~An Old-Fashioned Flower~

A while back, I discovered peonies.  Though I had heard of them, I never really paid any attention to them until now.  Oh my.  I am in love!

Be still my heart!  The soft pink color of this one gets me every time.

 Peonies are considered an old-fashioned flower having been around for hundreds of years originating in Asia.  Over the years, several varieties have been developed.  Single flower, semi-double and double-flower producing blooms that can be anywhere from 4 to 6 inches to 10 inches wide!  Can you imagine??

 Peonies are a very low maintenance flower requiring little care.  It''s not uncommon for plants to live for over a hundred years!  Definitely well worth the investment, don't you think?  Fragrances vary from one flower variety to another...none whatsoever to slight to very fragrant.

 The one thing that drew me to these magnificent flowers...well, actually, two...is that they fit the definition ~ to a T ~ of being a cottage style flower.  Which is what most people consider them to be.  They are often seen in fields and in many a farmhouse garden.  The other is the blossom itself.  The soft, billowy petals.  I don't know, but there's just something about them that beckons me.

 One problem with these flowers is that they bloom only once during the season.  Drats!  Wouldn't it be lovely to have blossoms like these all summer long?  Oh goodness.  Thankfully, each variety is categorized with a bloom date rating that can spread out over a period of six weeks.  If one plans wisely, you could have several varieties that bloom at different times giving you a longer season of enjoying the beautiful blossoms.

The other problem is that it takes several years for the plant to mature before it actually starts producing the type of flowers like you see above.  So one has to be patient.  Waaahh!!  I did find out that peonies can be dried and will last for years.  Yay!  Can you imagine the beautiful bouquets?

 Well, I've decided I just HAD to have some of these babies and I've been looking in several of the local nurseries in the big city and even in the home/garden centers, but couldn't find them anywhere.  So I started searching online to order some.  It's a good thing I decided to do it now as I found out that fall is the best time to plant bare root peonies (the best way to go).  Gardeners are taking orders now with delivery to take place mid-September to mid-October.

"Sarah Bernhardt"....very late bloomer, large blossoms and fragrant.

 After going back and forth, and forth and back, I finally decided on these three.  These babies aren't cheap.  They can range in price from about $18 to $100!  I cannot imagine paying that much for one plant!!  I did manage to get plants for an average of about $22 a piece, so I was pleased overall.

"Red Charm"...blooms early and very fragrant.

I have alot of purples and pinks in my flower beds.  I don't know why but it seems that's what colors are most prominent in the garden centers around here.  I wanted a soft, faded pink but the few I picked were already sold out with this particular nursery.

"Coral Charm"....blooms mid season and has a mild fragrance.

I have only one red flower in my gardens so the beautiful red one is really going to add some pop!  And I don't have any coral at all so I thought it was a nice contrast.  I am so excited to add these to my flower gardens!!   Now, lots of waiting is in store but I pray that it will all be worthwhile.

What's new in your flower beds this year?

~Can You Identify This Flower?~

We have a large grassy area between our house and the road that has had nothing done with it other than mowing.  The other day, when coming up the drive, I noticed a couple of patches of blue flowers and thought I had better check them out to see if they were truly flowers or not.

Please ignore the beautiful weeds growing in the background. :)

They were too pretty to ignore so, this afternoon, I went out with my trusty little spade and a container to do some investigating and to be ready just in case.  Lo and behold, these are bulb flowers of some type!

So, dig them up I did, and brought them to my lovely flower bed overgrown with early spring weeds.  The grandsons were supposed to come over this week to help clean it out, but they went on an unexpected trip with their parents (more about that later) and so it will have to wait until next weekend.

I know that these are fairly new as I had never noticed them before and, goodness knows, I didn't plant them!! Not out there anyway.  Thank you, birds or bees or whatever brought them my way!!

There are a couple of larger bulbs but most are pretty small.  So I separated them and planted them in between my new hydrangea plants.

I have no idea what they are but I love the delicate blossoms and hope that they thrive well on the north side of the house.  They should as they were just out in the open before being transplanted.  As much as I love flowers, I am very lax in knowing the different varieties.  The question is, can anyone identify this flower for me?  I'd love to know more about it.  Thanks for your help in this little mystery.

