tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78332288725098042692024-03-13T07:12:09.827-06:00Bev's Colorado Garden...gardening at the foot of Pikes PeakBevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-88080541417829530882008-07-03T19:25:00.007-06:002008-12-08T21:01:35.379-07:00Happy Fourth of July<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAJOkzm0ST97JR9sxYeibEKzuz091SEi4fSEZZjYY74jQ-BMIHUsBjg2WVUujmCAs0etLiKpdNlvow07ZANA24cK1R2YmyqFxv0simoxJK1d7HOSUKLPBgWXY042T_W9WnsVZA5jsz10/s1600-h/IMG_3824.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218966004231139186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAJOkzm0ST97JR9sxYeibEKzuz091SEi4fSEZZjYY74jQ-BMIHUsBjg2WVUujmCAs0etLiKpdNlvow07ZANA24cK1R2YmyqFxv0simoxJK1d7HOSUKLPBgWXY042T_W9WnsVZA5jsz10/s400/IMG_3824.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#cc0000;">This combination appears every year, just in time for the 4th of July. Planting was unintentional, but I sure do enjoy it.</span></em><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS_z-tmyBwLLxmvYp0d63Zalj5oJeyux-KBIXkLUsAtSy_X3wZm65N8iHLiwAguRGRbrYwwS9wxLXFVTInKeTWMQ5pS4UBKhDw_zoEleh6oeCy6_XtKYhuIF8RTx2J_DM0DAkiTqFhCo/s1600-h/IMG_3798.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218965771732340002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS_z-tmyBwLLxmvYp0d63Zalj5oJeyux-KBIXkLUsAtSy_X3wZm65N8iHLiwAguRGRbrYwwS9wxLXFVTInKeTWMQ5pS4UBKhDw_zoEleh6oeCy6_XtKYhuIF8RTx2J_DM0DAkiTqFhCo/s400/IMG_3798.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw48ouXrRL5vvyNNnDod-aGKUMZvx-1AQPdUpN3OJMdntz_hx9rGTeDfxaUSK-rTkp8OGCRekqeQNZ6Mr34xkA5mcK1qcfcHjfcFotbYlwwM0qRv-vNJ2AbN80t2ft4f1vJLwp95ujWo/s1600-h/IMG_3814.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218965430300584802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw48ouXrRL5vvyNNnDod-aGKUMZvx-1AQPdUpN3OJMdntz_hx9rGTeDfxaUSK-rTkp8OGCRekqeQNZ6Mr34xkA5mcK1qcfcHjfcFotbYlwwM0qRv-vNJ2AbN80t2ft4f1vJLwp95ujWo/s400/IMG_3814.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Paprika Yarrow</em></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">My day will be spent cutting back more salvias, as well as the Russian Sage so that it isn't so thin and leggy when the monsoons come, which they usually do, even in a dry year. Speaking of dry, the other day it was announced that we had received only 2.8" of precip so far this year, compared to the usual 8". That's quite a difference. That was before a good rain that we had yesterday. Just stay away hail!!! I will be happy to spend the weekend at home and not out on the road, just nice a quiet (I hope) and taking care of my gardens. Can't ask for more than that. </div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-62348544574287787822008-07-01T14:57:00.007-06:002008-12-08T21:01:36.616-07:00Over The Top Garden Art & Other Stuff<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCBwWdNpAj6orVBbmf7pxBxamh7zaB6XGj00YhGMk4x5TN0ppNPzK194JZkSjLjt1r8n_ND0j2LZNg00QN4JvkfcSR05xdJEYrhSTIA5DTviTSza032IkK1ymuNU-J4WQ7gad0Pl98Jc/s1600-h/IMG_3830.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218157792304961682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCBwWdNpAj6orVBbmf7pxBxamh7zaB6XGj00YhGMk4x5TN0ppNPzK194JZkSjLjt1r8n_ND0j2LZNg00QN4JvkfcSR05xdJEYrhSTIA5DTviTSza032IkK1ymuNU-J4WQ7gad0Pl98Jc/s400/IMG_3830.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudCwh_PSMlEEqKhPv6DqSQZXnNWt_qEuZi_7I2YGrtHbFYbSNBSMiU7d3ewwq3sXZkccqcc4idO_Hu3C4-4uAs9y_ZpaHMUvhTd-k60VhP1bFozoQDKYwE3fWUISyvX25xBMAHwUlAWQ/s1600-h/IMG_3827.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218157800488235234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudCwh_PSMlEEqKhPv6DqSQZXnNWt_qEuZi_7I2YGrtHbFYbSNBSMiU7d3ewwq3sXZkccqcc4idO_Hu3C4-4uAs9y_ZpaHMUvhTd-k60VhP1bFozoQDKYwE3fWUISyvX25xBMAHwUlAWQ/s400/IMG_3827.JPG" border="0" /></a> We visited an estate sale last weekend and this caught my eye. Just what I needed for this corner of the patio where our fountain used to sit. They wanted $50 for it but gave it to me for $30. And, of course, I just couldn't leave it alone. Those cute little shelves were just calling for something to sit on them. Now I have a place to showcase some of my watering can collection.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjEAsM7s4d11kIsB7rUti-RtXU1yqNmZ-5HEQitiIhkf9psyhyphenhyphenBntVPRO5uBqAjjd-mbDaV1xx7QkmoXWDlAGumXgF-TzJKSZXzgLds1AdPktZJVe8H_REMvpYBH9HmV6VcXZCAib2tQ/s1600-h/Busy+Bumble.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218157430622148738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjEAsM7s4d11kIsB7rUti-RtXU1yqNmZ-5HEQitiIhkf9psyhyphenhyphenBntVPRO5uBqAjjd-mbDaV1xx7QkmoXWDlAGumXgF-TzJKSZXzgLds1AdPktZJVe8H_REMvpYBH9HmV6VcXZCAib2tQ/s400/Busy+Bumble.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#336666;">One BIG Fuzzy Bee!</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#336666;"></span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjuTp3wCXqJX7IAWPbaLb-iXMUTORTYQG_1IXpkTPnBWpSKcs4muUK_hmw3CXwjlkRlW-jo09KC38xsv2QzvBs9AZTZ5uYcgYXmAbK9tP9qNvS6AQ6zqVQItKFTxlBWW7KIWlSRqOOyY/s1600-h/IMG_3812.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218157222979932978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjuTp3wCXqJX7IAWPbaLb-iXMUTORTYQG_1IXpkTPnBWpSKcs4muUK_hmw3CXwjlkRlW-jo09KC38xsv2QzvBs9AZTZ5uYcgYXmAbK9tP9qNvS6AQ6zqVQItKFTxlBWW7KIWlSRqOOyY/s400/IMG_3812.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#663366;">Time to cut these back</span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX15rnx7zaB4213hBVGxn4RHfKMBfxJN0NydwSF6LJiHQwKeDMXuyf1BeRfKl2MFqrivr98NhXKWiAyIwDdI_bIgXvyx1zC77pC7WAM4PtilvvVNrg9noWB3hun9HNaJ8LxxM8nXYA2Lo/s1600-h/IMG_3694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218157229086235874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX15rnx7zaB4213hBVGxn4RHfKMBfxJN0NydwSF6LJiHQwKeDMXuyf1BeRfKl2MFqrivr98NhXKWiAyIwDdI_bIgXvyx1zC77pC7WAM4PtilvvVNrg9noWB3hun9HNaJ8LxxM8nXYA2Lo/s400/IMG_3694.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#663366;">The Salvias were stunning this year as set off by the Silver Sage</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;"></span></em> </div><div align="left">Summer has arrived for sure, as we will see temps in the 90's this week. I have already begun cutting back the many salvias in the strips. They certainly have been lovely and thick this year. I feel sorry for the bees that are trying to get a last minute taste as I hack off the tops. I tell them not to worry... there will be more soon.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnAMqajFarhJ88kUPmsXWBilzm9iBCQt-vgOgTaiX91pww23KCJWoeTC8niFQO3wdeus-2ReuVW7Ypf49514I1zFZIr505yfmE2q0z1GzJdJjqEbx9a9giPrn2p1IqyCT9iuCLxJEWA0/s1600-h/IMG_3782.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218155593795083154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnAMqajFarhJ88kUPmsXWBilzm9iBCQt-vgOgTaiX91pww23KCJWoeTC8niFQO3wdeus-2ReuVW7Ypf49514I1zFZIr505yfmE2q0z1GzJdJjqEbx9a9giPrn2p1IqyCT9iuCLxJEWA0/s400/IMG_3782.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#ff99ff;">Evelyn is lovely as usual</span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZXG0FP_hF29wQ1dh98sBLewocNDQChTkC49KXNlshFXzep2uwEb_mZ0VPA_mhH5uybfmGhY5jGkeCTgrkF54G0zHk6Zr4D9kFW1xR203ZYx-bkmCt4VIoQaq5O11dzHcGz3DeOM9U9g/s1600-h/Heuchera.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218155597636395346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZXG0FP_hF29wQ1dh98sBLewocNDQChTkC49KXNlshFXzep2uwEb_mZ0VPA_mhH5uybfmGhY5jGkeCTgrkF54G0zHk6Zr4D9kFW1xR203ZYx-bkmCt4VIoQaq5O11dzHcGz3DeOM9U9g/s400/Heuchera.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#cc9933;">This Heuchera looks nice to welcome visitors. I can't find the tag to identify it.<br /></span></em></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-86640082954592191022008-06-16T13:04:00.009-06:002008-12-08T21:01:38.245-07:00The Beautiful Blues<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s1lxldgf7HwMiypQJV4nY6XSVoqnS_Cwu8o22W99u0CZNzx9XGyyEgK7dXrgeyouBbeZ8DwksBG6GW44wSno-UJ5bB-FBfxwlCSpoMvR-kg11wWF3pW83HtIvIqHupwfPuP3TwOfFoY/s1600-h/IMG_3663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212562234980417698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s1lxldgf7HwMiypQJV4nY6XSVoqnS_Cwu8o22W99u0CZNzx9XGyyEgK7dXrgeyouBbeZ8DwksBG6GW44wSno-UJ5bB-FBfxwlCSpoMvR-kg11wWF3pW83HtIvIqHupwfPuP3TwOfFoY/s400/IMG_3663.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#333399;">Iris and May Night Salvia</span></em></div><em><span style="color:#333399;"></span></em><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfYwpH2ISL38dS6-xlsDpe5GPTeN7vz1FtyAOXZnH580jjYIqOy6Zo0-fiDgmehZ5YWaq6XBwlKHUPvDdyYWi8i7xhGMJNWhSoez0oINcHCGtA149VTGY9lzJh5WB6P8yOyDWqCQBBxg/s1600-h/img_3665.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212562250500318562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfYwpH2ISL38dS6-xlsDpe5GPTeN7vz1FtyAOXZnH580jjYIqOy6Zo0-fiDgmehZ5YWaq6XBwlKHUPvDdyYWi8i7xhGMJNWhSoez0oINcHCGtA149VTGY9lzJh5WB6P8yOyDWqCQBBxg/s400/img_3665.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#333399;">Blue Montana</span></em> </p><p align="left">I just about made it for GBBD for June! But being only a day late is not all that bad, considering this is the first month I have made this year! Seems to be a theme going here, and it's BLUE. I do love blue/purple flowers and they are in abundance in my gardens this time of the year.</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGAvU7oVWQ9zPNnJoGA6I_nUWH8dD-wAOFmQfquP8oLTB-kJXdTGvhppDl-nlaBDG0rxqh8lZHd8T6fHJ0IFIGqhOHjHXu8Ku5CIZSPL-W6E3OonPTXjHh9OcrFYP0bwWr-srMxchc80/s1600-h/IMG_3668.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212561951954016962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGAvU7oVWQ9zPNnJoGA6I_nUWH8dD-wAOFmQfquP8oLTB-kJXdTGvhppDl-nlaBDG0rxqh8lZHd8T6fHJ0IFIGqhOHjHXu8Ku5CIZSPL-W6E3OonPTXjHh9OcrFYP0bwWr-srMxchc80/s400/IMG_3668.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#006600;">HUGE leaves of Japanese Anemone due to my special winter mix</span></em><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH2Ju9LUcneCs8j6cazQnomXCjl0C4vfd0iEIuVH9Zyak7xb9THvckG5nVWgKWUqv7ddLYmqLJDnmDRLfpKdlYPDYK8771jmg36118cPgoB_eisgnWvyNzXA0JrA36i7sbbhCYDNjmjw/s1600-h/IMG_3688.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212561617873800706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH2Ju9LUcneCs8j6cazQnomXCjl0C4vfd0iEIuVH9Zyak7xb9THvckG5nVWgKWUqv7ddLYmqLJDnmDRLfpKdlYPDYK8771jmg36118cPgoB_eisgnWvyNzXA0JrA36i7sbbhCYDNjmjw/s400/IMG_3688.JPG" border="0" /></a>For some reason the salvias are particularly strong and beautiful this year. Even my DH noticed and commented on them. The stems are so tall. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJv-4m7SyGnqtBrwvT3lGOx82o6XvgZyp7ZXNf224sm2I5h2pr03VjgkCG3rqcKfwjO5bJG0x8PTj9loklAdKRHKco6ODoCbHEq6gjLAz4Z5CmHKgN3Dl6MkiyyjkjtCPVLP8EYcXglM/s1600-h/IMG_3676.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212561631497750914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJv-4m7SyGnqtBrwvT3lGOx82o6XvgZyp7ZXNf224sm2I5h2pr03VjgkCG3rqcKfwjO5bJG0x8PTj9loklAdKRHKco6ODoCbHEq6gjLAz4Z5CmHKgN3Dl6MkiyyjkjtCPVLP8EYcXglM/s400/IMG_3676.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#000099;">False Indigo</span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7XlDLb2Wnd2Xr6N5PUADLQSX3YrSTo9egrxtyj33rrQIu6TnNc-2tSp8qe-Fa7jiG7sfFCNBCBlBN0PaR6sJqaTjwolr4ttFCir-SyeZsQbmxy_sKm6PKTRIfy_4a1LYo_pMSyr3B0g/s1600-h/img_3684.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212561112189659906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7XlDLb2Wnd2Xr6N5PUADLQSX3YrSTo9egrxtyj33rrQIu6TnNc-2tSp8qe-Fa7jiG7sfFCNBCBlBN0PaR6sJqaTjwolr4ttFCir-SyeZsQbmxy_sKm6PKTRIfy_4a1LYo_pMSyr3B0g/s400/img_3684.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#333399;"><em>Creeping Turkish Veronica</em></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnNnzeXE9cMQmQYg2lNQKfu7SGLv6Ye6X6sH24B9CpVz2BsYUNrQG68yK5p5G4wucPu0y-koQxZYnrjtPqSU3LrIGMC9hNuPbnnqk91wAMExO_8NHQVoci6b_L_JmpEe3EgFXusQDNac/s1600-h/img_3681.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212561124141272002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnNnzeXE9cMQmQYg2lNQKfu7SGLv6Ye6X6sH24B9CpVz2BsYUNrQG68yK5p5G4wucPu0y-koQxZYnrjtPqSU3LrIGMC9hNuPbnnqk91wAMExO_8NHQVoci6b_L_JmpEe3EgFXusQDNac/s400/img_3681.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffcc00;"><em>A few daisies to break up all of the blue </em></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTfyebXe14vFH9rFd0-xKdqB5L-3V0F46KZzET3rJUMSnUiaxSZmUQyW43Qw0nMbunp7o-CMeTblX8WZuRXA13suhidCVT7bU_dwTJKdJwJmSA4tnIi6UG63qtaMJn7d-1SA_TFpXn4o/s1600-h/IMG_3702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212560653669284994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTfyebXe14vFH9rFd0-xKdqB5L-3V0F46KZzET3rJUMSnUiaxSZmUQyW43Qw0nMbunp7o-CMeTblX8WZuRXA13suhidCVT7bU_dwTJKdJwJmSA4tnIi6UG63qtaMJn7d-1SA_TFpXn4o/s400/IMG_3702.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Bright Blue Flax</span></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSsCTFbRcjTUf2VXiPVEqrm-TbOVBf2LVeP23XqbXHJZGNgIEY0rXMfhNxRIA3-kh1tE_h9_vEtt9Fzu4Rd1KRB81LPPyH2szVgS0ljzSj7oSiBPUjAIFvJDieDvIp9uxXejshHtcNU0/s1600-h/IMG_3703.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sWhUF5g9OLgmoG_6jaGB5VYTLJVU1wva-bRAm2rsrgE_6yPfhy2aooDRSrw30_T-lxREbgmiu-38KJnJwyDfoOM0A9gCVLP7c7sowcX2YI8FN0EBa9tlm6p4QJk_Igc6E6n-UetYPSk/s1600-h/IMG_3703.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212560366386096370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sWhUF5g9OLgmoG_6jaGB5VYTLJVU1wva-bRAm2rsrgE_6yPfhy2aooDRSrw30_T-lxREbgmiu-38KJnJwyDfoOM0A9gCVLP7c7sowcX2YI8FN0EBa9tlm6p4QJk_Igc6E6n-UetYPSk/s400/IMG_3703.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left">While I lost a large number of new plants to winter kill, the older perennials really prospered. I'm wondering if it was the special winter mix I put on them last Fall (EKO Organic Compost, Earthgro Garden Soil, horticultural corn meal, Yum Yum Mix & Winterizer, and alfalfa pellets.) To that mixture I added bits of cotton bole and mushroom compost that I had left over. It certainly has been worth the effort, now that I see the results. </div></div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-45945670085089638262008-06-16T12:15:00.003-06:002008-12-08T21:01:38.360-07:00It's About Time??