I bought more plants and got more containers put together yesterday :) It was a gorgeous day and I put my foot down where work was concerned....if I had "sick days" on the books, I would've used one :)

No wood chips moved.

PM, I think June is when my garden shines. Sometimes July. I need more May flowers and lots more early Spring bloomers. I hope that a garden will take shape so that I can begin to plan bloom times....that would be great! Seems there are always too many things to do - things besides planting.

Time to order mulch.

WOW! I just saw the swans fly by outside my window! For some reason they're hanging out up river (near my house) rather than their usual "in town" hang out. People usually give them no privacy while they nest and then wonder why we have no ducklings (or is it a gosling?). Maybe they'll stay up my way :)

I guess I'd better get off this computer and get moving. Lots of packing to do. Which means laundry to wash :) I hear whispers of secret projects planned for the weekend....I'm kind of scared!

Oh Yeah! My Bee Equipment arrived yesterday, LOL! It's the biggest box I've ever gotten from UPS and he left it right on the front walk - I nearly tripped over the darn thing! My bees arrive this weekend (fingers crossed).

Geez...everyone else in Bee School is months ahead :)

Saucy

Kathy, as I get older, 1/4 of an acre seems quite enough. I keep trying to plant in a low maintenance manner, or at least that is what I tell myself...lol. I have yet to get to a point where it feels like low maintenance, but we are still in the construction stage. I think it is enough space to be creative but not get out of control and get yourself in trouble. [g] Changes in elevation are great. I love terracing and I love being high up and looking down. When we moved into our house 30 years ago, we were expecting to move in a couple of years but never did. Our property is completely level with no change in elevation at all. Pretty boring but very easy to work in, so it is a trade off.

Please keep posting Roses and more roses...because around here, there really aren't any May roses and they are the best May flowers!

Saucy....our garden hasn't started shining yet, just a glimmer here and there. Every year it gets better though and I am trying to get to that point where the framework and the structure of the garden is in place, so I can play with the bloom times and color combinations etc., which is my favorite part and what I do all the rest for. [g]

It was so curious that there wasn't a swan to be seen our last trip to our local pond. Last time we were there, we counted five pair, which is a lot for our Pond. Most years we have only had two pair. I keep finding it hard to fit the time in to get there this time of year, because every spare minute is in the garden trying to finish before the heat starts. I think they call baby swans, signets?

I bought annuals for containers from a greenhouse, so I am trying to harden them off a little before planting out. I think I am going to try to start putting them out tomorrow after looking at the forecast of cloudy/overcast/showers for the next 7 days and above 50 every night. I think they should be ok. Just a little hesitant about the coleus and begonias.

I think I missed what is going on for the weekend for you, Saucy? So will you be home for Bee Arrival? Photos of box and bee equipment?

Kathy....did you say you liked it hilly? [g]

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Hi Everyone

Here was something I couldn't resist sharing with you. At Annie's orchestra concert the group played one contemporary piece - an arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, and students were invited to get up and improvise on an electric violin. About 6 students did so and Annie's was such a surprise. She stood up with so much confidence and was really jamming. Her conductor sent me this photo calling it 'Rockin' Annie' and what makes the picture are the expressions on the other students faces. I love it when your children surprise you (in a good way that is).
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Woody - great to hear from you. I too love this time of year.

Jerri - does the possible venture continue to look promising? We have something rather large scurrying about under our eves that has been keeping me up at night - we could do with those services here.

Love the recent Phoebe photos.

Saucy - are bees shipped UPS too? How exciting.

Time to throw a pork tenderloin on the BBQ and hope to be back to finish my comments.

Mary

Mary, Annie seems to be enjoying the improv as well as the other students. She must be getting over her shyness of being in the spotlight. You will treasure that picture for sure.
I've been meaning to tell you how much I enjoyed your apron on the dogwood shot too. What a creative way to display it.

Michelle I also enjoyed Kenzies exploring the farm thread. She is at a wonderful age. It's good to hear that you are getting to be outdoors again.

Marian the moth was pretty neat also.

Chelone , those pictures of the compound are enlightening as to what you are trying to accomplish. And I imagine they are a help to you as well to visualize what you would like. How about a shot of the other side by the road where you transplanted the shrubs?

Saucy, how exciting that your bees are coming soon. I haven't even thought much about containers yet. To much other stuff to do and it's been to rainy and cool for the annuals yet anyway. The few I have bought are languishing in the cell packs. Not good.

Sounds like evrybody is staying busy. I know I have, except today I only worked outside awhile this morning moving a couple of daylillies. I was getting to wet and it was a little to chilly so I never went back out, although I could have done some potting up. I have been a slug all the rest of the day. Took a nap and browsed garden mags. Guess I needed to rest. I am feeling a little spoiled by all the nice rains and the plants are looking lush as they haven't for at least three years. I have not been creating any new beds so have been getting around to finishing up some stuff which is sorely needed. I had several daylillies that were being smothered by expanding shrubs to move, and I have a lot that need dividing. I hate to mess with them now before bloom but in the fall the ground is always to hard to dig.

I don't know why but I missed a day or two of reading the last thread and then I could never get it to open, so I missed a few things.

I have enjoyed everyones pictures and posts.

We have activities three nights each for the next two weekends so it's going to be a busy time.

Keep on gardening! Norma

Mary, what a great picture of Annie!

Love PM's cliff house too. Not a place you would want to get home to and realize you forgot to buy milk...lol.

Geez, and look how big Phoebe is getting. She looks like a Charlotte mini me.

This week is flying. Maybe things will calm down once I get a routine going but right now I feel like I almost need to stay in perpetual motion in order to keep up with everything. Lots of list making going on. I've always been perfectly happy entertaining myself but it's going to take a bit more time to get used to living alone.

At least I've got my 93 year old neighbor to hang out with...lol Last week I had to go over and change the battery in her smoke detector. Tonight I came home to a note in my mailbox from her daughter asking if I could bring over my phone number so it could be programmed into her phone in case of an emergency (my neighbor is blind due to botched macular degeneration laser surgery). So over I go. She meets me at the door with the instruction booklet to the phone. You want me to do the programming? Thankfully it was easy. My cell phone is now #3 on her speed dial and I spent half an hour chatting and eating chocolates while she told me how much she likes having me come over. Guess I have a new appreciation for someone who lives alone and is basically housebound to boot. Hopefully someone will do the same for me in 30 years.

Nick is continuing with his early morning yip fest. This morning it started at 4:45. Yesterday at 4:15. I've been ignoring him but persistence has always been one of his personality traits so this could be a long process...lol. Maybe he's getting back at me for forgetting his eighth birthday yesterday. How bad is that?

OK time for dishes, calf stretches, then ice and bed. I have another physical therapy appointment at 8 tomorrow morning. The therapist is starting to suspect that I might have a slight stress fracture. What next?

Sue

We had a horrible time last night. So glad DH was home! I don't know the full story yet, but there were electrical company (Hydro) emergency vehicles flashing their lights at 3am. The power was off and our computer surge protectors were blown and the smell was horrible. I thought there was a fire! We got things somewhat organized, the clocks restarted, etc went back to bed. Then the power went off again...
After we woke up, DH removed the surge protectors, got an old one to start his computer again. The microwave and phones are presently working without protectors....

All this of course happened just after midnight when our home insurance was no longer covered, due to the ineptness of the 2 companies vying for our money. This eventually got solved today.

DH went off to meetings and other emergencies at work. He brought home a new surge protector for my computer. YES!

He brought me a giant hazelnut chocolate bar from Germany and I fell ill. So now I believe the dizziness I've been experiencing is a reaction to chocolate or sugar. It is a fantastic day though and I did a bit of gardening and playing with Phoebe after breakfast.

Skyler had more medical tests today. Soon there will be a joint meeting of his 4 specialists and likely heart surgery will take place quite soon after that. He has outgrown his artificial mitral valve. Wonder of wonders, DD received an apology from his Mom this morning and so she is at least trying to work on her behavior. Apologies are difficult things for some folks. I hope she apologizes to Skyler too, as he needs it most.

It was pizza here for dinner..out. Sometimes you just have to. ;)

Horrible hot weather here- it was 85 at 6 am when I went to work-never seen it like this in the 20 years I have been here. Reminds me of when I lived in Arizona. DS turned on the A/C today ( we only use it maybe 6 times a year if that ) and thank goodness. Its 8pm right now and it is 90 outside and 86 in the house. It was mid-90s in San Francisco today-those of you who have spent any time out this way know how unusual that is. It is supposed to get up to near 100 again tomorrow and then gradually get to the high 80s by Monday. We went from spring to summer in a hurry !

