Planing a new Bed and Weather

This past week we got what else, more snow! The predicted 1-2" turned into 6-8". Our only saving grace was we did not have any wind. Here on the prairie wind can be dangerous when mixed with any amount of snow. Now that some of it has melted and the roads are once again clear, we are under a Winter Storm Warning for tonight and tomorrow. Well, technically spring is still 3+ weeks away! While we were having the snow, my cousin who lives about 200 miles south and is in zone 6, was getting ice. We think of ice as an inconvenience usually and know we have to watch for slippery spots so we don't fall, but normally we do not experience ICE! Ice, thick ice on everything! And while it was beautiful and made the area look like a sparkling wonderland, it did do a lot of damage to the tree population. Majestic old growth was horribly destroyed and most looked maimed beyond belief. Some will never recover. Some will grow back but will be disfigured for ever. Some will have to be cut down and hopefully will be replaced.

But even with all the destruction, there was beauty. The dried hydrangea bloom below I found strangely appealing. It looks like it has been freshly washed and dripping dry.

This is just a blade of grass that has taken on the appearance of a curved staff. Notice how thick the ice is!

Okay, enough winter pictures!

I am planning a new flower bed. It will contain mostly flowers for cutting. I am going to put it on the south side of the house along a brick walkway that leads from our patio to our deck. One side of the brick walk is covered in a low juniper bush that I am constantly cutting back to keep the path clear. On the side where the new bed is going, I have mostly ground cover and mulch. The plan is to cut back and pull out if necessary the ground cover and to remove the mulch. I will have to spade up the soil as it has been covered for several years and I am sure it is very compacted. Then I will sow my seeds and sprinkle potting soil on top. Below is the packet with "dark opal" basil. I love the color and think it will set off the other flowers' color and is supposed have a wonderful fragrance. Of course I can use it fresh in cooking, and later freeze some of the leaves for use in the winter.

Next, of course, is the good old standby Zinnias! These are called "Bright Border Mix" and will only get 12-15" tall. They promise 2 1/2" double and semi double flowers on disease resistant stems. And the packet says I can pinch young plants to promote bushiness. ( I didn't know I could do that to zinnias!)

I have never tried to grow Statice of any kind. But the flowers on the packet looked so lovely, that I thought...why not? I am supposed to get "dense, graceful sprays of dainty papery everlasting flowers that retain color when dried." Doesn't that sound wonderful!? And I think the butterflies will like them too.

Lastly, I am going to try once more to grow the Butterfly Flower. I was given a plant last year, but even with tender caring it died. And that is so frustrating because I have seen them just a little south of us growing wild. Maybe, I will have better luck starting them from seed. I have read somewhere that they do not like to be moved. If they do grow, they will stay in that spot as they are a perennial. Next year then, I can just fill in around them.

Well, That is one new bed done. Now I just need to start thinking and planning my new fern bed, my very shady bed, and my up sized day lily bed.

Seeds From Kent (UK)

My seeds came today! Yeah! From Cheryl at My Wildlife Sanctuary. I won a challenge by her for putting a caption to a photo of her beautiful doggie. I am in such a better mood today, even though we got more snow last night and more is forecast. Seeing these seed packets and how different they are from ours is very interesting. 3 come from Ipswich, England (I will have to get out my World Atlas) and the other from Kentford, Newmarket,UK.

The "Gartenperle" tomato (garden pearl?) are a tumbling variety. They recommend planting in hanging baskets or window boxes. The Cerinthe is an Aristocratic Border Plant. Doesn't that just sound English!? The Sunflower is a big fluffy teddy bear. Isn't that a wondrous description!

All of the packets suggest acclimatising the plants. I am quite sure we would say acclimating, but don't you love the way their word sounds? Cheryl also sent some "Poppy Black Paeony" seeds. There is no picture with these but Cheryl promises I will be happy with them. She doesn't know I am notoriously bad with poppies! I have tried for years to get them to grow. But I am willing to try. I just can't wait to get these started! Will have to get some peat pots and find a nice sunny warm spot. That will be a trick! Maybe I'd better wait a couple more weeks!

I am so thrilled with these and I want to THANK Cheryl for sending them to me. She has such a wonderful Blog with great pictures and insights and I have enjoyed finding her!

I did get my Garden Journal! I added some stickers and the title and date. It really looks impressive. (well to me, anyway!:}) And I have even made notes about plants and designs I want to use this year. Now if I can just be a good girl and keep it up to date! I am going to try, especially with plant names and varieties. I want to be able to put names with pictures that I post.

The other package in the mail today was my book! This is the Feb-Mar. book for Garden Bloggers Book Club. I have read snippets from it already and think it looks intriguing. Can't wait to read others' reviews.

So, even though we are still in winter's steely grip, I have a glimpse of spring in my seeds and book!