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiofeM_MOHSnZo04IIj24g5_66PEy8YbnRdpq6HTFPMsVahsVWmL8IeFwPsMF0cRbwT81saa9SyiC9QeBCXr0RgKR0kVrsPzFlf53aeJU5wsV3cUR8wjNUcRJ1NU3GF4eL8SoTsSKJH-M/s1600-h/img_3682.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212554614175957426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiofeM_MOHSnZo04IIj24g5_66PEy8YbnRdpq6HTFPMsVahsVWmL8IeFwPsMF0cRbwT81saa9SyiC9QeBCXr0RgKR0kVrsPzFlf53aeJU5wsV3cUR8wjNUcRJ1NU3GF4eL8SoTsSKJH-M/s400/img_3682.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Know that statement, <em>This is the first day of the rest of your life?</em> Well.... that is more fitting for me today than I'd like to admit. I can't believe it has been sooooo long since I've updatede my blog! Good grief... there are still snow photos of April! It's not like I forgot or anything. Illness and dealing with my father's death had to take priority over everything else for a while. As of this week I finally have his house cleaned out, remodeled, and ready for sale. What a difficult journey that has been, especially not feeling well. The house was in horrible condition because of my parents' declining health in the last several years and it needed a LOT of work. Throw in a handyman who was as slow as molasses in winter, and a recently diagnosed back condition, and there you are...no time or energy (mostly energy) left over for blogging. I feel like I have my life back as of today. There are so many things that had to go undone for the last three months that I had to do <em>triage</em> every day to see what would be a priority. Thank goodness my wonderful DH did a good job of cleaning up the perennial beds in the Spring and putting in some new plants. I was only able to keep up with a little weeding and some watering. But bless their beautiful little hearts, those perennial beds have just carried right on without me. That's one of the wonderful things about perennials. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We had a very strange, cold spring with little moisture. Not a good tulip year. The cold got to them, as well as most of the new plantings I put in last Fall. Quite a few plants and bushes suffered a lot of winter damage. The problem was that it was sooooo cold, and yet sooooo dry!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I missed Bloom Day on the 15th, but did take some photos which I will go ahead and post a little late. I'm looking forward to catching up on every one's blogs and getting back in action. Gardening will be limited while I have a shot in my back and start some extensive physical therapy. But I plan to take care of myself now and get <em>healthy</em>. Gardening is my inspiration!</div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-89148817750966717852008-04-21T11:57:00.006-06:002008-12-08T21:01:40.178-07:00Don't Like the Weather? Just Wait!<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWnUwGf_vc-1xCMSRA2Rfx3bYR_Pl_oXgg8QUTjVVUR6_lBuS49AGrmLt9FX-Io63vgKRF3zzf-6_ccf6Y5cm_Yq1ic0yZ588JHGnEg95OnDwnRmdWDoYsePxiv7DsqhVclLF5SUvIF4/s1600-h/IMG_3480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191762768044445986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWnUwGf_vc-1xCMSRA2Rfx3bYR_Pl_oXgg8QUTjVVUR6_lBuS49AGrmLt9FX-Io63vgKRF3zzf-6_ccf6Y5cm_Yq1ic0yZ588JHGnEg95OnDwnRmdWDoYsePxiv7DsqhVclLF5SUvIF4/s400/IMG_3480.JPG" border="0" /></a> That's what they say about Colorado. I think the rest of the sentence is something like 5 minutes. There are many areas of the country that use this saying, but in Colorado, we really mean it!</div><div align="left"><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9uAga1tm8QWCjzzNUdtcBog_8RawqqzLStg0Nyi7vB7LtD1L6vEeGvH8eEvcx-gLQB1pc2ZUrHJsq2-mbRKgGAtbvv-y0Xc98hT7q9JvxZJoeepNmPjUe5ajmuBTYqUS4Ogfhc14Q5Y/s1600-h/Grant2Ready.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191762600540721394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9uAga1tm8QWCjzzNUdtcBog_8RawqqzLStg0Nyi7vB7LtD1L6vEeGvH8eEvcx-gLQB1pc2ZUrHJsq2-mbRKgGAtbvv-y0Xc98hT7q9JvxZJoeepNmPjUe5ajmuBTYqUS4Ogfhc14Q5Y/s400/Grant2Ready.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">Here we are, all cleaned up and ready to go for another year. I love this Silver Sage. Temperature was in the 70's. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdNZ5_lOHHuILYFQ2Uk_zJRDRmcqFwEQz785j6GapMt9r01JlWgy6wlmrb4qazRB-s3socb9m41seG6vDwk9ZdQPniCeHZoPUAnmY86j1WK0eYQIdmwhM0QdOyxYJftSNOtoMOP7Eqwo/s1600-h/IMG_3458.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191762604835688706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdNZ5_lOHHuILYFQ2Uk_zJRDRmcqFwEQz785j6GapMt9r01JlWgy6wlmrb4qazRB-s3socb9m41seG6vDwk9ZdQPniCeHZoPUAnmY86j1WK0eYQIdmwhM0QdOyxYJftSNOtoMOP7Eqwo/s400/IMG_3458.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">And... here we are a couple of days later.</span></em></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiqgAdLNYSTWo0FGefLffEKuCWiX_CBCRAJL7firJ43vhNJalF2WXV-rb7fYWmkEOqWXrxkXHwbq4U6wv9WvAynPCq4BfH_qfszY_vQWrtZV2VUoPSwvrQxO-DJtgI8QUynQiGpgQ-Ys/s1600-h/IMG_3484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191762613425623314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiqgAdLNYSTWo0FGefLffEKuCWiX_CBCRAJL7firJ43vhNJalF2WXV-rb7fYWmkEOqWXrxkXHwbq4U6wv9WvAynPCq4BfH_qfszY_vQWrtZV2VUoPSwvrQxO-DJtgI8QUynQiGpgQ-Ys/s400/IMG_3484.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">And...here we are the next day. Back to Spring again!<br /><br /></span></em></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVySNkyxdF2IXQ6Q9bsrNWOR0UDVKGbeawyT2QXVXpBFUKx52b2RaBX8T0N8P5SgkY3XUCpu8CmlEIRDosNtkkI1qQ700wlRh74fJLpjj8otFGHD4P6Vd_FUv7P2FA88RluipCHjZYZ0/s1600-h/IMG_3453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191762016425169090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVySNkyxdF2IXQ6Q9bsrNWOR0UDVKGbeawyT2QXVXpBFUKx52b2RaBX8T0N8P5SgkY3XUCpu8CmlEIRDosNtkkI1qQ700wlRh74fJLpjj8otFGHD4P6Vd_FUv7P2FA88RluipCHjZYZ0/s400/IMG_3453.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">This part of the area that is under construction in the back.</span></em></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysEHF201AMw8w_QK1NFlHl9KhP1o-02Sp8Brra__DZsAiW3v-QPrIGV-AKw35zcvv5VnOPjA4wka7a3A2AdRclSK-ph5Yf6uApRQkB5pF-Xre76nXBJrAbkA9VK2VPsx44ZXLds99Vbo/s1600-h/IMG_3454.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191762025015103698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysEHF201AMw8w_QK1NFlHl9KhP1o-02Sp8Brra__DZsAiW3v-QPrIGV-AKw35zcvv5VnOPjA4wka7a3A2AdRclSK-ph5Yf6uApRQkB5pF-Xre76nXBJrAbkA9VK2VPsx44ZXLds99Vbo/s400/IMG_3454.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em><span style="color:#000099;">Yes, there are tulips under here somewhere!</span></em></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191762025015103714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeZI7siyguLoOzgtmxoW011e9HMQbb90VpzcNj-3xH4dpiP820ivz8O_CGHgpRjFmwwtTsJ-yi1DEms3A-MVKPNuNyP_UYOcTeZu9YdxLHDisTCPW4MD3FTs6pFscLsDUTPhsmVawdcc/s400/IMG_3464.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6i5MbDrlgcPxmnZNl4w32qRBqEKJtev5VHgOtzU6CMjXKAJSfN_I7IRGAAUMrg_IpOe56knsOxOA7iZ9FQvCcHnY639Xzvh3muv16nRAigEbYBPZ9XKrWeSweXZtn_CjFgKxAs2jU3g/s1600-h/IMG_3435.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191761539683799186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6i5MbDrlgcPxmnZNl4w32qRBqEKJtev5VHgOtzU6CMjXKAJSfN_I7IRGAAUMrg_IpOe56knsOxOA7iZ9FQvCcHnY639Xzvh3muv16nRAigEbYBPZ9XKrWeSweXZtn_CjFgKxAs2jU3g/s400/IMG_3435.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">Pasque Flowers a week ago.</span></em></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvpzvXNmrhiv3xscDgDZeW60AXPQPjpwKUBbWgr_R54d9puMdIr_v8WLe2OgNeKbjixD5sRWLVwtM7AV1vYHDzOL6xAZ-6Xg_MxkVXtHfYysp2raO3MvGoclGlxG-o4WjSKXTVZstcrg/s1600-h/IMG_3466.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191761548273733794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvpzvXNmrhiv3xscDgDZeW60AXPQPjpwKUBbWgr_R54d9puMdIr_v8WLe2OgNeKbjixD5sRWLVwtM7AV1vYHDzOL6xAZ-6Xg_MxkVXtHfYysp2raO3MvGoclGlxG-o4WjSKXTVZstcrg/s400/IMG_3466.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em><span style="color:#000099;"> And, here they are buried in snow. True to their nature though, they recovered nicely the next day.</span></em></p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjEe93dmUhoCXK_t8vpTPwllmNIAC9pQe9IB4xZBQm_x7oEd11AvqKe6Fq8YXFJxuxxN2F3vZM2mU4gN2ijwjln7TYFZIbVU-J3triYi9pVdpVaCAtdxPlzUwpQWIFgIRCEHzbyZ070Y/s1600-h/IMG_3473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191761556863668402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjEe93dmUhoCXK_t8vpTPwllmNIAC9pQe9IB4xZBQm_x7oEd11AvqKe6Fq8YXFJxuxxN2F3vZM2mU4gN2ijwjln7TYFZIbVU-J3triYi9pVdpVaCAtdxPlzUwpQWIFgIRCEHzbyZ070Y/s400/IMG_3473.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> <em><span style="color:#000099;">Aliums trying to grow through the snow.</span></em></p><br />The weather has been beautiful, although windy, for the most part since this last snow. But don't count on it staying that way. We still have a couple weeks or so before we are out of the snow danger zone. I've seen it snow a foot or more in late May... we'll see how it goes this year.Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-83635941996137341822008-04-07T14:39:00.005-06:002008-12-08T21:01:40.460-07:00Ready to Roll for Another Year!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzD-FLSeWwS7UaG1f9p7RJmIpe0DAdi48PLJUZdL_tjZcf34fXQgB0rFjr8ItUnD1i-zH3E7yVtvt42DkuyIvIwLGn2Asvtj8SyuSzf8cLj_z6l9ewH2J62r7XTcI-uUsWIvH4HxRX0c/s1600-h/GloryOfTheSnow2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186607664726410290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzD-FLSeWwS7UaG1f9p7RJmIpe0DAdi48PLJUZdL_tjZcf34fXQgB0rFjr8ItUnD1i-zH3E7yVtvt42DkuyIvIwLGn2Asvtj8SyuSzf8cLj_z6l9ewH2J62r7XTcI-uUsWIvH4HxRX0c/s400/GloryOfTheSnow2.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;">Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa luciliae)</span></em></div><br /><br /><br />Okay, bring it on Spring! I'm ready. Every day there are new green sprouts springing up among the last of the winter debris. This is also my blogaversary. I began my blog last April, 2007. It's hard to believe it has been one year already and that Spring is coming so fast now. We still have snow every couple of days or so, but it is not staying around long, thank goodness. Soooo.... bring it on Mother Nature, and let's get this show going for another beautiful year!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC719kfkiccNnZw6zFewYRISjl7hZ4D2NcJ3Igi0NSWbaD7pda9prG9GPNSn8_ZJAQbEgcpnwHe6wK0jwnf_p_qJZ0L62a9cSiAGlCzSNTRsvZKDENxPa7890ZRS8soyDQn0WpscZLC8/s1600-h/crocus2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186607690496214082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC719kfkiccNnZw6zFewYRISjl7hZ4D2NcJ3Igi0NSWbaD7pda9prG9GPNSn8_ZJAQbEgcpnwHe6wK0jwnf_p_qJZ0L62a9cSiAGlCzSNTRsvZKDENxPa7890ZRS8soyDQn0WpscZLC8/s400/crocus2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Nl5dz5LhN2uD6D17d71qaOVSVMJ4gr87WldZldZUX0j8cAn74MUtyxnLgcg0MaU8SUVpmZA_cO1KfmOsYA9xx1b3dWYD0y7ZEnQm8c2Yb9i4XVvOe1KvZhN-YUZlk8TqEDFbMKptrq4/s1600-h/IMG_3436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186607707676083282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Nl5dz5LhN2uD6D17d71qaOVSVMJ4gr87WldZldZUX0j8cAn74MUtyxnLgcg0MaU8SUVpmZA_cO1KfmOsYA9xx1b3dWYD0y7ZEnQm8c2Yb9i4XVvOe1KvZhN-YUZlk8TqEDFbMKptrq4/s400/IMG_3436.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;">Pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)</span></em></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#006600;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><br />My very favorite spring flower is beginning it's beautiful display. And after coming close to getting run over last winter by a neighbor's truck. It's a hardy little thing.<br /></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-7747769291084154842008-03-26T10:21:00.007-06:002008-12-08T21:01:41.177-07:00March Continues Like a Lion, For Me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGWgwrhyphenhyphen23v7OGglToXGlb0KBAjNSc00tZYM3r6WRwXXnlM8zh6wkFlyDTpJM2NAqRkdBSS7KF__4scwos3-60aW7McwZh8fs1lzEFtyj9cZGpEneYr5Uf_yJjZgm6TuDw0EncYhmEk0/s1600-h/DadFlowers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182098357087503394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGWgwrhyphenhyphen23v7OGglToXGlb0KBAjNSc00tZYM3r6WRwXXnlM8zh6wkFlyDTpJM2NAqRkdBSS7KF__4scwos3-60aW7McwZh8fs1lzEFtyj9cZGpEneYr5Uf_yJjZgm6TuDw0EncYhmEk0/s400/DadFlowers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Looking back over March, I can't believe so much has happened. This month now seems like a year. Lots of good and lots of difficult times. So, please excuse this self-indulging post before I get on with the 2008 gardening season.<br /><br />My doctor had just informed me that I still had another six weeks to fully recover from my second round of bronchitis which is sweeping the country. The next day my father began his final decline and passed away on March 12. The beautiful part of this sadness is that he was 92 years, and had been ready to leave his earthly body since my mother died 2 1/2 years ago. He missed her immensely every day. He was always a very stubborn man and refused to go to a doctor for many, many years. It is very difficult to care for someone like this, as I didn't know what to do when he became ill. His greatest wish was to die in his own home and not go into a nursing home (don't we all want that?) and I shouldered a great deal of stress in supporting him. (I kept thinking that any day now a social services person was going to knock on the door and tell me that I was guilty of elder abuse... keeping this declining person from medical care, all by himself and almost blind.) But he was actually happy being alone and was a very independent person. FINALLY I got him to agree to ente a hospice/palliative care program and this was a lifesaver for me and a way to honor his wishes. They were great most of the time, but as with almost all healthcare services these days, were overburdened and not always available for as long as a few hours when a crises arose. In the end they were really there for me and I could have not done it without them. I now have the wonderful image of my dad being placed in his new hospital bed which he LOVED, holding onto the rails that made him feel so secure, and smiling as he looked out at his beloved backyard for the last time. That was probably his last conscious interaction, and in the years to come it will mean everything to me to have honored his last wishes. He died peacefully the next day.