PM, is that a fake photo you posted of the Shangri-la-ish looking place ? if not, please advise where it is. I was very taken by the photo.

And Mary ! What a wonderful pic of Annie, and how proud you must be.

Hi Norma! Is it almost time for the next pond shot ?

Sue, one does bond a bit more with the neighbors when the spouse is no longer around-that was certainly my experience. Excellent that you spent that time with the elderly neighbor. I have on of those too, though she is still quite spry.

A wave to everyone, think Ill go watch the Diamondbacks and then take a cool shower..welcome to Calcutta !

Kathy in Napa

Mary, yes the expressions on the other students faces shows a lot of what they are feeling and Annie's expression tells a lot too. I think she surprised herself! How exciting for you to see her feeling so happy and confident and involved. How considerate of the conductor to send the photo along to preserve the memory and involve you in her happiness and success.

Norma...your rain sounds wonderful. We had a lot of snow over the winter but not very much rain at all this spring. You're dividing daylilies, we've been dividing Sedums. Matrona especially seems to get too large very quickly.

Sue...it is so nice to see you posting! I think you are doing amazingly well with all the changes coming at you. When you could be perfectly justified to be in a tailspin with this latest challenge, here you are picking yourself up, reaching out to your neighbor and obviously putting in a lot of effort to make the adjustments. Now if Nick would just make his adjustments as gracefully. [g]

Gardenbug...So sorry that things are in an uproar at your house. Never a dull moment.
Was the power problem with your wiring or was it a community problem? You must be relieved that the home owner's insurance straightened itself out. What bad timing. I didn't realize Skyler has an artificial valve and is facing heart surgery soon. What a lot for a little boy to have to deal with. We have a family member who had a valve replaced in their teens and then had to have it repeated twice since then. The first time was probably 40 years ago and they were still using pig's valves. The hospital stay was a month. The last time was about 10 years ago and it was a mechanical valve and they were home in a week. Amazing what they are able to do and how far they have come over the years. Happy for all your sakes, that Skyler's Mom is making the effort. Hopefully it will make a difference. You could all use a little peace and stability with everything coming up soon. So are you due for some testing for the dizziness soon? Good thing you have Phoebe and the garden! :-)

Kathy...I saw the weather reports about your heat wave. They mentioned a 20 degree increase over normal temperatures in Oregon. We have actually had fairly spring like weather this year, but I think this weekend is time to put the air conditioners in.

I forgot the caption for that photo...sorry. I found it amazing too! Here it is...

'These huge monoliths in the region of Meteora, Greece, are a very rare geological phenomenon. Between the 11th and 14th centuries, 24 monasteries were built on the top of these rocks to be protected from the bandits and pirates. Today, only six of them remain renovated in the region, while the rest are abandoned and ruined.'

Photo by Karolos Trivizas

A Delacroix Print of Four Seasons in Paris...

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Where did you go, Chelone? [g]

pm2

Good morning

Well, I think I'm heading to Meteora Greece:0) What a stunning place for monastic life.

PM - I have become very enamored with epimediums though I only own a couple. Your white one is stunning. I believe I have the same purple as GB as I remember making notes on hers one time she posted pictures - Lilafree perhaps?

GB - I too had not realized Skyler was due for more heart surgery. Thank goodness his mother was able to reflect on her behaviour and offer an apology to DD. I imagine there will be many times both sets of parents need to be together with decisions and upcoming surgery. I was wondering, what does Skyler call your DD? I remember when they were thinking of suggestions. Hope you have a calmer day at home today. (We can give a home to any chocolate you cannot eat LOL!)

Sue - still laughing at Nick and his birthday! So many big changes but you seem to be taking them all in your stride. I'm sure you are a real comfort to the elderly lady - its wonderful to hear that sort of neighborliness is alive and flourishing. We're lucky we have that on our little corner of our street as it seems rarer and rarer these days.

Norma - enjoy your flurry of activity over the weekend.

Kathy - mid nineties - yikes. I treasure the cooler damp weather we're having now as it gives me a chance to catch up garden chores and get the beds in order (garden that is).

Well, having been awoken by the critter in the attic I need to make tracks for an early meeting at work. It is my short day though and I plan to zip home and make some serious inroads into mulching the front garden.

Have a great day

Mary

Good morning all,

Well the gardens are just exploding into growth right now. Youd think Id be used to it after thirty years of gardening here but Im still surprised at how quickly the gardens fill in this time of the year. We had a lovely sunrise this morning so I guess that means bad weather for the day? If you believe in the "Red sky in morning, sailors take warning".
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The terraces are looking great this year with not too much winter kill on the ground covers in the rock walls. The Iberis sempervirens is looking good for the first spring in a long while. I almost pulled it out last year but got distracted by other projects and now Im glad I did. It looks so pretty with the Brunnera blooming with it.
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I really love the color of the newly emerging foliage on the deciduous trees this time of the year. Its such a fresh, light, yellow-green. The hills go from looking gray/brown with evergreen colors to all the beautiful spring greens. Its marvelous. Its as pretty in its own way as the fall colors are in theirs.
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The Hydrangea petiolaris is an amazing plant and has matured into a beauty.
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And of course May would not be complete without our lilacs. I only have this one tree in the back and one in the front foundation plantings. It is really worth the rest of the year dealing with a not so attractive shrub to have this glorious scent and color in the spring.
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A pretty spring vignette
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Mary, that photograph of Annie is a treasure! How wonderful! You must be so proud of her.

Kathy, good grief! Please keep that steam box weather in your section of the country! Your poor roses! I know mine fade away in a couple days when the temps are that hot.

Bug, thank goodness you had surge protectors. Do you know what happened yet? Youre lucky you didnt have an electrical fire. Love the photos, especially the Epimediums. Gorgeous.

Sue, good for you for looking out for your neighbor. Too little of that going on these days.

Hi Norma, enjoy your busy weekend.

PM2 do you have the name of that beautiful white Epimedium? Gorgeous!

Great to hear from you Woody. I love that magnolia combination!

Jerri, how is the puppy motherhood going?

OK time to get a move on and get some gardening done. I went out yesterday and picked up a couple Hellebore Ivory Prince, an Iris pallida Aurea Variegata for the front garden. Im still looking for a astilbe with dark wine colored emerging foliage to replace the one the rodents ate out of the driveway garden last winter. I want to get the rest of the back gardens mulched and edged today.

Have a great day all
Deanne

TGIF!

Love the many greens of May.

Off to PT, then to work. Enjoy the day!

Sue

This forum is such a delight in spring! Loving ALL the photos.

I think if I had a choice, I'd live next door to Chelone and Sue. I'm feeling about 90 some days, and they'd be fantastic caring company! I'd try not to be too demanding, honest.

Skyler calls DD "Sarah". It seems awkward given the strong bond between them, but it makes sense. He already has someone to call Mom, and Reed does too. Skyler has an artificial metal mitral valve, a constricted aortic arch, deafness in his left ear, 20% loss of hearing in his right ear. He nearly lost his life several times as an infant. He is nine years old and has many tummy scars. DD & DSIL try to treat him as an ordinary kid, which he is in many ways. The friction between his mother and her ex and Sarah is really sad and mysterious, but a daily part of their lives. I give them so much credit for their approach to working things out with her, but it is extraordinarily stressful on a daily basis. There is constant fear that she will administer supplements to him that could be disastrous to him.

DH is walking Phoebe right now, and then our day begins. Music lesson for him, stuff of all sorts for moi.

Good morning all! Last you'll hear from me for a couple of days (did I hear a collective, "whew!"?)....I'm headed off for the first annual women's weekend getaway :) Foot soak has been scheduled :) PM, we're headed to Maine just to hang out, talk alot, eat good food, and get a foot soak, of course :)

Mary, bees do get shipped US Mail, but mine are coming in a minivan :) A friend of a friend sort of deal. She picks them up from the seller in Maine and then rides around with them buzzing in the back until they get here. It's a funny sight.

Annie must've been proud of her accomplishment. That is quite the photo! Worthy of a frame, for sure!

It's nice to help out neighbors, no matter what their age. I think it's a smart idea for the neighborhood in general :) I learned quickly to just skip the house next door when making my rounds :)

I'll second the motion for pond pictures!

Deanne, those are some gorgeous shots! I love peeking into the garden room through the climbing hydrangea :)

Phoebe grows double in size each time I see her! Skyler's condition explains some of his mother's behavior for me...not that it's acceptable, but a little more understandable. She must be worried sick, as well as your DD and DSIL. I didn't realize he'd need future surgeries, either. My best to your family.

