Well Last Freeze has Past.. I HOPE!!

I am getting ready to put three Lemon Boy tomatoes in the ground.. I need to line the super deep holes with newspaper, wet them with compost tea and let them sit for a while.. I need to go get some manure, top soil and moss for the rest of the garden I need to bring up to speed.

Some Pics to Get You in the Mood for Spring...

Gardening Comes First

My posts will be hit and miss, because at my house. Gardening first and blogging later. And I love Mr. Brownthumb's saying, I am not dead I am dormant!! Happy Gardening Everyone!!!

The Mystery is Solved..

Across the street at Miss Terri's house, these strange leaves started to pop up in her woodland garden area.. Neither of us knew what they were. We figured it was a bulb since it was spring, and the leaves looked like mounds of larger lirope leaves, but only more succulent. I searched my garden magazines and finally came up with the name. Spanish Bluebells. I had never seen them before. What pretty flowers that pop in the woods.

Scilla

There are over 100 species of Scilla, but only about half a dozen are widely available commercially. Probably the most commonly cultivated are the Scilla hispanica, or Spanish Bluebells:
Spanish Bluebells

As the name suggests, these flowers are native to Spain (and Portugal) and have beautiful blue, bell-shaped blossoms. What the name doesn't tell you is that they grow and multiply very easily, even in shade, and in almost every type of soil. What ever the opposity of "finicky" is, that is what Spanish Bluebells are. They will even grow where grass won't!
The wild variety is a violet-blue, but cultivated varietes are available in several different shades of blue, as well as pink and white.
Spanish Bluebells are among the tallest of the Scilla. Try them planted behind some of your shorter, earlier-blooming spring bulbs to extend your spring blooming season, and in the more difficult spots in your garden. Just try them; you won't be sorry.
Flowering time: late spring
Plant height: 10 - 18" (25 - 46 cm)
Minimum planting depth: 4" (10 cm0
Hardiness zones: suitable for zones 3 - 8
Colours: cultivated varieties are available in pink, white and various shade of blue wild variety is violet blue
Shape/form: flowers are shaped like a broad bell with a flared rim about 12 to 15 flowers hang from a sturdy, round stalk 5 to 6 strap-like leaves per plant
Alternate names: Wood Hyacinth, Scilla campanulata, Endymion hispanicus

Correct Latin name: Hyacinthoides hispanica
Notes: good for rock gardens, beds, borders, among ferns, in woodland gardens, ground covers, or as mass plantings wild variety is fragrant; cultivated varieties are generally scentless when planting, add sand or gravel to ensure good drainage, if necessary
Example varieties:
Blue Queen (soft blue), Danube (dark blue), Excelsior (blue-violet), Rosabella (violet pink), Rose Queen (rose-pink), White City (white), White Lion (white), White Triumphator (white)

thanks A. Steinberg

Who Doesn't Love Spring Flowers

The daffy's and the hyacinths are almost over and done for. Next are the azaleas, bridal wreath, planted annuals such as the blue moon torenia I got from the growers outlet and clarkia. The forget me knots, ice plant, primroses are still going strong. What is going on in your garden..

Spring Visitors

It IS Coming!

Planting Sweet Peas

Sweet Peas can't handle the heat here in the South. So today we sowed them by the mailbox, hoping they will provide lots of blooms and sweet scents before it heats up.. We also planted Forget Me Nots. Both are firsts in our garden.

Things that Bring a HUGE Smile to My Face!

Cardinals out in force, enjoying the worms the rain has pushed towards the earth.
Clematis Vine starting to leaf out.
Rosemary blooming. That means it is time to trim it back and use, lots of fresh rosemary in our meals.
Who doesn't love to stretch out on the couch and take a nap.??
Multitudes of seed packets for ten cents each.. For that price who cares?
Another Cardinal on the same day.
And my most favorite! Lilies!!!!!!!!!!!! They are peeking through the earth!!!
Rain on blooming daffodils during a drought!

Sure Signs of Spring!

The cut, bruised and bleeding ( I accidently cut my hand with the garden shears) hands are one sign, that the weather is warm enough to really do a substantial amount of work in the yard. The others? Green buds, almost blooming daffodils and Camilla flowers blossoming!

Time to Trim the Crape Myrtles

February is the month to trim back your Crape Myrtles if you don't want them to be bushes. I am training them and have for the past 5 years on these bushes to be trees.. A pretty common sight in the South.

Spring Photo Challenge!

Yes I have been hit with Spring Fever. I would like everyone to post a couple pictures that remind them of spring. It could be flowers, activities, things you name it.. It is your post.. Let's see what everyone comes up with..

BRING ON SPRING!