<br /><br />Now, onto more pleasant times. My wonderful son who lives in Boulder supported me every day and continues to do so. I am so fortunate to surely have the MOST wonderful son in the whole world! Don't most of us mothers think like this??? He celebrated his 40th birthday in the middle of all of this and I feel bad that he had to share such a special day during such a difficult time. Being the great person he is I didn't hear one complaint, and I hope we can make it up to him one of these days. He even sent me these beautiful flowers to cheer me. Didn't I just say how great he is??<br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRSlAPBBA_KVY4QBmQfF_gDA_BLzot1uaZfzRgvdzqL7ynca8VUTom6QnFfcTzHtlRKfSMnj3KqHvChUD54-uRWUy_QTHPCL5mugEuqQDq7hwvdmsCdxAKZCoOtmhpQmMp23jDxQxnPw/s1600-h/IMG_3398.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182098215353582610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRSlAPBBA_KVY4QBmQfF_gDA_BLzot1uaZfzRgvdzqL7ynca8VUTom6QnFfcTzHtlRKfSMnj3KqHvChUD54-uRWUy_QTHPCL5mugEuqQDq7hwvdmsCdxAKZCoOtmhpQmMp23jDxQxnPw/s400/IMG_3398.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Back to gardening! We had a couple pretty good snow storms so far in March, including a good one Easter Sunday. They melted fast and have added lots of good moisture. The snow pack in the mountains is 126% of normal, so let's just hope it doesn't all melt at once and cause flooding in various areas of the state. My heart goes out to the people in Missouri and other areas that have suffered recent flooding.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AM3ZkggBD9ypomGEVRqMyCibuprV201EbvBXW4Jml7xWd8eu6jKONihkYT4Ol2197V_3m7ofzenS5sugGB7ToNoL0yKxtBfTOP5O89heUFgXes8PofrBlGoJcvketGtxTZ2Fdeo_sUc/s1600-h/IMG_3389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182098060734759922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AM3ZkggBD9ypomGEVRqMyCibuprV201EbvBXW4Jml7xWd8eu6jKONihkYT4Ol2197V_3m7ofzenS5sugGB7ToNoL0yKxtBfTOP5O89heUFgXes8PofrBlGoJcvketGtxTZ2Fdeo_sUc/s400/IMG_3389.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4b5ZKRVAxDRUj5hi1QuRR6bfz2g29rc1fW7YjvVCuLP9-y1sIbD0KvEbl-LjzIJnCiuwOpR-PxVD00ATx0j9RuZQWCG4ES0cCVuWbw9yQ_m0u316BBfbnxPCSJ_Zcv0lTBTie4Cpd9A/s1600-h/IMG_3390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182098065029727234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4b5ZKRVAxDRUj5hi1QuRR6bfz2g29rc1fW7YjvVCuLP9-y1sIbD0KvEbl-LjzIJnCiuwOpR-PxVD00ATx0j9RuZQWCG4ES0cCVuWbw9yQ_m0u316BBfbnxPCSJ_Zcv0lTBTie4Cpd9A/s400/IMG_3390.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLMZ1jxhAcdZ9KfkoRBU-IZE4lYnqMtpiEd-9l6hVwbnsX1d6u2ShKJzXdeFBUjFOChXMRtqSlXFafFgE9mSE0l30i7osNN_6RZh8MEGpBNYoOFQD-OyM0R_Fcv8MKj2s0Qe-blZXgzY/s1600-h/IMG_3386.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182097785856852962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLMZ1jxhAcdZ9KfkoRBU-IZE4lYnqMtpiEd-9l6hVwbnsX1d6u2ShKJzXdeFBUjFOChXMRtqSlXFafFgE9mSE0l30i7osNN_6RZh8MEGpBNYoOFQD-OyM0R_Fcv8MKj2s0Qe-blZXgzY/s400/IMG_3386.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>My DH has cut back almost all of the perennials, grasses, and trimming. How nice and fresh it is to look out at my strips and see lots of little green areas and many tulips peeking through the ground. It smells fresh and wonderful. The little crocuses always bring a smile to my heart. </div><br /><div>As to my Garden Tracking program....well.... I haven't even had a chance to install it yet. My plan now is to get it started along with spring flowers and begin recording with this season. I will play catch-up later in the year when things hopefully calm down. I spend my days doing triage...whatever needs the most attention at the moment gets done. I'm really anxious to get caught up on my favorite blogs. My joy comes from taking a nice stroll along my gardens, smelling the fresh spring air, and listening to the beautiful chirping of birds. Aren't our gardens such solace at times like this? They give back so much for the time we spend tending them. There is nothing like working in a garden to bring a feeling of peace, calm, and gratefulness for all that life has to offer.</div><br /><div>Spring is here, days are warming, and my heart is healing. What a beautiful time of year for a new beginning!</div></div></div><br /></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-55140386614736981632008-03-03T13:14:00.004-07:002008-12-08T21:01:41.333-07:00March Comes in Like a....Lamb?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhkcrORmPv-Qb7j13PhVlz1ytZBQyImjAQRiI1ucgYWhNsfL75IGkN1jhr0X5_ADNyl1-HQnZiSIMApD3rprwWV3hEPQCJw_9xdYZCurDYqmpf01wWXm4e0pr_T87i9OS88bR-GGBxRU/s1600-h/IMG_3371.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173616041585794482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhkcrORmPv-Qb7j13PhVlz1ytZBQyImjAQRiI1ucgYWhNsfL75IGkN1jhr0X5_ADNyl1-HQnZiSIMApD3rprwWV3hEPQCJw_9xdYZCurDYqmpf01wWXm4e0pr_T87i9OS88bR-GGBxRU/s400/IMG_3371.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Such a wonderful, short reprieve from winter! Saturday was 73 degrees, a NEW RECORD for that date. It was quickly followed by snow and cold the next day and a chilly, frosty 16 degrees this morning. March is typically our snowiest month of the year with an average of 9.4 inches of snow. February brought only 2.7 inches of snow, well below the average of 5.1 inches. It made up for it with cold, however, and those 2.7 inches consisted of mostly ice on the roads. There's a good chance we will have snow for Easter (not unusual in <em>any</em> year) as this year it is so early. </div><br /><div>I usually take advantage of every semi-warm March day by cutting back all of the plants that I left for winter interest (a <em>lot</em> this year). There are over 20 Russian Sages that need to be cut back and that is quite a job. I like to get it out of the way so that I don't walk over the many tulips emerging. I do it a little at a time, since my old body won't be used to this kind of exercise yet. Not that it <em>ever</em> does though. I'm really concerned about getting my gardening started this Spring, as I have been so sick with bronchitis. It has been a month now, with two doses of antibiotics and one relapse. Today is the first day that I am feeling half-way human. Now, if I can just keep it up. Seeing all sorts of little green shoots peeking through the ground certainly goes a long way towards cheering me up. Along with the birds singing more each day. </div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-69678147430341623062008-02-25T11:01:00.003-07:002008-12-08T21:01:41.584-07:00Garden Management Software<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUijA4lpGXaci-wJuGC3GbFgxi0-3VYI96Wi54coxMOg-fFVtFVE6iqDmm-Ksukb0l-HipLXWaIZiybbMzPxBAD6OdZr9FnG3V4qJBFo3Fhjg7rfnlgty8f2BBGUxwEappzU4NhHkzDE/s1600-h/GMS.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170985560362153826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUijA4lpGXaci-wJuGC3GbFgxi0-3VYI96Wi54coxMOg-fFVtFVE6iqDmm-Ksukb0l-HipLXWaIZiybbMzPxBAD6OdZr9FnG3V4qJBFo3Fhjg7rfnlgty8f2BBGUxwEappzU4NhHkzDE/s200/GMS.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I've been researching several programs for managing my plant information on my computer. Right now all of my information is in various hand-written journals that I keep from year-to-year. When I want to look up a specific plant I have to go to the year and try to find the info on this plant. This takes a lot of time, and I would love to also have a photo of the plant without having to print it and paste. What a time I've had trying to fine a program! Last fall I purchased a program from Canada: <a href="http://www.hmk.on.ca/">Garden Management System</a>. I was really excited, thinking this would be the ideal system, but I am not satisfied with it for various reasons, mainly that the garden description information for each plant is very awkward. I also have trouble returning to the main menu without having to completely reopen the program each time. I am going to return this product.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So.... on with my search. My next choice that got me all excited was <a href="http://www.pleasantlakesoftware.com/Garden_Software.htm">Premier Gardens Management System</a>. This program would be just about perfect it if worked. I downloaded the free trial. I've contacted their support several times with no response and am about to give up on this one, much to my regret. The problem is that it will not let me enter all of the plant information that is needed. I thought perhaps because it was just a trial version. But again, they will not respond to my emails. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Another one that looks like it would be good is <a href="http://www.gardentracker.com/">Garden Tracker</a>. But again, I cannot find a way to purchase this product and have not heard back from their email service. Guess I'm just going to have to give up on this entire project.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This was my big winter project. Now I'm way behind in everything because of being sick with bronchitis. I thought I was over it and got a relapse, so here I am again! I've been dealing with this thing for a month now and am really tired of it. Not much energy to do very much. Hope I will be better very soon!</div><div> </div><div>UPDATE: Well, I made up my mind and ordered <a href="http://www.gardentracker.com/">Garden Tracker</a>. They were very responsive to my email inquiry and the program does everything but wash the dishes. It has all sorts of reports you can generate, you can make labels for all sorts of things, a handy workbook, etc. I didn't order everything, just the software version because I doubt I will have the time to use everything it offers. Now I'm excited about receiving it and hope it meets my expectations. </div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-31731735652452903932008-02-15T11:58:00.003-07:002008-12-08T21:01:41.767-07:00Love Is In The Air...Count Those Birds!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YWPDep05KhoLde3NSvvSlDftEzySZxxHUkxcS4Lea2tI5A2LPapAp0pFYofOvD3fGayxICpMZUPPsqJRrZ55vMEPH4P2kT0lQMzjbyFtp_NKGAfBCqhhn5YaJxhTx2_0ft5tvNoRJ0s/s1600-h/img_3289.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167285038014756690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YWPDep05KhoLde3NSvvSlDftEzySZxxHUkxcS4Lea2tI5A2LPapAp0pFYofOvD3fGayxICpMZUPPsqJRrZ55vMEPH4P2kT0lQMzjbyFtp_NKGAfBCqhhn5YaJxhTx2_0ft5tvNoRJ0s/s400/img_3289.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I've noticed some subtle (and some not so subtle) changes in the animal/bird behavior in my backyard. Every morning, the first thing I do is take feed out to my platform feeder and check the water in the birdbath. What's that I'm hearing??? Little house finches are starting to make some noises... little chirping sounds that will soon lead up to their beautiful mating calls. There is nothing so beautiful to hear first thing in the morning. The Eurasian Ring Necked Doves are mating, and so are the squirrels (they're the <em>not so subtle ones</em>). And the Flickers are beginning their mating calls. Could it be that Spring is in the air??? Yea... can't come soon enough for me.</div><div> </div><div>To celebrate, I submitted my list to the <a href="http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/">Great Backyard Bird Count </a>that is now in progress until the 18th. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-81093283638917187212008-02-14T12:49:00.002-07:002008-12-08T21:01:41.888-07:00Valentine's Day 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pwViudUXRdCi-Bf2kahnvcFZMT7hDT-DKR1hfz8pjP8A4wIjEfu5ZIWIq7NgStIK5yKLum7ZMCcjGq5nRiCiNGMatkBcDPVYwusTVK4p1zZkq6O_RnlS1HqGb7OGtzr6SfT0l0KuVQU/s1600-h/Valentine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166927885714290498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pwViudUXRdCi-Bf2kahnvcFZMT7hDT-DKR1hfz8pjP8A4wIjEfu5ZIWIq7NgStIK5yKLum7ZMCcjGq5nRiCiNGMatkBcDPVYwusTVK4p1zZkq6O_RnlS1HqGb7OGtzr6SfT0l0KuVQU/s400/Valentine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Happy Valentine's Day 2008! Another milestone towards the arrival of Spring....and Color... and Flowers! It feels as though it has been ages since I've been able to smell my roses, walk in the sunshine, marvel at my gardens. Sigh!!!! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It's another cold, snowy day here in Colorado. Yesterday in was about 60 degrees. Can you believe that? Yep, that's Colorado. My husband got out the frozen hose and watered for me. I'm still recovering from bronchitis and need to stay quiet a while longer. Six weeks my doctor says until I'm over this thing! Meantime, my seeds have arrived from Park Seed. Where in the world am I going to plant all these??? I've started a database for my plants, which is not going well. I plan a post about it as soon as I have worked with this program a little more. And yea.... I've purchased my 2008 hand written journal. Every little sign of progress is met with enthusiasm and joy on this cold, winter's day. My DH is going to get us some takeout so I don't have to go out today. What a gem! </div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-88747320731805895752008-02-06T10:34:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:42.477-07:00Four More Weeks... So They Say!