Woody, garden therapy is the best, isn't it? I need more therapy, me thinks :)

Well, I've been going back and forth to this posting for some time now....time to get in the shower and get the car pointed north - we're all taking off at lunchtime so the kids won't be home to beg us not to go :)

Talk at you next week! Have a great weekend, hopefully with a plant or two in your days :)

Saucy

OK I'm assuming this is Idyll #379? Computer problems here. I'm posting from Brad's laptop, mine's in the shop for repairs. Just a quick skim and pictures of Annie, Deanne's place, all of Chelone's hard work and Marie's wonderful photography stick in my mind. I'll be scarce for the next week or two until I get my computer back. I'm off coleus shopping this morning. Rain forecast here for the weekend. Hope you all have a good one!

Eden

WooHoo! I was packing up and it dawned on me where my camera charger was! I remembered putting it in the camcorder bag (smart, huh?)! Now I can take pictures again.

Just thought I'd share my little ray of sunshine...can't wait to show you my pots and my bee hive - before I paint flowers all over it :)

Saucy

GB, I missed the issues with Skyler also. How tough for a kid his age. Hugs to all involved.
Sue, how great you were able to go visit with your neighbor. Hope the PT helps with your injury.
I finally got the battery charged for my new camera. If only it guaranteed photography skills like the Idylls! ;)
I will give it a 'shot'. A beginning photography class may be called for, in my spare time. Yea, right!

I was quickly reminded that I am not cut out for any business involving furry babies who die. The puppies were a timely reminder how hard that stuff is for me. A couple of childhood issues make it worse than 'normal'. Two puppies were dead this morning. I'm not sure is they were accidentally smothered or got underneath the edge of the sheet. Even DH was crying. There will be no more linens in the pool until puppies are much larger. :( :(

I did come away from the whole job possibility experience with a reminder that people might value my skills. Being valued is not a perk of working in the government! LOL

TGIF indeed!!! I'm going back to read more and enjoy the wonderful photos!

Jerri

Back from grocery shopping here. Of course their plant section was the first stop and I picked up chives and parsley for the veg garden. My rosemary made it through the winter in our front hall, and I also have oregano.

The first of 2 surge protectors arrived today. The second will come in a few weeks. Eden, I certainly sympathize! PM, I think the power problem was a community thing...but still no details.

I'm sharing in the excitement of the arrival of the bees. Expecting photos of it all, decorations included. Have a wonderful weekend with the your friends! Saucy, I wish the problems over the years with Skyler explained his Mum's behaviour. I could be way more sympathetic if that were the case. She's a real piece of work. People have survived worse though, so I am hopeful for the little monster! ;)

Has anyone heard of baking soda helping get rid of ant hills? Unlikely sounding to me, but I'm giving it a try. Came home with 4 boxes of Arm & Hammer just now. The boiling water technique did nothing.

I have a cluster of lilac bushes (modestly called a grove of them) and only one looks set to bloom soon. I guess it is a good thing to have bloom times spread out. Gorgeous po\hotos of yours Deanne! (No sign of your FG magazine here...yet.)

Beautiful shot of Annie. Of course you'll save that! Any chance of a summer trip this way?

Loads of asparagus these days in our garden. It is so good, but it gets tedious when you eat it daily. I should do something with the rhubarb too.

Cloudy day, but I'm hoping to get a few things in the ground.
'bug

Note: This is not an endorsement of anything illegal!

Maybe it's my increasing slowed brain, but I find this interesting! ;)

______________________________________________________

Is Marijuana Less Dangerous than Email ?

Researchers at the University of London Institute of Psychiatry recently released a report showing that workers bombarded with phone calls, e-mails and text messages suffer a greater loss in IQ than marijuana users.

Glenn Wilson, a psychiatrist at King College London University, and his team of researchers monitored the IQ of 80 volunteers while they performed problem-solving tasks, first in a quiet environment and then while being distracted with e-mails and phone calls. The study found that people balancing a steady inflow of messages while attempting to work experienced a 10-point decrease in IQ , more than double the four-point drop caused by smoking marijuana.

The most damage was done, according to the survey, by the almost complete lack of discipline in handling emails. Dr Wilson and his colleagues found a compulsion to reply to each new message, leading to constant changes of direction which inevitably tired and slowed down the brain.

Christopher Kimble, from the University of York, UK, adds that the quality of information contained in communications can also be a major problem for workers. His own research, carried out within a large multinational company, shows that key employees, such as secretaries and IT support staff, can be particularly affected by misleading or incomplete emails. These increase the time required to complete the task, when a short phone conversation would have been much more efficient.

Wilson's research is no flash in the pan. Computer technology in its modern, interconnected form is dumbing down the population more rapidly than television. A study of 100,000 school children in over 30 countries around the world testified that non-computer using kids performed better in literacy and numeracy schools than PC-using children. Education experts have dubbed it the "problem solving deficit disorder".

The epimedium is called 'Bandit'. I love the way the flowers really stand above the foliage. I have had a couple of epimediums for a long time, but what convinced me I wanted more, was when I discovered how indestructible they were. I had dug them out of where they had been for 10 years and divided them up and potted them and left them in the shade. Most of them sat there all summer. We were ripping out a 100ft of shrub border, so I was too busy to care. I had thought they would be there temporarily but they were there most of the summer. One very large one, I didn't divide, just lifted it and put it on a layer of mulch in a very large rubbermaid 'under the bed' plastic container with out even filling dirt around it and with no drainage holes. It filled up with water and they sat in water for quite awhile. I thought they must be dead once I discovered it but I drained them and they came back. By the end of the season one was left in a pot and had not been watered in awhile and it looked dead, so I left it there all winter. I threw it on the compost pile the next spring, upside down and covered it with yard waste etc. Halfway through the summer I noticed epimedium leaves sticking out of the side of the compost pile....lol. So I dug it out and replanted it and it came back like gangbusters, planted about 6 inches away from the base of a Silver Maple. I have a lot of my yard that is in the root zone of four neighbor's silver maples, so I really need a plant like that. The other thing I love about them, is that most of them clump and increase slowly and you can leave them alone for years.

Deanne....love that photo of the sky! Beautiful! Your garden is off to a great start. I love your climbing Hydrangea. The lilac photos are very cheerful too! I saw an Astilbe at Lowe's yesterday of all places, that really tempted me to get it even though I have enough astilbe. It was called Visions of Violet? or something like that and it was in bud. It had the prettiest color buds. I may go back and get it. I did pick up a container of Salvia Black and Blue, fresh off the truck, looking great for $6. I don't really shop at the box stores much, but my daughter has started a new job and I have been dropping her off at the train station in the morning and I have to drive right by a Lowe's on my way home.

Sue...a TGIF and a rhyme too! lol
Eden....sorry your computer is on the blink.
Jerri....waiting for photos of the pups. :-) So sorry about losing another two puppies. What an awful surprise to get up to this morning.

Gardenbug...do you buy expensive surge protectors or are they the ordinary strips? I'm just wondering if I should be checking mine out, after hearing what happened to you. Ants make hills all over my yard and I have not found anything that got rid of them. Repeated hot water down their ant hole has gotten them to move on and find a new location though.

Kathy hope it cools down there soon. How is baseball season starting off this year?

Hope everyone is busy with good things...

pm2

This is a notification that I AM OFFICIALLY ON VACATION for the next 10 days!!!!!! despite the begging, pleading and mild threatening (read irritation) of ignoring an atty's pleas to come in one day next week to accommodate his work, I stood firm and said No - at least 5 times.... I think i see lite at the end of the tunnel approaching -- despite many glitches, hitches, work-arounds re carpet, contractors, etc... next week I am starting to get my life/house in order... I am not be free to play or nursery jaunt til the end of the week, but w/ all the rain, cold, etc., I suspect there will be plants still around, LOL.

enuf about me -- I see others are off to a jaunt or two; gorgeous photos from Deanne (it's creepy how our tastes might be similar, Deanne - I think I see an obelisk type I mailordered a few weeks ago plunk in the middle of your stupendous back border.... so beautiful just w/ all the foliage and then to see lilacs, etc. -- wonderful!

Im going to go have a decadent bad dinner & kick back w/ a Heineken's and hope to peruse the photos and news and tidbits at leisure....

--Cindy

I won't even pretend that I'm trying to catch up. I've been overwhelmed by work and too many other things going on in life. But I got to spend time at a garden center tonight and found the Nemesia Sunsatia Mango that I fell in love with at Butchart Gardens last fall. Remember this photo?

