Finally, Spring has come

Spring has come to our neck of the woods.

Spring.  A happy time when I can bring in bouquet after bouquet from my garden. 

A sure sign that Spring has arrived.
Father protecting his goslings.

Wild geese are happy on our pond.  They come back every year to show off their young.

Deer tried to eat all of my tulips.  

Wild apple tree covered in blossoms. 

Apples from this tree will go to the animals.  

There are many other trees which promise to be plentiful and good.

The Asian Pear tree always bears fruit.  
Italian plums, pears, apricots and peaches managed to make it through the frost.  

It will be a busy canning year. 

Be safe, 
Gina

Happy Easter

Flowers

Always make me happy. 

Especially those flowers which bloom early in the Spring.

Daffodils are so loyal.

Once planted they come back every year.

So many varieties.

Pheasant Eye Narcissus are still my favorites.  

We are fortunate in that we can be with our family and friends.
With a little help from technology we can make it happen. 

What makes you happy?

Happy Easter.

Gina

Favorite Tablescapes

A few Tablescapes remembered.

Pictures tell all. 

Thank you for stopping by dear friends.  


Gina 

A wotrhwhile trip

through the garden

yielded color and 

and the makings for a HOT Salsa.

Happy Sunday to you and yours, 

Gina 

Here's the Deal

How would you like to come and help me weed my flower bed?  

No not this one.  This is last years flower bed.

It's this one I need help with.

 You will have to bring your own hoe.  This one was given to me by a very special friend...more than 30 years ago. 

The handle was originally much longer, every time it breaks, the handle gets shorter.

Now, here's the deal

You will be wined and dined. You get to stay in your very own house. 

Fresh Eggs from our chickens for Breakfast and Champagne in the afternoon.  

But first 

 I have to show you what flower seedlings look like.   I won't bother showing you the weeds

1) Asters from Lake Maggiore

2) Cosmos,  3) Zinnias,  4) Nasturtiums,

5) Phacelia,  6, Cherry Tomato.  7) Dill

8) Hollyhock.

The problem is; you have to find them among the weeds.

But your rewards will be manifold.

I will send you pictures in August.


Have a wonderful remainder of the week my dear friends. 

Gina 

Joining  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Mon Bouquet du jour

After many cold days and freezing nights, 

Spring has come.

Maybe it will stay.

Have a great remainder of the week my dear friends. 

Gina 

joininghttp://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Also joining  http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2014/05/

Did we dodge the bullet?

Four nights of below freezing. 

Looks like they all survived, apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches and apricots. 

The kitchen garden has been planted with leeks, cabbages and onions. 
Vegetable seeds are ready to go in. 
carrots, beets, collards, Swiss chard, basil, coriander, 
corn sald/mache, gourmet blend lettuce, romaine,  spinach, beans,
fennel, cavolo laciniato, arugula, curly kale, turnips, eggplants and artichokes. 

By August it will have provided many meals for us, our friends and even our chickens. 

There will be flower gardens.

There will be tomatoes ripening in the sun. 

 And fruit for winter months. 

Squash and Zucchini for winter baking.

But only if the water holds out. The Old timers say that if Horseshoe Mountain still has snow caps by the 24th of July, we will have enough water. 

But just in case, our spring flows at 39 gallons per minute. 
Plenty of water for cattle and gardens. 


Wishing you a Happy Spring day.

Thank you for stopping by.  
You have made my day! 

Gina 



http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2014/05/mosaic-monday-moss-and-flowers.html

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

A little blue flower

With the most charming name,

Forget-me-not

They say that blue flowers are more abundant in nature than any other color. 

 I thought that yellow flowers were the most common. 

What do you think?  

Have a lovely day my
dear Friends. 

Gina

Seedlings, precious gifts.

Now is the time you might find.

Tiny seedlings, precious gifts from your garden.  

Such as this Hollyhock seedling.  Only about 4 inches tall and ready to transplant. 

Hollyhocks develop long tap roots and seldom survive a transplant.  They are 
 Bi Annuals blooming the second year.  

Transplant them when they are four inches tall, or less.   You will be rewarded with flowers the very first season.  

Unlike Hollyhocks, Aster seedlings are easy to transplant at any stage. 


Look around in your garden.  The wind, birds and bees may have left a present or two for you.

Have a great remainder of the week my 

dear friends. 

Gina

https://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Six Hundred it is!

Can it be?  600 posts?

It all began in July of 2009.

Have no idea what possessed me.

I think that I was walking in my garden, early one morning, with coffee cup in hand.

When it occurred to me that I wanted to share.

And not keep it under my hat.

Our life in the country.

with creatures great and small. 

Building a new house. 

Share with you my passion for growing flowers.

Inside 

and Out.

Many recipes from my kitchen.

And painting recipes for walls.

And ceilings.

Easter Eggs.

And golden eggs.

Christmas Ornaments.

And printed paper.

The happy day I bought this rubble,

and turned it into a treasure.

Travel to Europe

And exotic places.

Painting at the Scuola d' Arte in Deruta, Italy.

Painting ceramics.  So, so many and now almost forgotten.

All sent off, never to see again, hopefully making new owners happy.

So grateful to each and everyone of you.

  

Thank you for visiting, reading and commenting on my blog.  

Gina