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnoEpmKy50622cLOF6LaoBWIg7Y3b80m_S0Yf6yfI8Pu0WcWyU5jEnkcIR6Hb2FdWcDCkZPMercUsLoqgeQWOmlF_Gy0M5t3wPVoTkI36zU9xOcVpz3LTinBnjqffvgXM1sd3oyr7q8c/s1600-h/corner2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163925259310316882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnoEpmKy50622cLOF6LaoBWIg7Y3b80m_S0Yf6yfI8Pu0WcWyU5jEnkcIR6Hb2FdWcDCkZPMercUsLoqgeQWOmlF_Gy0M5t3wPVoTkI36zU9xOcVpz3LTinBnjqffvgXM1sd3oyr7q8c/s400/corner2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklp5DFRBtncZTTAd7G-Mqs_L1Q4WZCorj8vq802UyKUPnREeyp6ObRV_m6V1jLSMqY-EWtcMpHyQpArcbzPHm_1R4FgLYeHgM7eA7SNUNtzM0QeWeyRspK1r82feeu_6gt0IAQufCZcM/s1600-h/freespirit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163925048856919362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklp5DFRBtncZTTAd7G-Mqs_L1Q4WZCorj8vq802UyKUPnREeyp6ObRV_m6V1jLSMqY-EWtcMpHyQpArcbzPHm_1R4FgLYeHgM7eA7SNUNtzM0QeWeyRspK1r82feeu_6gt0IAQufCZcM/s400/freespirit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdluYsmTEOjzu9uLq9AYQApZktNFwgoxeS_-C3cwBlO0-aXHsDI67JG3cYl_EY0CuWnHIAbbQg8Cr5uFparaXIR2c6Uz6fKGIAvRiJ848rm-ksgtlK6E8ZV-0AEjAaLr_SOuqGsHh178/s1600-h/RSage&Hyssop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163924881353194802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdluYsmTEOjzu9uLq9AYQApZktNFwgoxeS_-C3cwBlO0-aXHsDI67JG3cYl_EY0CuWnHIAbbQg8Cr5uFparaXIR2c6Uz6fKGIAvRiJ848rm-ksgtlK6E8ZV-0AEjAaLr_SOuqGsHh178/s400/RSage&Hyssop.jpg" border="0" /></a>A weatherman said that we only have four more weeks of winter! Hah! If <em>only</em>. I'm really sick of snow. This has been another of those winters where a system rolls in every couple of days. Luckily we haven't been really dumped on like last year (knock on wood). In anticipation of the end of these "four weeks" I just HAD to see some color, so I'm posting a few of last summer's photos, just to see something other than white!<br /><br /><div>Having been down with a nasty virus the last week or so I'm now far behind in my winter chores, but I DID get some seeds ordered from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/">Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds</a>, and they are on their way! Mostly lettuce, spinach, cucumber, herbs, and squash. It will be fun to try some new varieties. And I continue to gather ideas for my <span>back yard birdbath garden makeover</span>. One of these days I will draw out a plan. In the meantime I continue to enjoy all of the birds, especially the Ring Necked Doves, but NOT the damn starlings that make a mess out of everything. I hate these birds as much as I hate the grackles in the summer. Always something! </div></div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-27195494518496241832008-01-29T10:31:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:42.835-07:00Thinking About Slow Food...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKugg_1R8N27GsJ2EoZZOMNE-eM-TMVQ6lVwEu9CbGa4oNork1eSJ7rBD5ABrydUhP6372fMzxksEdtCJiwRxB6P4f5Ki_fWSWy4pGml3UYkbE2-IAUrwBRHBhuMuxrc6Rvw2RqPpO_E/s1600-h/herbs1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160961276609543458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKugg_1R8N27GsJ2EoZZOMNE-eM-TMVQ6lVwEu9CbGa4oNork1eSJ7rBD5ABrydUhP6372fMzxksEdtCJiwRxB6P4f5Ki_fWSWy4pGml3UYkbE2-IAUrwBRHBhuMuxrc6Rvw2RqPpO_E/s400/herbs1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#003300;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">One of my favorite places for growing herbs. It is protected from the wind by the side of the house and faces south. Herbs love it here. This is my very favorite rosemary plant that I have been able to winter through one year. I'll have to see about this year... I have it covered and protected as much as possible.</span></em> </span><br /><br />It's time to get serious about ordering seeds. This year I would like to try my hand at some heirloom varieties. There are many excellent blogs to peruse on the subject of seeds. In the meantime, I become more and more interested in Slow Food. The first time I heard this term I could not understand what it meant, (I thought it was food that takes a long time to cook?) and I still don't have a real hold on it, but am beginning to think that it has a lot to do with what I have already been doing.<br /><br />I have always cooked a lot from "scratch" and with lots of fresh foods. I try to eat as few processed foods as possible but I'm afraid if truth be told I still have a ways to go. I'm not an "activist" but do try to live my life in a responsible way, thinking of the environment and my impact on the earth. Again, I have a long way to go here too, especially when I read what others are doing. Boy, do I feel guilty sometimes. However, the best I can do is to be me and do as much as I can in my own small ways. One thing that I'm proud of is that I changed to using biodegradable kitty litter instead of the heavy old clay stuff. Anyway, getting back to my point... thanks to a book about Alice Waters and Chez Panisse Restaurant, I found the <a href="http://www.slowfoodusa.org/change/index.html">Slow Food USA </a>site. I especially was drawn to this way of thinking:<br /><br />"Slow Food is also simply about taking the time to slow down and to enjoy life with family and friends. Every day can be enriched by doing something slow - making pasta from scratch one night, seductively squeezing your own orange juice from the fresh fruit, lingering over a glass of wine and a slice of cheese...") particularly the part about lingering over a glass of wine, and how I do love cheese! All this has made me excited to choose which veggies I will plant this year.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx2G-jIe9GB_hR8e-AmPFYWbUBNBkmoShGYoWqlspotmjhWgVyvnCr4Syq3bBuloArnxLpkafw4D2HLcSnQal8nvJkgtUsASLmPg13VjoDKKSAMl_3kUSwSGLiLL1B1WaUjg5PxDQgso/s1600-h/AW&ChezPanisse+(2).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160958819888250114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx2G-jIe9GB_hR8e-AmPFYWbUBNBkmoShGYoWqlspotmjhWgVyvnCr4Syq3bBuloArnxLpkafw4D2HLcSnQal8nvJkgtUsASLmPg13VjoDKKSAMl_3kUSwSGLiLL1B1WaUjg5PxDQgso/s400/AW&ChezPanisse+(2).jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>As to the book about Alice Waters, I found it VERY enjoyable reading, and quite interesting about her life and restaurant. It did, however, make me exhausted just reading about all she does and continues to do. Not to be funny, but she does have a LOT on her plate (all good, slow food, of course). She has inspired me. I plan to read her new book about simple, Slow Food and how to live that way of life. Hopefully something will rub off on me! For anyone who enjoys reading about food and interesting people I highly recommend this book.</div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-23138359190634407972008-01-22T13:18:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:43.788-07:00And... Another!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcSXkcR5tZtRbGmm4D5zr0MHkTsh-MEh3NL3mtEOQ-UzyYBMzsacbgcwZquEM02fKcEzGw-ZHJh8_bSCQUCuXsr23Ac_2c139ldMTkzsFqLMtrX91pc47cIpb4MF1k-zJockhNHIc1C4/s1600-h/grant2b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158404079823077458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcSXkcR5tZtRbGmm4D5zr0MHkTsh-MEh3NL3mtEOQ-UzyYBMzsacbgcwZquEM02fKcEzGw-ZHJh8_bSCQUCuXsr23Ac_2c139ldMTkzsFqLMtrX91pc47cIpb4MF1k-zJockhNHIc1C4/s400/grant2b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9MK5r2LAxyDWZQ1ZE5i9QafVvpiIn8xBzx82dT9B6X3xkJb9QZqZIBo2V4TgKoLocDnevME_2evZrZqICDFm7227ZwAbKVyv1XFS2GwuPAxHOxQOLVdW0hJKu71Op4Bf8K4XQorzhxE/s1600-h/grant2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158404092707979362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9MK5r2LAxyDWZQ1ZE5i9QafVvpiIn8xBzx82dT9B6X3xkJb9QZqZIBo2V4TgKoLocDnevME_2evZrZqICDFm7227ZwAbKVyv1XFS2GwuPAxHOxQOLVdW0hJKu71Op4Bf8K4XQorzhxE/s400/grant2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeSRRD93Atf8ZfUekVrFSc6lpUwGRFO6_joKvscJonQq4MnC6pHElnN2oreEr4DW5FloQEWi4CUwqE8liYIK63Xq5LTpy5kJILjVd69Helg2xWVwp-H6gRaphB1BhU-IvTtIIOKNCbW0/s1600-h/grant1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158404101297913970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeSRRD93Atf8ZfUekVrFSc6lpUwGRFO6_joKvscJonQq4MnC6pHElnN2oreEr4DW5FloQEWi4CUwqE8liYIK63Xq5LTpy5kJILjVd69Helg2xWVwp-H6gRaphB1BhU-IvTtIIOKNCbW0/s400/grant1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here we go again. Another day of snow and cold. It was a very frosty morning with a beautiful full moon. The average temperature for January is now 28.1 degrees. Colder than usual. I need to get my seeds ordered soon.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEoLn9PGQkJHsVRBpQkqcgRKHGdAUD1PTBulGNwFODlgZ8PeL1KfrcpPV27hBJHLgYMlhkLlc16bTLvPgznlEni7dcoIYeQNtoA3eQ_3k9tn6o8DTQ1eqxXGhZIYXrrnpZENX5Kf9nQI/s1600-h/IMG_3334.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158403830714974274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEoLn9PGQkJHsVRBpQkqcgRKHGdAUD1PTBulGNwFODlgZ8PeL1KfrcpPV27hBJHLgYMlhkLlc16bTLvPgznlEni7dcoIYeQNtoA3eQ_3k9tn6o8DTQ1eqxXGhZIYXrrnpZENX5Kf9nQI/s400/IMG_3334.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#336666;">To add more room for veggies I'm thinking of moving the large pots to the front and filling them with vegetables.</span><br /></span></em><br /><div align="left">There was a wonderful article in our local paper the other day about container plants. It was right on subject for me because I'm trying to find more room for veggies this year and have decided to try some large containers placed next to the raised beds. About the only place we have full sun in the back. It gave me some interesting ideas:</div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://www.reimerseeds.com/mini-belle-mix-sweet-peppers.aspx">Pepper Mini Belle</a> produces a decorative plant.</div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://www.tmseeds.com/product/131.html">Lettuce Mini-green</a> Improved produces tennis ball-size heads.</div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/399/1">Balconi Red Tomato</a> has an exceptionally sweet taste.</div><br /><div align="left">And this sounds nice for shade: <a href="http://msucares.com/news/print/sgnews/sg07/sg070712.html">Blazin Lime Iresine</a></div><br /><div align="left">Something to think (and dream) about!</div><br /></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-75761262227413253512008-01-21T11:14:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:43.883-07:00Another Snowy Day...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYNLHIQiOXR86XEPShFcHP_-_GKlCpGSMO0EjMIhhdSGTBTS-hxkdZoLc4f2IV4XVJDM8HwP7nNZ87Dq2deRj6BoefFA2K_jAuHc9EH1n9dQEIRm0w4ZjpDnD_C7YYi1BFcM9z6N3hCU/s1600-h/wintertree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157996156714205234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYNLHIQiOXR86XEPShFcHP_-_GKlCpGSMO0EjMIhhdSGTBTS-hxkdZoLc4f2IV4XVJDM8HwP7nNZ87Dq2deRj6BoefFA2K_jAuHc9EH1n9dQEIRm0w4ZjpDnD_C7YYi1BFcM9z6N3hCU/s400/wintertree.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The days are beginning to all look alike. Snow... snow... snow. It comes in every two days or so. Instead of complaining (well, I always do plenty of that too) I'm working on ideas for my backyard/water feature redo. I researched several of the ideas submitted in the comments and they are some good ones, especially for the shade areas. When I get more ideas I will draw out a plan. I'm thinking that Snow in Summer might be good along the dry sidewalk area. And I will need a flagstone or mulch path along the border garden so I can maintain it. I'm beginning to get excited about the prospects. After all, what's a snowy winter day for?</div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-79263816271841550822008-01-17T10:27:00.001-07:002008-12-08T21:01:44.435-07:00Help: Redo This Garden!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2M1v1lH8c9zIGiLVjwC0AqqlJffyzlk73aDmOh_hkMmm3I0zcktdYjrgLCbHuM1-Qm78mp3d1AzoXHU8TuNA52ZAVmf-bYPjZzKXAu6YHGQLwME1yM60vt54vonzkqWYTFC1n1o1Xt0/s1600-h/BBgarden3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156503423650611186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2M1v1lH8c9zIGiLVjwC0AqqlJffyzlk73aDmOh_hkMmm3I0zcktdYjrgLCbHuM1-Qm78mp3d1AzoXHU8TuNA52ZAVmf-bYPjZzKXAu6YHGQLwME1yM60vt54vonzkqWYTFC1n1o1Xt0/s400/BBgarden3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUWp87XRv9Dhwsr5pfp36uNvYZ3hSi9Tq82c5ST9CsSt4ALmgKhP4GJ7J6Gaj8y5dhQy0o5p0HlB-M2jToun2SdTHPr2Ss6P2titxKf2VnECPWCuN6qz-VkOr0mJzLUvTc8Gmzj7YPF4/s1600-h/bbgarden2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156503427945578498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUWp87XRv9Dhwsr5pfp36uNvYZ3hSi9Tq82c5ST9CsSt4ALmgKhP4GJ7J6Gaj8y5dhQy0o5p0HlB-M2jToun2SdTHPr2Ss6P2titxKf2VnECPWCuN6qz-VkOr0mJzLUvTc8Gmzj7YPF4/s400/bbgarden2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTRHiQV9L0cI9WJTPG3v8b37EeNRElF297Zgay8biiFPLHlj_4XeilfVtiaRZ3M-Rh2v0t5WRTkX937g3bhHKQeDZTLBhwyjoNpyVGnzXwhzibCddb5nN-iHKJZTk37dOrN_SLy-ZUSk/s1600-h/bbgarden1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156503432240545810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTRHiQV9L0cI9WJTPG3v8b37EeNRElF297Zgay8biiFPLHlj_4XeilfVtiaRZ3M-Rh2v0t5WRTkX937g3bhHKQeDZTLBhwyjoNpyVGnzXwhzibCddb5nN-iHKJZTk37dOrN_SLy-ZUSk/s400/bbgarden1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Here's the challenge: This area of the backyard (I call it the "Birdbath Garden"...duh) goes from hot sun near sidewalk to deep shade under the trees. I've tried many different things with this area, including taking out most of the grass and putting down wood bark mulch -- HATED that!! I've planted just about everything I could think of around the birdbath: tulips for spring, thyme for ground cover, all sorts of perennials, you name it. NOTHING does well here except for the year I surrounded the birdbath with containers of geraniums (and those don't look real great until later in the summer). I always go into this project with beautiful visions of what it will look like and every time I end the season very discouraged. