Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

There are those who are dedicated to keeping a golf-course like lawn and I would never criticize anyone who is willing to work hard to maintain a lawn that they love.  However, there is another perspective on the green spaces that we mow and this season of the year demonstrates it vividly.

These days, as we are all eagerly watching for the signs of spring, the well-kept lawns are brown and crunchy looking.  Those who are more relaxed in their lawn philosophy are enjoying the abundance of spring wild flowers that thrive in a lawn-like environment. 

This one is not my lawn.

One of my favorite spring wild flowers (but in my garden is recognized as an irritating weed) is henbit.  I love seeing the masses of green and purple spreading across my spring lawn.  They are much prettier to me than bland and crunchy dormant grass.

Spring is officially here

I don't care what the calendar says or the thermometer reads, when my little crocuses bloom, spring has arrived.

Every plant in my garden has a story and my purple crocuses are no exception.  After we had lived here for more than ten years, I was strolling across the yard and noticed some bright "grass" growing up through the dead turf in late February.  Upon closer examination I realized that these bright green blades could not possibly be grass.  I grabbed a trowel and popped up the sod to see what was growing underneath it.  There were three or four small bulbs attached to those blade-like leaves.  Not knowing what they were
, I planted them near my front steps.  Nothing bloomed that spring, but the following spring (when I had forgotten all about them) three dark purple crocus blossoms magically appeared next to the front steps.  They spread a little more each spring.

When the crocuses bloom, I know that winter will soon be over.  I don't think I have ever been as pleased to see them bloom as I have this year! 

Hints of spring

This winter has been cold and wet, one of the coldest on record for our area, and officially, it isn't over yet.

However, this week I've noticed hints that spring IS coming.  The goldfinches at my bird feeder are sporting some new, sunny yellow feathers.  There are daffodils bobbing their golden heads in some of my neighbors' gardens.   There are tender new shoots trying to push their way through the dense winter mulch in my native shade garden.  The buds are beginning to swell on the native azaleas.  I saw the first dandelion smiling at me out in the horse pasture and the spring weeds are bursting forth all over.

It may still be winter, but spring will be here soon!

Does anyone else have this one?

Not long ago, I was at school (I'm a substitute teacher) and noticed that the teacher had a plant I had never previously seen hanging in his window.  It looked like a bowl of fuzzy sticks spilling from the container.  I immediately knew that I was going to commit cutting theft.  Noticing that at the "joints" (nodes) of the stems, there were tiny rootlets, I used the scissor from
his desk and snipped a piece of his plant, wrapped it in a damp paper towel and slipped it into my tote bag.  Just so you know, when I saw Mr. Cole again, I confessed to my crime and he forgave me.

When I got home, I gently potted my little sticks and began the wait to see if it would actually root.  Much to my total delight, not only did this little twig root within days, it bloomed in less than a month! 

My little exotic bloomer is a Rhipsalis pilocarpa from Brazil.  According to the plant stake, it comes from Brazil; its water and light requirements are "low."  It looks look a type of succulent to me.

Does any one else have this plant?

Snake plant blooms

I've already confessed that I do not have much success with house plants, mainly because I forget to water them.  This winter I have been doing better because I have made a deliberate effort to water them weekly, every Sunday morning.  My house plants are rewarding me; some of them look nice and a few of them are actually blooming!

One Sunday morning, while checking on the snake plant that I keep in my husband's office, I noticed a strange stalk-like growth on the outside edge of the plant.  Initially, I thought it might be a weed; the house plants sometimes acquire "friends" during the summer months they spend outdoors.  A closer inspection revealed buds!  I've owned this snake plant for 10 years and it has never bloomed.  I didn't know that snake plants bloomed at all.

In a few days, my snake plant bloomed with lovely, white flowers that were not only beautifully framed against the dark green of the plant, but incredibly fragrant. 

This experience called for research.  What I learned is that snake plants will bloom occasionally.   Conditions required for blooming include a tightly planted container and consistent moisture (not drowning).   My snake plant was thanking me for watering every week! 

Why I love Alabama

Tuesday through Thursday of this week, we were enduring the effects of a snowstorm that devolved into a slushy ice mixture, keeping us housebound (assuming we made it home) and trying desperately to stay warm as temperatures plummeted to 10 degrees.

Today, the sun is shining and we are enjoying a balmy 65 degrees! 

Snow really does insulate

While snowed in this week, I had the opportunity to watch the temperatures inside the cold frame compared to the outside air temperatures.  I knew that snow is a good insulator, but was truly amazed at how well it does the job.

Without any additional blanketing, my cold frame temperature is generally about 8-10 degrees above the outdoor temperature.  With a couple of thick blankets, the differences increases to 10-12 degrees.  Two inches of snow increased the temperature difference to a whopping 20 degrees!  I could have left my plants in the cold frame during this cold snap.  Next time, I will!