Hola & Hello!
It is very very windy today.
Leaves twirling and swirling around. Mister and me running around, making sure the garden nooks are safe. Mad hair blowing in the wind.
I tip-toe over to my little enclosed space where I seeded grass last week…
Make sure you whisper…
There are baby grasslings sleeping…
And soon, they will grow strong, and make another lawn to hide out, and picnic in.
Pretty fun stuff for the desert.
I am so heartily thankful for well water. (which I use carefully)
We rather mashed last year's lawn to bits with the
Dancing and all…
Oopsie 🙂
I am almost getting carried away dreaming of this year's tea party.
Will you be able to make it? I sure hope so. It shall be madder than ever.
(I will announce the date etc, next month)
Alas, I almost veered.
Let me get back to spring springing in, and all that…
So, I am spending overflowing goblets of time covering all the sprouts, making sure they stay safe. Anything covered in dry brush is my attempt at keeping the birds away. (I also have burlap covers)
(Although the birds have already munched most of my 300 sunflower sprouts (sniffle), that's okay, I'll plant some again.)
So you see, below doesn't look like much…
But come on over here, get a little closer, and I shall show you something..
Hidden, growing, smiling…
Sproutlings!
This year I bought thousands of seeds, and made my own flower garden seed mix. I hope it works. (I bought some of my seeds at Swallowtail Garden Seeds, including oodles of hollyhock seeds - fingers crossed)
I also used harvested seeds from last year.
And, I put in two vegetable gardens.
For a total of 10 gardening spaces so far.
Some small, some large.
I know, nutz.
I have been so busy.
But it is worth it in the end, you know?
I plunked the seeds from my rotting Halloween pumpkins into the ground, and they sprouted in 4 days.
I discovered that trick last year, when I planted the seeds from a badly rotting pumpkin. And then, proceeded to get about 30 pumpkins from those seeds.
I need to start thinning out the sprouts today.
I am showing you the brush covered areas, so we can see if the growing babes make it, and what the after might look like in a month or two.
One of my vegetable gardens below…
Doesn't look like much, eh?
But get a bit closer, and yippee :)
I have all sorts of properly covered areas…
And just look. Lots of cuties.
I am not sure what pleases me more than growing things, and baking things?
I am torn between the two…
Maybe growing wins?
I hope that the moonlight enchanted my sprouts into growing big and tall and strong..
Now all I have to do is, try to keep the critters out, in the friendliest way possible.
Not an easy task.
Mister Lovee says that since this is the desert, and there are very few people with gardens, all the critters are drawn here for a buffet.
Oh, Great!
🙂
So, here is a shot of the gallery today, with the wind overturning things. And, we'll have to wait and see if it becomes covered with sunflowers, and more, like last year…
A 2 year old, climbing banks rose, has its first bloom.
Tiny lovely little thing.
A garden is pure hope. (and hard work)
With lots to look forward to.
I wanted to end this post with a proper family portrait of the boys.
But, they had other plans…
They would start to sit still for a photo op, and then Miles would attack. Matty is so so good with him. Such a total sport.
Alas, it didn't pan out as planned :)
When they finally decided to sit still for a photo, I held my camera up, and they both changed positions, and did something goofy… (can you hear them giggling?)
Silly monkeys.
But lovable all the same.
ps: I just L O V E this…
(Plus, Nie and her babes = happy Tears)
So lovely seeing all these signs of spring at your place. You have been one busy woman! Love to you (and so sweet, Nie and her babes). xoxox
Last night I barely got any sleep the wind was making such a racket! And of course today was the day I had to get up extra early…oh well. I was contemplating putting up lights and things outside on my patio, but the crazy wind made me reconsider, and I found myself wondering how it works with all your gypsy tents and garden magic. Do they blow away? Maybe if you can do it I can do it too!
ps. I am already starting to be jealous of your wonderful garden. Small pots on the patio just aren’t enough!
Look at everything sprouting..ALREADY!!
we have a mothers day rule, no planting anything new before then
and I looked at my garden journal from last year and we had snow on May 11th.
I will live vicariously here
x..x
Oh do I want plant some seedlings, but here in CT we had snow Today and unexpectedly so because this weekend it was so lovely! I might plant inside and then move it outside little later. I am so happy for you that yours are coming along wonderfully!
PS – I realized our last named rhyme. Yours is Valencia and mine is Palencia 🙂
I wish I could be planting now! Northern Idaho has such unpredictable weather that it could snow anytime and it’s still too cold for planting. But I’ll plant some babies in the greenhouse soon. You have such a wonderful garden! I hope mine is so beautiful, fingers crossed!
V!!!!
Soooo many seeds! I’m terribly impressed. And an eensy bit jealous.
The birds have been nabbing all of my sunflowers seeds, too! I had oodles of sprouts, and off they fly with their salad.
I also planted my mushy pumpkins. However, I stuck mine out at the edge of our marsh back in December. Violet cried and cried as we walked away in the stroller, “Bye byyyyyyeeeee pumpkins!!!!”
The fur babies look so happy. What a good dog life.
I was out in the garden today too but weeding and tidying ready for changes I have planned. It is so exciting to see new little sprouts-your garden is an inspiration! I love your pretty wire edging and that lovely white gate too. Hope the critters stay away! x
THERE are fairies at the bottom of my garden!
It’s not so very, very far away;
You pass the gardener’s shed and you just keep straight ahead —
I do so hope they’ve really come to stay.
There’s a little wood, with moss in it and beetles,
And a little stream that quietly runs through;
You wouldn’t think they’d dare to come merrymaking there–
Well, they do.
There are fairies at the bottom of my garden!
They often have a dance on summer nights;
The butterflies and bees make a lovely little breeze,
And the rabbits stand about and hold the lights.