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This area looks good in grass because it breaks up the various areas. But... the grass under the shade needs to be replanted several times a year, and the grass around the sidewalk dries out, no matter how much water it has. Sooooo...... what do I do? My husband is thinking of planting buffalo grass in the area. I like that idea, but you need to make sure that it is a variety that will grow in shade. As the catalogs come in I put my virtual glasses on and envision many ideas. There are nice collections of wildflower seeds. Wouldn't it look good to "naturalize" this area with buffalo grass and wildflowers? I like that idea very much. But here we go again. Most wildflowers need a lot of sun. Another idea... ground cover. Maybe I should explore that more. The problem here is that this area does get a lot of traffic from maintaining the birdbath and flower beds. In the winter it is exposed and gets lots of cold snow and wind. I have zillions of vincas that we inherited next to the fence and I'm tired of them. They are also difficult to walk among without tripping. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>How about a nice big water feature that would replace the birdbath (although I need to keep the heated part for the winter)? Don't think we have the energy or money to do that, but maybe I could do it on a smaller scale. I could place some rocks around the birdbath and build up around them? But we are finally making progress in removing tons of red rocks that used to cover this area, making it difficult to plant in areas. What to do? Right now I'm lost. But that's what winter is about, right? Dreaming and making plans. So, I'll be looking at more catalogs and doing some more planning, and I hope to come up with a solution that will work. Back to the drawing board!</div><div></div><div>If anyone reading this blog has any ideas, please let me know. </div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-25514477214378898792008-01-08T13:48:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:45.763-07:00Now...this is more like it!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt5FOImxPHdO4Q6qSF6aT2F0Y6hgIXZQ7U_YmwJgX9rEwBc3Ln0BokeLgTwyzj2E4uv3zpAKMt7MMwejWGN5cYZE1UzIwS7VQ5ywPrJgPZJjiO5ooo2ut70M9PG6Z42fNOLSuhaQ1XPU/s1600-h/IMG_3311.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153212091427438562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt5FOImxPHdO4Q6qSF6aT2F0Y6hgIXZQ7U_YmwJgX9rEwBc3Ln0BokeLgTwyzj2E4uv3zpAKMt7MMwejWGN5cYZE1UzIwS7VQ5ywPrJgPZJjiO5ooo2ut70M9PG6Z42fNOLSuhaQ1XPU/s400/IMG_3311.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;">Notice the footprints? The early morning visitor is our resident fox who walks the same route through our property every day. Here he is on his way back. When he first arrives in the morning he has diagonal tracks across the grass.</span></em></div><br /> This is more like a beautiful Colorado winter day! A fresh snow fall last night and dazzling sunshine today. Terribly cold though! I suppose we will get as tired of looking at winter snow pictures as we did coneflowers in the summer??<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-UtNACNiXUBs5AMX55vQGRMxbhfhlU-7WCFdTUjsgWd-qWlKegff7AYClnTc3q0I_3OtFvk4Q0AnWqN4WTeMNzA5WaLL46N37E5syFGj07lnlY2uz-qaQc5NaaN1ZvgAsyOsxNEroWQ/s1600-h/IMG_3313.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153211627570970562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-UtNACNiXUBs5AMX55vQGRMxbhfhlU-7WCFdTUjsgWd-qWlKegff7AYClnTc3q0I_3OtFvk4Q0AnWqN4WTeMNzA5WaLL46N37E5syFGj07lnlY2uz-qaQc5NaaN1ZvgAsyOsxNEroWQ/s400/IMG_3313.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQb_WNA8vN2i351FY0bhc9Akk_W56dpJ3VVt1ZmHCCaB3-vipR2VFyFvAs9Dlclt8YryPKKx52lu_iIC3AkKOSCl3e3Sbcl4Aqeeri6Xz63fdLQuoplyOQK-B5B46P2HseG8eMqxIUCY/s1600-h/IMG_3310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153211631865937874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQb_WNA8vN2i351FY0bhc9Akk_W56dpJ3VVt1ZmHCCaB3-vipR2VFyFvAs9Dlclt8YryPKKx52lu_iIC3AkKOSCl3e3Sbcl4Aqeeri6Xz63fdLQuoplyOQK-B5B46P2HseG8eMqxIUCY/s400/IMG_3310.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv3zP9rM0sPrXiBiNCuBL4NaySbiLNzFyJBOsxIExM5HmjE7erIWk4FKcr6Gk_Qw9AOz-zTqWDrj_cXVte_z5JH6-4f7W2c5icJrpbANbUwgDlVo8_9MiExVz2LJK9VNcopdMkOFAosI/s1600-h/IMG_3315.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153211292563521458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv3zP9rM0sPrXiBiNCuBL4NaySbiLNzFyJBOsxIExM5HmjE7erIWk4FKcr6Gk_Qw9AOz-zTqWDrj_cXVte_z5JH6-4f7W2c5icJrpbANbUwgDlVo8_9MiExVz2LJK9VNcopdMkOFAosI/s400/IMG_3315.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba3pCECisbWn7vjMEhrNyw1whG9SO-2sT7GN097U4KtWCdnDCVypLutqK0QTrqHCJsfx-yFJLqfMTyhZWuVdvybmvmhn60P_Yw9nQGzBnfo0BIH_pRqXmAWw29v3ofrkdmjOFEKMXYvs/s1600-h/IMG_3318.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153211069225222034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba3pCECisbWn7vjMEhrNyw1whG9SO-2sT7GN097U4KtWCdnDCVypLutqK0QTrqHCJsfx-yFJLqfMTyhZWuVdvybmvmhn60P_Yw9nQGzBnfo0BIH_pRqXmAWw29v3ofrkdmjOFEKMXYvs/s400/IMG_3318.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtbQpp7R1-eC8Y8vaDb1j9fVc-eB_8tbwTVLr3umXvR0WS5Jh1gYAUl54rRZ8IvASBbySg94jtj3LUb1Xfoz4EXTpA8b2eGPmknSgc9cDDlvBOqs3rvGyM-PZCuV26fcR47YHHnEjFt0/s1600-h/IMG_3317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153211077815156642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtbQpp7R1-eC8Y8vaDb1j9fVc-eB_8tbwTVLr3umXvR0WS5Jh1gYAUl54rRZ8IvASBbySg94jtj3LUb1Xfoz4EXTpA8b2eGPmknSgc9cDDlvBOqs3rvGyM-PZCuV26fcR47YHHnEjFt0/s400/IMG_3317.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-88658952315806286462008-01-07T11:03:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:46.574-07:00Getting Started....Kinda<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9n78TqRAsGqTqN_wTQHZ5-KjBy7jgkxzAnO1bRcX6tyX1x4kVbcfbqLElZdHRfX39gsFit_wCpAgD4EkRMuEyxRyzaV4T4IwQV4K7z6e-3tKPI1IIUW6PnTf4xxp6LhpE57eLpGC6ls/s1600-h/sage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152800642150416258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9n78TqRAsGqTqN_wTQHZ5-KjBy7jgkxzAnO1bRcX6tyX1x4kVbcfbqLElZdHRfX39gsFit_wCpAgD4EkRMuEyxRyzaV4T4IwQV4K7z6e-3tKPI1IIUW6PnTf4xxp6LhpE57eLpGC6ls/s400/sage.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;">I love the shape of this little sage</span></em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe0JLg-yZnO2Tud5s6vCdJCrnCgIg3HlrWcetpAUXlYC2LZ0OYE9xeWvPyJPZ6nX-RaXY4xbuMTgQbhUD5UNs-y6X-J7nZuyagrDMjr-qKmhHTZtbR4BmLs_GGqR7pmvJ07jV2BGwcnA/s1600-h/img_3289.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152800427402051410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe0JLg-yZnO2Tud5s6vCdJCrnCgIg3HlrWcetpAUXlYC2LZ0OYE9xeWvPyJPZ6nX-RaXY4xbuMTgQbhUD5UNs-y6X-J7nZuyagrDMjr-qKmhHTZtbR4BmLs_GGqR7pmvJ07jV2BGwcnA/s400/img_3289.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;"><em>The Ringed-Neck doves were busy at the feeder this morning. Too bad I have to photograph them from far away and through the window, but they are pretty spooky.</em></span> </div><br />Finally, a week not interrupted by a holiday. Time to get settled in for the winter and <strong>start</strong> accomplishing some things, right? I thought I'd have much more energy for it than I do today, but ya gotta get <strong>started</strong> somewhere. A walk outside for some inspiration, that's what I needed. Not much there. Brrrr... it is cold. As you can see from this photo there is a storm coming in:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuQnT4RwvzCfYkai2-tt_gS4sn8NFgVK4i5973z-UcsmB0C6VTwfnzc7-_qn0EudiFRsi6Z_BHT565dW3kuCOIhHvjLQSXfWhtMvHWdSdkvD0vbStvJw8EKRVf_LX_j2r7FNYkw2ZxUU/s1600-h/img_3294.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152800435991986018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuQnT4RwvzCfYkai2-tt_gS4sn8NFgVK4i5973z-UcsmB0C6VTwfnzc7-_qn0EudiFRsi6Z_BHT565dW3kuCOIhHvjLQSXfWhtMvHWdSdkvD0vbStvJw8EKRVf_LX_j2r7FNYkw2ZxUU/s400/img_3294.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZVuiOmNLUCAHkWmHjmFTguQ7oZ4ZPC2RkJQ0-hAZHO6UrK7hH-L62sD0inBlLZVuffMDY6GnQCjYhH0TA13EcROaIX-fGJQBNjxajEofPI89DXKnYAcQvV5XKgIt8OtOqwlS9Zu_Boc/s1600-h/Snow&AutumnJoy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152800435991986034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZVuiOmNLUCAHkWmHjmFTguQ7oZ4ZPC2RkJQ0-hAZHO6UrK7hH-L62sD0inBlLZVuffMDY6GnQCjYhH0TA13EcROaIX-fGJQBNjxajEofPI89DXKnYAcQvV5XKgIt8OtOqwlS9Zu_Boc/s400/Snow&AutumnJoy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9yaswH__Zx23rJbVBZjYJt_R8mwAb8Hubxf360wYGKErEUJvnPSdxiCGZwKpE_H448MPOz0TRj1cizMhWayJmt28x5PTVC9jPoE8oKztMD1haBS4ieLEwY0A6zko_Zd3zezZjHZLI2s/s1600-h/poodletree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152799954955648834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9yaswH__Zx23rJbVBZjYJt_R8mwAb8Hubxf360wYGKErEUJvnPSdxiCGZwKpE_H448MPOz0TRj1cizMhWayJmt28x5PTVC9jPoE8oKztMD1haBS4ieLEwY0A6zko_Zd3zezZjHZLI2s/s400/poodletree.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;"><em>Nature's birdhouse. Many little birds take shelter in the "poodle" trees. A good use for them!</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#336666;"><em></em></span> </div><div>At least this winter (so far) has not been as bad as last year, and for that I'm very thankful. This time last year we were still getting stuck in the drift in from of our house.<br /></div><div>I've <strong>started</strong> a list of things I want to accomplish this year. But the top chore is to reorganize all of my gardening publications, books, journals, calendars, etc. Now that I am retired I can devote more room in my office to my gardening passions. First, I need to clean out 20 years of stuff accumulated during my stint as a freelance graphic designer. And that is going to be quite a job. Old client files, artwork, books, supplies, you name it. I have been trying to do a little each day so that it doesn't feel so daunting, but it is slow going. Meantime, awaiting are four years of plant tags, piles of books and gardening publications, and a new software program to keep track of it all, which I am using as incentive to get this done. I can hardly wait to get <strong>started</strong> on that (okay, I see a theme here!)</div><div> </div><div>Speaking of work, I still do have one client: our local Humane Society. I work on their website and I just love it. I love doing things for animals and working with people who love them. With that in mind, I think I'll stop now and get caught up with their work so I can get <strong>started</strong> on with mine!</div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-29798992047784400892007-12-27T11:48:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:46.746-07:00Peace for 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTthC1wD6NSblrfiJzYBCcECyJPDyQfaPmnsBK67-VBeKw6XU5MT1fHQOVq7fmDAjKopFMVx74dMJ4STJK8t4aH0c0IlV7nAfsvrLRaoIcKTWD4VwjQgzpv4cHewaMkYqO3ZUsb_AkhII/s1600-h/Peace.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148730902939418418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTthC1wD6NSblrfiJzYBCcECyJPDyQfaPmnsBK67-VBeKw6XU5MT1fHQOVq7fmDAjKopFMVx74dMJ4STJK8t4aH0c0IlV7nAfsvrLRaoIcKTWD4VwjQgzpv4cHewaMkYqO3ZUsb_AkhII/s400/Peace.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em><span style="color:#336666;">Peace to all my gardening friends for 2008. I hope that your hearts are full of love and your gardens will be full of flowers. This is the time of year when I relax from the cooking and shopping of the holidays and take time to enjoy the love and gifts I received from my wonderful family. I take the week between Christmas and New Years to decompress and not expect too much from myself. Time to get out a jigsaw puzzle and spend some lazy hours accomplishing little. By the end of the week I will be ready to reorganize and get going for the new year. And, of course, the many seed catalogs will start coming in the mail and the excitement will build, dreaming about the coming gardening season. Meantime, I observe the peacefulness outside my window and enjoy watching the antics of my Ringed-Neck Doves. Peace to all!</span></em></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-68290824644824454392007-12-19T14:44:00.001-07:002008-12-08T21:01:48.389-07:00Careless Neighbor Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6sQMz9j5PUfaqeHI4XUF-RaRI-HgdwNjNPU5v5vPE_UM9jeGZN_kE6dTOfBpDbZfHTAuoDqx0YDDdX7rMancFuCmJPU_zFn-QInLofbuH90c_5CCtFsRxu1rEXPIPWDc1tJl_iuJIyk/s1600-h/IMG_3255.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145806246921373490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6sQMz9j5PUfaqeHI4XUF-RaRI-HgdwNjNPU5v5vPE_UM9jeGZN_kE6dTOfBpDbZfHTAuoDqx0YDDdX7rMancFuCmJPU_zFn-QInLofbuH90c_5CCtFsRxu1rEXPIPWDc1tJl_iuJIyk/s400/IMG_3255.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Just missed a seafoam sage. Several sprinkler heads were run over, but it looks like they popped back up.</span></em></div><br />The snow is starting to melt, so I can begin to get a better idea of the damage done by my neighbor's truck when he jumped the curb and ran down the parking. I really think most things will be okay (thanks to all the mulch I have down) except those that will be crushed by the posts. As soon as I can get at them better I will pick them up. There are several tulip bulbs that will be coming up around the posts, so I want to get that area cleared.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FfKfdPG1EF9Bk9lRSY7zB0Iqp6q6zRztOLQ3sAd4eCLKTBagaHfxNitCLGr02GdYsF1IGGwkqdHJB5HAliDvF8epLhZu9lZkT08x8HBLfH3htqBl5shVoLGmvnBJnbc46YJKddBy_FE/s1600-h/IMG_3257.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145806276986144578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FfKfdPG1EF9Bk9lRSY7zB0Iqp6q6zRztOLQ3sAd4eCLKTBagaHfxNitCLGr02GdYsF1IGGwkqdHJB5HAliDvF8epLhZu9lZkT08x8HBLfH3htqBl5shVoLGmvnBJnbc46YJKddBy_FE/s400/IMG_3257.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">New aster was in the path, but I think the dried foliage acted as a cushion and hopefully saved some root damage. There will be tulips coming up under where the posts are now.</span></em></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliy_kN-9Yv44dblbugKt7ap7Tc6DHn75PkycID8PIncd7PQsLs56v6ILllk4OYXXnH0terB0c6-7sQSMcZ103xN5TH38CiUqGDi87gYcdSQvnFuOIq4D2A_2K0RyajU-vbJO4D0t8Fc8/s1600-h/IMG_3249.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145806281281111890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliy_kN-9Yv44dblbugKt7ap7Tc6DHn75PkycID8PIncd7PQsLs56v6ILllk4OYXXnH0terB0c6-7sQSMcZ103xN5TH38CiUqGDi87gYcdSQvnFuOIq4D2A_2K0RyajU-vbJO4D0t8Fc8/s400/IMG_3249.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">This is where he cut across the corner. Can you believe the sprinker head is still standing? Won't know if id will work, however.