This was as close as I could get to this male Eastern Bluebird before he flew away. I've heard them for days. The male Eastern Bluebirds are on the march which means, in spite of the snow, spring isn't far away. I caught one checking out our bluebird house when the dogs and I took a wintry stroll. The scouts are out and hunting so if you haven't already, check your bluebird houses. Those boys want them clean and tidy. We've made a supreme effort to house our bluebirds. They have very specific requirements, and in spite of our efforts, the sparrows sometimes beat them to the punch. When they do, I pull out their nests. You may need to do this several times over the spring and summer months, and like the nest below, even in winter. For the last five years, I do have bluebirds nesting--sometimes in houses...

One of my hellebores out of the Brandywine strain. I have three, and each is similar, yet different. Below is an article I wrote for Oklahoma Gardener in May, 2010, about hellebores. I thought you might enjoy it. The photos are from 2010 through 2012. At this moment, my hellebores are patiently waiting under comfy leaf piles for me to tend them. I simply haven't had time. I've also written about hellebores here before. I think hellebores are heavenly even if you have to flip yourself upside down sometimes to see them. About the time when Oklahoma gardeners can no longer tolerate winter, hellebores begin to bloom. Starting in late January with Helleborus niger, nothing is more soothing to a winter weary heart than these hardy perennials. Blooming for two months or more if nights are cool, hellebores show themselves early, and then remain a constant presence in the shade garden...

The Ed Lycan Conservatory at Will Rogers Park in Oklahoma City. When the Oklahoma City Council approved a $2 Million renovation of the Ed Lycan Conservatory in Will Rogers Park, I was happily surprised. No, actually, I was stunned and grateful. Located in Will Rogers Park, The Ed Lycan Conservatory is special to me. To learn more about its history and reconstruction, you can watch one of several videos. For more city history, check out the video library of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Here's how bad the conservatory looked before restoration. In the last decade, Oklahoma City has decided to take pride in its structures and history. This wasn't always so. I grew up during the time of Urban Renewal when my downtown landscape lost much of its flavor to the wrecking ball and dynamite in a bid for modernity. Although the link in Wikipedia refers to the Pei Plan named after I.M....

A garden party, book launch for The 20-30 Something Garden Guide! Let's get out our party hats and celebrate because twelve bloggers and I are growing a garden party, book launch of good fun and special prizes to launch my baby, The 20-30 Something Garden Guide: A No-Fuss, Down and Dirty, Gardening 101 for Anyone Who Wants to Grow Stuff. You didn't know I wrote a book in my spare time? Yes, I did. It's all so exciting and a little bit scary. Why did I write this book? Because, I think 20-30 Somethings do want to garden. They just don't know where to start because no one took the time to sit down and teach them. Many Millennials didn't walk barefoot on soft garden soil or play with dump trucks in their parents' garden. Some did, but many did not. Their only experience with gardening was planting a sunflower seed...