Let the Gardening Begin!

 The weather the past few days has been warm and sunny and of course one's thoughts turn to gardening.  At least I start planning and working outdoors.   I have planted some vegetable and flower seeds in pots in the greenhouse.  I need to start thinning them and letting them grow a bit more before transferring to larger pots.

I have to open the door and vent of the greenhouse or it will get very hot inside - close to 100 degrees on a sunny day.  I have taken most of my house/porch/patio plants out of the greenhouse.  They made it through the cold winter just fine.

Yesterday I started potting some perennials coming up in the flower bed.
 Two pots of English ivy on the back, left side.  The other pots contain yellow coreopsis that will be twice this size in a week.  I made a seed bed beside the fence and sowed seed I have saved from last year, including large hibiscus, large zinnias, large marigolds (Inca), and black-eyed Susans.

Pansies are starting to bloom again in the flower bed by the patio.  I gave the rabbit a new coat of paint this spring and glued his ears back on, using some liquid nail mixture.  So far, so good.  They haven't fallen off yet!

This flower bed will have amaryllis blooming and lamb's ears and other perennials that will cover the mulch this spring and summer.

St. Francis goes back to the early 80s when James wanted to buy a statue for the flower bed.  He wanted to buy a large statue of Jesus, but I suggested this small one of St. Francis instead.  His head has broken off so many times when he topples over, etc.  I used liquid nails on it last week and gave him a new coat of paint also.  He is standing near the English vine that was damaged a little by our cold weather.  It is putting on new growth and will be pretty this spring.

The large purple and yellow iris are starting to grow and they usually are in full bloom late April.  A good low maintenance plant.

We are going to have a small vegetable garden again this year, including tomatoes, different varieties of peppers, cucumbers and squash, and herbs.  I started my seeds in the greenhouse and will put them in the garden around Easter, which is late this year - April 24.

You can take the girl off the farm, but you can't take the farm away from the girl!!