It's time to announce the winner of the contest to name my little patch of paradise.  Choosing was tougher than I expected.  I'm amazed at the number of entries I received, all of which, I might add, were excellent. Anna, a/k/a Flower Garden Girl, came up with Rambling Rose.  Pretty and sweet, just like her.  Her blog is down right now so unfortunately, I can't link to her. Windsong, promoted by my Tennessee friend, Gail of Clay and Limestone, seemed the winner of the popular vote.  I love it, but every time I spoke it, the commercial for the perfume kept running through my mind.  Does anyone else remember that commercial, or am I just dating myself? Cindy, who writes From My Corner of Katy, voted for Rock Rose Gardens, a play of words on rose rocks, which are found only in Oklahoma.  I loved it. LaDonna thought of Gaillardia,...

All Saint's Day by Ada Cambridge 1844-1926 Never to weary more, nor suffer sorrow,— Their strife all over, and their work all done: At peace—and only waiting for the morrow; Heaven's rest and rapture even now begun. So tired once! long fetter'd, sorely burden'd, Ye struggled hard and well for your release; Ye fought in faith and love—and ye are guerdon'd, O happy souls! for now ye are at peace. No more of pain, no more of bitter weeping! For us a darkness and an empty place, Somewhere a little dust—in angels' keeping— A blessèd memory of a vanish'd face. For us the lonely path, the daily toiling, The din and strife of battle, never still'd; For us the wounds, the hunger, and the soiling,— The utter, speechless longing, unfulfill'd. For us the army camp'd upon the mountains, Unseen, yet fighting with our Syrian foes,— The heaven-sent manna and the...

In spite of two freezing nights in a row (with lows of 26 degrees), warm weather is back with a 40 degree low this morning and a projected high tomorrow of 82 degrees.  Such is the strange weather you experience when you live in the center of the country. In the city, few of the trees have turned, and even here, appearances can be deceiving.  This photo looks like we're getting lots of color, but, instead, the leaves are turning brown and falling to the ground with very little show. Of course, all of the tropicals have succumbed, but that's to be expected.  I can plant more Variegated Tapioca and Coleus next summer.  I'm moving my containers on the East deck next to the house to prevent freezing.  What little garden cleanup I do is finished, although I'm still waiting on some bulbs. I find that at this time of...

The leaves are just starting to turn, and today, while I planted some bulbs and Pansies, I noticed for the first time since spring that the sun was no longer warm on my back.  In fact, I wore a lightweight sweater over a t-shirt and capris, and I felt just warm enough. Two of my bulb orders are en route, and another is waiting at the post office.  I'll pick it up in the morning.  Although I held the Pansies as long as I could (I wanted to plant them over the new bulbs), they needed to go into the ground. I planted Heirloom Snowflakes, Leucojum aestivum, part of the Southern Living Collection, a mix of small yellow and purple Alliums, Allium, Purple Sensation and nigrum, Galanthus nivalis single, Ornithogalum umbellatum and Pansies and Johnny Jump-Ups. I have many more bulbs to plant before winter heads south, but while outside,...