“Though many a flower in the wood is waking,
The daffodil is our doorside queen;
She pushes upward the sword already,
To spot with sunshine the early green.”
~ William Cullen Bryant
My mini-daffodils are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day
Tag: Cee’s Flower of the Day
Phlowers – A Humble Weed
It might be a weed, but I think it’s also pretty enough to be included in Cee’s Flower of the Day. Garden Cress is a wild edible. It grows luxuriantly in nooks and crannies all over my yard. This small plant has interesting leaves. I press quite a few each year to use in pressed flower crafting. You can take a look at how to press this on The Flower Ark – Pressing Garden Cress.
What you might not have noticed in the first photograph is how very small the flower is. The flowers in the first photograph would barely cover the diameter of a dime.
Share this:
Photo Challenge – Weather Vanes March 27th
It’s a proven fact, unless you’re looking for an item, you often walk by unaware of its presence. I never noticed this weather vane during past visits to Longwood Gardens. I was glad to find it. I want to let the Wednesday Weather Vane challenge run for a full year and that means through June. I’m running out of sources for vanes.
The terrace the gazebo is built on provides a spectacular view of the fountains and the conservatory.
Inside the Exhibition Hall Himalayan Blue Poppies bordered the outer wall. Poppies are spectacular in color and form, but unfortunately, when we visited most of the blooms were turned away from the walkway and faced the sunshine beaming through the windows.
This beauty cooperated and I was able to get a wonderful photograph. It is my contribution to Cee’s Flower of the Day. I’m contemplating making an attempt at painting a blue poppy again, but I know from experience, that their heavenly shade of blue is hard to capture.
Thanks to these bloggers for taking part in last week’s challenge.
Geriatri’x’ Foto Gallerie – Weather Horses
The 59 Club – Flipper
The Photo Challenge: Each Wednesday, I post a photograph of a Weather Vane with a short description of where it can be found and any history connected to it. The main focus of the challenge is the photo of the Weather Vane and the location. The challenge can be Wordless if that is what you choose. If you would like others to see your post leave a link to your blog in the comment box. You can also tag the post #weathervaneweds. If you place a link to my post in your post you will create a pingback that will appear in the comment section. The challenge is open all week for comments and posts. Thanks so much for taking part in my challenge.
Many thanks to Cee, of Cee’s Photography, for including this challenge in her listing of WordPress Challenges. If you love challenges take a look at this page and while you are there check out some of Cee’s terrific posts. Thanks Cee!
Share this:
Plants – Flower of the Day
The forced tulip bulbs are beginning to bloom. A perfect choice for Cee’s Flower of the Day
Share this:
Perspective and Praise – Casting Cares
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
~ Psalm 55:22 (KJVA)
The acacia passage is one of my favorite areas in the Longwood Garden Conservatory. This beautiful vignette is just one of the many plant displays that will pique your interest during the Orchid Extravaganza.
If I was the gardener in charge of the area, the care, placement and upkeep of all the plants would be daunting. To cope, and do the best job possible, I would remind myself of wise counsel a good friend once gave me, “Concentrate on one problem at a time.” This sage advice works for so many aspects of life. We get into trouble when we overextend ourselves and try to take care of too many problems at one time.
Aha, you say, all my problems must be taken care of now, I have no choice. Yes, sometimes choosing just one doesn’t work, but in that case, I remind myself of the verse I began the post with, and I cast the burden on the Lord. What a promise to cling to in the midst of our busy, problem-filled lives. He will sustain me, He will sustain thee. God bless you on this Sabbath Day.
The orchids are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Share this:
Phlowers – Late to the Show/Flower of the Day
On the coldest day of the year my Christmas Amaryllis is finally in full bloom. She’s late to the show, but sometimes a glamorous entrance is better than being on time. In these cold days of mid-winter, the blossom is a welcome addition to the house.
This post is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Share this:
Quotes – The Heart of Christmas
“The very purpose of Christ’s coming into the world was that He might offer up His life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. He came to die. This is the heart of Christmas.”
~ Billy Graham
“Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas; Star and angels gave the sign.”
~ Christina Rosetti
“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you…yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.”
~ Mother Teresa
The red poinsettias in this post are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day
Share this:
Plants – Bargains in the Clearance Aisle
What is that oddball bag lying beside my carrots in the vegetable bin of my refrigerator?
What looks like small onions or shallots is really a bag of Spring-Flowering bulbs, leftovers from my Autumn plantings.