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Overall everything is fine here, just too many things going on at once. We have a large group coming for dinner tomorrow night, my 77 year old cousin passed away unexpectedly this week, and I received approval to start a green committee for our church. Other than that, I'm bored silly - during the thirty seconds or so when I can stop and breathe.

So I'll say hello and good night, and I will try to get back into the swing of things by the end of the month.

V.

Me too.

But I found a copy of the FG Container issue and had time to check out Deanne's pages :-) !!!!

Katie's blue jean dress is done.

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I got a little creative :-)

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And then a rollup bed for travel seemed like a good idea.

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Wow! Katie's in designer jeans! Very cute Cynthia!

V...yes, I *do* remember your nemesia...such a *beautiful* flower.

Deanne...I'm so tickled Molly is going to bloom for you! :-) Your pics are so stunning...and *wow* on that red sky... I totally agree...I couldn't be without some lilacs...that perfume! Lots of scentimental reasons for loving them (pardon my pun). Your lilacs are lovely and I can smell the fragrance from here! :-) I have a few too that I absolutely love and hope to do a separate post with my spring...before spring is over...LOL!

Congratulations Gramma Jerri!

Sue...that really is the sweetest thing. I won't get all sappy on you, I know you probably wouldn't like that...but I was really touched by your kindess and generosity. You probably don't even realize how much just having someone like you pop in to say 'hello' really means to her; well, on second thought, you probably do...that's why you did it...LOL! :-)

Mary...I *love* the pic of Annie and I agree the looks on her fellow students faces says it all. You have such a lovely family. But, I'm not surprised...look who they have for a mother. BTW, I think that's really neat about the Humane Society. How lucky they are to have you! It will be their best fundraiser ever...everyone is going to want to bid! :-)

Chelone...I love seeing the progress at your house...you are one busy girl! I love all the names you give to areas of your property....like Sanitary Ridge! :-) I give areas of my property names too...but not as clever as yours; 'The Honeymoon Swing' area, the 'Island Bed', etc., etc.

PM...I love your epimedium. My favorite of my epimediums that I have is a white one too...very dimunitive. Yours is really special...I *love* the variegation on the foliage.

I have so much I want to share and comment on, but I am in a rush...have exciting news to share, so maybe I can get back before the week-end is over and post my spring garden pics too.

Here's the music I've been listening to today. Thought I'd post them, in case you would like to join me! And if you don't want to join me, then you can just ignore them...LOL! You'll have to copy and paste most of them:

I've been playing my old Seals & Crofts album...I don't know, just been in the mood....but maybe rushing things a bit! :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpwaj213tI&feature=related

And here's a hopper dedicated to my Idyll Friends: :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prIf8yyOV38

And in the mood for a little Donovan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX3AnhefltM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS8RZsOZ1Dw

and Down to the River to Pray:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3D-HmjzFy0

Sugar Ray (Chelone...now I know why I like this song so much...it uses Malo) :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeL8_NmlguI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPcX-5Tmqt8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asCLf5Mg_PI

And a little Grass Roots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCdGqed6Ajg

And finally:

My favorite...the *original* *first* version with Bob Welch...from the Bare Trees Album.

Fleetwood Mac - Sentimental lady Bare Trees Album
You are here and warm
But I could look away and you'd be gone
Cause we live in a time
When meaning falls in splinters from our lives
And that's why I've travelled far
Cause I come so together where you are
And all of the things that I said that I wanted
Come rushing by in my head when I'm with you
14 joys and a will to be merry
And all of the things that we say are very
Sentimental gentle wind
Blowing through my life again
Sentimental Lady
Gentle one
Now you are here today
But easily you might just go away
Cause we live in a time
When paintings have no color, words don't rhyme
And that's why I've travelled far
Cause I come so together where you are
And all of the things that I said that I wanted
Come rushing by in my head when I'm with you
14 joys and a will to be merry
And all of the things that we say are very
Sentimental gentle wind
Blowing through my life again
Sentimental Lady
Gentle one
You are here and warm
But I could look away and you'd be gone
Cause we live in a time
When meaning falls in splinters from our lives
And that's why I've travelled far
Cause I come so together where you are
Yes and all of the things that I said that I wanted
Come rushing by in my head when I'm with you
14 joys and a will to be merry
And all of the things that we say are very
Sentimental gentle wind
Blowing through my life again
Sentimental Lady
Gentle one
Sentimental gentle wind
Blowing through my life again
Sentimental Lady
Gentle one
Sentimental gentle wind
Blowing through my life again
Sentimental Lady
Gentle one
Well sentimental gentle wind
Blowing through my life again
Sentimental Lady
Gentle one

It's been a very eclectic day! :-)

Hope everyone has a wonderful week-end!

Ei

I found Deanne's Fine Gardening debut too, just scanned it quickly at the newsstand. Wondering, of all the gorgeous pots, how the selection was finally made, whether by Deanne or the mag editor. Big congratulations, Deanne!

I've been skimming but haven't come across more news of Katie adjusting to the new wheels, but what a clothes horse! She seems to like her new outfits just fine. V. is being run off her feet and will require serious decompression. Too much solid family time can mimic a case of the bends, I find.

Good work withstanding the boss' pleas for a mid week interruption in vaca time, Cindy. What are they thinking??

The internet time on the cruise ship was hideously expensive and a slow connection, but I skimmed and enjoyed:

A description of a procession of Mennonite children en route to school.

Kenzie shouting Thank you, Birds!

Mary will be home for summer, what a relief.

New photos of Bella. Imminent arrival of Saucy's bees. (Greece has recently added apiculture to its economy, which is 70% tourism, then olive oil.)

Pix of Aiden. (Kathy, the roses in Italy and Greece, and we're not talking manicured gardens, are the lustiest I've ever seen, shockingly healthy, and there's a red climber that must have naturalized because it's everywhere.)

Rex and Phoebe recovering from surgery, albeit a tad cabin-feverish.

Cynthia's acquiring melianthus and duranta. Under my Grace smoke tree sprawls a golden duranta, and it's throwing a few of those sky blue, mini wisteria blooms now. Before the time of duranta and Grace, a melianthus grew in this spot. They get massive and woody here and need constant whacking back, but I do want another for summer pots. I envy those who can grow manageable 2-3 footers.

Martie's park photos are so fresh and lovely.

I did read onboard that Woody's MRI was okay, such good news.

Congrats on the puppies, Jerri.

The spring photos have been so enjoyable. What a treat to see so many kinds of epimedium.

Been catching up on sleep and Tivo'd Lost episodes. The garden got on its hind legs while away, and I've been busy settling territorial disputes, like the wisteria next door that has its sights on my little patch of earth. Duncan did a splendid job with the watering. Temps in the Meditt were lovely, 70s, whereas today at home we reached mid 90s. Ein's new-found hobby seems to be catching flies, so he was probably bored senseless while we were gone. Today he seemed more his old self. Cats all accounted for.

*******
Warning: The rest is cruise news, nothing crucial, so feel free to skim and/or ignore entirely.

I haven't spent that much time with my folks since I was 11, on a cross-country road trip in a Verdugo green Pontiac Grand Prix, sandwiched between my brothers, eating Fiddle Faddle and reading the Hobbit. It was a relief to deposit them safely at their door Wed afternoon. My mom's a peach to travel with but my dad's health issues were a bit nerve-wracking. Very similar to traveling with a toddler. He's difficult in the best of conditions, and traveling pushes him out of his narrow comfort zone. Marty and I walked miles on the guided shore excursions and my folks did the bus tours that required the least walking. I even managed to lose a few pounds! The ancient ruins are uneven cobblestone, so those with gait difficulties (like my dad) had to forego those tours and stick to a more general bus tour. The ever-changing 24/7 buffet seems to be a stumbling block for many, but even I can't take dessert three times a day. One dessert a day, after dinner, is more than enough, thank you very much. Still, some people did soldier on, plates piled high morning til night. My dad did go a bit nuts with the food. We settled into a rhythm of seeing my folks mainly in the morning, breakfast before shore excursions, and at dinner.

We flew into Rome, where we had an unscheduled whirlwind bus tour, stopping for a stroll in St. Peter's Square, before heading to the ship to sail at 5 p.m. After the 10-hr flight, many folks were grumbling at the detour in Rome, expecting to go straight to their state rooms on the ship, but the ship and crew were behind schedule, hence the tour of Rome. Any chance to see the Eternal City is okay in my book. Those grumbling loudest were the ones who flew into Rome a few days earlier, to sight-see at their own expense, because the tour book explicitly stated that we would NOT be spending time in either Rome or Venice, the embarkation and debarkation points.

