Winter is almost over, I promise.

Feeling the end-of-winter-I-simply-can't-wait-much-longer-for-spring blues? Here are some beauties from last May in my garden. They fill me with anticipation, and remind me there is life beyond the snow (that I also love so much).

Happy almost spring!

Seed time!

I have officially begin collecting seeds for the 2011 gardening season. So far: some zinnia 'candy cane red and gold,' some red white and blue sweet peas, and some marigold 'snowdrift.' Hard to buy seeds not knowning what my garden will look like, but I simply can't resist. I've also been loving a few magazines right now, including Flea Market Gardens, and Early Spring 2001 Country Gardens. Makes me ready to get some chickens.

In the meantime, kill those winter blues with these photos from my garden in August 2010. I am going to miss this garden so much!
Dahlia 'L. Helf'

'distant drums' rose

'playboy' rose

blue sage

asters

agastache

Hens and chicks, variety unknown at the time- as the tag is frozen in the ground.

'moonbeam' coreopsis

'vera jameson' sedum

Happy gardening!

Garden on my mind!

We recently found out we are being moved to Minnesota. My husband is in the Army, so when they say go, we go. I will transitioning from a zone 5 garden to a zone 4 garden. I've done ample research, and I have a pretty good idea of what I can grow there, and what I can't. I plan on taking huge parts of the garden while leaving a decent landscape in tact for the new owners of our home. We have not listed the house yet, but we will be doing so soon. For now, I stare the snow, and hard frozen ground making lists of the plants I'm taking (probably about 300 of them!), and the ones I'm leaving behind.
I've always known we would have to move, but this was very first real garden, and it's 6 years of maturity, plus the blood sweat and tears I've poured into it will be missed. Nevertheless, I am very excited to start fresh with a lot more knowledge and skills. Pray we find a house with a decent sized yard and lots of sun for my roses.

Here are some shots from Autumn in my garden.

These brussel sprouts were so yummy.


And a few roses:

Disneyland rose, one of my favs:

Happy garden dreaming!