Plants for spring and Talking to the Shepherd

 Hi friends. I can tell it is spring because I went to the locally owned garden center and bought quite a few plants and seeds. Are you doing this too? I know some of you in Australia have different seasons of course.

Two daisy type flowers for a large pot I have, where a lemon tree grew for many years. Plus a six pack of 6 sugar pea plants and a six pack of red butter lettuce plants. Also seeds for round carrots and mixed colors of radishes seeds. Today I planted the pea plants and red lettuce in my waist high planter.

Isn't this cute? Dennis says "Do you count sheep to get to sleep, grandpa?" and grandpa says "Nope, I talk to the shepherd."
 

Spring Pretties In My Garden and Fluffy and Bounce and a Lady from Ukraine

 

I am showing a photo of Fluffy first, as she doesn't get as much mention on my blog and that is so unfair. I call this picture "Fluffy in a Box", as the box on the chair is very coveted by her and by Bounce. See photo below, titled "Bounce in a Box", of course.

 Some ranunculus and freesias I planted recently, these are photos from the packets. I planted the bulbs, or rhizomes or corms, I  can't recall which name is correct for which plant.

Above is Mr. Gnome, a Christmas gift. He is holding a solar light next to the yellow petunias I planted. Am I in a planting frenzy? Yes, a happy frenzy, and I am planting many seeds too, zinnias, knee high sunflowers, sweet peas, Swiss chard and Chinese edible pod peas.

One more photo and that's it, of cute pansies or violas I bought.

A Woman and Her Children from Ukraine Arrive Here

I am writing this post in advance, on Sunday March 27. I must tell you, at Bible Fellowship today a member told us that money we raised is helping a mom and her children from Ukraine arrive in our town tomorrow. We are looking forward to meeting her. She had to leave her husband in Ukraine because no men age 18 to 60 are allowed to leave. Her husband in Ukraine has 6 displaced people staying in their home with him and they are experiencing food shortages. When this was shared, people were quiet as it made all of us count our blessings. Update: The lady visited our small group (25 people) at church last Sunday, and I was not there. I am sorry to have missed meeting her. People found her a house to live in and all sounds as well as can be expected.

My black tulip magnolia and poem by Swinburne

 

Here is a photo of the buds and flowers getting ready to open, on my Black Tulip Magnolia tree. I took this photo on Feb. 1, 2021 and the buds are a promise of spring to come. I don't know why this is called Black, since the flowers will be red/magenta/purple when they open. I bought this tall tree in 2018. I understand that plant experts are searching for and breeding for a purple flower magnolia and this tree is a part of that search.

Yes, friends, I know it is still winter, yet in the spirit of my budding magnolia tree, here is a poem about early spring, written by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909).

For winter's rains and ruins are over, and all the seasons of snows and sins; 

The days dividing lover and lover, the light that loses, the night that wins;

And time remembered is grief forgotten, and frosts are slain and flowers begotten,

And in green underwood and cover, blossom by blossom the spring begins.

 

To mark the end of the poem, and because I like this portrait of me so much, here is the portrait above. Diane gave it to me! I think I will share it here upon occasion. 

Oh and help is appreciated if you know how to NOT double space when you hit  "enter". That way I could display the poem better.

Added Feb. 16, 2021: Thank you commenters for your instructions on how to stop the double spacing, I will try this next time. To my friends in Texas, stay warm and safe, I have heard about your dangerous snow and power outages. I felt a little bad I am posting such a sunny photo when many people are so cold! Hugs to you all.

Spring Flowers and Book Discussion Group I Joined

Above is a close up of my Apple Blossom Clematis, an evergreen type that I planted as a 2 foot tall sprig two years ago. It has quickly grown to  6 feet tall and then over the fence, plus about 8 feet wide along the fence and has a delicate apple scent. The white flowers are the clematis, and the yellow flowers are Yellow Clock Vine. I ordered the clematis from a catalog, they are more rare than the clematis that lose their leaves, which I also have.

Above is my Red Star Magnolia, also about 2 years old. It was about seven feet tall when planted. I think red magnolias are found a little less often than white. Star Magnolias are noted to be smaller than other magnolias, and often reach only 12 to 15 feet tall so are a great size tree when you don't want it to dominate your garden, size wise. I am thinking perhaps this is NOT a star magnolia because of the flower shape. The trees I had planted by a landscaper had ID tags on them, and when I went out to write down the details, a worker had taken off the tags and thrown them out, which irked me!

Above is a handsome red camellia in bloom at my church. We have many of these growing there, maybe fifty. Maybe I will count them someday. I am having a landscaper plant 3 camellias in my back yard, in 3 half oak barrels. I don't know when yet, we have to choose a schedule. He is also going to create a 100 square foot flagstone patio in my front yard for a sitting area that faces west, a nice place to sit in the afternoon or evening, and has a view of the sunset.

Above is a bouquet of orange tulips I bought, they sing of spring to me.
Do you sometimes want to do something different, to add something to your activities?
I heard about a Book Discussion Group held in a city recreation center, all are welcome and it is for people age 45 plus. That is me! Sorry for those younger folks, maybe you could sneak in, ha ha.
I went for the first time this week and the next book we are reading is "Daughter of Fortune" by Isabelle Allende. I started reading it right away and like it thus far.
At each meeting we vote on the next book to read, and choose books available as book kits from the library, so we don't need to buy the books. Nineteen ladies and one man attended, and each person has about two minutes to say what they like or dislike about the book.
Earlier they read two books I love: "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett and "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion.
To answer two questions left in comments, we meet in a building owned by the city, not in people's homes, and no refreshments are served. Since the meeting was only for one hour, the time flew by.
Happy reading and gardening this spring to you all.