Add A Touch Of Red To Your Christmas

Hannah hang onto your hat and do not open
that umbrella the winds that have went through
Ohio for two days were fierce. My heavy pump that
was made into my water display and small pond
got blown over and the thing is so heavy I need
help these days in getting it set. I could not believe
my eyes when I saw it laying on the ground.
The flower tower on the front porch also went down
slinging dirt across the porch in its wake.
Now it is tied to the porch railing until spring.
A lot of rain, a little dusting of snow and plenty
of cold wind followed.
Thank goodness the wind has stopped and though still
very cold at least the sun is shining.

I thought since I showed everyone the White
Christmas that I was Dreaming of that I would
add a touch of red to it to brighten up the day
and add to the Christmas spirit.



Another amaryllis 'Ragtime' is now showing off
her giant blooms and is just the touch of red
needed to get me into the Christmas spirit.






"Ragtime" looks wonderful with "White Christmas".







The red blooms of the Cactus are long spent now.




But 'Roulette Red' Streptocarpus is still blooming.

But I miss some of the reds that were blooming
only a short time ago around the garden.

The Pansies have gotten frozen now but I am hoping
they will be back next spring.




I miss the red Nicotiana that bloomed all summer
and into fall.



Imperial Ivy geranium is sleeping in the basement
but I miss the bright blooms along with the
Ivy geranium ' Gardner's Choice'.



Dahlia Edinburgh is also taking a winter vacation.





Long gone are the giant blooms of Lord Baltimore
hibiscus.




I miss Crimson Bouquet the most with its deep
red blooms and heady fragrance.




Verbena St. George though a beauty was not a favorite
because of the mildew that kept trying to take it over.

My lovely pelargonium geraniums are now resting
in the basement in pots or hanging upside down on
strings.



The Scentimental roses were beautiful this summer.

And I am hoping these red and white tulips will
bloom again next spring since most tulips are
annuals in the garden.



Surely Rhododendron Holden will be there to
bring in the spring blooms after this winter.



But this winter the only red outdoors that will be
seen will likely be these two.






Today is Fertilizer Friday and time to "Flaunt Those
Flowers". Join us with hostess Tootsie over at
Tootsie Time and display some of those flowers
that brighten our days.

Happy Gardening Everyone!

She's A Little Early

Hope everyone had a safe Halloween.
I only had seven little visitors out here in
the hills. They usually opt to go into the
towns where they can really haul in the
treats.
I tried to 'Trick or Treat' for flowers instead
of candy but that did not work out at all.

We had a really hard frost this morning
and the ground was white but at least we
are not getting the snows that are piling up
all ready in Colorado.
Just a few plants are still left outside that
seem to keep going that are under the eaves
or near the house but it looks a sad sight now.
The leaves were raked again and the tomato
plants were pulled up and tossed on the pile.





The only thing that is blooming up a storm
now is the Cactus. It usually blooms around
Thanksgiving but it is a little early this year.






Joseph at Greensparrow Gardens
has the funniest posting up now
on an 'Illustrated Guide to Gardener's Quantities'.





The two new Streptocarpus plants arrived last
week and I will be posting them latter.
Other than that the only thing that is in the
beds at the woods that is standing are.....



....the plant markers.

Happy Gardening Everyone!

November Comes and Goes

Hope Everyone had a Good Thanksgiving.

Today is black Friday and this is one person who
is not going near the cities. Some of the stores
were opening at 4 a.m. this morning. It may be
a good opportunity for those who need to or
enjoy going out shopping that early, or who may
have to just have that one bargain that is on their
shopping list. Some enjoy the experience, I am just
not one of them. After working years in retail I
really do not need to relive the experiences, they
are deeply ingrained upon my memory.
Good luck to all of you brave souls, shoppers and
employees.

It is hard to believe that the month of November is
almost at an end and December is just a few days
away. Where did the month go?
My Grandma use to say that "the older you get
the faster the days fly by" and as a younger girl
I would laugh and shake my head thinking that it
was a silly thing to say, time is time.
But as the years passed and I become the older
member of the family what she said has become
true and as the older I get
"the faster the days seem to fly by".




The Thanksgiving cacti have bloomed, the gardens
put to bed and our mail boxes are being crammed
with those great plant and seed catalogs with the
titles "New for 2009" to which we plant-o-holic's
cannot resist. After all we can always find room for
one, or two, or three, or......
So we prepare to say goodbye to November and
hello to December and Winter.


"November
comes

And November goes
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And the earth sink to rest
Until next spring."

-Clyde Watson-

Thanksgiving Is Closing In

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here. My Rhododendron Bush was still coming out in bloom, but yesterday's change in the weather of freezing temperatures and snow flurries will probably put them to an end. Next spring will not be as bright with the lose of their blooms.
My Christmas Cactus is coming out in bloom now and gives some color for the indoors. We are thankful for the rain we have been getting after such a dry Summer, but it has put a halt to getting the rest of the fallen leaves cleaned up. The potted Mums have to be set into the ground also.