Flower power. . . . . . . .

For a pretty weekend display on the dining room table I was able to keep some 

of last week's Trader Joe 'wildflowers', also a few of my garden tulips from the previous

arrangement.

A quick stop at Trader Joe's on Friday found me battling a 

small crowd in the floral department for these amazing sweet smelling

 purple stock. I love these flowers but, unfortunately, have never been able 

to grow them successfully here in Summer because it's too hot. They require 

temperatures below 65F.

 This beautiful bunch of five stems of stock was just $2.99!

I then cut a few more of my double tulips and a tall spray of variegated

privet to finish the arrangement.

I know many of you do not have a Trader Joe's nearby - but hopefully

you will some day! Their flowers are so wonderful - always fresh and reasonably

 priced. One of the employees told me they actually have professional florists buy

 flowers daily from the shop for their own arrangements.

I do love to have fresh flowers in the cottage.

This Spring I'm enjoying mixing some from my garden with others from the store.

Good news:  The predicted below freezing temperatures did arrive 

overnight BUT thankfully all in the garden looks unharmed this morning.

Perhaps the brilliant sunshine from around 7 AM assisted in warming

the chilly air and saved the blooms and buds from damage.

Hope your area is now welcoming Spring in all its glory.

Fixing house and home. . . . . .

Next week some planned home and garden Spring fix ups will be addressed.

Due to start Monday, a few days of repairs by a professional hopefully

will take place - please 'Mister Contractor' answer my text of yesterday and let me
 know if you really are going to show up, grrrrrrr!
Keeping up a property no matter the size or age, seems to be ongoing with
 something often breaking down, wearing out, or looking just plain old and
 dingy. . . . . . .hmm, the owners have similar problems but I won't even go there!!!

Meanwhile, my weekend is going to be busy enough with some gardening

 chores on the schedule. 

Concerns are building for budding and flowering shrubs and plants with the predicted
 below freezing temperatures on Saturday night bringing possible plant damage.

  Fingers crossed this won't be serious, however I'm putting off purchasing my 
new annual Boston ferns for my porch hanging baskets until later next week.

Mother Nature up to her old tricks again!

Figs are forming already, another prolific harvest perhaps, even though

 I still have pots of jam to be eaten from last year.

Brown Thrasher in the fig tree.

Hostas are poking through.

Time to mow again Bob!
Sweet birds -  Mourning doves and a male finch. . . . . . 

. . . . . . and nuisance cute squirrels, are enjoying the warm weather and water this week. 

Have a fabulous weekend wherever you are.

The Diversity of Tulips. . . . . . .

The beautiful parrot tulips have 'flown', I knew they would not stay 

forever. The wildflowers are still holding their own though and with a quick trim

and fresh water they were ready for new blooms, this time from the garden.

A spray of my favorite George L. Taber azalea for height, and a bunch of

 creamy pink and rose voluptuous double or peony tulips, bulbs purchased from

 Costco and planted last Winter. There are so many tulips to choose from and
have to say Costco's prices were quite remarkable for fancy ones such as these.
I used to always order from catalogs and spent a small fortune - these were not
 expensive. Some are in pots gracing the walkway to the front steps, others are
 in a raised bed along with daffodils and bluebells. I cut just five as I do like to

see them growing in the garden.

 Tulips are stunning flowers. For many, many years I've always planted traditional

 standard one color tulips, usually the late blooming tall Darwin, Cottage or

 Mayflowering - although they bloom in April here in the southeast.

  Many shades of pink, golden yellow and the darkest purple 'Queen of the Night'

 were favorites, always gorgeous and perfect for cutting, their tall stems being

 sturdy and resistant to Spring storms. Sadly tulips are not perennial in my

 area, Summers being much too hot, humid and dry. Now and then they will pop

 up the following year but are never as beautiful as in that first bloom year.

Do you have a favorite tulip?

Do you grow them in your garden, or perhaps in pots?