<br /></span></em></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1kcxVrAhaT1K-JTEpG5wFPs6el8oOP-zNw4yXY9PUD-p9HbUrsj8NjD57p4P2hE5-P238f1JDVSSGjihh1p3SMxOhDNLpdSppKI4yMdn6LVLCjjUH64qwOZ7GZBWBVTKTbnIp5iuXLg/s1600-h/IMG_3252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145805606971246354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1kcxVrAhaT1K-JTEpG5wFPs6el8oOP-zNw4yXY9PUD-p9HbUrsj8NjD57p4P2hE5-P238f1JDVSSGjihh1p3SMxOhDNLpdSppKI4yMdn6LVLCjjUH64qwOZ7GZBWBVTKTbnIp5iuXLg/s400/IMG_3252.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit2JHndbURDH5OMTiEv3Bf_RpmpnxSxyhYyeWrlUdgkBux7660ptmG9E0h-_d0HFihd6ceGSw2GXSe5GDv-ojhENNdugvnn2dbjC9MdKdO_am_4orXFoRhxUolCVT2SVtbqKxu1Vz2Yg/s1600-h/IMG_3251.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145805615561180962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit2JHndbURDH5OMTiEv3Bf_RpmpnxSxyhYyeWrlUdgkBux7660ptmG9E0h-_d0HFihd6ceGSw2GXSe5GDv-ojhENNdugvnn2dbjC9MdKdO_am_4orXFoRhxUolCVT2SVtbqKxu1Vz2Yg/s400/IMG_3251.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Luckily, the tires went right in front of a couple lavender plants that I had transplanted this fall.<br /></span></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-AaSPw5Uvagq7XVVoe5UZtSBsp-561H1jagKSUqWF6j0mVXwr9LTCCftLoBEPiL6aWWVZv4q4MGYi7y1CW6zlm93_2TSn7FbhNM5Zk_shypxE8wQU0JO9JZPs0pBUnuyW3Ey_jLG35M/s1600-h/IMG_3256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145805267668829938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-AaSPw5Uvagq7XVVoe5UZtSBsp-561H1jagKSUqWF6j0mVXwr9LTCCftLoBEPiL6aWWVZv4q4MGYi7y1CW6zlm93_2TSn7FbhNM5Zk_shypxE8wQU0JO9JZPs0pBUnuyW3Ey_jLG35M/s400/IMG_3256.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFmn9qoN7VstM7-ldibeaZUKN3Qf72nDkzI7ln62y9QPaRBRSCtPHrG9wRCv4sMSvJ5VunHN3I1e0BT5Ptlk7FmPYHOaWX1hMEd7UlmVAGH14KRuv0Rh0bAy7ESQuENcCEqXjRYRoXis/s1600-h/IMG_3253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145805271963797250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFmn9qoN7VstM7-ldibeaZUKN3Qf72nDkzI7ln62y9QPaRBRSCtPHrG9wRCv4sMSvJ5VunHN3I1e0BT5Ptlk7FmPYHOaWX1hMEd7UlmVAGH14KRuv0Rh0bAy7ESQuENcCEqXjRYRoXis/s400/IMG_3253.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">This log was dug further into the ground. I'm really surprised that he didn't flip his truck when he hit all the logs and posts.</span></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpVPTQXSBYfLSdOpWliIiLGunGo-reEAsVtJSlZ_rlRJoVir5_2mQdeGb3erWQCNmyL6DM_EmF75VV_Xt_TTNG2Wh53Tbd8zKdGNTXgw2C8Gn35QVqjp1REWBhb6NYHD_lvr2yMjwdDw/s1600-h/IMG_3258.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145804730797917922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpVPTQXSBYfLSdOpWliIiLGunGo-reEAsVtJSlZ_rlRJoVir5_2mQdeGb3erWQCNmyL6DM_EmF75VV_Xt_TTNG2Wh53Tbd8zKdGNTXgw2C8Gn35QVqjp1REWBhb6NYHD_lvr2yMjwdDw/s400/IMG_3258.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">This is the area where I planted several small plants I got from High Country Gardens. I still can't tell if they were damaged. All said and done, I think I will be pretty lucky.</span></em></div><div><br /><div> </div></div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-74935601915224920662007-12-10T12:08:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:49.530-07:00Careless Neighbors Leave Their Mark<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLid6SdVFrEbLHqgD4nwadD_FcloWKZBl-fm1bZVR-cCrVXr4DM6W5D4TtlBp2k27sIAeXmiC_r1cr9kHyhMSmprkGViDSVEJcKlpzLDRYYvH_2F3WFvzPb0n9IlEQp4eJzyqoIkyiI0/s1600-h/IMG_3219.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142434621264079058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLid6SdVFrEbLHqgD4nwadD_FcloWKZBl-fm1bZVR-cCrVXr4DM6W5D4TtlBp2k27sIAeXmiC_r1cr9kHyhMSmprkGViDSVEJcKlpzLDRYYvH_2F3WFvzPb0n9IlEQp4eJzyqoIkyiI0/s400/IMG_3219.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU9wHO-OGd7f4Osy6t9FXopAR9K7oT-8YsDn7GSuit0U8_apV7odm3iAavXW72-Ts3M6CqtX6tePUVQPXqe_1YKjQ3Gdu-allQdkfPouxsdF0T4fx81ScSdsgMPQ16pLUiJXLfLDQXP8/s1600-h/IMG_3216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142434299141531826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU9wHO-OGd7f4Osy6t9FXopAR9K7oT-8YsDn7GSuit0U8_apV7odm3iAavXW72-Ts3M6CqtX6tePUVQPXqe_1YKjQ3Gdu-allQdkfPouxsdF0T4fx81ScSdsgMPQ16pLUiJXLfLDQXP8/s400/IMG_3216.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was an agonizing morning yesterday when we discovered that a truck had jumped the curb and run down the middle of one of our strips. I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later, and that's the chance you take when you garden that close to the street. One year we a neighbor slid into some of the upright posts, which thank goodness stopped his forward progress, but it was nothing like this. My heart sunk as I realized that the path was right over most of the new plants I brought back from Santa Fe this fall. After the initial shock I rationalized that perhaps the posts did stop some of the momentum of the truck and since there was already snow on the ground (and lots of mulch) perhaps there was some cushion for the tender plants. A couple Russian Sage were knocked over and will need to be cut back as soon as weather permits. It could have been a lot worse.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0cL75qUy9stK4zaYMNyvD6J5Pfj_HAGJurrTNE60XCO0UAlKYW5ZP3O5JTZOB4wJ92OIuKLwo7Xx0eSXaf4gqh2unb_5pppnyz1V-zGZpGCaSIaZhjESzxnz4jzR0ODTIfq_h9Fy4bc/s1600-h/IMG_3230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142434114457938082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0cL75qUy9stK4zaYMNyvD6J5Pfj_HAGJurrTNE60XCO0UAlKYW5ZP3O5JTZOB4wJ92OIuKLwo7Xx0eSXaf4gqh2unb_5pppnyz1V-zGZpGCaSIaZhjESzxnz4jzR0ODTIfq_h9Fy4bc/s400/IMG_3230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITeX7RJyJAkCjhH_AwxL7O0R33NJ6ZllmJmH6ME-PxUD73-iKMFHe1_2WczXVNxam8Xmds69yRDGo2wSa6fvH3bG9uvqwm6ZU7iBPOY1Z02CI5GlmqoD5hkUQqPq6nCpwSY8guNs7QxQ/s1600-h/IMG_3218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142433822400161922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITeX7RJyJAkCjhH_AwxL7O0R33NJ6ZllmJmH6ME-PxUD73-iKMFHe1_2WczXVNxam8Xmds69yRDGo2wSa6fvH3bG9uvqwm6ZU7iBPOY1Z02CI5GlmqoD5hkUQqPq6nCpwSY8guNs7QxQ/s400/IMG_3218.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142433826695129234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh6pd6M14McX3o2F9MmhXnYtWls1v4lwSNS_InXQGrOeMTsv-JhklxUMO-guQVBA6pteNTGJDWbZ_7Kgm9-JuRr8RvI9UnPEqNCU3iEnBfFLbwFM6v0C1YYZIVwrb0DZTq7PwihvUh4k/s400/IMG_3224.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3B73oFTSkUjUBoEkf7SvwWpRheZE9dgia6X9Owai-AHDX_5pdEUvf5cXwEIPHvKm_PoTSrO4c6MrVQFdFjDN2qJ_AewUCnBoMI7t6a_UbqweHCEOCTOJzEIFIaUy1bBm3lt0ic-YCi84/s1600-h/IMG_3218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142433410083301490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3B73oFTSkUjUBoEkf7SvwWpRheZE9dgia6X9Owai-AHDX_5pdEUvf5cXwEIPHvKm_PoTSrO4c6MrVQFdFjDN2qJ_AewUCnBoMI7t6a_UbqweHCEOCTOJzEIFIaUy1bBm3lt0ic-YCi84/s400/IMG_3218.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx95I4kSO_0VO00i4YVF6A48wBxNVftl0osDQIOG2xgk2OO4ZQG0MenE8MeJgTQCCpbw-o0G08I0ZSVWXNwhQxMxWNGMYob9SmpyHddC32rDV4xgxruFpEeXoXToXlKedHFiML4cI_jk/s1600-h/IMG_3221.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142432542499907634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx95I4kSO_0VO00i4YVF6A48wBxNVftl0osDQIOG2xgk2OO4ZQG0MenE8MeJgTQCCpbw-o0G08I0ZSVWXNwhQxMxWNGMYob9SmpyHddC32rDV4xgxruFpEeXoXToXlKedHFiML4cI_jk/s400/IMG_3221.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Heidi and her owner come to help...<br /></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifabiwaTxVL4INhSxbICUFLJO83aHt70dZ5JXQw0X9nrBC0qWdpe-_kkjOtQg_ZyrpbOFJrmlbF5Ky-2V4CFvGco1TNb4OqkBe1-j2P80MKxbpro7D5FUKogaLx2nrXa-SheUYb6mMezY/s1600-h/IMG_3223.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142432555384809538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifabiwaTxVL4INhSxbICUFLJO83aHt70dZ5JXQw0X9nrBC0qWdpe-_kkjOtQg_ZyrpbOFJrmlbF5Ky-2V4CFvGco1TNb4OqkBe1-j2P80MKxbpro7D5FUKogaLx2nrXa-SheUYb6mMezY/s400/IMG_3223.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>...or maybe not.<br /></em><br /></div><div>Later, a neighbor came forward to tell us that he had lost control of his truck. I had an idea it might have been him. He and some friends live in what I call the "party house." Every weekend they sit out front and party until 3 a.m. and I've had to complain about the noise. When the weather gets colder they stay in their big diesel truck and run it for quite a while, several times during the night. Since they rent, I suppose they are out there smoking and whatever else they don't want their landlord to know about. The noise is so loud right outside my window that neither a pillow over my head nor my ipod earphones drown it out. Sooooo... I guess it was nice that he at least admitted that he was the one and even offered to pay for the damage. It's amazing that he would do that, and while I give him credit for doing so, it was very difficult to stand there and "appreciate" his actions, even though that is what I said. I still feel bad about my plants and we told him that we really won't know the damage until we see what happens this spring. Most of my plants are pretty hardy. But still, the fact that I have to put up with this guy and his cohorts all the time just pisses me off. Just one more reason why I can't stand the guy. Ughhh!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>On the lighter side, it was a beautiful (if icy) snowfall and we really needed the moisture. One of our NICE neighbors brought their St. Bernard over to console us and have some fun. </div></div></div></div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-4719901457309362132007-12-07T13:54:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:51.357-07:00Chickadee-dee-dee (Winter Bird Watching)<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hqa4X7752SRzmIPGnejmNxUuMjFgV1-wzo_QtW9EaH9oP8-wCyF52aznWSq0bEFSTmSrzPmdWbPRECbTmftzGFxaplBd_U2_LEjHQIgrubkHzIJZUDI8Jdci4i6-rIA44MDTYIaAGD0/s1600-h/IMG_3120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141345194219513842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hqa4X7752SRzmIPGnejmNxUuMjFgV1-wzo_QtW9EaH9oP8-wCyF52aznWSq0bEFSTmSrzPmdWbPRECbTmftzGFxaplBd_U2_LEjHQIgrubkHzIJZUDI8Jdci4i6-rIA44MDTYIaAGD0/s400/IMG_3120.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of my favorite wintertime activities (well, not very active on MY part) is to sit and watch the birds. I especially love hearing the chickadees when I venture outside. Their little perky chirps fill me with joy. How can a heart not be lifted with their antics? Better than any anti-stress medication I can think of! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHrjzah7v5BT9_3DNneKfo9oqfsVVNEo8lQVeutqIE-Oy3vGmUek7hBUwj0EbIcJ87cyxsx5nw6YbE4FW8QxzVVdBja572gchDSMpRwcR7Z9vj-VuRG8b5PcrnSiivV-7hzj3xUi2yLE/s1600-h/IMG_3095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141344915046639570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHrjzah7v5BT9_3DNneKfo9oqfsVVNEo8lQVeutqIE-Oy3vGmUek7hBUwj0EbIcJ87cyxsx5nw6YbE4FW8QxzVVdBja572gchDSMpRwcR7Z9vj-VuRG8b5PcrnSiivV-7hzj3xUi2yLE/s400/IMG_3095.JPG" border="0" /></a> My HH (handy husband) built a beautiful high platform feeder outside my living room window so I can see them even while sitting down (which I do a lot of in the winter). This also helps protect the birds from the neighbors' lurking cats. I also have tube feeders in the front, outside my office window so I can see them while sitting at my computer. The frog is a funny "earthquake detector" that we got in Santa Fe one year. It sits atop the first feeder he made for me that includes a peanut feeder for squirrels. I don't feed peanuts any more because they destroy too many plants by burying them. As you can see though, they get their more-than-fair share of birdseed.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfjY58AQzRWCx8WuEj_cUlURHd9mpAJ0L3Xsjym6CmEDWkSC26uXhVz_RwJ10ntpdT1qfxgQ8D83f_ONicMFx1SPXMJxBrCqxLxqshXOHl77Wf5XcD6IIEM-BEE7O3IqVx0WxCg0PJVk/s1600-h/IMG_3143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141344919341606882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfjY58AQzRWCx8WuEj_cUlURHd9mpAJ0L3Xsjym6CmEDWkSC26uXhVz_RwJ10ntpdT1qfxgQ8D83f_ONicMFx1SPXMJxBrCqxLxqshXOHl77Wf5XcD6IIEM-BEE7O3IqVx0WxCg0PJVk/s400/IMG_3143.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>This shows the outside of the feeders.</em><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdw80vGqiyJlHlUtW3Pm8uP6ba6wzDp-XeSQIGFd-Ta73Num4me75_1eAKCE82rqfaIHwnDtFtuKL_lZ9wpzlSfgb06zQgM5DFVsgEuWwtoxSUX99X9HGf-P8oT2j5hn9oINOzI3uNlQ/s1600-h/IMG_3119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141344532794550178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdw80vGqiyJlHlUtW3Pm8uP6ba6wzDp-XeSQIGFd-Ta73Num4me75_1eAKCE82rqfaIHwnDtFtuKL_lZ9wpzlSfgb06zQgM5DFVsgEuWwtoxSUX99X9HGf-P8oT2j5hn9oINOzI3uNlQ/s400/IMG_3119.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Flicker antics.</em></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQj0jtbRsDwg30DjvIxeGnZ3kht6yqKw3cZklPnjoFBzyxyfxO7VnMxJSOIUKD8vZnPGFXc-k2ApfE9KmbkYkGx7wpDB-CbmdEcrfw06tYItdf5SNlIP1bxa9WnOc6oSDvAiP1-pywGaM/s1600-h/IMG_3098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141344541384484786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQj0jtbRsDwg30DjvIxeGnZ3kht6yqKw3cZklPnjoFBzyxyfxO7VnMxJSOIUKD8vZnPGFXc-k2ApfE9KmbkYkGx7wpDB-CbmdEcrfw06tYItdf5SNlIP1bxa9WnOc6oSDvAiP1-pywGaM/s400/IMG_3098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMHSpiaS0l7Pj9nNcBe-7EmrTHFVs6zOGaOr74pGqgT7quWT1WnLQrTCduqowNV3JUJKSxfqqGcvDAsRCH7Og51tw_NfG1xO-RIpiTvU5B8P_BmaP8xVH1fFlxQPopX48igcejey7XXc/s1600-h/IMG_3105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141344545679452098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMHSpiaS0l7Pj9nNcBe-7EmrTHFVs6zOGaOr74pGqgT7quWT1WnLQrTCduqowNV3JUJKSxfqqGcvDAsRCH7Og51tw_NfG1xO-RIpiTvU5B8P_BmaP8xVH1fFlxQPopX48igcejey7XXc/s400/IMG_3105.JPG" border="0" /></a> I would love to have some Orioles and other beautiful birds I see in photos from parts way east of Colorado. Still, I do have a nice list of frequent visitors to my feeding stations:<br /><br />Chickadees (of course), Flickers, Downey Woodpeckers, Juncos, many different Finches and Sparrows, Bushtits, Crows (not too excited about these), Starlings and a Robin or two who hang out with them, my VERY favorite Ringed Neck (Eurasian Collared) Doves, Blue Jays, and even a Hawk or two or possibly a Prairie Falcon. I so enjoy watching the doves strut back and forth. They are new to our area the last few years. Once in a while we also see a White Winged Dove too. In the summer we have the beautiful Goldfinches and Turtle Doves.