Rose of Sharon -- first one, first day!

I just noticed the first day of the Rose of Sharon bud opening. I love their pink color! Once they get in place, they can easily take over, but I'm trying to create a nice Rose of Sharon tree. I have some bushes started in a few places, but it's the tree that I'm really enjoying!

Spider Wort and Day Lilies

Here's the same spider wort plant and day lily cluster at different times of the day!

Flowers by the Hour

Did you know that you can make a clock with flowers?


I guess I'm not the first one to notice that flowers open their faces at different times of day.



I'll keep you posted on the opening times of the orange daylilies and my hybiscus.
Later.

Storms are rolling in: Silver Lining turns to Purple Passion

These photos were taken 18 minutes apart.

Lady's Mantle

When the rain drops bead up on these leaves, this is my favorite plant in the garden. Wow does it grow fast too!


Here's the same plant, just two weeks apart!

My Purple Clematis

I have five clematis plants but only one has the right trellis. This is one is at the end of the driveway. I think it's been 3 summers since I planted it, but the first summer I didn't get any blooms. Yummy!!

The other ones have a small trellis that worked fine the first year, but this year they are taking off. The one in the side yard garden also has purple flowers but is dangling all over the garden and winding itself around other plants.

Maybe I can figure out how to create a trellis myself for the other gardens. Something more "organic" instead of going out and buying another wrought iron piece. Hmmm.

Our summer of lots of heat, followed by terrible flooding type rains, has been wonderful for the plants!

Love these Sundrops!

It's early. The sun isn't up yet, so I'll have to get a shot of these in the late afternoon when they're wide open! Glorious!

The Garden is Kicking Into Full June Bloom!

This morning... early!

First Sundrop Yesterday!

The yellow magic is about to happen! Yesterday the first sundrop opened up on the southeast side of my garden. I expect today I may have as many as 25 of them. Yeah! They're beautiful.

What a difference some Rain Makes!

A good week of rain has been wonderful for the garden!

Boston's Quincy Market

I went to Boston yesterday on business. A "one-day-wonder" trip. Fortunately we missed the 17 days of rain they've been experiencing and had the opportunity to grab lunch at Legal Seafood at Long Wharf and then wander thru Quincy Market during a sunny afternoon killing time before our flight back.

What charm Boston has!

Baby Poppy Sprouts

The little sprouts are peaking out... Don't think my Poppy crop will be awesome by the end of May... but maybe by the end of July!?!

Next year I'll be looking for them at the end of May.

Hostas -- big leaf and varigated

Loving spring... Check out the big leaf hostas started to spread their wings. They get really large. I call 'em elephant ears during the summer. They really do well here in NE Ohio. I'm not sure if it's the shade, the weather or the soil, but it's a no brainer perennial for my gardens!

My varigated hostas are tight. Love the intensity of these, but I should probaly consider splitting them this spring before they get toooo tight.

Blooms... lilacs and apple trees

The apple trees are in bloom and the lilacs are right behind!

Now this is what I'm talking about!!

Poppies & Bognias & Sunflowers

Well, spring has sprung. I've managed to weed and work out aobut two thirds of my gardens. My sister sent poppy seeds along with these really cool peet discs that really expand with water. I already have sprouts!! She also sent bognia bulbs which is still have to plant... and some sunflower seeds, that I think I'm going to plant directly into the ground next month. My mom & dad sent some blueberry bushes to plant and I just figured out where to put those. Man, I love spring!!

Sun drops peeking out

I know these little buds look so brown & beige! But just wait! They are going to turn into beautiful sundrops. Here's a photo from 2005. It seems like a long time away when I look at these little buds covering the ground... The beautiful yellow flowers were taken on Fourth of July last year.

I think its time to go work in my garden!! There's lots of leaves & winter debris to clear out before things can really blume!

Favorite Books - Secret Life of Bees

I missed hearing Sue Monk Kidd on Tuesday when she was at the Lakewood Library. Her last book "Secret Life of Bees" is one of my favorites... especially since my husband is a beekeeper. "The Mermaid Chair" was good, but didn't move me in the same way.

Perhaps it is because spring on its way, but I can feel the air and smell the soil -- those bees will be flying today!

Pittsburgh's Phipps: Heralding Spring!

I enjoyed a fun day on Friday at Pittsburgh's Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Tulips, Orchids, room after room of gardens! Here are just a few of my photos:

Law and Order... the Game

My sister got me the Law and Order game for Christmas and last weekend I tried playing it for the first time. WEAK. Bad instructions. Odd play pattern. Weird. Thumbs down.

That was too bad, because it had a lot of potential. Clue for grown ups. Longest running series (except for the Simpsons!)

Too bad the game was poorly executed! The graphics on the package was good. The board (or lack there of) and playing pieces were marginal, but it was the instructions that sunk it into the depths of "DO NOT BUY".

It's manufacturered by Cardinal. Never heard of them. I wonder why the licensing team that handles Law and Order would go with Cardinal?

Law & Order

Why is it that Law & Order is such a fun show to watch? Is it the mystery? The way they tell the story? The acting?

I can't quite put my finger on it, but I sure do love to watch it. (Not the CSI version -- too gory!)