Gardening Addicts Anonymous?

It has rained every day this week! So my mind gets to wandering and my better half and I were discussing our outdoor activities this season. We discussed, of course, budgeting. With gas prices and everything else going on in the world we have to cut back our spending. I'm sure most people are doing the same. Soooooooooooo it was brought up about my spending on gardening items.

Now my better half gave the opinion that I bought too many plants, bulbs, seeds last year. But he is prejudice he's a "lawn man" for lack of a better word. The more lawn for him to cut the better. Hey, don't ask me why he likes that chore. Now don't get me wrong I like a nice, green, freshly cut lawn as much as anyone else, but flower beds are better. Just my opinion. So I was wondering if I have a gardening addiction.

Are these signs?

** Longing for spring in November.

** Looking through garden catalogs everyday

** Changing your mind 100 times on what you will plant and where.

** Calling in sick to work on the first warm sunny day so you can garden.

** Funny looks from neighbors because you are outside scouring the ground for the first blooms of the season.

** Starting your seeds way too early.

** Your family and friends recognize you when you are bent over pulling weeds as much as they do face to face.

** You greet your friends with "What did you plant? I planted....." instead of "How are you".

** You shop online nurseries and realize your "shopping basket" has $500 worth of items in it and then have to start removing them.

Maybe there is a Gardening Addicts Anonymous for people that are garden addicts like me.

Ah well, who cares. I won't get help! I refuse!

Old Treasures

The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth,

One is nearer God's heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on earth.

~Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts"

I have been spring cleaning and came across some old planters that were my grandmothers. I had forgotten I had them so it was a nice surprise.




Grandma always kept and labeled most everything. My mother and I found several things, including a picture of a relative of ours in his civil war uniform. Amazing!


This is a planter that was labeled as my great grandmother's.

Here are a few that weren't labeled. But every bit of a nice surprise.













I went to the local home improvement store the other day looking for some window coverings. I love going there in the spring, gets you in the mood for outdoor activities, (not that I need any help in that area) As I walk in there are several primroses displayed and of course I couldn't resist buying one of them.





It looks great in Grandma's old planter!

Signs of Spring - Finally!

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. ~Author Unknown

It has been a rainy start for March. No complaints though, it's better than snow. It's just been difficult to get outside and get to work on some things.

One area of my yard is so wet that when I walked through my feet started to sink, and mind you, there wasn't any water standing, so it took me by surprise. I did manage to get some quick pictures (in between rain) of some plants sprouting in my garden.


Here is a tulip peeking through along the pathway to my front door. Believe it or not I'm not a big tulip fan as far as growing them. But they are beautiful in bloom. The tulips along this pathway are reds and pinks. Very pretty last year.








Another tulip sprout through the snow on the north side of my
home. The only place the snow hadn't melted a couple of days ago, but the snow is gone now. This tulip is under my tulip tree. It's a small or dwarf type tulip, I don't know what type it is, it came with the house. The colors are magenta looking and yellow. Unique and different than the tulips I am used to.

And here is a daylily I inherited as well. I believe

it is a Tiger Lily. These are on the south side of my house.

I think by the end of this week I'll see some more progress and hopefully a bloom or two. I bet the daffodils are (which I neglected to take a picture of) are really growing.

Gotta Dig

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~Author Unknown

I got to dig yesterday!

Warm temperatures brought me outside to work on some landscaping. Fixing edging, rocks, blocks (you get the idea). What I realized was how much I missed being outdoors. Still not warm enough for planting but on a positive spin this gives us gardening lovers time to fix, plan and most importantly not work ourselves to the bone trying to get everything done. You can ease back into it and out of hibernation from winter.

I almost thought I was going to have a cabin fever breakdown. Luckily I think I'll make it through.

I noticed signs of spring with crocus, tulips and even some lilly's poking their way out of the dirt towards the sun. I wish I had some pictures, my camera isn't working right now, but I am working on that and will post some later, I just had to post today and share my excitement. In the meantime, here are some pictures from last year's garden.