot Farms in Virginia.

Pasque Flower

These fuzzy buds will turn into big purple flowers really soon. For the last week, it's doubled in size every day.

Pine Knot Hellebores

Do you suppose these have anything to do with Pine Knot, Kentucky? How many Pine Knots can there be? I'll have to do some research on this . . .

This Thing is Perennial!

I have watched it all winter long. Little grey-green fuzzy leaves made it through the coldest spells and now it's really growing. I bought some seeds to get a few starts for containers, but this one I'm going to leave in the bed to see how it does. It was my favorite new plant last year, so it's great to see it come through the winter.

Gift Certificates!

Thank you, Mama and PJ, for the birthday gift certificates! I can't wait to order this great hybrid lamb's ear from Bluestone. And I love the stoneware from Pampered Chef. I need to be starting seeds this weekend, but I've got shopping to do . . .

More from the Florist Convention

I didn't go to the prom flowers workshop, but I did sneak in and take a couple of shots of their work.

Also from the Class

Here's my best in show.

Class

I took one of their classes called "The Bud Vase. . . In Style". It turned out to be a lot of fun.

More from the Florist Convention

Bridal Bouquets

A Couple of Entries

in the master designer contest. I have no idea who was competing or who won. I'll try to find out.

Look What Mark Found

He did sooo much work in the yard today! And I went to the florist convention . . .

Illinois State Florists Convention

This was a student entry. Really cool. . . Nan called last night and it was so nice to hear from her. She asked me what is my favorite flower to use in arrangements. And the answer is so clear--any flower that grows in my yard. This morning I saw that Amy Stewart says the same thing. Her San Francisco Chronical article is at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/07/HOG58OEFLH1.DTL&hw=flowers&sn=003&sc=734. Of course, she lives in California and can have sweetpeas year-round. But I am going to try to have a second crop in the fall this year. That would be pretty cool too.

My Pick for Best in Show

Dress, Plains Indians; Bob Hauck, Walter Knoll Florist

Hocus Pocus

I've gone through the program several times, and I just can't figure out which designer did this one. But I loved it. It was wild and wooly and the room was dark and kind of spooky. The spotlights made those perfect hocus-pocus roses just pop.