First stop was Monte Carlo/Monaco, walking the principality with an afternoon bus ride thru some of the French Riviera. This first day in Monaco is where we realized my dad would be unable to participate in walking tours, so theirs were changed to mainly bus tours thereafter.

Sunday for Marty and I was Livorno, the port to Florence/Tuscany (where we opted to see the Cinque Terre, five villages unreachable by car, only by small boat, instead of Florence or Pisa. Lots of hard choices but only 8 hrs in every port.) Then Naples to see Pompeii. Tuesday at sea all day. On Wednesday, off to Santorini, the conjectured site of Atlantis, now a caldera chain.

On Thursday it was up to the west coast of Turkey to Kusadasi to see the Roman ruins at Ephesus where storks soared overhead like pterosaurs. (Foolishly succumbed to hard sell of rug merchants and am now owner of a Turkish carpet due to arrive in 6 wks or so. Very beautiful but an unlooked for expense.)

Next was Mykonos, where we took a ferry boat to the island of Delos to see the Temple of Apollo. Saturday we were in Athens, where we walked our *sses off all over town with a wonderful tour guide, a ringer for Alan Rickman, up the Acropolis, great lunch in a taverna, walked the ancient Agoura, shopped in the market/Plaka. Next to Katakolon, the site of the first Olympics, the ruins wet with previous night's rain.

Last stop was Corfu, a very lush island, like the Pacific Northwest, not arid, with a coastline rivaling Big Sur in beauty, really astounding place. Pencil-thin cypresses have naturalized on Corfu, which creates an amazing, ink-drawing quality to the landscape, thrusting skyward among the olive trees and pines. This is where Marty said he wants to come back and rent a sailboat to sail through the Greek Islands. Ended in Venice at 10 o'clock at night, went ashore and walked St. Mark's Square for 30 mins, back at 1 a.m. or so, up at 4 to leave the ship head home, etc.

Never having taken tours before, I was a bit skeptical, but the guides were amazingly erudite, some were professors, and their depth of knowledge of culture, history, food, botany was astounding. Many were born and lived in the regions we toured with them. With the dollar being hammered these days, tours make a lot of sense. Downsides: I never thought I'd be one of the tourists herded like cattle, but it's the fastest, easiest, cheapest way to see most of these sites. My boys would've hated it, as would I at their age. Pompeii was so crowded we shuffled as on a chain gang. I stared longingly out bus windows at trucks passing us on the roads filled with gorgeous local pottery but never found any for sale to tourists, only the narrow range of hats, t-shirts, jewelry. The ship had game shows, gambling and Vegas-style revues for entertainment, not my cup of tea, but I would wake early at 4 a.m. anyway to see the ship arrive in each new port. Best time on the ship, everyone sleeping, the promenades empty, the ship quietly gliding into new harbors.

Kathy, we made a valiant attempt to sample the local beer wherever possible, which wasn't very often, but we did enjoy a couple bottles of Mythos on Mykonos with a plate of calamari. Greek wine was very good too, made only for their own consumption, not for export.

I think Cindy mentioned fear of seasickness. I did see some people with the patch behind their ears, but the stabilizers on these giant ships really make for a smooth ride.

The red poppy, the Flanders poppy, was in bloom everywhere. On Santorini the grapes are not espaliered but trained to grow in a basket shape to protect the grapes from winds and preserve humidity. Large swathes of phlomis in bloom on Corfu. The horned poppy, glaucium, oleanders, prickly pear, umbrella pines, the ever-present silvery olive trees, cistus, easter lilies in bloom, fig trees, agaves, buckeyes in bloom, pomegranate, kumquats, loquats, honeysuckle, of course bougainvillea, pepper trees, artichokes, mulberry trees, fennel, berberis, genista, oaks, geraniums, echium, wild snapdragons, malvas, Serbian bellflower seeded into rock walls, Queen Anne's Lace, statice. The air smelled indescribably sweet. In many ways, it was a familiar landscape to me, but more lush than So. Calif. Yes, I scribbled away in a notebook, which perplexed my fellow travelers. One lady assumed I was a schoolteacher.

Seasick yet? Waving goodnight to all.

Heading off to a Plant Sale this morning, that I have been looking forward to for awhile. Nice to see a flurry of posting last night! Hope to see more later today.

No time to post, but I did want to apologize for naming this thread incorrectly. I guess there is no way to change the title now? Eden, I read your post and it didn't even occur to me what you were talking about the first time I read it. The only thing to do is to name the next three, so I will get in the habit and stop forgetting. I hear that is how many times it takes to start a new habit. [g] Plus, I have to do penance, right? lol

Have a great Saturday! :-) pm2

It's one awesome morning in the house. Sun is out, Rich and I are headed to local hardware/garden store for "stuff" and then container prep can begin, tomatos will go in the ground with their covers (aka "boobs") so that we can eat heirlooms sometime before Thanksgiving, and Kyle is home for the summer bearing tales of taxidermy shops' ideas of going away for the summer parties.

Seems like most everyone's news is better than lousy, other than V's cousin. Hang in there, friend!

I think Cynthia could start a cottage biz which would undoubtedly be gobbled up by those that appear on celebrity websites.

Seems also like the Idyllkids have it all together, each with their own things happening but all loved and able to love back. "It ain't easy being green" (Kermit), especially in this day and age, but our littles do a great job keeping it together.

The difference between a sales rep and law firm indespensible person is negotiation tactics. "Just what is it worth to you for me to interrupt my time off and come in and get cranked back up just for you to do something that probably should've been done weeks ago? A cruise? A five-figure check? An extra week off some other time?" LOL Good for you, Cindy! 10 days sounds like pure luxury to me.

Rich is ready to go (!!!!!!) so we're off.

More later.

Martie

Im am truly truly impressed with not only the trip report, Denise, but your reporting of Idyll happenings -- you've got an amazing memory! Ahhh, that cruise sounds like one I would be willing to take a chance on -- I love, love Greece -- but it would be so interesting to look at it thru the eyes of a "gardener" -- to see the naturalized wonders -- you have really done a stunning job, even without pics!!

Boy, V - sounds like you need some down time, woman -- do you just reach a point where you collapse totally in exhaustion? that's about where I am but no where do I do anything in small portion of the things you do.

Cynthia -- you are such a trend setter -- I hope CK doesnt come after you for trademark infringements, LOL -- or maybe you'll give his company new marketing ideas? That is one coool outfit - it almost makes me believe in clothes for dawgs....

It feels as though it's about 45 degrees here today - really chilly - luckily the patio door guys are to show up shortly; so I'll wait til the p.m. to do some gardening -- but in my morning SALAT, I was excited to see that the Zephrihine rose has climbed its way voluntarily into the crepe myrtle and is happily blooming -- which gives me wonder and satisfaction to see a dream come true - im probably the only one who notices it -- but it's a happy, serendipitous surprise.

All this talk and pics of epimediums makes me wonder if it would be the plant Im looking for to grow under the chamaecyparis that I've limbed up & planted w/ a few hosta - Im still looking for something that would twine amongst but needs to be able to clamber over the tree roots that are almost a barricade.

I have to go back and look at all these pics!! Yummy.

Jerri, Im so sorry about the puppy tragedies - how sad; that would break my heart too -- you are still a special soul to be able to take care of them though.

--Cindy

Just a pop-in n fly-by HOWDY to all the Idylls! Did you all feel good vibes today?? I was thinking about everyone while I was cruising in the tractor, wondering what you've all been up to.
We got off work early to go to a cookout and DD's possible intended, so I thought I'd do a pop-in while I was thinking about it!
Take care, all.......I'll be back ;)
Brenda

Having a grand time this afternoon with the Idylls-Deannes latest pic-o-rama of the terrace gardens, Denises travelog (welcome back !) and Katie in her Calvins.

Still hot ! But only the 90s today , after breaking 100 the last two days. I spent the morning deadheading crispy roses, and had to leave for an hour for a viewing..this one was a return visitor who looked yesterday , had some finalists and viewed them all today again. No word from anyone , so one of the others must have been the choice-just as well because my agent said this buyer was looking for a 30 day escrow and there is no way in hell I can do that.
Think Im going to buy a laptop tomorrow-Office Cheapo is putting a nice little Compaq unit on sale for a very attractive price after the rebates etc, nets out to under 350.

Denise your trip sounds FF. With the myriad beers Ive sampled I really dont ever recall having a Grecian brew. I have often wished I had the financial abilty to go on some of the tours that Horticulture mag and Pacific Horticulture Society offer. They are extremely expensive , but very plant oriented. I hope we get a pic of your rug when it shows up ! My BILs collect them and theyve got some lovely ones

Deanne, the terraces are coming along beautifully-before long Im sure you will have that behemoth basket you hung off the tree making its debut. Wonderful lilacs too- cant wait for the next installment.

