No, really, this time I mean it...a ridiculous number of garden photos...

WOW, two weeks since my last post! Well, as you know, I've been blowing off my sewing machine lately for the garden. It's rainy out and cold today though, so here I am! Indoors! Lol* I have inherited a batch of twenty or so seed packets from my parents this year, and many of them are priciery brands of heirloom or organic seeds...so looks like I'm going to take the plunge into seed propagation! I've never grown anything from seed before, so I'm hoping that they live! Tomorrow I'm planning to steal some time to dig up a bed in the front yard and start planting. *crosses fingers* Now GROW seeds, or I'll look really silly with an empty bed of dirt and no plants in my front yard!

Here's what's coming up around the house for all of you gardening quilters...

Phlox to the left and a lily to the right...a man who shall remain nameless (ehheem, you know who you are!) weed whacked a part of my phlox plant...and my tulips, and my peonies, and my rose bush, AND rode the lawn mower grass blowing side TOWARDS my flower beds the day before yesterday. But, you know, I'm a forgiving gal. Lol* That is, as long as the damage isn't terminal to my babies!

Here are the coral bells my MIL gave me last year...I actually didn't realize it was a perennial, and didn't really care for it at first...but it's growing on me. I suppose he will remain a happy little plant for at least another summer...

Another lily, one that my friend brought as a house warming gift. He's taken right off, at least tripled in size, but I'll have to spray soon, the buggies are already eating his leaves up. We have a terrible time with japanese beetles here. Next year I need to remember Grub-ex.

Oh here are the most BEAUTIFUL lemon zest petunias given to me by my parents this year. They'd bought them to keep, but I loved them so much they very kindly and generously sent them home with me and bought another for themselves yesterday. Aren't they gorgeous? I normally don't croon over petunias, but these beauties are difficult not to love.

Yet another lily, this one is pink and the other two will be orange...this is an asiatic, a new addition this year...

I've also gone silly with geraniums this year...I picked these up the other day while at walmart...my least favorite place to buy plants I have to add. The plants always look sick and near death there! Lol* Luckily these were ok. :)

Covered in grass clippings, here are the divided peony half weed whacked, a new rose bush and one that I moved from the side of the house. Not impressive yet, but just a few more weeks until we start seeing some real action! :)


Difficult to see from this picture, but here is a budding peony...can you believe the buds are not even half formed and the ants are already crawling on nearly every one!

One of the rose bushes I moved...it looks more like a twig bush now...lol* It seems happy though, it's got new leaves!

Here's the hydrangea I purchased last year...while he was just coming up out of the ground I accidently stepped on him trying to fix one of the hedges damaged in the ice storm...whoops! I lost a section, but I think he's still going to get a bloom or two! I put him in this pot until the garage is built...until then I won't have many shadier places.

Last but not least I have to brag on my rododendron, who's starting to bloom! Yay! He only had a handful of blooms last year...I'm happy to see there are three or more times that amount budding on him this year. Maybe he's happy afterall?!!

Be Warned : A Ridiculous Number of Garden Pictures Follow

You've been warned! Just in the case that you have zero interest in gardening, only the very last picture in this post is (slightly) quilt related!

Ok, I had to show you how my hyacinths have bloomed! Quite a change from the pictures in my last post...they smell SO good when I open my front door! Also, look at this (fuzzy photo) of a bonus grape hyacinth that somehow found its way into my daffodil pot at the store? I actually bought the less attractive looking daffodil bunch because I saw this little treasure budding under the daffodil leaves. This fall I'll dig him up and move him to his own little spot. :)

Also wanted to show off my geraniums! I potted these in old rain boots that both of my daughters loved. Now their feet won't fit them, but these flowers seem to fit nicely! :)

Last but not least, a fuzzy photo of a quilted pillow I made for my Hubby's Aunt. I embroidered her name in a blue varigated perle cotton, and hand quilted the star though it's impossible to see from this picture. She celebrated her birthday last week and I'm a little behind, but hopefully, better late than never! I am also going to stick a box of summer bulbs in her gift bag...a nice springy gift! :)

Quilts and flowers, flowers and quilts!

If you haven't noticed yet, I kind of like to take a hobby and then run with it. Lol* My two favorite things, are quilts and flowers. Cooking comes in as my No. 3 favorite hobby, but with the picky eaters I have to feed on a daily basis, well, let's just say good ol' cooking for fun isn't as common around here as I'd like it to be. Oh, of course, quilting is the winner though HANDS DOWN, when it comes to just about anything other than my family! Lol* But once the weather becomes warm enough to put plants in the ground, my sewing machine tends to take a rest. It's the never ending battle between the number of hours in the day, and the number of things I want to get done!

Yesterday I picked up these already started spring bulbs, and I'm so excited, they are the first spring blooming perennials to hit the dirt in our front garden bed! Yay!!! I just thought I'd share, as I know many of you like to garden as well. :)

Now if it's HINTS you've stopped by for, well, I might have one or two for you. Lol* Five more posts...not too far away. You know that I have to drag out the wait a bit, don't you? It would be no fun for me otherwise! Lol* All I can say for now, is that I have fall on my mind, as you might have guessed from the fabric I've chosen. Some of you early guessers have come close...but you'll just have to wait a little longer for the entire surprise. I just can't wait to share it! :)

6 Posts Left

Just six more posts. Six posts after this post. There's going to be a surprise! A big surprise.

But - hush! It's a secret. ;)

I cannot bear to keep secrets! I'm just no good at secrets. So I'll give you a hint...

Oh, but I know you won't be able to guess! We'll just have to see...what could that surprise be? :)