While you’re looking for Christmas trees and poinsettias in big box stores or garden nurseries, take a moment to check if there are any leftover Autumn bulbs on clearance. Often a business will slash prices of out of season plants to the point of almost giving them away. I mimic frosty cold by storing unplanted bulbs as the Gardening-Know-How site suggests:
The highest chilling temperature is around 40 degrees F. (4 C.), so chilling bulbs in the refrigerator is ideal. Just be sure not to store them near any fruit, as the released ethylene gas reduces bloom. Store the bulbs in the refrigerator in a ventilated mesh bag.
~ Gardening Know How/How to Chill Flowering Bulbs
The article has many fine tips on how to select, chill and plant the bulbs in Spring. I have about three months to come up with good ideas for forcing these beauties. The bright flowers and colors will certainly be an antidote for the doleful greys of late-winter skies.
The glorious red tulips are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Share this:
Phlowers – Silken Petals
Autumn Rose Scepter
Pure silk bloom of royalty
Reigning o’er chill Fall
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
~ Matthew 6:28-30
This rose isn’t waiting for dormancy, but is blooming still. When I pick a flower, whatever the season, I have contact with the Creator of heaven and earth. Does this bring the 2018 growing season a sense of closure or will I still dream of rosebuds in December?
Today’s beautiful blossom is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day Blog Post.
Share this:
Plants – Mexican Bush Sage
An easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant plant also known as velvet sage, Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) produces showy, bright purple and white flowers above attractive, grayish-green foliage from late summer to the first frost. Gardeners in frost-free climates often enjoy blooms throughout the winter. Perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11, Mexican sage is a shrubby, sprawling plant that reaches 3 to 4 feet tall. Plant Mexican bush sage in the garden after all danger of frost has passed in early spring
This beautiful velvety purple flower is blooming in my garden now and part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Share this:
Phlowers – Dahlia Show
Longwood Gardens and The Greater Philadelphia Dahlia Society hosted The American Dahlia Society’s 2018 National Show this past weekend. I was able to attend and admire the many varieties. My husband and I are inspired to grow a few named varieties of dahlias in next year’s garden. We both had our favorites. I loved the large dinner plate dahlias. My favorite was the pink and yellow bloom. These dahlias are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
My husband likes the simpler daisy-like blossom. I’m sure there is room for both our favorites in our 2019 gardens. It will be fun to research and plan ahead throughout the winter months.
I love this view of the display. The spectators blend right into the blooms and seem to be part of the beautiful indoor garden.
Dahlia love: A garden of dahlias and admirers.
Longwood Gardens has a very informative article on growing dahlias: Growing Dahlias at Home
There are several sources for dahlia tubers in the US, I’ve included a sampling:
Another good source for dahlia information can be found at the Dahlia Addict site.
Share this:
Phlowers – Wildflower Walk
“May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day.” ~ Native American Proverb
I haven’t taken part in a WetCanvas Plant Parade Challenge for quite a while. For the month of September, the host has chosen wildflowers. I thought it a great opportunity to grab my camera and take a walk to look for Autumn wildflowers. The jewelweed, in the photo above, might seem fragile, but the plant has some mighty powers; jewelweed is a natural remedy for poison ivy.
“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment.” ~ Georgia O’Keefe
Other wildflowers I found were goldenrod, autumn clematis, late-season honeysuckle, and evening primrose.
My wildflower walk is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Share this:
Phlowers & Photograph – Rose of Sharon
My Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) photograph is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.
Today is an overcast day in southern New Jersey…again. We’ve had a very wet summer and it looks like the upcoming Autumn season might bring the same. When I take a walk a little later in the morning, I will be sure and grab my camera to take along. I have found grey days create an amazing background for skyline photographs. The moisture in the air forms a screen of sorts, and shadows magically appear within the mistiness surrounding the plant. You can see this effect in the unretouched photo above.
A few years ago a generous friend sent me seeds from her Rose of Sharon bush. This sweet little tree is the result. I grew it in the house for quite a while, and then, when I felt it was hardy enough, planted it outdoors. It has thrived this summer and grown to about three feet tall. Plants given to me by friends always bring me great joy.
The leaves of the Rose of Sharon are glossy and green and don’t appear to be tempting to many garden pests. Hooray. Thanks again to the kind lady who sent me these seeds. You can find excellent growing and pruning tips for Rose of Sharon at The Spruce.
These photographs are part of Skywatch Friday. Thanks for stopping by today.
Share this:
Phlower – Hibiscus/Unlikely Sources
Several of my favorite plants have been found in the unlikeliest places. I discovered this beautiful hibiscus for sale in a local deli. It wasn’t blooming when I bought it; I assumed it would have the appearance of a typical garden shop hibiscus. What a surprise awaited me when the multi-hued double petals opened for the first time. In the Autumn, I will bring the plant indoors and try to keep it alive and blooming for years. At some point I know I will have to capture this flower in watercolor.
This beautiful bloom is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.
