The puzzle may be solved

In 4 to 6 weeks

Christies of New York will have a look at them. 

Thank you Rosemary
of "wherefivevalleys meet"

You had a brilliant idea. 

It is because of you that I sent a few pictures to Christies.

And they were kind enough to respond with a very nice e-mail.

As soon as I hear I will share the good or bad news.

Have a great week my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

Still trying to discover

Are they very, very old?

I know, I have asked before. I'm  hoping that someone will recognize them or possibly have seen similar.

Visitors, to our house, always want to know their origin.  They're only 6 inches tall yet they have become a curiosity.  

About 35 years ago, an elderly, very well dressed couple, brought these figures into a Santa Barbara consignment shop. The owner of the shop was not interested in purchasing them.

Could I purchase them? They sold them to me for under $10, all of them.

The silver haired couple didn't look like they were needy. Why did they risk rejection? And for so little!

Why didn't I ask the elderly couple?

I have seen similar figurines in the Cairo, Egypt Museum.

Or are they a clever "antique" made by an enterprising artist?

They've been repaired many  times.  The wood is very light in weight and color. Some of the hand painting looks very old some looks as if added recently. 

What do you think my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina  

Now is the time to seed Salpiglossis

My Salpiglossis are fascinating, maybe you think so too.

photos from last years garden

They never fail to be noticed in my garden.

Growing next to other Annuals, here next to the sky-blue Petunia.

With my old fashioned roses.

The Salpiglossis, belonging to the Solanacea family,  is a cousin to the Petunia and is a Chilean Native.

First introduced to the United States in 1823. It is also known as Velvet Flower and/or Painted Tongue.

The name comes from two Greek words meaning trumpet and tongue.

They come in many sensational colors from black to purple to orange, red, yellow and blue.

They remind me of an exotic bird...

or a beautiful Butterfly.

Salpiglossis make long-lasting cut flowers, often fading to an even more sensational color.

Seeds are easy to find.  They grow in many climates but prefer cool nights.   

Have a great remainder of the week my dear

Blogging Friends,

Gina  

A few small and new niceties in my Etsy Shop

For so little money

Who wouldn't like a hand painted little soap dish?

Feel Royal and start the morning right.

Individual cocktail plates

You can never have enough bowls.

Have you thought of a Mother's Day present?

You might find it here



Gina

I couldn't just go past them

The Rembrandts have opened.

Still closed in my garden.

Never mix Daffodils with other flowers in Vase.  Their sticky sap makes other flowers wilt.

(You can leave Daffodils in water for a day and then arrange them with other flowers)

 Have a wonderful Sunday my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

Not just another Tulip

This is The Rembrandt Tulip

Growing in my garden right now.

When arranged en masse you can't ignore them.

This is the exotic looking, highly sought-after Rembrandt Tulip.

Tulips were first introduced to Europe from Turkey

during the Dutch Golden Age (1568-1648).
By 1637 Tulip Mania was in full swing. 

More and more exotic looking tulips were being propagated.  They became the Collectors prized possession.  However,  the unusual stripes were caused by a virus, a type of Tulip specific virus, the mosaic virus.

A virus that could potentially destroy the Tulip culture in Holland and possibly the entire Dutch economy.

During Tulip Mania one tulip bulb could cost as much as a House.

That is why some tulip bulbs were ensconced in chicken wire cages and hung from the ceiling during winter months.

 

That is what I should be doing.  Moles, Voles, Mice and other critters are feasting on mine every winter.

But they don't eat my daffodils, they're poisonous.

Have a great weekend my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina