It Even Feels Like Spring in the Garden

 

We have had rare March weather here with a high of 77 degrees yesterday and it is to continue for a week more.
Needless to say that is why we are having severe thunderstorms this morning. The thunder, lightening and hail has rolled and rolled for hours now dumping 3 inches of rain on us up here in the hills. Now flood warnings are our for the lower valleys below us.
The warm temperatures have made the maple trees burst into flower.

I can see green starting to show in the woods around the house.

The earlier blooming daffodils that I snapped pictures of Tuesday are laying flat on the ground with their blooms in the mud after this mornings hail and drenching rains.

 
Luckily I have later blooming daffodils because I do not know whether these poor things  will get straightened back up.

 
The Candytuft is getting buds and will be opening very soon now.

 
Along with the primroses. And hyacinths buds are almost ready to bloom.

Not all of the crocuses were yellow as it turned out and these look a lot better than beat up yellow ones do.

I could not resist getting a couple of flowers while we were at the conservatory last Saturday to bring some sing color indoors.


I have terrible luck keeping begonias but I had to at least try these pink beauties one more time.

The Cyclamen was half off so it decided to come home with me too.

I have been sewing new cushion covers for the porch furniture since the old stray cats ruined the cushions last summer. Maybe I can even get a fresh coat of paint on the furniture this week while it is warm and get them put onto the front porch.

Spring officially arrives here Tuesday but it really feels like it around here this week for once. Our spring entrance here in Ohio is usually brought in with snow flurries and cold weather. I am still hoping it does not come back to bite us later instead and ruin fruit trees and flowering shrubs.

Finally:
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

These things I warmly wish to you-
Someone to love
Some work to do
A bit o' sun
A bit o' cheer
And a guardian angel always near.

And Happy Gardening,
Lona

 

 

Technorati Tags: Daffodils,Begonia,Candytuft,Cyclamen

Blooms & Butterflies

 

Today I wanted to share some pictures from the Blooms &  Butterflies event now going on at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio.

My daughter and I attended opening day Saturday and it was packed out. The children were given butterflies to let loose and they were having so much fun.It made us laugh and lightened our hearts to see them running around with the butterflies.
Some were dressed with their own butterfly wings or painted butterflies on their cheeks.
It was a wonderful experience for the young ones and us not so young ones who came with cameras in hand.
Most of the Butterflies now on display are tropical ones that I am unfamiliar with but their colors are so fantastic.


In a special room behind glass the chrysalis hang and you can see the butterflies emerging and unfurling their wings.
Those show here were Paper Kite’s. You can see those that are still in the chrysalis form and how their spots showing through the chrysalis.

 

Banded Orange Dryadula phaetusa

Great Yellow Mormon Papilio Iowii

Scarlet Swallowtail’s  Papilio rumanzovia

Paper Kite Idea leuconoe

I took this one which was on a little boys finger. He was so happy to pose with the butterfly for all of those who were snapping pictures.

 

Malachite Siprotea stelenes

Postman  Heliconius erato

Malachite Siprotea stelenes

This one was interested in the orange slices at a feeding station.

 
Butterflies & Blooms runs from March 10th  until September 10th so if you have a chance to visit the Franklin Park Conservatory and take the children or Grandchildren do not pass it up. Soon the gardens outside will be in bloom with spring and then summer plants so you can take in both at the same time.

 
Also the Orchids will be on display until April 8th  and they have so many beautiful ones now in blooms I took loads of pictures and will share them in some postings until my own gardens come into bloom.

Everyone have a wonderful week and…
Happy Gardening,
Lona

Technorati Tags: Blooms & Butterflies,Franklin Park Conservatory,Orchids,Butterflies

Final Posting on The Central Ohio Garden Show

 

I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful week. It has been a windy but mild week here and I was able to get out and get my hands dirty Wednesday with temps at 70 degrees. Got some beds cleaned up and some painting done and I felt terrific after playing outdoors.
Thanks to all of you who responded to my posting about the sad situation that Stuart is having with Blotanical now. I am hoping if we all prod him he will find a way to keep it going. I hope you all commented to him with your ideas. I am sure he will appreciate any input right now and support.

For Fertilizer Friday I am going to post the final pictures of the shrubs that were at the Central Ohio Home and Garden Show.

 
Wouldn’t you just love a column in your garden?

Azaleas are always a favorite at the garden show. I love them for their spring blooms and wish I had more room for them. I have one baby Golden Lights azalea that has yet to put on a bloom. Maybe this will be the year!

White blooms in a garden always catch my eye more that the bright colors.

This  azalea was just starting to bloom and it was a pretty peach-orange color.

This Pink azalea with the double blooms on it was lovely. The blooms looked like Fairy Rose blooms.

Yellow Forsythia was in several of the displays. The Black Elephant Ear really looked pretty with the the yellow blooms.

My daughter  liked this Cascading Cherry Tree.

  Magnolia

Pieris japonica

And of course we have to have Rhododendrons.

 

And many, many  Hydrangeas.

This hydrangea (which I did not see a name for) had so many colors going on in the blooms it looked psychedelic.
Aging myself again.

And last but not least here is a Wolverine Latrine but I am not sure what that says about Michigan. LOL! It’s a college rivalry thing and I am sure there is an Ohio State Latrine out there somewhere in Michigan that outdoes this one. 

 

Our friend Tootsie, aka Glenda, is the hostess of Fertilizer Friday and bless her ‘sole’ she is in the shoe store working today for Grammy and Grampy so we wish her luck.
With spring blooms coming on fast now we northerners will be able to enjoy and share more flower postings with her on Fridays soon.


Everyone have a wonderful weekend!
and
Happy Gardening,
Lona

 

Technorati Tags: Central Ohio Home & Garden Show,Azaleas,Rhododendron,Hydrangea,Cascading Cherry