Hello from the ladies

Clematis

I can't seem to get my photos to download properly so I am going to blog about my love of Clematis. I remember the day I fell in love. It was at my Aunt Cheryl's. She had one by her front door. I remember thinking that this is love at first site. Had I not payed attention before. Or was this the moment my eyes were opened to gardening at this wonderful plant. I had to have one. I have five in my yard and hope to add more. So many to choose from. It truly is a love affair I have with this plant. It climbs, it has big wonderful flowers and so hardy. One of my favorites, Asao is so happy to please. She is out there standing so proudly these days. Buds about to burst open with her crisp champagne pink flowers. She doesn't stop blooming either. My champion plant. And when the flowers fade they leave you with a wonderful straw colored fire work of a seed pod. What more could you ask for. If I weren't already married I'd marry this plant. Don't tell my fuschias. They might get jealous.

HPSS

Well I was able to protect my lovely finds from the Hardy Plant Society sale from the freeze. Thanks to my lovely greenhouse. I found some really fabulous things. I managed to get a few doubles due to a little mishap at the hold area. All turned out for the best though. I got a few white bleeding hearts, some lovely hellebores. (I am happy about those because my hellebore niger that I have is about the size of my pinky nail and is not going any where..hmm.) I got a lovely climbing hydrangea. I have planted this under my cherished mimosa. The leaves on this hydrangea are so yummy. They look like key lime pie. I got three wonderful clematises. Thank you Susan for the suggestions on these. I got three fuschias. They are hardy and they leaves are a lime green with red veins and stems. Real show stoppers. I planted one next to my persicaria (dragon's blood) It looks great.

spring freeze

Well Oregon does it again. Just as the spring Hardy Plant Society sale ends and I get some of those precious babies in the ground Matt Zafino tells us that it is going to freeze the next three nights. I did manage to cover my plants with some buckets and cardboard. Thankfully Pop called me to let me know so that I wouldn't plant the new Dahlias that just arrived in the mail. Well off to read about propagating. At least with the freeze maybe I will get some house work done.

Our new home, Hello?!

Here are the chickens in their new home. I think they like it.

Counting the hours...

I am just counting the hours until the Hardy Plant Society Sale. Thinking about all the fun new plants I will purchase. I went on a long walk today through my neighborhood. Lots of good gardens. I got some good ideas. I also tried out my new garden bibs. They are water proof as well as fleece. I am actually still wearing them. Well off to dream about plants and catch up on some unread garden articles. Happy gardening

Hardy Garden Society Sale

Don't forget the Hardy Garden Society Sale is this coming weekend. April 12th and 13th. Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-3. This year it is at the expo center in North Portland. It is a fabulous sale with lots of vendors. This year's venue is apparently bigger than years past. It is a great opportunity to talk to nurseries and acquire many natives and all those special treats you have been waiting for since fall's sale. Here are some pictures from last year's sale.

Pictures of my discoveries...

Discoveries

Yesterday while gardening in my fairy garden I made two lovely discoveries. I was carefully weeding and came upon my lovely trillium and then I found my Anemonell Thalictroides. The second of the two is very small and I have to mark it very well or I will pull it out with the weeds. I have successfully had this flower in my garden for two seasons. I feel like this is quite an accomplishment. You will understand when you see the pictures. It is the sign of spring for me seeing these arrivals. I must not forget to mention my frittalaria. She is a darling and makes my heart sing whenever I see her pop her head out. Whenever I first discover her I find her with a few small buds.

April 3rd 2008

Gardening today. Sterling just woke up so we are going to head out after he finishes his snack. Gotta start these kids out early. Teaching them about gardening, nature and the cycle of life. I planted a Heuchera that I rescued last year into the ground today. Hope to get some more in the ground. My fence is coming along quite nicely. I will post some pictures soon.

The Girls

Okay so I have made several posts just today but I gotta fill this thing up with good stuff. Sooo chickens. We have three, Myrtle, Ethel, and John Rambo (Pickles). I got Myrtle and Pickles at Foster Feed and Garden. Ethel was hatched by my sister in law Gretchen. She is a Rhode Island Red. The chicken, not Gretchen. Myrtle is a Gold Laced Wyandotte and Pickles/Rambo is a Buff Orpington. All good layers and sweet natured. Ethel is looking a little like a cross between Sam the Eagle from the muppets and some sort of turkey. What can I say they are all teenagers. All the pictures I have though she is looking right in the camera ready for her close up. I am obsessed with these chickens. I mean look at them. Wouldn't you be too.

Here it is ... !!

Oh heavenly. Here is a picture of the Dahlia. Isn't it to die for. 11 inches people of this bad boy. Now I can't wait to have you all see our chickens. What a wonderful addition to our garden.
Today I got to test out our new willow fence with the neighbor dog, Luther. It worked great. Probably won't deter the chickens but Luther is the most destructive of any of the critter with his big fat bull dog body. CHEERS!!

Bodacious

Dahlias

Today dad and I ordered out Dahlias for the spring. All I have to say is BODACIOUS!!! This dahlia is fierce!!! I can't wait to post a picture of it.
11 inches of wild red and yellow flame. Yummy. I want to eat it up. Can't wait to get that puppy in my garden!!!

Gardening

So the only people I think that might look at my blog will be myself and my parents. So Mom and Dad feel free to make lots of comments here about gardening.