Flooded Garden

What a difference a day makes!

On Saturday I  showed you where I planted my new perennial geraniums from Breck's.  On Sunday it rained and rained.  Monday night it snowed.  Today the temps were in the 20's and the garden looks like this:

Every year they send me orders to plant and  I always think it is too early.  But they send instructions that say "plant immediately upon arrival".  So I did.  I hope the new plants don't die from all the water.

Breck's Double Geranium Collection Arrived Today

They look great with very healthy-looking roots.   I went out and immediately planted them.

Just so I can remember where they are, I am posting these pictures:

Southcrombe Double planted here:

Birch Double here:

Summer Skies Double Here:

If I don't take pictures to document where they are, I will forget and dig them up to plant something else!

Early this morning, I finished putting together this quilt block of a pilgrim lady carrying her Thanksgiving turkey to the table.  Now I can begin to make her husband, who's carrying a pumpkin.  It's a fun project!

Spring has Finally Arrived!

It's been in the high 40's - low 50's for a few days and  most of the snow has melted in my main gardens.

Notice all of the Alberta Spruce shrubs have the brown tops...

Thank you all for your kind comments regarding the Alberta Spruces.  I hope they will survive, but, after a bid of internet searching, I am not very optimistic.  I have a yew hedge that is also brown.  That will probably be OK, but from what I have read the Albertas don't come back.

After the snow melted, I noticed that I left my ceramic frog out all winter. Do you see him in the bottom pic? I am surprised he is still intact! It is amazing how snow can protect the plants as well as items that one would expect to crack from the sub zero temps.

I am hoping I can get out in these two gardens this weekend to do some raking.  It all depends on the weather...it may rain...maybe even snow.  I am sure we can expect at least one more snow storm.

I hope you are all enjoying your spring in whatever state you are in!

I Could Just Cry

The winter of 2013/2014 has been so brutal! I planted this Alberta Spruce in 1986. It matured into the exact size I imagined way back then when I wanted it to grow tall enough to cover the electric meter. 

After the brutal temps of this winter, it looks like this:

99% of it is dead.  I have over a dozen of these shrubs and every. single. one. looks. like. this.

I am so sad. I feel like moving into a condo and letting someone else worry about the landscape.

Winter Purchases

I have not been buying many clothes this winter because I have more than I really need. But when has that stopped us?  LOL.  I did buy a few new things that I can show you:

This beaded fedora to wear in the garden:

I have an orange tote that it will go nicely with, should I decide to wear it someplace other than the garden.  I am not really a hat person, so I probably won't wear it in public.

 

these two sweaters:

I have not worn the navy one yet, but I've worn the aqua one three times and really like it.

 

This black/white shell:

 

I wore it last weekend with black jeans and a white jean jacket--loved it!

 

I also bought this bench last month:

I have wanted one of these for years.  I put it in the family room and store shoes in it. There is a door to the garage in the family room.  No more shoes visible by the garage door!

 

I bought this beverage dispenser:

I thought it would be great for large gatherings on the deck this summer.  Only problem is I never have large gatherings!!

 

Finally, I purchased this chef's torch in December:

 

 

I had visions of making a  delicious crème brulee dessert.  So far I have not used it. :) 

 

How often do you buy something and never use it?