Playing with Foliage and Flowers

I overwinter double impatiens inside and take cuttings from them over the winter. They're easy to start from cuttings. Yesterday the last of the hanging baskets they're in were brought in to our basement greenhouse. It 'bout killed me to pull off all the blooms, but they're just too messy in the basement. Working on the patio table, I picked them off and piled them on the table one by one. An old girl scout craft project must have popped into my head, and I picked up some of the colorful leaves that have fallen in the yard, and before I knew it, I had this bouquet. I should have been working on the garden, but you know how it is. . . there's something about autumn that brings out the kid in me! I didn't get everything done that I wanted to, but at least all the tender plants are now inside, spared from the frost that will likely be here any day now.

Spring Blooms

This morning when I went outside to take pictures for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, there was a coyote in the backyard. I didn't see the coyote until I was out there, and I was so startled, I didn't think about taking a picture before I shooed him away. It's rare I make George stay inside. He goes where I go, but this morning my intuition kicked in, and I told him "No." I'm very thankful I didn't let George come out with me. I know him well enough to know he would have chased the coyote. I suspect the coyote would have run faster than George, but I'm glad I didn't have to find out what might have happened.

Intuition can be a powerful force, and it was in high gear this morning. I learned a long time ago to listen to that little voice inside, and it rarely steers me the wrong way. There have been times I've disregarded intuition and acted on 'logic' instead, resulting in mistakes and regrets. I'm grateful I paid attention to it today.

Anemone Sylvestris

Chocolate Chip Ajuga

Old-fashioned Bleeding Hearts

The first columbine to bloom. And what's up with this??? It's supposed to be Cardinal. It was Cardinal last year. Now it's this oddly-shaped white blob. I hope it straightens itself out and subsequent blooms look like the lovely Cardinal that I planted. If it's decided it wants to be white, I hope the rest of the flowers look better than this one!

Woodland Phlox

Double Impatiens. I just love their rose-like blooms. It's too shady for roses in my garden, but double impatiens thrive and bloom from spring to frost in the morning sun here. It's a little cool to plant them yet, especially since I just bought them home yesterday and they were still in one of the greenhouses, so they haven't been hardened off yet. I left them outside in the sun after I brought them home, and brought them in overnight. When I told George to stay inside, he backed up from the door and trampled one of them, breaking off three stems. Oh well. It will recover. Better to have a damaged plant than a damaged George after a coyote encounter!

Neon Lights Tiarella

Creeping Phlox

Gaelic Magic Pulmonaria, down and dirty. This one was just divided. I guess I could have sprinkled off the soil before I took this shot. Oh well, just keeping it real!

Thank you Carol at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

Dreaming of Spring. . .