the good

I hadn't realized until I decided to check the dates that these photos were taken almost 3 weeks ago on March 30th. The daffodil were just starting to peek out and only the crocuses were up. I love that lonely little one that just found it's way under the trees. George was just finishing up some projects. Making some little compartment for lumber out of pallets. I think he would be make a good lumberjack...it's in his genes as his great grandfather was a logger. I am sure there were many loggers back in his day.  Anyways I was stalking him watching him work on this beautiful sunny spring day.   The bulk of the planting is done and in different stages of growth. Now it seems there is a lot of moving. Always a lot of moving. Cooling things down and hardening off.  It's fun to look back and see how much things have grown. I actually find myself cutting a lot back already. I am never without my scissors close at hand. My most used tool.  I made up a lot of little succulent mixtures and hopefully won't run out as quickly as I did last year. I'll try to photograph more of them to show you and maybe some flowers. Looking at these photos there isn't much that looks like spring. I am sure blogland is full of spring colors. I haven't had the time to visit like I would like but want to thank you for the wonderful comments. Most of you that write know that this is our crunch time. I so appreciate you understanding.  That was our weeping juniper that broke in the middle from that super snowstorm when we got 30-36". We haven't had the time to take care of it and it makes me a little sad to see it broken but it was getting too big for the space. 

Sadness is the Boston tragedy. I am overwhelmed with grief as I know you are.  I have been trying to listen to NPR for most of it as I haven't been doing much TV watching. The stories are horrific but also very inspiring as you hear of the people that stepped up to help. It's easy to get lost in the hatred, but important to know that humanity is not lost. 

Some wise words to keep in mind from  

From Patton Oswalt on facebook

I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, "Well, I've had it with humanity."

But I was wrong. I don't know what's going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem -- one human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.

But here's what I DO know. If it's one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we're lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in a while, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they're pointed towards darkness.

But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evildoers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.

So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."

Spring

It's still pretty wintery looking outside but Spring is almost here :) 

are you ready?

Instagram love

Have I told you how much I Heart Instagram

Actually I just started it recently and don't have a lot of photos yet. I'm often late to the game on the in thing. 

I was late to Pinterest too. 

Besides all the great effects you can get it's the instant gratification that I like. No having to get the big camera out, manually focusing that I need to do these days...( yep it's still giving me trouble)  I really want to get the new Nikon D800. It's been on my radar since last year but didn't come out until early this year.  I was beginning to think it was a urban myth with 36.3 Mp.!!!!!!!!

It's my dream camera.....heck lets face, it's everyone who likes to take photos "Dream Camera". I've had a good talk with myself and decided to go with a more reasonably priced one....what that will be I still have no idea but I think I will stick with Nikons. I still think they have the best lenses and that's really what matters. 

 Until I decide I will leave you with images of my new timewaster  obsession.

Huge leek blossom. Petey likes to run around with them in his mouth. 

Back of one of the perennial houses....A no admittance greenhouse which is why it gets out of control.

I hate bittersweet!!!!!!

I came home early one day to watch Junk Gypsies on Saturday at 7 pm 

Love that show....thanks Debbie 

Yes that is a metal pull up bar on the left that hubby installed last year.

I'm not happy with it but whatcha gonna do? 

See that scratch on his nose???

Yes this little girl did that. 

When she's not giving him the WHAT FOR she's loving on the corn silk and will jump in the box of veggies we bring home most every night. 

Did I mention we sell the best corn in town?

Bliss

New ribbon as it was being unpacked. Gosh still haven't gotten those priced. Trying to stay on top of new merch coming in.....but not doing a very good job with it. The gift shop isn't open now but I need it to be by Fall. 

Saw this on our walk last night. George told me to leave it:) 

Of course I did!

If you want you can follow me on Instagram 

HERE or click on the little tab on my sidebar.

or here 

Happy St Patrick’s Day

Whether or not you have an Erin, Siobhan or Liam in your

family we are all Irish on St Patrick's Day.

Enjoy!


Joining Seasonal Sundays
At The Tablescaper 

Coming along

Spring seems to be eluding us so far, though most
of the week was pretty sunny.

It was in the 20's a few nights ago and I've heard rumors of

SNOW .....but the north western part of Ct.

Thank goodness not along the shore.

Even our poor little pansies that

were left got a little shocked.

But heck they're pansies and they'll be fine.

Anyways we planted a few of these.

I should have cleaned them up or watered them in so they'd

look all pretty for ya.

I try planting flats as fast as possible and race myself.

Sometimes I get scolded that I don't push them down into the dirt enough.

My inspector (hum... hubby)

likes to go around pushing them in deeper as he shakes his head.

I like them just at soil level or above.

That way they don't rot.

He has his way, I have mine.

