Dear Carol, Mary Ann and all planting friends,
I hope this Monday finds you with a trowel in one hand and seed packets in the other. I know I will be as soon as I get my chores out of the way.
The fountain was up and running just in time for Easter. I think I still want it to bubble up a bit more, but that’s just an adjustment or two. I also need more rocks for the area beneath. I must find the time to buy another bucket load tomorrow after I drop Bear off at school. I’m finishing up a magazine article, and it takes preference.
Did your family members ever pinch your cheek and say you were growing like a weed? Well, the green onions at my house are growing about as fast as a twelve-year-old boy. However, I’ve promised not to pinch their leaves. It would be rude.
We have tiny lettuce leaves springing up everywhere. I planted some in the potager and more in the gardens down low. All are up, but still very small. Every year, I’m amazed at the changes in a garden which can occur within a week. My peas are growing, and I need to get the pea fence staked behind them. I am still watching the weather before I plant tomatoes outdoors. As you know, Oklahoma’s last spring freeze date is April 20, and we are fifteen days away from that. If we have a late freeze now, it would be devastating to the shrubs and perennials already blooming. For example, the peonies are up about eight inches and have small buds on them. I don’t want to miss them for a second year in a row.
By the way, Jan at Thanks for Today is having a sustainability contest for Earth Day. It’s open to all bloggers, and the details are on her blog. With garden and writing projects, I don’t have time to enter, but I wanted to pass the information along to all of my blogging friends in case they might want to win a rain barrel, or gloves, or a CobraHead weeder. I have a Fiskars rain barrel
The garden has that fresh washed look you only get in spring, and as I walk about taking photos, I can’t believe how blessed I am to be a gardener and also your friend.
This series of letters are between Carol of May Dreams Gardens, Mary Ann of Gardens of the Wild, Wild West and me. We’re conversing across the miles about the growth of our gardens. Won’t you join us?
What beautiful shots of your garden as it emerges this spring. I love the fountain and the rocks, and the lake in the background. So peaceful. And I love that first photo and the blend of colors and textures. You’ve really been going to town and it shows!
.-= Diana´s last blog ..Bowl full o’ berries… =-.
I love your red fountain! What a beautiful way to welcome guests into your garden, Dee. I’ll add my crossed fingers to the group that you don’t get a hard freeze in April. I have so many plants budding up early, too, that I worry they might get nipped if the weather turns cold here again as well.
I so enjoyed your Easter post. (It was a busy weekend for me, and I’m just now catching up on blogs–sort of.) I hope that your father-in-law is doing better and that your weekend was a good one, even if a little quieter than usual.
We are crossing our fingers that we don’t get a freeze also. We are hoping for fresh peaches from our trees this year.
I love your red fountain and the contrast of the Indonesian river rock. Beautiful!
.-= Kelly Bundy´s last blog ..April =-.
Your green onions look wonderful…
omg, it’s just gorgeous there right now Dee. Your fountain is fabulous too. How refreshing is that going to be in the heat of summer?!!! Happy Spring!
.-= Kathleen´s last blog ..New faces =-.
Love your fountain, and blue rocks are a very nice addition.
I think I am going to create a place in the garden for peonies, they are such pretty flowers.
Such pretty spring blooms in your top photo and your lovely red fountain makes a bright, bold statement!
Our daffs opened here in upstate NY on April 1st, a little earlier than last year thanks to several days of glorious sunshine and summery temperatures. It’s pure heaven to see their sunny faces blooming in the garden again!
My peonies are just little bumps above the soil so far. Isn’t it the best feeling to see the plants emerging from the ground to yet another glorious spring?
We have rain here this morning after all that gorgeous sunshine. The wind dried things out yesterday so the rain is welcome and will prolong the blooms on the daffs.
We are blessed indeed to have such wonders surrounding us.
I hope you had a wonderful Easter, Dee.
.-= kerri´s last blog ..Easter Blessings =-.
I love the ‘fresh washed look’ and feeling of a spring garden, Dee. It is so uplifting and helps me ‘come back to life’ after waiting all winter, in what seems like a partial vegetative state! It’s springtime here, too, and just wonderful. I love your lake view…how lovely. I understand your time constraints and appreciate you taking the time to announce the giveaway (again) in a post. So sweet and kind of you. Jan
.-= Jan (ThanksForToday)´s last blog ..Earth Day Celebration: Rain Barrel GIVEAWAY!!! =-.
Those Indonesian river rocks are TO DIE FOR!!
The fountain is perfect…You know I think the red is the right choice for RDR and the blue rocks…a nice touch. I’ve been bumping into the Ogon spirea everywhere these days…I still love Bridal Wreath! it’s been feeling like July in Nashville~~except for the very nice breeze. gail
.-= Gail´s last blog ..I’ve Done It Again! =-.
I just saw that Ogon spirea in a garden center today and was charmed. We are several weeks behind you, but the farmer in our family planted peas yesterday, so I am convinced spring is here.
.-= Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog ..Seed-Starting: Online Help =-.
Kathy, if it’s hardy that far north, you should grab it. I have three, and they are among my favorite shrubs throughout the year.~~Dee
Dee that is so classy and what a nice color on that fountain. It made me look to the lake beyond–you lucky girl to have such a pretty piece of land.
.-= Anna Flowergardengirl´s last blog ..Healthier Plants only 2oz away!!!! =-.
Thanks Anna. You have a beautiful place too. Keep up the good work.~~Dee
I love how your green onions are bordering your garden. Mine are up now too and I cant help but add them to salads every night. Funny how different our gardens are. My tomatoes are only about an inch high and still in the greenhouse. They wont be able to go outside until mid May. April is still too cold for them here.
My peonies are a foot high and growing so fast with all the rain we have had. They will bloom in May. Right now I am having my Rhododendrons blooming, the spring bulbs and my quince. I love spring!
Thank you Kristin. I also pull the green onions when they get a bit bigger, but right now, they are still tiny. When the lettuce is reading to eat, they will be too, and I’ll think of you when I eat my salads.~~Dee
Is your Phlox subulata having a really good year, Dee? I wonder what combination of weather factors makes it happy? Mine has finally caught hold this year and looked good enough to make a neighbor stop to ask the name of the plant. That fountain is really impressive.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
.-= Annie in Austin´s last blog ..A New Song for Wildflower Time! =-.
Yes, it usually does well, but this is an exceptional year. I think the cooler than usual spring weather coupled with plenty of sun and then a touch of hot made it stand up and shout spring! Glad yours has finally caught on.~~Dee
My peonies are up almost a foot, too, because of the warm weather last week and weekend. Any freeze now would be awful at this point, so I’m hoping we get by with just a few light frosts between now and our frost free date of May 15th!
I am blessed, too!
.-= Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog ..Dear Friends and Gardeners: April 5, 2010 =-.
Carol, I am hoping that for you too. You have a lot longer to go than I do.~~Dee