tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133095742024-03-07T13:26:31.075-06:00The Obsessive GardenerSylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-11703706741494992622017-07-28T00:13:00.000-05:002017-07-28T08:35:29.817-05:00New Plants This Year"Elena" asiatic lily<br />
"Fire Island" hosta<br />
"Lakeside Little Tuft" hosta<br />
"Stained Glass" hosta<br />
"Little Rocket" ligularia<br />
"Revolution" hosta<br />
"Vialii" primula<br />
"Sunflor Beetle" dianthus<br />
"Mesa Yellow" gaillairdia<br />
"Jade Tuffett" sedum<br />
"Cherry Berry" miniature hosta<br />
"Blue Mouse Ears" hosta<br />
"Moonshine" pulmonaria<br />
"Mauna Loa" daylily<br />
"Apricot Drift" rose<br />
"Brandy" rose<br />
"Heartstrings" asiatic lilySylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-23735117354128055222017-07-26T20:45:00.001-05:002017-07-26T20:45:53.297-05:00What is this?I have this glorious helper volunteer growing out of the edge of my foundation planter. I have seen it in my garden for years. Sometimes I let it grow, and sometimes I pull it up; but I have never been able to identify it. This is probably it's element right here - a hot, dry place where it can be abused.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE15lX5klj9lPmc6m7jlraQe4yqmZ3Tc58Z0B2VhYxO0vx4hwikhbVgvDgYt-4P0TmjUSeDAxDUusnALBLzdVAOL_AMD4Ao1WgkgWTMsrx_0MJRxJxQmdUk3IdfpDBIL3Av5FetA/s1600/DSCN4633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE15lX5klj9lPmc6m7jlraQe4yqmZ3Tc58Z0B2VhYxO0vx4hwikhbVgvDgYt-4P0TmjUSeDAxDUusnALBLzdVAOL_AMD4Ao1WgkgWTMsrx_0MJRxJxQmdUk3IdfpDBIL3Av5FetA/s400/DSCN4633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Any ideas what it is? </div>
Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-75748064484273667822017-07-26T19:01:00.001-05:002017-07-26T19:01:54.018-05:00I'm back!Hard to believe it's been 5 years since I was last on this blog. I had to stop blogging for a bit due to some life things (everyone's got them). Then I lost access to my blog account for a bit. But I finally wrestled back access, and plan to do a few updates of my garden (since I also managed to wrestle it back as well ;)<br />
<br />
Here are a few pictures to tide you over.<br />
Spring always seems to look so fresh:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2AoNwMSvB6YPzmhUylvIQBG3p7Jv1E1PvyFxNnzQfrV2eTqs3bP-f48bg52hyphenhyphenKrHBik6gk5MTXQ8KfGUi0_7AQUso6LGY8aC_mKcYFrKuZwCjNeL9o4H-HupOzgk1WsMeW-2Ow/s1600/DSCN3637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2AoNwMSvB6YPzmhUylvIQBG3p7Jv1E1PvyFxNnzQfrV2eTqs3bP-f48bg52hyphenhyphenKrHBik6gk5MTXQ8KfGUi0_7AQUso6LGY8aC_mKcYFrKuZwCjNeL9o4H-HupOzgk1WsMeW-2Ow/s320/DSCN3637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkcH-IZqW-N2x_cxPCLYMBKWcNvT-ydSdVsyj0zok_XC1TROXm0J-RJmhxjVgcAypSBQWfbKEIv0BB4v97gpqZTFbakE0K-mSLiNBooI5z-037Ihb1TZs54pUclIlHgufRnFHLA/s1600/DSCN3638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkcH-IZqW-N2x_cxPCLYMBKWcNvT-ydSdVsyj0zok_XC1TROXm0J-RJmhxjVgcAypSBQWfbKEIv0BB4v97gpqZTFbakE0K-mSLiNBooI5z-037Ihb1TZs54pUclIlHgufRnFHLA/s320/DSCN3638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1514148463">Cleaned up my patio: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1514148463"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKdtilYx95VYLe6oOGG-Ixb8KfRLAWwBnvXNHcvlnaCNJGc6pxyFv3GZCBrMTibQGa2qXst_Wf6TPemavGzMFZfvE5l4VKPxOCHVQwbBIKITZ9gxXYquPAkg1E33J3T4Dgw4vPw/s1600/DSCN4624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKdtilYx95VYLe6oOGG-Ixb8KfRLAWwBnvXNHcvlnaCNJGc6pxyFv3GZCBrMTibQGa2qXst_Wf6TPemavGzMFZfvE5l4VKPxOCHVQwbBIKITZ9gxXYquPAkg1E33J3T4Dgw4vPw/s320/DSCN4624.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span id="goog_1514148463">Cleaned my other patio: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48ik4uhspl1b0BUAqwqtQJ2Ygs8odBU5H3DvZMp6BAVA8-pjPxQ04eIHlNnafR41Pi6WBbv4a-NnzmkMssDUWQVVuQ4N_oFRTNBSWnHXXjwSkg31KNCGVZxl6okpPHi8kTJicDQ/s1600/DSCN4625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48ik4uhspl1b0BUAqwqtQJ2Ygs8odBU5H3DvZMp6BAVA8-pjPxQ04eIHlNnafR41Pi6WBbv4a-NnzmkMssDUWQVVuQ4N_oFRTNBSWnHXXjwSkg31KNCGVZxl6okpPHi8kTJicDQ/s320/DSCN4625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><span id="goog_1514148463"> (seriously, you would not have known there was a patio here under all the weeds!)</span><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1514148463"> Cleaned up my gazebo:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKSzmqU6Rb8Ii2SLuhG1oJD28PFfHcPjb1E1eAuW-sG2zfQRfkT5ScTIv4hHwKF2kxQx8s-veeaym4sqCNrWAXgF0EOjruv2WPvOjHnOPTjmfX7nTTLkWSgBKdunx0ro-CGVRbA/s1600/DSCN4631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKSzmqU6Rb8Ii2SLuhG1oJD28PFfHcPjb1E1eAuW-sG2zfQRfkT5ScTIv4hHwKF2kxQx8s-veeaym4sqCNrWAXgF0EOjruv2WPvOjHnOPTjmfX7nTTLkWSgBKdunx0ro-CGVRbA/s320/DSCN4631.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1514148463"> (All that pathway and brick was buried in weeds)</span><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1514148463"> It's been great to get my garden back!</span><span id="goog_1514148463"> </span>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-35462101069098129782012-04-09T12:07:00.008-05:002012-04-09T13:18:53.186-05:00Green and Cheap Plant StartersI have been experimenting with making seed starters and planters using materials I would otherwise throw out. I wanted it to be something that would be disposable, as I am getting tired of finding space for all my plastic containers. I also wanted it to be something that I could possibly just plant in the ground with the plant. Here are a few of my creations.<br /><table style="width: 517px; height: 822px;" summary="" border="0" rules="none"><tbody><tr><td><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFlKYdf6IOUU37bnlfeWjOWhyFYyBTov0Gjylh4aYWVT0PtlduOEeVe6tQEOpTptNPE2dwzofWyYLwld8lV48ZcxrP7rPEZQAl2gS-Wu215yEi8G3WyhYAmPgVzXpbDoeOgesGA/s320/toilet+paper+roll+planters.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 187px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729454788331255602" /><br />I have seen some people using paper rolls for planters, so I decided to give it a try. I used mostly toilet paper rolls. I cut them in half, took a small square of paper, pushed the paper into the bottom using a tall glass that was just smaller than the inside diameter of the roll, and...</td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU6Re9kZo9a6uKpvU1yHIiHWwDFkOJj-Wzve3SpyoNu3Dzh4YLKQRdhLGBuIFGITr9CMgWecKgotYb32T7KQaPqYp6chjp22s_hROHgJxFZ1PsovleiH9j003z3HqLQikEXcy2A/s320/tp+planter+bottom.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 187px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729454792695136738" /><br /><center>voila! A small plant starter!</center></td></tr><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhBXTm9aba_JpLhbpacFwinncPCbaRuDX22UbWE6bizd2SWt6bvZ8PXr9G3EviE7tcfXiQEVBHkhL_d6PGBH9Ix4coCiKeUK90uAmggvUUnscFMWmr4NERwsz-Hs9TOlQbO5kTw/s320/tp+planter+mold.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729454835296703554" style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 187px; " /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlqwtLzlVIJxHQa49JdNlFulQYLp_MT6PLhCoCZwO4vVMOPx8lHfGLBXz8OU89gQ096cyyFINzajJG3MPTzFh6xG0hccEUb-VXd2mAPlNl4PsliHst5WmsY86rOrL3tToKsV9gg/s1600/start+tomatoes+2012.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlqwtLzlVIJxHQa49JdNlFulQYLp_MT6PLhCoCZwO4vVMOPx8lHfGLBXz8OU89gQ096cyyFINzajJG3MPTzFh6xG0hccEUb-VXd2mAPlNl4PsliHst5WmsY86rOrL3tToKsV9gg/s320/start+tomatoes+2012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729454846590288882" /></a><br />I did find the paper roll planters tend to get moldy, which was disappointing, but it ultimately didn't seem to affect the plants that much. Although the mold is gross, I haven't lost a plant yet, and all these tomatoes were started in the roll planters. </td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJEc9uvSBllvBMd6KWbaNEi0e5qmYijUgwQ0xwoOrJaU4p0S8YLbl5vjtI7TDWZeP5sw1dhFwSxlbbxcsLSNNFoLQHgVCxj7W4DK7o6EtN7rs988mvrF_meOrLUmQFobrR0ptRQ/s1600/origami+tray+planter.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJEc9uvSBllvBMd6KWbaNEi0e5qmYijUgwQ0xwoOrJaU4p0S8YLbl5vjtI7TDWZeP5sw1dhFwSxlbbxcsLSNNFoLQHgVCxj7W4DK7o6EtN7rs988mvrF_meOrLUmQFobrR0ptRQ/s320/origami+tray+planter.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729455336209270098" /></a><br />I tried my hand at origami. Origami is very difficult to do with newsprint!</td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqzK6MW9YKC8eqSDzcF7-bfml0cfI8eEkkJDdEt9yw_inV6Wd09UuXxmjhnysqwygwFvi5AiNOQjLYqxYppy_CWt2MBnT_B_Cc6kBrkA1Res_88_V34v-uzcrKir7s4xkilKcbQ/s1600/quick+newsprint+planter.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqzK6MW9YKC8eqSDzcF7-bfml0cfI8eEkkJDdEt9yw_inV6Wd09UuXxmjhnysqwygwFvi5AiNOQjLYqxYppy_CWt2MBnT_B_Cc6kBrkA1Res_88_V34v-uzcrKir7s4xkilKcbQ/s320/quick+newsprint+planter.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729455350562737922" /></a><br />So I improvised a little on this one, using a few cuts and one staple. It works, and is a great size for starting tomatoes.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fwmha7dg8JEPdJblOn_7nBvzLjNteIdH6nwPoOpzo-BS5iaHGkkA8Sc3H4SGk_2NSIyPYf7g2xJhwpq69E5vQS4k9PmkAhPA7iVVUHmbk6dfWoWmOgNVRDe9FGIg8dBbVsn_SA/s1600/paper+mache+planter.