 

Then we planted a few of these.

I like seeing them when they're little and waiting for the first blossoms.....especially when it's a new variety.

Everything has really been growing with all the sun we've had.

Except today it rained.

It has to rain sometimes.



A white lavender that I wish I could tell you the name of

but it lost it's tag......that happens a lot....and why I have it the back

where I keep all my rejects with the hopes of adding it to a mixed container at some point.

Coleus called "Freckles"

...what a great name

I'm thinking I'm really going to like this one when it grows up.

 If you've read this blog

for awhile you'll know how much I adore coleus.

One of the easiest plants to grow.

They are in the basil family so just like basil they

don't take much to cold weather or too much overhead watering.

Other then that they're a piece of cake.

 

I was surprised to find that I still had one Black Panther

Streptocarpella left.

The grower I bought it from originally no longer grows it.

For 3 yrs I couldn't get my hands on it because it kept selling out.

Finally one year I smartened up and ordered it early.

I was hoping to propagate more but it's not all that big.

One thing I've learned about plants and gardening

is that you have to have patience.

Nature has her own time table.

Are you impatient when it comes to your garden?

and want instant gratification.

oh sorry Janet and Z no pics of Mr. George( YET)

I'll keep working on him.

he's camera shy just like moi.



Another beautiful day

Just wanted to say hi again.....sorry I've been absent in the blog world.

I've been in the weeds so to speak.

George took my camera the other day to get a picture of Charlotte.

Gee, you'd think she was our only cat the way we go on about her.

haha

Really I don't think our other kitties mind:))

So since the camera was out I took a minute to get a few shots.

Ok maybe more then a minute:))

Heuchera "Paris"

as close to Paris as I'll be seeing for awhile.

Heuchera is one of my favorite perennials. I have a tendency to want to order a ton

of them but for most customers they're not showy enough. Not enough "big fat flowers" like I call it.

Not that I don't like those either but you need to break it up, add textures and

even some great foliage plants just to make it interesting.

Now there's one of those biggens!

You can't help but notice this color.

One of the figs plants we saved over in the greenhouse. New variety that we hadn't had before.

Will have to see if it's as good as Black Jack or Brown turkey.

I can't remember the name now?

Miss Charlotte thinking it's cool to lay on my plugs.

Don't worry I moved her.
Look at that face....

it's like she's saying

" what? I can be here"

This is her being more angelic.

This is the one that George rushed in to get the camera for.

Priceless!

The promise that Spring is coming!

While having lunch today and sitting in front of my computer

I remembered that I didn't know

where my pictures of last years plugs and cuttings had gone off to.

Then I found them on my little zip drive kicking around in my pile of papers.

Have I mentioned I hate to file papers!!!

These are from last year like I said but in a few more days some of the

same will be coming in.

Most of our trays have 82-100 plants already to get planted.

Most times they come on a heated grower truck. My favorite way for

them to arrive.

We used to start planting first week in February

when oil prices were less but we've changed what we grow

to accommodate that.

Sometimes they arrive in boxes sent Fed Ex where they are stacked on top

of one another divided by cardboard.

We get to know our delivery guys pretty well.

They know our plants are perishable and know that they

need a little more fragile handling then most of packages and need to be

left in a heated house.

On occasion we get the boxes delivered tipped on it's side and the plants

are damaged a little or the soil gets bounced out.

Doesn't happen that often.

We used to have to pick up at the airport in Hartford but I

avoid having to do that. Many growers do it that way to save shipping costs.

It amazes me that they can arrive in such good shape

with the cold and the handling.

Coleus is very tender as you may know and the slightest cold will damage it.

This one is called "El Brighto"~ appropriate name!!!

Vegetative coleus (from cuttings) had been touted as being

the best plant around but it took our customers a long time

to fall in love with them. Now it's the first thing

everyone wants to buy when we first open.

It can be a sunny, cloudy or a rainy day in the greenhouse and it's always a place

I love to spend my time in.

Right now we're still cleaning before our first delivery and the heat is only set at 40 deg.

or 4C. but that doesn't bother us.

We dress warmly but gloves are things I have a hard time using.

I see my hands in a picture and I can't believe how

wrinkled they look but that's ok. I guess when I get

really old::))) if I'm so lucky

I can look at my hands and know I did work hard but enjoyed what I did

for a living.

We work long hours...7days a week for months on end

but I can't imagine doing anything else.

We are truly married to our work.

Good thing we work together...haha...

we'd never see each otherwise.

There was a time we used to seed so many trays

ourselves but now we purchase them

mostly in plug trays.

Just pop them out and plant them.

Easy squeasy!

Marigolds, herbs and some veggies we still do.

The first day they poke there first set of leaves still excites me.

What do you plant by seed???