May Flowers

April showers didn't come until May 1st, but my clematis didn't want to wait. The morning before our massive amount of rain three of my clematis plants started blooming. Then during the rain storm they blossomed even more. There is a column of clematis flowers on one corner of my deck.







When I purchased my first clematis I never imagined of how beautiful my clematis' plants would be in a few years time. I dreamed of course, and hoped, but never imagined. Now I know that I made the right choice when I bought that first one. And the purchase of the seven other clematis' was inspired...at least I like to think so. :)

Jackson was hiding among the flowers.

Sunflowers are such a Happy Flower

The plants I have started from seeds are coming up. Guess which ones were the first ones that sprouted? You got it...my cucumbers. Not really a curprise. I have started two varieties. One is a pickling cucumber, therefor supposed to be smaller and the other is a big eating cucumber. I am hoping to be pickling a lot this year or at least live off of my cucumers.

My peppers, herbs, and beans are coming up. I haven't planted corn, carrots or sunflowers yet. I did put some sunflowers in a pot that will sit on my front porch and they have started to come up. I used the shorter variety, they only grow to 4-5 feet.

Sunflowers are such a happy flower. I would love to plant more sunflowers than what I already do, I just haven't located the right spot yet. A few seeds were added to my front garden with the cosmos and zinnias. This is my "tall" flower garden.

Ahh..Spring

Even though we are having chilly temperatures here in Lexington, some of my perennials are opening up. My clematis’ vines have been growing like mad, with their buds numbering in the hundreds, okay slight exaggeration, maybe 100. This weekend the first clematis’ opened up to the sun. The dainty little flowers, compared to my dinner plate size clematis, just started to open when the bees took advantage of their pollen. Soon I should be seeing the rest of my vines bloom. I am giddy with anticipation.

My clematis wasn’t the only thing blooming this weekend. Some late flowering tulips opened up.

And my little violas keep producing these gorgeous miniature flowers that greet anyone that comes to my door.

Ahhh…spring, how I love you.

A little Orange

The usual suspects are blooming already; hyacinths, tulips and daffodils. All beautiful and they help lift the dreary veil of winter and parade in spring. What I didn't expect were the pansies I planted last fall to add some autumn color to my flower beds to survive the long and cold winter, and then to bloom. But they did, their riotous color greets me every day when I return home from work. You can't miss the bright orange. I love my hyacinths, tulips and daffodils and can't wait to plant more; but these pansies make me smile especially after a long day behind a desk.

24 Days and Counting...

As I watch the snow fall once again I begin to realize that even though it seems like spring will never get here, actually it is only 24 days away according to the calender. Soon it will be time for me to start working in the garden. I have started collecting my seeds and planning my layout.

Tomorrow at lunch I have a trip to Lowe's planned with a friend. She has a purpose, I am just going to fawn over the bulbs and seeds. Then I will fall in love with a bulb or a seed I have never grown before, which means it needs to come home with me. Once home I will have to figure out a place for it. Sometimes I get a little implusive.

I have come to realize I don't have a gardening style per se, and still being new to gardening when I see something I like I want to add it to my garden. Maybe my style is...hectic, I mean...eclectic. Yeah, I like that. A little bit of everything poking its head out; roses, cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers, columbines...

Last year was a great learning experience. I did find out that I won't be so heavy handed with the Morning Glories, if in fact I even plant them at all. They were gorgeous but soon took over, like mad crazy, just like everyone said they would. Live and learn. In my front bed I hope to plant wild zinnias and cosmos. Both grow tall have beautiful flowers, are hardy, and they make me happy.

The rest of the beds are still in discovery. I need to find some good shade flowering plants. I do a lot of inpatients, which are great but now I think I want to change it up a bit.

Only 24 days til spring....the countdown is on! Can I last that long?