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJsq3enHiUyAQ6PszXB51zJfa6HbixU7v5dtZREfCwdKrCyHNJbIOf1PB-FeDcNnpJrkZ549bgvofOvvK3kQQNNledpSlcDgqsUmt6E2DIEb4dDrymH6BHSYPSAaWw2BhQi69fON3-RY/s1600-h/IMG_3115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141344064643114898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJsq3enHiUyAQ6PszXB51zJfa6HbixU7v5dtZREfCwdKrCyHNJbIOf1PB-FeDcNnpJrkZ549bgvofOvvK3kQQNNledpSlcDgqsUmt6E2DIEb4dDrymH6BHSYPSAaWw2BhQi69fON3-RY/s400/IMG_3115.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Ringed Neck (Eurasian Collared) Dove<br /><br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNH5DQ40DfloacPyfl8uY-_LSpDAEB1318p-5xX-E5r3PtK3JRsY2QJvprutnX-pe7hQOEosjXzdNXsJvUIWwshxbze9xEh6ZA-6jKzAJ84yppnQzi5rBbEYgtOksQAYBDAmtyzWtjuo/s1600-h/IMG_3148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141343785470240626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNH5DQ40DfloacPyfl8uY-_LSpDAEB1318p-5xX-E5r3PtK3JRsY2QJvprutnX-pe7hQOEosjXzdNXsJvUIWwshxbze9xEh6ZA-6jKzAJ84yppnQzi5rBbEYgtOksQAYBDAmtyzWtjuo/s400/IMG_3148.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the best photo I've been able to take of the doves. They frighten easily at the slightest movement, so I tried getting a photo through the shutters. Sometimes I have as many as 15 or more at one time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dUndYYqJjTff87pCltOEsAsz3W0HFBfcIF8bezhTdBtseUQeGRDlQWn2mQw0N5X9sFtvDXf0iB_EoOw_p-VqneuwUNo47nOJhEctS_U2rPicFg2IhqNpPQEl7iPBaqNh1lZ-WfUYeKE/s1600-h/IMG_3145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141343789765207938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dUndYYqJjTff87pCltOEsAsz3W0HFBfcIF8bezhTdBtseUQeGRDlQWn2mQw0N5X9sFtvDXf0iB_EoOw_p-VqneuwUNo47nOJhEctS_U2rPicFg2IhqNpPQEl7iPBaqNh1lZ-WfUYeKE/s400/IMG_3145.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left">Every morning (and more often during cold or snow) I take food out back (sunflower chips, a mix called "Chickadee Chew," consisting of black oiled and striped sunflower seeds, a couple kinds of millet, tree nuts and peanuts. I add to this a handful of hulled millet, which the doves love, and all the other birds are happy to leave for them. I also have a heated birdbath that gets MANY visitors, since a lot of people do not keep water out in the winter. When the Starlings visit I know that I must go out as soon as they have left and clean out the debris, as well as refill the now empty birdbath. I've had this heated bath for about four years and couldn't live without one. It really works well, and I feel so good knowing the birds have a source of water. Several suet feeders complete the menu.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc5aIIAluhQZAlwBvxXsf-sUi70Mha21AeaH9vRfbRlQSyLpFiVW3H5egd4QMW16AZmSw0MKm1VWdSAEwD5hVSLKpRgR0j8lSkkOPq8GREPPSDDl2bbjQzZfrxDYRKQnTrkbc4xLZi9A/s1600-h/IMG_3136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141343587901744994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc5aIIAluhQZAlwBvxXsf-sUi70Mha21AeaH9vRfbRlQSyLpFiVW3H5egd4QMW16AZmSw0MKm1VWdSAEwD5hVSLKpRgR0j8lSkkOPq8GREPPSDDl2bbjQzZfrxDYRKQnTrkbc4xLZi9A/s400/IMG_3136.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>These crows are okay in small numbers.<br />And here are some beautiful sunset photos that my hubby took the other evening. </em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v4vjROCGV3KdEHk_3nvt2SJdgWA9lXc8GJqjyBRAwJPGfsuNHM_CenmGbSuVwkSCQxq1y4U-n3AHbHW-9zqDPJk34Ja621jI6IGF2LW2LHnVJhWpa8jbV4oRPIUtIQJ4mHQ_VsEh1vw/s1600-h/IMG_0118.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141343364563445554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v4vjROCGV3KdEHk_3nvt2SJdgWA9lXc8GJqjyBRAwJPGfsuNHM_CenmGbSuVwkSCQxq1y4U-n3AHbHW-9zqDPJk34Ja621jI6IGF2LW2LHnVJhWpa8jbV4oRPIUtIQJ4mHQ_VsEh1vw/s400/IMG_0118.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyb16-aS47OQMjp89Ml8FsJniq09PR-_eQENqEaVdRO-i7Px7fQqvOlBArqSbqDNQ9ObAceP2XQfB1hBvnibMS03EGhoQIGU_H_F1fmd7t5Go33vxAQ8c5X5gILZbYi_2lOlHK3r6Qdo/s1600-h/IMG_0115.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141343381743314754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyb16-aS47OQMjp89Ml8FsJniq09PR-_eQENqEaVdRO-i7Px7fQqvOlBArqSbqDNQ9ObAceP2XQfB1hBvnibMS03EGhoQIGU_H_F1fmd7t5Go33vxAQ8c5X5gILZbYi_2lOlHK3r6Qdo/s400/IMG_0115.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbEJs0mfpg6YHQZ5mcaJ2q_AqR2GhLN0OQAI-BRFxmr5T6mGhX_-3jKp9uLXaMDQTccV1dRV59nbOYcxUJPrRqtNtsvcIE0Gca9I6Pvt9RJKcsld81UiJt_EyOnE4UHMn64E1Xq-c7ik/s1600-h/IMG_3139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141343390333249362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbEJs0mfpg6YHQZ5mcaJ2q_AqR2GhLN0OQAI-BRFxmr5T6mGhX_-3jKp9uLXaMDQTccV1dRV59nbOYcxUJPrRqtNtsvcIE0Gca9I6Pvt9RJKcsld81UiJt_EyOnE4UHMn64E1Xq-c7ik/s400/IMG_3139.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>Veggies put to bed for the winter.<br /></em><div> </div><br /></div></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-36522407921623914772007-11-29T09:36:00.001-07:002008-12-08T21:01:53.288-07:00Nature Redecorates for Fall<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEGuV1gljkpW7ZKLRUW92_VJkV7kJMhqxT3TX60fLnM0mcbZYOC7KryPNAXd6WsTfS7f5nqrJFMA5OweSYSiLpiMHeqNDdxyzB_oubjBMRwok8BhTKjXJOOs1DX4x0WMMMpxbNfDKQ_k/s1600-h/IMG_3072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138305188664623298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEGuV1gljkpW7ZKLRUW92_VJkV7kJMhqxT3TX60fLnM0mcbZYOC7KryPNAXd6WsTfS7f5nqrJFMA5OweSYSiLpiMHeqNDdxyzB_oubjBMRwok8BhTKjXJOOs1DX4x0WMMMpxbNfDKQ_k/s400/IMG_3072.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was a cold, windy day yesterday. I decided to bundle up and take a break from household chores and take a brief walk outside. Having just finished redecorating my living room and choosing a color palette, I was conscious of the colors that greeted me. Can you imagine any more beautiful color combinations that those provided by nature?<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QZEhJOoebeRq3P6U4CvkeP_oSp92FO4fdL5_I5Zi53DcE25XyRErnqJvkcnHIBmCYKFZElMlRZ0usVub7CTbSOfxokgH8TsynZ935S_Jj3eJzXshZ8NK5fxGQu9rfEypmTUyhw5vkbg/s1600-h/IMG_3079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138304973916258482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QZEhJOoebeRq3P6U4CvkeP_oSp92FO4fdL5_I5Zi53DcE25XyRErnqJvkcnHIBmCYKFZElMlRZ0usVub7CTbSOfxokgH8TsynZ935S_Jj3eJzXshZ8NK5fxGQu9rfEypmTUyhw5vkbg/s400/IMG_3079.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dusty greens, bronze and beige, accented by a touch of silver.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7L-9UyMXLr6Aak_jFnPfKXMstJkmpOl7K6Sq63bNaVy2bLruRN8Up3gT6_xIjEO_k5MER_UWObzKQg58OrV-CFbG8_f8_YL3GilcU6cYuIGtrwiA1XFwQSsIwKY_FXAiK3YwYZxyMqc/s1600-h/IMG_3090.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138304604549070978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7L-9UyMXLr6Aak_jFnPfKXMstJkmpOl7K6Sq63bNaVy2bLruRN8Up3gT6_xIjEO_k5MER_UWObzKQg58OrV-CFbG8_f8_YL3GilcU6cYuIGtrwiA1XFwQSsIwKY_FXAiK3YwYZxyMqc/s400/IMG_3090.JPG" border="0" /></a> How wonderful it is to experience these lovely colors this year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdkQpK81kl-cwaEIwNkoVGcHTtf94MndHsN9EbCxz-MPm0djztC-beQw6KqFeLg1Bou3MDyCP0t8pwsjL0SbNd3UHFr1kswf-fwKFAUnCnEo0qMmUTpHgK7TL3ti987FM6bNvh4zz5os/s1600-h/IMG_3080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138304634613842066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdkQpK81kl-cwaEIwNkoVGcHTtf94MndHsN9EbCxz-MPm0djztC-beQw6KqFeLg1Bou3MDyCP0t8pwsjL0SbNd3UHFr1kswf-fwKFAUnCnEo0qMmUTpHgK7TL3ti987FM6bNvh4zz5os/s400/IMG_3080.JPG" border="0" /></a>The Sedum Autumn Joy is always a stunning sight.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQfMcqTSqEFCf0XGHdVMfA51c_k6e-dJjE49mpD8zC6IrOwfqZxhy6sjvUBJNgTz77x_3T7GtlMydkOk6JKBA2RUTWDuNVyx6aurUK_hhKbikVICLBVIkoZffqNIW22uiC9baxhfAy4A/s1600-h/IMG_3079.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao-KE0VxS79kyyTuIJjT8lyXQB1EpQLMljFFsAwaw0nG-Q3RVzGVOJlnWZux55_5UmSZ9uVG75x963zIj0zQe9HEdThn24_AXdRJ70sf3zcmHgJLYJfv-XPp4ohbxP66uRxuxzw21_JQ/s1600-h/IMG_3086.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138303917354303586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao-KE0VxS79kyyTuIJjT8lyXQB1EpQLMljFFsAwaw0nG-Q3RVzGVOJlnWZux55_5UmSZ9uVG75x963zIj0zQe9HEdThn24_AXdRJ70sf3zcmHgJLYJfv-XPp4ohbxP66uRxuxzw21_JQ/s400/IMG_3086.JPG" border="0" /></a> As well as the dusty green of Powis Castle Sage, Blue Avena grass, and the fuzzy remains of Rose Campion.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WhP4nYwD-wxcOc6EXXZjIQ1bw0M3xgOS10sOm2Yaa4TC8J_eE6CQkIBOnCQAgS5QqH5I_ZBAHi4RE3f1QwBROmGos_Vilrx2K_GEyRLTDOUa0oJBkQ91kY0qXGqbG6E-Iob6Mqs3zlY/s1600-h/img_3077.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138303943124107378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WhP4nYwD-wxcOc6EXXZjIQ1bw0M3xgOS10sOm2Yaa4TC8J_eE6CQkIBOnCQAgS5QqH5I_ZBAHi4RE3f1QwBROmGos_Vilrx2K_GEyRLTDOUa0oJBkQ91kY0qXGqbG6E-Iob6Mqs3zlY/s400/img_3077.jpg" border="0" /></a> Frosty Morn Sedum adds texture and color.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjNl4g00_BluPCx0MVduHKFdS1aFu8Cf0fsRWVe0oTnnksJtwT3hX_Q61XWQkmzTKu9fS1ZcPn9D-MGfH0XjzTlJvr6Nqe7KTVTEY8JnxJ3028HaxQ-QlXe1aFHQNtgYtEkvHQLzMZhM/s1600-h/IMG_3082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138303543692148818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjNl4g00_BluPCx0MVduHKFdS1aFu8Cf0fsRWVe0oTnnksJtwT3hX_Q61XWQkmzTKu9fS1ZcPn9D-MGfH0XjzTlJvr6Nqe7KTVTEY8JnxJ3028HaxQ-QlXe1aFHQNtgYtEkvHQLzMZhM/s400/IMG_3082.JPG" border="0" /></a> And the Russian Sage creates a beautiful textural background.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtQTdKQEwOOQrZm-G5SH4SqkQSk7gQod6cljEl1oLQbOuTQPLz7q_3b7IugxjLn974gMEnL_woi9eoogM0EKx8rlYtf-HO9UD23U2XStRIlq5HgfucFEECHJRjDB7Jici-kfRktG8t7Q/s1600-h/IMG_3083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138303311763914802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtQTdKQEwOOQrZm-G5SH4SqkQSk7gQod6cljEl1oLQbOuTQPLz7q_3b7IugxjLn974gMEnL_woi9eoogM0EKx8rlYtf-HO9UD23U2XStRIlq5HgfucFEECHJRjDB7Jici-kfRktG8t7Q/s400/IMG_3083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNpfqZrxhzBbXUiUi37wmn6Yb_4ykQ0b9Q5lJt7E5g-pG5CcWilxJV3j1Pv9-FYXt33Rs4kY1XZyOX9z4XdMlMEs7KElE3v00IopDCXAsXyl3HJinsaIOqRalQRFhQxKS5NlsID0k_mA/s1600-h/IMG_3084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138303333238751298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNpfqZrxhzBbXUiUi37wmn6Yb_4ykQ0b9Q5lJt7E5g-pG5CcWilxJV3j1Pv9-FYXt33Rs4kY1XZyOX9z4XdMlMEs7KElE3v00IopDCXAsXyl3HJinsaIOqRalQRFhQxKS5NlsID0k_mA/s400/IMG_3084.JPG" border="0" /></a> Plumbago, Rose Campion and Heuchera<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYF74uX-y2V0vmsWDYkAPWowstgO1MYKEwNLOfdJdxHsPttQkQA3uShsCCSMM5Jq8-WMtMQajjBppgKMA2KBEbT0zDilNz3lGy-7Dc88T-2dk3i3pefG1P8C0t6nyaziMD80SbXYIpsY/s1600-h/img_3069.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138302877972217890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYF74uX-y2V0vmsWDYkAPWowstgO1MYKEwNLOfdJdxHsPttQkQA3uShsCCSMM5Jq8-WMtMQajjBppgKMA2KBEbT0zDilNz3lGy-7Dc88T-2dk3i3pefG1P8C0t6nyaziMD80SbXYIpsY/s400/img_3069.jpg" border="0" /></a> Wandering around the corner, this color combination struck me as very unique.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTFSPTvVM3Yl5u0JkcRW37_bO76NA17NUGk-SvAiE5mFcBez_Bmf65WTSU52fnsR01rSI-DXJmxifaOCehSsErrgn8t5-X0UNvhbg7DD987D-rGB9qnf0_PMFnDJn2cK4jhiFidZJBJU/s1600-h/IMG_3070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138302500015095826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTFSPTvVM3Yl5u0JkcRW37_bO76NA17NUGk-SvAiE5mFcBez_Bmf65WTSU52fnsR01rSI-DXJmxifaOCehSsErrgn8t5-X0UNvhbg7DD987D-rGB9qnf0_PMFnDJn2cK4jhiFidZJBJU/s400/IMG_3070.JPG" border="0" /></a> Lastly, here is a pile of brush and leaves to help St. Francis give protection for the little birds during the winter.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div align="left">When I got back inside I noticed that these are many of the same colors I used to redecorate my living room! No wonder! I'm wondering how many of us gardeners are inspired by nature's beautiful palette? Probably a lot of us. </div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-91258398608979196592007-11-26T09:13:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:53.725-07:00Where Did November Go?<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjP0FeUNvaL5K4mH0uly90oM-IAAyFDMbhYLOP1Tfdh-EnZ2JnZBj7VGylNu4Y8YinbPqO-4NjGV9vvMimw6s6wu1KgIprCeTJibnFEA3WCyujClLFBdgVCJHlb1AAnZ2mjOy1syWd2s/s1600-h/IMG_3063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137186770590810082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjP0FeUNvaL5K4mH0uly90oM-IAAyFDMbhYLOP1Tfdh-EnZ2JnZBj7VGylNu4Y8YinbPqO-4NjGV9vvMimw6s6wu1KgIprCeTJibnFEA3WCyujClLFBdgVCJHlb1AAnZ2mjOy1syWd2s/s400/IMG_3063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHluqKq9L6COZt3KACZ21d7bWNGRYsXgWVfbBL0HClxa2tO3c1js3dkqhln3fVC5hhYMYQorxFTJx-2FpKXmPk0tsYvwiyODuxxjg7sb70vl8ZHuqlxDGCH6TBuEFwzmzp3h9ZlcGlOrI/s1600-h/IMG_3066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137186792065646578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHluqKq9L6COZt3KACZ21d7bWNGRYsXgWVfbBL0HClxa2tO3c1js3dkqhln3fVC5hhYMYQorxFTJx-2FpKXmPk0tsYvwiyODuxxjg7sb70vl8ZHuqlxDGCH6TBuEFwzmzp3h9ZlcGlOrI/s400/IMG_3066.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> A light snow fell right before Thanksgiving but soon melted, just what I love about Colorado. This year there is some nice "winter interest" on the strips due to the lack of heavy snows that knock everything down.