New Orchid!

 Just could not resist this one.... only $13.00!

Especially when it jumped right into my cart at Trader Joe's!  It would have seemed too rude to make it go back on the shelf!

Are you Zooming it up on gardening information and inspiration?

 Gosh but it has been fun checking out the various free or low cost opportunities on the internet for getting in on some gardening learning and inspiration.  So many of our state Master Gardener Groups are making so many Zoom Seminars available this late winter! 

I just attended one on "Gardening on a deck" and it was filled with lots of tips and ideas to consider and ending with lots of questions and answers.  I find these seminars have very knowledgeable gardeners presenting!  The one tonite had over 100 people zooming into it!  Some are quite informal and some are very professionally done but all equally interesting and full of good information.  

As I walked thru the garage today I noticed I should get some snow scooped up and added to the various fairy and miniature landscape gardens I have in pots tucked away waiting for spring!  That seems to work well to add a bit of welcome moisture to them.  It is wonderful to see our white stuff disappearing fast this week since we are going thru a warm up.  We should be hitting the low 40's by this weekend here in SE MN!  Yipeeee!    

Ionite I noticed, while I lowered the shade in my office window, plants coming into view out there along the fence where the snow has melted!  Wheeeee!

Meanwhile, I enjoyed one more hyacinth coming into bloom in the living room!  The fragrance was delightful!

I Just finished getting my computer set back up and working!  It has been a whole week without it because it was into the computer doctor shop for a new hard drive installation.  I even had to do a bit of house cleaning to keep occupied this week!  (cleaned out the inside of all my kitchen cupboards)

Nothing like the fragrance of tulips in bloom!

 Yep, we did visit Trader Joe's before Valentine's Day and I picked this pot of tulips that had only green leaves at the time!  Within two days I saw this lovely pink color starting to peek out among the leaves!  A bargain of spring experience  for only $5.00!

And a new blue hyacinth jumped in the cart along with two new pink ones (Valeintine Gifts for two gardener friends!)

Somehow I am handling the white snow outside better recently!

Spring fragrance abundent in my living room!

 Ah..... the fragrance of a hyacinth in bloom......  love it!

The tiny daffies are adorable!  

And I am enjoying my latest copy of Garden Gate magazine!

I enjoyed an awesome zoom program yesterday on "Cutting Gardens"!  A great hour with lots of tips, if only I had the space, sun and physical energy to do it!  But, I did pick up some great tips on using hydrangeas in arrangements and growing annuals taller for more ideal cuttings!  

New perennial for me for 2021!

A Zoom meeting for the Shades of Green Hosta Society of SE MN was inspiring! 

A few evenings ago we joined a meeting with an interesting speaker, Josh Spece,  a young man who is inspiring in not only his knowledge and love for plants, but that is he very handicapped and experiencing a very successful life style in partnership with his Mom in a Garden Center in Iowa!  He is active in the Hosta World, so to speak, on the national level and talented in the use of computers to share his talents in gardening.  He has quite an extensive collection of orchids also!

Josh shared information on a selection of the newer hostas we can expect to find on the market for 2021!  

Having no more room for that beloved plant in my gardens, I was exploring his website for shade loving perennials that I can add to my part shade environment where hostas don't seem to handle the seasonal sun times.  I have not grown any Hellebores before and found that Josh has a selection of 3 of them which were hybridized by Hans Hanson, a well known and respected hosta hybridizer originally from MN!

So, I placed an order for a white one to give it a trial this spring!  I suppose I will need to wait until early spring 2022 to enjoy the flowers, but that will give it a year to settle in and get ready to bring me its spring time beauty!  If it grows well in that area, I will be anxious to add a few more colors for sure!

Any tips from those of you who grow these in zone 4?  

Here is what I ordered, a Hellebores "Wedding Bells".  It looks nice and showy, I should be able to enjoy it even from my office window!

For more information about Josh and his website click here:

At promise of spring.....

 A visit to our local Trader Joe's found touches of spring that just jumped right into my cart to go home with me!  

For only $6 I decided they were welcome additions to a spot next to my favorite chair in the living room!  Love the contrast to the winter scene outside!

Can't wait to see the yellow tiny daffies....and what color the hyacinth will be and also enjoy the fragrance!

I figure I will make another stop to Trader Joe's in about two weeks just in time for a pot of Tulips, etc!  A perfect valentine for hubby to get me!  And they have his favorite candy that I can get him.... what a perfect shopping trip!

I love their "light shredded cheese" and "shredded mozzarella cheese" also!  And the variety of forms of brussels sprouts ... shredded, chopped, etc .  A quick stir fry with some garlic and butter is soooo yummy to my tummy!

Upcoming Gardening Class free using Zoom

 Reminder, Feb. 8th is the next free gardening seminar provided by our Rochester Garden and Flower Club.

If you have not registered for this series, you can still take advantage of it and get in on the remaining seminars!