Archive for the 'Nature' Category

Belamcanda chinensis

I really need to take time to enjoy our garden more. I’d forgotten that my Blackberry Lily was blooming until I was reading Garden Muse and saw Cindy’s pictures. I get so caught up in watering and deadheading flowers that I forget to just walk around and enjoy everything.

So of course, I grabbed the iPhone and snapped some pics.

Belamcanda chinensis

Note to self: Enjoy the fruits of your labor and don’t forget to walk around the house at least once a day.

Wordless Wednesday: Anticipation

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Magnolia

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This was the beginning to my day yesterday. It should have been a better day, but I’m grateful that it began and ended with beauty and love.

Wordless Wednesday: The Last Big Storm

Worth It

There are days when I don’t have the wherewithal to do much beyond feed myself and get myself to work. It was one of those days.

Sometimes you need a reminder that life is good and there will be better days.

Lily

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’

This is so exciting:

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake'

GROW Project – April

Yesterday I planted about 2/3 of my packet of ‘Spitfire’ Nasturtiums for the GROW Project. I put 1/3 in the big pot just outside our front door. The other plant that currently resides in that pot is the Chrysanthemum that E bought this past fall. It occurs to me that I probably should have taken some time to see if Chrysanthemums have some sort of growth inhibitor properties. Ah well.

I planted the other 1/3 of my Nasties along the stairs that lead up to the front of my house. I’d like some color there, and the orange-y red should look nice with the summer bulbs that I planted. Don’t ask what the bulbs are because I have no recollection. They might be the Brodiea laxa that I planted too late last year, and ended up moving several times.

I planted some of the Nasturtiums in the planter along the stairs, and some in the new yard. I’ll be experimenting with climbing vs. trailing. It will be interesting to see the difference. I haven’t decided what to do with the last third. I might just hang on to them for next year.

If you are reading this and you are one of the other GROW members and you have an account on Folia, I’d love to connect up. Feel free to leave a comment with your Folia username or add me as a friend on Folia (trueepicure).

I’m growing Nasturtium “Spitfire” for the GROW project. Thanks, to Renee’s Garden for the seeds.

USBG Production Facility

I spent a good part of my day today at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Production Facility. It’s a once-a-year opportunity that I am so glad to have found out about. Thanks to the suggestion from a new member of our garden club.

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There were lots of beautiful things to look at, and many nice staff and volunteers to chat with. I was definitely among my people today.

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Rosehips in DC

Rosehips

Green Thumb Sunday: Making Use of Cold Weather

It doesn’t look like it, but this is some serious green thumb-ing going on here! E is making me a cold frame for my birthday! I’m helping by holding lumber while it is being cut, and then priming and painting the cut wood before E puts the frame together.

This is going to be an awesome cold frame for all of my new flowers and vegetable seeds from the Washington Gardener Seed Swap!

In Progress

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.