Did you know that they could sit upon the moonbeams
And pick a little star to make a fan,
And dance away up there in the middle of the air?
Well, they can.
There are fairies at the bottom of my garden!
You cannot think how beautiful they are;
They all stand up and sing when the Fairy Queen and King
Come gently floating down upon their star.
The King is very proud and very handsome;
The Queen–now you can guess who that could be
(She’s a little girl all day, but at night she steals away)
Well, — it’s Me!
I thought you might enjoy my adaptation of one of my favorite poems from childhood, written in the late 19th century by Rose Fyleman, in England. I always had it printed and in my garden, where ever I might be gardening at the time. Fondly, “the poop lady”
Oooooh, the wind was ablowin’ here, too, Miss V. . . . Oh my, such bad manners of the birdies to overhelp themselves to your sunflower sprouts! Thank you for the sneak peek at all the babes bursting forth from the earth! Yay!
And y’know when I was on the newspaper staff in high school, we really liked what we called “candid” (unposed) shots, so those of Matty and Miles were just right.: ) I must say that those two rascals are quite fun to watch at play.
Oh, I too saw that sweet music video of Mindy Gledhill with Stephanie and her kids. I was introduced to Mindy through either Stephanie’s blog or the blog of her sister, C.Jane. I just LOVE Mindy’s beautiful, sweet, smooth as silk voice.
Keep on gardenin’ AND bakin.’ Fortunately you don’t have to choose between the two. Yippee!
Oh Yes, the land of Bizarre Arizona with the most energetic gal and not to forget her two furry fun boys to keep her ever so busy and full of adventures. Just lovely to think how beautiful her garden will be before long. Also, wondering what enchanted tea party awaits us. Yup ,that is the life for me. How lucky to have found this lovely place to dwell, in this Fanciful twist blog. I so enjoyed Mindy Gledhill song too and to see how wonderful Nee and her little ones are enjoying life. I too had tears of joy! Thanks again,Vanessa
What a precious video Mindy Gledhill made…with NieNie’s sweet, sweet daughters running right next to Mindy. And the house video of her boys and NieNie. What an inspiration!
I discovered NieNie’s Diaries a month before she and her husband, Stephen, were in their firey airplane crash. And it was like this terrible shock. It was an amazing miracle that they survived…as the world watched and prayed for their recovery. Their entire family has been such a sweet inspiration in spite of all they have been through…and I know they have given God the glory…it shows in every detail of their lives. I wept like every body else did throughout the entire scenario of them basically coming back to life. Thank you for posting the video!
And I love it that your seedlings are getting a great start. We have friends who used to put a mesh screen down on the ground and then build a foot high box, with wood (whatever size they wanted to make it to keep the critters out) and then they would fill that with mulch and then plant their seedlings, and of course like you are doing, they put a wire cover over the seedlings. (Of course there are critters that have sharp teeth that can chew through wire mesh too! Bad critters!) But if your garden is going to grow like it did last year, which it probably will with all of your precautions, I can imagine another prosperous year for your hard earned work.
Yes! And I so do want to participate in the Mad Tea Party this year as I have my own blog now! http://www.amagicalwhimsy.blogspot
It rained and rained today and it was very refreshing.
Ta! Ta!
Miss Teresa
Ooops! NieNie’s name is Stephanie and her husband’s name is Chris. Sorry about that.
🖤
Love your metal peacock on the side of your gallery…..I want to attract one on the next thrifting episode! Those net domes over your plantings are very victorian looking….did Mr. Lovee build them for you?
Your pink gingham nightie arm blends right in w/your baby seedlings….no sproutlings in Utah yet, snowed last night after being 60 degrees….Mother’s Day rule here also
p.s. CJane’s blog is still on (maybe she changed her mind)
Yay! Mad Tea coming our way!!!! I can hardly wait ;-))))))).
Ooh my Beloved Fanciful Friendling, your plant cages are somehow romantic in a weird rusty sort of way with all their bends and curves…just love them. I’m sure that what lies beneath is going to be even more wonderful and beautiful when their little heads appear.
Happy Tuesday sweet Vanessa.
xoxo Cori
PS…puppies sublime
Mindy is divine 😉
HEY CHICA!
You’re quoting Shakespeare in your title?
You are AWESOMENESS.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
PS hard working awesomeness too!
PSPS i have been trying to train buddy the wonderdawg how to till, alas to no avail.
PSS did i spell till right?
I know some people with lots of grass 😉
I think you should dress the pups for Easter and then get their portrait. Maybe if they are sniffin’ in their baskets they will stay put for a moment.
Thanks for the video link. What a great song. You are the best.
Happy Spring, dearest!!!! Can you believe we greeted spring with some snow??? It all melted away by the time afternoon rolled along…soon our daffodils will make a lovely appearance. I cannot wait!!! Thanks so much for another Mindy Gledhill video – my hubby and I are now big fans. 🙂 I adored seeing all your sproutlings. Such a glorious sign of spring. Last weekend, we saw robins. Finally. When I see them, I know spring has arrived. Take care…Theresa xoxo
I live in the high desert of California. I delight in my garden. Since I had significant surgery in June, my husband thought I should get a gardener to cut and trim my yard. “No way” I told him. The gardener wasn’t going to get on his hands and knees and hand pick through everything to protect all the new plants coming up or even be able to tell the new plants from the new weeds. I did it and had about 30 plastic bags of dead cuttings and weeds. Now, I wait for every little thing to bloom.
~elaine~
I always meant to come back here and watch this video when I wasn’t at work. I’m so glad I finally got around to doing so, that was wonderful. Love the song, love her voice. The various settings are so fun. I especially like the one where she is wearing the crown in the ice area. Very fun.
This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw. Looking forward for your next one.