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fwmha7dg8JEPdJblOn_7nBvzLjNteIdH6nwPoOpzo-BS5iaHGkkA8Sc3H4SGk_2NSIyPYf7g2xJhwpq69E5vQS4k9PmkAhPA7iVVUHmbk6dfWoWmOgNVRDe9FGIg8dBbVsn_SA/s320/paper+mache+planter.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729455358761894578" /></a><br />Paper mache seemed like it might be easier, so I gave that a try. I used flour as glue. Although is was fun and did give me some good results, it did take about 15-20 minutes to make each one - and it was messy! </td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrQdBYOUwGowGadpOLbbMzYBYU2P4sC6tmYNQJGQdH9bpS1qA07_VN_386GRrVabraoRz6Jqu4TYOvALvHTofQ2Hye9JmKrY-sou8FLIa6YYVdZqjbu_Xovf-NtqJTLsfqqdYcA/s1600/fast+food+planters.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrQdBYOUwGowGadpOLbbMzYBYU2P4sC6tmYNQJGQdH9bpS1qA07_VN_386GRrVabraoRz6Jqu4TYOvALvHTofQ2Hye9JmKrY-sou8FLIa6YYVdZqjbu_Xovf-NtqJTLsfqqdYcA/s320/fast+food+planters.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729455341926440578" /></a><br />And although these I wouldn't plant directly into the ground, this was the fastest and easiest of all - fast food containers! Rather than throw them out, just wash them out and plant! </td></tr></tbody></table>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-65058435977469439112012-04-04T13:22:00.004-05:002012-04-04T13:32:44.810-05:00Simple PleasureI like to hide happy meal toys around my garden so that when I'm weeding I get a happy surprise.<br /><table style="width: 517px; height: 200px;" summary="" border="0" rules="none"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE6DiexMXijoms9l2wlkH2-2YOkC8S-DXKHTOqSQD8YEtsSH0Weu-WhFYcPqvQU-jjxihH16x41mTM3thdv7Sq5i-IxRrEaJuo9dt60Rd3_XLyYvfCyEwaay_kAOtCKYyje8zvg/s1600/DSCN7699.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE6DiexMXijoms9l2wlkH2-2YOkC8S-DXKHTOqSQD8YEtsSH0Weu-WhFYcPqvQU-jjxihH16x41mTM3thdv7Sq5i-IxRrEaJuo9dt60Rd3_XLyYvfCyEwaay_kAOtCKYyje8zvg/s200/DSCN7699.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727614403162836514" /></a></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceCoXkc3Up680kUUMIoarYw4tPGFCJj0AxrmziOv9Pu1oavBZeflwc2-jkVccc4g4ArHVNC-5KLr9eF929_2Y9cqeCTnmHLKUtI-orWI2Bp2B60_MWOOVXgMc_GMCGRaHLSQtEA/s1600/DSCN7700.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceCoXkc3Up680kUUMIoarYw4tPGFCJj0AxrmziOv9Pu1oavBZeflwc2-jkVccc4g4ArHVNC-5KLr9eF929_2Y9cqeCTnmHLKUtI-orWI2Bp2B60_MWOOVXgMc_GMCGRaHLSQtEA/s200/DSCN7700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727614376085990242" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-42744908801188005662012-02-20T03:21:00.003-06:002012-02-20T15:11:47.409-06:00Making Cultured ButtermilkContinuing on my "living like a peasant" kick, as my son calls it, I have tried my hand at making cultured buttermilk. Buttermilk runs about $2 a quart and milk is $4 a gallon. It just makes sense to make it myself.<div><br /></div><div>It is EASY!!<br /><br />I buy cultured buttermilk about every other week to make pancakes, mostly, but I also use it in cakes and biscuits. One week, I decided to replace what I used with regular milk. By the next weekend, I had a somewhat thinner version of what I had started with - but it was still very much buttermilky.<br /><br />I did a little research online and found that to get the thick buttermilk, you had to let it culture at room temperature for about 24 hours after adding the milk. This thickening is called clabbering. The cultures get their best activity at about 70F, which is why it was thickening so slow in the fridge.<br /><br />I was a little nervous about leaving dairy out for that long, but <a href="http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/cheese/buttermilk.htm">the website I was visiting</a>, created by a chemist, assured me that it would work and that he had done it for years. So I poured a little buttermilk in a quart jar and filled the rest with 2% milk (because that is what I had - he recommends whole milk). I put the open jar in a crock pot, put the lid on the pot, and waited 24 hours.<br /><br />And it did work!<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V_a4H5-LAJM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><br />What you should be seeing here is the thickened buttermilk pulling from the side of the glass. Can you see how thick it got? And it smells so good!<div><br /></div><div>I can't wait to use this in blueberry pancakes tomorrow!</div><div>Now I will always have fresh buttermilk and it will cost half as much!</div>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-85988867352606340052012-02-06T15:33:00.004-06:002012-02-06T16:01:47.429-06:00I Am Not Myself...I have no idea what has come over me, but I have become obsessed with tea cups!<br /><br />I was in a thrift store and they had a bunch of tea cups in the display case at the register. I saw one that really struck me, and the guy in line ahead of me said that he had been thinking about buying it too. I didn't have the money to get it then, so I left without it -- physically, but it was with me mentally as I couldn't quit thinking about it!<br /><br />So I went back the next day and bought it and two others, since there are three of us in the family.<br /><br />My husband suggested that we have "high tea" that weekend. We have an old fancy silver tea service and now had cups to go with it. We set up the table for tea, threw in some Vivaldi -- because nothing says hoity-toity like Vivaldi. My son thought it was so weird that at first he couldn't quit giggling. But everyone had fun and we decided that we would try to make it a regular thing.<br /><br />Then I started trawling eBay sneaking peaks at other tea cup and saucer sets. You know, just to see if I got good ones.<br />But then before you know it, I had placed bids on 5 sets!! Agh, what was I thinking? I openly said that I probably wouldn't win them all. Yet secretly hoped that I would.<div>I did! So, in a few weeks I will be the proud owner of way more tea cups and saucers than I have room for!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOWCuU63I9BRfiE7LN75wWcyJhSUuMR_jycjAAB1E8soPX-mhaxPKkDYtSH6OTeCxdvaDUBwdiuWQJD1zNDvQs9d9Q_IdjMzwufNN83VSp5FcvoX_awSqlIanPcq8eJYf_LsFHw/s1600/Mis-matched+Masculine.JPG"><img style="float: left; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOWCuU63I9BRfiE7LN75wWcyJhSUuMR_jycjAAB1E8soPX-mhaxPKkDYtSH6OTeCxdvaDUBwdiuWQJD1zNDvQs9d9Q_IdjMzwufNN83VSp5FcvoX_awSqlIanPcq8eJYf_LsFHw/s200/Mis-matched+Masculine.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706144809347530226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsADFQKGqMR_2pBAOYPE_XwW-xpDnaPLAioOeLdraJLrfxijhnj2uql9jSbs-rPQW1wBpE_oIx0JDxiIME-HL8nH_JNe1n1cg3dtwM5fxe03sHbAK6ZVtwf3nAdj0zFmQKFlj8Q/s1600/Orchid.JPG"><img style="float: left; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsADFQKGqMR_2pBAOYPE_XwW-xpDnaPLAioOeLdraJLrfxijhnj2uql9jSbs-rPQW1wBpE_oIx0JDxiIME-HL8nH_JNe1n1cg3dtwM5fxe03sHbAK6ZVtwf3nAdj0zFmQKFlj8Q/s200/Orchid.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706144803657848546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5Ah0aksvyRI_qTqJy4qVVMxNdxVgXyadf33G5sdWtxDvvUu2ZnlTgZFQAGo7vfNsbobnuuvFxA0nQuCX-RQngH2lFVo8SW8KrF1iqWYV8uhK76cFJMaC9rogRyQXRRHapE1TcA/s1600/Camillia.JPG"><img style="float: left; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5Ah0aksvyRI_qTqJy4qVVMxNdxVgXyadf33G5sdWtxDvvUu2ZnlTgZFQAGo7vfNsbobnuuvFxA0nQuCX-RQngH2lFVo8SW8KrF1iqWYV8uhK76cFJMaC9rogRyQXRRHapE1TcA/s200/Camillia.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706144796244082354" /></a><br />Here are the three I bought from the thrift store - the last one is my favorite.<br />I will post pictures on the ones I just won as soon as they arrive!</div>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-63026518543261424572012-01-04T10:04:00.015-06:002012-01-18T10:13:35.726-06:00I Love BreadI have been working on developing my bread making skills over the last few months and it is starting to pay off.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My Very Own Yeast</span><div>I had always wanted to start my own wild yeast culture, but had never been successful. It always seemed to get to a stage where it was smelling wonderful, and then the next day or two it went completely wrong and kept going more wrong.<br /><br />Then I found <a href="http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/233">this great recipe</a> for a starter at The Fresh Loaf. The secret ingredients are whole grains and pineapple juice. The yeast lives on the surface of the grain, so by using whole grains and grinding them yourself, you increase the amount of yeast that your mixture will have. The pineapple juice makes the environment of the mixture such that bios other than yeast do not find it appealing. I did not follow their recipe exactly. Here's what I did:</div><div>1/2 ground rye grain<br />1/2 pineapple juice from canned pineapple (I made an upside-down cake with the fruit)<br />mixed in a pint jar I had a lid for - just set it loosely on top.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnYjnkyMCq_KE6WBndBwfo_fXiHAy8qNAcVp9VLy0SHV-A2Fdt1AZf8usxpIq7BbvZs0zJdZQfvPY6BpBuQeuU0pQ-wHkBRbEs-8psn-P0XaZC5riPUDZvU_hFIdR1Y7gB5tfvQ/s320/ItsAlive.