Nature does not stand still and wait for us to catch up. It’s a glorious spring after all the winter rains we finally enjoyed after so many drought years. Verdancy is erupting in the garden and the air is abuzz with activity. There are summer veggies to plant and damselflies to admire. The ladybugs areContinue reading “Spring Awe–Buds and Bugs”
Category Archives: Garden Flowers
First Monarch Butterfly Sighting, Saving Seed from California Poppies, & an Unfortunate Contaminant
Monarch Butterfly Sighting Today I let slip a little scream of excitement when I spotted the first monarch butterfly here in our garden–at least the first one I can remember in the two decades we’ve been at our current location. Growing up in the Midwest many decades ago, we used to see Eastern Monarchs allContinue reading “First Monarch Butterfly Sighting, Saving Seed from California Poppies, & an Unfortunate Contaminant”
The Roses In My Garden — wild, exquisite, and tough as nails
In celebration of Mothers Day Just in time for Mother’s Day, the roses in my garden are starting to bloom. These are not fragile beauties; they are survivor superstars! The Old Roses — Wild, Exotically Perfumed and Robust I enjoy a traditional rose bouquet as much as anyone, but those are usually composed of HybridContinue reading “The Roses In My Garden — wild, exquisite, and tough as nails”
Petals Aplenty — six snapshots of spring from a Sonoma County garden
The petals are popping and the juice of spring is coursing through my veins like so many shots of espresso. The spring garden is a party not to be missed, and just to sit at my computer to post this blog, rather than be out with the surging sap and sunshine, is requiring a strongContinue reading “Petals Aplenty — six snapshots of spring from a Sonoma County garden”
Six On Saturday — A Flurry of Flowers
Today I am dipping my toes for the first time into the phenomenon called Six On Saturday. For those of you who, like me, were unaware of it, #SixOnSaturday was started by the blogger The Propagator. The invitation is to share six garden things on Saturdays. See more here. ONE It’s been a tough yearContinue reading “Six On Saturday — A Flurry of Flowers”
May In the Garden — a joy even during drought
Even a Sprinkle Is Welcome During Drought! A few days after my last garden blog post, we received a tiny bit of rain: about a tenth of an inch. Even such a small amount was welcome to ease the drought we are facing here. The garden is still green–as is the norm for spring–but withContinue reading “May In the Garden — a joy even during drought”
What’s Been Happening In the Early April Garden
Garden Flowers and Scents to Balm the Spirit This week, the garden soothed worries, as it so often does, with the comfort and enjoyment of the squiggling tadpoles, the pipevine butterflies, and the blossoms of the flowering crabapples, flowering currants, ceanothus and pear trees. Wandering through the garden, I’m often taken aback by lovely aromas.Continue reading “What’s Been Happening In the Early April Garden”
Let’s Have a Walk Through the Early Spring Garden!
Take a walk through the early spring garden of the-compulsive-gardener.com in Sonoma County. Early blooming flowers of daffodils, flowering quince and currants, rosemary, grape hyacinth, cerinthe. See how the overwintering vegetables are coming along: leeks, onions, beets, garlic. Hope you enjoy the virtual garden tour!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
An heirloom rose bouquet for Valentine’s Day. Wishing you a peaceful and love-filled day and year!