Happy New Year! (& a wishlist)

Good-bye 2009, Hello 2010!

Anna, over at greentapestry wrote a beautiful New Year's post, and included a "New plants wishlist for 2010". I think it's a wonderful idea, and I've decided to do the same. This way, I can refer back here and add as needed. We wouldn't want to forget anyone, would we? ;)

Here's my list to date, only the must haves (supplier in brackets for future reference):

Blue Himalayan Poppy Meconopsis 'sheldonii' (Holes, order seeds too)
Dianthus 'king of blacks'(Holes or local)

Lilac 'wonderblue' (Holes or local)
Hydrangea 'Incrediball' and maybe 'endless summer'. local
Peonies: Bowl of Beauty and Festiva Maxima (both local - confirmed :) ), space permitting.

Cool Splash Dwarf Honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia 'LPDC Podaras') local
Roses: 2-3, with blended colurs (such as yellow/pink, inspired by the beautiful 'Durban' rose)
possibilies inculde: Morden Sunrise, Prairie Sunrise, & Sunrise Sunset local

Oriental Lilies, possibly white with pink centres.

Dahlia 'Mystery Day' or the stunning 'Edinburgh' (I have to make sure they can grow here) local -bought!

Tiny Tim Tomatoes (& 2 other cherry tomatoes) in a pot.

Strawberry plants, for the hedge corner

Possibly Green Onions

Plan for around Mme Lemoine Treeform:

Russian Sage x2

Astillbe (white? 2-4)

Shasta Daisy, Becky? NOT Snowcap x2

Festiva Maxima Peony

More Dwarf Blue Balloon Flowers for the base of the clematis.

Annuals: Blue Star Petunias, Blue/White Lobelia, Yellow Snapdragons, Tigereye Gold Rudbeckia

I also plan to add a few new sculptoral elements, starting with this guy.

And to have more plants and blooms indoors, here is narcissus 'tete a tete':




What's on your wishlist for 2010?

Wordless Wednesday: Morning Frost

Gardening Gifts.

*Just added a new banner, a few gifts to self. The frog king was inspired by Kiki's 'Dreams' post, and the pots were lovely (and 75% off!). Can you see the 'In The Garden' words along the top of the pot on the right?

I hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing holiday season. I'd like to share some pictures of garden gifts that I was very happy to receive.

From afar...




From my family, some tools of the trade, which is great since mine are in horrible condition.


As well as a lovely set of garden tiles. I especially like the one on the bottom right, since I had a grand battle with slugs all summer. It's debatable as to who won. I will install it near my shady hosta bed, and hope it acts as a warning.


Also, a subscription to Canadian Gardening Magazine (thank you CV!). Which should be a good source of information and inspiration.

Do you have any garden gifts you'd like to share?

Winter Solstice and Gardeners

Have you noticed something lately? There are so many garden blog posts on the wonderful topic of Winter Solstice, and yet out in the 'real world' it is hardly mentioned. Do you think gardeners are more in tune with natures cycles? I find Winter Solstice to be such a strong and significant day of the year. I feel like a weight has been lifted. I am always a little sad during Summer Soltice, the very start of the days shortening leaves me a touch blue. But the lengthening days brings so much hope & relief. To me, the Solstices and Equinoxes feel like mid-season, and yet they signal the start. This has always been confusing to me, but alas, I have adjusted.

Here are a few gifts, one I've received and one I'm giving out.

The first is a lovely little arrangement given to me by my garden centre guru & friend. She is my go to person for all things perennial and is a joy to chat with about gardening in general. We have become friends over the years, and exchange small items on occasion.

The second is a picture I took this summer, and I'm very fond of it. I have an 18"x24" enlargement in my house, and framed some 5"x7"s/8"x10"s for friends and family. I call it 'Maple Sky'.

Happy Solstice, Chrismas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa & of course, Festivus.

Deer in the Snow.

I was pleasantly surprised to see these beauties right across the street from my house when driving home the other day. I parked, grabbed the camera, and ran outside. I kept a good distance (which is unfortuante for my little point & shoot), but they were still a little suspicious, so slowly moved on. Aren't they lovely?































And here are the permanent residents.

These recent photographs of birds & deer have made me long for the relative ease of photographing plants, they allow you to approach and stay reasonably still.

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful....

...but the birds were so delightful.

(I apologize in advance for the quality of the photos, they were taken from indoors and through a not so clean window)

It has been very cold here lately, the poor little birds were freezing yesterday, but are so incredibly cute when puffed up to stay warm.

Growing up in Eastern Canada, I still find magpies beautiful and eye-catching, even though they are considered a nuisance.

Here is one in flight, doesn't really show the markings but I still like the picture.

I have always been crazy about blue jays, when I was a child I considered them to bring good luck. I love when they visit.

I don't know very much about bird identification, and am not sure what this little fellow is. It made me think of a finch, but could be something else. Can anyone help out?

These little ones were all over the birch...

There was lots of activity at the birdfeeder...

..and below.

I could sit and watch them all day.

One late addition, a flock of starlings arrived today, it was like a scene out of the movie 'The Birds'.

(Wordless) Wednesday: Proud as a Peacock

Here are a few pictures taken in the Dorothy Harvie Gardens of the Calgary Zoo. I think of the peacock as HRH, he emerged onto the rock 'platform' through the foliage like a King stepping onto a balcony through velvet drapes to address his subjects.

Let it Snow! (aka The Blizzard vs The Bus)

It's official, winter is here. We have been under a weather warning for the last 24+ hours, and it isn't going to be ending any time soon.

I thought this was a very pretty, snow laden bough.



Bits of snow are stuck all over the house and windows. It reminded me of the faux snow painted store fronts.




The snow was blowing in from the NE, and produced this odd drift, usually snow blows away from this shed, but now it is piling up high.



Even Mister Golden Sun was unable to shine today.



My Garden Frog is hardly visible, and may disappear soon. There was no sign of the turtle.



As I was watching the blowing snow in front of my house, I saw a city bus slowly sliding sideways, trying to get out of a drift. It was unsuccessful, and required a tow truck to come to the rescue. I think the blizzard won.



But always remeber to Have a Nice Day!