Catching Up to... Me

African Violets brighten my kitchen window.
[A fab way to divert attention from dirty dishes that need washing!]

When in the mood to eavesdrop, I hear this question all the time: Where did the week go?

Into the history books, I suppose, with very little to show for it. Been so wrapped up in this, that, and the other thing I forgot all about my itty bitty blog.

How does she do it?
A trio of micro mini roses, different colors?
In one pot?*

Seedlings are percolating nicely in the big, bay window. The warmth of the sun inspired all my favorites to bloom: Jane's Azaleas, an experimental Day Lily, forced Hyacinth and tiny Narcissus bulbs, bright red Kalanchoe...

Outdoors?
1 unmistakable sign of spring:

* How does she do it? 3 colors of micro mini roses in one pot??? Oh, that one's easy. Snip the roses, hide them amidst the leaves in 1 pot, shoot the picture. Presto! You're a gardening rock star. :)

Disco Fever & The Prancing Ponies

Micro mini roses are blooming in the sunny window.
(The only non-weird thing to happen this week. )

"You can learn a lot from becoming discombobulated." - Next Door Neighbor

Tell me about it! Every plan I had this week was foiled in one way or another ~ through false promises, high winds, double bookings...

We made a valiant attempt to do Friday Afternoon (hiking) Club on Wednesday. But we sought out a new trail on the advice of someone who is clearly in good athletic condition.

Listen to me, now, because this is very important.If you need a new hiking trail ask a fat person. They'll be looking out for you every step of the way.

Never ask an athlete. [I don't know what we were thinking!] Athletes will send you to the steepest trail imaginable just to meddle with your self-esteem. Once we saw this new, steep trail, we bagged the whole idea and went for a long lunch.

That lunch was running neck and neck as highlight to my weird week. That is, until I discovered what the horses do on Thursday afternoons.

My riding lesson, like everything else, was rescheduled again and again and again. Until finally I just decided to drive down there to see if Tina would show me some love.

The place was pretty much abandoned. As we warmed up in the arena, J turned on some music. That theme from the Rocky movie. Full blast. Instantly the horses broke into a canter, joyfully galloping to the beat of that song. Then, we trotted to Abba [Dancing Queen!] Next up, Sister Sledge.

I didn't know horses love music! Admittedly they have terrible taste in music but still ~ how cool is that!?

I had no idea what I was doing but horse, Tina, didn't exactly need my guidance. She's big into the boogie. Who knew disco dancing would finally be our breakthrough?

* Yeah, yeah. I'm sure we looked utterly ridiculous but who cares? If you'd like to see how this is done by a pro, watch this amazing video. At the end, when he hugs her? I usually cry. [Tears of joy.]

Paper Yellows

March winds howled relentlessly for 3 long days. Picking at my sanity like a hungry bird.

I'd toss and turn, shake off strange nightmares, and try it again. Come morning, I'd stumble toward the coffee pot in a sleepy fog.

Then oh so abruptly, relief. The noisy wind stopped. It quietly began to snow. Soft gently falling flakes that invite me to see a magic in winter most gardeners do not.

Even though it was night time, Bad Dog and I donned the snowshoes and took a little hike. Soaking in the silence, returning to normal, I rediscovered my smile.

When we got home the toilet exploded. So, I've been having a week.

Fortunately, for me, so have the indoor Daffodils and that's a good thing.

Narcissus has been hopelessly hybridized to the point it's hard to know what you're growing. But this variety, Narcissus papyraceus, will always have a special spot in my window.

They're commonly colored white and called Paperwhites. I get all the white I need outdoors in the form of snow. These are the rebels of that Tazetta group, Paper Yellows.

The Poor [Yet Persuasive] Man's Orchid

They call it the Poor Man's Orchid and I wholeheartedly agree ~ it was on sale for $1.99.

Any other claim to Orchid fame would have to be lumped into that oh so common file called false advertising.

You'd have to be one very poor and highly persuasive man to talk any woman into believing this is an Orchid.

My happy little grocery store bargain is called Schizanthus and while she looks more like an Alstroemeria than she ever could an Orchid, I immediately concluded that: Beggars cannot be choosers.

In this 'Winter of Discontent' aka how Kate's Hellishly Dull Budget is severely cramping her style, a buck 99 for some flower-filled joy was right up my alley.

Even the cat was impressed:
Schizanthus is a cute little annual that will flower for months and - get this - she doesn't require deadheading. Never thought I'd reach this conclusion, but the white ones are actually prettier. Though they were truly dead as doornails on the sale table. The pinkies bounced back with a drink of water. Which prompts me to ask the age old question once again: Why don't flower shops water their flowers?

Spooky Meg & the Snowman Tribe

I haven't a clue what this is all about. Though it involved a film crew and a whole gaggle of snowmen makers.

This week's Friday Afternoon Club was canceled due to me perfecting the art of procrastination. I did that so well I had to stay home Friday to catch up on work.

For a little while, anyway. Until I was saved by that proverbial bell.

As in the ringing of the telephone and the downright giddy voice on the other end of it proclaiming: THE SNOW HAS MELTED!

Not completely but enough so we could go for a ride.

