Boy in Mirror

Bleeding Hearts and Bouncing Balls

Snow now covers my garden. Hopefully not for long. Before yesterday, a garden walk about uncovered all sorts of little treasures poking their heads out of the soil. Hostas, lillies and bleeding hearts.

A dangerous time for plants in my garden. Boys kicking a soccer ball then running in the gardens to retrieve it. Fresh new growth being step on! Ouch. I had to put an end to it. Though I felt like a big meany, I suggested they play in the neighbors yard. I've always felt abit guilty having excavated most of the lawn area and making large gardens.

The neighbors child said they couldn't play in their yard. Why? Too much dog poop. I no longer feel guilty.
 

Thinking

Sun through the window

Egg..ventures in the snow

A little snow....man

Common Sense.....

Are you born with it or do you acquire it?

One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood. Quote by Agatha Christie

Broken Home

Never look down on anybody unless you are helping him up. Quote from Reverend Jesse Jackson

 

Helleborus niger

Metal windowbox

Catkins 3

Glass Door

Double Vision

Murray

Color in Winter (In zone 7b I should add) Sorry to you zone challenged folks

Nowadays there is no reason for the winter landscape to be just green and brown. There are so many different colored shrubs and conifers that with a little planning you can have color all year round. Grey, blue, yellow and burgundy are all easy to incorporate in any garden and are nice companions to the perennials to come. My favorite shrubs for winter color are Cedrus deodara'Feeling Blue',Lonicera nitida'Lemon Beauty', Bergenia'Bressingham Ruby' which is green is the summer and turns burgundy in the winter. I also like Euphorbia characias wulfenii for its blue green color. The varigated Euphorbia'Tasmanian Tiger' is proving itself to be fairly hardy.

The winter heathers, helleborus and early bulbs are always a welcomed sight. Gardeners are lucky here on Vancouver Island, B.C. as we are rarely without color in our gardens.

Pieris Japonica

Frost on yellow glass

Chilly Mornings

The mornings have been quite chilly here. Minus 8 the last couple of days. I am not complaining however. I know alot of you out there get alot colder weather. I actually love this kind of weather. Not good for gardening but great for runs and long walks. We have had so much rain this winter it is nice to have the sun back cold or not.

I am a little worried about a few of my plants. My gunnera in paticular. I never really pampered it as much as I should have. I am pretty impressed with my Euphorbia'Tasmania Tiger'. I thought for sure it wouldn't be hardy enough. It seems to be hanging in there quite well.

The rain is back on Tuesday so I am going to enjoy this weather this weekend. I'm off for a long walk. 

Happy Valentines Day

Clay pots

Old and New

Old

Frosty Sedum

I'm in Love!

Busy, busy!

With all this nice weather comes the fact that I have to work! I've been too busy to play with my camera or spend much time on the computer. Hopefully this weekend I will have some time. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Spring in February?

The cherry trees are blooming in Victoria apparently ten days earlier than last year. While last year they were two weeks early.

At work I am shocked to find oriental lillies up about four inches, day lillies and irises up six. Hellebores, snowdrops and crocus are blooming away. There are big fat buds on the decidous azaleas and some hydrangeas are leafing out. Crazy! I have way too many things to do in the garden before spring arrives. Feb/March is when I cut back all the ferns. This is a huge job as the property is about five acres in a woodland setting. Then I have to mulch all the gardens. Spring in February just won't do. Mind you the sun has finally started to shine and we are in for five days straight. That's a first in a long time! 

Curves 5

Curves 3

Curves 4

Curves

Curves 2

Hellebore in Mirror

Lines

Cheers

Crocus 1

Place Setting

Napkin Ring

Heart Salad

Bird Bath

Tulip

Champange Flutes