Showing posts with label plants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plants. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Middle of March

I need to add something interesting today to make that pot of shamrocks go away, but I'm having a hard time finding anything.

Going back to last Friday, here are some pictures from when Debby and I went to the cemetery to take Aunt Betty some spring flowers. It was a nice afternoon. We jabbered on, sometimes in the present, sometimes in the past, memories of Grandma, memories of growing up in a simpler time, and if you're related to me and reading this, yes, we talked about you.


The pretty day turned into clouds and rain, and I loved every minute of it. It wasn't as much fun on Saturday having to get out in it though. Emily came rushing in from Warm Springs, and we had to get to the alterations place before it closed to get Dress #1 fitted and ask about hemming Dress #2. It probably wasn't pretty to see us juggling an umbrella, a big box, and 2 wedding gowns through the deluge. As we burst in, the place was full of bridesmaids, all getting fitted. It was hectic, to say the least, but we finally got the dress all pinned up to fit. We're still not sure in the confusion when it will be ready but certainly before she'll have any need for it. We then went to Dillard's to take back the "unacceptable" dress and get a new one, but then it turned out the new one was unacceptable too. I can't remember what we did after that, but we ended up stopping to get veggie sub from Publix. Yum. Emily picked out the ingredients, and I need to remind her I don't consider jalapenos veggies.

I was not wanting her to go to Atlanta Sunday morning in the pouring rain, and I didn't actually ask her not to - well maybe hinted a little - and made staying in the warm house making lists and drinking coffee sound like a lot more fun. We did get a bunch of things decided. It's slow going, but I think with this next trip to Atlanta, she and Ryan will get the ball rolling. Talking to the caterer, going to the photographer's, looking at cakes. That and the music will be the big things, and it'll be a relief to get those things decided.

The last 2 days have been just working and getting nothing done in between times. I did go to Michael's and take pictures of votive candle holders and pots and vases so we can make more decisions and bought some more outside hanging lights at Target - on sale!

Today I had to learn a new account at work, and I kept having to wait on this and wait on that, so my morning was wasted. I decided to plant some of the seeds I bought. These are the cute little pots I got. Mama thought they were chocolate cookies. They do look edible in those little candy-box containers.

I got two packets of seeds planted, and then I weeded the front flower bed a little, kind of half-heartedly, but I think it looks better. All the trees are budding out, the althea, the crepe myrtle, and even my little dogwood that is still in a pot from last year. I think it likes it there.
I'm always surprised to see this clematis every spring. In the fall, it turns into an ugly tangle of vines that looks like it will never come back, but then I've watched the little leaves come out in the past week, and it's already trying to climb.
I think I can see from the kitchen window a little purple on the wisteria in our neighbor's yard that is amazing every spring. Unfortunately, there's nothing pretty about this corner disaster, and I don't have much time to work on it. Maybe I can throw a few blooming annuals on top of the mess until the gardenias and azaleas start blooming.

So that's my exciting week. Tomorrow is beauty shop day for Mama and her weekly outing to Wal-Mart afterwards, and then I'll probably go to Andalusia Friday. It'll be a nice drive if the weather stays like this. There's something interesting and free going on at the quilt shop Saturday that I might like to get to if I have time. If anything more exciting than this comes up, I'll be sure to mention it.

Oh, Mike said he and Elise were going to just drive down to El Paso this weekend. I would go too if I didn't have to fly and had time or maybe lived there. I hope they have fun and take some interesting pictures for me.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Who Needs an Alarm Clock?

I do have an alarm clock plus my phone alarm and a cat or 2, but I've been awakened, or at least startled, 3 times since Christmas by our neighbor's car alarm. The fact that their car sits probably 10 steps from my bed makes it even more effective. I'm sure they're unhappy about it too; after all, they're the ones who were whispering and trying to be so quiet one Saturday morning last summer getting ready for a yard sale until I went over and told them they could be noisy.

Not much happening today - I hope. Below are the good, the bad, and the ugly of my plant life around here.

GOOD

This little African violet makes me so happy. It sits in the kitchen window and just blooms all the time. Sometimes it will take a rest and then come back prettier than ever. I found it at Bruno's one day when I ran in for "just one thing." I never stop long and look at grocery store plants because I think I've killed a few, and of course it's because of them coming from a grocery store. Anyway, the African violets were on sale for $1.50, and this one was just different. It hasn't disappointed.

On the other hand...

BAD
I'm not sure what's going on here. This is (was) a jade plant that has happily lived with my neglect for years and moved from house to house with me. All of a sudden, it started dropping its leaves and just lay down. So sad. I'm trying to root some of the leaves before it completely dies.

UGLY

I believe I may have committed crape murder. I hope not. This is my favorite little crape Myrtle, the color of watermelon, that I can see from my kitchen window. I hate to see these trees chopped down during the winter; in fact, I've had to hide the pruners from Mike in the past to keep him from getting too aggressive with them. In December, I simply went out to trim some branches for a front porch Christmas decoration. When I was finished, it looked a little uneven, so I trimmed some more, and then kind of kept on shaping and pruning until - well it looks like this. I think it will be okay though. Keeping my fingers crossed. Not much bothers crepe Myrtles. (Both spellings of this look funny. Crape is the official English spelling, and crepe is the southern term - I think.)
I'm cold and miserable and ready for spring.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Monday Morning Discoveries



The Good
This sweet little bloom came out of nowhere. Its sister had grown tall and bloomed weeks ago, and it was nice to have this greet me this morning. I think I had rather them bloom one by one and not fill the room with that overpoweringly sweet scent.




The Bad
This is what greeted me when I stumbled into the garage to feed the cats. Evidently they had already dined but were insisting on having fresh food in their bowls. I suggested they finish up what was there first. We'll see how that goes. If they won't, I know a little black dog who will make short work of it.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Friday, January 2, 2009

Tall Plants



This narcissus has been so exciting to watch this Christmas. I'm not sure what caused it to grow so tall and only have one bloom, but it helps to cheer up the dreariness from the kitchen window.



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I love the amaryllis flower but usually forget to start forcing one in time to bloom at Christmas. Same thing this year. I put a bulb in this big yellow pot and put it on the piano in the living room and forgot it. One day as I passed by it going to the kitchen, I noticed it had started to sprout. By the time I got a cup of coffee and came back through the living room, it had grown 2 inches. Well, not quite that fast, but it did seem to grow a few inches a day. Now it's ready to burst into bloom at any time, maybe even this afternoon. I can't wait to see it. For some reason, the amaryllis bulbs I've planted in the flower beds here have never done well.