A forest of catalogs A forest of seed and plant catalogs probably arrived in your mailbox and inbox over the holidays, but I wonder if you've had time yet to peruse them? I have, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite flowers from seed. Truly, you can have a lovely garden with a few packets of seed. How do you think the pioneers and Native Americans did it? They didn't have a garden nursery following them about. They saved and swapped seeds. Pick a sunny spot, direct sow these lovelies and stand back. Before long, you can create a garden of joy. Just remember to thin seedlings and rid your patch of competing weeds. Also, you will need to water. You don't even need great soil, but please don't plant them directly in red clay. If you do, you'll hear a bell tolling a death knell for your future...

In nearly eighteen hours, a new year begins. Time to experiment with new flowers and other new plants. I've been practicing the art of forcing bulbs all winter because I need those bright blooms on cloudy days. Today is very cloudy, but I'm excited about the gloom. Because of changes made to my landscape over the years, I have color inside and out. The grass on the shady lawn is still a soft green, especially during this rainy day. The green grass in our shady front lawn. Yes, it rained! This makes for much excitement in OkieLand. I can't remember the last time it truly rained. We did get a smidge of snow on Christmas Day, but this far north, not much fell. I heard that in Norman and further south, it truly was a white Christmas. As I told Bill, I'll take moisture any way it comes these days. Hyacinths...

Red birds, in particular, are hopeful when skies are gray. I don't have a lot of happy childhood memories of Christmas. My dad, who just happened to be a fallen-away Jehovah's Witness, hated the holiday, and without meaning to, he often spoiled things for everyone. I won't bore you with all the gory details, because they are the same old story acted out in many homes. Alcohol mixed with melancholy makes a nasty brew. I probably go over the top at Christmas, but I don't care. Christmas is always a challenge, but I decided, long ago, to enjoy it. In fact, I celebrate it with gusto. This year, however, is particularly challenging. I keep thinking of  the poor people of Newton, Connecticut--their hopes and dreams like shattered glass. As a parent, I am anxious about my own children's safety. I know the rest of the country has similar nightmares. I...

Yes, it's that red around here. Can you see the redbuds lining either side of the road? “May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, And many books, both true.” Abraham Cowley