April 10, 2023 by Born To Organize

In a Vase on Monday: One Becomes Two

Now that spring is underway; the garden is filling nicely with greens and flowers. So it’s nice to join the Cathy’s for some Monday cheer.

After gathering greens from one azalea and three calla lilies, I cut a handful of the fading yellow Freesia. Try as I might, though, I couldn’t get the flowers to work in one arrangement. I arranged two smaller vases, one with Freesia and azalea greens,

and the other with calla lilies (Zantedeschia) and Asparagus setaceus plumosus.

Over the weekend, I arranged another vase for a friend’s birthday. I wish all of my friends celebrated birthdays this time of year. It’s so cheering giving flowers from one’s garden.

Please follow this link to see the other In A Vase on Monday posts.

Thank you, Cathy, at and Cathy at Words and Herbs.

Fun facts:

A calla lily isn’t a true lily and an Asparagus “fern” isn’t a fern.

November 15, 2012 by Born To Organize

Blooming Thursday: Dark Shadows Waiting for the Rain

Rain is forecast for the rest of the week, but this morning it was bright and clear. I love the shadow play on the flowers this time of year as the earth maneuvers into mid-autumn. Angled shadows and bright light equal beautiful flowers.

Pink Cyclamen

Our cool season plants are starting to bloom, and will continue to flower through March. Prolific Azaleas and Camellias line the back fence and the side yard, with two more planted in the children’s garden. I potted a few more cyclamen last week. Holdovers from last year reemerged as well.

Begonia

Begonias from last spring are still holding up, but we’ve not seen much cold weather. They are in good company in the Hodgepodge pot, a planter for misfits. When I end up with the odd annual, or a small plant in need of relocating, I plant them there. I love the variety and an always-full pot outside our bedroom window.

Status

California Poppies, white Begonias and pink Cosmos passed through the Hodgepodge this year, as well as yellow Snapdragons, a small pumpkin and a few assorted wildflowers. I’ve really enjoyed the variety, not to mention a dedicated space for the odd plant.

Coming Soon

Camellia Bud

Abutilon Buds

White Camellia Bud

Fingers crossed that the rain arrives on schedule tomorrow.

June 23, 2012 by Born To Organize

Rearranging the Plants: A Welcome Home Surprise

Rearranging the furniture was a favorite pastime when I was a girl. My sister and I would move things around while Mom was at work, then yell surprise when she walked through the door. This week, I decided to rearrange some plants.

In March we planted five glorious pink Azaleas beneath the living room window. Sadly, once the temperatures rose, one of them rapidly dried out. Hoping for the best we held on for another several weeks. I hate giving up on plants. We finally laid it to rest in the compost heap last week.

My husband has been wanting to buy more Azaleas for the back corner, to intersperse with the hydrangea. I suggested we move the surviving plants, then buy pink hydrangeas to go under the window. Azaleas make me happy, but blooming hydrangea make my heart skip a few beats.

While I was away, Mike made the switch. He tucked the Azaleas around the sword fern near the blue hydrangea, then planted pinkish purple hydrangea under the window. The plants will grow taller, doing a better job hiding the house’s foundation, and as they grow they’ll pop their pretty pink heads above the window. Can you feel me smiling from ear to ear?

New Hydrangea

Azaleas (Back in March)

Relocated Azaleas

March 15, 2012 by Born To Organize

Blooming Thursday: Around the Garden

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does your Garden Grow?

Today’s garden surprise blooms in the side-yard: periwinkle. I bought a flat last summer and planted most of it in a pot on the deck with some annuals. I envisioned beautiful trails of purple flowers cascading over the edge of the pot. I stopped watering the pot when the annuals went to seed, assuming the rain would take over. So much for assumptions; rain has been sparse all season. Then the squirrels began stashing peanuts in the planting mix, digging and scooping mounds of dirt on the deck. By February the neighbor’s cat was napping in the pot and I threw up my hands in defeat.

On my rounds today I discovered a handful of periwinkle plants survived the winter in the children’s garden. Four tiny plants in bloom, each sporting one purple flower. Also blooming today: The pink and white azalea, one of the camellias, and the broccoli now in bloom. Against the backdrop of cool, gray skies I spotted one lone bee at work. Perhaps tomorrow news will get back to the hive.

“For so work the honey-bees, creatures that by a rule in nature teach the act of order to a peopled kingdom. “~ William Shakespeare

From Benefits of Honey