It's beautiful and green here in Oklahoma after the abundance of rain this week.  I pray you have a beautiful weekend!!

Hugs~

~Helloooo Spring!~

Lately, it's been so crazy around my house and with me personally.   I've been in and out reading posts and sending replies but haven't had the chance to do much of anything else it seems!!  I finally slowed down some to take pictures to share with you about how Spring is showing up here at the home place. 

We've been experiencing the warmer than normal temps like so many places around the country but have been holding our breaths when things started blooming because we've been known to get late, hard freezes as late as the first week in April.  So far, so good.
'

Last year, I planted four Carolina Jessamine plants (from the jasmine family) at the base of the four beams of my pergola.  All but three are thriving fairly well after the horrendous heat  we had last summer.  Hubby got one when he was spraying for weeds last year...drat it!!  But I think I can get another one at Lowes, where I got the other plants.

The flowers are supposed to be fragrant, but the scent is so subtle that you have to stick your nose right into them.  I am hoping that as there are more blossoms, the scent will be more noticeable.  I am so pleased with how they are turning out.

While you enjoy these beautiful pictures, which by the way, I was taking while it was pretty darn windy outside so I am amazed that any of my photos turned out. :).  Anyway, while you enjoy the photos, I'll ramble on a bit about why I've been missing in action for a while.  Or you can ignore the rambling and just enjoy the photos.  You're here and that all that really matters in my book.  :)

I have mentioned before that I suffer from fibromyalgia; best described as flu-like symptoms, without the fever, or feeling like I've been run over by a steam roller on a daily basis.  It's not life threatening but it sure is life debilitating.  And then I suffer from chronic fatigue, too.  Some days, I don't get much of anything accomplished because of the pain and, lately, I have been battling insomnia; one of the side effects of this disorder.  Some nights I get only four or five hours of sleep...not good either.  This is just an FYI.  I am definitely not looking for sympathy as I know there are many of you out there, or know of someone, who suffer from much worse health issues than I do!

My house suffers terribly because of it but I had to get some major housecleaning done recently as my daughter was having a jewelry party and her home is not big enough for large groups of people, so I always allow her to have events like these, even birthday parties and family gatherings, in our home.   What normally takes one person a day or so to do a good cleaning, took me about a week!

 So the other night, the jewelry party took place.  Thankfully, I remembered to grab my camera and take some pics of some of the happenings.  Snacks on the island and jewelry galore on the breakfast table.  Who could ask for anything more?

 Tater Tot was so excited that she got to come to a party with her Mama.  Darn cups....should have moved them out of the way!

 While we were in the living room for the demonstrations, Tater Tot got to play dress up with everything and that girl loves her some bling!  When things started winding down, she decided that Mama needed some dressing up and proceeded to make her look her best.

Several necklaces, bracelets, rings and even two watches!!  Mom is all decked out and has no place to go. :( Yes, she is the daughter who is pregnant and expecting in September.

She even dressed herself up with all the pieces that seemed to be her favorites.  I told you that girl loved her some bling.  She's very good about knowing when things don't belong to her and doesn't whine or cry about keeping things that need to be given back.  She sure had some fun though.

Back to the flowers for a bit.  This is a bush on the north side of my house.  I'm not good at remembering the names of my plants, but I do remember this one.  It is called a Pink Flowering Almond Bush.

I love this bush!  There are so many blossoms on this little baby that it almost makes you dizzy!  Unfortunately, there is no fragrance with this beautiful plant.

I ordered it online and it was so small that I almost pulled it up a time or two as I thought it was a stray weed!!  Thankfully, I didn't.  It has grown leaps and bounds.  Look at all those small, delicate blossoms!!  Too bad they don't stay around all summer long.  Even so, I think I will order another one another side of the house.  I don't have to do anything other than enjoy the short flowering season and the ease of care.

Okay, where was I?  Oh yes, why I've been missing in action.  Anyway, I had to take it easy for a day or so to recover from all the work I did to get the house ready.  My house is clean... for now.  And the party was alot of fun.