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697986441990432866" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />I checked it and stirred it every day, but really did nothing else to it. In less than 2 weeks, I got the bubbles and yeast smell I was looking for.<br />At this point I watched for liquid buildup on the top, then proceeded with the dividing and adding steps - pour off the liquid, take some of the mixture out, add wheat flour, add equal amount of filtered water (you don't want tap water chemicals in the mix). In another week, my yeast was strong enough to make a loaf.<br />My yeast is now over 2 months old and I have made many loaves with it. Yummy sourdough loaves.</div><div><div>Don't worry if you don't like rye. After a bit of dividing and adding, it all becomes wheat. And I have found that when I want to make bread, I can just pour the entire mixture into my recipe, swish the jar with some filtered water, add equal amounts of flour, and the yeast that was in the residue just takes right off again. I occasionally switch jars for cleaning, in which case I swish the water around then pour it into a clean jar and add flour.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOiIjISS0X5eOX6SmWkm_vfkYn3IGtCFalvVi2kofN4Pv679OZuhPv6mNkoNgbCxf_-s1aDQnS7brJd4wATseWkob_EO9LndH-9sr_9sEtsm8NtRrmmpf7YOrCHBcrmDPBGgimQ/s320/WildYeastLoaf.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697986434320580402" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 104px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><- see how fluffy the dough gets!</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Chewy, Crusty Bread</b></div><div>I became hooked on crusty bread when I was traveling Scotland. It was damp and cold, so every so often, I would find a nice coffee shop and enjoy a mocha and crusty bread. Heaven! Since coming back to the States, the only bread that has compared to that bread has been the <a href="http://www.newfrenchbakery.com/products/product_detail.cfm?CAT_ID=2&this_section_id=2">New French Bakery</a> baguette. Since first finding it though, it has been hit and miss to obtain. So I have been trying to recreate the bread.</div><div><br /></div><div>For months I have been reading bread making article on the web describing how to get the crusty crust from steam. I tried spraying the dough while baking and leaving a pan of water in the oven - it works best to use both. I also read about the need to develop the gluten. There are many different techniques, and I have tried and failed at a lot of them. Then I ran into this seemingly too-good-to-be-true technique: <a href="http://www.aresrocket.com/bread/">No Knead Bread</a>.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1jgr8y1eJAIOE0tZrgw6I9WHaYHBrwRfdra-5Z_fhVi2NlIrsarY1PffgFGEopHHNa-bx-ZWyGDOmOSvHB9-GXsxal_hEt6UZnoSKj9yv4vLd7RnMn9dpxs1Ra0GUK24tDAM2Q/s1600/DSCN7589.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1jgr8y1eJAIOE0tZrgw6I9WHaYHBrwRfdra-5Z_fhVi2NlIrsarY1PffgFGEopHHNa-bx-ZWyGDOmOSvHB9-GXsxal_hEt6UZnoSKj9yv4vLd7RnMn9dpxs1Ra0GUK24tDAM2Q/s320/DSCN7589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697997118608078994" /></a>Let me assure you, it is NOT too good to be true! I just baked my first loaf last night using the recipe and technique. Other than the fact that I burned it due to the fact that I was baking while also watching a very funny, and strangely appropriate to the situation show - The Worst Week of My Life - it came out beautifully. The technique calls for a cast iron dutch oven or Pyrex, of which I had neither. BUT, I had read in comments on other no-knead sites (see the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah9ES2yTU">New York Times YouTube video</a>) that some had used a clay pot cooker.<br /><br />I have several of those! And it works! Soak the pot as you would whenever you are cooking something in it. Oil it. Add the shaped dough to the pre-heated clay pot. Cover it for 30 min, then bake uncovered for 15 (not another 30 like I did!).<br /><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv1lCUD6X6ohyphenhyphenAvKkyuKEIg-XNRlDlYxdJPngU5tjlBtyUHBfQc5ZqSiL0jGGNWjeExos5Lkr8fXIylxlCIVEgnsQvG4EXSl5ciRZ1-CRO7bM4KlZR_NrthDLoHRpxgsh5ppUXQ/s320/CrustyBread.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697993691564324818" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 155px; " /></div>The crust was perfectly crusty. The interior had that perfect crumb that crusty bread should have. And it was delicious!!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><- This is not the loaf I burnt, and was even more delicious :p</div>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-81334183489032186802011-12-19T19:06:00.002-06:002011-12-19T20:34:17.422-06:00No New Tulips?!I just realized that it is now nearly the end of the year and I did not plant any new tulips! This is a first in 14 years. The fall bulb buying season just sneaked past me.<br /><br />That's OK though. I still have at least a hundred bulbs in pots that I didn't get around to actually getting into the ground this spring. That will still give me lots to do in the flower garden next spring.Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-86221621128425271662011-12-11T19:21:00.007-06:002011-12-11T20:21:04.386-06:00A Strange CoincidenceFor this weekend, I had on my "to do" list obtaining a piece of 4" piping to extend my downspouts since I had taken down the full length of downspout and installed shorter pieces to accommodate the rain barrels I had purchased a few years back. I usually take the short pieces off and reinstall the normal lengths, but I thought it might be easier to just get extenders.<br /><br />My husband and I had made plans to go shopping on Saturday for the material.<br /><br />On Friday, as I sat parked waiting for my son to come out of his dorm so I could take him home for the weekend, I noticed that the construction dumpster next to me had a piece of piping laying on top - the very diameter that I was looking for. I jumped out of the car and checked the length. It looked like it was the perfect length!<br /><br />I climbed up on the dumpster in my dress clothes as my son was approaching the car. "Mom?"<br /><br />"I can't believe my luck!" I shouted happily back at him. "They're just throwing this away. I'm taking it!"<br /><br />He just shook his head laughing.<br /><br />Turns out it was exactly the diameter and length that I needed. No waste and it freed up more time I could spend with my son this weekend. Win-win-win!Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-11518105127733008462011-11-28T22:53:00.003-06:002011-11-28T23:56:03.254-06:00Planning Big for Next YearAnd by <span style="font-style: italic;">big</span>, I mean tall and wide. I want to increase the amount of perennial fruit that I have growing so that I can put up more preserves for the winter - and even have some to give away or sell.<br /><br />I need a second pear to pollinate the Luscious that I have right now. Luscious is a very crisp, non-grainy, candy-sweet, pear with wonderful floral notes that is best eaten right off the tree. I need a good second pear. I like really sweet pears and would also like one that keeps fairly well. Any suggestions?<br /><br />I also want to start growing my own apples. I love Honey Gold, Honey Crisp, Fuigi and Golden Delicious. I also had some Chestnut Crabs that were awesome. Sweet, crisp, juicy apples are my thing. I would also like my apples to be maggot resistant - but who doesn't.<br /><br />My blackberries were not very good this year. Tart and not very blackberry. I'm hoping that they will be better next year as this was still only their second year. But if they don't drastically improve, I may be having a give-away on this blog!<br /><br />I really couldn't ask more of my raspberries. I'm not a huge fan of raspberries, but I really like these. I had more than enough to make several pint jars of jam, as well as having plenty for fresh eating and giving away - and that is just from a 4x8 bed.<br /><br />I want to build an arbor over my raspberry bed next year to help shade the area a little, and to grow kiwis! I ate some cold hardy kiwis recently and LOVE THEM! Hardy Anna and Ken's Red are supposed to be good. If any of you have experience with these plants please let me know. I have read that they can be stubborn to fruit and that under the right conditions, they can grow 25 feet a year. Not sure I know what I am getting into with that.<br /><br />Of the two blueberry plants I got last year, one is still alive and doing well, and who knows, maybe I will have some berries next year. But I LOVE blueberries and a small handful off one bush will not suffice - so I need to get more bushes. I bought Friendship last time since it is a wild Wisconsin native. If they are like the wild blueberries I used to pick as a kid in the North Woods, I will be happy. They were small, but sweet, with amazing flavor! But, I'm thinking that I would like to get one or two other varieties. I like lots of flavor and sweet (sensing a pattern here?).<br /><br />That's all I have planned so far. I already know where I will plant everything, which puts me way ahead of the game as I usually buy the plants and THEN try to figure out where to put them (which is why I only have one of the two Friendship blueberries that I originally purchased). If any of you have suggestions on which varieties to get, or even warnings against, let me know.Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-63502177404339038152011-10-17T01:46:00.004-05:002011-10-17T02:17:27.668-05:00Like the Gardening Season Never HappenedI lost nearly the whole growing season. I've been more than a bit preoccupied with other things this year. But I still managed to do some things.<br /><br />My raspberries produced two batches of berries this year. And I thought planting them in November would kill them :) I have been able to make two jars of jam from them so far. The berries have a very good flavor and produce a lot. I have no idea what variety they are.<br /><br />My blackberries produced one berry. So far I am not impressed with the flavor. A bit too tart. I will give them another year or two, but if their flavor does not improve, I am replacing them. I know someone who has wonderful blackberries that are in zone 3 so they should do just fine here. They aren't thornless, but neither are my raspberries.<br /><br />I got a bunch more apples from a friend and have been canning applesauce when I get time. Two years ago I burned out the connections in my electric stove canning - I think the canning pot was too big for the burner and overheated that side of the stovetop. Apparently a pan can be too big! I got a smaller pot this year from the local hardware store. It has still been slow going since I am down to two working burners on my stove - I desperately need a new stove! I received a fairly new gas stove for free recently (Freecycle.com is awesome!), but only have electric hookup. To get a gas hookup will cost me between $280 and $360. That will have to wait for now.<br /><br />I did get a couple of fruit roll-up accessories for my dehydrator. I haven't tried them yet, but when I do, I will let you know if I like them or not.<br /><br />I still LOVE my electric mower. We have not had any problems with it at all and I think that it mows the lawn even better than the gas mowers that we have used in the past.<br /><br />I also love my leaf vacuum/shredder. I saw it a couple years ago in a hardware store flyer for $20 so thought, "Why not?" I have not been disappointed. It sucks up the leaves, shreds them and collects them in an attached bag. I put the shredded leaves in my garden as mulch. The worms love it!<br /><br />I have to plant garlic yet this year and harvest the rest of my kohlrabi and beets.<br /><br />I got a volunteer tomato that has beautiful tomatoes and appears to be extremely cold hardy. The rest of my plants succumbed to an early frost; this plant didn't even seem to notice! I haven't tasted the tomatoes yet as they are still ripening, but I will update once I find out. If they are really good, I will be saving seeds to grow them again next year. Who couldn't use a cold hardy tomato? Most of my tomato volunteers have been weird Romas, so this is a really nice surprise.<br /><br />I also put in another patio. There is a space next to my house that has been a bed of weeds forever. I tore out all the weeds and laid in a brick sitting area. It is perfect for drinking coffee and surfing the web in the morning as it is out of the wind and sun. And now that area doesn't look like an abandoned lot.<br /><br />I did not buy hardly any plants this year, nor did I plant many vegetables. Next year, though, is going to be a stellar year. I can feel it!Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-25031285361948548062011-07-30T14:45:00.003-05:002011-07-30T15:36:06.195-05:00Electric MowerWe had tried out a reel mower for nearly a whole season. I love how quiet it is and that it is always ready to go with no start-up, but if your yard is uneven, or your grass gets too tall between mowings, the reel mower can be quite difficult to use.<div><br /></div><div>So we were off to the store to find an alternative. I was very skeptical about electric mowers because I never liked managing the cord with our corded weedwhacker, and I was certain that I would either be constantly re-plugging it back in, or running the cord over all the time. But my husband was leaning hard toward an electric mower. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were some cordless ones, but you had to plug the mower in to charge and I wasn't entirely sure that you would be able to continue using it while it charged. That would be inconvenient if you had a window of opportunity blown because your mower needed several hours to fuel up. So I was leaning hard toward a gas mower. And we had one all picked out when I changed my mind and decided I really wanted to try the electric one - cord and all. I do that. He's almost used to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>My worries about the cord were pretty much put to rest when we started using it. It wasn't hard at all to keep track of and the very movement of turning the mower allowed for a smooth repositioning of the cord. You will see me move my leg out on the turns which moves the cord enough to keep it out of the way. And even though it may look a little awkward during some turns, it wasn't. Most of that was just the awkwardness of turning a mower in general.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YAVDcfB0Atw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>The mower that we got was a Task Force 12A mower. We got it on sale at Lowes for $170, and a 100' cord for $17. It came with a 2 year warranty.</div><div><br /></div><div>Things I loved about the mower:</div><div><ul><li>The easy start. I no longer dread having to empty the bag as I know that restarting will be a snap. </li><li>This did not bog down in our tall grass; it went through like a hot knife through butter.</li><li>I didn't get vibration arm.</li><li>It is quieter than a gas mower.</li><li>It doesn't stink like fuel and neither do you!</li></ul><div>Things I hated? Nothing. The only thing that could make it better would be no cord and that it would mow the lawn itself. But I really don't have much of a problem with either.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I feel much better about using electricity than gasoline as our electricity is local and made via water power. Clean and homegrown!</div><div><br /></div>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-17883016248865998122011-06-19T14:50:00.005-05:002011-06-19T19:16:44.647-05:00In the Vegetable GardenThis weekend in the vegetable garden:<br /><ul><li>I got all 30 of my tomato plants in the ground.</li><li>I got all 16 of my pepper plants in the ground.</li><li>I got 4 broccoli plants planted.</li><li>I planted last years unused shallots - about 30 all together.</li><li>I got most of my squash/melon seeds planted.</li><li>I got some bean seeds started.</li><li>I started 3 trays of basil.</li><li>I got half my carrots planted.</li><li>I was harvesting spinach, cilantro and arugula.</li><li>I was giving out stray garlic plants that missed last fall's harvest. </li><li>I weeded the blackberry and raspberry beds.</li><li>I set up a chicken wire and marigold barrier around my peppers - eat that rabbits!!</li></ul><br />This week in the vegetable garden:<br /><ul><li>I will finish planting the carrots.</li><li>I will pot up the eggplant.</li><li>I will plant sunflowers.</li><li>I will plant dill.</li><li>I will pot up the fennel.</li><li>I will start the rest of the beans.</li><li>I will harvest some leeks.</li><li>I will finish caging the tomatoes.</li><li>I will discover there were 1/2 dozen other seed packets I had completely forgotten about...</li></ul>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-3092859450128831972011-06-08T09:41:00.004-05:002011-06-08T09:47:27.891-05:00I Just Can't Win This YearThings are finally starting to die down around here on the home front: some of the hubbub in the state has quieted, my son is out of school, our exchange student is going home, the graduation party is over, our dog is recovering from surgery nicely...<br /><br />And now it is TOO HOT TO GARDEN!! Bleh!Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-74340657692227809952011-05-15T09:17:00.010-05:002011-05-15T18:33:31.050-05:00GBBD May 2011My first <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2011/05/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2011.html">Garden Blogger Bloom Day</a> post of 2011, and things are looking pretty good out in the garden this spring.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtlc9Q9vIj_DTAkQnBI0aBIKqUl6YGWYbSaochC5z_6MG44s4BDV1tIj_Wu5cMzNV8FOcmSqthKcCQftw2kUzW5xqTcyR2ria9WIvOfzLNPo74xC6qZbF2jORMHFzehfEh478Iw/s1600/DSCN6420.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtlc9Q9vIj_DTAkQnBI0aBIKqUl6YGWYbSaochC5z_6MG44s4BDV1tIj_Wu5cMzNV8FOcmSqthKcCQftw2kUzW5xqTcyR2ria9WIvOfzLNPo74xC6qZbF2jORMHFzehfEh478Iw/s400/DSCN6420.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606949901271765458" /></a>Bastogne's Parrot are doing well. I did try to get more, but they didn't look like these at all, they were just red without much ruffling.<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOJT-cNv3MKUikI7w0hWD-zq9n-EOfhRYO5fT5lWUsHiE3yCCpwlgu4LcMc1sAr2yrPb0n2nRpsVAa6McDGreL_tjtTdu0VOQkgKLU6GqVRDnrmB0vy-5g_2LVWEBqOK1Fg3B5g/s1600/DSCN6418.