COULD SPRING BE HERE?

Though there are still several weeks till Spring ... Stella has given me signs that it is just around the corner... How wonderful is that? Izzy and I played with Stella the other day, when Steve arrived home he came out and joined us... Of course there was music, how can one play in the garden without it... and no one to complain that it's to loud...A plus living on top of this Ridge...I will be playing with Izzy and Stella today also as it's going to be in the 40's...

So what am I doing to get ready, so far besides the seeds I have sowed, I have been saving the eggs shells, as they dry I will grind them to a fine powder using my coffee grinder... Yes, it works I have done this now for the last five years, and I am still using the coffee grinder for coffee and egg shells alike... Lets face it, it does not take much time... and it's so much cheaper than buying lime... I would like to grind enough before Aprils end to have five cups... after all I do have one Lavender (want to get more) and many Dianthus that need more calcium than most plants, though calcium is needed for all plants, just remember to have your soil tested or know what you are doing... as the eggs shells are full of calcium why not go this route and save money... unless of course you are Lazy... Remember, as we need calcium for our bones, our plants need them for firm spaces in their cell walls ... again remember if you don't know what your are doing, always have your soil tested... Most States offer this service free...

Do remember that all rules are to be broken at times... and this is no different, we do have lime hating plants Rhododendrons/Azaleas/Blueberries/Witch Hazel/ just to name a few... Do remember that the number one rule in gardening is to break the rules... What works for the man across the street will not always work for you...

This week I sent away for three Iris Sibirica 'Snow Queen' and three Perovskia 'Filigran'... I am so excited... My first Internet buys of 2009... It really is happening... Spring truly is just around the corner... Tomorrow I will try to find some more of the seeds I want... and look to see if anyone has any spring bulbs...

The Perovska 'Filigran' grows 3 to 4 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in width, don't know where I am going to plant these yet, except of course in the FULL SUN... Holly has one in her yard and I so fell in love with it last year... Of course in the Sillies it has a much longer bloom season than here... I am sending you evil looks ,all of you in the Sillies...

The Iris Sibirica 'Snow Queen' will be one of the first plants to be planted in what will be my Moon Lit Garden...She will reach 3 to 4 feet in height and 18 inches to two feet in width...

Both plants were purchased at Wayside gardens, neither link is from there... as always I don't know how long the link will be hot, as so many of these sites changes things so often...

Stella has life, I will share the few things I found the other day... I hope to find more each day, or at least every few days...This snap shot is of the 'Roundleaf Alumroot' It's a wildflower one of many I gifted to Stella through out the last five years... This link would be 'Roundleaf Alumroot' last May 27th... To lazy to go and find one of her in all her glory...

This one is an ornamental 'Strawberry' It has pink flowers and at times does bare fruit... I can't find a snapshot of it... I keep saying this, but I have to start keeping better records...
I have also spotted a Scabiosa Butterfly Blue coming up, but I couldn't get a decent photo due to the light, will try again today...

I can't believe I left this outside in the weather all winter... wonder if it's still any good, don't see why not...
Here we have a few Poppy seedlings, there are tons of the Shirley poppies popping up, I will have to wait a month or more yet to see what I want to leave and what to pull...
Here we have Izzy with a pinecone, her favorite pass time is playing with these...
Here is Damon's first cowboy boot sticking out of the snow, wonder what I will plant in it this year... I hope I will be able to write about Stella more and more in the coming months...
I return to work on April first... So I have to get my bum in gear and get the ticket purchased for my flight out to Texas... I was going to drive, but decided against it...

Everyone have a great day... Now remember, "Jealousy and stupidity, don't equal harmony" John Prine

Till next time
Nothing but love Lina