Then there was my monthly doctor's appointment and then shopping all in the big city, which takes a good chunk out of my day.  Then the following day, I had the joy of watching my grandbabies.  Unfortunately, events like these take their toll on me and I have to rest up and get basically nothing accomplished. :/  Shopping I can "almost" do without but the grandbabies...never!!

I've also been working on the Easter swap that I decided to take part in.  It is being hosted It's A Very Cherry World.  I got my package from Erica, my swap partner, the other day and I am beyond ecstatic with what she sent me.  Thank you, Erica!  Obviously, I'm a bit behind with my project but I'll share that with you and all the wonderful little pretties that Erica sent me.

I've also been working on a new business venture that is keeping me fairly busy as I learn about it and getting things off the ground floor.  I am excited about being able to do this and will be sharing that with you next week.

I've also got some Spring dresses to make that I promised my granddaughters.  And then there's the fabric-covered notebooks that I need to get finished for my giveaway!  Oh, and I guess I'd better get busy and change my banner...Winter is officially over now, isn't it?  Can you say B.U.S.Y.???  Whew!!

So, that's what's been going on in my little world as I enjoy this beautiful Spring weather and all that it brings.  What's going on in your world these days?

Take a deep breath and smell the freshness that Spring brings~

   

~In My Garden ~

 In my garden filled with flowers, 

I sit in quiet prayer

And, as I look around me,

I see God everywhere.

He's in the fragrant roses,

In glorious array.

Their perfume lingers in the air

and takes my breath away.

A gentle breeze is blowing.

Sunshine warms my face.

How near to God I feel,

In this enchanting place.

I see His hand in everything,

Sweet gifts sent from above.

My soul  knows only peace,

As I rest here in His love.

 by Marian Jones

~Lagerstroemia...Say What ?!?!? ~

OR better known as Crepe Myrtle.  This is probably my most very favorite flower of all time for several reasons.  One:  They are extremely easy to grow.  Two:  They tolerate our hot Oklahoma summers very well.  Three:  They produce an abundance of beautiful blooms.  Four:  They are so extremely beautiful and, well, crepey!  Not creepy...crepey.  As in having a crepe-like appearance and texture.

To me, they are such an old-fashioned type flower.  They come in a variety of colors...from deep purple to lavender, from red to pink and even white.

In this neck of the woods, it seems that the pink and lavender colors are the most popular for garden centers to sell.  I have seen white ones but have yet to find one to purchase.

I would like to have either a deep red or purple one.  Right now, I have four plants in the flower beds around my house and they are all in the pink family.  These beautiful little buds will open up into the most delicate looking flowers..thus the name "crepe".

They grow as shrubs or even trees.  I've seen some that are at least 10 to 12 feet tall and they are absolutely breathtaking with thousands of blossoms all over.  Even the miniature varieties have tons of flowers...like this little baby.  It should only grow to about 3 to 4 feet tall.  I've got it growing on the north side of the house as I do one of the taller varieties .  Then I have two on the south side of the house.




Having them on either the north or south side doesn't seem to affect their productivity in the summer but we had a really hard cold snap this last winter and the one on the north side took quite a hit.  It's slow in recovering.  Even though it's almost back to its full height from last year (about five feet) it has yet to produce any buds.

This is my poor little bunny hiding under the crepe myrtle.  Yes, he's been broken.  My granddaughter, Monkey, was fascinated by him when she was about three years old thinking, at first, that he was real.  In her excitement to show her daddy, she accidentally dropped him and he broke.  She felt so bad about it.  She sent me a new one (she lives in Omaha) and, unfortunately, he got broken in transit.  I didn't have the heart to tell her and just glued him back together.  He's holding together pretty well, don't you think?

I am always in such fascination and awe about this beautiful plant that God created.  Hardy yet delicate looking.  Old-fashioned but still so popular.  Easy to grow with long-lasting blooms.  I always look forward to their show every summer.  Yes, I'd say it is my most favorite flower.  So, what is your favorite flower?