</span></em> </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rMPAGQUvjSIuu5gHYucY3_8IoIXpotqviLiCo4Uz3wNvxn6zZszZ6s5uQFIce5c0RB0KrMKloHA_MGlEToFC2SYPTAk__aOmQODoDRaL3svj4CGJ-tG9n-0hqAWTdSLZwBX6IkWnGe0/s1600-h/IMG_3061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137186358273949618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rMPAGQUvjSIuu5gHYucY3_8IoIXpotqviLiCo4Uz3wNvxn6zZszZ6s5uQFIce5c0RB0KrMKloHA_MGlEToFC2SYPTAk__aOmQODoDRaL3svj4CGJ-tG9n-0hqAWTdSLZwBX6IkWnGe0/s400/IMG_3061.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">The roses are now put to bed. I cut off any extremely long branches that will break during winter winds and then wrap the bushes in twine, again for the same reason. I rake up all the debris, mulch and top soil around them, then I added some winterizer from High Country Gardens. After that my husband helped me put down new compost and garden soil, piled up against the bushes, and then mulch was added. Now I can go into winter knowing my roses are nice and warm, and given a boost to start them next spring. I don't mind doting on my roses since I only have a few bushes.<br /></span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_VFOVDdQvGVj1kyIa8FEeZ9lur_1h-GLM_hpKAi_-FhEdVoxusfcjDeq6lg6pmnmxuXFPthoncIw6MX96u951tNE7fwvYff4NB271Asz7KZcVXcjgxM8F6NAG7ihZR9TgWT3tRtCSKw/s1600-h/IMG_3066.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQnH9LsA6_N9zBuc6Oe-ACys1GXbtToOrK00NJ2O75pYLpzmIZDAmhMSDpD5G-XXTl1H-SNin5dnXnfINXZdwIQwMVURmge6eq4nBLEwXOHduHY76CCa37VrLZ-5luln3eUK05yL-rX4/s1600-h/IMG_3063.JPG"></a><br /><div>OMG, I can't believe looking at the calendar today! November has blown by. We had a small Thanksgiving snow storm after setting highs the days before (76 degrees)! I'm just thankful that so far (knock on wood) it has not been as snowy as last year. Because of this there is actually some "winter interest" on the strips and I enjoy looking at them every day. The only gardening chore I have not done yet is to clean up my tools. Gotta do that soon! </div><br /><div>So, where has November gone? Well, I have spent most days redecorating and painting, and trying to catch up on household chores that went lacking during a busy gardening season. Wow, I didn't realize how far behind I was! I still have lots I want to accomplish by Christmas, but the progress I am most pleased with is getting all of the gardening books out of the living room and into my office. True, they are not organized here yet, but that is my next project. It will be good to have all of my information at hand while I'm at the computer and at my desk. Should make things much more convenient and efficient. And the next project will be to start a central catalogue on my computer of all my plants (from the very beginning). I'm looking forward to winter days to accomplish this. </div><br /><div></div><div>This week I plan to catch up on all my favorite blogs and see what everyone has been up to. It feels good to have accomplished a few projects.</div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833228872509804269.post-25813538212308300512007-11-05T14:55:00.000-07:002008-12-08T21:01:57.078-07:00Frosty Morn<div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jE_zodQ79UIYHZJ149jP9VE4c1vkpUjbjc3mDKpqfo_JzxlLhmMnq3xpJpUDxn7OQvx-Q-hLOOP1SVeuBD0FZMNq_jIZ7yMUYRY5m4GhbaxzbP5GVvBZnFGYIWQUuFNs4BHuKfB2jq8/s1600-h/frostymallow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129482687990162770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jE_zodQ79UIYHZJ149jP9VE4c1vkpUjbjc3mDKpqfo_JzxlLhmMnq3xpJpUDxn7OQvx-Q-hLOOP1SVeuBD0FZMNq_jIZ7yMUYRY5m4GhbaxzbP5GVvBZnFGYIWQUuFNs4BHuKfB2jq8/s400/frostymallow.jpg" border="0" /></a> A couple days ago I got up early to get started on a busy day, but Iafter looking out a window I just couldn't resist grabbing my camera and running out to capture nature's beauty on this frosty morn.</p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JOPYcLnGa8OQCx2cRWSdbIEbel3cSCm_fQN3UGcwjveZjnCC022382f1zpwXSOLCf3IH-dE81Q78BY8mUQBfS4hqPtsfSkTBt3NC8d5UqLkppQ2AlGCt6IQr5Sibg5wdUMTWqMiM0vA/s1600-h/IMG_2989.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129482696580097378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JOPYcLnGa8OQCx2cRWSdbIEbel3cSCm_fQN3UGcwjveZjnCC022382f1zpwXSOLCf3IH-dE81Q78BY8mUQBfS4hqPtsfSkTBt3NC8d5UqLkppQ2AlGCt6IQr5Sibg5wdUMTWqMiM0vA/s400/IMG_2989.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTXUqvVPVF-D7xxvjZ3YccG-iK0KP10Dr3p60WTWutn2p10FHMigrluM5851a4IWFQSPAEddQNSCmEeBoU7e3zVpnYhEPa9GjA4dJSE5BX5joxvgH7p-f_1nkaMMu5dW2N1f3t3Pj8Gk/s1600-h/IMG_3021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129482700875064690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTXUqvVPVF-D7xxvjZ3YccG-iK0KP10Dr3p60WTWutn2p10FHMigrluM5851a4IWFQSPAEddQNSCmEeBoU7e3zVpnYhEPa9GjA4dJSE5BX5joxvgH7p-f_1nkaMMu5dW2N1f3t3Pj8Gk/s400/IMG_3021.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em><span style="color:#3366ff;">I love to find nature just the way it is, no rearranging allowed. Doesn't she do a beautiful job? Here with Lamb's Ears.</span></em><em><span style="color:#3366ff;"><br /></p></span></em><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUy9fBeic-KfVQVP9-XArFPaUOZR7PwhUckSC5wtK83JIfuUkAdasioixe_BYEMsos-nAeaYQU6XVQLNyUpemswLVf7CmL5WVhPbWnmPqJ3w3rdhrpb1_uVONH9eF_VTjbbytsLDjNrXk/s1600-h/img_3003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129482138234348834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUy9fBeic-KfVQVP9-XArFPaUOZR7PwhUckSC5wtK83JIfuUkAdasioixe_BYEMsos-nAeaYQU6XVQLNyUpemswLVf7CmL5WVhPbWnmPqJ3w3rdhrpb1_uVONH9eF_VTjbbytsLDjNrXk/s400/img_3003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jP7HjLZg80IMHsCgRF1gFQZ4A9NWIqsgey_BDWG7YZUU3d9wCHE3YjyRVWFLD4G2wly8MH27fBF0toyEGNwOzrMXJUulbZwGBIP65Nb8AoUyObvpnpVbDrBztu-akUw-H6ij4gFypgM/s1600-h/IMG_2994.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129482142529316146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jP7HjLZg80IMHsCgRF1gFQZ4A9NWIqsgey_BDWG7YZUU3d9wCHE3YjyRVWFLD4G2wly8MH27fBF0toyEGNwOzrMXJUulbZwGBIP65Nb8AoUyObvpnpVbDrBztu-akUw-H6ij4gFypgM/s400/IMG_2994.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#993300;">I couldn't believe this attractive array of colors arranged by the wind. A fleeting display, for sure.</span></em></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGkXwh5o38J9U00iWmMwalaVe81rW0yx5GvTuqiEQZZrdQwO9-Hqmnl6lEXqbtSWj-eDErKShxxzxAo-VMh2Mps5rq7TAfwDH_aMXE3dFsTghnU6-1-g5VHlVbPtKz9f4DTR-MXOc7y0/s1600-h/img_3030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129482146824283458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGkXwh5o38J9U00iWmMwalaVe81rW0yx5GvTuqiEQZZrdQwO9-Hqmnl6lEXqbtSWj-eDErKShxxzxAo-VMh2Mps5rq7TAfwDH_aMXE3dFsTghnU6-1-g5VHlVbPtKz9f4DTR-MXOc7y0/s400/img_3030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLlFJ_pqBjQYmsnbyggbzeoyl9RDpqRY0ISBkJuyFg2EcT5XxViALlLyzUT2_9SBE8hvpaa2miemSrWU0UheyM-Jz1oQ2O2qwIlXpPhxuKaDUtxV5gG8xzwTH_5xDNpO7TF6Q2BZEkDM/s1600-h/img_3010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129481451039581458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLlFJ_pqBjQYmsnbyggbzeoyl9RDpqRY0ISBkJuyFg2EcT5XxViALlLyzUT2_9SBE8hvpaa2miemSrWU0UheyM-Jz1oQ2O2qwIlXpPhxuKaDUtxV5gG8xzwTH_5xDNpO7TF6Q2BZEkDM/s400/img_3010.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#336666;">Partridge Feather sage<br /></span></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW54c_EU56tuT2Dyt6YMc_2EzYt-oINa4vNtLeLz75FfY9aVVC5Ib26PfWtvDCLYPyKE99_EKus0FyMMwyRq5oYRgzwfmi9Al8CWxjdD6k459PeYSY_IAd0CeTX1_SjOF2pV7V5MmOnQs/s1600-h/IMG_3027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129481236291216626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW54c_EU56tuT2Dyt6YMc_2EzYt-oINa4vNtLeLz75FfY9aVVC5Ib26PfWtvDCLYPyKE99_EKus0FyMMwyRq5oYRgzwfmi9Al8CWxjdD6k459PeYSY_IAd0CeTX1_SjOF2pV7V5MmOnQs/s400/IMG_3027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0J54isVo0cR4eDI4pTjxDAQoV7B1oXoUa_Xpyod2a6RVRy1jr4oFx40cUyjZzlNsncsVGaE-pj3tlYtyO1peOTGnYiw1_dI5RIC8I5_LAGgQJjMqs0Ef2_vHuUTHXpz2m8U0GmrIbWE/s1600-h/IMG_3024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129481240586183938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0J54isVo0cR4eDI4pTjxDAQoV7B1oXoUa_Xpyod2a6RVRy1jr4oFx40cUyjZzlNsncsVGaE-pj3tlYtyO1peOTGnYiw1_dI5RIC8I5_LAGgQJjMqs0Ef2_vHuUTHXpz2m8U0GmrIbWE/s400/IMG_3024.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Corsican violas. They will peak their pretty little heads out from the snow most of the winter months. Unless we have several feet, that is. Let's not even think about that yet!<br /></span></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KipHzlC4qZ4Ihz6JfjIiyZIVlQc1tNw_lGtCRQFnyqWMlIm2grLlj4qJlP1C9f7zOgtjstK2HJA8zwj7kTJ_0cENi-X-aDb2_PynyapyJkulnlDZgCbLJXgsH6RB4NL_mQ_DxdlSRDg/s1600-h/IMG_2982.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129480914168669410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KipHzlC4qZ4Ihz6JfjIiyZIVlQc1tNw_lGtCRQFnyqWMlIm2grLlj4qJlP1C9f7zOgtjstK2HJA8zwj7kTJ_0cENi-X-aDb2_PynyapyJkulnlDZgCbLJXgsH6RB4NL_mQ_DxdlSRDg/s400/IMG_2982.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#9999ff;">This Dusty Miller sage comes back every year. It is supposed to be an annual here.<br /></span></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJLYLMKTThc6-c4VHBdnMkfWJUudob6g5vnowRwSFrhgvjbZUKPPtEwA7dV6O4MSRj-bMTziTIDGU1TXn0uOPKsr1NNe9HRPmVxI_sY0yA5YpS-cvVgdg8zzAMPNQ3tLv2ekF3JOWd_g/s1600-h/img_3006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129480647880697026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJLYLMKTThc6-c4VHBdnMkfWJUudob6g5vnowRwSFrhgvjbZUKPPtEwA7dV6O4MSRj-bMTziTIDGU1TXn0uOPKsr1NNe9HRPmVxI_sY0yA5YpS-cvVgdg8zzAMPNQ3tLv2ekF3JOWd_g/s400/img_3006.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#006600;">Pasque Flower foliage</span></em></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrMzL8cogpkbZILbhO44PfXc9lJUjEspk57b63SrXiEbX-lugFQH37g2XJfXY19-Q35uZQXkOlktrFXdKpgBVZAtcOvEMynFpjiiDZ2FYM0kgUqpFcXMzkcljSk50iC-mveniAMEzcxI/s1600-h/img_3008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129480665060566226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrMzL8cogpkbZILbhO44PfXc9lJUjEspk57b63SrXiEbX-lugFQH37g2XJfXY19-Q35uZQXkOlktrFXdKpgBVZAtcOvEMynFpjiiDZ2FYM0kgUqpFcXMzkcljSk50iC-mveniAMEzcxI/s400/img_3008.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#3366ff;">Oregon Grape Holly offers a lovely blue hue next to other plants<br /></span></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffTvQsucbkUGF3tg2Y_KcY3aKc8syQrQurU4ETPB0eymhykCwlgNNgz78OHspxbmjvh4FMp6Bn3QjHJb0kc-nafWtBcNweFD7tJ2L3r0wNoffw4ptC-_X9hG4bfnRDonHAhJ5UeYVUYo/s1600-h/img_3009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129480390182659234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffTvQsucbkUGF3tg2Y_KcY3aKc8syQrQurU4ETPB0eymhykCwlgNNgz78OHspxbmjvh4FMp6Bn3QjHJb0kc-nafWtBcNweFD7tJ2L3r0wNoffw4ptC-_X9hG4bfnRDonHAhJ5UeYVUYo/s400/img_3009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3PHBElNfA81fuAbG1tcHaTyqWjfGr6o7h6O-qZFUc9AJ_wWJJzBpsIUaVVl7YO0cu_diVCnRyYLdZC-GF1dp0Q-kV0cM_Di053etesPWcvDq9n0aO4bqWkKHAe10WUERpNVznGbDc9s/s1600-h/IMG_3023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129480398772593842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3PHBElNfA81fuAbG1tcHaTyqWjfGr6o7h6O-qZFUc9AJ_wWJJzBpsIUaVVl7YO0cu_diVCnRyYLdZC-GF1dp0Q-kV0cM_Di053etesPWcvDq9n0aO4bqWkKHAe10WUERpNVznGbDc9s/s400/IMG_3023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9gLWNxvpaTt_PQMSsWQCCCAk1Rk_BKwegH45U_HVBXiM3LWSh-5M9B7ATTk19x6FBJvfITDkhCjHo4DLqEk6heacFijgfNdAUEYAF5bHAuBUBL-6fucWuC0Uux0MZ4RfTSOFr6QrhYk/s1600-h/img_3011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129480059470177410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9gLWNxvpaTt_PQMSsWQCCCAk1Rk_BKwegH45U_HVBXiM3LWSh-5M9B7ATTk19x6FBJvfITDkhCjHo4DLqEk6heacFijgfNdAUEYAF5bHAuBUBL-6fucWuC0Uux0MZ4RfTSOFr6QrhYk/s400/img_3011.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#ff9966;">This Autumn Joy photo should be rotated, but I loved this composition more</span></em></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRLZKk_ePVLFTXyvDOB0r0sv3LhHl2uwmWfuR6O0LDfdhwQlUc0qmlPQThPkJSkRTzAk-RwD8qVlU46nTsf15Egq9JD_Jg-fpSjS68w0B8_xSC8g1gxRGbBpJmx2p6BcqVmD2CBlZ2Hg/s1600-h/IMG_3014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129480063765144722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRLZKk_ePVLFTXyvDOB0r0sv3LhHl2uwmWfuR6O0LDfdhwQlUc0qmlPQThPkJSkRTzAk-RwD8qVlU46nTsf15Egq9JD_Jg-fpSjS68w0B8_xSC8g1gxRGbBpJmx2p6BcqVmD2CBlZ2Hg/s400/IMG_3014.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#666600;">Culinary sage</span></em><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYSHKcnCep-falgsthKlOUJHggpu4xXnujO2M5sNLxvkMJrd17iP_lhyphenhyphenFrYowyxelgijtgj-ERLi_uDTkrFIostgfexwcRGw23k_Hzau7EZlNRv8a0jk2D73_WmXmT9hhNlsNX3R4q1I/s1600-h/img_3017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129479629973447746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYSHKcnCep-falgsthKlOUJHggpu4xXnujO2M5sNLxvkMJrd17iP_lhyphenhyphenFrYowyxelgijtgj-ERLi_uDTkrFIostgfexwcRGw23k_Hzau7EZlNRv8a0jk2D73_WmXmT9hhNlsNX3R4q1I/s400/img_3017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKzIg_uLoxtr_ALCV3U-jinDJlVudT16chMLBIFvaHziU1e8FVDBc2SYw-GQMp0Y__UZ4ZvLlnv7MbFcILkVBkIqYDUu8KB2ztz6VsK0kbO7WQDdZq6_fs7y30QfJT_xf2KVaC9lDJcY/s1600-h/img_3018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129479638563382354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKzIg_uLoxtr_ALCV3U-jinDJlVudT16chMLBIFvaHziU1e8FVDBc2SYw-GQMp0Y__UZ4ZvLlnv7MbFcILkVBkIqYDUu8KB2ztz6VsK0kbO7WQDdZq6_fs7y30QfJT_xf2KVaC9lDJcY/s400/img_3018.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#330033;">Sedums</span></em></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjxQK1omJ8LNLcVlK5FTRRcvkDqS1QcZKe1EKpEcYQrHzWkYDBxQmlcEsJqbK0A9avQ_s3H4CFOXrLVMZUa2VBm8QiJfIA-09c807v5ZJhvSErw43rjtWToAZi4aa8bL9_MG1Z03I10Q/s1600-h/img_3019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129479647153316962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjxQK1omJ8LNLcVlK5FTRRcvkDqS1QcZKe1EKpEcYQrHzWkYDBxQmlcEsJqbK0A9avQ_s3H4CFOXrLVMZUa2VBm8QiJfIA-09c807v5ZJhvSErw43rjtWToAZi4aa8bL9_MG1Z03I10Q/s400/img_3019.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Wild and interesting textures of Bachelor's Buttons</span></em><br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Bevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729192065772139823noreply@blogger.com7