My Daughter's Wedding

My Daughter got married this weekend! The wedding took place outdoors at a horse ranch on a beautiful sunny day. I would like to share with you a short video of some of the photographers photos.  Click here to view the video.

Wordless Wednesday

Garden Quotes

While searching for a quote to apply to this texturized photo I created I came across these quotes 

I would like to share with you. As I was reading them I found that I agreed with most of 

them and many brought a smile to my face. 

 I can't seem to stop searching and reading them - careful it is addicting.

"Because a garden means constantly making choices, it offers almost limitless possibilities for surprise and satisfaction."


- Jane Garmey, The Writer in the Garden  

"In his garden every man may be his own artist without apology or explanation.  Each within his green enclosure is a creator, and no two shall reach the same conclusion; nor shall we, any 

more than other creative workers, be ever wholly satisfied with our accomplishment.  Ever a season ahead of us floats the vision of perfection and herein lies its perennial charm."

-  Louise Beebe Wilder

"Let no one think that real gardening is a bucolic and meditative occupation.  It is an insatiable passion, like everything else to which a man gives his heart.        '

-  Karel Capek

"Little by little, even with other cares, the slowly but surely working poison of the garden-mania begins to stir in my long-sluggish veins."

-  Henry James

"Texture and foliage keep a garden interesting through the season. 
Flowers are just moments of gratification.
"

-   Kevin Doyle

"Gardens are the result of a collaboration between art and nature.
"

-  Penelope Hobhouse

"In a rock garden we foster a little patch of the wilderness that stands to us for freedom."

-  Jason Hill

"In garden arrangement, as in all other kinds of decorative work, one has not 
only to acquire a knowledge of what to do, but also to gain some wisdom in
perceiving what it is well to let alone.
"

-  Gertrude Jekyll

"Should it not be remembered that in setting a garden we are painting - a picture 
of hundreds of feet or yards instead of so many inches, painted with living flowers 
and seen by open daylight - so that to paint it rightly is a debt that we owe to the 
beauty of flowers and to the light of the sun.
"

-   William Robinson, The English Flower Garden and Home Grounds, 1883

 "Gardens unite artificial and natural beauty, embracing all the natural elements - water, light, air, growth - and making them elements of art.  Every effort devoted to garden design becomes a mirror of the longing for happiness in harmony with nature."  

-   Carl F. Schroer

 "Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty."


-  James Russell Lowell

 "Today the art of gardening is practiced much more often than 
any other, in ignorant, impulsive ways, by people who never 
stop to think that it is an art at all."   


-  M.G. Van Rensselaer

 "All gardeners need to know when to accept something wonderful 
and unexpected, taking no credit except for letting it be."


-  Allen Lacy 

"Don't underestimate the therapeutic value of gardening.  It's the one area where 
we can all use our nascent creative talents to make a truly satisfying work of art. 
Every individual, with thought, patience and a large portion of help from nature, 
has it in them to create their own private paradise: truly a thing of beauty 
and a joy for ever." 


-  Geoff Hamilton, Paradise Gardens  

"Many pursue happiness, gardeners create it."

  - Michael P. Garofalo, Pulling Onions  

"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today."

- Indian Proverb 

"Man was not made to rust out in idleness.  A degree of exercise is as necessary for the preservation of health, both of body and mind, as his daily food.  And what exercise is more fitting, or more appropriate of one who is in the decline of life, than that of superintending a
well-ordered garden?   What more enlivens the sinking mind?   What is more conducive to a long life?"
-  Joseph Breck

 "What will I do when I can no longer dig?"


-  Knute Hamson, Growth of the Soil

"Early to bed, early to rise,

Work like hell: fertilize."

-  Emily Whaley, Charleston, N.C.

"Any garden demands as much of its maker as he has to give.  But I do not need to tell you, if you are a gardener, that no other undertaking will give as great a return for the amount of effort put into it."

-  Elizabeth Lawrence

"There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling."

-  Mirabel Osler

"For me, a garden is peace of mind.  It immediately takes my mind off the thing I'm puzzling about in my work and gives me repose."

-  Henry Louis Gates Jr.

 "My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view." 

-  H. Fred Ale

Garden Delights - Look What's Blooming Today

As I wandered through the garden today I was delighted to see the purple sand cherry blossoms.

I had forgotten how pretty they were and they brought a smile to my face.

I then wandered on and was pleased to spot this little white pasque flower. It blooms a little later than the purple one which is past its prime as seen in the following photos.

I should not have said "past its prime". I take that back because once the flower fades this beautiful seed head remains for weeks. I think it's as beautiful as the flower.

The creeping veronica has also come into flower. This plant is such a pretty blue 

which is hard to find in the garden.

As I moved on I spotted these tulips that I did not plant. Thank you squirrels, good job! 

One of the things that I enjoy so much about gardening is that every day it changes and brings new delights. If I am gone a few days I cannot wait to tour the garden to see what has gone on while I was away. 

I wonder what she is thinking. 

Oh No Snow!

This is what I woke up to yesterday morning. What a disappointment after all the nice 

weather we have been spoiled with.

I immediately went outside to check on my plants which were covered with snow.

Oh the hostas.... I know they cannot tolerate this. 

I think the lambs ear will be ok...

and the bergenia should be fine.

But... Oh the hostas!

Well we should know in a few days what sort of damage there is. Also, to top it off today I woke up to FROST! So there I was before I even had my morning coffee spraying my plants with water. I heard this somehow helps. I don't know why but it was worth a try. Anything to save my plants... I know I'm obsessed, but what can one do.

I promised an update on my pond filtration system and how it has worked, so here is a before and after. It has really cleared up. I believe it is largely due to the UV light filter, but the colder weather could be helping also. Hopefully when the weather warms up it will remain that way.

A New Pump and Filter for the Pond

I bought a new KoolScapes pond filtration system with a UV clarifier for my pond 

at Home Hardware.

When I opened up the box I saw that it was not going to be as difficult as I thought to set it up. In fact 

it was easy and it was up and running in no time.

The hardest part was deciding which fountain head I wanted to use.

I finally decided on this fountain because of the pleasant sound it created. 

Now I hope the filtration system works and my pond clears up so I can see my fish. I will let you 

know in a week or two.

I just had to include a picture of this pasque flower which was growing beside the pond. It self 

seeded there and was a pleasant surprise.

Time to Start Picking the Flowers Again

I thought it was time to get out my favourite vase and go out to the garden to pick some flowers again. 

This is what I cam back with - helleborus and forget-me-not. I've never picked the helleborus before because my plant was not big enough but finally I was able to spare a few. I am surprised, they are lasting quite well.

Here is a closer look.