Don't misunderstand me. We need rain spring, summer and fall too, but winter rain is a blessing beyond measure. In a land that hasn't seen measurable rain for months, we are overjoyed. Oklahoma is in the third year of a crippling drought. Only yesterday, I was lamenting the dark red color in the middle of the Climatological Survey Map for Oklahoma for January, 2013. Courtesy of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. I live where extreme drought has reigned supreme the last couple of years, and it's been hard to maintain my passion for all things that grow. Can you see how low the lake/pond behind our house is? The red bank on the other side of the water is where the water should be. It's about four feet low. Yesterday, local meteorologists forecast rain, but they couldn't agree on how much we would get. We've heard it all before. Last month,...

Last night, I slapped a book closed and sighed with the satisfaction only a great novel can bring. Then, I turned to Bill who was reading Hemings Classic Car magazine. "That was awesome. Have you read much Ray Bradbury?" Words tumbled over my lips as I spoke. I still floated on a cloud of poetry in prose. "Fahrenheit 451," he said, not looking up from the page. "Well, yeah, of course. Every high schooler has read that haven't they?" I stood up and pressed my paperback into his chest. "You've got to read this.  Oh wait, you can't until Bear finishes it. I promised it to her first. " "What's the title?" he asked as he turned the book over. "Something Wicked This Way Comes," we said together and then laughed. "Oh, I read that a long time ago. You're right, it's good." Bill set the book aside and picked...

Vintage hyacinth vases and garden cloche. There's something about the roots that makes me smile. January in Oklahoma is shades of gray and brown with the occasional hint of red from a male Cardinal. What would we do without those gorgeous red birds every winter? Go mad? I don't want to consider the possibilities. Carol is hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, and you might wonder what I could possibly offer in winter. Crocus, paperwhites and succulents next to a wintry window. What could be nicer. Spring? Yes, but we must wait. We often get ice storms this month and the occasional snow fall, but today, nothing but shivering cold. I work out indoors and drink hot tea as if my life depends upon it. I type and ponder the charms of April flowers, rain showers and skies. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) 'Naughty Lady' is jewel toned that is if jewels were...

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...