Oh, I have missed my girl.

Ms. Megan has whiled away the winter doing what horses do best ~ lounging in the pasture, growing fat and sassy. Forgetting all about me and saddles and the fun we had last summer.

Horses are particularly spooky in the springtime. Everything scares them because it takes a little while to re-engage the brain. So, we tread very carefully on that first ride after a long winter. We go slow, choose her most familiar trail. Hope we don't encounter a loose dog or anything out of the ordinary.

Like... 200 snowmen???
And, that's when we bolted for the barn.

Phal Pals

Been tryin' to be good. Very good! With my Orchid care. She's in a nice bright spot. Gets a drink every Monday. Should I get the wild idea to meddle, there's a post-it note reminder on her flower pot telling me to: Back Off.

The Rules: Don't move her. Don't touch her. Just consider yourself lucky she's not dead yet.

I'm an orchid newbie. Haven't a clue what I'm doing. Though I'm firmly committed to keeping her alive longer than the last one.

That wasn't too hard to do. Knocked the last one off her pedestal the day after I got her. Couldn't face the disaster of that busted stem so I tossed her into the compost pile and remained in denial for months.

This big girl has been blooming for 5 weeks, now.

Each week a new flower joins the party. Seven passionate purple blossoms. Two buds to go.

I doubt I'll ever be one of those purists who tries to coax them into re-blooming but she is a definite bright spot in this long and dreary winter...


* Newbie observation: That long, weird stem of hers keeps growing and producing new buds. When I brought her home, she held 6, dropped 1. Now we're up to 9. :D

** My gal pal, Phal Pal, is a Phalaenopsis Moth Orchid. Allegedly one of the easiest to grow. But, then they've never known me on a good, clumsy day.

Trouble @ the Top o' the World

"The distinguishing mark of true adventure is that it's often no fun at all while it's actually happening." - Kim Stanley Robinson + Maxine, Irene & Bad Dog*

Me & Bad Dog on top of the world.

This week's Friday Afternoon Club required snowshoes, poles and LOTS of complaining.

I find it very comforting to bitch, non-stop, all the while I'm walking uphill. (Try it. You might like it!)

In fact, on this brutal, 2-mile trek up the side of this mountain, I invented a couple of brand new swear words!

But, it wasn't until we took the The Short Cut Down that I fully developed Tourettes Syndrome.

We were tired, impatient and... oh, okay... maybe just a little bit stupid.

Because we got this bright idea to slide down the mountain on our rear ends. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Plus, that would HAVE TO speed things up so we could get to dinner quicker.

It was a blast. Right up until we hit the ledge, could go no further, and realized we had to climb all the way back up... in snow deeper than the dog.

Choo to the rescue. This poor, unsuspecting hiker stood at the top, giving us moral support, for the better part of an hour as we climbed back up to the trail.

* Learnin' somethin' new: On this hike we discovered our Mothers had christened both of us with the most ridiculous middle names. Mine is Irene, KC's is Maxine.

Monstrous Delphiniums or Dainty English Ladies

On the sorry day I kick that proverbial bucket I'd like my epitaph to read:

Now ya tell me.

Seems like all the really good information arrives the day after there's no turning back.

Take last night, for instance, when I lovingly planted 15 cups of Pacific Giant Delphinium seeds. Nurseries display dwarf versions of these monsters every summer. Tempting, tantalizing blossoms are a guaranteed sell to any gardener with a weakness for blue. (They come in other colors but who cares?)

Pacific Giants ~ which grow as tall as me ~ bloom every July in my Traveling Garden. The garden doesn't actually travel. I do! Some folks collect bumper stickers. My Grandma collected goofy little spoons. I collect plants -- as in bringing home something special that reminds me of where I've been.

I purchased my first Pacific Giant Delphinium at the Tillamook Farmer's Market in Oregon ~ where I was told emphatically that they would never take to my mountain winters but they were wrong.

I'm pretty much sold on them. Or, at least I was until this morning. That's when I got online and discovered a new group of gardeners who are tearing out all the Pacific Giant Delphiniums and replacing them with English Delphiniums.

My immediate response was "I gotta get me some of those." But nobody sells them. And, when did Pacifics become hum drum?

What gives?
* Delfinio Mezcla Gigante Pacifico - Pacific Giant Delphiniums - USDA zones 3-7 - put forth an astonishing 4-8 foot tall display of bright blue flowers in July. They are typically sold in mixed colors but if you're a mean Mom like me, you can remove the white, pink and lavender so you are blessed with a heart-stopping true blue bonanza.

Must Love Livestock... ?

I just wasted $3.99 on that romantic chic flick, 'Nights in Rodanthe' and I want my money back.

Love In a Mist: Crazy little heirloom.

Like everyone else in the U.S. of A, I was at a Superbowl party a few Sundays ago. Mine was extra interesting because it was hosted by a man I've had a crush on for far too long. [He's tall and handsome so, naturally, he doesn't even know I'm alive.]

I don't watch Superbowl for the commercials. Nor do I care for the game. I'm in it for the food! I've been a tenacious little calorie counter all year long. The only time I get to misbehave is when I'm at somebody else's house!