Cindy, what I wouldnt give for a whole week off ! I am going to take 4 day weekend over Memorial day , and plan to spend it very unproductively . Can a person actually SALAT for 4 days ?

So Jerri, I wonder what happens if you text , email and talk on the phone while smoking a fatty at the same time ? Would this infer a total 14 point IQ drop ???

Maybe back later..here are photos I took this morning while watering. Sometimes they get frighteningly close!

{{gwi:158896}}

{{gwi:158897}}

Kathy in Napa

PS. As I live and breathe! I refresh and there is Brenda !!!

Only took 40 minutes to spend some cash this morning at the plant sale! It was raining when we left the house at 6:30am. First one at the sale at 6:45am. By 7:30 they decided to let people in to the sale and it had stopped raining but it was pretty cool and dark still. We had a list and milk crates to bring home plants.

Dragged home another Viburnum Doublefile for $10. Not too small, but it will take awhile. NOID Hellebores for $4. a piece, Japanese Painted Ferns for $4. a piece. Dicentras, hens and chicks, three Pennisetum 'Hamelins' for $3. a piece that were a pretty good size. Three more epimediums and three hostas. One was 'June' and another was a mini that I don't have the name of and the third was my favorite that I brought home...Hosta 'Fire Island'. See the link below. We were in and out of there in 40 minutes and the street was packed with cars all up and down the street when we left. Home again by 8:45am. lol We were able to get a few of them in the ground later in the day. Very productive day and managed a nap too!

Beauty of a Nemesia ...V.
Cynthia.... that outfit with the matching bedroll for Katie...well, she doesn't know how good she has it to have you! :-)

Ei...I never watch Youtube, unless someone links to one here. I did click on your link and found that tribute to the man's wife very sweet.

I am going to have to do a search for Fine Gardening tomorrow, still haven't found it!

Denise...what a great trip you all had! It is nice to get away and exciting to see new places, but I am always happy to get home and sounds like you are the same. Glad your garden was still in one piece...lol.

Kathy...happy to see some activity in the house department. Nice shot of the balloon over your house! lol I guess you must be near some open space?

PM, I forgot to thank you for the ID on Meteora - very interesting stuff, I looked at several websites. The balloon in the 2nd pic is over my neighbors house across the street-behind those houses is the Napa River and across the river is a vineyard. There were lots of balloons out this morning.They used to land in the park around the corner when we first lived here, but the trees have gotten too large and they don't anymore. Some mornings there will be 10 or 15 of them over the valley.

Kathy

Kathy...that just cracks me up....lol. What an interesting seasonal interest to have in your neighborhood. I think it must be fun to look up and see those colorful balloons floating above you. Like being in the middle of a perpetual Birthday Party...lol.

PM2, what a wonderful score of plants! now, to get them in the ground, right?

Kathy -- what a wonderful photo - that must be like a fantasy land to see those bright bubbles floating around! Great shot -- your exterior shows so lovely too -- I'll keep my fingers crossed on the returns...

It was a lovely day here - I have a pretty new patio door -- and it was so cute -- the 2 young men who came to install, were enthralled with the garden -- we probably spent 40 minutes walking around, chatting, me identifying things for them -- they were particularly intranced w/ the alliums and the one guy has apparently already discovered sedums -- so I have him a few cuttings -- but it was so nice to have unexpected "visitors" impressed and interested -- you just never know, LOL..... they were probably late to their next job!

Kathy - the contractor said he would need 4 days to do the work and paint; the carpet folks needed a day; so I really had to take the week off - Im just not trusting enuf to leave strangers keys to my house, belongings, and dog -- it was interesting to see how many people tried to pressure me to do that -- but I just can't -- and I really, really needed the break -- no thoughts of work for a week -- YES. I'll pay when I return, but it will be worth it. I also have a bunch of other stupid things I have put off doing because of all the earlier inspectors, adjusters, etc. -- so I get to go to the dentist, the squish test, etc... Im pretty heavily scheduled for the week! It was a feat to get it all worked out -- as it is the carpet installers are coming tomorrow at 8 a.m. because the stupid contractor refused to let them have Thursday to come lay the carpet; so the contractor's going to have to bring a lot of plastic to lay over the new carpet instead... guess he'll be surprised!

I wasnt as energetic as I thought I'd be -- work has taken its toll lately, so I took a nap late in the p.m. - what a luxury. But tomorrow, I'll be inside (rain likely) to move furniture, organize clothes, etc., while the carpet goes down.

Can't wait to hear Eileen's exciting news she wants to share -- and hear what goodies Deanne & Sue might have gotten on a sojourn to Walker Farm today, maybe?

Wouldnt it be cool one year for an IU to go abroad? maybe on a plant safari of some type to Greece or the Mediterranean, or England? ok, I can dream!

--Cindy

Good evening Idylls

A very pleasant day here has just wrapped up with dinner at our neighbors. The young folk are watching Robin Hood here and I thought I could sneak in a quick Idyll before hitting the hot tub with DH.

PM - that sounds quite a plant sale. I think I could have dropped quite a few bucks too.

Denise - loved reading your travalog. Santorini is somewhere I would love to visit. I did make it to Epheses during college with an old boyfriend and have wonderful memories. Hope you enjoy your rug when it arrives.

Cindy - have fun on vacation. Good for you for sticking to your guns - you certainly deserve some time off! Hope you have some great gardening weather.

Cynthia - Love the greyhound couture. It must be a lot of fun sewing something that is so pretty and practical at the same time.

Ei - how fun to share some of the music you are listening to. It brings us that much closer! I'm looking forward to checking out your Youtube links.

Hi Brenda - hope you can stop by again with more news. We miss you!

Hi V - looking forward to catching up later in the month.

Kathy - have you ever been up in a balloon? Cool photos.

Today I spent a good part of the morning spreading leaf mould. As David had wanted to help I paid him 50c to load my cart and bring it to the border. This gave me time for coffee and potting on seedlings inbetween speading. We made a great team;0) A newly mulched bed has to be one of life's great pleasures. Since I seem to post pictures of everthing but my garden here are a few of my horticultural endeavors:

Driveway bed
{{gwi:158898}}
Border along front path
{{gwi:158901}}

Pansies in the window boxes
{{gwi:158903}}

Hawera daffs - so delicate.
{{gwi:158904}}

Amsonia getting ready to pop.
{{gwi:158906}}

Blazing orange Azelea - lacks refinement but I just love it. Far more orange in real life.
{{gwi:158907}}

The hot tub (and the hubster) call. Have a great evening

Mary

I'm mighty tired, but am caught up on my reading. LOVED the travels but would be one of those on dramamine. I too would prefer the walking excursions. I have done the 4am rising on board to watch the views in silence and awe. (Along the Labrador coast there were Northern Lights) You managed to see soooo much!

Enjoyed your garden tour Mary. I too am waiting for my amsonia. What a wonderful plant! Your window boxes are so sweet.

Loved your shopping spree PM! After lots of morning errands, DH, Phoebe and I went for a drive and ended up at 2 nurseries. I brought home a few things, but really must weed lots more before they can go in the ground. (Nothing too unusual...lupines, a globeflower, a perennial geranium.)

Was that V and Brenda whizzing past???? I think it was! Bzzzzzzzzzzz. Maybe it was Saucy's bees though.

Kathy, we too have hot air balloons fly overhead. Charlotte dog used to bark furiously when they came near because of the sound. She never actually looked UP and was very agitated. It is hard to protect your home against something you don't see! Once they landed in our back field. They usually give the owners a bottle of champaign for any trouble, but around here the Mennonites generally don't accept this. You have way more balloons than we do! They are usually very pretty.

DD is off canoing with a friend today in Alberta. DSIL was to meet them tonight with Reed and camp and paddle too.

Cindy, just enjoy every moment...
Katie CK too.

Good morning...

Beautiful morning here, in the high 50s and the sun is shining. Have to get out to get some plants in and spread mulch today. Have to check on the new little babies on the back steps. [g] Sure wish you all could have come to the sale with me yesterday! :-)

What has happened to Chelone, does anyone know? Haven't seen anita either. Hoping to hear from all the missing.

Meant to say hello to Brenda...sounds like you are too busy to post. When things slow down a little, I hope you will tell us what you've been up to and share some garden photos. :-)

Kathy, I keep meaning to ask you how the implants are doing?

