Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Flowers, hearts ~ a beautiful day

Yesterday while I was out doing errands I stopped at HD to see what they might have to brighten my garden. As I was in the parking lot, I see a lady with one of those heart planters that I found the other day. I just looked them up online and after going through roughly 40 pages online for the HD garden center, I found it. They are $19.95 each.

Here’s what I did with mine today and I know my dear husband smiled with what I did. I hung them. (The house needs pressure washing and painting which I’ve already talked with my BIL about. He offered to help me with projects, and my nephew has done the same and I am oh so thankful for their help. I have a 5 gal. bucket of plum cottage paint, if it’s still good. We did use it on the caravan and it worked.)  I hung some shells I already had in the center of the hearts. Very Florida.  This little room is where I hang out to do my needle work and where I am right now on the computer. A 6’x8’ space. It used to be the front stoop.  These make me feel happy and loved.

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Since my 64th birthday is coming up on the first day of spring, I bought flowers to celebrate.

Four Pentas

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Two fantastic, beautiful Tex-Mex geraniums = 6 plants for right around $16 with tax.

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I then stopped at the grocery store and nearly had a sob fest there, but I prayed and made it out of there just fine. I’m telling you the tears can just sneak up on you so dang fast. I swallowed and blinked as I prayed and went about my business.

After I left there, I stopped at the place where I’ve bought plants before. Three gallon pots are $5 each and some of their orchids are also $5.

I bought a Bush Daisy.

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A Thyrilla ~ what a wonderful sweet scent it has. I wanted to add some yellow to my gardens and these two fit the bill.  I believe that I can root cuttings from both of these also.

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Here are the two orchids and I don’t have a clue as to what type either one is, these were $5 each.

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Here’s the group except for the orchids. I used Christmas bonus $ from my boss.

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Sunday I planted probably 75 or more little containers for seeds. I hope they start sprouting and give me lots of lovely goodies to add to my main garden, herbs and flowers.  I want to pack out the main garden, so I’m hoping for success with the seeds.

Here is our front entry patio. You can see the geraniums adding their pop of color. The scraggly bush in the right side is a crepe myrtle. The tree in the corner is an avocado grown from seed.

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Another view, looking west to the main garden.

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Upper half of this picture below is where the pentas are, along with bulbines yellow blooms, liriope super blue, spiderwort, white yarrow groundcover and a few other things.

In the foreground is more spiderwort, a couple of roses, a mallow, hibiscus, herbs and where I put the bush daisy.  Other things are here as well.

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So, that’s what I’ve been up to and I am enjoying our lovely weather while we have it, as summer will be here before we know it.

Happy gardening and Happy Spring.

FlowerLady

***

"Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees."

Robert Frost, A Prayer in Spring

9 comments:

Jane said...

You always have the best luck with your curbside treasures. Since Ran and I walk for several hours everyday, we have the opportunity to get a close look at all the things left curbside on garbage day on all the streets of our little village, but so far nothing has turned up except for boxes! Beautiful plants. Such bright colors!

Sunray Gardens said...

What lovely blooms. I like what you did with the hearts, they look good there.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Lorraine,
It sure is beautiful your way! Your hearts look like they are in just the right spot. Your avocado sure looks happy and healthy! I had two pits, one I tried before the other. The first one got slimy, and didn't grow, so I threw it away. I just put the toothpicks into the other one. We'll see if it grows.

God does take care of us, and I'm thinking you still need those tears from time to time. It doesn't mean you are not beginning to heal. It does sound like you are taking good care of yourself. I look forward to seeing the season progress with you.

sweetbay said...

I love your yard art. The hearts with the shells look great!

Your garden looks so wonderfully summery and tropical.

Heather said...

Rainey... your little corner with the hears is just absolutely adorable... and I love how you hung them... the rest of your garden area is delightful too, I can understand how you spending so much time in your little are is so healing for your soul.... and as usual, all of your plants are just wonderful! Cheers~

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Lorraine, the hearts look "perfect" on the wall there. A real delight - as is the gorgeous roses, plants and other flowers. You so aptly 'blog-named' yourself dear girl.

Ah sob-fests have no respect for your location at any given time. -hugs-

Your garden is an adventure. It invites one to want to explore and seek. It's a garden which has evolved over time and its just lovely.

For all sorts of reasons your birthday will be a tough one, amid various joys I pray.

R.
x

Anonymous said...

I love what you did with the planters . . . and what great buys you got on those plants - especially the orchids!

That Thyrilla propagates very easy from seeds and grows very quickly. In fact I have about 30 that have self-seeded on the opposite side of the fence. I am going to thin them out and let them be since they really are beautiful.

Have a wonderful week ~

eli

Rebecca said...

Never before have I thought the title "FlowerLady" so appropriate as this one! "Packing it in" certainly describes the potential if all those seeds mature!

Honestly, I think you ought to figure out a way to open your garden to the public. Put a donation box in an obvious place along a path, and I think you could help fund your beautiful talent.

I especially liked that first photo in this post (but all of them are lovely).

And let the tears water the garden in your heart! They're often the best and purest nurturing you can provide, I think...

Kit said...

I just love the new hearts! The place is looking great. :) Kit