New Window Box

Remember these-my 2 beautiful window boxes? Well--they fell apart! Of course the cold weather made it impossible to keep plants in the winter, but this year the boxes literally went to pieces. Time for something new!
My wonderful hubby made the last boxes and was eager to make something new, but this time he decided to make one box-and NOT attach it to the house. Making the box was easy, deciding what to do about legs was the tough part. We looked and looked and decided to buy these rustic plant stands and just sit the box on top of them. You know how I love the old rusty look anyway, so I thought it was a perfect idea, but hubby is not 100% pleased so the legs may end up changing eventually. The box is made out of cedar, so it will age and get that old seasoned look that I love.
I went to Lowe's and Home Depot yesterday for mulch, so I decided to buy a few things for the new window box. (yes, I know we will probably get another freeze, but I can easily cover the plants!) I planted coleus, creeping jenny, begonia, dusty miller, and added a few sprigs from a green wandering jew. The box is far from complete, as I will add a few things here and there, but at least it is a start.
My sister gave me the cutest herb markers for my birthday last fall, and even though I can't grow herbs in this box (too shady) I thought I would add the markers for some whimsy.
Thyme....
Sage...
Parsley... These markers may move to the herb garden later in the spring, but for now they look pretty happy here in the new window box. The cost of the new box was very minimal, just 3 boards and the plants stands which I found at an import store--the labor and love that went into making it------priceless !!! Thanks hubby!

Leaving Spring at home....

For a few days last week we left the spring like weather behind and headed for a family get together in Colorado. No spring here yet...but lots and lots of SNOW! This is the house we rented in Breckenridge.
The house was in a very picturesque setting and so convenient to the gondola for those wanting to get to the ski lifts.

The first day we got there it was clear, but the next evening it started to snow quite a bit--and by Friday things were really snow covered.

Hubby and I are not skiers...
..but we sure enjoy taking care of little snow bunnies!
More fun in the snow came from snow mobiles! Have you ever ridden one? It was soooo much fun. I was a little nervous, but it was not hard and the scenery was breathtaking!
Hubby and I go to Colorado almost every year, but only in summer. We have never gone in winter, and we have never seen any snow but Texas snow-- so this trip was quite an experience for us. Not only did we get to be with our kids and grandson, we got to experience the mountains we love so much covered in beautiful white snow. It was hard to say goodbye and come home.
But we left winter behind and came home to "almost Spring" in Texas. More daffs were blooming, the tulips were starting to appear, the pansies looked happy and recovered from our harsh cold spell--spring is certainly on the way.

Sweetest Little Tulips!

Aren't these the cutest little flowers? They are "Full House" tulips from Brent and Becky's bulbs. They were planted in December after chilling in the frig a few weeks.
I don't plant a lot of tulips--you know, they just don't return, but I always try a few for that early spring show. These little cuties are really early. I saw them poking through the ground right before our ice and snow. I mulched them really good, and when the sun came back out, they started to grow.
What a cheery sight to look out and see these red and white flowers blooming among all the brown of winter! I think they are the sweetest little tulips I have ever seen!

The First Daffodil

As I was cleaning up outside yesterday and dead-
heading the sad looking pansies, I saw a bright glimmer of hope for things to come: the first daffodil of the season. I have really been worried about spring blooms after our record breaking lows from the past few weeks. I lost some of the pansies in containers, a few snapdragons, and all of the kale. These plants usually do fine in our winter weather, but these Arctic fronts have taken their toll on Texas plants this year.
I was starting to see bulbs poking up before the fronts paid us a visit, but not realizing how really cold it would get, I wasn't worried. It was after it started to thaw up a bit I noticed all the freezer burn on the foliage. I wrote Southern Bulbs and asked what they thought about the daffs and tulips here in the Dallas area. The answer was:
"Your daffodils and tulips should be fine and bloom for you this spring (although the foliage was covered in ice and snow for 4 days). The most important thing is that the daffodils and tulips were not budding or in bloom when the freezing weather came and sat down on Dallas/Fort Worth. Damaged foliage can recover from freezing those temperatures, but a bud/blossom cannot. So, expect healthy daffodil and tulip blooms this spring!"
Such good news!! But pessimistic me was still rather skeptical..until I saw this pretty little flower nodding in the breeze. I am now seeing more buds on the daffodils, and I do see a few tulips starting to come up. It was lots of work planting the bulbs, and the disappointment of not having their spring show made me really sad--but looks like my harbingers of spring are ok after all.

Cabin Fever

This has been the scene at our house since Tuesday. No pretty fluffy snow--just raw, cold ICE! We had to break through the ice on top of the pond to reset the pump when the power went out. (well...that would be hubby bless his heart!) I made my soup, I made cookies, I drank hot tea, I cleaned one closet and the pantry--need to get those seeds planted, but oh I have cabin fever! I know the weather is bad just about everywhere, and much worse than ours--and I know all of you are ready to get outside and get those hands dirty. I didn't know what to do, so decided to get the latest book I bought and read. But this was really not the "latest" book--it was very old.
Last week I went to half priced books (love that store!) and finally found a copy of "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. You know, the book you read as a child. I was so excited as this one was illustrated by the late Tasha Tudor, one of my favorite people! Let me tell you, if you have not read this book in a while-or if you have never read it, go as soon as you can and get a copy. Yes, it is written for young adults, but that is quite ok. You will love it. It takes you to a place of excitement and serenity. I cannot recommend it more. If you need something to do on one of these cold winter days, read The Secret Garden..you will be glad you did!

"...she was inside the wonderful garden and she could come through the door under the ivy any time and she felt as if she had found a world all her own."

NEWS FLASH!!

Hey y'all--I thought I would give you an update on the weather. They told us we would have a "dusting" of snow over night...this is what the "dusting" turned into!!

Old Man Winter

The last 2 days have been beautiful!! Yesterday was especially pretty, which gave me the opportunity to get out and do some winter clean up. Little Benjamin bunny supervised as I worked cutting back a few things and watering wildflower rosettes.
I have decided that I really like kale. Isn't it pretty in the old wash tub? I am going to make a note in my gardening journal to buy more next year. But..of course, these spring like days are not going to last! Old Man Winter is returning--and returning with force. The forecasters are telling us that Alaska is sending us a cold front that might bring ice on Tuesday and frigid temps. The low Thursday night will be 14. Really! Texas weather is so fickled!
Oh well--I don't care. I am making more soup, oatmeal cookies this time--and-- planting seeds indoors! I always start nasturtiums inside so they are ready to go outside in early spring. I use the fiber containers so when the time comes, I can plant without disturbing the roots. Kind of ironic though..one of the nasturtium seeds I am planting is appropriately named "Alaska!"

Where IS it??

Where IS it? Have you seen it? I haven't seen it in weeks. It use to be up in the sky shinning bright, even on cold winter days. But the past few weeks--it disappeared!
And in my little garden, we are all a little glum and could use some warmth and shine to cheer us up!
Ok--going a little crazy these days, but that is what happens when the sun disappears from sight for soooo many days! It has been cold and cloudy for so long now, we are all feeling rather droopy like these pansies. The weather forecasters keep saying "maybe tomorrow," but here we are again with a dreary day. sigh...
But there are promising signs of good things to come. The cold weather has not hurt the snap-
dragons or alyssum, and little bunny and I are so happy to see bulbs shooting up all over the garden. I see early, early signs of spring on this dreary winter day that delights me..but I sure would like to see a bright shinning sun in the sky to cheer us all up! Maybe tomorrow...


"The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun.."