To my dismay, there wasn't much food. And, the other guests seemed genuinely interested in watching the game, though that gave me ample opportunity to snoop around his house ~ unsupervised!

My first big observation was that his place was spotless. [I fondly recall the last time my house was spotless. It was the day before we moved in.]

Then I noticed he didn't have any pets. No cats, no dogs, not even a goofy, little hamster. I am DYING to know how you can raise kids and not get suckered into owning pets. I blame my current menagerie on my daughter's persuasive powers.


Pet people are easily understood:

• Dog lovers are messy, loyal and loud.
• Cat lovers are tidy, smart and a little more independent.
• Horse lovers are absolutely wonderful. Perfect in every way.

And, me? As usual I cannot be labeled. Or squeezed into a specific category. I love all animals (hamsters, not so much.)

Nigella damascena 'Love in a Mist' is a pretty heirloom perennial masquerading as an annual. She has this weird foliage that tries to out-do the true blue flowers. After bloom, she produces insane seed pods that add great texture to the garden. She'll also reseed until you throw in the towel. But, that's a story for another day...

Sprouts!

Painted Daisy ~ the first of my seedling army has sprouted!

From the indoors, looking out, it's a pretty day. Particularly if you're hard of hearing.

Bright blue skies... intense sunshine.

I've squeezed about 100 seedlings into the big, bay window. Each morning, I see a new green sprout peeking out of the soil.

The sunshine had me dreaming up all sorts of adventures for this [day off!] President's Day. That is, until I heard the loud roar of the wind.

Followed by the windows rattling. A thumping sound. Something is banging against the side of the house...? That can't be good.

1 lonely Tomato and 99 flowering perennials. Give or take a few dozen that will more than likely croak. Fingers crossed it's not my tomater.

If my little seedlings make it until planting season, hooray. I'll have a brand new garden.

If they don't, that's okay, too. Because they accomplished their primary goal ~ warding off cabin fever.

Thanks to plentiful storms, February can be a volatile month. So, it's kind of fun to dig in the dirt and plan for warmer days.

Upcycle! Leftover drink cups from the 4th of July party make great seedling containers, providing the depth seeds need for long, strong roots.


There's no real digging in the dirt going on here but then you already knew that, didn't you? Peat, perlite and vermiculite make a nice, loose soil-less soil that holds more oxygen, retains more water and has more nutrients than the stuff in your backyard. I like Jiffy seed mix but I DO NOT like Jiffy Peat Pots. They're too small and the mesh wrappers don't naturally break down in the soil.

* Here's a pretty good reason why I hate wind.

Wonderlands

"We all need beauty. Places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike." - John Muir

It pretty much depends upon the daily dose of vitamin D. If the sun is shining, chances are I'm surviving winter. When it's cold and icy? Down right nasty? Then I'm parked in front of the computer searching for cheap flights to Hawaii.

Note how Bad Dog walks politely behind? He's no dummy. Even with snowshoes the going is hard work. Best to leave this trail blazing to KC, the human.

Days like this, I'm not just surviving. I'm thriving. Lovely fresh, untouched powder blanketed our winter wonderland.

This week's Friday Afternoon Club took us deep into the snowy woods on the No Trespassing! trail. I won't tell you where it is, but judging from the tracks it's a pretty popular place.

Lilting from beneath this deep blanket of snow comes the trickling sound of running water. A happy, babbling brook serenades us all along our path.

That's the 1st sign of spring. The second? Tiny buds speckle the branches of all the deciduous trees.

Tired of winter? Perhaps you're looking at things all wrong. A walk in the woods can easily boost your spirits. Quit yer bitchin' and give it a try. :D

Dahlia Dilemmas

Looks like a Zinnia to me.

If Wunx and I can ever get our butts in gear, we're planning to build a website for the Utah Dahlia Society. Wunx is a designer and a web programmer and all sorts of other geeky things!

So, I happily partnered with her on this project knowing full well that 99.5% of the hard work would rest smack dab upon her shoulders.

My job would be to come up with a snappy tag line and then take a long lunch. I don't know that it's all that challenging or professionally rewarding being the writer. But it's certainly efficient!

So, last night I thought I'd put forth 5 of the 10 minutes I intended to invest in the We.Be.Dahlias.com web site and that's when I began to see the error of my ways...

Did you know there are over 50,000* named varieties of Dahlias? Including 3 of them in this blog post who have yet to be identified?

Fun facts to know and tell!

Dahlias may look bold and beautiful but they're wimps in disguise.

• You have to dig them up in autumn or they'll freeze their little toes.
• They are highly susceptible to hungry buggers.
• They need a lot of water, fertilizer and TLC.
• Last but definitely not least - they don't grow well in my clay soil. The whole reason I volunteered for this gig was because I thought they'd give me a few bulbs!

Knowing now what I know about Dahlias I've decided to stick with the Dahlia impostor in this blog post. Because she loves clay soil, winter slumber and an inattentive Mother (aka gardener.)

Can you tell which of these flowers isn't a Dahlia?

* The 50,000 varieties of Dahlias could be 20,000 varieties, depending upon which website you visit. Fingers crossed it's the latter...