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOJT-cNv3MKUikI7w0hWD-zq9n-EOfhRYO5fT5lWUsHiE3yCCpwlgu4LcMc1sAr2yrPb0n2nRpsVAa6McDGreL_tjtTdu0VOQkgKLU6GqVRDnrmB0vy-5g_2LVWEBqOK1Fg3B5g/s400/DSCN6418.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606949895004020994" /></a>Bleu Amiable and Sweetheart tulips are a great combination.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAICwYqecp-QHSfZ3W7M7A_LigOx9NvEEKS8GmKd_z2Sp8M055zV8JTAFtHCq2oIf51gYCGuYSp6g-X1mKcnAPTXvs4t4CucBaezYNhKHpl2a27X9FaA838Nwd6gvp2eY6Oga3kg/s1600/DSCN6417.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAICwYqecp-QHSfZ3W7M7A_LigOx9NvEEKS8GmKd_z2Sp8M055zV8JTAFtHCq2oIf51gYCGuYSp6g-X1mKcnAPTXvs4t4CucBaezYNhKHpl2a27X9FaA838Nwd6gvp2eY6Oga3kg/s400/DSCN6417.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606949890680529730" /></a>These white tipped tulips in with the Prinses Irene's came in a mixed pack. They look like Private Eyes, so I'm going with that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHC3QVgBHaxlqcpnpdCHEsGJWFXyDkCw0bBmfMsHln2zkBgYotC0WHdiZpO8_OPGIIhmN55GeyUtJqscLMkH4CVqZpAvFHsQzNnarCsp5NCYtBb1HcyUbXS90A2DhP0dPkB-Ig/s1600/DSCN6415.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrHC3QVgBHaxlqcpnpdCHEsGJWFXyDkCw0bBmfMsHln2zkBgYotC0WHdiZpO8_OPGIIhmN55GeyUtJqscLMkH4CVqZpAvFHsQzNnarCsp5NCYtBb1HcyUbXS90A2DhP0dPkB-Ig/s400/DSCN6415.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606949878710494978" /></a>Sweetheart tulips are definitely one of my favorite tulips.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHZG0V_8hTVyn3F09kfqZYzlKUaq0Wy66O8RnBM02KszugkHvpzjF8tAisLtLGU8Phy9A404VT0f8naWVj_CeJd1nLPdBESSwclCOjpeRdvEVuXuGeTdrgzyte-fghpQYW_fT4w/s1600/DSCN6422.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHZG0V_8hTVyn3F09kfqZYzlKUaq0Wy66O8RnBM02KszugkHvpzjF8tAisLtLGU8Phy9A404VT0f8naWVj_CeJd1nLPdBESSwclCOjpeRdvEVuXuGeTdrgzyte-fghpQYW_fT4w/s400/DSCN6422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606949905514877698" /></a>These are another of my favorite: Gavota. They are very hardy and multiply.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolpkttqE_AkBxfQT1q7OLHPotIhWwl_P-waHTBDP7N7blCP3Z0xFSx7Wcs2XIeQSnxlvKv-0qzmSkLZ0jECgxVPDsd6r8ADAajD-aK8HrbWKPvuU0ErpVX_-4GT4rpZaWNnkg2g/s1600/DSCN6413.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolpkttqE_AkBxfQT1q7OLHPotIhWwl_P-waHTBDP7N7blCP3Z0xFSx7Wcs2XIeQSnxlvKv-0qzmSkLZ0jECgxVPDsd6r8ADAajD-aK8HrbWKPvuU0ErpVX_-4GT4rpZaWNnkg2g/s400/DSCN6413.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606948713216613362" /></a>Abba are a rich red (which you can't see very well in this picture since the light is shining through the back). They look like roses.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E-y8i1m058Zuf7HmiwEH5vKHjVFFt5Ibus7PlCMjgeAndJp_EGx2nOh8RwOW7F-s6HUhtfuxQn2tUMkycfTVhpc1RI6w97XqqHtJPItFyHd-t-02_e1bmimgxgBA3_wpndagGw/s1600/DSCN6411.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7E-y8i1m058Zuf7HmiwEH5vKHjVFFt5Ibus7PlCMjgeAndJp_EGx2nOh8RwOW7F-s6HUhtfuxQn2tUMkycfTVhpc1RI6w97XqqHtJPItFyHd-t-02_e1bmimgxgBA3_wpndagGw/s400/DSCN6411.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606948706638725586" /></a>Here are my box bulbs in full bloom. I am planning to get some of these planted later today.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRLyA4bn7NMO8LGscy-FFKLMQWmNfwnngbBVp0Fpsmw5V4DM5Ccfba9UXFEl-G-4VbIZ00pAToIxJiWsBDtJyILK70WscNHD0eZJoxzsybWU22ZJ7A_3rnxiY7LeHkQW71DmF-A/s1600/DSCN6410.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRLyA4bn7NMO8LGscy-FFKLMQWmNfwnngbBVp0Fpsmw5V4DM5Ccfba9UXFEl-G-4VbIZ00pAToIxJiWsBDtJyILK70WscNHD0eZJoxzsybWU22ZJ7A_3rnxiY7LeHkQW71DmF-A/s400/DSCN6410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606948696833084450" /></a>Brunnera "Kings Randsom" - a non-tulip is blooming!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm03mTvx1HeOA32JQjHEr5gPHySbnLTj3U12dmU8IkBlUCk00ryiXRbZhnmT3b8Gl4H8Fbh04CqSZFEkvHWQez-CEt_Mn-lkleIUjXyMuyaA16oAOaYgNLudy0sS3IjEowUufl-A/s1600/DSCN6409.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm03mTvx1HeOA32JQjHEr5gPHySbnLTj3U12dmU8IkBlUCk00ryiXRbZhnmT3b8Gl4H8Fbh04CqSZFEkvHWQez-CEt_Mn-lkleIUjXyMuyaA16oAOaYgNLudy0sS3IjEowUufl-A/s400/DSCN6409.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606948689008353826" /></a>Another non-tulip, Mount Hood Daffodils.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOKjihiR2cBII0hMuo8qsOGHWm9Cdfap1bJF3KK3EGLUOtrcPSMGXGac6KQ9bRqMZcihWp6MG-Q6_QNxl8-ArrIc1g-O9vsOiu0UgTVmdj8NRjcrAvkITXhwTq9mrLgmzMTAoew/s1600/DSCN6414.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOKjihiR2cBII0hMuo8qsOGHWm9Cdfap1bJF3KK3EGLUOtrcPSMGXGac6KQ9bRqMZcihWp6MG-Q6_QNxl8-ArrIc1g-O9vsOiu0UgTVmdj8NRjcrAvkITXhwTq9mrLgmzMTAoew/s400/DSCN6414.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606948718307145026" /></a>Sunrise tulips give you the most bang for your buck; they are one of the first to bloom and one of the last to die back. Plus, they are just so beautiful and change their look as they age: creamy yellow with just a slight tipping of red, to fully blushed with a more distinct red tipping.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9Hk0DSZB_ZUV1GHLZCHZ1yxdMWP_PEdwi18zWDuAcrRmTJ8hB9243FoxGVUCsgGbv2pjgHfOt4Jd5XdyIytrUUgzaCTYKt9-uiYPl59nBfA1b7hNr9AHyKTBuWy5SR5VbkcX4g/s1600/DSCN6429.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9Hk0DSZB_ZUV1GHLZCHZ1yxdMWP_PEdwi18zWDuAcrRmTJ8hB9243FoxGVUCsgGbv2pjgHfOt4Jd5XdyIytrUUgzaCTYKt9-uiYPl59nBfA1b7hNr9AHyKTBuWy5SR5VbkcX4g/s400/DSCN6429.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606953135945944258" /></a>Tulip holding pen; I plant the tulips here until spring when I can have a better idea where they should go in the garden. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnMEBubjYrG7f7ODSaTIn1GWiaWGthFLFZOBBbroJ-T6k0WYr-j-_BLbaevwv6Qaug_t-IOFX3aRnFvfoceH6UGPk8L0P0z5AeoJScmjfRUXlHDbKB5bkGeOFEwtfsQZvH2lF-A/s1600/DSCN6423.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnMEBubjYrG7f7ODSaTIn1GWiaWGthFLFZOBBbroJ-T6k0WYr-j-_BLbaevwv6Qaug_t-IOFX3aRnFvfoceH6UGPk8L0P0z5AeoJScmjfRUXlHDbKB5bkGeOFEwtfsQZvH2lF-A/s400/DSCN6423.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606953126279379458" /></a>Tubergen's Gem is multiplying!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdTHu66hWU4tc-0wqtsgPyj5qks0F2W_Dh3ejECe_yFg-hdApgLA6ej7wQKhJt-OO6pydo7MkNLluiRoZ1ZC6eB8P2Pu0w63IZnkAHqHIEoZMYSdRK3XdbQoL7Wb9lBaQIK0WhA/s1600/DSCN6424.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdTHu66hWU4tc-0wqtsgPyj5qks0F2W_Dh3ejECe_yFg-hdApgLA6ej7wQKhJt-OO6pydo7MkNLluiRoZ1ZC6eB8P2Pu0w63IZnkAHqHIEoZMYSdRK3XdbQoL7Wb9lBaQIK0WhA/s400/DSCN6424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606953124019705234" /></a>Weber's Parrot... not quite what I had in mind. What do you think?</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8dRb4jAB4zz6-b8lpz-orEQpps5IUAD209O4l-IZfTPXA1QDK2x7xL5syscC2H1Neov-aqz2KzgsA3GWirhCYlpzc-r3LVB6LZuyt6C06Y7NVXu_DvAfT0v7Vg-HBurdSKYQkg/s1600/DSCN6427.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8dRb4jAB4zz6-b8lpz-orEQpps5IUAD209O4l-IZfTPXA1QDK2x7xL5syscC2H1Neov-aqz2KzgsA3GWirhCYlpzc-r3LVB6LZuyt6C06Y7NVXu_DvAfT0v7Vg-HBurdSKYQkg/s400/DSCN6427.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606953144835141522" /></a>Wide shot of the garden. Lots of tulips, and always more to come :)</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEFHPJ0JmR6egZV26VJ2AuqzcwT0lRVPQjR93PSf1XZa3yhS_rDvVAwpY7NOY0mbRmpcfzl_wuLkBNY85jfci1Qe3MAyVX93lpTZfJTLwvl-b9WYwqpCVdQqnTZvGU3BoOTSlDg/s400/DSCN6407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606954394021588370" />And an overhead shot from my upstairs window. Spring is such a great time of year!<br /><br /></div>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-78171677070391256982011-05-11T15:31:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:22:18.182-05:00More Tulips!Here are some more pictures from my garden. We had some 80F weather yesterday, so some of the tulips decided they had had enough. But there were plenty more to take their place.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7djZEk1DYqcLXQ5-aGOxRzuXueDvpyvHYn1dl745pY6tnd1maf5wErWQGP9tmC7VrfsPoBn3q3__s1cAYW_RqFmTgTS3fGaZH3B-mkQkBuKFh-MBw5mgtqVjpp-BPdlIDRlFLOg/s400/streetshotinner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605564668809027778" border="0" />This is a view as passerby on the street would see it. Looking good!<br /></div><br /><table style="width: 517px; height: 822px;" summary="" border="0" rules="none"><tbody><tr><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSxJuiSiKwUaqvPr7izvdgpNBXunB99CGJjpRnKKGxY73e7sIR5PnRrVVPebowaNBk1EluBnKyvWH9ik7MrO6a0gMLkam6zETBUjI7Z0XtB8wQ4uulakEqOowWmqxhlWa7x8R1Q/s400/bulbboxinbloom.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605559965885168050" border="0" /> I had lost my map to what was planted in each of these boxes, so I had to wait until they bloomed to see where I should plant them. Turns out that it was a good thing too as some of these were falsely advertised.<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBIf0WlOnp1RTAI34Zz313YIHcQoJiRHcjL7NP7H0Gq7vGT5Exa3lX9TFZN5bmm2jFz9z_fEp8qSIVSVhDjRrMZMFeLbRWg_FIZhK5pPlFGsaSClC-hfEs0pwFmcW0kMWrxDO7w/s400/bulbboxvoles.