Saturday, April 13, 2013

I'm Still Giddy

EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN I walk the borders of my garden I see change. Plants are growing so fast, the evidence is unmistakable. It's such a delight to see fresh leaves inching their way upward. And if that's not enough, I'm also seeing surprises like seedlings from plants I allowed to go to seed. I've even spotted a few plants that I thought were goners. Just today I spotted my Phlox 'Becky Towe' making a comeback. I thought she died last year. And last weekend I found a little Rodgersia leaf on a plant that disappeared two years ago. 
My Spider Azalea is in full bloom now.



It wasn't long ago that I posted photos of my hanging straw flowers that survived the winter. They were full of buds.

One month ago. 


Check it out now.
Straw flower in full bloom. 



I enlisted the help of one of my daughters and we painstakingly removed all of the old, tattered leaves off my Loropetalum. I think once it leafs out and blooms it will look much prettier.

Look at all those buds.



I've noticed lots and lots of baby ferns in one section of my garden.
Aren't they pretty?

Here is the aforementioned Rodgersia leaf.
It's a little work of art. 

Thanks to many seedlings I've not got a whole bunch of
Aquilegia 'Woodside Strain.' I'm not thrilled with the dark purple flowers
but I love the foliage.
A few days ago, I noticed that my tulips looked like they'd been eaten off. Deer, I thought. But in almost 15 years, deer have only managed to get through the gate one time. I looked closer at the buds and realized that they weren't actually eaten but just have flat tops.
Tulip bulbs I planted late (January) caught up and are right on schedule.
They're beginning to bloom.
Below are my babies. They're getting so big.

Nala and Taz. 
And finally, I've mentioned this on Facebook and my writing blog. My book is coming along. I'm working on edits with my publisher and the cover is finished. It's getting exciting.


Happy gardening, everybody!

26 comments:

  1. Your garden is looking great, Grace! Your kitties are adorable!

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  2. Blooms! It's SO encouraging to see your beautiful blooms! We are so far behind with the cold this season - even sturdy perennials are just starting to peek out.

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  3. Wow! That spider azalea is really bright! And the Loropetalum will be gorgeous when the flowers open. I love this time of year too, there's something new to look at every day.

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  4. How wonderful to see you garden blooms awakening. It is exciting.

    I can feel your excitement for your gardens and your book.

    Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

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  5. Gorgeous gorgeous! I might be able to find a home for those Aquilegia! :)
    And those darling kitty faces...too cute!

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  6. Great pictures. And perfect eye candy 'cause I don't have a single on of those plants in my yard. Well, I do have fern. :o)
    I saw you have some of that lovely Bishop's weed. It is so pretty. And so horrid. I've been trying to get rid of it for three years. Who's idea was it to ever put that stuff in the ground, anyway? :o)
    The cat's are too stinkin' cute.

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  7. Congrats on your book, the cover is great!
    I love all your plants, they are growing quickly, using every sun and warm moment. Today I've seen first sprouts of tulips and fern in my garden, they are wonderful, are signs of spring!

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  8. Wow, I'm so impressed with your garden already!
    Your cats are adorable!
    And the book cover looks fantastic!

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  9. Giddy is good! I really like the spider azalea and the straw flowers. I think seeing things bud and then finally bloom in the spring is one of the best kinds of euphoric...and so is knowing your book is going to go public soon...YEA for you!

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  10. The foliage on that spider azalea is as striking as the amazing flowers. It seems to me that lots of plants are budding or blooming much earlier this spring. Or maybe I'm just more behind this spring than I realized ;) Your sweet kitties are just lovely - I love a brown tabby!

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  11. That spider azalea positively sizzles! I think the sun may pay us a visit in the week ahead. Fingers crossed!

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  12. Grace you have so many unusual plants that I would never see here. I adore that spider azalea.

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  13. Hi Grace,
    What a treat to find plants you previously thought were lost! It's Christmas come early! I'm in love with you spider azalea ~ amazing color! Sending good wishes for your book! So glad it's coming all together! Cheers, Jenni

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  14. Your pair of kittens are adorable and the strawflowers are beauties. Hope your book is a success.

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  15. Oh! A Spider Azalea is DEFINITELY going to find its way into my garden. I have never seen one before!

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  16. I am in love with your Spider Azalea. Yours was the first I had seen. Your garden is growing so fast now. I know how exciting it is to walk out and see things growing again. Have a lovely week.

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  17. That spider azalea is just beautiful, but I am so very impressed with your strawflowers! Wow! Odd that your tulips have flat tops. But that photo looks so pretty, with all the different things in the background. Congratulations on your book!

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  18. Gracie girl CONGRATULATIONS !!
    The book cover looks perfect for the title and I am sure it is going to be a wonderful read : )
    Your garden is so pretty and these plants! .. I love the Spider azalea!!
    I have never seen one before!
    The Straw flowers are amazing to survive like that and bloom so well for you .. but then you live in a totally different zone ! LOL
    I almost ordered a beautiful dark Rodgersia this year .. still thinking of it .. maybe next year!
    Love baby ferns , I have them too!
    You are in a wonderful happy place Gracie : )
    Joy
    PS .. I have been working hard so my e-mail is going to be a little late ;-)

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  19. Grace, I love your gardening posts, and it is such fun to experience the unfurling of your garden with you. Not to mention loving the kitties. I don't know if our Maggie would be too thrilled to know I was making sweet with their photo! :)

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  20. A most pleasant sort of giddy though Grace :) Love the garden and feline photos and such exciting news about your book! Hope that the latter will be available on this side of the pond too perhaps via Kindle ? Do let me know please.

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  21. Your garden is looking terrific, but oh Gracie, the book cover, and the title: AWESOME.

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  22. Wow, look at all that lovely new growth! I'm so jealous. Today we're getting more snow in Minneapolis, it's getting depressing. Congrats on your book, that is very exciting!!

    Amy

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  23. simply beautifully captured shots... lovely!

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  24. Before I forget it, you will let us know when your book is available for sale, won't you? I'm sure it will be as great as your blog. Love that spider azalea; something new for me to see. We only have daffodils, some tulips are starting to bloom and my creeping phlox, forsythia is almost finished but I had the landscape man to thin it out last Fall and it looks so much better. I didn't get any wintersowing done this year as my DH had back surgery in Jan. and is still recovering from that. I managed to sow some alyssum and Prairie sun seeds in 3 in. pots yesterday, so we'll see what happens. Maybe be buying a lot of my annuals this Spring.

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  25. so much going on ...Plants , cats and a BOOK !!!!

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  26. That spider azalea is fantastic, I would be in love with that plant in my yard! ha!

    Love all the pop of spring color and the kittens, love kittens.

    Can't wait to hear more about your book(s?).

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