That's what HH asked me when I walked in the door, a pot clutched under each arm. No, really, he didn't, but the raised eyebrows gave him away. At the weekend's start, I had my photos ready. All the words were rattling around in my head just waiting for a post, but after a thunderstorm on Friday, my internet was out for three whole days. It gave me more time to garden. When I pruned the roses in the southeast border, I noticed two had succumbed, both Cl. 'Golden Showers.' To what? When I dug them, I saw that there was more clay in that bed than I remembered. Too much clay mixed with too much water (38 inches in June 2007) kills a rose faster than a Ferrari can gobble up race track. I also removed the two, long suffering 'Joseph's Coat' climbers. You know a rose is pitiful...

It's time. We can finally prune. I own a lot of roses. Too many in fact. At first look in spring, I am stunned by all the thorny canes I'll be facing. Until this year, I used regular gloves, which ensured numerous scratches up and down my forearms. I've actually been asked if I've been in a cat fight and lost. Very funny. Several years ago, I bought a pair of relatively inexpensive rose gloves. The jury's still out on whether I like them, but my forearms look better. I'd like a pair of Bionic Rose Gloves like the ones on the right, but it's only March, and I've already spent a small fortune on gardening implements. (I had to replace my trusty hoe, and of course, I couldn't decide, so I bought two.) Now, for the roses. Used to be, we all grew Hybrid Teas, the hot house flowers...

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...