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605559972783710930" border="0" /> This was one of the fears that I had planting the bulbs in boxes - voles. They only got into one of the boxes though, but did eat most of the bulbs in the box.<br /></td></tr><tr><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9xHBaUkNrO7AUV_mQFxFWBAzlvYmI_1W6OiwTp7Nd_2boLCnSbpb5rQNqs16w2sypa7q0jUd_EIsytHIPytSJLFmk32Oeqo7cTAxIc63UyPX7xxFgx_kcp5pwTDQDfQX7lIqHw/s400/Sweetheart.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605559985234828050" border="0" /> These Sweetheart tulips are in my top three of favorite tulips along with Prinses Irene and Gavota.<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7vPLlsunxA_OVCTjcRJMHUCc8vfiepBqpkTnKNbQokmMacfPUkk9GHBCeusAHEoZngXwkOLOnrgUHRXHqMRbdkwiourN3Qk-EGkBlsyGv7FwEAmBRmNfCMlJVHwv_KuZeAALjA/s400/Webersparrot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605559977250998850" border="0" /> Weber's Parrot didn't turn out quite as I had imagined. Too pink and too yellow. Perhaps they mellow out. If they don't, these may end up being give-aways.<br /></td></tr><tr><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOi7le6jTzCPVAzqSNeM8PG3Z68w5Q5mwZbsDKEuNDrQRwdJU0RiVmeZhLA_4-LMpj4YvEpNRuyBM2_Rc97rqIQvV9RDqVs7QCOhN1hITA9yyosNtWJSjcE7we5dVF0kx3Unl4IA/s400/humulisBlueGem.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605559994693385762" border="0" /> Blue Gem: very touchy little guys, and expensive! But they are worth it. Love them!<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUHWhQjpzEWIxmisWCPx1MDvWC6P4fQIkJ-PLXk5j5w5QDLudEZSkOGzoBqR8afLfNjdi1s8lD_ne5rFeA8SbK2plpTnStbr126GwBhBQ_ts7-6sTd5TYATFh9Lsae9ELJM-T-Q/s400/Tubergen+Gem.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605561309557700450" border="0" /> Turbergen's Gem: These have finally started to multiply. They are one of my favorite species tulips (tied with Blue Gem)<br /></td></tr><tr><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeX9OeSZkzS3BC0aSm-uRapN7D4YzxywYkP-rirL84EbGbPft5hAnxCHBUcGTbWObwBcP5u6wwdlVUxpCkr-Ike25qEpV08I8B-cTNaKmSv-u5a_Zeq0ivK5HpLhdY5TEFMOk6g/s400/Abba.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605561318622042738" border="0" /> Abba tulips are a very rich red.<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03xLmXKIQIqH09C8tk8JWPOBiQjri_m__Ohb4QC8f06BmxPdMRKLC91VEfTWTFE17ANN7GGhWO1zjUBPj6ak5pZYsNKV1Rt9Wj-eTfEDACS7oiv32DPYwck3hZYKHlLVBOJFTDw/s400/gardenentry.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605562885404751570" border="0" /> This is the garden entry from our back door.<br /></td></tr><tr><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg3B9epEO1PcgMYAc3FNxm-V-Wg4TK9Z4FDNeClKrBH9_R8A_0kk5rbzPNUNRSnWToqW5U4hmA4xddZULk9eU7Oih-T2ZUqIY6C03X2ZeckzMA2t163mZY26KQbq93U7GVNK14g/s400/Salome.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605561314561151650" border="0" /> These Salome daffodils took years to finally bloom, but now they are blooming every year.<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSk8nRQ6NrDkGDSBQmC7UI43dyOfYaV_HS7rZLygOZpZKzvGtDQUlgPrLWcDhQdg_-fmCf24sA6nIDRKb43zNotyP3w3-b6U5EYJXsYhxgMPhAN1aZ80obBDdc9hP0cdNdANjvA/s400/Gavota.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605561324158279810" border="0" /> I prefer the Gavotas when the edges are white, but they are still one of my favorites even when the edges are yellow. Very classy looking.<br /></td></tr><tr><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgOY8VkbQ_ToxF2b42vIDFHsoEJ1sMeBH5F9VvePkvk_Dd3JwZ0BQlNIHek0Vd79DWXxssBVPk9cUboecP0DBJFG8vFtRpv7woCp_MY_XaVGlXjayOX8uOcgMvCip1rc452CPoQ/s400/SunriseBrightPurrisima.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605562882376024130" border="0" /> From left to right: Bright Parrot, Sunrise, Purrisima, Red Emperor (far background)<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbIiX2GFkklcTDF1SJsaOfZmc4aWmRVL_oxbwGKEknKGlh0_9lReAALeyEOePYlwmrFrjxujPswTJcAksxL5uCMpkgYHnPCCAXxFcMzDneVdQdIwZl4V_a_QrngF2QG4r2O_boA/s400/Obalisque.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605562872435413810" border="0" /> Odalisque tulips are very easy to grow and they give a nice punch of color without being gaudy.<br /></td></tr><tr><td> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfoXXc8lO6Xp2ZjVgZjsq1yG6gIKr7MPUx94UdZMUrrU-RBnVRotxdrOR-7iSVBpBxRlRG3ImLIcP1v_ehLkgNp20zHhg8pz6oC4vLnH90bnHWw2qyVKajejQfiLmFzjV55LSiA/s400/Dillenburg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605562864110198738" border="0" /> I had 12 Dillenburg but many dissappeared. For the last several years only two bloomed, but this year, four decided to make an appearance.<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXzPG-dNTcor_lWCF8UunwowEaJ_fMwSr0yNlVONZjE0x0QQBNEaaZTYZ9sILc7-u7gjJDSw4Y4ccRco6ub7wibBKkQkgjE8NphTLUsSY1VpSqpoVb1weRjPfCH-kaGLiHN9ezw/s400/PrisesIrenePrivateEyesSweetheart.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605564661715175554" border="0" />This is a shot of the far back garden as you come around the bend. Front to back: Prinses Irene, Private Eyes, (forgot the dark purple ones), Sweetheart, Bleu Amiable (to the right of Sweetheart), Purrisima, Sunrise.<br /></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4C4K4IRoWCeiPQW9PiyU4L7J8YMxIN6qsEh5cVKoP0cIXbn35U-Uz5Th3R4vVsJnDCPwUzaRl2BqJE_akZ9K8dOBax3FfHEstV4lsLonjCkb9twQog1Hv13mPMlq_FnHx7MJrA/s400/shedshot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605564674979707762" border="0" /> Another view from the street.<br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"> <img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jpvxaumwZwQ0LwSPmB_GnT-t1uS46p4EASdYPxY5OM4FbjQVlNyPQLpocGvZAYDmyMG6o0gR8IimwUjSHrEUj0LxYN_kyJ6fqJd6Mn9CsdkHqmZX4fCXpbcnjvUvOyICr__Nhw/s400/gnomeshot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605564652422145298" border="0" /> View from the yard.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-70074507798473329562011-05-07T00:59:00.007-05:002011-05-07T09:01:33.646-05:00Happy Mother's Day Weekend!<p>My weekend is packed! So I will just leave you with some pics from my garden.</p><table style="width: 517px; height: 822px;" summary="" border="0" rules="none"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnmLDZwQdpGcW0AmsGtfmFFRE_eLi8HIhKBelT1ozmSYNUrkdmbPsHhg0bCEVxUiBu4-_4tiMBpM7fAm15ScdE5sd3odfHoX5dpWJN8cM8pgYiRyNRUzKfhisSZ5UiwPeDQ5Epg/s200/DSCN6256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603851613827037522" /> Bloodroot</p><p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6QOl7inqKBdvCDmWACmO2w5m9yBjhTbCzkGQ5-4pqeUTAnECj6Keo5KrmTgo2919_RCsyt3m6EvNuo_XJfCDSfoZ8b6XVXHyqkxjw_OmHET1gLlJlgA3kOjGAqJ3N9jKJf40EQ/s200/DSCN6255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603851605600508034" /> hepatica </p></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td align="center"><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfwrBCF6XkD8R-8sN9jQR29DqZsE5DaYAqYDSoNWhhhAq_fThSSFwSbQ1eXA55CD7QtHJObRDXl6ciXrjqbsPF6ANfF9qvcHjSL7CaLR7SMQeWbIvg-nKz-BBPbKDTlVRd1t_-w/s200/DSCN6337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603854484428469058" /> humilis "Odalisque" </p><p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgm2drBTC0TqhORVuvvOjSqCx0B0US72sgqxnu5-vU6gD54ya6gkdjcqISBsw40t10o_c18Q2c1JR8jSGitARJYQCB74ph8zAuRmqTtS86NP8ETV6GqTYMitcTkTrxmN54dJd7Q/s200/DSCN6346.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603854506127507618" /> humilis "Alba Coerlea Oculata" </p></td></tr><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivX0w4GaAXK5neNE9lH0JK5R6UBJl_9_Icn2L1sWbveCxAKB4OzTtIP2kDCdSOVcrALEV5WTQmNdVlGncJEny_lmrihqKMaOJeH5YRVuPX9_L8puL6i63WJPSjf6ZyqDLjLUOBtw/s200/DSCN6330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603852984604693218" />The ramps I planted last year are doing great! </td></tr><tr><td align="center"><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvv9LK4Ps5axsixuH1CsDAt61WC0iccklsSS_q13our1cWyLMT79uq6ier7HasBueGqEnohwbDCX3UnBb4qZg-7BUtwOgjMLMzjCsLzUabAIil0BJQ6CC9WejV0oBAfxPe-SJRw/s200/DSCN6254.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603851600813261522" /> The front entry bed</p><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-hMMC-Ifd2E1sgokFBMQlwguATNMk1WpL3QzDP5i6xcI7bLUKH4o16ACpJstZk3tCztm1JEnRGWPEyGEaVJKO0B2ZBwJf8CdfnomnGKMxbSIMFub2wUc4msClYVGGsZyD6_81Q/s200/DSCN6328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603852980892338290" />Daffodils </p></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td align="center"><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfU6JD4PsqlU0AA4m5HUOEpqmM6SC6tWFnIwwtgPPfnB4KK9TiDi7F-c9rg-3hCGJMHNSU8J5kW-Twho-idHdaFtAekRe8GqyRKJ15Bbz7lhC2a8O3Et81XtrYO5ziplxvYfYBZQ/s200/DSCN6340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603854486629480338" /> Odalisque tulips and Thalia daffodils </p><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3vU12YUk_hV5UhkAMSLl0xZqx7JZjmSmtOgjhuRaNEKr0xdDU3TJZ4cgT92LyCBBoAiYNR5Tq0kbj3cm1nMy7hv1KIKv9Oeh_S4jpDAAt8tokQp53QgXY7N5HXIuLlggjfeYkA/s200/DSCN6332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603852989525347250" />Peony<br /></p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQG2aVY7nRtTbdcog4BOzWuccqb2vGVW28IsATHMODG-auqdTPYKGDda78K0r0CyIN7N6VRRvGY8TzkBk7aITQnPMWRT13Ol8ODJtWnOjBBF8zPLm7HEBeHVld869qANyZBQ0AQ/s200/DSCN6327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603852978757809346" /> Calypso </p><p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_r32ytBYV8z4y6eqsqP_mepLGWqp4cOSZT-5t_B4-CnL0jcUqo0CesmIRyAsQ9OYIvFWYxDAxh_ASxwVQWdhGfcVcSpkYduJd6-EwxGiq4ACxhU52GQUlCKaoh-rSqK2OZ97zw/s200/DSCN6344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603854495233747650" />Sweetheart </p></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td align="center"><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdRlHcSVNnS9ONGjHjrlPCYlEy62GB958Eqb4nnD8wQmLQm3oGNGC-95edQDowMQcMTK-_ppnLsa0cByUypHw-CaKzhPE9FT1fFQUCdP1RVhSWXEm6K9NRzGbcFtec6p3AebuRA/s200/DSCN6334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603852997734561746" /> Mount Hood w/Orange Emperor tulips in the background</p><p> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cQRt7O07sZclt5NDGnoHGlOUtKIa4o4Mk3FHbFb4VIn7GRiDQm7rOueNmGLhjKX3qnrA7cKCVqAsUWQJCCTBTzAWwqd05oSjiumxtLKLKq4t6xZDHoOQsKxIkwFVPQn5LDp7mw/s200/DSCN6342.