Cindy would love a photo of the Zepherine Rose. I think I just planted one of those last year, but I don't know what I am going to do with it yet. That was a funny story about the patio door men. Everyone around us gets used to the garden, it's nice to see it through new eyes.

Denise...your last paragraph describing what was growing sounded so exotic to me and a lot of the plants you mention did remind me of what I would expect in California. 'The air smelled indescribably sweet.' Ahhhh....I would have loved that part! I would just love to live somewhere that the air smelled sweet everywhere at least once a year. :-)

Mary your weekend is sounding lovely. I enjoyed your photos. Is that the first time I have seen your garden? I think it is. You also seem to have a nice large property. I love orange and apricots in the garden, with blue, but not easy to place because I have a lot of pink too. Your azalea is very pretty. I have never tried amsonia, does it reseed a lot or spread a lot? Hawera is one of my favorite daffs. I have a soft spot for window boxes and your pansy filled white wooden boxes would certainly give me a smile if I could walk past them every day. :-)

I wonder if Saucy's bees arrived yet.

Gardenbug...you may have come home with 'nothing too unusual' from the nursery yesterday, but I bet it is one of the few times you have...lol. Wish you were closer, I have half flats of lupine seedlings left over after planting out. Band of Nobles and Tutti Fruitti. They will end up at the plant swaps if no one takes them off my hands before then.

Nice that DD had some time off, I imagine she needed it. DSIL is holding the fort down I suppose and doing a marvelous job. :-) Our DD has been at her new job a month and is doing very well. She took the day off to drive to the shore for the day with a friend yesterday. Turned out to be a lovely day once the morning rain cleared up.

Well...that's it from here. Out to get something done. Maybe bring the camera with me.

pm2

Oooo la la! I just love spring on the Idylls. Great photos everyone! Kathy, what a hoot to see balloons overhead and that being a regular occurrence. Fun, fun!

Mary, I agree 100%, there is nothing quite a satisfying as a newly mulched border. Beautiful photos! Love the pansies in the window box. How lovely! I did a bit mulching and edging myself yesterday and am hoping to finish up my back gardens today. They just love our home cooked leaf mould. Today we are planning on cleaning up the back corner by the shed and then the entire back yard will be finished. Huge job with all the areas and trees we have.

Wow, Brenda! Nice to see you!

PM2 great score on plants.

Denise, thanks so much for taking us along on your trip. Wonderful reading! Sounds like you had a fabu time. ~~ the editors and art directors of FG chose the containers. Id have probably picked the huge one with the Mariposa coleus and Black Magic Colocasia/

Cindy, enjoy your vacation! You really deserve some down time.

Eileen, Im looking forward to your spring pictures!

Cynthia, I absolutely LOVE Katies new jeans dress!!! You are so creative and clever. Fabu-fabu!

Hope Saucy is having a great weekend away and that Jerri is doing well with the new family.

OK Ive got to have a soak in the hot tub to loosen up my stiff old bod and then get outside and get the days list done.

Have a terrific day everyone!
Deanne

Mary, I have now spent hours searching for a fat pink teapot fabric on-line. The apron is just beautiful, and I think I see ruffles down the side? (If you have a yard and 1/4 left over, Katie will buy it from you :-)

That photo of Annie looks like a Norman Rockwell cover for the Saturday Evening Post. The expressions and the heads leaning in different directions ~ just really captures a special moment.

Denise, what an entertaining travelogue! If Idylls were on a ship together would we all be on deck avoiding each other at 4AM? Wondering why these 'other' people were up and invading our quiet time? I did check out all of your links, and had to google 'candera chain' thinking some sort of spicey fast food pastry franchise. It would have been 'foolish' NOT to indulge in the rug. You can't just swing by a turkish rug merchant in situ on way home from work.

Everyone's spring gardens are popping I see, but the best ornament must be the hot colored balloons over Kathy's house. Or maybe the charming 'Phoebe in the grass'. Now I'm torn.

V, the nemesia reminded me of Catalpa blooms, same colors and just as splashy in my memory, but when I google for images they're not as raucous. I wonder how many of my memories are over embellished.

Chelone, I enjoyed seeing the plans for your new paths, and it gave a glimpse of areas of the compound that I hadn't seen before. My vote is for grasses against the garage. No worries of shrub damage from plowing or snow banks, and will have a relaxed look that seems to fit.

Yesterday was a good day in the gardens for me. I've shifted my adopter app home visits to Friday nights now that it stays light in the evenings. This was the first time in at least a month that I've had the entire Saturday unscheduled. Not as good as a 10 day vaca like Cindy, but it was fun not to have to worry about how dirty I was getting and how much time it would take to clean up and get somewhere. I'm still moving things and wishing I had pruned more in late winter. The roses are in the first third of bloom and when they're done with this round, I'm going to brutally chop them back so that the rest of the gardens are visible. I finally planted a Miss Kim Lilac that sat in a pot all winter. I got it at Lowe's for $5.98 this time last year. The same pot at this year is 12.98. How's that for justifying the pot ghetto?

All the rain has made weeding a breeze. The ground is so wet I can just pull up treelings with two foot tap roots.

Hi to all I've missed! Off to putter....

Cynthia

A calmer good morning from me this a.m. Last night's dinner is now behind me, and the house got itself into reasonable shape well before the guests arrived. The only disappointment last night was that the rain showers came right along with the guests, so there was no dining around the firepit. And I finally smacked my attitude upside the head and got it adjusted. One of the guests at one point thanked me for opening my home for a large group of people, most of whom I really didn't know. She made me think of the hospitality I had been treated to last summer in Philadelphia, when so many hosts were so gracious to me and the rest of our group, and I realized that what I was doing was paying back that gift in a very small way.

This afternoon I get to play in the garden all afternoon! The weather forecast is good and the distractions are lacking. I can't wait!

V.

Good Morning Idylls, I felt like having my coffee with you and put off reading the paper for awhile-
Mary I loved seeing photos of your beautiful borders , all tidied up with the spring growth pushing up. You are now obligated ala Deanne, to snap photos from the same perspective at suitable intervals so we may see the progress !
Speaking of which, I almost was going to take a pic of the corner annual garden I planted a few weeks ago, but Im going to wait another week-It was so cold at night the first two weeks they were in they really got off to a slow start. Ive also been yanking out my snapdragons, which are covered with rust as usual. They are being replaced with Zinnia Dreamland Mix.

Think I might be needing to copy V and look for Sunsatia Mango- I love all these great new Nemesia hybrids theyve introduced over the last few years ..

Okay, out to WALAT with the coffee- later all ..

Kathy in Napa

Soggy good morning to all! After breakfast I drove into town to buy sugar so that I could make up some rhubarb compote. Somehow thew car ended up at our nursery (weak at that) but i came home with a rose and yet another heuchera. I've plunked my plant ghetto into the trunk of the car though...frost warnings again tonight. :(

Off to stir the rhubartb!
Later folks!
'bug

You'll know the tune -- Ei got me motivated!!

"On the first day of frost free
My true love gave to me
A 3.6 cf bag of peat."

"On the second day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Two bags of compost
and a 3.6 cf bag of peat."

On the third day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Three bags of top soil
and a 3.6 cf bag of peat."

On the fourth day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Four empty hangers
and a 3.6 cf bag of peat."

On the fifth day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Fiiiiiiiive green squash seeds ....
etc.
and a 3.6 cf bag of peat."

On the sixth day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Six begonia tubers
and a 3.6 bag of peat."

On the seventh day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Seven petunia seedlings
and a 3.6 bag of peat."

On the eighth day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Eight bags of grass clips
and a 3.6 bag of peat."

On the ninth day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Nine rabbit babies
and a 3.6 bag of peat."

On the tenth day of frost free
My true love gave to me
10 Liquid Fence sprays
and a 3.6 bag of peat."

On the eleventh day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Eleven chives in salad
and a 3.6 bag of peat."

On the twelth day of frost free
My true love gave to me
Twelve sincere 'thank yous!'
And a garden place like I've never seen.

Have a great day!

Martie

The greeeen of the garden photos is such a balm. Here's the color I've been looking at since getting home:

{{gwi:158908}}

"Blue rain" from the two jacaranda trees in the parkway. The time of year when we're approached by various neighbors and implored to reconsider removing the bane of our collective existence. Mature shade trees are just too valuable, those these two would try the patience of Job. Upside is the street parking spots under the trees are usually available this time of year ;) While vacuuming the rugs and mopping the hardwood floors, then resweeping the petals this morning around 4 a.m., third time in two days (still on ship time), I formulated some Jacaranda House Rules for summer: No use of the front door. Taking the long trip to the back door will hopefully knock off any loose petals from shoes. Then take your shoes off at back door. No exceptions, Ein!

