These watering cans were lined up like infrantry at our local garden center, TLC Nursery, on Saturday. The morning low of 15 degrees F brought forth images of my friends in Canada and New York. Brrr . . . . I decided to replace those with some eye candy. I took these photos at the nursery, and all are true to the colors I saw. I continue to be amazed at my Christmas present, my Nikon D40x. Just visiting the garden center gave me a real boost, so if you have a good nursery nearby, go and treat yourself to an "artist's date" as expressed in The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. And before you say "Artist? Me?," I want to remind you that we are all artists, and the garden is our palette. I braved the early morning and cold temps for classes in Proven Plants for Oklahoma, Shade...

Robins sitting all over a tree. For about two weeks, every morning on my way to school, I've wished for my camera. Robins, robins everywhere! I'm used to seeing the occasional robin hanging out on the ground eating worms, but there are thousands chirping in the trees on either side of the road. As I drive, they fly back and forth in successive bursts, looking as if they are weaving a transparent tapestry across an invisible loom. Perhaps, they are weaving spring. I couldn't get a photo of their acrobatics. I tried, but I found it is hard to drive, even down a country lane, hanging out the window, looking through a camera lens. Oh, yes, I did. No, the children were not in the car. I was going slow. Robins snacking On the ground, robins are endearing and friendly. In fact, I have to discourage worm dining in the...

Last Saturday, I attended the Myriad Botanical Garden's Oklahoma Garden School. This is not a photo of of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Unbelievably, I don't have any. It is in Will Rogers Park where I attend most of my garden club meetings in a small, oddly-shaped, early 60s style building that I'm sure was all the rage during that quirky architectural time. I only see this view when I escape. Since you couldn't come to school with me, I thought I would post this lovely photo I took of the duck pond in June 2007, while sharing a few things I learned. Anytime I bore you, just look back up at the photo and say "aah . . . ." The first session was on "New Trees for Oklahoma Landscapes" by Jim Ord, of J. Frank Schmidt and Son Nursery, a wholesale nursery in Oregon, which supplies young trees to...

DEAR March, come in! How glad I am! I looked for you before. Put down your hat— You must have walked— How out of breath you are! Dear March, how are you? And the rest? Did you leave Nature well? Oh, March, come right upstairs with me, I have so much to tell! I got your letter, and the bird’s; The maples never knew That you were coming,—I declare, How red their faces grew! But, March, forgive me— And all those hills You left for me to hue; There was no purple suitable, You took it all with you. Who knocks? That April! Lock the door! I will not be pursued! He stayed away a year, to call When I am occupied. But trifles look so trivial As soon as you have come, That blame is just as dear as praise And praise as mere as blame. By:  Emily Dickinson...