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603854493957571362" />Sunrise w/Purissima in the background </p></td></tr></tbody></table>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-60175599945076397622011-04-19T19:50:00.004-05:002011-04-27T02:23:33.157-05:00The Bulb Boxes<p>I love tulips. So much so that it has become harder to find places for the new tulips that I buy every year - especially since they are sold in the fall when you can not see what is already planted. I got sick of accidentally digging up established bulbs, so I started planting the bulbs in plastic planters. That has worked out really well, but I wanted to see if cardboard boxes would work too. Verdict?</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI30Z-8pnMBrCEzM9Qg5MuedsWywBGzQ1eFd2n_LVIVg3wRZTZWDT9NNXY1xDC5wFOdck2IGq38KtRkLtOokAIHNyZUsQP2bZeymWtKnCbrTGw0ufbAoTHXFq5KCRldlJsSwzTuA/s1600/DSCN6225.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI30Z-8pnMBrCEzM9Qg5MuedsWywBGzQ1eFd2n_LVIVg3wRZTZWDT9NNXY1xDC5wFOdck2IGq38KtRkLtOokAIHNyZUsQP2bZeymWtKnCbrTGw0ufbAoTHXFq5KCRldlJsSwzTuA/s200/DSCN6225.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597462813258341826" /></a>They do!</p>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-74453498718367097132011-04-17T01:28:00.005-05:002011-04-18T11:36:55.428-05:00Gardening Begins for 2011I did finally get out to do some gardening this last week. And I was so excited to see that things were even starting to bloom!<div><br /> <table style="width: 517px; height: 822px;" summary="" border="0" rules="none"><tbody><tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ov_MOyUyxthWPKcjH2cvOHaPP5YEsuPR3Uq1zzw4iAM8JCLOn-gQfeYgMMRWZ_6wDAlEp-OoyPzzgK0NdFaeWgDLqL-xNzGYpfhwmFbOokvpOo2bmslKfsYinfFh0YLOC6LhhA/s200/DSCN6141.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596436021786537154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 200px; " /></span><br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrER3cv5Vg5CWSF9IPO7lFO-WQroIB7UZ-b2Z5LyT4nWQW74yjtCGtjd-YqdNhu2z8dohWy48F0IzIXMMhvPtkigI20NLSrscGUnrVHnNv0m39_GcXfg4cYD-PJ8K6U_PplNpEhQ/s1600/DSCN6142.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrER3cv5Vg5CWSF9IPO7lFO-WQroIB7UZ-b2Z5LyT4nWQW74yjtCGtjd-YqdNhu2z8dohWy48F0IzIXMMhvPtkigI20NLSrscGUnrVHnNv0m39_GcXfg4cYD-PJ8K6U_PplNpEhQ/s200/DSCN6142.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596436037829225042" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr49FY0LXUz09Fkoekv1YFAV-QNyCwPHIEQ1X-0c61oVmFtxug45iUNolSTYYN0lp3hiZf2-86RpZwZv4p4RscXAxyWDERsnI5oTL391gZfLOLlBYg7V1cuTVUS6_YeLwzuG4Bw/s1600/DSCN6145.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr49FY0LXUz09Fkoekv1YFAV-QNyCwPHIEQ1X-0c61oVmFtxug45iUNolSTYYN0lp3hiZf2-86RpZwZv4p4RscXAxyWDERsnI5oTL391gZfLOLlBYg7V1cuTVUS6_YeLwzuG4Bw/s200/DSCN6145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596436059142069362" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK7n7-oAVLk2_tEuVwlJ4YgBTNgVO_QwBHFxhnTwFLzM_uSQR-ZCz4VrLN3o4-vuNQjdzt7YGIIl9VG3DsEyU8MKhJmZBqTRZ_Lmt_9O2IakkifWa3AaC0sL1RRlprG5e8QoIRA/s1600/DSCN6144.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK7n7-oAVLk2_tEuVwlJ4YgBTNgVO_QwBHFxhnTwFLzM_uSQR-ZCz4VrLN3o4-vuNQjdzt7YGIIl9VG3DsEyU8MKhJmZBqTRZ_Lmt_9O2IakkifWa3AaC0sL1RRlprG5e8QoIRA/s200/DSCN6144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596436051293922514" /></a>Crocuses are easy multipliers.<br /><br /></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVLz5LUs1WDSb_LLosLYz2xBf6tfIQlYl1sSyzs-1clLLVwNnCRSzJjkHgxqHOFdnggEy3zqA1KhoSvCjViKD_7nu7lWr9w9itNiqTeCMdkVi4sxTdYgZ4kbliva7X1Ob9xgnLg/s1600/DSCN6143.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVLz5LUs1WDSb_LLosLYz2xBf6tfIQlYl1sSyzs-1clLLVwNnCRSzJjkHgxqHOFdnggEy3zqA1KhoSvCjViKD_7nu7lWr9w9itNiqTeCMdkVi4sxTdYgZ4kbliva7X1Ob9xgnLg/s200/DSCN6143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596436045915785154" /></a>They are the earliest bloomer.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbhv95BOm5IWB6O77Gxg2T5nlSagaUwI1J56f5E-EyuuhWB2L-UETS3kVRwvFjgTAj8R5pa6MqoOHGcvW9OL3JNi_oHM09OCcF197fZsS8aitcZ0IrVr6lg81pqGg6XPJ4vtKQw/s1600/DSCN6146.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbhv95BOm5IWB6O77Gxg2T5nlSagaUwI1J56f5E-EyuuhWB2L-UETS3kVRwvFjgTAj8R5pa6MqoOHGcvW9OL3JNi_oHM09OCcF197fZsS8aitcZ0IrVr6lg81pqGg6XPJ4vtKQw/s200/DSCN6146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596437422413404018" /></a>Dutch irises are great en masse.</td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGHhgioamkDxiuhsyM5cS0PC4sKpJx569K_qKkZ7rjaOAQ-heasHrVNqgfgEKLNoctud5Nf-6u4qRDebXL9uiyKtzY7U5xPM7JLDQf-1DEAxiyWMoceF9WeZBYZlD-gg0zifxWQ/s1600/DSCN6149.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGHhgioamkDxiuhsyM5cS0PC4sKpJx569K_qKkZ7rjaOAQ-heasHrVNqgfgEKLNoctud5Nf-6u4qRDebXL9uiyKtzY7U5xPM7JLDQf-1DEAxiyWMoceF9WeZBYZlD-gg0zifxWQ/s200/DSCN6149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596437427029584530" /></a>The Pickwick crocus are big and multiply well. I like the stripes.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFJmxzxq9KDCgeYsISPnWPbp5Of67ImFgmTpNBneRe6ILMFG9qgptFaZ_0stB15cb0iCzoZ0it6PQb7biULzCjujYgTbEHEDgs3dUYL-HLyLmmd7vo5uYl_YKXoBko0C7xNiF6A/s1600/DSCN6210.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFJmxzxq9KDCgeYsISPnWPbp5Of67ImFgmTpNBneRe6ILMFG9qgptFaZ_0stB15cb0iCzoZ0it6PQb7biULzCjujYgTbEHEDgs3dUYL-HLyLmmd7vo5uYl_YKXoBko0C7xNiF6A/s200/DSCN6210.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596437433909407170" /></a>And then last night it snowed. </td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCNVDbCeUwUfsU1PodYlBFKAjTnOmtlBb1ISFwsyowdJ_F-dQ60Exoi-zWgV1XMimV6gNGzaSA5KpBxka1iJLsi3ONNSOi72iUwArGjSfmA33oVGDyemsBNb9GvWkru05BN-qrA/s1600/DSCN6215.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCNVDbCeUwUfsU1PodYlBFKAjTnOmtlBb1ISFwsyowdJ_F-dQ60Exoi-zWgV1XMimV6gNGzaSA5KpBxka1iJLsi3ONNSOi72iUwArGjSfmA33oVGDyemsBNb9GvWkru05BN-qrA/s200/DSCN6215.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596437439051986962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">But the hyacinth...</div><br /></td></tr><tr><td><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-7HbTXdP_N3O-Ni-7OUQViI7qjjjijmV3YPc8KRuKI_FX7B3vX9pJela66F0LFNmZmp8aEalWHgYGf28R5sVQVV1CocpvoedBUqWj0tbekU3GioiGzrP3A2j1WbuGzjUDxL64g/s1600/DSCN6212.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-7HbTXdP_N3O-Ni-7OUQViI7qjjjijmV3YPc8KRuKI_FX7B3vX9pJela66F0LFNmZmp8aEalWHgYGf28R5sVQVV1CocpvoedBUqWj0tbekU3GioiGzrP3A2j1WbuGzjUDxL64g/s200/DSCN6212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596437435689751714" /></a>the tete-a-tete daffodills...</td><td style="vertical-align: top;"></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o_cwUopvW8Uv5MnQfcYXp5J0-cOLFWv9mWrSQAbEnehLWBl5kIfKIUm2_F4ZcwA_W-lY5wwjIcXTMBFrab9RVF8U6-80hMNXOZDtBXH5xSs5so5-Ih1wWAq4BEkQp5vmyhUX7A/s1600/DSCN6217.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o_cwUopvW8Uv5MnQfcYXp5J0-cOLFWv9mWrSQAbEnehLWBl5kIfKIUm2_F4ZcwA_W-lY5wwjIcXTMBFrab9RVF8U6-80hMNXOZDtBXH5xSs5so5-Ih1wWAq4BEkQp5vmyhUX7A/s200/DSCN6217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596438812168457762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and the chionodoxa will be fine.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-8628756182238761052011-03-11T10:19:00.003-06:002011-03-11T10:45:06.423-06:00Garden at the WaysideI just want to update on what is going on with my gardening - nothing! I have been so busy the last month preparing two rental units for new tenants. I pulled up carpeting to find an oak floor in the house and proceeded to refinish all 650sqft by hand, as in with a belt sander! Hard work, but worth it. It is beautiful! Maybe I will post on the results.<br /><br />AND, of course, there is the huge hubbub going on in Wisconsin which you would basically have to not watch the news to not know about it. I have been kept VERY busy with that, in fact, that is what I will be doing this weekend instead of starting my seeds. And when the Obsessive Gardener can't even concentrate on gardening during the growing season - you know it is pretty important. Power to the People!<br /><br />I have taken the entire next week off, so I should be able to squeeze some time in to get some seeds started. So check back then!Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-28402233049742668662011-01-23T22:31:00.001-06:002011-01-23T22:31:58.684-06:00OMG!!!THE SEEDS ARE IN THE STORES!!!<br />:)Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-82223321050063812892010-11-09T13:35:00.003-06:002010-11-09T20:41:21.835-06:00Done Planting!Well, it seems to have taken forever, but I managed to get the last of my bulbs planted today. I went lazy and planted larger bunches in cardboard boxes rather than a few bulbs each in a gazillion plastic pots. I'll let you know how this works next spring. I figure that the bulbs will be easier to get at since I can just tear the cardboard away -- or even just plant the cardboard with the bulbs!<br /><br />And, I managed to get my garlic planted too!<br /><br />In the process of cleaning my garden for fall, which I almost never do, I even found some plants still in the pots that I bought them in. Oops! Now I have no idea where to plant them. Perhaps they can tough it out in the pots over winter.<br /><br />I finally laid out my blackberry bed. Hopefully I will get some blackberries next year! The raspberries I planted out in nearly frozen ground last year did just fine and even gave us fruit this year!<br /><br />I think my blueberry plants may be a lost cause. Oh, well. I can always try again next year. Besides, I plan on planting a ton of blueberries eventually. They are my favorite fruit. Then blackberries, then mangoes. Too, bad I can't grow mangoes.<br /><br />I still have to pack up all my gardening supplies for a few months. I've been so busy this year, I am really looking forward to a little snowy respite.Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-5199577164699720432010-10-18T01:24:00.005-05:002010-10-18T15:49:45.604-05:00Tulip Haul 2010I can not believe that it is already tulip time. And I was horrified to see that Menards had drastically parred down its bulb offering this year. They decided that instead of devoting a whole row of shelves to bulbs, they would put just a few out in one of their alley squares. Seriously I thought I was going to have a melt down. Where was I going to get all my bulbs and still be able to afford them?<br /><br />Well, it looks like Menards is still offering a big variety of bulbs (maybe not as many as they used to), but instead of having them all out at once, they are putting them out a little at a time. The jerks. How am I supposed to plan my color, timing and texture schemes?<br /><br />So, forget them. I did still buy quite a few from them (245 tulips, 12 daffodils, and 35 Dutch irises) but I refuse to run there every week just to see if they have anything new out yet. What a racket.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElIXP3svpAetA63ySZ1gA9O5ZAc8mv3jWoQKgrRqtC1gb_rUKK1YWyvMurQq6pAe7sLHstH0YsbdPfXJIMDnBLNd-OcUYBDP_ECQ-3_ebqUyYER11_dU2NHRCBt5cejARmUSkyA/s1600/DSCN2558.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElIXP3svpAetA63ySZ1gA9O5ZAc8mv3jWoQKgrRqtC1gb_rUKK1YWyvMurQq6pAe7sLHstH0YsbdPfXJIMDnBLNd-OcUYBDP_ECQ-3_ebqUyYER11_dU2NHRCBt5cejARmUSkyA/s320/DSCN2558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529286701791552578" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to finally try out a couple of the other bulb companies that I have learned about since starting my blog. Thanks to many of my garden blogger friends, I chose Brent & Becky's Bulbs. Their order came fast and the bulbs look nice.<br /><br />The other company I tried out was Blooming Bulbs. I had found them while looking for sites with good visual tulip indexes. They had really good prices on bulk bulbs, and they had a few that I had been having trouble finding. Their order came even faster and their bulbs look very healthy and well labeled.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkJZ01kuPFbJsLx3lJowoENySm6lPqZtTRmgHzM_5qNKkzJxyk3iNhX09qqSzV_wTwXDzQ8SzswjPkdrV0lcnn7-97iFqrQbqJi32BAHZGcbiIyBgLT2gkXTl1vAtlkUmYcrKjQ/s1600/DSCN2574.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkJZ01kuPFbJsLx3lJowoENySm6lPqZtTRmgHzM_5qNKkzJxyk3iNhX09qqSzV_wTwXDzQ8SzswjPkdrV0lcnn7-97iFqrQbqJi32BAHZGcbiIyBgLT2gkXTl1vAtlkUmYcrKjQ/s320/DSCN2574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529287070681728146" border="0" /></a><br />Now the last test will be in the planting. I have had a few problems with tulips not being what they claim to be -- especially with ones bought on the internet. Breck's has done it to me at least three times. Unfortunately that means waiting until next spring since tulip bulbs pretty much all look the same.<br /><br />Tulips purchased from Brent & Becky's Bulbs:<br />Rem's Favorite (10)<br />Sweetheart (20)<br />humilis 'Alba Coerulea Oculata' (5)<br />total 35 at $48.<br /><br />Tulips purchased from Blooming Bulbs:<br />Cummins (25)<br />Rococo (25)<br />Weber's Parrot (25)<br />Persian Pearl (25)<br />Greenland (25)<br />Spring Green (25)<br />total 150 at $110.<br /><br />Tulips purchased from Menards:<br />Van Eijk (28)<br />Purple Prince (14)<br />Zouave (30)<br />Kung Fu (45)<br />Odalisque (30)<br />Purissima (56)<br />Yokohama (28)<br />Apeldoorn (14)<br />total 245 at $48<br /><br />So you can clearly see who wins out on bulb bargains. Also, the flowers have always been what was described on their package and the bulbs have proven to be very comparable to even Brecks.<br /><br />Fine, Menards, you win. I'll be there later this week to check again...<br /><br />[update: OK, so I went back today. I had a $10 rebate to cash in, so I bought Synaeda Orange (15) and Yellow Pomponette (15). I also stopped at Fleet Farm and bought Shirley (14) and Apricot Impression (30). That's 74 more tulips to my already 430. Now to find time to plant them all...]Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309574.post-89364704942360679072010-10-11T21:41:00.008-05:002010-10-18T01:24:00.325-05:00Corpse Flower Live Feed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ0AomD-l5sVye6DJE2M5VRp06kzSw3a7M6Dhy-2akFhsm-Cq8mBSoEqkJvbOU7ZTfV8FmDEMLIBW8uNUOGqKOD7plrEelkwwNmvjYpqg_xilS0QvtQhJC5RK3tDp4GIQgLzj1g/s1600/DSCN2540.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ0AomD-l5sVye6DJE2M5VRp06kzSw3a7M6Dhy-2akFhsm-Cq8mBSoEqkJvbOU7ZTfV8FmDEMLIBW8uNUOGqKOD7plrEelkwwNmvjYpqg_xilS0QvtQhJC5RK3tDp4GIQgLzj1g/s320/DSCN2540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527062561193818034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZpIJJH6sliCM5FJjFhFIN_42D5NDhyC_foWT1arhK1uAVzj-4-kIhuFwFLs9TekZOi8XsSCGbJedo2nHO2paGcz0ckvPvHVE8vtMan88SLIduIi2eA5Xda46IldaXo3mb6G-Qw/s1600/DSCN2527.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZpIJJH6sliCM5FJjFhFIN_42D5NDhyC_foWT1arhK1uAVzj-4-kIhuFwFLs9TekZOi8XsSCGbJedo2nHO2paGcz0ckvPvHVE8vtMan88SLIduIi2eA5Xda46IldaXo3mb6G-Qw/s320/DSCN2527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527062557515577506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAO0R2qTiEQque710mLZZQ8rvizA57jvBMEZL1HNWX1tLXvWIlSezX5_7RuzFjEHK_mAxND75Dm8HnBo4uF8peBebbn51kGOLYo_PROcx-NtVZGoO-Mab3Pv1K4xwTIvXohM1kCA/s1600/DSCN2526.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAO0R2qTiEQque710mLZZQ8rvizA57jvBMEZL1HNWX1tLXvWIlSezX5_7RuzFjEHK_mAxND75Dm8HnBo4uF8peBebbn51kGOLYo_PROcx-NtVZGoO-Mab3Pv1K4xwTIvXohM1kCA/s320/DSCN2526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527062551706707346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fK3ZQes3cbvJnEKMCqEGHN7AwndrdbyVZvrEo8dWkIGwW_eRaKNqznI3-8uHVjgLX9g98gZ3LlxXI7IBVyOeO0fpa6dqbZx2ltRdk5xCpvPizpuEzkiD8NtvFGOEikiV8TG_sA/s1600/DSCN2523.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fK3ZQes3cbvJnEKMCqEGHN7AwndrdbyVZvrEo8dWkIGwW_eRaKNqznI3-8uHVjgLX9g98gZ3LlxXI7IBVyOeO0fpa6dqbZx2ltRdk5xCpvPizpuEzkiD8NtvFGOEikiV8TG_sA/s320/DSCN2523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527062541892242610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdrJFlH6wzt7Gcd2r5FJQiovkMWBItO7rMw_XUlO0QSXlQcSHLZOHdjzrlV6jstytmBEUwbjjbA9et8kl8fAxxVU0_PT4jbbFkmYE8cVBcwMzesquoCBKIRAKHEerGXXff-3arg/s1600/DSCN2529.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdrJFlH6wzt7Gcd2r5FJQiovkMWBItO7rMw_XUlO0QSXlQcSHLZOHdjzrlV6jstytmBEUwbjjbA9et8kl8fAxxVU0_PT4jbbFkmYE8cVBcwMzesquoCBKIRAKHEerGXXff-3arg/s320/DSCN2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527061171962016018" border="0" /></a><br />Our university has the privileged of being home to one of the few captive corpse flowers around the world. It has been about 9 years in the making, but it has finally bloomed!<br /><br />You can go <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=13309574&postID=8936470494236067907#update">HERE</a> to see the live feed of this flower and to learn a little more about this amazing flower.<br /><br />It is said to smell of rotting meat, but I have smelled rotting meat and I truly beg to differ. It smells like a diaper pail. A giant diaper pail. In fact you can smell it over 100 yards away easily, even with no breeze.<br /><br />It is beautiful, and HUGE!<br /><br /><div id="update"></div><br />[update: since the flower has completed its cycle the live feed is no longer available, but they still have a few pictures and some information on this flower at <a href="http://www.uwrf.edu/CAFES/CorpseFlower.cfm">THIS LINK</a>.]Sylvanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186604429680496847noreply@blogger.com9