I like to start my blog posts out with a nice picture, usually of a plant or flower, and so today, I went down into my photo archives to find a picture I remember taking a few years ago. I'd thought it would be a nice picture for the first Sunday of Advent because it shows a display of Advent candles across my mantel, each one nestled in a little clay pot. It was lovely and garden-y, but I didn't set those up this year, hence my desire to find those old photos on this first Sunday of … [Read more...] about What We Find When We Are Looking For Something Else on the First Sunday of Advent
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May Dreams Gardens
Violas and Violettas
A while back, I embarked on a search to find and buy all the books about violets, pansies, violas, and yes, violettas, that I could find. I am grateful that the flower genus I've chosen to obsess over... hmmm... is it an obsession? Let's just say "the flower genus I'm strongly interested in" doesn't have too many books written about it. Like roses, for example. I don't believe it would be possible to find and buy every book written about roses. But the genus Viola? Do-able. And … [Read more...] about Violas and Violettas
Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit! Here Comes Christmas!
Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit! As we say on the first day of the month. And no, it didn't snow last night, but I thought this was a good picture to start the month with. Product placement for those looking for something different for a Christmas present? Who isn't looking for something different for the season these days? Gifts, plants, decorations, plants, food, plants, books, plants, books, seeds, books... I do like this quote from a book I just bought. "Well here comes Christmas! … [Read more...] about Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit! Here Comes Christmas!
For the Last Day of a Month…
Skip way down for some announcements... Is there something special we should do on the last day of the month? Back on November 1, I wrote how people used to say "Rabbit, Rabbit" before hopping out of bed on the first day of the month. (Or maybe they say "rabbit" three times? Regardless, don't forget to do it tomorrow, because yes, November is nearly over!) What rituals do people have on the last day of the month? I did an exhaustive 10-second search and those first few links looked a … [Read more...] about For the Last Day of a Month…
String of Pearls
My string of pearls plant is growing nicely so I must be doing something right. To confirm that, I thought I'd look up some information about it and in doing so, I have discovered the most amazing, unusual thing about it. It's in the daisy family, Asteraceae. I wouldn't have guessed that from looking at it, which just proves once again, never judge a plant... I also discovered that the taxonomists decided to move it from the genus Senecio to the genus Curio so now it is Curio … [Read more...] about String of Pearls
Snowdrop Watch
It's a good thing I didn't plan a big festival for late November to welcome the first snowdrops of the season. They are not to be found this year. Where they came up last year and bloomed at the end of November—see picture for evidence—there is now a bunch of henbit growing and a ceramic sign that says "Snowdrops" so I know I'm looking in the right spot. What is the difference between last year and this year? Well, thanks for asking. We gardeners love to talk about the … [Read more...] about Snowdrop Watch