After the petals drop, the next phase, even more annoying than the petal drop, is the tree "spits" a sticky mist for weeks, supposedly an excretion from the zillions of aphis flocking to the newly leafed-out trees, unlikely as that sounds. Windows on cars are gummed shut by the gluey goop. Nature at her most fiendish!

I've got a new appreciation for slower internet connections, so just one last photo, the new rug with the triumphant rug dealers who tag-teamed me. First, they plied us with turkish coffee and sweets. Someone had the bright idea to take a picture so we'd know if the same rug arrives in 6 wks or so. It is an "Usak" carpet, and the botanical/thistle pattern rendered me helpless. The rugs were so beautiful it gave me a stomach ache to look at all of them, truly. Resistance weakening with each new rug they'd unfurl, I kept telling the salesman, "One second, I've got to run this by the DH," hoping Marty would walk me safely out of the building, but he kept throwing me back in the ring. The showroom is supposedly a co-op that kicks money back to the individual women who make the rugs, in their own bank account, a nice idea if true.

Wishing all a quiet, happy, broomless Sunday.

{{gwi:158909}}

Hello all,

Cynthia - the teapot fabric was a sample only 24 inches square from a discontinued line. I have another 24" square in pale yellow which I checked to see if there was a manufacturers mark. Unfortunately there was nothing. Next time I'm in the store I'll ask if they remember who made them and I'll pass the word on to Katie:0) The side of the apron has a border with a scalloped edge as I didn't have enough fabric to ruffle.

PM - we have close to an acre with a slope and mature trees at the back. There is a fairly large patio and in-ground pool too. It's a wonderful sunny spot to garden and I have put in quite a few beds and borders. Given my work shedule, activities with the children, running the household with DH gone and other hobbies, I have probably created more gardening areas than is really wise. However, the garden is a source of constant pleasure and learning and I am quite comfortable accepting that it will never all be perfect at any one time.

GB - I made Rhubarb Crumble last night to take to our neighbors for dinner. It was a big hit with everyone except their 2 year old who pulled the funniest face at the tart taste.

I did a bit more mulching this morning before it started raining. David wanted to help again and decided I should call him "mulch boy". When the rain hit we went to Dicks Sporting Goods (don't Google that one if you are looking for their phone number) to look at bikes for David and found one perfect in every way except for the price tag - he has expensive tastes in bikes. Instead I was drawn to a clearance bin of socks marked down to 24c each. With some determined searching I got a great deal on some ski socks, basic boys and no-shows for Annie. Over $100 of socks for less than $3 - Yowsa!!

This afternoon I'm visiting a friend for tea then David is playing his bass in a recital this evening. I should probably start cleaning the house in earnest as my book club is meeting here on Thursday but motivation in that area is low. I imagine I'll end up doing it at midnight Wednesday instead. Annie and David havve asked me to play a game with them and that takes precedence right now.

Enjoy the day everyone

Mary

Time to close the history books on another weekend. Good grief-I was productive this weekend and still need them to be at least twice as long!

I'm pretty beat up and off to bed but just wanted to share this story of today's escapades. Monique, Les and I decided to go to a nursery in southern VT that is known for it's selection of tender container plants. It's a little over an hour and a half drive from my house. The plan was for them to pick me up at 11, hit the nursery, then have lunch somewhere.

A few miles into VT we decided to stop at the welcome center for a bathroom break. As I was getting out of the van I noticed this nasty foul smell that I didn't recognize but figured it was coming from somewhere else. When we came out the smell was only in the van. It smelled like something was rotting. So we get out and start sniffing. Lo and behold the smell was coming from the exhaust pipe. OK, between the three of us we don't know a whole heck of alot about cars but it starts so how bad could it be? Starts yes, but won't go forward or back-must be the transmission. Guess a call to AAA will be in order.

We try to call on cell phones and it's a no go. Plenty of service and I could call other numbers but not the AAA 800 number. Les trudges into the welcome center to use their phone. Now we're waiting with the hood up and a good gear head samaritan comes over and starts poking around. He informs Les that the transmission fluid is almost empty. Now we're hopeful. All we need is some transmission fluid and we'll be on our way, right? Tow truck guy shows up-flatbed truck actually. He doesn't have transmission fluid and only advises that the van get towed to a service station (none of which are open on Sunday thank you very much). And he only has room for two people. So how do we get home? Well the Red Roof Inn in Brattleboro is an Avis dealer-maybe they'll have a car.

So off he goes with the van and leaves us like bag people in the parking lot of the welcome center to call Avis. Once again cell phones don't work so it's back inside where the people working the information booth can make fun of us...lol. it must be our lucky day because Avis has a car but we have to get there. Hello, Brattleboro taxi? If you've ever driven through a rural area and wondered who would call a taxi or rent a car, now you know.

At any rate, it turned out the rental car was only three miles from the nursery where we had intended to go. So even though it was now overcast, windy, spitting rain and mid afternoon we decided to make the best of it. Thank goodness for large trunks in mid sized cars because we filled it with all sorts of cool plants. Lunch was after five and I didn't get home til around seven but I think the day turned out well considering. Guess you could call it making lemonade out of your lemons. Only gardeners, right? lol

OK, more I'd like to say, but that's it for tonight.

Nite nite!

Sue

A very windy but warm and sunny day, and I mean windy! It was a productive day as well. Jaden had her annual vet visit, after I dropped her at home I went to the nursery thats on farm near our place. I picked up a few things that seemed interesting. She really has a nice selection and strives to find different things. Once home it was much too windy to plant anything. I played around in the potting shed and came up with the beginning of a miniature garden. I got a fair amount of weeding and rose pruning done. Numerous trips were made driving DH from this field to that and bringing tractors here and there. I did plenty of WALATing today as well. Now that we have actually had decent temps this week things have just exploded. I noticed the hostas the most. I think they grew 3 or 4 inches in just a few days.

Katie looks absolutely adorable in her new duds. Cynthia, you are so creative.

How wonderful to see some pictures of your garden Mary.

Cindy, Im extremely jealous of your vacation time. I need some!

Kathy, the balloon shot is cool. We dont see them here but used to at our old house, most often it was my childrens pediatrician and they were always excited to say they knew whose balloon it was. We quite often went to the annual hot air balloon race held near here. Kids eat that stuff up.

Mary, lovely picture of Annie. It would be wonderful framed.

Deanne, your gardens are so lovely and really show your level of care no matter what time of the season.

Denise, your trip sounds so interesting. The rug is my kind of "souvenir".

I am now on day 2 of this post. We had a nice lunch at the lake with my parents, Kenzie and her parents. I was holding the little squirt after lunch and I heard that burping noise that all mothers recognize, I put my hand by her mouth and sure enough my guess was correct. Poor little peanut. I hope I dont catch it though. Then we made our way to a graduation. After we got home I had a nice walk around the farm and gardens.

Theres much more that I could say, but I need to end this while my eyes are still open.

Michelle

Good morning...

Looks like we will be starting a new thread today. Could someone else start it? I was planning on doing it, but abscessed tooth started Saturday night and off to a root canal or extraction this morning, yet to be determined. Oh, joy. I'll check in when I can...

pm2

Wow! What a fun read. Denise, I enjoyed your trip - it was beautifully written and I was able to visualize every thing that you described. Now I have to go back and check out all the pictures.

Mary and Cynthia make me want my sewing machine back out into the open where it can be used! I'm always thinking up better curtain ideas than I ever see in magazines.

My weekend was so fun and Soakology was the most relaxing hour I've had in a long time! Downtown Portland is very walkable and was fun to window gaze and munch on foods here and there. The soaking was done in large pottery "bowls" from Italy, Denise. I asked because I wanted one. I did a lot of walking and talking in one weekend....lots of laughs in there, too.

I came home to find a happy household. The kids were sipping milkshakes and Nick came out of his freshly organized garage. I asked if it'd be okay that I make a little mess in the garage and got my bee hives assembled! Pictures will be taken at it's placement.

Sue, that was quite the trip! I remember wondering who used the taxi in our small town :) Can't wait to see your finds!

Hello to everyone! I've got lots of work waiting for me, but I'm gonna try to play outside this morning. Hope you find some time to play in the dirt, too.

Saucy

OY, root canal, transmission trouble, Kenzie sick,...time for that new thread. We want pictures of Cindy's new carpets, Jerri's babies, shots from Denise's trip, a few more words from Brenda, and how about Bab's? She must be out of school SOON!
'bug

Does anyone know if lilac and roses will bloom in Venice during the spring and summer months?

Thank you
Tierney