Plans and plants

So, here are the flowers in my "orange collection". There are these cool orange tulips that smell like oranges - I just happened to discover that and it is cool!! There are daffodils and hyacinths as well. I am very pleased. This is the first time I have ever grown tulips and I think that are becoming one of my favorites. Of course anything that is easy I am going to like.

There is another bunch of bulbs I planted as well that include grape hyacinths and white tulips. Then there are some firespray tulips and some tiny "snowdrops" as well. I don't think I got a picture of the snowdrops but I will put up ones of the firespray later.

Here is the garden. I am going to plant peas, beets and kale today. I am thinking about making it bigger, but I doubt I will this year. And below you will see pictures of seeds that I started as well. Cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and broccoli. Those will have to wait until my birthday to go out into the garden. I have the windows open today to let them get some fresh air - ha!

I also started some marigolds, morning glories, cosmos, and alyssum as well. In the past some survive and some don't, I guess we will see, because I just couldn't resist starting SOMETHING.

Did you know that if you bring pepper plants indoors that they will continue to produce? I got 2 cheyenne peppers off of it. Although that isn't a lot it is something. And it has started growing new growth and blooming a lot. It will have to wait until my birthday to go outside as well. The reason I choose that date is because I have learned that if I plant things outside, before that time, that aren't cold hardy, it will inevitably will frost and kill what I plant. So, that is my planting benchmark.

So, I have to get to it today. I have to head off to work for a bit to finish the schedule so I can come home and play in the yard all day!!

Spring Discoveries

Fall is my favorite season, but spring is very welcome every year. The older I get the more I "see" things and discover things. This year is no different. Last year I realized that borage will come back year after year, from seed I am sure, but it still comes back. This year it is kale greens. They were green all winter. They didn't grow, of course, but they were there. In just a short time since it has started warming up they have gone all the way to an emerald and shot up a good 3 inches, amazing.

The picture there is my new hyacinths. They are orange!! I got a whole "orange" collection from Brecks and I am very pleased so far. The daffodils have bloomed too, they have the orange centers and are lovely. There are more in the collection but I can't remember and will just have to wait to be surprised when they bloom.

AND I might have a new neighbor. I have a vision for the back yard and bird houses covered with plant life of some type is part of it. In the picture to the left you will see the beginnings of one such areas and there is a Tree Swallow checking out the free rent house. I was so stoked that I almost scared it away clapping and squealing!! Peter was out there watching pretty hard so I went and got him after the bird flew away. All the birds are pretty hard at it finding nesting material. I sure hope I get that new neighbor - THAT would be cool.